Ch15-2: Moving Forward

"There were things... in the Time Before... that were used to subdue the Arweinydd."

“We are losing time. Losing ground – Zemi we need to make a strike against Zeromus soon,” ZenToYa demanded, pressing his palms down hard along the dull surface of the meeting table. “The more time we give him to lick his wounds, the more time he has to redouble the effort next time.”

“I understand that, Zento,” Zemi nodded slowly, leaning back in his chair. “But there’s still a lot of information that we don’t have yet. Scouting Nefol and the groundlands is difficult, even for the Dragons. You know that.”

“Yes… I do know that. And I’m not supporting a foolish rush into the situation,” the winged man gave a long frown at the Dreigiau.

“Then what are you supporting?”

“I… don’t have all the details yet. I just know that the longer we sit here playing games of defense, the less ground we are winning against the enemy,” he spread his hands as if making the most logical statement in the world. “Even Kudako agrees with me on this. We’ve sat idle for too long.”

The golden-eyed Dragon gave a low grunt under his breath. The only indication that he admitted to having anything to do with Zento’s brash outburst.

He’s really been upset about things lately…

AsaHi’s green eyes watched the heated discussion as it lit up the far side of the room. The room and the large table within showed for lack of use, everything dimmer and less magical than it had been before the attack on the Islands. Only minor damage had been done to this area of the Compound, but there were still a few dark cracks that spidered over the once smooth-white stone walls. Official Assemblies were not held there anymore — the Trine was no longer fully present with Zeni in Wyndor to watch over those that had Migrated. But there were still gatherings of tactical meetings and discussions of where things were going to go next.

There must be something more that he wants… than just wanting to strike in battle against Zeromus. It’s not like Zento to urge fighting when it’s not needed.

Everyone seemed to have a different idea on what the best course of action would be. Some felt that it would be a good time to try and change to an offensive stance. Some felt it was too risky and that defense was the best to fall back on. There were even some that whispered that giving up the Islands completely was the most sane course of action.

It’s true we won the last battle. But we lost a lot, too. I don’t know how many more attacks we can withstand before we will lose or have to give way.

AsaHi didn’t like the idea of giving up any more than anyone else. But there were just times when it was obvious that the battle was too big for them all. Though to think of any battle being too big for Zemi Dreigiau was enough to make her shudder.

Even if we did leave the Islands… where would we go that would be safe? Eventually, Zeromus will expand beyond this as well.

Zemi was leaning back in his large chair, one finger tapping idly at his chin. His sharp teal eyes flickered from the face of one person to another as if studying what sort of resources he had to use. When he finally spoke again, his voice was deep and resounding.

“It seems to me such a waste to keep swatting away the little annoyances that Zeromus keeps sending at us. If you know what I mean?” the Dreigiau rose from his chair and began to pace. “His troops keep wearing away at us, layer by layer. And we wear away at his troops layer by layer. But, as you’ve stated, that doesn’t gain us much ground… and he will just keep replenishing his troops from the creatures that he twists to his use.”

“We, on the other hand have limited number of troops,” Aur murmured nodding slowly. “Even though I’m sure we could find some reinforcements within the people of the Spiral, chances are, they would never make it here to the Islands without Dragon transport. The lands below have become too wild to travel safely. Marked and all sorts of Chaos creatures roam and destroy.”

“Yes, I know,” Zemi strode over to one of the large, arched windows and pushed aside the curtain. “That is why it would make most sense to strike at the heart of the disturbance.”

“Take out Zeromus himself?” Zento asked for clarification. The way he was leaning forward in his seat spoke of interest and strong desire.

“I agree. We will not make ground unless we cut things off at the source,” Kudako gave a curt nod, eyes focused sharply on the back of the Dreigiau.

AsaHi remained silent, pondering the impossibility of it all. Afterall, they were discussing killing another Arweinydd – something that none of them knew how to set about doing. Not even Zemi.

Not to mention that Zemi cannot directly attack Zeromus… or he could get caught up in the Chaos, too.

As if Zemi was following her line of thought, he spoke, “The question isn’t if it is the best thing to make a direct strike at Zeromus. The question is how do we plan and accomplish something like that? What can defeat a Chaotic Arweinydd?”

Even Zento fell still as the last echo of the words faded in the chamber. If Zemi didn’t seem to know these answers… then who would?

After a long space of silence, Aur’s unblinking eyes shifted up. He spoke slowly, as if not sure that he wanted to depart such information, “There were things… in the Time Before… that were used to subdue the Arweinydd.”

Something about the statement darkened the room for just a moment. AsaHi could almost see a shiver run over Zemi’s form. And though she couldn’t see his face, she could only imagine his expression at such a thought.

There’s so little that we know about the Arweinydd. About the Time Before. And about how all of these things fit together.

In their world, the Arweinydd had become great Patron Guides to the people. Because they were creatures distant and without true physicality, they had begun to be seen as things that time and even death could not touch.

But that doesn’t mean it’s true. That’s just the way we perceive them.

Zento peered across the table at the brown-haired Guardian with a conflicted grimace. As if part of him wanted to know exactly what force could be used against so great a power. And the other part of him wanted never to know what could be so terrible and vast to overthrow the power he felt was so great.

Aur’s eyes were fixed on Zemi — allowing him the choice of silence or enlightenment.

The Dreigiau turned slowly around, meeting the Guardian’s gaze. Despite the fact that the knowledge could be used against him, too. Despite the fact that it was obviously uncomfortable to discuss something that would be the fate of his own lost brother. Zemi slowly gave a nod.

“There were items of great power that were crafted in the Time Before that were used against the Arweinydd kind. Some of them were items to simply subdue. Some of them were created as weapons that could damage… even kill,” Aur spoke slowly, his voice low. “But these were items held great risk and could only be properly used… by the Sygni.”

AsaHi couldn’t help the little gasp that bubbled up in the back of her throat. The rest of the group were also watching Aur with rapt and troubled expressions.

Strangely enough, it was Kudako who was the first to speak, “Are you suggesting that we obtain one of these weapons, arm the boy-Sygnus, LuShi and set him against Zeromus?”

“I am not suggesting anything,” Aur replied without hesitation. “I am simply giving the information that I know.”

“Mmm…” Kudako looked down at the table top. It was apparent that the information didn’t please him too much. Nor did it seem to please anyone else.

“That’s out of the question,” Zento murmured. “LuShi’s proven to be pretty unstable. He hasn’t even been out of bed in weeks after the battle.”

“Yes, but if we were to find something that he could use against Zeromus…” Zemi murmured from behind folded hands.

“Are you NUTS Zemi? Anything he could use on Zeromus, he could use on you, too!” the winged man’s voice raised an octave.

“ZenToYa,” the Dreigiau frowned sharply. “I know you have very little trust in the boy. But I don’t believe he’d choose to fight against us. Especially since he can see better than he could before how dangerous things are.”

“But…”

“Still…” Zemi interrupted with an upraised finger. “I don’t know that I like the idea of scraping out old artifacts used by Sygni of the past to beat down Arweinydd in the Time Before, either.”

Zento huffed, puffing out his cheeks, “At least you’re talking some sense now.”

“Excuse me?” Aur peered between them with upraised eyebrows.

“At least, not before we’ve had a chance to study them,” the Arweinydd added quickly.

The Champion gave a frustrated sound. “Zemi..!”

“Excuse me…?” the Guardian attempted again.

“Do you, or do you not want to do something about Zeromus?” Zemi gave the winged man a long, piercing look.

“I…” Zento opened his mouth, just shaking his head incredulously.

“I have something to say,” Aur’s voice rumbled, louder than AsaHi had ever heard him speak before. Though it was in no way ear-shattering, it got attention.

Both Zemi and Zento paused in mid-squabble to glance over with puzzled faces.

“You are both arguing over artifacts that you may never even find,” the Guardian spoke shortly, peering at them with a frown. “Though it’s quite possible that the items were left in this world somewhere after the Mistake, no one is really aware of their actual location.”

The winged man gave a long sigh and promptly plopped his head on the table. “Why didn’t you tell us that before we starting arguing?”

“I attempted to,” Aur replied with a very Earthian-type sigh. “You did not allow me to finish. As I said… I was only offering you factual information in response to your question. I did not say that this was information that should be acted on.”

Zemi sighed, too. A long, hoarse sound of displeasure.

Kudako then went on to remark about the conversation in his own, quiet directness. But AsaHi’s attention had been drawn away. For the first time, she realized that one of the doors to the meeting room was cracked open, ever so slightly. But what really made her look was the fact that a strange, silvery mist was seeping into the room from the hallway.

What..?

No one seemed to take a lot of notice of her as she slipped down from her chair, crossing the room towards the door. They were all so caught up in their discussions that not a single eye strayed towards her. Then again, it wasn’t all so odd for them to see AsaHi get up and walk from the meeting room to get drinks or bring in small snack sandwiches and things like that.

The hall was empty as she slipped out of the room to peer around. Though there was a slight trace of lingering mist in the air, it was now so faded that it was nearly imperceptible. AsaHi swallowed and began to walk down the length of the corridor, head weaving back and forth as she looked for any signs of something odd.

I’ve seen that mist before… but…

The thought left her puzzled and somewhat uneasy. With a frown, she passed from the straight hallway into the point where it crossed another. Looking down both ways, she caught sight of a figure to the right who was approaching with quick steps.

The figure also took notice of AsaHi. For the steps increased in pace and one hand raised in greeting. It took a moment for her to recognize the face of JouKa.

“Morh-AsaHi!” the voice called to her.

AsaHi stopped, waiting for the other girl to make her way over. “Hello, Jou? Is everything okay?”

“Actually…” she didn’t try to hide her frown. She simply shook her head. “I was ‘opin’ to catch sight o’ someone. Cuz’ bustin’ in on tha meetin’ isn’t any good ta do.”

“What’s wrong?” AsaHi turned full attention to trying to translate the thick accent. She had heard that JouKa had originated in the eastern mountains. The people in that area had developed some very strange ways to say things.

“TsuYa sent me out to find someone,” JouKa explained. “You know that kid, LuShi?”

“Yes?”

“Well, he’s done up and disappeared!”