Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108.
Chapter 5:
"And how are they?" Yue asked Lin Chung.
"They are good warriors and fighters, but can sometimes let the fact go into their head. They are loyal, but sometimes…too argumentative, though only verbally. They don't seem to have any interest in working together."
"Then you must train them further. Let them see the error of their ways."
Lin Chung shot Ri a flat look. "I think that the chances of Yue joining the Pack is more likely to happen than that."
Zi sent his cousins a look. "What Ri means, is that you don't need to do that. Simply just get them to bond with each other, trust one another through their arguments. If they don't work together and are not loyal to each other, it could be their downfall."
"Isn't that basically the same thing?" He asked flatly. Yue laughed at his face, before she looked down, instantly calming down at the glare her brother shot her.
Lin Chung sighed. "I can't make any promises, but I'll try."
"That's all we ask for."
"Until we all meet again." Yue bowed, vanishing in water. The other two bowed, before vanishing in flames and air. Lin Chung sighed, suddenly looking weary, before he finally vanished in the ground.
Yue's face was energetic and eager as she looked at her family. "I've found something interesting. Look. You know the mortal animals and teenagers you told us about?" There were three nods. "Well, I was thinking about how they were like that, and decided to do some research on their family tree. They may be more important than we realised."
"How?"
"Like this. The guy, Kowloon, apparently, is the far of descendant of a distant relative of one of the faded Houses of War: The House of Warriors. Mystique Sonia is one of the descendants of the House of Oddity."
"Hey!" Sonia looked offended, but the four didn't pay any attention to her. One of the ancestors shook their heads.
"Sonia, you know they can't hear you, right? This is only a flashback."
"I was thinking about how you said she was, you know, and what she could do. The House of Oddity had many strange things about them physically and mentally,"
"OI!" Yet they didn't hear her.
"But they are also known of how they use this to their advantage. She could be one of the members there. Alpha Girl is from another House of War, the House of Strength,"
"Hey!" This time, it was Zi who interrupted Yue.
"What?!" She shot him an annoyed look.
"How come Ri gets all the people in the House of War?"
"Don't know. Shut up."
"It's because the Houses of War are better. Are they blood-thirsty?" Ri turned to Lin Chung, who shook his head.
"Not exactly. They don't know about all of this. Too young. Fights a lot, but are still good. They don't know when to stop, though."
"Oh look, no sensibility. That's old." Zi looked surprised, turning to Ri, who had an offended look on. "Except for you."
"Will you shut up and let me continue?!" Yue shrieked at them, before turning back. "Right. Archer and Hurricane are both from the same House, the House of Archers and Axes."
"No wonder they look so different." Zi muttered, still offended.
Yue ignored him. "What about Ray?" Ri asked her.
"What about him?"
"I don't know what he possesses. It's not like anyone else's. Is he related to Sonia, perhaps? Maybe also in the House of Oddity?" Zi asked her.
"Related to her?" Ray asked incredulously.
"Related to him?" Sonia asked incredulously.
"You have got to be joking!" The two chorused, backing away from each other.
"No." The two breathed a sigh of relief, as Sonia glared at Ray. "Ray is a descendant from the House of Lightning, explaining his eyes. Rosefinch, the Air Force member you mentioned, I think that she is a descendant from the House of Nobility."
"Can't we reveal it to them?"
"No. It would only put them in more danger."
"But why?"
Yue sighed, rubbing circles on her temples. "Guys, you don't understand. Two of them are closer to the Houses than we thought. Kowloon and Rosefinch. They are nearly direct descendants. Therefore, once they are found out and no one objects to this and refuses their position instead for the one-month grace period, they could actually claim a seat in the Council, which has to be permitted by you, Lin Chung. But still, they have to earn their titles before they can be acknowledged as full members of the Houses. For now, they are only half-members. And Twin Masters can use them."
"How?"
"Simple. Lin Chung, you are close to these mortals. This is why we are supposed to not be with any mortals. He can easily use them as bait and make sure you do whatever he wants to, in exchange for their lives. We're from the House of Shape-Shifting and Magic, the Head of the Houses, and it is you, Lin, who are close to these mortals as Head. It is a risky position, unless someone else agrees to take the position, putting you in a much safer position, which'll never happen."
"So is there anything we can do?"
"Well, there are two options. We can either let them live and try to steer Twin Masters' attention away from them, or eliminate the threat."
"Which means what, Ms. Fancy Words?" Zi looked bored.
Yue scowled. "We kill them."
"I say we kill 'em." Ri nodded.
Lin Chung looked at him wearily. "We can't just go around killing people."
"Maybe we can try and remove any sign of their family tree." Zi added, thoughtfully.
"If we do that, then they won't have the abilities they have now. They'll be powerless." Ri looked uncertain. "They won't be able to defend themselves when Twin Masters attacks."
"And, anyway, they are only half-members of the Houses. They could claim a seat, but they won't have the long life-span." Lin Chung shook his head.
Zi shook his head. "They could last for about 2 centuries if we give them the blessing of the Houses."
"Yue?" The three turned to Yue.
She sighed. "Well, Ri is right,"
The three turned to her, talking at once. Ri saying: "I am?"
And the other two also talking at the same time, "He is?" The group stifled giggles and chuckles.
"Yet, Zi's is reasonable."
"It is?" This time, all three of them looked at her. The group was chuckling softly now.
"But I'm gonna have to go with Lin Chung's."
"You are?" The three chorused once again. The group burst into laughter at this scene, while the four parents smiled in amusement.
"Um...yeah."
Lin Chung then flickered violently. "Don't have much time. Gotta finish this."
"Wait. What about Jumpy and Golden-Eye Husky?"
"They're just normal kings."
"You mean they don't have any higher position?"
"Why would they? None of the others are Kings or Queens."
"What about you and Lin Chung?"
"Your point is?"
"You are the Seeker of the Elements and Seasons, and the Advisor for the council, as well as a member of the House of Shape-Shifting and Magic. Lin Chung is the Seeker of Protection, Head of the House of Shape-Shifting and Magic, therefore making him Head of the Council, as no one has been brave enough to challenge him."
"Or perhaps they like him."
"Guys. Look, Yue, are you sure?"
"Yes. I got some scrolls from Zi. If he got the wrong information, then we're all wrong."
"Then tell us why we shouldn't kill them."
"First, the simpler points. 1. We can't go sneaking around killing people. It would be a violation against the code, murdering members of another House, even if it were only half-members.
2. If we were caught doing that, we would be questioned, leading to more trouble.
3. Finally, if Lin Chung is caught with us, where are we going to be? He won't be trusted again, and we can't get any info then.
Now, other ones. If we can somehow make sure they're loyal to the Mortal World and the Houses, we can actually achieve something."
"Yeah. And what about if they demand their seats in the council and turn on us at the last minute?"
"We'll have them swear that they won't betray us. And if Lin Chung is willing to. He'll know. Right?" They turned to him, and he nodded, before they heard some of First Squad's members calling Lin Chung.
He cursed silently under his breath. "Got a minute."
"Look, you must train them."
"Impossible. We discussed it before."
"Train them to trust each other."
"No."
"Lin Chung!" The trio looked at Yue disapproving face and her crossed arms, her feet tapping the floor impatiently.
"No promises."
"Just promise you will try."
"Fine." The voices in the background got louder. "Give me a sec." He disappeared as he seemed to say something, and the voices quietened as he returned. "Got to go now."
"Commander Apetrully?" Ri only received a nod. "Is he ever going to keep out of trouble?" All Ri got was a shrug, before Lin Chung flickered, and vanished.
"Well, I have to go as well." Yue sighed. "There is a meeting about something boring that I'll probably fall asleep halfway through." She smiled, saluted, and vanished as well, followed soon by both Ri and Zi, who had gleams in their eyes.
AN: And here's the last of the memories.