THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 373: 373. BONE TO CHEW

The warrior swallowed hard before forcing the words out.

”Captain... the Chief of the Northern Tribes has surrounded Galka War Academy.” The room fell silent. ”His warriors are still arriving. They’re closing in from every direction. East. West. South. Even the northern ridge has been occupied. They haven’t attacked...” He hesitated. ”...but they’re tightening the circle.”

Surprisingly, neither Salka nor Sagiri reacted. It was Matasi who looked between them in confusion. Salka merely sighed, twirling the dagger between his fingers without once looking at it.

”He’s faster than I estimated,” he muttered. ”I expected him by dawn tomorrow.” Sagiri nodded once.

”So did I.” The two men exchanged a brief glance before Salka looked back at the messenger.

”Go back.”

The warrior blinked.

”Sir?”

”You heard me,” Salka replied calmly. ”Tell everyone to continue exactly what they were doing before you barged in here. Training continues. Classes continue. Patrols continue. Nobody panics.”

”B-but Captain...”

”The academy has not been attacked,” Salka interrupted. ”Not yet.”

The warrior opened his mouth again before closing it. Salka finally lifted his eyes from the dagger. There was no fear in them, only cold calculation.

”Even the Chief of the Northern Tribes does not possess the authority to violate the neutrality of the Ten Schools. Galka War Academy is protected by the ten schoold. If he marches through those gates without cause, he declares himself an enemy not only of Galka, but of every academy in Tagayia.” The warrior’s breathing steadied slightly.

”Then... we’re safe?” Salka’s expression remained unreadable.

”For now.” His voice became quieter. ”That protection won’t last forever.” The room grew heavy again. Everyone present understood what he meant.

Those ancient laws existed because powerful people chose to respect them. Once enough desperation entered a war, laws became little more than words carved into stone. Sagiri folded his arms.

”Senraki’s absence complicates everything.”

”More than complicates it,” Salka replied. ”If the headmaster were standing here, no northern chief would dare linger outside these walls for long. But with Senraki gone...” He glanced toward the window overlooking the academy grounds. ”...every hour he remains absent weakens our position.”

Yavaga clicked his tongue. ”The old fool chooses now of all times to disappear.” N’varu quietly shook his head.

”No. If Senraki is missing, then he didn’t choose anything. Something important has delayed him.” Sagiri said nothing.

His crimson eyes drifted toward the distant academy gates as though he could already see the thousands of northern warriors gathering beyond them.

The pieces were falling into place far too neatly.

Someone was forcing every player onto the board before they were ready. He could feel it. This siege was not meant to conquer Galka. It was meant to keep him exactly where he was or just drive the northern tribes into battle. They loved battle most afterall...

’Senraki missing and Zaka Askana showing up is a bit too concidental’ Sagiri thought...

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Sagiri slowly rose from his chair.

There was no urgency in the movement, anger or murderous aura spilling from him as there once would have been.

He simply stood, adjusted the sleeves of his cloak, and walked toward the window overlooking the academy grounds. Sagiri watched the distant horizon for several long moments before speaking.

”Perhaps...” he said quietly, ”...it is time I teach the Grand Chief of the North what it feels like to be weak.” The words struck the room hard.

Salka’s head snapped toward him so quickly the dagger in his hand stopped spinning. Even Matasi and the Sandshades stared. This was not the Sagiri they had expected to awaken.

The man who had entered the Endless Pool had been drowning in rage, barely restraining himself from marching north alone. The man standing before them now was... calm. Dangerously calm. His anger had not disappeared. It no longer erupted without thought.

That frightened Salka far more than the reckless fury Sagiri had carried before. Sagiri’s gaze never left the distant walls.

”I have unfinished business with Zorath Zaka Asakana.” His voice remained level. ”Long before this war began.” Images surfaced unbidden in his mind the training grounds of the Galka war headquarters, Kaka struggling to stand beneath bruises that no child should have carried, the silent resignation in the boy’s eyes, and the weight of a father’s cruelty disguised as strength.

Back then, Sagiri had simply walked away.

He had neither the authority nor the reason to interfere. Now he possessed both. A corner of his mouth twitched into the faintest smile.

”I wondered what became of my Kaka and Zaka after I left the North,” he murmured. ”Whether he still serves beneath that man... or whether he finally grown tired of carrying his pride.” N’varu frowned.

Being the same age as Sagiri, he knew exactly how much that squad had once meant to him. He himself had withnessed the cruelity of grand chief Zaka Asakana. He had almost killed his son in the name of training

”What do you mean?” he asked. Sagiri finally turned from the window.

”Nothing changes.” His answer was immediate. ”The plan continues exactly as I outlined it.” He looked around the room until every eye met his.

”We wait for Senraki until sundown. If he does not...” His gaze shifted toward the sandshades, who were scattered quietly around the room. ”...then you leave with Zaira exactly as planned.” He rested one hand on Nokai’s hilt.

”As for me...” His crimson eyes sharpened ever so slightly. ”I have a bone to chew with Grand Zorath Zaka Asakana.” The room fell silent again. Then Sagiri allowed himself the smallest of smiles.

”Well...” he said almost thoughtfully, ”that is... if the impatient chief can restrain himself until nightfall before deciding to assert his dominance.”

”You want to kill the chief?” Lotaga Yavaga asked...

”Well if he dies then he is weak. The weak die in the north especially in the Bami tribe isn’t that it?” There was sharp edge in Sagiri’s voice.

”Leave the chief to me. Incase you have forgotten I am an Asakana and a Bami. We will settle this our way.” Salka said.

”I have not said I will kill the chief captain. I only wish to talk.” Sagiri said in an ice cold tone and Salka just shook his head but he did not dare argue.