Dakila's POV
After leaving Titen in his quarters, I made my way to Lord Justice's office. I may have made my way through the grand halls of Maximiliano till I was at the floor where the office was. Walking to his office, the hall was littered with statues he carved himself from marble to my left were female demi-gods, semi-gods and demi-angels. My right contained male versions. Everyone says I'm so talented, but my voice is nothing to these statues. All the halls of Maximiliano are littered with statues similar in build but of different demi-gods and more. The marble art pieces stood at most between eight to ten feet in height, while others were no taller than me and others no shorter than Hong. I once asked him if this was the actual heights of people represented by the statues, and he replied that this is the exact representation. If they were alive today, his statues would be nothing more than mirrors.
Many Creeds saluted me as I made my way to the father of Creed's office, and I did the same. There was no time for ideal chit-chat with anyone. Everyone understood I needed to report immediately to my Lord. In front of Lord Justice's office stood two women on guard, and next to them stood two marble statues. On the left stood the Statue of demi-god Orisha Oko, his father, and on the right stood that of Lady Rosalind, his twin sister. This made me even more envious of his talent, I would carve my beautiful wife and my children if I could. The marble white statues looked amazing for just us Creeds to see, especially with how different the marble was. It had tar black veins and grey, then some parts were bone white. My wife, just like many, loved coming to Maximiliano to pray to certain statues for certain blessings.
Maya was already waiting for me at the entrance. She was waiting outside, which meant there was someone else in his office with him, or he was still performing his respective duty of being buried in paperwork.
"What took you so long?" My Legatus asked.
"I'm surprised you aren't in yet."
"There are others here, Elementos." As she said my heart skipped a beat, being someone with less than three sensory abilities it is quite hard to sense the chi signals of others unless they are raised for battle.
"I had to drop off the boy's sword at Holding. Don't be angry at the boy. He saved our lives, Maya, and tried to put that at heart."
"Do you believe that?"
"I believe that if I had landed in enemy territory, you would be a Capitaneus right now, and Nam would be alive."
"Don't get soft on me now, also I would have never returned if it meant I would be the one to tell Lula you're dead. I would've followed you to hell if it meant I could avenge my brother before I die. Also Lula would have killed me herself."
"There would have been no peace for you, well she is your friend after all." I laughed. "If you followed me to hell, who would have avenged you, the last time I heard your younger brother's illness isn't easing, very soon you're going to be a Lady."
"Don't remind me, the medicine he needs can be only made with the herbs that grow on that island."
"Don't ever do something as stupid as follow me to hell, you're still needed."
"I will because our comrades would avenge us by winning this war."
The door opened to the ever so beautiful sight of Tabatha, Lord Justice's secretary, she was opening the door for those exiting. To my surprise it was Elemento Jazz Yong and behind him was Elemento Valentina Prince of Ventus.
"If it isn't my favourite successor, as you can see by some divine will of beauty I'm being treated like a king at the moment. Surrounded by beautiful women at every corner today, a beautiful secretary opened my door. A beautiful Elemento to accompany me and now a beautiful Legatus to greet me off. Let's not forget Malina and Wanderlei who stand guard over this office, love and beauty are in the air!" He is as loud as he ever is, I thought but I understand why. He is trying to distract certain people by being an idiot, when will he learn that no one that is an Elemento can't be recognised as an idiot. My expression was rather meek at his poetry and he took notice of this, with his eyes I could tell he was asking me to indulge. Why bother? Not even a storm could stop what is to come. "Don't be looking at me like that Capitaneus, it is as if you don't smell the beauty in the air."
I really won't even try Elemento, that's the message my expression sent to him, and his eye contact after lowering his shades was at least to try. We have these mental conversations all the time when these two are in close proximity, so my expression responded mentally to him. Why even try?
"Pax vitae Elemento Jazz and Elemento Valentina." My mental message to Elemento Jazz was let's get this over with. His facial expression told me he wasn't too pleased with my surrender.
"Pax vitae Dakila, haven't I told you before not to be formal with me." Valentina responded. Maya mumbled something that I was hoping it was something only I heard, one look at Elemento Jazz's face told me everything. It has already started, I gave him our mental note to be ready and he returned his. "What was that Legatus Maya?"
"She said Pax vitae, right Maya?" I quickly stared daggers at Maya.
"I heard that as well." Jazz stepped in hoping to out manoeuvre the ladies in order to snuff out the fire as well.
"Yes…I said Pax vitae Elemento Jazz and Valentina."
"Are you sure? I think I heard you say he's married you witch, or something along those lines."
I heard that too but I was praying she didn't hear it or it was just my imagination. Why couldn't it be my imagination?
"If you heard, then why did you ask?"
I could see Elemento Jazz sweating bullets, the last time these two went at it—it was bad for both parties. Of course since Valentina is an Elemento in strength she out classes Maya by a mile and demonstrated this by beating her up. Maya retaliated by flashporting her to the middle of the Khan desert in Terra. They haven't been in the same room since then let alone the same floor in Maximiliano.
"Pax vitae Capitaneus Dakila and Legatus Maya, we were just about to…"
"Shut up, it seems that Legatus has something to say." She crept closer to Maya, I instinctively got in the way and so too did Jazz. I guess no matter how we try we already knew this was unavoidable between them. The only distance that is safe for these two is that of a mountain otherwise Lord Justice's statues will all be destroyed.
"Lord Justice just sent us on a mission Valentina, we don't have time for this." Jazz said to the short woman looking over his shoulder.
"Yes Valentina please listen to Jasmine." A voice from behind the Elemento said. We all turned in the direction of the voice, it was Lord Justice in his mellow tone.
"But she started it."
"I just stated that the man you're hitting on is married."
"Who said I was hitting on him."
"As if you tell other Capitaneus not to call you Elemento."
"Lord Justice, I thought we had agreed would never call me by that name. It's Jazz."
Lord Justice was forced to rub his head because of the bickering between the two women, I understand. I'm also getting a headache. It's like being surrounded by children yet these are all important figures in the Creed. Why can't we just be normal people, is that so hard to ask for.
"Come now! Everyone settled down." Lord Justice raised his voice to silence the children but like children that did only for a moment.
"Just give me five minutes with her in the arena, she'll be a proper Legatus once I'm done with her and learn her place next to an Elemento."
"You'll have to catch me first, old hag."
"Old hag…, why you!"
"So desperate for a man, you even try to prey on other people's husbands, hmph I don't blame you at your age. I would also try my hardest not to die single and alone like for how long have you been an Elemento."
I've told Maya this but she has a talent of touching the wrong nerves and making any woman her enemy. In my opinion that's a scary thing but she is quite fond of my wife or she found someone who she couldn't beat in an argument. It is definitely a gift because Valentina is fuming right now. Elemento Jazz knew the drill and grabbed Valentina's arms as she clawed at Maya, I did the same with Maya who retaliated.
"We'll be taking our leave, stop squirming Val."
"Let go of me, this senorita needs discipline!"
"As if I would take it from someone without a man, and he is married for the last time. Happily!"
Elemento Jazz dragged the woman away before she dealt fatal blows with her tiny hands. She really wants a piece of Maya I thought, I on the other dragged Maya back nearly bumping into one of the guards.
"So much energy from this generation of warriors." Lord Justice exhaled.
I carried Maya into his office and Elemento Jazz went the opposite direction with his own troublesome female. The doors were closed behind us by Tabatha who was somehow invisible and quiet during the ordeal. How does she do it? I asked myself. I didn't even notice when she left Jazz's side, probably because we all knew things would heat up.
"Pax vitae Lord Justice."
"Pax vitae Lord Justice." Maya followed after she calmed herself.
"Pax vitae children."
It was at first a weird pill to swallow being called a child by someone who didn't even look older than a seventeen year old. Though his appearance as a young man made it feel weird, I had to remind myself that he is a thousand four hundred and eighty six this year. The perks of being born a descendant of a god and a demi-god. Orisha Oko the son of the god of earth, Terra. That's his lineage, his father's statue is mostly the one he is seen praying to here in Maximiliano. He must miss his father whom he lost Two thousand years ago in the 'Fall of The Demi-gods'.
"I see that your mission was a success with the unfortunate loss of Elementiss Nam."
"Yes it was, if only he kept his head." Maya commented. "We should of flashpoint to his position but the Terragon…"
"Don't lose your head to what could have been and focus on what is, we must give him a proper sendoff for now." He stood from his desk, with both hands behind him. He made his way to his window and was focused on the bustling of the city. "What pains me is that this is one of the many losses we've had protecting Titen and more are to come."
"That's because he is a curse on us, we should stop whatever plans Kreetess has for him by…"
"Killing him." His chi rose, suffocating Maya and putting her in her place. Maya can go toe to toe with an Elemento even though she would be outclassed but Lord Justice is a different beast. Though he is the kindest person I know, he can be strict when it comes to the lives of children. "How would that make us any different from the enemy!? We at the Creed protect children, we do not harm them regardless of their lineage!"
"…."
"I'm disgusted that this was the solution everyone recommended, he is innocent—he is a child! Whether you like to believe it or not, the Creed will not have the blood of the innocent staining its name. Asking him to even fulfill this prophecy is already too much, but Hololivia always has her reasons."
"Forgive me Lord Justice, I just meant we should be proactive. One step ahead of the enemy."
"And what have we been doing!?"
"If my mental report was any indication, that child is not on our side."
"Why would he be when half of you wants him dead and that was Hololivia's doing, not the child. She always acts in her own way, we don't see what she sees." He returned to his desk and sat down, he went through his piles of paper.
"In your left drawer, Lord Justice." Tabatha said.
Lord Justice immediately opened his left drawer and took out a folder. He opened it, checked its contents and outstretched it in my direction.
"Thank you Tabatha."
I took the folder and opened it to the sketch of a young Terrian boy, no older than Titen.
"Who is this Akiyon Koba?" I asked.
"Your next assignment, after Nam's burial I need you to flashport to the border city of Fuse and escort him here."
"What will I be doing Lord Justice?" Maya asked.
"You will be escorting the Nguyĕn family to tonight's burial and Lord Khan back to his home after he has buried his third son. He must attend a summit with other noble leaders of Fulgur to hold face and represent us in their discussions." Tabatha answered on behalf of Lord Justice, I only glanced back at her and focused my attention back at my leader.
"Sounds like I am being punished."
"Don't take it that way, doesn't the sight of the Terragons disgust you." Tabatha taunted. "So this mission of being nowhere near the Creed is a godsend, after all we will be seeing a lot of him tomorrow."
"I believe that's for the best." I chimed in, getting an unpleasant look from Maya. Nothing I couldn't handle.
"I knew of the order my sister gave you, so I gave Dakila an opposing one. We can't afford to be rash in this war and that order was a rash order. Who knows what would've happened if Titen was dead? What if that was what Kreetess wanted? You know what ability he possesses. Instead of wasting resources and send some Venaliciums to fetch Titen he could just be waiting for him to die. That man conquered a nation in a day before he had the Perditas, his cunning is what we have to fight against not just the Perditas. Do you understand that?"
"As a corpse my lord he would have been no different from his army of…"
"Do you believe that, then you're are as naive as he wants you to be and that's dangerous against him. He has had more than a decade to unlock the secrets of the Perdita blades. The one thing we know about them is that they can only be countered by Titen, the person you want dead! How will we end this war then?" Lord Justice rubbed his temple as he laid back on his chair. "I'm not angry at you Maya or what you nearly did, I'm angry at who gave you the order. Don't follow in her footsteps because of grief, that's all I ask of the child. A simple mission like this will do you wonders, now excuse us."
"Pax vitae." Maya took her bow and left, the door was opened and closed by Tabatha.
I focused my attention back at Lord Justice who had gone back to signing some paperwork.
"That child is the Great Ark Guardian."
"What!"
"He is going to be competing in this year's exam."
"I thought he was a myth and why is he so young?"
"That we do not know, but from what we've been told from sources. He is ignorant of this world, he spent his entire life in the Great Ark forest. We assume that he is the third generation Great Ark Guardian and participating for one reason." Tabatha added.
"Titen." I said
"Yes, we don't know if he is a friend or a foe. Since the Guardian has never left the forest and no one has ever been to enter unless permitted by the forest itself."
"Is it true that the Great Ark forest is alive?"
"Yes and the Guardian is just as special."
"How so?"
"Great Ark is an evol affinity such as Alloy Manipulation, with the help of such a warrior we might change the scale of this war." Lord Justice smirked.
"With one kid?"
"Well not right now, he is still young but here at the Creed. We can make sure he is a capable warrior. That was the condition relayed to us."
"By who?"
"Not who, what." Tabatha interjected and silence followed.
It can't be, I thought. "The forest asked us to train him."
"And protect him. I guess it realises that we are all in this together." Lord Justice said as he went to open the window to sit. A black pipe appeared in his hand from the Crude oil in manifested. His affinity, Tabatha, quickly moved forward with a lighter at hand. She lit the tail end of the pipe igniting the tobacco while he drew and inhaled the smoke. He exhaled outside the window and Tabatha went back to her position. "Protect him with your life Vivian and Yvonne."
As he said this his shadow distorted and two shadow spots flowed from his shadow and flowed to my own.
"Vivian and Yvonne will accompany you Capitaneus Dakila, it will be a while before you can flashport back. Unlike with Titen, we didn't flashpoint him here because we wanted to narrow down the scope of the traitors." Tabatha explained.
"I can flashport back immediately, the distance means nothing to me."
"Indeed it would be that simple, but the Great Ark warrior has something akin to divine protection. This prevents him from being flashported away by just anyone, you must first gain his trust then you'll be able to flashport him here." Tabatha said.
Take him to see the city and enjoy the nightlife of Fuse, but make sure you've gained the trust of not only the boy but also that of the forest before sunrise." Lord Justice said as he was smoking his pipe.
"Can't he control it?" I asked.
"No, sources say it's autonomous." Tabatha added.
"I must gain a forest's trust basically."
"Basically. Do you see why I didn't choose Maya for this mission, she just doesn't have the fineness with children."
"I see Lord Justice, is that all?"
"Yes, go see your kids and mourn Nam deeply but quickly. We don't even have the luxury to do that, you leave first thing after the ceremony."
"No rest for the wicked huh?"
"I wish we were in times of peace as well, we can't even mourn our comrades properly. Even spending time with family has been hard for you, and when you are an Elemento it won't be easier."
"I won't be an Elemento Lord Justice, just his substitute."
"In this war Elementos are going to die, it's inevitable. We will need people capable of filling their shoes. That is why I'm pushing you Dakila, things will only get tougher from here on out."
"I understand Lord Justice."
"Pax vitae child."
"Pax vitae father, Tabatha."
She bowed her head to me and opened the door for me, it closed behind me and I saluted the two women standing guard. I went down straight to the lobby for processing, passing many Creeds who saluted me. I made my way to the reception table manned or should I say womenned by eight ladies. I went straight to Khalila the Fulgurian broker. That's what we call individuals who pass out missions in the Creed. I was lucky to be the only one dealing with Khalila. The other ladies were busy but acknowledged me deeply with three pats on their chest.
"Capitaneus Dakila, pax witae."
"Pax vitae Khalila."
"I heard about Nam, I'm so sorry."
"Thank you, but Hong is the one that deserves to hear that."
"I wanted too but that wouldn't be something I would want to hear myself, I just gave her a hug though."
"Thank you Lila, that means a lot to me."
"What can I do for you, Capitaneus?"
"I just want to check in and out, I want to go home before the ceremony."
"To think it was just three days ago Nam checked out, now today we will be burning the pyre. To be quite honest I was worried more would not return, we were lucky this time." Indeed we were. She took out her receptionist book and charted down something on it, probably the entry time and exit. "Please sign here and say something to Lula and the kids for me." After signing she proceeded to hand me something wrapped as I handed her the book.
"What's this?" I asked as I looked at the object, my only hope that it wasn't something weird.
"Something for Lula but mostly you."
I took a sneak and saw a small bottle with a liquid inside.
"I hope this isn't what I think it is?"
"It is, you've been on mission after mission. It's not good for marriage to be distant with your partner for so long. Especially if she is pregnant with your third child, women have needs you know." She hid her mouth with one hand for the last part.
"I know, she's probably pissed at me right now."
"Pax vitae Capitaneus."
"Pax vitae and thank you."
"Don't thank me, I'm just the broker."
Of course it has to be him, that old man is a slave driver inside and outside Maximiliano. I left the walls of Maximiliano and into the city I began my way to my family, the central was as busy as ever. Tourists all over the world came to see the halls of Maximiliano and some came to pray to the gods statues made by Lord Justice. This meant that the locals had to capitalise as much as possible by starting their own businesses, that's why it was so busy here in front of Maximiliano. Some of the locals noticed me and acknowledged me, I did the same. Many of the shopkeepers gave me food and gifts, some for condolences others for my wife.
This made me dread going home even more, one of the ladies gave me some cold tea and said it's for my voice. "Sing to her."
I highly doubt my voice will calm her storm anymore, by the time I made it to the district where my house is. I was carrying too many things for me to handle, and it was like all were avoiding me. Yeah I don't want to go where I'm going to right now but I have too. I made it to my modest double story house like the many others in my area. I walked onto my yard and Floppy, our dog, was the first to greet me. Tail wagging and him barking non stop as if he was warning me or just happy to see me. My two boys followed up and ran to me from the house probably upon hearing Flopp's barking.
"Dad!" They shouted in correlation.
"Boys! Help daddy out will ya."
The two boys took whatever they could.
"I wouldn't go in there, she's been waiting for you."
"A man has to sometimes do what a man has to do."
"I'm glad I'm still a boy." My firstborn Dakila junior joked.
I started singing, hoping what made her fall for me in the first place was enough to please the beast, and put it to sleep. I walked in behind the boys to see the beautiful figure of my three months pregnant wife who was still cooking. She turned her head to look at me and instead of her screaming "Dakila you lying shit."
But instead she just said. "Welcome home Capitaneus." My wife said gently. This shocked me out of my song as tears went down her cheeks, she quickly wiped them away. "If you wait a few moments the food will be ready." She walked over to me and gave me a kiss and whispered something to my ear. "I'm glad you made it home, I was informed about Nam. I'm sorry." "Oh goodie you brought basil with you, I was about to send junior to go buy some in from Miss Gan!"
"Are you okay Lula, is something the matter?"
"Hmm…why do you ask?"
"Well you haven't, you know."
"Know what?"
"Yeah dad know what?" Vekila asked. I gave him a bad stare to get rid of the little pest.
"I'm surprised you're not shouting at me, and I find that to be even scarier now." I said as I placed down all that I was given on the table. The boys were quick to pack everything as routine with efforts of helping their mother.
"The doctor said stress is not good for the baby and the more I stress the possibility of it turning out to be a boy increases. Something about boys being born from stressed mothers in the mother's congress, I want a girl now. This house is turning into a boys club now."
Is that the reason? If so, I wonder who these women are. They deserve my thanks, my wife has never cared about stressing the baby.
"I'm so glad you're keeping the baby in mind, I probably have not been keeping it in mind."
"Her."
"Excuse me."
"It isn't an it or him, her. Keep up with me."
"I'm sorry baby girl for stressing your mother." I said as I caressed her belly bump.
"You must be very tired, sit down and wait for lunch. You'll wash up after."
"I don't deserve you."
"You don't."
Her response made my heart skip a beat, I guess even though not showing it she must be really mad.
"Boys! Bring your father water and a towel."
"Yes mom." my sons shouted in correlation.
Water in a basin was brought to me and my towel, I rinsed my face in the basin on the table. My hands were next, after that my eldest took the basin with the towel.
"Oh dear, you spilled some water on the table. Let me wipe." She used the cloth that was on her shoulder to wipe the table. I just couldn't help but admire her beauty.
"You're beautiful right now as you are, I wish you could stay pregnant forever."
"Don't be silly, I want to meet the baby very soon. It's hard being pregnant for the third time."
"And here I thought number four was still up for debate."
The boys joined me at the table after placing the plates and brought my wine. My wife dished my favourite chicken and rice bowl with sides, we sat together and talked about absolutely everything and nothing. This was what family is all about, spending time together and discussing things that aren't politics. Nobles get it so wrong, if I were to die anytime soon it would be as a happy man. I reached out and grabbed my wife's hand.
"I'm a lucky man."
"Why are you talking like that, Capitaneus."
"Why do you keep calling me that?"
"Because very soon you won't be a Capitaneus. You can't wait can you? You've been waiting for this since you were a boy, boys your father used to bother everyone telling them. One day I'll be the next Elemento, hahaha then everyone would say we believe it when we see it. He would then throw a fit whenever didn't believe him."
"But you did, boys listen up. Finish up so you can go and clean up."
"Yes sir, um where are we going."
"To eat some ice cream."
"Yes!" The boys shouted and began to swallow their food getting a bad look from their mother. They left me and my wife at the table after they placed their dishes in the sink, and up the stairs they went.
"Now that we're all alone, I think we should add another baby on top of that one."
Lula giggled. "That's not how it works and you know that. Let me wash the dishes first…wha!" I pulled my wife to my lap where she sat.
"I'll do that, you need not stand all day my lady. Especially since you are carrying my princess, remember stress will turn her into a boy."
"I see that you're having fun with this, I see. You haven't washed up yet."
"You know you love my manly smell, but I'll wipe up. Now go get ready, I know you like to take all day to prepare."
"A lady must."
"I don't mind."
"I'm not you, now wash the dishes." My wife stood from my lap and went up the stairs, inciting me at every chance.
I drank my wine in my cup until it was empty and flashpoint the dishes clean, after that I flashpoint to the river at the end of the district for a dip. After barely cleaning myself up I flashpointed back home naked and wet, by the time I arrived at my house. I was dry and butt naked in our living room. I took out the bottle Khalila gave me and downed it immediately, I took my step up the stairs slowly. My sons were also butt naked when I made it to the second floor. They were heading towards the bathroom, and saw my thing rise up for the occasion I had for my wife. Wow this stuff is quick to action I thought, but it was embarrassing being seen this way by my boys.
"Daddy are you going to bath with us?" My youngest asked.
"No, daddy was just tired of wearing armour. Hurry up before I leave you."
My oldest knew the drill and led his brother to the bath. I walked into my room to find my wife on the bed. Laying there in the new lingerie I bought for her a while ago.
"Well Capitaneus, come save me with that sword."
"You mean Elemento Dakila."
"My hero."
I jumped on the bed to which my wife and I giggled and we got straight to business.