He knocked "General"
It was still—quiet enough to pass for sleep, but it wasn't that kind of quiet. This one felt hollow, like an empty space.
He shook his head, as if hoping the intrusive thought would vanish with the motion. If the General wasn't in his chambers—again— he wasn't sure he wanted to add a search for the General to the pile of work he already had on his hands.
Knock...knock... He knocked again. He diligently hoped by whatever means the General had to reappear in his chambers.
As he raised his hands to knock again, mid-motion, a warm breath grazed his right ear—words riding on it.
"He just might be sleeping"
His eyes flew open in disbelief, then narrowed sharply as he lashed out with a swift punch, red plasma flaring around his fist, blasting toward whatever had slipped behind him—his feet still rooted to the spot.
He was stunned, a shiver knifing down his spine. If that had been an attack, his head would've already been rolling—no time to react. When had he grown so docile that someone could slip this close without him noticing? Cold sweat broke over him.
"Wooah... Quite the punch" The voice spoke again, the tone carrying a slight tremble, not from fear but raw acknowledgment of skill.
To remain completely unsheltered—no, to even have the leisure to offer compliments—
Kcorr knew his punch did not connect, but he felt the blast would have at least tumbled the invader. To have easily evaded a punch from a Late Stage 3 Awakener, and a Flrya at that, whoever this person was. This had already turned into a life and death situation for the Flrya.
In a sprint he dashed out of his previous spot, drew his scythe and took his battle stance, like a beast ready to pounce.
There were a zillion reasons he had to take the assailant down. To have gotten this deep into the Ruby army's territory without detection was reason enough. He could tell this assailant hadn't gotten to the General since the place didn't show any signs of battle. Then it struck him. On second thought—what if the General, just like him, hadn't sensed the intruder either?
He snapped out of his railing thoughts as he smiled, 'what a joke, who was the General? If he could be taken out that easily then the world had gone mad'
Strangely, the night light was perfectly reflecting in the area and the figure of the assailant was now basking fully in it. A young figure barely touching the age of 27, hair flowing down like a waterfall — dark polished, that glittered in the light— smooth face with glistening skin, rich charcoal for eyes. His black robe floated like calm streaming water.
Flrya Kcorr was taken aback "General?"
The figure scratched his head as he let out a nervous smile "Hehe. You know how to cause a scene don't you?"
Kcorr traced his eyes to see what he meant. Setting his eyes on the supposed roof, there was no roof anymore—half of it had been blown away, along with some walls, debris still suspended mid-air. He now understood where the sudden light was coming from.
His punch from earlier had redecorated the room.
The open roof wasn't the only thing in sight, at the open roof just standing on whatever was left was a figure standing there looking downward with a scythe, their gaze shining with grit. Listening closely hurried footsteps could also be heard coming close.
Their 'little' exchange had happened within a breath, it was as stealthy as, only the 'view opening decor' causing the ruckus.
The General was lost for words, as he kept smiling nervously, he had no intention of causing such a ruckus, he really was innocent.
In a zap the entire area was already surrounded.
Flrya Kcorr turned to the General, his face motionless it said all that needed to be said.
"Hehe..." "My apologies. I thought you could tell I was the one"
Kcorr's lips trembled from sheer speechlessness, his stare just remained placed at the General— soullessly. He really couldn't afford to form words.
His hand still lingered at the back of his head, scratching, as the shy smile on his face kept shining brightly against the open roof light "I just moved up a Layer. I didn't mean to jump you"
Kcorr's breath stalled, leaving him with a shock-hammered stare—wide-eyed, the kind that meant his mind had been blasted clean for a moment.
Moving up a Layer as an Advanced Late Stage 3 Awakener was a ridiculously arduous thing to pull off. It meant more control over ones Aura — explains why he couldn't sense him earlier. The General had always had a special way with his Aura, but to move another Layer, he wondered how much stronger the General had become. He scoffed at his earlier attempt at the General, even if that punch of his had landed, it probably wouldn't have had any effect on him.
The gap between their levels felt steeper.
Kcorr wasn't the only one stunned by the General's words. The figure from the roof began descending. It wasn't a slow descent but it felt like one. Her slit robes fluttered—not from any breeze, but like petals drifting from a scented plum tree. When her feet touched the ground it was like feather on calm waters, only that these waters didn't ripple, like a fairy from the sky, she lived to her name, Fairy— without the 'Death'. Flrya Nuni.
Excitement danced across her face, her bold grin accompanied by a blush that seemed to have a life of its own, her hands clasped together.
"The General climbed a Layer?" Her eyes in wide excitement as she stared right into the General's eyes, as if a single blink would make her miss the gem of a lifetime. She stood close enough to be just an arm's length away. She had just heard the blast the stone walls had made, she rushed over to join whatever excitement was waiting here.
Only to hear such precious, wonderful, exciting, incredible piece of doctrine.
Maybe she'd challenge him again. She had never lasted a move from him, but now that he was even stronger, how wonderful would it be to experience?
Her eyes lit up even more.
The General smiled sheepishly, waving his hands dismissively "It just happened" It seemed he would have to 'stretch' his muscles a little sooner than he had thought. He thought, and his smile slowly curled into a grin.
Kcorr sighed, the relationship between the two was something someone like him could never envy— a Beating Stick, and a Beaten Stick, or rather a 'Hungry For Beating' stick. Whatever beauty lay in learning through getting pummeled wasn't something he had interest in. Once was enough, it didn't have to be a daily bread — not that theirs was, but it just might have been.
Besides, as clairvoyant as the General was, his spars weren't so beautiful.
As much as he'd like to bask in this moment, and display all the expressions his face could afford to provide, he had come here to deliver a message, it was still sealed, and he had things to attend to.
"General." He closed the distance, stopping beside Nuni, whose eyes still had sparkles within them.
"From the palace" he handed it over.
Being left-handed, the General accepted the sealed piece, broke it open, and read.
It was subtle, but everyone around could feel the change. The atmosphere around him changed, and so did they.
He turned to Kcorr. "Ready, Mambal." His voice was cold—nothing like before. "Seems I'll be visiting the palace"
Back at the palace, the Hall of Rites. The High Eunuch walked to the King, where he had remained motionless, just staring at the body in the almond box.
"It's first light, Your Highness"