Blind Illusion

Kayuba was sleeping peacefully in his room when a sound startled him and he woke abruptly. He looked around and saw nothing. He picked the jar and drank some water and then went to sleep again. But, again a strange sound disturbed him. He opened his eyes and saw Phantom was standing there. He looked at him and said, "Don't disturb me, Phantom. It was a very hectic day and I really need some rest." Phantom slowly walked towards him and said in a dead tone, "I don't care. I am not like you that I will kill you in your sleep. I want you to fight with me before dying." Kayuba smiled, "What makes you think you can kill me?" Phantom smiled, "I should have killed you much earlier. Your sins ruined many people's lives." Kayuba smiled, "Why do you care? You are not a saint. You are too born from evil." Phantom said grimly, "I did but I am not an evil person like you. You separated me from Rachel and now Xao Chang made her a captive." Kayuba smiled, "Xao Chang sent you to kill me? I mean, I should have seen that coming. A man who spent all his life in pursuit of only one thing will definitely not want to leave any loose ends." Phantom smiled, "Enough of your bullshit. Stand up and fight with me." Kayuba smiled, "Kill me if you want but I won't fight you. A guy like you is not worthy of fighting with me." Phantom said grimly, "Don't force me to act dishonestly like you." Kayuba smiled, "You are already defeated, Phantom. Look around and you will see that you are entrapped inside a cage." Phantom looked around and saw that he indeed was inside a cage. He tried to get out but he couldn't. He smiled, "I came ready for all your tricks." He took out the white ball and threw it on the ground. The white smoke started surrounding all of the air and Kayuba and Phantom started coughing. Phantom took the chance and broke the cage. He jumped on Kayuba and punched him in the face. Kayuba pulled him down and tried to fight but the smoke made him weak. He tried to rise but Phantom kicked him on the face and thrust a dagger in his neck. Kayuba fell on the ground and died. Phantom looked at his dead master and sighed, "I wished I didn't have to do it. But, maybe that is the way it has to be." Phantom took Kayuba's body and was about to leave when the whole room started to change and soon Elgin, Vexana, Bayu and Kayuba entered the room. Phantom looked at Kayuba and was shocked. He looked at the body on his shoulder and saw it was just a bag of sand. He tried to attack but the elves surrounded him and Elgin trapped him in a cage.

Kayuba walked towards him and smiled, "You still are what you were always. A stupid person who thinks nothing before acting recklessly. Did you even for the tiniest of second thought that Xao Chang will keep his promise and free Rachel once you kill me? You fucking moron! He would have killed you too along with Rachel. If you seriously want to keep Rachel alive and defeat Xao Chang, the best way is to not kill me. You understand?" Phantom asked, "How did you know that I was trying to kill you?" Kayuba laughed, "Because I am your teacher. Everything that you know was taught to you by me. Every move, every trick is right from my mind." Phantom smiled, "You are surely a very clever man, Kayuba. But, this time your cleverness won't work. Xao Chang has summoned many dangerous warriors from the depths of the Monastery." Kayuba said grimly, "Yes. I know that perfectly." Elgin said grimly, "Since your little drama has come to an end, let's focus on the important matters for now." All walked towards the conference room and sat on the chairs. Phantom was still in a cage. Phantom asked, "Won't I have a chair?" Kayuba smiled, "Keep standing. That's your punishment for being an idiot."Elgin said grimly, "Enemies are on our doorstep and we are currently at a very delicate place where any sight wrong decision can be fatal for all of us. Alice is currently out of bounds and Aliyah is missing. But, frankly speaking her absence might prove useful. Kayuba told us everything about Phantom's past and since we don't judge people, we are recruiting him. A guy with such immense talent and skills will be useful to us. The strategy is not changing as we don't have any new strategies in hand. I will lead the army in Namaria along with Vexana in the absence of Aliyah. Kayuba and Bayu will attack Ganzi City and do whatever they feel is necessary. Phantom and Leven will stay here and fight the forces of Kystion and Kavana. Any questions or recommendations are highly welcome here. Please feel free to put them forward." Elgin sat down.

Phantom said, "If I am not wrong, I heard Nakamura, Kenchi and Assayah were fighting alongside Kystion and Kavana." Elgin smiled, "Yep. That's true. So what?" Phantom said, "Nakamura is a seasoned warrior and so is Kenchi and Assayah. Kystion himself is a very good fighter and Kavana recently defeated two armies in one week. So, I and Leven will not be enough to fight them alone. I think we might need to increase our numbers slightly." Kayuba asked, "Who's on your mind?" Phantom said grimly, "Xao Chang killed Ralph in the Monastery. So, we only have Robert Fletcher in our team. He is currently somewhere in the mortal world. He will be ready to help us because he also has feelings for Rachel and he wants to take revenge on his brother Robin. He will be a useful person for us. He has enough power to defeat people like Kenchi and Assayah." Bayu said, "It is not that easy. Assayah and Kenchi are more powerful now as Xao Chang is himself in the Monastery. Robert Fletcher will be more of a liability than an asset." Phantom said grimly, "He is capable of doing fine by himself. Just give him a chance." Elgin said grimly, "There is no time for giving chances to anyone. If he is capable, call him or else forget about him." Vexana said, "I think we should call him. He, Phantom, Levon and Safi could easily defend the Elf Kingdom till we return." Elgin said grimly, "That's a very far-fetched assumption. But, sincerely we don't have many options either." Elgin rose and went away. Vexana looked at Phantom and said, "Call your friend. The more people we can have, the more our strength increases." Phantom closed his eyes and called Robert who appeared before them. Robert looked at everyone and was flabbergasted. He looked at them. Vexana smiled, "Don't act so surprised. You know us already." Robert asked, "Why am I here?" Phantom smiled, "Because I called you." Robert asked, "Why?" Phantom explained all of the plans to him. Robert sighed, "Not a bad idea but I still don't know how I am going to be useful in this situation? I have not fought in a single battle for the last sixteen years and even if I had, I have not enough power to defeat the likes of Nakamura. It is pretty much useless to even think of me." Phantom said, "Xao Chang has Rachel with him. If we don't fight and kill Nakamura, Kenchi and Assayah, he will not come here himself and you also know that fighting him inside the Monastery is just plain madness." Robert sighed, "But fighting without any strength is also plain madness." Phantom said, "Keep trust in me, buddy. I will take care of everything." Robert looked at Vexana and smiled and Vexana smiled. Vexana and Robert don't know each other but they once fought in the war on opposing sides. Vexana smiled, "Looks like we have at least solved the problem of manpower for now." Vexana rose up and disappeared. Kayuba and Bayu also disappeared.

Vera and Raya were sitting at the dining table, when Uncle Mackie came running towards them. He slapped Vera and said angrily, "What the hell have you done, idiot woman? Why did you have to kill Lys and Devee and imprison Aliyah? Don't you know how powerful she is? She is going to destroy us when she gets out of the cell." Vera smiled, "I am not the idiot, Uncle Mackie. You are an idiot. I have planned everything already. I have played all my tricks already and I also have created hurdles for everyone. Aliyah will never get out of the cell and Elgin and Vexana will kill Licha in Ganzi City and I will capture the Elf Kingdom. Then, I will execute my brother and Vexana for their actions." Uncle Mackie asked, "What about Aliyah?" Raya smiled, "Aliyah will stay there till Xao Chang takes the Blood Spear from Alice. Once that is done, Aliyah herself will end." Uncle Mackie said, "You are making castles in the air, Vera and Raya. I am afraid that reality is much harsher than you are expecting." Vera smiled, "You are old, Uncle Mackie. Your mind and body both have deteriorated with age and I strongly believe you need rest. Why don't you go and have some rest?" Uncle Mackie said angrily, "Rest? You guys are going to suffer badly. Remember that." He walked away, but an arrow pierced his heart and he fell on the ground. Vera walked towards him and smiled, "Who is suffering now, Uncle? You think you can just threaten me and go away alive. I am Vera, the new queen of Namaria and no one threatens me." She bolted another arrow in his neck. Uncle Mackie died. Raya looked at his seemingly insane wife and said softly, "You shouldn't have killed him, Vera. He was a very valuable person of Namaria." Vera turned and smiled, "I am the most valuable person in Namaria. Now and forever. No one is above me and no one will be. I will end all the people who oppose me. Even you." Vera smiled and walked outside the room. Raya sighed, "I have just put more poison in the snake's fangs." He took a sweet and thrust it into his mouth and walked downstairs towards the cell of Aliyah.

Aliyah was sitting on the floor which was born wet and stinking of the urine Aliyah did a few hours ago. Her foot chains were long enough to bring her to the plate of dirty food she has been fed for the past three days but she couldn't reach the pothole where she was to do her excretion. She looked at Raya who was standing quietly near the floor of the cell. Raya smiled, "So, how are you enjoying your stay here?" Aliyah looked at him and grunted slowly. Raya tossed a half-eaten apple towards her and said, "Eat it, Aliyah. You will need strength to stay alive for the next three days when I will be the new king of Namaria and you will be executed along with your friends and family." Aliyah smiled slowly, "You husband and wife are very big dreamers I have to say. But, unfortunately this little dream of yours will not be fulfilled." Raya laughed, "Still you have that arrogance? I have to say that these years have only made you more idiot and delusional. Fighting hollow wars with no certain victories has already damaged most of your life. Why are you so bent on destroying the rest of it?" Aliyah smiled, "Who said I am destroying my life? What hollow wars and what uncertain victories? I am looking at a very certain victory, Raya. A victory which will change everything and everyone forever. A utopia and a stable home is all I have always desired. But, you guys are only looking for yourselves. What will this all nonsense atrocities do if there is no Namaria after all?" Raya asked, "What do you mean by that?" Aliyah smiled, "Power invites problems. Xao Chang will never let a separate ruler under him. He has only talked about dominance and dictatorship. Why will he make another person rule a place he despises so much?" Raya smiled, "We are not blind or idiots, Aliyah. But, this is the best way and currently the only way to rule Namaria. I have waited too long for this day and I can't let an irrelevant person like you destroy it." Aliyah turned the other side and said, "Go away, Raya. I have to sleep. Wake me up when you realise that I am the only relevant person here right now." Aliyah lied down and closed his eyes. Raya threw a bucket full of drain water on her and said, "You will sleep when I command you to sleep." He laughed and walked upstairs.

Elgin and Vexana were looking at Diego who was cuddling in his baby cot. He was looking at his father and aunt and was smiling and also trying to hide his face with a pillow. Elgin looked at him and smiled, "Babies grow up so fast. I still remember the day when Cindy was lying lifeless and this small bundle of joy was crying." Vexana patted his shoulder and smiled, "Mark my words, Elgin. One day, he will be more handsome and strong than you." Elgin sighed, "I'm much more worried about today than tomorrow. The war is draining too much money, energy and possibly the lives of so many innocents. There will be countless children and women amongst the deceased when this war ends." Vexana said grimly, "That's the ultimate truth of life. For one life to exist, another has to cease." Elgin asked grimly, "Why cannot it be both together? Why does someone have to die for another to live?" Vexana smiled, "Cycle. It is the cycle of life. One goes and another comes. It has been perennial for ages and will remain perennial even after us." Elgin said grimly, "We have to break this cruel cycle if we want peace for our future generations. We cannot let Diego or innocent kids like him live in such a violent world." Vexana smiled sadly, "Maybe, we will be successful in breaking it but what's the guarantee that someone will not build it again in the future. People will always be cruel and the world will always be filled with violence, gore and injustice. The best we can hope for is peace and the best we can do is learn to survive." Elgin said grimly, "Not everyone is a warrior like us nor everyone can be. Responsibilities fear consequences. A father will do everything and endure every pain and suffering for his children yet he would never want his kids to do the same for their children." Vexana said grimly, "Strong is the one who fights for the present. Brave is the one who fights for the future. Great is the one who fights for both." She patted his shoulder and disappeared. Elgin took a long breath and walked outside the room.....