A promising start, a disappointing finish.
Karyl could only use those words to describe his actions tonight. He even wanted to add another word, to condemn his own carelessness.
Failure.
It had been an utter, complete failure.
He sighed.
"So, you guessed from the beginning that this would happen?"
In response to his question, Neos nodded calmly.
"They will not give up. Never. Like wolves that have sunk their teeth into prey, unless they are killed completely, they will never unclench their fang-filled jaws."
"After all, they can fail countless times. They only need to succeed once."
"You know them well," Karyl said thoughtfully. He was not asking a question; he was stating a conclusion.
He closed his eyes and spoke a name that should not have been mentioned through psychic means. Neos frowned and raised his right hand. A faint golden glimmer flashed through the air, then vanished.
After a long while, he spoke slowly. "Even through psychic communication, it is best not to mention their names. Not any of them."
"Only four false gods." Karyl sneered. "They are terrified of you, Neos."
"No. They do not fear me. They fear the fire I stole."
The crowned man let out a weary sigh and reached for a wooden cup from the table beside him. Like everything aboard The Emperor's Dream, the antique cup bore the symbol of a double-headed eagle.
He picked it up, opened the lid, and drained it in one gulp. The scent of some medicinal liquid spread through the air, and Karyl frowned.
"You're injured?" he asked curtly.
"It is not serious."
Neos lowered his arm, holding the cup in his hand as his fingers slowly traced its surface. He blinked slowly.
"The price it paid was far greater than mine. It knew this was its