Upon reaching the area where Noir is being held captive, I notice that a lot of uniformed personnel are scattered all over the shrine.
Sure I am aware that the man with me is the head of the Canillo Family, not to mention he's also part of Department Thirteen but with all these people milling around, is it even a good idea?
Aren't the citizens spooked by this?
Noir is stuck inside a magic circle, probably a barrier to keep him inside, but he's not even doing anything. He's just watching everything unfolding before him like a regular crow would do.
Wait, I just noticed. How did I know Noir is a he?
Hmm… Maybe Ferigo mentioned it before?
That's probably it.
"Noir!" I run towards the crow but guards stopped me on my tracks which definitely earn them a glare from me.
The heck? I thought I can retrieve him?
"Major Canillo, what is the meaning of this?"
He looks surprised upon hearing me. I wonder why?
Did my aura flare up?
No… I would've felt it.
Ah! I just spoke their province's dialect!
"I thought Noir will be returned to me?"
"You can speak… never mind. Yes, the demon-familiar will be returned to you, but we have to make sure you really are its master."
Right... There was that huh.
"What do I have to do?"
"Simple. Enter the barrier and call it. If it will respond to you, and by that I mean it won't harm you or anything, then we will return it to you."
That shouldn't be a problem then?
The guards let go of me and I walk towards the barrier. Upon seeing me, Noir immediately looks up to me and start flapping his wings. I enter the barrier.
"Noir."
The crow flies towards me and lands on my shoulder. He starts ruffling his feathers then rubbing my face with his head.
He's showing off to his captors!
What a funny bird!
The barrier suddenly vanishes and I step out of the magic circle and heads towards the major and Hiiro-san.
"Noir is not a bad bird." I say to Major Canillo who only sighs in return.
Eh? Why?
And he starts ruffling my head like a kid!
I am definitely offended at such a move!
"Stop that." I grumble and step away.
"Sorry. I have a younger brother about your age and he's as cheeky as you." he says and smiled. "Anyway, we captured your familiar because an unknown high level demon familiar wandering around our territory gives our citizens, as well as us, the spook. We're just trying to do our duties."
"Then you should start restoring the barrier of this place. If you want to protect what's inside the shrine you should fix the barrier soon. That's what your case is about right? It might be too late once whoever wants it gets their hand on it. The god Kanlaon gave you the duty of protecting it after all." I sigh. "I suggest you start searching for any fluctuations inside and the perimeter of the shrine if you want to be certain. Tighten your security as well."
He looks at me strangely, like he's in between shock and suspicion.
Damn it! I just went running my mouth when I'm not even supposed to know anything about their case!
Great job April!
"Uhm… I didn't mean to… I'm not a bad guy either." I say, defending myself from the grave I just dug myself.
"Kid. How did you know about that?"
Crap! Now he has really become suspicious. What should I say? I-
"The Maiden of the Stars told him about it."
"What?" both Major Canillo and I exclaim.
Hiiro-san is giving me a knowing look and motions to Major Canillo.
Right. He's practically saying I should agree with him.
"Uhm. Yes, Sakura-nee – I mean the Maiden of the Stars told me before I decided to come here. But you don't have to worry. I'm here for an entirely different matter, so you don't have to worry about me getting in the way of your investigation."
"Why would the Maiden of the Stars tell a kid about confidential information?"
Good question. In which I have no answer.
"Uhm…"
"She… she wants April to know things as he grows up."
Ohkay, he does not look like he believes what Hiiro-san just said.
"It's confidential as well." I insert while flashing a smile. "Miss Sakura wants me to know a lot about this 'business' as I grow up. Plus if I know what's going on, then I can help keep an eye on things right? You're looking for yokais too, who somehow found their way to this country. So… she told me because she wants me to help out."
"Exactly!" Hiiro-san adds. "But he's here with other people for another matter so he should probably get going."
"Hiiro-san is right. I should go major. See you around."
I excuse myself and just run. We practically told him half the truth
But what surprised me was how fast Hiiro-san managed to come up with an excuse.
I should probably try to keep my mouth shut so I won't be in the same predicament in the future. Yeah. That would be better.
"Noir." I call. "Lead me to the others."
*CAW!*
Noir flies off and I follow him. Good thing he's not flying to fast. I can catch up to-
Oof!
I hit something hard, but not a wall, and falls on my bum.
Ow! My butt hurts!
I look up and see a tall woman wearing a hoodie. Her light brown eyes focus unto my golden ones. She's giving me a strange look. Why is she giving me a strange look?
"Are you okay?" she asks in Tagalog.
For someone who doesn't look like a local, she's quite fluent at it. I'm impressed.
"I'm fine. I'm sorry I hit you. I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I'm going."
"It's fine kid."
Ugh! I'm being called a kid again!
"Come here."
She helps me up. Once I'm standing, I dust myself clean.
"Uhm, I'm sorry again. I should go."
"Wait!"
Hmm?
"What's your name?"
"Me? Err…"
Why is she asking my name? What does she want? She's not going to hold a grudge right?
Should I give her my name?
"My name is Regina. I'm half-Italian half-Filipino!"
Seriously? She just said that to get my name?
Fine.
"I'm April. I'm not sure about my nationality since I'm an orphan but I'm pretty sure I grew up in the Philippines. Again, I'm really sorry I bumped into you. Nice to meet you Miss Regina. Have a nice day!"
I should probably run now before she asks more questions.
Still though. Who is she? She seems interested in me, but not in a romantic way. She has this surprised yet longing look on her face. Like she saw someone she knew that she hasn't seen in a long time.
Was that what happened?
Weird.
Why are weird things always happening to me?
Aha! I should've used
Next time I see her, I will use