Kismet’s Tale

      There was nothing more than silence in this facility. 

The meal of the Boss was left in the room where he sat on his bed cross-legged.

Anyone who knew him before he went to war could recognize the stoic look. Ike, Martina, and Aunger knew that the moment he had that look on his face.

There was no argument to be made.

Aunger found it a pity that they couldn’t find a way to rein in that fanatical determination. From the very start there was nothing that they could do other than follow the path laid out by the Boss.

Aunger carried the tray to the Boss where he sat cross-legged. The amiable, defenseless, and the Boss that had humanity was gone.

All that was left again was the Boss who was determined to change the whole of Lazon. Aunger saw that there was no helping it any longer. The Boss had made a choice for him, and that choice was to follow this path.

The Boss really does want to do this, Aunger thought. The Boss ate his meal mechanically. He fed himself to nourish his body.

“The Exiled One will be coming soon. I expect all our men to be on the spot. Issue a demand to Lord Derrick about the excursion that will be done. All villages within the area will be evacuated. I want every Hound ready and on standby.”

“Roger, shall I lead the Vulcan-unit?”

“No, you will be my right-hand as usual. Let Old Fred know in the Capital that the rest of the Hounds will keep the Royal Huntsmen from interfering. They are not ready for this threat, and they are a burden to our cause.”

“And what if the Emperor demands?”

“Then tell him that the Lord of the Hounds will break the chains of bond.”

That means that Greater Lazon will become the Nation of Lazon. Not a subordinate of the Empire, but an independent entity that could match the now-weaken Empire. Aunger knew that this demand would be successful.

The Emperor was using the funding of Lazon to keep the Empire afloat. Not only would they lose the patronage of the Holmians, they would have the eyes of the tripartite alliance once more. And if they refuse to behave, then they will find out that the bites of the Hounds are deadly.

“The Emperor will not interfere, I assure you this, Boss.”

“Good. And tell her...she...that,” the stoic facade broke for a single second before he steeled himself with that burning determination of his. “That she will stay put and teach Elea quietly. I do not wish to see her.”

Aunger wanted to speak something, but the steeled look on the Boss’ face made him unable to get the words out. He could only nod in affirmation. The Boss studied Aunger for a moment before he shut his eyes once again.

“Do not disappoint me, Aunger. We are facing what you and our Hounds were meant to do. Do not falter and throw such emotions on the back of your head.”

Aunger nodded. He walked to the door and made a backward glance at his Boss.

The Master of the Hounds was back in control.

***

Aunger left the room with a steeled expression. Martina leaned on the wall with her arms crossed. “Is he?”

“The Master of the Hounds is back.”

“Oh,” The ring in Martina’s voice died down and his eyes dimmed. “Then what does the Master want?”

“Prepare the Hounds. Brother Ike will maintain the communication. Sister Martina will prepare the equipment and assist in Brother Ike’s toil.”

Martina saw the change in Aunger and decided to accept the role. “I understand, Enforcer Aunger, the Will of the Master Constable will be done.”

Martina left with steel in her voice.

That’s the voice that we all have, Aunger thought. The voice of those who follow the Master of the Hounds, our benefactor, and our Blood-father.

Aunger left the facility throughout the secret passage that was connected to the cabin located to the lake where the private land of the Boss was. The tunnel was a remnant of the demifiend nest that they have decided to purge a long time ago. Most of the tunnels like these were destroyed, but the rest were used for the sake of the operations of the Hounds.

Traveling through the tunnels he saw  the housing of the Hounds. To say that there was a series of complex tunnels where the Hounds lived alongside their family was an understatement.

The Kernels had always been one of enclaves that were spread across the underground biomes of Lazon and the Empire. Below the tunnel, Aunger could feel the trains functioning through electricity, making use of the hydroelectric crystals as their source of fuel.

They had converted the old power plants and made use of the crystals to lessen the visibility of the charcoal that they were using. Aunger waited on a station and saw a tram approaching on his right. He entered the high-speed tram, and watched the tunnels flow by.

The high-speed tram crossed a concrete and steel bridge installed with railways. On both sides he saw the large fisheries that the Hounds had maintained for the past two years. There were certain flora and fauna that grew without the light.

One of the best of them were the acres of mushrooms and ranches where the underground demifiends were caught, tamed, and domesticated to lay seven inches eggs and two metal crawlers which have the same appearance as sea creatures, and could be butchered for two hundred kilos of meat.

This design was mostly planned by him, Ike, and Martina after a few consultation with the Master who was strangely talented regarding engineering.

He had made sure that the Hounds had their own resources. The House of Bradley, and even the Baroness, Lady Sophia Tatiana had been in contact with the Hounds, providing resources in which the Hounds could sell provisions, goods, and even supply them.

The wealth of the Hounds was only a step behind Greater Lazon. It was not inferior to any Kingdom or some poor country. The Boss has a talent of knowing who to pick, and who to put in the role. It was only because of this almost miraculous talent that they were able to maintain such underground society that the Empire would think twice before provoking the Hounds who are loyal and subordinate to Greater Lazon.

One of the reasons that Lord Derrick took the role of patriarch was to show that he would support the direction where his Cousin was going.

Just as the Empire has an Emperor, there is also the one who rules as the Master of the Ebony Market where the Emperor and his King would control the criminal elements of the Empire.

The difference was that the Hounds were reclusive, they only bid the Master and the Enforcer that had led them to salvation. Their Blood-Father had given them strength, and had told them their role. But if the time comes and their Blood-Father, the person they had sworn allegiance to fulfills his goal, then rule of burden will be on remaining Enforcers and to him, the Constable of the Hounds.

The Hounds only answer to Lazon. That was the steely bond that they had sworn to.

But will they remain loyal to the chains of Lazon? Or will the Hounds become strays who had failed to uphold their duty?

Humans have always been volatile so it was hard to predict what will change them. Loyalties, beliefs, and even allegiances could be changed because of the world and situation surrounding them. One day they might even start asking to become part of the surface. 

But for now, the loyalties of the Hounds belong to Mavin Tomas, their Blood-Father.

Until the day the promise is fulfilled.

The steadfast resolve of their Master will remain with them. Every Hound that was living in this underground haven was only the second generation. Aunger himself wonders how many generations their haven would last.

But that was the question for the future.

Aunger’s goal at the moment was to reach the heart of the Kernels and communicate with the Hounds that have been on standby. He would then follow with telling Logain about the situation, and contact Old Fred about keeping the lease of the Hounds in the Capital, and make sure that the Royal Huntsmen are well-behaved while the fight is happening.

There was a boulder of responsibility on Aunger’s shoulders. He could feel the weight of the burden.

The goal was simple, and that was to make sure that the Master could fight the Exiled One, and crush whatever comes along with the Exiled One.

They will have to land devastating blows and shave the remnants of the Exiled One’s vitality until the Master could stand before the Exiled One and challenge the Exiled One into the final goal.

There was no stopping this any longer.

All they need to do was fight.