Tales of Demons & Gods

4. Devising A Plan

     As the common children continued to stand at the back wall, their teacher resumed her class, informing the other students of their current soul force scores. It was obvious to Nei-Li that the instructor was trying to get under his skin, but it wouldn't work. She told the other students of their score and used them to predict what level they would likely reach at the test in two months time. I dig to Nei-Li and his friends, as she didn't even mention their score, as it was too low to even waste her breath on. Nei-Li didn't feel the need to respond, because he was smart enough to know she was trying to bait him. Contrary to how he had just acted in class, Nei-Li was too smart to take the bait for he was already setting up his own trap. He sat there against the wall and continued to listen to the teacher ramble on and kissing the ass of any nobility present. It was a shameful act, but one that was view with different eyes this time out. The first time he was there, Nei-Li didn't think much of it, but now with the perspective of centuries of hindsight, he could see what was going on. She was recruiting noble families to join their own, to flee to safety and leave everyone else to die. He stood there and remained silent, going over past events in his head and trying to formulate if there was any way to change it. Hoping there was a way that he and his friends could do something, anything to save Glory City from its impending demise. Nei-Li could remember that fateful day as if it had happened to him the day before, as it was permanently in his memory like it was branded on with a hot iron.

     "Nei-Li," Lu Piao said, looking at his friend. "Is something troubling you?"

     "Yes," Nei-Li replied, not looking back at him. "There is a great weight on my shoulders, and it feels almost unbearable."

     "You shouldn't take this wager you made with the teacher so seriously," Lu Paio said, trying to reassure him. "I'm sure it will all work out."

     "That's not what's bothering me," Nei-Li said, sighing deeply. "I can't tell you what is bothering me, for it's something so outrageous that I can hardly believe it myself and I'm the one it's happening to."

     "Something happened to you?" Lu Paio asked, "When?"

     "This morning," Nei-Li asked, "Just before class started."

     "That would explain your outburst," Lu Paio said, thinking about it further, "It would also explain your challenge to the teacher. What happened to you?"

     "I can't say, not right now." Nei-Lie replied.

     "You don't trust me?" Lu Paio said, surprised.

     "No, that's not it," Nei-Li replied, "There are too many ears in the room. If we are to discuss what has happened to me, it must be in private. When I am ready to tell you, I'll make sure we have a bit more privacy. The fate of everything we hold dear is at stake, even our very lives."

     "I don't like the sound of this," Lu Paio said, "You're starting to scare me."

     "I am scared," Nei-Li replied, "What I've seen and what I know is horrifying. The ugly truth might be too intricate for some to handle, but I will tell you everything I know when the time is right. We all need to level up our power rankings as quickly as possible, not to win a silly wager but to defend our city."

     "Defend out city?" Lu Paio repeated, "I don't like the sound of that."

     "Our city is going to need us when the time comes." Nei-Li said, finally turning to face his friend. "Will you help me on my quest to defend Glory City?"

     "Yes, I will." Lu Paio said, smiling. "This is my city too, but shouldn't we tell the elders about it? Wouldn't they be able to help us?"

     "They will not listen to us, none of the adults will." Nei-Li said, confident his rants and wild premonitions would be tossed aside. He'll be branded a child with an overactive imagination, and shunned away rather than listened to. "Our only chance is to level up as quickly we can so if what I fear does happen, we can do something about it rather than run away. In order to protect our home, we need to become the strongest Demon Spiritists possible!"

     "I'm with you," Lu Paio reassured him, "Even if what you fear doesn't come to fruition, I will level up with you anyway to be prepared just in case."

     "Me too," De Ze, who was also standing at the back wall said, "If the city s in danger, we will all work hard to improve our rank to help out. We will not let anyone do something bad to our homes, not without a fight."

     "Excuse me!" Chen Xui called out from the back of the room, as she could see the kids at the wall were talking to one another. She couldn't hear them but knew they were conversing. "Talking will not help you win that wager!"

     "Neither will listening to your lessons," Nei-Li called back.

     The class went silent for a moment, but after a short silence the teacher went back to resuming her class and ignoring the comment made by Nei-Li.

     "I just don't know how we're going to do it," Lu Paio then told him, "I only have a red soul realm. With the support of my family's elixir, I could become a fighter without issue but a soul spiritist might be unrealistic."

     "I only have a red soul realm too, Lu." Nei-Li reminded him, "But the path to becoming a great demon spiritist isn't that troublesome at all. Do you think every one of those spoiled brats at the front levels up that high naturally? Of course not, they've been buying their higher rankings. And we can do it too; we just need a lot of money!"

     "It can be solved by money?" Lu Paio repeated, "I've got a few thousand saved up that I am willing to part with if I could become a better demon spiritist."

     "Two thousand?" Nei-Li replied, grinning as his friends had no idea what they were truly getting themselves into. "That will be nowhere near enough for what we need to do. We will need millions, maybe even tens of millions worth of demon spirit coins to accomplish our goals."

     "Millions?" Lu Paio said, gulping loudly. "That's a lot of money. How in all of Glory City are we going to be able to earn that kind of wealth?"

     "I have a plan," Nei-Li said as he looked over at someone sitting on the other side of the classroom. "But I might need to enlist someone to help us out. I just don't know how I'm going to do it."

     One of the other boys figured out who he was looking at and turned back to face Nei-Li with a face of absolute shock.

     "What are you looking at Xaio Ning?" De Ze asked, "Why on Earth would she want to help us out?"

     "I don't know," Nei-Li answered honestly, "But she's a wildcard that would be very helpful if she were to join us. Even if she doesn't, I have other plans in place to help us out. Regardless of what happens, it's up to us to be vigilant for Glory City. We cannot afford to lose this time."

     "This time?" Ne Ze repeated, "What are you babbling about?"

     "Maybe I should talk to my parents first," Lu Paio then said, "I think we might need their permission before embarking on a grand quest. Nei-Li, does your mom and dad have any idea what you've committed yourself to?"

     As he asked the question, Nei-Li's face turned into one of shock as the thought hadn't crossed his mind since he had returned to Glory City. He stood there like a statue and then clasped his hands to his mouth as he suddenly remembered.

     "Mom and Dad!" he whispered, "I forgot all about them!"