As the world evolved over the years, the spiritual realm grew stronger. Shutting the race of spirit guides placed the human race in danger as the remaining population after the war were not anymore capable of communicating with the spirits. Civilizations had to start from scratch relying only upon their natural senses and had to start looking at the world differently than from the time when they were still able to sense the spirits of nature. However, with the fact that the Paladin only reformed human society as people with no sixth sense to stop the war, he was not capable of completely closing the portals that were opened back then. The Paladin knew that removing such capability to see spirits from the race will distance them from spurring wars due to power, but he failed to predict the situation that might occur when people could not communicate with spirits anymore and yet passages to and fro the spirit realm were spread all over the Ring of Fire. His plan was lacking and he knew that, so he secretly decided to summon an entity that could possibly help the reform of human nature. Being the only one left capable of communicating with the spirits, he summoned the harbinger of the fall, Death. At first, he tried to bargain his life in exchange for Death to help him close off all entrances to the spirit realm that was scattered all over the land. Death laughed. He told the Paladin how stupid he was for thinking that his prowess as an exorcist and spirit guide would save the people from dying allowing the race of men to continue for years. Death reminded him that it was the humans' fault for taking advantage of the gift of spiritual sight and using it as a weapon for power. However, Death sympathized with the Paladin saying he too wants to see how far the human race can go now that their gift is gone. Death grants the Paladin one wish that could possibly save the future. He was not allowed to wish for all spiritual activity to vanish, but he was permitted to wish for a contingency measure that will teach humans how all are connected, both the seen and the unseen. The Paladin contracts with Death that his soul be divided into three by the time his life expires.
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"And you are packing now because not only you have been promoted but transferred to the Messiahs village?" said Jona to the girl walking around the room carefully folding her clothes then dumping it into the suitcase.
"Yes, everything I explained to you just now is exactly what Olivia—the commander explained to me," Prim remarked pushing her clothes further in.
"So, where is this village?"
Prim paused. She held that thought realizing she never got the chance to ask that. She glanced at Jona who was hovering over her and just shook her head in dismay, "I don't know. That's what I'm about to find out."
"What is taking you so long?" a voice echoed in Prim's head. She looked around thinking it might have been her sixth sense acting up again.
"Hello? Am I talking to a wall? I know you can hear me." She finally recognized who it was and felt the immediate surge of irritation crawling on to her skin.
"What is wrong with you, you stupid raccoon? How the hell am I able to hear you like this?" she yelled.
"What? What's wrong Prim?" Jona worriedly rushed to her side.
Prim's ear buzzed, "I'm talking to you through the spiritual medium inside DoReMi's building. The spiritual force is helping me get into your extra sensitive hearing. Your headphones are equipped to pick up and filter spiritual activity, correct? But since I'm working enough to match your soul's algorithm, I am able to infiltrate your senses utilizing the spiritual force field the building designed. Outside from here, it will be a lot difficult to talk through."
She rolled her eyes, "Did you seriously think I'd be impressed by your unsolicited educating?"
"An idiot such as yourself will never appreciate the beauty of knowledge. Now, hasten up. We got a ride waiting outside." he said and cuts the transmission.
Prim groans, "I really hate that know-it-all kid."
"Prim, if it eases you, I can go with you to Messiah's Village." Jona offered.
"No," she quickly responded, "I'll be fine. You need to stay here. I need someone to keep an eye here while I'm gone. I do believe in Olivia's words but it's the people in this company I am curious about. I'm not exactly sure, but I have a feeling something is going on."
"But—"
"Jona, I trust you with all my life." she stares into her best friend's eyes.
Jona nodded.
"I just have to bring back the missing Messiah, and I'll most probably be sent back over." she continued shoving her things in the suitcase.
"But you have to promise me to be careful. High-rank missions are extremely dangerous, I heard. Even the ghosts from the lower floor talk about the creatures these Messiahs face."
"I will," she said closing the case locking the trunk and pulling the leather straps to tighten.
The two looked at each other both reluctant to part.
"Guess I'll see you in a few months?" Prim lifted her luggage, a tone of uncertainty in her voice.
"See you in a few months." Jona nodded.
The two smiled at each other as Prim walked to the door and left. Jona looked to the window praying to the heavens let Prim be safe.
"Do you usually take this long?" Vin complained upon seeing Prim come out from the elevator.
As soon as she arrives next to Vin, she angrily puts down her trunk scowling at the boy, "Have you always been this belligerent?" she bitterly remarked, "Weren't raccoons supposed to be....social?"
"Oooh, big word. First time using it?" he smirked.
Prim was thinking about a good come back to his arrogance but thought it'd be best not to humor the boy's ego. She took a deep breath and smiled grudgingly at the pompous lad, "Know what? I'd rather not gratify your desire to humiliate me. You act differently when in front of your mummy." she said picking up her suitcase stomping her feet to the ground as if stepping on to his ego and gladly walked the opposite direction.
Vin was fuming. He wasn't expecting her to throw a curveball at him. As much as he hates being teased of his hair and love for brushes, his mother had also been one of his pet peeves.
"Well? Are you coming or not?" shouted Prim who was already at the entrance of the foyer.
He grumbles, "One of these days, Flower. One of these days."
The two arrived at the other side of the gate where a Volks was parked waiting for them. The chauffeur comes out from the driver's seat on the sight of them greeting them both.
"My bags are already in the trunk. Get it over with so we can leave," he said going ahead inside leaving Prim.
The chauffeur smiles and offered to take Prim's luggage from her clutches. She looked over to his open palm and lends the suitcase to the man. Prim was then escorted to the backseat where Vin was already way ahead of her. The chauffeur closes the door running to the compartment of the car arranging their baggage before slamming it down to close.
The car ride was quiet. Prim and Vin had been keeping at least one seat of a distance from each other both glancing at the windows at their side.
"Your friend did not come with you?" Vin said randomly.
"Why do you care?" she replied, indifference in her tone.
"Dunno. Maybe you needed someone to talk to instead of talking to yourself all the time." he shrugs.
"Excuse me? Are you saying that I'm a loner?"
"Aren't you? You've always been since we were kids."
She slumps back to her seat, "You don't have to remind me, do you?"
Vin glanced at her. "So why DID you change your hair?"
"Oh, now you're interested in the real story? Didn't you just run over to mummy and tell her all about brush breaker and her awful hair tale like you know everything about me?"
"Will you just drop my mother out of this? I'm trying to create a conversation over here. We're eventually going to live with each other for a while, and we cannot always end up wanting to kill each other the moment we start speaking or even just seeing each other's faces. Might as well try and be civil about it." frustration echoed through his voice.
"Fine," she flips her arms to the air, "Let's be civil."
"Good."
"But do not expect me to tolerate your callous overcritical patronizing speeches when it's too much already."
"Alright," he faced her, "As your limiter, I give you permission to not tolerate any of those unexistent speeches you just mentioned."
She rolled her eyes, "Whatever."
"But I must also tell you that I will not tolerate any barbaric manners in the household."
"You're sassing at me."
"No, I'm not." he scoffs.
"No, no, no, I see where you're coming from.." she bites her upper lip, "You're still trying to get back at me for that stupid hairbrush of yours! Of course!"
"You do not call my brushes stupid, STUPID!" he points at her face.
She slaps the finger pointed at her, "That. was. just. one. of. all. your. BRUSHES! You have a whole bunk of those! It makes no difference!"
"THAT WAS MY FIRST BRUSH YOU BROKE!"
Prim backed off seeing how angered and in pain, he looks. "What?" she said under her breath.
Vin covered his face massaging his temples. He lost it. He completely lost it. He wasn't supposed to blurt that out in the open, but he did. Words that lingered in him for years have finally come out.
"You didn't have to shout, you know? I could perfectly hear you." Prim mumbled feeling guilty.
Vin didn't respond.
The car suddenly slowed down moving at least 30 kilometers per hour as seen on the gauge. Prim instinctively looked over to the front examining the path they were on.
"We slowed down. Where are we?" she said as they passed by an old church with a big cross.
"We're almost there ma'am." replied the chauffeur.
"But there's no one here...we're up in the mountains," she said with her eyebrows crooked.
"Did you really think the Messiah's village would be located in the city?" Vin said in a monotone.
A few twists and turns came up about. The road became steep then dove back down. They were being taken to a faraway place as if they were being called on a retreat. The car comes to a complete halt with the chauffer pulling the hand brake. The car was parked in front of a huge yard. Prim thought it was merely a plot of land, but then she noticed something.
"Wait..is this.." Prim stutters, "A cemetery?"
Prim's side of the car opened with the chauffeur on the other side waiting for her to come out. She carefully stepped out of the vehicle staring at the lined up tombs up ahead.
"The front lawn is. But that's just the entrance." Vin said coming out from the seat immediately walking pass her to get to the trunk.
"Seriously? We have to pass the cemetery to get to the village?"
"Better than having a bloody gate filled with padlocks," he said pulling his suitcases out. "Besides, charms had been scattered perfectly, nothing to worry about."
"1...2....3...exactly how much of your house did you bring Chang?" she counts two suitcases and a backpack laid out on the concrete.
"Just my room and my brushes," he said coolly.
The chauffeur walks to Prim with her suitcase in his hand and putting it down in front of her, "Your luggage miss Picar."
"Thank you." she grinned.
"Let's go, our mentor is waiting for us," Vin said carrying all three of his luggage going uphill.
Prim said goodbye to the chauffeur and ran after Vin who was already way ahead of her.
"This place is dreary," Prim said catching up to him carrying her suitcase, as she observed the tombstones scattered at the side of the road.
"This IS a cemetery. The air will surely be dead."
"...."
"...."
Prim roared into laughter, "Did you just make a pun?"
"Keep walking, Flower." he said hiding his face.
"Vincent Chang, the genius that would kill for his hairbrush collection, trying to be....PUNNY!"
"I don't think you have to be this noisy walking, Flower." he scowled.
"Oh come on, LOOK ALIVE!" then she bursts into a louder laugh.
Vin ignored her. He tried to walk faster just so he could have his peace.
"Hey wait up!" she said sprinting after him.
The two began to race unconsciously with Vin trying to leave Prim and Prim trying to continuously tease the boy. And just when they were out of breaths, they arrived at their destination panting for dear life.
"We're here....." said Prim looking at huge fountain enclosed in beautiful flowing water in front of them. Amidst the whole area was a forest across the metal arch across the fence in front of them. The place looked regal. It didn't look like it was located at a cemetery. But like the cemetery, there was quiet. "These houses are color-coded," she mumbled, confusing Vin.
"What the hell are you saying?" Vin complained, "Are you mad? All I see are trees."
"No seriously, it's up ahead." She insisted, "I don't physically see it, but my ears are telling me the sound of the colors."
Vin's face visually gave up. He sighed, but then his skin tingled, alerting the boy.
"That is correct, young lady!" a voice echoed startling the two. Prim immediately walked beside Vin and looked around to where the voice was coming from.
"I'm not hallucinating am I?" she whispered to Vin.
"Yeah, I heard it too. And yet I don't feel a presence," he said while being vigilant.
Suddenly two redhead figures wearing yellow robes of different shades appeared from behind the two sides of the arch, perfectly symmetrical to each other. The one on the right had a warmer shade of yellow while the one on the left had a paler cool toned one. These were two guys around their age but possibly older than Prim. However, the most striking to them was not of their clothing, but because these two look awfully identical.
"Who are you?" Prim stepped forward.
"A soul that could take any form," said the one on the left glancing to Vin, "and a form that cannot be tamed." grinned the one on the right to Prim.
Prim and Vin felt a chill just by their voices.
"We are the sons of Culion," they said in sync, "Welcome to the village of Messiahs, where death is our daily life."