CHAPTER 6: MEETING AT DUSK (THE DUSK CLAVE)

NEXERIA TOWN HALL, CENTER NEXERIA, NEXERIA

“Hello fellow members of the Dusk Clave. I would like to lead today off with talks about the attack on The Great Mine. My sources tell me that agents of The Circle caused a chain reaction that created a portal, summoning a huge wave of ghouls. If it wasn’t for the Deathborne, the entire city might have been destroyed.” Valien, the vampyre leader dressed in official robes, moves around the great room; his eyes move from member to member of the Clave, gauging their reactions to the news.

“Not again with this mysterious circle, Valien! You’ve been bringing them up for months, and with no evidence, we can’t investigate a myth like this. Where do you get these reports?” Xandrick, the somnex demon with insectoid features, in the Dusk Clave official robes, says.

“No evidence, Xandrick?! We have freakin’ ghoul corpses on the ground all over the vicinity of the mine! They had to get there somehow. There have been mysterious attacks on important places, disappearances of important people, missing resources, and so much more being complained about. That’s where these reports keep coming from! Nexeria is being driven into the ground, and we have to do something about it!” Valien says, his veins on his forehead throbbing as he hears Xandrick’s words.

“Please, Valien, don’t be naïve. The Circle is a myth; there isn’t some secret group that’s messing up the city under the Clave’s nose. However, The Deathborne are a not so secret group, and messing up the city. Why don’t you go after them? Reports say they were at the mine; where were the Circle members being seen?” Berbiros the wolfwalker, looks at him with a gaze, his eyebrows furrowing, awaiting his next verbal riposte.

“I mean, you're calling them heroes for the mine, but they were the ones that blew it up; how does that help Nexeria?”

“We have been investigating the Deathborne, Berbiros. We have a unit handling them. I’m not calling them heroes; I’m just relaying the information that was given to me. But now I want to allocate resources to do a deep dive into the Circle. If they do exist, then we might save this city from their corruption!” Valien exclaims, feeling his veins throb more.

“Calm yourself, Valien! We don’t have the funds to go chase conspiracy theories; especially after losing the mine. Do you have any hard evidence about the Circle or just unsubstantiated rumors?” Astorana, the ghostly woman, asks inquisitively.

“You talk about wanting to help Nexeria; what is the city to do without the income from the mine? We’re in serious trouble here.”

Valien clenches his fists tightly, then releases slowly. He takes a deep breath to regain his composure and stares at the phantasm woman.

“Astorana, I have a strong lead from a trusted source. I know it’s not much to go on; however, I just need a small team to do the investigation to get the evidence!” He glares at Astorana.

“I understand how dire the situation we’re in is; but I just want to stop the cause of these problems. I can only do so much by myself; I’m sure we can come to a solution if we work together.”

“Now he’s communicating instead of yelling; nice of you to leave the kid’s table.” Gride, the single-horned goblin, says, his face curling into a sneer.

Valien glares at the goblin.

“Always with the sass, Gride. Do you think of me as a loon as well? Or do you have something informative to add to the conversation?”

“One thing has nothing to do with the other. Do I think you’re a loon, of course! But if this source is reliable, then it is worth investigating. My friends work at the mine; they’re gonna be jobless. No one wanted this to happen.” He says, resting back in his chair.

“Oh, don’t go soft now, Gride, you’re better than that. This so-called reliable source is just imaginary to get his task force. Well, I, for one, don’t think he deserves the task force. We need solutions for the mine; not a wild goose chase.” Jeannette, the zombie woman, spits on the ground.

“For the love of Nozama; Jeannette! How many times have we said to not spit on the ground?!” Nirahn, the sea creature man, says.

“I see enough disgusting water above water; can we keep it clean here, please? Anyway, I think we should take a vote on it, because I am seconding his task force. Something smells fishy in Nexeria, and it’s not just my people.”

Valien gave a gracious look to the sea creature man.

“Much appreciation, Nirahn.”

Xandrick stands up, looking all around the room. “The motion has been called. Let us begin the vote.”