Bk 2: Chapter Six (2)

Young Master Li's lips flattened to a straight line as he returned to his seat.

"You are going to the Nether world?" he asked her, "How?"

"Let me worry about the details," she answered. At her words, the old man laughed.

"You Thraines have a way about you. I have never seen one happily accept death as payment for service rendered," he laughed.

"You are yet to tell me how to use the crystal heart," Lady Lusa said to the old man.

"You wish to use it to open that gate?" he pointed out the window to the large back gate taller than any mountain, wider than three rivers in the distance.

"You protest, now you know what it's for?" she asked.

"I couldn't care less. Wry not, the tribesmen will deal with it if you wish," the old man said.

"And you also wish that hand over the other keys to you while I'm at it," she scoffed.

"Girl, if the heart could be handled by a mortal, with its power alone, I would have been able to leave this world called Thriergor on my own," He said.

"So, I cannot handle it?" she asked.

"I did not even bring it with me," he answered and Lady Lusa froze.

"What?" she said through her teeth.

"You don't think it is jewellery you can strap around your neck, do you? I was aware of what you wished it for, and it does not need to leave the endless sea to do it. The clansmen can just channel the power of the heart to your gate when you need it," he said and she raised a brow.

"Convenient, isn't it?"

"More of logical. No one can take that thing out of the endless sea. That nun on the Lucen Mountains will know. Worry not. Your gate will open," he said.

"She will know?" Lady Lusa raised a brow, "True, you said you would tell me how the Thraines were created,"

"Oh? Simple. Some naughty boy dashed through worlds to find the heart of power and the blood of True kings and merged it with a special bloodline of women, Thraines," he said casually.

"Why?" she asked.

"That's his business," He said.

"You spoke as though you knew more back in your tribe," she sneered.

"I cannot begin to explain to you the problems of the fabric of existence. Let's just say, he has a lot riding on this, it seems. What you need to know is, all your actions are already predicted. Thraines is an experiment that has been carried out many times before," He said.

"From the first Thraine?"

"First Thraine? There have been many first Thraines. Every time it failed, more were created. This time though, things are much more promising and this set can't really be gotten rid of completely if something goes wrong,"

"Why?" Lusa's Icy expression did not deter the man from stroking his beard without care.

"This time, for some odd reason, a Thraine popped up in the Lucen Mountains and became the leader. Things will sure be messy this time if you all fail," he seemed to sigh in pity. Something told Lady Lusa it was not pity for the Thraines but for the powers that would need to reset it all again.

"You expect me to believe this?" she asked.

"Yes, but I don't expect you to care. That is s Thraine thing; moving regardless of the odds without a care in the world for the consequences that be. It is honestly what was written in the recipe for your creation," he said and Lady Lusa's expression turned ugly.

"Recipe, Resetting if it fails, An experiment. You really see us as nothing but objects, don't you?" she asked coldly. The bloodlust in her eyes could not be hidden.

"There are so many issues within the principles of existence that mortals will not understand, talk more you all trapped in fake worlds and realms. No one can claim they know why that boy is playing with you. Over time, many of us have discarded it as his amusement. If you wish to know more about this, you will have to meet the one who created these worlds. I have my own issues and will not bother about yours," he said solemnly.

"The way you speak bothers me, old man. One would think you are not of this world, not of humankind," she said casually but could hear the curious tone in her voice.

"I never claimed to be mortal, child," he said and Lady Lusa seemed to pause in her seat. The presence of the slightly smiling old man before her suddenly seemed ethereal.