We go our separate ways and start heading to our designated areas. We get there and started looking around.
"Do you see or hear anything?" (Luis)
"...My hearing range is not as good as yours so I'm not sure about hearing anything, and it's too dark to see much."
His hearing range is not as big as mine. Does it have to do with the fact that his sensing range isn't as big either? Or so I think it is.
"I guess so. Should we try to get some high ground? It might be good to see where they are and it'll be easier to expand sensing range.."
"...Mhh, sure."
"Alright, let's go."
We started walking to a building. I made sure that no one is around and jumped over the fence using wind magic. I start walking towards the staircase when I hear behind me.
[Earth Pillar]
He jumps down from the pillar.
[Return to earth]
"...Do you have to say the spell you are using when you use it?" I say as I jump up to the emergency staircase using wind step.
"...Yes. I'm surprised you don't." (Argus)
"...Is there any difference whether I do or don't?" (Luis)
[Earth pillar]
He jumps onto the staircase.
[Return to Earth]
"No, not really," he says as we start walking up the stairs.
"Then why do you?"
"When you use magic, you need a strong mental image on what magic spell you will use. Usually, when you first practice a spell you shout something out loud that pertains to it in order to attach the word to it so that you can create a strong mental image." We get to the top of the building.
"Attach a word to it?"
Usually, in anime spells have a predetermined name, so is it different in reality then.
"Yes, it can be anything. I chose mine to be 'earth pillar' and 'return to earth' but you could have a different name with the same spell. Of course, the effect may differ slightly depending on the mental image caused by the word but the results would be similar."
I see, so there's no specific name for any spell. It all depends on whoever it is that's casting it. Well, if you hear the name of it you can most likely guess what they do.
"But then, can't you stop shouting it after you get a feel for it?" I say as I start looking around and expanding my presence in different directions in order to find Jefe's presence.
"Technically, yes. But learning a spell is a hard thing to do so you keep on using the same word until you are finally successful. But when that happens you already said it multiple times out loud so you get used to doing so and eventually falling into the trap of having to say it out loud."
So that's why he says his spells out loud. He also said that learning new magic is difficult to do but that's not really the case for me. Does it have to do with the fact that I don't say it out loud?
"I see."
"...Well, you looked comfortable with wind magic so I thought you knew and you were just talented enough to do it without words. Did you not know this by any chance?"
"I guess you could say I'm somewhat new to having magic."
"...Were you not born with it?"
Born with it? Again with that. So people are supposed to be born with this then?
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
"...No, nothing." (Argus)
"So you are saying you are supposed to be born with this ability?" I say looking at him inquisitively.
He looks at me examining my expression almost as if trying to see through my mask.
"...Well, it's really classified information you know. So I'm not supposed to tell people that 'aren't close to me', I can't really say anything." (Argus)
So he's saying that if I don't the NYC Vigilantes he can't tell me about this? This feels a bit off, would Argus usually act like this? Or is it that he just wants me on the team and he's trying to make me choose a favorable decision?
"That's playing dirty Argus."
"Whatever you may mean? I was just-"
"Found them."
"Huh?! How?! You were talking to me this whole time, you weren't really examining your surroundings and now you tell me that you found them?"
"Why would I waste time here only talking to you? I was scanning the area for Ant-Jefe's presence as we were talking. All I did was pinpoint it."
"...How do you know how his presence feels like?"
"I had a little encounter with him some time back."
In all due honesty, I want to forget it. I can't say with confidence that I can kill him. His story still bothers me. I try my best but thinking that he's only "Jefe" rather than "Antonio." But it's honestly hard to do so...
[Earth bridge] [Return to Earth]
"I'm surprised you didn't kill him when you learned he was Jefe and he was near you."
I'm surprised too!
"...It was too sudden, and by the time I realized, I couldn't do anything, that's all. I got cornered after I learned who he was so I had to get out of there before it was too late."
"Did you learn anything about him when you were near him or anything like that."
"...Not really. Even If I did, it's not relevant to what we'll be doing anyway so let's just focus on what we have to do." I say coldly
The rest of the way Argus was quiet and didn't ask many questions. We arrived at the place where I felt Anto...Jefe's presence.
"That's the apartment."
"...Doesn't look like much."
"I'll be the judge of that."
I close my eyes expanding my presence inside in order to pick up as many details as possible.
"There are about 40 guys in total. Some are standing guard while others are playing. The apartment has 4 floors. Jefe is on the bottom floor with the guys playing around as well. I also sense some people without guns, in all due likelihood they are civilians that have been brought by Human trafficking but I'm not sure.
In terms of floor layout, the first looks like a wide open are not many things there except for some pool, darts, and games. The second and third floors look like living quarters, the third floor is where the likely trafficked humans are. The top floor has some paperwork and desks, that's about it."
"Isn't your presence sensing too detailed? Both your presence searching range and hearing range are already way bigger than mine!"
"I see, anyways. Call Sara and tell her that we found the place so they should stop looking for it."
"Alright, gimme a second," he says as he takes out his cellphone.
I look at the building's outside, looks like Bloody Crips are next. I don't care what you may have said to me Jefe. I will definitely pull the trigger this time. I know you have your reasons to run this organization, but I also have my reasons to do what I do.
"Hello...We found him...We are at ****... Alright, see you here," he looks at me. " She's on her way and she's calling the group with Peter so they'll be here."
"Okay," I say still looking at the building." This will be 2 out of 4 Tara" I whisper to myself.
"What was that?"
Shit, I said that out loud.
"...Nothing Important, just reminding myself of something." I say as I touch my white bracelet.