Three days slowly passed, filled with research, training, and socializing. The Kaiserinnensfest was already on the horizon, only six days away. But before that, I still had some things to do. Today, rather than meet with Fremont and Laqeramaline, who decided to stay for the festival, I prepared for a secret trip to Siracusa.
-"Ready?"-I looked at Cellinia, who wore her white armor.
-"Mhmm."-She responded.
So I teleported us without wasting more time. We appeared in a quiet and dark alley, with the sounds of the city around. I used Night Sorcery to make us invisible, and we stepped forward into the street. Cellinia liked her arm with mine, not wanting to lose me.
We passed through a nice park, entered a café built in an old historic building, and finally sat in a quiet corner. A minute later, an older Lupo man sat in front of us, a serious-looking woman about our age next to him. After I made it so they could see us, our conversation started.
-"It is an honor, Holy Son. Miss Cellinia, good to see you doing well."
-"I'm also glad you are healthy, Don Bellone."-Cellinia responded politely.-"And this is?"
-"A judge who recently rose to prominence, Lavinia Falcone."
-"Cellinia Texas."-Lavinia looked at one of the most infamous people in the Siracusan underground, now in pure white and blue armor of the Holy Son's Knight.
Cellinia nodded in greeting.
-"Son, what do we owe the pleasure?"-Don Bellone moved to the main subject.
-"We are here because we uncovered people from Don's Famiglia present among members of Echoes of Herkunftshorn. Because they targeted us, we are ready to retaliate, but before that, I wanted to meet with you."
-"This, huh?"-Don Bellone looked tired.
-"You can speak freely."-I told him.-"No stray wolf will dare to appear before me."
-"You..."-He looked at me with surprise.
-"How do I know you are a Fang? That's not important. The important thing is what you plan to do now."
He sighed and turned serious.
-"I underestimated you, Son. Very well, I'm indeed Fang of Zaaro. It was his idea to cooperate with the Echoes."
-"Why would you work with him?"-Cellinia couldn't understand his decision.
-"To protect my Famiglia. That wolf is trying to overturn their game, gathering power rather than training a Fang."
-"So you stepped forward, afraid that his support could threaten your Famiglia if another Don was chosen."
-"Yes. He would appear from time to time, ordering me to do something for him, but he indeed helped my Famiglia climb to where it's now."
-"What is his objective?"-Cellinia asked directly.
-"To take control of Siracusa."-Don Bellone answered in a heavy tone.-"He is a lunatic, treating all Siracusans as his playthings."
-"Then what is your idea?"-I asked him.-"Will you resist him, or remain subservient?"
-"I'm doing my best to change the chaotic Siracusa, I don't want to see it devolve into a wolf hunting ground."
-"Good. Then I'll make you an offer. I'll make Zaaro back of, entirely. In exchange, you'll have your people cooperate with us in Leithanien."
-"Son, can I ask you something?"
-"Sure."
-"What do you think of Siracusa?"
-"To be honest, I don't have much of an opinion. From what I heard from Cellinia, I think that this is a country that sacrifices many for a few of those who emerge from it as victors, a cruel training ground. As someone with strength, I wouldn't mind living here, but if I were powerless, I would stay as far as I could."
-"What about you, Miss Cellinia?"
-"A place where only logic is the strength, and only argument is violence."
-"I wish to change that. To make this country a place where people don't have to fear walking on the streets."
-"A noble ambition, but not something we can assist you with."
-"No, Son. You can easily do so. I would like to invite Laterano to protect those who aren't part of the underworld, all the common people."
-"We can't enter Siracusa without a reason."
-"Many Siracusans follow the Lateran Church, with little push, creating a reason won't be a problem."
-"I believe you already has plan in mind."
-"Yes."-He began to explain.
His idea was for Laterano to create a safe place for the people, absorbing the Judicial authority and acting as an impartial judge at all times. With certain protections and incentives, it'll be possible to slowly eliminate Famiglia's influence from the daily lives of normal people. While his ideas had a merit, they had one major trouble. He can't make it happen; only one person could do so.
-"Let's assume I agree. How will you make it happen?"
-"I have a way to force Capo dei capi's hands, but it can only work once."
-"Then let me see a proof. If you can arrange for everything then I shall meet with the famed Miss Sicily and follow your idea, but remember. Laterano will never engage in acts of war, but we also won't allow ourselves to be pushed around."
-"Thank you, Son."
-"Returning to our main subject."
-"I agree."-He was direct this time.-"If Zaaro can be eliminated, my Famiglia will cooperate with Son's plans."
-"Perfect."-I stood up.-"Then let's go resolve everything now."
Cellinia and I walked away from the café. Before following behind us, Don Bellone turned to Lavinia and asked her out of our earshot.
-"So what do you think?"
-"He is similar to that person, a head who protects his 'family', but he has confidence and pride of power. If I were to pick an ally, he would be a good pick, but I wouldn't dare to renege on a debt, not to mention break a promise."
-"But at least that trust is two-way, not like here. He reminds me of the Witch King my father told me about. Monarch by the right of his power, with wisdom and heart. I can hope that he won't become a tyrant."
-"Then why are you willing to bet on him?"
-"Because only strength can give me assurance. And as long as Laterano stays neutral, his strength will only be used as the defense."
-"What if the Laterano changes?"
-"Then I doubt any of us can stop them."-With those words, he started to walk after Cellinia and me.
Lavinia was silent, her thoughts only known to herself. She also followed Don Bellone, but her eyes traced my every movement, as if she tried to understand me through it.
Not long after, the four of us walked into a quiet part of the park. Don Bellone called out to his patron Signori dei Lupi, and soon, a presence appeared next to us.
-"Why do you summon me, Bernardo?"
-"Because I have something to talk with you."-I looked at the black wolf.
-"You..."-He looked me up and down.-"You are that Sankta brat everyone is talking about."
-"That would be me."
-"What do you want?"
-"Wait a moment."-I looked at the line of threes nearby.-" Coming out?"
-"You got some balls, kid. First, you steal my employees, and now you make me rush around."-A penguin walked from where I was looking.-"Any excuses?"
-"I just offer better benefits."-I shrugged.-"As for making you rush around, aren't you getting paid?"
-"Tsk."
-"So did you do the job?"
-"All done. They are here."-As he spoke, other wolves appeared around him.-"You owe me a nice gun."
-"Sure, I'll have something made for you."-I looked at the other wolves.-"I believe that the Big E already told you the details."
-"Yes. If you can prove it, we shall deal with Zaaro according to the rules."
-"Then, Don Bellone, mind speaking up?"
He nodded and quickly disclosed all things Zaaro had him do, even providing proof for some. Zaaro, of course, tried to stop him, kill him by relying on their connection, but I controlled him firmly, not giving him a chance to act. When Don Bellone ended, all the present Beast Lords looked at the thrashing Zaaro.
-"Traitor! How dare you, you disgrace!?"
-"I'm just doing what I have to do to protect my Famiglia."
-"Enough, Zaaro. You broke the rules."-One of the wolves told him.
-"So what? It's not like I don't have more Fangs at the ready."
-"How about I help you?"-A voice unknown to me spoke from the side.
As everyone looked at the source of the voice, we found a girl with shaggy white hair. She was smiling, but that expression had no happiness in it, only pure madness. Cellinia reacted first, facepalming and sighing.
-"Lappland?"
-"Yes?"-She acted innocent.
-"What are you doing?"-I could feel the exasperation emanate from Cellinia.
-"I'm not sure."-She shrugged.-"I just feel that if that guy disappears, I won't have a chance to bring back the real you."
-"I don't need you to bring any 'real me' back. I'm happy as I am."
-"So, do you need help?"-She looked at the Zaaro.
-"Good!"-Zaaro instantly jumped at the occasion, making her into a Fang.
Other wolves retreated slightly, not wanting to be targeted. Knowing that the situation could no longer be resolved, I sighed and was about to step forward, but Cellinia stopped me.
-"I'll do it."-She stepped forward.
I nodded and left the stage to her.
-"Did you know that Zaaro was behind this all?"-Don Bellone asked me.
-"No, I planned to challenge him directly after dealing with you; you just gave me an easier way to deal with him."
He nodded, looking with worry at the battle about to take place.
Cellinia walked toward Lappland with her swords in hand, watching what was going on with her. When Zaaro made her his Fang, a deep shadow covered her. When she finally emerged from it, a pack of shadow wolves surrounded her. But she didn't give anyone time to observe, instantly launching an attack on Cellinia.
Cellinia easily dealt with her strikes, avoiding the two blades she was swinging around. But she didn't attack, only observing Lappland for now. This seemed to annoy the crazy girl, causing her to attack even faster.
At the same time, the shadow wolves started to move as well, lunging at Cellinia. This time, she didn't avoid; instead, she used a sorcery familiar to me, creating Glintstone swords and launching them at the shadows. All that time, even while being busy with other matters, she never stopped learning how to use sorceries, achieving not a small success in her study, and now she was about to show it.
A blue magic light shimmered as she disappeared, appearing a second later behind Lappland, her swords already in the swing. Lappland jumped to the side, barely avoiding her attack, but before she could regain her footing, Cellinia once again appeared behind her.
No wasted movements, each strike aiming to kill. Cellinia's style of combat was even more aggressive than my Mentor's; there was no need to waste time on magic if the sword could do the same job much quicker. The only thing she did aside from pursuing Lappland relentlessly was to create Glintstone swords every time she teleported.
But relying on whatever intuition she had, Lappland always managed to avoid her strikes at the last moment, at most losing some hair in the process. Even launching counterattacks at few occasions. Such a stalemate continued for some time, destroying most of the surrounding area.
As everyone was watching with bated breath, Cellinia teleported in the air above Lappland. Around her, tens if not hundreds of Glintstone swords formed, all raining down on her opponent. Lappland mat her head on, forcing the shadow wolves to jump at the swords. But even despite her best attempts, she couldn't stop Cellinia's attack this time.
The moment their swords met, a cloud of dust rose up, obscuring everyone's vision. Not one to wait, I instantly waved my hand, blowing it away, but by then, it was already over. Cellinia stood over collapsed Lappland, a trickle of blood dripping from a wound on her brow, but nothing else.
Lappland, on the other hand, was in a tragic state. While she was alive, her chest was practically split open, as a gash deep enough to show her broken ribs appeared. Her arms and legs were also full of cuts, Glintstone blades still pinning her to the ground.
As the battle was over, I walked to the Cellinia who was gasping for air, placing my palm on the side of her face and tracing her wound with my thumb, clearing the blood and healing it in the process. Feeling this, Cellinia slightly squinted her eyes, enjoying my care.
-"Can you save her?"-She asked quietly.
-"No problem."-I nodded and let my golden flame ignite around me, quickly covering Lappland.-"Show yourself Zaaro."
-"What do you want, Sankta brat?"-His wolf form reformed from the shadows, much weaker than before.
-"To kill you."
-"Hahaha!"-He burst out laughing.-"We are immortal, brat."
-"Immortality is not a binary attribute, it's a scale, and you are low on it."-I looked at him with a slight smile.
-"What do you mean?"-He looked at me, his eyes slightly wavering.
-"I meet many immortals. Some could be reborn like you, some simply didn't possess a concept of death, and some existed as part of the world itself, needing its destruction to end them. That's why I said that you're on the low end of this spectrum."
My words made a flicker of fear appear in his eyes.
-"For your knowledge, I'm also an immortal; until the last grain of Glintstone Originium ceases to exist, I will still live. But that's not the current subject. The current subject is your death. And it's not hard to achieve. Destroying your soul would easily do the trick. Shining could do it without any trouble. Or maybe you'd rather be sealed, making you survive with a life worse than death?"
This time, the most primal fear enveloped him.
-"But I'm not that cruel. You should just die."-With that, another flame appeared.
Before Zaaro could react, the red-black fire enveloped him. There was no scream, no trashing, just death. I watched how the flame went out shortly after, leaving nothing but some shadows behind. I waved my hand, making them disappear, before turning back.
Everyone looked at me with fear, even Big E seemed a little daunted. Only Cellinia approached me, casual as always she stood in her usual position. I smiled at that and stopped worrying about others.
-"You're free."
-"No."-She shook her head.-"I'm bound in the way I wanted."
Our eyes met, and she didn't avoid my gaze. After sharing a silent moment, I returned my attention to others.
-"Big E, I'll have the Mostima send you the gun."
-"Sure, kid."-He also recovered his usual attitude.
-"Don Bellone, I'll be waiting for your invitation."
-"Of course, Son."
I nodded at the other Signori dei Lupi and took Cellinia's hand, teleporting from there. When I disappeared, the golden flame went out, leaving nothing but the destroyed ground and countless sword marks. Everyone quickly left; this day overturned many of their beliefs.