Evil

Hope

Sage's POV.

Prior to the night.

We had just parted ways with Artemis and Lucius and were heading back to our clan quarters when Gale suddenly hung his arm around my shoulders,"Bro."

"What now?"

"I'm sorry, I can't let you ruin this relationship," Gale muttered seriously,"The two are destined for each other, old friend! To break up such a pure relationship, not even this cold heart can bear!"

I rolled my eyes at his dramatics,"I wasn't planning to. Not after realising either of them could very well destroy Shellsby Harbour without batting an eye. I need to report her presence to father. Having an expert in our territory is a sensitive thing."

"Ehhh? But they seem like nice people! They help Julius too! Why would they destroy our home?"

"Don't ever judge a book by it's cover. They helped Julius because they profited from it and I don't know." I answered his questions with a deadpan.

"Are you sure you don't wanna recruit them? I mean with the current situation with Wallaby Sect—"

"The Vita clan has never needed outside help and I don't plan to change that Gale. We have our ways to deal with things."

"What about the mortals? What will you do if they die? Their lives are on your conscience if they do. One man's decision to not ask for help purely out of arrogance, ending in disaster—What will you do then Sage?" Gale questioned me relentlessly, boring down on my conscience.

"That will not happen." I spoke resolutely.

"Would you swear on the clan that it won't?" He shot back viciously, knowing the answer already. He knew the answer, I knew the answer. I was simply in a state of denial.

"..."

"Thought so. The Wallaby Sect is not some pushover Sage. They have several rank 6s in their ranks. Does the Vita clan stand a chance?" He sighed,"My family is planning to ditch this place before they arrive. We have relatives in Saffin City located in Indigo Kingdom. If you can't protect this place, at least protect the people living here. Your father is known as a stubborn man. You know that, I know that, everyone knows that. His pride won't let him call for aid. What about you?"

The Wallaby Sect was not from this continent. Outsiders. Invaders. External powers. Shellsby harbour was the nearest place to them and a prime location to invade from. A declaration of war had already been sent but kept hush hush. A year. One year, they would give to prevent. I'd nearly forgotten about this entire thing until Gale reminded me.

"Eight months left Sage. What can you do in eight months? At best, reaching rank 4. But what's a rank 4 to do against a rank 6, huh? Not just one—Several. Can't you convince your father to humble a little and ask for help? I'm sure many people would not hesitate to. And, if worse comes to worse, you could always announce it so people will start running away. While it might seem like betrayal of your clan, it's the best possible way to mitigate lost of life."

"I—I will try to ask."

———

Silvery grey hair from old age. Wizened eyes with wrinkles surrounding them, a face set in permanent grimness. Dressed in robes exuding grandeur and might and sat atop a throne, regal pressure pressing down on everyone in his presence.

"I am aware of your perspective. In truth, I had considered it a month prior to today. But it is impossible." He spoke, eyes closed as he shook his head.

"Why?" I asked indignantly,"Is it because of your stubborn pride? What good is pride in the face of such power?! Where does this confidence to face experts several experts on the same rank as you come from father, I wonder?"

"Pride?" He snorted cynically, letting out a bitter laugh,"I never expected you to be so naïve, Sage. I would lay down my pride and bend the knee if it meant protecting the clan, the harbour and its people. My laying down my pride is far better a choice than the death of hundreds of thousands."

"Then why is asking for help impossible?"

"Politics, Sage. You'll come to realise soon enough that the righteous faction isn't as virtuous behind closed doors. Hidden cloak-and-dagger moves to knock out opposition and amass power for themselves. In all honesty, we're just as bad as the demonic faction. Only, we put up a facade to mask it. It's the same as the Barshiek clan. Who would help them when they could just let them die and clean up the weakened forces later before collecting everything for themselves after?"

"That—They mentioned that they were unable to because of internal issues!"

"It's merely a surface excuse. It's a grim game of deception and lies, each move calculated chiefly by the risk and reward. Boon and bane. Every move has to grant enough 'meat' to warrant and justify aiding another clan when they could be devoting all these resources to their own clans or sects. Everyone has their motivations. I simply cannot offer enough to get the powers' attentions to come to my aid. Thus, even if I wished to ask for help, I cannot." He replied to my question calmly.

"I-If it's like this then, perhaps there might be a way!"

"Hm?"

"Please take a look at this." I took out the flesh and materials she had given me.

"HMM? Son! Where did you get these items?!" My father shouted, surprise and shock evident in his eyes.

"A person named Artemis Blythe has entered our territory today, father. She is, from what I have witnessed, able to sweep the floor with rank 6s. For these items, I traded three chances to enter the Emporium of Equals. She is the same person who helped the Barshiek clan."

My father's brows furrowed,"These items...Even if you gave her the entire Emporium, I wouldn't object! She's clearly trying to curry favour with me...But why? Could it be that she knows about it?"

"It?"

My father had a serious look of contemplation on his face,"It is true that such an item would rival that but—No perhaps I could use this to my advantage. Sage, follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"Treasury. To pick out a few items to give to her. Do you know her preferences?"

"Uhm from what I saw, she prefers imprints above all else. She took away Midnight Owl, Sunheart and Dragon's Breath from the Emporium."

"Imprints? Very well. Take these and give them to her," He passed me three more imprints alongside their instructions,"Tell her that I wish to meet her."

I nodded solemnly,"I will fulfil this mission."

"Perhaps the heavens have finally pitied us enough to send help to aid my Vita clan. Haa," He shook his head,"It is still too early to say, optimistic as I wish to be."