The Primal Hunter

”This is complete bullshit,” Carmen said as she stared at the golden projection.

”It wasn’t my call, but it comes all the way from the top,” the projection of Sven said, shaking his head. ”This may sound curt, but it is partly because of you. Your personal relationship with the Malefic’s Chosen is both a merit and a demerit. On the one side, it ensures us a spot in this world, but on the other hand, then if someone else gets in charge, we may be ostracized.”

”Still complete fucking bullshit,” Carmen now raged. ”Do you really think Jake will just be all fine with us supporting this orange Cheeto fuck? Do you think he will just go: ”oh well, what can you do?” and let us go about our day like nothing? Fuck no, there will be hell to pay.”

”You are talking as if his victory is a given,” Sven answered. ”Even if he is stronger than this Ell’Hakan, it does not mean he will beat him in the political arena. Besides, it is not even Ell’hakan we are supporting, but Arthur, another human. We are not betraying anyone, for we were never on the side of Lord Thayne, to begin with. He will get even better terms than Arthur if he comes out on top, and with Miranda likely around, she will be a voice of reason.”

”Funny,” Carmen scoffed. ”You think he gives a shit about some terms or benefits? Jake is an impulsive kind of guy, and if he thinks you slighted him, that is the only thing that matters.”

”Carmen, we are not getting anywhere if we talk in circles,” Sven sighed. ”The decision has already been made, and none of us can do anything about it. All we can do is make the best out of the situation. The top brass thinks this will have the highest overall chance of success, so that is why we are going with it. You can agree or disagree, and it changes nothing. If you want to do anything, it should be to make sure Jake stays positive towards us if he wins.”

Carmen just kept frowning as she abruptly turned off the projector with a huff, still thinking it was fucking bullshit.

”Ree?” Sylphie asked, still sitting beside her, not entirely getting everything that was going on.

Sylphie had chosen to stay with Carmen during the time since Jake left, and the two of them had used Paradise as a home base while exploring. Renato was the kind of two-faced asshole Carmen expected and did not choose any side at all, only fortifying the city itself in case anyone chose to target them. Not that she cared, he let her and Sylphie do as they wanted, and Carmen’s mother was doing way better. She had settled down and now just worked as a tailor. The original plan of bringing her to an area Valhal controlled had been delayed due to the Salvento family having a lot of assets to claim and Renato being very good at convincing them to stay ”just a little longer” all the time.

”I don’t know, Sylphie,” Carmen sighed. ”This entire situation is fucked up, and they just expect me to sit tight and do nothing? You know what, how about we go fuck up some of their cities? Go punch some City Lords to give them a bit of their own medicine.”

”Ree!” Sylphie screeched excited, probably just wanting to get in a few good fights.

”Let’s do i-”

opened wide as she felt a headache come on. She knew what it was and gritted her

symbol. Conflict is inevitable and healthy, and this entire conflict will only lead to Earth entering a more stable state. No matter who wins. All we want to make sure of is that no matter who wins, we keep an opening. If the Chosen chooses to close this opening, then so be it. Removing ourselves as an organizational presence from Earth is truly not that big of a loss, and as per the doctrine of Valhal, you would be able to stay if you wanted. Anyone would. And remember, we have not actually chosen a side; we have, in fact, done the opposite and said that we will support either side that wins. If the Malefic’s Chosen is the kind of individual that will make a ”me or them” ultimatum, then I will only feel strengthened in this decision. For that is not the kind of man we would want to work with in the long term. So, Carmen, all I am asking of you is to do nothing. For remember, what you do will be the actions of Valhal. I cannot tell you what you can or can’t do, but I can implore you to think about it. If you

what to think… Gudrun had been incredibly hands-off for Carmen, and she was surprised any god from Valhal would suddenly contact her, much

is why Carmen found it suspicious, and even if she had a damn headache from receiving a divine message,

far as to contact me and

an amused chuckle in return as Gudrun answered. ”No, we care about the people on it… which is also why I mentioned that you could stay on Earth even if Valhal was made to leave. People like Jake Thayne care about the people they choose to care about. He has chosen you as someone he cares about. So even if Valhal leaves Earth and you stay, we won’t have lost anything worth mentioning. And if the Malefic’s Chosen loses, I think it wise for you to bring your loved ones and leave Earth altogether, even if

you talk makes it sound like there is even

is a very unknown character to many, and what many do not know is that he showed up to Valhal and challenged Valdemar to a duel not that long ago. The mere fact that he still lives today should be proof that he is not the jester many believe him to be but can represent a genuine problem even to gods

to argue more, but her head was pounding. Gudrun also knew this and retracted her presence, leaving Carmen alone. She gritted her teeth and

off and really felt like getting her frustrations out on some unsuspecting beasts. Besides, she and Sylphie should

Patron after quite a while of no talking. After having a lot of long conversations, Jake finally initiated contact with a

Jake said as he

Wings, I see,” Villy just

”Yep.”

you busy or something?” Jake asked, feeling like Villy was far less talkative than usual. He had not reached out, even after Jake got his Wings upgrade, which he usually did.

for you

is quite clear to me that this Ell’Hakan guy had prepared for a long-ass time and clearly did not hold back when it came to divine guidance. I am going to guess that this

admit, I had expected you to be a bit angrier. You were taken by surprise, and someone died, with Earth being thrown into quite a situation. All something we both know I was

you? Also, we had this talk before that this falls into mortal affairs. The one thing I am wondering is, why does

different from mine, and his Path is also very different. I cannot give you the exact reason as I don’t know it, but he is up to

”I see,” Jake answered.

if you suffer temporary setbacks, you should be able to overcome them. People may die, but as harsh as it may sound,

words for a moment. ”Is that also why no one else was warned? Aeon should have seen it coming. Or Stormild, if that damn elemental was