'... Think bigger Zaja, with my abilities and system, I would have to take over the countries resources to be able to fight Lady Xena Apotheosis head to head if she succeeds on turning Lira as Lord Tenzen's vessel...'
'I can't do this on my own, I would need to find someone who I can train to Xena's level... But to get my sister back, I don't need six months, I just need a good use of my brain'
Just then a surge of information skewed through Zaja's brain. If at all the Blackfield Gorge matriarch just wanted to turn Lira into the next matriarch of the country, the situation wouldn't have been that urgent.
But this was way different, the moment Xena managed to cultivate Lira's mutation she would use her as a vessel for her god and by using the mutation he could flatten the Realm with a single word from his mouth.
This will no doubt lead to his death ultimately, and that will therefore mean that Zaja had gone through three deaths and two failed reincarnations.
Zaja was just finding out about Lady Xena Apotheosis today and she has already topped Kael Valthorne on his list of people he wanted to twist their necks.
To make things even more perilous, just defeating Lady Xena Apotheosis didn't guarantee success. All it did was delay the progress of her plan.
Just like her, she had followers that were willing to carry on her legacy should anything happen to her. So, even if Zaja killed Xena and saved Lira, she still would be at risk of getting captured by the next religious ruler of Blackfield Gorge.
To be on the safe side, Zaja had to defeat Lady Xena Apotheosis while still letting her maintain her position as supreme leader of Blackfield Gorge and also cause her to completely give up on her ambitions.
"Lady Xena Apotheosis, you have taken the road to war and only you is to blame for what is to come," Zaja said in a chilling, calm tone, causing Lady Elyria to shrivel at the audacious words.
"Zaja Thornhill, those words you speak are quite bold for someone who is just a slave, don't you think..." A shrill voice echoed from behind the entrance of the room.
Zaja and Lady Elyria turned towards the entrance to see Kael Valthorne standing in a wobbly position, holding his right shoulder tightly as if it hung onto the rest of his body by mere tendons.
The entire room seemed to fall even more silent as Zaja and Elyria met Kael's gaze. Kael had a hundred percent of his sights set on Zaja and vice versa, both young men sizing each other up with killing intent burning in their eyes.
"Kael! How dare you!!" Lady Elyria broke the silence.
"You undervalue me mother... All because of this worthless mutt!" Kael took two steps into the room, while still maintaining intense eye contact with Zaja.
"I am a lot more capable and better that you think mother." He finished, and let out a cold shrill laugh and he then proceeded to hit his shoulder several times to relocate it back into its position.
"I am starting to get the hang of my mutation... Not only can I heal all my injuries, but I can also see the mutation of those I look at whenever the painting is active..."
Kael let out a little smirk, then moved his hands together to form a hand sign.
"I still haven't been able to master the other paintings, but I recently just tamed this one... Meet The Wilted Cherub"
Zaja and Lady Elyria immediately felt a surge of Arcane energy unleashed outward by Kael. The scion was using his mutation.
Kael's mutation— Ten Death Paintings, is the traditional and hereditary technique of the Valthorne Household and in every thousand years, one person from the family must possess this mutation.
The mutation allows the user to summon ten curses or spirits which are the paintings and use at their will. But the draw back is that they must be able to subdue or tame the painting before they're able to command it.
In this case, Kael has already tamed The Wilted Cherub death painting and he had the freedom to command it however he chose.
The air around Kael turned into a black igor like substance that wrapped around eachother as if it was dark ink moving around in thin air by an invisible painting brush.
And then, a figure materialized. A porcelain faced ghost with wilted flower wings and hollow eye sockets, with a sick sad smile plastered on it face. It was about the same height as Kael but it somehow impose a different aura in the room that was shocking.
Kael's smiled widened after completing the summoning, "Isn't it beautiful... What do you think mom? Did you think I wasn't ever going to tame my mutation?!"
"It's a wonderful treasure and thanks to this powerful spirit, I can heal from almost and and every injury I sustain..."
"And as fate will have it, the day I was taming this beauty was when I realized it also gave me the insight to see the mutations of others. And that was how I realized that Lira possessed a Special Grade mutation. Imagine my surprise!"
"I was going to tell you sooner mother, but now I'm glad I did because you aren't really a trustworthy mother." Kael paused, turned to look at The Wilted Cherub. The Death Painting stood there waiting to recieve the command of its master.
"Heal me..." Kael intoned.
Black and white energy rays poured out, mending the young noble's wounds.
"Initially, I wanted to keep Lira for myself. But after realizing that I couldn't afford to nurture her mutation, I sold her to the highest bidder and also got a good bargain for the bitch too".
"That's why I was asking Zaja to hand her over to me before I sliced him up like a prawn, Lady Xena Apotheosis had come to collect".
"So now, not only do I have a valuable item the matriarch gave me on exchange, I have built solid relationship with the growing and powerful Blackfield Gorge forces and I shall be rewarded handsomely when the finally grow strong enough to over take Ironforge Dominion!" Kael rambled coherently, bursting into laughter.
Zaja wasn't surprised. To think of it now, Kael has so many servants that were specifically hired to please his lustful urges so why was he so interested in Lira all of a sudden?
It was simple, it was going to be a planned exchange!
"Oh Zaja, Zaja, Zaja... Or as mother would like to call you... Thornhill son. For a mere slave you are full of surprises. I watched you die after slicing you body thoroughly so tell me, how the hell are you still alive?". Kael asked.