Chapter 27: The Hunt Begins

Demon Duke Nubal, Centurion Praximus, and Archduke Mindila were ensconced in cushy leather seats inside Castle Nimoroa, the seat of Silicia. Nubal had been the architect of the hatred between Silicia and the Northerners, not that they had needed much of a push. In this meeting, he was Prince Ponte Zaibatsu, heir apparent of the Imperialty, and head of the Inquisitor legions.

Nubal had used his authority to weaken Tanga by destroying knowledge; burning down libraries and rooting out any monuments of historical significance. He had used the Inquisitors to root out any dissension in Tanga while quietly eradicating the Dragon Fire Clan lineage. His primary mission had been to weaken the realm and provide nourishment to the Deep through increased suffering. His masters needed the negative energy to grow strong. The suffering of souls, hopelessness, famine and senseless slaughter was necessary to tip the balance between the Heavens and the Deep.

“A little birdie told me that you allowed your quarry to escape-” Nubal said calmly looking at Praximus. “-We had received word from our diviners that the last of dragon blood was at Kolcita. Care to enlighten us?”

“I… I did as you had instructed, I went to the village and put all inhabitants to the sword. Only the girls and young women were conscripted to work in the southern deadlands.” Praximus stammered bowing his head.

“Can someone tell me then why a young boy of northern heritage, from Silicia made his way to the Academy and is manifesting various affinities?” Nubal shouted, frothing at the mouth. “The very boy who was supposed to be at the village you razed.”

Nubal stood and loomed over Praximus: His face was a mask of rage. He hauled back and punched Praximus in the mouth. The blow sent him over the seat, blood spouting everywhere.

“Easy, take it easy my Prince. Have a care for the leather. It is tough to remove the blood, you know,” Mindila said, his eyes alight at the sight of blood. Mindila had been one of the first converts to form a pact with Nubal. His rewards had made him one of the strongest Masters of the Mind Rank within Tanga. He had also been promised that the Imperialty would turn a blind eye if he were to conquer the Northern lands.

Centurion Praximus prostrated himself on the floor. He knew that the prince did not countenance failure. He had seen him decapitate people for lesser offenses.

“Today I am in a generous mood. I will forgive you once. Take your troops and go to the Academy. Your quarry has been making waves and growing strong quickly. Use this token of my authority to claim the boy. Once he is In our custody, we will determine whether he is a wizardling or just a portal mage. Either way, he will serve our purpose.”

Duke Nubal handed a square token that was embossed with the Imperial sigil to Praximus. The sword and crow emblem struck fear in the hearts of many and represented the ultimate authority in Tanga.

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“Could you be talking about a boy named Uzman?” Mindila inquired. “My son had mentioned that a commoner by that name was causing trouble for him.”

“Yes, that is his name. What have you heard about him?-

"What are you waiting for? You should be on your way.” Nubal shouted at Praximus who was still lying prostrate on the ground. He kicked him savagely in the ribs to emphasize his point.

“When the boy arrived at the Academy, he was the weakest student. He didn’t even have an affinity. He has, however, become the strongest student breaking records left and right, and still, nobody knows his affinity with certainty. My boy was asking for advice on how to recruit him given that they had started on the wrong foot,” Mindila answered.

“We need to recruit him, use him for our cause, or neutralize him. If he runs North, I hope you are ready to back the inquisitors,” Duke Nubal stated with finality bringing the issue to a conclusion.

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“I am here to have a word with Kenzo bint Hamid.” Master Omar informed Master Jones.

Master Omar had arrived at the Academy and been directed to the first cohort where Kenzo was supposed to be rooming.

“As I have already told you, Kenzo and the Northerners are not in residence. They have not been seen for more than a week. It is assumed that they went training in the Cursed Forest,” Master Jones replied.

Omar bin Aryan of the Raven clan had been chosen by the Master's conclave to journey south and escort the Northerners home while securing Uzman. As the chosen team leader, he had selected four elemental cultivators to aid his mission. The team had traveled in haste arriving at the Academy in less than a week.

“Would you point us in the direction they went training, His father is anxious to speak with her,” Master Omar continued looking for information about his charges.

“In this Academy, we allow our students the freedom to train as they see fit. We do not follow them around like children. Unlike your kind, we are civilized,” Master Jones answered haughtily.

Master Omar gritted his teeth in anger. The attitude still rankled even though he had expected disdain and prejudice from the southern nobles. As a young master who had recently ascended, this was an important assignment that would increase his standing in the Clans. Without knowing the direction, it would be futile to go into the Cursed Forest to search for the Northerners.

Master Omar went to his team with his spirits low having failed to get the information he was seeking. His team was camped in the Shivera Woodlands as they did not want to draw attention to themselves.

“The Southerners are as mule-headed as ever, they either don’t know where the kids are training or are withholding the information” Master Omar informed his team.

“Elder Omar if I may make a suggestion,”

Master Omar grimaced as he nodded to the speaker to go on. This was a sore point between them as the speaker was his uncle and a veteran of many campaigns. Omar had also trained under him before breaking through to the Mind realm. Arif was one of the strongest elemental rank cultivators in the Clans and used the accepted term ‘elder’ loosely and as a form of a joke.

“Kenzo and his father have been communicating regularly. You should talk with Patriarch Hamid who can provide you with their location,” Arif suggested.

Master Omar could have kicked himself for this oversight. This was another point of contention between them. No matter his increase in strength and titular leadership of the expedition, his uncle always managed to make him feel inadequate.