Fifteen guards patrolled around the area, whilst Captain Mult stood by the entrance of Collon's command tent.
Coming outside, a scrying orb in hand, Mult swiftly greeted Collon. Giving a simple nod, Collon stepped away from a distance from the camp grounds.
Finding a somewhat secluded spot Collon motioned a hand over it, causing it flash on and off, smoothly dialing into a glowing state.
"Collon?" A voice murmured from the orb.
"Yes," Collon replied swiftly. "Connect me to the other members," He murmured back.
The display is projected out, connecting five members together in all. Each dawn in luxurious Embroidered Cloaks of different colours, adored with gold and silver.
Everyone settled in, Collon got on with the meeting. "High Council," He nodded. "I've informed him of the impending threat. You should be expecting his presence at the meeting."
The First high council member, straight gray hair fell neatly behind. His small eyes were black and sunken with the weight of time, revealing the entirety of his weathered yet elegant face. Draped in a white cloak, embroidered with intricate golden patterns. He spoke first. "Well done Collon. If we manage to convince him to engage with the possessed elves, it would prove great to gather information on his strength."
Leaning forward in his seat, the Fifth high council member, and the youngest of the members in his thirties, narrowed his small striking, almost golden in colour eyes and golden smooth hair. He shook his head. "Would it be the right idea? This Imuru is supposedly new to his role... Unlike the others his strength isn't unfathomable. The question I want to ask is if it's worth allowing him to become stronger?" The fifth spoke with clear uncertainty and fear in his voice, seeking the opinion of his fellow members.
They all murmured amongst themselves for sometime, trying to come to a conclusion.
The Third high council member, a chubby figure, gently caressed his well-groomed, square soul patch beard. His eyes were tightly shut, contemplating the decision that needed to be made. "Calnary has a point... Should we allow him to grow in power? Ending him now may be our only chance."
The First gasped, a frown forming on his face. Displeased, the fellow members might be taking the side of the Fifth. "And makes you believe he doesn't have an alliance with the other Demon Kings?" He retorted, a tinge of anger in his words.
The Second's face turned to one of dismay. "Brother, what are you implying? Are you suggesting we allow him to grow stronger?"
"You all can't possibly agree to this?" The First asked, searching for some reassurance from the Fourth member.
Quietly the fourth pondered carefully. "Forgive me… But you should recognise the issue here. Now if we are going about eliminating him, we should continue with the plan of convincing him to assist us in taking on the possessed elves of Fernum. This would likely weaken him, giving us the opportunity to end him."
The First narrowed his eyes, his expressions a sense of calm. "Collon, continue on. We need to discuss this further."
"I-I understand," Collon stammered slightly. "I believe we can trust him, though I can see I'm quite outnumbered. I'm leaving with him tomorrow. I would appreciate you all to get back to me, so I can confirm the decision that's been made."
With Collon's last words, the projection from the scrying orb faded out, leaving him to breathe a sigh of relief.
Making his return back to the camp, Collon stepped back inside his tent, and went off to bed, an unsettling feeling hanging over him.
In the break of morning feeling the tighten grasp around her. Yosho's eyes flutter open to realize she's been held tightly against Ori's chest.
Despite her frame and seemingly lack of physical prowess, Ori's strength is undeniable, her grip unyielding.
Yosho pulled herself away, squinting, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the sunlight pouring from the window overhead.
Yosho nudged Ori, stirring her from her drowsy state. Yawning, Ori rubbed her eyes and propped herself up with her left hand, a broad smile spread across her face.
She glanced down briefly, then looked back at Yosho, adjusting herself upright.
"Apologies…" Ori's eyes drifted off to the ground, flushed. "Bad sleeper."
Yosho gave a gentle smile. "I think we should get ready, just so we're prepared for when my brother arrives, hm?"
Ori nodded in agreement. "Right."
The girls got undressed and covered themselves, leaving their room, they stepped into the hall and made their way to the end. Sliding the door open, getting hit with a soothing warmth, they revealed the bordered open-air bathhouse.
They sat at the edge of the, just dipping their legs in first. Strangely the steam on the far end dissipated, for the girls to see Imuru.
Ori narrowed her eyes. "You!" She exclaimed , springing up, only for Yosho to drag her back down.
"Wow, wow, wow. I'm leaving, I'm leaving," Imuru announced, waving his hand in a placating gesture.
Giving him way, Imuru got out of there as quickly as he could, Ori pouting and eyeing him the whole way.
"You know, I wasn't gonna do anything," Ori pouted, her arms crossed across her chest.
"Uh-huh." Yosho stepped into the water, the warm steam swirling around her.
Ori leaned back, bracing herself with her hands and crossing her legs. "A moment…" Ori stared down at Yosho for a second, before she entered along with her. "Much better," She thought, with a calm smile.
Methodically, Imuru gets dressed. Midway through putting his long coat on, he paused and glanced around.
"Hm... Did I misplace it?" He asked himself.
Finishing up, he puts his last hand through and closes his coat. He recalled getting undressed and laying it down on top of his clothes, but it's not where he put it.
He exhaled a deep breath, resting his hands on his hips. He looked up and smiled, recalling the other night
He had been on his own with Forcent and Arken.
Imuru held onto his scarf. "She's really having a hard time," He thought, feeling the pressure about the situation as a whole.
Arken chuckled. "This is perfect for the bonding process. What do you think, Imuru? At a moment like these we should push through it... With me around you can learn how to defeat your emotions."
Imuru narrowed his eyes unimpressed, subtly shaking his head at Arken's lightheartedness at the situation.
He looked over at Forcent, and walked over to him to hug and caress him. "This makes me feel a lot better."
As Imuru turned around to head back to his desk, the tail of his scarf caught Forcent's flame whip, setting it on fire.
Forcent and Arken warned him swiftly, and he took it off, throwing it to the ground, as it burned up in mere seconds.
Breaking himself from what happened yesterday, Imuru shook his head at himself. "Guess I deserved that…"
On his way he grabbed his weapon, headed on outside, to wait for the girls. He gleamed with a bright smile, sliding the door open, his hair gently lifted by the rush of wind.
He hopped down the steps. "Forcent, Slite, Roll… Arken." Imuru dragged Roll to one side to speak with him privately, leaving Arken glaring at him with suspicion.
A few minutes later the pair returned to the group. Arken beamed at Roll, making the young man nervous.
Imuru cleared his throat. "No bothering him Arken," Imuru said, with a sly smirk.
Arken kept his mouth shut, maintaining a calm exterior, deeply fuming on the inside.
A warm greeting drew the group's attention. "All ready?" Collon said, appearing in surprise to the group. "Greetings to you all."
"Almost," Imuru replied, glancing back up to the door. "Ori and Yosho, should be out soon."
As if on cue, the door swung open, and Yosho emerged, a confident smile on her face. "Dear, right on time?" She announced with relief.
Ori followed closely behind, a determined expression briefly showing on her face. "I'm ready…" She murmured to herself, fully prepared to handle what's to come.
Collon nodded, his gaze sweeping over the group. "Shall we…" He said, leading the way.
Imuru exchanged a glance with the other's, a silent understanding passing between them. Arken felt a slight disappointment he wouldn't be able to join them, but put his chin up, understanding that his role is important, so walked along with them to see them out.
Everyone in the village came out to bid them a fear well, as they stepped into their respective stagecoaches. Each stagecoach has a striking red color with the wheels and crevasses laced with gold. Imuru took one last glance at his village, before stepping into the Stagecoach with Collon, inside boasting the color palette to the exterior.
The two stagecoaches and the covered wagon they'll need, set off with six guards lined evenly at each side, two behind, with another and Mult in front to lead.