Dark clouds loomed over the sky, bringing with it cold rainy weather. Looking at the murky grey, Kole sighed slightly as he made his way toward the tram station.
Weaving his path through the crowd of people was a skill that required not only brawns but brains as well.
Leaning toward a slim physique, Kole wasn't too bulky but his tall, extremely fit athletic build gave him an edge over ordinary salary men and pedestrians that swarmed the busy streets.
As he stood at the platform, waiting for his ride to arrive, Kole shot a glance toward the newspaper stand.
Many gentlemen lit their cigars nearby as smoke filled the air while reading daily newspapers.
Habitually taking out the pocket watch from the inner pockets of his vest, Kole took note of the time as he briskly walked toward the newspaper stand.
"How much?" He asked the paperboy.
"Six pence." The paperboy replied simply.
Kole fumbled through his pockets and paid the money, after which picked up a daily, pressed down on his hat as his eyes swept through the columns.
Trams came and went and many of them took more than half of the passengers from the crowded platform, however, the crowd never seem to lessen as if it was an endless swarm of locusts.
Suddenly Kole's eyes darkened.
His spiritual perception triggered, sending warning signals to his brain.
Kole calmly analyzed the people around, his eyes squinting.
A gentleman holding a cane got off the carriage; appeared in his peripheral vision. With a laborious roar of machinery, the engine spewed out trails of smoke in the air as the tram continued its journey a peculiar smell of charcoal filled the air.
The gentleman wore a clean formal suit but his eyes were lifeless.
His face was devoid of emotions and he walked a bit stiffly as if he was a puppet.
Kole silently noticed the suspect, folding the newspaper, and tugging it around his waist, over his trousers.
An ominous feeling emerged in his heart.
The gentlemen started walking away from the platform, rigidly.
The heavy crowd of pedestrians pushed him a little because of which his hat fell, however, he wasn't seemed to be bothered in the least.
As the gentleman was walking away, Kole heaved a sigh of relief.
But suddenly, the gentleman stopped.
Hmm?... Kole's brows furrowed.
With slow steady movements, the gentleman turned around. His head craned a little in Kole's direction…
"!!!"
The gentleman looked straight at him; his eyes locked with Kole's.
For some reason, Kole felt a cold hand gripping his throat as his hair stood on end while goosebumps crawled all over his body!
The gentleman's lips started shaking as if he was murmuring something, though, Kole couldn't hear it.
Slowly the man took steps toward Kole, which startled him.
Kole couldn't help but look around to find solace in the crowds.
When his gaze shifted to the people reading newspapers, his irises narrowed and a frown marred his face.
The feeling of incongruity increased with each passing second.
The newspaper-holding men, at some point, were all looking at him.
Strangely their lips moved in sync, as they muttered something almost inaudible.
Kole felt his mouth going dry. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he perked his ears up, trying to listen to their inaudible murmurs.
"… my paper… my paper… my paper…"
Kole's heart almost jumped out of his chest; his eyes widened in disbelief.
What is going on? Don't tell me, it is what I think it is?... Kole was about to unfurl the newspaper he tugged at his trouser to read further.
It was at that moment, the murmuring turned into a maddened chant—attracting the attention of all the people who weren't reading any newspaper.
"Oh… Oh, Goddess!" Someone shrieked in the crowd; his tone shaking.
"Bane! It's the Bane!" Another shouted at the top of his lungs.
It was at that moment the crowd fell into chaos! People screamed, and started running away in all directions.
The mayhem this phenomenon generated—caused a ripple in the calm lake, extending to all the nearby areas as people rushed out of nearby buildings, in an attempt to flee this place as soon as possible!
Meanwhile, Kole who has just unfolded the newspaper quickly went through different columns; his eyes scanning like a hawk.
Suddenly his gaze paused as his eyes glazed over a string of lines: "paper… paper… paper…"
Kole felt a vast amount of information entering his mind; his eyes instantly reddened.
He felt as if his brain was put in a mechanical grinder.
In an instant, he made the decision to throw the paper away but the people who chanted loudly grew a pitcher higher; their eyes darkened as the sounds they produced reached a crescendo!
Kole finally controlled his mind from losing to the temptations and got a hold over himself.
By the time, he focused on his surroundings, he noticed the maddened "Banes" surrounding him.
Their shouts entered his ears. Again, Kole felt his brain being pounded by hammers.
Oh no! A Mental Storm!... Kole's clutched his head in agony. His eyes blurred as felt his grip on reality slipping away. At the same time, blood seeped through his seven orifices!
…
At the other end of the street, when the law enforcers noticed the commotion. They rushed to inform their superiors and Holy Guardians—The House of Tempest!
The actions taken by the relevant authorities were swift and decisive.
Without wasting a moment, a specialized unit was dispatched.