Death, Devotion, Dissonance

They shared another look at the device in Evin's hands.

"Cosmic Rith, can you make a portal to Arcvallen city?" Melayn asked.

The device's existence disgruntled the woman at first, but she was still the kingdom's representative mage. She had calmed down and were taking control of the situation.

"No," Rith shook her head. "My core's too small for such a big jump. I'll need to stop between here and there once, recharge, then jump to Arcvallen. And I can't jump right away either. I'll need twenty minutes to recharge."

"Then we'll do that," Melayn said. She turned to Evin. "Please give me the device for safekeeping."

"Wait, wait," Evin suddenly interjected. "Don't take control so casually."

Ssatsko frowned, thinking that Evin was acting uncharacteristically childish.

"This isn't the time to decide who's the leader here, child," Melayn replied. "Give me the device."

"I'm not vying for control here," Evin replied. "I just have doubts on whether you're a proper representative from the kingdom in the first place."

"What are you even talking about?"

"As far as I know, only Chairman Kent told me you're a representative from the kingdom. He first mentioned it, and he was present when you first came to meet me. You've never shown me anything that said you were an official of the kingdom. Show me your papers, or some signed decree of the kingdom, showing me your credibility."

"Why would I carry around something like that?" Melayn scoffed. "And why would you even think that Chairman of yours is working against the best interests of the kingdom?"

"Personal reasons, but I know he's not entirely trustworthy," Evin replied. "But that doesn't matter. My mind won't change until you produce proof for me."

"You stubborn little shit," Melayn cursed and walked at Evin to snatch the device herself.

A loud bang resonated and Ssatsko saw the patch of grass underneath Melayn being hit by something.

"Next one will hit you in the head," Evin threatened.

Ssatsko cursed, unsure whose side he was supposed to take. He first felt Evin was being childish, but he now knew he was being either paranoid or justifiably suspicious. Ssatsko never met this Chairman of theirs, but he knew Evin wasn't stupid.

Melayn, of course, wasn't willing to let go of a challenge like that.

"Try it!" Melayn snarled. "You think I'm a mage for nothing?"

Without even a chant, an armor of molten red materialized on her body. The air shook around her, the same as it shakes above a burning fire, as she started pulsating heat around herself. The ground beneath her was charred instantly, the strands of grass not even allowed to burn properly.

Evin did not flinch away from the sight, instead opting to cast his own spell. His invisible arsenal was, as the name suggested, invisible, but Ssatsko knew his spells were floating about the air.

Ssatsko pulled back Lora and the other non-mages, expecting something ugly to happen.

"Lady Melayn," Rith floated in front of the woman. "I may not be able to create long-distance portals, but I'm entirely capable of my other tricks. And it's not like Evin's working against you. He's willing to give the device to the kingdom, but he's only mistrustful of you being an impostor, right?"

Some thought of Cosmics as a peaceful, harmless race, but Ssatsko knew what they were capable of. With her taking Evin's side, the advantage tilted to them.

'But for the love of the Empress, I refuse to take part in this idiocy,' Ssatsko decided.

His goal was Lora and her family's safety.

"Yes," Evin spoke. "I don't mind giving this thing to the kingdom, I just don't want you carrying it."

Melayn scoffed, but she let go of her molten armor. "Fine."

The tension in the air cleared slightly.

"Then I'll tell everyone here when I'll be ready to create a portal again," Rith said and clapped her feline paws together. It did not produce a clapping sound, only a flat thud.

"Sure," Evin said and looked towards Ssatsko and the rest. "Theor, can you keep Sasha company? Please keep close to Rith if you can."

"S-sure."

"Mom, Ssatsko, we should talk."

Ssatsko nodded and urged Lora to follow behind. He didn't know why Lora had to be there, but he liked it. Lately, it felt like his daughter was being flung about by the circumstances too much. Even if she couldn't do anything about it, at least she could know what exactly was happening.

"What do you think?" Ssatsko found himself asking.

Now that the danger passed, Ssatsko found time to think about the events and their implications. So far, he wasn't very optimistic about the whole situation. He felt like he needed to hear a different perspective, but he was surprised he was willing to consult the opinions of his grandson.

'Well, Chief always said that wisdom does not come from age.'

"About?" Evin replied.

"This whole thing. This man waiting for us right next to the Cataract, the device turning out to be something completely unknown, and didn't that Lyudvik lad possess the same thing?"

"Well, if they could turn invisible like that, they must've heard us talking about going to the Cataract…" Evin said. "And this whole thing's turning out to be much bigger than… well, what I expected. And I've been wondering if we're really safe in your Tribe…" Evin whispered. "I mean, with technology like this, it wouldn't be hard for them to find their way to the North."

Ssatsko shook his head.

"It's possible, but these secret organizations - for lack of better description – they face a lot of pressure just to stay afloat," Ssatsko explained. "For them to produce such devices without being found out, they need to be very well hidden. Usually, circumstances don't allow them to become an international threat."

"Is that how it works?"

"Yes," Ssatsko replied.

"Then, are you absolutely sure you can be safe in your tribe?" Evin asked.

"We will be," Ssatsko replied with no hesitation. His Chief deserved his unconditional trust.

"I'll trust you on that," Evin replied. "I'll give this thing to Melayn and we'll go on our way, then."

"But weren't you willing to fight for it just now?"

"No offence to your tribe, but I was thinking we might need to beg the kingdom for safety. I could've needed the device as a bargaining chip," Evin shrugged.

Ssatsko could see the logic, but he felt it was too optimistic. "I don't think that alone will be enough."

"I have other cards too. The kingdom has a huge investment in me," Evin pointed his chin at Rith.

Ssatsko struggled to understand the meaning of the act.

'What does Rith have something to do with this…? She's a good friend of Evin's by the look of things, and she was even willing to stand against Melayn,' Ssatsko's head was filled with thoughts. 'Wait, why does Rith even stay with Evin so often? Cosmics do many things for money, but I can't imagine Evin paying them to just hang out with him… He mentioned an investment from the kingdom, didn't he?'

Suddenly, things clicked in Ssatsko's head. The kingdom was having the Cosmic teach Evin.

'But even then, it doesn't mean much. There were previous attempts of mages trying to learn portals from Cosmics, but none of them really amounted to anything. Everyone considered it a huge waste of money, and some mages even suspected the Cosmics weren't entirely honest with their teachings.

"That too, doesn't mean much," Ssatsko said.

He felt like Evin was being too cocky, so as the elder, he felt he needed to help tone it down. He himself was prideful like the boy, after all.

"Their investment already paid off," the boy smiled slyly. "They just don't know it yet."

Ssatsko froze in place.

"Don't tell anyone, alright?" Evin said. "We'll get to your Tribe first and I'll go back to them."