Quib feels a cold sweat coming along when she sees the person coming through the window. She had disobeyed direct orders, and now she might have to pay for it.
The individual who is about to enter the room is none other than Raphael Danteo, Quib's leader. He isn't wearing his brown cloak this time. Instead, he is wearing a loose pair of black khakis and a brown T-shirt. He isn't carrying a single weapon and isn't wearing a scrap of armor, but he really doesn't need it with the powers he has, and Quib knows that.
Raphael swings into the room feet first while holding onto the top of the window’s edge. He lands in a sitting position next to Jian with a huff. He looks at Jian's frightened complexion and realizes that a part of his explanation isn't going to be necessary. “Ah, I see you have already figured out they are going to be coming after you.... Well, that just makes my job a little easier, I suppose.”
“Raphael, I'm sorry, but I thought that it would be best if-!” Quib says in an outburst. She is so overwhelmed with fear that she doesn't notice that Raphael isn't even angry with her in the slightest.
Before she can finish speaking, Raphael interrupts her. “Quib, calm down. There has been a change of plans. We're going to be up front with them now. It's the only way to keep them safe. I'll tell you more later, but all you need to know right now is that you can stay with Jian until this is over, and maybe a little bit afterwards as well.”
Quib was about to say something, but after hearing that she can stay with Jian and that she isn't in any trouble, she simply says “Yes sir....” and nothing else.
“Well, now that is dealt with, I think an explanation is in order.” Raphael says with a smile on his face. “Me and my friends are here to keep you all safe from the Sigil heads and all other threats until you eventually stop them yourselves. We are going to guide you, and deal with some of them along the way, but this is your journey, and you ultimately will be the one's to end it.”
“But how are you going to protect us from the eldritch rune cult!? The school shuts down after sunset and you wouldn't be allowed on the premises or inside of our rooms! How exactly do you plan to protect us then!?” Jian says in fear of the fact that these protectors might not be able to save them.
“Do not fear, my friend. We have an outpost set up right on the other side of the street, along with others throughout the city.” Raphael says with confidence. “Although we will not be around at all times, we will still be able to protect and guide you when you need it.”
“Wait a minute, you look really familiar....” Boz says, looking at the dark brown-haired individual next to him. Suddenly, the realization hits him. “You're the guy in the brown cloak from earlier! I didn't really have a chance to apologize for grabbing you, but I was in a rush to find out what happened to my little love bug here....” Boz wraps his arm around Lera's shoulder, which causes her to let out a small giggle. “Anyway, I think you have our best interests at heart, since you saved Lera and all.”
“I agree with Boz.” says Lera with confidence. “You and all of your friend's saved my life earlier today, and I'm sure that you did that out of more than just the goodness of your heart. I trust you.”
“It's a pleasure to know that you agree with me, but this is more your adventure than mine.” Raphael says, passing a glance at Carie, who is giving him the evil eye. “As you already know, the Sigil heads are going to be coming after Jian, and that is not only because he killed one of them already. They go after anyone who escapes their grasp, so Jian isn't going to be safe until the Sigil heads are completely dealt with.”
“But how are we supposed to stop them if we know absolutely nothing about them?” Jian says, wiping cold sweat off of his brow.
“Ah, you bring up a good point. To sate your curiosity, I will give you some information.” Raphael exclaims, holding his right index finger in the air while rising to his feet. “From what my group knows so far, the Sigil heads, or the eldritch rune cult, as you know them, is actually comprised out of people that are being mind-controlled. Once a person has been taken control of, they become an animal of sorts, literally dropping whatever is in their hands to go after the first person they see. Although they are animal-like, there is still a sense of order, as the person who is controlling them can see what they see and can transmit that sight to the other Sigil heads. Also, the person who is controlling the Sigil heads has a broad hatred against those who get away or kill his subjects, which would be why the Sigil heads went after the people that were at the hospital a few days ago. Thus, the Sigil heads will probably be coming after Jian and anyone who defends him.”
During the entire explanation, Carie has been sitting in her chair, staring at Raphael. After he has finished speaking, she talks to him herself. “I know I shouldn't trust you, being that I know absolutely nothing about you or your organization other than the fact that you are murderers. You saved Lera earlier, though, so I will listen for now. Do not forget, however, that you will have to tell me and my friends who you are in the long run, so be prepared to answer that question when it arises.”
Although Carie is agreeing to listen to him for the moment, Raphael can tell from her tone of voice that she doesn't trust him. Trusting his gut, Raphael acts on instinct. He lowers himself on one knee and bows in front of Carie. In a low voice, he says “I know we haven't gotten off to the best start, but I promise, I will do nothing to harm you or your friends. I only want to see you all survive this journey. Even if we tried to solve this ourselves, we would gain nothing from it, but you and your friends would gain the knowledge that you saved your entire city and your home from this mess, and you would also have gained new found friendships and become closer with your allies throughout this adventure. Although we could do this on our own, Jian would still be in danger nonetheless, so I must inquire that you take on the mantle of this quest yourselves. Again, we wish you no harm, and the truth will be explained in the end, so please, trust us!”
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Carie is in a slight shock from Raphael bowing to her, but a few seconds after his speech, Carie shakes her head to collect herself and says “Y-You can stand, please. I'll trust you, just... just don't do that again, it is quite embarrassing...”
“Good, glad that's taken care of!” Raphael says before rising to his feet and wandering over to Jian. “Listen Jian, this road you are about to travel will be a deadly one, but I am confident that my friends will be more than enough to keep you safe, along with the others that you will meet on this journey. So do not freight, for we will be going along this road right beside you and your friends. Are you prepared for this undertaking?”
“Wait, what others?” Jian says in confusion. “Who else is going to be dragged into this? What do you know that we don’t?” Jian exclaims.
“I wish I could tell you, but they need to come to you either naturally or by my group’s guidance.” Raphael exclaims while wandering to the room's door with his hands clasped behind his back. “There will be a few others, but as I stated, most will come naturally to your side. Also, you should know that if one of you fights back against the Sigil heads, then you will also become their enemy, so everyone should be on the defensive nonetheless.”
Jian sighs loudly and tilts his head low, the stress becoming almost too much to bear. He then looks up and says “Although I don’t want to do this, they’re still going be coming after me whether I fight back or not, so I guess I have no choice.”
Carie, who is still sitting in Jian’s desk chair, shrugs her shoulders and says with her eye’s closed “Well, I guess now that everyone is going along with this I mine-as-well go along too. Sign me in.”
“Excellent!” Raphael says excitedly. He cracks his neck before speaking again. “Before you continue on with your quest, I will give you four some extra information and a few hints on where you should start your search.”
Before Raphael continues speaking, he clears his throat and straightens his collar. “Alright, first thing I’m going to let you know is that I’m not going to be direct with the information, putting it into codes and riddles, to be exact. As for the answers, you need to figure them out on your own!”
“First off, a riddle! This place is a main attraction to your city and has been around for not too long. You all know it as home, but you were not raised there. It looks old, but it is also new. Think over the answer, it will point you towards where you should go.”
“Second. None of you know him, but all of you do. You’ve seen him before, but talked to him not. He is religious, but he also isn’t. Find out who this person is and you will have a suspect.”
“And third. First there were four, then there are seven. Each will contribute, but the end will do the most. Keep fighting and they will all come, fight on and you will eventually win.”
Raphael takes a look out of the right window after he finishes his last words and notices that nighttime is fast approaching. He looks towards Quib and motions towards the door. “Ah, but it seems that our time is up. We must take our leave now, both me and Quib. Before we go, however, I will give you all something for when times are tough.” Raphael digs into his left pants pocket until he finds what he is looking for. After which, he pulls out of his pocket a white, slim device with a red button in the center with a section of glass over top of it. He walks over to Jian and gives him the device, stating “If things ever get too serious around here, just press this button and I will come as fast as I can. Plus, I will probably make some leeway towards both our goals in the meantime.”
Raphael then backs away from Jian and walks out the room's door as Quib leaves behind him. “So with that I must take my leave. Before I go, however, I must let you know that there are other forces at work here than the Sigil heads and my group. You will probably figure out who they are by the time this is all over.”
Raphael takes a few steps backwards out of the doorway and pulls the door behind him while saying “Oh yes, I almost forgot! There is a car waiting for Lera outside of the main gate to take her back home. Have a pleasant night, everyone!” He shuts the door behind him with his last words, leaving the room in silence.
The room remains in an eerie quiet until Lera speaks up after a minute has passed. “Heh, and here I thought I was thinking I was going to be the one having the biggest adventure today. Guess I was proven wrong....”
“Yeah, I guess you were...” says Carie, who is still not completely certain about her group's current events. “I guess we have no choice but to protect Jian, nonetheless. I'm sure that he would do the same for any of us.”
Boz lets out a laugh while looking out of the window behind him and seeing the car Raphael had spoken of. “Yeah, I'm sure he would. Now, come on Lera, you need to get home and get some sleep. I'll walk you to the car.”
Lera mumbles an agreement and gets up along with Boz. Boz moves in front of her and opens the room's door for her and makes a polite bow as she leaves. Before he leaves himself, he turns his head and speaks a few words to Jian. “Don't worry, dude, we'll keep you safe even if the Guardian doesn't. I'll see ya tomorrow.”
With Boz's last words, he exits the room, shutting the door behind him, leaving Carie and Jian alone in the room. “Well, I guess I should get going too.” Carie says while looking at the approaching night through the window. “Not like I'm telling you what to do or anything, but you should get to work deciphering that guy's riddles.”
“Yeah, I should. He knows more than he's letting on, but how much he knows, I have no idea.” Jian says while toying with the watch on his left wrist. “Who knows, maybe he could fix this all on his own, but he wants us to have the experience instead.... Anyway, you should get back to your dorm room, Carie. Oh, and don't forget to take your laptop with you!”
Carie giggles at what Jian says. She turns her chair towards the bed her new laptop is sitting on and picks it up into her hands.
“Yeah,” she says while rising to her feet. “I should get out of here before one of the faculty gets mad at us. I'll see you tomorrow, Jian.” Carie moves towards the door and waves goodbye as she opens it. She shuts the door moments later after exiting. Leaving Jian completely alone in his room.
Once everyone is gone, Jian collapses on the bed he is sitting on, the day's stress forcing him down. He lays on the bed for what seems like an hour, just staring at the ceiling in complete exhaustion. “Damn...” he says to himself under his breath. “What have I gotten myself into....”