"Jarvis, I would like to speak with you."
Jarvis looked up to see Juon looking at him. Lifting himself to his feet he approached him, "Yes?"
"Come with me to the temple."
The two entered the temple, and Jarvis immediately spotted a set of items in front of the shrine. It was a bowl of water surrounded by mysterious herbs and stones.
Juon followed his gaze, "Ah, I'll explain that in a bit. First I must bring you up to speed as why this Calamity is horrifying."
Juon clapped his hands and a low table with two pillows appeared, "Take a seat."
Sitting at one end Jarvis watched Juon as he poured tea. Handing Jarvis a cup he continued, "The heart of the Hydra was sealed long ago. In an ancient shrine disguised by my power. The seal ate away at its regenerative ability. Nearly nullifying it completely."
Juon sipped a bit of tea, "However, around a decade or two ago I found my connection with the disguise vanish. I immediately sent some of my underlings to investigate, but by the time they arrived the heart was long gone."
Placing the teacup down they looked disappointed, "We were on high alert. We scoured the continents for a clue, constantly reminding the lords that the Calamity may awaken again. But nothing happened and we never found the culprit."
Jarvis asked, "Shouldn't something like that be guarded?"
"We did for years, but my disguise was almost perfect. People became suspicious of us guarding what seemed like nothing. I believed it to be a good choice to leave it alone. But it seems like that was a terrible mistake.
"Despite our constant worries, nothing continued to happen for years. But we still never stopped searching."
"So did you find it?"
"No, but I believe you are someone who can help us. Since you personally witnessed the Calamity, while also having felt the touch of Origin. I believe you to be a key to finding out what happened to the heart. That is why I have these materials out over there."
Juon beckoned him towards it. Jarvis approached the bowl and asked, "What is it?"
"A scrying bowl. It's expensive to activate, but I have reason to believe it will be worth it."
"You want me to use this?"
"Correct. I want you to focus your mind on the image of the Hydra and that feeling of Origin."
"Wouldn't that just show me the Hydra?"
"With normal materials, yes. However these alter what we are searching for. These provide sight to connections. For this instance, connections of the Hydra."
"Alright, what do I do?"
"Follow my instructions. After picturing the Hydra and remembering the feeling of Origin, grab the bundle of herbs to your left and crush them in your hands. Sprinkle them gently on the bowl, and I'll do the rest from there."
Jarvis took a moment, as he pictured the blood red scales of the Hydra. The crimson eyes and attacks it had. The feeling of Origin that he felt only once before. Once he felt like he had a good image, he crushed and sprinkled the herbs.
Juon commanded, "Good, hold that image in your head and close your eyes. You're going to feel sick for a moment, but don't lose that image."
Jarvis followed instructions and felt the wave of sickness. It felt like motion sickness, the suddenness of it all made him dizzy. Yet he held the image of the Hydra in his head.
He could tell Juon was doing something, but he didn't let it distract him. Soon Juon ordered, "Open your eyes, and tell me what you see."
His eyes opened and the vision of a middle-aged man sitting in a chair appeared, "It's a random guy, middle-aged, he's sitting on a chair reading some book."
"Excellent, now I want you to try and 'walk away' from him. I want to see his location."
Jarvis had an idea of what he meant. He pictured a camera zooming out and the scrying bowl followed, "He's in a house in the middle of the snow."
"Great! Now picture every detail of that house. I'm going to channel a bit of energy into you, just let it flow through."
Jarvis followed command as Juon placed a piece of paper in his hand. Touching his shoulder Jarvis felt a jolt of energy, making him slip on his focus. Rapidly regaining control he focused on the building.
The energy flowed through his fingers and touched the paper. Soon the very same house printed onto the paper. Juon lifted it and examined the paper thoroughly, "Haha! Excellent, you have a talent for this. I had prepared multiple sets of materials for several attempts. But to think you did this first try!"
The image on the bowl faded and Jarvis looked up, "What did you make me do?"
"I imprinted the image you saw onto the paper. I am unable to see the image you saw, but this is a loophole of sorts."
Juon snapped his fingers and a figure appeared next to him. They were dressed in all black, fully covered except for their eyes. Juon handed them the paper, "Find this place."
They took the paper and rolled it into a tube, after a quick bow they vanished again. Juon had a faint smile on his face as he continued, "You did a great service to me Jarvis. Tell me, what can I do to reward you?"
"I don't need a reward, but how did you know my name?"
"Word gets around quick in a village of informants. Regardless such a deed cannot go unrewarded. Hmm. . . tell me, what is your opinion of Kiro?"
"She's strange."
"Aha, simple yet well put. She had told me of some precious alcohol you have. That one is quite obsessed with drink these days."
"Would you like some?"
Juon shook his head, "I do not drink most of these days. Though if you're willing to share I am sure the others would be happy to accept."
"I don't have that much on me."
"Do not worry about it. I am not sure where Kiro's obsession came from. I had hoped to train her to be next in line. . .", Juon trailed off with a somber expression.
"Of what?"
"To inherit my Title, she is among of the few geniuses we've ever been granted. Mastering the human transformation at a young age. Gaining her third stripe and undergoing our training. She rose through the ranks quickly, she's one of the few capable of transforming foreign objects. Then she suddenly branched off. Stopping randomly, stating she wished to do other things."
Juon shook his head, "It's a shame, such talent I didn't want to be let go so freely. But who am I to command her?"
Jarvis was unsure what to say, so he changed the subject, "What does a stripe have to do with anything?"
"Did she not tell you? Did you notice the different stripes on their tails?"
"I thought it was a birth thing."
"No, when a Tanuki grows in power and ability, it will gain a stripe for its efforts. Similar to the Stars you use. Kiro remains still at Three Stripes, a power around Second Star for you. She rarely spends time training. Instead indulges herself in alcohol and pranks."
"Do you resent her for this?"
"Resent? No of course not. I just feel saddened. Such talent and she isn't using it."
"Oh."
Juon clapped his hands, "Never mind that, have you thought of a reward?"
"If I had to choose, I wish to be there when we learn of what happened to the heart."
"That was going to already happen, it was thanks to you after all."
"Can my friends come along too?"
"Friends? How many are there?"
"Six to eight, depending on who comes along."
"Troublesome, but possible. Are they trained warriors?"
"The best I've seen."
"A high praise, very well I can accept that. Perhaps if things go awry they can lend a hand. Are they still on the other half of the continent?"
"No they escaped with me."
"To survive the Calamity surely is a merit to their skill indeed. Alright, I ask you to stay here as we gain information. Your needs will naturally be met, and it should only take a few days until we have gained info on the location."
"Then pardon my intrusion."
Juon laughed, "Please enjoy your stay."