Chapter 36: The Plan
The villagers whispered nervously as a tall man stepped into the square, his black cloak brushing the dirt, the faint rattling of charms and bones hanging from his belt. His presence alone made the weaker villagers avert their gaze.
Captain Elara narrowed her eyes.
"So… you must be Yuta's father."
The man gave a thin smile.
"Kael Draven. Though most call me the Dark Summoner."
Elara's hand instinctively rested on the hilt of her sword, though she didn't draw it.
"Dark Summoner, huh? Then tell me—how exactly do you plan to tame a serpent that has been demanding sacrifices for generations? What is your plan?"
Kael's eyes gleamed like a man who had stared into the abyss one too many times.
"You don't tame it. You break it. And when it breaks, it submits."
The two locked eyes, neither blinking, their auras pressing against each other—fire and ice, resolve and shadow. The knights behind Elara stiffened, feeling the clash in the air, goosebumps prickling their skin.
Elara crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studied Kael—the infamous Dark Summoner. His calm presence contrasted heavily with the ominous weight of his aura, a shadow that seemed to hang around him even as he stood still.
"I don't like this," Elara muttered, her voice sharp. "Taming a monster like that serpent? It's dangerous. It could turn on us at any moment."
Kael met her gaze steadily, unfazed. "And putting it to sleep with potions is any safer? A creature like that will never forget betrayal. You make it drink poison, even if it only sleeps, and when it wakes—its wrath will not just destroy this village, but maybe spread to the whole region."
The tension thickened again, their stares clashing like steel. The villagers behind them held their breath, sensing the weight of two titans silently measuring each other.
Finally, Kael continued, his tone calm but absolute. "We'll follow the foundation of your plan, Captain Elara. An offering. A show of respect. But no sleep potions. Instead, I'll have Yuta attempt the taming during the offering ritual. If it accepts him, then the serpent becomes an ally. If not…" His gaze darkened, and even the air seemed to tremble. "…then we strike it down together."
Elara's jaw tightened. Every instinct in her told her not to trust this man, and the idea of "taming" a monster instead of slaying it twisted her sense of duty. But she also recognized the truth in his words—betrayal could turn the serpent into something far worse.
"…Fine," she said at last, her tone begrudging. "We'll try it your way. But understand this, Dark Summoner—if your little plan fails, I won't hesitate to kill that serpent myself."
Kael smirked faintly, tilting his head. "That's what I expect from a Captain. If it fails, we finish it—together."
---
Meanwhile, Synoh and Yuta were sitting a little ways from the tension, catching up after so long.
"You've gotten stronger," Synoh remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he sensed Yuta's aura. It was no longer the hesitant, faint flicker from before—it pulsed with steadiness and confidence.
Yuta chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Heh, I could say the same about you. Your aura feels… terrifying, Synoh. Like it could swallow someone whole if they weren't careful."
Synoh gave a small grin, clenching his fist before raising it. Yuta smirked and bumped his fist against his, their bond rekindled in that single motion.
No matter how much had changed, some things between them stayed the same.