Chapter 6: Unexpected Meeting
"Wow, there's so many people here I can hardly see the ground. It's almost like moths to a fire."
The white robed stranger had been dragging Rood all over the place. The older man was acting like a child going to a festival or a field trip for the first time. It was hard to tell who was the child between them."That performer is not bad." "Those treats look tasty!" "Haha! He's dressed so funny!"
Watching the man act so enthusiastic over the smallest thing as he dragged Rood along side, Rood was questioning the mentality of the man. He was acting more like a child than his master.
Maybe Rood should have listened his master when he warned him about strangers, but he didn't think it'd be necessary for a first class magician like him to worry about such things. Not to mention most of what comes out his master's mouth is just nonsense.
Leaving that aside, it didn't change the fact that Rood was currently in a predicament of his own as he needed to get far away from this weirdo. He didn't want to needlessly worry Lidusis over something like this.
The question was how does he get away from the man. He tried a few times beforehand when he was distracted, but every time he would catch Rood before he got away.
One time, Rood tried to hide in a bush while the white robed man was glossing over some candy apples. Sadly for him, Rood got found out.
Then another time, Rood tried hiding amongst the crowd of people as he made his escape when the man's grip on his hand loosened. Rood took the chance to pretend to get mixed in with the crowd while he escapes from the man's watch. Unfortunately, the man found him again. Not wanting to lose Rood again, he held Rood up like he was a baby or something.
Rood tried not to make too many escapes so that he would arouse any suspicion although he thinks it won't matter at this point. Rood had a hard time judging whether he was suspicious of Rood or not. Normally after one or two escape attempts, most people would be worried about losing the child again so they would take some precautions to prevent the child from getting lost again or be more careful of losing the child. Yet this man did no such thing. He just continued on like nothing happened.
Rood couldn't tell what this man was thinking, but one thing's for sure.
"Hey, look there's a really fun game here!" The man took Rood to a game booth.
He's a weirdo! Rood internally screamed.
"There's even a prize! Is there anything you want?" The white robed stranger turned to Rood.
To leave. Rood wanted to shout out so badly but refrained from doing so.
"How about that giant stuffed cat!" The white robed man pointed to the white cat plushie with a bell tied around its neck.
"It's yours if you get ten rings in the center." The game concession stand vendor said.
The game was a simple ring toss with five pegs formed in the shape of a small cross. The one on the top was worth 5 points. The ones on the left and right were worth 2 points. The one one on the end was worth 3 points. And lastly, the one in the middle was worth 10 points. 50 points were needed for the big prizes.
10 rings per game.
The grand prize, the giant cat plushie, was worth 100 points. Below that were several large but smaller than the giant cat plushie stuffed animals worth at least 75 points. And below those were medium sized stuffed animals worth at least 60 points. And on the very bottom were small stuffed bears worth at least 50 points.
The white robed man paid for two games. One for him and one for Rood.
"Let's see who can get the most points." The older man suggested to Rood.
"Here you go kid." The game concession stand vendor hands Rood a few more rings.
"Eh? You get more?" The white robed stranger whined. "How lucky..."
"Come on now, Big Bro. You've got to give your little brother a bit of a handicap. It's only fair. He is a kid after all." The vendor had mistaken the white robed stranger has Rood's older brother based on the interaction between the two. Though it was mostly one-sided on the older man's part.
Alright, Rood just had to get as much points as possible and he can finally say goodbye to this weird man.
Before either Rood or the white robed man could do anything else, an ear splitting shriek filled the air.
"Kyyyyyaaaaaa!"
Be it reflex or out of good will, Rood rushed over to the source of the shriek. Obviously, someone was in danger. Rood was hardly the type to stand by when someone was in danger. Weaving through the crowd, Rood hurried over leaving the white robed stranger who was smiling at the disappearing tiny figure.
He better hurry or he'll lose him. And that's the last thing he wants.
However shortly after Rood ran off, several people wearing the same white robe as him appeared before him.
"We greet the First Master." One of them greeted the man who was their 'First Master.'
All of the previous amusement and playfulness he had when he was with Rood disappeared.
"What is it? I didn't want to be disturbed." Talk about bad timing. He was having such a great time with Rood and now it was cut short by his subordinates. Doesn't look like he'll be able to look for Rood now after this.
"It's about the matter regarding Helios. Everything is prepared for the practical session. And the date has already been set."
"I see..." Helios, huh. A smile forms on his mouth at the mention of the school. "Then I'm looking forward to it."
He can't wait to see the students especially that child.
Oh, he forgot to ask for his name.
Thanks to his small structure, Rood was able to weave through the crowd with ease. Popping out from the crowd, Rood could see what the commotion was. A demon beast from the carnival was running a rampage. Rood could see the busted cage the demon beast broke out of on the side, but that wasn't what was important at the moment. What was important was that the demon beast was out and is also about to attack a small brown haired girl with a ponytail.
"No! Karina!" One of Karina's friends, a cyanish gray haired kid around her age with his hair slicked back except for a curled lock, shouted out. Neither him nor their other friends could do anything as it was too late when the demon beast dived in towards the poor girl.
Preparing herself for the worst case scenario, the girl braces herself.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds pass.
Yet nothing happened.
Even the on-viewers thought it was the end for the little girl.
Peering from one of her tightly shut eyes, Karina looks to see that the wild demon beast stopped in its tracks. More specifically by a young, handsome redheaded boy whose charm captivated Karina at first sight. The young boy stopped the beast with just one hand. It couldn't even budge one inch. Moreover, it looked extremely frightened for some reason. Much different from its previous behavior.
"You're in the way." The redheaded boy snarled in an irritated tone not even giving the demon beast a chance to escape as it was burned to death by his powerful magic.
In an instant, Karina's friends rush over to her side checking to see if she had sustained any injuries.
"Karina! You alright?" The cyanish gray haired kid who went by the name Bedel asked Karina.
"That was a close one." Bedel's cyan haired friend, Argo, commented.
"Did you see how that demon went BOOM?! It was awesome!"
"Can you be anymore insensitive? Karina just went through a life threatening situation and that's all you talk about." The only female of the group aside from Karina, Mari, scolded her brown haired friend, Delinoa.
"Hey Karina. You listening?" Bedel noticed that Karina wasn't paying much attention to them. The girl looked like she was in a trance. But that was most likely because she just nearly lost her life just now. So he can't blame her. Although this is the weirdest dazed phase, he's seen. Most people don't usually blush like this when they just faced a life threatening situation.
Ignoring the onlookers and the extra pests, Shicmuon managed to get rid of that ugly beast that was blocking his way. Now there was nothing obstructing his view.
He was right. He's here.
His prey froze on the spot as soon as his eyes made contact with Shicmuon's.
Rood slightly pales at the sight of the last person he didn't want to meet. Of all the people, it had to be him.
To make matters worse for Rood, the redhead started walking towards him as a small smirk forms on his face in delight.
"Found you, Blackie."
Oh no, things weren't looking good for Rood.
Based on his previous encounters with that psychopath, Rood knew very well what would happen if he overstayed his welcome. Wasting no time, Rood makes a break for it. Using his legs to take him far, far away from the area, in hopes of escaping from the claws of that demon in human skin. He is the one person Rood was not good at dealing with.
Nothing good ever comes from being with that guy.
Rood hardly understood why that psycho was so obsessed with him. Whatever the case, it was just plain annoying having to deal with that crazy guy. He's better off having nothing to do with him if that's possible.
He really curses Master for setting up that play-date with a deranged maniac.
Too late for that now. All Rood can do is run and hope that Shicmuon doesn't catch him. If he's lucky, the latter might give up on him once Rood loses him.
"Where do you think you're going, Blackie?" Shicmuon told his now captured prey.
So much for that idea.
With Shicmuon's hold over the back of his collar, Rood's chances of escape were very slim. What's more is that Shicmuon is not only grabbing the back of his vest but his shirt as well. So unless he finds a way to release Shicmuon's grip, Rood won't be able to escape.
"Ever since that [day], I've been going on missions where I might find you, but I haven't been able to find you."
That's because I'm forced to go to a school I don't need to attend these days. Rood wanted to say but kept to it to himself.
"And every time I go to Opion, that stupid Master of your's keeps you hidden away like some jewel."
So that's what those messes were... Rood had wondered why was it that on several occasions when Rood was out on missions as the Black Magician he would find parts of Opion destroyed and craters resembling magic circles all over the place including outside. That explains it.
"Now that you're here. Show it to me again." Turning Rood over to his way, Shicmuon switches his hold from the back of Rood's shirt to the front of his collar instead. Now face to face with his prey and the source of his obsession. "The fear from that [day] before I kill you."
Without warning, Shicmuon summons up a magic circle in his hand.
Contrary to what most people would feel in this sort of situation, Rood was quite annoyed by Shicmuon's antics though still a bit surprised by Shicmuon's sudden attack even if it was like him to do something like that.
No matter, if it was something of this level, Rood could easily evade this kind of attack. He'll use the smokescreen from the attack as a chance to escape.
However before Rood could make his move, someone had tackled Rood and managed to get him away from the incoming attack.
Just as Rood thought, the attack created an explosion after it missed Rood which also conveniently created a nice smokescreen for Rood enabling him and his rescuer to flee.
Also, leaving Shicmuon at the scene who shouted out in rage at the loss of his prey once more.
"THAT DAMN BLACKIE!"
A safe distance from their previous location, Rood had succeeded in shaking Shicmuon off his tail. For once, that moron has his uses.
"Rood, you alright?"
To think the day would come where Rood would see a useful side to Dio...
Must be a blue moon tonight.
"Hey Rood! What's with that look?!" Dio couldn't help but feel heartbroken when Rood looked at him so horrified as if he had grown another head. This was seriously bumming him out. "You're so cruel. I save you from that deranged lunatic. And this is the thanks I gets!"
Dio was crying over his friend's coldness towards him.
"Lord Artian say something to Rood." Dio turned to Lidusis for comfort.
Just like Dio, Lidusis had seen some mean redheaded kid picking on Rood threatening to kill him. Though the one who reacted and saved Rood was Dio. Lidusis just followed after the two. Still, he was glad that Rood was safe. He couldn't forgive himself if something happened to the blond. Not like before.
"Lidusis!"
The image of a young blond haired girl whose face is obscured by shadows pops in Lidusis's mind.
Not again.
He could not bear repeating the same mistake.
"Hey Lidusis, let's go." Rood offered his hand to Lidusis signifying their departure.
As they strolled around the grounds, a certain dark blue haired Idun couldn't help but let out his curiosity over Rood's relationship with that crazy nutjob.
"So who was that guy?"
"You already asked about him once when you were my house already." Rood reminded his forgetful friend who remained ignorant until he remembered that time he slept over at Rood's.
It was that guy from the photo album. The same guy that gave Rood goosebumps when Dio misunderstood that Shicmuon was someone close to Rood. After seeing him in person, Dio can slightly understand Rood's previous reactions to him when Dio misunderstood their relationship. That guy had issues.
"He's crazier in person." was all Dio could say.
"If only that was the only thing about him."
"Makes me wonder how did you get to know such a person?" Dio doubts Rood would have voluntarily gone on his own to meet Shicmuon.
"Tch, if only Master hadn't set up that play date..." Rood muttered under his breath unconsciously letting out his murderous intents.
Both Dio and Lidusis were frightened yet at the same time curious as to what that [play date] was although it would do them no good to ask Rood considering the foul mood he was in at the memory.
Meanwhile in Opion, a certain sandy blond chairman shivered as chills went down his spine.
That was certainly not a good sign.
"Oh my, must be getting colder these days." Lanoste commented.
No, it wasn't that. Kielnode knew that for sure. For a brief moment, he felt a slightly murderous vibe directed at him.
"Well, that's good and all except we didn't have you come here to have a little chit chat." Ren sarcastically remarked to Lanoste and proceeded to drop a large stack of papers on the table. "Do you know how much trouble that troublesome brat of your's causes us?! From assaulting our star magician to trespassing and destroying parts of our main quarters, you better learn to put a leash on that kid!"
"That child has always did have more energy than other kids."
"That's not the problem." Ren deadpanned. If only that were the issue.
Sigh~
Lanoste sighs. "It makes me so sad to see my little boy chasing after a guy instead of a girl."
"If that makes you sad, then think about how we feel." Ren let out another retort.
"But don't worry, I've already sent my loyal dog to pick up Shic. Hopefully, he won't run into your little star before Van finds him."
Didn't you say not to worry... That wasn't exactly reassuring for them.
"But as for the Black Magician, there isn't much I can do. Even I have a hard time controlling Shic most of the time." Lanoste said. "And Shic seems to be quite persistent about him. And let me tell you, he has a very stubborn personality. Makes me wonder where on earth did he get that after all the love and affection I gave him."
Somehow, they have a feeling that's the main reason why Shicmuon is the way he is.
"The most I can do is send him off to places where I think the Black Magician will least be. It's not easy keeping him in one place. Because of his violent nature, I can't even send him off to a decent school without it getting blown up before the end of the day."
Wasn't this meeting supposed to be about doing something about Shicmuon bothering Rood? Not a bar to let out your complaints.
"So how about trading my little Shic for your little star..." Lanoste lightly joked.
""NO WAY!"" Both Kielnode and Ren screamed out in unison.
Even as a joke, there was no way in their mind that they would trade Rood for that unruly demon.