Worlds Apart: Back to Drevothia

Episode 9

Movements of the Game

Lance goes out of his room only to find it in silence. He could not find Caiwen anywhere inside the house. Looks like he is out early now. Lance is used to seeing Caiwen flee early in the morning. He even memorizes the days that that happened. There seems to be an emergency right now that he have to leave out of his schedule. He just shrugs it off.

Lance seems to be ignorant about people of lower standing nevertheless he knows it is a basic etiquette not to peer on someone's matter.

Caiwen had left them food to eat before he left. It only needs to be heated. So far, Lance knew how to do that on his own although one have to make sure it is safe for him to cook alone. Lance still has a long way to go.

The television casts light on the glass between the living room and kitchen. Lance knew then that someone might be watching, he knew well who would watch movies early in the morning. He glances a bit to take a peek only to find out that the one watching have her eyes close. Viktorina is sleeping soundly on the sofa, she nestled closely on the sofa to comfort herself from the cold. 

Lance sighs. Caiwen did not even put anything on her. She is wearing tee shirt and pajamas but that is not thick enough to cover her from the cold. Lance went outside from his room, now carrying a thick comforter and covered it on Viktorina's frail body.

At the exact moment where the three people are suppose to flew, someone opened the door. Everyone stops moving and without even turning their heads, they knew who just went inside. The footsteps are heavy and carries authority, that without a doubt is Hiro's footsteps!

"What is the meaning of these!?" His thunderous voice resonates the whole base. The bird that is resting above the roof flew, seemingly affected by the angry voice.

They all turn their heads towards the man. His eyebrows furrowed, inches closer and it would become one. His gaze is dark and intense, as though everyone he stares at are his enemies.

"Leader H-Hiroshima Miyamot—"

"Everyone, go back to your seats!" Hiro grunts before he could hear his whole name. He sighs and closed his eyes aridly.

Hiro was chosen by the past generation of Ùines because of his overbearing nature. They knew that everyone will submit to him. Hiro is also smart and reasonable, he is not easily swayed by anything that anyone can take advantage of. They do not have Vice Leader but Hiro seems to trust Caiwen. That is because they have been friends since they were kids. Everyone fears Hiro but Caiwen is calm about it. He knew Hiro is not what people think he is.

His Father has been monitoring him whether he is doing his responsibility as the leader and not just wandering around. He is carrying a huge weight on his shoulders as to follow the will of their ancestors and strengthen the power of Ùines. They had already lost one dimension, they cannot afford to lost more so their meetings are becoming intensive.

"Everyone is here?" he asks searching every faces present in front of him.

Jeosef raises a hand. "Mauri is not here, leader. He is in another country with his grandmother."

Hiro fell silent for a while before nodding his head. Jeosef swallowed the huge lump on his throat after getting away from Hiro's eyes.

'Why does it seems like I was lying and he sees through me? That was what Mauri said!' He complains inside his mind.

"Looks like she is not here as well..." Hiro meaningfully says pertaining to someone from their group. Everyone came searching each other's chair and realizes that she is not really around.

She comes to their meetings but it is not all the time. She only comes when she feels like it. A year of her appearance during meetings can only be count by one hand. It is like she is slowly disconnecting from the other existing Lords. It is like she is slowly removing her mark as an Ùine, forgetting that she is one of them.

They could not put the blame on her. She is the most hurt when that incident happened. It killed her mother and lost the world she is supposed to guide. Maybe she is feeling bad that she has to come to the meetings when she does not have a dimension to watch over. Eden Mieralita is long gone, what is there a need to come all the time?

They started recalling their discussions from the past meetings. Everyone participates but they have the same thoughts inside their heads. Today is not their designated schedule meeting, why did Hiro called them over?

Hiro seems to sense their anxiety. He placed the clear folder on the top the table and looked at everyone.

"I called this meeting for some other matters. I was called by my Father and them." He laid the words calmy but everyone starts having shivers to their spine. When Hiro mentioned them, he certainly means their parents, the past generation Ùines!

"What is it? Is it something severe?"

"Yes." Hiro nods along his answer.

He scans the area. There are only confuse faces and faces that are eager to know what trouble they have caught in.

"Who reverses the time in their own dimension?" Hiro immediately throws the question after founding none from these people. Everyone glances at each other, looking for answers as fear struck their faces.

"Oh. It's me." Caiwen nonchalantly confesses, raising his hand. His face wears an innocent face that one would believe he really has no idea what is happening but Hiro knows it better. He almost palmed his face and almost throw the folder on his table to be aimed at Caiwen's devious face. This guy...

Hiro sighs, tired of cleaning Caiwen's mess. "Is there a reasonable reason why you did that, Caiwen? Do you know how it might be dangerous to you?"

Time reversal is rarely done by Ùines especially if they are out of their dimensions. It takes up too much mana from the users body. Earthland lack of magical energy unlike the other dimensions. One might exhaust their body or even die if they try to use it.

"Ah, yes. I might die." He raise a finger as if proving a good point. Hiro clenches his fist, his expression darkened even more that the people beside him are itching to flee.

"You i***t! You said it yourself, you could've died back there!" Hiro finally raises his voice after trying so hard to control his stringed patience. Everyone in their seats flinches after hearing Hiro's voice. That is no longer the voice of a leader commanding and scolding his people, that is the voice of a worried friend.

Caiwen covers his lips with his knuckles and started laughing loud. Everyone is throwing daggers at Caiwen through their eyes. He is making it worst! The base might really flee!

But Hiro just sigh. It looks like he has calmed down. "State your reasons, Caiwen."

"Drevothia will be having war. Of course I have to avoid it and save my dimension."

"We all know that it is normal inside our dimensions to have clash against each other, Caiwen. You need not to do that, you know that yourself."

Caiwen nods his head. "Yes, I know of that, Hiro. However, I am not happy with what was happening. And the traitor of my land must be exposed of his wicked ways. I must do that."

"Alright. Then, what are you planning to do?"

Everyone's eyes fell on Caiwen, waiting for his answers. He is just silent, tilting his head and thinking of something else.

"Oh, I brought a princess in my house. She has been staying in my house for a year already. You must be aware of that, Hiro."

'Ah, that... I know of all your foolishness.' Hiro silently commented inside his mind.

The two of them talked secretly before about this matter. It was when the elders found out about Caiwen's choices that he was called over. And Hiro being the good leader and friend he is, saved his ass.

"What!?" Everyone's surprised voice covered the whole place. Their eyes almost left their sockets.

"You impudent jerk! Way to go!" One cheered him on, the other boys followed like barbarians that has been blessed by a basket of potatoes.

"You brought a woman inside your house!? What did you do?"

"Idiots! I am sure it was nothing like that!"

Everyone again became noisy as if they have forgotten that Hiro is in the same room. Hiro sighs and shook his head. He is doing it again, leading on everyone through misconceptions—Hiro thought.

"Everyone settle down. We are not yet done." He demanded. Everyone fell silent and struggle to their seats.

"Why have you brought a woman in our world, Caiwen? What do you intend to do?" Of course, Hiro have known about that but he wants everyone to hear about it. And, their talk last time was not clear enough for him to stop asking him the same question. He might as well answer in a more precise manner than being sly!

"Hmm... That woman will be one of the pieces to fix this. Her father started it all. I have to expose her Father's schemes to stop all of these."

"So, are you going to use her for that Caiwen?"

"Hmm, yes. That is one of the things I should do. It would serve as her punishment as well. Quite the easy way out, right?"

Everyone could not believe it. If Hiro is the righteous and a man of rules then Caiwen is the twisted one who loves sly games but always win it. Both are dangerous but Caiwen is the unpredictable. Even his personality makes him unpredictable. You won't be able to guess easily what is going on inside his mind. He is like a fox, his eyes might be smiling but his intentions aren't clear. It makes him more fearsome.

Caiwen languidly lean back on the chair. His fingers taps the long table, his nails creating a rhythmic sound that gives everyone shudders on their skin. Caiwen might be carefree most of the times, but he is one of the most dangerous and cunning Ùine among them.

His lips slightly rose. Gone his forged innocent expression was his sinister smile that clothed his face.

"Just like chess pieces, I have to move the pawns and other pieces, watch over my enemy to win. Everything on the board is my player."