Silent Snow
Chapter 1: The eighth element of the sky
Almost exactly one year had passed, since Bermuda Von Veckenschtein suffered defeat at the hands of Sawada Tsunayoshi. This lone fact didn't bother him, since it was that same day when he obtained his revenge, by taking away control of the Tri-ni-set from Checkerface. The reminder of this one day was what constantly gave him strength to continue holding the balance of the Tri-ni-set, along with the rest of his Vindice. Using the power of the Flame of Night, the seven Vindice made the Seven Flames of the Sky continuously go through Bermuda's black holes in a loop, causing them to accelerate.
This practice had been in effect for almost a year now, ever since the Vindice, by Bermuda's command took it upon themselves to maintain the balance of the Tri-ni-set, not only avoiding the need for any more Arcobaleno, but also avoiding chaos in the world. It felt like yesterday that Bermuda had finally taken his revenge, and the thought that Checkerface's life force had finally faded only made everything feel better, since this only strengthened his satisfaction.
As the flames inside the jars continued accelerating within the black holes loop, something suddenly felt odd. All of the Vindice sensed it at once. From within each of the jars something had been born. It felt like a flame to them, but it couldn't be, there should only one flame in each jar. Yet each of the seven jars had something inside of them that was not the original flame. Bermuda used his Flame of Night to redirect whatever was inside each of the jars. He searched for another jar, one of the empty spare jars Talbot had given him. He redirected whatever it was into the jar, revealing to their surprise, a flame.
It was not like the other flames of the sky. It was a light blue in the center, and slightly darker towards the edges. From within the body of the flame several small, white lights moved outwards, that looked like flakes. Bermuda moved the flame closer to his eyes. He examined it closely and sensed it. It didn't feel like a Flame of the Earth, it felt as if it was part of the Flames of the Sky; which would make sense given that it was born from these flames. What he did not understand was how it was born, or why; but he knew what he had to do.
"Big Pino, Small Gia" Bermuda called to two of his Vindice "Watch over my jar and Jager's jar. There is something that needs to be done. Jager… I need you to call one of our own at Vendicare Penitentiary. Hold strong, we will return shortly." With that they both warped away.
In a small, dark hut in a place unknown, a very old man with a Mohawk and a blindfold was rearranging some tools around. The man continued slowly moving around the small place without a care in the world.
"It had been quite a while, Bermuda." The old man said, not bothering to turn around
"I get the feeling you were expecting me to arrive anytime, Talbot." Bermuda answered calmly
"If that is what you believe, who am I to stop you." Talbot answered still working with his tools.
"What do you make of this?" Bermuda asked showing Talbot the jar with the new flame
"It feels like a Flame of the Sky." Talbot commented, as he came closer to the flame
"My thoughts exactly. What do you suppose we do with it?" Bermuda asked as he looked inside the jar
"Now that it exists, it is part of the balance; therefore it must be kept within the balance like the other Sky Flames. It cannot remain a secret, however." Talbot added "I suggest we find a worthy vessel to carry forth the flame for future generations."
Bermuda smiled, handing Talbot the jar. After having Talbot work what was needed, Bermuda warped out, to continue to hold the balance of the Tri-ni-set with an eight Vindice to hold the jar containing what Talbot baptized the Dying Will Flame of the Snow. Meanwhile Talbot remained with a portion of the flame inside a small jar of his own, in which the flame accelerated slowly from within the loop of black holes Bermuda had created. It would not last forever, but if he moved quickly he could be able find a vessel for this new flame in time. What he needed now was to contact a certain former Arcobaleno, to find the science he needed for his plan to work.
In a dark laboratory in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere forest, a child with glasses and a lab coat viewed 6 large monitors at once, taking notes and changing numbers in all of them. The only sounds that were heard were the light clicking sounds of a keyboard, and an occasional beep from some of the monitors. It would be obvious that anyone could hear the sound of an old man breathe, if said old man were to be inside the room almost breathing down the child's neck.
"I don't know how you got here but I suggest you leave the way you came if you don't want to be in some serious trouble." The child said, fixing his glasses
"What if I told you I bring you something you can study… something you've never studied or even seen before?" Talbot asked
"It would have to be something out of this world for me to never have studied it before, much less never have seen it." The child said not moving from the monitors
"What if I told you I have discovered a new type of flame? Would that be good study research, Verde?" Talbot asked
"Really?" Verde said turning his chair around quickly "The only Flames I had not studied were the Flames of the Earth, and I already learned what I needed from them."
"How about this one?" Talbot asked, showing Verde the jar with the ever accelerating light blue flame, which was still going through the black hole loop. "It was discovered by Bermuda and the Vindice; most likely created by the harmonic resonance that was created by the acceleration of the Seven Flames of the Sky and the Flame of Night."
"Interesting. What can you tell me about it so far?" Verde asked, removing his glasses to wipe them for a better look
"We named it the Flame of Snow because of the way it behaves. Bermuda said he could feel cold waves coming from it when he first felt its presence; so we believe it might have attributes of the snow." Talbot explained
"Well we might find out something more once we start to actually study it in full." Verde commented
"If you don't hurry, you won't have anything to study. Bermuda's loop won't last forever; once his flame burns out the Snow flame will begin to weaken, unless I find a worthy host to house it." Talbot added
"It won't be easy for me to study unless it's from an actual controller. Very well, what is it you need?" Verde asked "For this once I won't charge you, but only because it promises a worthy cause for study."
"Then let me explain what we need." Talbot began explaining what he would need Verde to do
The next day Talbot walked slowly and quietly through Namimori park. He slowly walked around looking at the children and the way they played. He knew whoever the flame chose would have to be a child, given that the flame would be able to use the a young child's growth rate to increase its own power. There were many children in the park that day, he knew it would be difficult to approach them.
He chose a bench, far away from the children and sat down to wait. If there were to be one worthy to carry the flame within them, they would be attracted to it. After a few minutes a young child ran to the bench. For a second Talbot thought this would be the child, but the young boy was simply chasing a pigeon that had ran under the bench, and instead he ran away when the pigeon flew in the other direction.
Talbot waited on the bench, sitting there quietly. He saw children passing by. Some of them looked at him and continued. Others ignored him; others saw him in the distance and walked to their parents as if in fear. Others simply pointed and whispered, or laughed at him. It seemed like the hours passed by, longer each time, and nothing happened. He was about to give up, thinking it was pointless, when from afar he heard footsteps slowly approaching. They felt somewhat shy and small, but they continued closing in. A young voice spoke up to him.
"Hi mister old man… can I sit here with you?" it was a boy about five or six years old. He had blue eyes and black spiky hair that fell towards the back of his head. In his small hand he held a large paper bag
"Of course my child. I would like the company." He responded, the boy quickly sat down next to him. Just them Talbot felt the flame quiver inside the jar. He looked inside his cloak and saw the flame glowing brighter than it was before.
"I saw you from afar." The boy said to Talbot as he reached inside his paper bag "You've been here alone for a long time. I thought you were hungry so I got you some onigiri. Do you want some onigiri mister old man?"
"I would love some, young one." Talbot said as the boy pulled out an onigiri from his paper bag wrapped in a napkin and extended his hand towards Talbot. Talbot took the onigiri from the boy. His hands made contact, which was when Talbot felt the goodness in the boys heart. The flame had chosen its vessel, and he could feel it.
"Why are you alone? Don't' you have any friends? I can be your friend if you want, I have lots of friends!" The boy said, then took a large chomp of his onigiri
"Would you really be my friend? You don't even know me." Talbot asked the young boy
"That's okay. I'll meet you and then we can be friends." The boy said, to which Talbot smiled
The boy sat there on that bench that afternoon, simply talking to Talbot. Talbot listened closely to everything the boy had to say. He smiled greatly, as the flame inside the jar kept reacting to the boy's presence.
"I have to go, mama's is going to be worried." The boy said
"Before you go, can I show you something, as a friend?" Talbot asked
"Okay!" he answered
"But it has to be a secret." Talbot added
"I promise!" the boy answered
Talbot took out the jar from his cloak and showed the boy. The light blue flame was revolving through the flame of nights black holes. The boy's eyes quickly fixated themselves on the flame; he became almost entranced by it. Talbot moved the jar closer to the boy. The flame stopped moving right in the center of the jar and instead moved closer to the boy's face, which was now almost stuck to the jar. Talbot placed the boy's hands on the jar and let him hold it.
"That flame wants to be your friend. If you let it, it will help you, but you have to keep it a secret." Talbot explained
"I can keep a secret… I can be your friend." The boy spoke to the flame.
If this boy is really the one compatible with the flame, it will change whatever flame he would be into this flame. Though there is a chance that he will still have properties from his original flame.
The flame quivered in the jar a little bit and then disappeared. Suddenly a light blue flame appeared in the boy's forehead for just one second before disappearing. In the jar only a remnant of the flame of night remained.
"Where did it go?" the boy asked
"It became your friend. Now it will always be with you. But…"
"I know, I know, it's a secret." The boy said as he turned to leave, but then turned back "What's your name mister old man?"
"My name is Talbot." He responded
"I'm Kuro… Kimura Kuro"