King Of Limbo

"Because you're too important to me to risk losing so plainly. It's nonsensical to go but you should know this already." Aron spoke flatly and left Claudia at a loss for words in that moment.

She furrowed her brows slightly and turned her head away unable to maintain eye contact with him any longer. "It's not an issue but other's are starting to talk you know... they feel I get special treatment from you just because... well it doesn't matter but that's the case. I don't want to be seen as someone just feeding off others." Claudia muttered in a low tone with a bit of sadness which caused Aron to frown.

However Aron didn't frown because of the others saying this about Claudia. "Tsk, grow up."

"Huh?" Claudia was taken aback by the coldness in Aron's voice as he said this and didn't know how to respond. Aron got even closer to her and looked her right in the eyes before continuing to speak.

"I said grow up. Why should people's acceptance of you matter when it doesn't align with your goal. Wether they hate you or adore doesn't matter so long as you're making progress towards what you're aiming for."

"You trying to prove yourself at the expense of an important operation and your life is beyond stupidity. I expected better from someone of your mental caliber Claudia. Do as you like from here on out." Aron's words were firm and strict and left no room for interruptions, she watched all her effort towards proving her worth thus far crumble right in front of her eyes.

Aron was simply replying to her bluntly but it did strike her rather harshly as she failed to even speak after he was done. He only looked at her with disappointment for moment before walking away completely.

Claudia who was left standing in the hall alone with her head lowered clasped her hands together and showed an expression of anguish, even her eyes looked watery though no tears fell.

...

A little past noon that very day the two teams had made their preparations and were ready to set off.

The attack team that Aron lead was moving lightly with only their weapons in hand and no provisions or such.

While the search team was a bit different in this regard. It had no leader so to speak since each individual would be searching in a different region. This meant they carried no weapons and instead brought along only defensive devices such as the runed orbs and mist pellets that would provide them cover and allow them time to retreat should the situation call for it.

Once all the preparations were done the first to leave were the attack team.Jagu would lead them to one of his clan's settlements to offer their assistance fighting the creature.

As they were going the search team was also getting ready to set off while being wished good luck by their fellow faction members.

Claudia however was nowhere to be seen for either of the departures which was considered odd as she would normally be present in situations like this to give out some instructions to the remaining members.

However humans were naturally ambitious creatures so a situation like this could be considered an opportunity to others wanting to climb the ranks or get noticed, Riya was one such person.

Since day one she hadn't come across as particularly special and over time she proved this to be true as she was considered just slightly above average in talent and strength in the eyes of Jin and Claudia who handled faction affairs.

Like many of the other faction members, she wasn't truly content with her role and wanted to rise up. Having come from a common background like the others, she sought to gain a better life for herself but didn't dare overstep her bounds.

None of them could dare criticize Aron's choices in rankings because they thought they lacked severely in strength. Everyone ranked above them was a monster in their own right...all except Claudia who hadn't displayed a single sign of combat prowess.

The longer they observed the top brass the more Claudia stood out as not being particularly special and so rumors began of being favored perhaps for her beauty, made only worse by the fact she visited Aron plenty.

...

"Everyone let's not stand around waiting and instead make ourselves useful. I've got some things written down that need addressing, so are you in?" Riya asked in a manner that didn't sound like she was barking orders, which was how it felt whenever Claudia gave instructions strictly.

Riya was someone they talked with and got along with everyday so this seemed more like a suggestion with which they were happy to follow.

"Yeah!" Some guys yelled out in unison while others nodded and smiled in agreement.

"Be sure to not interrupt me with noise again, Clear?" The rowdy atmosphere was silenced in an instant when Lady Rose who was still present at the far end of the deck spoke.

"-sorry Milady, it won't happen again." Riya smiled nervously and over bowed towards her before gesturing the others to go back inside with shoo shoo gestures.

Once inside they all let out a sigh of relief as if they were just spared from a life or death situation.

"...she's so scary." Riya commented while still smiling wryly.

"I think the word you are looking for is "goddess" with an extra s because why not?" A grinning guy with dreamy look on his face added.

"Men are hopeless..." A female member clicked her tongue in irritation.

"Not as hopeless as our so called advisor, you'd think she could at least fight given how she's always barking orders left and right." A displeased male member replied causing the direction of the conversation to shift.

"Come on that's a bit harsh, different roles need different kinds of people and maybe she's strong but just doesn't show it. You have to admit that she does a pretty good job maintaining things despite how she comes across." The one to defend Claudia was surprisingly Riya who did so in a manner that didn't sound like blatant protection.

But of course she had her reasons for this, as for what she was scheming exactly, only time would tell.

....

Time passed and the attack team was getting close to the settlement Jagu suggested they go to.

The atmosphere was rather relaxed considering that they were going to meet a hostile tribe to give assistance fighting an even more hostile foe.

For Jin this relaxed attitude could be attributed to liquor he had drunk before leaving. Even now he was slightly tipsy as he brought up random topics during the journey.

"Say Jagu, what do you think my chances are with the single female Komi we might meet this side, I think I wasn't meant for humans. I feel they just don't understand how much of a blessing I am." Jin expressed while showing a grin and patting his chest.

"No chance at all. They hate humans, especially physically weak ones like you." Jagu growled towards Jin as he always found him irritating when he was drunk. Xavier was just quietly listening in but was soon dragged into the conversation as well.

"You have an interest in miss strict back at the airship so you're practically set huh? Lucky miver, I also want a big breasted Komi of a woman. She could serve me liquor while her strong long fluffy- *foosh*"

Before Jin could finish describing his fantasy to the others, an arrow shot passed his head and got embedded into the bark of a tree not far behind him.

In that moment everyone except Aron, Jin and Jagu grew alert and looked towards the trees where they could now see numerous silhouettes.

"I guess they don't like being teased." Jin shrugged uncaringly and kept walking just like Aron and Jagu.

Xavier looked slightly confused at this and so Jin chuckled before explaining. "We entered their territory a little while ago and they just watched us because my best friend over there was leading the way. I guess my words were too artistic for some of them." Jin shrugged and continued walking forward leaving the others without words for him.

"I'm not your friend." Jagu growled at him but Jin didn't let up with his shenanigans. "Oh don't be shy just because people are watching, when men drink together and share their tastes in women then they naturally become the best of friends." Jin added but Jagu no longer bothered trying to tell him otherwise.

Instead his gaze along with the other's focused onto the settlement they could now see a little further away. What was fairly apparent at first glance was that it was overcrowded and had numerous injured Komi of all age groups laying on mats made from the large leaves present in the jungle.

"Good, the traitor has come here himself! The council wishes to see you in the main hut." Hakku who saw Jagu coming from afar approached him before he even reached the poorly made leafy gate and delivered this piece of news.