“Sol Syntrivon is a necromancer!”

Those words had sent the chamber into a grave silence as everyone could only wonder about the implications of Eirini’s words. This was in quiet contrast to the excited throbbing I felt from the mark of the reaper engraved in my chest, almost as if the words had sent the Grim Reaper into a frenzy. That felt more ominous to me than Eirini’s words because anything that had the Grim Reaper excited only meant bad news for me.

Unaware of the dilemma I was facing, Eirini continued on with his tale. “Looking at your shocked faces, I can understand that you realise the magnitude of my words. But the reality? It was much more terrifying!”

A visible shiver went through Eirini's spine as he began to recall the fateful day. Taking a moment to compose himself, he continued, “You can't imagine the dread I felt! Fighting the people I had grown looking up to, my own friends and family, my own clan members. They were like bloodthirsty monsters, resolved to destroy us so that we too could join the ranks of the dead. Being forced to fight against your own brethren when they don’t have a trace of emotion or recognition in their eyes. Truly, there is no greater curse than that!”

It was clear in Eirini’s manner of speech and his body language that he was close to breaking down while recalling the events! The pain and suffering he felt at the events that still haunted him was still present for all to see.

Nova was the one who tried to console Eirini, “Eirini of clan Henosis. We are very sorry that you had such a traumatic experience. We can’t even begin to imagine the suffering you had to go through. We can only admire the courage it must have taken to come and warn us of the threat you faced so that we don’t have to succumb to the same fate. For that, we thank you!”

Eirini was quick to compose himself. He nodded and said, “ I thank you for your concern, Councillor. But we persevered! We defeated the army of the dead! But still, my blood boils because my brethren didn’t get the final rites they deserved! The respect they deserved. We had to burn the bodies of my people in the most brutal of ways, just so they could stop attacking us!”

The whole Council looked unnerved at this. Just imagining being attacked by a group of dead people, especially friends or family, was enough for my hackles to rise. I could see now why Eirini was so fearful of Sol Syntrivon. Necromancy! An ability to cheat death. it wouldn’t be wrong to say that in a way, he had conquered death.

What puzzled me the most was why he hadn’t been confronted by the Grim Reaper! What I had done to Samuel and in a way done to a whole host of people when I had reversed time after Frost’s attack, in a morbid sort of way, was reminiscent of resurrecting the dead! And for the first instance, I had paid dearly for it! Forever branded by the Grim Reaper, that was now my fate! Going against the natural order of things and suffering no repercussions at all was unfathomable to me, after what I had experienced.

Why hadn’t this Sol Syntrivon paid a similarly steep price too? I was close to being struck down by the Grim Reaper before he had let me live on a mere whim. And why in Luna’s name would the mark of the Reaper on my chest thrum whenever I so as much thought of this guy? I couldn’t help but think that I was a player in some grand game that I didn’t even know was being played. Or that I was a participant in this game!

There was a solemn silence in the chamber after Eirini's words. Shadow broke the silence by asking Eirini, “ Is this Syntrivon guy moving towards our planet as we speak?”

Eieri was quick to reply with a solemn nod, “Indeed! Forces of Venus have been decimated! Sol Syntrivon has already consolidated his rule in Venus, enforcing his jurisdiction on the people of Venus with his own unfeeling, unthinking army of the dead! His final motive is to conquer the whole of the Four Rings alliance. I am not aware of what nefarious purpose he hopes to achieve.”

The entire Council looked grim at the prospect. Nova addressed Eirini, his face back to its stoic demeanour, “ While I appreciate the fact that an army of the dead is an intimidating prospect, I still find it difficult to believe that an entire planet can be conquered just on the back of such an army! Surely he must have some other form of support?”

Eirini nodded, saying, “You are correct in your assumption, Councillor! Sol Syntrivon does indeed have the backing of many influential families of Mercury. On top of that, news has reached us from reliable channels that he has a few trusted companions. His generals, if you will. Four of them, in fact. He even trusts them enough to let one of them govern Mercury while he is on his warpath to conquer the entirety of the Four Rings!”

The news of him having four generals was even more ominous if that was possible. Four Untethered who were strong enough and who Sol Syntrivon trusted and respected enough to rule in his stead was a daunting prospect. This entire ordeal was seeming more insurmountable after every fact was brought to light by Eirini.

I couldn’t help but ask, “Why has he set his sights on Earth only now? Why not before this? Why not before the attack on your planet, Mars?”

Eirini looked at me for a moment before addressing the room in general. “What hindered you in your war against the monsters also helped you when it came to Sol Syntrivon!"

I was quick to ask, "What do you mean?"

Eirini said, "Earth retreated into itself once you were faced with the crisis of the miasma monsters. This meant that you weren't privy to any of the happenings in the Four Rings. But, the converse was also true."

Seeing the puzzled look on everyone's faces, Eirini continued, "The withdrawal of Earth from all matters of the Four Rings meant that the Four Rings weren't aware of the events on Earth, no information was available about the happenings on Earth. The earth literally became a dark planet. No one could be sure of the state of affairs on earth or its position as it related to the Four Rings."

Shadow asked him, "But how is that relevant to the invasion of Sol Syntrivon?"

"Very relevant, Councillor. It is viable protection against a person like Sol Syntrivon!"

Shadow was quick to follow up, "How so?"

"Sol Syntrivon may be a tyrant, an oppressor of the worst kind. But the fact he is a very able general cannot be denied. And like any great commander, he thrives on information. Lack of information or misinformation is the one factor that has the capability of throwing off the strategies of an army completely. And no one understands it better than Synvitron. His conquests aren’t just throws of the dice. No, his conquests mostly rely on guerilla warfare. Picking off his opponents one by one, rather than all at the same time."

I couldn't quite add up the picture of him I had in my head up to now with this description of him. The way Eirini was describing him now suggested that Sol Syntrivon was a cold, cunning and calculating individual which made him all the more dangerous.

I asked Eirini, "But the attack on your planet, Mars, it was a show of brute force. How is that guerilla warfare in any sense of the word?"

Eirini had a hint of a smile on his face. I felt as if he was smiling at my naivety. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. He replied, "Think about it, David. How was that a show of brute force? It was an attack of surgical precision, in fact. An attack intended to strike both physically and mentally."

I didn't understand what he meant by his words. He must have realized that by the look on my face as he continued, "It was a win-win situation for him. He didn't have to expend any of his forces but did significant damage to our reinforcements. But most importantly, he imbued fear of himself within us. Every Untethered on Mars is fearful of Sol Syntrivon. Because they know his power now. They understand that he doesn't necessarily have to be present to inflict serious damage to our planet."

"He hasn't even mounted an attack on Mars but he already has us reeling. And the only reason he hasn't attacked Mars directly is because he likes to do things in order. And Earth lies on the way to Mars. Mark my words! He plans to conquer Earth before laying siege to Mars. And that's why I have come before you. So that our two planets can unite and face the forces of Sol Syntrivon together."

One part of his explanation still bugged me. I asked, "Sorry if I seem to have misinterpreted your words but your words seem to suggest that Syntrivon's conquest could begin any day now."

Eirini was quick to reply. "No, David, you haven't misunderstood my words at all. Syntrivon's advent is imminent. Even now, as we speak, two of Syntrivon's generals, along with a massive army, comprised of both the living and the dead, is making its way towards Earth."

That news sent shockwaves throughout the Council. That news made the prospect of war all too real, the threat of facing an army of the dead all too palpable. The whole room burst into a cacophony of muttering as the normally unflappable Council members began to show visible signs of panic.

Nova was quick to nip this problem in the bud as he bellowed with his signature authority, "Silence!"

"This is the Council of Twenty-one, the protectors of every being on this planet, not only the Untethered. If the first sign of outer aggression sends this Council into a frenzy then we might as well lay down our arms and surrender when this Sol Syntrivon comes with his army."

The entire Council had the decency to look abashed as they all quieted down. It was quite comical, even in this grave situation, to look at so many highly regarded Untethered chastised as if they were a child caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

Nova then addressed Eirini. "You said that Earth was closed off to the rest of the Four Rings. That no information could enter or leave our planet. And that was the major deterrent stopping Synvitron from launching an attack on Earth. So what has changed now? Your information suggests that Synvitron has found a source of information that we aren't aware of?"

Eirini nodded, his face solemn, before replying, "That is true, Councillor. For the past few decades, Sol Syntrivon has been continuous contact with an Untethered on Earth. An Untethered who was important enough to be privy to all information on this planet."

"Who?", Nova asked in a wary tone, almost as if he knew the identity of the informant. And I had a suspicion about the identity of the informant too.

"Frost.", Eirini replied. But that was enough to send a ripple of shock throughout the Council. The Council members looked as if they had been slapped, as if they themselves were guilty of being a traitor.

Even now, while in imprisonment, Frost continued to hurt the interests of Untethered of our planet. The scale of the sheer damage he had caused us was shocking, although I had a vague suspicion that we still hadn't uncovered the whole truth behind his affairsd3e.

Taking a moment to collect himself, Nova asked, "Forgive me, Eirini, but I have one final question. You said that two generals of Syntrivon were coming to begin his campaign on Earth. But I assume that he will employ guerilla tactics against us, meaning there might be some attacks before the full out war. Am I correct in my assumption?"

Eirini was silent for a brief moment before replying in a grim tone, "I don’t think you are wrong in the assumption that Sol Syntrivon will launch surprise attacks on Earth before the actual confrontation. That your planet will be invaded by a few factions before the two generals arrive is a certainty! But  I think you are underestimating Sol Syntrivon and his capabilities."

"After all, who's to say that Earth hasn't already been invaded? Who's to say that warfare hasn't already begun from their side? Who’s to say that Earth isn’t already host to a few Untethered from Syntrivons’ ranks?!"