Novem returned weary, but still intact. He sat heavily on the couch. He reached for a cup of water and rather than drinking it he poured it on his wrist which, to Lisa's alarm was glowing bright red and was swollen, and now with water poured upon it, steaming. "Your wrist!" she exclaimed pointing to it with fear.

"Don't worry about it," Novem retorted, "This happens." She glanced at Duodecim with concerned eyes. He smiled reassuringly then gave Novem a certain green liquid which the other applied lightly to the patch of skin. Lisa had noticed that Duodecim had a similar cut on his wrist, but it wasn't as large as Novem's. She wondered where they had gotten them and how it was related to their strange abilities.

She fell asleep that night watching rain fall from the sky, but never enter the living area where she slept. She tried to piece things together but nothing matched up except to one answer which she didn't care to think about. The strange abilities, the unusual liquids and papers, dome-like covers of protection around a certain area, it only made sense that they would be sorcerers, but all sorcerers were evil and could never be trusted, they would cook you and eat you alive, turn you into strange creatures or plants that ultimately lead to your slow, painful demise. These boys were not like that; they had only protected her since she had started living with them if she cut herself or felt ill, they used those strange liquids to heal the cut and cure the sickness. She was sheltered and fed…and safe.

Duodecim and Novem had made themselves a separated sleeping area to give Lisa privacy and in this separate area they discussed the plan.

"I've found it," Novem said in a low voice.

"Is that true?" Duodecim sang happily. "You've found the jewel to rid us of this curse?"

"I am certain, but it is only a matter of time before Quinque finds it. She is working with the Law-Takers which gives her an extension. But there is a certain man by the name of Shibasaki who is suspicious of her. I think we can trust him to work with us."

"Truly? Then there's hope!" Duodecim joined happily.

"We don't have it yet, and I don't want to lead Quinque straight to it. She's wants to play a game as we used to." Novem sighed and stretched his arms behind his head, but grimaced in pain.

Duodecim frowned then and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs. "Are you doing well?"

Novem glanced up at Duodecim then away again. "I am as well as you know."

Duodecim turned his arm over and looked at his wrist where the purple-red scar resided. "Things like what happened to-day and the food that Lisa made help remind me of back then at Compositique." He looked steadily at his other then dropped his eyes and continued. "Everything was strange back then learning about what we had been given, but it was hard at the same time. Everything was a chore and a task that seemed insurmountable. With each day that passed and with each friend that did likewise everything became harder. When we escaped, we promised to live our lives in a way different to when we were there. Which is why you can't lie to me about your pain, I will not allow it."

Novem sat as a dark figure with his back against the tree without a sound, his other knew that he wasn't asleep. Duodecim let the words sink into the blackness of the night as he pulled himself up to his bedded area.

Shibasaki leafed through the pages and scoured for more information. Many pages had been torn away leaving many gaps in information. He was immersed in thought when he felt a hand on his shoulder; he turned around and saw the outlines of an old man's face illuminated by only the candle on the table beside him.

"You should not look into this matter further," the man said with resonating tones. "I know what you seek."

"Then oblige to tell me the story of them. My occupation is not at stake, I've already lost it." Shibasaki's eyes glittered as this new opportunity presented itself.

"You do not realize how much is at stake here," the man muttered, "but since you insist, I will tell you what I know." The man pulled out a chair next to Shibasaki and sat slowly then looked at him with faded eyes.

"After having heard that you were researching this project, I knew I needed to warn you. The forces at work here aren't something we can face as humans, it is a moral matter that remains to be examined more fully by future generations. The plan took many children, the healthiest among the towns which were few at the time, and to make them into something they were not. Humans worked with those who could manipulate nature, sorcerers and sorceresses. These children were taken and had the skin on their wrists skinned off and a certain tonic rubbed into their skin. Some children died during this first stage from blood loss. This tonic was made to enhance natural tendencies towards unnatural abilities such as mind-reading, manipulation of matter, and many other abilities. At this second stage of learning many of the children died as a result of their unstable power; normal humans aren't accustomed to the extra amount of power and energy that runs in the body when these abilities are unleashed. A few months in, the experiment was a failure. All of the children had died with the exception of two who escaped and one child, who was very sickly, who was removed by Law-Takers."

"So they were experimenting with magic on these children?" Shibasaki felt a great amount of disgust towards this man whom had known about these experiments, but had said nothing for years.

"I feel sorry for them, they didn't deserve this end. The two who escaped, if they are still alive, would be near seventeen years old, but they would not have much longer to live. This tonic was obviously a poison to the normal human body and children also died from simply the application of it." The man sighed forlornly then looked up at Shibasaki. "There is one other who could explain more about the experimentation. I only observed the process, he took part in it." He took out a piece of paper and scribed a name on one side Shibasaki took it up and bowed slightly to the man. He stepped past him and heard the man mutter, "if you see them, give my apologies…"

Novem woke up in a cold sweat, his head was pounding and his pulse was fast. "That dream…" Duodecim had woken as well in response to Novem, having a connection like a brother to him.

"A vision?" the other soothed climbing up to sit next to Novem.

"Quinque, she's planning on destroying the Town Hall. She told me…" he began to shiver from the sweat that had begun to dry on his body. Duodecim frowned and looked at Novem with concern.

"That will take more than we can do by ourselves. Suppose if Lisa were to…"

"That useless girl?" Novem growled, "We can't trust her with anything. She's not even…"

"Please Novem, just…" Novem was going to interrupt when they heard a soft tap on a tree and looked down to see Lisa, wrapped in a blanket peeking bashfully up at them.

"I-I heard you talking and I wondered if something was the matter…" Duodecim climbed down to meet Lisa and smiled at her then turned to Novem. "If something is the matter," she continued, "I want to help…it's the least I can do…"

Novem released a quiet sigh. "Alright, you can help…I suppose." Duodecim gave her a thumbs-up and a wide smile. "For now go back to sleep," he added, "You cannot be helpful if you are not rested."

Alright all, that's all I have! if you enjoyed it, please let me know. I still have this story on my mind but I don't know if anyone would read it anyway... :)