Beastforged Bond

B4 Chapter 40

[Agency Leader: The video resurfaced. Removing it is no longer possible. Prepare yourself for the worst because Raffael will learn about this in due time.]That was the third message Merlin received from the Agency Leader, and it was the worst so far. He stopped what he was doing and stared at the short sentences, his chest tight.

The Agency stayed out of the political schemes of the Rulers and other powerhouses. They were not supposed to side with anyone, yet they’d approached Merlin with the intent to help him. That help did not include combat support, for the Agency was unwilling to send out their Grandmasters and Rulers, saying their involvement would result in a chain of events humanity couldn’t afford.

Their reasoning was sound. It made sense, considering that the Rulers had their own groups and that they supported each other. They would also fight one another if a member of their group was attacked first. Nonetheless, the Agency’s hesitation to act was frustrating to no end.

“Too early. Way too early.” Merlin nibbled on his lower lip. If Raffael were to find out about Adam and the Elemental Phoenix now, they’d die. There was no doubt that the Zerog household would cease to exist if they rose to face the Ruler of Fire head-on now.

Dirk needed another six months to finish his evolution. Even that was being generous. Merlin was not so sure about Bert’s schedule. Then again, he would have never thought that the dragon heart and Core would be this potent. The Master Beastmaster had been ecstatic with his finds and concocted serums Merlin didn’t even know were possible.

Honestly, it was all too much for him. Hence, he’d been focusing on training and research. And, of course, he spent most of his day with Dirk. Not physically together, but their minds were tightly intertwined. Dirk was still hurt, but the boredom was getting to the soon-to-be dragon. He was so bored that he continued to banter with Merlin even when the evolution started.

Merlin told himself when he focused back on the Agency Head’s message.

He could only hope they would stay away a little longer. Maybe that’d help distract the Ruler of Fire for longer if he found out how close he had been to the Elemental Phoenix all this time. Or…or it would lead to a massive fight because Raffael lost his patience, which was not all that unlikely, and Adam and his niece and nephew would return home to the ruins of the Zerog estate.

Ruffling his hair, Merlin made a decision.

He first visited his sister and brother-in-law.

“My informant believes Raffael will find out about Adam soon.” Merlin didn’t beat around the bush when he met his family at the dining table.

Chloe’s fork stopped halfway to her mouth. It clattered onto the plate a moment later, her face as white as a sheet of paper.

“We need to leave the estate.” Peter shot to his feet.

“What about our children?” Chloe followed her husband, still blanching but more in control of her emotions than one would think. “Do you still have the Detonator?”

Peter slowed and turned to her, the corner of his lip curling upward. “You’re a genius.”

He retrieved a pebble-sized crystal from his spatial ring. It was adorned with dozens of miniature ether circuits, which glowed as soon as Peter flooded them with ether. A moment later, he crushed the crystal.

“Good.” Chloe muttered, turning to her brother. “Lea has been warned. She knows not to return to the estate for the foreseeable future. If we want to communicate with them, we will have to use the outposts. Lea will know what to do.”

Merlin just nodded at his sister. While he didn’t know they’d purchased a Detonator, it was a good call. Keeping the kids away from the Bastion was probably for the best.

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“What now?” Mathias Savier, Adam’s father, asked. He was seated at the dining table as well, although Merlin had to acknowledge that he didn’t even notice the middle-aged man. Neither Adam’s father nor his mother had any sort of presence. They were so unlike that monstrous genius that it was hard to imagine them being related in any way.

“We will move locations. Away from the main sector and closer to the outskirts. The Zerog estate has a few buildings in the Bastion, but we won’t be able to use them. Instead, we’ll have to use one of the flats our great-grandfather’s servant purchased in her name. It’s one of our secret houses, if you will.” Merlin notified Adam’s parents. “It would have been better to leave the Bastion altogether, but I cannot move Dirk around too much since he’s still injured. If not for that, I’d store him in the World and we would move to the wilderness, maybe join Adam and my niece and nephew.”

Adam’s mother shuddered at the thought of leaving the Bastion’s safety, but she understood the seriousness of the situation enough not to complain.

“Would it help if we left the Bastion and you stayed behind alone with your wyvern, or would that complicate things?” Adam’s father inquired, looking dead serious even when the rest of his body trembled in fear.

Merlin glanced over at his sister and brother-in-law and shrugged. “When Raffael finds the video, he will have the Seekers search for Adam. They won’t be able to find him now that my niece was warned. That means the two of you, as his parents, and my family will become their main targets a few weeks into their search. By then, it is only a matter of time before they find us.”

“Can’t we hide from the Seekers?” Adam’s mother asked in a quiet, quivering voice.

Merlin snorted at that. “No. The Seekers will find us. We do not have the means to hide from a Seeker. All we can do is stall them – make it as difficult as possible. But hiding? That won’t work.”

“Except if we move far enough from the Bastions. Even the strongest Seeker’s traits have limited range or capability,” Peter Zerog interjected. “Or die and resurrect like Adam’s phoenix. Or hide in a World or another dimension.”

“We could also acquire Chameleons. A unique mutation of a chameleon beast. That, coupled with several other beasts that can mask or alter scent and ether frequency, and we’d be able to hide in plain sight.” Chloe sighed. “Unfortunately, neither of us has a World compatible with more than one of the beasts required to attain such a feat. Maybe Adam could, but even that I’m not sure about.”

One way or another, they had to leave. A plan had to be set in motion.

And that plan included the destruction of the Zerog estate.

***

The skyscraper collapsed in the distance. They watched the destruction in silence. Billions of credits lost, just so they could have the Agency follow the wrong trail. Just to stall the Seekers and make sure the Ruler of Fire wouldn’t come to them and take them by surprise first.

Was it really worth it? Merlin certainly thought so. The destruction of the Zerog estate was painful. It was a legacy built by none other than their great-grandfather, and now it was no more. But it was a price he was willing to pay.

Merlin was willing to pay a lot more if that was all it took to kill the Ruler of Fire. Raffael deserved to die, and Merlin’s savings and plans over the last few years were bound to come to fruition sooner rather than later. All they needed was a little bit more time. Time the false trails, the destruction of the estate and all the evidence it carried would give them.

Chloe shed a tear and turned away, unable to bear the sight of their destroyed home.

“I have to leave now.” Merlin cleared his throat. “I will message you through the Rising Foundation if something changes. Until then, make sure everything goes according to plan.”

He tried to sound nonchalant, but Merlin could tell that he sounded tense instead. Of course, he did. He, among all the people present, had waited for this moment the most. He was not so hung up on their family’s legacy either. All he wished for was vengeance. Even dying would be fine as long as he was the one who ended the Ruler of Fire’s life. That was all he wanted.

You are not going to die. And even if you do, you will not be alone.

Dirk thundered in his head, warming Merlin’s heart.

He was not alone. No longer did he have to carry the darkness in his heart by himself. Dirk was with him – had been for more years than he bothered to remember. It certainly felt like forever. Like Dirk was always supposed to be here with him, as a part of Merlin Zerog. They were one and the same, and that would never change.

The Brown Wyvern rumbled in agreement in Merlin’s head. He was excited. Ready to fight… mentally, at least. Physically, they’d have to tweak their plan a little.

That was where the next step of their plan led him. To Bert’s home, hoping the Master Beaster would have a trick or two up his sleeves.

Then, with a little bit of luck, the Agency Head would finally cave in and give him one of those damn Solar Orbs.