DIVINE CHAMPIONS 6: A FINAL CONFLICT

FROST: MOTHER OF COINCIDENCES

"Oh my gods!" The guy, who's name, apparently, was Avik, asked, "You are 'the' Ritabrata Sarkar? I had never really seen your images, or I would have recognized you. I'm such a huge admirer of your work."

"Thanks." Rick said, as the five got into a single cab. Apparently, the cab driver was nice, and he allowed the lady to join the men. 

"So, you guys are tasked to protect a box of Crystals that are, like, very powerful?" Delilah asked.

"Yeah." Ishaan said, sitting in front with Rick, "Each Crystal represents a form of death. So, they are very powerful. And we are taking them to Vespasa, where we can secure one of them."

"Vespasa?" Delilah asked, curious, "That isn't a Norse place."

"And as much as I have heard," Avik said, "That city was your grandfather's project."

"His best work." Rick said, "And no, that isn't a Norse place. But Vespasa hosts a divine champion. We might get help from her."

"Wish I could go there." Delilah said, "People from my birth's culture, I would have loved to see them."

"Well, you promised me a whole South American trip, which might include them too." Avik said, "How would that sound if a former Amazon Queen didn't keep her promise?"

"You are an Amazon?" Mikael asked, remembering the roles of the Amazons in Iliad.

"I was." Delilah said, her eyes travelling back in time as if, "Then I met this man. And I moved to Atlantis." The two held hands. "You two remind me of two of our friends." Mikael said, "They are our leaders, and they're travelling between worlds to collect ingredients to build a powerful artifact."

"Wow!" Avik said, "So, like, Asgard?"

"That's where they started." Rick said, "It's two of my oldest friends, and my closest people. I am worried for them. I won't get any news from them until they return back to Midgard."

"Midgard is Earth." Mikael added.

"Yes, yes. I know." Avik said, chuckling.

The two groups shared a few bits and pieces of their worlds to each other, as they reached the airport. As the three got down and paid their bit, Delilah asked to go to the Plaza de Mayo. The cab driver nodded. The two waved them goodbye, as the cab left. The boys returned to the plane, and Mikael took a while to register someone. "We acted much cooler than we expected." Ishaan said, "They were Greek demigods. The first we had ever seen."

"Time for late realizations." Rick said, laughing, "I think we handled it better since we had known that people like them exist, like we exist. They seemed pretty baffled."

"Yeah, but they got over it soon enough. I think they had known of our existence." Mikael replied.

"Anyway, coffee?" Rick asked.

"Please." Mikael and Ishaan said in unison, "Any call..." And Rick's cell rang. Rick picked it up, and said, "Rishi. Ishaan, would you ask for the coffee?"

"Got it." Ishaan got up, and pressed the button, calling one of the hostesses. As he talked, Rick picked up the phone, and said, in a relieved voice, "Rishi!" He quickly reacted though, and put the phone on speaker. "Hey, guys, how are you three?" Rishi asked.

"Alright. Safe so far." Rick said.

"How was Vespasa?"

"We haven't reached yet."

"What?"

Rick quickly filled in on everything, but left out the Greek demigods thing. It was a good idea probably. Gods knew what these two were going through. More bombs being dropped wouldn't help. "Is Aitri Didi okay?" Ishaan asked, as he was done with the ordering.

"She's fine, yes. We got two ingredients. But we are kinda stuck." Rishi said.

"Where are you stuck?" Rick asked.

"Some island." Rishi said, "I had no idea it existed. Rick, if I say it, you won't believe it."

"I'll believe, if my hunch is right. Go on."

"What do you mean?"

"Just say the name, poor man's Thor."

"Atlantis." Rick clapped at the word. Mikael gasped, Ishaan just said, "Woo!"

"What?"

"Who did you meet there?"

"The king, who we are about to talk to, who could help us get out there again. Apparently, he's some sort of wizard, like you. And his girlfriend, the general. No one else in particular."

"Ask them, if they know Avik and Delilah."

"Gimme a sec." Rishi said, before leaving the phone on hold. He came back a second later, and said, "Avik is his cousin, apparently. Elder brother sort. And Delilah has been..."

"Living in Atlantis after relinquishing her title as the Queen of Amazons?"

"Yes." Rishi's voice got curious, "What's going on?"

"We met Avik and Delilah in Buenos Aires." Ishaan said. And so, now, both filled in everything. Rishi spoke first, "How coincidental that we meet two groups of Atlanteans at the same day. Lords know if that's a sign."

"Anyway, it is time for us to fly again. We are headed for Salta, from there, I think, on road to Vespasa. You figure out a way to get away from there. They seem nice people, but we are short of time." Mikael added.

"I know, I know. Anyway, good luck."

"Oh, and Rish!" Rick asked.

"Yeah?"

"Call your parents. They are worried sick."

"Already did." Rishi said, laughing, "I always call them first."

It took the attendants more than half an hour to serve them coffee, after the plane was back in the air, and it was safe again to move. Rick apologized to the boys for dragging them to the Obelisk, and said that it was the fact that he was tensed about Rishi and Aitri, and he wanted to distract himself, but it was not his right to drag them with him too. However, no one was mad at him, so that settled pretty easily. Mikael looked out of the window, hoping that everything went smoothly till they reached Vespasa. He looked at Ishaan, who also looked outside the window, his hand wrapping his cheek. The ring on his finger glistened. He seemed lost in thought. That was good. His thoughts normally turned to songs from the nightingale-like voice of his. Mikael noted the time. Around nine in the morning. He looked on as Rick read a local newspaper that he had bought on the way of return from the Obelisk. He was working to get more fluent in Spanish. He was working hard for the quest, which meant that Mikael needed to as well.