TRAILING SHADOWS

Perhaps in that state, she may not have been able to pull the fast one she did. And perhaps, her dignity right now, would still be intact.

Elisa was livid and General Folarin was going to hear of it.

She endured the barking of the HeadMaster, unwilling to be rude to the ever talking man. But deep down inside, she was livid. 

Angered.

Annoyed.

That brat of a girl. 

Choosing friendship over mission. She'd known it was a bad idea to send an inexperienced girl to the field but General Folarin had insisted on sending her in the mission, even before Ibiyemi requested.

Most likely, it was to boost her power level in combat. And yes, they had achieved that. 

She got an eye. The eye of Space.

But what they didn't expect was for her to turn out rogue like this. Surely, if others could, certainly not the General's daughter?

It was absurd that she'd do like that. But, Elisa sighed, it already had been done. Now, they had come here to seek the General's face. To know what his decision would be about his erring daughter because according to the rules that governed the Alliance House, Ibiyemi deserved to die or at least, be banished and all affliations with the Blue Moon Mercenary Alliance House cut off.

That, that was the way it had been done since ages past. And that, Elisa bit her tongue, would be the way it would be in this very time.

"Oh My! I can see you all are no longer paying me attention." Headmaster said, covering his mouth with the left hand. "Oh! I am sorry for boring you. I just wanted to talk to you too."

"Well," Elisa beamed a fake smile, coming into the present while winking. "It is nothing actually." 

Despite the chatterbox that he was, The HeadMaster was strong in his own rights. After all, he had been amongst the founders of the Orun Travel Corporation. And to do that, he needed to have been powerful to make the runic engines work. 

Which he was.

If it did, it was safe as kissing themselves and life goodbye.

"Even so, I must let you guys go. You must be in a hurry and I have been so vested in explaining things to you. Once you arrive the gate, just request for the expense paid cab that I set up for you." Head Master rubbed his hands together, inhaling as he looked from person to person , excitedly.

But as it turned out, Elisa was far gone, her mind heavily concentrated on the meeting with General Folarin, hoping against hope that the General does not play his favoritism and nepotism cards like he did with his son, Afolabi, the rightful hier to the house over to his second child, Ibiyemi.

Perhaps, if only that had been the case, then this may not had happened. At least, she would still have had her dignity intact.

"Very Head Master. We appreciate your efforts on that." Elias gruff voice sounded, his lower body bending in obesiance to the chatterbox of a HeadMaster.

Tobias muffled a reply in return. The head Master dramatically bows to them before snapping his fingers, his entire form shivering and vanishing in a blink.

"Uh..." Elisa sighed. "Thank goodness he let us ofd the hook this time."

"Yes." Elias chortled. "And this time, so easily. He never gets tired of talking, does he?" He nodded to Tobias who remained still, looking into the distance.

"Tobias..." Elisa frowned at him.

Tobias shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Uh... What?"

"Let's go, silento!" Elias urged him, patting his back.

Thereafter, they waltz through the bustling crowd, shifting left and right to avoid running into people. Despite the fact that Second Dawn((there is actually no dusk in the fourth heaven. It's sunrise to sundown or first dawn and second Dawn)) was here already, the activities did not seem to stop. In fact, it seemed as though it had doubled.

Soon, they arrive the huge entry wall of the Orun Travel Corporation. This same wall served as a guard point in which entrants and people living where heavily scrutinized. Mostly in relation to the beefing up of security due to the infiltrating demons in Orun of late.

The mercenaries walked to the lanes assigned for exit as they stuck close. At the exit lines, they were subjected to another series of checks, mostly questionings and some c.o.c.ky atmosphere with intent at trying to intimidate them.

But, being the mercenaries they were, they merely replied with 'hmm' and grunts,  Elisa being the most quiet of them.

After they did inform the guards in white robes and swords strapped at their waists.

"Your ride is prepared, just outside here." The guards grunted, acting all tough.

Ignoring their attitudes, the Mercenaries walked on, boarding the steel white chariot with fancy bronze wheels drawn by two pegasi, a cocahman on board.

With few words, they got in and the pegasi soared.

The garden park was situated at the left of them, filled with various rainbow fruit bearing threes of various sizes and colors. Underneath the trees where park seats where a few Irunmole sat, catching a whiff of fresh air. In front of the mercenaries was the Alliance building, standing proudly, a cube shaepd building with a board, attached to the top of it, wherewith the name of the BlueMoon Mercenary Alliance House was written. It had squarely windows here and there, giving the vibes of a three storeyed building, outlined by luxuriant decorative vegetation, different flowers sporting in them.

"Uh... Disciplinaries..." A thick voice resounded from the park side to the left.

Elias frowned, situated at the left of Elisa while Tobias flanked her on the right. Together, they looked to the side, their eyes settling on the thick, burly bearded man that accosted them, with a mischievous smile.

Elisa wanted to curse out her heart. No more of these mad acts, she swore.

"A-ahem!" The man faked a cough, rubbing his large stomach.

He had a heavily bearded face, a pudgy nose and fleshy cheeks. His eyes are deepset and appear to be covered with flesh as if the abundant flesh on him threatens to sink his black eyes in. 

He has a black tunic over his white gown and brown sandals. He is the man from before, the one who had assigned the mercenaries, the rogue mercenaries on the bounty after boycotting the official filing of it.

"Ah!" He exhaled, rubbing his fat fingers together all the while getting pissed off stares from Elisa and co.

"So... I... Hehehe..."

"Do you have something to say or..." Elisa leaned forward, furious.

"...or do we remove you from in.brokem.parts from the way?" Elias completed it for her, pressing a firm hand over the shoulder of the man.

The man winced, smiling sheepishly. "Haha... I do. I do." He whimpered, attempting to remove Elias' hand but to no effect.

"I just wanted to ask if you had been able to, you know, bring justice to... Ahh... Uhmm..." He tapped his fingertips nervously.

"To what?" Tobias raised an eyebrow at him. "I'm afraid I'm losing patience for you. Anyways, what my business? It's not like I am a disciplinary mercenary. So, uh..." Tobias leaned back, his hands cupping the back of his neck. "We'll see later, I guess." 

"Well, I just wanted to know if you succeeded in dealing justice.. because, I mean..." The burly bearded man started again just as Tobias walked to the park. "I... The rogue mercenaries, where are they?"

Elisa and co frowned, their eyes narrowed at him.

"If we find out that you had any relations to the rogue mercenaries and..." Elias threatened with a throaty voice.

"Ah... no can do. I mean..." The burly mercenary shivered, cold sweat breaking out all over him. "I mean, it's possible I am related to them but... Ahm... I didn't send them out. I mean... That's rather too hasty conclusion..." 

"Get out!" Elias ordered, shoving him roughly to the side.

Soon, soon, they'd be in the office or at best guess, in General Folarin's training pit. And there, Elisa was prepared to give him a piece of her mind.