Chapter 26 – A New Order
Adam Taurus rose from the bed. A week had passed since the Beacon Tower had fallen. The wounds from the spears that had been thrust through his body were yet to fully heal. Sitting was excruciating, but so was lying down and standing up: he was in constant pain. But this was not what grieved Adam the most. It was the abysmal feeling of shame that hurt more than anything else. He wanted to believe that the attack on Beacon had been a victory. Positives had come out of it, but to say that it had been a complete success was a transparent lie and denial. Adam himself had been disgraced, and he was aversely anticipating the ignominious lecture that High Leader: Sienna Khan would surely give.
He had changed his outfit, now dawning a different tunic with grey on the front, and zippers on his sleeves, just above his left breast. His Grimm mask was still the same though. He was not ready to abandon it just yet. Aside from these though, he wore plenty of bandages across his body.
Instinctively, he reached for Wilt and Blush, only to be reminded that he had lost it. The warrior has ensured that he would not retrieve it. Perhaps it was still at Beacon, waiting to be reclaimed. Having no Semblance or weapon was a concern. Adam clenched his fists in resentment.
His meal consisted of a banana and some coconut milk. Even after he had finished, his stomach still growled. It was insubstantial, but no food had been provided to him. Even still, he was not sure if he could stomach anything else: dread and the wounds in his abdomen denied him the delight of food.
Adam finally left the little shack he had found. Before he confronted Sienna Khan, he had a rendezvous point to go to.
It was conveniently en route to the White Fang's headquarters, so he did not have to limp as far. Adam looked upwards and could see a reflection of his mind and how he felt. The sky was cloudy, spattered with some rainclouds, and conceded none of the sun's evening rays of light.
He eventually reached the meeting point.
A large man with short brown hair a beard and an olive-green jacket had his arms folded and was leaning against the largest palm tree in the surrounding area. 'About time you got here.' he said gruffly as Adam approached.
'It's hard for me to walk at the moment.' said Adam indignantly. 'When your kneecap is broken and you hurt all over, moving isn't very easy.'
'Alright.' said the man. His tone showed a hint of empathy, but his lack of trust for Adam allowed for no more. 'Shall we get going then?'
'Yes, it's time.' Adam replied.
They headed slowly but surely to the White Fang's headquarters.
'Do you know what you're going to say?' Adam asked.
'I do.' the man replied.
'Do you have any idea of how long you'll need?'
'I can't be sure, but I have things that need to be addressed.'
'Sienna Khan won't take kindly to your presence, so pick your words cautiously.'
'I intend to. Just a bit of negotiation and persuasion is all I need. There won't be any violence today.'
'I'll hold you to your word.'
The building was rather ornate on the outside, and was complemented by the surrounding forest.
As they approached the entrance, it was evident that they were regarded with contempt. Although you could not see their eyes beneath their Grimm masks, the guards frowned at them.
'Adam Taurus.' one of them said sternly.
'Yes.' Adam said, unsure of what response the guard was looking for.
'Care to explain who this is.' he demanded, pointing his spear at man accompanying Adam.
'This is Hazel Rainhart. I have invited him here because he and his master could be very beneficial to our cause.' Adam explained.
'I'm sure you are aware that humans are not allowed in here, or in any of the White Fang's base of operations.'
'Of course I am, but I assure you that his usefulness outweighs my "disobedience".'
The guards looked each other hesitantly. Letting Hazel in would be upmost of treason. However, Adam's animosity towards humans was unwavering, and everyone in the White Fang knew this. If Adam was insisting on bringing a human into there presence, then he must have had a good reason to do so.
'Very well.' said the guard. 'He may enter. But let me give you this warning. If you put a single toe out of line, then you'll be out of here, possibly without your head intact.'
'I know my place, and I promise to adhere to it.' said Hazel. 'Thank you.'
The guards moved out of the way of the doors, opened it and ushered Adam and Hazel inside.
They went across the hallway and followed two corridors, first left and then right, until they reached a set of giant red doors. These were also attended by two guards.
'Adam Taurus, you have arrived at last.'
'I have indeed.'
'High leader Sienna Khan wishes to speak to you. Do not keep here waiting any longer.'
'Before I go in, I should explain to you that this is Hazel Rainhart. He has been permitted entry and would also like a word with Sienna. When the time is right, I will call for him. Please do not refuse.'
Like the guards at the entrance to the building, these ones were also sceptical, but nonetheless complied. They nodded.
Adam opened the doors and stepped inside. They naturally closed behind him.
The first guard moved behind Hazel and pointed his spear at his back. The one at the door did the same, at Hazel's heart.
'Make any sudden movements, and you will not be allowed into our High Leader's throne room. Do you understand me?' said the guard at the door.
'I do.' Hazel confirmed.
Adam limped awkwardly across the excessively large throne room. It was walled with dark mahogany from top to bottom. Five pillars on either side of the room held up the roof, each with a bracket and torch, which illuminated the space. A red carpet was laid out, leading to the throne, where Sienna Khan sat, along with her own personal guards.
Sienna Khan had a pair of tiger's ears on top of her head, and wore a black dress with a red cape. Her hair was dark and she also had the tiger stripes across her limbs.
She tightened her lips as Adam made his was across the carpet.
With difficulty, Adam kneeled on his right knee and supported himself with his hands on the floor; there was no way that he was going to put pressure on his left leg. He looked up at Sienna. He also noticed that his heart was beating rapidly. Nerves could not get the better of him, and he took deep breaths through his nose to stop himself from shaking too much.
'High Leader, Sienna Khan.' he said, feigning as much respect as he could convoke.
'Adam.' she returned. 'I summoned you here today. There are plenty of things that must be discussed, but shall we start with the obvious matter?'
'Which matter might that be?' Adam asked. He knew which one it was, but wanted to appear as innocent as possible.
'You look unwell right now.' said Sienna. 'I noticed how you struggled to get over here, and the plethora of bandages you have clearly indicate that you have undergone some severe injuries. Care to explain what happened to you?'
'I don't have much to say about it.' said Adam, wishing that he could remove the image of Pantheon from his mind. 'I was dealing with a person, when someone just began to attack me.'
'Describe your assailant to me.' Sienna ordered.
'I couldn't see who he was because he wore a helmet, but he wielded a shield and a spear, and he ended up stabbing me a few times.'
'Was it an even fight, or did he completely outclass you?'
'He… beat me very handily.' Adam confessed.
Sienna shook her head. 'Disgraceful. You have had years of experience in combat, and you were defeated with so much ease.'
'I should add, High Leader Khan, that he was clearly a man, but he was no ordinary man. If he had not gotten the drop on me, then I could have beaten him, but with difficulty.'
'The only reason I am inclined to believe you is because I know how consistently formidable you are: that and the fact that you seem to have lost your sword; you never go anywhere without it. Otherwise I would dismiss this as a fabrication and that you were just cocky and reckless.'
Adam remained silent. He did not want to stay on the topic for long.
'Whatever though. That is not the most important thing right now. Let us move on.'
'What to, High Leader?'
'The assault that you led on Beacon Academy.' said Sienna. I have heard sparse rumours of what happened that night, but I want to hear it from your mouth: the one who led the White Fang and its involvement in the conflict. Do not withhold any information from me, for both your sake and the future of the White Fang.'
Adam took a few more breaths before clearing his throat. 'The Beacon Tower was successfully demolished and the academy itself has been shut down.' he began. 'As you know, the schools are one of the three pillars of society that are responsible for our maltreatment. With a bit of help from a… client of mine, Vale is now in a state of vulnerability, and the humans are in fear of the Faunus.'
'Who is this client that you speak of.' Sienna demanded.
'I… can't tell you who it is at this very moment, because the deal I signed forbid me from revealing their identity to anyone outside of the Vale branch of the White Fang. Their master is someone who cannot be made known to the public.' he lied.
'I am the High Leader of the White Fang! There are no secrets concerning the White Fang that are to be kept from me!' Sienna said, irritated.
'I understand that.' Adam said pressingly. 'But if I do not stick to the deal, then the White Fang is in serious trouble.'
Sienna squinted her eyes, starting intently Adam. 'You are very easy to read.' she said. 'You're working with humans, aren't you?'
'Yes, I am.' Adam admitted. 'But please hear me out.'
Sienna sighed. 'Go on.'
'These people are not representing the humans that we are fighting against. In fact, they share a common enemy with us: the humans that dominate society. I was reluctant to work with them at first, but I have seen what they are capable off, and I was in a position where it was impossible to decline their offer.'
'There is always a choice Adam. You could have said ardently that you were not interested. Working with humans is a crime amongst the White Fang.'
'If I had chosen to not work with them, it would have been detrimental to the White Fang. They operate under the leadership of someone who we cannot win against. It was a much better option to join them and bring humans to their knees, rather than become an enemy of them and suffer the same fate. It was necessary to compromise the creed of not working with humans in order to put us into an advantageous position.'
Sienna Khan considered Adam's reasoning. If she knew specifically who they were dealing with, then she would be more willing to agree with him, but the anonymity kept her at bay. In the end though, she went with a middle ground.
'I will take your word for it. However, I want to stress something to you. Even if these people that you are working with can be trusted, I thoroughly disapprove of your methods.'
'What do you mean, High Leader?'
'Violence, Adam. You are symbol for many in our organisation, but that doesn't make you infallible.'
'I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader.'
'And what example might that be?'
'Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now.'
Sienna sighed again. 'I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsman Academics crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl, and the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what? Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please!
'These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by short-sightedness! That is why the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy! It will do us no good to exacerbate our situation and fuel the prejudice that humans have against the Faunus.'
'Yes, High Leader.' said Adam quietly. His legs were beginning to hurt even more.
'Furthermore, Adam, as I understand it, many members of the White Fang under your leadership were also defeated and injured in the attack you led on Beacon Academy. Like I said, you are an icon in this organisation. If you failed to lead an infantry of Faunus into battle, then what does this say about your leadership and the morale that you raise for us? Is it right for you to be the head of the White Fang unit in Vale?'
'High Leader Khan, I beg for you to give me another chance.'
'… you are lucky that your punishment was not as severe as it could have been. If I was being merciless, I would have you withdrawn from your current position. Be grateful for that.'
'I am, High Leader.'
'Let me make this clear, Adam: the humans are not to be taken lightly. All actions have consequences. We are not showing kindness to the humans, but aggravate them too much and we will be finished by their sheer population.'
It was time. 'If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one yourself?'
'Huh?'
Adam slowly stood up. 'Hazel!' he cued.
The doors opened, and Hazel stepped inside. 'Took you long enough.' he grumbled.
'What is this?!' Sienna demanded as she stood up, aghast.
All of the guards by her side pointed their spears in Hazel's direction, yet he still casually strolled towards them and Adam.
'Apologies. I don't aim to cause any trouble.'
'You've brought a human to this location?' Sienna said to Adam.
'You should hear what he has to say.' Adam insisted.
'This is grounds for execution!'
'Ma'am… please.' said Hazel calmly. 'Nobody needs to die today.' He kneeled courteously before her on his right knee. 'I'm just asking for a moment of your time.'
'The longer you stay here, the less of a chance you have of leaving alive.'
'I'll take those chances, if you don't mind.'
Sienna slowly sat back down on her throne and put her right foot comfortably over her left leg. 'Is this your client?' she asked Adam.
'Not him specifically, but he works with my client.' Adam replied.
The guards all returned their spears to their sides.
Once he knew that he was safe to continue, Hazel stood up and began his negotiation. 'You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want.'
'I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it IS that I want. I want humanity to fear the Faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!'
'That's where you're wrong.' said Adam suddenly.
Sienna Khan was taken aback, but let him continue despite this.
'We can win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the Faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the Faunus, they should serve the Faunus.'
Sienna considered his words. 'What services are you offering to us?' she said, addressing Hazel.
'I'm not sure if Adam here told you, but my master is someone who is not to be messed. Cross her, and it'll be the last thing that you do. Like you and your organisation, her primary target is humanity. If you seek to raise the White Fang through the pecking order to the top of society, then that is a wish, which my master can provide you with. All that is required of you is a bit of cooperation. If you lend her your services in the fight against the humans, then the dominance will be yours.'
'And what exactly is involved in our cooperation, as you so put it?'
'Government, military and schools. My colleagues and I are in a fight against these branches of what make up society. I'm sure that you're all too familiar with how they have all mistreated your kind.'
'Yes.' Sienna confirmed.
'Then we're both fighting the same war. It only makes sense, as well as making things easier for all of us, to join forces and take out humanity together.'
'Can I be sure that you and your master will stick with this alliance though? How do I know that you won't double-cross me and dispose of us when we're no longer useful to you?'
'Because, at the moment, there is an even bigger threat on the horizon: one that is a danger to Remnant as a whole.'
'And what might that be?'
'Do you remember the earthquake? Have you by any chance noticed the irregular activity of the sun, or that there are two moons in the sky at night?'
'Pfft, of course I have. Anyone who hasn't been living under a rock has already noticed that.'
'Well, the cause of this is unknown to most people, except me, my master and my colleagues. To put it shortly, our planet has been merged with another one. Like our planet, this one has life on it, but with life comes the risk for hostilities and dangers, and two of potentially many have already been witnessed.'
Sienna nodded.
'The first one that was seen was at Beacon. My colleagues claimed it to be a demonic beast with wings, a sword bigger than multiple people combined, a deafening voice, and thirst for destruction that is unrivalled by anything seen before on Remnant. This thing alone destroyed the Beacon Tower. The Grimm nor the White Fang played any part in Beacon's actual destruction. The beast also slayed one of the biggest species of Grimm ever to exist, with ease.'
'And what became of it once the battle at Beacon ended?' Sienna questioned.
'As far as I know, it is currently frozen in the grounds of Beacon. Some sort of star fell from the sky, and when it touched the ground, it put the beast and the academy into some sort of stasis where it couldn't move. This happened a week ago, however. We aren't sure if the effects of the star have worn off yet.'
'Okay, about what about the other "hostility"?'
'This one I saw for myself. It seemed like a young girl at first, but my colleagues and I witnessed her performing some very intricate magic. We think that she has cosmic powers beyond our imagination. She was flying, creating portals and even managed to make my master fall asleep instantly with some sort of bubble. If you saw her for yourself, you would know that she's not to be trifled with. Worst of all though: she's immature and has too much power at her playful fingertips. Although I am hesitant to believe her, she claims to have been responsible for merging our planets together.'
'Where did you see her?'
'I was in a meeting with my master and my colleagues. She waltzed in, declared that she merged our planets and toyed with us for a good while before leaving.'
'I am having a hard time believing this. You're a human. Why should I trust that you are not making up a story to me?'
'You may not believe the specifics of what I am telling you Ma'am, but even you have seen the new moon in the sky and how every day is longer than it used to be. My point is that we have already had an encounter with life from another planet, and it has already boasted two exceptionally powerful beings. What if there are more beings just like, or even more powerful than the two I have described? The beast came to Beacon for seemingly no reason other than to just wreak havoc. There could be other beasts with a similar, mindless motivation of destruction and chaos. There could be invaders seeking to take over Remnant. Your primary focus in bending the humans to your will, and humanity is the target of my master as well, but we cannot ignore the situation that has come to light. This planet could spell doom for us all. That is why I am here on behalf of my master: to offer you the opportunity to not only get the results you want, but to also prepare ourselves for a world that we know virtually nothing of so far. It's a win-win, any way you slice it.'
Sienna scratched her ears. Hazel's reasoning and humbleness was definitely tempting her, but it all depended on whether or not he was telling the truth.
'I can't make a decision just this second.'
'I do need you to make one before I leave.'
'The thing is, I'm just incredulous right now. I'll buy the idea of aliens coming from another world to Remnant, and I will just about go along with the idea of two planets being physically merged together, but a girl claiming to be the instigator of this whole thing: it's too far-fetched. Maybe this girl was very powerful, but can you really take her claim seriously, especially if she's immature?'
'As I have already said Ma'am, I'm sceptical to believe it, but it's the closest possibility we have to fully get a grasp of this whole ordeal. Even if it was not necessarily her doing, perhaps she's got a connection to the thing that is the cause of the two planets being amalgamated.'
A thought and an idea came to Sienna's mind. She pondered it and decided to speak it out. 'I disagree.' she said plainly.
Hazel looked at her, but did not say anything.
'If anything at all caused the planets to merge, it has to have the capability to do so.'
'What do you reckon did it then?'
'Do any of you have a faith, or believe in any sort of higher power?'
'I'm not sure.' said Adam. 'Part of says that there is a god, but another part of me says that it's all just a fairy-tale.'
'At times it tapers, but… I do.' said Hazel.
'Although I do not profess it, I actually do believe in an intelligent designer. A god, or multiple gods. I could go into the idea of faith, and the arguments for and against it, but I will spare the philosophical debate. However, if anything at all is to convince me that Remnant has been merged with another planet, it would have to have been done by something that knows Remnant's structure better than anyone else: and created it with their own hands.'
'You mean… the Gods of Light and Dark?' Hazel suggested. The idea hit him hard. It had never been mentioned once at their meeting in Salem's lair, or even crossed his mind. He was aware that Salem's past had a strong connection to the Gods who had supposedly created Remnant. Maybe Salem just did not want to bring up the idea of something she would probably find uncomfortable to talk about.
'Exactly.' said Sienna. 'What else could have done something so supernatural? If the Gods created Remnant, surely it would be within their capacity to create another planet, or at least take another existing one and combine it with their own creation.'
'But High Leader, the legends of the Gods say that they abandoned Remnant aeons ago.' Adam reminded her.
'Maybe so, but that doesn't mean that they could never come back.'
'For what reason would they return to Remnant though? It seems unlikely when they had just had enough of being here.' Adam added.
'The details of the fable are undetermined.' said Hazel. 'If they do exist, its unclear why exactly they left Remnant, or even what the purpose of this planet was in the first place.'
'It doesn't matter though.' Sienna said firmly. 'If a god is present, then it is crucial that we appease it. I refuse to believe that a girl did something so astronomical. She could not have possibly created and merged a planet with another one.'
'She did not say that she created any planet, only that she combined her and ours into one.' Hazel corrected her.
But Sienna Khan was no longer listening. She jumped out of her throne and dashed past Adam and Hazel, straight towards the doors.
'High Leader, where are you going?' said one of the door guards as he jumped out of her way.
They began to follow her. Hazel entered a jog and Adam hopped with difficulty after him.
She ran outside, dropped to her knees and bowed her head and hands to the floor before the night. 'Oh, great Creator, I beg that you spare me for my transgressions! I have only been fighting for the rights of my people! Please forgive my sins!'
She was not entirely sure who she was speaking to, but beyond the sky and above, something heard her prayer.
The guards at the entrance looked at Sienna, perplexed at her abruptly pious behaviour. 'High Leader, are you okay?' one of them asked concernedly.
'Forgive me! Please, forgive me!' she begged abstractly.
Hazel soon arrived outside. He was not sure if he should intervene: he was a human after all.
It took Adam longer to make it, but when he had made it, he caught his breath and watched Sienna as she remained glued to the ground.
'She's gone crazy.' said one of the guards.
'What should we do?' said a second.
'Leave her, she's having an experience of faith. Let her bask in it.' a third suggested.
Thirty seconds of nothing passed. Everyone stood silent and simply watched Sienna as she prayed.
A strange aura began to fill the area. Though inexplainable, everyone felt it. Both warmth and cold swam through the air, and the clouds began to clear, revealing a night sky with a surreally blue colour. An opening had been made, and then it appeared.
A dragon: an enormous dragon, so large that only its head could be seen at the angle in which they observed it. It chuckled as it made eye contact with the people below.
Sienna raised her head and shared the same look of pure stupefaction that everyone wore at the sight of it.
'My, how they stare.' he said. The dragon's voice was thunderous, yet slightly majestic.
'Well say something then.' he boomed.
No one knew how to respond. What was this dragon of unfathomable might?
'Tedious beings. I heard you vehemently worshipping me, so I answered your call, yet you stand there with tongues made of soggy paper. Starstruck I guess.'
'C-can you hear me?' said Adam in not a particularly loud voice.
'My ears heard you in the vastness of space. Of course I can hear you from here.'
'What are you?' one of the guards asked, quivering as he spoke.
'They call me a comet. They call me a dragon. They have no words for my true form. Describe me in any way you like, and you will never adequately capture my essence. But… if you had to give me a name, I have grown fondly of the name "Aurelion Sol". If you wanted to show reverence though, I am "The Star Forger".'
Sienna trembled as she stood up. She stepped forward and curtsied before the dragon. 'God, dragon, whatever you are, I…' her words faltered.
'Cower. Worship. Beg. They are all valid reactions. Pick whichever one you want can muster, you are still the embodiment of underwhelming.'
'Please, spare me! Spare us!' Sienna managed to shout.
'Why would I spare such mediocrity?' the dragon said mockingly.
'Now hold on a moment.' said Hazel, subconsciously raising his voice beyond his normal volume. 'We don't know who or what you are, but we aren't looking for fight.'
'Picking a fight with me would be the poorest decision of your life. It seems that sense does exist within this emerging life.'
'It can't be a coincidence.' said Sienna. 'We were just having a discussion about our planet and the Gods. Aurelion… Sol, did you create this planet, and did you merge it with another one?'
The truth was that he had not, but this was too much fun for him. 'Why, yes, of course.' he lied. 'I created this planet before all of you were even a single celled organism. I created the planet that yours has joined with, and I have created so much more. Tell me, what's your favourite star? There's a one hundred percent chance that I made it.'
It was all too much to comprehend. Their minds were bubbling with too much to imagine.
Still though, Aurelion Sol continued to brag. 'I created the cosmos, I created every galaxy in the whole universe. If I had a list on parchment of everything I can do and everything I have ever done, it would be longer than the lifespan of every being that has ever existed on both of these planets, combined. Do you all feel that sense of insignificance in my presence?'
All of them nodded.
'Now then, I think I've had enough of this. I was hoping to be impressed, or at least entertained by you, but I am already bored. You are not worth my time. I am going to throw a star at you. Good luck…'
He brought his hands together. Fire and stardust began to spin between his fingers, forming wheel of fire.
'No, NO!' Sienna screamed.
Everyone split up and ran for their lives.
Aurelion Sol raised his hand and lurched it forward. He crushed the fireball in his hands and it blinked into nothingness.
He laughed. 'I'm only joking. You may all be insects of planetary life, but I'm not that cruel.'
The rest of the Faunus inside the building ran out to witness the spectacle. They all looked upwards at him. Never had any of them been more intimidated in their lives.
'Ahh, even more people have come here to take notes. Splendid.'
'W-why?' Sienna said feebly. 'Why did you take two of your planets and put them together?'
'They are my creations and I am entitled to do whatever I want with them. My will is no concern of yours. All that matters is that you know your place and that you give me appropriate worship and respect.'
Helplessly, everyone surrendered to Aurelion Sol's imposing directives.
'What do you want us to do, great and powerful Star Forger?' Sienna asked.
'Hmm. Worship and, or amuse me. Either one will do, but if you can do both, I will be mildly, mildly impressed.'
'Very well then.' Sienna said. 'Listen up everyone! Today, we shall form a new order, in veneration and fear of the creator of all things! It shall be called: The Order of the Star Forger!'
The response among the White Fang was mixed. Some were cheering, whilst other remained hushed, timorous of what was the expected reaction. It was all so impromptu.
'In the White Fang, we will not only fight for our rights as Faunus, but to also spread the word of Aurelion Sol and his creation!'
'Hang on a minute. What is this I hear about your "rights"?'
'Oh, umm, you see, great creator, I am a representative of my people. We are shunned from society for our heritage, and we have been fighting to gain the respect that we rightfully deserve. Humans have stomped on us Faunus for too long.'
'Hierarchy amongst mortals? That is adorably amusing.'
'Please, Aurelion Sol, help us in our cause!' Sienna beseeched. 'Your leadership will bring justice upon humanity and light the fire in our hearts to keep worshipping you!'
'If it was a real concern of mine, I would say yes. However, impermanent equality is none of my business.'
'I umm, I understand. As you wish.' said Sienna dejectedly.
'However…' said Aurelion Sol, detecting her disappointment. 'If you prove loyal to me overtime, I may consider helping you. Just don't expect it from me anytime soon.
'Your mercy shall not go unrecognised!' Sienna said emphatically. 'Alright everyone, I command that you all begin regular sessions of worship and prayer! Go to the other branches of the White Fang, and inform them of our new subsidiary, the Order of the Star Forger!'
The directive was similar in structure to many of their instructions, but the command itself was very unusual. Perhaps this is what happens when someone has a powerful religious experience.
'Are we done here then?' Aurelion Sol asked.
'Y-you're leaving?' Sienna questioned.
'I have no reason to spend my time here, for I have other things that I must do. Don't worry. I'll be back, but of my accord and not yours, unfortunately.'
'Whatever pleases you, Aurelion Sol. Thank you for your mercy!'
Without another word, Aurelion Sol departed. They did not even see him fly away as the clouds returned to their original position, and area was coated in the moons' candlelight.
'So umm, do we have a deal or not?' Hazel said to Sienna.
'If your master is willing to join us in our worship of the Star Forger, then yes, I shall take your deal.'
Hazel nodded. 'If it is under these conditions, then so be it. Thank you for your time, Ma'am.' He went over to Adam and shook his hands. 'I appreciate your cooperation, Adam.' he said sincerely.
Adam nodded, but did not reply with words. Of everything that could have happened that night, this was not on the list of what he had expected.
Hazel did not look back as walked into the forest. He knew that in reality Sienna Khan was not in admiration of Aurelion Sol; she was terrified of him and acting out of the fear that obscured her judgement.
He also knew that his report to Salem would be very interesting indeed.
Credit to 'brave kid' for the idea of the 'Order of the Star Forger'.
