Maxxor tapped his finger on the table as he watched everything him and Najarin read. They made some progress to find Tom, but at the same time, it wasn't enough to quickly find him. Not only that, but they knew that Theb-Saar found out where the metalists were.
Thinking about it, Maxxor had a few questions. He had a feeling there was something more going on recently.
The metalists act and Tom had to leave with Milla'iin. The fact that Arias followed him was reassuring, but he still has questions. The only one who had answers could be the Guardian of the Cothica. He wondered if the metalists showing up had a link with Tom disappearance. He couldn't accept that Tom just left and the humans would just accept that fact. Especially his parents. From what he knew, Tom's mom would never accept something like that to happen. His father also wouldn't let this happened.
Maxxor tried to ask Annie about it, but she was elusive. He couldn't speak with her. She always avoided looking in his eyes and ported away the moment she had the chance.
He confronted the Codemasters about this and they replied that they couldn't tell him anything about the situation. Crellan added, "I am sorry, but we cannot speak on the behalf of the Guardians of the Cothica in the matter. No matter how much we want too. This is something only they could answer."
Today, Maxxor decided that he had to talk with the Guardians of the Cothica. He needed to know what was going on and why the boy left.
Chapter 77: The Need For Answers
It took a day before he could go to the Cothica. He needed to check on many things and also spoke with Najarin about his decision.
He teleported in Chaotic and spotted Kaz who seemed frustrated about something. He couldn't get an answer about why he felt that way and didn't press on. He had a mission right now and he needed answers. He asked Kaz to help him find the Guardians of the Cothica on Earth, as he wanted to speak with them directly. Kaz ported out so his real self could know he was coming.
After he got the authorization from the Messenger of the Cothica and the Codemasters, he teleported on Earth and walked in the direction of Kaz house.
He quietly said, "It was good to talk with him again," as he thought of the Messenger. The man gave him a kind smile when he met him and was polite. He seemed like the kind of human who could represent the best of humanity. It was probably why he was the Messenger of the Cothica. He did wonder why he did almost nothing since Tom and Peyton disappeared. He forgot to ask about it. He took a note to speak with him when he returned. Maybe there was something he missed when he met him.
He reached the door and knocked at the entrance. Kaz opened the door with Khybon behind him.
"You're here," Khybon commented as he frowned lightly at the creature in front of him.
Despite the tribes being at peace once more, the tension remained palpable. Especially between the overworld and the underworld.
Maxxor diplomatically replied, "Yes. I am certain you know more what is going on and you report this to Chaor," ignoring the tension and not adding fuel to the fire.
"I know he left with Arias and Milla'iin, to avoid retaliation against the Cothica," the underworlder replied.
Maxxor could tell that Khybon wasn't buying that threat at all. He could tell he was suspicious that something else happened. At the same time, he could feel a bit of frustration with that reply. It seemed there was a few things he had no idea what was going on.
Kaz called a car that would escort them to the underground city of the Guardians of the Cothica.
Maxxor asked, "Do you know the real reason Tom left?"
The boy nodded negatively as the thought back, "We will know when we find him. That's what they told us," he sighed a bit, "It's really not helping at all."
"I have to admit that this situation is getting on my nerves. If we get no answers, there is something else going on," Khybon admitted.
Once the vehicle was there, the three climbed in it. The voyage was quiet. It took a bit before the reached the underground city.
Maxxor was surprised by the sight of it. It was the first time he saw it. The large city that seemed to hold the history of humanity lost past.
Khybon crossed his four arms, "I won't expect the Matriarch to give us a clear answer."
"You came because you think you will get more out of this," he commented. The ruler of the overworld knew that Chaor surely wanted answers too. Tom was the guide of the overworld for the Cothica. If the boy was doing more than Kaz, it could mean a lot. Still, he didn't care about the importance of what Tom meant. His friend was missing, he couldn't trust the m'arrillian with him and he couldn't trust the elementalist. Arias was with his friend, but it wasn't enough.
Kaz nodded, even if it was addressed to his protector. The reached the city and the trio approached the structure where the Matriarch was. He was a bit nervous. It would be a confrontation with her. It wasn't about him, but it could mean a lot. He needed to know more why Tom had to leave. He didn't really speak his mind in the matter, but knew there was more.
They entered in the building and quickly find the Matriarch who sat on a chair. She looked at them and offered a warm and inviting smile, "Welcome you three. Maxxor, I have been expecting you for a while."
"I am a bit surprise you expected me to come," Maxxor replied.
The old lady pointed at the chairs and offered them to sit down. The three followed suit, "Tom did say that you two are close. He also told me that you would come eventually or Najarin," she crossed her fingers. She raised her finger and a small ball of light appeared. It went into a lamp and it shined the room a bit.
"I hope he didn't just say the good and forget about the bad," Khybon commented. He offered a small smug at the green creature.
Maxxor didn't care about that jab at him, "It's because of him," he looked into her eyes, "I need to know why Tom had to leave. I know it's not just because of the threat by the elementalists. It doesn't make sense with what they think of you," he didn't speak of the elementalist who lived in Kiru city. He explained a lot about the elementalists culture. That was one of the main reasons he was suspicious.
"It's clear that you know about them enough, but it isn't something that I can explain," the Matriarch replied with the same gentle smile.
Khybon frowned, "Does it have to do with the metalists? Tom prepared to leave since the metalist showed up here and kidnapped Peyton and his parents," his muscles tensed when the gaze of the woman was on him. He could tell that those eyes tried to pierce his skin, "I am right."
Kaz adjusted his glasses, "I suspect it, but I can see it now. Why did Tom really have to leave to Perim? The real him."
The Matriarch smiled, "You are right. Tom didn't leave and met the elementalists just because of the threat. We knew from the start that it was just an empty threat."
"Why did he have to go then?" Maxxor frowned as he grew suspicious, "What do you need him to do in Perim."
"With his real self," Kaz added.
Khybon looked at the old woman. He wondered what the answer was. They knew that this was just the excuse.
"If you want to know the true, it will be Tom who will surely tell you when he finds him," the Matriarch replied as she crossed her fingers, "I do not know when, but Tom will eventually leave the elementalists and travel Perim. Surely with Arias and Millia'inn. I can tell you that."
"He will leave the elementalists?" Maxxor whispered. The moment he heard that, he wondered what was the plan. Why did his friend go there and why he would leave? Those questions were important to answer, "He is going to get something from them. Isn't he?" He couldn't think of a reason to stay with them and eventually left. Not only that, she said that he would travel in Perim. He waited for an answer.
"None of us here will explain why he is doing this Maxxor. There is no point to answer again. I already told you more than we intended. I'm sure Tom will tell you everything when you meet him again. I know you will," she replied.
The creature quickly put his might into it. He got some clues about it. He couldn't put his finger on it, but it was clear that he would find Tom when he passed in the overworld. The elementalists lived in the ocean. If Tom would come, it would be from either the overworld or Al Mipedim. More chance he would show up in the overworld. Still, he couldn't wait for it.
His thought returned to why he had to leave. It wasn't because of a threat, but to search for something. He would leave and visit Perim. The only reason that he came as his real self would be because he needed to bring something. His code self couldn't bring something to the Cothica.
He closed his eyes a bit, before he looked at the woman. His thought seemed to reach a conclusion, "Tom…" he rather had the boy explained everything before he left, "He is searching something in Perim. Many things if he is traveling through Perim. If it is his real self, it's because he will bring it back here. Am I right?"
He got no answer. Still, he noticed the Matriarch smiled a bit. He wondered if she wanted to explain everything, but couldn't for some reason. Unless she rather let him suffer in his mind, "I will wait for him in the overworld then," he stood up, "Thank you. The little thing you tell me is quite valuable."
Khybon nodded to himself. He could tell that the human searched for something extremely important and vital. He had a lengthy report for Chaor.
Kaz took a deep breath and looked at her, "Thanks. I guess I won't have to traverse to ocean to find him," he smiled a little bit. Still, he hoped that his friend was alright.
"No problem. It is a pleasure to help you the best I could," she let out a small mysterious smile. She whispered something, but none of them heard it.
The creatures and the boy were a bit confused about her silent words. The three left.
As the group returned to the surface, Maxxor crossed his arms and wondered how much this meeting gave him. They didn't speak for long and the Matriarch wasn't that open in telling them everything. The overworlder instinct told him that she didn't lie when she didn't give them the full answer. The why and the who, was the mystery.
It did give him a lot of information and the realisation that his friend was searching for something. Despite the fact that his friend might come, he still had to find the location of the elementalists. They could be a danger for the overworld later on and Tom might be unable to escape on his own. He closed his eyes and sighed. He wished he could see his friend soon and know that he was safe and sound. He also needed to ask Arias what he learned too.
Now, he still had to continue the search and to tell Najarin what he learned today. Because Chaor will know about this soon too.
AC: This is the end of this chapter.
Next: The fragment.
The king of the metalist saw the fragment and prepared for what is to come.