On Earth, the humans and Khybon watched the portal where the three traverse through. No words came out of their mouths for a minute.
The Underworlder grumbled, "What kind of trick was that?" he raised his hands and pointed at the portal that stopped working because of a human.
"He didn't want to let Tom go on his own," the boy's mother replied, "He will watch over them and Tom will make sure he won't be in trouble. I know he will do that," she put hands on her pocket, where she had her scanner, "And I'll begin my search for him soon," she decided.
The group talked for a while before they returned back home, each with their own plan in mind.
Chapter 45: The Elementalists Island
Codemaster Crellan read the message Tom sent him and called for the other Codemasters to come. The group formed a meeting as he showed the message.
Crellan concluded, "Tom left for the elementalists location on Perim. His real self is there."
Hotekk nodded, "That fool decided to accept that deal," he raised his hands before anyone replied, "I know it would have been more foolish to refuse the deal! Do not annoy me with that!"
Imthor listened to Crellan reply, which was pretty much that Hotekk shouldn't complain if he knew it was the best thing to do. He sighed when the subject changed once again.
"And we can't do anything to help him or anyone yet again," Crellan sighed as he crossed his fingers.
They were at a stand still and they got no order to act on the matter. They pretty much had to act like they didn't know something big was going on.
Imthor thought a bit more. When he thought back of their failure last time, he didn't like it at all. The invasion of the Earth was because of their failure and the little action they took before to prevent this. He looked at his fellow Codemasters with conviction. He interrupted the discussion as he said, "We will do something to help them. We need to get active in this matter. We won't stay here and wait for things to evolve this time," he looked at them and got their full attention. He raised his hand, "We will search for Tom and Peyton actively. We cannot all leave the drome for the search, but we can divide our forces. We know they are not on the continent, so we will find a way to explore the islands to locate the metalist and the elementalist," he formed a plan in his head, "I don't have the best way to act, but I need your opinions in the matter."
Crellan waited no time to speak, "We should find the most complete map around and separated into sectors were each of us will explore it and find out their locations," he looked at the others.
"There might not be a map of those islands. Unless what the M'arrillians brought to Maxxor might be helpful," Hotekk commented.
"How do you know that?" Imthor asked curiously.
"I overhead Tom and his friend Remi talking about it when Phelphor returned to the Deep Ocean. They were that quiet about it," the codemaster chuckled a bit.
"We will need a lot of time to organise everything. A few hours at best," Crellan concluded as he scratched his chin, "I will ask Maxxor if he has any clue in the matter and-"
"We got a message…" Imthor stopped when he checked the message from Earth, "Hum… It confirms Tom left with Milla'iin," he looked at the others, "Aria also followed them."
There was a moment of silence between them.
"I'll share the news with Maxxor," the codemaster said before he left the room.
Hotekk chuckled a bit nervously before he replied, "I'll investigate the Deep Ocean," he left next.
The other Codemasters split their duties to find any reliable map, detailed or not, before they left.
Tom grumbled when the suddenly light blinded him as they crossed the portal, before it was suddenly dark again. He was stuck in the left arm of Arias while Milla'iin was stuck in the other arm. The boy was put on the ground and the M'arrillian was dropped unceremoniously. He quickly noticed they were inside a dark building. He felt like he watched an old temple from the movies.
"You are finally here," a voice told them.
They searched for a few seconds and found the elementalist who observed them with a conflicted face. He looked happy, angry and confused. The water creature frowned as he glanced at the ram overworlder, "Looks like they respected their part," he simply commented, "However."
"Like I will trust you with the safety of Tom," Arias growled as he stood in front of the boy.
"It's okay. There is no need to fight," Tom decided to intervene quickly before the two fights against each other's. Now was not the time for battle. He walked around Arias and looked at the water creature, "Are you one of the members of the council of your tribe?"
"Yes," he put his hand over his chest and respectfully bowed to the teenager, "I am glad you came of your own free will. The tribes of Perim must pay for coming to your world and your presence here is a part of their punishments."
"Sure. The M'arrillians came to invade the Cothica and you expect us to do nothing and let them destroy their world? I went there to protect them and we almost perish. Few of us against their army!"
"He is right. I led that army and it is my fault that it all came to this. What you are doing is unjust to the other tribes," Milla'iin said as he floated by the side of his friend and the overworlder.
"I do not care what you say creature," the elementalist replied to the invader.
"Do not talk to him that way," Tom quickly took a few steps in front of the M'arrillian, "He is not going to hurt anyone unless he has to defend himself and I will be with him."
"And I won't let you hurt Tom," Arias let out a small grin at the face of the elementalist. He already hated the creature.
"Your existence on the Cothica is a threat and no matter what you claim you true intentions are, I know it is only lies."
(Let's not get into a fight and end up hurting Tom. I know none of us wants to accidentally hurt him in a fight,) Milla'iin spoke in their mind to calm the tension in the air. Once they didn't seem like ready to fight and we're pacified, he went on, "You wanted me and Tom to come for a reason. You never said that unwanted guest would be punish. The Matriarch told me enough, just in case you try something dirty."
"The Guardians of the Cothica has no reason to doubt me. I am not their enemy," the water creature quickly said when he noticed the human frowning a bit.
"I won't read your mind, but why are you here alone?" the M'arrillian began to poke on the creature.
"The reason is none of your business. Now, come with me. The other members of the council will decide what to do with our intruder. Death will be the best option," he grinned as he went away from the portal.
Arias frowned, "They can try."
Tom took a deep breath and focused on their mission. Arias didn't know the other reason he came to Perim in person. Milla'iin knew. He gave a glance at the M'arrillian who had no idea what went through his mind, "Let's go," he decided to focus on the now. This place was too dangerous to confess anything to Arias anyway.
They walked outside of the temple. The human and the two creatures walked outside and slowed down.
The boy covered his face for a few seconds. He was underground before teleporting into the temple. Now, he was outside on a location of Perim under the control of the elementalists.
Once his eyes adjusted, he looked around. He could see many trees and plants around the temple. The sky was blue on this clear day. He saw a village down, but it was a bit far and they were some blurry things of different color moving around. He guessed those were the creatures of their tribe.
Arias clearly saw the creatures from their tribe. Still, he didn't focus on that. He wondered what to do next. He had no plan after following the boy he swore to protect. He expected jail, or a possible execution it seemed. He could use his power to escape if he had no choice.
Milla'iin was silent and passive. He didn't look around and focused on the water elementarist. He already knew what would come for him, as the Matriarch told him. It wouldn't be death, but it wouldn't be pleasant. It was something he had to overcome for what would come later.
They climbed down the stairs and quickly stopped when the citizens approached them and observed the group with distrust.
Tom guessed the members of the council weren't present yet.
Milla'iin was certain right now that the water elementalist did it on his own. He didn't voice his thought. The elementalists didn't seem to know they were coming and the council, from what he heard, weren't there. The potential threat meant almost nothing, or maybe worse since he was on his own. That creature might do something reckless, as he did when he made the regretful decision to invade the Cothica. He stood a bit at the back when he felt tension in the air. He had no idea if it was him, Arias or Tom. Only one of them would make them look less bad. He hoped.
The boy took a few steps forward and the creatures focused on him.
"A human?" one asked a bit in disbelief.
The member of the council quickly acted before everything went out of control, "Yes. He is a human who came with those two," he found something to tell them, "And there is something important we need to discuss with the other members of the council. Return to your previous occupations and we will explain more later," he ordered them.
The creatures reluctantly obeyed and returned to their previous occupations
"Follow me," the water creature told them. He observed the two outsiders from Perim, unsure what to do. He glanced around and noticed a few armed guards, ready to act if they caused any trouble, "The other members of the council will see you."
They followed the creature through the village.
Tom looked around. He thought about his other mission. He needed to know as many things as possible in a short amount of time. He couldn't really count on his friends to find him by luck. Only a miracle could help them.
Arias quickly noticed that the water creature seemed to be apprehensive of something. He couldn't tell how he noticed that. In instinct told him that the meeting with the other members of the council might not go well for the elementalist.
Milla'iin felt the nervousness and guessed it was because he did all of this without their authorisation. If he was right, he did something on their back and he was about to face the consequence. Good or bad, he had no idea.
They approached the large structure that stood at the center of the town. The two creatures and the boy wondered if the other members of the council were there.
The water elementalist opened the door, "Come inside," he took a deep breath and went first a bit nervously.
The three others followed him and once they were inside, they saw the other three elementalists who were part of the council. One had a body of fire, another a body of wind and the last one a body made of rocks. The four elements were members of the council and it made sense for Tom.
The three glared at the water creature. The fire creature grunted, "What have you done?"
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next chapter will have to skip a week. I got sick and it's just killing my energy to write. I just don't feel writing for now and I really slowed down in the next chapter of this story and my two originals one.
Next chapter will be out February 12.
Next: What To Do?
The three members of the council wondered what to do with their current predicament.