Despite holding positions in the highest academic office in CANDEMARO, Seth and Bela travel back to the central post alone, free from any lackeys or assistants to aid their journey. They were adept with dealing with any inconveniences along the road. After all, they were not admired as the greatest Sorcerers for nothing. More than that, though, they do not risk having anyone unnecessarily knowing of their true goals for visiting the Western Heleian Encanto Capital.
As they trek the path back to the central post, the High Priests need not to unfurl the map they received from the Sequoia Council to know they are coming close to the forked path they wish to open. They have faced the rougher currents of the Naga River here, as mentioned in their meeting earlier, and yes, they were unsuccessful in taming it, much to Bela's annoyance.
"What a ruckus!" he growls as he pulls out his orange agate stone threateningly. "I'd immediately cut your wretched waters!"
"Calm yourself, Bela." Seth hushes his younger brother, then frowning mockingly at the River. "The Encantos have foolishly given us their knowledge to enter their Blessed Rainforest. This is better than sabotaging the path near their camp."
"Plunder was the better answer!" Bela growls, glaring at the currents.
"Perhaps..." Seth glances at his younger brother, then towards the path beyond the river bend. One leads to the towering ravines of the Jigsaw Canyon, the other turning to the undocumented areas of the Beda Rainforest. A hum escapes Seth's lips, as if in contemplation. "... but we have yet to get our hands on that." His right eye twitches, making the heart marking under it move. "If we wish to gain what our Visionary wishes to have... we must endure this."
Bela scoffs at the reminder of their original goals. As much as he wishes to take the easier, more violent choice, he is aware that the subsequent chaos that particular action will trigger may give them a difficult time in the future. Grunting, he pushes his spectacles back to the bridge of his nose as he follows his brother's glare at the area past the river. He has to endure working in the shadows for a while.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Tilting his head, as if considering his next actions, Seth walks towards the Naga River, hoping to cross its currents to arrive at the other side of the banks. Once there, it takes only a few meters from the mouth of the path to enter the connecting woods. However, before Seth dips his feet on the waters and before Bela can even follow, the ground trembles under their feet. The Naga River's already tumultuous waves rise even higher, crashing towards the trees near the opposite bank and uprooting it.
"W-Wha—an earthquake?!" Bela exclaims as he looks around while backing away.
Seth on the other hand, plants his feet on the ground, clutching his agate stone in case the rolling debris comes hurtling towards him. In another great tremor, the remnants of a ravine not far from the entrance crumbled, with massive rocks and dirt from the riverside rushing down the road. Seth and Bela run forward to avoid the landslide. When the quake subsided, both brothers are shocked to see that the route leading to Hele and the Jigsaw Canyon had been blocked by debris.
Bela angrily curses at the top if his lungs, running on the blockage to attempt to cast a spell and remove the debris. Seth loudly calls for him to stop while staring at the destruction brought by the earthquake.
"Do not waste your efforts." He declares with a dissatisfied click of his tongue as he gazes on the towering ridges of the Jigsaw Canyon ahead of them.
Bela wishes to retaliate, but he followed his brother's line of sight and, with a gasp, he witnesses a massive silhouette looming over the fallen ravine. The Usor Priest freezes on his place, nervously chuckling at the familiar shape of several clanking metal chains around a silhouette of static darkness. "Dia Hera*, you had to be joking..."
"Somebody wants nothing to do with us and our malice." Seth adds, dusting off his white robe. For a while, he stares at the silhouette by the Canyon. He smiles to Bela afterwards, cocking his head to the path leading to Solferino. "No matter. We will return. And by that time, we will succeed."
----
To be Continued...
*Dia Hera (Expression) Usr.,: "Great Hera"