Chapter 127

"So what do you make of it? " said Evans at last.

That was the biggest question the four family representatives had at hand. Once they left the forest, the four high council members have gathered for a quick meeting to discuss the situation at hand away from the prying eyes of the representatives of the mage association.

In theory all of them were part of the mage association, but the four traditional seats held by family representatives still held loyalty to their families.

It was also true that it had been a long while since they have held any position of power within the family itself, and the constant check on power by the other members have made sure the decisions they made didn't favour one party or the other. The years have distanced them from the family, but sure there was a lingering sentiment in their mind. None of them wanted the downfall of their families for which they have worked for in their youth.

" There is nothing much we can do. " Replied Emma.

" You know I never trusted Callum. He is a scheming bastard. All of us know it. Even you know it Hector. " Said Evans.

" Yes. I know it very well. For all that he lacks, he is a wise leader. You have to accept that. He understands where he lacks and will use people to do tasks he himself can't do. " Replied Hector.

" Like he appointed you the commander of the war?" said the very perception Ora.

He had seen how Callum had time and time again prompted Hector to take up that mantle.

" In not so many words, but it was clear he wanted me to lead this... whatever it is. " Said Hector.

" It's a war Hector. Or it will be. " Said Evans.

" Don't be sure Evans. It is as Hector says." " It could be a war or it could be something else. " Said Ora.

" What are you going about Ora?" said Emma.

Ora gave a wide smile like he knew something others didn't.

" We have all read the archives. How much of it do you think is true?" Hector asked Emma.

" Well. Maybe the story is true. But the events must be exaggerated. There is no way situation was that grim or they were so strong?" replied Emma.

" It may or it might not. It was from a time long ago. But humour me and consider all that is written to be true. What happens then?" continued Hector.

" If and it's a big if. If it's true the chances of us surviving are very low. " Emma said. She seemed to imagine the situation in her head and seemed horrified by it.

" That's an understatement. It would be one sided slaughter. Not a war at all. War would be when we could contest for the win. But if what is written is true, and they attacked now, we wouldn't last a single battle, forget the war. " Hector replied in a grim voice.

" You are out of your mind Hecktor. Sure they were strong. I will agree with that. But you saw how easily we got rid of that.... that being. He was strong, but not to the point where he was impossible to defeat. If I recall correctly, he couldn't withstand a single barrage of spells. " Said Emma confidently this time.

" Yes we defeated him. And none of us fired more than one spell. But remember, we knew he was to come. Regulus had us prepared, we ambushed him. Also we are the eight of the most strongest mage on this world. How many mages can you count who could stand toe to toe with us?"

" And that being as so called was most probably a scout. A scout called for the action of the eight of us. What happens when there is an army of them breathing down our necks. " Finished Hector.

" But the archives say they arent that many in number. Sure we have the numerical advantage." Said Emma.

Hector gave a bitter smile to that.

" You just can't agree and disagree with the archives as you wish Emma. "

" Either you fully agree with it, or take it as children story. But you can't do both. "

" If you have asked me yesterday, I would have said the whole thing was just made up ancestors. Like how the mundanes came up with religion they follow. But after today's incident, I am more inclined to believe the archives. "

" You paint a sorry picture Hector. " Said a defeated Emma.

" Not by choice. " Replied Hector with a small smile.

"If you two had your moment, my question still remains. What are we to do? "

" You know Callum, what's there to stop him from taking advantage of the situation and taking one up over the families. " Said Evans.

" Once again. If you believe the archives, Callum is going to have his hands full with the situation we will be in. I for one would worry about what he does after we survive when we make it through the peril. "

" I agree Emma. He does paint a sorry picture. "

" Ora. What do you think?" Evans turned to the man.

" I am with Hector on this. I will make sure the Xia family is ready. Even if the alliance doesn't work, we won't go down without a fight. I for one don't want to return to those days as mentioned in the archives. I have lived too long as a free man to do that. "

" I just have one more question. What if Regulus is lying? What if they never attack and the whole of it is a plan by Callum to trick us ? Sure one of them came here, but he could be just lost."

" Regulus knows about it and informs Callum of it who hatches the whole plan. We coordinate and join our forces with his and he eventually takes over everything? He sure is ambitious enough to do it. "

" Wow. You for sure are paranoid enough. But I agree, I wouldnt put it over Callum to not do it. "

" But again, my gut feeling is he isn't lying about it. " Said Emma.

" You have Callum figured out for sure. But you are forgetting one thing. Regulus. Do you know he has been on the council from before my time. He should have been older than me, but looks younger. I once asked him about it, he told him it wasn't his time yet, so he is here. He was here to witness a event of great importance. This might be this event. "

" And secondly, he doesn't lies. Not about things pertaining to time. If he says we got five years, we haven't got more than that. His magic somehow binds him to his words. We know next to nothing about time mages. There only have been a handful of them throughout our histroy, and none as strong as him. "

" So if you believe Regulus is lying, he isn't. "

" If I may Evans?" Hector said.

Evans nodded for Hector to speak his mind.

" I agree trusting Callum completely isn't possible without him showing appropriate response. But, I agree with Ora and Emma here. We have to be prepared. Maybe all of this a farce. But it's too big to leave it to chance. Because if it comes true, we will have no time to retaliate. Our preparations have to start now. And if the situation doesn't come to pass, it would still be a good exercise. "

" Alright. I will speak with the Jhonson family. Its time they cut the fat that's gathering on them. " Said Evans at last.

With that the four of them left to their respective families bearing ill news.

" What do you see Regulus?" asked a worried Callum. He knew his actions over the years hasn't been forthright on some matters. But it wasn't totally his fault either. Just as the family representatives looked after the interest of the families, he looked after the interest of the mage association.

He didnt have any family to speak of. His parents were long dead. He didn't have any siblings, nor did he marry in his life. Every action he took was for the betterment of the mage association.

It didn't mean he wasn't selfish. He was, he would be the first person to admit it. Sometimes he made decisions just because he could. Having that kind of power was thrilling sometimes. But overall, he always wanted what was good for the association he had always worked for.

" They will talk with their heads. Unless you give them a reason not too. " Replied Regulus. It was almost as be dared Callum to do something.

" I don't intend to play games this time Regulus. The stakes are too big. Whatever you may think I am, I will not play with the future of our kind. " Replied Callum.

" But can you work with those families. Our history hasn't been exactly kind. " Asked a cautious Ramson.

" Kind? You mean our history has been full of blood and mistrust. " Victor replied with a snort.

" I know it. I myself had a hand in a lot of it. But if we are to survive, we have to work together. Before everyone else was contacted, I had a talk with Regulus. With what he saw, he says unless all the forces on this planet unite, our future is very bleak. "

" There will be no games from my side. "

" You almost sound dejected?" Victor asked in a more serious tone than before.

" While everyone of us read the archives before, none of you had believed it before today. It was a fairytale to you. But I have always believed it to be true. How I had prayed to whoever that listens that their reappearance doesn't happen during my lifetime. But I think there is no one to listen to those prayers. "

" So yes, I will wholeheartedly work with everyone."

" Was that the reason you sort of pushed Hector as the one to lead the war?" asked Victor.

"Yes. He is the best option we have. He had an uncanny ability to read the opponents. Although he would be a force to reckon with on the field, but I think he will be even a better commander. " Said Callum.

" I know you have always been good at reading people. So this time I will believe you. " Said Victor.

" I would like your advice about defensive structures. We still don't know where exactly they will appear, Regulus can't predict it so far ahead of time, but we can still fortify the green belt cities. You have innate advantage over that field. Look over it. " Said Callum.

Victor just gave a nod of acceptance this time around.

"Let's hope the four of them have a fruitful meeting. "