Even for me, the arrival of Ohrin, the police curator of the heir, in the old port's parking lot was a total surprise, let alone for Gumm. He was clearly taken aback, lowering his gun but not putting it away, seemingly unsure of what to do with it. From what I gathered, Ohrin wasn't supposed to be in the capital today. His absence was one of the reasons their clan had chosen to initiate the operation now. And yet, here he was - a real curveball.
Naturally, the curator hadn't shown up alone. Two armored buses of the capital's special forces were pulling in behind his SUV into the parking area. However, Gumm barely reacted to this significant reinforcement of the police forces. It was as though he was unperturbed by a couple of platoons of elite commandos, but was more concerned about his brother's unexpected appearance.
As the two shapeshifters locked eyes, I moved to the side to get a view of Tedd. He was acting wisely, not jumping up demanding to know why he'd been sidelined. Instead, he'd silently tucked himself behind the front wheel of the nearest truck. His anxiety was only betrayed by his readiness to shift into beast form at any given moment, but he held back, waiting to see how the situation would unfold.
"It's been a while," Gumm said tensely, tucking his gun into his belt.
"Twice as long would've suited me just fine!" Ohrin retorted, towering over his brother like a monolith. "Why the hell am I being yanked off the ramp, my flight canceled, and dragged here?" The shapeshifter's massive hand gestured expansively. "Our war with Eshin is in full swing, we're barely managing to deal with everything. And now... The clan that was once mine is staging a military operation right in the capital!!"
The curator of the heir continued his tirade, but the longer he went on, the calmer and more relaxed Gumm's expression became.
"No, I knew you were gunning for Sherst, but there are limits!"
"We are within our rights," stated Gumm, his shoulders relaxing as he met his brother's furious gaze, no longer with fear, but with a faint smile.
"Rights aren't laws!" Ohrin growled. "We're not living in the last century!"
"About that, I think we'd better hear from..." Gumm gestured, and four men in extremely expensive business suits exited a sedan parked about ten meters away. "These gentlemen."
"Hmmm..." Upon seeing the newcomers, the curator pulled a face as if he'd just swallowed a lemon. "You brought the hedgehogs here?!"
"Representatives of the Chemicanese clan," Gumm corrected him.
"That's what I said, hedgehogs..." Ohrin's face contorted even more, then he added with a touch of contempt, "Big-eared hedgehogs."
"Do you want them to overhear you?" Gumm had settled down entirely and even allowed himself a smile. "Sure, you're a big shot, but they could sue you for such words."
"Hedgehogs..."
"What can I do?" Gumm shrugged. "They're the best lawyers in Novilter."
At some point, about a week after waking up in this new world, I recall being quite surprised that it was the clans of hedgehogs, regular hedgehogs, that had largely taken over the legal services sector in Wilflaes. However, these two concepts still didn't mesh for me: hedgehogs and lawyers, but that was the reality.
"You leave me no choice..." Ohrin threatened, his knuckles cracking.
"Let's not escalate things." Gumm wasn't scared at all, taking a step forward. "This time, the rats of Sherst crossed the line... By kidnapping one of our kin."
"What?!" The curator was clearly not prepared for such a turn. "The rats dared to kidnap a clan member from the First Hundred?!"
"No. I didn't say anything about the kidnapping of a clan member, but merely a representative of our blood... Not a clansman, but a minor who hadn't sworn an oath to the clan."
"Then you didn't have..."
"Yes, yes, we had no right under current laws, I know." Gumm waved dismissively, clearly taking over the conversation. "But, according to tradition, we are completely justified. And... I propose we leave all these laws and their interpretations to them..." He gestured towards the four lawyers. "And now you can order your people to stand down. We're done here, and our fighters have already disarmed. There's no need for force from the authorities in the current situation."
"That's for me to decide." Ohrin attempted to regain control of the conversation.
"Of course." His brother chuckled in response. "But I don't think you want to cater to these, what do you call them? Hedgehogs! Yes. I suggest we talk while others handle the formalities. Do you mind?"
"And no surprises from your people?" Realizing that the situation was more complex than he initially thought, Ohrin apparently decided to take a breather and not make a scene right then and there.
"From them?" The smile on Gumm's face turned almost malicious. "No surprises. But... I do need to be somewhere. Urgently. I made a promise. We can take your car. And... As you understand, I'm not planning on running away."
"Let's go." After thinking for a few seconds, Ohrin nodded his head towards his SUV.
"I'm not alone." His brother clarified and motioned for Tedd to join him.
"Is he the minor?" The curator sighed. "Okay, he can come too. And while we're at it, you can explain everything to me firsthand. And... If you thought you would get special treatment because we're related when you started this chaos, I recommend you prepare to confront your mistake. The carnage you've orchestrated will have severe consequences for the Red Panda clan."
The boy approached the SUV with a hint of apprehension, but nonetheless, he climbed into the back seat after Gumm insistently gestured for him to do so. Meanwhile, Ohrin was issuing commands via his mobile phone before settling himself behind the wheel. I had no choice but to sneak into the car in the Projection and take a seat. It was not the most comfortable situation, but I was more than a little curious about what would transpire next.
As the SUV started up and began to maneuver out of the parking lot, Ohrin prompted:
"I'm listening."
"First, introductions." Gumm's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Ohrin, this is Tedd. Tedd shares our bloodline, but he hasn't taken the oath."
"I gathered as much." The curator of the heir dismissed the statement as if it were insignificant, pressing his foot on the accelerator.
"Tedd." The elder shapeshifter turned to the boy. "Remember when I told you I'm your uncle? Good. Then allow me to introduce you to Ohrin... My brother... And... Your father..."
The steering wheel in the curator's hands jerked, and the SUV swerved, side-swiping a special forces police bus with its bumper. A scene worthy of a Bollywood movie from my world[1]. But, for some reason, when this unfolds right next to me, in reality, it doesn't seem comedic or even slightly amusing. Quite the contrary, in fact. Despite this, Gumm was smiling genuinely. He had clearly planned some intrigue and, judging by his demeanor, everything was going according to plan. However, no one in the cabin paid any attention to him or noticed his smile. Ohrin slammed on the brakes, even though the vehicle had already come to a halt, his knuckles whitening against the steering wheel. Tedd, on the other hand, sat with his mouth agape, blinking rapidly in disbelief at what he had just heard.
"How long are we staying put?" Gumm asked, glancing at the ceiling with a neutral expression.
A commando lieutenant approached the halted vehicle, its front end embedded in the police bus. As he arrived, he was met with a tirade of abuse from Ohrin, who rolled down the window and unloaded his frustration onto the unsuspecting officer. After closing the window, the curator removed his hands from the steering wheel.
"Well... Let's go..." He said, each word distinctly separate. "Where to?"
"To the third district hospital, we need to visit Eliza Mott." Mentioning this name, Gumm shot a glance at Tedd.
"Who is Eliza Mott?" Ohrin slapped the steering wheel in frustration.
It was then that I realized: this man had just squandered any chance of establishing a rapport with his newly revealed son. Perhaps not permanently, but certainly until Tedd could forget his father's dismissive words. I immediately understood Gumm's game. From his brother's reaction, he had deduced that Ohrin was unaware of Tedd's identity and his backstory, and he had exploited this to his advantage. And he had succeeded, for the benefit of himself and his clan. This was easily discernible on the boy's face, which first turned pale, then flushed with barely restrained anger.
"How can you not remember the..." The boy couldn't contain his emotions but was cut off.
Ohrin swiveled around, his eyes flashing fire as he looked the boy up and down. He spoke through gritted teeth:
"When I was just a bit older than you, so many women were put under me... I couldn't even remember their faces, let alone their names!"
"How dare..." This time, it was Tedd's uncle who silenced him with a firm hand on his shoulder and a shake of his head.
"And then you drank everything in sight, as if the blood of browns, not pandas, ran through your veins," Gumm interjected.
"That's in the past." Ohrin turned away from them and started the car again. "And you two better fill me in while we're on the road."
I looked at this large man, who had fearlessly confronted guns aimed at his chest. A man who stood alone against five clan fighters of Eshin. A father, who was now simply lost, unsure of how to act or what to do. Part of me felt sorry for him. Yet, forgetting the name of your child's mother... That was a low blow. The fact that he didn't even know he had a child was a weak excuse in the eyes of that child.
The SUV, obediently following all traffic rules and speed limits, moved out of the parking lot and onto the road. Meanwhile, Gumm, holding his nephew's hand, began to explain to his brother the "official" story of what had transpired. He spoke about how the rats from Sherst, through hired guns - who had been dealt with - kidnapped Tedd in an attempt to pressure the Red Panda clan. And only thanks to him personally did they react in time since he'd insisted on keeping surveillance over their young blood. He then outlined the rescue operation and briefly mentioned the Pandas' strike against the rat clan.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
"You not only freed the 'hostage,'" Ohrin seemed to calm a bit as the conversation took a familiar turn. "But you also hit the Sherst headquarters and took out three of their warehouses. On top of that, I've been told of thirty-five bodies, seven of which belong to the trash clan!"
"Add nine more bandits and one more from the trash clan," Gumm replied with a smile, patting Tedd on the back.
"Are you actually proud of that?!" Ohrin asked incredulously.
"A little," Gumm's eyes twinkled as he glanced at his nephew. "And trust me, I have a reason."
"You won't get away with this so easily," the curator of the heir growled.
"We will. And you'll understand why once you've cooled down," his brother countered. "The Duke won't risk a conflict with the Council of Clans right now, and they'll take our side. The issue of new laws versus old traditions is too slippery... Not to mention, the House on the Hill has bigger fish to fry: the war with Eshin and the tension with the Break Knights. The last thing the Castle needs is a falling out with the country's most influential families. Sure, we'll get a slap on the wrist, but there won't be any real punishment. After all, it wasn't us who started the war with the trash clans in the capital - it was the heir."
"We've been cleaning out Eshin's allies!" Ohrin snapped.
"Mostly rats, same as we did," Gumm responded, appearing slightly tense. However, his relaxed shoulders indicated that he wasn't overly concerned anymore.
Although the Red Pandas had initially planned their operation assuming Ohrin wouldn't be in the capital, Gumm managed to turn this surprise to his advantage. He pulled one thread, discovered that the curator was oblivious about his son, and played the scene further without a hitch.
The two brothers bickered half-heartedly as the SUV meticulously obeyed all traffic rules, blending in with the general flow of vehicles. Meanwhile, Tedd tried to compose himself, taking deep, measured breaths. Yet every now and then, he'd lose control, baring his fangs. This was not how he'd envisioned reuniting with his father - far from it. The boy had faced an overwhelming amount of turmoil today: kidnapping, his first murder, his mother's stroke, his rescue, and now, this unexpected encounter with his father. Quite the eventful day, and it wasn't even over.
I increasingly felt like an outsider caught up in a story that wasn't mine. Yes, I had helped the boy escape, but should I continue to meddle with his fate? Especially considering that my initial intervention had resulted in a pile of bodies. Sure, I hadn't intended for that to happen, but it did. Would it have been better if I had dealt with the bandits myself before freeing the boy?
Yet, what difference would that have made? The Pandas would have still slaughtered all the accomplices of the rats upon storming the underground prison, I'm certain of it. But then again, had I acted first, Tedd wouldn't have had to become a murderer. Probably, if I hadn't interfered, things might have unfolded more smoothly. He would have remained in his cell until the clan fighters freed him, and that would be it. I must admit, it was my mistake. Sometimes, it's better to let things take their natural course rather than trying to force a change when it's not necessary. Maybe this is all an influence of the snow-white blade!
Hey, "Purity," the saying "good intentions pave the road to hell" wasn't coined without reason. It's sometimes best to stay out, especially when you're not fully aware of the entire situation. Yet, the wakizashi seemed to fundamentally disagree with these thoughts. A person was abducted right before my eyes, and to ignore such a crime would be utterly inappropriate, from the perspective of the infallible sword. However, there was some validity in the blade's reaction to the kidnapping - it would indeed be wrong, grossly so, to turn a blind eye to such a crime happening right in front of you.
On the other hand, "Purity" seems to be in a very comfortable position: pulling me into "adventures" with ease, leaving me to deal with the aftermath all on my own.
So, what should I do next? Should I seize the moment and reveal to Tedd the whole truth? That his kidnapping was staged by the Red Pandas, and his mother had a stroke due to the negligence of the perpetrator.
If I were younger, I would have undoubtedly taken this "honest," yet easiest path. It's so "right," isn't it? To spill everything and let the individual decide for himself. But what is "fair" and "right" in this context? After Ohrin confessed that he can't even remember Eliza Mott's face, Tedd won't approach his father. He won't join the duke's service either, to avoid following in Ohrin's footsteps. He won't choose the path of the clan as well. Perhaps, with a well-crafted explanation, Gumm could justify the abduction by citing the family's predicament, but the fact that his mother suffered due to the actions of the pandas is something the boy will never forgive. So it turns out that if I reveal everything, it would leave Tedd with a choice that's not much of a choice.
Ten years ago, I would have done just that, shirking the responsibility of decision-making, since the boy would decide his future himself in this case. It's great for appeasing one's conscience. I would have told him everything, laid all the facts bare, and he would make an informed decision. And I... I would feel like I bear no responsibility for it, with my conscience clear. Is it convenient? Absolutely.
Oh... I shouldn't have started pondering about honesty and justice, as these thoughts triggered "Purity" again, reminding me of its presence with a piercing cold in my left palm.
The issue now is that I can clearly see the outcome of this honest gesture. It will condemn the boy to become a pariah and a loner. Yes, it would be his personal choice, but so what? How many young men and women ruin their futures, their lives, by making decisions that seem so right and just to them at their age but, in reality, lead to abyss? Thousands? Millions?
If I look at the situation rationally, the paradox is that I find myself aligning with Gumm in this whole story. Yes, his clan acted disgracefully and dishonorably. But do they wish harm upon Tedd? No, they need him, they genuinely need him, alive and well. If the demographic situation in the clan described by the patriarch of the Red Pandas is accurate, in due course, Tedd might become the clan leader himself. That is, he won't just be used as a "stud bull," they will invest in his education too. Is that a bad thing? The only downside is that this story will be built on a lie. Is that bad? Not necessarily. Many happy and strong marriages are based on the fact that the spouses don't know the whole truth about each other. And many corporations would crumble if business partners knew the entire truth. Lies are an integral part of our lives, and avoiding them at all costs is not only nearly impossible but often unnecessary.
If Eliza Mott hadn't suffered a stroke, I wouldn't have questioned my choice. An innocent woman was hurt, and that seemed extremely unjust. According to Gumm, the third-party mercenaries responsible for the operation were already taken care of - a fact that troubled me not at all. If they were so unprincipled as to agree to kidnap a minor, they got what they deserved. The world is a cleaner place without them.
There was a simpler route to take, one that would relieve both Tedd and I of the agony of choice. I could've dumped everything on Ohrin. Told him everything, and let him deal with what comes next. Is he the boy's father or not? If he is, then it's his responsibility to deal with the boy and his former clan. Sounds reasonable, right? Maybe, but I didn't like it. Maybe it's because, at the moment, Ohrin is nothing more than a stranger to Tedd, a father only in name. Even I, a mere neighbor, was closer to Tedd at that moment, knew him better than Ohrin, and seemingly cared more about the boy than his own father.
As I mulled over these thoughts, the SUV pulled up to the hospital. The on-call doctor attended to the shapeshifters immediately. Both Ohrin and Gumm held too much power to be brushed aside with formalities. While the doctor filled us in on Eliza's condition, Tedd sat quietly in the corner of the office, obviously worried about his mother's health. Eliza Mott's life wasn't in immediate danger, but the stroke had paralyzed her right leg and numbed her right arm. Coupled with her pre-existing illnesses, her situation was precarious. She now required constant medical supervision and ideally, placement in a care facility. Unfortunately for Tedd and Eliza, she belonged to the small group of people unaffected by sensum powers, so a psychic healing was out of the question.
Naturally, the young man himself lacked the resources to provide adequate care and treatment for his ailing mother. Besides, I knew him well enough to understand that if the truth about the kidnapping came out, Tedd would reject any help from the clan and his father. He would strive to find the money to look after his mother himself... But given his current predicament, the only way he could secure such funds would be by straying onto the perilous path of crime. Yes, if I were to reveal everything to him, he would choose this path willingly. On his own... It would seem as though I had no part in it. In fact, from the perspective of "Purity," my actions would appear honest and correct. But being "honest" doesn't always equate to being "better," and the notion of "correct" is subjective.
After hearing the doctor out, Gumm suggested to Tedd that he take charge of Eliza's treatment and boarding. But it seemed Ohrin hadn't even considered this possibility. In fact, for the past few minutes, the heir's curator had been avoiding the boy's gaze as if he wasn't even there. Perhaps the revelation of having an adult son had unsettled him more than I initially thought. He even left the doctor's office when they were discussing the details of Eliza's treatment plan, and started to contact his people, inquiring about the situation in the old port.
Should I meddle further in this matter or not? It would be better to make a decision now, while Tedd and Gumm were yet to finalize their agreement. If I were to intervene, all I would need to do is rush to my hideout in Sliding, change into Metatron, and return. It would take no more than fifteen minutes, and in that time, the uncle wouldn't have enough of a chance to sway his nephew.
Ah! It would have been easier for me if Ohrin hadn't been so clumsy and insensitive. If only he had displayed some concern rather than indifference. I would have tried to steer the boy towards his father. Since he wasn't involved in the kidnapping incident, and at the same time, he could provide a decent future for his offspring. But with his behavior, Ohrin had closed off this option for me. No, if I had ample time, I might have been able to reconcile this father-son duo, but I don't - not now. Tedd and Gumm are about to strike a deal in which the Red Pandas would take care of Eliza, and the young man would swear allegiance to the clan.
So, what am I supposed to do now?
My left hand turned icy cold at the thought. For "Purity," everything seemed black and white in this situation. According to the wakizashi's "perspective", Tedd should be informed of the entire truth! This was the only option that aligned with the sense of justice as understood by Izao, the idealist, whose soul fragment inhabited the blade. The fact that this decision would likely lead to the death of the young shapeshifter and his mother was of little consequence to the indestructible blade. Why worry about such things, when the immediate task was to enforce justice, as "Purity" saw it?
Not long ago, I had asked "Purity" to relieve me of the burden of making this difficult decision, but now that the wakizashi was pushing - no, forcing me towards the choice it deemed right... Yes, it was indeed forcing me, using such a simple tactic as pain. The unbearable cold gripping my left hand was proof of this influence.
I had put up with "Purity" preventing me from committing unlawful acts. That was understandable. It made sense.
I had accepted the wakizashi's insistence on intervening in situations where a crime was being committed before my eyes. That too was acceptable. It was the right thing to do, to not stand by when one could help.
But now...
Now, "Purity" is trying to strip me of my choice.
And that is something I will not stand for!
My left hand begins to cramp.
Does this mean I have to tell Tedd everything to make the pain go away?
The brief respite from the cold is answer enough.
Why? I shouldn't even be here! I am a stranger to Tedd, merely a passer-by, yet I suddenly have to decide his fate? Just because I know something, and I'm expected to use this knowledge because it would be the 'right' thing to do? No, it would be right if Tedd himself senses something amiss and investigates it; that would be fair, not having the truth served to him on a silver platter!
The pain surges - "Purity" is obviously not in agreement with my logic.
Instead of making me bow to the sword's will, this pain only fuels my anger.
Dealing with Breakthroughs, Knighthood, saving the world, and the looming question of the Treaty hanging over me like a sword of Damocles - it is all too much. I won't let anyone or anything make decisions for me!
Yes, rescuing the kid from his kidnappers was the right thing to do. But deciding someone else's fate just because one of my swords deemed it so? No, that is not going to happen!
Perhaps not taking action after learning so much might not be the best choice... but surrendering to "Purity" now is something I can't do. I simply can't allow this blade to make decisions for me.
The world swims before my eyes due to the biting cold in my left palm. I glance at Ohrin, Gumm, Tedd. This whole story, the entire kidnapping fiasco, it's their mess. And the truth... if any of them genuinely want this truth, they have their own minds to figure it out. That is, of course, if they need it!
With this in mind, I exit the hospital through the nearest window.
The chill in my left hand is so excruciating that it feels as if it's about to explode. One of the threads tethering my soul to this world strains like a taut string.
It strains...
And it snaps.
The pain is so intense that it feels like my heart might stop. The total reserve of my prana drops by ten percent. And this is permanent.
"Purity" did not approve of my decision, and my connection to Izao's soul shard has weakened.
Was my non-intervention justified?
I don't know.
Did I make the right choice?
I don't know.
All I know is that this time, "Purity" crossed a line I was not prepared to tolerate!
To alleviate the pain in my chest, I enter Sliding, leaving behind the hospital, the shapeshifter boy, his cunning uncle, and Ohrin, who, it seems, is yet to realize that he has a son.
I just run.
I sprint forward.
As fast as I can.
[1] TLN: I'm not sure if this is common knowledge in other countries. In the '90s, Indian movies were popular in the post-Soviet space. They were known for two things: random scenes of everyone breaking into song and dance, and dramatic climax scenes where multiple characters discover they are related (for instance, by sharing the same birthmark). Or was it just one movie that was incredibly popular? Either way, "like in an Indian movie"(Bollywood movie) now implies one of these two clichés, at least in Russian.