Tales of the Supremes 44 OWING AN APOLOGY

"Second, what do you think of that kid?" Salina asked as they walked in her residence.

"That youth might have a powerful backing. To know about the altars and the way to destroy it, his backing might be stronger than what we thought." Second immediately discerned the words of Salina. "His power is just truly a one-star elite warrior, but for some reason, I felt there's more about that youth.

"He might be one of the young assassin or informant of the Red Grass Realm. They are more adept in raising a young assassin or informant one."

Salina noted Second's words. He was more powerful than her, so there were things she couldn't notice until Second point it out.

"If he is from the Red Grass Realm, then we need to be careful," Salina remark. Their land and the Red Grass Realm were in a silent war for almost two years till now. The Red Grass Realm wanted to subdue and control their land for some unknown reason.

So why would they send their people to the land of their enemy and help them found out and destroyed the altars?

'There's more to it!' the duo thought.

"Let's talk to him once again," Salina said then she strode towards Tala's residence as Second followed suit.

Just like before, Salina didn't even knock. Salina and the man found a seat in the living room where Tala and Kalipsi discussing something.

Kalipsi jolted to the sudden appearance of the two. It's just two hours that had passed, but they were already here?

Kalipsi immediately went beside Tala.

Salina rested her left leg to her right knee as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"I want to talk to Tala," Salina said. To her dismay, there's no response.

"I want to talk at Tala. You can now go," this time, Salina directed her words to Kalipsi. 'This youth seems slow.'

"I will stay here whenever I wanted," Kalipsi didn't bother for manners as Salina's action earlier made him infuriated. Being held that tight and be pointed with a sharp knife. Who will be that stupid one to respect his assailant?

"I think you misunderstood young man. I'm ordering you," Salina raised her brows.

"And I think you misunderstood teacher Salina, I'm not one of your subordinates." Kalipsi didn't seem like backing off.

Salina sent invisible energy to make Kalipsi's mouth shut, but Kalipsi materialized a shield of fire to ward Salina's attack. Salina and the man were surprised.

How an elite warrior could form a soul element? That's not a thing of an elite warrior.

They regained their composure immediately. Salina and Kalipsi looked at each other eye to eye. There's a silent war going inside the room. Couldn't take it anymore, Second said, "I guess it's okay if Kalipsi will stay. If Tala didn't want him to go, it means he knows something too."

Salina was intrigued by Second's words. She looked at Tala waiting for confirmation.

Tala nodded as she felt the intent gaze of Salina.

"If that's the case, then it will not be a problem." Salina cleared her throat before she continued, "You might know what those altars are," Salina swept her gazed to the two youth.

Kalipsi nodded.

"We've been investigating for this matter, but two years had passed and we haven't found a clue until you showed up. The navigations of the 12 altars are secret from those higher-ups of the different leader of the three realms. To be able to locate it, you might be one of the important figures of one of the realm. You might task to destroy it too, so I thought that you aren't enemy after all. So can we cooperate from now on?"

Being able to found out the location of the altars, the young man might have knowledge first hand and might know more.

Salina wasn't dumb. She knew that there was someone who was pulling the string from behind, and she thought that Tala might have some information about it, and being beside Tala, she might discover something about the youth. She's like hitting two birds in one stone.

"You're right and wrong," Tala said as she looked directly to Salina's eyes. "I can cooperate, but I think you owe an apology to Kalipsi." Tala pointed out Kalipsi's location.

Salina and Second couldn't help to wonder the 'wrong' words she had said, but Tala didn't heed the two.

"We don't need his help," Salina smile bitterly.

"Oh. I already discuss everything with Kalipsi, and I'm afraid that I let him do the computation. In short, he'll form the plan. If you're interested, you can talk to him," Tala said nonchalantly.

Salina knitted her brows. The background of Kalipsi was telling her that he has nothing to do with Tala, but how Tala trust the young man?

Although against her will, he eventually asked, "What can I do to appease your anger Kalipsi?" She knew for herself that she didn't do anything wrong cause if she did, she will punish herself immediately. That's how resolute she was in herself and her task.

"There's no need." Kalipsi's voice sounds magnanimous, but when it falls to Salina's face, an incredulous expression surface her face.

"Do you take me for a fool?" Salina stood up as she slammed her hand on the table in rage.

"I just want to demand one thing. That is to cooperate nicely." Kalipsi didn't bother to Salina's temperant.

"Don't worry. At the end of this cooperation, you wouldn't say a thing or two in our flawless work." Salina regained her composure and take a sit.

"That's good then. I hope you'll remember your words." Kalipsi said.

"Tell us about the plan." Salina's voice shows a tinge of impatient.

Kalipsi told them everything Tala had said to him; Tala's investigation, the result, and their conclusion. With the gathered information, Kalipsi assigned tasks to Salina.

Kalipsi explained, "the plan will happen on the day of the competition as the enemy was planning of activating it in the same time, it was concluded by Tala.

"We are sure that the big fish will show himself at that moment to see his massacre."

When the two heard this, their heart raced in high speed as they uncontrollably trembled in fear. If they didn't found out those altars and haven't destroyed it, they too will be part of the sacrificial lamb as they planned on leaving the place after the competition.

Their reaction didn't pass through Tala's eyes. 'I have saved her this time!'

"The enemy will not be able to notice the anomaly of the altars until it's activation time and that is the right time to strike them down," Kalipsi added not noticing the fear of the faces of the two.

With the subordinates under Salina who will ward the caves, everything fell into places.

The leader of the enemy will surely show his face to behold the sight of his massacre and Tala concluded that 'he' will be in the competition platform for sure. The right place for sightseeing because the stronger fighters will gather there.

The task at hand was to save the grandson of Saba, the teacher who was behind the preparation inside the capital.

Tala deduced that Saba wasn't cooperating something for himself but for someone else, so she investigated a little more and found out that Saba has a grandson who was said in seclusion.

Kalipsi told them that they were to follow those damn black-clad men to locate their hideout. They concluded that the grandson of Saba was held captive.

Hearing Kalipsi's words, Salina and Second grasped a turbid of air.

Were they truly fourteen years old?

It now dawned to her why Saba has been acting strange these past few months. What was he was planning to do? She couldn't help but think.

"Be careful." Before they disperse, Kalipsi threw his last words with sincerity.

...

The sun rose enveloping the darkness of the night.

A fifteen-year-old boy stood up from the ground inside his residence and inhaled a turbid of air.

"It's truly effective!" The boy, Uno reached a book and went out.

Just as he stepped in the west side, three young men blocked his way.

"Look who's here!" One of them with a headband on his head stated. His voice showed a tinge of arrogance. Just in their position, one can tell that he was the leader of the group.

"What are you doing here? You should be on the other side." The other smirked.

"I.. I just want to visit Kalipsi," Uno timidly replied.

Hearing the name of Kalipsi, the trio thought of an evil plan.

Pummel the youth!

"So, he is your friend. As per instruction to us, those who pass here need to defeat one of us. You choose!" The headband guy stated as his lips curved to his right cheek.

"Senior, I don't want a conflict."

Chapter end