Chapter 262: The Blue Thieving god appears
In a popular inn at Base 137 was a haven of noise, filled with the chatter of travelers, merchants, and mercenaries. In a dimly lit corner, a hulking figure reclined with an air of nonchalance.
Debul, broad-chested and unapologetically hairy, had his upper body exposed, the crude scars on his chest telling stories of countless battles. His lack of decorum earned him a few disgusted glances, but he remained indifferent, his focus on the cold black drink with green hues swirling in his mug.
Just as he raised it to his lips, the door to the inn swung open with a bang. A wiry man named Kayyo bolted inside, his steps frantic as if he carried the weight of a secret too heavy to bear alone.
"Debul, Debul, something has happened!" Kayyo's voice rang out, drawing curious stares from the inn's patrons.
Debul barely turned his head, his lazy gaze piercing through the dim light. "What is it this time, Kayyo? Another of your false gossips? Or have you come to bless us with one of your outright lies, like last time?"
Kayyo's face reddened at the jab, but he straightened his spine, his words tumbling out with conviction. "No, Debul, I swear it's true this time! Everyone is talking about it—"
The inn grew quieter as the patrons leaned in, curiosity piqued. Conversations died down, chairs creaked as people adjusted their seats, eager to eavesdrop. In the furthest corner of the room, a lone figure sat, shrouded in mystery. He wore a hood that cast a shadow over his face, his eyes hidden behind sleek shades. This was the infamous Blue Thieving God, a master trickster whose presence alone could silence a room.
After leaving the higher realm with Solaris and Lunara, he had been combing the lower realms of the Kaelrian planet for weeks, monitoring any whisper or rumor that might lead him to Tessa. Her sudden disappearance from the higher realm had sent shockwaves through the higher gods and the god's servants and maids alike. And yet, every lead he had followed so far had turned to ash.
But as Kayyo burst through the door, something in the air shifted. For the first time in weeks, the Bandel Blue felt a twinge of hope in whatever information the informant brought. Could this be the clue he had been waiting for?
Debul, unfazed by the growing tension, twirled his drink and took a long sip, his playful smirk unfaltering. "Out with it, Kayyo. Or are you just here to tell us another story of some poor woman who rejected you? That hardly qualifies as news."
Kayyo bristled, his indignation clear. "No, Debul, listen! This is important! A woman appeared in the Western Plains close to the entrance of the Base—"
Debul raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Oh, the Western Plains? Fascinating. Do go on."
Kayyo ignored the sarcasm, his voice rising with urgency. "She claimed to be the daughter of Lord Solaris. And she didn't whisper it, Debul—she called him by name!"
A collective gasp swept through the room. Even the clinking of mugs ceased, the silence in the inn so complete that the faint crackle of the hearth seemed deafening. Debul froze mid-sip, his smirk slipping into a frown. The weight of Kayyo's words settled over the room like a heavy fog.
In the corner, Bandel Blue, the Thieving God, finally looked up from his seat. His pulse quickened, his sharp mind piecing together possibilities. Tessa. Could it really be her? His calm demeanor betrayed none of his internal turmoil, but his grip on the table tightened.
Kayyo, emboldened by the rapt attention, continued. "She has powers, Debul. Powers like his. I saw her release bands of forceful energy with a flick of her wrist, and the ambassador Dzek agents who tried to confront her—they couldn't even get close. She said she was here on Lord Solaris' orders."
Debul leaned forward, his playful demeanor gone. "Are you certain of what you're saying, Kayyo? The daughter of Solaris is nothing but a myth. A story told to scare children. Last time I heard it was a rumor that surfaced a year ago, when some claimed that King Rhopgin had died."
Kayyo shook his head vehemently. "I swear, Debul, it's true. The entire Western Plains is abuzz. People are flocking to see her. They say she's heading towards the Kaelrian Council to meet the elders."
Bandel Blue clenched his jaw. The mention of Tessa in connection to Solaris was no coincidence. If this rumor held any truth, it could unravel everything he had been seeking. His patience, however, would serve him well. For now, he would listen and wait, his mind calculating his next move.
As Kayyo continued to recount what he had witnessed, the atmosphere in the inn grew electric. Whispers filled the air as patrons speculated on what it all meant. And in the shadows, the Thieving God remained still, his heart racing with anticipation. Tessa's reappearance wasn't just news; it was a spark that could ignite a firestorm across the Kaelrian realms and even as far as planet earth.
As Kayyo continued to recount what he had witnessed, the atmosphere in the inn grew electric. Whispers filled the air, patrons exchanging murmurs about the strange tale of Tessa and her connection to the legendary Lord Solaris. The tension was palpable, and even the flickering flames in the hearth seemed to hold their breath, adding to the suspense.
Bandel Blue, the enigmatic Thieving God, remained motionless in the shadows. His hood cast deep shadows over his face, but beneath it, his mind was racing.
Every word out of Kayyo's mouth tugged at the strings of a truth Bandel had been hunting for ages. Tessa's reappearance wasn't just news; it was a spark that could ignite a firestorm across the Kaelrian realms—a storm he needed to be at the center of.
Debul, still nursing his drink, tried to dismiss the growing buzz. "I told you, Kayyo," he drawled, a playful smirk plastered across his face as he swirled his drink lazily, "your choices of women are bad. I'm sure she rejected you. So you made up this whole tale, alright you can stop now, I admit you're a good story teller, whatever, this tale.., That is hardly newsworthy."
But Kayyo wasn't backing down this time. His voice carried a conviction that pierced through the skepticism in the room. "That's not it, listen! She claims to be the Daughter of Lord Solaris. She even called him by name!"
The room fell silent, every patron frozen mid-action. Even Bandel Blue's sharp gaze shifted toward Kayyo, his attention wholly captured. His fingers tightened on the edge of the table, his usual calm demeanor threatening to break. He resisted the urge to leap up and shake every detail out of Kayyo; his self-control was the only thing holding him back from revealing himself.