xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Sebastian's Perspective xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
… A few minutes earlier…
His gaze is very strange. His irises seem to be completely black with some spots that resemble stars in a dark sky. Somehow, he managed to learn my name without asking me or noticing anything I said. Could he be someone with such a layer that Ellyn knew? But if that's the case…
- (?) Ellyn? - Oh, damn…
- (trying to change the subject) A-ah… Who?
- (?) Boy, I think you better stop being funny with me. I'm going to find out what I want. So, just speed this up and tell me already… Or do you want me to look inside you?
- What strange talk. For a kidnapper, I'm afraid you might be an abuser too. Get out of here.
- (Male guard) Dude, just look into his mind and let's get out of here. I don't even know if this kid has anything to do with these lights - So that's how he knows my name.
When that guard guy says that, the man in front of me just turns to him and in the blink of an eye, the guy is lifted against the wall as if something were holding his neck. I can see the shape of something around his neck because of the marking on the guard, which scares me and makes me certain of one thing… So it was true that the people here also had it some kind of magic? But how? I would understand if Ellyn and Jack had talked about this affinity with magic, but to use it in this way? As much as these doubts cross my mind, this situation I'm not in makes me very interested in knowing what else he can do.
- (Male guard trying to breathe) … Let me go, you…
- (?) You idiot! Shut up! If I wanted to, I could get the truth out of him right away, but it doesn't work that way. So stay quiet and do your part!
After that, the guard is released from the force that was holding him against the wall. I finally noticed in the night light a faint purple ripple emanating from near the guard and going towards the foot of the man with the strange eyes.
- (sighing) Very well, Sebastian. Thanks to that idiot, my patience has run out. Cooperate now or I'll do this to… who knows, that older woman? Your mother, I presume. It'll be good to test this on her to see how purple she'll turn when I choke her…
- (trying unsuccessfully to break free) DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
- (?) So… Time to show you what I want to see…
Ellyn… If this contract works… I hope you find me soon!
- (fixing his gaze on me) Who is this Ellyn you think about so much?
I notice that his gaze somehow began to form a symbol in his iris, like some kind of strange wave, and when he fixes his gaze on mine, I feel like he's scanning my mind like a teacher looking for an error in a class assignment.
- (? mentally looking at a woman) So… Ellyn, right?
*Muffled voices*
- (? Mentally) So it is… Wait… This energy… And why is it turning in my direction?
- (Ellyn) You two. Is there something behind me?
- (Muffled voices) No.
- (Ellyn looking directly at?) So, I'm not crazy… because I know you're looking at me. Who are you?
- (? Mentally) What?!
- (Ellyn looking coldly) That's… You!
- (Muffled voices) Ellyn, who are you talking to?
- (? mentally scared) But… damn, that wasn't…
*Ellyn smiling*
- (Ellyn) I found you… Rastrum!
Out of nowhere, the guy with the eyes just takes a few steps back, falling to the ground, with one hand covering one of his eyes that began to show a green mark. If this is some crazy power of Ellyn's, then I think she'll find me… I hope so…
- (? standing up quickly) Tell Ray we'll have visitors. And you two. You can leave. Take the money and get out of here.
- (Female guard leaving with the other male guard) Okay. Let's get out of here.
- (Male guard) …this isn't over.
The two guards end up leaving, leaving me alone with the guy with the strange eyes.
- You stayed quiet about what you saw, didn't you? You know you're screwed, don't you?
- (? looking at me without making eye contact) That's what we'll see…
…
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Jack's Perspective xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
8:27 PM
In a matter of seconds, Ellyn and I came to the same conclusion. Something or someone would have Sebastian now, which surprised us since clearly some magic had been used that prevented me from tracking my talismans or Ellyn from locating him through the contract as I had done with Raphaella. Without much thought, I grabbed a rare teleportation talisman and gave it to Ellyn, who, using one of her magic arrows, fired it towards Sebastian's house. When the arrow landed a safe distance away, Ellyn and I were teleported there together, and Ellyn simply fired her Caelus arrow, creating her location radar that covered a large part of Creast Fall, roughly hitting the spot where her tracking magic had sensed this supposed person watching her earlier.
- (Raphaella through the communication talisman) Did they arrive?
- (Responding through the talisman) Yes. Lock yourself in and don't even think about going out or doing anything like that.
- (Raphaella through the talisman) Okay. I hope you come back safe and sound. And without any bizarre injuries, please.
- (Responding through the talisman) Yes, ma'am.
Being discreet, Ellyn and I arrived at a residential area near Sebastian's house. I already noticed that Ellyn was much more serious than usual, distancing herself from her usual calm personality, which made me a little uncomfortable because this is the first time I'm going to witness a bit of how Ellyn is as the divine hunter in our world.
- (Ellyn) That's his house.
- I expected something more… on Raphaella's level.
- (Ellyn) Jack, no joking now.
- (Sniffing and wrinkling my nose) I understand now why I wasn't feeling my talismans. There's something in the air that's preventing him from being tracked.
- (Ellyn) I thought humans didn't have access to magic in modern times. If this is something of that nature, then it must be something that can prevent magic from being used.
- (sighing) I'll be useless in there if it's something that blocks magic. And I'm hearing a lot of movement in there.
- (Ellyn) Counting Sebastian, there are 3 more people in there who are his family. If there are more than that... Could they be watching them too?
- (positioning my ear towards the house and focusing on the sounds) I'm hearing at least 4 pairs of footsteps in the house. And the smell is... nauseating. They were prepared if it's a group of people... But how did they know about Sebastian?
- (Ellyn) I have no idea. I only used magic in Madison just like you. Unless something happened or somehow he left some trace of the contract's energy. Only someone with a great perception of energy would notice that.
- It looks a lot like a group of people with an affinity for magic. But how did we not notice?
(Ellyn) …that's what I don't understand. But we'll see about that after we finish this.
Ellyn looks up to see where her Caelus's range is. She just sighs and takes a piece of fabric and hands it to me.
- (Ellyn looking at me) …I've already located roughly where that person who was looking at me is and felt the energy of Sebastian's contract there… Jack…
- (taking the fabric and looking at Ellyn) No need to say anything. I'll rescue him and you see who's inside the house. I trust your hunter training to beat up whoever's in there.
- (Ellyn looking at me and smiling nervously) Okay. Please return him intact.
- (conjuring magic on the fabric, creating an ethereal blue line that indicates the path to follow) I promise nothing. When I get there, you go in and start.
- (Ellyn) Okay. Go ahead.
I grab a talisman and place it on my forehead, temporarily transforming into a wolf as I run along the ethereal line. As I run, I start to think. It's impossible that the Creator simply told us that Earth humans wouldn't have an affinity for magic in modern times and that this search could take time, but the way we're seeing it, maybe some humans already use it but keep it hidden. I would understand if it were a matter of magic not being as common in this world as it is in ours, but what I find strange is the fact that we have to search for these people, and if we're lucky, make them contact the Creator. But for what purpose exactly? Why now… I don't think that humans who have access to magic would somehow use it for a greater good.
After a few minutes, I stop in front of a building that, according to Raphaella, I saw some similar ones in Madison; it's a warehouse. I return to my humanoid form, back in my Gacha outfit, looking like a circus magician.
- (Speaking through the talisman) Ellyn, I'm here. Get ready.
- (Ellyn through the talisman) In position…
…
- (? On guard) I heard that guy doesn't like it when people talk back to him.
- (? On guard) Of course he doesn't. He broke the legs of that kid who dared to say their eyes looked like a crazy psychopath's.
- (? On guard) Idiot. He deserved it.
- (? looking to the side, noticing a…) …did you hear that?
- (? just looking disdainfully) Must be a sewer rat passing by. This place's been abandoned for a while, of course there's going to be stray animals around here.
- (? returning) Okay. It's just that the boss asked us to be careful…
- (? on guard) Relax. He just said it was a woman. What would a woman do to us? Complain because we took her boyfriend?
Thank goodness it's me and not Ellyn here, because it would be much worse for you all.
*looking around the place from above*
Thanks to my agility and stealth from my animalistic side, I managed to see everyone here. There are at least 10 people, some of them using clubs and others using what appear to be firearms. I know that for a normal human, a hit from those weapons could be fatal, but I find it strange that they're only using that kind of protection knowing they could end up facing a being with magic like me, but I'm not exactly a fighting example like Ellyn or Karma… I guess I should play my cards right, it seems…
- (?Approaching a door and knocking) Hey, how long do we have to keep an eye on this?
- (Man with strange eyes) For as long as necessary!
Hmm? Could it be…
- (Opening the door) Dude, Maine told me there was a situation with the people in Madison…
POW!
But what is this? I… I'm seeing purple hands choking this guy and suspending him in the air. So… there are people with magic here on Earth. But… Did he say Madison? Wait… is he the guy Ellyn marked with her tracking power?
- (Man with strange eyes leaving the room and closing the door) Shut up! Don't say anything about the others here.
- (Holding back) Let go of me, you… bastard!
- (Man with strange eyes) You're lucky our lord needs all the help he can get right now and he gave me authority to do whatever I want with you. So, don't go talking about the others and do your job.
I notice that the other people in the warehouse are nervously watching this scene of the guy being suspended by those hands. Authority? Lord? Others? The way I'm seeing this, it seems to go far beyond a simple kidnapping. Very organized indeed, based on what I've heard.
*watching the ethereal line leading to the room*
I found it. Sebastian must be in that room that guy came out of. But that guy isn't going to let me in just like that…
- (communicating with Raphaella through the talisman) Ella, I need to ask you a favor.
- (Raphaella through the talisman) What is it? Did you find him?
- (through the talisman) Yes, but that's not the point. Do me a favor and stay somewhere where you won't faint because I'm going to use my magic here for a few minutes.
- (Raphaella) Did you tell Ellyn?
- (through the talisman) Yes. She and I are going to have a little adventure to resolve this situation. So if we take too long or don't answer… there's a talisman I left in your closet. Tear it open and say the name that's written on it, okay?
- (Raphaella) Don't talk like you're going to disappear or something worse.
- (through the talisman) I know. I just have a bad feeling. But I promise I'll come back to make your breakfast tomorrow.
- (Raphaella) That's better… Come back safe, Jack.
Okay. Authorized by Raphaella.
- (Communicating with Ellyn through the talisman) Ellyn, I found Sebastian. And there are people with magic here. So, when I give the signal, do what you do best.
- (Ellyn through the talisman) Okay. I've already marked those people inside Sebastian's house. I'm sensing something magical in there too. When it starts, give a signal.
I watch everyone's movements, including that guy with powers dropping the guard on the ground as he starts to return to the room where Sebastian is. Since I was on the roof of this shed, I take a small ball of paper with a wick, strike the wick creating a small spark, lighting the wick…
Well, it's showtime!
…
*paper ball falling to the ground*
(? Guard nearby) But what…
BOOM!
*white smoke coming out and spreading widely inside the warehouse*
- (Man with strange eyes leaving the room and closing the door) But what?
- (Emerging from the smoke) Ladies and gentlemen! It is with immense pleasure that I declare that the best magician in these lands has just arrived in your chamber to bring joy and happiness to the hearts whose wildest dreams are being fulfilled tonight!
*awkward silence*
- (Frowning) They could at least have a reaction…
Cough! Out of nowhere, I feel something pressing against my neck and lifting me into the air.
- (Man with strange eyes) I was expecting a woman, not a performance-obsessed idiot…
- (Holding my breath) Ah… what a shame you didn't disappoint… when a grown man wants a woman… dressed as a bunny at least… and a guy looking like a furry shows up.
- (Man with strange eyes hardening his face) Ah, another idiot… I was expecting something tense and in the end it was just a waste of time like any other…
- (Trying to breathe) Are you sure?... I subvert expectations a lot…
- (Man with strange eyes) Then subvert this…
I feel the force exerted by that hand pressing harder on my neck, and I feel it's only a matter of time before… it breaks…
CRACK!
- (Man with strange eyes smiling, dropping the lifeless body to the ground) … magician my a**.
- (?) Behold, from the stage emerges the great magician in yet another of his tricks, with his assistants!
- (Man with strange eyes) WHAT?!
Six copies of me, each with different animalistic features and wearing different clothes, appear in the area of this false body and begin running in random directions as planned.
- (Man with strange eyes) FINISH THEM OFF, YOU IDIOTS!
Unlike Ellyn, I'm not a frontline fighter, but rather a support. And why not use what I'm good at, a great magic show?
- (aiming one of my talismans upwards) Go, Ellyn!
One of my copies fires a flare from one of the talismans upwards, shattering a piece of glass and exploding in the sky with a fox symbol, which is the signal for Ellyn to enter Sebastian's house.
One of my advantages as a magician is that I'm always prepared to create shows. So I used one of my talisman sets that I call the Lightning Show, where I create copies of myself, each with a different magic technique, to perform some magic trick. While my clones use their illusion and distraction tricks, none of them knowing I'm the real one, I take advantage of the smoke created solely to further camouflage the space and descend from the ceiling to reach the room where Sebastian is as quickly as possible. Noticing that everyone seems distracted, I wait for at least the guy with the strange eyes to move away from the door to try and make a stealthy and quick approach.
- (Man with strange eyes trying to locate my clones) Where is that bastard?
With all the distractions made by the clones and everyone distracted trying to catch these clones, I manage to descend from the ceiling and reach the front of the door without drawing attention. I take one of my magic cards, position it on the door, and with a mental signal, I make two of my clones prepare an explosion using part of the smoke with flames that another clone is creating, and in a matter of seconds…
BOOM!
The explosion happens and I blow up the door too to enter and see Sebastian, gagged in the mouth, tied at the hands and legs.
- (Looking almost laughing) So you like this? Imagine when Ellyn finds out about this~~
- (Sebastian wanting to speak) Go to hell… Get me out of here…
- (Untying Sebastian as quickly as possible) Okay. Let's go, bro~~
I quickly untie Sebastian, cutting the ropes with one of my sharp cards.
- (Sebastian breathing) My family… Where are they?
- Relax. Ellyn will save them. Let's get out of here soon.
Before we could leave, my ears picked up something coming towards me…
- (Man with strange eyes looking at me from outside the room) Don't even think about it.
Out of nowhere, I feel these purple hands emerging from the shadows and pinning both Sebastian and me against the wall, choking our necks.
- (Man with strange eyes) I thought you was much more dangerous than the woman in green, but I was wrong. You're just another idiot.
- (Sebastian trying to breathe) Bastard… You won't… get your answer…
- (Man with strange eyes) Of course not, it won't come from you. But he…
- (trying to breathe) …don't even try, you jackass…
- (Man with strange eyes) These spells… aren't from here. So you're one of them, aren't you? Gachas…
When this man says that, Sebastian and I are surprised. In a way, only Raphaella and Sebastian knew what we were, so to hear from someone with magic knowing exactly what I am… What's up with this guy?
- (trying to breathe) You knows a lot… for someone wanting to see… through a keyhole…
- (Man with strange eyes) You have no idea what we know. Our lord had already prepared us for you. We just didn't expect it to be so soon.
- (Sebastian trying to break free) ... Lord? So there's another one like you?
- (Man with strange eyes) I told you, Sebastian. The problem is that there are things beyond your comprehension that make what I'm about to do seem like nonsense compared to your imminent end.
His purple hands begin to choke us both tightly, trying to make us gasp for air… I need to reach for one of my letters…
- (Man with strange eyes) Too bad you two won't see what's going to happen. Not even your family will have a glimpse of the future, Sebastian! I'll have my colleagues finish them off, and nothing will remain but lost memories in my lord's body!
… Damn it! I can't… Wait… What…
POW!
Out of nowhere, a strange piece of paper in the shape of a spear is thrown and ends up hitting this guy in the arm. His purple hands released us as if he were concentrating them to keep us trapped. We broke free, but I wasn't quick enough for something I didn't expect.
- (Sebastian walking towards the man) I WON'T…
*seeing Sebastian arriving, ready to punch the strange-eyed man in the face*
- (Sebastian clenching his fist) LET IT…
Out of nowhere, I see his hand being incorporated by the lines of his contract with Ellyn, creating a concentrated green aura around his fist. This is… HOW!?
HAPPEN!!!
POOOOOOOOOOW!
The blow landed squarely on the man's stomach. The impact was so strong that the energy surrounding his arm caused the pressure to throw him out of this room, causing him to fall from a protective railing that would have made him fall from a small metal staircase, and after that, Sebastian simply falls to the ground, as if it had drained his physical resistance. I just hold him…
- (lifting Sebastian) Dude!? What the f***?
- (Sebastian breathing normally again) … Wow! What was that?
- Tell me, I don't know...
- (Red-haired, cat-eared copy) Sir, mission accomplished! Everyone restrained!
I already find it strange that even though it took a few minutes for all the distraction to be done, I notice there's an odd silence, as if all the chaos I caused is already over.
- What do you mean? I didn't ask you to do this.
- (Copy) We had a little help from one of your colleagues who did this~~
- Ellyn?!
- (Copy pointing to the lower part of the warehouse) No, sir. She's over there!
- (Sebastian catching his breath) Another Gacha I don't know about?
Sebastian and I started heading towards the iron balcony to see who this colleague my copy was referring to was. And to my surprise, it wasn't who I expected.
My copies were slightly injured, but everyone who was with the man with the strange eyes, including him, was entangled in what looked like long pieces of paper that were immobilizing them, while the man who strangled us was hanging upside down, which prevented him from falling headfirst to the ground. Approaching us, I saw a girl. Long black hair, 1.65 meters tall, white skin with features considered oriental, dark green eyes, wearing relatively modern clothes similar to Raphaella's style with a black coat, a long-sleeved shirt, black jeans, and workout shoes that look a lot like the ones Raphaella wears. When she looks in our direction, her gaze freezes, as does Sebastian's.
- (? looking surprised at Sebastian) S-SEBASTIAN!?
- (Sebastian looking surprised) …NAOMI!?
- Ah… you two know each other?
As we went down the stairs, I noticed that the girl had already come towards Sebastian, completely ignoring my presence and realizing that this was going to be a dramatic moment, which I already figured out, I just went over to the guy with the strange eyes who has his eyes and his whole body restrained with this paper.
- (Changing my voice so he wouldn't recognize me) Apparently, you lame s*** lord wasn't so ready about us.
- (Man with strange eyes trying to break free) You think so. Do you really think you won just because I'm like this?
- (Flicking the man's face) I call myself an idiot, but you're all talk too. I give you credit for managing to do something, but that's not enough to stop us.
- (Man with strange eyes) Hehehe… Is that so?
- (Sebastian arriving with the girl) And Ellyn? Is she alright?
… I almost forgot about Ellyn!
- (Communicating with Ellyn through the talisman) Ellyn?! Did you manage it?
- (Ellyn speaking through the talisman agitatedly) JACK! TELL SEBASTIAN TO FOCUS ON THE CONTRACT BECAUSE I NEED HIS ENERGY! I'M IN A HARD TIME HERE!
- (Man with strange eyes) … Understand? If this is a victory for you… then…
- (Girl gagging the man with her papers) Shut up, old man!
- (Looking at Sebastian) I'll explain later bro, but now I want you to focus on your contract and make Ellyn use your energy.
- (Sebastian looking at me) But how do I do that?!
The girl just grabs his face and turns it towards her in a way that even surprised me slightly.
- (Girl) Hey, look at me, Sebastian. I know we have a lot to talk about, but now is not the time. He needs to concentrate, right?
- Yes.
- (Girl) Very well. Sebastian… close your eyes and focus on my voice. This Ellyn… If it's that girl from that day, then we have a lot to talk about, but now, you need to help her. So, focus on my voice… Concentrate on her image in your mind.
I notice that the aura of wind element energy begins to emanate from her hands and incorporate Sebastian's face, as if she already knew how to do it. I had never seen this girl as a Gacha, but the way she's helping Sebastian now… is she a new Gacha?
- (Girl expanding her green aura) Sebastian… Feel your soul responding. Feel all the will you have. All those sensations you feel when you want to help me. When you want to help your friends. Your family… This person. Concentrate.
I begin to see the contract symbol on his shoulder light up in a green hue, as if it were working, just like I did with Raphaella. Even though the man is restraiend, I see him struggling as if he can't believe what he's feeling from this energy around him.
- (Sebastian) Ellyn… you can do it, please...
His contract symbol, which was previously a leaf symbol, begins to slowly grow, as if a tree branch symbol is appearing at the base of the leaf symbol. This is still new to me, and seeing that the contract can expand beyond what I knew is surprising to me.
After a few seconds, Sebastian's symbol begins to return to normal, no longer glowing, and the girl also released her hand from his face, dispersing her aura as well. We waited for a while.
- (communicating through the talisman) Ellyn?
- (Sebastian opening his eyes) Did it work?
…
- (Ellyn responding through the talisman) For my father's immortality! AND HOW IT HELPED!
- It worked, dude! You did it!
Sebastian only sighs in relief after I say that and he starts to stagger a little, but the girl manages to hold him.
- (Girl) Calm down, Sebastian. Relax a little, okay?
- (Sebastian) This drains a lot… I need a minute…
- (Man with strange eyes) … Hehehe. So you're much more than I imagined…
- (preparing to kick this man in the face) Can you shut up?
Suddenly, I see that the part of the man's eye that had Ellyn's marking starts to bleed and he falls off the paper that seems to have been ripped off by his purple hands while we were watching this situation from Sebastian's concentration. And before I could say anything…
- (Man with strange eyes) … Until next time, you idiots!
A kind of magical crack appears behind him, sucking him in and closing immediately afterward. At that exact moment, the girl pulls herself back with Sebastian to prevent anything from happening to him, but in the end, it was something like teleportation for the man to escape. But how?
- (Girl distanced from Sebastian) Holy! Where did he go?
- (Trying to think) … I have no idea.
- (Girl) No idea?! What kind of answer is that?
- (Sebastian) Naomi… Please, not now.
- (Naomi looking at Sebastian) … You're right. We need to see your family first.
- (Speaking to Ellyn through the talisman) Is everything safe there, Ellyn?
- (Ellyn through the talisman) Yes… And to be honest with you… We're going to have a long night ahead of us. Because it seems… This problem is only just beginning.
Apparently, there's a lot to think about. And what was all that?