Buckled Up Baggages

Xao Chang summoned Phantom and Ralph inside the Monastery. At first, both thought that it was a prank and Kenchi was trying to lure them and kill them. But, when Xao Chang himself appeared and caught their necks and brought them to the Monastery, Phantom and Ralph were pale with horror.

Xao Chang looked at them and smiled.

He walked towards them slowly patted their heads and smiled.

Xao coughed, "Phantom and Ralph. Two underrated ghosts of the Monastery. One is a victim of partiality and another is a victim of heart. So sad that you two have no respect in the Monastery, not even from those weak spirits who are so easily replaceable. It must be so heart-aching to suffer from such humiliation every day. Isn't it?"

Phantom asked, "What are you trying to say, Master Chang?" He looked at Xao Chang's eyes and quickly lowered his gaze.

Xao Chang looked at him walked towards his throne and sat on it. He said in a heavy voice, "Power is a necessity. Just like water or air. Everyone needs it to survive. But, not everyone gets it equally enough. While guys like Kenchi, Kayuba, and Assayah enjoy the luxuries of being powerful, you two strive every day for sustainability like cockroaches." He laughed and his laughter echoed through the hall.

Phantom looked at Ralph and then asked grimly, "Have you called us here to insult us?"

Xao Chang smiled, "Maybe. But, I have a way for you to gain some respect and maybe some of my benevolence. I am aware of your affair with a mortal girl in my absence. I know all of my servant's secrets very well. But, I am not angry with you. Do you want to know why? Because I think your silly affair has benefited me dearly. The offspring that was born due to your lust is the same girl who is destined to "slaughter" me. Yes, Alice is your daughter. A mortal born from a ghoul's semen. Isn't it a wonderful coincidence?"

Phantom said sadly, "Why are you telling me all this? I left that life behind, in fact, I was brutally distanced from her by your heartless minion, Bacca."

Xao Chang laughed, "Looks like the lover boy's heart is aching for love. Fine. I am not so heartless as my minion. So, I will fulfill your desire to meet her. Your Rachel."

Phantom asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Xao Chang walked towards him and pulled his hair. He said angrily, "Love is a very funny emotion. Makes even the most sensible person a total idiot. So, remember one thing, boy. If you ever try to deceive me like your master, I will burn your love in the fire of Hell."

Phantom asked, "What?"

Xao Chang clapped his hands and a gargoyle flew with a large cage and dropped it on the floor.

Xao Chang smiled, "Go and pull the curtain and see what surprise is trapped inside the cage."

Phantom ran and pulled the cloth on it and saw Rachel was sleeping inside the cage.

Phantom looked at Xao Chang and said, "What do you want from me? I will do anything for you but please don't hurt her."

Xao Chang took out a dagger and slashed Ralph's throat. He threw the dagger towards Phantom and said, "Just like your friend. I want you to slash your master's throat and end his treacherous existence."

Phantom said, "I will. But, what guarantee is there that you will not hurt her?"

Xao Chang smiled, "Guarantee? You want a guarantee, fool. Fine." Xao Chang chanted a spell and a box appeared before Phantom.

Xao Chang said, "I have trapped Rachel's life in this box. If you don't kill Kayuba within two months, the box will explode and Rachel will be sent to the depths of Hell." He walked towards the cage and pushed it down.

He looked at Phantom and said, "Kayuba is a powerful warrior, and fighting him will be difficult for you on your own. So, I will give you something that can help you kill him." He opened his hand and a white ball appeared in his hand. He looked at the ball and engraved Kayuba's name on it. Xao Chang said, "This is not an ordinary ball. The ball contains soul binding spell inside it and will be enough to trap Kayuba's soul in it. But, the ball can be used only once, so be careful how you use it. When you slash Kayuba's throat, soak this ball with his blood and his soul will be trapped inside it. The ball will also give you enough power to fight Kayuba if things don't go as expected." Xao Chang gave him the ball and went away.

Phantom was soon transported to the Elf Kingdom.

Phantom looked around and saw only elves and elves. Phantom never visited the Elf Kingdom and therefore doesn't know anything about it. He walked towards the palace and walked inside the room of Aliyah. He was invisible and therefore Aliyah and Vexana were not able to detect him.

Aliyah and Vexana were busy discussing the attack strategy on the place where Leo made his factories.

Vexana said, "The place shouldn't be that heavily guarded. It is not like they are expecting an attack there."

Aliyah said, "Still. We cannot take a risk. Leo is a smart person and I'm sure that he must have convinced Licha to deploy a good amount of soldiers there for the security of his factories. Also, there will be workers and other staff who might not easily back off without a fight. Mercenaries are also a threat there. And who knows what more traps are hidden at that place? Leo's factories are a gold mine for Licha and she will not leave any leaf upturned to safeguard it."

Vexana said, "But, the matter is of numbers. We don't have enough troops to attack Namaria and the secret place simultaneously with an equal chance of winning. We have to sacrifice one place."

Aliyah said, "Namaria is my and Kayuba's responsibility. We can manage that place well if we manage to invade the palace and kill the guards. The locals won't dare to fight once we kill Licha and Halidesus. So, we will be able to manage after all."

Vexana said angrily, "Stop daydreaming, Aliyah. Think practically. Namarian palace is a very big palace and even if Prince Jerachi or Maki opens the secret pathway, we still have to fight an army three times larger than ours."

Aliyah said, "If you keep yapping like a child, the war is already won by our enemies. In the past, we took risks too, and had a good chance to win the war. But, some traitors ruined our plans and made us lose the war. But, this time we are at an advantage. we have demons on our sides and they have traitors on their sides. This time there is no stopping us. So, be brave and don't cry like a coward, Vexana."

Vexana sighed and left the room in despair.

Aliyah took a long yawn and said to herself, "Maybe, I'm getting too old for this stuff. I can barely maintain my stern tone like before. Anyway, I have to take a bath and freshen up. From tonight, I will be practicing some fighting moves of my own. Things are quite different now and being extra ready is always better." She walked towards the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

Phantom slowly walked towards the table and looked at the maps and boards. He smiled, "Looks like a very big war is going to happen here very soon. Xao Chang was right. Killing my master will be a lot easier as his death won't be suspicious or will demand further investigation. But, I can't just kill him like this. Kayuba is a clever man and he will not fall easily in any of my traps. Looking at the map, it is very clear that the elves are going to attack Namaria first and according to that lady it is certain that she and my master will attack Namaria together. I will kill him there amidst the chaos of the battle." Phantom slowly walked outside the room and disappeared.

Aliyah walked outside and was still drying her hair with a towel, when a strange smell touched her nostrils. She looked at the room and smiled, "New perfume. Vexana must have used that. The smell is quite manly and somehow woody. She took a brush and dipped it in red ink and marked three big cities of Namaria. Aliyah smiled, "Danaz, Gotheim and Maunaz. These three cities will be quite essential for the early stage of our siege. Danaz and Maunaz are basically elf territories inhabited by our local rich and Gotheim City will never deny my word as I am the founder of the city. I have to meet the Mayor of Gotheim. Anna might have retired from her post so it is either her son or daughter now. Anyway, it doesn't matter. My name is still equally relevant as it was before." She looked at her watch and said, "Oh shit! I am late for lunch. I have to talk with Trisha and see if she can be of some use to me after all." She quickly wore her clothes and walked outside the room.

Aliyah looked at the dining table, where Trisha and her newly appointed bodyguard, Elyssa were standing near the table waiting for Vexana and Aliyah. Aliyah walked towards them and smiled, "Why are you not eating? You don't have to wait for us." Trisha smiled, "I just wanted to show some respect to you and Vexana. I am not very hungry and my hand is also very heavy nowadays, so I have some problem feeding myself." Aliyah smiled, "This heavy hand is not something you should be a problem for you. But, since you are still a little weak for such enormous power we have to do some tests on you. Alice is in good hands and you should be in Mount Tysogame too."

Trisha asked, "Shouldn't I be here? Won't you need me here?"

Aliyah smiled, "Of course, I will need you and most importantly all of the Elf Kingdom will need you. But, not the present form. When you will return from Mount Tysogame, you will be a better version and you will be much more useful to all of us, then you are right now."

Trisha smiled, "Should I go to Mount Tysogame right now?" She gave her a stern tone.

Aliyah smiled, "You will go as soon as I find out that Alice has regained consciousness. It will be much better if you two train together since you both have an extra advantage over Elena. But, again the training is exclusive of any advantages or privileges. It is only pure talent and intense hard work. I still remember my days in the Academy. Though, I was the princess and a notable presence, I was never allowed to show any edge on other underprivileged kids. I was trained specifically for the Blood Spear ritual which unfortunately never happened as the war commenced earlier. But, those torture and misery did some good which turned me into a solid warrior and I managed to kill some very powerful enemies in the war. But, without the Blood ritual, I was only half a warrior than I could have been and finally died. Anyway, my story has ended and now it's your turn to write history." She patted Trisha's shoulder and walked outside the room.

Elgin said grimly, "Aliyah is right. The Academy is not a kind place for beginners and it will be even less kinder for mortals. But, don't be scared. If you are eligible and manage to shine in front of a good amount of teachers, your path will be easy. But, as far as I know the new teacher, Maester Haginua is a stern guy and rarely shows any emotions other than anger and grumpy. But, one of my fellow brothers, Taigin is there who will take care of you." Elgin smiled and disappeared in green mist....