Chapter 14

Lok's POV

I was lying on the sofa of Dante's house dead of boredom, my head was hanging by the edge and my feet on the back, Dante was sitting in the armchair next reading a book and Cherit playing solitaire at the table.

After our mission in Praga, Sophie had gone to her case, which I understand, however I was living with Dante. The same night I named my power, Dante gave us a sermon to Sophie, Cherit and me for disobeying him and having returned with him and Zhalia instead of going home, as he had ordered, and in case his sermon It would have been enough, I was punished without leaving, besides just me, Sophie did not. I have been trained and practiced with my powers with the help of Cherit and Dante, that kept me occupied the first three days, but I am an animal, I NEED FREEDOM! And if not being able to go out was not enough, another part of the punishment was that I had to play alone, so the time I'm not training is spent in my room, I alone.

I tried to escape to go out for a while, but Dante keeps Slowing watching, and I got caught once, although luckily I did not increase the punishment.

-Dear, let me go outside, please.

-Do not.

-Only to the playground to play with the ball.

-Do not.

- Come on..., you do not understand what it is for me. I'm caged!

-You are not caged, just punished, and no.

-For me is the same! And why am I chastised and not Sophie?!

-First, I do not have the authority to punish her and you do, and second, because Sophie would never have thought of disobeying me if you had not given her the idea.

-I do not understand why you get angry, the mission went well, also, if we had not returned the Organization you would have caught.

-If you had not returned you would not have wound up.

-But it was my idea that saved you!

- For that reason you are only punished a week and not a month.

-It is unfair!

-Don't be a child.

-It's what I am.

Dante smiled and continued with his. I sighed, I was not going to give his arm to twist, I would have to be punished three more days.

Lok's POV end

Third person

A young boy was standing on a bridge in Rouen, France, holding binoculars in front of his glasses. He was a thin, with brown hair and gray eye. I was looking at the boats that sailed along the Seine River with much interest and curiosity. Suddenly a huge whirlpool appeared across the river in front of the bridge. A boat was caught and started to be dragged towards it. The passengers, a couple, were screaming, scared to death, asking for help.

-It's happening again!

I cry the boy running towards the centre of the bridge. When he looked down at the centre of the whirlpool, he could see bright red eyes.

-A titan! I'd better do something!

The boy grabbed a rope at his feet, tied one end to the opposite side of the bridge. Then he threw the rope to the passengers of the boat so that they would hold on to it.

Once the man had a tight rope and his wife grabbed him, the boy began to pull the rope with more people, getting the couple to the bridge.

The couple looked down, where their boat had just exploded with eyes wide open and scared to death.

-What was that?

-Mmm., Climate changes. I've got to go, goodbye!

The boy left after giving that poor excuse to avoid more questions. He pulled a phone out of his pocket and marked a number.

-Notification of priority for Guggenheim. I think I have found a titan on the Seine river!

The boy hung up and put the phone in one of his pockets. There was a group of police in front of him, and Defoe was at the head of the group.

-Hello. Peter, right?

At the words of Defoe the boy backed away.

-How do you know my name?

-I'm the special investigator in charge of this case, and you will come with me

-Oh no…

Third person end

Dante's POV

Lok was driving me crazy, at what point did it occur to me to punish him without leaving? He does not stop whining day and day, and he gives me the can for Cherit or me to play with him, I'm pulling my hair out. Every day that goes by is more noticeable that Lok is a puppy and cannot stand being locked up or ignored. Today finally, after four days of punishment, I let Sophie come to play with him, and thank goodness I did, because I think Lok was about to start biting and scratching furniture just to entertain. Also, Lok cannot stand alone and as I cannot be home all day because of work, whether detective or Foundation, Lok does not stop whining, even though Cherit plays with him, I guess a puppy Hyperactive as Lok does not like to play alone, nor to chess with Cherit, which is the only game that I allow him to do in the company, obviously.

Sophie has been a miracle, she did not last long, she has not played much with Lok, despite our treatment and she does not stop wanting to get my attention. It is irritating. I was sitting at the table and Sophie and Lok on the sofa, well, Sophie, Lok was moving from one place to another.

-We're stuck here until the Foundation finishes deciphering Jodis Lore's notes.

I grumble Lok.

-Patience Lok. You know it could take several months

-Do not remind me that!

-Hey Dante, - Sophie intervened leaving her book- Why do not you teach Lok how to use the Holotomo?

-Good!

Lok said really excited, he came to where he was and he sat next to me with a smile from ear to ear and waving his seven tails in a crazy and uncontrolled way. I sighed in defeat, I had no other choice and less with Lok's pleading eyes looking at me. I opened the Holotomo and started explaining to Lok how it worked.

-The Holotomo is a three-dimensional mapping device. Ask him specifically for an area.

-Okay, Holotomo, scan this room!

At that moment the Holomomo showed a clear image of the room showing us the four of us. Neither Sophie nor I could avoid smiling at Lok's face of emotion; he looked like a child on Christmas day.

-Your reach is limited, but you can store maps and display them at the moment.

Lok nodded, no doubt the Holotomo was his new favourite toy, he would have to be careful not to overload it.

-Great. It shows the whole building.-The image of my house appeared in the Holotomo-Hey, look! It's showing Zhalia.

Lok singing very happy, since Zhalia had helped him when he was wounded Lok seems more at ease with his presence. Zhalia laughed at Lok's emotion.

-Careful, it is not a toy for children.

Zhalia scoffed cruelly, Lok pouted and cocked his ears, then looked at me askance.

-The great Zhalia Moon makes her appearance -I did not like Sophie's tone- Do you ever go?, Forever.-After that comment she turned her attention to the impatient puppy- With the Holotomo the Seekers can scan titans as well. What makes it a very useful tool for missions?

-Dante, can I scan to Freelancer?

I nodded. Lok took out the Freelancer amulet with a lot of emotion and placed it on the Holotomo, at first he got a little bit, but then the voice of the machine mentioned his statistics and abilities. Zhalia laughed a bit and commented that the graphics were lazy. The Holotomo replied that he needed to update himself, he seemed angry at Zhalia's comment.

I removed the Holotomo to Lok, who emitted a moan of sadness and looked at me with pleading eyes, it was the same look that he put on Sophie to throw the ball.

-Lok, I need it, besides I do not want you to break it.

Everyone laughed at my little joke, except Lok who took it seriously and got a little angry with me.

-That boy looks just as excited as you were when you discovered the Holotomo, Dante.

On the screen of my TV a Guggenheim appeared on a video call. Lok laughed at my friend's comment. I got up from the table and sat on the sofa, the others followed me, Sophie and Zhalia sat next to me, Sophie to the left and Zhalia to the right, Lok stood behind me.

-I see new faces with you! Do you mind introducing us?

- Guggenheim! She's Shophie Casterwill- Present Sophie as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders - and he's Lok Lambert.

Point to Lok behind me. I watched him for a moment, he seemed uncomfortable and it was the same as when I met him, very cautious. I looked back at the screen and continued with the presentations.

-Guys, he is Guggenheim, a member of the Huntik Foundation- Before my words Lok relaxed a bit, but he could still notice the distrust.

-Casterwill, you say? Nice to meet you. And Lambert? - Guggenheim looked at Lok- Of course, you look identical to your father, more or less, I do not remember that Eathon had wings, nor those blue stripes.

At Guggenheim's words, Lok's whiskers emitted sparks, but it seems that only I noticed.

-Let's say that Lok is an improved and unique version of Eathon

Lok smiled and Sophie laughed softly. Guggenheim seemed a bit bewildered like Zhalia. Guggenheim returned to what he was.

-Zhalia, I have not seen you since your last mission, you look good! -Zhalia smiled a little- Now that the presentations are done, Dante, I have to ask you a favour.

Tilt your head a little thoughtfully.

-Well, I'm investigating a case or two, but if you have an interesting mission I could fit it.

Guggenheim smiled, next to him appeared images of a young man on a bridge, throwing a rope, and putting people out of a boat. In all the images there were swirls absorbing empty boats.

-There has been an unusual eruption of swirls in the Seine River. He sent you the details in a file.

-The Seine River? Is it near Rouen?

Ask to see where my friend was going. Sophie was excited, it seemed that she had also realized where Guggenheim was going.

-Of course, the Gargoyle myth!

Guggenheim seemed satisfied with Sophie's emotion and knowledge. An image of a Gargoyle appeared on the television, then back with the boy on the bridge.

- Folklore attributes to these stone creatures the power over water. These myths inspired the use of gargoyles for a fountain.

- And the legend comes from Rouen, France!

Sophie finished the explanation really satisfied. Look at Sophie.

-We know that the legend is really a titan, Gar-goul. His powers must have awakened and are causing those disasters in the river, has anyone been hurt?

Guggenheim shook his head.

-No, but two almost die.

-How I can help?

-We are in a new age of seekers. More discover their powers every day.

-And although Gar-goul has been asleep since ancient times, you believe that this new era is bringing him back to life.

-Exactly. Here is the plan. You will go to Rouen and meet with an agent of the Foundation. His name is Peter. He is the one who has taught us this anomaly and will guide you. You must try to recover Gar-goul before it falls into the hands of the Organization. Now you will receive the details in your Holotomo. Mission: Legend of the Gargoyle.

I picked up the card that appeared in the Holotomo and I kept it in one of the pockets of the raincoat.

-I'll be on the next flight to France.

-Good luck friend.

With that the screen went out. Zhalia sighed deeply and then complained with a roguish tone.

-You have all the good missions, Dante. What if you share the wealth? By chance I moved around Rouen.

- Do you want to come in? Good.

At my proposal, Sophie was very angry.

-Hello, excuse me, but what about us ?.

Lok did not say anything, but his look of inconsolable puppy nailed me was more than enough to know that he was dying to go and leave the house.

-You can go, but Lok is still punished.

Lok moaned in defeat when he saw that he left him alone.

-Dear, are you going to leave a puppy alone in your house, unguarded? - Zhalia asked- Even I think it's a bad idea, and more if the Organization persecutes him.

-Which side are you on?. Okay, come on everyone.

I sighed in defeat, no matter how hard it was to admit it Zhalia was right, I did not want to return from the mission and find my house in ruins, or without Lok. Lok was very happy; Zhalia was winning points with Lok.

-But! - The emotion of my student's vanished- they must obey me. Do not follow us if I say they stay and do not throw themselves into battle if they prepare and much less get hurt.

I turned my gaze to Lok who smiled shyly and blushed a little. I got up from the couch and headed for the stairs.

-Go to prepare.

Dante's POV end

Lok's POV

I was in my room keeping things in my suitcase, sitting on the bed when someone knocked on the door, sniffing the air a bit to know who was coming.

-Pass.

Dante entered and closed the door behind him, approached and sat on the bed with me.

-You're good?

-Yes, why do you ask?

-When I call Guggenheim, you tensed a bit and behaved just like when we met. Lok, you do not have to distrust everyone.

- I know Dante. Normally I'm not like that, it's true that I've met with bad people and they've wanted to do all sorts of things to me, but I'm not so suspicious. But since the Organization persecutes me, it distrusted the whole world, I no longer know who wants to hurt me and who does not.

-Lok, you can think of me as much as you want, but I would never take you with people who wanted to hurt you. Also, members of the Huntik Foundation will not hurt you. When we get to France we will meet a boy about your age, belongs to the Huntik Foundation, do you think you could not distrust him?

-Yes. Thanks Dante.

Dante got up and was about to leave when I remembered a doubt that came to me about the Holotomo.

-Dante, one thing, is a question about the Holotomo. Can you analyse magical creatures too?

Lok's POV end

POV of Dante

-Dante, one thing, is a question about the Holotomo. Can you analyse magical creatures too?

Lok asked with all the emotion he had when I spoke to him about the Holotomo. At that moment I saw my opportunity to confirm the last of my theories.

- What do you need?

Lok looked at me a little surprised, we stayed silent, I looked into his eyes looking for any sign. After a few seconds I smiled and looked away.

-It was a joke-Lok relaxed-No, he cannot.

With that I left his room, closed the door and stayed in the hall thinking. My suspicions had been confirmed; definitely Lok is one of a kind.

Dante's POV end