THRANDAL: The Phoenix and the Siren [UNDER EDIT]

CHOSEN

CHAPTER 7 - CHOSEN

The woman was fiddling her fingers as she nervously held the warrior's gaze. She nervously smiled at her but Kitara remained untamed. They watched each other as if having a silent conversation. The red-haired woman's eyes painted a mixture worry, fear, and longing while Kitara had a displeased expression.

They were both interrupted by Ethoran, who felt the tension in the air, when he cleared his throat.

"Kitara, Nero, are you both well?", his voice echoed throughout the room, making everyone snap back to their senses.

"I am", she responded in a neutral tone while Nero only nodded.

"That is good to hear. You took quite a serious blow Kitara, we thought-"

"Look, I have questions and they need answers. So let's just get to the point", she cut him off.

She sensed Nero's body tense at her lack of respect. Even he would never dare to talk to a god like that, let alone to the chief of the gods.

Ethoran's expression hardened."I assume you understand why we have to hold this meeting at a place like this?", he said and she nodded.

"The situation is worse than we thought. Indeed, as you speculate, the intruder yesterday was most probably the Black Cloud himself. I, too, thought he was gone for good but I cannot figure out how he came back", he said. "Do you remember the prophecy that the Mother Tree told you a few months ago?"

"Of course", she said.

She remembers alright, in fact, she more than remembers that prophecy. It had been playing with her head this whole time but she only shoved it at the back of her thoughts... until yesterday.

"We did expect something to happen, but time passed and there was nothing. It was wrong of us to let our guards down", he said.

"When I fought him, he was calling out to me. Why?", she sternly asked.

"He chooses you. Like how he chose others before you every year for a decade. He will come back and he will wage war against Thrandal. But if the chosen wins, he will retreat. All of the chosen ones failed, and we will not risk you either. We thought we won before and that we were able to imprison in the Isle of the Dead but... after 14 years, he comes back", everyone lowered their heads when he said the last sentence, as if they were losing hope.

He furrowed his eyebrows and if possible, his expression grew even more serious.

"When we are ready, we will announce this to every nation. We will face him together. We will prepare for what is yet to come and when the time comes, we will be strong enough. If not, then I fear that thousands will die and-", he continued.

"Not if we bring the fight to him", everyone's head snapped towards her.

"What are you trying to say?", Nero's voice had a hint of worry, fearing that she might say what he is thinking of.

"He wants me, doesn't he? Others don't have to sacrifice their lives if there is another option. I will fight him", Kitara sternly said, making everyone burst into an argument.

"Are you out of your mind?"

"We cannot let you!"

"You do not know what you are saying!"

"You are not prepared for the Black Cloud!"

"That is suicide!"

They were all in hysteria about what she said. They shouted and argued with each other. She stood there blankly as she watched them, not listening to anything they were trying to tell her. She felt a cool hand on her wrist and she turned to face Nero who had a serious expression on his face.

"I knew you were going to say that. And I also know that there is nothing they can do or say that's going to stop you. Which is why...I shall go with you", he said. Kitara had never seen him so serious before. She stared at his eyes for a while and it held nothing but sincerity. There was no stopping him, Kitara also knew that.

"Silence!", Ethoran's deep and authoritative voice boomed throughout the hall, shutting everyone's mouth. He was silent for a few seconds before he spoke, "You will not go to the Black Cloud, I forbid it", his voice was rock-hard and it almost made Kitara shudder. But she had made her decision.

"But I must and I shall. There is nothing you can do to stop me from doing so."

"You are throwing away your own life! This cannot be!", Queen Messandri stood up as she protested.

"I'd rather die trying than live while not doing anything at all", she said. The Fire Queen looked her in the eye and when she didn't find any hesitation in them, so she slowly sank back into her seat.

"I will not allow you", Ethoran's voice again boomed around them.

"I am not asking for permission. If what you say is true and that I am the chosen, then this is my destiny. Shall I die, then let it be. I'm not dragging anyone else into my own pit. I will regret every second of my life if I do not do this. And living like that is as good as dead. I shall go and you cannot stop me", she said as she turned her back on them.

Nero bowed to the rulers of Thrandal then walked away with her. But before he left, he turned back and said,

"She will not be alone.