Jody watched Syd until he finished his vegan dinner.
After that, The sound of the bell in front of Syd's house rings.
Jody walks to the door, peeks through the cat-eye.
A person outside is Seraphina Gilmour.
"Sera has arrived," said Jody.
" Ler her in" Said Syd.
Jody opened the door. Sera was here alone.
" Get in"
Jody told Sera.
She leads her to the living room.
Jody found that Syd had already prepared something on the table.
His notebook.
" Your house is very orderly managed, Very contrast to you, Syd. Or Did Jody clean it for you? "
" That's not the first time I heard that."
Syd says.
" There was someone before you who thought I looked like a kind of bad guy. Even she, herself, was a bad guy once."
Syd said while glaring to Jody.
Sera gets what he wanted to tell her.
She also glares to Jody.
" I mean... Jody's right... At first, I saw you I thought you are also some kind of
Aggressive kid. I regret acting towards you like that, Syd Barrett. I would like to apologize."
" Wow. Didn't think that ego Seraphina Gilmour will have guts to say sorry."
" Of course I have. What's a problem with it? It was my fault for acting like that towards you and now I feel regret.
We aren't kids anymore."
Syd felt like she stabbed him with the word Kids.
" So... Why did you buy that illegal statue from Father Peter? "
" I was just bought it for myself. My household has a strong belief in Catholicism."
" Oh... So you buy it for personal purpose."
Jody asked.
" Yes, You can say that," Sera replied.
" I've said this before, but I will say it again in case you forget."
"No need to repeat...Syd Barrett...In order to delete the video, I must work for you. And I'm here to listen to who you really are."
She said.
" So...Syd. What exactly is your organization? "
Jody asked.
Syd opened up his notebook.
" What are you? FBI? CIA? Secret service? Or anything else?"
Syd clicked an image in his notebook, he then turns the screen into Jody and Sera.
"Nothing like that. We are not Dogs."
He begins his explanation.
" Do any of you guys know when the witch-hunting period begins? "
" What...?" Jody was confused about the question she thought it was off-topic and irrelevant.
".. In Europe... It began around 1400-1700 AC ... I know this because I've studied it when I was in middle school."
Sera answered.
" That's right. The witch-hunting period accurately began around the 1450s. It is considered as one of the biggest moral panics that has ever occurred to mankind. Many innocent lives had been sacrificed to this culture, be accused of being a witch...Demon...dark spells user...and everything in between, which is ridiculous in our eyes, but not for the people at that time. As we know, Entire Europe loses their minds, many shits happen."
Syd continues,
" That period is also known as the darkest period of science&Technology.
Many thinkers, Scientists, philosophers, and many more intellectuals had tried to come up with an argument against people in the society that Witch isn't real. They tried to stop the purge. But Instead, those religious people, those people who randomly came up with an idea that God and Jesus told them to hunt down the witch, accused them to be a part of the evil. Many of them had been kidnapped, Some were killed, some were prisoned for the rest of their lives, some need to hide their scientific researches, They are not allowed to communicate to their tiny society by... A bigger Society."
Syd paused, he swaps the image of history for Jody and Sera to observe.
" However. Those Intellect people won't let them take full control of the table. They had secretly formed up a secret Society. The society's goals were to oppose superstition, obscurantism, religious influence over public life, and abuses of state power."
" They have discussed for a year. Thinking about the future of mankind. If we keep mankind progressing randomly, without control or any correcting leads. It can go wrong like this witch-purge. We must do something before it's too late, They think."
"Those people have statutes: is to put an end to the machinations of the purveyors of injustice, to control them without dominating them."
" Many years have passed. Until the late 1620s, many influential intellectuals and progressive politicians counted themselves in, They have many members from many parts around the world. They started expanded from Europe to Africa. From Africa to Asia and this was when the real organization began. This was the time that 2 groups of people who have the same objectives, come to meet."
Syd opened an image of ancient Asian drawing on the screen.
The paint contains the image of people dressing in black.
Above them is a giant shinning rectangle.
But look at it closely, Jody and Sera found that it wasn't a rectangle.
But it was the shape of a sharp part of an arrow.
" In Asia, there was already a powerful secret society called The Zhengyi
(正義) League, which means The League of Justice. It's also the secret group of progressive political and smart people from all over Asian. The group was created by one of the powerful Nobles in the Qing Dynasty. The purpose of the group is to restore balance to Nature. The founder of the group. He has very progressive thoughts more than people of his age.
He has a very strong faith in the balance of nature. He truly believes that there's no good or bad, No black or white, The only thing remain in this world is gray. Good and Bad are one. And it stores in a person. "
Syd suddenly rushed the story.
" Brief History, The 2 groups meet. They merged. And rename the organization as THRAK which comes from the word
Track which means the line of marks left by a person.
In this case, it's the path that "We", THRAK, had already prepared it for the entire world to follow.
To keep human progress without going wrong.
Then they've started the operation behind the background. Like a parent watching over their kids.
They restore balance to the world by enacting purges at various points in history.
With many men coming from many backgrounds. They can access and operate in various ways either."
" Many men..? Such as? ". Jody asked.
" Galileo, Newton, Kepler, Prince Ferdinand, George Washington the first American president, Mozart, ... And many more... I can't tell you the people that are still alive. It's a secret."
Syd said.
" Well, at least we know that the Barrett family is."
Said Sera.
Syd added,
" They started many events in history. Including Spanish Flue, The great London fire, Civil war, The End of Slavery, The Great Depression in America, The Indian Independence, The French Revolution, The Russian Revolution, The Industrial Revolution in England, The Electricity Era, The Jazz Era... Etc."
" So you're saying....that an Organization you're in has controlled the world? "
" Yes."
"..."
Jody and Sera were stunned. As if they are listening to some Science fictions but they aren't!
They can't do anything but to believe.
This is the truth.
" So... Our life has to be... Controlled? "
" Nope. We control the World, not your life. Have you ever felt that you are imprisoned? "
He asked.
" ...No..?" Jody answered.
" Because we don't control your life. We control the World which controls your life."
" But Because nowadays, some country wants to oppose us like England.
To make it easy... The England government tries to hide something from us. And we called it the 'Disc'. We don't actually know what that thing is. But we know that it has something to do with The Government, The school, and Saint Peter's Church."
" I see... So it is like the roots of a tree... Right now we got a new Clue. Mr.Lake? And we have to investigate who he is and how he related to the disc?"
" That's right." Syd answered.
" The point is, I was sent to the school and my job, which somebody calls it a secret mission to make it cooler, is to find out how the fuck is the school related to the disc. Remember what I told you before, Jody? Remember that I mentioned about drugs and shit? That's just a bonus. They have nothing to do with the disc."
" So all the things you told me before the first mission was fake?"
" Yes." Syd said.
" Why?" Jody asked.
" Because of this."
Syd whips out Jody and Sera's electronic devices, Consist of 2 Iphones, and 1 Jody's Ipad.
" What the... When did you take it?! "
Sera touched her pocket and found that they were empty.
" Girl, you got played like 3 times already."
Syd said to Sera.
" He said it was his special skill."
Jody said to Sera.
" No wonder... Well... He's actually a spy...He must have taken it while we were listening to the story of Thrak."
Sera said to Jody.
" All these devices. They are all tiny microphones. Someone can listen to us through this."
He said.
" You lied? In case there's someone listening to us? So that they will get the wrong information?"
Syd nods.
" But don't worry. Because while you girls are focusing on the monitor screen, I have installed a tiny device that will make your phone IP address goes incognito."
" So now, we are like invisible?" Sera asked.
" Yes. Invisible to the government or stranger hacker."
Syd gave their stuff back to them.
" Sorry for stealing it. But I have to do it very quick and sneaky. Because out there, I don't know who has been stalking us." He said.
Jody and Sera noticed that there was a thin black rectangle plate was sticking on the back of the phone.
This must be Thrak's technology, No doubt.
" I see... Now I know the reason your notebook and phone are brandless..."
Jody said.
" Of course, Because it's not something that can buy in Apple stores." He said.
Suddenly, A monitor screen shows someone contacted Syd It's from anonymous.
" Who's that? "
Asked, Sera.
" The next mission," Syd replied.
Jody and Sera heard a woman voice.
" Syd. I have analyzed the data you've sent. Compared with the security camera footage, he must be this same person."
Appearing the image of a man on the screen, he is a middle-aged man with purple hair.
" This is Palmer Lake Jr. He must be that Mr.Lake Father Peter mentioned. Apparently, he's the CEO of Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre in London."
" Westfield? That's the biggest shopping center in London!"
Sera said.
" What does The mall's manager has to do with the Disc?"
He asked.
" We don't know. But we think he should be instructed by someone behind that."
The woman's voice says.
" Moreover, we found something interesting. Palmer Lake has been contacted to The school's principal, Colin Zellick frequently by this passing 2 months."
" Mr. Colin?! "
Jody/Sera confused.
" Wooo... That's a BINGO!! "
Syd grins.
" Is that how you American says it?" He turned to ask Jody.
" We just say bingo." She replied.
" Bingo!! Hehehehe...."
" So, your next mission. Go talk to the School Principal. Then Investigate the Mall's manager, Palmer Lake, what he has to do with the Disc and School's principal."
" Understood. Out."
The call ends.
" Syd, Who's that? " Sera asked.
" My crew." He said.
" I know... I mean who is she?"
"Can't tell you. You girls are still Civilians."
" Then what should I do to be one of you guys? I feel like there's a big wall between us right now."
Jody said.
" Do something that makes us trust in you. Don't worry. As long as you work for me, everything's fine. We have our judge watching you. If you are qualified, when that time has come, I'll tell you everything."
Syd said,
" Don't panic. There are other cases that the secret service has put the civilian into their team. And finally, they became one of them. This is my first time doing this too."
He added.
" But if you don't want this. You can decline to join after that. So you won't know who's the crew and any other about Thrak. When you finished the Job, you can go back to your normal life."
" wait... Jody wasn't your Crew?? "
Sera asked.
" Hmm? What'cha mean?"
" I thought Jody and you were the spies... Jody is also get dragged to this??... But .... How? She's not the type to follow anyone's order easily ...."
"... Oh shit..." Syd realized that he had split something out.
" Uh... Well, actually..."
He tried to come up with excuses. But Jody speaks first.
" I've made a deal with him," Jody said.
" A deal?... What deal? "
" He will teach me something, In return, I will work for him."
" What's that Something? "
" His power to swap objects properties." Jody answered
[ Note: At this point, Seraphina has already known Syd's Power. SYD has told her after they have settled ]
" What?!... Put Ability isn't something that can be taught! "
" Because It isn't an ability."
Syd said.
Sera turns to Syd.
" WHAT?! ..Impossible..." She surprised.
" Yeah. I was first shocked to hear that. But believe it or not, It's not the power nature gave us like you and me. It's the power of the ancient monks in china."
Jody said.
" So what's your Ability, Syd?"
Sera asked.
" Well, I---"
But the one who answered isn't Syd. It's Jody.
" He said he didn't have the ability. Not sure if he's telling the truth since he fights like he knows how the ability users work. I'm suspect."
Jody straightly speaks her mind.
" Jody... You don't trust me..? "
" Anything but that," Jody replied Syd.
" Jody. That thing he owns, It's the same as having an ability."
Sera said.
"..." Jody didn't reply
" But why you want to learn? I mean... You are already as strong as you are ... You are seeking strength??"
".... Sigh.... Someday you should have known this in the end..."
Jody decides to tell Sera the truth.
.
.
.
.
" HEEHH?! I never know... That's why you never make a sudden move..."
" Imagine if Jody is free to move. That will make Jody even deadlier. Don't you think?"
" Sera. To be honest. I never see you as a compete rival or anything. I just do what I do best. I fade away from school because I don't like that child's play. Even Syd is like this but he's correct one thing. Our school is a mess. Don't you see how many power-lust they are out there? "
".... Jody...."
From today, Sera changed her mind on Jody and Syd.
She surprised that Jody is more mature than her.
This is the day Sera's eyes wide open. She starts to change how she looks up to Jody.
.
.
.
.
.
.
20:00 in the evening.
Still at Syd house.
Syd and Sera are having a conversation while Jody is on her practicing using the Swapping Technique.
" Syd, I think if you actually join the Battle, you may have taken the throne from Jody." Sera said.
" I don't have time for that ridiculous stuff." He said.
" You don't aware of what the students call you? " Sera asked.
" What? I have a nickname? Should I be happy about that or Nah? "
" The Immigrant. That's what they've named you." Sera said.
" Bruh, Immigrant? What did they think I am? Stork? "
" But if you can take over Jody in The Battle, You will be name anything that has the word King in it."
" Jeez, what's with your school...? I'm cringing for real..."
" It's our Culture! Augh!!!!..."
The sweaty Jody turns back to Syd as she's in training. Her body is all wet by her own sweat.
" Try again. Use more of your energy from your ability. The Meditation will consume lots of your ability. Try to be one with Nature. Listen to their sounds. And when you reach that state, snap! You will unlock your ability to swap."
Syd said.
He then turned to Sera.
" Now, this is for today. Tomorrow's big day. We'll beat the Principal's ass."
" Sera, want some tea?" He asked.
" Why Tea? Because I'm British? "
"..... Uh, Yes? " he replied.
Sera felt a little nerve on the head, however, Jody touched her shoulder and whispered to her.
" You'll get used to it... I once get asked by him He said why you Americans always eat like you have free Health care insurance."
" Pfff--- Hahaha! "
Sera laughs.
" Oi, that's not even funny to me." Jody said.
" Mate, you have to admit. It is what it is."
Syd said.
Jody drinks a glass of water.
" Jody, when would you get home? " Sera asked.
" Nah, I'm staying with Him." Jody answers
(... A single teenage girl... Staying at a boy house??? Only two of them?!....)
*Invisible shocks*
" Oh... I see... Well, actually you guys are suitable for each other..."
" The fuck you mean?" Syd asked.
" N...Not thing... i think i'm gonna go... see you tomorrow...."
Sera then head out the house.