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<03/11/1972 – 15:00 | Coney Island Beach, Brooklyn, New York, United States>
The sea breeze in the air gave a more comforting feeling than the constant sunlight in the clear sky, and through it all, none of it could ever make up for the twisted sensation in her stomach. Why is this happening now?
"I don't get it though." Danny still had catching up to do. Jane can be sneaky sometimes when she wants to be. Though having Danton call her out of nowhere with a secret cellphone hardly compares to what she went through much earlier, regarding her symbol. But then why would Danton call her at all? What would it even be about? The way Jane looks now, it isn't easy to tell.
"I was afraid that this might happen. There were plenty of people watching the live feed that day, while a few unknowns were probably trying to record the event electronically. So now your secret is out."
That is the emergency from which Danton contacted Jane for. She knew exactly what he was talking about, and what it all meant. This invisible crest on the top of her right hand; Jane held it up eye level, and even though it was deactivated outside of the veil, she knew it was still there hiding somehow.
"A wide variety of people especially in Eldora City know about your attempt to cheat in the championship using a forbidden symbol. Naturally, they're demanding to know everything about you."
"So then what do I do?" Jane's voice quaked with tears yet to stream from her eyes, and she was barely keeping herself together. They know. They all know! All of Sprawn Valley hates her now! Everybody knows!
Taylor didn't understand what was going on, naturally since Jane was the only one capable of hearing Danton's voice, but she looks frantic right now. "Jane?"
"It can't be helped. I've got the council to back down, as well as all of my subordinates, but I don't control the will of the people. There are those skilled in magical power that have already tried organizing a hunt. It's pathetic."
"You really think that's what I needed to hear?!" Jane clenched the rim of her cellphone, her arms and hands trembling. "I can never go back now! I'm a fugitive in Sprawn Valley!"
"What?!" Danny and Taylor both reacted in synchronicity. Jane, a wanted fugitive? It can only mean one thing.
The footage that went live from the champion's chambers leaked out into the world watching that battle, when Jane incidentally revealed her forbidden symbol to the cameras, as if on purpose. Jane remembered that moment well. It was her plan-B trick to scare Danton into submitting to her will, since it would have jeopardized his position of power. It was totally stupid, and Jane can never take it back now.
"You're overreacting a bit, Jane. My influence still goes a long way. Since you have been pardoned, you cannot be arrested for having that symbol by any Leray agent. Those who dare try it are acting against the law and will be considered rouge, and therefore would be hunted down by the gradyents. However, I do worry what happens now with regards to the Scarlet Cult."
Jane gasped as she totally forgot about that. This situation is worse than she thought. Overreaction isn't the word he should be using right now.
"When they hear of this news, those in the Scarlet regime are going to be the most dangerous hunters of all. I won't sugar code this Jane. If you do return to Sprawn Valley, you are putting your life in danger."
"What about my family? They'll be hunted too!"
"No, they won't. I've instructed your friend Alyssa and your sister Iona to protect your family from any potential threat while patrolling the southern section of the Gulop Region. Your family will be fine. Once we figure out exactly what symbol was imbued onto you from the E-7 mark 64 spell bomb, we should be capable of removing the mark."
"Ah- Are you sure?" Jane never heard that much certainty before coming from Danton. So long had she believed that this was just another symbol that any skilled mage could remove, but for some time, everybody was claiming the opposite. What would have changed?
"It's still too early to tell. So let's just keep hope alive, alright? I just thought you ought to know to be wary if you return to Sprawn Valley anytime from your vacation."
"Is that all?" Jane's tone collapsed into a monotone setting, her depression unable to drag itself out any further.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Of course. We're still keeping our eyes open. The Scarlet enemies won't be able to make a single move this time without us knowing about it. I'll only contact you if there are any vital updates."
"Fine. See you then." Jane hung up the phone without hesitation... But it was far too late to distance her thoughts from this. People in Sprawn Valley are outraged about her having that symbol in the tower. Many already knew before, but the awareness was suppressed up until now. They must be forming a witch-hunt right now to purge her from existence. Whether it be fear or hatred, this is how ordinary people act when they learn about a marked one.
"Mind if I ask what that was for?"
Danton turned around in his own chamber level of Eldora Tower to address the spoken question. It was Brock, the fourth level elite of the Eldora champion group, and his long trusted partner. "Just a phone call for Jane, regarding updates about the tensions in Eldora."
"Yeah, well..." Brock didn't like to say it out loud, but the truth is still the truth. "She did show her symbol on a live uncut feed with no broadcast delay. Seems our idea of keeping you safe with that protocol was a waste of time."
"And after all that's happened," Danton recalled, "after our business in Alpha Zero, they still allow me be the leader after my official pardon. None of the soldiers that fought alongside us are in disagreement. But to those who weren't on that hellish battlefield, their lack of perception of Jane has turned their hearts against her. Yet, I'm still in charge despite this?"
"What were you expecting with every contingency you've set up? You're really lucky the council didn't reprimand you for this." Brock knew he was right. Usually, the mage council isn't forgiving even of uncontrollable incidents with no culpable suspects. But given the dire situation of the Scarlet Syndicate investigation, nobody can afford to rid Danton of his position. They all must know this deep down. "I feel this is for the best. You did train us for this after all."
Sort of. Danton didn't train Brock and his other elites to handle a complex situation such as this. Who knew the Scarlet leaders would resort to dangerous and unknown spell bombs giving people symbols? Somebody is defiantly pulling the strings there, somebody with the brains and knowledge to do so, and now they will find their lost symbol. Luckily, Jane escaped from Sprawn Valley in time. "I guess we're even luckier that Jane decided to go on vacation when she did. Nobody will be able to find her in a different country, nor would they be willing to go there without their precious magic protection. She is safer there than anywhere else right now."
"Ironic, isn't it?" Brock certainly believed so, and he wondered what kind of mood this might put the young lady in back in New York.
"Jane! You can tell us anything," Danny pressured. "You already know that you can." She looks so depressed right now. Nobody better have died.
Jane huffed before turning around to face her friends. As curious as they were, Jane didn't try and hide her expression this time. It was pointless anyway. "I was on the phone with Danton. And if you're wondering why, it's because he is updating me on the investigation into the Scarlet Cult."
"Oh," Taylor realized. "But then, why so down?"
"Because the population back home now knows about my symbol, and my identity. I'll be hunted down the moment I go back there."
"Wh— How did—" Danny cut himself off after the short reminder. Jane did flash the whole world of live TV her forbidden symbol, and despite what she did about Alpha Zero, there must still be people unhappy about the development. This is bad. It means Jane really is a wanted person of interest back in Sprawn Valley... "I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize," Jane replied. "I made that mistake alone."
That's not true. Danny knew that Jane made the mistake of revealing her symbol to a wide audience, but he has every right to feel sorry for her. It's similar to Taylor's situation. She can't ever go back home because the illegitimate kingdom is hunting her in Kalamo. For Jane, much of the same is happening, all out of something that was never her fault to begin with. Both of them are fugitives now in their home countries. How did this happen? "Still, there has to be something we can do."
"There isn't," Jane claimed. Unless Danton can permanently remove the symbol, nobody will ever forgive her.
"Not true." Danny snapped his finger once, a bad habit he recently developed upon coming up with an idea. "The people in Sprawn Valley are hunting you. But despite what you showed them on TV, they don't know anything about symbols. They only know what the public commonly know. As far as that goes, symbols don't just disappear."
Jane nearly twitched with the sudden realization of Danny's words. That guy is sharper than she remembered. Danny means that the people won't know about the symbol's ability to hide itself under her skin. She has gotten much better lately at controlling its appearance... That means,
"That means you can pretend not to have a symbol. Nobody will come after you if they think you removed it." Taylor finished the thoughts for both of them. But somehow, Jane didn't seem all that excited about it.
"True, but I can't hide it from the higher-ups. They already know about the real situation, and any deep molecular scan will still detect the presence of a symbol."
"Come on," Danny warded. "What person is going to do that to you? They don't know about that!"
"But the Scarlet Cult does know!" Jane could see it all so clearly now. She has doomed herself far worse than anything ever could have. The Scarlet Cult made this symbol. They in fact know the most about it, and they are the biggest threat to her existence. Her statement defiantly shut Danny up, not that she enjoyed saying it. "They'll associate my face with the symbol too; there is no stopping that."
Finally, Danny was silent. He somehow forgot about that threat level in Sprawn Valley. The people hunting Jane that are really troublesome are the same people nobody can seem to reach. They're invisible, they're evil, and now they seek to control everything. So Jane isn't safe. Then again, she probably never cared about proving her innocence. Danny tried to imagine what it would be like to have so many people think dark thoughts about himself for something he couldn't control... But that isn't even easy to imagine.
"Is there something going on here I should know about?" All three of them turned to face Nyar in utter surprise. Whatever they were discussing must have been heavy, seeing that reaction in front of him. "Go ahead, spit it out."
Danny stepped in front of Jane and Taylor, facing his uncle directly. "Sorry about this Nyar. But it's just Jane's personal business."
"All the more reason to let me know. I can't deal with any issue if I don't know about it."
Danny nodded his head both directions, his expression as firm as before. "I doubt you could deal with it regardless. Let's just say that getting back to Sprawn Valley seems like a less attractive option than before, and leave it at that."
"Works for me," Nyar agreed. "The further away you kids stay from Sprawn Valley, the better."
Danny wanted to glance back right now and make sure Jane would be okay with that comment. What is wrong with him? The way Nyar trashes Sprawn Valley is just despicable. It's Jane's only home! You can't just walk all over it like you know everything Nyar!
Jane found it harder to hold in these feelings inside. This man in charge of Danny, he just doesn't get anything at all. "You really think you know everything about Sprawn Valley, Danny's uncle?"
Uh oh! "Hey Nyar? Can we barrow some money?" Danny popped the question before Jane could say anymore. Taylor better not act too surprised to hear this. Going out somewhere else is the only way to stop this from escalating. Jane hangs her every pride in her home country. If Nyar continues to mock it, things will get ugly.