BOTH ANTON AND WRIK followed their gaze on the disappearing figure through the window. Wrik sighed a deep breath as all his reserved image and comfortable act washed away. It was not every day you get to meet a Mahasayer.
"Was she telling the truth?" Anton asked, making sure Sophia left.
"It seemed true to me," Wrik nodded. "Or she might be awfully good at lying."
"She looked genuine enough, and didn't even ask for anything, unlike the other time," Anton said awkwardly, remembering the swindler, he paid thousand penz for a duplicate ticket, the year before.
Wrik stood up from the couch, carrying Kathrin. "I need to think, but before that, I need some food." Kathrin licked his arm, hearing about food. "Kathrin is hungry as well."
Anton followed them and helped in preparing the food. Though most of them were already cooked. He warmed them a bit on the stove. While Wrik fed Kathrin her share of kitty nutriments.
"So, how much did you get?'' Asked Wrik, sitting on the dining table. Anton looked confused by his inquiry. So he clarified a bit, "From Red; the packet?"
"Ahh, that. Almost forgot about it. He gave three hundred penz in hand and the rest after his payment." Anton pondered for a bit. "But, I did get unusual news about the trial."
"Anything new?" He asked, putting the bread into his mouth.
Anton nodded. He told what he got from Red. About the higher numbers of inquisitors than the last time and the urgency.
"So, one thing is clear. Time, they were all in a hurry." Judged Wrik, hearing everything out. Sophia mentioned that as well. "What do you think about her?"
"Sophia Syfinn?" Anton analyzed, staring at the roof. "Her leg was beautiful with her full and ample figure. Her curves are too much captivating to be true. And the way she glimmered a few times—took my breath away…"
"Good lord... Ton. I didn't ask for her body measurement. You know, I've eyes. And a good pair at that. I could discern how firm and full her hips. Bosoms are," Wrik sighed, stopping Anton from blabbering more. "I asked you, what do you think about her as a person."
"Yes, sorry. I got lost a bit." Anton scratched his forehead out of habit while pondering. "She was dangerous, extremely. Maybe an extra bit for me." Anton grimaced. "Her swirling hips almost took my life away."
"Ton," Wrik shook his head. "I'm lost again."
"Didn't you notice the pair of dangerous… Oh! sorry," Anton diverged from the topic again. He took a mouthful of water and continued. "You see, when I first saw her... When I first saw her back, I was enchanted by it."
"So, you peeked at her buttocks." Wrik couldn't make out if he wanted to laugh or cry. He was sure she had an attractive figure, but it shouldn't be enough for Anton to lose his composure like that.
"Well, something like that," Anton, not ashamed in the slightest, spoke out. "Here comes the dangerous part. When she caught me—staring at her rear. I was at the back step with only a stare from her. My body stiffened up for a moment, I couldn't move away even an inch, even the air was leaving me."
"I reckon, she gave you a warning," Wrik laughed out. "And you took it quite seriously."
"What could have I done?" This time, his face reddened a bit. "She's a freaking Mahasayer. And I think a powerful one at that."
"Of course she is. If not, how could she figure out your tricks, just by gaping a few times." Wrik stood up from his seat, carrying the plate. He went near the sink to wash it.
"So, what are we going to do?" Anton asked, resting his chin at the dining table. "She didn't seem to have any ill intent."
"For starters, I'm going to think this through. She said we have one day, I don't know if it's enough though." Sighed Wrik while mopping the plate. His face had almost lost the serenity he showed while handling Sophia Syfinn. It's a troublesome decision to make. And there's no lifeline at that.
After cleaning the dishes, Wrik rested his body on the couch again, closing off the shutter of his eyes. While Anton had a go with Kathrin.
It's been years, they had been searching for this place. The Tower of Maha. A place of dreams. A place of passions. A place of vigour. And a place of Chaos.
'You could find anything there. Wealth, power, valour, beauty, even immortality. All you have to do is climb the highest floor of the tower.' Wrik remembered his childhood when the three of them–he, Anton, and Lucas dreamt about climbing the tower together. Being a supreme Mahasayer, commanding thousands of cavalry, charging towards the enemy lines. Those were some blissful days without any care or insecurities.
"That's the greatest indication of youth, in our adolescent days, we want simple answers, simple solutions to everything. And, when we're not satisfied with the simple answers. That's the day, we grow out of adolescence." Wrik sighed. "Leaving our childhood behind."
"Remembering your mother, are we?" Anton asked from behind in a melancholic tone. His right cheek was clawed with three parallel lines in a cross. He and Kathrin appeared to have too much fun together. On the other hand, Kathrin was totally fine, with a bit of smug on her face.
"Her words make a lot of sense now," nodded Wrik, still with closed eyes. Kathrin jumped straight at his lap, tugging her head around a bit, she sat in her prime throne, as he rubbed his fingers in her soft fuzz.
"We spent so many years uncovering the mysterious about that majestic tower. You, me, and Lucas. Then he left, without even mentioning a single thing. That was like him. Now we two, we're still vying for it.
"The chance is in my hand, the chance I couldn't find over the years. Yet when I got it, why am I still hesitating?" He questioned out at himself. "Sometimes I wish if I could just decide on a whim uncaring about anything else, like him."
"Still resentful of him?"
"Are you not?"
"It would be lying if I say I'm not," Anton said. "But, what would that do? He had left to fulfill his dream, while we're still fantasizing about it."
"Sometimes, you do sound a bit wise," Wrik said as he opened the shutter of his eyes.
"But, that doesn't mean, I won't beat the crap out of him when I find him." Anton laughed out.
"You know, I would like to have a few handfuls as well." Wrik cracked a smile.
"So, are we accepting the offer?" Anton asked. His keen blue eyes were failing to hide the anticipation.
Wrik didn't answer immediately, pondered over a minute. He said. "I need you to do one thing. Collect a bit of information about this Sophia Syfinn and the Knightshade of hers. About their reputation, standing and stuff."
"Alright," Anton agreed with a grin on his lips. He was about to take off when Wrik called out again.
"Anton, don't dig too deep. Start with Red." Anton nodded, hearing him. "Meet me at Alpstone at noon, even if you got nothing."
Wrik followed his gaze to the leaving figure of Anton with the corner of his eye. He sighed again, picking his body up from the couch with Kathrin. "I need some fresh air. Kathrin, would you like to come as well?"
Kathrin agreed with an enthusiastic 'meow.'
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