“The problem isn’t that the process is speeding up! The problem is that we don’t know the catalyst that causes such a speed up!” A deep masculine voice echoed.
It was a room. A large yet simple room that could almost be mistaken for a hall. It only had a large centre table with a diameter of five metres. Chairs were arranged around the table numbering over three dozens and at the centre of the table had an open space where a chair was erected.
Each of the chairs were occupied by a figure—either a man or a woman—with a suffocating presence. No random user of magic would sit in their midst and not pass out from the pressure these people exuded.
Boom!
There was an explosion as someone slammed his palms on the table in fury.
“And where are the men you sent out for scouting? Aren’t they all dead? Why not send another group, huh?” Another man asked with a slightly raised tone that seemed to be mocking the first man.
“Complaining about wanting to know the cause and yet doing nothing. Tsk!” The second man added while shaking his head.
The first man’s eyes rose and so did his fury. “You stupid son of a bitch! If it’s a fight you want, I’m always ready! Come at me and stop throwing shades or I’ll come round this table to drag you by your lips!”
“Why would an esteemed Family Lord such as myself go against someone of a position like you?” the second sneered, his eyes scanning the other man in a condescending manner.
The first man rose to his feet, revealing his height for all. Standing at almost seven feet, he was a hulking figure with large muscles hidden beneath his robes of black and red with a crest of red design. “As a fellow family Lord, I shall not take such an insult. Rise up, Dowan and let’s settle this outside.”
The second man who’d been addressed by his name without the demanded title from the first man frowned. “Fine! Let’s do this outside, Reyleigh!” He thundered as he rose from his seat as well, his height just above six feet.
These were two Family Lords of two great families arguing like kids and they were just about to take it further when another, third voice joined them.
“You two fools realise this is a place for discussions, don’t you? Do you care to sit back down and continue the discussion or do I have to sit you both down myself?” The man asked, the frown on his face evident. He was displeased by the actions of the two who bore the same position as him and the other three dozen dozen people in the room.
His voice oozed with more than just empty words. There was a silence in the room as though they all knew he could and would make the other two Lords sit down if he was forced to.
“Hahaha… Take it easy, Lord Ashbourne. They were obviously joking,” a fourth voice rang out, extending in all directions from the centre of the table. It was the voice of an elderly figure who remained seated on the chair at the table’s open middle. The figure’s weak eyes darted between both family lords as he spoke. “Right? You two were just joking, right?”
“Ahem! Yes, we were simply joking.” The shorter of the two standing figures, Lord Dowan coughed as he took his seat once again, obviously intimidated by the elderly figure dressed in snow white robes.
“Our rival families usually joke around like this. It’s nothing serious.” Lord Reyleigh, the bulkier one laughed, taking his seat as well. He too knew better than to test the patient of the elderly figure with snow white hair and a lost gaze.
The figure turned toward Lord Ashbourne once again, addressing the Terrace family Lord with a smile. “See? I told you they were only joking. But I have to thank you for trying to put things in order before it got out of hand.” The figure chuckled lightly.
“It was nothing, Great Elder White Fang. I was simply putting a few juniors in their place.” Lord Ashbourne said with a polite bow.
“Haha… Same old Ashbourne.” Another added, a woman way older than most of the individuals present in the room.
She too, was a terrifying force they couldn’t afford and the mere fact that she’d spoken up, warned the others to stay put.
The whole room settled into ultimate silence right after. No one wanted to take turns at causing a ruckus.
“Now, where were we?” The old man referred to as Great Elder White Fang asked but even before anyone could answer, he’d answered himself. “Yes, we were discussing the process of the war that will soon be upon us. The process has sped up considerably!” He stated almost like a command.
“As we all know, the War of Lumane began three centuries ago and the events that followed are known to us. Till this day, every two decades, it resurfaces. The first three years act as a period of warning and preparation with the skies slowly becoming red. A process we have dubbed the bloodied sky transformation.”
Great Elder White Fang took a minute to catch his breath beforehe continued. “The moment it reaches its peak by the end of the third year, the war begins.”
“The next three years that follow are years of small scales battles here and there that can be easily won. But as for the next three years after that, a bloody war begins that claims the life of many.” The elderly figure continued.
“But in the tenth year, the war should come to an end as we successfully force the demons to retreat. That is the known pattern.” Everyone of them nodded at his analogy as it contained the basic premise of the war even though it was crude at best.
Great Elder White Fang sighed as he stared into the eyes of the various family lords. “Here lies the problem this time. The process of the bloody sky transformation has been sped up and we do not know how it was done.”
“However, what we do know is that the war will begin earlier. We’ll need to speed up our preparations. In a week’s time, we will gather again to discuss and this time, everyone in power shall be present.” Great Elder White Fang explained.
A figure who’d remained silent since the beginning raised up her hand. “Since the process has been sped up, how much time do we have left?”
Great Elder White Fang sighed and shook his head. “I do not know but we have lost two month’s worth as we speak.”