Dance of the Damned

Division Masters

"You all did such a good job being so patient." The boy said, seated at the head of the table with a kind smile on his face, passing a box of chocolates around. "Three years came and went. Tomorrow begins the day we have been looking forward to for so long."

"You don't mean-?" A girl with a pink curled wig squealed, getting off her seat and leaning on the table to look at the boy closely, legs unable to stay still.

That is Division Master Four, Angel. She is three years older than Roshi and treats him like her little brother. She would bring all kinds of sweet treats from her house for him.

Teri thought she looked similar to the fifth daughter of the Duke of Naro, a couple of towns away from this town but she could never tell.

She met all the daughters once on a trip with her family and the fifth daughter was very well-mannered with a voice like a child. But she can't rule out the possibility just because of those reasons. Especially if the resemblance is so uncanny.

"Yes." The boy said as the chocolate box reached back to him. Popping on into his mouth, he said with happiness, "Operation Eggs start now."

"YES!" the girl shouted, jumping up and down happily as another man shouted at the same time.

His deep blue hair sticking out of the hood of his cloak as he got to his feet. "Finally!"

Now, this is Division Six Master, Thunder. No one knew why he chose that name but most suspect that it is because of how loud he can get.

He resembles the twelfth prince but only because of the hair. Teri never got to meet him, she just saw him once at a festival. He is roughly between Roshi and Angel's age.

The others shared similar sentiments as the two, either taking off their masks to show their excitement or just talking amongst each other.

Someone raised their hand, dressed like a butler under his cloak, the man spoke, "I have a question."

Second Division Master, Nameless. That is not really his name but people called him that because he refused to give an introduction of himself.

He is the one Teri could not figure out. She could not place his name on anyone she knew or even heard of and he made sure not to give anything about his personal life away.

Everyone fell silent when he spoke, though he is mostly forgotten, people like to hear him talk, especially with Roshi.

The two always have the most interesting talks and it is entertaining to watch.

"What is it?" Roshi asked, pleasantly as always.

"After all those years, why today? Why now?" He asked, making some roll their eyes and groan.

"Have you learned nothing, Nameless?" A woman sitting cross-legged right opposite to him said, mockery in her voice. "Do you really expect Roshi to answer that question?"

Her long black hair with bangs at the front added to her mystery as her voice seemed to flow out like water.

First Division Master, Corey. This person too, Teri could not figure out their identity. In fact, the first three Division Masters identities are a complete blank to her.

Try as she might, she could never figure them out and that annoyed her more than it needed to. Of all the people in that room, Teri has to be the most well-known of them all.

The daughter of the duke of Kister. The Cursed Child, as they called her. Because of the colour of her eyes, she was kept locked away but that did not stop the rumours from spreading.

Her story was even used as tales parents would tell their kids for bedtime. A child cursed at birth by a witch. But there is no prince to save her.

After being cursed, the witch made sure that everyone forgot the conditions of the curse and now, with every disaster that happened, the person they would blame is this woman. Though she didn’t have anything to do with it.

That is why they sent her away and she lived a miserable life until she met Roshi and her she is now. In a group of loud people mostly arguing with each other but their teamwork is not something to sneeze at.

“So, how do we begin this?” Carvill asked, standing behind Roshi who was busy eating the chocolates and watching the chaos in front of him go on.

As soon as Carvill spoke, everyone quieted down again, that is the power of the one only second in leadership to Roshi.

“Ok. I will make this quick.” Roshi said, looking around the table as though he could actually see everyone.

Maybe he can. Teri thought. There is this kind of knowing look in the boy’s eyes though he always seems to look past people in front of him.

“Tomorrow night, the operation will begin in full swing. You know what that means, right?” He asked, not fully paying attention to the conversation as he got lost in his box of chocolates.

“It means that tomorrow night is the most important part of the operation.” Carvill took over immediately. “It is crucial that it goes according to plan otherwise all those three years of waiting will be for nothing.”

Just as expected of Roshi, he never gives all the information himself, allowing Carvill to speak as well. Teri thought. So many of them are going to be thinking this, especially those under us.

“So, what do you suggest we do?” Nameless asked, leaning against the table.

“We will have a small team of just three people including me,” Carville said. “If that goes well, we will inform you all of the next phase.”

“Who are the two you are going to choose then?” Angel asked, excitement dancing in her eyes. “I know it's not going to be me but I want to know.”

Carville turned to Roshi as everyone in the room looked at him intently. To be chosen by Roshi himself is something you can brag about for the rest of your life and it is obvious that everyone wishes to be chosen by him.

The stakes are higher because it seems that Carville has no hand in choosing the two, he looks as concerned as everyone else in the room.

To say the room felt suffocating from the tension would be an understatement. You could cut the air with a knife, that is how thick it felt.

Teri never thought that she would even have the chance of being chosen. After all, he would choose the ones he was closer to. Maybe one of the first three divisions.

They are the ones less likely to make a mistake and their skills are phenomenal, even she had to admit that

I just hope I can help in this operation. She thought looking at the clock on the wall when she noticed everyone looking at her. Huh?

"Division Five Master, Teri. Please stand up!" Carvill shouted, making her shoot up from her chair immediately. "Come forward!"

What is going on? She thought, trying to avoid the jealous eyes of the people she passed.

"Yes?" She asked, looking at Carville.

"Take off your mask and bend down," he said as she obeyed.

She knelt to the height of the boy as he reached his hands out and touched every crook of her face. His soft skin hardly brushing against hers like a feather.

Nothing in her house could have felt as luxurious as his hand on her face would.

His fingers moved like a sculptor making his masterpiece, carving every nook and cranny.

She began to feel a little self-conscious as the stares from the people burnt into her back and the silence felt like it was suffocating her.

"Sacred?" The boy asked, looking at her with his crystallized eyes.

"N-no." She said, averting her gaze from his eyes, as though he could see into her soul if she looked for too long.

"Good!" She said, as he pulled his fingers from her face, making her almost miss the sensation. "Then it is settled."

"Everyone is free to leave!" Carvill announced as murmurs filled the room but not one said a word to the two as they began to file out of the room.

Tier was about to leave as well but Roshi held onto her hand, "Where are you going?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

"H-home?"

"Why? We still have to brief you on the plans for tomorrow night." He said, turning to Carvill as he watched her point to herself, confused.

"Yes, he meant you." He explained, amused with her reaction. "You can choose one person from your division to come. Now sit. We have plenty to discuss."

"Sit beside me, Tier." The boy said, using his walking stick to pull up a chair beside him. "It can get a little boring sometimes."

"O-ok." She said, sitting beside the boy as the hours passed by at a snail's pace but once the discussion was done, it did not feel like ten minutes even passed.

"Understood?" Roshi asked as they prepared to leave.

"Y-yes!" She shouted a little too enthusiastically. "I won't fail you. I P-promise!"

"Let me tell you a secret." The boy said, whispering into the woman's ears. "Patience and then leave the rest to us."