A Bad Dog's Day

Assayah and Kenchi were sitting near the bonfire lit in the middle of the forest where they all are enjoying a small welcome party on the occasion of Xao Chang's return. Kenchi smiled, "It is a good thing that Master Xao Chang has become friendly with us. He even forgave all our mistakes and gave us a new chance. Now, we can start from a new chapter and do all the necessary tasks to get the Blood Spear."

Assayah looked at him and said, "I don't believe that guy. He is quite cunning. But, that won't stop me from avenging Samantha's death. I will find that bastard Jerachi and kill him like he killed Samantha." Kenchi smiled, "That's why I don't like romance. Unnecessary burden and such a risky deal. I mean, what's the benefit of pampering another person without getting anything in return? That's sheer madness. Demons shouldn't fall into this mess." Assayah said, "We all love something. Someone like somebody and some like materialistic things like wealth and power. You will also feel bad if your whole power is snatched away from you in an instant."

Kenchi smiled, "With Master Xao Chang's return, my power has already taken a big blow. But, unlike you I know how to adapt. You should learn to adapt too." Assayah smiled, "I don't need to learn adaptation from you. I have adapted to the mortal world for more than four centuries." Kenchi smiled, "I just wanted to make you wise. Belittling and wailing won't be good in front of Xao Chang. He is still quite cruel." They were talking when Nakamura sat near them and smiled, "So, how are my subordinates doing? I hope you haven't missed me too much." Assayah said, "We are not your subordinates, Ichi. We are equal people too." Nakamura smiled, "Equal? Please explain." Assayah said, "We have equally contributed in the great war and earned a name. You were missing for so many years, while we tried all means to keep the Monastery striving. Now, you come and say we are subordinates. If you are so great, we are no less too."

Nakamura smiled, "In a forest, all types of animals live. Some small, some big, some herbivores, some carnivores, some rely on sly and some rely on strength. But, are all animals equal? Absolutely not. Like that, in the Monastery we have many demons with remarkable abilities and experience. But, we are not equal. You are still at the very bottom of the Monastery shelf and I'm the cream of the crop. So, yes you are my subordinate." Assayah laughed, "Funny. Very, very funny. You call yourself the "cream of the crop" but all you are is stale milk. You are out of fashion, Nakamura. Maybe the ancestors of the elves were defeated by you, but the new ones are way out of your league. We studied and lived amongst the modern elves and we can perfectly say that you need a tutorial."

Kenchi smiled, "We all need tutorials. There is nothing to be ashamed of. People change all the time so no problem in adaptation." Nakamura looked at them and said, "Be careful with what you say in the future, Assayah. You don't want one of the supreme warriors to be your enemy." Kenchi smiled, "There is no need to be enemies, guys. At tempestuous times like this, we should stick together and have each other's backs."

Nakamura smiled, "You guys are on the radar of suspicion. Kayuba was a loyal dog of Lord Xao Chang, but he deceived him and disappeared. I can perfectly say that he is not alone. Someone must have helped him and gave him the courage to deceive the Monastery. When I find Kayuba and punish him for his crimes, I will certainly hang his teammates too. And I have a very big intuition that one of you or both of you will be hanging together with Kayuba." He smiled and walked away.

Assayah said angrily, "He just threatened us and you stayed silent. Why?" Kenchi smiled, "Let that dog bark. You are right, he is out of fashion. But, he still is quite powerful and if we don't play our cards right, we would be in a heavy mess." Assayah said, "You have changed colors like a chameleon, Kenchi. But, these dirty tactics are not very reliable. Xao Chang is already calculating the expenses you did on the pretext of renovation and improvement of the Monastery.

At the end he will ask for an explanation and then you will be screwed. We have to find Novaria and Robin and tell them about the change in plans before they do anything stupid and put us in jeopardy." Kenchi smiled, "Don't worry about that. I have already sent messages to Novaria and Robin that no external affair that is not related or known to Xao Chang will be conducted till I say otherwise."

Assayah smiled, "Look at you, all acting up like a boss. You are incorrigible. But, this trait of yours is what makes you so special." Kenchi asked, "Special? How?" Assayah smiled, "You are on such a thin thread and still no one punished you for your mischief. This only because you are so idiotically brave. You never let go or feel defeated and always find a way to make things go your way."

Kenchi smiled, "That's a very fine insult, Assayah. But, it won't affect me still. I have many big plans and these small bullshit problems can't hinder my plans from happening. Xao Chang has a dream and so do I. His dream is to be the messenger of Xao Lin and bring his reign in the world. But, I want to rule it myself. No person, be it mortal or demon can stop me from doing that." Assayah said, "Don't be foolish, Kenchi. So much overconfidence is harmful. I never liked you but still I don't want you to die so pathetically.

Power is not something that you can snatch from someone. Power has to be achieved and you should be able to retain it in the face of hardships. But, you are not capable. Yes, you are a dreamer and maybe it is good in its own way but still it won't be enough to achieve your goals." Kenchi smiled, "Don't worry about me, Assayah. I am not born to be limited like you guys, I am born to be the master of the whole world one day."

Kenchi rose and went away. Assayah looked at him going and sighed, "Only if he could have seen the world outside his dreams. After meeting Samantha, I finally understood the true meaning of life. It is not to conquer it but to live it. Hate and violence is only harmful no matter if you are on the receiving end or not. Only with love we can truly win the world. Anyway, everyone has their own life and a personal approach towards it." He rose and walked towards the Monastery.

Kayuba and Bayu walked through the markets of the hidden Elf Kingdom when a familiar voice echoed in Kayuba's ears. He stopped and Bayu asked, "What happened?" Kayuba said, "I think I have heard someone's voice and it seems quite familiar." Bayu asked, "Who can it be?" Kayuba and Bayu walked towards the voice and saw an old elf arguing with a local shopkeeper regarding bargaining. Kayuba stopped and smiled, "So, this moron is still alive?"

Bayu asked, "Who is he?" Kayuba said, "During the first war, he helped us quite a lot in raiding the tents of elf soldiers. He is Sailon de Grass. A renowned master of disguise and a sly trader of arms at that time." Bayu asked, "But, why is he still in the kingdom and why would an elf help the demons?" Kayuba replied, "He mingled between the elves after the war. King Alapaca executed his father on charges of fraud and murder and this made Sailon furious with the king and when we attacked the kingdom, he got the chance to avenge his father's death and he joined our side."

Bayu said, "Go and talk with him. He will definitely appreciate meeting with an old friend." Kayuba smiled, "We are not friends anymore. Actually, after we won the war Bacca decided to kill him as he was getting furious with us because Xao Chang killed King Alapaca and didn't fulfill his promise of letting Silon kill him." Bayu sighed, "With the amount of enemies you guys have made, I highly doubt that your ventures are going to be successful." Kayuba smiled, "My ventures has been successful ages ago. But, that's the way of the Monastery. Don't leave loose ends." Bayu said, "Fine. But, why are we here?"

Kayuba said, "Aliyah called us." Bayu asked, "How did she contact you?" Kayuba said, "Elves at her level have developed technique to contact people whenever they want. Anyway, we are in her kingdom, so it was not that big of a task." Kayuba and Bayu entered inside Aliyah's room and looked around.

Aliyah drew a dagger towards Kayuba but he dodged it and caught it. He smiled, "Got quite confident, I see?" She appeared and punched him and threw him on the ground. She then turned and kicked Bayu on the forehead and then again disappeared. Kayuba asked angrily, "What are you doing, you stupid bitch?" Aliyah appeared and kicked him in the throat and disappeared again.

She appeared again and smiled, "That was for the misbehaving you done earlier in the mortal world." Kayuba smiled and wiped off the blood coming out from his mouth. He smiled, "Now, tell us why you have called us?" Aliyah looked at them and smiled, "Last night, I asked myself why would two powerful demons from the Monastery want to help us in the war and side with us? Then, an answer came to my mind, what if they are not spies but actually trying to help us or maybe I'm assuming wrong?" Kayuba smiled, "You can trust us, Aliyah. We have some personal reasons to help you in the war." Aliyah asked, "Yes, that you have already told me earlier. I want to know the reason?"

Kayuba smiled, "Okay. Tell me what you will do if someone who you have always worshipped and respected from the depth of your heart decides to execute you for being a good parent?" Aliyah said, "I will do what is right." Kayuba smiled, "So, I did the right thing." Aliyah looked at Bayu and asked, "What about you?" Bayu said, "Same." Aliyah burst out laughing and said, "I still remember Tamaro saying that one day the elves will surrender before the demons and will lick the feet of Xao Chang. I would have liked to see his face today."

Kayuba said, "Tamaro is dead. He was an idiot just like Kenchi." Aliyah said grimly, "For the atrocities that you have committed on elves in the first war, you will be killed the second you enter the Elf Kingdom, but unfortunately you are very lucky. I need a guy like you in these unstable periods of time, who can do some dirty jobs for me without anyone knowing." Kayuba asked, "What dirty jobs?" Aliyah looked around and formed a sphere around them and disappeared.

Kayuba asked, "Where are we?" Aliyah said, "Look outside. What do you see?" He looked outside and saw Alice lying in bed in an unconscious state. Kayuba and Bayu can easily feel the power emitting from her body due to the unstable balance in her body. Kayuba asked, "Why are you showing us this?" Aliyah said grimly, "I wanted to test your integrity. If you were acting and had malice in mind, you would have turned into ashes by now. Mother Manaca sees through the heart of a person, be it an elf or a demon. Since you two are still standing intact, I will tell you the details of the mission that you have to do in order to be truly useful to us." Kayuba asked, "What mission?"

Aliyah sat on the sofa and said, "The funny and strange thing about any war is that though it is fought in broad daylight in a battlefield, it is actually won in the dark of night in stealth. If we want to win the war, we have to win the small battles without any hassle. I have names of three people in each envelope. Choose one and kill him in a way that doesn't raise suspicion. If you manage to kill the first person you choose, I will give you the second part of the mission. Now, go and kill him." Kayuba picked the middle one and opened it. Aliyah asked, "Who is it?" Kayuba gave her the card and Aliyah smiled, "Sejasha. Good." Kayuba and Bayu disappeared in red mist. Aliyah sighed, "Sorry, Elgin. But, I don't see any reason for your mother to stay alive. In this war, all bad dogs have a day." She looked at Alice and disappeared in purple smoke.