Chapter X. Abyss

The battle between Norilex and Kevin turned into a one-way fight of attrition. Kevin refused to fight seriously because in his mind there was only the pretext of having to go to work so his position was based on the rear, focusing only on defending his men at the front, they would seek to make her go back and Norilex had to respond with all your strength or retreat to stay safe.

With three hours already elapsed since the fight started, Kevin begins to yawn exaggeratedly as he was bored. In the desert environment the smell of gunpowder was concentrated, the casings of the bullets cover the floor of the bridge and the noise of the men loading their weapons is a thunderous accompaniment to the dry wind.

Norilex begins to show signs of fatigue but is reluctant to give up, the armed men are waiting for a new wave of attacks from the girl, these attacks from her continually crash against the sand imposed by Kevin stopping their advance, after this, the men come out behind the sand and Norilex has no choice but to defend himself before the bullets that fall on her, this has been happening in the past hours. Suddenly and to Kevin's amazement, his cell phone rings, breaking the tension of the moment.

—One second I must answer, Hello boss? ... if I know, I'm aware that I'm late, but there is a reason that an intruder keeps harassing me ... eh?" Okay I'll go as soon as possible * hangs up * you see Norilex this is the last time I'll say it, go away or I'll kick you out of here, I have to go to work I have to attend a birth and the cow can't wait.

—Are you making fun of me now?— she says between gasps.

—Of course not, I have a job to keep. Do you think being a leader feeds me?— all the men look at him. —Well if she feeds me but I don't want to live on it, I plan a peaceful life.

—But it can't stay this way— she tries to get closer but the men escort her.

—Look, if you want to fight with me, find me some other time, here's my phone number, send me a message to save your number and let you know until then, I'm very busy, bye!

Kevin saves his scythe and retreats, some men follow him and others stay to prevent the girl from following them, even knowing that if she attacks they will not have much chance of defending themselves; luckily for them the dark-eyed girl keeps her scythe and retreats to the forest, the men breathe calmly.

She did not return to the institute but rather made a detour into the forest, when taking another route that was more like a carpet of green grass reaches another bridge, the wind was fresh compared to that of Afriz, hundreds of butterflies with different colors can be seen fluttering, animals such as rabbits and deer stand out when passing the bridge, the wide territory is covered in a beautiful lining of green meadow, innumerable flowers of all kinds such as sunflowers, tulips, cayenne and roses adorn the path transforming it into a sublime paradise.

Norilex arrives in Esia to meet his ruler and report what happened. Seeing him in the office, he notices his behavior of frustration and anguish, pacing back and forth in despair. She looks at the chair and without thinking for a second she sits down, waiting for her ruler to calm down, she decides to relax completely. The man when he sees her lets out a big sigh starting the conversation with the girl.

—I hope you brought me good news, today was a lousy day, nothing good has come out of that stupid meeting.

—Well you already knew it would be useless so I don't know why your frustration about it.

—Yes I know, I said so, but I never thought that there were so many differences of opinion regarding what is happening.

—Well, if you expect good news, I won't tell you anything. The conditions are apparently the same.

—Didn't you manage to defeat any leader? Not even the girl from Amira Sur?

—I already had that weakling in my hands but her shadows are quite annoying. Kevin the leader of Afriz seems to be weak but he is the opposite, he is quite trained and knows how to defend himself in his territory even without having a ruler; As for her fanatic friend, he is too nosy, he gives me a very bad vibe, he is very careful with everything and even more so with the people with whom he interacts.

—He must be someone close to the leader of Amira Sur like one of hers men of hers undercover from hers designated from her to protect her or maybe hides something else like being someone in the ability to find other leaders and warn the ruler.

—Whatever it was, it kept me from finishing my job, plus it gave me a suspension bonus.

—This does not work! Nothing is going as it should, first the rulers who still live for the misfortune of life, have no intention of fighting for a common good. Second you don't do a good job.

—I know that nothing I say will calm your anger but will feed it. I am very sorry to be a good for nothing in your eyes grandfather, I am sorry that this is genetic, that it is you in every way.

—Spoiled little girl, that's enough! I was wrong to choose you— she raises her voice and her face turns red with anger.

—Besides, what is my fault that you have largely committed this predicament? If someone is to blame for the misfortunes that happen to you and that the leader of Antirda is behind your neck is clearly yours.

—Now yes, that's all you had to say— before slapping him as a reprimand, the ruler's secretary quickly enters the office.

—I'm sorry to interrupt and enter without warning but there is urgent news from the bridge guards.

—What news is it?— The man adjusts the jacket.

—The news is that they saw two hooded people walking across the bridge into the territory and one of them was holding a scythe.

—A scythe? It is obvious that a leader has entered without authorization. What color was it? Did they get to see it?— Norilex asks with great interest.

—If they saw it, it was green— explains the secretary.

—She's the leader of Irop. Will she attack us instead of Antirda?— wonders the ruler.

—I'm not interested in her, they're obviously underestimating me, Antirda thinks I'm weak compared to the other leaders.

—Well in view of your performance that you have shown lately, even I think so. With this he makes me realize that my vision is correct.

—Well, I'll prove them wrong— He takes out his scythe and hurries out to meet the visitors. —I want to meet you, Miss Leader of Irop.

—Sir, is it proper to trust her granddaughter? I mean, she doesn't regularly attend his training sessions and has a slightly misplaced character regarding his attack plans - the old ruler doesn't need to be told what's obvious to him, he holds his forehead and suddenly feels a cold sweat that invades his spine.

—Contact me immediately with that person— orders the ruler.

—Immediately sir— the secretary replies.

Norilex is on the way to the bridge, he sees the female figure admiring the butterflies flying through the air and that they alight from time to time on the beautiful flowers that have sprouted, tiny ladybugs walk on the green leaves that shine from the morning dew bathed in the flashes of the sun's rays to later distinguish that you keep your phone after taking a photo.

—Do you have time to admire nature when I have already come to meet you?— Norilex says swinging his scythe as a sign of intimidation.

—I had never come to the territory of Esia, its landscape is too beautiful you must be very proud to have such a peaceful view. I wanted to be able to admire it before what is going to happen later.

—Ha! You feel superior. Why? Why was it you and not Antirda's who committed the invasion?

—He has more important matters to attend to and resolve. He doesn't have time to waste with you or that's what he told me, so I'll be the one to take care of you.

Norilex angrily pounced on her, the two women began to fight waving her scythes. Norilex makes vines sprout that trap the woman's ankles preventing her from moving, this controls the dew that lies on the flowers that she saw previously turning them into small razors that cut the vines, this action is not fast enough to avoid the blow that Norilex tips him with the low handle and the back of his scythe cuts him.

—You must not underestimate me, you have what you deserve.

—It's true, I'm sorry about that, I'm not fighting for what I'm not used to, but don't worry, it won't happen again.

The woman lying on the grass feels like small drops of blood begin to slide from her forehead to her cheek, she outlines a small smile, instantly the woman makes the blood turn into small red dots suspended in the air then makes them fall on Norilex like sharp needles, this to defend itself takes out a giant leaf, reinforcing it with membranes similar to those of a tree stem, thus preventing the needles from going through it and hurting it.

—Keep defending yourself, you won't have a chance to avoid the events to come.

—I'm not going to let myself be defeated.

—You're wrong, you lost the moment you didn't notice your enemies.

—What do you say? I have you in front of me ... wait for her— she looks around her and seeing only her, she realizes that the news announced that two people had been seen passing through the bridge. —Where is the other person who came with you?

—Where do you think?

—No, it can't be her— When she turned around, she felt a headache that stunned her followed by a chill that ran through her body and made her tremble.

***

Before the distraction of the fight began, the leader of Antirda separated from his companion, on his way he knocks out everyone who crosses in a vain effort to stop him, since his purpose is to meet with the governor. Upon arriving at the office he meets her secretary, her body shakes as much as jelly, the man approaches her and whispers about her.

—Announce me, first of all I would like to chat a little with him and please bring something to drink, coffee would be fine if you don't know what to choose.

The secretary does so, by announcing it the governor has no choice but to accept her visit. Upon entering, the man analyzes his surroundings and without waiting to be offered a seat, he lies down comfortably on the sofa.

—Have you come to end my life? Leader of Antirda.

—For now I want to chat, without her granddaughter or anyone around there will be no discomfort" the secretary comes in with coffee, the man lying down thanks her, but because of fear she does not answer anything and just leaves quickly.

—Boy if you allow me to say you are doing an unnecessary drama, having to kill us for what? Do you want to get more power? If that's what you want, let's join forces and conquer absolute power.

—With what right do you have to judge what I do? Unnecessary drama? I don't see that this is the case. Why kill them? It is true what I have heard about you will never give your arm to twist, you think that your actions are the most efficient, let me remind you that you and your counterparts took the most precious thing from me without having done anything that warranted such an outburst and since for you life is the most precious thing I have to charge in the same way. Isn't that what nature dictates? As for obtaining power that does not interest me— He expresses in a mocking tone.

—You almost killed the leader of Ocania and say you don't care about power? Pure incongruities.

—The fight got out of my hands— He sits down and has some coffee. —I have to admit.—

—I didn't think you would be sorry for hurting him like that, if you know he must still be in the hospital?

— ... — He continues drinking coffee, when he sees that he does not respond he speaks again.

—Answer me something, because if I am going to die at least I would like to know the exact reason for my death. What am I being judged on? What exactly do we take from you?— His hoarse voice echoes through the man's ears like extremely painful pains, if the ruler of Esia could see the eyes of the leader of Antirda at this moment he would be burning with the fire of his anger but he only takes another sip of coffee and the ruler can only notice that his back was strained by an inexplicable shudder.

—You murdered an innocent person just to obtain the catalyst of the seal that would guide you to the main power of the leaders and thus be able to watch over their main weakness, the source of rebellion against you.

—That's not true. What are you saying? The caffeine in that coffee must be affecting your judgment.

—The coffee is delicious although its flavor is hindered by your words. Do you think you deny it when I saw everything?

—That power did not correspond to them!

—And what about you? She did not deserve to die for just exercising her duty. She only intervened if she was required, she never caused problems to any territory because she had to be impartial even if she did not like the situation.

—Her predecessor avoided us completely and that woman also sided with the leaders by marrying your father, that's why the representatives decided to be anonymous rather than fight, that's why a justified war was stopped a long time ago .

—For that very purpose she had to make a decision, you began to show signs of starting a war. She knew they would use us to invade the territories, even with that she decided to stay on the sidelines and see how the role of the leaders unfolded.

—You rejoice so much talking about her, but keep one thing in mind, if that woman actually stayed on the sidelines, why didn't she tell us anything about the fact that the foundations of the territories were the birth that governs the powers of the leaders, but did she tell the previous leaders that the rulers were already planning to steal it?

— ...

—You don't say anything, how funny, this is where you can see that her impartiality was not so fair. Well I do not deny that using the full seals of the catalysts would raise us above you even if it was not full force.

—She never wanted it to lead to a corruption of power, the catalysts have always been there and naturally, the territory randomly selects the next representative destined for the territory, you should not interfere with the seals of selection and power. In the catalyst you are already endowed with the seal of vulnerability to weaken us, in addition you already have ...

—Ha ha ha ha— the ruler laughs cynically interrupting him. —Yes, but obtaining everything would give us the power to choose the next representative and even be like that person, both in a single individual and if we die the next ruler will be able to continue our legacy, that would be the new natural order.

—SHUT UP NOW!— The man gets up and walks over to the ruler's desk and draws his scythe aimed at his throat. The ruler can see an immense rage in those eyes exhibited by the openings of the mask on his face, but he says nothing, does not ask for help, just enjoys the situation before him. —Now if you've said more than enough, this conversation is over. Any final words?

—Someday your life will end as you have ended ours. I will see you very soon in the dark hell of that I am sure.

—The only ones who will sink into the dark torment are those who covet what does not belong to them, not settling for what they have and desiring the good of others will live in the perpetual abyss. If I have to go there I will not resign myself to my fate.

The ruler only grimaced before his head rolled to the ground, staining his path crimson red. The man takes him by the hair and leaves the office, the people who were still there like the secretary see the scene unfold down the corridor, horrified by the event, they are paralyzed with fear, containing their gasps in their throats, the man ignores them and continues its journey.

When they arrive where they are fighting Norilex and his companion hears a bit of their final conversation, so seeing that Norilex looks around to look for his presence draws his attention.

—Hey girl, do you recognize it?— shows him the severed head.

—No! No! No! Grandfather!— The moment Norilex sees her grandfather's head dripping blood on the grass, she lashes out at him, but he hugs her next to the head and then whispers in her ear.

—I am sorry that you must suffer the consequences for your grandfather's actions, I apologize in advance for what you are going to happen— leaving his head in her arms, the two hooded people cross the bridge to disappear into the forest, while Norilex little little by little he succumbs to madness.