Anathema (Cabal Series 2)

Thirty Three: Too Powerful

'Power changes you. The real question is, who do you become after?'

~~~~~~~

The high council room was tense.

Shia and the rest of the Marshalls and Generals were inside. The announcement of the next war was so urgent that even the Mayor of Northwoods was asked to participate. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the maps, sigils, and floating glyphs that covered the table.

"Harum is alive. And we need to keep everyone safe," Earl Baron said, voice heavy, echoing off the stone walls.

"We need every resource ready, every unit alert."

"We need to evacuate the townsfolk before the war, Earl." Mayor Jb was sitting beside his wife, Marshall Shia.

"I agree. Lalo pa't marami na ang bilang ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan dito sa bayan," Shia commented.

"Kung ganon, ilalabas natin sila ng border?" one of the generals asked.

"That would take too much time, General. At isa pa, hindi natin matitiyak na lahat sila susunod agad kung paalisin natin sila pansamantala dito sa city," another marshall answered.

"We won't need to do that if we can make another barrier within the city." Shia stood and stepped forward.

"This is where Harum would most likely start attacking." She pointed at the entrance of the border.

"O maaaring gamitin rin ni Harum ang mga claires niya to create an opening within the headquarters. But if I will create a dome within the border. We can evacuate them much faster," she added and then pointed at the top most part of the map.

"That would give us enough space and time to prepare for them. The dome will be stronger and safer. And since I will create it using the crystalist defense, Harum's claires will not be able to penetrate it."

"Tama ka, Marshall. But I worry about you," Marshall Dayne answered.

"Hindi ba makakaapekto ang gagawin mong barrier sa loob ng city sa mismong border ng Northwoods?" she added.

As the Marshall mentioned, the border that protects the whole city from the outside is a barrier created by Shia herself.

"Then the only thing we can do is break the barrier surrounding the border itself and replace it with the dark matter. We can have our healers and defense gift holders to surround the city with the dark matter. Sa ganong paraan, mas magiging malawak ang sakop ng mga healers habang nagsisimula ang gyera. And after that, we can rebuild the barrier," Shia answered which made the council murmur.

"Are you sure you can do that, Marshall Shia?" One of the high council member retorted.

"We all know that you failed to kill Harum that day resulting in this second war. Are you sure you would be able to fulfill your duties now?" they added as if mocking her.

She knows it. Everyone knows that Shia failed to kill Harum and instead sealed him with her gift that night.

The room grew quieter, but the silence was not respect. It was accusation.

A faint scoff echoed from the far end of the table.

"Sealed," one of the high council muttered.

"And now he walks again." A few low chuckles followed.

Shia did not react. Her fingers rested calmly on the edge of the table.

Mayor Jb slowly lifted his gaze and looked at the High Council.

"If Marshall Shia had not sealed Harum that night," he said evenly, "none of you would be sitting in this room right now." The chuckles stopped.

His eyes moved from one council member to another.