The Ruler Of Gilead 42 Preparations Pt 1: Lagina's Arrival

Echoing in the cave Hittan's voice sounded, "Elder Fahim, I need the following to be completed. Prepare the portal at the Academy to visit the Central Continent's Lunar Eclipse City in 2 days time. Have my Council ready for travel and on standby at the portal. Also, inform them that I will meet them at the Academy, as we will be travelling ahead!"

After he finished speaking fiery beams of light shot out of the orb and landed on his friends dragging them into the portal! Leaving a stunned Elder Fahim to wonder how were they going to travel to the Academy?

As the team appeared in the core world of Gilead they found its' all white environment familiar yet terrifying! Standing in the centre of their vision stood a tall 6-foot 5-inches warrior that radiated Power!

Encrusted in varying thickness of Sapphire Ice crystals that laid on his skin like it was apart of him. Hittan stood straight, as short spiked Sapphire crystals extended from his shoulders, elbows and knees. The rest of his now 6ft 5-inches body had large plate-like crystals scales that covered his chest, back, forearms, shoulders, outer thighs, his knees to his feet. While all other areas had smaller crystal scales to allow for flexibility and appeared mesh-like. The armour was even more form fitting as if elegantly tailored for his body.

The team had never seen him in his Sapphire armour before, having missed the fight with Aapo, and stood amazed by the elegance of it. However, there was one that stared more intensely than the others. Caught up in the unexpected familiarity, Valencia found herself having urges that ran bone deep!

Suddenly, the armour liquified and seeped into Hittan's skin! Standing before his team exposed in all but his private parts!

"Valencia, Elder brother certainly has grown shameless in the past month, huh?"

"..."

"Valencia?"

"..."

"Valencia?!"

"Ye, yes! What? Ona, you said something?"

"... Are you that caught up in him still? If you're not careful you could make enemies of Kaia and Kaija."

"I know, I know, I promise to keep it to myself. But isn't he great in every way?"

"I swear, you're too far gone." Shaking her head Ona's focus was moved back to Hittan who had already gathered his clothes.

"Team, it is time to show me your progress and cement your strength with sparring matches for the next two days."

"Brother, how far ahead are you now?"

"Edan, do you really want to know? It could make you depressed."

"I think we all want to know, so we can have a firm idea of our target."

"Good. Everyone ready yourself, show me your full power, equip your weapons as well!"

While the team was about to engage in their sparring match against Hittan, Lagina had already arrived at Lunar Eclipse City and back in the Emerald Estate there in the Capital. As she and her mother no longer needed to be mindful of the other family members, she decided not to stay locked away in her room and toured the estate.

"Hey, Cairo, isn't that your rumoured sister that returned to the family recently?"

"Half sister. Yes, that's her, somehow she and her wh.o.r.e of a mother convinced the Elders to let her try for the Ancestral inheritance instead of my real younger sister."

"Do you want to have some fun?"

"What are you up to Cadoc?"

"Do you want in or not?"

"Okay, Okay I'm in."

...

"Maid, how daring of you to serve me spoiled wine!"

SPLASH!

Stopped dead in her tracks with her elegant spaghetti strap sequin chiffon mini skater dress now a mess as red wine now soaked her clothes. Shocked and angered at such a clear lie and attempt to belittle her. Lagina was ready to verbally lash out at them, even though she knew she would not be welcomed by the other members of the family, she had not expected such flagrant disrespect. But once she realised who the two men were, that sat in the garden of the Estate, a second thought came to mind.

"Oh, sorry little Lagina. I thought it was the maid that had served me bad wine before coming back to apologise."

"So you had wanted to throw wine at her even though you thought she was here to apologise?"

"It was a clear error on my part, right Cairo?"

"Yes, we thought it was the maid."

"Well, never mind it. It was a mistake and I can always change the dress. But since I've found you ahead of time I have some news you might find important."

"What's that?"

"While at Heaven's View City I met Kaia and Kaija at the Sky Element Academy and it turns out that they are already married! Imagine my shock when I heard that my elder brother was to be engaged to a married woman. But what I can tell you both, is to back out of the ceremony and save face. Because husba..., their husband, loves them dearly and he's quite powerful!

I'll take my leave now since I have done the responsible thing as the younger sister!"

"...Cadoc, do you believe that?"

"Well, let's ask our fathers."

Clutching her left chest she spoke softly, "Husband, I've been bad and used you to teach them a lesson on my behalf. Please don't be too mad, I'll make it up to you when you arrive."

Just as. .h.i.ttan was about to start his attack he felt a mixture of emotions out of the blue. Ranging from anger, playfulness, guilt and then love and immediately knew something had bothered Lagina. But whatever it was she was depending on him to solve it, so he smiled at the thought of her. With that, she felt his longing for her and knew she worried for nothing and happily went to change her clothes!

Just one more day and he would be there!

Back at the planet core, the team found it strange for Hittan to suddenly smile at them. Which they interpreted as his merciless taunt for what was to come!