The Quandary of Today’s Heroes

"Thank you for all the hard work you have put in for today, Kharys."

A slender build figure, wearing jade-colored cambric cloth embedded with some animal furs around the joints of the upper limbs and then circling around the neck that covered in a high collared thin leather pad. This hardened leather was laced together, widening and extending to cover and protect the wearer torso, mainly the spot where the heart and a pair of spongy, air-filled organs located. Brigandine as many referred to... a form of body armor, typically was made of such heavy materials, yet the one - which was worn by the slender figure - was its modification version, specially designed by him.

With the absence of an oblong steel internally with small oblong steel plates riveted to the fabric, and the weighty variant of leather which practically provided him with much greater protection as the cost of losing his agility and limitless movement... he seemed to be preferred the protection that giving him enough space to move around, hence he chose the light thin leather which russet in color and monotonous in appearance.

Another trivial problematic situation arose from it however, despite giving him everything he wanted but one fashionable attire, thus becoming the basis of his reason to wear another layer of fabric on top of it.

A jade colored cambric, also known as batiste, and was opaque and soft - made mainly from cotton and had a plain-weave with a low thread count. This long sleeve outfit shrouded himself inside, from his shoulder to his wrists and hip where his single weapon - too small for a sword yet too large for a dagger - was resting, solving his problem with the unfashionable armor while still keeping his favorable fighting style - silence and quick without any rattling sound of steel. The oddity nonetheless, was came from the way he wore a leather gloves which only his right hand had it on while letting his left palm and wrist to be exposed to his lack-of-melanin skin.

Leisurely leaning against the tower structure, was that grinning man. His thin lips were one-sided curving, to his left skinny cheek as the emerald irises rolled within his narrow eyes, staring at a full-armored figure coming out from the stygian tower by walking down several steps of black tourmaline stairs that led into a large yet empty courtyard... only a reflection of seemingly celeste-colored ceramic served as its main floor, covering around the ground level of stygian tower that ended on far corners where the four white towers were stood.

"Oh, you're here, Anto Mast?" when the distance made one possible to engage a conversation, even with the muffled heavy voice that came out from a mouth hidden beneath the thick-layered of silver helmet, the silver figure was wondering about the presence of apparently a friend of his - with all of that gaudy attire in term of shade and style, "I thought you were already gone to der Helden... as it is your speciality."

"Well, I was thinking that you might need a hand." a man whose name known as Anto Mast, began to lift his back, letting go the relaxed position as the intended interlocutor had been standing a few feet from his place, "And I knew you did needed one back then. Everything didn't go as you anticipated, I guess."

The tall silver figure - Kharys - paused for a moment, catching a breath to give an answer... an unfortunate simple one, "Only half of many possibilities. I'll tell you more when we get back to der Helden, when five of us are gathered."

Passed his simple response, the silver figures was then casually initiating the first step, dragging his heavy feet across this large ceramic floor as he moved forward toward the north white tower... leaving his blonde-haired friend alone with his smirk watching the large back of his friend walked away from the place where he stood as the rattling sound of the silver armor faded in the distance.

The blonde figure had nothing to say but a short breeze of air filled with lots of carbon dioxide and was stimulated the two small muscles within the larynx to open, letting the air to pass and vibrate them both... producing a short sigh sound from his smiling face before proceed to go after him - knowing for sure he had so much yet to answer.

Wearing the lighter and more more flexible footgear, ensured the wearer to move a bit faster than those in a rigid, stiff steel as their foothold, forcing the leg muscles to work beyond their capacity when every single step was taken... for the untrained one at least, because such a drawback seemingly didn't take any appearance around the silver figure whose steps were rushed as if there was something distressing thought inside his silver shell.

It took more than the moderate walking pace for the blonde figure to catch side-by-side with this heavy armored figure, and when he knew for certain that the ground beneath them - on which they dragged their feet - was no longer the fancy-looking ceramic but a simple yet symmetrically constructed path made of mostly cobblestone for its abundant sources in the area.

They undeniably had just entered the urban area. The center of humans activity where they satisfied their basic needs of sleeping and breeding, demanding their right to feel safe and secure.

"The order does not change. It is still the same as before."

Initiating the clarification-induced conversation Kharys was, once the rhythm of their paces had been synchronized to walk on the same path which always has been quiet and seemingly soothing enough... creating the plausible scenario where they could share this rather sensitive information. Only their figures were seen walking on quite a huge solitude path, since it was the north entry - and the only one - of the historical place which normally secluded except for some days which considered as special.

"Keep it super simple, eh." the blonde man - Anto Mast - gave his comment... a sarcastic one, "How unexpected, despite the clarity, declaring the devil as the scapegoat to prevent the disunion of lack of self-reliant society who relied too much on them... coming from the mouth of the same group who proclaimed themselves as the protector of humanity. Alright... I'll rewind my claim that it is unexpected, for it is quite to be expected."

"The conformity is quite the contrary." Kharys who walked beside him, bridging this continuously tête-à-tête which slowly improved for better understanding, "I don't mind the idea of the devil's role as the scapegoat, for I've seen the beneficial result in it. As Veicigs said, this route could prevent a war to break out within the two big countries, considering the influence of Lord Yindas in this country. But... erasing the sins from one's mind trough the custom ceremony, as instead purifying it trough cross-disciplinary punishment... I... I have no words for it."

Anto sniggered, hearing his friend who typically had anticipated everything for at least one to two steps ahead from his oppositions... wondering and being surprised by the recent unforeseen events, being faced by the inexplicable enigma between devil and moral. This, somehow, comforted him... not in negative way, but the opposite... witnessing the flaws side of his "holy" friend as a self-reminder that beneath those rigid silver armor, there was once a mere human with all of his inadequacies... just like the previous heroes. Nothing really has changed amongst this thriving humanity, only one's view towards the ever-changing world.

"Maybe if only you would've brought me as the eyewitness, things would be much more uncomplicated as it is." Anto Mast interposed his own viewpoint in playful manner, just to lessen the tension which would thrive if allowed, "Nah, just kiddin' though... things would only became a real pain in the neck. But, if you could... should've brought that book you found in Yindas's mansion."

"That book is a crucial evidence for sure." Kharys responded, "That's why it is also crucial to leave it as it is. They undeniably will send their people along with the royal army to secure the place, and that book will surely become their first priority. If the book was missing, the suspicion would be bestowed on the council. No worries though, I've memorized most of its content that I'd like to discuss with the others."

"Neither of them know about it?" asked Anto, verifying a little detail of his friend's plan.

"Yes." without the need of a nod gesture to signal the validation of the correct guesses, Kharys kept his hidden eyes towards the path before him that led into more populated area, proven by many high structures of humans habitations. As long as their feet maintaining the steady rhythm, it wasn't such long time for them to reach the center of the thriving society.

"I see... conspiracy against conspiracy. It's not the most efficient way for sure, yet quite effective to be honest." perceiving the real intention of his friend, Anto was then smirked... not really an illegal intention, yet pure integrity, hence the existence of such a smile across his thin face, "Speaking of conspiracy - I've no idea whether it is good or bad news - but at your behest, I've invs---"

Even so, when he was eventually recalled the important reality with the help of a specific keyword, the fate chose him to become its plaything to such an extent that it did not allow the continuation of his statement which could possibly give a narrow breathing space for his friend... as the ground... the whole city levels were shaking so great, so violently, and so sudden that able to make one lost his sense of balance in an instant.

"What's this! What's going on?!"

The unexpected occurrence surprised the blonde man as he widen the gap between his feet to sustain the upper body's weight which nearly lost its balance and to prevent his mind for becoming over-hyperactive as the response of such a thrilling experience. When the ground was finally put into more subtle condition - seemingly that great shiver prior was acted as the grand opening of something more troublesome situation... judging from the countless screams of many pitches, emerging from the thriving regions along with dust it produced.

Staring deeply at the distance commotion as the ground level made him possible to perceive the current condition, Anto made some assumptions based on the field facts, "Was that an explosion? Are we being attacked?"

"Hardly." standing calm as the sea was the silver figure, given that his rigid armor was the one that absorbed all of those violent vibrations creeping on the ground, nothing really change in terms of his stance's proportion... and then coming with very contradictory conclusion, "It's their doing."

Listening to his friend's calm remarks, somehow, built even more a shocking response that surpassed his previous wild guesses, "Again!"