18. Accountability

The Ia and the Foph groups stood completely still about twenty meters apart while Yna, Yog and I simply stared at them.

"Umm… what brings you here, Karish?" I asked with a nervous chuckle, but all Karish did was glare at Calëb who stood with her arms crossed.

Behind her, were several female and male Rendaro.

The women carried with them strange gold dishes while the men wore dark, heavy armor. They also wielded various weapons. Some of them wore helmets while others didn't.

As for Karish's group, he had a handful of guards who wore simple leather armor and wielded simple wood spears and some swords.

He also had Elder's Tal and Olen with him.

Oh and behind them was Anda.

"Why are… they here?" Karish asked through gnashed teeth.

"I'm not sure why they're here right now, but I spoke with Calëb a while ago and I told her to leave you alone."

"And you think she listened to a word you said?" Karish asked, clearly distressed.

"Well, I also told her that if any Foph are seen near Eimval, Yna would burn the entire Foph population alive."

"Then why is she here?"

"Good question. Why are you here, Calëb?" I asked.

Calëb raised her nose while looking at Yna.

"I just wanted to give you gifts for sparing my people." Calëb said, but I had learnt that she didn't always say what she meant at first.

"Spit it out. Why are you really here?" I asked and this time, Calëb's gaze fell on me.

"I will tell you. Just as soon as those mud crawlers go back to their hole."

"We're not going anywhere you battle crazed whore!" Karish said. This lead to all of Calëb's men drawing their weapons.

One of them walked out of line.

He wasn't wearing a helmet and so I could see that he was fairly young.

His face had a few scars and on his head was a weird Mohawk ponytail hybrid.

"You will regret staying those words, old man!" The young Rendaro spat, but Anda from Karish's side stood between the Foph and an angered Karish.

"Yna." I simply said and a bright flash of light bathed the land, prompting everyone to look at Yna and I.

"Calm down, all of you. If you spill any blood near my sanctuary, I will not kill you, but your homes will be turned into mass graves." I said rather softly.

I didn't mean anything I said, bit it had to be done.

I had to be or seem bloodthirstier than both the Ia and Foph.

The young Foph looked at Calëb who simply nodded and he walked back into line.

Anda did the same and I sighed deeply.

"Now. All of you want something from Yna and I, right? Why don't we talk about it like civilized individuals." I said before erecting a dark gazebo in the sand behind me.

I then sent Yog to Karish before stepping onto the gazebo.

I created dark mats for both Karish and Caleb's groups before loudly tapping on the gazebo's floor.

"Well? Come on. Bring only those you trust won't incite conflict." I said.

Calëb shrugged before wrapping her arm around a certain female Rendaro's waist and pulling her along as she approached.

Karish clicked his tongue before coming our way with the other elders in tow.

Everyone sat in the gazebo with my sitting on Yna's lap.

I looked at the Rendaro next to Calëb to find that she had a large gold box.

"Mmm… let's start with Karish. What's up?"

Karish and his entourage glared at Calëb, but it's Karish who deeply sigh before looking at me.

"A wall- I'd like to kindly request that you build a wall around Eimval."

"Oh? Still planning on doing some work on the surface- wait, enough about all that. How are the Ia doing as a people? I honestly didn't think you guys were ever going to set foot on the surface again." I said prompting Karish to glare at Calëb once more.

Calëb simply keenly inspected my gazebo while seemingly ignoring my conversation with Karish.

"We will not be held down anymore. Not by our past and certainly not by the… Foph. I want- I'm kindly asking that you erect a wall to protect the Ia while we build New Eimval." Karish said.

I nodded before looking down in thought.

This was good.

The Ia hadn't returned to being recluses and they were even willing to come all the way here.

"Alright! I'll do it… although while we're on the subject of helping, I'm gonna need Elder Tal to help me fix the stream first. Especially since I don't know the intricacies of how water is delivered into Eimval." I said.

"Well?" Karish asked.

"Of course! I'll gladly help wherever I can." Tal said.

I noticed that his hands were covered in burns and blisters.

Same with Karish, Olen and Anda.

"Good. I was actually on my way to Eimval, so after Tal and I inspect the stream, we'll head to Eimval. Now… your turn." I Said, prompting Calëb to look at me with half open eyes.

Was she bored?

"Oh… It's as I said. I want to give Yna a gift." Calëb said, but Karish clicked his tongue at this.

"Ahem! Yna, I really want you to consider what we spoke of the other day."

"You speak as though that issue is a common occurrence." Yna said.

"It isn't common, but it happens far too often." Calëb said with lowered eyes.

"Tsk! Katsíki, trust me when I say that we'd all be better off killing off all the Foph." Karish said without looking at Calëb who's eyes narrowed extremely.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked softly.

Karish took a deep breath before looking at me.

"Think about it. Why do you think the Rendaro are divided? The Foph are hard headed, narrow minded and bloodthirsty. Your dream, your ambitions will lead to a more civilized world. Tell me, lord Katsíki. Do you honestly think there's a place for these animals-"

My eyes widened as Calëb punched Karish in the face with so much force that her hand broke through his head.

Calëb tried removed her hand from Karish's skull, but it the more she pulled, the more of her own flesh was torn by parts of his shattered skull.

She scoffed before forcefully removing her hand from what was left of Karish's head.

I saw that parts of her hand were cup apart, but Calëb simply glanced at the Rendaro next to her, who deeply bowed.

Calëb's eyes then began glowing green and small threads of green light went from the woman's body into Calëb's hand, which twitched violently as the flesh writhed and bloated.

Caleb shook her hand briefly and like that, her hand was healed.

As for the women next to her, it was faint, but I could see several strands of white hair on her head.

I then shifted my attention to Anda, Olen and Tal who cowered in fear while Calëb looked at me.

She then lowered her head deeply.

"I'm sorry. Punish me as you see fit, but I beg that you consider my request." Calëb said and I could tell that she was biting her teeth.

"I- I'll agree to your request under one condition." I said even as my small frame trembled.

"What?"

"The Foph. All of them. I want them." I said, but at this point I didn't even know what I was saying.

"Oh-ho!" Yna loudly gasped.

Calëb sat up and looked me in my trembling eyes.

"Does this mean we'll be under your protection?: She asked.

"Yes, for the most part, but remember all those things I talked about? Accountability? Punishment? If you give your people to me, I'll protect them and enforce my vision of justice."

I had to pump the breaks.

"W- what happens if I refuse?" Calëb asked.

I was beginning to think we was pushing my buttons and seeing how far she could take things.

I looked at Karish's corpse.

I felt a strange burning sensation within me. One that resulted in plumes of smoke rising from my body.

People couldn't keep killing and hurting others without consequence.

This world needed justice.

Prisons, courts and… a firm hand to guide it all.

"Yna, I've told you about my dreams. Teach Calëb will happen to those who threaten them." I said.

Shit.

Yna stood up before placing me down.

"Same rule as always?"

"Yeah. Don't kill anyone." I said.

Shit.

Yna nodded before pointing at a certain spot in the sand.

"Calëb, this was please." She said softly, but her eyes were glowing and I knew better. I reinforced the gazebo by several folds and created roots that planted it in the ground.

Yna and Calëb stood side by side in front of the Foph and the Ia.

"Calëb, you killed Katsíki's acquaintance and leader of the Ia. For that you shall pay. However, Katsíki is a forgiving being and he has offered the Foph a second chance by demanding that you serve beneath him. Do you accept?" Yna asked.

A little dramatic, but it's definitely what I needed.

These people weren't willing to listen to reason, so I need to nudge them in the right direction.

Well… my direction.

"Y- yes." Calëb said as Yna's body glowed brighter.

"Good."

A massive explosion then tore the air apart, sending forth a wave of sand.

"Ah!"

I heard someone cry.

The dust cleared revealing that Calëb had fallen to the ground.

My eyes widened upon noticing that her entire left leg was missing.

I looked up and saw Yna walking towards Calëb with a bleeding leg in hand.

Yna then straddled the screaming Calëb before placing the leg down.

"Heal." Yna said.

"What?" Calëb asked as she awkwardly convulsed in pain.

"Heal! Take some of my life and make it yours, my dear!" Yna yelled with eyes that were so bright they bathed the land in golden light and even though the sun had long since set, everyone could see clearly.

Calëb looked at me for answers with a tear covered face, but I didn't move or react. Not that I could.

"O- ok." Calëb stuttered as green strands of light left Yna's body.

They then seeped into Calëb's body and everyone watched as the massive wound below her hip closed up.

"Grand Arcus!"

A certain young Rendaro yelled while running towards Yna with a raised club.

"If he touches me, all Foph will suffer." Yna said, her eyes wide, but her face stiff.

"Shakha, don't… move." Calëb said as tears continuously fell from her eyes.

"But-"

"Please." Calëb begged.

Shakha glared at me before looking at Calëb.

He then lowered his club before returning to where the other Foph were.

"Good." Yna said while raising her hand.

She then punched Calëb in the shoulder, shattering every bone and even creating a hole in the ground.

Calëb let out a gross squawk as her face twisted in pain.

Yna raised her fist and even though it was covered in dirt and blood, it was undamaged.

"Heal!"

Yna said with a grin before punching Calëb's other shoulder.

"Heal yourself, or you'll die!" Yna yelled before raising both of her hands and smashing Calëb's chest in.

Blood flew out of Calëb's mouth and nose while Yna raised her hands once more.

"HEAL!"

Yna said as countless streams of green light flew from her body to Calëb's.

"YES! HEAL!"

Yna said before again punching Calëb' chest before it could regenerate, covering both of them in blood, guts and dirt.

Some blood managed to cover one of Yna's eyes, making its light a deep dark red that covered nearly half of the Dark Expanse.

"HEAL!"

"HEAL!"

"HEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!"