[The Bengari are ruled by a powerful Monarch, and although their world does not have the technological or economic advancement that most other worlds possess, they have extremely powerful magic and high-level runes, which they use in enhancing their bodies so they could match any parallel world in battle. During the previous war, the Bengari women fought bravely against many opposing worlds that threatened their sovereignty, and they managed to gain the respect of many worlds in their domain, which allowed them to increase their standing in the sixth domain. But even with their many allies, the Bengari were not capable of matching the strength of the more technologically advanced Machina, and when the time came for an Overlord to be selected, King Rubik gathered enough support from the council to be selected as the leader of the sixth Primordial Domain. This decision seriously angered the Bengari, and they swore never to participate in any political matter involving the council unless their leader was given the seat as head of this domain, and true to their word, the Bengari have separated themselves from anything concerning the council for the past two hundred years. But now that Rubik is dead, it is likely the Bengari women will try to gain the seat of the council once again, and they will most likely be far more fierce in their demands due to the disappointment they already faced once.]
Jason clicked his tongue in annoyance as he finished reading all this. Jason already thought that the women were going to be an issue, but from what Jason just read, Jason could tell that the Bengari were going to be more than just a small issue! The fact that the Bengari women had a justifiable motive to want to get the sixth seat meant that Jason’s claim to the seat could actually be contested. Jason knew that he had been on the fence about the seat for a while, but now that Jason actually wanted to get the seat, he refused to allow anyone else to get it! Jason glanced to the side, and he noticed Gina’s eyes were still narrowed into a glare. Jason bumped her shoulder and asked her what was wrong with a raised brow. Gina turned to Jason in surprise, and she blushed slightly when she saw his curious expression. Gina didn’t even know that she had still been frowning! Gina shook her head and spoke in slight irritation.
"It’s those women. They just pissed me off with the things they said. I don’t know how you managed to keep calm back then."
Jason just shrugged calmly and he told Gina that it didn’t matter.
"They weren’t a threat to me, so why should I bother with them? And besides, we’re in neutral grounds right now, so they know I can’t attack them no matter what they say. It would’ve been a different story if we were outside. Just ignore them. They don’t matter."
Gina finally let out a sigh to release the tension she had been feeling, and she hugged Jason’s hand even tighter before nodding to him in agreement. But then Gina spoke up with a small frown.
"But did you hear what they said about their big sister? Do you think she’s going to contest for the seat on the council as well?"
"Yeah, no doubt about it. But I don’t think it’ll change anything. The council uses both your strength and the strength of your world to decide who they’ll make the overlord. Earth isn’t strong enough to win against their world, but unless this big sister is a Primordial, I don’t have to worry about anything when it comes to individual strength."
Gina nodded seriously as she accepted Jason’s explanation. With the amount of power Jason had, Gina knew that nothing short of a Primordial would be able to pose a threat to him! In fact, Gina wasn’t even sure if some of the weaker Primordials would be able to match Jason’s power! So any TITAN wouldn’t even stand a chance! As Jason and Gina walked, Jason thought about all the things he would have to say in the trial, and some of the counterarguments he had prepared for any questions from the council members. Jason would have remained in this state of half-focus, but he had to come back to reality when he suddenly felt something in front of them. Gina hummed and turned when she felt Jason slowing down. There was a wide smile on Jason’s face, and Gina asked Jason what happened. Why did he look so happy?
Jason just told Gina to wait for a few seconds, and it didn’t take five seconds before Gina’s face brightened as she felt what Jason had felt! There was a magic signature coming towards them, and Gina hugged Jason’s arm tightly as a voice echoed from around the corner.
"Priestess, I didn’t know you knew the prideful Queen. She spoke to you like you were both family."
"Yeah, I know. It was strange, but I think Jason might have something to do with it. You don’t need to worry yourself with that."
"Priestess, I think we should return to the Hall of Heroes. The Keepers said that the trials would begin soon."
"Not yet, I want to talk to Jason and Gina before they—"
The voices that Jason and Gina could hear belonged to Riyala and her two bodyguards—Talum and Gruwen. The moment Riyala and her guards turned the corner, Riyala’s eyes widened as she came face to face with Jason and Gina, and Jason saw an infectious smile break out on Riyala’s face as she immediately ran towards him and jumped into his arms!
"Jason!"
Riyala wrapped her hands tight around Jason’s neck, and Jason swung her around and laughed happily! It had been months since Riyala and Jason saw each other, and Riyala could feel her heart squeezing in both pain and joy as she enjoyed the feeling of Jason’s arms wrapped around her for the first time in so long! Jason finally stopped spinning Riyala around a few seconds later, and he put her on the ground and smiled at her while running his thumb over her wet eyes.
"You never change, do you, little priestess? You still cry like a little kid when you’re happy."
Riyala sniffled happily when Jason said this, and she felt her cheeks redden as she tried and failed to stop her tears! Riyala had truly missed this! She missed looking at Jason, and she missed hearing his voice! Riyala was still suffering from the effects of her priestesshood that prevented her from forming deep connections with anyone other than Jason, so right now, it felt like Riyala was meeting her father, brother, and lover all at the same time! Jason leaned down and gently kissed Riyala, and Riyala melted into the kiss! Riyala grabbed Jason’s robes and pulled him closer, and she cried tears of happiness as she lost herself in the moment! But Jason eventually pulled back, and he pat Riyala’s head before kissing her temple and speaking.
"How have you been, babe?"
Riyala sniffled as she used the back of her hand to clean her tears, and she gave Jason the brightest smile he had ever seen from her.
"I missed you so much I felt like I would die."
Jason smiled sadly, and he gave Riyala another quick kiss before he told her that everything was fine now. Jason was back, so Riyala wouldn’t have to be alone anymore. Riyala nodded, and she chuckled lightly as Jason rubbed his thumb over her soft cheek and got rid of the rest of her tears. Once Riyala was done greeting Jason, she finally turned and saw that Gina was also there with Jason! Riyala felt her cheeks heating up in slight guilt! Riyala had been so focused on Jason that she didn’t even see that Gina was there as well! Riyala was about to apologise to her senior sister-wife, but Gina just smiled happily as she spread her hand out to Riyala! Riyala’s eyes immediately lit up, and she went and hugged Gina as well!