Chapter 220 A Warrior Returns
"I've always been interested in Runes. The Runes in my Realm aren't fully accessible to everyone, so I was wondering if these Runes on this Realm could work on other Realms." Lee Seng explained to Lady Vix'i as they walked through the halls.
"Did you come across one of the Water Runes in the bathroom?" Lady Vix'i asked. Lee seng nodded as they popped out into the front of the building. The doors flew open and the outside was dim. Barely any light seeped through the forest and Lee Seng began to wonder how light even worked in the Tomb.
"Oh, Lady Vix'i!" Nabi happily bowed. "The area seems to be very quiet after the event that happened yesterday. I wonder if the forest is healing."
"Whatever the case is, we must return our brethren home as soon as possible. As much as I want to stay here and cleanse the blight on this land, I think we should get more specialized help." Lady Vix'i sighed.
"We seemed to do fine with the two young ones." Zixin acknowledged. "If we wanted to, I think we'd have an easier time."
"Splitting my mind to defend, attack, protect and keep me and Keng aloat, was a lot." Lady Vix'i rubbed her forehead. Lee Seng could actually see a hint of pain on her face.
'She sounds like she's suffering from something.' Lee Seng thought.
'A Negative of sort?' Keng asked.
'Maybe.'
"Well," Lee Seng cleared his throat. "We can go back. We'll bring back lost Family members many times if we need to." Nabi and Zixin looked at Lee Seng like he just said something wrong. Lee Seng cleared his throat and gulped. "That came out… not like I'd hoped… What I mean is… We can cleanse the curse that's on this forest as many times as we need to. Bring home any fallen brethren as many times as we need to, so they can all rest easily."
"You–" Zixin took a step forward before Lady Vix'i threw a hand up.
"Lee Seng means well, Zixin." Lady Vix'i cut Zixin off. "He and Keng were tasked with purifying the curse that sits on this land. They will have to come back as many times as it takes. And a group will have to come with them as they're both inexperienced."
'I guess… that's one way to put it.' Lee Seng slowly nodded.
"They just evolved not too long ago." Nabi spoke. "Each evolution brings us closer to the perfected forms of the Nine-tailed Fox Spirit. They only need more training. If they can get more training and hunt more, they'll be ready to finish the Saviors' job here."
"Good idea, Nabi." Lady Vix'i nodded. "We'll have to throw the twin Foxes into some combat training. Refine their energies and strengthen their hits. The Humans have certainly changed a lot in the time I haven't visited. They've grown strong, but their powers still hold them back from their full potential."
"These two have a long way to go." Zixin grumbled. "Shall we journey back?"
"Let's go. We'll arrive when the two sun's are highest."
Hours later…
The large wooden walls welcomed the Foxes as they returned. Fox Spirits on standby nodded and saluted to the older Fox Spirits as they passed. Nabi and Zixin led the group inside.
"Lady Vix'i." Zixin quietly motioned to a Fox in the distance. "Halys is here."
"I'll handle that. You two may rest." Lady VIx'i instructed.
"Yes, m'lady." Nabi and Zixin nodded and split off from the group.
"You two," Lady Vix'i looked behind her. "Come with me. One of Chimera's best warriors has returned to us." Lee Seng watched as Halys came into full form. The masculine humanoid body merged with Fox and Feline features. His pupil was like a cat's. Vertical black line that seemed to watch Lady Vix'i, ignoring Lee Seng and Keng. His irises sparkled many different colors. Lee Seng couldn't describe it any other way except 'rainbow.'
Halys' top-half of his outfit was off, revealing his sculpted torso and scars. He wore a bandana that had a small symbol of a chameleon on it. Halys was barefoot and came to salute Lady Vix'i as she stopped.
"Lady Vix'i, it's been half a cycle since I've seen you last. I hope you're doing fine, m'lady." Halys bowed.
"General Halys, you have returned to us." Lady Vix'i gave a small bow. Halys' eyes finally moved from Lady Vix'i and took a long stare at Lee Seng and Keng. They looked similar to him and he quickly picked out small differences from the two and looked back at Lady Vix'i.
"Are these two the 'twins' I've been hearing so much about?" Halys asked. He pointed at Lee Seng. "The human vessel." His finger moved over to Keng. "The Fox Spirit."
"Great observation like always, Halys. No wonder why Chimera keeps you by their side." Lady Vix'i nodded. She motioned for the two to step forward. "Introduce yourselves to the man that will have to do me a favor." She smiled. Lee Seng and Keng stepped forward and bowed at General Halys.
"Hello, I'm Lee Seng Chang." Lee Seng introduced himself.
"Hi, I'm Keng. Pleasure to meet you." Keng introduced. Halys nodded and stuck his hand out. Lee Seng was caught off guard by this and shook his hand. He could tell by the handshake, alone, Halys knew human culture.
"Pleasure to meet you two." Halys nodded. He shook Keng's hand and looked back at Lady Vix'i. "What favor are you pulling in this time, m'lady? You wish for me to test the young ones?"
"The twins just evolved not too long ago into their three-tailed forms. They're the new generation of Saviors and I wish for one of our greatest warriors to see what they're capable of and train them as you see fit." Lady Vix'i waved.
"You two are a part of the Saviors' sect?" Halys asked. Lee Seng and Keng nodded. The small crowd behind Halys began to whisper amongst themselves about the two. "I guess I can see what they're capable of."
"Good, I shall leave them in your hands after we handle another pressing matter." Lady Vix'i cleared her throat and sighed. "Gather the Family. They all need to hear this."
"Yes, m'lady." The crowd spoke in unison. They began to scatter and move about. Lee Seng moved out of the way as Halys came closer to Lady VIx'i.
"I have news your ears need to hear." Halys whispered. "Preferably alone."
"Alright." Lady Vix'i nodded. "Let's go to the Crystallium. The others will meet at the square soon. Lee Seng and Keng, you two make yourselves comfortable for a bit. I need to handle some personal business with General Halys. Take a look around the Village. Introduce yourselves to the other Family members. Enjoy some rest after journeying."
"Will do, Lady Vix'i. We'll see you later, then." Keng and Lee Seng bowed. Lee Seng watched them move towards the Crystallium tower before turning to Keng.
"What now?" Lee Seng asked.
"I guess we look around?" Keng shrugged. The two began to wander around the Village. Foxes were spreading the word about the meeting happening later today. The Fox Spirits looked at the twins as they wandered around. They made their way through the square. Bricks laid beneath their feet as they wandered around. A large stage stood at their left side while a fountain sat in the middle of the square. It shot out streams of water in different colors as they passed.
"What does this place remind you of?" Keng asked. "I feel like I've seen this before."
"Probably that small town I stayed at for like two weeks with my mom. There was a small square that looked exactly like this, except there wasn't multi-colored water flowing out of the fountain." Lee Seng nodded towards the fountain.
"Ahhh, I think I remember that. Didn't you try to grab a dollar coin in the fountain and you fell in?"
"My arms were too tiny." Lee Seng chuckled. "Let's check those out over there." Lee Seng pointed. "I smell something good."
—
Lady Vix'i sat across from General Halys. She folded her hands together and placed them on the table.
"What does Chimera want?" Lady Vix'i asked. "They wouldn't send their right hand man back to the Village without wanting something." Halys sighed and leaned back in the chair. He crossed his arms together and nodded once.
"God King has been rotating us through the Realms for some time now. We've been traveling around the Human Realm and some of our people have been keeping tabs on the human, Lee Seng and his Fox Spirit for some time. General Commander Chimera thinks the human and the Fox Spirit are going to cause trouble for us in the Human Realm if we don't do something soon." Halys debriefed.
"Lee Seng and Keng are going to cause trouble for both parties?" Lady VIx'i raised an eyebrow. "How could those two cause trouble for both of us?"