Chapter 24

A voice behind him drew him out of his thoughts. He found himself face to face with the three representatives of the marine species who had come to attend the meeting.

-Lord Jangta, I wanted to express our gratitude to you on behalf of the AEMS," bowed a rogisse, a species very similar in physical appearance to the hippocampus.

The angel motioned for her to straighten up, which she did, along with her peers who accompanied her.

-Without you, Lord Ascarm would surely be dead, and the honour of the marine species would be tarnished," she continued.

-Oh, it's nothing, you know. I feel responsible for what happened to Ascarm. Yusmail was after me, it's only natural that I step in to protect a friend," he replied, a little confused by the recognition he was receiving from those beings who were collateral victims of his relationship with Seiran.

The middle-aged woman gave him a gentle look.

-I am a mother of two myself, and I know what it means to have their lives put in danger. Ascarm was sent here by his father to gain diplomatic experience in a situation that normally poses no danger to his safety. What happened to him was tragic, but you were able to protect both his life and his reputation. You are an admirable diplomat, Lord Jangta."

The angel said nothing. He knew the representative who spoke of reputation. It was Berinne Morgersson. She was the president of Maouirve, the mother planet of the rogisse. In addition to being a stateswoman respected by her peers for her proven leadership skills, she was one of the most important figures in the AEMS. Seiran's father had often cited her as an example of wisdom and moderation and had recommended that he take her as an example.

So he had nothing but deep respect and admiration for her. It was an honour for him to be the object of her compliments.

-your consideration touches me, Madam President. I have only done what I considered my duty as a friend and representative, keeping the situation as peaceful as possible despite the trouble I may have caused by my actions.

President Morgersson smiled benevolently at him. But this time it was one of his fellow creatures who answered him.

-For an angel to dare to stand up to demons on their own territory is a very risky thing to do," said the hornbill, a kind of manatee with legs. "Your bravery has touched us and we have decided to give you some information that will be...useful, I think."

Niris raised his eyebrows in surprise. After exchanging a knowing glance with her fellow human, the Maouirve president nodded and continued.

-Emperor Aroslan is the subject of an assassination plan orchestrated by the demons."

This time, Niris's eyes widened. Beside him, Inja surrendered. She turned her head from side to side to see if anyone was watching them, but Niris reassured her.

-I activated a language scrambler before we started the conversation. Any outsider will think we're exchanging in Maouivite and won't understand a word we say."

The angel was impressed by the thoroughness of the AEMS member. Her qualities were not exaggerated.

-What do you mean by assassination plan?" Niris asked, hearing about it for the first time.

-The demons intend to eliminate your emperor and to do so, they have surrounded themselves with many allies including vampires, wizards, Esethea, and many minor planets. They have contacted me to ask for the support of the AEMS, but I have not given them a clear answer yet."

This time, Niris frowned. He knew the demons had a ferocious rush towards the angels, but he didn't know it could go this far. He would never have thought them crazy enough to try to murder his father. In any case, what he had just heard explained Seiran's mother's behaviour. If she thought his plan would work, it was normal that she didn't care that he had stolen a confidential document about one of her slaves. That was where her trust came from, the prince understood.

-When is the operation supposed to take place?" he asked.

-Just after the coronation ceremony is over," replied the squid this time. "Which is less than a week from now."

Four days at the most. That was all the time they had left to foil the assassination. Niris began to think intensely. He had to tell his father as soon as possible.

-The closest allies of the demons, minor planets that will receive financial compensation, and other planets that we haven't yet received a definitive answer from, such as the choumis and frines, will participate," Borinne Morgensson continued.

The angel closed his eyes for a moment. This was bad. Nearly a quarter of the intergalactic population was going to be involved. The angels had many more enemies than they appeared to have. It was very bad for intergalactic peace.

-Very well, I thank you for this information," he thanked them, bowing slightly. "Won't revealing all this to me jeopardize your relationship with Ornikarn?"

The president smiled at him and pulled a wand a few inches long from her sleeve. Niris immediately recognised it as an official letter. With a graceful gesture, she handed it to him.

-For some time now, the members of the AEMS have wanted to question this historic alliance between the marine species and the demons. Many of us don't like the leadership they impose on their partners, but we hadn't found an opportunity to make an acceptable alliance proposal to Egea, especially since angels don't like to operate in alliance with their friends."

She placed the small wand in the palm of the angel, who looked at it with intrigue.

-So we'd like to kill two birds with one stone. Keep you informed of what is going on behind the scenes, and make an official request for protection to Emperor Aroslan."

The angel looked up in surprise at what he had just heard.

-We know the emperor will not receive our request for an alliance, but we need his help to break away from the demons who will not accept our departure easily."

Suddenly, the three bluish-green creatures bowed to him at the same time.

-We apologize for using the situation this way. Our intentions are sincere. The members of the AEMS would like to become official and trusted partners of Egea," the Maouirve president finished solemnly.

Niris looked at her for a moment, a little incredulous. He had not expected this. Quickly coming to his senses, he indicated again that they should stand up.

-I will do my best to carry your letter, but I am afraid it will not have the desired impact if I am the one to deliver it..." He tried to explain, sticking as closely as possible to his cover.

To which the shell replied with a smile.

-We know that the angels express no prejudice as to the rank of their peers and that any request is dealt with by the emperor, no matter where it comes from."

Niris smiled weakly, acknowledging his defeat.

-I see you are determined," he said simply. "Very well, I will pass the missive on to His Majesty Aroslan as soon as I arrive in Egea.

The three creatures thanked him warmly.

-I thank you for your trust and for the valuable information you have given me.

-It is nothing Lord Jangta, it is we who are grateful to you." Replied the rogisse with a smile. "I wish you a less hectic end to your stay and that we meet again under more peaceful conditions."

Nitish thanked her and put the clip away in her dematerialized keychain.

-We are preparing to leave Yerpena with Ascarm and return to our respective planets," the calonque announced.

-Ascarm has woken up?" the angel exclaimed.

-This morning he did, and he's perfectly healthy. We have kept the information secret so as not to attract attention. Our departure may upset the demons, but we can't stay in these conditions. Endangering the life of one of our peers is too serious a situation to be ignored, I hope you understand that."

-Yes... Of course," Niris replied, digesting the information one after the other. This was a lot in less than fifteen minutes. He pulled himself together and gave them his usual professional smile.

-Welcome back, President Morgensson. I hope to see you soon under better circumstances," he greeted them.

The three representatives thanked him and greeted him in turn before taking their leave. Quickly regaining his train of thought, the angel opened his MIE and began to type a message to his father when Inja's hand on his shoulder made him turn around.

-Your father already knows," she warned him.

-Huh?" He couldn't help but let it slip out of his mouth.

Inja sighed and then continued.

-He already knows about the assassination attempt, he warned me so I could investigate on my own and monitor the progress of the project when I got there. He didn't want to say anything to you because he didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

Niris looked at him this time with fried whiting eyes.

-He knows... already? Does that mean he's got it coming? The attempt will be aborted then?" he asked somewhat stupidly.

His guard nodded. The prince sighed. He didn't like being kept in the dark but he understood his father and was reassured that the situation was under control.

-Good. Let's go back to my rooms for now. We need to review what's next," he ordered as he headed for the large door that led them to the flat wing of the palace. There they found Meica waiting for them. She had been barred from entering because she didn't count as a guard of Prince Jangta, which was a silly reason according to him, but it didn't make much difference in any case.

The small group headed for the back of the secondary wing where the two angels resided. On the way, Niris received a message from Ascarl to meet him on the aircraft departure deck. He was about to leave with his company but stopped on the way.

-Go on without me, I'm going to say goodbye to Ascarm! I'll see you after!" he said as he headed off in the opposite direction.

-I'll come with you," Inja said, following him.

-It's no use, I'll be ten minutes..." The prince began before being interrupted by the mental voice of the guard.

"Your Highness, you are being followed."

Without reacting directly, Niris exchanged a glance with the young woman.

-I prefer to accompany you, you never know. You might get lost," she said aloud with a smile.

-Oh, right, that's a good idea after all," the angel replied casually.

After waving goodbye to the two pegasuses, the two angels headed towards the palace port, exchanging via telepathic connection channel.

"Who? And how many?" Niris then asked, quickening his pace.

"Two, and demons. One of them is Eviris and the other is an unidentified demoness," replied Inja.

It didn't surprise the angel to know that Eviris was following him. Knowing Seiran, he knew that he had probably ordered her to protect him during the ceremony. As for the unknown demoness on the other hand, it was more worrying. But he would deal with it later. For the moment he was only eager to find the Selanpe and to have enough time to say goodbye properly.

After a long walk through the endless corridors of the palace, the two angels finally arrived at a huge esplanade. On both sides, people were running around, bustling among the huge garish aircraft circling the open space overlooked by the azure sky of the planet Ornikarn. It was just past noon, and the aircraft of the representatives of the AEMS member planets were loaded and ready to take off.

Niris hurried on. From a distance, he saw the silhouette of his friend surrounded by demons who were busy loading the rest of his belongings into the small Zed-04 that served as the Selanpis' intergalactic transport. The angel made his way through the busy crowd and eventually reached Ascarm.

-Ascarm!" He said once he was within a few feet of him.

Upon hearing his name, the sea creature turned around. His face lit up as he saw the one calling him.

-Jangta!"

Without holding back and forgetting the diplomatic codes of conduct, he threw himself into the arms of the angel who welcomed him with laughter. Kinni jumped around them, moaning with joy.

-I'm so glad you're okay! the angel said, hugging the Selanpis tightly.

They stayed like that for a while and then reluctantly parted.

-I heard about what happened from President Morgensson. You can't imagine how grateful I am for everything you've done!

Niris looked away in shame.

-Oh, it's nothing. I'm sorry I got you into this. It wouldn't have happened if..."

He couldn't finish his sentence as the Selanpis had placed both hands against his cheeks and forced him to turn his head towards him to face him with his eyes.

-No self-flagellation! The only one responsible in this story is that crazy vampire! We'll send her to the bat kingdom to calm her down, you'll see if she's still smarting!" Ascarm lectured him, a crease between his eyes.

Niris watched him for a moment, confused by his friend's behaviour, then burst out laughing.

-It'll be fun to watch her go around in circles in a cave without being able to fuck with anything but the stalactites and bones of hapless explorers," he added, getting caught up in the game. "Do you think she'd start talking to bats after a while?

-She would!"

The two friends looked at each other and burst out laughing again. This moment of hilarity did them a world of good. After all the pressure of the last few days, they needed to let off some steam. Little by little, they caught their breath and regained their seriousness.

-I'm leaving early," Ascarm announced. "It was short but I loved spending this time with you, Jangta. You're probably the best person I've ever met here! I don't regret coming at all."

He gave her a beaming smile as he said to himself. The angel was touched by the pure and sincere words of his friend.

-I too, Ascarm, had a great time thanks to you. This trip would have been a bore without you!

The Selanpis gave him a knowing look.

-I'll come back to your place, I have to try on your clothes, don't forget your promise!"

Niris laughed at the memory of their conversation. It reminded him of the lightness of their exchanges. Now that he was immersed in political intrigue, he would miss the presence of the little aquatic being.

-Mmh, come by anytime, I'll send you my address," he replied with a big smile.

-And you can tell me how things are going with Seiran," Ascarm continued with the same innocent smile.

-Haha with pleasure," Niris began before realizing what his friend had just said.

His eyes squinted and he couldn't hold back a "WHAT?" from coming out of his mouth a little too loudly.

The Selanpis gave him a knowing look at his reaction. Niris then put a hand over his mouth and looked around, worried that he had drawn attention to himself. But everyone else was too busy with their tasks. He sighed, relieved that no one had heard what his friend had just said.

-S-Since when?" he stammered, still caught off guard.

-Oh, for a while now," the Selanpis teased. "You may have been discreet to the others, but it didn't take me long to see you two exchanging glances. And then...you forget that aquatic species have a very keen sense of smell. You've started to carry his scent on a regular basis, so I suspected there was something going on between you. And you just confirmed it!"

The little green-skinned being grinned victoriously at her. Nitish lowered his shoulders. He admitted defeat.

-Ah, I'm a fool for trying to hide it from you," he said.

Ascarm took his hands in hers and looked into the angel's emerald green eyes.

-Jangta, don't let anyone dictate to you who to love or not. Follow your heart, and don't give up when faced with obstacles. Love is worth it!"

Again, the angel was touched by his friend's words. Clasping his hands in his own, he nodded, grateful.

-You too Ascarm, be free to choose and live as you feel. I will always be there to help you."

The two friends looked at each other blankly for a moment, then the Zed-04 pilot called his passengers to board. Ascarm let go of the angel's hands and walked to the access ramp. They gave the angel a final wave.

-Take care of yourself!"

Nitish replied with a wave of his hand. He watched the selanpis disappear into the white hull of the aircraft, then turned around. He did not have the heart to wait for the craft to leave.

Heading inside the palace, he finally glanced back through the large glass window when he heard the control tower's announcement that the Zed-04 had taken off.

With a wistful smile, he watched the craft rise into the air and then slowly pull away. A page was being turned.

While he was lost in his contemplation of the sky, a small vibration on his wrist signalled the arrival of a new encrypted message. He opened it.

"Rescue operation for the angels on Ornikarn begins in three hours. As soon as the palace slaves are secured, the investigation procedure will be launched immediately."

Finally, the serious business was beginning. He had only a few hours left before he had to return to Egea. The clock was ticking.