<Pragmemes POV>

ngh.. Wha… Where am I?

I slowly regain consciousness and find my eyes covered as I can’t open them to survey where I am. I shift around only to find my hands are tied behind my back to the chair I’m sitting. Trying not to move too much to show I’m awake, I attempt to circulate my mana through my hands to burn whatever is binding my arms.

‘My magic isn’t working?! Is this enchanted silver rope?! No, no, no, no! These bastards couldn’t have anticipate on catching a pixie…. Unless they were deliberately targeting me!’ I mumble to myself.

It’s just one terrible thing after another! First my servants disobey me and my prank goes wrong, then the one person I truly call family decides to leave me to teach a retarded mute, and now  to top off my horrible week I’m kidnapped by freaking smart hooligans!… Well….it could be worse. At least I don’t feel that my clothes are gone….But then why do these lawbreakers need me if not for a whore?

I stop myself from thinking of the worse case possible as I hear footsteps coming in my direction. A muffled scratchy weird Lolita voice starts to talk.

“Has the fiery madam woken up yet?”

“Not yet boss I haven’t heard so much as a pip from inside the room. She’ll probably be out for another couple of hours.”

“Ooooh really! I’ll be the judge of that-”

The boss is interrupted by abrupt heavy fast footsteps coming the same way as the previous two.

An angry voice follows, “Out of the way!”

The sound of a door slams open and whatever is covering my eyes is yanked off only for me to come face to face with one of the henchmen I kicked the night before. There was nothing truly impressionable from this guy. He looked to be in his thirties, hair black, black droopy eyes, bulbous nose, and beard. About to demand what the hell he was doing, the henchmen grabs my neck lifting me up chair and all.

Cutting off my air the man starts yelling, “You damn bitch! Because of your crew my brother got cut off from the group and left behind!”

Choking I glare at the stupid lackey barely wheezing out the reply, “That’s you psychos own damn fault! Who told you to amb-” He squeezes tighter, I can’t finish my retort.

“And worst of all is that I just found out from our informant that half the guys left behind were consumed by some monster! And you know who was among them! My brother!” The henchman brings up his fist to punch me. I clench my eyes, but don’t feel the impact of the raiders fist. Opening them, I see the heavily cloaked figure from the night before behind my assulter with a gun pointed at the henchman’s head, stopping all actions.

Pulling the cylinder release the Cloaked figure says, “ Biscus! Put. The lady. Down. Now!” Then pushes the gun closer the henchman’s head. “Before I put a bullet in your head for insubordination and harming our payload.”

The henchman releases my neck dropping me. “Be glad the boss was here princess.” Then walks out of the room.

I finally have time to see I’m in an empty wooden room. No decorations, bed, or windows, and just one vent to let air flow in. The only exit point is through the door the henchman and cloaked figure came in.

The cloaked figure watches Biscus leave, to assure he doesn’t double back to finish what he started. Closing the door behind Biscus, the cloaked figure turns to approach me.

“Well, I’m mighty sorry tha happen now little lady, but some my comrades be a bit cranky since some of our plans went awry.” The cloaked figure says bending his head down to my level.

I gave him a look of ‘what do your failed plans have to do with me.’ Ticked off at the fact these raiders dare to put any blame on me or my teammates for their own stupidity in getting themselves caught. “Why should I care about the lives of some lowly sniveling thieves like you?” I ask, my pride pricked.  

The boss shakes his head. “Not all o’ us ask to be in this position ya know. Some o’ those men and women have no choice, an’ now they’re gone.” The boss inspects my neck for any bruises.

That’s what al thieve and low lives say. Confusion takes over my mind, what did that bozo mean his brother was eaten by a monster? “What that man said…. I doubt my teammates would do anything less than simply beating your men half to death. And in any other case, their too self-righteous to get their hands dirty unnecessarily, much less feed them to a monster….Besides the fact you’ve kidnapped me, it’s not like your pathetic raid most likely did anything that would warrant such actions. My team would never voluntarily kill your men, otherwise.  ”

The boss looks at me or at least I think he does. The hat engulfing his head gives me slight indication by being higher from my neck. “That’s not the case of what I heard. I planned that if anybody got left behind they’d, at most, be healed then sold off as slaves at bulk in auction. In which case, all we’d need to do is send a friend of ours to buy them back.” He goes to the door requesting a medical kit.

 Once it arrives he comes back and puts a salve on my neck. “That’s not what happened though…. From reports coming from our informant something odd happened. Now half of those fellers be gone while the rest of the wounded were left to die in the plains. Of course, I’ve already sent somebody to fetch our people back, but some of their wounds can’t be healed with what we ‘ave. So, you can understand why Biscus was a bit angry now, right?” He places a wrapping around my neck and finishes treating me.

“Don’t expect my sympathy just because you treated my neck.” First you dishonor me by striking me from behind. And then your man almost beats my face in. If it were not for the seal on my mana I would’ve burned you all down and watch you scream for mercy. Narrowing my eyes, with as much dignity as I could muster, I ask, “Why have you kidnapped me, crook?”

Suddenly he grabs my face, covering my mouth. “Maybe I’ve been a bit too kind.” He takes a blade from his boot and presses it on my cheek. “I am a boss raider, master plunderer, and leader of invaders! Not some alley way pickpocket. Do not ever call me the lowest rank again!”

Putting his blade away, he steps back uncovering my mouth. “To answer your question…. Money and politics dear, but mostly politics.” He starts moving about the room as if inspecting something that wasn’t there. “A little birdie told me in a few months your family’s going to have its usual celebratory gathering. At that time every one of the potential heirs are expected to be there.” He stops and turns to me.

It gradually dawns on me. All the heirs will be there except me. I glare at him. “What you’re planning won’t work. It’s impossible.”

He snickers with that wired crackly Lolita voice then leaves.

 

*******

<Calamity POV>

Back in the spatial rift Calamity’s original body is checking on the progress of chaos circulation through a mirror connected to its separated eye.

“Looks like everything is in order. Hmmm, but Tokito needs to start moving a bit faster soon. Staying near this grass plain for so long will- ”

“Oh. Is that the person you chose chaotic one?” A feminine voice speaks interrupting Calamity’s concentration. Watching from the same mirror, the stranger witnesses Tokito seeing off Belace and the remnants of the CCC far from the Horiz city checkpoint entrance.

All of Calamitys eyes concentrate on a piece of foliage manifesting itself beside it. Like a bouquet, flowers of all shapes and sizes took the shape of a female form. From the bottom a bush forms her skirt, her top grows a crown imperial for her blouse, growing from the arms are snow drops, and for her head a perfectly formed white camellia.

Calamity didn’t answer the flowery trespassers question but instead went back to its business.

“…I guess I’ll take that as a yes.” The flowery one concludes herself, now also watching the mirror. “The others will be coming in a bit. I hope you-”

“Do not worry Xofilipas I’ve not forgotten our agreement as long as you keep yours.”

“You know they’ll want to meet him at least once in private.”

“Hmph! If they had their way it would be more than once.”

“That’s undeniable.” A male voice pops in.

This time a ball like cocoon appears, only to uncurl into two pairs of billion fragmented wings. One fragmented wing contained segments displaying feathers to insects. The other wings segments wisp of various energies to the elements. None of the wings staying one color for very long. Yet at the very center of these colorful ever changing limbs a being, like glass, almost invisible to the eye can be seen betwixt them. The only thing to indicate where the male beings head is, is the many antennas sprout atop his crown.

“Welcome Modues. It’s pleasant to see you haven’t changed your form since last we met.” Xofilipas greeted the newcomer.

Modues many antennas bobbed in acknowledgement. “Chaotic one, is it not unreasonable to hog the otherworlder all to yourself. We could already be considered his aunts and uncles since you’re his parent. But you deny us even a smidgen of opportunity in letting us know him.”

“Ha that’s hilarious. If I had the choice none of you would be able to see him, much less talk,” Calamitys mouths cackle, amused by Modues ridiculous words. “More to the point, you don’t see him as anything other than a potential prophet to put your antennas in.”

“Hey! That’s not true one bit…” The Xofilipas thought about it and reiterated her words, “at least I don’t necessarily want him as a prophet. I only really want to thank him for allowing one of my children more family.” Thinking back how one her lovely sapling contacted her not that long ago to tell her the good news.

Calamity’s many eyes trail over Xofilipas flowery head, only to ignore her the next second to continue monitoring. At least it tried to, but couldn’t as it felt the space rift cracking as three more guests joined.

The first guest from the crack was a metal skeletal golem built entirely of old cold and hot weaponry. The second, a woman dressed in Victorian mourning clothes carrying an orb. And the last visitors gender eluded Calamity, but their jeweled clothes, six arms, plus an eye imbedded in each hand gave the hint of being a wish element.

“I apologize for arriving later than the previous designated time frame.” The golem says.

“Oh! No worries! You arrived just on time Kanos.” Xofilipas replies.

“…There is no such thing as arriving early or late. Only that we reach the destination.” The women in mourning clothes says.

“Happy to see you too Jozlitma,” Modues flies over to greet her.

“Yes, yes. We are all happy to see everyone. Yada yada yada , let’s get on with why we’re here.” An echo like voice cuts in to stop the banter before it even began. The wish elemental turns to Calamity, “Your grace period is over chaotic friend. It’s time you allow us to convene with the child to discuss what is to happen now.”

Calamity many eyes glare at the wish elemental god, “The only thing you’d do in your discussion is put pressure on him of which he doesn’t need.” Calamity irritated, voices its discontent. “Besides our deal doesn’t consist of you controlling him, but to talk with him briefly on what truly matters. Do not even think for a second I will allow you to make him into a bloody messiah! He will be nothing else other than a normal child.”

“And you think what you have done so far is give him a normal life,” The Jozlitma says. “He doesn’t even know what normal is in this world, since you’ve purposely allowed him to stay ignorant.” She turns to Calamity, her mourning veil revealing nothing other than a feminine hoarse voice underneath. “Not only has he been ignorant of the circumstances of the world, you’ve let him put himself in dangerous situations without so much as lifting a finger to save him.”

Before Calamity can snarl back a slide remark Xofilipas butts in, “Now. Now,” she says trying mediate he situation, “You know that the Chaotic one has done all it can to protect the child within its limitations. And that’s the same for us as well. We can do but so much without breaking the systematic laws.”

“That may be true, but still,” Jozlitma replies. “For a parent, the chaotic one has allowed the child to be in more danger than what is reasonable. And worse, when he’s out of line they do not punish him accordingly.” The Jozlitma slides in.

“I let him live his life! To make choices regardless of the potential mistakes and risk. And I correct him the best I can without killing him!” Calamitys voices thunders, “Do you not realize how much I have to hold back my strength so I don’t critically injure him?! Just the tiny bit of punishment I have done since he has come to this world would be considered abuse in his! And yet you don’t think I punish him enough! ” Calamity’s many eyes drift, no longer concerned about the goddesses bantering. Its many minds reflect among themselves on what was unfolding. ‘Should we really let them meet him?,’ A male voice ask. ‘That was part of the agreement.’ A female voice agrees. ‘But, but, its not fair! We’ve hardly had time to get to know him ourselves. And now they want to take him away!’ A child like voice says combating the two. But to isolate Tokito from the rest of the gods will do him no good. A voice of reason stops the child like voice. Besides I doubt he would leave us to fulfill the ideals and errands of other gods. And no matter what they offer, he’d stay by our side. The voice of reason continues.

“Chaotic one, when will we be able to meet the child?” Modues ask cutting off Calamity’s inner battle.

 Calamity quickly glances over all the gods. “We are sure you all are aware that Tokito is unable to enter any of the nearby temples since he has taken the race of quabet. For a non-exiled quabet to enter a city would be seen as peculiar. Especially in this day and age.” Calamity approaches Modues. “So how would you have us bring him here if he cannot go to any of the temples?”

“There may not be anything you need to do. I can sense the wish karmic duality about to give him his warning. We can bring him up then.” The wish elemental god voice echoes its response.

 

******

<Tokito Pov>

After we left the raiders in the field the caravan moved on finally arriving at its destination, the beast city Horiz.

 By early morning I saw off Belace and the CCC. She told me that they have to get the paper work done for the disbandment of the CCC and that she’ll be back by late evening.

After confirming no one was still in eye sight, I  retrieved my newest tamed cub to give it a name. Or at least I tried to but my stomach bug decided to come back and say hi causing ne to fall to the ground.

Writhing in pain, I instinctively hold my stomach, as if that could hold the pain at bay, “Gah! It feels someone stabbed my stomach and twisted the freaking knife in there. Calamity you got to tell me what’s goin- Augh! On!” I shout in pain now feeling as if a thousand jelly fish were electrocuting my intestines. But just like when we met that forest spirit, Calamity mouth is shut unable to answer my questions.

Oh you got to be freaking kidding me! I swear that every time I‘ve got reasonably required to ask questions I don’t get the help I need…..

My pain escalates, turning the shocks of stabbing into an electrocution.

For the love of everything, someone please rid me of this feeling?!

     “Hello my crossbreed! Did you miss me?” a horrid voice asks me. Slightly turn my head, putting my fingers into my mouth as to not bite off my own tongue, I witness two disturbing amethyst eyes look down on me. The eyes smiling at my gasp.  

…..Anyone but him!