The Butterfly Effect

{-Kiri-}

They were waiting with the others for a couple of minutes before Micah returned.

“Sorry about that, guys!” he said as he landed in front of them. “You know how it is, I go to deliver one message, end up picking up three more on the way! But I should have everything cleared now, so you’ll all have my undivided attention until you’re ready to head off.”

Each of them mumbled their understanding; it wasn’t like any of them had anything better to do. This was their job and, besides, they were all rather good at filling in the waiting time with chatter.

“What’s our mission?” Kiri prompted.

At the question, Micah’s usually casual demeanor faltered for a moment—he almost seemed nervous. “Before I get to that part there’s, uh, something Orestis wanted me to ask you. None of you… have heard of a guy named Achadus, have you..?”

Kiri and the Messengers each either shook their heads or gave a small mumble to deny it. To Kiri, at least, it just sounded like the name of any other mortal; they could barely keep track of the ones they’d been responsible for helping, let alone anyone outside of that.

Neville was the one willing to ask, “Why does it matter?”

Micah certainly wasn’t too excited to answer it, though he must’ve been expecting some form of the question. That didn’t make his apprehension on the matter any less confusing. “That’s something I’m not supposed to tell you. Let’s just sum it up with ‘bad stuff.’ You know, like half the things Orestis Himself sends you down there to take care of? Anyway, He’s also not someone we want to keep waiting, so let me actually get to explaining the mission, yeah?

“Without going into too much detail, there’s stuff about this guy that you need to get rid of. Orestis wants all traces of him in the mortal realm completely gone, and there’s two key places you’re going to have to go to: a specific river in Seothia’s Palus Mountains, and some ruins in the southern part of the Deoyros Plains. I’ve got more information on the specific spots you’re headed to, just say the word and I’ll give it. Your mission is to get down there, find evidence of his existence, then get rid of it without hesitation. Orestis specifically requested none of you bring anything that you find back—we want nothing of Achadus’s even getting remotely close to Sanctuary. Is that understood?”

Kaius nodded. “We go down there, destroy whatever we find that might be tied to this mysterious person, and then head back. Sounds simple enough.”

“We’ll get it done,” Kiri assured. “You’ll be able to report a successful mission to Orestis in no time.”

Micah smirked. “I don’t expect anything less from you! Before I forget, here’s the more exact locations of where you’re going.” He pulled out a slip of paper from one of his bags, then handed it to Kiri. “I think that’s everything I needed to be here for, but if you need my help for something, you know how to call for me. I’ll see you guys when you get back, and good luck on the mission!”

Then with a flurry of three sets of wingbeats, Micah was gone.

The seven of them walked to somewhere else—the spot they usually went to when they ended to figure out their plan, and where Kiri usually guided them from once the Messengers had left. None of them sat down, though, as Kiri placed the paper on a table for all of them to see.

“It mentions there probably isn’t anything else around the Palus area, but there are towns nearby in the spot in the Plains,” they said. “We should do everything that we can to avoid mortals, but if there’s any chance we’re going to run into mortals, we need to be prepared for it.

“Given there’s only two locations, you’ll go in groups of three. Let’s see… Kaius, Hayze, and Tevie should be well-suited for the Palus area. You’re all capable of handling yourselves in possibly-harsher conditions and your magic covers a good enough range that you’ll be able to handle almost everything I can think of you encountering. Neville, Jacqueline, and Verity can go to the area in the Plains. The three of you will be better at talking to any mortals you might come across, which will probably be your biggest setback. Is everyone okay with that?”

“Aside from the fact I’m yet again paired with Kaius?” Hayze questioned half-jokingly. “I suppose, though, I can’t deny the fact that we work well together. Somehow.”

“I’ll see to it that they don’t argue so much they accidentally walk over a cliff,” Tevie mumbled.

“We’ll do what we can from our side,” Neville said, all his attention still on Kiri.

Jacqueline nodded. “Neville and I will be sure to successfully complete the mission. You can count on us.”

“Don’t leave me out of this,” Verity remarked. “Need I remind you, I’m going to be the oldest of our team. There will undoubtedly be a use for my talents there, and one of us is going to need to do what you two won’t.”

“We should try to keep things civil, though,” Kiri reminded her. “I can’t be sure what Orestis really wants, but I doubt He wants us to go hurting any mortal we come across. I can ask Micah later to be sure. Until then, though, just try not to engage. There’s a chance you’re not going to encounter any mortals at all—let’s just assume for now that you’re not going to.”

“They’re both in the middle of nowhere,” Tevie pointed out. “I think it’s going to take a particularly brave or stupid mortal to wander that far.”

Kaius chuckled. “As brave or stupid as we all were for accepting the offer from a little voice in our heads?”

Tevie shrugged. “Fair point.”

“If there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that mortals are nothing if not tenacious and unpredictable,” Hayze remarked. She glanced at Verity, Neville, and Jacqueline. “I don’t pity you for possibly having to deal with them. It’s far too much work for me.”

Jacqueline offered a weak smile. “I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with a peaceful solution. If we get stuck on something, Kiri will be able to help.”

“Yep! You know the drill, if you’ve got a problem, I’ll probably be there to answer it. And speaking of…” Kiri walked over to a box and pulled out six little… well, even after having them for a couple hundred years, they still didn’t know what to call them. They were almost like earrings, but they fit inside the ear more than hang from it. Eventually, the group just started calling them charms. “You’re all going to want these. We can do a quick check to make sure they’re all working properly once you get down there, then go from there.”

Each of the Messengers got in a more or less orderly line and took a charm.

“I don’t know if Mazel’s here or not,” Kiri continued, “so I want to check on the other Fos before we get too deep into the mission. We can do some basic checks, though. It just means I’m not going to be ready if you happen to run into any situations as soon as you get down there.”

Kaius let out a hmph, pretending to be upset. “What, you don’t trust us on our own? I thought after all this time, you would’ve been able to put some trust in us.”

“We’ll be alright,” Jacqueline assured. She offered a kind smile. “I’m sure we’ll be heading back before you know it!”

Neville nodded. “If we all do our parts, I’m sure this will all go smoothly.”

Kiri had to force themself to give a small smile of their own. What they wouldn’t say was pretty obvious; that they wished they could come with them, watch over them in a more physical sense. But that was something they haven’t been able to do for a long time. It was stupid, really.

Why were they longing for the past, when they should just feel lucky that they were able to see the future?

“I’ll see you out,” they mumbled. “We’ll do some quick communication tests, then go our separate ways for now. In case I don’t get the chance to say it later, good luck out there.”