AC: Another thank you for FollowerOfAnhamirak who gave time to beta-read this chapter.
George listened to the generals and the kings and queen of Perim as they made their plan to end this fight once and for all.
Gal'drad was among them and gave his thoughts on the matter. He also shared some knowledge of his tribe, "Even if we manage to get them by surprise, the moment one of them sends the alert through their minds, they will be quickly ready to fight. Milla'iin will expect a quick counter-attack."
Maxxor asked, "What do you think they will do to Tom?"
"And Sarah," Aszil added, giving a quick glance at the green creature.
The M'arrillian grumbled about it. He sighed, "I have no idea. The only thing I know for sure is that they will be alive. I cannot say if they will be hurt or not. It all depends on them. Would they control their mind or not? No idea. For the circlet battlegear?"
"The last pieces are being put on each of them," the general replied as he watched the creatures, "Once it is done, we will be ready to strike them all. I want this fight to end up in this one battle. Even if some escape, we need to end this invasion as quickly as possible."
"Yes sir!" The other humans replied.
Gal'drad asked, "May I speak with the prisoners later?"
"Yes," the general replied.
The creatures weren't certain if it was safe. Still, Gal'drad proved himself enough to get trust from the other kings.
Chaor didn't listen to the rest. He focused on something important in his mind. He wanted to talk with Kaz alone. He needed to find a way to be just the two of them. There was a lot on his mind and he needed to tell Kazzy before the fight tomorrow.
Chapter 135: The Quiet Night Part 1
It was getting late. Chaor looked at the army who prepared for the night. Most of them were ready for the night. The battle was tomorrow and their spirits were high. Few of them wanted to see the wonder of the Cothica yet.
The ruler of the Underworld found the place where the humans rested. He opened the door and saw Kaz and the others talking together. The mood was down in the building.
"Chaor?" The boy said surprise.
"Come outside now. I need to talk to you alive," Chaor grunted as he closed the door.
The boy sighed as he adjusted his glasses. He wanted to talk with him too. He gazed at his mother, "I'll be back soon."
"Just be careful," Cassandra told him, "He seems to be in a bad mood."
"He's just in his usual mood," the boy replied.
"Chaor is often grumpy," Peyton replied with a small smile. He sighed as the mood failed to improve.
The boy left his friend and the adults and went out. He saw Chaor, who walked away quietly. He wondered what was going on in the mind of the red creature, but didn't ask anything. He followed his hero.
The Underworlder searched for a spot where they could be alone. He'd rather have his privacy with Kazzy. Then, he'll focus on the mission tomorrow.
They were outside of the base. Away from the camp set up by the creatures and any humans who might spot them.
Chaor crossed his arms and turned around. He looked into the eyes of the boy, "It seems nothing bad happened to you while I was away," he sighed a bit in relief. He knew it was the case, but couldn't tell it that openly in front of the others.
"Yeah. They got Tom and Sarah though," the boy gazed to the side and sighed. He felt tired, just knowing they were in danger constantly.
"At least, you aren't this time," the Underworlder replied.
"So, I heard. I got coded and I'll never know what really happened," Kaz admitted.
The ruler of the Underworld felt once again that sting in his heart. The very fact that everything during the invasion meant nothing for the boy, but everything to him. He knew a bit more about what happened.
"I know you saved me. Tom told me when it was calm enough," he let out a small smile, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me," Chaor looked around one last time. He made sure no one was there. Once it was the case, he pinched the cheek of the boy.
"O- C-Chaor!" The teenager winced in pain.
He showed his fangs and grunted, "That's for being stupid in Chaotic! Do you know what you did? You took an ice shard right in the heart! You just jumped in front of me and died!" his voice became softer, "Right in my arms," he glared once again, "Do not ever do this again! You hear me! Never!"
"O-okay! Okay!" Kaz winced painfully. He felt relieved when his cheek was released.
"I am serious about this! I won't watch you die at any time in front of me! Doesn't matter if it's code or the real you! You hear me!" The Underworlder ordered.
It was one that he wouldn't accept no for an answer. It also asked for more than just saying okay, "I won't do it again. I don't know why I did it, but-" he grumbled painfully when he was pinched again.
"No but!" he released the cheek of the boy.
"I promise I won't do it again," Kaz wondered if he would have a mark once this was over. He had no idea why Chaor was that angry about it.
"Kazzy. Good. You better keep it. Because I will never forgive you if you don't," he growled.
The boy heard a bit of pain in his voice, "I won't be reckless," he yelped when the creature suddenly grabbed him. His face was pressed against the large chest of the creature. He quickly realized it was a hug. He had no idea what was going on anymore. He didn't know what was in the mind of the ruler of the Underworld, "C-Chaor?"
"Kazzy. Damn it Kazzy! You have no idea how much- you couldn't. You weren't there. When you died in my arms, I thought I lost you," the creature didn't sob. He wasn't someone who cried. That wasn't his type. He just grunted his anger at the boy.
"I was just a code."
"I know! Just code! It wasn't just code when you were gone!" Chaor held back in expressing how the time together was meaningless now. It was too much to just tell the boy that way. He growled as he searched for a way to say more. He took a deep breath and admitted, "Kazzy. I said one thing to you back there, before you were coded."
"W-what is it?" the boy was uncertain.
"KidChaor."
"M-my player's name?" He wondered what that was about.
"Good name. Fitting of you," he let out a small chuckle. He was a bit embarrassed to say that again, especially when the context was different than before.
"R-really," the teenager was a bit uncertain. Still, it might explain a bit about the hug. One of the weirdest things in his life.
The creature released the boy. He smirked when the glasses were everywhere but in front of the human's eyes, "Kazzy," he sat down, "When you were gone… coded. It makes me extremely enraged. If you die, you won't rest in peace. I can assure you that. I will find your soul and give you the hearing you deserve."
As unrealistic as it was, Kaz guessed it might be true. He sat by the side of the creature, "You can try, but it won't happen now. I promised. I won't be reckless…still. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Fine."
"Save my friends. They are important to me too," the boy asked.
"That's a big favor. That black haired boy is a friend of Maxxor and that girl is a friend of Aszil," he growled. He crossed his arms, "Fine. They will owe me something," he grinned.
Somehow, the human guessed it was just an excuse or his way to say yes to his favor, "And another one."
"You are asking a lot," Chaor warned the boy that he was pushing it.
"That one isn't hard. Just…" Kaz gazed looked like Chaor when he was angry, "Tell Rothar to stay away from my mom!"
The Underworlder was dumbfounded by that request. That one, he didn't see coming. Not at all, "W-what?"
"He's trying to hit on my mom! That bull is such a weirdo! He can't just hit on her like that. Don't want mom to say yes one day!"
"Won't happen."
"You sure?"
Chaor didn't like being challenged like that. Still, he couldn't say yes. He was certain he wouldn't like Kaz in anyway that just someone to help him. An ally and nothing more. Now, he saw him as his little human boy somehow. It made no sense for the ruler of the Underworld to see a small and frail human like that, "Possible. I'll let him know," he put his hand on the head of the boy and messed with his hair, "And I have one demand."
"What is it?"
"What we say here stays between us. Only us," he showed his fangs.
"Sure."
The red creature pulled one arm around the boy and pulled him against him, "That's my Kazzy."
The boy sighed with a small smirk on his face. It was so weird. The entire situation was weird. Still, it felt a bit normal in a way, "Once this is over, maybe I can show you around."
"Curious to hear anything about the Cothica."
"No idea what it will be beyond victory over the M'arrillians," Kaz commented.
"There is no way we are going to just leave and never coming back," Chaor honestly told the boy.
"Obviously," the teenager gazed at the side. He sighed, "What will you do if you can come here?"
"Make sure Rothar leaves your mother alone," he let out a small cocky smile.
That made the teenager chuckle, "Thanks."
"No idea after this. The other tribes will be here too," he sighed in annoyance, "Obviously, we cannot fight in this sacred land of the Cothica."
Kaz thought that was the other way from his dream. Of course, the creatures didn't see this place as the Cothica. That changed a lot of things. He stood up, "We'll know when we get here."
"The future is for the Underworld in the long run. Maybe not me as its ruler, but my son will," he let out a small grin.
"Maybe," he got a gaze from the red creature, "By maybe I mean you or your son," he brought the correction to the satisfaction of the ruler.
Chaor stood up, "Let's go back to the camp. We need to be ready for tomorrow Kazzy."
"Right," Kaz replied.
Gal'drad walked towards the prison camp. He had received the authorization to visit the prisoners. Ario came with him, just in case he planned something.
Theb-Saar watched the two in the distance. He didn't give any order. He wondered what they would talk about. He wondered if there might be something that might come out of the two prisoners.
Aval'par had his hand and tendril on his face, "Why did I stay here?" He grunted in regret.
Bahrakatan was at the other side and sighed. He failed the humans and cursed himself. He helped defend the base, but he couldn't protect the target of his tribe. Once things calmed down, he willingly returned to his jail. Mostly another one since he broke the one he was in. He knew they were going to reinforce it eventually. Still, he believed he could save them, "You couldn't make a choice."
"Tom was the one who came to talk willingly with me. I just stayed here and they captured him!" the purple Chieftain grunted as he rested against the wall of his jail, "If only…"
"Do not make the same mistake another time Aval'par. You can still make things right."
They heard the door opening. They wondered who it was.
They saw who came in. Aval'par was surprised as he put his hand on the glass, "Gal'drad."
"It's been a long time my friend," the green M'arrillian replied.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: The second part of the quiet night comes.
Gal'drad talked with the two M'arrillians. Meanwhile, Peyton presented the rulers of the Danians and Mipedians to the other families.