The reasons that this chapter is late are twofold: First, I'm preparing to move into college, so I've been busy. Second, due to aforemantioned business, I felt that this chapter wasn't quite up to snuff, so I delayed for a few days to work out some kinks. Now its out, but I'm afraid that while I will try, do not be surprised if the next chapter is also delayed as I settle in.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kubera

Chapter 19: The Council of Belrin

Yama sat on Chaya's left, Kerid on her right. Next to him sat his general, the fighter equivalent of Yama. Arranged in a circle around the council room in the King's Palace were representatives from the five other major cities on Belrin. Thanciel, Death and Sky. Murkwheel, Chaos and Resurrection. Stormbreaker, Destruction and Wind. Brightgrotto, Water and Light. Origin, oldest city on the planet, Darkness and Creation. Felrom, Earth and Fire, was represented by a single exhausted magician, who looked like he was held together by spit, glue, and heavy bandages.

"As the hosts of this council, I, Chaya Gerel, Priestess of Death, –"

"—and I, Kerid Jartar, King of Thanciel –"

"—call this meeting to order." Chaya finished.

"Great. Now we can move onto the main point of us being here." The Water Priest said. Looking around at the gathered leaders, he said, "We are completely and totally fucked."

"What a positive note to get off on." The Creation Priest said dryly.

"I think it's rather realistic." The Chaos Priestess said. "A Nastika capable of smashing a city's defenses in one blow is certainly cause for cynicism."

"They didn't, though." The King of Origin said. "It only broke through one barrier; the other was destroyed by lesser Sura."

"What's the difference then? If they can bring down a barrier once, then they can do it again. After one is down, it's SPLAT for all of us." The Darkness Priest said.

"Well, the honorable magicians and fighters of Felrom destroyed a signifcant portion of the host that assaulted the city. Their ability to destroy the barrier is likely reduced or even nullified entirely." The King of Brightgrotto said.

"No." whispered the magician from Felrom, "Most of the damage was done by a single Rakshasa. It wouldn't be difficult to replace the remaining fire power needed to break the barrier." He shuddered. "Besides, you didn't see it. That Nastika... she was so strong. She didn't even take Sura form, and she was able to crush the barrier like paper. It wouldn't take much extra effort for her to smash through both."

There was a moment of silence as those present processed this terrible revelation.

"So then what the hell do we do?" The Priestess of Light said. (She was quite beautiful, Yama thought. Not beautiful enough to justify Surya's constant presence, interrupting his work to extend the lives of her and those like her, but lovely all the same.)

"I think that it's clear that this problem is too big for one city to handle." Chaya said. "We need to pool our resources. Belrin has to face this threat as one force."

"And where should we gather, then?"asked the Resurection Priestess. "To strip a city of its defenses is to invite destruction, and there is no guarantee it will work against a Nastika's power."

"For whatever reason, that Nastika isn't simply wasting the entire planet, when only Visnu's protections keep it from vaporizing it outright. Instead, it's using an army. If we focus all our combat power at one point, then we could inflict enough damage on its army that it might leave." Kerid suggested.

"Please tell me that the best plan we have so far isn't 'hope it gives up and goes away?'" groaned the Creation Priest.

"It might work, though it depends on the Nastika." Yama mused. The whole council turned and looked at him.

"And who is this, Chaya-nim? I don't recognize him." asked the Priestess of Light.

"Oh. My apologies. This is Cheonjae Wei, the new Supreme Magical Commander of Thanciel."

"Erm. Nice to meet you?" Yama said, bowing slightly. Chaya and the rest had not been what he'd expected of human leadship before entering Thanciel. His previous experiance had been in a situation far more dire than this, and he'd been in the position of a God then. He wasn't sure how to act towards these people.

"Supreme Commander? But why? Isn't Sirles Athol currently staying in Thanciel? Why haven't you given him this position, instead of this no-nane?"

"The decision was made by myself, Tane-nim, all of our personnel, and Thanciel's non-denominaltion magicians. Cheonjae-nim may be a 'no-name,' but his skill is indisputable. He has more than earned his place on this council." Chaya said firmly.

"Enough." the Destruction Priest said. "It's Thanciel's decision who they want to name their Supreme Commander. What we're here to discus is how to deal with the Sura threat."

"Felrom's fate shows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a single city can't face this threat and survive. We need to unite!" Chaya said.

"And again, I put forward the question: Where? And, for the moment let us presume that unity will allow us to weather this storm, how?" the Ressurection Priestess said.

"Moving cities worth of people would have been simple, if we had the help of the Gods." the Wind Priest mused. "However, if we had that, we would not even be having this meeting."

"A God could definitely hold the barrier, even against a Nastika if they were strong enough." agreed the Water Priest. Yama shifted uncomfortably.

"We don't though, and so this plan becomes unfeasible. Instead of being divided, but protected, we'll be sitting ducks outside the barrier." the Darkness Priest said.

"Vayu magicians could move people in the case of emergancy escapes." Chaya argued.

"By moving the population of entire cities a handful at a time? In the best case scenario, such a strategy would leave thousands dead. In the worst case, all but a few from each city would be slaughtered." the Light Priestess said.

"Sirles Athol possesses the Staff of Mass Transport. If we move one city at a time and trade between magicians-." Chaya began.

"The Staff extends a magicians ability to transport others, but not to the necessary scale. And only Sirles Athol is skilled enough in Wind silent magic to teleport to a location without needing it to be within his line of sight." the Creation Priest said.

The entire council broke out arguing for the next half an hour until someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Chaya snarled, thoroughly out of sorts. A meek looking man with a sheaf of papers stepped.

"Um, I'm sorry to interrupt, but, we've recieved word that the Sura have attacked all of your cities." Yama could practically hear the silence as hearts stopped. "Don't worry! They were small scale, and easily repelled. However, all the messages are claiming the belief that these were scouting forces, to test the capability of each cities defenses. We aren't sure why they didn't attack Thanciel, though Tane-nim sent a message saying he thinks its because the Sura clashed with, and were defeated by, Thanciel's magician's several days ago."

There was dead silence in the council room. Chaya shifted nervously, and clear her throat. "We-."

"This completely removes any chances of your plan working." the Ressurection Priest said, his face grim. "We know the Sura are watching us. If we lower our defenses, even for a instant, they would be on us within hours."

"That is a worst case scenario!" Chaya protested.

"I think that is what we must prepare for. Every city will lend what aid we can, but each city will have to weather this storm of their own." the Creation Priest said.

"But-!" Chaya began.

"All in favor of this motion?" the Chaos Priestess asked. Every delegate present except for those of Thanciel raised their hands.

"Its decided then." the Chaos Priestess said. Turning to Chaya, she said, "I'm sorry, Death Priestess, but you're on your own."

*I*

Some time later, Yama stood with Chaya on top of Thanciel's main wall. You could see the surrounding moutains and forests for miles. The gorgeous landscape was marred by the constant worry that each tree and each crag could be hiding an enemy Sura.

"I'm frightened, Cheonjae." Chaya whispered. "How can survive on our own?" Yama stood silently, conflicted. He could have revealed his true identity at the meeting, and helped convince the others to gather in Thanciel, under his protection, but the human leaders were correct on one critical count. Yama alone could hold a barrier against any Nastika except prehaps the Kings, but he couldn't move cities. He might as well not be here if the rest of the planet couldn't reach him; he couldn't be everywhere either. Unless he could actually help, it was best to stay silent. Still, he wanted to comfort Chaya.

Yama hesitated, then he put his arms around her shoulders and hugged her. Chaya stiffened, but then relaxed into his hold.

"I'm not sure." Yama siad. "But I promise, I'll be here to help you make your stand."

"Thank you, Cheonjae." Chaya whispered. The two of them stood and stared into the night until the sun rose. And Yama decided he needed to do something that normally he would rather claw his eyes out.