Awakening Of The HollowShadow

Chapter 15

“Indeed I do… So, what do you want in return for your service?” the chief said acknowledging his words and claims, as that of its handle of their situation. While comprehending his explanation, as its uttered word made him aware of the cause of certain events. Along with the possibility of a foreseen disaster, while the thought of why it kept referring to the plague, as a darkness, puzzled him.

The relayed words and discussion between the crow and the chief, had the deputy of the chief stimulated, excited to see how things would play out, as the crows knowledge of things overwhelmed him. Making him curious to know who the crow summoner was.

While the secretary, and the scouts were still plagued with despair, and the hopelessness of their situation previously made clear, preventing them from paying much attention to the crow’s words. Believing its words would only plunged them further into despair, or to an absolute phase of hopelessness.

Bringing forth only the view of how useless they all were, to rendering an actual help to the situation at hand. The thoughts of their friends, and families in the city being slaughtered soon, and them having the absolute power to do nothing frighten them. Their struggle to not drown in the thoughts of despair became inevitable, snuffing out all hope of their current circumstance.

They began to feel they were drowning deeper, and deeper in a pitch black sea, with nothing in sight, but darkness. Feeling heavier the deeper they drown, making it hard to struggle, as the reality of their circumstance made it hard to even think of a silver lining.

They got fixated to the reality of their despair of things, which seized all hopes they had. Believing all that was left for them to do was to drown. Falling deeper into the dark sea of hopelessness, when they heard a faint echo sound, of the crow marketing the possibly potentials of his summoner, as that of the chief’s response to the crow.

After hearing the echoed words, they felt a sudden awakening, fueling them with strength in a form of hope, as they forced their eyes opened and body to move. Struggling to swim to the surface of the sea, with hope of finding a shore, in the words uttered, as they felt eager to confirm the words they heard, and his response to the chief’s question.

While the vice-captain who was also having similar sensation of despair. Refused to give in to the words, or let the voice aid him, instead he got infuriated by it, which in turn converted his despair into fuel for his rage, as he flamed up vaporizing most of his sea of darkness, unconsciously.

“Well, given how you asked so nicely… How about a favour for each quest I clear... Since there are 3… the purge of the divine eye, the darkness, and the invaded demons… So what do you say? Do we have an accord…?” the crow said stating its demands.

The utter words of the crow pushed the scouts, and secretary to shore. Whelmed upon the realization of what could be, not reading much into its method of approach for the moment, while thinking it wasn’t a bad deal to make. Given how useless they all were, regardless of even, if they had any plan at hand.

And given the circumstance, it should be an easy enough decision to make, since they believed the lives of the whole city folks was at stake. They stared at the chief awaiting his response, not paying any attention whatsoever to the vice-captain, or anyone else, as they hope to hear a favorable response.

While the chief’s deputy unlike the rest was not that interested in the chief’s response, but curious of how the vice-captain would respond to things. Given how he displayed a significant level of malice for the crow upon arrival. He wondered, if he’ll be able to live with the thought of owing someone he hates a favour.

Questioning, if he could set aside his personal feelings when it comes to doing his duties. Especially when he believed the city was literally being held hostage for their cooperation, or if he would do otherwise. Since the final say still lies on him. Unless the chief wants to maneuver his way to things.

The thought of the conflict that might arise stimulated him into excitement. Believing the change of event that would occur would be nothing short of epic.

The chief on the other hand, also had similar thoughts, but with the absent of excitement. Wondering if he should make the call, and force his way to things, or leave it to the vice-captain. As an agitation of the status of things plagued him, especially what he figured out, after the conclusion of the crow’s explanation of the plagues effect, it refers to as darkness.

“And if we don’t…? What then…? You’re going to let the people die…? You smug bastard... The last I checked, your energy was se...” the vice-captain voiced out, flaming up while on seat. Annoyed by his demands. And thought of Mutiu using the people lives, as leverage in order to suade them into making a deal with him. As his despair ignite into rage and annoyance bit by bit, but was interrupted.

“Calm yourself, Micheal, and quit being so childish… Surely you’re aware of the situation of things, we… ”

“Yes, I know... I am fully aware of what’s at stake… And I want to save them as much as everyone here… But his treating the lives of the people as a commodity, something he can trade off… Like it’s some kind of game” the vice-captain grieved, sharing how he found Mutiu’s method of things disgusting, after cutting in on the chief before he could finish his sentence.

The others, in exception of the chief and chief’s deputy, could partly relate to how he felt, but the thought of them believing they had no other choice. Made them ignorant to things. Paying less attention to his method, but more to if he could get the job done and save the people.

Due to such they didn’t see the depravity of his acts, or if one exist in it. As the thought of the vice-captain’s emotions of things being overrated came to mind.

The chief’s deputy was disappointed by the vice-captain’s mumbling words of morals. Believing it was all an excuse to justify his act, and in denial of the obvious solution, as that of the worse choice he could had gone for. As he await the response of the crow to fuel his excitement of things, since he believed the event had just began.

While the chief on the other hand understood how he felt, but believed that it would be worse, if Mutiu rendered his assistance, requesting nothing. Given their relationship, since the vice-captain would rather die than to owe Mutiu a debt, especially one he couldn't pay back.

But if Mutiu sells his aid off as a trade then things would be a bit less conflicted for him, at least so he believed. But his current acts proves otherwise, and made the chief aware of his comprehension of things.

“Ugh… His not using the city folks as leverage… If only you paid more attention to his relayed words, than your hatred for him, you would have realized that we are all the leverage he’ll ever need… everyone in the tower to be precise… Isn’t that correct, Mutiu?”

“Yap... You’re correct, old man” the crow answered, impressed by the quick deduction of the chief, believing his explanation of the darkness served its purpose.

“What! What are you talking about? The tower is a secure base, so how? How can he use us as leverage? It’s impossible”

“The divine eye has made it possible, with the aid of the plague… If you paid attention to his explanation of the plagues effects, you would have come to understand the cause, of the current status of the eye, and the disaster that will occur without his aid” the chief replied giving a bit of an insight to things to better suade the vice-captain decision.

For a brief moment all were placed in a haze, confused as to what the chief was playing at, or what he meant. The scouts, secretary and the vice-captain were more puzzled to things, since they were inattentive to the crow’s explanation of the plagues effect.

But the scouts were more concern as to what the change of things meant for the city people. Not paying much attention to their own life being in danger. While the vice-captain was not sure of how to take the chief’s statement, but doubts the tower could be breached.

The chief’s deputy on the other hand was trying to figure out what his chief meant, by his words. Although he knew the explanation of the crow does, explain the current status of the eye. And why all their effort of purging the eye for months was of no effect.

Understanding that. Instead it only made it worse, due to the darkness that seemed too had plagued it after it absorbed it to its core, in order to purge it, so as the city will be purified.

But instead was getting corrupted by the darkness, and since the city was plague with more, the corruption got overwhelming for the eye to handle overtime, and their effort to purge it, only gave it more room to corrupt the core, as it convert their pure energy to dark energy.

Gathering them to overwhelm, and eventually corrupt the eye, in due time. As the mystery of why most of their team members were always drained to nothing, during the purge was made known.

Knowing all that, the chief’s deputy still couldn’t figure it out. Until when he recalled the use of the divine eye to the tower, and to the city. It gave him clarity to the foreseen disaster the chief was making reference too.

“Ah! Once the darkness complete its circulation… And if the eye’s core get plagued, or converted to the darkness, it will serve as a core for the plague… Which will in turn either drain us of our energy, or corrupt us… Making us puppet for the demons, and that’s not the worst of it…”

“It will also serve as a barrier to prevent hunters from the soul sector from entering… At least not without being corrupted or drained… Making the city a demon domain… The downfall of all in the city is all assured” the chief’s deputy relayed overwhelmed by the thoughts of what he figured out unconsciously.

“Bingo… Nice work… You figured it out” the crow relayed, acknowledging to his relayed words.

“Do you understand now, Micheal, his our only chance of protecting the city… You can deny him all you want, but the fact will still remain… Besides, you know the soul sector won’t come to our rescue… We have only two options, protect the city, or watch it fall... Your call” the chief relayed, trying to persuade the vice-captain, with hope of there being no need to force his hand.

While everyone else excluding the crow, the chief and the chief’s deputy quaked to the realization of things. As the comprehension of the chief’s previous words of them being the leverage, not the city people was believed to be an understatement, and 3 favours for the completion of the quest seemed too generous.

The scouts, and the secretary were starting to wonder, if truly one person could solve their problem, and if so, they wondered how knowledgeable. And powerful the person must be as the name Mutiu was imprinted in their heads, and heart. While the scouts, even the ordinary members, failed to recalled the name.

The chief’s deputy who relayed his thoughts of things unconsciously, was a bit embarrassed by his action. But found comfort in knowing his act would help the event progress more. As he felt honored upon hearing the complement of the crow, especially when he knew who his summoner was.

“Do as you please… It’s not like I can do anything to stop you, even when officially am supposed to be in charge… Just make sure that the people are safe… That’s all I’ll ask” the vice-captain relayed in annoyance of his circumstance, as he stood about to take his leave from the hall.

“Am certain all will be fine… I’ll send you the report of things, after everything is done” the chief replied, the vice-captain, as he head to the doors of the hall, while his secretary rushed up, in order to follow him.

The crow didn’t react to the vice-captain’s action, instead he just kept quiet, like the others on seat as they watch the vice-captain leave the hall. As they were placed in a bit of haze, as to his action and uttered words.

After leaving the hall, the vice-captain head to his office, where he sat on his chair. Holding a family picture. Tearing up in to his helplessness of things, and annoyed by how Mutiu was the only person that could help them, as the thought of him almost letting his hatred forced him to sacrifice the lives of the city folks, and his past action on his secretary plagued him to shame.

While she stood by his office door not far from her desk in concern, and unsure of what she could do to console him, as she pondered for the reason of his current act. And at the same time curious of why the crow had a negative effect on him.