[Agency Leader: The video resurfaced. Removing it is no longer possible. Prepare yourself for the worst because Raffael will learn about this in due ti.]
That was the third ssage rlin received from the Agency Leader, and it was the worst so far. He stopped what he was doing and stared at the short sentences, his chest tight.
The Agency stayed out of the political sches of the Rulers and other powerhouses. They were not supposed to side with anyone, yet they’d approached rlin with the intent to help him. That help did not include combat support, for the Agency was unwilling to send out their Grandmasters and Rulers, saying their involvent would result in a chain of events humanity couldn’t afford.
Their reasoning was sound. It made sense, considering that the Rulers had their own groups and that they supported each other. They would also fight one another if a mber of their group was attacked first. Nonetheless, the Agency’s hesitation to act was frustrating to no end.
“Too early. Way too early.” rlin nibbled on his lower lip. If Raffael were to find out about Adam and the Elental Phoenix now, they’d die. There was no doubt that the Zerog household would cease to exist if they rose to face the Ruler of Fire head-on now.
Dirk needed another six months to finish his evolution. Even that was being generous. rlin was not so sure about Bert’s schedule. Then again, he would have never thought that the dragon heart and Core would be this potent. The Master Beastmaster had been ecstatic with his finds and concocted serums rlin didn’t even know were possible.
Honestly, it was all too much for him. Hence, he’d been focusing on training and research. And, of course, he spent most of his day with Dirk. Not physically together, but their minds were tightly intertwined. Dirk was still hurt, but the boredom was getting to the soon-to-be dragon. He was so bored that he continued to banter with rlin even when the evolution started.
At least the kids are out, rlin told himself when he focused back on the Agency Head’s ssage.
He could only hope they would stay away a little longer. Maybe that’d help distract the Ruler of Fire for longer if he found out how close he had been to the Elental Phoenix all this ti. Or…or it would lead to a massive fight because Raffael lost his patience, which was not all that unlikely, and Adam and his niece and nephew would return ho to the ruins of the Zerog estate.
Ruffling his hair, rlin made a decision.
He first visited his sister and brother-in-law.
“My informant believes Raffael will find out about Adam soon.” rlin didn’t beat around the bush when he t his family at the dining table.
Chloe’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. It clattered onto the plate a mont later, her face as white as a sheet of paper.
“We need to leave the estate.” Peter shot to his feet.
“What about our children?” Chloe followed her husband, still blanching but more in control of her emotions than one would think. “Do you still have the Detonator?”
Peter slowed and turned to her, the corner of his lip curling upward. “You’re a genius.”
He retrieved a pebble-sized crystal from his spatial ring. It was adorned with dozens of miniature ether circuits, which glowed as soon as Peter flooded them with ether. A mont later, he crushed the crystal.
“Good.” Chloe muttered, turning to her brother. “Lea has been warned. She knows not to return to the estate for the foreseeable future. If we want to communicate with them, we will have to use the outposts. Lea will know what to do.”
rlin just nodded at his sister. While he didn’t know they’d purchased a Detonator, it was a good call. Keeping the kids away from the Bastion was probably for the best.
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“What now?” Mathias Savier, Adam’s father, asked. He was seated at the dining table as well, although rlin had to acknowledge that he didn’t even notice the middle-aged man. Neither Adam’s father nor his mother had any sort of presence. They were so unlike that monstrous genius that it was hard to imagine them being related in any way.
“We will move locations. Away from the main sector and closer to the outskirts. The Zerog estate has a few buildings in the Bastion, but we won’t be able to use them. Instead, we’ll have to use one of the flats our great-grandfather’s servant purchased in her na. It’s one of our secret houses, if you will.” rlin notified Adam’s parents. “It would have been better to leave the Bastion altogether, but I cannot move Dirk around too much since he’s still injured. If not for that, I’d store him in the World and we would move to the wilderness, maybe join Adam and my niece and nephew.”
Adam’s mother shuddered at the thought of leaving the Bastion’s safety, but she understood the seriousness of the situation enough not to complain.
“Would it help if we left the Bastion and you stayed behind alone with your wyvern, or would that complicate things?” Adam’s father inquired, looking dead serious even when the rest of his body trembled in fear.
rlin glanced over at his sister and brother-in-law and shrugged. “When Raffael finds the video, he will have the Seekers search for Adam. They won’t be able to find him now that my niece was warned. That ans the two of you, as his parents, and my family will beco their main targets a few weeks into their search. By then, it is only a matter of ti before they find us.”
“Can’t we hide from the Seekers?” Adam’s mother asked in a quiet, quivering voice.
rlin snorted at that. “No. The Seekers will find us. We do not have the ans to hide from a Seeker. All we can do is stall them – make it as difficult as possible. But hiding? That won’t work.”
“Except if we move far enough from the Bastions. Even the strongest Seeker’s traits have limited range or capability,” Peter Zerog interjected. “Or die and resurrect like Adam’s phoenix. Or hide in a World or another dinsion.”
“We could also acquire Chaleons. A unique mutation of a chaleon beast. That, coupled with several other beasts that can mask or alter scent and ether frequency, and we’d be able to hide in plain sight.” Chloe sighed. “Unfortunately, neither of us has a World compatible with more than one of the beasts required to attain such a feat. Maybe Adam could, but even that I’m not sure about.”
One way or another, they had to leave. A plan had to be set in motion.
And that plan included the destruction of the Zerog estate.
***
The skyscraper collapsed in the distance. They watched the destruction in silence. Billions of credits lost, just so they could have the Agency follow the wrong trail. Just to stall the Seekers and make sure the Ruler of Fire wouldn’t co to them and take them by surprise first.
Was it really worth it? rlin certainly thought so. The destruction of the Zerog estate was painful. It was a legacy built by none other than their great-grandfather, and now it was no more. But it was a price he was willing to pay.
rlin was willing to pay a lot more if that was all it took to kill the Ruler of Fire. Raffael deserved to die, and rlin’s savings and plans over the last few years were bound to co to fruition sooner rather than later. All they needed was a little bit more ti. Ti the false trails, the destruction of the estate and all the evidence it carried would give them.
Chloe shed a tear and turned away, unable to bear the sight of their destroyed ho.
“I have to leave now.” rlin cleared his throat. “I will ssage you through the Rising Foundation if sothing changes. Until then, make sure everything goes according to plan.”
He tried to sound nonchalant, but rlin could tell that he sounded tense instead. Of course, he did. He, among all the people present, had waited for this mont the most. He was not so hung up on their family’s legacy either. All he wished for was vengeance. Even dying would be fine as long as he was the one who ended the Ruler of Fire’s life. That was all he wanted.
You are not going to die. And even if you do, you will not be alone.
Dirk thundered in his head, warming rlin’s heart.
He was not alone. No longer did he have to carry the darkness in his heart by himself. Dirk was with him – had been for more years than he bothered to rember. It certainly felt like forever. Like Dirk was always supposed to be here with him, as a part of rlin Zerog. They were one and the sa, and that would never change.
The Brown Wyvern rumbled in agreent in rlin’s head. He was excited. Ready to fight… ntally, at least. Physically, they’d have to tweak their plan a little.
That was where the next step of their plan led him. To Bert’s ho, hoping the Master Beaster would have a trick or two up his sleeves.
Then, with a little bit of luck, the Agency Head would finally cave in and give him one of those damn Solar Orbs.
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