Ray had collapsed for a whole week. He didn't remember exactly how Karoline was handled, or rather he didn't want to remember at all. He was strangely happy, as if he had found what kept him going and was long lost.
Meraki told him everything that happened. How he managed to follow the order in case of something unforeseen about the revelation of the half truth to his uncles and the double contract, since it would be impossible for them to continue with the next step of the plan, in case Ray was absent for a long time, again.
He even told his father how he dealt with his brothers's tantrums and, how Ringo had turned into a demonic witch when she woke up two days after collapsing. Ray was surprised at the maturity with which his son had handled himself in such a short time, even everyone in the house called him the copy of his father.
If it was necessary to apply a punishment to his brothers, he would do it without hesitation and as far as planning and business management is concerned, he did not underestimate any variable factor either. He was in his father's office doing the work in his place.
At times he enjoyed it and came to understand why Ray locked himself in the office; he craved the peace and quiet that only meditation gave him to avoid so many headaches and annoying noises. Going through one of the desk drawers, he found three boxes in his name and in the name of his brothers. Inside were japamalas: a black one with blue details, a red one with purple details, and a white one with some rainbow colored beads. Ray was going to give them the rosaries as birthday presents, but he declined to give them when he saw that being very young they lacked patience and self-control.
Meraki put it on and no longer took it off. He was going to ask Ray to teach him the mantras to calm and clear his mind of all the current mess. The screaming, running and even fighting were constant as the children grew older which was very annoying for everyone in the house. Although Ray had already woken up, the scene had not changed one bit except for the treatment he was receiving from Iston and Tanji, an overly polite behavior that became quite uncomfortable. The matter to be dealt with urgently was the issue of Karoline's extraction.
The woman's soul went to a container called Kenton, to which optical implants created by Zion were installed to record and monitor every action in the palace and surroundings, avoiding the sight of Crystal Clouds in those places. Meraki brainwashed the woman into believing that she was the real Kenton. Making a selection of memories, he implanted in her the idea that she was the adored son of kings and programmed her for when the exact moment came to use her. Ringo managed to drain all the mana available to maneuver the real Karoline so the new Kenton could never use "magic".
**
An emergency meeting was taking place in Kardeleen because the gods announced that they would go underground for the next few years due to the unwanted visit of The Crimson Queen and a primordial, who ordered them to hide until they could close the leak in their world. The announcement of such magnitude made the allies fear for their lives, but divine protection was given to those who still preserved their gods so as not to be dragged to an unwanted end while the rest would receive help from Crystal Clouds.
In the meeting room there was a circular table 20 meters in diameter decorated with maps and photographs. Holograms of the guests were displayed on the empty chairs. They all had faces mixed with anger and discontent. Ray and his group were sitting in the center section near the colored windows.
-That creature was just a summoned by that bitch. Heh when the guest left, only Karoline's empty shell was left. But the most incredible thing is that he has spent almost a thousand years doing the jump from body to body without being detected, son of a bitch- in discontent with him Muhammad massages his temples
-What was he really looking for? If it was eternal youth it is a very stupid thing to be used as an excuse to massacre people, if you wanted to live that long, you would choose the life of a lich, demon or turn a vampire- Virgil sounded annoyed
-No ... Although she was seeking eternal life, she would not do it the easy way. Her desire was to achieve the "standard of what is considered beauty" for certain tribes and races but the level varies in the use of mana. When using long-lived beings, her mana is limited over time, preventing it from jumping to another container. But if she uses other races considered inferior she will not only gain access to a colossal amount of mana but she could do it forever by changing her body as her expiration date approaches.- Tanji sounds confident in his response to Virgil
-The price to pay was to rot faster and faster and be able to jump without problems. Do not forget that the being that she attracted was a cannibal from the abyss, he drains his victims to use them as a dietary supplement and thus maintained her stability without raising suspicions. Disgusting- Meraki attached to Tanji's comment
-The bitch is no longer a problem, instead the invocation of her and her companions is. She got the help of a being that shouldn't exist in this world and the bastard brought his compatriots with him. Where the cursed are is the new dilemma to be dealt with- asks Ramona
-Of the ten who escaped, we already got rid of one, we know where six are located and it would be necessary to find the other three, which is more than certain that they will be a terrible headache when we find them. Caution and preparation is the only thing we have ladies and gentlemen- Ray taps the armrest with his fingers as he thinks about the solutions
-The seed of war must be watered so that it will bear fruit soon. What do they say if we pay old Valastro and Konstantine a visit.- Patrizia looks askance at her comrades from Red Sugar
-Do what you have to do, Tanji, your team will continue with the Candyshop business, the Ursinis will manage the Zoo, we will prepare the Carnival in the Gray Strip and our allies the Circus. It is more appropriate to divide ourselves if we do not want to lose time and make sure we are alert in case of encountering an insect that annoys the Festival- Ray stops to turn his back while he watches the city through the illuminated window.
-As you say boy, it's a matter of agreeing and moving forward. We are against the clock, let's speed up to prevent them from escaping. We trust that you will take care of those worms yourself- Vlad looks down and smiles knowing the answer even without having heard it
-Who do you take me for, I will not fail grandfather, I will cultivate as much as possible. It would be better if you dedicate yourself to training your chicks well so that they do not want to fly higher than they can- Ray answers with bright eyes and a creepy smile
**
Ray and his children were flying over the Amcata desert, in the section called The Gray Strip. Such an extensive and abandoned area, worthy of being taken into account to form one or two countries. But just being avoided by the Leyhams didn't give her all the fame she needed to accomplish such a feat. The only problem that this section had was that no life could germinate or stay in it because it ends up being consumed in minutes by spontaneous combustion rather than by the desert sun. For this reason and to avoid the Leyhams, the countries decided to create roads and accesses on the coastal or underground side, although in the latter the plans had been stranded hundreds of years ago for lack of ideas to avoid the nests of the Leyhams.
They landed on a previously placed water manastone and Ray pulled the watch from it and activated it. Several clocks unfolded, he dragged three each of the children and the rest vanished. The children approached and by placing their hands on the clocks causing them to stop. Time had frozen for them and they watch Ray curiously for having brought them in before the set date.
- You are already matched in age with me. The four of us will stay with 14 years for the next seven years, then it will advance again-
-...-
-I brought you here to show you why I died in the afterlife. It was from my research to find out what these worms are. They are not what they appear, they are ...-