"I see." I spoke, my words in deep thought.
That was unexpected.
Sergei was trash, but this…I had a bad feeling about this.
"…His offer seems rather generous." My daughter continued.
"Humans tend to do that. They give you gifts before slitting your throat." I dismissively sighed.
If this had happened a few weeks ago I would be less worried. But now I was weakened and my family greatly reduced.
"…Bring him here. I wish to see this human myself." I finally spoke.
Elesa appeared suddenly.
"We have pinned down the remaining humans in the Kilika Temple. The island is ours." She revealed excitedly.
"And the workers at the docks?" I managed to smile.
"We have already destroyed the remnants of the village. Construction has already begun." She responded.
"Good. Give them some incentive. If they finish the machina factory and the defensive perimeter around the front of the island by today, their rations will increase by 20%." I suggested.
"Yes, Father. We have also begun the ritual to summon…her. When it is complete, nobody will be able to enter Kilika but us and our allies." She continued.
"Perfect. Now, I have some business to attend to." I waved her off.
"What is the message in particular?" Onyx asked.
"…Tell him we must meet. Give him this, and tell him I said hi." I gave her a human skull. On it was written Earth in our language.
Not as a threat or provocation in particular. A warning.
"Yes, Father." She took the aged skull.
"Go. It takes a while to get back to…what is it now? Ansem's apprentices change the goddamn name so many times. Was it Outer Heaven? No, Outer Sanctuary. Anyway, even with the corridors of shadow…it will take approximately an hour to come back." I dismissed her and watched as she disappeared.
"Oh…Elesa?" I called suddenly.
"Yes, Father?" She reappeared.
"…Prepare a dinner. I think the guest soon to be here will enjoy our particular cuisine." I grinned knowingly.
She smiled and bowed. Elesa was one of our best cooks, and loved to have guests for dinner, or was it over for dinner? I can never recall.
I didn't trust this newcomer as far as I could throw him.
I began warding my mind. He had powers over sight and mind. I had ways to protect myself from even the strongest reader.
Either way, this coming conversation would prove to be an interesting one.
I transformed back into my human form and dressed into my formal clothes.
"Elesa…get the brunette girl. The young priestess that you caught in the forest. Don't kill her. Gag her, strip her down, and cover her with something. I want to surprise our guest. You see, humans are beasts that are civilized. A beast is much easier to control. The trick, you see, is finding the breaking point. If I do that, like I did Sergei…he's a slave. If he resists…perhaps he can help us. Perhaps he will be the one to help dominate Spira." I spoke slowly.
The table was set already. A beautiful dark brown mahogany table that seated eight with two at each end. A perfect white silk tablecloth covered the entirety (the tablecloth was garbage to me. Years ago we raided a shipment that contained several hundred of these things. I'd only used about a hundred by this time) of the beautiful piece of furniture.
No plates graced it. Only large and sharp knives were on it, along with a two-pronged fork (I liked to agitate the live prey. It was more interesting when they screamed before you started eating).
I sat at the head of the table and waited.
I'm sure my daughters were confused; if he did decide to arrive, that would take a while. But let's just say I had a good feeling about this.
Because tonight was when I would discover whether he was the one. Whether he would be a slave to my will like Sergei…or a partner and friend to dominate Spira with.
They wore black cloaks to conceal their faces except for the leader.
He wore a more intricately designed outfit, multiple cloaks with golden designs covering his frail body.
"…Has Ansem brought the new apprentice?" One of them asked, his voice weak and slow.
"Yes. The boy has taken to his powers very well. Far more than I thought he would." Another responded.
"What of Superbia Omnem?" A third mused.
"He knows as well. They meet tonight. Just as I planned." The leader spoke.
"Does that change our plans?" The first asked worriedly.
"No. This was expected. Ansem has played his part unknowingly, as have the Paladins. Even Father Elijah himself has played a part that he is unaware of. Spira must die. Omnem and this child are the best option. But one must ensure the death of the daughter of High Summoner Braska…for Sin is their greatest ally." The leader smiled.
"And the Paladins? Sark has followed his orders to the letter." The fourth piped up, her young yet evil voice contrasting with theirs.
"Yes. They have fueled Omnem's hatred for humans even further." He responded.
"Kilika is Omnem's now. He will build a fortress…an army of machines and demons. Outer Sanctuary has already been infiltrated. The boy is arrogant of his own powers, a result of Ansem's influence. None of our thirty operatives trained for infiltration and resisting such simple techniques were detected. Once the boy is gone and conversing with the Demon of Pride, they will resume their task. They will find the Gatestone of Nihilus…and then they will continue recon after sending the artifact to us. Every move the boy makes will be knowledge we are keenly aware of." The leader continued, standing with some difficulty.
He rose his arms in the air.
"For the Circle will rise again! For the Gate of Destruction will be opened! And the darkness we have longed for will arise! And our master will finally be FREE!" His voice was stronger and louder.
"As per your orders, our operatives captured the black mage that protects this Yuna. She will be delivered to Omnem's doorstep in due time as incentive to continue hunting Braska's girl down." The fifth nodded.
"For the Circle!" The last one chanted.
"FOR THE CIRCLE!" They chanted in tandem, their voices in sync.