Benny reached the end of the aisle.

He scanned the atrium for that black haze and found it! But when tried to look at the person it belonged to he was surprised to see that there was no one there! The black haze was there but Benny couldn’t see where it was coming from!

Benny adjusted his glasses if he wasn’t seeing clearly. He scanned the area to see where the hazes were coming from but he realized that there wasn’t just one haze but two black hazes! Benny could tell that those black hazes were from the same two people he had seen outside earlier! Both the strange part was that there wasn’t any there. Could it be through the use of some Magic that causes invisibility?

As Benny focused on his gaze, he noticed that those hazes were heading straight to Mr. Venditore’s office!

“So they were heading there? Mr. Venditore’s in big trouble!”

Benny was about to head there when someone grabbed his arm. It was Tenryu having caught up to him.

“Benny, where are you heading off to in a hurry? Don’t just go running off like that!” says Tenryu, looking annoyed.

“There’s something very dangerous here!” Benny says automatically without thinking.

Tenryu looked at him confused, “Benny what are you-?”

“Look this might sound weird but I saw some strange haze coming out from two suspicious characters just a while ago before we entered the shop!”

“Haze?” says Tenryu, looking more confused. “What the blitz are you talking about?”

“I’ll explain later! But right now those hazes are heading straight for Mr. Venditore’s office! He might be in danger!”

“Are you sure you’re alright? You’re not suffering from that fatigue thing and seeing things, are you?”

“Please believe me!” Benny says to him in desperation.

“But I don’t see anything!” says Tenryu, as he squints his eyes towards the direction where Benny could still see the hazes.

Benny did not expect him too. Some of the instances where he had seen the hazes had a lot of people around. He could still see those hazes but the people they belonged were still not in sight. To make matters worse they already reached the door of Mr. Venditore’s office! The guards didn’t notice anything but the door swung open by just a little and the hazes disappeared inside.

Benny looks in panic, “They’re already inside his office! We have to move now!”

Tenryu looks at him for a second and nods.

“Okay, let’s go and see Mr. Venditore if he’s alright.”

Nia finally catches up to them, looking out of breath. “Benjamin, what is-?”

“We’re going to see Mr. Venditore!” says Benny, turning on his heel.

“What?”

However, Benny already made his way down the aisle.

Nia turned towards Tenryu with a look of bewilderment evident on her face.

“Tenryu, what is going on?”

“I don’t know.” Tenryu shrugged as he followed Benny. “Hey Benny, if those hazes turned out to be real bad guys can I beat them to a pulp?”

***

Meanwhile, inside Mr. Venditore’s office…

The old owl Animalian was preparing to head back outside. He would’ve gone out immediately but he had to sign some important documents first before heading out.

Earlier he was alarmed when the whole place shook as thought there were an earthquake but it was the feeling earlier that bothered him more.

That Magic Energy was definitely from that form of Magic.

Could it really be-hoot? Perhaps that boy may have something to do it-hoot.

That boy he was referring to was Benjamin Estrella. It was probably not coincidence that this mysterious and nostalgic feeling just happened on the same day they met (and with an earthquake at the same time to boot.)

I should’ve accompanied them-hoot. Mr. Venditore thought regretfully.

Meeting with Benny seemed to elicit an odd sense of nostalgia mixed with wonder. Just like how he first met Tenryu years ago and wondered if he were a missing relation. Now that he had met Benny that same suspicion sprang up. The boy looked almost the exact spitting image of his old friend. Except for the eyes…there was no doubt that those were the same eyes!

He wondered whether he should send that old friend a letter later.

“Sylvia was with them so she can tell me the details later-hoot… Maybe I should pay a visit to Magma instead-hoot…”

Venditore was about to head out the door when suddenly out of nowhere a vine appeared and wrapped itself around him! Completely binding him to his chair!

“What is this-hoot?! Who’s-”

The vine wrapped itself around his mouth, clamping his beak shut!

“If you don’t want us to turn you into a feather duster just sit there and stay quiet, old bird!”

Suddenly, a pair of two shady characters appeared. The larger of them was holding a whip where the vine was attached to! The other held a staff with a crooked top. Both of them had looks of greedy triumph on their faces.

Venditore instantly recognized who these characters were.

The Grave Brothers-hoot! What are they doing here-hoot? Venditore thought in alarm.

The Grave Brothers were an infamous pair of thieves. He recognized that one of them must’ve used Concealing Magic to sneak in here without his guards noticing.

“Well, brother? It’s in here isn’t it?” the larger of the two looked excited

“Yeah!” nods the smaller one, “Start looking! That old bird probably hid that in here somewhere…”

They started searching around the place, pulling out drawers and searching the cabinets. Once in a while, they found some very precious looking items like Mr. Venditore’s gold watch, his numerous wallets, or even his jeweled cufflinks but they simply tossed those aside.

If it wasn’t money they were looking for, what were these two after then?

Unless…

The thought sent dread down Venditore’s spine. His gaze turned to the small painting of four people.

After several minutes of searching, having practically turned the office inside out, the two were looking frustrated.

“I can’t find it anywhere, brother!”

“Ask the bird! He obviously knows!”

The one holding the whip of vine pulled on it, causing the vine around Venditore’s beak to slacken.

“What do you want–hoot?!”

“You know exactly what we’re looking for! Where’s the chest?”

“In case you haven’t noticed I have several chests in this room-hoot!”

“Don’t play us! Where’s the Sealed Chest?”

So they were after that. If there’s one thing he must never let fall into the wrong hands it’s that chest!

“I don’t know what you’re talking about-hoot!”

Venditore huffed, his feathers ruffled in menacing way.

“I don’t know how you managed to get past Bronson and Eldon but release me at once unless you want me to alert them and get you a permanent cell in Tartarus-hoot!”

The elder brother laughed, “I think your feathers are starting to grow in your brain, old bird! Getting past those two lugs was quite easy. And don’t bother yelling because we know this office of yours has been recently soundproofed!”

Venditore was momentarily stunned but he glared at them.  How did these two know about that-hoot?

“You won’t get away with this–hoot!”

“We’re not the one tied up right now! And one wrong move and my brother here will squeeze the life out of you!”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“You will get nothing out of me-hoot!”

The elder Grave nodded to his bigger brother, “Brother, teach this old bird a lesson!”

The larger brother pulled on his whip and swung the chair with Venditore still tied to it to wall! The chair shattered but Venditore was still tied in the vines! Like a ragged toy being tossed around, Venditore was slammed across the room of his own office and smashed painfully against his furniture! Venditore bravely kept his beak shut! He didn’t want to give these thieves the pleasure of knowing they were hurting him. It would not do to cry for help either as the office was indeed soundproof.

After being tumbled around the office several more times, Venditore was slammed to the floor.

“Feeling like telling us where that Chest is then?” says the elder brother with a sneer.

Venditore glared at them. “I will repeat this again-hoot! You will get nothing from me-hoot!”

“Suit yourself! Brother, if you will?”

The younger brother pulled on the whip once more and swung the old bird towards the wall where the painting hung! Venditore crashed into it and fell to the floor with the painting falling off from its nail!

The two thieves froze when they saw what was behind the painting. There was a small hidden niche. And in that small niche: a small golden box with intricate markings and a strange tape with markings kept the lid shut.

It was the Sealing Chest!

Venditore could only gaze in horror as the Chest’s hiding place was revealed!

“Brother, isn’t that?”

“It is!” the elder brother ran straight to the niche, “Finally! It’s ours!”

Venditore struggled in the vine bindings.

“Don’t touch that, you fool-hoot!” Venditore shouted.

“You’re the fool, old bird!” the elder brother gleefully snatched the golden box from the niche! “You think you can hide this treasure from the Grave Brothers?”

“You’re a fool indeed if you think that’s a treasure-hoot!”

Annoyed by that insult, the elder Grave brother kicked him in the stomach, “Don’t insult us! We know full well what’s in this box! With it no one can stop us from our heists!”

Though in pain Venditore still manage to speak, “It’s uncontrollable…a dangerous power is sealed inside that box-hoot! It will destroy everything if you as much as open it-hoot!”

The younger Grave brother began to look hesitant. “Maybe we should listen to him, brother. I don’t like the sound of what he just said…”

The elder brother rolled his eyes, “Why is it that you always get cold feet when something big happens, huh? We’ve got the Chest of Sealing and now you’re having second thoughts?!”

“I’m just saying, brother! The box maybe called the Chest of Sealing for a reason?”

“It’s nothing more than a power up for us, look I’ll show you!”

“NO!”  

“Shut up!” The elder brother ripped the paper tag of the box and opened it.

There was nothing in the box apart from small stone. An ordinary-looking black stone lay in the box.

“That’s it? A rock?!” he says in anger as he flings the box to the ground. The stone toppled out of the box.

Venditore’s eyes did not leave the stone. An expression of horror was clear on his face.

“Is this some kind of a joke, old bird? All that for a rock?” snaps the elder

“You fool… You’ve doomed us all-hoot!”

The old owl was shaking.

“What are you-?”

The younger Grave brother began yelling, “Brother! Look, the stone!”

The stone began to glow a deep black. A strange and ominous symbol appeared on it. It began to make some kind of thumping sound…like a heartbeat.

***

If his friends were easy to convince, the burly Beastmen guards weren’t so much. Tensions were building up as Benny tried to get these two let them pass. He knew they were just doing their job but these did not stop him getting a bit frustrated.

“I’m telling you, I need to see Mr. Venditore!”

The guard on the left rolled his eyes. “And I’m telling you, kid. No one gets into the Boss’s office without his permission or prior appointment!”

“But we just went here earlier!”

“That was because the Boss brought you in. But without his permission again you can’t enter!”

“But he might be in big trouble! Something just got inside his office!”

“Kid, in case, you haven’t noticed, we’ve been standing here all day. And we haven’t seen anything get passed us since you left the office!”

“Really?” says Benny pressing on, “Then I bet you haven’t smelled anybody pass here then?”

He remembered watching from one of those survival documentaries that one must never leave any food in camping sites otherwise it might attract bears. So if they could track prey by scent they can tell as well if someone is nearby. Even though it was a sudden idea, he should’ve said it more subtly. Both guards gave him both a glare that caused him to flinch.

“Are you implying something, kid?” The menacing-looking one gnashed his teeth, which were just a sharp as real bear’s.

Benny realized his words might have sounded offensive. He learned from his father about dealing with people whom he might have offended he should backtrack and explain things thoroughly. Quickly he tried to tone it down a bit.

“I’m just saying! You guys have keen sense of smell, right? You could’ve picked up some scent of someone else pass through here?”

The guard grabbed Benny by the front of his cloak and pulled him up close until they were practically face-to-face (or in Benny’s case face-to-teeth.)

“First off, don’t mistake me for a Caninaso! And second I haven’t smelled a thing!” he yelled at him in a loud voice.

“Hey, let go of him!” Tenryu glared, his hand flew to the hilt of his sword.

“Let the young boy go, Bronson.” says the other guard, who had a patch over his left eye. His attention was at the customers who were surveying the scene, “Mr. Venditore fire you if he finds out you manhandled another customer.”

Glaring at his partner, Bronson lets go of Benny, causing him to tumble backwards with Tenryu holding him steady.

Nia steps forward, “I’m sorry for this. My friend didn’t mean to offend you. However, he does have a point.”

Both guards gave her a fierce look but she pressed on forward.

“Even if you’re not from the Caninaso Clan, I’ve hear that Ursuso Clan still have good sense of smell.”

“I told you we haven’t smelled anything!” Bronson snapped at her.

“Actually, we can’t really smell anything right now.” admits the other guard.

“Eldon!” says Bronson in protest.

All three kids looked at him.

“What do you mean?” asks Benny.

“Well, there’s no use denying it but you’re right we do have a keen sense of smell, not as strong as a Caninaso but we can determine if somebody is close by. But for some reason, I can’t pick up your scents or Bronson’s and he always reeks for his lack of bathing.”

“Hey!” snapped Bronson in protest but Eldon ignored him.

“It’s been going on for a while now. First, I could smell my partner’s stench and suddenly I can’t.”

“Is that so?” says Nia, rummaging in her purse to pull out a small bottle. She took a whiff from it and frowned, “Excuse for a moment I would like to check something.”

The two guards looked at her in confusion, as she turned to Benny.

“Benjamin, can I ask a favor?”

“What is it?” Benny began but then Nia shoved the bottle right under his nose, “Wha- Hey?!”

“Can you smell this?”

“W-What?”

“Do you smell anything from this bottle?”

“Err…no…”

“I see. What about you Tenryu?” She then gives the bottle at Tenryu, who quickly moves away.

“What is that supposed to be?”

“Just smell it!”

“No way!” says Tenryu, “The last time I smelled one of your concoctions I was out for a week!”

“That’s because you smelled Sleeping Potion. This isn’t a potion but I just need you to smell it to confirm something…”

“No way!” protested Tenryu.

“C’mon! Just a whiff! It won’t hurt you!” Nia pressed forward pushing the bottle at his face.

“NO!” shouts Tenryu back but as he bent backward to avoid it.

Perhaps he bent backward too far and fell backwards. Nia in her attempt to get the bottle to his nose caused her to go off-balanced when Tenryu dodged it. She nearly fell forward when Benny quickly caught her.

“Whoa, be careful there!”

“Thank you, Benjamin.”

Benny nods but he soon realizes his arms were around her and he pulls away, blushing profusely.

As for Tenryu, he looks up at Nia completely annoyed…and with the bottle still stuck in his nostril!

“Nia, what the blitz are you doing?!”

Everyone tried not to laugh at the sight.

“Ugh, I’m throwing that perfume out…” she says in disgust.

Benny sweatdropped, “Then maybe you shouldn’t suddenly shove that bottle under people’s noses-” Benny stopped midway when he just realized he heard the word “perfume.”

That was a perfume bottle? If that was perfume…how come he couldn’t smell anything? Surely even if it were empty it should still have some residue of the scent.

Tenryu ripped the bottle out of his nose.

“So can you smell anything?”

“No!” snaps Tenryu, “Why would you try to make me smell an empty bottle?”

“I knew it.” says Nia with a frown.

“What is it Nia?” says Benny.

“There’s no mistaking it! It’s Nullolfaction Incense!”

“Huh?” Everyone looks at her in bewilderment.

“It’s a type of incense that produces undetectable fumes that numbs a person’s sense of smell!”

There was a moment of silence before the guard Bronson started to laugh.

“A potion that makes me people unable to smell anything?” says Bronson, with a laugh. “What kind of a potion is that? Is there even such a thing, little girl?”

“Actually there is!” says Nia indignantly, “That’s a potion widely used for workers who have to work in foul smelling places.”

“Yeah, right?” snorted Bronson. “Can you believe that, Eldon?”

Eldon however gave a serious look, “I think it would be wise to be concerned about this. How else can we explain why we can’t detect scents anymore? And if that’s the case, then maybe it does ties to what the boy is telling us.”

Bronson looked at his partner in disbelief, “Are you telling me you believe this girl and her mystic potions as well as this kid’s ramblings about our Boss being in danger?”

Benny had almost forgotten why they approached this in the first place! He started to feel panicky again! But he thought it was the moment to point it out with this huge Bear-Clan with an axe still seemed too keyed up.

“How do we know if they’re not making this up, eh?” growled Bronson.

“Excuse me! But I happened to be a Qualified Remedician with an Apothecary Class !”

“You’re a Remedician?” says in Eldon in surprise.

To prove it she shows some kind of I.D. to them.

“See this? I’m not making this up because I know my expertise. Someone had definitely released Nullolfaction Incense in this area! Its fumes must still be lingering that’s why we couldn’t smell anything!”

 “Enough of this!” says Bronson, “I’m not gonna listen to a bunch of brats who are wasting my time!”

“Argh!”

Everyone jolted as Benny suddenly keeled over and fell on his knees.

“Benny?!” says Tenryu in alarm.

Benny felt as though he was about to get sick. He never felt this sense of dread and imminent danger before!

He knew they were too late but something worse has happened. He looked straight from door of Venditore’s office and saw to his horror that black hazes were coming out of it in multitudes! Like the room was full of it. This time however, he could tell it was different. It did not come from those two shady characters but from something even more dangerous.

“Tenryu, what happened to him?” he could hear Nia’s faint voice.

“I don’t know! He suddenly fell over on me!”

“Is your friend okay?” asks Eldon in concern.

“That kid’s probably faking it…” Although Bronson sounded unsure this time and despite his doubtful words he looked a little worried.

Eldon glared at him, “Bronson, I don’t think you need a Remedician to tell that this kid isn’t faking anything!”

“The…door…Mr. Venditore…black haze….too late…” Benny croaked.

“What is he saying?”

“I think he’s delirious… He’s getting paler by the minute!” says Nia.

Benny tried to compose himself. “No…We’re too late!”

Tenryu was staring in surprise, “Too late? Benny what are you talking about?”

“Something terrible is coming!” Benny pointed at the door.

At that moment the place started to shake violently. Screams could be heard from the customers and the clerks alike. Several merchandises were toppling from the shelves.

“W-what’s going on?” says Bronson in alarm.

“Another earthquake?” says Eldon.

It seemed as though a magnitude-4 earthquake had hit but Benny knew that this was no earthquake. The shelves were swinging back in forth with their contents spilling out. The customers were scrambling around in confusion as the clerks tried to get the situation under control.

“Everyone, please remain calm!” A clerk’s voice says over the Voice-Amplifying Mysticore, “Please follow the glowing Magic Sigils and head to the emergency routes immediately! I repeat please remain calm and follow the-” However, clerk’s words were soon drown out by a loud roar.

“GRRRROOOAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!”

It was most horrific roar Benny has ever heard. It didn’t sound like that of a beast. It was rather demonic. That alone seemed to incite even more panic as everyone rushed to escape.

“What the blitz is that?”

“No, it can’t be!” yelled Eldon, who turned pale.

“It came from the Boss’s office!” shouts Bronson.

They all made a move towards the door.

“No! Wait!”

Benny yelled in attempt to warn them but suddenly a loud explosion sent them all flying!