At the top of a snow-capped mountain rising high above the clouds was a temple covered by the eternal snows of the altitude. In this temple, an important place of worship for the people who lived below the mountain, streams of icy wind blew snow inside the almost empty stone building, except for one person. A young woman, kneeling in a prayer position at the back of the temple near an altar, who was so used to the snow that she didn't mind it. The young woman with skin as fair as the snow around was meditating with her silver-white hair blowing in the wind, her snow leopard tail slowly brushing the ground from time to time. There, kneeling before the altar of her gods the young woman received a vision something that had become almost habitual for her, understanding them as signs from the divines. In her vision she briefly saw a tall man from behind, his face hidden, but somehow exuding kindness but also strength. She came out of her vision with her eyes wide open, still in the temple, and immediately the gusts of wind that rushed into the building were distorted by the stones and the architecture to become like voices in the saintess's ears.
God 1: Go back to the city, there you will find the father of your future childrens...
God 2: A man without apparent animosity, but containing the strength and kindness of a thousand men...
?: are you sure my gods?
She asked with her cheeks tinged with roses at the thought of finding a mate when she had never thought of spending her life in the embrace of a love, it's not that the thought disgusted her far from it, it's just that she didn't think herself capable of such a thing.
God 1: Go my child... This is your mission...
God 2: And be happy...
?: I am on my way... Thank you so much my gods...
The saintess got up, tapping her clothes to remove the snow and dust and left, holding the icy artifact of her gods firmly between her two hands, passing the doors of the temple, which closed with a bang because of the wind. The young woman looked at the horizon, the icy wind stinging against her face, her gaze fixed on a city at the foot of the mountain. Confirming her decision in her heart, she began to descend the countless steps that led down to the city.
God 1: It's okay, the kid is gone...
God 2: Did you give her another one of your cheap prophecies?
God 1: No, I really worked on that one.
God 2: What are the chances that this one is true?
God 1: One chance in two...
God 2: Well, at least we can discuss it while she's not there.
God 1: It's true. Now where was I...?
God 2: The special agents at the notarial hall in Kazdel.
God 1: Oh yeah, so the blue-haired one had just killed the red-haired one's sister...
- in Rhodes Island -
It was once again very early in the morning, Nearl had just gotten up, she did her morning routine and put on her imposing armor. She left her quarters and headed straight to the gym to train as she did every morning, although lately her training had taken a much more interesting turn. She opened the doors of the gym and immediately saw the only person who was already there. The emerald-eyed giant was sitting on a metal box, obviously taking great care of his weapon, cleaning the blade after sharpening it. He looked up at the kuranta and began to smile. He rose to his full height and put the tip of his sword to the ground holding it with one hand, the guard of the weapon parallel to the ground.
Sebastian: Hi Margaret.
Nearl: Doctor.
She analyzed her weapon in detail now that she was close and could see that it was so well cared for that it looked like new.
Nearl: You take a lot of care for a weapon that is not yours...
Sebastian: To be honest when I picked it up I had the strangest feeling that I was getting something back that I had lost not to mention that it is literally perfect for my proportions. So enough about that, ready to be beaten up in the morning?
The young woman sighed and smiled slightly. At the beginning of the week she was surprised to meet him at the same time when she was going to train, then he had proposed to train together, training that was more like fighting against each other for an hour. And it was a week that they were doing this, both finding an opponent at their heights and both enjoying each other's company sharing laughter and discussions they could know that they shared many traits in common. Some even noticed that the Kuranta was slightly more expressive in the company of the doctor and that she invited him to use her first name, something she had only done to a handful of people up until then.
Nearl: The amnesiac sword expert... I would have seen it all... And to answer your question let's start off easy this morning, my arms still hurt from yesterday.
Nearl moved closer to Sebastian, who kicked the tip of his sword to make it swing in his hand and rest on his shoulder. The knight of Kazimierz was amused by the doctor's gesture, which he did often and all the time in the same way, surely some kind of habit he had.
Sebastian: Yes ma'am.
The two fighters looked each other in the eyes and clashed the sides of their weapons once at arm's length.
Sebastian/Nearl: Shine with pride and honor !
The doctor did a backflip with his sword in hand, getting out of Nearl's immediate reach, and Nearl took a simple wide step back. The kuranta took an amused smile, knowing her pride and her attachment to the old traditions of chivalry of Kazimierz Sebastian had learned a lot about this subject judging it more interesting than many things he had relearned since his amnesia and it had come to the point where before each of their fights the two greeted each other as did the old knights, This was something that didn't happen nowadays because the knights of Kazimierz had changed so much, to the great dismay of Nearl and even Sebastian who found the descent into hell of the level of chivalry deplorable. The two stood on guard and Sebastian took a defensive posture raising his sword to his head and parallel to the ground implicitly inviting Nearl to attack him to warm up as she saw fit. And she did, she charged at Sebastian with phenomenal speed and swung her mace at him, but before she could confirm whether her strike had hit the mark she heard the sound of metal clashing and sparks flying, Sebastian had countered her blow before she even realized it sending the young woman's arm backwards, knowing that she wouldn't have time to throw another blow before Sebastian threw his she put a full force shield blow right into his chest that sent him backwards a few steps. Something she had learned from Sebastian was that even if he wasn't wearing armor he could take a mortal hit like the one he had just received and get away with even a minor bruise. The doctor got back into position ready to fight Nearl as well, then she charged at Sebastian once more, knowing how he would parry it the kuranta feinted with exactly the same blow as the first but this time when her mace ricocheted against Sebastian's black sword Nearl took advantage of the momentum given to her mace to spin around on her feet and amplify the impact of her next mace strike which hit Sebastian just in the ribs. The latter winced from the pain and swung his arm towards Nearl knowing Sebastian's strength the kuranta raised her shield at the last moment with both arms to better distribute the shock. She was thrown several meters away the pain invading her arms and her armor making a heavy noise against the ground. Seeing this the doctor looked sorry and stretched his arm towards the young woman.
Sebastian: Shit! Margaret are you alright?
She struggled to her feet and nodded to reassure Sebastian.
Nearl: I'm fine, nothing's broken... I should be the one to ask that, I think I heard something crack when I hit you.
Sebastian: You heard that ? Ah and Yes you cracked a rib.
The knight's face broke down.
Nearl: You can stop saying that like it's nothing, I already broke two of yours yesterday...
Sebastian: It was an accident and then its almost already healed. So let's get back to it!
Meanwhile, in another part of Rhodes Island, a feline in one of the laboratories threw a file on a desk after having read it quickly with a sigh and then sank into her chair. Just as soon she heard the automatic door to the lab open. She turned her head towards the person who had just entered to see Warfarin with her usual slight smile on her lips.
Warfarin: Kal? What are you doing here so early?
Kal'tsit: I was making my final preparations for our departure to Kjerag...
The sarkaz walked a little further into the laboratory and approached the feline noticing the file on the desk.
Warfarin: Is this Sebastian's file?!
Kal'tsit: Only the post amnesia. Everything before that is only accessible by Sebastian and Theresa via PTRS. So no one anymore to be exact.
Warfarin: Can I take a look at it?
Kal'tsit: Go ahead.
She held it out and the sarkaz began flipping through the pages, most of Sebastian's biological data was stored in it as well as the changes that had taken place in his personality and physique.
Warfarin: What is this?
Kal'tsit: Since he was beginning to learn on his own, I asked him to fill out some tests to gauge his knowledge and see if he could be useful to us in negotiations.
Warfarin: And?
Kal'tsit: Everything from kindergarten to high school graduation was without mistake. Not to mention the neurology final exam paper he completed in less than an hour.
Warfarin: You'll tell me before his amnesia he did all five years of Victorian medical academy in one, so he can relearn that fast...
She flipped through more pages.
Warfarin: That's not neurology...
Kal'tsit: Nah, that's an economics exam. A seventh-grade doctorate, to be exact.
The vampire's eyes widened.
Kal'tsit: I told you, I put everything in. Not one wrong answer. Once just before an assessment on the history of Ursus I saw him take out an encyclopedia on the country, flip the pages for a few seconds and again the results were perfect.
Warfarin: That's good that means he can go back to work as a neurologist... We needed that... Are those his MRI results?
Kal'tsit: Yes, I don't need to explain what's wrong.
She looked at the two pictures, one taken before he disappeared and the other after he returned from Chernobog.
Warfarin: What happened? It almost looks like this part has reformed, an effect of the sarcophagus?
Kal'tsit: Don't ask me, it's not my field, it's his.
Warfarin: And physically, no other after-effects?
Kal'tsit: Several major cuts due to an incident before he woke up, but that's what I'm most concerned about. Look at the pictures at the end of the file. The one on the left I took the day after he arrived, the one on the right I took yesterday.
She turned the pages and looked at the pictures, on the left a picture of Sebastian before his amnesia in boxer shorts, he was frail, without muscle and without fat. She looked at the pictures on the right and her brain stopped working, as her pale skinned face started to turn pink and a drop of blood fell from her nose. She felt Kal'tsit's murderous gaze on her which brought her back to reality, she pretended to cough to get rid of the embarrassment.
Warfarin: How is this possible? In a week, even with intense training and steroids or some other treatment, it is impossible to develop such muscles.
Kal'tsit: That's the strangest thing, in my opinion.
Warfarin: Not to mention the fact that he has become one of our best fighters.
Kal'tsit: Did you know about this yet?
Warfarin: I saw him fighting with Nearl once around 6am.
Kal'tsit: Did you stalk him?
Warfarin: No...
Kal'tsit: Then why were you in the gym at six in the morning.
Warfarin: Eh eh...
Kal'tsit: Anyway, we're not going to talk about his strength either...
Warfarin looked at his colleague.
Warfarin: Go ahead, I know that look. What's your theory?
Kal'tsit: I asked W. She told me that he was already fighting before his amnesia during Theresa's black operations. So my theory is that the doctor had built up a dual personality, the one that you and I knew, and the one that was involved in the black ops or Kazdel. And I think that the wall that separated these two personalities collapsed to give birth to the current personality of the doctor.
Warfarin: And what do you think of him now?
Kal'tsit: What do you mean?
Warfarin: What do you think of him personally now?
The feline lowered her head and crossed her arms, thinking.
Kal'tsit: He is a new man. And he doesn't take care of himself. And now he cares too much about the others and is too dedicated to the Rhodes Island on his own. If he can work for us it's all i need to know.
The vampire sarkaz had expected an answer that was a bit more personal than Kal'tsit's almost scientific approach, but at least she knew that she had begun to make her think about her relationship with Sebastian. Because before being a colleague, she was first and foremost her friend and she knew that if the feline did not review her relationship with the doctor, it could be negative for him and her.
Warfarin: But what would have happened to split his personality in two?
Kal'tsit: I guess we'll never know.
It had been several dozen minutes since the only sounds in the gym were those of clashing steel and the grunting of fatigue from the fighting. Sebastian charged at Nearl again and landed a series of sword hits to the head that Nearl parried with difficulty before a final blow broke her guard and scratched the kuranta's armor with the tip of his sword. The knight of Kazimierz released Sebastian's sword from her danger zone and jumped back. The two fighters stayed at a safe distance from each other, breathing heavily, sweat beading on their foreheads. The two fighters stayed at a distance from each other, breathing heavily, sweat beading on their foreheads.
Nearl: There's no doubt about it, training with you is really something.
Sebastian: I could say the same thing, it makes you wonder why you aren't promoted to elite operator.
Nearl: It's because you have to do at least a year on Rhodes Island to be one.
Sebastian: Ah... Well, did you catch your breath? Because now I'm going to give it all I've got.
He grabs his sword with both hands ready to attack her.
Nearl: I am always ready!
She said with a smile. The two fighters charged at each other at an inordinate speed, throwing blows and parries that sent air billowing from their monumental strength and speed. Nearl began to gain confidence feeling that Sebastian was beginning to tire she redoubled her efforts and at one point, more or less involuntarily her arts were activated, a winged horse made of light formed behind her and blinded Sebastian, she saw victory coming but she felt a pressure behind her leg, she began to fall backwards as the world slowed around her. Her brain analyzed the situation and the kuranta realized that Sebastian had just swept her when she was too focused on the sword exchanges to concentrate on another move she closed her eyes and accepted her fate too exhausted to fight back. And as she felt herself falling she was abruptly stopped in her fall, she reopened her eyes and saw Sebatian very close to her who prevented her from falling by keeping his arm behind the kuranta's belt.
Sebastian: I won't let you fall like that, in an armor like this it must hurt.
Nearl: You don't even know how much...
He let go of the young woman who sat on the ground, tired after such a battle, soaked in sweat and out of breath. Sebastian lay on the ground completely exhausted and breathing heavily.
Nearl: And we'll do it again tomorrow?
Sebastian: I'm going to Kjerag, did you forget?
Nearl: Oh yes, sorry...
The doctor took a deep breath before jumping to his feet and offering a hand to the young woman, which she gladly accepted and stood up on her two legs. But then something began to vibrate in Nearl's pocket and she pulled out her phone and looked to see who was calling before she widened her eyes and picked up the phone immediately. Sebastian went to get two bottles of water from the vending machine next to them.
Nearl: hello?
?: I've been waiting for your call for a week, Margaret!
Sebastian turned around as the woman on the other end of the phone could have been heard throughout the room, and saw Nearl move her head slightly away from the phone to avoid damaging her hearing.
Nearl: Aunt Zofia...
Whislash: I was worried sick and so was your sister! We saw what happened in Chernobog! You just told us that you were going on a mission and then, radio silence!
Nearl: Sorry... But please stop yelling...
Whislash: Oops sorry... But what happened? I was worried sick...
Nearl: We were supposed to pick up someone in Chernobog but the city was attacked by the Reunion. We managed to get out in one piece but it was in extremis.
Whislash: You reassure me... But then, why didn't you call me?!
Nearl: Auntie, please stop yelling in my ear. It's just that lately I've been busy in the morning.
Whislash: Oh~... Busy ? Don't tell me you finally got a boyfriend ?!
She spat out the water she was drinking from the bottle Sebastian had just passed her.
Nearl: What?! But n-no! I was training...
Whislash: Were you training with your boyfriend ?
Sebastian laughed slightly getting an embarrassed look from Nearl.
Nearl: Zofia stop! That was with my new boss!
Whislash: Sorry, excuse me for getting my hopes up, if you keep this up you might end up like me as a christmas cake... But wait, I thought your boss was a scary cat...
Nearl: No, I'm talking about my other boss, the one who disappeared, he's the one we rescued in Chernobog.
Whislash: I see... You'll get a slap from me for putting my niece in danger!
Nearl: Aunt Zofia, I don't think I can do that.
Whislash: ... Ah. Take back what I said then... Or did you remember to call your sister? At least try to calm things down a bit with her.
Nearl: I... I'm sorry... I'll think about it Aunt Zofia... Goodbye.
Whislash: Goodbye Margaret.
She hung up the phone and sighed before putting it back in one of the pockets of her battle dress.
Sebastian: Family?
Nearl: My aunt, she's a distant relative but she grew up with me and Maria my sister are the last ones I have left...that and Uncle... If you can call that family for the last one...
Sebastian: I was going to ask why she is calling you so early but it must be around noon in Kazimierz.
Nearl: Sorry, it's just that I usually call her in the morning during my training.
Sebastian: Don't apologize to me. But if you don't mind, I would like to know, why is she calling you and not your sister directly?
Nearl: Nothing it's just that... *sigh* I'm not really on good terms with my sister at the moment...
Sebastian- Sorry to hear that.
Nearl- When I had to leave Kazimierz because of my Oripathy, I was the primus knight of the Nearl family. My aunt could not take on this role, as she does not share the same family name, so the family had to give up their knighthood... And since then, the family finances have fallen apart... Have you heard about my family?
Sebastian- A little bit in a book about Kazimierz, just that the Nearl family was a family of known nobility. Knights for several generations and excellent ones at that. They always participated in the major.
Nearl- And Maria I have no doubt about her abilities, maybe they even exceed mine but, this year she decided to run as a Primus Knight and enter the major behind my aunt's back. She expected my support...
With her arms crossed and her voice quavering as tears began to well up in her eyes she began to clench her hands with bone crushing strength as she recalled bitter memories. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder and looked up to see the emerald-eyed giant in front of her, pointing to a bench, a comforting smile on his lips and in a soft voice he said.
Sebastian- Take your time. And come and sit down.
She sat down next to him, clutching the bottle of water Sebastian had given her some time before.
Nearl- But I participated in the major, and I'm afraid it was too much for her, I pretended to be flawless at that time, but it was horrible... I had nightmares about it for weeks, I warned Maria about what was going to happen to her but we had a falling out because of it. I feel like she hates me since... I just wanted to warn her... If only I wouldn't have gotten this damn disease... She wouldn't have to participate in my place...
She lowered her head, holding back tears, and crushed the water bottle in her hands. For years only two people had seen her in this state, followers she trusted enough to put her life in their hands, and now Sebastian was the third person to have the privilege of seeing the cracks in Kazimierz's radiant knight mask.
Sebastian- And how long would it take for you to get it all sorted out there and back?
She turned her head towards him in shock, to see him thinking, as if he too was looking for solutions to her problem.
Nearl- I don't know and even if I did, I wouldn't get anywhere on my own and Kal'tsit will send me packing, and even more so if I ask other operators to come with me on an unspecified duration.
Sebastian- Kal'tsit I could convince her somehow or get a contract so we could stop in Kazimierz.
Nearl- Doc-... Sebastian, I appreciate the intention really... But even so, because of the oripathy I can't get into the mobile cities of Kazimierz, even using the pretext of coming as Rhodes Island, I am exiled after all.
He made himself more comfortable on the bench and took a slight confident smile when he looked at the kuranta.
Sebastian- This is where it gets interesting... You see, while I was waiting for the access to the lab to be given back to me, I worked a little on my own. I don't think you know anything about oripathy being detected with scanners.
Nearl- Yes, every time there are queues of several hours in front of the scanning stations.
Sebastian- Well the scanners work by detecting an electromagnetic field emitted by the originium granules. And so I started working on a drug that could block the emission of these waves. Or to put it more simply.
His smile grew wider.
Sebastian- You take a pill and your oripathy becomes invisible to scanners.
The knight looked at him wide-eyed in disbelief as Sebastian brimmed with confidence.
Nearl- And you're sure it will work?
Sebastian- I'm sure I'm on the right track, it will take me maybe two weeks to finish the formula with access to the lab. One week to do the checks. And one week to start production. After a month you can return to Kazimierz as if your infection didn't exist, and if you go incognito they'll let you in like a flower.
Her brain stopped, normally she would have questioned the doctor, but in the short time she had known him, he had proven time and again his intelligence, his almost photographic memory and his knowledge of medicine, serving as a pharmacist or doctor when no one else was available. Or when the operators did not want to be taken care of by Gavial, and her "methods"... Most people would rather choose a doctor with amnesia than a "doctor" whose therapy consisted mostly of: "Pain is only a weakness that leaves the body. And stop crying or I'll bonk you."
Sebastian- And for your sister, call her, you don't want to let the situation stagnate.
Nearl- I could finally go back to Kazimierz... Thanks for doing all this for me...
Sebastian- You're welcome, it's normal to do this for a friend, and then what would I do if my favorite punching bag would be too sad to take my hits?
He said, the amusement showing in his voice at the end of his sentence.
Nearl- Hey!
She turned her head sharply towards him and lightly swatted the emerald-eyed giant's arm playfully, before the two let out a laugh from deep in their hearts. Nearl smiled again as she looked at the doctor next to her, who looked at the watch on his wrist, then stood up from the bench they were sitting on.
Sebastian- I still have a good hour... Well I'm sorry but I have to go, good luck with your sister.
Nearl- Thanks doc. For everything. Do you know when you'll be back?
Sebastian- Tomorrow, late afternoon I think.
Nearl- I'll wait for you at the honey moon?
He laughed slightly.
Sebastian- Okay, let's do it that way. Bye Margaret.
Nearl- Bye Sebastian.
He started to leave and Nearl took out her cell phone to dial her sister's number, but as he walked out the door Sebastian turned around.
Sebastian- I almost forgot, if you ever get the blues like that and want to talk you can always come to me.
The only confirmation he got was the most beautiful smile on the kuranta's closed eyed face as she held her phone close to her human ear waiting for someone to respon.
Sebastian- 'She's really beautiful...'
He laughed to himself at the thought he just had and walked out the door. He went back to his quarters and took a good shower to clean off all the sweat he had made during his training. He took a second to look at his own body and see that all of his muscle mass had returned to the same state as it was during his "travels" much faster than he thought, thanks to the intensive training he had participated in with Nearl. He got out of the shower and dressed, once again putting on a white shirt and his azure blue tie. He walked down the stairs to his desk and opened a drawer, pulling out the handgun Dobermann had given him at Chernobog, a Grizzly mark 4 in 44 magnum, the maintenance of the weapon was remarkable, then he grabbed a shoulder holster he had customized himself and put it on, finding his handgun as well as a customized suppressor on the left, and on the right a combat knife as well as two magazines. He could potentially carry a lot more thanks to the modularity of the holster, but it was enough for a meeting that was supposed to be friendly, especially when he was accompanied by Kal'tsit and Amiya who could fight. He took a very old book with yellowed pages, albeit small, from his library in a language he had not yet read, the cover made of old leather painted blue and bearing as its only inscription or indication the drawing of a finely manufactured arrow. He took his rain coat of the same grey as his pants on which was printed the logo of Rhodes Island on the back then slipped it on hiding his holster then arranged the book which he had just taken in one of his pockets and left his room, locking the door behind him then the light step he moved towards the upper deck of the arch.
Kal'tsit passed through yet another automatic door and finally reached the upper deck, the dry, hot desert air hitting her skin, but not unpleasant because of the relative coolness of the morning. Immediately after arriving in the open air she heard a familiar laughter, she turned her head in the direction of the laughter to see Amiya with a radiant smile on her lips trying to catch the doctor who was holding a key ring with a brown rabbit with blue eyes hanging on it in his hand. The icy feline recognized the lucky charm of the little cautus. The doctor raised his arm with the keychain still in his hand above Amiya beckoning her to grab it which would normally have been impossible because of the gargantuan size difference between Amiya and Sebastian but to Sebastian's surprise the young cautus jumped up and grabbed the keys taunting the doctor for underestimating her. Sebastian was surprised at first and remembered that Amiya's race had inherited the traits of rabbits so somehow it made sense... The feline took another step towards the two and stopped almost immediately when she heard a voice calling her name.
Sebastian- Hello Doctor Kal'tsit!
But the strange thing was that he had turned his head to look at her after saying hello when she had been behind him all along. She wondered how the doctor had perceived it before answering his question herself, remembering an old habit of the doctor's that would scare anyone who heard of it. Kal'tsit sighed and began to walk towards her two colleagues, Amiya waving to her. The feline stood with her hands in her pockets in front of the giant and the cautus, ready to board the aircraft that Sebastian instinctively recognized as an Osprey.
Amiya- Wow, doktah how did you know she was here? Did you smell her?
Sebastian- No she changed of perfume.
Kal'tsit- You really need to stop doing this, Dr. Sebastian, it can be very scary. Even though it can still be useful for interrogation...
Amiya- Dr. Kal'tsit what are you talking about?
Kal'tsit- Explain it to her, I'm going to see the pilot.
The feline passed the two companions and re-entered the aircraft, which had the ramp down, leaving Amiya and Sebastian to talk.
Sebastian- That's because I recognized her by her heartbeat.
Amiya- You hear people's hearts?!
Sebastian- Yes, as I can hear yours right now.
He touched with his fingertip the place where Amiya's heart was.
Sebastian- When I hear someone's heart for a long time I can remember them and recognize them without seeing them. Or if I concentrate a lot I can tell if someone is lying to me.
Normally anyone would be completely shocked to learn that someone could hear another person's heart, but to her surprise Amiya was not surprised, she just hid her mouth, her face red, her eyes glazed over and her donkey ears flapping in the air. The doctor remained curious for a second or two and then realized where he had just touched the cautus, which didn't seem to be bothered by it as such. The doctor cleared his throat and then turned back to the aircraft and climbed aboard before being joined by the Cautus who sat down next to him. Kal'tsit then came out of the pilot's cabin and sat down in front of them, but avoided meeting the doctor's eyes and kept that expression on her face that made it impossible to read her emotions. From inside the cabin they could hear the rotors starting to turn and then they felt themselves gaining altitude, something that could be confirmed by looking out the windows. After a while, the plane tilted its engines horizontally to mark the beginning of their flight. After a few minutes Sebastian took out the book he had taken from his library and opened it, stroking the old pages of the paper, he analyzed the characters that were still unknown to him before recognizing them after a few seconds as R'lyehian. He cursed himself for having found a book written in this language and all that went with it.
Amiya- Can you read this doktah?
Sebastian- Yes, but it is quite complicated.
He gave the book to Kal'tsit who took it and analyzed the letters with one hand on her chin. After several seconds she returned the book to Sebastian.
Kal'tsit- This is Aegir. Those who can read it without being born there can be counted on the fingers of one hand. I can understand it a little, but it's still complex. What does it say?
Sebastian- It's an old story I think. I would say folklore or religion.
Kal'tsit- Can you read it?
Sebastian- I'll try.
He cleared his throat and concentrated before speaking again.
Sebastian- Long ago, after the ancients were defeated by the humans, a solitary god observed the earth, which was then a barren ball bearing the few living creatures that scratched the earth night and day to survive. Seeing a beautiful young woman crying in the middle of a desolate field he fell madly in love with her and fashioned 5 arrows of his love, making the white tips as pure as his affection for her, with the power to give those who were pierced by the arrow everything they wanted and more. He fired arrow after arrow at the mortal, hoping to give her everything she wanted and see her smile at last. He missed the first four arrows, which landed on the ground, the last one hit the mortal in the heart, killing her instead of having the desired effect. Mad with anger and hatred, the god quenched his anger on the other mortals shaping an infinity of other arrows as black as his hatred, he shot these arrows on the earth spreading the disease but still impregnated with divine power giving also a fraction ofdivine power to those touched by the arrows. And when the other mortals found the white arrows, those who used them faced a terrible test, those who failed died and all those who succeeded developed unheard of powers but at a great price...
He closed the book after speaking for a few minutes while listening to Amiya and Kal'tsit and then closed his eyes to start thinking.
Amiya- What are you thinking about?
Sebastian- These kinds of stories always have an origin. And I have read others extremely similar from other countries. Over time important events in history can be transformed by time and forgetfulness and human interpretation. But most of all it makes me think of something, two three days ago I read a scientific article that talked about a scientific breakthrough, researchers had discovered the existence of a special originium particle that gives off much more energy than their black counterparts. They named it White Originium because of the blinding white light it gave off. And I think it's very similar to this story...
Amiya- So the black arrows would be originium, and the white arrows would actually be this white originium? So you think that the originium comes from a god?
Sebastian- I don't know but if I had to find a scientific answer I would say that originium comes from space. Maybe the people who started this story seeing the originium were thinking of the wrath of a god rather than a meteor shower, the white arrows being whole pieces of white originium. And over time the story has become ,as it is today.
The young cautus looked at him with wonder and then a smile formed on her lips.
Amiya- Wow that's impressive! What do you think Dr. Kal'tsit?
The feline turned her head to avoid looking at them expressionless again.
Kal'tsit- I think you'd better start working on a cure for Oripathy instead of worrying about whether or not child accounts are true.
Amiya- Mrs. Kal'tsit!
Sebastian- Leave her alone Amiya. It's true what use would it be to me in the search for a cure to know the origin of the evil.
He said with irony in his voice.
Amiya- In any case, doktah, you must stay close to us so as not to get lost.
Sebastian- Of course, who do you think I am?
He closed his eyes and settled down to sleep for the rest of the flight, rejecting Amiya's words that he was a child without any sense of direction.
-Later-
Sebastian- ... Where the hell am I?!
