I casually made myself into the Valley Kingdom; the streets were bustling as ever. I paid more attention when I was alone. Without others to distract me, I often forgot how hated the Black Wolves were compared to the other Guilds in the Kingdom. Sneers and snickers would sound off from all around me, far enough away and quiet so as not to garner my attention—little did they know I had fairly keen senses. This occurred as soon as I turned a corner and made my way into a less-busy plaza, minding my own business, meandering to my destination.
"Look, it's the hooligan stand-in of the Black Wolves…"
"What do they even do here anyway?"
"They were utterly useless against the Blue Phoenix Knights incident."
"Where were they when the Phantomdrakes attacked?"
"I don't agree with the Kingdom dropping the allegations… fake Black Wolves, real Black Wolves… they're all the same."
"The only good thing going for them is JoAnne. I just don't understand why she doesn't join another Guild? Maybe they're holding something against her, and that's why she stays."
"IronNash too… I—I mean Nash… I always forget he's a Black Wolf because of his social media. But every time I see that giant wolf tattoo on his back, I'm reminded he's one of them."
"Wasted talent, they are."
"I don't see why the Arcane King keeps them around…"
"It's probably for prestige… The Kingdom just lost its eighth Guild, that's why they're holding the Valley Tournament so they can see who's worthy enough to start a new one."
"Worthy, you say? I could make a better Guild than them with the street kids!" One snorted.
"They should just replace them with a new Guild along with the introduction of the eighth after the Tournament!"
"That 'Greed' is the worst of them all!"
"Useless Black Wolves Acting Captain. That's all he is… 'acting.'"
Eventually I tuned it all out. I wasn't taught to care about the opinions of others, and I didn't care for most of it anyway. Just so long as no one crosses the line with Asura, I'm fine…
They were entitled to think what they wanted. We knew what we did and who we are. I couldn't care less about petty things such as recognition.
Suddenly, in contrast to what everyone around me was saying. I heard a woman's voice in the distance say something I wasn't expecting…
"Shut up! How can you talk down on a Guild you know nothing about? They are a Guild for a reason, and the Arcane King sees them worthy to hold that title, regardless of whether they are bottom rank among the other Guilds. You all know nothing simply because you don't like the way they act or look or are." She hushed a nearby group as the others who were also joining in, listened in.
They gave her jeering eyes. There was nothing special about this woman; she was just an average citizen… but there was something familiar to her I couldn't quite pinpoint.
"Now leave this area! You're no better than alley trash just loitering around. Go on! Get!" she shouted.
I merely watched and said nothing as I stood there, my head slightly tilted to the side and my body facing the building that was, ironically, my destination. The building was a gloomy gray, decorated with blemishes from the wreckage left by that incident. Caution tape and blockage covered the whole top floor, high up.
"I'm sorry you had to overhear all that… People are just on edge after what happened… They want someone to pin the blame on," the woman said to me as I gave her a blank stare.
"Well, that's what the Black Wolves are for. No harm, no foul." I replied. Closing my eyes and shrugging as well.
"There's no reason to badmouth someone you know nothing about."
I raised a brow, "Well, there's no reason to defend someone you also know nothing about. For all you know, I am exactly as they say…"
"Only, I know that to be far from the truth."
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that, exactly? Old hag." I said sarcastically, as if I were trying to get her to change that opinion and just think the way everyone else did. Let's see how much she actually meant that.
But then she caught me off guard and said, "Because I saw you holding my daughter's hand… and the sheer agony it caused you when you realized that she was gone."
My eyes widened, and I completely froze in place with shock written all over my face. I tried to hide it as I stared back into her orange eyes, but she saw right through me. Her eyes were a warm color. That's when I finally recognized her.
"You… You're her—"
"Yes. I'm that young girl's mother."
I could feel my heart racing in this moment. All those haunting thoughts of that day flooded in all at once, yet I wasn't reacting traumatizingly as I had before. It was as if the closure was right there in front of me—this woman who somehow knew of that moment… a moment I thought I only shared with Syemore and another…
"Your eyes look like they've endured a lot of pain… not just pain of recent agony or pain of the past, but the pain of others. The kind of pain that could kill a man after enduring it—not just once—but over and over again. Everything you are right now is a result of that pain. But some scars do not fade," she said. Her voice was soothing. Yes… like a mother's. "Some scars are not physical. The scars of the mind, they reveal in one's eyes. And yours is like a void of suffering."
"How do you know?"
She simply gave me a gentle smile and gestured to the building, "Care for some tea?"
***
As we walked up the stairs on the side of the building, we entered through a floor just below the blocked off section that led to the top. The building pipes groaned exhausts of smoke with each corner we turned, taking another way. The woman and I said nothing to each other as we entered a plain room—her temporary living quarters. The place was bare, with only a dining table and a roll-up bed and comforter on the floor. The balcony of the place was covered in vines and had a view of the inner Kingdom. No air conditioning. No heater. She was lucky enough to even have water. Ryo was right. Some others do have it worse.
I sat as she poured me and herself a cup of tea. The sun beamed through her balcony windows into this vacant space, dully illuminating her faded red hair. Waiting for her to sit and take a sip, she finally said to me as I sat patiently, "You may drink, I didn't poison your tea."
As if she could peer inside my head. I did the same in the meeting with Daz yesterday, "Apologies, it's a customary habit of mine… Drink or food. When I am invited, I wait until the other takes the first sip or bite… This is especially true for people I meet for the very first time. I hope I didn't offend you. Sometimes it can be a bad habit."
She grabbed her tea and took a sip, looking out the balcony as she said, "Not at all. I'm glad you stick to the book of your values. Not many mages do nowadays. Everyone is too comfortable; and then when disaster hits, they are unready and unsure what to do. I cannot blame them, though. We've lived in a time of peace for quite some time. It's almost understandable… and expected."
I said nothing to her. And still, only after she drank from her cup, so did I.
She then went on to the matter at hand, "But enough of that. I know why you came today… It's to find some closure for something you think you did. Am I correct?"
She hit the nail on the head once again. It really was like she could read my mind…
I quietly cleared my throat and nodded slightly once in reply.
"To be frank, I knew you would come… not today specifically, but I knew you would come back here eventually. I waited patiently outside until you came back to this place. After seeing how you reacted that day, I had a feeling you would want to come back to get some closure… If you did not, I would have really believed those people out there,"—she placed her cup down and took a napkin to pat her lips dry—"after all, it's necessary to face the source of the pain in question if you truly want to heal from it."
I placed my tea down as well and looked her directly in the eyes before responding, "It's true… thing is… how do you know? And why welcome the one who murdered your daughter into your own home? Do you not hate me?"
She inhaled and exhaled audibly, "During that incident, my daughter and I were released from whatever spell we were in. It was only then that I realized what was going on. Everything around us stopped moving. Except for two figures… You and Syemore."
Once more, I was silent. I only listened.
"The floor above us was our original place… now full of rubble, awaiting mages to come fix it to what it once was. We were up there when it all happened."
She paused before continuing. I said nothing still and only watched her as she trembled slightly at the thought… the same thought that haunted me.
"If I'm being honest with myself, I do hate you," she said. I expected nothing less.
"However, my daughter… she did not. In fact, she admired the Black Wolf Knights. You were always her favorite Guild, and it's because of her admiration for you all that I don't strike you where you are…" her warm, orange eyes were fierce. If she chose to, I would let her strike me. She was well within her rights. "Those people outside… I was once like them some time ago… so you can thank my daughter for the way I choose to treat you right now. Even if I do still hate you deep down. For her, I won't disrespect her fondness of you and your Guild."
I was taken aback. I sat there holding my half-sipped teacup with both hands, widened eyes, and a lump in my throat. I had already felt horrible for killing someone innocent… and to put salt on the wound, it turned out her daughter was one of those rare few that actually admired us… How ironic. The Keeper likes his sick and twisted jokes.
Even as I reacted in such a way, I still said nothing as the woman in front of me shared her mourn, "My daughter always said, 'The Black Wolf Knights are the heart of the Valley. I just don't get why people hate them so much.' She would go on and on about it, saying that out of all the Guilds, it seemed like you were the ones who were having the most fun. I never understood what she meant by that… but I dared not tell her otherwise. Especially when she seemed so happy when she talked about your Guild. She wanted nothing more than to grow up so that she could one day join you… that was her dream, at least.
Had my father truly been the Keeper, I'd curse his name forever. If I were in that unhinged state from yesterday, this kind of information would have thrown me over the edge. But right now—and maybe it was because I was facing it head-on—I could feel her heart as she reminisced about her daughter. Perhaps she really did put something in my tea.
I tilted my head down and stared at my teacup. My reflection on it was all I could see as the final ripples made their way to the edges within. The woman in front of me paused there in the reflection, spacing out now and looking out the glass balcony, not expecting any response from me. She sat patiently, allowing me to marinate where I sat.
"What was her name?" I asked quietly.
Taking her time, she continued to stare out into the distance with the central Valley Kingdom streets in view. Slowly, she turned her head to look me in the eyes and said, "Ariella, or Ari for short. You may call my daughter that."
Her burnt orange eyes pierced into mine.
"Thank you." I said, then followed through, "and yours?"
She smiled faintly with tired grace, "The same as my daughter's. She was named after me by my late husband."
Her worn voice said as if remembering that her mark in the world, that she thought would continue through the life of her daughter, had now circled back to her… leaving nothing behind but regret.
"Please don't feel sorry for me," she said, "When you are weak, you can't complain about the actions of the strong. This is the life I must learn to live with, whether I like it or not. The least I can do is show mercy and kindness to you… In honor of my daughter, Ari."
Short silence filled the space before I replied, "In turn, I will carry her name with me as thanks for her kindness."
She nodded. She cared not for my words, but I could tell they were nice to hear anyway—the person who caused this. Perhaps, this was not just closure for me, but for her as well.
"If I may ask," I said after some silence, "How was it you were released from that spell? The whole Kingdom was frozen in time. Many citizens, even Guilds, their captains, and all the way up to the Arcane King's council, know not of what really happened that day."
She looked down at her tea this time. Again, taking her time to respond, "I have no idea… I hadn't the slightest clue what was going on. All I knew was that when I came too, it was too late. Ari was under a pile of rubble, and you were there, yelling in agony. All I could feel was a pulse ripple against my skin… a pulse that, from what it seemed, came from you…"
When I thought back to the moment, I was worried I'd strike another panic attack right there and then. It wasn't just my own pain; it was the culmination of all the lives that suffered that day, given back to me in the form of a raging headache. But my mind felt strangely clear. It was as if I was finally getting the answers I needed. The pulse, however… did I undo the Forbidden Time magic that was cast upon them in that moment? It was the only logical answer I could come up with.
"You use Tantra, don't you?" she asked almost out of nowhere.
I stared at her with a blank expression on my face, like I was surprised she even knew the word.
"You know of Tantra?" I asked, just to make sure.
"Yes. Because my son uses it."
"You have a son? Is he here?" I asked almost frantic, hoping I didn't kill him as well…
"No. He never stayed out here with us. We hailed from the Mountain Kingdom—my son, my daughter Ari, who was still in my belly at the time, and myself. Their father was killed in the last war between the Kingdoms, so it was just the three of us. At the time, my son was about eighteen. So, he's probably just a bit older than you are at this current time… Once we made it to the Valley and we were finally situated, he was here to witness his baby sister's arrival. Then a few months later, he left without warning. Leaving only a note that said, 'I'm sorry, Mother. Please stay safe. I love you both, you and Ari…'" A pause, then she finished, "I only pray to the Keeper that he is alive and well."
"I see."
That pleasant feeling that she still had a child arose for barely a second, and then faded as she told me he was no longer here—and hasn't been for a long time. Not knowing whether he was alive or dead… that might as well be the same, if not worse than knowing you lost a child.
"I bring this up because only Tantra could have done what it did in that moment. But to be used like how you used it… that is an abnormality in itself. Even for mages who use that ability."
"How do mages learn this ability—if it's learned?" Funny that I, a mage of a Guild—and one who could use Tantra for that matter—ask a civilian about it.
"I only know so much, so forgive my lack of knowledge… but when my son was studying the art, at first, he thought that he had to have first been born without magic in order to even access the power. But through time and rigorous training, he began to suppress his magic. And by doing so, little by little, he would gain access to Tantra even if it was in the slightest form. I don't know why he had such an obsession with this power, but I can only assume that he was finally able to use it sufficiently when he left."
"How long ago did he leave?" I asked.
"Ten years ago. I'm afraid that's all I know about the ability. I'm sorry if it wasn't much help."
"No, you provided more than enough. Thank you."
I regretted asking; I had only hoped that the wound I opened didn't bleed out. She was still getting over her daughter. She didn't need to worry about her missing son as well. The only way to find out more was…
"If it's okay with you, may I know his name?" I asked.
She sighed first, then replied, almost as a jest, "Are you going to go look for him?"
"Perhaps."
She gave a gentle huff, "I'm afraid even if I give you his name, you may never find him… I don't even have a single lead for you to go off of… and his name is quite common."
"That's fine… I'll figure that part out on my own," I said, pausing there.
She smiled faintly as she said, "His name is Leon."
I nodded, "Thank you."
She said nothing in response, merely tilting her head slightly, closing her eyes, and smiling right at me, "I haven't seen him for the past ten years, but if finding him will help you, and this is what you want, then you are free to do as you please. I hope you can find your answers with him, if he is still alive."
Again, reading my mind like she had a few times in this moment alone. It was either her magic or even just a mother's intuition. I didn't mind either way.
"Thank you for seeing me today," I said, gesturing to excuse myself.
"The pleasure was mine. My daughter would be pleased that you were here."
After a few exchanged smiles, I excused myself and made my way to the door. As I grabbed the door handle, Ariella stopped me from where she remained at the table, "If you do find Leon… tell him that I love him."
I paused there for a moment and then glanced back at her before leaving, "I'll tell him to come home. Then you can tell him that yourself."
I opened the door and exited quietly. Ariella, by the glass, the balcony, and the view of the Kingdom, spoke under her breath with what I thought she had said, "By that time, there will be no home for him to come back to…"
She coughed up blood on her napkin profusely.
I stood outside the shadowed hallway, overhearing her muffled coughs through the thin walls that separated us. Tilting my head down and closing my eyes, I threw my hands in my pockets and finally left the place.
***
I took the long way home. Spending a day on my own through the busy streets, took the steam train around the Kingdom, did some sightseeing, and even walked along a green grass river that led to the Silver Sharks' underground territory.
I'd skip the part where I would walk right in like I had done before when Snow and I were novices. The last time I had done that, they held me hostage for trespassing, suspicious that I was from a Guild at all, even though I wore a Black Wolves jacket.
It was only because of Snow that I was released. Shocked me still that he was a Vice Captain now.
As I continued my stroll, I went past a heavily walled neighborhood. Vines and moss occupied the place more than its residents. In the middle of it all was a church-looking castle filled with most of those vines. At the highest point of that castle, there was a large clock with the symbol of a panther on it. This was Purple Panther territory. Zeno's Guild.
If Rex and Snow openly argued about women, Zeno and I had a more stoic competition. I hadn't talked to him since he came back, but I knew if I told him about me and Belle, that guy would lose his mind—though he'd be very good at hiding it. He always had a major crush on her. So, I wondered how I should break it down to him… unless Ryo opened his goddamn mouth. Keeper…
I exited the area shortly after buying an apple to snack on for the rest of the way. A group of nuns bowed to me, and I waved back out of respect. Ironic that the church of the Kingdom was the Purple Panthers Guild. Their captain, Tubolt, couldn't have been a more perfect rival for Asura—and now me, the hooligan leader of the Black Wolves.
Toward the Northwest was the Crimson Dragons' castle. Pristine as it always is, even under construction from the Blue Phoenix's attack. I debated going to the gate to say hi to Ryo, but I would have to go through their annoyingly extensive process just to get inside, and then, depending on how busy he was today, I'd have to wait in their lobby just for him to come out and see me. It wasn't like the Wolves' Den, where anyone could pop in and say hello by simply knocking. Other Guilds were more professional with their procedures after all. To any case, the thought of it was too much of a hassle, so I proceeded to stroll past, observing as I did.
The only place now that I couldn't visit was the Green Owls' hideout. Like us, they didn't have a castle that resided within Valley Kingdom walls. They were a Guild like the Golden Rose Knights who were stationed at and by a Sub-Kingdom. Theirs was the Forest Kingdom. And unless I wanted to go on a field trip, that would be the only way I could see them. I figured I'd pass on that today.
I enjoyed being alone. There were times when I craved this. When one lived with a rambunctious crew and was accompanied by a female every night, alone times like this were few and far between. I had to enjoy it while it lasted, because…
As I finished my apple and threw it into a nearby trash can, I heard a familiar, annoying voice. "Yo!" it sounded off from far behind me. "Yo!!" louder now.
When I turned my head to face where the voice had come from, a male about my age was waving and rushing toward me. I knew him all too well…
"YO DWEEB! WAIT UP!" he yelled. He was wearing a stylish and colorful oversized jacket with a black and yellow hoodie on the inside. He had a yellow bag strapped across his chest, baggy khaki pants that cuffed on the ankles, and some colorful street-style shoes. His hair was black, a bit longer than mine, but still medium-length and a mess. He wore a tattered, yellow and black headband that peeked in and out of his hair, and his eyes were yellow with black stars for pupils.
Keeper, what did I do to deserve my peace getting interrupted? I said to myself.
"DWEEB!" another male from over the hill shouted. He wore a graphic white hoodie that said 'VALLEY' on it with flannel meshed in the sleeves from his elbows down. He also had a bag semi-strapped on his chest; only difference was that it was black and he had the opposite strap linked to his wrist for style purposes only. Black baggy street pants, trendy sneakers, and his hair was blond and blue, spiked, with his bangs falling over the side of his face. The sword-shaped earrings on his lobes chimed and the glare from his round shades shone as he walked casually behind the shouting male with the headband.
"COME HANG OUT WITH US!" the other shouted right after.
How did I not notice these two behind me until now? I thought. Well… I probably shouldn't have been too surprised; these two specialized in stealth after all. I had this coming…
As they got closer, I was doomed to stay and wait. They would only catch up to me anyway. They were both faster than I as well.
"DO I HAVE A CHOICE!?" I yelled back.
The male with the headband only laughed sickeningly at my reply. Yup, so long alone time, it's beer-with-best-buddies-time now!"
They caught up to me in no time, witnessing my glowering face.
"Aw, don't be like that! You know you love us, you big Dweeb!"
"I prefer to love from afar, Rex…"
"Well, that's not possible for this guy. Trust me, I tried to get away too," the one in Valley sweater said.
"Snow, please tell me how you became so utterly useless as you moved up in the ranks." I jabbed.
"ME!? Says the one who was given a Captain's position on a silver platter and fails to make it official! All you have to do is submit your fucking form! I'm useless!? ME!?" he shrouded over me looking like a badly drawn cartoon.
I turned away and picked my ear, pretending I didn't hear him. That only triggered him some more.
"Alright, alright, ladies. Calm your fucking tits… anyway! Snow message Zeno and Ryo, we have secured the Dweeb and are on our way!" the male with the headband, Rex, said happily.
"Yeah, yeah… hold on," Snow replied, whipping out his comm, throwing a lollipop in his mouth all the while.
A whooshing sound was all I heard as he sent the message and threw his comm back in his pocket just as quickly.
"Hold on, I didn't say yes or no!" I said, futile as it was.
Rex chuckled, "It's always a yes when we make plans, idiot!"
He threw his arm around me, and, without a say, we walked side by side. Snow was tagging along casually with his hands in his pockets and the lollipop swirling in his mouth as we headed off.
As much as I like my alone time, being with close friends was a close second—and a blessing as well. The ones that forced you to be included; they only did so because they cared. The vast Kingdom was our view as we walked down the hill and the afternoon sun shone over us, making our way to wherever Zeno and Ryo were.
***
On the other side of the Kingdom, we met up at our favorite alleyway noodle shop in the Southern part of the Valley. The streets were cleaned up after the incident involving the fake Black Wolves. The washed off graffiti looking like it was never there in the first place, and the underground hideout from the abandoned building around the block was pretty much demolished as well as we passed by.
Quick flashes of Alice being abducted and taken by that Six Arms invaded me as I looked down the alley we chased them into. Wishing I had met her another way instead of that time.
It was my latest memory of this place… but we were here to make new memories. With five Vice Captains in the area, no one would dare try anything.
As we pulled up to the place, I was met with those friendly faces—Ryo and Zeno. They were also in casual outfits as well; Ryo in that stylish bomber jacket with his Guild logo that I liked, and Zeno in a pair of jeans, sneakers, and zip hoodie with the Purple Panthers logo on the back. I was half surprised to see him in an outfit that didn't make him look like he was some homeless traveling monk—let alone one without any tatters or holes in it.
I haven't spoken to him since he came back, but the way his pleasant smile rested on his face told me he wanted to address something with me… I could only hope it wasn't about—
"Hey, Greed. Good to see you, old friend." He said as his serene face met mine. And I could tell in the tone alone…
Yeah… It's about Belle. Fuck.