Eden sighed. He was charged by his master to accompany the girls to go out shopping while he went to attend to something else. It's not that he was tired even though his movements were slowed by the burden of carrying several bags worth of items ranging from clothes to perfume but he had to listen to them bicker. As they were coming out of a shop,Lin suggested that they buy some food stuff for
a meal that evening. It sounded good at first but then Sasha and Koniko began arguing about what they should buy.
Apparently, Master Kojo was well versed in the culinary arts and had shown them quite a few of his techniques. As a Fay Eden seldom ate as his body was structured in such a way that he would absorb the arcana in the atmosphere and recycle it within him. In fact for the thousand years he served as the administrator for Babel he had seldom eaten anything,always feeding if the arcana that was within the tower.Edens mouth watered as he imagined eating the food his master had made himself.
"I'm telling you, we need to get the fresh strawberries! They're in season and will be perfect for the shortcake recipe I want to try," Sasha said, pointing to a basket of plump berries.
"No,I think we should get meat. They're on sale and we can make a fine roast." Koniko countered, holding up a large piece of ham.
"Strawberries are way more important than meat right now. And besides, we already have some at the castle ,"Lin argued.
"That's exactly why we should get more! We can never have too much meat. Don't you wanna grow stronger? " Koniko shot back.
"Grow stronger? How are you getting stronger by eating meat." Sasha said, placing the berries in their shopping basket.
" Increase in muscle mass. The stronger your muscles are the higher your performance."Koniko said.
" Oh I see now. You wanna grow that chest of yours so you can get Kojo's attention." Sasha shot at her.
" W-what made you think that. " Koniko said slightly embarrassed.
" That's the only explanation of why you want meat. You've noticed that darling can't get his eyes if me and so you want to grow yours too." Sasha said squeezing her breasts.
Konikos face grew red in embarasment and all the men stoped what they were doing in order to watch.
" It's not like that." Koniko said.
All this while Adriana and Lin stood calmly with smiles as they watched the two argue . Lin had her hands behind her while Tye rested in Adriana's arms purring as she stroked his fur .
Sharone appeared beside them.
" Where did you disappear to." Lin asked when Sharone came.
" Nothing important,just went to check something out." Sharone responded casually. Adriana looked at her. She had seen Sharone set up a sigil in her brother's room and knew that she had left to go back there because she sensed an intruder.
" Did you find anything out?" Adrian asked.
" I got a little bit of information and a name. But let's not discuss it here let's go to a place with less people." She said walking down to Koniko and Sasha. They kept quite immediately she came there.
" Why are you guys arguing? There's a mutual way this can be solved without causing a scene she said taking out her purse and buying both the strawberries and the meat.
" There. Both parties have been appeased no?" She asked them.
They both looked away embarrassed.
" Thanks " the said together.
" It's nothing. Remember that we're friends and friends don't fight among themselves. Also Kojo wouldn't be happy if he found out about this now would he?"
With that she effectively diffused the situation. The men were still standing around expecting the.shkw to continue. Sharone glanced at them and they looked away.goung about their business as if nothing had happened.
" Honestly." Sharone said with a sigh." Kojo was supposed to meet up with us but he's still not here. I know he has things to do but he should at least tell us instead of doing things in his own." She sighed again.
Eden looked at her. Though it wasn't spoken it would as obvious that she was the alpha female because of the way she carried herself and the way she was able to deal with the others. Just then his Urrsyn activated and he saw glimpses into a future. A future where entire cities were destroyed and Sharone and Kojo fought their blades clashing as they danced over the corpses of their comrades.
" Now enough about food. Let's pass by Sol's place. There are stuff we need to discuss." Sharone's voice brought Eden back to the present.
" What was that?" He mummered wondering what his vision meant.
" Aren't you coming Eden?" Lin called from the distance as she took Tye from Adriana.
" I'm coming" he said walking towards them.
They went to Sols shop and noticed that he was also repairing it. He greeted them and took them inside.
" Can I offer you anything?" He asked.
" Id like some tea." Lin said. Sol looked at the others. They all seemed to want what Lin was having. He looked at Eden who wasn't seated but rather stood behind them. He shook his head and he nodding, Sol walked inside. He returned a few minutes later with a tray and poured out some tea for them.
After taking a sip Sharone placed her cup down. Before show could say anything Sol spoke up.
" You're here to ask your questions?" He asked.
" I told you you had some explaining to do." She said.
" Explaining?" Adriana repeated.
" It's best if I just show you." Sol said raising his the sleeve on his right arm and taking off the glove. They noticed that he had scares on his hands as if he had been burned. The buts appeared to cover his entire arm.
" Could you guys go back a little?" He asked. They all shifted thier chairs back and Sol touched the table turning it from wood to diamond.
" Whoa" Koniko said in surprise. Even the tray and cups with their content all turned to diamond.
" Sorry about that. I still can't full control my power." Sol said with a smile.
" I've known you for a long time you're the one who's been giving me information . I knew you were special but this?" Sasha said.
Sharone looked at her.
" So even you didn't know about this Sasha?" Sharone asked.
" No." She replied.
" Id be surprised if you did. I wouldn't be an information broker if I couldn't keep secrets. That said,how did you know?" Sol asked Sharone.
" It was the smell of your blood. At first I thought it was a coincidence since they all died but theres no mistaking it,you are a Mercurian." Sharone said.
" What's a Mercurian?" Adriana asked.
" Mercurians or the sons of Mercurius were a race of humans who had an exceptional skill for alchemy. So much so that they had the power to rewrite the laws of existence and alter matter itself. But they went extinct two centuries ago." Eden said then as if realizing he'd misspoken
." If you don't mind my Interruption." He quickly apologized.
" Not at all." Adriana said
" Despite Thier great power they were a relatively peaceful people who strived to build peaceful relations with all people and readily accepted all as long as you wanted knowledge."
" It's that perception that led to their downfall." Sol said clenching his fists.
" We were a relatively peaceful people who lived on an island a few miles from the Saifelle continent. One would think that we were so prosperous because of our closeness to the spirits. We Mercurians are defended from Mercurius one of the "first ones" and the father of alchemy. As such we shared a thirst for knowledge and innovation and before long we became one of the most advanced people on the planet. One day a traveler was washed ashir in our island. Some of the people were skeptical but as good natured people we took him and and that was our mistake.
He was seemingly kind and clever learning as much as he could and before long he had mastered all our techniques rising to become one of the elders of a people he didn't belong to. I was just a boy then.
I remember it all.
One day we were just enjoying normal life and at the next moment we were being slaughtered by unknown assiailants. Clouds of smoke rise up into the air as screams could be heard. Women were defiled and killed. Babies were taken from thier mothers. Pregnant women had Thier bellies ripped open, children were trampled upon and the men butchered.
All this while that man stood aboard one of Thier airships and wat he'd it all happen with a smile on his face. It was him who delivered the final blow turning the island into molten rock with his power before sinking it. I was.the only survivor. I was drifting at sea,waiting for death but I was found by a blind old fisherman. He was the one who took me in and treated my wounds and taught me how to control my unstable power though I failed woefully." Sol said with a faint smile.
Before passing he made me these gloves in order to supress my abilities. So I spent the next few decades traveling the world in sear g of that man while building a network in order to have the advantage when the time came but to no avail. So I gave up and slived life as a jeweler and an information broker to those who would need the service I provided. "
" That's so sad." Adriana said wiping away her tears. Sols story had made the atmosphere gloomy and sad.
" But how are you still alive?" Lin asked.
" He's a Mercurian. Defended from the first one or the first humans." Sharone answered.
" The first ones were the first humans ever to come into the world. They boasted a higher tolerance to the natural forces a greater affinity for magic and a lifespan than could stretch till up to a thousand years. Though the humans seemed to grow weaker with every generation from there. I've observed that human strength is increasing again though I don't know the cause." Sol said.
Sasha nodded." So while you're not a First one,you're above the humans of this era."
" You could say it like that." Sol answered picking up a cup to take a sip before realizing it was altered. He snapped his fingers and it disappeared, turning to air.
" Sol, we'll need your assistance. The recent happenings may all be connected somehow and we need an insider with information." Sharone said." You may not have any motivation to help us but I promise you're work shall not be in vain." Sol saw the glint in her eyes and walked up to her.
" Wait,you know something. You know we're he is tell me" He said desperately putting his hands on her shoulder.
" I have a suspicion about who that man could be but I'm not sure so until I confirm I'm gonna have to ask you to be patient." She pleaded. Sol looked down.
" Maybe it's fate. Alright" he raised his head and stepped back." I'll help you." He stretched his hand. Sharone shook it.
" Good to work with you. But one thing no one needs to know about this,nit even Kojo." Sharone added.
" Understood."
She looked at the others and they nodded in agreement.
Eden was at first puzzled but he realized that eyes were already watching his master so while he was acting the girls would support him from the shadows. Sharone looked at him.
" Yes, mistress Sharone,I understand."