Off to a great start as she eyed Gwen and Lucas’s force cage. Something to make them get along but, by the looks of it, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. They usually got into these kinds of situations but she hoped that the situation would cause them to calm down a little and focus on the big picture.
Oh well.
She approached Ifrit who essentially became the two’s babysitter and patted him on the shoulder.
“Wonderful start, isn’t it?”“Absolutely peachy start.” Ifrit sighed to himself. A small part of him found comfort seeing familiar faces join them on this mission, even if it was a diplomatic visit and not a recreational one. Unfortunately, that joy was completely overshadowed by the headache that was Gwen and Lucas. He leaned in to Eris and said “Once this is all over, remind me to discipline those two.” He gestured to the force cage behind him.
He looked at both Lucian and Elektra’s thought projection. Before speaking, he thought to himself. ‘Should I bring up the letter? Nah, I don’t wanna have another headache to nurse.’ He cleared his throat and spoke up. “Lord Aigad, we do apologize about the… unprofessional first encounter. I would ask that you excuse the two of them from these discussions. Any relevant information will be passed to them by Eris and I once they… find common ground.”
He cringed a little as Elektra’s thought projection gingerly grabbed the cusp of Eris’ chin. Don’t get me wrong. Elekra was a thing of beauty. The right amount of allure and power. Unfortunately, Ifrit saw her as nothing more than a walking red flag. He’s interacted with her enough to know he’d rather stay ten feet away from her at all times. Ifrit can’t do much about her advances either. ‘You’re not an A-Class anymore,’ he thought to himself, ‘find your own way out of this.’
Lucian nodded but seeing that Elektra was already present, he found that his presence won't be meaningful since a higher authority is present, so he teleported out of the scene, signaling Elektra.
As there was one Elektra, she became two. The Thought Projections of Elektra sought to discuss things as is. She did the same thing to Ifrit just as how she was to Eris, but only from behind, her image glitched for being an afterimage.
She patted Ifrit’s back and spoke, her voice sounded distorted for a bit.
”I know what's bothering you, not ,and I need you to focus on this Quest.” She said so suggestively.
The Thought Projection was made for Ifrit only and no one else can see it.
“Come. Come to my office with Eris after this Quest.”
Elektra wasn't the sort of person to waste time, she intended to invoke more afterimages but it's too taxing.
As for Eris, Elektra was too close at face length.
“Beware of thunderous snowstorms, I'm sure you wouldn't like it.” She said to Eris.
Seeing Elektra again was not a pleasant experience for the mage, the confusing mix of emotions once again resurfacing as she edged closer— too close for any sort of comfort. Anger surfaced at the forefront then but quickly tampered down to avoid any sort of conflict… and also partially because she couldn’t really punch a thought projection.
She huffed. “
If I didn’t know any better, that sounds like a threat.” She moved to gain some distance between her and the thought projection.
“But I guess it is good that I do know better.” Despite what she was saying, there was an underlying tone in Eris’s voice as she leveled her eyes with the chancellor.
Without missing a beat, she turned the conversation back to the quest at hand.
“We should get onto the briefing, Chanel. I’m sure you’re quite a busy person.” The sooner they got this briefing done, the sooner Elektra had no reason to stay around.
Ifrit was unphased by the provocitous advancement, though her words did ring true in his ear. ‘So she does know about the note…’ He thought to himself. His attention went back to Eris when she spoke up. “Yes… And, to be clear to all other parties. As far as this operation is concerned. Guildmaster Azuria has placed Eris in charge. I am simply fulfilling an advisory role, acting as supervisor and aid when needed. Please, Elektra. If you would, fill us in.”
Elektra can't help with humor with what's happening but it can't be helped as there's a job to be done and sentiments exactly what it may be has nothing to serve in this Quest but no, there are remnants of sentimental values.
“Eris…Take it from your bestfriend, not Chancellor Elektra but Chanel, c’mon now, I literally mean that there's a literal lightning & snowstorm that's 7 kilometers from now, I can sense tantamount of ethernano, reverberating, in fact, as the Chancellor of Pergrande, I'm also going to warn you with my input.”For a moment, Elektra broke character, she still felt something for Eris as her childhood friend but as someone in a position of power, she had to be firm.
Her Thought Projection distorted since the airship’s getting farther and the pulsating magic power was interfering with the lacrima system.
“I'll set the record straight.
The Kingdoms of Avalon:
Pergrande
Iceberg
Snaerverold
Ofrifheimer
Extalia
Among these Kingdoms, only Iceberg and Ofrifheimer had been frenemies with Pergrande. However, 15 years ago, Tartaros Hellgate Devil of Calamity, Deliora colonized Iceberg & we got plenty of refugees as we all know.” Elektra referred to Gwen, Azuria and Zeire.
“The reason why you're all selected for this Quest is more than just the bridge itself.” She paused.
“Ifrit, I understand your disposition as merely a proctor to the progress of Eris, however, I disagree, you cannot tame lightning naturally unless there's manmade intervention, the real me is already at Iceberg, whether you protest or not, I supercede Azuria, you will join me on a meeting with the Isenlord, Setsuka Vanisis, I require your diplomacy to ensure that Iceberg allies with Pergrande and I'm sure your petulant Guildmaster, if she had any tact, would have agreed on the path you should be partaking and the progressive growth of Eris as an S-Class would be her fairy tale to tell.” Her presence struck fear and intimidation as ominous it became, making a valid demand.
“As for you Eris, you will bring Lucas, Gwen, Ayuna, Jericho and that demon child with you to the advertised surface of this Quest.
There lies a broken bridge that hasn't been repaired for 100 Years, it was called the Great Glacia Bridge, built by the Bifrost People in reverence to the Blue Dragon God Glacia. Despite the long war between Pergrande and Sin, the bridge itself served as the best route for Merchants to travel with their horses from Iceberg to Pergrande.
Your destination is on the same road to Fylkirlén, the capital of Iceberg.
The Great Glacia Bridge spans from the capital, erecting in between Kingdoms, Snaerverold & Ofrifheimer. These Kingdoms are thankfully far from interfering with rebuilding the bridge and both are equally dealing with their own problems.
Gwen is needed to forge the icen bridge, Jericho is needed to enchant Dragon Slayer Magic properties on the bridge, I intend Lucas to memorize Ice-Make to assist Gwen.
As for you Eris, the Bifrost aren't kind, they're feral beasts, with Take-Over Magic, I'm sure you can speak their language.” Oh, so there was a storm brewing close enough to the ship.
“Thank you for the warning then.” Still, there was some sort of sick satisfaction with how she had reacted. Eris signaled for Lucian to tell him about the incoming storm and to try to find a route to avoid the storm. It would be better not to have any sort of complications after all.
Finally, past all the taunting, Elektra had settled to brief them about their mission. Their actual missions, if you will. It appeared that Ifrit wouldn’t actually be joining them for long but she didn’t envy his position. Diplomacy to ensure alliances was difficult and usually rife with loopholes either party that could lead to the benefit of one and the detriment of the other and Eris wasn’t so keen on having to keep an ear out.
She nodded at their assignment. Just proceed as planned.
“I do remember Gwen mentioning that this bridge repair would take a while. How fast would the process be expedited should Lucas be able to help?” She doubted anyone in the current group would be too keen on staying on the bridge, fixing it, for longer than necessary.
Or, if the Bifrost were feral beasts, it was entirely possible for Eris to somehow get them to help. They were the original builders of the bridge; though, it did seem like their sentience had slowly degraded over the centuries. Or, if all else comes to fail, she could take over a Bifrost and help there.
Ifrit sighed. And here he was thinking the whole mission would be a walk in the park for him. That he’d get to stay out of sight and observe the actual acting force on its mission. He, of course, would step in if asked, but he had a good feeling he’d go the entire mission without having to be called on. Eris has grown a lot ever since she came to him as a B-Class. He trusts her ability to lead an expedition on her own. He also knows the extent of everyone’s power on this mission. And though Ifrit holds some of his guildmates in a lower regard (he doesn’t like having to act as a babysitter, much less having to imprison his peers in an especially powerful prison just to stop them from blowing up the bridge), he knows the extent of their power and trusts them to have eachothers back.
But… Nothing goes easy when the White Creed’s involved. Ifrit speaks from experience, having served both alongside the white magicians and within their own organization. If the White Creed get involved its sure to throw a wrench in the plan. Back in the day, he was lucky. He could go to his superiors or the roundtable knights and ask them to help deal with the Creed. Nowadays, he’s the one other go to to mediate. Ifrit knew when to speak up, and knew when to not challenge rank.
“As you wish, Chancellor.” He showed little reaction towards Elektra’s ominous hostility. Maybe in a yesteryear he would have been intimidated, if slightly. But nowadays he knows his worth. He knows his strengths, alongside hers. He has nothing to be scared of. After a brief moment he activated his Temporal Glimpse. The whims and wanes of the River of Time washed over his vision. Using his sight, he glimpsed at the Thought Projection, following its flow back to where it spawned. “I’ll meet you once I land… I know where you are.”
He turns to Eris, saying “I trust you can handle them…” He gestures towards Gwen and Lucas. “If worse comes to worse, fall back. I’ll send a Thought Projection your way and help continue the assault if you retreat. Remember what I taught you, and you should do just fine… Oh, and wish me luck.”
Eris gave him a smile, something between amused and apologetic.
"We'll be fine. I don't envy your position, good luck with the meeting."
Danyel
Lemons
Half Pint
Gerlando
Crimson Flame
Izurich
Omega Man
Letter Bee
GubGar
Damycles
