What could have he expected after a hard training session? Apparently a shower after an already much needed one. How unremarkable, the rain was, charming the afternoon with gloom. Lark cast his eyes on the pavement and set out under an umbrella to the car.
The quiet neighborhood was swallowed in mist and light rain.
“How eerie,” Lark commented. With the timely darkening weather, he could reenter society incognito as no one would want to go outside. That was the hope at least. There were people he didn’t want to meet at Soko’s given their unsavory personalities. However, even combined with the recent attacks, it would be unlikely they could inhibit their greed to buy alien-tech—or rather magic.
Exactly how many people knew, for a fact, what they were buying was magic disguised as advanced tech? He needed to figure it out if he any chance to find Sky and Mishka. From Wangshi’s memories, he gathered they needed to find a ‘world gate’ to leave this planet at the very least. Someone ought to point him towards a direction at the auction. Again another faint hope, but not as implausible if Cornelius Goodwing dared to show his face.
As soon as he got inside the car, he summoned a spirit from the Trinity Watch. “I need a favor Master Nympha—” Her holographic figure rested on the curve of his knuckles. “—You look different…more real?”
“Not surprising since your spirit power has gone up.”
Nympha’s tail swished through his fingers and he felt a chill go through them.
“So what’s this favor?”
It was a few minutes before Wangshi got inside the car. Gushi returned inside the spatial ring, which was now hanging around Lark’s neck by a chain. To keep the slime occupied, Wangshi packed some of what he thought was the slime’s favorite snacks such as fried eggs and leftover pudding.
“Next time, I’ll get you something better,” Lark coaxed the ring, which was feeling jumpy under his shirt.
During the car ride, Lark checked his stats. Sword mastery was added to his slowly growing skill list.
“Lark Rune [Trickster]
[Survivor][Apprentice Beast Tamer][Familiar][Inheritor]
Happiness Level: 75%
STR: 20
DEX: 26 (+5)
INT: 30 (+5)
MG: 25 (+10)
SP: 285
LUK: 45(+10)”
“Skill list:
[???]
[Alchemy]
[Sharpshooter Mastery]
[Steady Hand]
[Sword Mastery] - Life Skill - Rank G - Training this skill will lead to more sword related focuses. Currently learning Wind-style sword arts.”
Compared to the Celestian investigation team, Lark knew his overall combat abilities were lacking and he began contemplating if he should swap his Title for Apprentice Beast Tamer. He tapped on their names, refreshing his memory on their stat bonuses.
Apprentice Beast Tamer would put his spiritual power above 300 if he changed it, which would be on par with most of the investigation team’s stat average. He thumbed his lower lip, reading over the passive ability of the Trickster title. It might help him one-up others on transactions at Soko’s. Not to mention, he had the ‘scan’ ability to look through the quality of an item up for auction. Moreover, it wasn’t like he was expecting a fight to break out either that he would need the extra DEX or STR boosts.
As he continued mentally listing the advantages of each title, the Layton’s home came into view. Lark stared out the window at their brown slate roof. A portion of it was remodeled after Sky asked his parents to carve out an opening from their attic for stargazing purposes. Now that his best friend was gone, who would use the attic? Would that room collect dust without his presence or would they find some other use for it? Such thoughts made his pause and the entire street felt emptier than usual.
“They’re rather unguarded, aren’t they?” Sphinx’s voice surprised him as his fingers fiddled with the band of his watch.
“You’re the type that comes and goes when they please.”
“Like a cat. I suppose.” His loud chuckle made Wangshi turn around from his driver seat once they parked.
“Everything okay back there? I don’t need to separate you two, do I?
Lark scoffed, shaking his head and reached for the door handle. “I’ll be back.”
Making his way to the small porch, Sphinx butted into his thoughts again. “I know I told you before when we first met, you should cut loose ends. Is this how you want it to end though?”
“Quiet,” Lark hushed, stubbing his foot on the brick stairs.
“Also all passive traits don’t need to be equipped to be applied. So that’s why your hands are so steady right now even though you’re shaking in your boots.”
“I said, be quiet.” His hand reached for the doorbell.
“Don’t say, I didn’t tell you so if you come to regret your favor.”
Lark stopped mid-motion. For a moment, he forgot how to exhale and what came out was a choked up hiss. Sphinx had retreated to whatever crawlspace he came from. Good. What kind of guide pops in and out just to annoy people to death?
Inhale. Another try. Okay. He couldn’t back out now. He knocked thrice and waited for someone to let him inside. To take shelter from the rain was his ploy to get in, but once the door opened the sense of devastation and shocked faces of the Layton family hit him all at once.
“May I come in?” he carried his basket of baked goods from Michi’s Bakery up high.
“Lark! You big dummy!” Both the twins tackled his gut.
“Ah! You guys got me. I feel like I’ve been hit by a meteor.”
They looked up at him with hurt expressions. He said something, he shouldn’t have. That was usually Sky’s line. His face froze when the twins heaved off of him and stepped back quietly behind their parents.
When Mrs. Layton approached him with a helping hand, it sent off a decisive signal for the twins to sprint up the stairs.
“I’m sorry Lark, they didn’t mean anything by that,” Sky’s mom began as she looked over her shoulder.
“It’s alright. They miss their big brother.”
“As do we. I’m sure.” Mr. Layton patted Lark’s shoulder. “Come in. I've set some hot cocoa on the table. What’s that you got there in the orange packaging—pumpkin spice cakes?”
Sky’s mom shook her head warily. “Dan, it’s red packaging. Honestly, stop wearing your son’s glasses. They’re making you blind.”
“If only they made me deaf too, right Lark?” He winked, putting on the same smile he did during the holidays. He took the basket from Lark, ushering him to the direction of the kitchen.
“I’ll be in trouble if I agree with you.”
“The worse she can do is remind me of how old I am these days.” He made a show of cracking his back.
“Stop doing that, you’re going to damage your joints!” she scolded. Her angry beaming stare pierced both their backs. With a sigh, she added, “I’ll go see what I can do about Theodore and Cloud. Lark, you know the drill, make yourself at home.”
As soon as the basket settled onto the counter, Mr. Layton’s face turned grave. “They told us, he was dead. Everyone was dead.”
His voice was low enough to tell Lark that this was a conversation only meant for the two of them.
“Who told you this?”
“The police. Those agents.” Mr. Layton’s eye bags showed under the light. He folded his arms together, shaking his head as he recounted what happened in city hall.
“They rounded all the families affected to those big auditoriums for a debriefing. It was all utter fucking bullshit. They wouldn’t tell us what exactly happened. For now - they said - we should treat all those missing as dead.” He turned to Lark, looking him straight in the eye.
“They don’t have a ducking clue, Lark. Where’s my son? Where were you?”
“I…” Suddenly Lark felt like he was a tightrope. How much should he tell without complicating things - did he have to tell them about Mishka too? The Zaynes?
“I was with them.” Lark measured his gaze with Mr. Layton. “It’s true. The school was attacked. Some were kidnapped by the cultists—”
“—So they do have a chance of being alive, don’t they?”
“That’s…what I think too. But it’s complicated.”
“I don’t want to grill you on my kitchen stove Lark, but I need you to be straight with me, please.” The ‘please’ sounded more like an afterthought, but Lark continued trying to keep his message as brief as possible.
“The agents had traitors within their ranks.”
“Allied Agency? Corrupted?” His face dropped.
“Yes. We thought we were being rescued, but they turned out to be on the same side. I managed to get away, but Sky…tried to rescue Mishka.” Lark steadied his tone. A white lie. “I passed out somewhere on the road when I got saved by the real agents and they kept me in a hospital till recently.”
“Friledaux, right? I heard they’re keeping an eye on the other survivors there too.” Mr. Layton closed a fist under his cheek.
So, there were others. Lark made a mental note of this fact.
“What I don’t understand about this though, is how did they manage to kidnap everyone? I can’t imagine these cultists had all these white vans parked outside.”
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Now the trial to maintain the white lie. Lark cracked his knuckles. “That’s right. Not everyone was kidnapped.” His hands weren’t shaking, but Mr. Layton’s were and he perfectly timed his moment to look away. Avoiding Mr. Layton’s wide-eyed shock, he could sell his guilt more easily that there was a possibility that they all saw death.
“I know what I’ll say next might not be much comfort, but they didn’t kill many of the students. We saw many of them get taken. And from what I heard in the hospital, the agents did recover some people involved. Or so they said. I wouldn’t trust them a hundred percent.”
“So what’s your plan, Lark?” The hopeful look in his eyes reminded Lark of Sky when he promised them all, everything would be okay in the end. He smiled, eying down Lark’s outfit. “You’re dressed for action—I can’t help but think you’ve got a better handle on things.”
“You sound like Sky, Professor Layton.” Lark scoffed, stuffing his hands into his suit’s pockets.
“Professor Layton? Now to whom are you addressing Mr. Rune?” Mrs. Layton walked into the living room with Teddy and Cloud in tow. Both huddled close to their mom.
“Please, stop teasing me. We all know you go by Dr. Layton these days.” Lark pouted and nudged the man next to him.
“Well, one of us had to make that sacrifice.” Sky’s father shrugged and stepped towards the couch. “So what do you rascals say to Lark?”
“…Thank you, Lark,” the twins said in unison.
“And?”
“…Sorry.” Cloud hid a part of his face behind his mom’s dress, while Teddy looked like a wide-eyed puppy with his ears drooping.
“It’s alright, really.” Lark grabbed a couple of treats from the basket as bait for the twins to come up to him. “You’re good kids and good kids deserve some snacks. I know I won’t be around after today—”
“Lark,” Dr. Layton’s voice rose sharply. “What are you saying?”
“I’ve decided to go traveling. Don’t worry I’ll bring back some souvenirs for you two.” He rubbed the back of the twins’ heads.
Dr. Layton looked to her husband for help, to which he merely sighed and said, “It’s what he’s set his mind to. Stubborn as a mule, like his father.”
Dr. Layton scoffed. “You sure, it’s not from his mother?” Then she rushed Lark into another hug. “It’s okay darling, we know Sky is out there somewhere. We’re not going to give up hope. You don’t have to do this.”
“What’s this got to do with Sky?” Teddy asked.
“Nothing sweetheart. Take some of the snacks with your brother and go play in your room. The adults need to talk for a moment.”
A vague look crossed Cloud’s features, but he was the first to move and got Teddy to follow him upstairs with a handful of cookies. Once Sky’s parents were sure the twins had closed their door, they marched Lark to their garage.
“Since you’re traveling, this might be useful.” Mr. Layton stripped down the coversheet, exposing the dusky blue and black motorbike.
They gestured again to the bike with big smiles and Lark stood in their garage speechless by the offer. Even if the words were unsaid, he knew they were going to say Sky would’ve liked him to have it.
“Sky never finished paying it off, so we’re grief-ing his debt onto you. Don’t think too much about it.” Mr. Layton wrapped his arm around his wife. Lark could vividly remember the day she freaked out after Sky brought that motorbike home from Soko’s auction. Now, she was attached to it or rather the connection between the bike and her son - Lark could see it. Was she really okay with it?
It appeared he had his own expression read when he hesitated, and she waved her hand in a ‘go’ motion towards it. “We’ll go back inside if that makes it easier for you. Okay? Dan, c’mon let’s go back in. I’m getting cold or rather our drinks are getting cold.”
“You heard her. You have to follow the doctor’s orders.”
Lark ruefully smiled, taking the hint. “Thanks. I’ll take it to the car now.”
Before Mr. Layton stepped back inside the house, he opened the garage door for Lark. “Close it after you’re done.”
“Sure, no problem.” Lark patted the seat of the motorbike and began wheeling it to the SUV. “Wangshi, open up.”
His caretaker was taking a smoke break under the umbrella. “It would be easier to put it inside the ring.”
Lark seemed to only realize this option and sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
“Are you sure you even know how to ride it?”
“No, but where we’re going. I don’t think I’ll need a license either for it.” He opened up the ring’s storage space and maneuvered it over to the motorbike. “Gushi, move out of the way,” he said. Soon, the entire engine disappeared without him lifting a finger.
“You’ve got another hour before our appointment.” Wangshi reminded.
“Don’t worry. I just need to settle one more thing.”
Back inside the Layton’s living room, Dr. Layton shot him a strange look. “Where’s the bike?”
“Already in the trunk.”
The couple both made a face that said ‘really’?
“It’s a deceptively big trunk.” Lark joked. “I have to go soon. Wangshi is waiting for me in the car, but may I take a look at Sky’s room before I go? I feel like I may have left something important there last week.”
“Sure, go ahead. We haven’t touched anything in his room yet.” She became quiet after realizing what she said. Lark paid no mind to it and instead gave her an assured smile and trudged up the stairs to the attic space.
The ladder was already pulled down in the middle of the corridor and the twin’s voices could be heard as well as the crackling static of a radio.
“Hello, come in Jupiter. Over.”
Lark’s chest tightened. They were using Sky’s call-sign.
“Are you out there? This is Sun and Moon calling. Over.”
The twins hunched over the analog radio on Sky’s desk. He’d bought that for one of Sky’s birthdays when he went into an alien phase. They were not much older than the twins when they pretended to go alien-hunting. Did Sky show them how it worked?
He knocked on the door, letting them know he was coming in. “Sun and Moon, Earth is here, wondering why you two aren’t in your rooms. Are you bored of Runesteam already - should I file a complaint to my toy factory workers?”
Cloud shook his head, while Teddy let out an exasperated sigh. “I’d wish he’d answer already.”
“It’s going to be fine - I’m going to go find him and bring him back to you.” Lark crouched down to give the twins another big hug. Their warmth gave him the assurance he was doing the right thing. He didn’t want them to spend their time growing up, wishing that their big brother would come back.
“Your parents are looking for you. Tell them I need a few minutes up here.” He slipped them another two twenty’s into their hands.
Both their eyes lit up. “How’d you do that?”
“It’s a secret.”
He heard them giggling all the way down the corridor not long after shimmying down the ladder. This is why they liked him better than their brother. Greedy rascals.
“About that favor?” he spoke to the watch, and the shadowy form of Master Nympha appeared.
“Your spiritual power rose again.” Her normal two-toned body was less murky than before. She looked out the trimmed out window on the ceiling. “Fog. You’re in luck. Find me an object to contain the seal and something to draw on the ground with,” she said while sniffing the air.
“I have one in mind,” he answered, climbing over the pull-out sofa. He lifted the throw-blanket and uncovered a sketchpad. Mishka had given him it the week before and he’d forgotten it again soon after their stargazing session that night.
In addition to Mishka’s sketches of the alien pyramid, more pages were filled in by Sky’s sketches of the moon and constellations in deep, blank ink. Lark couldn’t be masterful artists like them, but his presence was noted by the stick and point caricatures or what he called highly advanced doodles taking up the corner spaces.
He couldn’t help but be slightly hurt as he leafed through the drawings. Mishka had lied to them by omission, pretending not to know about how their lives were changing or going to. What else had she kept from them? He couldn’t help but ask the notepad as if it could tell him the answers he was looking for like the skill book.
He prepared the sketchpad and a box of sidewalk chalk in front of Nympha. She pointed her tail at the opening.
“Close it. We need the circle to be in the center of the room.”
He nodded and began pulling up the ladder slowly as to not alert the Laytons. In thirty seconds, he was in the clear and the entrance to the attic had been sealed. Nympha directed him with the chalk and he made a wide circle around the square.
“This is stronger concealment magic, little one. There’s no reversing this decision on your own.”
Lark agreed. “I know Master Nympha. I’m making this choice without their input, but I want them to live easier. I owe them that much for letting Sky get taken in front of me.”
“Well, let’s proceed then.” Nympha clicked her tongue and ran along the circle once before hopping into the center. Her form scattered for a second before a crowning, blue-colored stone produced in her paws. The Cursed Memory Gem, Lark left behind in the Palace of Memories.
“You learn here, little one, we’ll be altering the uses of this spirit gem to not hurt the dwellers.” She pointed to the floor with her small paw. The family below them blissfully unaware of the dungeon master’s presence.
Next, she told Lark to open the window. “The first step is using the environment rather than thyself.”
Fresh, cold air rolled into the room, misting his face. It had stopped raining and a faint light pushed through the dense clouds. Lark blew on his chilled hands. “What next?”
“By transferring the gem’s powers into an object, we lessen its effect.” She lifted up the airy blue orb and placed it over Mishka’s drawings. The ball balanced on a gray hexagonal ring. “The dwellers are not required to touch the object to fall under its powers because, in a second, we’ll use a concealment charm.”
Lark knelt beside Nympha’s figure and ask if she needed blood.
“No. Don’t be silly. Can’t have you shedding blood over their good wood.” She shook her head and clicked her tongue to hurry him. “Even though your magic power is low. This much should be okay enough for it to work. Repeat after me: Lateo en caligo.
“Lateo en caligo,” he repeated. Nympha didn’t click her tongue at him, so it must’ve meant his pronunciation had passed.
“Repeat this chant over and over as you roll the ball into the papers. Remember that sensation when you stabbed the sword into your friend’s forehead. Just. Like. That. Very good.” Her eyes traced the curve of his right hand as he drove the spirit gem into the sketchpad.
Lark’s mouth grew dry with each maintaining spell, but the orb was clearly sinking so he concentrated harder into chanting the mantra, “Lateo en caligo. Lateo en caligo. Lateo en caligo…” only stopping once the ball completely vanished under his palm.
“Then finally, I’ll place a barrier over this room, in which persons with no magic power can cross into,” Nympha said and proceeded to step over the glowing sketchpad. Her four paws dipped into the sketchbook as if it had turned into ink. The glowing material attached to her skin and with it, she left a trail of pawprints as she ran within the confines of the circle.
She whispered, but the words were lost on Lark’s ears like critter noises. Puffs of cloudy air appeared to come out of her nostrils and mouth, covering the pawprints in a layer of fog It wasn’t long before Master Nympha stopped scurrying and a light, pale blue barrier settled over the attic door.
“Check it.”
Lark waved his hand under it, feeling it melt over his skin like a layer of snow.
“Will it work like this?”
“Everything and everyone connected to this sketchbook and more strongly the dweller of the room will be forgotten only by the people who come into this home. If they try to recall or access this room, their mind will be paralyzed in a way where they feel trapped in a fog for a couple of seconds until they move on.” Her blue eyes gave off confidence, reassuring Lark but he couldn’t help but feel a bit saddened by the turn of events.
“Okay, little one, we’re done here. Now, we escape like bandits into the night.”
Lark’s eyes threatened to cross-over, but let’s not upset the legendary spirit he thought and said with a sincere tone, “Thank you Master Nympha.”
“Don’t be so formal, little one, after all this favor has cost you a couple more coins.”
Yes. A couple more. His accumulated debt to the dungeon master was now 120 Celestial coins minus one. With a small sigh, he climbed out the stargazing window and disappeared into the fog.
----------------------------------------
“Honey, when did you get these?” Dr. Layton carried the basket from Michi’s Bakery to the living room table where the twins and her husband sat, drinking their hot cocoa.
“I…I guess this morning?” Mr. Layton rubbed his eyes under his glasses. “Man, the optometrist must’ve prescribed me the wrong eyeglasses. These are making me blinder.”
He placed them onto the table and reached out to pat the twins’ heads. “What are you two up to?” Then he paused and looked at the twenty-dollar bill Teddy had pushed into his face. “Where’d you get this?”
“From Lark,” Cloud piped in.
“From who?”
“Lark. Bark. Bark. Bark.” Teddy woofed and cutely sat in between his dad’s legs. “He said you wanted to see us.”
Cloud laid on top of them and yawned. “And he said to leave him alone.”
Immediately, Mr. Layton rose to his feet and marched to the bottom up the stairs. “There’s a person up there?”
“I’m sure it’s…” Dr. Layton followed after her husband and stopped in her tracks wondering what she was about to say next.
The two adults both looked at each other for a few seconds, before returning to the living room. “What were we talking about?” Mr. Layton reached into the basket and opened up one of the red packages.
Cloud laid asleep on the couch while Teddy leaned on his dad’s shoulder. “Bark. Bark. Bark.”
“Puppies? Do you want one? Let me talk it over with your mom. The house has been feeling quite empty lately.”
“A dog? Really honey?—” She grabbed a biscuit and thoughtfully bit into it. “Okay. I'll think about it.”
“Are you for real? That’s awesome, Mommy!” Teddy squealed and pushed the twenty into her lap. “Use this to buy toys for it. Then I can go show Lark and brother when they come home.”
“One thing at a time, rascal.” Mr. Layton tussled Teddy’s hair, giving a scandalous wink to his wife, at which she huffed. Teddy had no clue what they were talking about, but Lark was sure taking his time. He dipped his cookie into the hot cocoa and nodded off to sleep a few bites after.