THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 362: 362: PIECES MOVING

The atmosphere inside the hidden chamber had completely changed. Gone was the confidence they had carried only days ago. Panic had taken its place. The woman paced back and forth while the two men stood over a table covered in maps and reports.

"He wasn’t supposed to move yet," she snapped. "He was supposed to spend months recovering." One of the men looked equally unsettled.

"That was the prediction." He said silently, but he did not sound alarmed at all

"Your prediction was wrong," she hissed. The older man, clearly the one in charge, slammed a hand onto the table hard enough to silence them both.

"Enough. Panicking won’t solve anything." His eyes settled on the younger man. "Tell me the truth. Is the project ready?" The younger man’s face paled.

"No, my Lord," He said, bowing deeply. Silence followed.

"How long?" the leader asked.

"At least two weeks." The room became deathly still. Then the older man’s expression darkened.

"You don’t have two weeks."

"I need them. It is necessary so that no mistakes are made"

"No." The answer came immediately. "You have three days." The younger man stared at him in disbelief.

"Three days? That’s impossible... my lord." He corrected himself and his tone when he got an Icy glare from his master

"Then do the impossible." The older man’s voice had become ice. "Because if the leech reaches us before it is complete, none of us will live long enough to worry about deadlines." They had all heard the reports. Entire garrisons erased. Cities are placed on alert. The Supreme Chief of the South is moving north like a force of nature. The woman suddenly stopped pacing. Her breathing had become uneven.

"He’s coming." Neither man answered. "He’s coming for us." Her voice was little more than a whisper now. Then her hand disappeared into her garments. Both men looked up as she withdrew a small object wrapped in dark cloth. Even the leader’s expression changed when he saw it.

"You kept that?" he asked quietly. The woman stared at the bundle with burning eyes. Hatred twisted her features. Years of bitterness. Years of fear. Years of resentment. All of it surfaced at once.

"I never intended to need it." Slowly, she tightened her grip around it. "But if he reaches us before the project is finished..." Her voice cracked. "Then I’ll stop him myself." Her voice trembles. The room fell silent.

"Don’t be a fool," the younger man said nervously. "That thing might not even work." The woman laughed bitterly.

"It doesn’t need to work forever." Her eyes became cold. "Only long enough." She looked toward the north as though she could already see him coming.

"I will stop that whore’s son..." Her fingers clenched around the object until her knuckles turned white. "...even if it kills me."

"Do as you wish. As long as you don’t soil my plan, because I will kill you," The man in charge said

In the heart of Tagayia, another meeting was taking place.

The meeting took place in a secluded room deep within Ko’alsi City, far from curious ears. Around the table sat Salka and several of the men who had quietly helped put the plan into motion. His whole squad of 10 was present, well, nine, counting that Lotaga was not present. The atmosphere was strangely relaxed, even though half the North was currently panicking over Sagiri’s actions.

Sagiri leaned against the wall while Salka stared at him for several seconds before shaking his head.

"I told you I would kill you if you ever killed a Northerner." Sagiri didn’t even blink.

"Well, kill me if you can." The room erupted in laughter. Even Salka barked out a laugh before reaching over and smacking the back of Sagiri’s head. The gesture would’ve been insulting coming from anyone else, but from Salka, it felt affectionate.

"Still a small beast," Matasi muttered.

"And still alive," Sagiri replied.

That earned another round of laughter. In truth, none of them were as surprised as the rest of the North. The destruction of the southern garrison had looked reckless from the outside, as though Sagiri had finally lost himself to revenge. The reality was far different. The men stationed there had spent years pushing for war with the South.

It is clear they were not serving the mandra, but even the mandra could not do anything about it, and Sagiri had helped the man yet again and rendered a blow to the heart of his enemy.

Removing them had been the first move. A calculated move. One suggested by Salka’s strategists after the information Sagiri had uncovered began fitting together.

"The fools are probably convinced you’ve gone completely mad," Salka said.

"Good." Sagiri’s answer came immediately. "Let them think that." The older man’s smile widened.

"You’re learning," Yavaga said. "You will be as wise as I soon enough."

"Shut up," Matasi said. Banter continued as usual as they talked about their next course of action. Then, finally, Sagiri pushed away from the wall.

"I need another favor." He said

Salka groaned dramatically. "Of course you do."

"Watch my back while I finish this." The room quieted. "Pull N’varu out." Several of the men exchanged glances. Sagiri continued.

"The others with him, too. Once this starts moving, I don’t want them caught in the middle." Salka’s expression became more serious.

"And when you’re done?" Salka asked.

"I go south," Sagiri said in a steady voice.

"You say that as though you’ll survive long enough to do it. Don’t underestimate the man. You should talk to Senraki, he will tell you a thing or two before you leave," Salka said

Sagiri smirked faintly.

"I usually survive." Salka stared at him before shaking his head.

"Look at you," Salka said, leaning back in his chair. "Ordering me around."

"Someone has to," Sagiri said.

"You were a brat the last time I saw you," Salka said.

"And now?" Salka looked him over. The crimson hair. The hollow eyes. The weight he carried.

"Now you’re a dangerous brat." The room laughed again, but underneath the humor, everyone understood the truth. The pieces were moving. The plan had begun.

The discussion came to an abrupt end when the doors burst open with enough force to slam against the walls. Everyone in the room turned. A massive figure charged through the doorway without the slightest regard for dignity, protocol, or the fact that several important people were present.

"SAGIRI!" The shout echoed through the entire building. Before Sagiri could react, Lotaga crossed the room in seconds and threw his arms around him in a crushing embrace.

"YOU IDIOT!" he roared. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Sagiri disappeared entirely within the giant man’s hug. "I heard you were fighting armies! Then I heard you attacked a garrison! Then I heard you rode a giant beast into Alika! Where is the beast?" He looked around as if the beast would suddenly pop out.

"Then I heard you kidnapped your parents! Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?" Several men around the table were openly laughing by now. Lotaga either didn’t notice or didn’t care. He simply squeezed harder. "I missed you, you little monster. You have grown to be just like me. Wise and strong." Lotaga wept dramatically, and Sagiri finally managed to free one arm.

"You’re choking me." He said.

Salka’s eye twitched watching the scene. The commander of one of the most feared military forces in the North had just barged into a confidential meeting and tackled the Supreme Chief of the South in front of everyone. Lotaga had finally moved a rank into a commander now, and he had men under him.

Typical Lotaga.

Lotaga finally released Sagiri and held him at arm’s length. For a moment, his grin faded.

"You look terrible." The room quieted slightly. Even Lotaga could see it. The pale skin. The hollow eyes. The weight Sagiri had lost. Concern flickered behind his eyes.

"Who did this?" Sagiri rolled his eyes. Even Sagiri found himself smirking slightly. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

"You almost squeezed me to death." Sagiri and Lotaga gasped dramatically. He could never grow up, could he?

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