200

Chapter 200 : Mammoth

"First, this woman needs no introduction. She is the leader of Grenvale's top ranking chapel." Even as Zura spoke the audience began to hoot and holler, with whistles erupting all around. Agni could only watch and wait from her position on stage. She felt thankful that, for a moment, the attention had been drawn away from her.

"Her band of adventurers rank first when it comes to Grimlock slaying despite their smaller numbers." Zura continued as she shifted her attention to a woman standing just a few meters behind the Courtesan.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Give a rousing reception to the one, the only, Artemis Fellblade, leader of the Band Of The Hawk." The woman stepped forth on que, revealing herself to the audience as she took her place next to Zura. Artemis Fellblade was an exceptional specimen of a woman. She was tall with tanned, bronze skin. Her hair was two toned, yellow and brown which matched the wild aura surrounding her. She was dressed much like a barbarian might be, no under armor but sleeveless chest plates. Her midriff was made bare, revealing her rock hard abdomen. Her gaze was intense, Agni noticed what appeared to be dark circles beneath the woman's eyes -- only to realize it was makeup. The effect made her sparkling green eyes pop, eyes that held a vibrant fire within them.

Her hair was wild, spiky, long and it fell down to the small of her shoulder blades. At least Agni estimated it would, the woman actually wore a cape draped over her shoulders so she couldn't tell. Along with her abdomen, the rest of her body was chiseled. It was obvious that she was strong at a glance, but when Agni saw her rank it was certain.

*Rank three.* Agni thought inwardly. She subconsciously recalled Zura's words, that the difference between rank two and three was like an ocean. With one look she certainly felt as much. Unlike Zura and Vivian Lex, this woman felt wild and primal. A raw strength that any would be hard pressed to deny. Furthermore her face was etched in confidence as she lifted her hand and released a roar before the crowd. In response to her greeting the roughnecks in the crowd erupted into cheer -- almost deafening as to match the woman's voice.

She smiled, her greeting having been returned in kind and waved to the audience before stepping aside for the next introduction.

"The master of the second rank chapel in Grenvale is also no stranger to many of you. Thanks to the many devices, gadgets and items provided by the Greenbriar Chapel many lives have been enriched and saved. Please welcome the Doyenne of Greenbriar Chapel, Felix Champlis."

The next person was a stark contrast to the previous. His physique was striking, but for a wholly different reason. Artemis Fellblade was indeed a tall woman, easily reaching 177 cm (5'10 or so). Felix on the other hand towered at 190 cm (6'3 or so). His limbs were unusually long, lanky probably described him best. Still he moved with a certain amount of dexterity that reminded Agni of a predator -- perhaps a spider gracefully moving across its web. The man was dressed in mostly leather, ornate and equally impressive as Artemis' style of dress. It was clear that the both of them could afford high quality gear and easily at that.

*M-maybe I should invest more in my gear…* Agni thought inwardly. Felix's skin was pale, almost sickly so yet his blue locks of short cut hair complimented his complexion. Unlike Artemis who's eyes were made up to look dark, Felix's eye sockets were actually sunken inward. This made him look even more gaunt. The man curtly nodded his head towards the audience but didn't seem bothered when very few people applauded for him.

"Look, it's Vivian." Katrin murmured, drawing Agni's attention towards their Doyenne. Indeed, it was Vivian Lex, the kitsune Vixen in charge of their chapel. Despite the occasion she seemed dressed for comfort rather than style. Her style was maintained, a yukata that allowed free movement, long stockings which came up to just above her knees and two objects at her side. Agni recognized these two seemingly random items to be her weapons, which were capable of changing size and appearance at will. This, of course, was one of Vivi's many secrets.

The members of the Mystic Tower clapped and shouted as Vivian stepped forth, winning the slightest blush from her cheeks as she greeted the audience.

"And of course, you all know me." Zura said as she blew a kiss towards the audience.

"Zura we love you!" A man shouted, causing many others to shout and scream professions of affection her way. Even a few of the ladies joined in.

"Marry me, please! I'll do all the housework!"

Zura looked particularly stunning in her outfit, a long full body dress that was multi-colored to match the occasion of the Twilight Festival. It revealed her form nicely, something usually concealed by the thick cloth of her yukata or kimono that she was fond of wearing.

"Next up we have.."

All in all there were eight introductions. Aside from Vivian Lex and Zura Righart, Agni had never seen or heard of the people gathered on the stage. She vaguely remembered something about chapel rankings upon joining the Mystic Tower but it never really meant much until now. When all was said and done the stage behind Zura was filled with seven other individuals, all seated in ornate chairs made specifically for them. It reminded Agni of a panel of kings and queens. Four women and three men total counting Zura.

"And now, this year we have a special treat. Instead of the usual top eight chapels-- there is a ninth contender that will be represented in this year's Twilight Auction. This chapel appeared out of nowhere in the few years, boasting a membership rate that is too good to be true. It is the largest chapel via membership in Grenvale with with no signs of slowing down. Everyone, welcome the leader of the Memento Mori chapel, Enzo Gaines." Zura said as she introduced the ninth and final person to join the stage.

"Huh? What the--" One man muttered.

"What? There's no way. Who the hell is this guy? I've never heard of him before."

Agni could hear murmurs from the crowd as a strange hush fell across the people watching. A large, husky figure moved across the stage revealing a man who was not what the succubus expected. He was...dapper. Well groomed, well mannered and bulky. He was dressed to kill in a style that could only be described as an Irish gangster. The thick plume of smoke which streamed from a thick cigar dangling from his mouth caused a sweet and bitter aroma to fill the air as he walked.

"Thank you. It's an honor to be here, standing amongst all of you." Gaines said as he paused next to Zura. Despite her pleasantly fixed expression Agni could detect a certain sense of distance and unease from Zura. It also caused the succubus the same sensation, a feeling that only grew stronger as she took a close look at the man known as Enzo Gaines. His silvery gray, two toned hair was neatly combed over to one side, impeccably at that. A monocle in his left eye gave him a distinguished look, and indeed his wealth seemed comparable to any of the other Doyenne on stage.

Despite all of this, Agni's mind couldn't help but be pulled back towards the rumors surrounding Enzo Gaines. This person was, after all, the reason she'd been kidnapped by an angellus just a few weeks back. She vividly remembered Egolas' words as they spoke on the beach.

"Those people that attacked you, they work for another man -- an adventurer named Enzo Gaines. There are various rumors swirling about this man, but no concrete evidence that he's done any crimes."

Outwardly, the man seemed like a picturesque gentle giant. The large , lavish cloak draped over his shoulders seemed to be made with the furs from a fine creature. The material was neither cheap nor flimsy and hugged his shoulders easily. Despite this the large oak-like arms of the man were easy to see through his dress shirt. His hands rested neatly on a staff, one that held a sculpted skull at the apex. One with two snakes spiraling downward along the walking cane's length.

Agni strained her eyes to examine his information.

[Enzo Gaines, Rank 2. Synergist]

This also seemed odd to Agni, given something else that Egolas mentioned.

"The people who this man surrounds himself with are fiercely loyal to him. In fact, it's almost like they are caught under a spell of compulsion. That sounds much like the work of a demon to me, and yet he has no such classification."

Egolas' description of Enzo Gaines was spot on in many ways.

Like Felix before him, Enzo Gaines seemed completely unbothered by the audience's lack of reaction to him. He bowed his head to the group of figures already sitting before taking his place on the far end of the stage -- just moments after a chair was placed for him to sit.

She could hear Egolas' words ringing clearly in her head as she eyed the Doyenne of Memento Mori from afar.

"Gaines is a protected man. That's the only logical conclusion I can draw." Judging from the whispers of the audience and stoic expressions of the people on stage, Agni could only assume Egolas' assessment was more than spot on. How else would a relative unknown be able to compete with established chapels?

The people gathered on the stage, all seated, might have looked indifferent to the naked eye, but their energy was disturbed. It was a difficult concept to explain to others, but Agni could feel it clearly. Agitation, annoyance, disdain, a plethora of sensations creeped into her mind as she studied the outwardly still expressions of each Doyenne.

That is, everyone except Enzo Gaines. When Agni directed her attention to him she felt something wholly different. Outwardly he wore a smile, one that was pleasant enough to set most people at ease. However, the impression of his aura was...endlessly heavy. As if the man had a mammoth weight surrounding him, as vast and heavy as a mountain. A sensation that, if directed, would halt anything in its path. A dense, imposing aura that was so heavy it was almost stifling, despite the physical distance between them.

The sensation turned her stomach and put her on edge. She tried to fight this feeling, to defy it. She knew that it was illogical to judge a person she had never interacted with, someone with whom she had no history. But if anything, the last few weeks of her life had told her to trust her feelings. And every fiber in her body was screaming in chorus. Do not underestimate Enzo Gaines, he is more than what he seems.