Chapter six

In a dark room, the walls give the impression that it is similar to a cave, lighted with candles and different kinds of birds carved out of wood hanging here and there. There are sparrows, ravens, eagles, doves, etc.

Every person seen is wearing a black cloak with a hood. Their faces are ominous as they are wearing masks of different birds.

Deep in the cave is a stage surrounded by dozens of people all dress similar but with different bird masks all in grotesque-looking seats.

Two girls, not in cloaks but in uniforms and white dove masks make their way to the stage. One speaks.

"My humble greetings to La Cueva." She bows. "We, as representatives of the Doves are here to report an incident that occurred earlier today while we were on an excursion."

A voice behind an eagle mask makes it evident it is an old lady who speaks. "Then please, let's hear it."

"Yes, Master Esther of the Eagles. Lilith, start talking while I prepare the spell."

"Whaaa...! You know I don't do well before old people Maria."

"Just summarize. I need just a little time. Plus watch your words, they can hear you."

"Shi... I mean shall we get started."

She starts her narrative, stuttering here and there. "So you see...erm...aha! There was, erm...our bus almost hit erm..." Meanwhile, Maria prepares the spell.

She stands with her feet together and her two hands cupped together as if fetching water.

Maria starts an incantation...

Behind the gathered crowd a teenage girl stands with her arms folded. She's got all that rich spoiled daughter look with her blond hair and fair skin. And like Maria, she is in the same uniform but without a mask. Though she is beautiful, she appears bitchy.

She soliloquizes, "Tsk! So this is the girl going to inherit Dove. What a disgrace. Having to chant every line of a third-tier spell she must not be more than sixth-ranked. What a shame, and here I thought heirs are supposed to be powerful."

"...sentir dar." Maria ends her chant. Suddenly, a bright light starts to glow in her cupped hands. The light explodes and all those touched by the beams, for a second looked as if were lost in thought for a second. They snap out of it and simultaneously, they all take off their masks.

"A Howler, huh?" Master Esther speaks. She is ancient. Her entire face is covered in wrinkles and any visible strand of hair is grey. It is only fair to say she is in her eighties.

Her conjecture stirs up murmurs in the mass as they all seemed a bit surprised.

"We all know it's a Howler, Esther?" Another ancient hag speaks. Esther turns in her direction and they both exchange looks that can kill, mostly because their wrinkled faces make it worse.

"Well if it isn't our pleasant grandmother, Rhema. It's a pleasure you could grace us with your presence." Esther says in a sarcastic tone.

"Olala. Well it's a pleasure for me as well. But you are a day older than me though, great-grandmother Esther." Rhemarespondss to her greetings in a similar tone.

The atmosphere becomes heated up, tense, and awkward. They keep trading murderous stairs till it is broken off with:

"Ahem!" All eyes turn to the little Maria standing on the stage. "Pardon, I do well know it is not my place to say this but, can we proceed."

"Yes. Sorry, Maria." Esther apologizes. "Let's proceed. As THE leader of La Cueva, I shouldn't succumb to menial things."

"MENIAL! How dare you!" Rhema roars as she stands from her seat. "You will never change, will you? A failure in everything. Whatever you touch does and will always turn into dust!" She speaks with pure rage with her face red and all. As if the wind was blowing, the carved bed artifacts starts to swing to and fro. "We both know I should be the leader of La Cueva. If it wasn't for you..."

"Watch your tongue!" Esther commands and a wild wind from out of nowhere blows out all the candles. There is total darkness then, "Ilumin." The candles get lit again. "Be careful. I can have you executed for how you speak."

"Yes, you can. However, you won't. Do you know why? Because of your guilt. Tsk! Finish your summit without me."

As a tree grows, a staff emerges from the firm floor. She takes hold of it and begins to walk towards the door. Getting to the door, she simply touches the door with the staff, and like flames consume a paper from bottom to top, fire burns the door in seconds. Instead of revealing what is on the other side, the is darkness. She. Walks through then the door just reappear.

"Damn. That is Rhema for you. Using a golden-tiered spell without even the incantation." A young guy among the mass says undertone to a friend beside him. "You know, I'm sure if it wasn't for what happened Rhema would probably be..."

"Shush. Don't say what I think you are about to say if you don't want to die." The friend shuts him up.

"Well, Maria I think everyone here can testify it's a Howler. So, what seems to be the issue?"

"Leader, the earlier spell, 'senator far' enables all affected to share all the six senses of the Caster that casts the spell. So the point I am trying to raise is on our six senses, mana sense."

A random impatient member interrupts, "Yes little girl, we all know of mana and its types. We of Caster blood have the Emo while other races can have pure mana or dark... Leader Esther...!?"

Esther cuts him off, "You finally realize. Everyone, there to those who did not notice, there is only one group of people, an abomination as an existence, that can utilize dark mana, the Dark elves. For so long they have been in hiding, those bastards. For them to make a scene now of all time, and worse, hunting a howler, they must be plotting something.

"Everyone, this is a grave problem. Make it known to your people. I shall inform the Elfen Lord of our findings. be on high alert. Until further notice, this meeting is adjourned."