Chapter 23: The Killer Mole

Chapter 23 is out! At first I had wanted the title to be The Confrontation, but then I thought 'nah, too simple' so in the end, the title turned out like that.
Also, the language I use this time for the spell uses a mix of german and old norse language since it was hard to make a proper sentence with old norse, so if anyone tries to google translate it out of curiosity, i'm sure it would only sound gibberish.

anyway, enjoy!

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My name is Jacob.

            Last name you say? No, I’m only Jacob. Since I had long forsaken my name long ago, I went by the name Jacob. To other people, I go by different aliases; [Head Slasher], [Death Wisp], [Slayer Hand], and many others around the world. Recently, I’ve been known for one nickname the FBI had came up for me.

            [The Killer Mole]

            I heard because I kept popping up in different place, making it harder for them to catch me, they branded me a mole-like name. Seriously, what’s with that lame name? Can the FBI be more creative? They could at least make something more catchy and cool; do you know what I mean?

            Anyway, it’s been roughly 15 years I worked as a killer for hire. However, my first client who I had been contract with and my benefactor as well had given me an interesting job after he held curiosity of an esper’s brain development.

            Well, even for me killing kids didn’t sit well for me at first, but one thing I’m most proud about myself would be the ability to adapt. In these 15 years, no matter what the situation, I always act accordingly even when the most unexpected thing was thrown in my way is what I always thought.

            However, anyone would be thrown off when a small child used a middle finger on you.

            I had gotten back from retrieving an interesting girl I had come by. Before, even though she was invisible I had noticed the difference in light, rather turning invisible she was more like cloaking herself and she was new to it too, she didn’t even hid the sound of her footsteps as she ran off, how adorable that was.

            Tracking her down was a piece of cake. I had a time off as I went to do work of other clients. It’s so funny when I think once they had nothing to do with children, they couldn’t pinpointed it to me. It was mostly thank to my Morphing Ability that made it easier going in and out with a different face.

            So, while checking the girl’s ability, one of the surveillance monitor had to interrupted me. Turning it to full screen, that one girl appeared.

            After I had the girl locked with the others, I teleported to the end of the hallway she was taking. Somehow, I wanted to try testing her so I planned to go up to her ask her as if she was lost and led her out. Slowly, as to not to startle her, I walked up toward where I had last seen her in the monitor. The wall and floor started expanding after I walked up to the spacious parking lot.

            I tried searching for her, but the silent lot gave no sign of anyone present. Then, a high pitch sound echoed, I felt my head was about to overcome with drowsiness.
             [Bregða, drehen und brydda. Bregða Qr]. 
            I heard foreign words that came from behind, I turned my head to find something I did not believe was an arrow-shape wind coming toward me at frightening speed. [miðgarð , greifer] there was a sudden bulge on my feet and saw the floor covered my feet. “WHAT THE FU—”

            A sudden burst gave tremor to the entire floor, creating a cloud of dust.

#

“Did I get him?”

            I can’t help but feel optimistic when I said it, but based on experience, when things were looking up and forgot to look down, you’ll end up falling instead.  Without stepping out from behind the pillar I was hiding behind. I had tried to went all out by using ancient language. Because spells depend on the power of words, it is said the older the words the stronger the spell.

            My master once told me that because magic is a gift from God, the first magic should have been taught with the first language born in this world. Master also said there’s a theory that there existed a particular language called the Language of God and learning it is the wish of all magician. However, the language is too old for it to left any record and what was left was old language that had evolved with time.

The only ancient language I’m familiar are old Norse, Latin, and Wicca.

            When the dust finally subsided, there was a trace of my Wind Arrows. Creating a crater that would fit three to four cars inside.

“Did I over did it?”

“You quite did.”

The sound behind me froze my heart; I turned at him only to have my neck faced on the blade his hand had turned in to. My back was drenched in sweat as I could only gulp my own saliva. When did he get behind me?

Without knowing much of my opponent’s ability, I never intended making a full confrontation. That’s why, after I had Hod make sure the number of my enemies, I waited to ambushed him. I even went as far to make him unconscious first with my recorder that I had enchanted, immobilized him with Earth Magic and went full out with my Wind Magic.

I saw blood dripping from his mouth, this guy—he bit his mouth to force himself awake. Then how did he get out from that situation? I know this guy has the evolved form of shape shifting, the Morphing Ability that let’s your body changed into inorganic material. As far I know though, there’s no way he could get away with just that.

Don’t tell me….he’s a dual ability user? If he is, then most likely his second ability would be teleportation. I just hope he doesn’t have a third.

After being caught off guard, the recorder in my hand drop and rolled toward the man’s feet. He didn’t kill me immediately then it seems he’s interested what I had used on him. His face was smiling but his eyes gave a cruel and angry look on me yet with a hint of interest.

“You…what did you just use on me?” he said with a demanding rather than a curious tone. Look, he’s curious, just as I plan it would be!

Well, I was mostly betting on it actually.

“Is this how you usually ask people?”

“……Yes.”

I went silent at his response, without being surprise at his answer.

#

I somehow escaped by a hairbreadth and head toward the source of the voice I heard. When I saw the glimpse of the child I saw, I had no doubt she was the perpetrator. She had a slightly curl black hair ran by her shoulder, her red distinctive cheekbone on her white skin, thin eyebrows, and clear sea green eyes. Wearing a shocking pink jacket over her shirt, along with shorts and flower patterned shoes, I'm surprised how she could get in here with such clothing. 

“Is this how you usually ask people?”

It had staggered me how she conversed nonchalantly with me. I had asked her of her ability out of habit, but that question was far from what I had thought.

            Who are you—is what I’d liked to ask.

            Whenever someone came to assassinate me, rather than whom s/he was, or what they came for, their powers were the only thing I ever took notice. However, when I look at the girl’s eye, who I suspect is barely 10 years old, looking straight at me without a hint of fear and the hidden desire to kill.

I knew she was not normal.

            Who the hell is this kid? again that thought pointlessly ran across my mind. If I hadn’t turn my hand into a dagger, they’re probably be wet from sweat by now, since this is the first time I felt fear from not knowing what I’m facing.

“I’m not sure what kind of ability you have, but I’m sure my client would be more than happy to examine you thoroughly for it.”

“I see—you have a client, quite a business you’re running here.”

“It’s a pleasantly tiring job though.”

“Pleasant is it….” her voice and eyes turn dark and then she took a step back while spitting out something from her mouth. I knew from a glance it was a round pebble, oddly enough there was a small symbol on it. It was a harmless small pebble, but my instinct I’ve build up for 15 years started screaming for me to run.

I jumped out from my previous position, and saw it turning into a black orb and destroying its surrounding. Looking at its power, for a bomb it was neither strong nor weak. It was probably enough to make anyone limp upon close contact. However, when I look at the aftermath, there weren’t any burn marks. Both the floor and the pillar near it had a part as if it had been cleanly scoop out and there weren't any rubles around. I wasn’t sure at first, but clearly that bomb didn't destroy, it just obliterate its surrounding. For the first time in my years of killing, cold sweat began trickle down my back. 

Shit, she could even make a warp hole, there’s a limit in being ridiculous! 

 <<<PREVIOUS CHAPTER                                         NEXT CHAPTER>>>

Chapter 22: The Search VI

Höðr, anglicized as Hoder, Hodur, or Hod. The name of a blind Norse god of darkness and winter, famous for the story where the god of trickster Loki had made him aimed a fig made out of mistletoe at his brother, Baldr. Some of you might recognize this, but stories such as this are nothing but myths, born from the people’s delusion. However, it might have been because they had witness an existence outside their comprehension that they had mistaken it for a god.

            Now, the one who bears the name of that god is the spirit standing in front of me. Because my legs are hanging about two feet from the ground, I am now facing him on the same eye level as him. The summoning spell had almost dried out my mana, and sadly, I don’t want to waste my mana more than I already have.

            Ah, although I said named spirits could attack you, Hod is a womanizer so he would definitely wouldn’t hurt me…… physically that is.

            Well, first thing first, I’m not in a comfortable position, but I guess I should introduce myself. “Spirit Hod, my name is Claudia Robertson and I wish to borrow your strength!”

            No need to state the obvious, it’s been a long time since someone had summon me so I will especially grant you my appearance.

            His arrogance still knows no bounds, has it? Explaining the situation will take some time, and time isn’t on my side right now, that’s why to get his absolute cooperation, I’m willing to step on my small pride.

            Now—what kind of offering you could possibly have to please me.

            His eyes remain closed, yet he leaned his body closer as if to take a good look at me. When he was in a good amount of distance from me, I spit directly to his eye. His expression stayed neutral, but he was obviously shock and unintentionally cut off his mana from the spell that binds me, letting me kiss the ground.

            You wretched little g—

            The voice in my head was strong enough to make anyone a headache; I cut him off with a loudest voice a seven year old could muster, “Listen ginger head! I made the all the effort to summon you, and I don’t want to waste more of my time with your bull**** you arrogant prick!” I bet Hod would have widened his eye if he could. Is that your attitude when asking for power from being such as myself? He said that but with his shoulder trembling, he held his face, failing to hide the edge of his lips were twitching upward

………. He’s enjoying it is he?

 “For you to not have recognized my reincarnated self, is your devotion for me you always flaunt only to that extent of my death? Pathetic pig!” Hod knit his eyebrows at my words.

You—could it be you—

“It’s been a long time Hod, I don’t have much time, so right here, right now, pledge your loyalty and follow me!” I said with a smirk. I extended my hand to him, and just as I hope, Hod kneeled in one knee, and held my hand. You might think making a contract revolves something along the line of exchanging blood, but a spirit’s body is only but a vessel, they don’t have a blood. All you need for a contract is an oath said by the spirit and linking his and my mana together.

 I pledge with my name, Hod to serve my new master, her name is Claudia Roberston and will forever serve until the contract turns void on her words or death.

 He had a dignified voice echoed in my mind, but he was breathing heavily with a blushed face while blatantly showing off his perverted smile. 

 He really sets on my nerve.  
              Master, in what way am I able to serve you?

Since he’s enthusiastic, that’s good. “Hod, I have but one thing I want you to do.”

You only need to name it and I shall follow without question.

 It was weird, hearing his voice and his words washed me over with nostalgia and made me sincerely thought that I’m glad he’s by my side.

It doesn’t change the fact he’s annoying though.

 “Listen well; what I need you to do is….”

#

At a downtown area, a certain hospital namely called Dr. Yuhan Private Hospital, a not soo small, not soo big hospital. You would think most hospital buildings are white in color, yet only this hospital color stayed brown. Because it used to be an old building no one used for a long time, after someone bought it and make a complete makeover to turn it into a hospital. That’s also why, even though the hospital had been running for 18 years, there are still parts in this building unknown to them.

Three floors down beneath the hospital, many rooms without being laid for more than a decade. Without being noticed, the floor’s wall had mostly corroded, the halls were infested with rats and spiders hanging from the ceiling. When one walks through this floor, you could see dust flying across the air.

  In such a place, a girl started to wake from smelling the unfamiliar air around her. She remembered she was attacked by a horrible dream and was sure she would wake up in her room, possibly toppled to the floor. However, the first thing she saw instead was a face. A man’s face, possibly Asian, he had slit eyes and wore a thin smile, his face was smooth like porcelain yet his hair was white, unmatched with his young features.

The girl would have scream, but she was too afraid to even do that, so the least she could do was swallowed her own saliva. She masked her expression with her calm demeanor, but unable the loud thump noise from her chest, beating heatedly. “You’re already awake I see” the man said softly. His voice had cold sweat swept through her back, the same voice she remembered that day.

She tried moving her hand, but couldn’t. She was sitting on a metal chair with no restraint placed on her body but other than turning her head slightly, her body wouldn’t move as she wished. Was I drugged?

She looked around, trying to figure where she was. There were numerous monitor surrounding her, one side with a night vision, overlooking the empty halls. The other side, showing graphs and much numerical value she couldn’t understand. She cocked her head, and felt a metal ring placed on her head. The ring lighted for a moment and jolted her head, she could only gasped without being able to let out a scream.

  “Amazing, I’ve met many children and this is the first time seeing such reaction, your potential is extraordinary.”

 She could care less about her potential, she wanted to cry but a pride inside of her wouldn’t let her. This man had kidnapped many children, some that were her friends. She couldn’t held back her wet eyes but she glared at him menacingly. “Hoo~ that’s a good expression, many had wailed and resist fruitlessly when they wake up, but for you to be calm in this situation, should I say…as expected of you.”

  “Ah, what should I do? Looking at this numbers, I really want to have your power, but then the professor might get angry with me if I don’t give him a good living specimen. Aaa~ but this is such a good power, I really want it!”

 His tone was just like that of a child, what is he talking about? thought Beth. Then one of the red light at the edge of one of the surveillance monitors was blinking. The Asian man’s expression turned serious, he turned toward it and had the whole monitor change into one big footage.

There was a person, a small child at that walking through the empty hallway. It was 3 A.M and one wouldn’t think you would find a child walking alone in a deserted place. The two of them were surprised, but Beth almost choked when the child turned toward the camera, revealing her face.

CLAUDIA!!!! What—what is she doing here?

 Claudia kept staring at the camera, as if she knew who was watching her. She then lifted her hand and pull of a finger that a seven year old child wouldn’t normally pull off. Beth wanted to yell out where the sweet and calm little sister had learned such gesture, the man switched the monitor back to its normal footage of the numerous hallways and stood from his chair. Afraid of seeing his expression, she let him pull off the ring on her head and dragged her toward a room cell.

 There, along with her, eight other children, boys and girls all around the same age as her were sitting with their back on the wall. One of them approached Beth who was laying on the floor and offered her a hand. Beth wanted to take it, but her body still wouldn’t listen to her. “Oh, is the drug still affecting you?” said the boy. He then shoulder her arm lifting her to a place she could rest, one other came and help him.

“I’m sure you still have a hard time talking so let me explain the situation, we don’t where we are or why we’re here. From what we know, we are the lucky ones to be kept alive. You've heard of the kidnapping series right? I don’t what exactly happened with the other kids, but probably they had their brains taken out. I know because I saw a glimpse of one room with shelf full of jars with brains inside of them. Creepy right? Anyway, it seemed we are treated as specimen, this is only my guess but that guy who dragged you here is only a lackey, his job probably involves with kidnapping and taking out brains while also keeping the alive one as well for his employer then disposing part he didn’t need. I don’t know what his employer wants for us, but maybe something along the line as those B-rated movies about crazy mad scientist. Oh, it seemed we couldn’t use our power here, likely because of another drug used on us.”

Beth blinked a few times in amazement and surprise, “Why are you so calm?” she didn’t realize her voice was back, though it still horse, and voiced out her thought. The boy scratched his head, not sure how to say. “Actually, I’ve been wondering that myself, not just me but the others too. I do feel scared and wanted to wail many times, but then I thought nothing would change with that so I just accept things.”

“Isn’t because we’re espers?” a girl beside interrupted, “I heard our brain are special not only because we could use abilities, but because our way of thinking is different. Rather than being overwhelmed by emotion, we could think through most situation logically. I’ve been here for about two months and other than the first day, I haven’t cried once. I don’t feel despair or gone mad and just accept the situation.”

 Surely like she said, Beth didn’t feel much despair, she was sad and scared and wanted to cry for her mother. However instead, she accepted it, just like the others. Beth felt that fact frustrates her; she didn’t want to accept in and just give up. Even without powers, we have nine esper here, isn’t there some way we could escape?

Rather than accepting things, she would rather struggle to the end. She tried thinking of the things that could motivate her; her mother special pancake, the new movie of her favorite actor she and her friends planned to watch, her dad lame jokes, her warm loving sisters…………wait, sister?

“CLAUDIA!”

 Beth suddenly jumped, but soon her leg became rigid and once again fell to the floor. She dragged her body toward the door, without minding the words of concern around her. I don’t know why she’s here, but she’s in danger, I have to help her! Screw my brain; I won’t accept her needs like how I accept my fate.

It didn’t matter if she was drugged, she tried to muster all her strength and concentrate on the door. She felt something was interfering her brain, causing a massive headache. She didn’t care at all. She withstood the pain and slowly but surely, the door began to crack.

 All the other kids stood up when they realize this, but when the boy who dragged her saw the nosebleed, he insisted her on stopping. However, she couldn’t stop now, the Asian man told her she was special, then she was going to believe his words and made him rue the day he had lay on her.

She screamed while pouring out the last strength she had and the door broke while being sent flying. The other kids were dumbfounded, “Claudy…I’m comin—” before she could say anything else, once again she fell to the ground and stayed unconscious.

 “Hey Felix, what should we do now?” said one of the children.

The boy named Felix who tried to stop Claudia before, went to her and examined her breathing, he then softly tried to put her on his back. “Obviously, getting out of here!”  he declared. The other kids wasn’t sure it was a good idea, not knowing where they were and how they were getting out of here, but Felix wasn’t finished.

 “Look, I know even after the door’s open, the chance of getting out is small but it's not zero. Here we have one girl, who withstood the pain after getting drug and create a one in a million chance for us here. I’m not going to waste this chance, so those who still held hope in them, don’t just stick your butt on the ground and try fighting for ourselves!”

 Nice speech kid

  A sudden voice in their voice surprised all of them, without their notice, a man came upon them from the shadows. While the other kids started cowering in fear, only Felix stood his ground and glared at him, not giving up on hope.

Woah there, you might think I’m here to put you back to your cell, but don’t worry, I’m here to help you out.

The dim light in the hall illuminate his features. He was a tall man, with red hair tied on his back, his eyes was closed and he was wearing a black leather jacket, black pants and black boots. The man crouched to meet their eye level even though he himself couldn’t see, but Felix felt that this man was staring toward the depth of his soul. “Why should we believe you?” he tried asking. He felt his legs tremble but he won’t let himself cower.

My task is to get you out of here, you might think I’m lying or maybe trying to use you, but you only have two choices, one is staying here or two getting out of here with me. You don’t need to do something as believing me, if our interests cross, you only need to use me to get yourselves out how’s that?

 Felix ponders. Surely if he uses this man, he could let him and the others out, something he had stop trying for the past month. There was a slight breathing brushing his ear and he looked toward the girl sleeping on his back. “Fine, let us out!”

“Felix!”

“Hey, don’t just decide that on your own!”

  There were few who complained, but before they could reach a decision. The man smiled, the shadow beneath his feet stretched across the floor and second later, they all fall toward the darkness.

Mission accomplished Hod pronounced, Ah, I wonder if master would abuse me as a reward…I’m looking forward to it.

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This chapter is longer than I would have thought, oh well,  I hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter, The Confrontation! (Finally, I can change the tittle).

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Chapter 21: The Search V

I was naïve.

            These eight years of my new lukewarm life that I’ve been living for granted. After finally escaping the life of constant threat, I imagined myself researching the new ways of magic while spending the days of my new friends and family, living happily with them.

             What a fool I am.

             To think I would be too accustomed with my new life, I became blind with unseen danger lurking around. I knew yet I pretended I didn’t see. It might look safer than in the past, but the dangers in this era is a lot deeper than one could fathom, and I never wanted myself to be dragged to that sort of place again.

            Because of that, my sister had to pay the price. The cold wind blew from the broken window in Beth’s room, the bed was turned sideways knocking the table next to it. I stood by her door, clenching my fist tight with my small hand.

            The police had come not long after. The neighborhood woke up from the sound of patrol car surrounding our house. They took pictures of her room and asked us questions of the time of the incident. My father gave his and mother’s testimony when knowing she wasn’t in any condition answering questions. Her eyes and nose were red, and she wouldn’t stop crying. Karen was calm, but she kept turning toward Beth’s room, it’s possibly she’s looking on every corner around the area searching for her.

            They didn’t bother to question me, heck since I’m only almost eight they might be thinking my words won’t mean much for them or they just think I’m being traumatized from this incident. I can’t blame then, ever since we found Beth missing, I had my head hung down while keeping my silent. Even though I had imagined the killer would aim for her, I never thought of it seriously enough that he would go for her here. I kept on mulling over my failure but there’s no way I was only thinking just that.

            I’ve already arranged the rescue plan in my head. There was no blood in her room, meaning she is kidnapped alive. The bodies I couldn’t found at the factory possibly mean the man my needed part of his spoils alive. Knowing the high possibility she’s alive allowed me to calm down.

            “Right, I know it’s late, but please come down to the station for detail questioning, we’ll try our utmost best to find your daughter.” One of the police said this as he escort us outside. We all made it into the nearest station, my mother was holding tightly at my hand as if asking reassurance knowing she still had her daughters with her. I feel bad that I have to let go of this woman’s frail hand, but right now, I can’t hesitate any longer.

            I took a recorder I had from my small backpack I carry, right at the center of the station, I blew a high pitch sound. The next thing that happened, everyone around was on the floor, laid down on the floor, unconscious, including my family. I made an apologetic look toward them then stashing away the recorder.  My action might be a little drastic, but as I said; since I can’t hesitate I’m going all out!

            I dashed back home, I head straight toward the backyard, jumping over the fence. Without trying to waste time, I bit my thumb and hastily but carefully make the same magic circle I use for my previous Search Spell. I put Beth’s favorite hair band she always wear in and utter the same chanting but faster, the same thing happen two nights ago, the circle glowed and started dispersing then came together as a red trail in the sky.

            I would have followed it right away in a flash but who I’m facing isn’t someone I could simply confront. That’s why I prepared all the necessary things along with the knowledge of magic I’ve improved in the past years.

            Just when I was about to leave, I contemplate the spell I’ve been thinking of using all night. For this task, one particular spirit would definitely be able to help me—ugh, his face just gives me shivers—but if it fails, by the time I found her, I might not recovered enough mana to fight and I would only imagined a bad end waiting for me.

            Summoning Magic would need the equal amount of mana of the corresponding spirit own mana. Unlike magicians who need to recuperate the mana they own, spirits are made of mana so they would never ran out of energy so they can not die either.  It’s a different story when they are using a material body in our dimensional plane but let’s explain this some other time.

            Since the one I need to summon is a famous named spirit, his mana of course is considerable, although it’s possible to summon a spirit with more mana than the summoner, that would usually be because of the spirit’s own will. That’s way, even if a spirit is something I desperately need right now, if I fail, all that I had prepared would turn out naught in the end.

            I took a deep breath to clear my mind, recalling my days and the emotion I felt when I tried to summon him for the first time. I reopened the wound on my thumb that was closing and made a different magic circle drawn on the ground.

[I call upon the spirits from the end of shore, with my power, tear open the gate between, with my blood, trace your way to my side, with my words, pledge your service to me. I dub the one who walks within the darkness, named Hod. With my offering in hand, hear my voice and come forth!]

               The magic circle glow once again but dimly, the blood spread around, making a three-diameter hole. After cultivating my mana all these years, the amount of mana I had is on par with the average magicians from my time. That much is still not enough to summon him but I believe—I believe one thing from him that had created the bond between us the very first time.

            The ground shook, and an enormous mana was pouring out from the hole. The birds flew away through the sky, the animals ran in all direction, away from the hole. The full moon shone brightly at him as he emerges from it. His bright red hair glimmers, he had a hawk like nose and he looked like a man in his early 30s, while wearing his silver toga, he stood as if showing off his proud muscle that he had well built at a fine proportion.

            Without opening his eyes, he turned to me the moment he found out there was no one else but me; he had an irritated look before he echoed his thought in my mind. Are you the one who call upon my name?

              I immediately nodded, but before I could say anything, he interrupted my thought once more. Foolish little girl, for you to think you are capable to satisfy me with such immature body, you should call me upon me after 10…no, for you 6 years perhaps.

            A nerve seemed to bulged on my forehead. Yes, one thing I believe that won’t change even after it’s been more than 400 years, I believe his love for woman would not change. When I first summon him, I had heard rumor that the spirit, [Hod] would answer any call as long as it’s a woman. I’ve always hated that part of him, I never thought the day will come where I’m glad he’s a womanizer.

            Hod was about to go back, but I had already cut off my mana and close the portal. Honestly, since he had a large amount of mana, he could still go back with ease.

             [Wind, Bind] 

            After I chanted, the wind coarse around the spirit, halting his movement, good, I’ve got his attention. Such talent for a young girl in this age, I came because of the nostalgic spiritual energy, but it may not be a waste. He said that, but he easily dispels the wind and counter it back at me. The wind binds my hands and legs and forces me up in the air. This scene reminds me of an old movie of a certain masked villain named dark father or something with jedi power that I’ve had watched.

Oh, did I also forgot to mention one of the dangers of summoning spell? is that a named spirit could attack you.

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Chapter 20: The Search IV

“….the food chain consists of producer, consumer, and detrivores or decomposer. As you can see from the linear system, producer are organism that produces their own food such as trees, bushes, and other plants, while consumers are organism that eats other organism followed from herbivores as the first consumer…”

            Class went on as usual, but none of the lectures were able to get in my head today. It’s only been yesterday after investigating the factory. When school was about to be over, I had rushed my way back to school—the old janitor was still soundly asleep when I gave him back his uniform—and had dad pick me up as usual at the front gate.

            I list out all the things I knew and what I found out from the factory:

1.      The missing children’s bodies were headless, either it’s the killer’s hobby or the killer needed it for his personal need. I strongly believe it’s the later, since the kids are all espers it wouldn’t be weird for anyone prying open an esper’s head for God knows what.

2.      The burned bodies found were a total of eighteen, while the missing children were officially announced twenty-six. Here’s the question, where’s the rest of the children?

3.      Dale had said all the incidents up until now had a three months period for some reason, probably because of the killer’s everyday life circumstances, something like a job that had him to move from place to place, two months had passed since the first incident.

            Somehow, these were the only thing I managed to get. I tried to pry more in the factory if there were any signs of anyone suspicious by the time the bodies were put there. However, there was only one camera covering the area, and the only suspicious person that covers what he threw to the furnace, never had his face showed at the camera. The employee didn’t give much credible testimony either, they all claim that day went on ordinarily other than finding the bodies.

            To conclude my investigation, I’m back to square one.

            The fifth graders were only allowed to rest for ten days; the school had announced that the police would prepare a few measures before they got back to school so they shouldn’t need to worry too much. However, at this rate, I got the feeling they will also use that chance to use the kids as bait for him. I’m extremely against for things led to that, but I do partly understand how much the state police are at their wits end to find such elusive criminal that kept jumping from place to place.

            My mind came back to class the moment the school bell rang and the teacher dismissed our class. “Claudia, were you thinking of something? You weren’t paying much attention to class and you had a furrow between your eyebrows." Eric was looking at me worryingly; he wore such a cute and innocent face at me enough to make me cuddle him. Oh, this is bad; right now he’s my classmate, so I should respond to him accordingly.

            “It’s nothing Eric, nothing for you to worry about anyway.” When I answered him that, he made a sad expression and then sigh deeply, eh? What’s with that reaction? However, Eric then turn his expression with a smile, “Okay, but don’t worry on your own Claudia, my mom sad those who worry or get angry too much will get wrinkles easier.”

            After that, we met with Loranne and went on home. It was only when I was back to my room that I remembered Eric’s lie detecting ability. All though I hadn’t meant to lie, it was a fact that my words weren’t true at the time, so that’s why he made a big sigh! Yet, even after knowing it, instead of probing, he responded accordingly that won’t make me feel guilty and gave me reassurance instead.

            Eric, what a mature mind you have! It wouldn’t be a lie his refreshing and caring smile is my oasis at school. I will make sure to make you a specially made charm.

            I mulled alone at my room, trying to figure out my next step. I haven’t try it yet, but I might need to use Summoning Spell to contact the spirits. Just so you know, the spirits I meant are not ghost; if they were I would’ve called out that boy, Mortan, and asked where his head was brought to.

In fact, though spirits exist, ghosts do not.

            Spirits are just creature like us humans that lives in another plain dimension. We can’t see them but they can see us. Their existences are made purely of mana, that’s why they don’t have body, or what they call it vessels that sustain themselves in our dimension plain. They have the same intelligence as us, but what they lack other than a body is creativity or may be a flexible mind should be a better way to say it. Because of that reason, spirits like to attach themselves to us who are always evolving their mind to endless degree and would use them as base for their own personality. Another thing about spirits is that they don’t have any features or names.

            We, magicians would summon them for specific errand in exchange for a body and a name. Once they were named, they would always devote themselves to its specific job it had entrust for the first time. For example, if Spirit A is summon for the first time and ask it to guard a treasure for XX years, then when other magicians summon Spirit A it would only do guarding related mission.

           As I said, spirits don’t have a flexible mind.

            That’s why they are two ways to summon a spirit. One to summon a named spirit, the other is to create a spirit. Most magicians would summon a named spirit since they are a lot more dependable and experienced as well but we need to make an offering they would like. Creating spirit uses our mana to create a body while having a concrete image, if our image is fuzzy or they don’t like the body we make then they won’t respond and we’ll only waste mana in the end.

            What those two summoning have one thing in common, if the spirits don’t like what we offer then they won’t respond. That’s why they are annoying.

            Now it’s not the time to choose my measures. With spirits, I can ask who and where the killer is and everything will be settled in a blink of an eye. All the spirits I’ve contracted before are annulled by my death in the past life, so I need to prepare a lot of things for offering if I want to get their contract again, since they are spirits that complains the offering weren’t enough. They are also a spirit that I brought offering he requested only to change his mind because he didn’t feel like it anymore. The most unforgivable of all was that damn cocky spirit who asked to have the night with me by spending some ‘adult time’ as an offering.

            I found out then magic could be use on spirits and had a great time tortu—I meant experimenting it on him.

            For some reason, he was willing to become my spirit and would often ask me to test run my magic on him from time to time and would also purposely annoy me whenever I summon him as if asking to be verbally abuse. I’m sure this era has a name for those with the that kind of mindset, what do they call it…something that starts with an M if I’m not mistaken.

            Aaaah~ thinking back about my spirits, I wonder how are they doing now. Probably bored to their mind since no magician exists anymore to call on their service, I hesitated before since it might take some time, but I’ve decided, let’s summon a spirit!

            At dinner while I mulled over those things as I had an absent minded look as I ate, my mother said this that had snap me back. “Beth, don’t worry, since the police had already taken measures, you don’t need to be so afraid going outside tomorrow, everyone in your grade is on the same shoes as you too.”

            “Wait, why is Beth going to school? She should be back for another five days!” I chimed in.

            “Claudy, didn’t you listen? Since the school has scheduled the final exam beforehand, the fifth grader will go back to school for the next three days before they continue their resting days. Since they would finish school early, I’m sure the kidnapper won’t be so daring at the middle of the day.”

              Not if he’s a psycho!

               Mother would have a different opinion if she knew what kind of person the kidnapper is. I look at my sister who nodded at her words and made a gasping look. Why are you agreeing, you were so afraid then, why are you taking the risk of going outside? You should know better what kind of person that kidnapper is!

              After Beth was done with her chore, I waited for her in her room and gave her a glaring look. “Explain!” I said with a heavy and threatening tone, Beth flinched from my words and probably was surprised to see her sister like this for the first time.

              She sat beside me and was silent for a while, I was half opening my mouth to speak but she had beaten me to it. “The school is probably making us bait.”

             When she said I never thought she would imagine, no words formed from my mouth. Leaving me dumb founded, she continued, “The school isn’t stupid to prioritize the exam over the student’s safety. However, when I saw the killer, I knew he wasn’t someone to be handled normally. Besides, even though I don’t know the killer actually realize who I was, there’s no guaranteeing my safety even at home, so I might as well see the end of this incident rather than coiling in fear at home. It’s unexpectedly tiring being afraid and worrying all alone here.”

            It was just as she said, her eyes showed the obvious tiredness. She’s only eleven years old, and to holed up her fear in her own heart had taken a toll on her. She wanted to see for herself what her fate will be, and so she taken her step facing it for the first time.

I held her hand tight, “Tomorrow, you have to tell everything that you saw to our parents if you can’t then at least go to the principal or find Mr. Dalton, they’ll know what to do, don’t worry, I’ll be there for you!” Beth finally smiled wryly and nodded. “Claudy, even though you’re younger than me, sometimes you would act a lot mature than me. Even when I complain about school you would happily and silently listen and would advice or scold me from times. I really feel like a failed a s your big sister.”

            Nonsense! I would like to say, but seeing her tucked her head and looking depressed, whatever I say might only sound as pretty words. Instead, I had my head lie on her lap, “Tonight, let’s sleep together.” Beth who never expected this widened her eyes, but nodded with a wide smile and teary eyes that was about to gushed out.

            Since I decided to be with her the whole night, I planned to summon a spirit the next night, I felt what I needed to do the most was to be by her side. I’ve known from experienced that one of biggest fear for humans was Loneliness. How many times I wonder that the lost of those precious to me had broken me down and the bond between my comrades had help me face my dark past.

             Knowing that, I wonder why I was foolish that night.

            I woke up by habit at the middle of the  night and decided to take a glass of water. There was the sound of glass breaking followed by a quick scream. The glass on my hand fell and I rushed to her room. If only I didn’t left her room, if only I had made an alarm or a protection spell beforehand, if only I summon a spirit right away. Those ‘what if’ thoughts ran on my mind many times and yet those regrets would be left pointless when just thinking about it.

            Karen and my parents rushed at Beth’s room, my mother cried in shock and father was left bewildered and Karen quickly called 911. I could hear her frantic voice even as I stood frozen by Beth’s door, “Hello, yes, I need help, someone broke into our house…and my sister was kidnapped.”

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Sorry I got delayed, but finally done! Next chapter.....the appearance of the d'M spirit!

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Chapter 19: The Search III

Personnel from the factory came rushing just as they were about to go back to their shifts. The scream of a young girl took them in surprise, and came rushing the source of the voice. “Who’s there?!” one of the man yelled, what came to their view was the back of a another man on his knee, he looked like he was in pain so one of them came toward him and asked how he was doing.

            The man on his mid 30s had a thick mustache, with the same light brown colored of his hair; he had evenly part eyebrows, thick lips, straight nose, and a long face. “I’m fine; I just had a sudden stomachache, I’ll take some pills later and I’ll be fine then.” the mustached man stood on his feet while carrying a broom on his right and using his left to hold his chest that has a girl’s school uniform underneath his blue jersey.

            The other man was perplexed why he was holding his chest when his stomach was hurt but instead shift his notice to something else, “Hey, did you hear a girl screaming around here,  we were sure we heard that when we got here.”

            The man gulped loudly and shook his head, “No I didn’t hear any—ah that was probably me, few people do tell me I screamed like a girl hahahaha,” the group of people looked at each other with doubt in their look when hearing his claim. “Besides, what would a girl be doing at the back here where you put out the trash of a small factory?” They all pondered a bit before decided to accept his claim, “That’s fine then, anyway Jetro have you fixed the shooter yet?”

            “Yes, it’s fixed, quite a lot dumb has been piled up.” The man claimed to be Jetro answered. “Then let’s go back, our shift is about to start.” Jetro A.K.A Claudia sighed when she knew her identity was saved and nodded with a twitching smile.

                The spell I just used, the Morph Spell is among the Void Class magic commonly used by all magician in my time by taking an appearance of another person. The use of the spell is simple, but the spell itself is one of the Enigma Spells that magicians had a hard time understanding the concept and never succeed evolving it. 

            Now, when I use the spell, I imagined I was borrowing the information of the DNAs reside in the hair. When I used the spell at my previous life, I felt it was the same when someone was wearing a costume. You know what you’re like but you don’t feel it’s your body, the effect roughly last for two hours, and you can’t use any other magic while you’re maintaining it.

            However, just by understanding that extracting information from DNA via magic was essential for the spell and I felt the effect expanded. I could still feel my mana coursing my body rather than being spent on my form, my body still felt light and my movement felt a lot more natural than I imagined. I also felt the difference of my heartbeat, the odor I emit, and the strength I had in this body.

            At my time, the Morph Spell is one of the most common used spell, but it was still deemed inefficient when disguising in a village. Usually us magician would use Shape Shift Spell to change into our desired features or Aging Spell to manipulate our age appearance, but unlike the Morph spell, you need to do a ritual for that and I don’t have time for that sadly. There are options like using Alchemy to make a potion for it, but ever since coming to this world, I never had the chance to use Alchemy since it was hard getting the desired ingredient such as a frog’s leg or a headless cockroach without getting suspicious eyes.

            When I went inside through the side door, I felt it was a good choice too following them, since you need a key card and a combination lock to get inside.

            It almost showed on my face how surprise I was after taking a good look at the factory’s interior. I didn’t take a good look outside on my broom since I was too focused on the red light I was trailing. While the outside look like a small building facility that had age for a decade or so, the interior all looked brand new as if it had just been polished. Cleaning robots followed us from behind; the halls were pure white, and she went past a few glass walls that showed through the empty lab.

The group of people dispersed to their designate place and I, after reminding myself of my objective, followed the red trail flowing above me. I wasn’t sure where it led me, so without paying much heed to my surrounding, I turned many corners in the maze like structure, went down the stairs twice and stopped when she found herself held back by a shutter that shouldn’t have gone down at such a time.

            The shutter was locked tight, and just when she was thinking on what to do next, a woman came out from the staff room 10 feet away. “Excuse me,” Claudia…..

            “Sorry to bother you, but do you know why the shutter is still not lifted?”

            “Haven’t you heard? Few days ago, we found the remains of a few bodies burned in the incinerator, it created such a fuss and the higher ups immediately locked down the room, so if you want to burn any trash you should do it at the other side of the building.”

            The woman couldn’t have noticed I was frozen the moment she utter ‘bodies’ her other words left my ear before my brain started ticking again. Rather, how come the news didn’t cover this? From the trail I made, without a doubt the bodies there should be the missing children, and yet for the factory to even continue working normally like this.

            Before she could ask her further, the woman had already continued talking after remembering the incident. “It was really a shock since I was one of the people who witness the scorched bodies, they said there were 10 headless bodies found and were all children, creepy right? I felt bad that the least we could do was bury them without reporting. Well, since our factory is operating illegally, I guess it can’t be help.”

            The glasses woman then continued walking after she made a gasp expression as if remembering what she needed to do. I was glad she was the type that likes to blabber her mouth at any person she could get the chance to talk to, but again, when I heard the word ‘illegally’ my brain froze once more.

            Oh yeah, come to think of it, I had passed through a few places in the factory that seemed to distribute parts of guns and other firearms. There were room with tags saying ‘Shooting Test’ or ‘Rifle Inventory’ and so on, but I wasn’t paying them any attention so I didn’t think much.

Even if I stop and did, there’s no way I got involve in something like an illegal firearm factory right? right? right? right? right? right? right? RIGHT?!

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Chapter 18: The Search II

Claudia Robertson, age 7 and 10 months. I have officially become a pervert.

            Hahahaha, it’s laughable right? For a 7 year old me, to come home from school with a boy’s underwear hiding in my bag, this moment will surely haunt me even in the afterlife. Waiting for midnight, I pretended to sleep on my bed, since my parents likes to watch a late night show; I had to mortifyingly wait for them to sleep while listening to the sound of TV and their night talk.

            Once it was silent, I had to sneak into the yard through my window. The wind was calm that night, although the night was starless, but thanks to the app ‘Your Sky Tonight…’ on my mother’s tablet, I knew the few constellations hanging above right now. Having a phone or tablet is useful; they have an app for all kinds of things. I can’t wait to have one. Due to the so called ‘parenting’ my mother established, no one in our household should have a phone until they reached ten year old. I nag how my friends already have their own, but my mother wouldn’t budge, and she’s usually doting but I guess she could be strict at times.

            Oops, got sidetracked again. Anyway, I brought out the many papers, making sure they were in place, creating a 1x1 meter square. I slit my finger with a razor and draw the magic circle with it. I could use any other tools to draw it, but blood always brings the best result after all. After I finished, I put the certain ‘object’ in the middle of it. Ugh, I definitely can’t let anyone see me here.

            “Now, which star should I ask to, I guess the lion, Leo would be best” I put my hand together and had my index finger half way straight out, it was the hand seal of the lion and chanted with my eyes closed.

[Leo, king of the 12 stars, brightest of the 88 stars, I call upon your forces to light the path of which I seek, lend me the eye to the lost soul and restore the peace of mind in us all.]

           The words echoed the moment it left my mouth, the blood glimmered and the surrounding shook from my mana. The blood slowly left the paper, surrounding my body and dispersed. When I opened my eyes, I saw the trail of red light in the sky, the light should sustain for three days, enough time to find at least the remains of one of three boys.

            The next day, as usual, my father took the two of us to the school gate and as usual, we took our respective path to class. However today, I had impersonate my mother’s voice to notice the school of my absent and used a cloak spell before the gate was closed. I look up and saw the bright red line, “This is the first time I’ve used multiple spells in a row in this world, I hope my mana would last.”

            I took out what looked like a small pen and mutter [Reverse], and the small pen turned bigger until it became a broom. I ride on it, and with just pouring my mana, the magic circle shine at the tip, lifting me up to the sky. “I don’t know what kind of maniac you are, but if there’s anyone who dares to threaten my family, don’t think I’m going to let you off!”

#

I’m sure some of you may wonder why I would need a broom rather than using a flying spell on myself. Imagine the difference riding a bicycle and a motorcycle, then you’ll know the difference.

            I looked down on the ground and saw the multiple buildings, lining side by side without much of a gap, the skyscraper soar the sky that had me amaze every time I see it, how human could achieved with their own hands. I maneuvered between the buildings, following the red trail floating beside me.

            The trail went on for a long time until I arrived at the outskirt of the city, the air suddenly feels heavy, there was a foul smell, and I began coughing. In the horizon, between the hills, a large factory was emitting black smoke. The trail was leading toward it, and I picked up my speed.

            I stopped at the nearest dumpster, and shrank back my broom before I put it back in my pocket. The red light around me was thicker and was within an arm reach in the air, proving the body was close, and possibly the killer as well. I tried to calm myself before I made my resolve. I’m sure you all think having a 7 year old chasing a killer alone is nothing but a fool’s act, probably enough to be written in history I’m sure. However, it’s not like I plan to fight.

            My plan is to find the killer’s whereabouts, if possible his identity, then give notice to the principal as an anonymous sender of that information, and let the government and the police do the rest.

            Hahahaha, did you think I was going to fight? I’m not that reckless, if I am, I wouldn’t be a magician.

            Still, this is the first time I’ve been in a factory, since I’m where the dumpster is at, I can’t judge the place well yet. There was a sound of footsteps coming and I hid behind the tin dumpster. A man came along wearing a blue uniform, probably a janitor. He climbed up the dumpster and with the mop in his right hand poke inside the trash shooter above. He did it a few times before a mass of waste comes flying down on to him, making him slip, fell, and hitting his head.

            He’s not dead is he?

            I crawled out behind the dumpster and tried poking his cheeks while he groans, great at least he’s alive, just unconscious. I pondered for a bit and decided to softly take one of the hair on his mustache and his work clothes. I cast a paralyze spell that should prolonged his state, camouflaged him with a spell, then I ran from the spot.  

            After making some distance where no one was around for sure, I tied the hair on my left pinky, and chanted [Change]. That moment, my body felt hotter by the second, and my heart started beating like a drum beating inside of me. I should have considered my childish body would take too much burden for this spell, it became harder for me to breath as my knee hit the ground and I involuntarily let out a scream.

            “Oi, what’s wrong is anyone there?” there was a voice coming from the corner, and I heard not just one or two footsteps. Damn, someone came already?!

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