LXV: Fragile Future

The man who had appeared from the Vortex was lying on the ground motionless, as though he was dead. He wore black overalls, a hoody and a mask that obscured his face. But the mask was now falling below his jaw as it would seem Qui Lin had long since removed it to reveal his face.

Upon seeing this man, Judith knew at once who he was...per say. To be exact, he was not an important character, rather, a random side character that left just as quick as he came. And his purpose was to spy on one of the Councilmen.

Realizing what this meant, Judith's eyes widened as she continued to stare at the man. Then she spoke, "You captured him?" Judith said, stating the obvious.

"Isn't that much already obvious?" Qui Lin inquired.

"No no no, you weren't supposed to capture him. He wasn't going to do the Councilman any harm." Judith said, leaving Qui Lin's side and making her way over to the spy. When she reached him she got on her knees and began to analyze him. It was then she realized that he was dead.

"You...did not make that part clear." Qui Lin stuttered her words as she spoke. Her always in control persona showing cracks for once.

"You killed him?!" Judith had burst in response to her discovery. Following this, Qui Lin said nothing, as she didn't want to say anything foolish at this point.

As Qui Lin remained silent, it gave Judith the space she needed to think. If this spy was dead, that meant the half of the Council against the King would not act against the Councilman, or...any Councilman for that matter, which meant, they would jump straight into the second part of their plan.

Which, in and of itself, was not entirely a bad thing. Not as long as she knew the second half of their plan.

Coming to this conclusion, Judith took a deep breath and calmed herself. It wasn't much to go off of, but it was a pretty good guess as far as she could tell.

Standing up, Judith turned to Qui Lin, who was still mildly flustered by her blunder.

"He killed himself when he got caught, am I right?" Judith had asked, remembering what order this spy came from and also seeing the foam around his mouth.

Recollecting herself, Qui Lin coughed slightly, then spoke, "That is what happened."

Just as Judith expected, turning away from the spy and onto Qui Lin, Judith spoke, "At least now you have another proof what I tell you is true."

"That is true," Qui Lin said, falling her gaze to her documents as she thought. "But what is also true is how glaringly dangerous you become with each revelation."

"I have already proved where my loyalties lie time and time again, why is it you refuse to believe that I am on your side?" Judith asked, her words genuinely coming from the bottom of her heart.

She knew a lot about Qui Lin, but there was so much the author of her novel had left out. Like her back story and what made her tick every now and then. So Judith couldn't understand at times why Qui Lin was so distrustful.

Keeping Judith silent, Qui Lin summoned her Alkalis rings, then a Vortex, which swallowed the corpse of the spy up. After which she spoke in a solemn voice. "Why were you so frightened about his capture, and how come you aren't anymore?"

Judith remained silent for a moment, thinking carefully on her next line of words before speaking. "There are...certain string of events that should have followed this spy and what he would accomplish. Though you've complicated things, I believe it will still work in our favor." Judith said, probably a little too much.

"So...your sight of the future is limited to only one reality then?" Qui Lin had asked, not once looking at Judith.

Once again, Judith had paused, calculating on the best words to say. "At this point...that much is obvious."

"I see." Qui Lin responded, then raised the document she had been staring at the whole time. "So what would happen if I submit this report to the King, detailing how all his Councilmen are in danger?"

Judith froze upon hearing this. Then, without thinking, she spoke. "That would be very bad Lady Qui Lin." Judith had said, not wanting to hold back her worry regarding this matter.

If the King were to receive such a report, events will be shot up way ahead, skipping out so many things that needed to happen and in turn, altering the events of this world that there would be a very high chance she wouldn't be able to predict the events anymore.

"So, if I submit this to the King, I will render your sight of the future useless then?" Qui Lin had looked at Judith with an intensity in her gaze that made Judith frightened.

Biting her lip in anger, Judith retorted. "You want to render me powerlessly so eagerly, but I can guarantee you Qui Lin, there are forces coming for this Kingdom that will destroy it if I'm not in the picture. I don't know how much more I have to say this, but you need me."

After those lines of words, silence fell upon them, and Qui Lin fell her gaze. Judith stared at her intently, eager and anxious to hear Qui Lin's respond. Depending on what she would say next, Judith would either be ready to face whatever was coming, or be completely rendered useless, as Qui Lin had put it.

After a couple more seconds of silence, Qui Lin smiled, then returned her gaze to Judith, "Qui Lin huh?" She said, and before Judith could react, she summoned her Alkalis rings and then sent a fireball hurling toward Judith.