The more they set their eyes to the countless dead bodies in the dark alley, the more the pit in their stomachs deepened. Artemisia, among all the people gathered around, holds the most grief and rage. Her face with no remnants of any emotions but her heart in a deep turmoil; gritting her teeth, she holds her hands over her chest and utters a silent prayer.
She bit her lips in silent frustration. She took her hand over her hair, running it straight resembling a comb.
For a hundred years of bloodshed and countless traitors... she finally had found someone who can give peace to the captive souls—Anthony.
Although it's aching for her to bring him to this chaos—but fate is a cheating player.
She fixed her gaze to the young man, softly smiling. Although his face, pale and his set of golden eyes registered uncertainty and... fear. He still stood there, one by one, checking each body. She knew that his legs were near to giving up but somehow his will remained stronger.
She never had thought that the young man who always cower and cry for years can muster courage.
She knew his pain. She's always listening and painfully; she cannot do anything but to watch. A memory from the past resurfaced from her mind.
A teenage boy around 13 was sitting on the cold floor; wailing loudly. His eyebrows, creased in a tight frown as he let all of his tears fall. His face was already red from his frequent trying to catch his own breath when he hiccups. He never cared if he still hadn't eaten or about the presence of a bloodied wound on his knee when he ran and fall to the ground.
His eyes were red and puffy from all the crying. He was tightly embracing a picture frame on his chest; repeating the same sentences again and again hoping that the one he's seeking will magically appear to his side. Behind him is a very angry lady, his aunt; who didn't even try consoling the kid but in turn found the kid unreasonable. In her right hand, she holds a broom that probably she'll use to strike the kid.
"Mom... Aimee... please. You promised... you'll never leave me like dad. But why... " His tears continue to fall; his heart is in deep anguish. It's been a week since his mom and sister never returned home. He never got a proper meal and sleep since then.
"How annoying could you get?! Don't make me mad this instant! " she spat; her left hand placed on her hips.
The angry aunt took the kid's hand forcefully; shouting incoherent words that didn't alleviate the boy's misery. "No! " The boy tried to release his hand from the tight grasp. Only to be met by his aunt's glare. She never gave up, even resorting to almost dragging him from the floor.
"C'mon! Give it up you brat! I don't have time for you!"
The kid didn't bulge even if he felt his wrist in pain and started to redden. The aunt never felt remorse to her action, she raised her broom and hit the child repeatedly.
"You piece of shit! You're the one bringing problems to my life! " The woman never stopped hitting the child even though the child started to beg for her to stop.
A figure by the trees could only stop themselves from doing anything; hands on their chest; clenching their teeth together. Artemisia couldn't do anything but to be deaf to the kid's plea, not only now—but every night; wishing for magic to come true and help him.
She cannot do anything but to speed up his recovery when he cries himself to sleep. She couldn't interfere with human affairs nor hurt humans, especially a human near the kid because it'll endanger his life more.
His mom and Aimee never wanted for the young lad to be part of the chaos and wish for his safety above their own.
She's been observing him, protecting him from the shadows. And she is blaming herself that she let harm befall him when she looked away for just a second.
Her reaction didn't escape Aegir's gaze. He saw how her eyes softened when she's staring at Anthony. And he understood her reaction—he was so proud of his idiotic master, for a brief moment—he smiled even if his heart was never at peace.
Aegir still couldn't feel safe even though he knows that there's Artemisia and the others who will protect them. He still could feel his stomach churn; his hairs stood up and tail hung low. There's still an unsettling feeling he has, even if he's with a group of people he trusts, it cannot easily go away.
An underlying fear of danger that when he's thinking about it makes him want to run away. Beads of sweat ran from his forehead as his throat ran dry.
He perfectly knew violence and experienced pain. He's desperately trying to avert his gaze to the bodies because he just couldn't watch their situation.
For the nth time, he finds himself lucky to be alive yet unlucky to remember the tale where he begged for his life; bathed in his own blood.
Aegir gulped, placing his hand on his chest; he breathed in and out, trying to calm his nerves. Closing his eyes, he bit his lips. 'I can do this! For my master! '
Alucard, on the other hand, the Fenrir who's arms currently crossed to each other; called Anthony's attention who had just finished examining the corpses. "Come here. That's enough, " he told Anthony.
Although he did say they'd do it one by one—due to what Anthony had shown; it's better he did all of it first before he'll exhaust all of his mana and strain his body when he'll be trying to use magic for the first time.
Anthony followed silently, after all what he had witnessed; he didn't have any room to argue. He could only slap his cheek softly and sigh like an old man to convince himself to stay awake and not to pee on his pants.
Because who wouldn't? Someone could even faint witnessing the situation they're in.
The cadavers on the alley; a total of five, already passed the rigor mortis stage. Some of them whose bodies were already releasing brown green-ish fluid were already in the active decay stage; they were dead for twenty days. Their hair was starting to lose and skin starting to blackened. And some were already dead for forty days or more; their flesh was no longer fermented by butyric acid and their bodies were molded to the ground.
"Watch closely, " he heard Alucard spoke. Anthony nod in response.
Alucard took a deep breath; eyes closed as if he was concentrating. His body began to glow; emanating a faint white glow. Specks of white dust-like things surrounded his body. "This white thing is called mana. This is your pure energy that'll be used to materialize your magic. Every individual's mana is unique, they're capable of materializing and channeling different kinds of magic but of course it depends on your affinity to what magic you can use. " Alucard opened his palm; revealing a white flame-like thing; it's dancing gently on his palm.
Anthony just stared in astonishment. He unconsciously tried to fish something from his pocket. Only to frown and realize that he didn't bring his notepad and pen.
A conditioned response.
'Nevermind. I'll make sure to remember this... I hope so. ' A thought he had.
He used to write magical things because of his job as a writer but never in his wildest dream did he think that it's real.
His rational thoughts were trying to reject it but deep inside—there's a foreign but familiar spark he's feeling in his system.
Something he used to feel when he was a kid. He found his eyes glued to Alucard, which in turn, looked at him weirdly; brows raised because of his sudden burst in energy.
Anthony grimaced. It's like Alucard is seeing him as a weird guy. But he just couldn't help it!
One couldn't blame the Fenrir. Anthony looked like he was about to shit himself a while ago and now he looked so invested even if he's still in the same alley with the corpses still with them.
Alucard couldn't even believe that his master trusts Anthony and Aegir that much when the latter, just like his master, is also an airhead.
Anthony could feel his heart beating from his chest, a little fast—perhaps due to both anticipation and being overwhelmed. It feels like it's something he's looking forward to but it sounded so wrong at the same time.
'Am I dreaming? Hallucinating even? ' he tried to create a debate within himself.
Maybe he just got too overwhelmed by investigating the dead bodies... or he just doesn't know what to react when he's experiencing both real and unreal at the same time; the first one is the path he chose to take and the latter on which it's his childish dream back in childhood.
How unluckily lucky could he get?
A sad smile etched on his lips. He used to believe in magic before but with all the tragedies he had faced during those times with no magic to aid him, he lost all his hope.
He made himself believe that his only reality is not disappointing ideals but the current situation he can see and hear.
But can he just indulge on this even for a little while? Just a little bit. It won't hurt, would it?
Vin, who was watching in the background, couldn't help but to drop a side comment from Anthony's expressions. Putting his hand on his chin; as if thinking about something.
He had seen them before; from a documentary he had watched and how Artemisia mentions it to her human clients.
With his brows pulled together, he muttered, "Oh! Just another adult with a wounded inner child. '' Vin raised his index finger in a 'that one' expression. Anthony, who was too preoccupied at the moment, didn't hear what he had said.
Aegir, hearing the remark; winced and shushed the nonchalant bunny, earning a puzzled remark from the latter. "Hey, now what? " he replied, tone confused if whether he said something wrong.
Alucard, with a rather keen sense of hearing, also heard the comment. He turned his head in Vin's direction; eyes squinted. Vin shrugged in response; averting his gaze he whistled an awkward tune.
'Pathetic bunch of kids. ' Alucard thought, almost rolling his eyes.
He just wants to go home—away from these rascals. He thought fighting is more tiring—he now had been proven wrong.
Sighing, the Fenrir resumed on what he's doing; face stern and stoic. "There's the generic elemental magic: air, water, fire, earth, light, and darkness. Your range of magic and its uniqueness depends on what basic elements fit your affinity. For example, I have an affinity for air, water, and light and those three created my unique magic [Harbinger of Storm]. You don't need to master each element you're affiliated with to use your unique magic but if you want to get stronger, of course you need to improve your basic elements skills. " The once white flame on Alucard's palm started to morph into a round dark gray ball; it had a surrounding white lightning making a relatively loud cracking sound.
Anthony's face was full of wonder. "Wow! " he couldn't help but to say.
He couldn't remove his gaze from the ball, on which; he's familiar that it's a sort of power ball just like what some books and animes convey. "A question! " he raised his hand like a student in class.
He just couldn't help it. Nor could he contain what he feels. Although it sure does sound embarrassing.
"Do you also have those silly attack power moves names? " The Fenrir stared at him with a deadpan expression. Upon hearing, Aegir, who was enthusiastic about the topic, raised his hand too.
Curiosity killed the cat; above all else, no matter what situation they're in.
Without letting another question get asked. The Fenrir plastered a fake smile. "No. Going back. Although we already knew that your abilities are associated with the element: darkness. One thing that can help you find out what your affinities are is to channel your mana and focus. You'll be able to see its form and properties. " Not minding the strings of protest from Aegir, Alucard continued; eyes looking straight into Anthony's golden orbs as if he's telling him to shut up and listen. He chuckled timidly.
And that look that says, "Stop asking stupid questions. "
Alucard is still a Fenrir and he just can bite him to death if he'll invite his bad side.
Anthony gulped a lump full of saliva. He covered his mouth using his hand signifying he'll shut up. He's somewhat looking forward and scared at the same time. Scared of embarrassing himself and scared to be minced meat.
"Close your eyes, " the Fenrir instructed him. He followed his command; he could only hear his heart drumming from his chest.
"Take a deep breath. Imagine as if you're seeing some white orbs. Those orbs are encasing your body. The best way to call upon magic you already have is to imagine its form. " Anthony's brows creased. He tried to imagine the stars as orbs, shimmering as he set his eyes into it. Or a firefly at night illuminating a meadow.
He felt his body getting warmer. He found himself in an empty gray room surrounded by crimson spider lilies. One white orb started to appear in front of him until it started to increase; almost like when it's starting to get dark and stars are starting to show themselves. The glow did resembled like stars; twinkling and blinking.
"Try to reach one of those lights. What do you feel? " He could hear the Fenrir's voice. Anthony reached one of the lights; it started to change into a darker color, a deep purple one. He could hear a hushed humming sound from the orb; almost like it's calling them.
He staggered from the sound, seemingly shocked by what he heard. He reluctantly touched the vibrating orb on his hand.
"It became a deep purple one, " he said. The light started to materialize into a bird—a raven. It tilts its head into his direction; eyes deep red. Releasing a croaking call, it flew to his shoulders.
"There's a raven. It's friendly to me. " He reached for the raven's head, petting it. The raven nudged its face to his cheek happily. He also couldn't help but to smile.
Anthony started to reach the other orbs; hoping that it'll also change form. One orb started to engulf in midnight blue flames; it started to fly around him restlessly. His face registered panic upon fearing he'll get burned. But it never did; in fact the flame was warm and comforting with an air of mystery around it.
The other orb turned into an hourglass made of stone; the sand inside of it was shining, moving slowly. Whereas, the other remaining burst one by one like exploding fireworks on a festive night. Anthony's eyes widened at the sight; amazed and bewildered.
As if time responded to the hourglass, it moved at a slow pace; the flowers around him withered gradually until it collapsed, met by the earth and turned into fine dust.
As if all that had transpired tells a story about life... "For dust you are, and to dust you shall return. "
The raven's croaking call echoed the place. The fire around him found itself embracing the hourglass; the glass started to crack until it started to crumble to bits. Letters started to form, at first gibberish; not making sense at all until it formed into a series of readable words.
Unique Magic: [Grave of Unkindness]
Affinities: Darkness, Fire, Earth
Description:
The cursed raven of eternal slumber, calls upon the troubled souls.
To accompany the ailing silenced and plead mercy for those who asked to repose.
For those who wish to stay shall ask his hand for servitude, loyal to their master's goals.
"What the hell?! " with a stunned expression, Anthony couldn't help but to react on what he had just read.
It wasn't long when the surroundings started to blur until Anthony found himself back to reality; eyes wide open and gasping for air.
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