UNNOTICED
RISE
Chapter 15: Inseparable
Just beneath the blazing orange skies of Paris, the city's residents arouse from their slumber. Ready to seize yet another day, or rather carpe diem as the Latin speakers would say.
From one of the park benches at the famous Louvre square, sat a certain specimen that many refer to as Mr. Ramier.
There he sat as he jollied whilst feeding the local pigeons their morning bread crumps, with the birds in turn flocking all round, gathering together for their meal. They all enjoyed the company of one another, but of course, every moment had its time.
One of the feathered creatures decided that it was now time to head out. So, it flapped its wings and took flight. Unfortunately, though it didn't seem to have watched where it was going, nearly causing it to bump onto the face of a man. Missing him for mere inches. Not that the man appeared to have minded however.
He kept his gaze at the large glass structure, before then shutting his eyes and opening them once more. With a stoic expression, the man murmured out "No. This won't do."
Another man, who was standing right beside him, nodded.
"Noted sir." He replied. "I simply thought that this would be a nice place to set considering as he is Egyptian, technically."
Both were dressed in large jackets, which to be fair, was quite common considering the temperature. Both had also worn their hoods on top of their heads as well. Potentially also due to the cold.
It was from there that the man had chortled from Virgil's possible attempt of making a joke (possible).
"Well, I do admit that that does sound like a good idea." He mused. "I just feel that this entire place is just a little too – artificial."
He then pointed at the Louvre's iconic pyramid.
"For instance, unlike in Cairo, the grounds here are only "special" because of that construction they built over there. Tear it down and the whole area would just be nothing more but another dull place to stand on."
Virgil nodded at his superior's explanation.
"I understand sir." He bowed his head. But afterwards he smirked. "It's a good thing for us though that there are still a dozen more places for us to check out. Supposed it only comes natural with a city which possesses a ton of history. And with humans and their love for pointing their noses into the clouds, we could expect for more…"
He later went on started rambling, causing his boss to feel "mildly" uncomfortable. He retreated a step due to wariness.
Just then his ears caught the sounds of giggling. So, he turned. And what he saw were two youthful women whom apparently seemed to be taking a fancy to him.
Welp. Got to give the public what they want.
He winked at them, whilst also offering one of his devilish smirks. Thus, resulting for the women to fawn further as they squealed amongst themselves.
"Sir?" "Sir?"
He looked back to attend to his associate. But found his way to trail at the triangular building again. His face appearing to be at deep thought.
"Either way though…" The man said.
He marched forward, nearing the Louvre pyramid.
"-are you definitely certain that this structure still houses it?" And afterwards he followed with, "How are you so confident it wouldn't be moved until then?"
With that, Virgil grinned, stepping forward to stand beside him. His hands were behind his back. His face, cocky, and without falter.
"Gotta love Napoleon."
He glanced his pupils to the side of his superior.
"But, that's one of the things that you love about them."
The man's lips curled towards up.
Occupying inside his bedroom, Nathanael had just finished with the showers and was currently now setting his bag for school. As he done, he accidentally glimpsed at his wrist and spotted the small scratch which he had received just last night. It wasn't as big or as bad as that sustained by Juleka, but it still served as a reminder for the boy in regards to the consequences of being reckless.
He stared at it, his face faltered, his mood saddened. He felt shameful. Extremely remorseful. Though he then brushed it off, thinking that it was better not to dwell on such emotions when Hawkmoth could be lurking.
He definitely did not wish to become akumatized, especially after hearing on what the Miraculouses' powers could do to him.
No. it was best to simply focus readying himself for the day…yeah.
And so, that was what he did. Nathanael resurged into attending with his bag.
Since the harrowing and life-threatening experience he had that evening, the teen had basically plopped onto his covers the second he returned home. This, thus lead him in now removing all of his book bag's contents and replacing them with his school items.
First, he fished out the spell book he had used. In terms of how book's go, it was fairly average in size. He recalled of how he had struggled with the initial spell he had prepared, yet subsequently succeeded with an alternative one introduced to him at the very last second.
Gambling with fate.
He then decided to place the said text onto his desk. Planning on returning it later when nobody's looking.
Next, the boy pulled out the box of chalks, which he put back. Thinking in case if he were to do some chalk art.
For a fraction of a few minutes, Nathanael continued like that. Pulling out objects and choosing if whether to keep or leave behind. Finally, when he was certain that he had completed with this task, Nathanael spontaneously thought on shaking his bag just to make sure that he truly was done. Yet, when he did, he assessed the weight, and noticed some kind of material was still contained.
Perplexed, he peeked on it to check. His eyes widened after.
There, within was the green bottle that which he used in order to capture the mare. Under a state of appearing no different from when he found it.
Image wise, it seemed akin to any regular-old drinking bottle one could buy. However, throughout his entire crazy and unbelievable week, Nathanael learned not to trust first impressions upon first glance all the time.
Host inside it, the bottle contained the very monster which had terrorized them. Sealed shut, unable to escape.
He wondered if this still truly was the case, but one touch of it yielded to him the answer.
With one finger, a surge of anger and a strong desire for revenge instantly made him retreat his hand as he jerked. Its malice unfortunately remaining firm, much to his dismay. As a result, he chose instead to bring his bag upside down and thus allowing for the bottle to drop without him holding it.
The green container rolled on his study desk till it stopped eventually.
With caution, he carefully brought his right hand close to it, and hastily, with one swift poke, the bottle had started in shaking violently once again.
Nathanael withdrew a few steps out of being startled. Stiffed as he watched the plastic container roll down from his desk, to the floor, and all the way near his bed.
When it halted again, its juddering resumed.
He followed his eyes until it arrived at its current spot. A second came and he walked towards it. Deducing that it was completely harmless.
He bent down to pick the bottle up. And with hesitation, the boy garnered enough of his will to lift it in his fingers and palms.
Nathanael scanned at it. Wondering in his mind on how the mare could have even fitted into such a bottle.
He pretty much subconsciously toyed with it. Checking the container from its bottom parts, all the way to the top.
His pupils later trailed to his alarm, immediately reminding him that he still had classes to attend today.
The boy stood up and paced unhurriedly toward his drawer table.
Nathanael drew the uppermost one, but closed it after. He had no desire to place the monster in the same space where he hid his precious Phoenix Boy comic.
He wandered his gaze around, until his eyes fixed at his closet.
He dithered if whether storing the mare inside what he would believe as its natural habitat was a safe thing to even consider. But then after a one second glimpse at the bottle, Nathanael supposed that, in some way, he was technically responsible for the creature now.
The boy groaned as he marched to his cabinet.
Opening the door, he observed around to see if he could find someplace where none but him could find the angry bottle. He spotted a drawer, so he stored it there.
His mind came to reevaluate again if allowing the creature to stay with him until he knew on what to do with it was safe. However, he then recalled of how he slept like a log after passing out, despite the mare being in the same room with him.
He then decided that it might not be that much of an issue and thus, he shrugged.
Besides, nightmares are just dreams anyway.
Afterwards when he left his room, Nathanael saw his mothers scouring around, appearing to be on search of something. He raised his brow as he decided to ask;
"Lost something?"
Both paused and looked at him.
"Oh, Tomate." Greeted Naomi, a smile on her face. "No. Don't worry about us. We're just looking for Shadow, that's all."
"Yes." Wendy continued after her. "Please, sit down. Your breakfast is already on the counter."
He obliged to his mother's direction, and sat at his seat in front of his morning meal. However, just before he could take his first bite at his crepes, he suddenly felt his moms standing behind him.
Nathanael halted as he spun around in his chair, and there to meet him were the couple, standing beside each other.
He analyzed their faces. Their wide smiles and their obvious stifled excitements. Their suspicious postures, and Naomi's hands behind her back. Boy hastily reckoned that they definitely had a surprise for him.
The redhead mentally prepared himself.
Their grins grew bigger. They glanced at each other prior to craning back. The duo began to count, simultaneously.
"1-2-3!"
And when her hands came to be seen, a "stick" in red color was presented to him.
Nathanael immediately knew on what that meant.
A new wand.
Slowly, his had reached to grab it, his mind completely at a daze after seeing that now he owned a new one to replace the previous that had only broken since yesterday. His fingers traced at its surface, and he noticed the similarity its texture possessed compared to its predecessor.
"How'd you like it?" The stout woman asked. "I was the one who chose to go with red by the way. I know how much you like red."
Nathanael didn't reply, but merely offering a stoic nod. His head so preoccupied at inspecting the magical baton that her voice had sounded mostly distant to him.
However, it appeared that his mothers perceived his nodding as a sign of his approval.
And thus, with that, the pair resumed with their recent business. They searched all around, nearly every space and corner, trying to seek for their beloved housecat.
As he kept analyzing the handheld enigma in his grasp, the boy listened to most of their calls and noises, resulting to him to switch attentions from his wand to them.
"Why are you guys even finding Shadow anyway?" The teen with the gray jacket inquired. "You know he'll just come back like he always does. Probably around lunch."
His moms, in turn took a brief break to answer his question.
"Oh, well you see…" Wendy started prior to Naomi fishing something from out of the sofa.
"Your wand wasn't exactly the only thing that we've purchased last night." The latter finished.
The something which one of them grabbed was actually a small pink sweater which was entirely composed from pink yarn. It also had a message written on it, which reads; LAZY AND PROUD.
He swore that he'd almost spat his coffee.
"We're looking for him so that we could see him try out our new gift for him." Informed Naomi.
"I've already prepared my camera." Wendy took out the said device while gushing.
Nathanael meanwhile couldn't help but suppress a laugh. For him, it was certainly entertaining whenever it was Shadow who gets to become the subject for their amusement rather than him.
He spun himself back later whilst chortling, returning into finishing his crepes.
"Oh, where could he ran off to this time." Naomi expressed due to concern, meanwhile as her partner scowled;
"He better not be off chasing mice again."
They checked the covers, and they checked every shelves. Any spot where the feline could fit. But eventually they came to grow tired, and that was when Naomi sighed.
"Right. I'll go get-"
Yet, prior for her to proceed on where she was heading, Wendy halted her by grasping her at the wrist.
"Wait." The woman told. "Perhaps this could serve as a good scenario to-you know…" She motioned her brown pupils at the boy by the counter.
Naomi instantly caught her message as she nodded, nonchalantly. She embarked on her way, and winded near a laundry basket storing all of Shadow's stuff. Picking up a squeaky yellow mouse, she afterwards headed towards Nathanael.
The chubby woman reached her arm and highlighted for Nathanael to take the toy from her hand, he in turn twinged at first as he shifted to her. His emotion became that of perplex, yet nonetheless obeying of what was wanted of him.
"We want you to find Shadow." Casually, Wendy told. As if that was supposed to explain anything.
Perhaps if he were to wander around the neighborhood whilst squeaking that thing, he could. Though he might probably lose some of his dignity in the process (no matter how scarce he possessed of those).
He reddened after thinking that.
Sensing his confusion, both the duo glanced at the other for one more time as they headed to take their own chairs to sit on. Soon Nathanael sat at the middle between them. Both took their minutes on pondering around, conjuring a nice method for them to elucidated. The clock ticked till Naomi shot her head up and twisted her neck to face him.
She smiled warmly as she usually does, whilst her mouth inquired of him a question.
"Tell us, Nate? What do you often think whenever-whenever you think of fire?" Later, she followed with; "What concept do you think that's so associated with fire that their almost inseparable?"
Nathanael placed his left hand by his lips as he formulated for an answer. He replied with the first concept that he pictured.
"Light?"
"Correct." Naomi remarked. "Light. Light will do. Now, imagine fire without heat. Can you picture that?"
He sealed his sight as his focus went inward.
"Well, I could, I guess?" He stated. "But aside from being some kind of drawing or photo. It would probably be the weirdest fire I'd see."
"Exactly." His mom concurred. "And why do you think that, dear?"
He pondered again, but this time he failed to find an answer.
"Because," Naomi proceeded. "fire and heat are like-are like two parts of a greater whole. Uh…two peas in a pod, if you're getting me? Heat and fire just simply couldn't be separate. That's why their considered as being inseparable."
Nathanael nodded at his moms lecture.
"Now, do you know where magic comes from?" She fished out her wand as she utilized it to lift a banana into thin air and guiding it to fall unto her other palm.
He shook his head. Now that he did thought about it, he never really contemplated about that, he just always assumed that magic was…well-magic.
"Magic can come from different sources. But, in our case however. Our magic comes from the very force that yields for life to exist. The lifeforce.
His eyes came to widen, his pupils grew bigger. In his memories, he recalled upon that moment when he was imprisoned inside that old hag's cell, and how one of his fellow prisoners described to him on just what Granny Spooks had wanted from them.
It still somewhat haunted his mind. Knowing that if the hag had her ways…
"The lifeforce is the very vital energy which separates on what could be considered alive, and what could be considered – mere objects." It was Wendy now who spoke. "It is the quintessence that makes us live, that makes us healthy, and also what makes us feel our emotions."
Naomi nodded her head as she continued to where her partner left off. "The lifeforce is a unique form of quintessence, and the force where all us magical lifeforms draw our abilities from. Our magic is tied to our lifeforce, and our lifeforce is tied to our magic. Take one out and you have essentially taken the other out as well. That is why we consider them as being inseparable.
The mechanics inside his skull had now downloaded the new information he was given as he now begun to understand.
"Wait? But-" One more concept remained untouched though. "What does all that have to do with Shadow, exactly?"
"Because…" Wendy was the one to respond first. "magic isn't really the only thing which our lifeforce produces. It's also responsible for what we may call, aura."
Aura? Nathanael repeated in his head. Unlike with that of the lifeforce, aura was a bit recognizable for him, considering as the idea of it has been going on within many forms of popular culture. From what he knew, they were supposed to be this smoke-like substance which surrounds everyone, but is also invisible for the human eye to perceive.
"Aura surrounds our entire form, even if we cannot regularly see it."
Bingo. Nathanael thought.
"It is a product emanated by our lifeforce." Said Naomi. "A stuff that which is generated unto existence. Kind of like how fire produces both light and heat.
And Nathanael took note of that.
"Because of its nature, aura exist in all living beings. Regardless whether their magical or not. From the crawling ant, to the charging bison. From frogs to giant, all of us possess aura. "She paused as she signaled her partner to proceed.
"But aura also has an aspect that sets differences." Spoke Wendy. "Akin to our DNA, aura also holds some, what would you call-imprints. Imprints which can be read through proper discipline."
"Some of these imprints can be based through lineage." The stouter lady then began again. "Which means that one can recognize you and I as each other's relatives by simply through reading our auras. However, it also has properties that's unique for every single individual. So one can still recognize which one of us is you, and which is me."
Wendy took her turn. "And cats too are no exception. As living beings, they too have a lifeforce, and they too possess their own aura."
"Nate." Naomi abruptly called his name. "What happens to an object if they make close contact with heat?"
He thought about it for a second.
"It burns?"
"Right. Exactly." She cheered. "Heat can burn once one reaches too close to its source. And burning can leave marks, to any object that it has made contact with."
"Just like heat, aura too leaves marks onto anything we touch, any object we associate with. And, the more we associate with a particular object, the more stronger our marks to this objects become."
"Which means?"
His fellow ginger head neared her hand to the mouse he was holding, but never wholly touching it.
"That toy literally has Shadow written all over it. And we want you to tract Shadow through "reading" what he left."
Nathanael became stunned upon hearing that.
"You want me… to look for Shadow… using this?"
"For your lessons of course." Replied Wendy. "Besides, you might need this skill the second you lose one of your pencils again."
The boy felt an arrow shot to his heart there.
"But it's okay if you can't though. Admittedly even we have a hard time tracking things through aura. Let's just say that it's pretty much just a difficult skill to master. So, no pressure."
He studied the toy mouse for a couple a while, contemplating. Later, after a moment he decided to comply.
Nathanael nodded. A sign that he was ready. His mothers in turn prepared to tutoring him.
"Alright." Naomi initiated first. "Shut your eyes and feel the aura lingering on that toy."
The boy with the orange t followed in her instructions. Sealing his field of visions as he tried to feel Shadow through the yellow mouse he was carrying. He concentrated, focused, searching for Shadow as he went along. He forced to empty his mind from all plausible distractions, steering his mentality solely on finding his friend. Awhile later, Nathanael nearly thought that he wasn't going to do it, and was closely about to throw in the towel. That was, until a particular "color" came into his mental field. One that was clearly recognizable for him. He felt lazy, stoic, and gluttonous. Definitely Shadow.
"I think I'm picking up on something." He announced.
The duo's attention came more attentive.
"Okay. Good." Remarked the woman with short hair. "Now, try in channeling through the residual energy field which surrounds all of us, and visualize yourself as if you are an antenna trying to find a certain signal. Find the aura which completely matches that of the toy, and afterwards tell us where you predict Shadow to be.
Nathanael did just that. Seeking Shadow's presence through channeling. He squeezed the mouse, resulting in it to squeak, but minded no attention to that.
The boy's attention was entirely engrossed in finding the black cat.
-channeling through the residual energy…
He tried to do it, he concentrated hard, yet all he could "see" was the "color" of the toy, and nothing else. He couldn't seem to sense whatever these residual energies his mother mentioned. He couldn't locate Shadow's presence.
"I-I can't." He sighed, unsealing his eyes. "I'm sorry."
Though they quite appeared a bit dismayed, they still smiled at his efforts nonetheless.
"It's alright Tomate" The woman with red hair comforted. "We did say of how difficult it was."
"Yes." Wendy spoke after. "Don't think too hard on it. Oh, and would you look at the time."
She trailed towards the wall clock, resulting for Nathanael to copy reflexively. His eyes glanced at to where its hands were pointing. He then later quickly swallowed his meal, and had basically gulped his coffee. The boy wiped his mouth with his sleeve, shotting up, and kissed both his mothers on the cheek before heading to exit.
"I'm off now."
"Did you-"
"Yes." The redhead groaned.
"Are you sure?"
Nathanael rolled his pupils and sighed. He spun his body around and was met with Naomi holding his new red wand, whilst smirking sarcastically.
His frustration changed into bashfulness.
Cautiously, he walked back to retrieve his item.
"Remember not to break it this time." Reminded the woman with the white dress.
He craned his head to face her and nodded. "I will."
"And be sure not to get caught." Chastised Naomi.
"Alright."
One final wave of farewells later and he embarked on his way to school. He looked at his wand whilst he walked and twisted it around a little bit. He inferred on just how strikingly it resembled the one from yesterday. But just then, the boy heard a squeak, making him jerk, only to realize that in his other hand he had accidentally brought the toy mouse with him.
His mind came to wander about the lesson his moms gave mere seconds ago, and his mind grew curious regarding it. He wondered on what would it be like if he actually succeeded. And he mused on just what it would feel to tract someone via their "colors" or, based on what his moms described, their aura.
After all, despite lacking control, he still had a pretty good idea on what it was like to observe people's emotions under that method. So, what would it exactly feel like to seek them using only aura?
The boy sighed, then later on smiled.
Despite never achieving the task given to him though, and despite failing to tract down Shadow using the cat's toy, Nathanael still had a couple of tricks in his sleeves. And with no magic included.
After all, there were props when you've known a guy for so long.
He climbed down from the steps of stairs and made it down to the first floor. Once he did, he walked near the trash bins, kneeled and peaked behind.
"You know that they'll find you eventually." Nathanael teased the dark furred feline.
"Shut up." He replied.
The boy with the jacket simply just grinned as he threw the yellow mouse at him, to which the latter seemed to have liked after snatching it.
The sunlight had reached its way right into the window of a pink colored bedroom. And within it, several girls slept scattered across the floor.
Juleka was the first to have woken up amongst them. She scanned around, wondering why she didn't waken at her usual deck, until she remembered the call that she received last night.
"Juleka! Where are you?! We got an emergency here!" Rose stated from her side of the phone. She inferred on how agitated she sounded.
"What is it?" Juleka asked.
Just then, she heard that it was Alya's voice that replied.
"Don't know. But get your butt over here at Mari's house, quick. I feel that she needs us."
"Why do you say that?"
She heard some incoherent muffling, and when it appeared to have cleared, it was Alix's voice that was on the other end.
"Her tears are a pretty dead giveaway."
"Tears?" Juleka repeated, already knowing what the answer to be.
"She's crying."
"What do you mean she's crying?"
And from there, she said her excuse and bolted all the way to her bike, making a stop at Liberty to inform her mom and to grab her stuff, before accelerating towards Marinette's.
Just as Alix had described, her friend was indeed shedding tears, under reasons that she refused to tell. Some of them may have pushed her, but Juleka thought to keep quiet about it. At the end, they chose to leave her be. Deciding instead to proceed with a slumber party to make her feel better. The girl with bluebell eyes appeared to have appreciated that, as soon she had forgotten on why she was even miserable in the first place.
They played games, talked about crushes (or boyfriends in Alya's and Mylene's cases), eat some snacks, watched a rom-com - the typical sleepover scenario.
She yawned as she got up. Took her stuff from her bag as she made her steps to the bathroom. Along the way though, the girl stopped for a second, and threw her copper eyes to glimpse at a certain photograph.
It was a picture that was taken just last year at the public park across the street. Displaying her entire class sitting at a bench with herself at the center.
Her lips curled up.
For many others, it could very well just be another photo taken from a group of friends. But to Juleka, it was so much more than that. Not only was it the picture that had lifted her from her photo jinx, but it was also a testament on just how deep people can go for the sake of another, including her.
True that she may have been flustered to discover that everyone of her classmates had pitched in to do their part in the whole ordeal, but once it was time to actually do the picture taking part, all her anxieties had just suddenly vanished.
Sure, she would still cringe a few times whenever she thought of; "what if they only did it because of how dramatic I was being", but she would always shake her head and force that thought to retreat into the back of her mind. Reminding herself that they were just nice people.
Everyone truly did come through for her that day, especially Marinette. As she was the one who fought endlessly to make sure that she got a good photo.
That was just who Marinette is, kind and selfless. Beautiful inside and out.
Juleka then stared at the image of herself. Watching as she smiled along with the rest, and comparing her own face with that of the bluenette.
If only she were pretty too…
"Are ya' sure that ya' face doesn't hurt lacy?" Through her device, Juleka listened to her mother whilst outside the Dupain-Chengs' bakery, all set and ready for a day well spent sitting inside four walls.
"Yes." The girl replied, unconsciously trailing her fingers to the bandage covering her scratch.
Her voice was low, and almost incoherent, and yet, Anarka managed to have understood her clearly.
"Alright then…" Afterwards she heard some muffling words which she couldn't decipher. She raised a brow until her mother followed. "Ya' brother asks if ya' could pick up a pastry or two."
She then chuckled, nodding her head as she obliged. Later, she heard the bell ringing from the Dupain-Cheng's bakery as her circle exited the establishment.
"Alright then. Let's go!" Said Mylene.
Everyone nodded.
Yet, before they could, a towering man with a mustache and a baker's hat emerged, carrying with him some paper bags containing a delicious aroma.
"Hold on girls." Said the cheery man. "Don't forget to grab your snacks."
He offered them a bag each, which they all had gratefully accepted.
With that, the group waved Marinette's father goodbye as they finally traveled.
They chatted along, talking about subjects which weren't actually school related. Juleka, who was silent, was the only one though whom did not offer anything to their conversation, yet she was happy nonetheless.
They crossed the road and made it at the front of Francoise Dupont building, unbeknownst though from across the street, a mysterious figure stood.
They lifted one of their hands and from there, a small flame was conjured, hovering just slightly above their fingertips. Spontaneously, that same flame stretched longer in height until it became like that of a dancing string. That string evolved into the shape of a small serpent.
"Find them." The figure commanded, and no sooner than that, the fiery manifestation flew its way into the school.
A room filled with red colored lockers was where many students gathered. Hanging out, chatting around, doing things one would expect from youths. Several were seen accompanied by at least somebody or two, but by one of the chairs, a boy sat silently, with merely a sketchbook and a charcoal pencil in hand.
He shaded the recent illustration he made depicting what seemed like a towering figure, with balding head and sharp teeth, carrying a small tree as some sort of club whilst also using it in order to swipe a couple of tiny insectoids. Boy was so engrossed with his work that he hadn't realized of someone approaching him.
"Nate!" A girl with pink hair greeted him, and as a result he set his book aside and faced the gaze of his longest friend.
"I hope that you still remember about my pellets?" Her arms folded, as she looked at him with scouring eyes.
Nathanael winced upon observing her tone, and he nervously creeped a smile.
"Y-yeah. Of course." He answered. "I promise I'll bring them to you later. I just got um… really busy yesterday."
The girl shrugged, making with her a small playful grin.
"Yeah, whatever. So long as you fulfill your promise."
The boy in the gray jacket transitioned from plastered to a more genuine smile, and nodded his head.
"Dully noted."
A while passed, until two males had spontaneously showed up. One being taller and muscular, holding a basketball in hand, and the other was sporting green. The latter also-himself-being accompanied by a small hovering ball-shaped robot with both a claw and a propeller attached to it.
"Hey Alix." Called the taller lad, showcasing his round-orange-leather item whilst also boasting his skill by spinning it through one of his fingers. His tone also sounded somewhat like he was teasing. "Bet you can't shoot as many hoops as I can."
"You're on." She quickly replied back. And with that, they'd both hurriedly sprinted out of the locker room (including with Max and Markov), leaving Nathanael once more to his original state.
Nathanael resumed with his drawing, but was interrupted again by another one of his classmates.
He felt their 'colors' as they passed. Familiar, yet also different.
When previously he would 'see' sad gray like that of rain clouds. Gloomy and with the occasional lightnings popping out and causing confusion. Here, he sensed more 'bright hues', like the yellow of sunlight, or the warm greens of nature. The boy suddenly felt more cheerful, even if it was slight.
He twisted his neck towards its source, and there he found her, Juleka. Together with her best friend, as well Marinette. They seemed to be conversing about something, something that probably didn't mean much for him but was enough to turn Juleka to a full 180 compared to what shade she was yesterday.
He spotted her, laughing. But he also couldn't help but travel his visions to glance at her bandage.
Nathanael distraught at that, instantly feeling guilty.
The redhead blamed himself for her scar. For if he wasn't so impulsive. For if he wasn't so reckless. Then she might not even be wearing such a thing at all.
But then he shook it off and diverted from such thoughts, deciding it was best not to think of it.
He returned to his sketches, mostly to distract himself prior to hearing the bell ring.
Footsteps were heard as students marched to egress, heading to all their respective classrooms.
Nathanael followed their example as he hid his pencil and his sketchbook back into his bookbag before closing it.
He stood up and walked towards the exit. Along the way he went a little close to Rose and her friends, and he once more felt the delight in Juleka's aura.
He found it odd at first, but after a while, Nathanael chose to leave it be, presuming that this was how she naturally was on her daily basis when she wasn't all upset over having an existential/identity crisis.
It made him envy, but it also somewhat made him feel glad just as well. Knowing that she was actually as cheerful as the people she surrounded herself with.
That makes one of us, at least.
Unbeknownst to him (or anyone else) however, a small flame was hovering behind a metallic stand, watching as two teenagers play out through the courtyard. When the school bell struck, the two headed to face each other, talked, and walked along their route as several other pupils appeared all around.
It hid further as a result. Ensuring to evade discovery.
"Now if you think that the bloodhound had an impressive sense of smell…"
By the school science laboratory, Ms. Mendeleive lectured under the subject of biology. Discussing about a topic concerning on how predators hunted their prey.
She spoke about the evolution of the nose in the animal kingdom, and how each species uses it for their individual benefits.
Along as she delivered, a duo of girls sat beside each other whilst taking down notes. One was blond, the other possessed dark locks. The latter listened, silent as she always was. Like a shadow in the background.
She wrote every word that she could manage to pick up in cursive. Words such as "hunt", "stalk", "smell"…
Her mind was clear during that period, until something baffling occurred.
Juleka ceased from her writing and began to sniff the air. She raised her nose, curiosity growing inside.
"Juleka?" Her friend observed her strange (stranger) behavior, and inquired her in concern.
She shifted her eyes to glance at Rose, questioning her back. "Do you smell fire?"
The Couffaine watched as the other's expression had gradually turned to that of shock. In her memory, Juleka knew that she had seen that same exact face somewhere else before. She journeyed through the doors of her mindscape, until she had fully recalled that brief moment yesterday, when she and Mylene had concealed themselves under a desk.
Immediately, she flashed to check on her mirror, opened the one attached on the back of her left head, and instantly went mortified.
Through her reflection, the young girl could recognize those familiar glowing eyes.
She twinged, paling in her complexion, swallowing a lump down her throat. Her breath became slightly intensified as she forced her mouth to open.
Juleka remembered the image of Rose being angry:
"Who wants to be friends with a freak like you!"
She stopped for a second. Froze. And felt a shiver travelling down through her spine.
"Nightmares can't hurt you."
Juleka gulped again, but this time she achieved in pushing herself to speak.
"Contact lenses."
Although her line was short, it was certainly effective as her best friend slowly calmed, nodded, smiled, and returned with her notes.
She sighed afterwards, thankful that she narrowly escaped from that situation.
Somewhere meanwhile through the other row, Nathanael too, like everyone else had took notes from his teacher's lines, less he desired invoking her attention like the last time where he ended up being akumatized.
Yet, even as his hands moved to write in letters, within his brain, the gears were shifting to project ideas for his next comic.
Marc, for some time now had been complaining on how his panels were 'cliché' and all that stuff when - in all honesty, he couldn't see any of his claims whatsoever.
To him, his creations were his pride. And to say that they were unoriginal and uncreative were insults in every way. Plus, who was he to say that his works were cliché and (at times) cringy? He wasn't even reading. All he does is interpreting. Granted, his skills of interpreting were quite impressive though – but that's not the point!
And so, after a few seconds, he dropped his pen and took a moment to sigh. Frustrated at his friend/co-comic book producer. But just as he did, the boy with red hair spontaneously twinged. 'Seeing' a 'color' flash before his senses.
It was quite hard to describe. But, to illustrate, it was also simultaneously yellow. Indicating-as according to what he could feel-the feeling of curiosity. The feeling of wanting to know.
Because of this, Nathanael felt like he was both curious and unsatisfied. Like he needed to go out and to seek something. Something he didn't really know. Something…or someone.
"Nathanael!"
Fortuitously, he dragged out from his line of thoughts when all of a sudden, his teacher called, leading for all eyes to fall unto him.
He suddenly felt nervous.
"Is there something that you would like to share with the entire class?"
His face flustered due to embarrassment, and he could barely make for an explanation with his mouth.
"Ah-ah…I…" he stuttered, looking down at his feet.
So much for avoiding attention.
A whole day had passed and now, many of the students were either heading home, making plans with friends, or simply finishing up certain tasks and duties. With plenty of them gathering and occupying each of their respective clubs.
From the second floor, by the railing. Two young boys were shown, one reading a book, whilst the other was watching, waiting for the former's comment, a pencil he held in his hand.
Nathanael observed as Marc analyzed his drawings carefully. Flipping through the pages, and skimming them backwards ever so often.
Then afterwards he folded his arms by his chest. Growing tired following some time. His mind then came to trail his memories. Recalling the entire hours spent inside mostly stone wall.
To summarize, the day played rather-uneventfully. Just a fairly common day with all the regular routines that were packed with it.
Classes, lunchbreak, studies, homework, etcederra, etcederra…
As said, uneventful.
He was thankful for at least three things though.
One. That he wasn't akumatized.
Two. that he didn't cause another 'scene'.
And third. That he could spend the rest of his free time in hanging out in his favorite place, at the art classroom.
"It's nice."
He went out from memory lane when he heard his friend begin to share on what he has inferred.
"It's better than yesterday…"
So far so good.
"But it's also still kind of cliché."
And…there it was.
"Oh, come on."
"Look, I'm sorry." Marc said. "But I'm not the one making this up."
"Yes you are." Nathanael inwardly complained. "Or, technically at least."
"How can you even tell?" The boy eyed him with a scowl.
Marc, in return, formed on his lips a teasing smirk.
"Hey, I only write what I see. And what I see is simply your self-inserted character receiving all of the glory and being the biggest Mary Sue of all Mary Sue kind. It's not my fault that you're an egotist.
"And for the last time." Nathanael countered. "I don't make Mary Sues."
"Yeah. Well…" Marc re-evaluated the book. "I believe that my self-inserted character begs to differ on that."
He playfully showed the image of Reverser (his former akumatized form) at the ginger.
"Ain't that right, me?"
If only he could see at how ironic he was being. However, yet-again-that was probably his plan in the first place.
For despite the day being rather laid back. Nathanael had kept himself guarded all throughout. Being – in order to provide extra counter-measurements from causing another unexplainable fiasco happening again at the school.
The aura all over weren't much help too.
He chuckled to himself once he realized on this.
"Sorry." Nathanael apologized between chuckles. "It's just that my head hurts, that's all."
"Well, did you tried checking in at the nurse' office?"
Nathanael flinched.
"I'd rather not."
Because of how vague his reply was, Marc raised a brow. However, before he could come up and ask about it-
"Hey Marc!" Alix protruded her head from the art room, a green spray paint she carried in her hand. "You're good with letterings, right? Can you give me a hand over here?"
And there, Marc sauntered towards his friend with pink locks, leaving for Nathanael to stand alone.
He resumed back to his drawings, shading his sketchbook on the Mime and Mr. Pigeon. Nathanael was quiet, until a new person approached him unexpectedly.
Nathanael heard their footsteps, so he craned his head to look. He watched as Juleka came nearer to him, sporting her shades, and hands behind her back.
The fact that she was wearing those eyewear hitherto made Nathanael learn the reasoning behind why she was there.
"I'm sorry." The girl started, averting facing him as she gleaned towards the floor. "I get that you're busy, but…"
She took off her sunglasses, revealing her purple glowing pupils.
"I just have a quick question."
He shrugged. "Shoot."
"I know about what you said. About magic and consciousness and emotions. But… I was just wondering, what do you do if… you can't seem to turn it off?"
He grew perplexed upon her inquiry.
"Did you tried calming down?'
"Of course. But…"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Nathanael then placed his finger under his chin. His eyebrows furrowing.
"Must be a settling thing." The youth hypothesized. "I can call my moms right now and ask, if you like?"
Juleka nodded.
He travelled his hand to reach one of his pockets in order to bring out his phone. But, prior to reaching it, a voice disrupted him.
"Nice contact lenses."
The two shifted to the other new incoming individual. And they saw her recognizable brunette hair and beaded accessories.
It was one of their classmates, Samantha.
"Turn left." She said abruptly. With him, meanwhile, reacting in total confusion.
He did as he was told, his face still completely baffled as he done so. His pupils directing left, but the only thing he spotted was a window and a small trash bin.
"What am I?..."
"-Just remember my words, alright?"
And like that, she spun around and begun to embark on her way.
Nathanael and Juleka had both stared at her until she was nowhere in sight, simultaneously holding onto their puzzled moods. Both however concluded on one single thing.
That Samantha was truly weird.
Came a second pass, and the two resumed unto where they were prior to being disrupted.
Nathanael whicked the device from his pocket and then started scrolling through his contacts. Afterwards, he placed his phone by his right ear, and Juleka could hear the sounds of dialing from off the gadget.
"So… haven't seen Rose inside?" He pointed at the art room.
Juleka responded at his attempts in playing small talk and answered his question.
"Kitty Section has band practice today at my place." She told him. "I think Marinette joined along with her, being the manager after all."
He slowly nodded at the information shared with him.
"Guess that would explain that too." He muttered to himself.
Still, the dialing sounds continued.
"Umm… how long have you been like this, again?" He threw another inquiry.
The young girl exhaustedly sighed.
"Since this morning, actually. Around while we were all still at Ms. Mendeleive's. I think when she was discussing about noses in the wild?"
Again, he registered on what she told.
"So, I take it that you've been smelling some stuff, huh?"
Once more, Juleka released a breath. But this time it seemed more out of frustration.
"You have no idea."
Then, as he did not expected so-she began rambling.
"Do you know how hard it was to keep my lunch all day? There were a number of times where I was tempted to puke! And what's with you guys and your cheap colognes? Actually, scratch that, cause even some of the girls' perfumes were unbearable. Also, camembert? Who brings camembert around in the middle of a classroom?"
"Maybe someone who likes eating them as snacks?"
"Then they should have brought something that doesn't smell all that much."
Naturally, he felt rather awkward talking about how other people smelled like. And he did not know on how he should respond. By struck of fate however, the faint sounds of repeated ringing had finally ceased from his phone, and he heard the voice of Naomi coming out of it. "Hello?"
Nathanael neared the gadget to his right ear.
"Um…hi. No. No. I'm fine."
At her perspective, it almost seemed as if her associate was replying to thin air. All she could listen from the phone were incoherent murmurings.
Just then, the boy slightly slouched, with half his eyelids covering his eyes.
"Yes. I already had lunch."
He appeared to nod for a few moments here and there, responding words and answering what possibly were inquiries on their part. She couldn't help herself by giggling at such a scene, but she gradually stopped after seeing him shoot daggers at her.
"Yeah. Oh hey, listen. I have something I like to ask."
She halted from her leftover chortles and begun to focus more seriously.
There, he had basically just parroted all the lines she herself used when he first thought of approaching him only seconds ago. Minutes flew, time passed, the exchange between Nathanael and his mothers proceeding whilst as she merely watched-feeling a bit nervous of what information she would learn in regards to her condition- from the sidelines.
After a while, she observed as he brought his phone back onto his pocket prior to turning it off and saying his thanks and byes.
He then looked directly at her with a face that wasn't at all that intimidating, suggesting that the news wasn't all bad.
True to her guessing, his words were "Well, according to them, it really is a settling thing. But, lucky for you, they said that all you have to do is sleep it off."
She was quite shocked at what she heard, and she mildly tilted her head because of it.
"Sleep…it off?"
She was thankful at such a simple solution of course, but also surprised because it was simple.
He nodded, and continued with his sharing.
"Apparently, what likely happened was that, since we're essentially experiencing a stage where magic is supposed to settle itself with our genes, your newly developing trait must have cramped, itself or something. Their advice, is try to exercise with your uh…'talents' more regularly from now on. Just till your settling is over.
Juleka nodded in return, yet she grimaced at the implication.
It was bad enough to learn that she was a freak, now she had to constantly remind herself that everyday!
But she wouldn't say that out loud however, not wishing to trouble him more.
She faked a smile and raised her visions to gaze at him.
"Thanks."
And with that, she spun around, and was about to make her leave, but was stopped when she started raising her nose.
Nathanael grew baffled and decided to ask her in regards to what she was now smelling with her nostrils.
"What is it?"
Juleka tensed upon realizing that her classmate was still standing there and observing her. Her body stiffed at first, before she swallowed a lump down her throat and gathering in an inhale.
The girl turned around to face him, a bit sheepish as her memories were still fresh on what happened back at the science laboratory.
"Do you…smell fire?"
She wasn't sure on what his response would be. Would it be the same as Rose? Clearly-logically speaking-not. He was the only one as she knew for now in the entire school who was aware about her current situation. But still, the thought of someone thinking that she was crazy…
…it was as if someone had just called her a freak.
However…
Hearing her say that line, he immediately dropped in interest.
Fire, after all could have multiple different explanations on why it was present. From the science lab, to the cafeteria. Heck, for all he knew, someone could potentially even be using the boiler room in order to secretly smoke.
There was no reason to be intrigued or excited about, as far as he was concerned.
But then, he suddenly felt a twinge of fear, mixed with an emotion he was all so familiar with:
Embarrassment.
He shot his peripherals up and saw as his associate appeared to be rather nervous for some reason.
He sighed.
"Where is it coming from?"
Though he spoke with a monotonous tone, the fact that he at least said something back (other than an insult or tease) was enough to drive her from her thoughts.
Once more she lifted up her nose. Sniffing the wind so to find the scent where she believed the fire was coming from. She closed her eyes, concealing her sights away from any possible distractions. Yet, quickly as she did, she hastily shot them up again.
She faced back to Nathanael, a more cautious and alarmed expression she gave. With the redhead in turn jolting back right after sensing her aura.
Apprehension.
However, before he could properly process on her sudden shift in emotion, her words, what she said next, was what made him panic.
"The library."
His eyes widened. Knowing well what happens when flames meets with paper.
With that, they both dashed from the hallway, all the way towards the stairs leading into the third floor.
Once they made it to the top, they came to surround themselves in a scenery full of books and bookshelves, a room set with long wooden tables and various numbers of chairs.
Both assessed around, trying in looking for any signs of smoke, but could find none.
Juleka then once more attempted in sniffing the air, and afterwards, she leaped forth, with the boy following right behind her.
They went into the eastern side of the library, careful not to make a sound, less they desire to invoke the wrath of the school librarian, or by the very least, garner the unwanted attentions of the few who were there to study.
Carefully they walked, a bit fast paced yet still silent nonetheless. Wandering around through one shelf corner unto another.
This process between them carried on for quite a while now, to the point where Nathanael considered if they might actually be going in circles.
Eventually, he stopped and rested, making a sigh afterwards. He glanced at his present environment, to see if there were any signs of smoke or heat.
He could find none.
After taking in a deep amount of breath, he steadied his position again.
"Juleka-"
Yet, before he could finish his sentence, she raised one of her hands, a universal posture for "be quiet."
She looked through the side of one of the book cabinets, then made motions for him to look as well.
With no words to reply, he simply obliged, and peeked his head in almost the same posture as hers.
What he spotted caused his blues to widen.
There, hovering by a quiet area, was an entity he could not infer. A small flame floating around, and seemingly checking the collection of volumes that were stored up at their respective places.
It flew, appearing distracted. So distracted in fact that it did not even notice of the two teens arrival till the very last second.
It turned around, and that was when Nathanael could get a better evaluation. A small tiny little flying snake, with a body consisting entirely of flames. It glanced at them, with a face that was practically ambivalent.
Juleka gazed at the anomaly, eyes glued to its presence. "Cool". She murmured.
Nathanael, meanwhile, paid not much attention to her as he stepped closer, with hands raised in front of him.
"We're not here to hurt you." Nathanael said carefully to assure it. "We just want to know why you're here."
Silence ensured, but only for a brief second, for what the snake spoke with its mouth brought him to withdraw.
"Sorcerer?"
He stiffed.
That word again.
And there it flew away, leaving the vicinity quick.
Startled, the two watched as it headed out, and simultaneously decided to pursue after it.
They ran following the snake. Making their way to exit the library and unto the second floor. They kept on chasing the flame as they skipped through the hall, climbing down the stairs, and continuing at the courtyard.
It then headed for the front gate, where principal Damocles had stood. He saw the two and was about to halt them, but when it saw the flame flew straight at his direction, he reflexively dodged, thus giving time for the classmates to avoid a possible lecture.
They climbed down the stoned steps and observed as the flame-creature floated itself by under the same stairs. Both adolescents protruded their heads, spotting it with a mysterious stranger in a black hood, holding a lighted candle.
From a sitting position, they stood up to their feet, spun around, and turned skyward to face them.
"I'm sorry to have brought you out here in such a sudden manner!"
Their voice sounded male, and that was confirmed when they watched them bring down their said hood.
There, they could clearly see his features. A boy who was slightly a bit older than them, with charcoal hair and red fiery eyes.
"But I was recommended that you might help me!"
He blew the flames off from the wax stick, resulting for the flame to extinguish. Simultaneously, the snake they were chasing disappeared under the same exact fashion too.
The three of them now sat by a public bench, holding with them three cans of sodas each. Treated by the stranger as compensation for his rather unorthodox style of luring them. They stayed like that for a while until the stranger in took a large gulp from his drink and casted a large huff of air through his mouth.
"Alright." Said the stranger. "So, to start things off, let me introduce myself. My name's Keith. Keith Laflamme."
He then ambivalently looked at them, as if expecting them to do the same.
"Oh. My name is Nathanael Kurtzberg." The redhead placed one of him palms to his chest.
"And I-I'm Juleka. Juleka Couffaine."
Keith in turn nodded his head, making a faint smile on his lips.
"Nice to meet you guys." Afterwards, he rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry again if I dragged you all out here by the way."
"It's…cool." Nathanael replied, unsure on what else to respond. But, on the other hand, his peer seemed to have an entirely different topic that she wanted to ask.
"How did you did that snake thing?" She questioned. Part-amused, and partly just curious.
He likewise appeared surprised by the nature of her inquiry.
"Oh, you mean my sentinel?" He replied. "Yeah. That's not really that big of a deal. All salamanders can do that."
Suddenly, that one word alone had made for Nathanael's interest to pique.
"Wait? You're a salamander?!" It was now his turn to interrogate, though he seemed to have practically shouted that line for all the pedestrians to hear.
"Shh! Keep it down, will you." Keith whisper-scolded. "Yes." He then appeared to simmer. "I am a salamander. But, only on my mother's side though. I'm human in my dad's"
This information brought the both of them in shock. With both their respective mouths hanging, and their eyes stuck glued.
"H-how did your dad, even fell for a lizard?"
That snapped him from his frozenness, and he gave a baffled glare at his fellow schoolmate. From what he could see, Keith seemed to be doing the same too. Albeit, also appearing to possess a faint blush on his face.
In turn, the girl turned away. Seemingly sheepish.
Looking at her (and sensing her aura) Nathanael had no choice but to sigh.
"Juleka? Do you even know what salamanders are?"
"O-of course." She responded, her embarrassed fluster still remaining by her cheeks. "They look like lizards, but their actually more like frogs. I've even seen them a few times at the zoo."
After listening, half of his eyelids covered his eyes.
"Juleka. I think he was mentioning the fire ones."
This made the girl to tilt.
"Fire ones?"
Nathanael nodded his head to confirm.
"I think that they were described by this alchemist guy. He was talking about undines, gnomes, salamanders… Basically, he was describing on how each of these four beings populate the elements. And that salamanders happen to be what he referred to as the ones who thrived in fire."
Juleka was astonished by this new information, but then started tilting her head.
"How did you know about this?"
"Oh." He told. "I read about it in a comic."
She slightly slumped after that, as if slapping herself for not expecting such an answer from him.
"Umm…anyway…"
From her associate, Juleka craned her neck to resume at the boy who seemed about the same age as her brother.
Based on what she could discern, he appeared quite uncomfortable.
"About…" Continued Keith. "my problem?"
Oh, right. She had almost forgotten about that.
A little seconds came, and his posture did a fairly good job at conveying his emotions. He shifted with unease, until he soon huffed a breath.
The oldest of the three had reached into his pocket, fishing out a folded piece of paper. It was eventually revealed to be a flyer with the picture of a dog in it.
The said animal had half of its head brown and half of its head white, along with having big brown round pupils on both of its eyes. Its tongue was sticking open, making it appear happy as it stared into the camera.
By the bottom part of the photo, was a large sign that read:
MISSING
"You lost your dog?" Juleka concluded as she asked.
"His not just a dog." The tone on Keith's voice brough the both of them by surprise, as they reflexively moved away from him.
As a reaction, the girl drew herself back.
He appeared to have notice this, so he huffed more and simmered down.
"Sorry, about that."
Both teens blinked, confused. They waited for a tiny while until deciding to speak once more.
It was Nathanael whom chose to speak first after that.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah…yeah. I'm-I'm fine. Sorry for the outburst by the way. Just…just haven't been sleeping well, lately."
He then proceeded to conceal his red orbs, and ventured his right hand to massage his forehead.
The girl meanwhile, nodded. And turned her coppers to resume with the photo.
"You must really like your do-I mean…"
Keith giggled.
"Bruno."
"What?" Asked the redhead.
"Bruno. That's his name."
"Why Bruno?" Inquired Juleka with her head tilting sideways.
The boy with the black hoodie shrugged. "Don't know." He casually told. "He just likes the name, I guess?"
And the two slowly nodded, respectively.
Keith gulped a large portion from his can, and released a breath after freeing his drink from his mouth. Setting his beverage down.
He wiped his lips with his sleeve before continuing to talk.
"Bruno." He started off. "So you see, his my friend. Actually, his my best friend. We're practically like brothers. Always together, always having fun creating mischief, you know, just having a good time being each other's partner in crime. Like Chat and Ladybug. Or like…basket is to a ball. No. Like kangaroos and Australia. You can't think of one of us without thinking of the other. We're practically-"
"Inseparable?" Nathanael spoke before the salamander-boy could complete his line, to which the latter responded by gradually offering him a sincere nod.
"Yeah. Inseparable." His mood lightened up. "That's what we are. Or, at least, what we were."
Keith hanged his head low, causing the two to once more become concern for him.
"I shouldn't have said what I said. I should, never have told him that he wasn't really my brother. I should have played fetch with him instead. And now…because of me-he could…"
The two watched as he experienced an emotion that they weren't aliens with. An emotion that they recognized all too well. Guilt. He was feeling guilt.
This allowed for them to sympathize with him. Especially though on Nathanael's part. For although it is true that he hardly knew anything in regards to this strange new individual which he just basically met, he at least understood on where he was coming from.
This was because he too had someone similar in his life that he would (though he would never like to admit) view as his brother.
Shadow, the black cat that he was stuck with ever since he was still little. He may not always be the most welcoming of company, but his presence was one that Nathanael could often appreciate.
Growing up, the feline was regularly there for him. When he was lonely, when he was sick, or when he simply needed someone to talk to (he would probably regret that final one though). Shadow was just-there.
And, frankly, the boy didn't know on what he would do if ever Shadow were to go missing like Bruno was.
"You really do care about this Bruno, don't you?" He inquired.
"We were practically like brothers. So of course I do. Sure, we do fight sometimes, but usually those issues get resolved without either of us even needing to apologize. Until now, at least."
They heard him exhale, and the next thing they knew, he was silent yet again. He did not speak, he did not mutter, just silent. Until he spoke once more of course.
"So you see, this is why I need your help. My friend is missing and I need to save him. Who knows what's his going through right now? Please. Dear Sorcerer…I need you to help me find Bruno."
His voice sounded desperate, that much he could assess. And as he watched his body gestures, he could tell that he was obviously flooded with stress, uneasiness, and anxiety.
Nathanael shut his eyes, contemplating.
Deep in thought, he pondered if whether he should lend a hand to the young man that sought him. Sure, he might have potentially just burned his school, but the reasonings why he did so clearly explained his actions.
Was it right, no. Certainly not. But at least he wasn't some kind of a psychopath.
Another thing to consider is the very reasoning behind his actions. Which was to seek for help.
Should he help? Or should he not?
He thought about this and examined his options. And, when he opened his sight, he elevated his head, resulting in him to look on what's in front of him.
He saw a man peacefully walking his dalmatian, and this made him to turn to his side, once more directly at the distressed guy.
He sighed.
"Alright. I'll help you."
Keith beamed at Nathanael's answer. Meanwhile as Juleka gazed struck at him.
"You will?!" Exclaimed Keith, accompanied with the widest of smiles.
Nathanael uncomfortably forced a smile of his own, yet, before he could even return him with a nod, his female peer pulled him by the shoulder.
"What are you doing?" she sternly whispered.
Nathanael was shocked at first by her sudden course, but quickly shook it off.
"Come on Juleka. What's wrong in helping finding a dog?"
"And that's exactly the kind of attitude that got us into trouble 3 times already. I recall you even saying the same lines when we first met Granny Spooks."
"You really think that this guy will turn up like Granny Spooks?"
She un-furrowed her brows, and peeked at the salamander-boy. She saw him staring back at them. Curious as to what they could be talking about.
"Well…no." She replied. "It's just that….gah! Fine! Let's say you do help. What happens next, huh? Having some extra set of arms doesn't make all the problems go away."
His eyes grew upon hearing that. Knowing well that she had a valid a point. Keith sought for his assistance for the simple reason because he thought he could solve his problem. Yet all his efforts would clearly be led to disappointment if Nathanael failed to yield any results.
This wasn't the "it's the thought that counts", kind of situation.
He was desperate (and a little unstable, if he were being honest), and he truly believed that Nathanael could solve with his crisis.
But, fortunately though, he recalled of something that could prove to satisfy all of their favors.
He looked to his hand. Unsure of himself since he had initially failed the last time he did what he was planning on doing right now. He closed his palm, and huffed.
Nathanael fixed his entire posture, brushed his hand through his hair, and then spoke a question towards the older boy.
"Hey, Keith right? Umm…do you think I could borrow something?"
"Borrow?" The other raised his brow.
"Yeah. Something…something that is of Bruno's. Something that belongs to him. Something that I could use to tract him down for you."
"Tracking?" It was now Juleka who parroted. Completely looking all confused.
He then recalled that she had no context, so he decided to explain.
"My moms taught me about it just this morning." He told her. "It's kind of hard to elucidate. But, to put it short, it's kind of like a supernatural way in finding stuff or people.
Still, she remained looking baffled. So, Nathanael exhaled disappointed.
"Basically, all I need is something that's of a person's possession, and with that I could somehow feel where these things should be at.
"Oh, but I already know where Bruno's at."
Both immediately turned to Keith.
"What?"
"But I thought you said-"
"I said I know where his at. But I don't know where he is, specifically. That's why I need your help."
"Uh…I don't get-"
"His with the knights."
Both teens stiffed at the way on how Keith delivered that line.
"Knights."
"The knights?" Juleka asked, worrying on what she was about to hear.
Keith nodded. A serious look printed on his face.
"The knights are a group of genocidal maniacs whose entire goal is dedicated solely on ridding the world of its magic. They hunt magic, and those that have it, like us. I usually don't bother thinking about them much back then. But now, I can't help just thinking on what they might do to Bruno."
The hairs behind their necks straightened and stood. A tingling sensation flowed through their flesh.
Juleka's mind went alarmed. Scared. Afraid. She reached her hand towards her face and touched the part where the bandage was stuck.
"I'm sorry."
Two pairs of eyes shifted to the direction of the one who spoke. Together, their attentions were taken by the boy with ginger locks.
Said boy looked down, daring not to meet his pupils with theirs.
"I'm sorry." The boy repeated. "But, I can't help you after all."
He stood up from his chair, made a nod, and stepped on his path.
