What was originally meant to be a day-long trip to visit the Humans in the wilderness turned into a week-long venture for the three Ethisians.
Enor, Elenor, and Commander found themselves walking in circles, often landing in the same place they started. Having lost track of time momentarily, they lost touch with how long they had been gone but understood that they had been lost for a while.
If they didn’t return soon, especially Enor, the Ethisian people would grow weary and start looking everywhere for their High Ruler.
Because of this, the two High Grades relentlessly begged their leader to turn back since they always found a way back to the Wall. They begged, pleaded, and even debated with Enor, which would span from minutes to hours, and even a day or two.
Regardless, Enor was hellbent on finding the Mutants and even managed to fight off the fear he felt. The Ethisian was known for his wisdom and relentless character, but now he was showing more relentlessness than wisdom. His two High Grades grew worried that he had lost himself in thought, yet he’d always find a way of reassuring them.
Still, even though they knew they were disobeying his orders, the two High Grades pleaded with their High Ruler, who began acting deaf and paid no heed to their pleas. Follow current novels on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
"High Ruler, I beg of you," Elenor jumped forward and went on her knees. The female Ethisian showed her contempt towards the idea, which, according to Enor, became an insult to his decision.
Commander sensed it, but at the moment, disobedience looked better than death. Therefore, he too knelt before Enor and begged, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he’d listen to them and turn back.
"Please, High Ruler. Let us turn back while we can. There’s no point doing all of this. The Blood Mutants will kill us if we bother them. Your people are most likely worried about you. If you do not return, they will come looking, and I know for a fact that they will go to war with the Humans if you die."
"Then their stupidity will be the cause of their death," he said while walking over the two High Grades. "I told you already, and I will not repeat myself. I need as much information as I can get from these Humans. Our enemy has four Mutants, Ethisians. Four. One of them has broken into the depths of Blood Magic and can now summon the dead; he has an army of your fallen comrades. Enoris, one of our best warriors, is now fighting for them.
"We need this information. We need to find a way of defeating these Humans before they exceed us in strength. If one of them grew to that level in such a short amount of time, what will happen if the other three do the same?"
The two High Grades hissed in disagreement, but deep down, they knew that their ruler was right. Enor had yet to see the Granian Blood Mutants in action, but she was more than aware of how strong they were solely based on word of mouth by the surviving Ethisians and Commander.
Commander, who had survived a two-on-one battle with the strongest Granian Blood Mutant, sympathized with the High Ruler, even though he didn’t want to. He hated this decision with every bone in his body, but for the sake of his people, it needed to be done.
"You amuse me with your concern for my life and safety, but it is of no necessity to me," Enor continued while lending his hands to help them up. "If I die, my male child will take over on my behalf. He is at the frontline of this War and understands the crucial role he and I play. That is why I am not worried or concerned for my own life. You shouldn’t be concerned either."
Not only was Enor wise, he was also kind to his people despite them being known for their brutality and monstrous feats of strength and aggression. To the other species, his image was that of a bloodlusted tyrant seeking planetary domination, but to his own, he was a righteous leader who incorporated kindness, wisdom, and strength with power, and a killer sense of leadership.
’It has been too long since High Ruler stood face to face with a Human,’ Commander monologued in his mind, sharing only with himself his distaste for Enor’s venture. ’The Yrrejites and their mercenary clones found one weakness. We can find others on our own. I understand he wishes to find a major weakness for us to exploit, but... it isn’t worth risking our lives. There has to be another way. Not one that needs the consultation of these blood-driven beings.’
"We’re nearly there," Enor cheered, pointing at a flat stretch of land lying in a valley with a few large trees evenly spread apart. The trees were connected by bridges with a few wooden structures scattered around them.
Next to the trees were gentle beasts roaming around, some resembling those from Earth while others looked like failed laboratory experiments. The place was quite far, about a quarter day’s journey, but it was within their sights. The three Ethisians were finally close to speaking with their Blood Mutants after quite some time.
"You have assisted me well, High Grades," Enor turned to the High Grades, his face conveying a will to move on by himself. "You have been given the freedom to leave if you want to. I cannot guarantee your own safety or mine, so turn back now if that’s what you desire."
"No, High Ruler," Elenor bowed again, an act which became cringe given how she did it so often. "If I am to die here, so be it. I shall stand by you until the very end. It is what we were trained to do."
The High Ruler smiled awkwardly and then glanced at Commander, waiting for his response. The High Grade hesitated at first, a sign that was more than clear to the High Ruler. However, he too copied Elenor and agreed to move on.
"I as well, High Ruler."