"Thank you all so much."
Richard shook each of their hands, beaming. His disposition was so different than when Narvari had first seen her, it was like they were two different people. He laughed more now and seemed even more energetic than before.
"We were just doing our jobs," said Azmel in his usual no-nonsense tone.
"Well, I still thank you. I know my friend paid for my service but once my businesses come back on track, I will make a big donation to your church. Maybe I can even come and visit you all sometime."
"No," they all said at once.
Richard chortled. "I was just joking. I have already learned my lesson about just joining random churches. I will be more discerning next time."
Good for him, Narvari thought.
"But I wasn't joking about the donation." Richard was more serious now. "I will never forget what you have done for me today. I never thought I would ever have the chance to see my wife and children again. I may have lost one of my children, but I will get through it."
"I wish you all the best," said Pheera. "And I'm truly sorry for everything you went through."
"Thank you." Richard nodded, his eyes full of gratitude.
"I guess our work here is done for today," said Azmel, activating a portal to which Richard's eyes almost popped out of their sockets like a cartoon character.
Narvari laughed.
***
In an old Catholic Church in Panama, six people were meeting, and each of them was a member of the Vessels of Bezvaros.
One of these Vessels, Watanabe Haru, in the last five years, had dedicated his time and money to finding his colleagues — his fellow Vessels. But so thoroughly had the Ancient Order of Vanquishers broken the Vessels of Bezvaros that Haru had been lucky to have found only five of his colleagues all these years.
The majority of Vessels had gone into seclusion, and would rather keep a low profile from the vanquishers. How far they had fallen. But all that was about to change with this piece of information he was about to share. Soon, the Vessels of Bezvaros would take their rightful place in the world.
Haru cleared his throat as five expectant eyes watched him in silence. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"You did say it was an emergency," said Obinna, petting the head of the albino python around his neck. The whiteness of the serpent was a stark contrast to Obinna's dark brown skin. "But if this is as urgent as you say, Haru," Obinna scoffed, "why isn't Ziegler here?"
Haru frowned. "No one knows where Ziegler is. If he were a good leader, he would be the one trying to restore us to order, don't you think?"
Obinna rolled his eyes. "Hmm."
When it was clear that no one else had anything else to say, Haru continued, "I have received word that Bezvaros' Crystal was never destroyed."
"What?"
The shock on everyone's faces told Haru that he had their attention now. Haru nodded. He too had reacted in the same manner when he got the anonymous message.
"That can't be right," said Denise. The blonde shook her head in disbelief. "Bezvaros' Crystal was destroyed in the war."
"Are we sure about that?" asked Haru. "Did we see it destroyed with our own eyes?"
The Vessels exchanged glances with one another as if they were pondering over Haru's words.
"And why should we care about that, Haru," Lyle snapped, his steely blue ice getting icier. "Seriously, did you invite me here to peddle such nonsense, or have you forgotten what happened the last time we possessed the crystal?"
The silence in the church was stifling. Haru knew from the grim look on everyone's faces that they had not forgotten what had happened last time. How could they, when that had been the very day the Vessels of Bezvaros had fallen?
Twenty years ago, Ludwig Ziegler, the Arch Vessel then, had received an anonymous tip about the whereabouts of Bezvaros' Crystal. Ziegler sent out an elite team of powerful Vessels, including Haru himself, to retrieve the crystal. They had been cautious in the beginning, thinking that the tip was nothing but a trap, after all, the crystal was in the custody of the Ancient Order of Vanquishers. But just as the tip claimed, the crystal was exactly where it said it would be.
Finally, the Vessels could now unleash the Demon King with the crystal. How wrong had they been? On that day, while almost Vessel in the world had come to witness the auspicious ritual, their holy sanctuary was raided by some of the most powerful vanquishers. It was the bloodiest war between vanquishers and Vessels since the Blood Wars, two thousand years ago.
There had been casualties on both sides. Their Arch Vessel had never been heard of again, though Haru was sure that Ziegler was still alive.
"This time it's going to be different," said Haru. "We've already learned our lesson and we are not going to repeat our mistake."
"All right," said Eva. "But how do you know where the crystal is?"
"Same as last time."
Lyle gaped. "Are you a fucking idiot, Haru?"
"I am inclined to ask the same thing." Obinna shrugged, frowning. "Is it not clear to you that that last anonymous tip was from the Order? They tricked us into getting the crystal only so they could destroy our society. I find it hard to believe that you haven't figured that out yet, Haru."
"Obinna is right," Denise said. "Only the Order knew where Bezvaros' Crystal was. They were the ones keeping it. So who gave us the tip in the first place? Obviously the Order. They did that to trap us and now they are doing it all over again this time to destroy us for good."
Eve and Obinna agreed with her, though Lyle looked too angry to say anything.
Haru said, "I know it seems that way. Believe me, I've had a lot of time to think about it. I believe the Order had nothing to do with it."
"And how can you be so sure of that?" Denise asked.
Haru sighed. Did he have to spell out everything?
"The Ancient Order of Vanquishers would do whatever it takes to protect all ancient relics from us. It is against their nature to give us access to a relic even if it's to destroy us." Haru paused, looking at each person. "Think about it. We came this close to summoning King Bezvaros, all hail his name. The ritual was so powerful that it caused a storm that killed a lot of people around the world. Do you seriously think the Order would have risked the lives of the people they so foolishly protect by handing us the relic just so they could destroy us?"
Lyle raised a brow. "Are you insinuating that someone within the Order is working against them?"
Haru smiled. "That's exactly what I'm saying. I think one of the Twelve Schools has its agenda. I don't yet understand their motive, but I can exploit this."
"You can't be serious," said Grayson suddenly. All this time, he had not said a word. "Why will one of the Twelve Schools work with Vessels? If they are betraying their fellow vanquishers, what makes you think we can trust them?"
"I don't think we can trust them," said Haru. "I simply think we can use their weakness against them. Think about it. If one of the Twelve Schools had gone behind the Order to reveal the secret of the crystal then that can mean one thing — as united as the Order seems on the outside, they aren't truly united on the inside. We will use that to our advantage."
"So where is the crystal then?" Grayson folded his hands. Ever the skeptic. Fortunately, his skill as an extremely powerful Vessel made up for his skepticism. If they planned to succeed, Haru would need Fredrick Grayson. "I'm guessing the Order wasn't crazy enough to keep it at the same location."
Haru chuckled. "No, they were not." He paused. Finally, Haru said, "Bezvaros' Crystal is in Draghein School."
The faces of the Vessels darkened in horror. The silence in the room dragged on for what seemed like forever.
"Tell me you're not asking us to sneak into Draghein School to steal the crystal," said Obinna.
"We're not sneaking in. We are attacking the school."
"What?" Both Eve and Denise shouted at the same time.
Lyle simply laughed mirthlessly. "Now I am fully convinced you have lost your damn mind." He stood up, putting on his black tophat. "If you morons are so eager to die, go ahead. I'm out of here."
Haru did not stop Lyle. Even before the Order crushed the Vessels, Lyle had always had a crushed spirit. It was a miracle he had even agreed to come to this meeting in the first place.
"Sorry, Haru," said Eve once Lyle was gone. "But I agree with Lyle. You are asking us to attack one of the Twelve Schools. There was a time that might have been possible. But now, we simply don't have that kind of strength. "
The small smile on Haru's face did not falter. Why couldn't they just see the bigger picture?
"You have a plan in mind, don't you?" Obinna narrowed his eyes.
Haru chuckled. "You know me so well, Obinna. I wouldn't have called this meeting if I didn't have the means to deal with Draghein School. That school has gone to the dogs ever since Hellstorm died. It's only full of weaklings."
"Last time I checked, Trixan Yvis is still in Draghein School. And may I remind you that she's the new Elder." Grayson glared at him. "You must have forgotten what kind of a monster she is but I remember quite clearly. I remember how she almost wiped us out in rage when King Bezvaros killed Hellstorm. And now here you are, asking us to send her our heads on a silver platter. Well done, Haru. Well done." He slowly clapped.
The amusement disappeared from Haru's face, his jaws clenching. "We are the Vessels of Bezvaros, goddammit. How far have we fallen that we have forgotten what we are capable of? Yes, Vanquishers are powerful. But so are we. And they should be afraid because this time they will never see us coming. There may only be five of us in this room now. But as Vessels, we have an army behind us. Or have you so quickly forgotten what you are, Grayson?"
After a long pause, Grayson said, "It will take more than greater demons to stop Trixan."
"Who said we only have greater demons on our side?" Haru smiled cunningly. "What kind of idiot do you think I am anyway? Of course, I'm not going to head over to Draghein School without a solid plan."
He had been working tirelessly in the last five years to make this possible. Within all that time, not only had he sealed a pact with powerful demons including royal demons, but he had also found an informant in Agon who reported everything he needed to know. According to the informant, the Council of Elders was meeting in three days. Trixan Yvis would be going to this meeting as an Elder. While she was gone, Draghein School would be completely defenseless and then they would strike. Trixan's school sorely lacked senior vanquishers and the few that remained would be defenseless against their demon army.
"I will tell you about the details later," said Haru. "But now, I want you to take a moment and think about what we are soon going to achieve. Very soon, our world will be whole again. The King of all things will soon take his rightful position in this world. We will restore balance. And with that, the Vessels of Bezvaros, the true believers, will be those who rule with King Bezvaros, all hail his name."
Haru put his right hand over his chest as he said all hail his name. His colleagues stood up, crossed their hands over their chest, and said, "All hail his name."
Just wait Draghein School. A sly smile widened at the corner of Haru's lips. Your end is near.