CHAPTER 387: ASSISTANCE.

Lenin walked up the long stairs, staring down at her feet with a distant and troubled gaze. She slowly lifted her head when she felt presences in front of her. Thalior was standing in the middle, Uriel and Xena were standing beside Thalior. The three of them stood on top of the stairs, looking at Lenin with anxiety. They didn’t know about her visit, but they had expected that she would come to visit with bad news.

"Great Sage..." Thalior lowered his head, then Uriel and Xena lowered their heads after.

"Seeing your expression like that makes it easier for me to explain the reason of my visit, Archduke," Lenin said as she stood in front of Thalior and stared at the three of them. "We don’t have much time, and Central Neva needs your assistance. I need your assistance," she revealed with a serious expression, staring into Thalior’s eyes.

Thalior closed his eyes, nodding with understanding.

"We heard the news, of what had happened to the Angelis family and the Holy Nation," Thalior said as he opened his eyes. "And we also heard about what Count Blackheart did to the Refenus Kingdom and its people," he added, his expression was cold and filled with hatred when he mentioned Rasmus.

"I don’t believe that I’m defending Count Blackheart, but he wasn’t the one who killed the royal family or killed the people in the capital city. Things are a lot more complicated over there," Lenin said as she sighed and tightened her leather gloves. "But Count Blackheart is the one who instigated the war, he forced the demon forces to make a move, forcing them to act and making them unable to prepare themselves completely," she continued as she looked at Uriel, noticing the amount of Mana within her had grown almost five folds compared to the last time she saw her.

They didn’t know what to feel about that information, and it was always like that when it came to Rasmus. They didn’t know if he was truly evil or a genius when he acted and schemed.

"What’s the current situation over there, Great Sage?" Uriel asked, her voice was calm and raspy, her gaze was sharp like a snake, her new armor looked more sturdier than the previous ones, the swords on her back were all new since she broke everything from the previous war.

"Rasmus killed one of the three powerful demons like Kiel and Yaza. He has awakened his Orthias bloodline, and he’s no longer human like us. Nemu became a powerful figure in Central Neva the moment Aurelia chose to strip her title as a Saint. Factions are being built between nations as we speak, and soon civil wars will happen from different ideologies, greed, and any other excuses they’re going to use to kill each other," Lenin answered as she put her hands in her coat’s pockets. "The Magic Tower has decided to separate ourselves from the Council, and I will be taking the side with Aurelia. The moment I’ll announce that, that’s when the war will break," she continued.

Xena furrowed her brows, surprised that the Magic Tower would make such a bold move knowing the situation was already heated in Central Neva.

"Great Sage, why do you take such extreme measures when the situation over there is already bad enough?" Xena asked as she crossed her arms, trying to understand behind Lenin’s decision.

"Because I don’t trust anyone," Lenin answered with a serious expression, staring into Xena’s eyes. "The only one who I can trust right now is the one who has exposed the truth and took responsibility for it. I don’t trust any nation, not until they’re proven innocent," she added.

"Innocent, Great Sage?" Thalior furrowed his brows, finding Lenin’s statement to be ambiguous.

Lenin took a deep breath and began to explain to them the truth about the Great Era of Neva centuries ago. She revealed about the lost civilization, the civilization that existed beyond the Blackcliffs. She made it brief and detailed at the same time, making sure the three of them understood the situation and the truth behind the peace that Central Neva achieved.

They were stunned when they found out the truth behind Erglade’s rebellion. They realized that they had just prevented a man who was trying to reveal the dark and rotten truth. They realized the man that the world had condemned to be the evil one was in fact the one who was holding the key to the truth.

"Zevrathi..." Thalior muttered as he rubbed his chin. "That name... why does it sound so familiar?" He furrowed his brows, and couldn’t remember where or when he had seen or heard that name before.

"Familiar?" Lenin narrowed her eyes, staring into Thalior’s eyes.

"Yes, I believe I saw it in a record somehwere..." Thalior nodded his head, his eyes moved from one side to another in a slow motion as if he was searching through his memory. "It was a long time ago," he muttered.

Uriel furrowed her brows, tilting her head slightly, realizing that she also remembered that name from somewhere before. Lenin glanced at Uriel and noticed it, the face of someone who recognized something.

"Lady Uriel?" Lenin asked with her brows raised.

"I heard that name from the elders of the Sand Tower. I overheard their conversation about that name, I didn’t bother to ask because it wasn’t my place to ask. But I remember they were talking about the Sand Tower’s master and their connection with the Zevrathi," Uriel answered with a disturbed expression.

There was only silence when they all looked at each other, trying to connect the dots. They began to understand how widely spread the Zevrathi’s connection actually was.

"My... my..." Anastasha said with the folding fan covering her lower face. "What kind of conversation you’re all having to paint those faces with something grim?" She raised her brows, folding the fan and revealed the smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Everyone turned around while Lenin tilted her head to look at Anastasha. They looked at her with a curious look on their faces, wondering if the Asghar family knew anything about the Zevrathi family. However, they didn’t want to ask that question because Anastasha was on the same side as Rasmus. They didn’t want to trust someone like her with that information.

"To suddenly pointing daggers at me, it seems I’m unwelcomed here," Anastasha smirked and unfolded the fan, covering her lower face. "So this is how Rasmus is being treated by those around him. How thrilling," she chuckled mischievously.

All of them didn’t say a word and kept staring at her, and that was when Anastasha mirrored them. She stared at them coldly, her gaze pierced through each one of them, not showing any fear of their status.

"I hope you remember this moment because one day, when you’re in a lot of trouble, don’t be so surprised that I would stare at you just like this," Anastasha folded the fan, revealing nothing but a stoic expression. "Oh, and I know a few things about the Zevrathi family and where they are. But I believe that’s none of your business now," she smiled as she turned around and walked away.

They knew Anastasha had been listening, and knew they didn’t need to play her games, and yet somehow they were still being played by her.

"I hate politician..." Uriel sighed as she watched Anastasha enter the palace. "She never causes a problem, and yet her words and actions always stir something," she added.

"Those who know the truth always have the upper hand, and those who know the truth are often the ones who are using it for their own gain. You’re right, Lady Uriel, who loves to be around with politician when they’re telling the turth or just playing games?" Lenin responded as she crossed her hands.

"Let’s get back to our discussion, Archduke," Lenin said as she rested her hand on her waist. "I really need your help. I need you, all of you to join me."

"You don’t have to worry, Great Sage. We will answer the call, all of us will," Thalior answered as he nodded his head with understanding. "We will summon everyone and discuss this matter. Perhaps in a month, we will be ready," he added.

"A month..." Lenin hummed as she rubbed her chin. "Beggars can’t be choosers. We will be waiting for your arrival, Archduke, Lady Uriel, Lady Xena," she looked at them and nodded.

The three of them nodded back at Lenin, assuring her that no matter what happened, they would be there in a month. They knew how fast the fire was burning in Central Neva, and they might be a bit too late, but they had to assure the safety of South Neva when they left to join the war.

"What’s your plan now, Great Sage? Are you going back to Central Neva right away?" Xena asked with her brows raised.

"No, I’m here to retrieve my resource," Lenin answered as she shook her head and looked at the distance toward the east. "Lady Erlina and Carrion have prepared all the Mana stones that they have promised. I’m going to take them all and process them into magic tools. We are still preparing also," she explained.

"Take care, Great Sage. We can only wish you good luck for now," Thalior said, nodding with understanding.

Lenin nodded and then began to float and flew away with such immense speed that the shockwave enough to push the three of them back. They all watched her until she became a dot in the vast sky. They all took a deep breath before they turned around and walked to the palace.