Comfortably leaning back against a wooden beam of support, Carlyle paged through the leather bound collection of papers in his hand with haste, like a child searching for their favorite part of a book once read long ago. His friend and second in command, Allan, was nowhere to be seen. They often traveled around together, mostly because Allan constantly received orders from Carlyle and distributed them to the other members. However, Allan's presence did not grace the warehouse today.
Carlyle shot the clock a sideways glance, 8:30. He snorted. The Thirteenth was supposed to be here already unless he chose not to show up. Either one was fine with Carlyle, so long as the boy didn't meet with the official everything was okay. When Anne, Adrian, Hannah, and the Twelfth had come, Carlyle sent Anne home and told the other three to patrol. He originally planned to hold one spot for the young masked boy, however, he imagined an assignment from the book would be better, the longer he stayed away from the warehouse and the group for now, the better.
*Knock Knock Knock*
He perked up, the official was here. No one, none of the Twelve, knocked on the door.
"Enter." Carlyle gave permission, it was hardly needed.
Just as soon as the words left his mouth the man already entered with two guards following closely behind him. The shady and ominous official, or as Carlyle has known him, the Seventh, wore his signature round, porcelain, mask. It's familiar and eerily etched on smile unnerved many who have had the pleasure of laying their eyes upon it. Carlyle stayed leaning back, a slight part of his mind still wondered how the man could see through the slits where his eyes should be.
How odd. No normal human, not even a lizardman could see through anything as tiny as those openings.
Shaking off the strange thought, Carlyle focused his attention on the man. The Seventh of the capital city kept his arms hidden beneath the brown cloak which sat undisturbed upon his shoulders. The masked seemed to hug uncomfortably close to his face. Isn't it crushing his nose?
"I imagine you've been staying here," Carlyle said. "Seeing as how quickly you came."
The man stood silent for a moment, "A message of my arrival was sent beforehand. Whether I stay here or not is none of your business." The Seventh looked around, "Where is the Thirteenth? I cannot seem to spot him."
"He didn't come today," Carlyle responded.
"It matters not. Hand over the Thirteenth's papers and I'll be on my way."
Carlyle shook his head as The Seventh stuck his hand out, "I don't have them."
The official cocked his head to the side, "Why not?" he asked, irritated. "You should know how to fill out these papers yourself. There is no need other than the person's consent. I believe that he has been working here of his own free will am I correct?"
Carlyle shrugged but then nodded, "He has, however, I don't know his information. His name and face are unknown to me." he couldn't see it, not with the mask hiding the man's face but, Carlyle got the feeling that The Seventh was shocked by the news.
"You're saying you let someone who you don't even know the name of to join The Twelve?" the official's voice was teeming with anger and disbelief. "Are you some kind of idiot?" The Seventh halted for a second, "No. I know what game you're playing, First." venom coated his last word. "Just because the headmaster of the academy and Official Caldor trust you doesn't mean I do."
Carlyle pushed away from the pillar he rested on and came closer to The Seventh, they stood only a few feet apart. Straightening his back and slightly puffing out his chest, Carlyle said, "What 'game' am I playing, Seventh? I've been a The First far longer than you've been The Seventh, the only reason as to why you're an 'official' is because Caldor can only send Capital City members. There's a reason why I'm trusted by them because I'm loyal and capable. I don't know the identity of the Thirteenth."
The Seventh lowered his head just an inch, as if he were glaring at Carlyle. "That's what you say but I've always been suspicious of you."
"Are you going to do something about it?" Carlyle asked. "So far, all it is is nothing more than that, suspicion. I see that you've brought along a few friends, arrest me if you believe I'm doing something behind the scenes. What proof do you have? Can you even capture me yourself?"
The Seventh snorted from behind the mask, "Think that the headmaster and Caldor can protect you? Caldor may be the one in charge of all of us, and the headmaster may have a very respectable position, however, there are just as many nobles that would be against you if they've heard of these events. Having a 'phantom' member will only cause trouble. The nobles and even the emperor himself are aware of the problems peasant Twelve have caused in the past."
Carlyle was unaffected, more than that would have to be said to rile him.
"Let's go," The Seventh said. "I'll be reporting this to Caldor, he likes you but understands how dangerous people like the Thirteenth can be."
"Good Night." Carlyle waved as they left.
"Hmph." The Seventh snorted, "Same as ever."
The door closed behind the three men as they left. Carlyle let out a sigh, he had just escaped a dangerous situation. His heart wasn't pounding abnormally hard like it would during battle, but the pace certainly passed a normal one. With the released breath, his muscles also relaxed.
Locking his fingers together, he cracked them as he sat down on one of the barrels. He pulled out the little book filled with jobs from the empire and started to once again page through them. How lucky that the Thirteenth hadn't showed up. He had been coming every day since the disastrous attack on the city so, obviously, Carlyle assumed he'd appear today as well.
"Is he avoiding me and this place now?" Carlyle asked himself. He hardly knew The Thirteenth, Rainen, Reinhard's student yet, he felt like he was too harsh the other day. There was no doubt in his mind that The Thirteenth should've assisted Henry as soon as he got the signal but instead he chose to bring Anne to safety. Bringing a member to safety was a priority but not when someone else is in danger. Anne could've taken care of herself, even in her broken down state.
That's what Carlyle believed.
If the Thirteenth left only a little bit sooner or had chosen to help Henry, he'd still be alive right now. The boy hadn't tried hard enough, that's what he thought. The boy didn't use his powers. Just like Reinhard said, he's too afraid of something. Why didn't he use his ability to reach Henry? Twenty or so uses were a lot, the distance that the boy was able to travel was also very far. If he did use his ability then Henry would most likely still be alive.
Still, Carlyle may have overstepped the boundaries. He balled his hand into a fist and rubbed his forehead. He was sure Reinhard's student felt something after Henry's death, that's why he'd been so active recently.
Carlyle let out another sigh.
"Something wrong student of mine?" an old man walked through the, now, open door with a cane he didn't need.
"Nothing master," Carlyle responded. "Just thinking a bit."
"Hahaha. Glad you've finally started to think, Reinhard and I have been waiting to hear some intelligent thought out of you for years," he smiled. "And there's no need for you to call me master anymore. If you still want to, Headmaster has master in it so call me that instead."
"Got it old man."
"Would you like a beating child?"
"No thanks." Carlyle grinned and scratched the back of his head. "By the way, did you hear all of that?"
"Yes." the headmaster responded. "I did. That's what you wanted me here for anyways, just in case things went sour."
Carlyle nods, "Apologies for having you come out of your retirement home to help me."
"Uh huh. I don't mind if a student needs help and comes asking," The Headmaster said, "Pushing past that subject, who is this Thirteenth you two were speaking of? I don't need the name if you prefer not to tell, however, why'd you accept someone like him?"
Carlyle furrowed his brow and said, "He's interesting." a question ran through Carlyle's mind. Shouldn't The Headmaster have been told by Reinhard that the Thirteenth or that Rainen was going to be under Carlyle's watch? Maybe Reinhard didn't think he would've taken him and turned him into a member.
"I would say that is a terrible reason but I'm guilty of it myself. I took you in didn't I." the old man burst into a fit of laughter before turning serious. "Earlier this year, I allowed something quite wrong to happen so I could better gauge a student's abilities." the old man said while looking beside himself, he gripped onto his staff tightly.
"Why'd you let it happen?" Carlyle asked, putting his hand on his chin. This piqued his interest greatly, for someone like the old man to let something like that happen to his students was unlike him. Though he was often harsh in his training, Carlyle knew he only did those things to bolster the strength of his students.
"I needed to see the student's power." he paused. "It was Reinhard's student. His name is Rainen."
Carlyle waited a moment before responding. He had heard of some incident during the start of the school year, however, he had no idea it had to do with The Thirteenth. The old man didn't seem to know that Reinhard already introduced Rainen to him.
Deciding to feign ignorance, as he trusted his friend's choice not to tell their master, he said, "Reinhard's student?"
"Yes," The Headmaster nodded, "That boy is different. When someone makes Reinhard worried enough to send me a message, then I have to check them myself. As it is right now, I do believe that he's in control of whatever monstrous power he's hiding. I haven't seen it since I last provoked him."
Carlyle nodded, his decision was the correct one. The old man wasn't told by Reinhard that Rainen was an Oddity.
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Sitting silently atop his chestnut brown horse, irritation assailed his behind. For the long day or so he had been riding the beast, his muscles cramped from having to constantly move, if he did not, his lower body would go numb. The temptation to dismount grew with every stride, however, displeased with the distance made since he left the city, he stayed on the uncomfortable saddle.
The last time he had ridden a horse was very recently, a little more than two weeks ago to give an estimate, it was when Henry died.
Garret's steady breath broke rhythm, the cold had not affected him, he was already used to it. Something else, an ailment of the mind caused that one moment of shakiness, unease, sadness. He shook his head, those dark thoughts would not bother him today. His family was so close. Yes, going to see his family, he needed a happy face, not one of a depressed man.
Deciding it would be for the best as the distance to cover would only take another few hours, Garret allowed himself, and the horse, a moment of respite. Anne guessed correctly, the trip would only take four days, for the entire round trip. The portal took him closer than he, and Anne remembered. Even with the soft, crunchy, slowing snow, only two days would be needed to reach the Green City.
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Tossing his weight over the side of the horse, he dismounted and patted the animal's neck. It gave a pleased neigh. Garret held his chin unsure of which action caused it greater joy, the loss of a huge weight or the gentle and reassuring caress.
"I'll say a bit of both. Mind, I'm not calling myself fat," he said to the horse.
As if it could understand, it bucked its head in acknowledgement. Garret cocked his head to the side examining the beast. Could it actually understand him? Slightly curious, and maybe a little lonely already from traveling by himself, as he never was one to go at things alone, he stretched out his legs.
"They almost fell asleep up there. How are you holding up?" he asked the horse.
This time, it stayed silent.
"Bah, I knew it was ridiculous to talk to a horse."
Yet, despite saying that, Garret continued to lopsidedly converse with the beast for a few hours until a caravan spotted him. Immediately, in embarrassment, Garret closed his mouth and mounted the horse. The Green City was only a little ways away so he sped off.
The sound of a galloping horse during Winter would've normally been impossible a few hundred years back, but during the The Great War against the Navacks, the magic races who needed many reinforcements, created special magic to enchant the roads with to counter the harsh Winters that would usually halt all progress of a moving army.
The Navacks, great hulking beasts larger than giants, had no trouble traversing the snow covered ground. It rather helped them since their original habitat were those of the high mountain peaks.
Garret glanced at one of the larger roads beneath him which were close enough to a magic source that he could allow his horse to gallop at such a rate. The path was devoid of all snow, thanks to fire magic. At the rate he was going, it would only be a matter of time before the Green City came into view.
As he overcame a small hill, the city laid out before him. The green roofs the city was known for was covered by snow, although the roads were clear, there stood no real benefits for the empire to use their resources to eliminate all snow in cities.
Spurring his horse faster, Garret reached the gate in no time. Being halted by a guard, Garret got off his horse, frowning. This was an unusual thing to do to a single traveler. Were they perhaps suspicious because of the Aurora City incident? Rather than fight, Garret allowed himself to be subjected to their quick check.
"Have you been here before?" a guard with a goatee asked him.
"Yes. I have family living here, I simply came to pay a visit to them." Garret responded honestly.
"Mm. Go ahead. Sorry about checking you."
"No worries but if I may, why are you checking single persons like me?"
The guard looked around and crossed his arms, "There's been a recent attack on Aurora City."
"I've heard." Garret herded the conversation along.
"Right, so you know about that. Security has been heightened, so more active guards patrolling but, we were given orders to check anyone and everyone who enters. The higher ups believe that a kidnapping that happened recently has to do with the attacks on Aurora and that one of them stayed here for a while. Belonged to some strange group. A few knights were needed afterwards to handle arrests."
Garret's ears picked up upon hearing the word group and knights. For knights to be involved, the perpetrators had to be people with influence or high intelligence on the empire's workings. That would mean, it's possible the Twelve in the city were involved.
"Thank you," Garret said, "I'll be careful not to get into any trouble."
"No problem, have a good day."
Without getting back on the horse, Garret led it inside and found a stable which he could put it in. Giving it a short parting pat, he left to wander the city streets looking for anything familiar. It wasn't a difficult task. He hadn't always lived here, he once lived in a smaller village but moved here after it was destroyed by a horde of undead.
Casually strolling down the streets of his teenage years, Garret took the time to stop by the multiple taverns and inns where he sometimes took girls and made many friends. He never was quite a 'playboy' as Anne would like to call him but he had little trouble getting women, they quite liked his darker hair and tricks he did with his lightning magic.
A sense of nostalgia hit him as he walked into an older, almost run down, inn. Some of the wood on the walls were rotting but most problems of old seemed to have been fixed, such as the one chunk of wood missing from a pillar and the tables and chairs were replaced.
The barely open windows let just enough outside air though that the place felt chilly. Some shivered in their seats while others happily clunked bottles, downing them in one quick, fluid motion. The owner always liked it a little cold.
Pulling up a chair right at the bar for those without a companion, he found himself to the left of a man wearing a long black cloak, the cowl was pulled over his head. He held a drink loosely in his hand.
"Drinking problems away huh?" Garret said, holding up his hand to catch someone's attention.
The man shook his head, "It's water."
"My mistake." Garret chose not to say anything more. The man seemed annoyed enough as it was, no need to provoke him any further with assumptions.
A beefy, tall, bartender made his way over, "Hello si-Garret?"
In the corner of his right eye, Garret spotted the man's head move, he sent Garret a quick glance.
Ignoring the action he said, "Hey Wous. Glad to see this old place is still running." he held up a hand in greeting.
"Heh, course it is. Think I'd let this baby die out just because it's a little old?"
"Nope. You always loved this place."
"You did too before you left. Hey, how are things going? Where have you been for the last couple of years? Is Anne here with you?" the burly man asked.
Garret heard a cup rattle from beside him.
"Nah. She's back in Aurora City."
"Why isn't she here with you?"
"Dunno. This was more of a personal trip for me."
"Why?"
Garret took in a deep breath, "A friend of mine died during the in-"
Suddenly, the man in the cloak set down his cup and pushed away from the bar. He stood up and quickly made his way for the door, almost in a run.
Garret's mind switched instantly into overdrive, A dine and dash? getting out of his seat he started after the man.
"Hold on!" Wous called out after him. "It was only water, not a big deal kiddo."
"It's all right. I'll get him back here." Garret dashed out the door. Looking left and right, he barely caught a glimpse of the flowing cloak as it turned a corner. Sprinting, he caught up with the man. "Hold on," he said, "You forgot to pay." Garret knew that most people didn't 'forget' but he wanted to give the man a chance to give himself up and pay the minimal bill.
The man stopped in his tracks, "Who died?" he asked.
"What? That's none of your business. He was a friend of mine. Hurry up and pay or else I'll call the guards."
The man reached into his pocket. Garret stood at the ready for any sneak attacks, the man was already suspicious enough. Maybe this was why the official gave orders to the gate guards to check every traveler.
The man slowly turned around, his head looking down rather than at Garret himself. What was wrong? Did this man have something else he wanted to hide? Carefully, Garret held out his hand, allowing for the man to drop the one copper into his palm.
"Look up at me." Garret suddenly commanded. "I need to see who you are so this won't happen again."
"I'm a man who pays for my meals." he claimed.
"You almost didn't pay for that one. I'll let this go if you look up at me."
The man reluctantly showed his face, or at least, half of it. The bottom half was covered by the mask of the cloak. Between alleyways, the top half of his face was also difficult to see as the rays of the sun had troubles reaching.
"Good day then." the man turned to leave.
"Wait!" Garret rushed to stop him.
"What is it? Have I not paid enough? You said this problem would be solved if I paid you then you said you wanted to see my face as well. What else do you want? My Kidneys?"
"Do-Do I know you?"
"Who knows?" the man responded coldly. "Do you know me?"
"You're very familiar."
"That's what many say about me. My charming looks tend to catch all the ladies. I guess it works on men as well."
Garret wanted to knock the man over the head and turn him around, "What's your name?" he asked.
"...Yeran."
"You-You're Yeran...? T-That can't be... Yeran died when he was ten."
The man froze still for a second, "Shit," he said. Garret was ready to disable the man but the hooded figure's hand instantly shot to his head. The man staggered forward, letting out a small cry of pain.
Some kind of headache? In his state of confusion, Garret didn't notice the kick sent to his shin. As it connected, he lost balance.
"GAH!" falling to the ground, he held his leg which felt like it had been broken. Due to his experience in the field, he forced his attention away from the pain to focus on the now possible enemy, only to find the man gone.
"Impossible." he muttered to himself, "Only Anne and I should know about Yeran."
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Author's Note: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you have any questions or want to say anything, please leave a comment. I really enjoy reading comments so that's one way to contribute to my morale.
This chapter sure took a little longer than I expected it too but I think I put enough in it to deserve some delay. Currently, I don't think I can post as often as I used to and many of you guys are okay with that, thank you. For now, I will and can only promise one per week. Treat everything that comes out before Sunday or Mondays as extra chapters I was able to make because I had the motivation and time. It's really just that I'm out of my groove right now, so comments would help.
As it stands, I plan to release a Valentine's Special next week. I'd recommend for everyone to read it as it is kinda a backstory. It'll only add to your reading experience and to the world I've made so far. The Valentine's Special may be the only chapter next week but I hope to also release a book 2 chapter along with it like 15 or 16.