I'm finally moving the plot forward, so hopefully you like where I am headed with this.
As a side note, I chose Myanmar because I am currently tutoring a refugee from that country. My knowledge of the country is limited to her anecdotes and Wikipedia, so I apologize for any inaccuracies. I have tried to keep the information on the country objective. I understand that one person's experiences do not reflect all the truths of a country. No offence is meant, I simply had to choose a location.
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
"We're sorry for interrupting," Agent Yonsu said, still staring at the hat, "we got information we think might be important and..." Frankenstein tore the hat off (he really needed to decide what punishment would be appropriate for Tao), and nodded.
"Please come in. We just finished dinner." With so many people to help, clean up was quick. When the children saw who Frankenstein had led in, they took off their own hats and settled down for a meeting. Another round of apologies later, and they were ready to get down to business.
"We've heard some disturbing rumours about Myanmar," Agent Yonsu said. Frankenstein's brows rose. The name meant nothing to Master or Muzaka, but the others sat forward.
"You have contacts there?" Tao asked. Agent Yonsu shook her head immediately.
"No, they don't have an agency." Given the resources required to maintain one, that was not truly surprising, but that left them completely vulnerable to the Union and anyone else who might want a place to discreetly do things which would be difficult to explain. If that was where their enemy was based, it was a good choice of locations.
"You know that they are in the midst of one of the world's longest running ongoing civil wars," Agent Sangeen filled in. Everyone except Master and Muzaka nodded. Frankenstein would need to write an overview of the country for Master. "There are rumours that large numbers of bodies have been found, drained of blood." Which was exactly what they were looking for.
"If we've found the enemy, what do we do, Boss?" Despite Muzaka's presence, Tao turned to him for leadership. Frankenstein chose not to boast about it, just in case Muzaka got mad at Tao. Even as retribution for the hats, that seemed a little harsh. He would find the perfect punishment for Tao.
"Understanding our enemy's objectives is important," Frankenstein replied thoughtfully.
"They will make another attempt on Lukedonia," Master told him, startling everyone.
"Weren't they just defeated there? Why would they go back?" Muzaka asked curiously.
"Lukedonia is built on the ruins of our enemy's stronghold." Master's reply shocked everyone.
"Why?" Agent Yonsu burst out, before Agent Sangeen could stop her.
"There are relics there which we could not risk falling into the hands of others."
"We must return to Lukedonia!" Regis was very agitated by the thought of another attack on Lukedonia. Seira had gone pale, but had maintained her composure.
"You may do as you wish," Master told him gently, "but we will try to draw the enemy's attention away from Lukedonia. Muzaka will be bait," Master added.
"Wait a second, Raizel! You can't just volunteer me for something like that!" Muzaka objected, sitting forward. Master simply met his eyes, and Muzaka snorted. "Why are you always like this?! Why aren't you the bait?!"
"Our enemy will assume that I have remained in Lukedonia."
"So you're planning an ambush?" Master nodded. "How likely is it that they would expect you to be part of the attack?" Master shook his head at the question.
"Our enemy would know that I would never leave Lukedonia undefended."
"Forgive me for saying so," Agent Sangeen spoke carefully, "but you speak as though the enemy knows you... personally." Master nodded, and glanced around the room. Regis shifted slightly, obviously wanting to hear Master's story, but knowing it would be inelegant to ask. Seira stared intently at her tea, clearly trying not pressure Master into speaking. Tao fiddled with his phone, and Frankenstein was nearly certain he had just set it to record. M-21, Takio, and Agents Yonsu and Sangeen waited in silence. Ashleen left her chair to curl up at her master's feet, leaning her head against his knee; werewolves were such physical creatures. Muzaka simply leaned back, looking interested. Master sighed.
"Children are such curious creatures. I see you want a story." Master's voice was gentle, as if he were simply telling children a bedtime story. Master paused to collect his thoughts. "My brother and I were born at the height of the war." Master began quietly. "We were the only twins ever born to our race, and our existence was seen as a blessing to our people. Our power was unequaled, and we were trained, from birth, to fight for our people; on our fiftieth birthday we joined the battle." Regis and Seira drew in shocked breaths, but M-21, Tao, and Takio didn't truly understand how young they would have been. Frankenstein grieved for the childhood his master had never been allowed.
"I didn't know you had a twin, Raizel." How dare Muzaka interrupt?! Frankenstein seethed. Frankenstein had never heard his master speak about his past like this before! Master simply met his friend's eyes and continued.
"The court had not yet formed, and our people were desperate to survive. Some of our people saw the potential in humans and offered them contracts to fight with us. Having encountered the enemy, most chose to accept." He paused then clarified for the children, "that was how the Central Order began." He turned his attention back to the group as he continued. "There were those amongst our people who wanted my brother and I to lead, but...we were warriors, feared even by our allies. What we wished for, what we fought for, was a world not ruled by fear, but by respect and trust. So we approached Corinna. She was perceptive, and loved. She agreed to be Lord, with one condition." Even Muzaka managed to keep his mouth shut as he waited for Master to state the condition. "She asked that one of us be her Consort so that her descendants would have at least some portion of our power."
"The ability to rule the blood..." Regis murmured. Master nodded.
"My brother became her Consort and the three of us drew the rest of our people together. United for the first time, we managed what our ancestors had not. We learned to contain our enemies and, over centuries, gained victory." This wasn't the history of the court Master had shared with them a few days ago; this was Master's story. Frankenstein would get a copy of that recording from Tao. "It was not without cost," Master added, "Corinna fell less than a century before our victory was complete. Our race was reduced to a tenth our original numbers. But we had won, and Adair - the previous Lord - was well suited to guiding the world in peace. We moved our people to Lukedonia, and encouraged people to remain on the island so that the relics were never left unguarded. We swore never to become like our enemy; never to believe that our lives were more valuable than those of other races." Everyone sat in silence, letting the weight of the story settle over them.
"Wait a moment," said Tao, staring at Master, "if the previous Lord was your brother's son, wouldn't that make the current lord your great-niece?!" Not familiar with the term, Master glanced at Frankenstein for clarification.
"Great-niece is the term for a female grandchild of a sibling," Frankenstein filled in. Master glanced back at Tao, and nodded, apparently confused as to why that was surprising.
"You look the same age!" Tao blurted. Muzaka laughed. Frankenstein chose to intervene before things went too far out of control.
"If Muzaka is going to be the bait," which Frankenstein saw no problem with, "then we need to make certain our enemy falls for it."
"Of course that would be what you're worried about," Muzaka snorted.
"If we assume that someone has been able to manipulate even Clan Leaders," Frankenstein continued, ignoring Muzaka's comment entirely, "we are facing a very cunning opponent. The fact that they spent centuries plotting to dispose of Master and Muzaka indicates that they do not believe they could face them in a head on confrontation. It is not clear, though, whether they fear the two of them fighting together, or whether they do not believe they could face them individually."
"The two of them fighting together..." M-21 murmured, paling. Considering he was the only one of the children to have seen Muzaka fight, his reaction was not surprising.
"I don't have much experience with modesty," Muzaka began, stating the blatantly obvious, "but why would our enemy dismiss the previous and current Lord of the nobles? The Lord of the nobles is not an easy opponent."
"The previous Lord began talking about going to his eternal sleep centuries ago," Frankenstein answered, "and the current Lord is very young and inexperienced."
"Even so."
"Adair and Lascrea are civilians," Master addressed Muzaka. "You and I are warriors." Muzaka sighed.
"That makes sense, I suppose. The previous Lord was formidable, but imagining him fighting is somewhat.." True, Frankenstein thought.
"I agree that underestimating the Lord is a mistake on the part of our enemy," Frankenstein hated agreeing with Muzaka, "but our enemies mistakes provide opportunities for us. We need to find ways to exploit any weaknesses."
"Everyone must be committed," Master said seriously. "In a confrontation with this enemy, you do not risk your life, you risk your very soul. Think about whether you are prepared to take this risk." The children had shown plenty of courage risking themselves, but Master was right to make sure they understood the danger; Regis and Seira in particular. Having their soul eaten was surely the worst of all possible fates for a noble.
"What happens if we don't want to take the risk?" Since M-21 was the one asking, Frankenstein considered the question purely theoretical. M-21 didn't have the good sense to back down from this fight. Frankenstein blamed it on his werewolf heart.
"Then you may stay here," Master replied without hesitation.
"If the three most powerful people in the world," Master, the Lord, and Muzaka, "are on our side, who are fighting?" Ashleen pondered, glancing at Frankenstein. He didn't have an answer.
"With Frankenstein right here," Muzaka commented, "I think we should say the four most powerful people in the world."
"You and your big mouth," Frankenstein growled, his aura flaring. Muzaka simply laughed.
