Ira reappeared in his house only to find that it was empty. It seemed like Aldis, Amy, and Harper went to find Rhys for him. With nothing to do, he took a seat at the kitchen table and began to eat pastries. Seeing his daughter left him in a bubbly mood and he would randomly grin or laugh while eating. All of a sudden, Ira’s expression flashed with aggressiveness before it settled, becoming a small grin instead.

A turquoise colored doorway opened in the middle of his house and out of it stepped the group of higher races. Lyra, Kesver, Thessia, Ustia, Myr, Lua, and Gicae all entered the room while examining their surroundings.

“There goes my appetite.” Ira waved his hand and stored away the rest of the pastries before standing up.

“I hope that a sharp tongue wasn’t the only ability you’ve developed since the last time we all spoke,” Myr spoke with scorn.

“No, I got a few other things I can show you.” Ira took a step forward while smiling. Hostility filled his eyes as he looked at Myr who rested her hand on the hilt of her sword.

“Enough,” Lyra narrowed her eyes at Myr before continuing, “We only came to inquire if you were any closer to getting through the Storm Wall, Ira. There’s no need for so much aggression.”

Ira’s hand changed into a black claw as he reached out to grab the air before pulling his arm back. A tiny space tear opened up, but due to its size, it only caused a small draft. The reactions of the group differed, but Gicae held the most intense gaze if Thessia was ignored. Her eyes had been on Ira since they arrived because she felt an almost imperceptible trace of the First-Flame from him.

“Is that supposed to open the Storm Wall? Do you think we’re fools?” Lua asked coldly.

“I restrained the size because this is my fucking house.” If Ira were to make a bigger space tear then he would destroy his entire house since it was more or less ordinary.

“Watch your words,” Myr grunted as she slightly drew her sword and took a step closer toward Ira.

“Oh? Are you going to cut me if I don’t? Go ahead.” Ira raised his arms and narrowed his eyes. At first glance, it appeared as if he had left himself open but there was a strange feeling coming from his body. It felt like he would react like a rabid dog as soon as Myr touched him.

Just as Ustia was about to berate Myr and Lua, Thessia spoke up, “Where’s your sword?”

Ira laughed as he recalled her words about reaching the level where a weapon was no longer needed, “I don’t need it anymore.”

Thessia’s reptilian pupils dilated as she focused on him, “Are we to believe you’ve grown that much in such a short period of time?” She suspected him of using her bloodline for something but she had no real proof except his quick growth.

“I don’t care what you believe.” Ira shrugged.

“...What do you know about the First-Flame?!” Thessia shouted as her draconic features began to appear.

“Hmm…” Ira was unmoved by her fierce attitude and stroked his chin while contemplating. “Oh yeah!” Ira slammed his fist into his hand as if he remembered something important.

He drew their attention once more and they waited for him to speak.

“We had a nice conversation and it said something about its descendants being too disappointing to speak to it.” Ira smiled.

“Liar!” Thessia roared as scales appeared on her face.

“Thessia! Calm down!” The constellations in Lyra’s eyes began to glow as she suppressed Thessia.

Thessia growled and her rage seemed to grow by the minute, but she said nothing else.

Ira clicked his tongue as he spoke, “If it goes on like this, you’ll break my house.”

Before anyone could react the space around them rippled and everyone was teleported away.

They reappeared somewhere in the Great Forest which caused them to be understandably shocked.

“You…” Gicae remembered that Ira didn’t have that ability previously since he would’ve used it to gain the upper hand on Thessia.

Ira didn’t let him finish as his arms changed into black claws, he swung downward and the air trembled before a huge portion of formless energy traveled forward. Once it moved far enough Ira smiled and returned his hands back to normal before clapping once.

On his cue, the air exploded and became a huge force that pulled everything toward it while ripping it apart. Dozens of trees were turned into sawdust as they were uprooted and pulled to the center of the unstable space. A bubble of spatial energy formed and the debris slowed as it drifted toward the center. A spiral formed and everything was absorbed before disappearing completely. The only thing that remained was a large deformation that was completely barren.

It was an attack that would require each one of them to focus their complete attention to avoid injuries. For Kesver, Lyra, and Gicae it would be a threatening attack since they couldn’t flee as quickly as the Valkyries or Thessia who could grow wings.

“I think I’m getting close, so have some patience.” Ira smiled cheerfully.

“...That is quite the significant level of growth.” Lyra commented as she watched everyone else for signs of attacking.

Gicae seemed to be in constant thought as his psychic abilities granted him limited foresight. If he was in danger he could usually predict when and where it would happen with a certain time span. He felt nothing when Ira teleported them to the Great Forest so it either meant Ira had no hostility toward him or it wasn’t effective against Ira’s spatial abilities. Considering their short history, the latter was far more likely.

“Did you really speak to the First-Flame?” Thessia asked.

Ira answered with a smile before he took a few steps back, “If you’ve seen enough then you all can go back to your secret base and do whatever it is you do when you’re not bothering me. I have a few things to take care of so, goodbye.”

Without another word, Ira vanished from sight and the group was stuck in contemplation.

“He’s growing rapidly and if changes his mind it would be dangerous for us,” Gicae stated as he looked at Lyra, hoping that she would agree.

“Since he agreed to help us then it shouldn’t matter how dangerous he is,” Ustia spoke.

“He’s stated his bottom line, as long as no harm comes to those close to him our partnership continues,” Lyra said with no indication of changing her mind.

There was a heavy silence hanging over the seven of them but eventually, it was broken with a slow nod from Gicae. He opened a doorway to the island with a darkened expression. Small threads of psychic energy carrying a message flew toward Kesver and Thessia and both of them showed a slight change in expression. Lyra and Ustia didn’t notice and stepped through the doorway without hesitation while Gicae sent a look to Thessia before entering himself.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Just as Myr and Lua moved, Thessia stopped them while Kesver went on ahead.

“I need to speak to both of you quickly.”

The two Valkyries showed knowing expressions as they moved to listen. A plan was shared with the two who reluctantly agreed. It was decided that doing what was necessary took priority over sentimental ties.

…

Lauren flew into the Valkyrie Hall and landed before looking around.

“Where’s Ira?” She asked one of the Valkyries on guard.

“The last time I saw him he was headed toward Avery’s quarters, Grandmother.” The Valkyrie answered.

Lauren wasted no more time and hurried toward his last known location. In a few moments, she was in the garden but could only see Avery sitting in the center.

“Avery, where is Ira?” Lauren questioned as she continued to look for any sign of him.

“He’s left just a little while ago, Grandmother,” Avery answered calmly.

Lauren’s expression turned into one of slight regret. She assumed that she would’ve returned quick enough to give him the warning from Ustia and Lyra, but she was wrong.

“When he returns I need to speak to him.” Lauren departed with busy thoughts.

She knew that war was coming to the Grentian Kingdom and more recently she could feel something similar to the desert in the East. Since it was the same area where Kara fought her last battle in the Mortal Realm she went to investigate. To her surprise, there was nothing happening other than huge sinkholes forming and frequent earthquakes. Seeing no immediate indication of a threat made her troubled.

…

Rhys’ expression was slightly flush and anticipation was all over her face. It was lucky that she wore a mask or else someone would take notice. At the moment, she was being escorted to Ira’s house by Harper, Amy, and Aldis. Although Harper had incredible senses she wasn’t at the level of Ira, who could hear the slight movement of facial muscles if he tried, so she couldn’t guess what Rhys was thinking.

“I don’t know if it would be too much of a bother for you, but I was hoping you could train with us one day. Ira’s a bit too strong for us to learn anything new from him.” Amy didn’t mind that Rhys was mute and talked as she normally would’ve.

Rhys nodded in agreement but then realized she hadn’t fought against Ira before, only with him.

“Watch out!” Harper ran past them and opened the door while preparing to be disappointed, but to her surprise, Ira sat in the middle of the room with an easygoing look on his face.

“Oh? You’re here.” Ira stood up and smiled.

Rhys took a few brief moments to admire his appearance before smiling under her mask.

“I want to go!” Harper shouted at Ira who in turn looked at Rhys.

She was in no position to deny the request and she thought Harper would allow her to learn more about Ira so she agreed with a nod.

“Alright, you’re in.” Ira shrugged before looking at Aldis and Amy with a meaningful smile, “You two can hang back and sort out your...uh...relationship.”

Without waiting for them to respond Ira tapped Rhys on the shoulder and grabbed Harper as he spoke, “Let’s go.”

The three of them disappeared, leaving Aldis and Amy standing in silence.

Aldis gathered his thoughts and began to speak, “Amy."

“Y-Yes.” Amy felt incredibly nervous for some reason.

“I need to go back to my home in order to speak to my mother. I have to prove that I’m capable like my sister and cousins because I want…” Aldis paused. His relationship with Amy was unfamiliar territory for him so his hesitation made sense.

“...I want to marry you.” Aldis stated as he looked her in the eyes.

Amy already understood how they felt toward each other but to hear him say it outright left her in an emotional state. She became teary-eyed as she hugged Aldis who was incredibly flustered.

“Then…” Aldis trailed off, seeking an answer.

“Yes, Aldis!” Amy squeezed him tighter.

Aldis exhaled a sigh of relief as he held onto Amy. Although the males of the Thynne Family were given quite a lot of freedom they couldn’t make big decisions without the approval of the Valkyries. In order to marry Amy, Aldis needed to convince his mother and like all Valkyries, the best way to obtain it was through a fight.

…

Lyra felt something was strange, those who wanted to be hostile to Ira had been quiet about his growth. She was prepared to meet their arguments but they had seemed to accept it without a word which was incomprehensible. Considering their behavior up until that point, it would make more sense for them to feel that he was an even greater threat.

Ustia seemed to feel the same thing and became tense, through the instincts formed from countless battles and her own abilities as a Valkyrie she could feel hostility building up. The Valkyries ability to sense war and large-scale conflict was less effective when applied to a smaller scale.

“Lyra.” Gicae entered the meeting area and interrupted the thoughts of the two.

“Yes, what is it?” Lyra asked.

Ustia was more suspicious since Gicae hadn’t said anything about her departure. It was even stranger when considering after she returned he looked incredibly shaken. She had no idea it was due to the child Avery carried which was able to stop his astral projection without much effort.

“I think the others are up to something,” Gicae spoke with a worried expression.

Lyra sat up as she became more attentive, “Tell me.”

“It’s better if I show you,” Gicae said as he scanned the room attentively.

“You’re right.” To say that Lyra trusted Gicae was a slight understatement. He had decided to implicate himself as the sole person responsible for entering Ira’s mind but also didn’t show any hostile intentions toward him. There was no reason to suspect him of anything on her end.

As Gicae reached his hand toward Lyra’s forehead, Ustia could tell something was very wrong. She looked at his expression which held a slight sorrow and immediately knew that he wasn’t an ally.

“Stop!” She moved forward but it was too late.

A wave of psychic energy swept through Lyra’s mind and incapacitated her. As a Sidera, she had an immense amount of power, but she didn’t gain the innate mental resistance of the Valkyries. Lyra fell unconscious as Ustia’s words became fainter and fainter.

Myr and Lua appeared from the sides and moved to restrain Ustia along with Thessia and Kesver.

“All of you are betraying her?! After all she’s done for you!” Ustia struggled fiercely but had no hope of ever escaping let alone fighting all of them. She swung her sword a few more times but Thessia brute strength held her in place while Myr and Lua pierced her limbs with their swords.

“We aren’t betraying her or you.” Gicae said as two crystal coffins emerged from the tunnels, “We just can’t allow Ira to live after he opens the Storm Wall. He’s too dangerous and if you saw what was in his mind with your own eyes you’d agree.”

“Don’t make this difficult, Ustia,” Lua said to Ustia who continued to resist.

“You think he won’t notice something is wrong when he sees that both of us are missing?! You know that I spoke to Lauren and you still carried on with this?” Ustia laughed coldly.

“That’s why you went to see Kara’s descendants, to warn him? Fair enough, but know that tracking you was secondary. My real purpose was to search for Avery Thynne, once we obtain her it’ll be easier to deal with him, but imagine my surprise when I found out she was pregnant...The child is so strong that we may not even need Ira, we can raise it up and wouldn’t have to worry about any betrayal.”

Ustia stared at him in disbelief, “What do you think Kara will do if she learns that harm came to one of her descendants?”

“That wasn’t what we agreed on, Gicae.” Lua frowned as she looked at Gicae. Myr, Thessia, and Kesver were no different.

“I know, but if Ira were to do something unpredictable before he opens the Storm Wall then we need a second option,” Gicae responded lightly. He knew that it would be even harder to convince the group of waiting for a child to grow without being assured of its abilities.

Lyra was placed into the translucent coffin before Ustia was dragged along and placed into one.

“Forgive us,” Myr said as she closed the lid.

Ustia’s eyes burned with anger and sadness as she smashed her fist against the coffin. Slowly, her movements became slower and slower as she was forced into a sleep.

There was a period of silence before Kesver spoke up, “We need Ira to open the Storm Wall before he becomes too powerful.”

“I’ll attempt to look ahead into the future, but we already know that there are two large conflicts happening soon. We’ll immediately seek him out after each one to make sure all of us can still handle him together.” Gicae replied warily. The last time he tried to search for Ira he received backlash due to Ira’s innate presence distortion.

No one stopped to consider what Ira would do if he learned of their plans. When Avery was harmed he destroyed an entire city so what would he be capable of they attempted to take his daughter from him? That was an important question that seemed to avoid appearing in their heads. It wasn’t due to them being forgetful, but they believed they could subdue Ira before he grew to a point where he could fight all of them at once.