DEMON HUNT

Chapter 25: Internal friction

The downpour stops. Klaus and Krager both turn towards the direction of the rumbling sound. The sound rages on, as the trees begin to shake.

Krager: Something's coming.

Klaus: It's already here.

A beautiful relatively large bird dives to the ground from the sky. The ice disappears instantly, and Lisandro's body falls on the bird's back as the bird takes off.

Krager: (Exclaims) The body! What was that? This is a probl...

Krager turns to Klaus and is surprised to see him laughing uncontrollably.

Krager: My lord?

Klaus: Lord of the snowy mountains, huh. He reached his prime in death.

Krager: Should I arrange to chase the bird?

Klaus: He's already dead. He deserves a proper burial. That bird fits the description of the White phoenix. The animal symbol of old Malvay. It was once so common that every inhabitant of Malvay would see one at least once every three days. It should be extinct...

Krager: Should I arrange to chase the bird, my lord?

Klaus: I heard you before, Krager. Don't bother. It's a mystical bird that
can negate our abilities. Once it moves, you can't stop it. Farewell...peasant.

Klaus turns to leave, but Krager stands back, amazed by what had just transpired.

Krager: (thought) I've never seen Lord Klaus so happy. This isn't the first time he's killed a hunter. So why...

Klaus: The lady Cassandra is still wrapped in your arms. Do you intend to put more filth on her than you already have? Shall I stop turning a blind eye to your act of disrespect?

Krager: My lord?

Klaus: How dare you forcefully put the lady to sleep.

Krager: Forgive me, my lord.

Klaus: Get moving. My mercy is often short lived.

Krager begins to walk hastily.

The surviving members of Mari's operation north sweep squad all wake up to an urgent summon from HQ. They had left the dark forest on a private aircraft which insanely reduced the time they'd have spent on the road. The aircraft was called for by Sinister and it landed on the closest place that'd allow for take off. Mario couldn't sleep throughout the night. He simply laid on his bed with his eyes open, deep in thought. Mari, however, was quite the opposite. One could argue that he slept like a comfortable baby. At 8 am, both hunters arrived at headquarters, dressed casually. After a disaster of a mission, one would expect the summon. To their surprise, there are a lot of other hunters there. They all converge at the gathering hall for the second time in a month. There is muttering and speculation in the crowd as they wait to be addressed. Apparently, Jolie is not in attendance. The crowd begins to pipe down, as Malcolm walks out of the inner chamber to address the crowd. His face is gloomy, depicting his mood.

Malcolm: Good day to you all.

Crowd: (chorus) Good day.

Malcolm: We deliberately try to reduce as much as possible, the number of times you all are called here...However, after what transpired yesterday, it is essential to have you here today. We lost twenty five hunters yesterday.

The larger part of the crowd do not display surprise, based on the fact that the casualties sometimes exceed that number.

Malcolm: Let us hold a moment of silence for our lost comrades.

The crowd goes silent as they observe the moment of silence. Nick who is standing beside Mari, however, isn't silent. He is chewing a gum and is being rather loud about it. The moment of silence soon ends.