Chapter 153: "Let's Get Down To Business!"
Chapter 153: Let's Get Down To Business!
After Tessa stepped out, she didn't bother waiting. She just kept walking, her pace steady but purposeful, like someone who knew exactly where she was going.
Heziah glanced after her, considering whether to call her back. He wanted to remind her to wait for Bandel Blue, but the thought evaporated as quickly as it came. Why bother? Bandel Blue was the enigmatic Kaelrian god—a mythical being who could locate anyone, anywhere, with a mere knowledge of their name and a desire on his part.
What was the point in asking such a unique being to hurry-up so as not to lose track of them? Heziah shrugged and fell in line with the rest of the group, his mind wandering to what had transpired back in the hall.
---
Back at the theatre hall, Bandel Blue stood at the center of attention. The weight of his presence was palpable, like a force that pressed on the very air. For those who were unaware of his real identity, the revelation that he was the owner of Oakridge Estate—the sprawling empire that included this grand theatre—was staggering.
This wasn't just any theatre; it was a symbol of influence, a place where dreams were made or shattered. Now, they understood why every corner of this hall seemed to bow to him.
Some gazes quivered in fear, others in awe, and still others in greedy anticipation. Among them, a few women with calculating smiles and daring eyes leaned forward, hoping to catch Bandel's attention.
They saw not a god but a man of immense wealth and power, a gateway to the life they craved. But Bandel, having lived countless lifetimes among mortals, saw through them all. His sharp blue eyes didn't miss the fleeting emotions that danced across their faces—fear, admiration, lust.
He had long since grown weary of such shallow theatrics. Humans were predictable, their loyalties as fleeting as smoke in the wind, shifting wherever the promise of gain was strongest.
With a calm yet commanding voice, Bandel fixed his gaze on the trembling film director standing at the edge of the stage. What had initially been a source of mild amusement—watching the man's erratic behavior—had long since grown tiresome and hackneyed. His patience worn thin, Bandel cut through the tension with three cold, unflinching words: "You are fired."
The words fell like a hammer, reverberating through the silent hall. Gasps rippled through the audience, and the film director's face turned ashen. For a moment, he stood frozen, the weight of the declaration sinking in. His mind scrambled for a response, but his body betrayed him, rooted in shock.
By the time he regained his senses, Bandel was already walking away, his strides unhurried but final. Panic seized the director. He stumbled forward, his voice cracking as he called out, "Wait! Mr. Blue, please—let me explain!" But the god did not turn back. His departure was as absolute as his judgment, leaving the man to grapple with the wreckage of his shattered aspirations.
---
The director sank to his knees, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. His mind reeled. The theatre hall—this hall—was a gateway to the elite. Securing it had been his golden ticket, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase his work to the city's most influential patrons.
A successful run here could have catapulted him to stardom, drawing in investors, endorsements, and a steady stream of wealth. And he hadn't even paid for it! Bandel Blue had gifted him the space, a gesture so grand he had scarcely believed it was real.
But now it was over. In a single moment, all his dreams had crumbled. His future, once so bright, now lay in ruins. And all because of her—that girl. The memory of Tessa's defiant gaze flashed in his mind, and his despair quickly twisted into rage.
"That damn girl," he muttered, his voice trembling with fury as his mind flickered towards Tessa. His fists clenched tightly as he cursed her under his breath, wishing misfortune upon her and her entire lineage. He knew it was irrational, but anger needed a target, and she was the most convenient one. If only she hadn't crossed his path, if only she hadn't defied him, none of this would have happened.
But deep down, he knew the truth: Tessa was merely the catalyst. His downfall was his own doing, and Bandel Blue's judgment was final.
----
Tessa stood with Nyala in front of the imposing metal door and control panel that guarded the entrance to the underground school.
The occasional hum from the control panel only amplified the weight of the moment as the breeze blew silently. Principal Hammond had already retreated inside, seeking much-needed rest after the day's chaos. However, Heziah Eric and Nyala had chosen to remain with Tessa, unwilling to leave her side as uncertainty loomed.
Tessa's thoughts were elsewhere, consumed by Adrian as she wondered about his present condition whilst in the grasp of Rhemon. She likewise couldn't shake off the feeling that something significant was about to unfold with Bandel Blue now willing to join their team. In the stillness, she wondered if he would come. Would Bandel Blue, the enigmatic Kaelrian god, show up as promised?
A sudden rustling of leaves disrupted her thoughts. Her senses sharpened, and she instinctively turned toward the sound. Emerging from the shadows was a figure draped in an aura of otherworldly grace. Bandel Blue.
He moved with a quiet power, each step deliberate, as though the very ground adjusted to accommodate his presence. But there was something different about him. Gone was the ominous, almost theatrical presence she remembered from the theatre. This version of Bandel Blue seemed different, —the face had changed. If it weren't for the Kaelrian GPS—the unique ability Kaelrians had to sense each other in a crowd—Tessa might have dismissed him as someone else entirely.
His shimmering blue eyes, however, left no room for doubt. They locked onto hers with a knowing intensity, sending a ripple of recognition through her.
Nyala and Heziah, unaware of his identity, tensed immediately. Their instincts screamed danger.
"Who are you?" Nyala demanded, her voice cutting through the night like a blade.
"How did you get here?" Heziah followed, his stance shifting into one ready for combat.
"This is private property," Nyala added, her tone laced with authority. "Leave. Now."
They hurled their words at him in rapid succession, their hostility unmistakable. It almost seemed as if they'd rehearsed it, their voices overlapping in perfect unison.
Tessa raised her hand, her voice firm yet tinged with shock. "Stop. He's Bandel Blue."
Her words hung in the air, laden with disbelief. Even she had almost mistaken him for an intruder, so thorough was his transformation. If not for her innate Kaelrian sense, she might have joined in their aggression.
Bandel Blue smirked, his demeanor unbothered, even amused. "Now, now," he said smoothly, his voice a velvet drawl. "That's no way to greet your helper."
The weight of his words hit Nyala and Heziah like a physical blow. Realization dawned on their faces, and their postures shifted instantly from aggression to contrition.
They exchanged a quick, uneasy glance before muttering their apologies. "We didn't know…" Nyala began, but her voice trailed off.
Heziah's face burned with embarrassment. "Our mistake."
They both knew the truth: challenging a Kaelrian god, especially one like Bandel Blue, was not just reckless—it was suicidal. The thought of what could have happened made their earlier bravado seem laughable.
Bandel Blue, for his part, seemed to enjoy their discomfort. "Apology accepted," he said, his smirk widening. "Now, shall we get down to business?"
Tessa, still trying to reconcile the Bandel Blue standing before her with the one from her memories, nodded. She couldn't deny the strange sense of security his presence brought, even if it was wrapped in layers of mystery.
"This way," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside her.