TBATE - Ghosts Of The Past

Chapter 43: A Land of Deities and Wonder

Agrona Vritra POV:

The time has finally come. This is the first time that I've set foot in Epheotus in centuries. Ah... The lush air, the limitless grasslands, the everchanging cloudy sky... Home.

But I cannot get lost in the nostalgia of it all. For I have not yet won. That bastard Kezess still rules these lands. Right now, this is not home... it is enemy territory.

"Let's move." Arthur spoke. We made our way to our safe house. Ah Elder Myre's secret cabin. Of course she had a secret cabin. I've always held far more respect for her than that lizard Kezess. She even knew about Sylvia and myself, and kept silent. If she had a say in the matter, then maybe things could've turned out differently. Maybe my own people wouldn't have betrayed me.

Entering the cabin, we immediately set up the map. It seems that Arthur is formulating a plan. Let's see what he's got.

"Alright, Aldir isn't here yet. But he did give me all the information we need to start planning." Arthur started. Aldir isn't here?

"Well then, where is he?" I asked. I don't like this... while Aldir sympathizes with lessers to some degree, he has massive loyalty to Kezess which is what allowed him to be taught the world eater technique. He's too big of a risk...

"He's with Kezess..." Arthur said. It may be humiliating to admit, but my eyes went wide with shock as did my lips part with disgust.

"HOW CAN YOU BE SO STUPID AS TO ASSUME THAT KEZESS WON'T SENSE ANYTHING OFF?! OR BETTER YET, WHAT IF HE RATS US OUT?!" I screamed at him with rage.

"Calm down... It's better to have an inside man. And that inside man happens to be the general of Epheotus's forces. Also, Kezess probably knows that I am on the offensive. The only thing he can't predict is the pact we made." He replied. That is true... Aldir's position can give us valuable intel as to what Kezess plans next. And that lizard is smart enough to know that Arthur would'nt just take what happened at Darv lightly. But how can he be so sure that Arthur is alive?

"I guess so. In that case, then we must be quick and ruthless. Kinda like what you did to Draneeve a few years back." I said looking at him with a slight smirk of victory. His eyes partly widened. His first display of emotion. So he does at least know about that.

"How are you so sure that it's me?" he asked as he flattened out the map. No eye contact... it seems that my theory may be true. But no... how could there possibly be two of him. I must investigate this further. Although, at the time when he destroyed the fleet , there was an anomaly... there were three anchors alive. But then it was only two. What is that missing link I wonder?

"The hair is a pretty good clue. Although why did you not use your Asuran form in our battle?" I asked with squinted eyes.

"I was already using Gauntlet Form and Realmheart Phase Three. Add an Asuran form to the mix and I would've exploded." he replied. Fair I guess... But there is more...

"Anyway... Our primary focus is to control the media without letting Kezess know that we are until we strike. The Eccleiah Clan control all the information spread in Epheotus. And thankfully, they are politically neutral." Arthur started.

"However, they won't release all the information out of fear of a civil war." I added. Then Arthur looked at me and smiled.

"Exactly, which is why we will start by spreading rumors among the common people. the higher ups will dismiss it as some drunk man's fairytale, and Kezess will think that we aim to spread the truth through the common people. He will dedicate all his resources to cover up the rumors and track their origin." He said.

"Which will leave him clueless as to the scale of our goal. We silently make a deal with the Eccleiah Clan weather it be voluntary or by force." I continued.