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..ASSIDUOUS..

(adj.) To perform an action with great care and diligence to acquire a good result.
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Oh, the mercy of darkness and dazzle,
Thee shall decree seed of verve to rustle,
Oh, the winds and waters that surge,
Save thee child; thou is her only refuge.

Shall you not cease until her sun shines,
Brighter than facets of million diamonds,
Her words shall waken thorns and pines,
Her love shall rise to abate our repents.

Her pale flaky lips trembled with every syllable that followed. Her spilt senses withered in the clutches of distorting hopes.

Her once erect spine had curved over the passing transitions of dawn and crescent shines. Her ears were tired of the lulling cries and welled up worries expressed in the shrine as the beloved woman lie feeble with watery breaths. But her faiths that gleam as citrine as the rays of orange sapphire dawn between her puffed sleepless lids were never receding in the least.

"Apologise Grace, Sir Azarious had sent you-"

She rose her palms and flinched, dismissing her maiden. From the strong musky fruit scents and strong vapours of mint and cinnamon, she could sense the freshly picked berries and herbal tea. Indeed, they weren't her priority. At least for now.

"I'm afraid I must insist on this. It is an order from Sir that you shall eat and rest properly. Pleas-"

"I need no merriment. She needs help. Until I see one promising sign of wellness from her, I shall never rise from here. Getting right?"

The soft dusky cheeks of the maiden crimped as she thinned her full melanin purple lips flat. In silence, she placed the basket near her incense stand and took a turn to leave her at ease.

"Take them along. It would be the only great help you could offer me in these tough times. Please?"

"Madame, I wonder why would an axe get fragile for the woodcutter's sickness? Don't push me to let you fall ill. I respect your priorities but not at the cost of yourself. It's been three full nights and you are starv-"

"Don't remind me how long she had been like this. May she get well soon. Oh, gods please be merciful!" She crumpled her frills as tears moistened her smudged stibnite lining her tired lids.

The maiden curled her stilled frame in her hands. She wiped her trickling tears with her palms.

"Oh, saints! You are too weak. Please rest for our goodwill, Madame. I beg your pardon but in her absence, you should be our leading light." She gently warmed her palms and bitter cold heels.

"How can I bundle my sorrows and fare the sea without her? Why not she had risen? How did I let her end up in such a state? Why was me not of any help to her when-"

"STOP!" A sudden rambunctious shrill filled in the dark dead silent shrine. The strides of the metallic clings and wooden boots in a dragged gait rose as the echoes of clamour faded between the rugged rocks.

"Sir Laurel? You should be resting. Why are you here? How did you-"

"Argh! Again?" His rolling eyes made Kenna blink her lids in a puzzle.

"Stop the why's and how's. You don't wish to make my weak throat bloat like a bone broken frog. Do you?"

His abrupt wit made the maiden cackle up. But the rising brow and quick daggers shot by her superiors quietened her.

"Perhaps I should get more food and tea. I shall take my leave Madame?" Even before Kenna could nod, she ran to get her out of their sights as quickly as she could.

"Kids these days are far too much." Laurel sipped some air in disgust.

"Happens. I'm very happy that you are good, Sir. I'm too sorry that I couldn't visit you very much."

"Don't make it sound like I woke from a death bed. It's just nothing. The cosmic way of life is always tiresome and I'm very grateful that I can make you eat your first meal of these two hard days." He took the plate and handed it over to her before she could realise his words.

"Sir! But she hasn't woken yet. I promised the gods. Hope I didn't offend you." Kenna cornered her eyes while her hungry burbs leapt out enough for anyone to be heard.

"So that's the matter then. She should be up by now. Isn't she an eager beaver kind?" Laurel spoke as he eyed the woman lying in the velvet-covered beds at the feet of the mother. Eight candles in an octagram were lit to reveal her pleasant curls teasing her resting face.

"She is, Sir. Would that affect her in any way?" Kenna gripped her elbows and limped, her worry plastered on her creasing temples.

"Ahaaa. Then it is not the prayers that she wants. She needs something else." Stating that he turned around and thudded his sceptre thrice.

Perhaps he has some plans, Kenna mused.

In no time she could see two people coming with bundles and tables wobbling on their hands. As the little lights pecked their shadows Kenna knew that it was them.

"Are we gonna discuss things?" Kenna blurted while her eyes stared at the parchments and leather satchel wrapped huge books.

"Yes and no." The trio answered while setting up the table near the sleeping woman.

"Bring us four-oh sorry five seats and some tea to fuel our minds please," Azarious ordered, making maidens race to get the needs arranged.

"Oh holy hermits, you look too weary. Why haven't you eaten the berries? Aren't they good?" Valerie embraced her once she set her hands free of the heavy burdens.

"That's a promise-"

"Now you have our promises, Kenna. Have your food and let's wake her up. Together!" Laurel extended his hands.

"Yes, I'm in." Azarious piled his palm.

"Hold on. Without us, it's not complete." Valerie dragged Kenna along and piled her palms on Azarious hand. She then eyed her to join.

Kenna chewed her lip in an enigma. Yet, these wondrous people will never fail once they are together, she assured. With unanswered questions lingering on the air, she gave in.

"Promising beginning. I shall obey you." She took the berries and tossed them all together. Munching on some while her lips halted between to drink in the pulpy essence, she gulped them down carefully. "But who is the fourth person joining us?"

"It is-"

"Good day to everyone here. Hope I'm not very late." A breathy voice followed a ramble of footsteps. As the haze of shadows cleared Kenna saw a thick chiselled man wrapped in thick, grey, trimmed winter furs. His slate grey eyes sparkling as silver with thick brown tufts of lively lashes and his unruly curls covering his little forehead gave every reason why any bird would choose him as their home.

"Welcome, Ragnor Laurel. The team is happy to have you here." The joyous greetings of Azarious made Kenna toss too many questioning gazes.

"Much obliged to be a part of this teamwork Sir. I'm very much surprised that my dad chose me to assist him past our differences." He knocked his fist with his father and joined his side to fill in the empty seat.

"That's intense. So the deadly charm of Narngons is joining us?" Kenna extended some berries to him.

"Me deadly? Haahaa. Perhaps you meant my field of necromancy or was it because I'm a prodigy in breaking hearts?" Ragnor winked while stooping his dimple jaws on his fisted knuckles.

"So all of that is true then? Hmm. Since we know your father it all could be possible." Valerie's satire gained some babbling bursts, making Laurel ruffle his falling pelts.

"Ah. Off-track hit. So what's the deal? Between, why is this chair empty and why are we here in front of a sick angel?" Ragnor shifted his pointers with his queries.

"You will know soon, son. Now let's begin what we should. Alright?"

"Agreeeed daaad!" He noted his head hurriedly like a toddler.

"The problem in Earth is getting serious. Firstly, it was thought to be a spirit but unfortunately, we get to see that it's from the zeroth world of liberation. This-"

"Excuse me here. Do you mean that the problem of Earth is from the spirits of Mallecterth? Seriously?" Ragnor shrugged his tense shoulders.

"Indeed and it's confirmed. All that we must do is relieve the girls off this issue while solving it through some other way." Azarious clarified him.

"Not so good idea. They have confronted the spirits and they chose to reveal the things to them even before they were assigned to carry out this assignment."

"But Laurel they are not of too much hope. They are still hookie-rookie practitioners. We can't risk a fly in the place of an eagle." Valerie snorted her sighs.

"But what he tells is right. If there could be one way of solving it. It could be through them." Ragnor held Laurel's palm.

A cramming silence engulfed their thoughts.

"I get the theory here. But how do we port them through the four worlds to the malicious world of no morals? No human can ever enter the world of the formless." Kenna pulled her lower lip in anxiety.

"There should be some possible way put, isn't it?" Azarious took the quill and tried to brush past the opened books hinting at some ways of porting into the formless worlds.

"Stop hunting through those scriptures. It's not going to be helpful." Ragnor stooped over the wooden table to close the passive texts, surging some particulate dust.

"Confident enough?"

"Yes because throughout history we had no such happening recorded, which means no texts can deal with a solution for this qualm. And, one more thing to consider. Whatever we know of the formless worlds are nothing but done predictions piled with visions and anticipated thoughts. It doesn't give the apt friction either."

"That's factual, Raggie. So what else could be there? Do you have any suggestions?"

"Yes, dad. A possibility. What if we make the formless think those women to their destiny and let those creatures take them to their world. From there through relics we can work it all out."

"Asking to prepare them as our scapegoat? Those cold temperatures and soul biting demons would kiss their life out and taint them. Isn't that a murder?" Valerie retched her cold gut.

"That can't be a choice. We can't make our children suffer more, they had had enough." Kenna began to lose control over her emotions.

"Then tell me something more wise and pragmatic. I'm all ears here." Ragnor folded his arms and narrowed his lids.

Fractions of melting passed but none could find a better solution. With every passing flick, Ragnor grew impatient.

"This silence is too boring. I think I must take my leave. There are more researchers left to be worked out." Ragnor tightened his furs as he stood.

"Oh, yes. Wait, I have got an idea. What if we create an illusionary Mallecterth?" Valerie's suggestion earned everyone's curiosity.

"Then we can make the girls travel there and let them achieve what we want them to. Right?" A palpable tension stiffened every mind.

"Ms Valerie Gnathsion. Are you a born lunatic or did your paranoid life transform you into one?" Laurel hit his sceptre on her punk green head.

"Ouch, what is your problem? I said what crossed my mind. Take it or leave it."

"Gosh! You guys. Better I take leave before I become amber of this insanity club." Ragnor's sarcasm earned him blazing gazes.

"Alright, my bad. Apologies everyone. We can't create an illusionary world as none have experienced what it would be in real. And, the spirits aren't foolish enough either. This will risk it more than what I implied."

"So what else can we do?"

Kenna sipped her lips and turned to look at the serene fawn eyes glinting under the rays of the morning star. You chose them, the mother then why would you let them suffer? she pleaded as some tears froze of the edges of her eyes. Valerie began to work out things with quill and parchment. Azarious even tried to create his theories while Laurel was lost deep in thoughts.

Ragnor waited with patience and a strong faith that his idea would be the only discretion. When he felt it too boring to be confined to a place, he took to wander over the shrine. In a moment, he looked at the restless people.

Ohio screech screech! Hunt hunt faster. Tadaa. Here is the too calm shrine where the chirpy-umpy chaos fuels a squishy-musey rat race. Squeak squeak cheewu, Ragnor laughed at his farce. He was thankful that none would hear him past the thirty footsteps of polished gravels estrange them.

Sooner he plugged his laughs into a smile. Once he stopped he heard another crack of laughter from the people behind. The endless grip of cackles earned every attention.

"What a crazy yet captivating joke it was! Hey, Ragnor I'm certain that you have your dads gene of humour with some betterment. Are you always prone to be such a prankster?" Her vibrant emeralds shone brighter while her shoulders wiggled from her terrific laugh.

"So you heard everything?"

"From your devoted prayers to his hilarious joke. Of course, I did. Why would I not Kenna? Between how long was I rest-" Before she could finish, Kenna, hugged her right enough to squeeze her lungs to peek through her airway tree.

"Ouch, ouch. Calm down."

"See, like I said she needed this than just prayers." Laurel grinned for the first time.

"Indeed peers. I thank every one of you." Kenna whirled around like a five-year-old. She took Rohanna's palms in her for a cheer dance and tossed her in her arms.

"Ah! You reminded me of my good olden days. Thank you for everything Kenna." Rohanna hugged her for a brief moment, making her spill some dews of glee.

"And to everyone here. Thank you so much. Between, what did I miss?" She collected her ringlets to knot them at the end while adjusting her long weightless robes to save her from an unplanned fall. She took the empty seat left between Valerie and Laurel while others occupied their former place.

"We are trying to sort out the porting issue but we had no good idea than manipulating the girls to the world of the formless."

"But that is dangerous to be done than being said. Do we have other choices?"

"None, priestess. These people have been working for three candle hours and it's nothing fruitful." Ragnor nodded his head to the sides with his lips pressed too flat.

"Alright then. Clear me this. Why can't we send them directly there?"

"Humans can't survive long in the formless world. Their soul will be too weak to bear the trough and crusts."

"So engaging one soul per se might be baleful. But, what if we blend the souls? If not one why not two? Also, the stones can be an adjuvant."

Silence let its curtains fall but this time their chances thrived with more hope. After exchanging some solitude looks of inquisitiveness, Ragnor confessed, "That was one intense trail that would get it all settled! Much obliged to be in your team, your highness!"

Hello everyone!
How have you all been? This is one long chapter packed with more emotions and wisdom of the Narngons. Hope it was enjoyable.

.Ø. What impression did Ragnor leave on you?

.Ø. What do you think Rohanna meant?

.Ø. Lastly, what do you think of the plot progress?

Let them know it all in the comments.

Until next time,
🦋..Yaris..🦋