Off the game

General Ren walked pass some generals as he left the great hall,much younger generals who didn't bother greeting him knowing he wouldn't respond.

The age gap that one could never tell at a glance due to his small statue rather anyone would think the other way round.

Ren didn't bother about their pleasantries, didn't want to hear it and didn't care.

He didn't look their way either.

He was used to the stares already,these stares from people being one of the major reasons he hated being seen by people in the imperial palace.

At the briefing he was the only general who brought no contribution.

He had caught some generals stealing glances his way but he had ignored them.

The map spread out on the table before them held his gaze, keeping him from looking their way while taking in all the descipated information.

Rengyoutsu had just reached his quarters when he heard a voice in his head.

"General Ren... kindly meet me at the only building in imperial courtyard,I'll be waiting".

He recognized the voice,Lord Tydor.

How dare he speak in his head.

He had just unblocked his telepathic link after the meeting to save his energy and Lord Tydor's voice just popped up.

Only a few powerful demons from upper midtier level could block both their telepathic link and that of others to prevent people's voice from booming in their heads uninvited and being at commander tier,the only one for that matter,Ren wasn't an exception but it expended a great deal of magic energy.

To demon's voices booming in their heads was most tiring to Ren it was beyond annoying.

Sadly, not everyone one could block a connection,and most demons hid that secret reason,with an excuse of getting stronger,just so they could severe telepathic connections.

Ren contemplated on whether or not to honour the lord's request,besides if he didn't there was nothing Lord Tydor could do about it but he felt a need to let the Lord know he was off the plot against the imperial prince seeing the prince had somehow changed his mind,he wanted him to live.

General Rengyoutsu teleported himself to the location where he found Lord Tydor waiting for him.

The lord couldn't hide his relieved features as soon as he saw him.

Never in his dreams could he expect Ren would honour his request being fully aware the general listened to no one.

Lord Tydor neared him and forced a smile, exposing a set of brown teeth with long protruding canines over a never treamed mustache which hid his lips out of sight.

"General Ren...we meet again!"he said with enthusiasm.

Ren didn't respond, instead gave him an unfriendly stare.

"My apologies for having contacted you in that manner but this is one trival matter,and one which you know of".

Ren again did respond but the lord wasn't expecting any,for he knew he wouldn't get one but what mattered most was his words were heard and a proper action taken.

If only the general would listen and honour his words they would stand a huge chance of breeching Delu that even a chief sorceror would never be able to do without sacrificing his life

He had just gotten Athena's request via telepathy to ask Ren himself,at first he had hesitated,but hesitation would only cost them precious chances and time.

Lord Tydor sniffed in the air and continued.

"There are no demons in the vicinity now so I can speak out....Great general...I must plead as this cannot be a mere request....help us breech Delu,I know you can so pls....lend us your power...I beg of you".

General Rengyoutsu didn't respond,just stared up at the Lord who was a couple of inches taller than he was despite being old and hundreds of years younger.

This was exactly what he knew Lord Tydor would say, unknown to them,he had stolen the spell,met this child whom they supposed to be evil and now had a change of heart.

They had all just believed in some prophecy without meeting the child, could they be any dumber?

When Ren didn't respond again Lord Tydor gripped his arm in a pleading attempt and a pleading gaze.

"General,pls ... you must help us....you are the only one who can_"

Ren forcefully pulled his hand away and stepped backwards.

"No more!"

"What!"A suprised Lord Tydor stared down at him, hearing him speak for the first time,he was expecting a gesture rather than a response.

"No more of this!...Don't ever speak to me on this again!"

Ren warned then abruptly turned away from a shocked Tydor.

The response he got from the general was most shocking and unexpected,he was out of the plot and that meant big trouble.

"What made you_"

Lord Tydor wanted to speak but stopped talking when he was shot a cold side stare from the general from over his shoulders.

-------------------------------

I want to speak with you"Athena said hesitantly in an unusual low pitch.

"Well...spill it!am here!". Gerald snapped while still backed her.

The Chief knight's huge eyes eyed her surroundings before settling on him.

"Not here...somewhere more_private"

"Private?"he repeated and turned in her direction,questionly raising a brow and eyeing her in a manner she thought made him look more attractive.

Athena nodded, awaiting a response she hoped would be in her favour.

"Where?"

The Chief knight reached out a hand hoping he would take it.

For a moment he just stared at it till finally he took it with a look of mistrust on his face and she teleported them to a garden.

Gerald's eyes warily scanned his surroundings.It wasn't the Imperial garden.

The whole place looked unfamiliar.

A building surrounded the garden which was situated a few distance from it.

With a smile Athena gestured towards a table with two chairs facing each other before walking towards it.

The table was already set with an expensive candle stand In the middle of it and two plates with cutleries at the sides Infront of the seats.

"Over lunch"Athena replied as she took her sit with Gerald following after, sitting across from her.

"Where are we?"

"This is my family home in my hometown...we are still in Urah...this place,not too far from the imperial palace".

"Why bring me to your home?"Gerald questioned,not taking his eyes off her.

"I wanted to talk somewhere private_"

"There are a couple of private places with sound proof walls back at the imperial palace"

"It still wouldn't be a good idea".

"What's this about?"Gerald said as he leaned back with a mocking look in his eyes.

"That the palace wouldn't be good to discuss it"

"Something huge!"

"Huge?"Gerald asked looking interested now as he leaned closer.

"Yes!"

"Still that wouldn't justify the fact that you brought me to your home...tell me,what's the real reason we are here?"

Athena didn't respond but only looked passed him,her eyes now gone distant.

"Hey!"

When Athena didn't respond again neither did her gaze shift,the emperor's knight waved in her face then she was jolted back.

"She looked at him briefly then averted her gaze immediately to the table.

He could tell she was avoiding eye contact she always did that whenever her was around her.

Gerald eyed her menacingly.

What in the world was wrong with her and manner of evil was going on in her head...was it evil or was it something else, maybe a feeling_

shit!

Not another woman with such awful feeling...he had already had enough of Mia.

"What's in it?"Athena gestured with her head while looking in the direction of his waist.

"What is what?"

"I saw you with a paper... apparently some one snuck a note on you at the briefing"

"Nona ya business!"Gerald smirked while raising a cocky brow.

"I was asking...why you brought me here?"

"Let's just say I wanted to".

Suddenly three servants entered carrying trays of assorted dishes.

After placing it on the table they left immediately.

That was when Gerald realized she had been ordering their meal earlier through telepathy.

The knight's gaze travelled to the food before him,it was his favorite.

How did she know his favorite food?has she been spying on him or something?

"How did you know what I liked?"

For the first time since he knew her he heard her laugh,in a soft melodious way while covering her lips with her palm.

"I figured"

"That's not true,you can't just_figure"

"Gerald...you cannot know everything and besides,this isn't an official question so you can't make me answer...If I may,I decline giving you an answer today, perhaps some other day"

An unsatisfied frown formed on Gerald's face but he only responded.

"Okay",not wanting to push the topic any further.

Athena digged in while Gerald just watched with folded hands.

After a while she raised her head and noticed he hadn't touched his food.

It saddened her and the look on her face betrayed her emotions.

"You_you haven't touched your food"

Gerald pushed the plate away and folded his hands again.

"Not hungry!"

"It's not poisoned".

"Never said it was"

Athena sighed and ate in silence while stealing glances at him from underneath her lashes.

She noticed his impatient glare, perhaps too impatient to sit with her for more couple of minutes.She could sense his hesitancy to get up and return back to him imperial duties.

Deep down,she wanted him around longer than she knew he would consent to and for some reason deep within her she felt belated by his presence.

She dropped her cutleries,sat straight up then she morphed into a red dinner gown which exposed a huge cleavage.

Her black hair, formerly tied in a ponytail loosened and fell at her side, extending down to her legs and slightly concealing a portion of her face.

It was the first time he had seen her in a gown so he couldn't help but stare,no doubt it looked good on her.

With her beauty enhanced by a pretty smile,a perfect one she successfully held his gaze for a couple of silent seconds.