The soul creates the purpose, but without the purpose, the soul is just an empty shell.
These were the words of the First Seeker, the first to learn how to use Soulfuel to forge a Soulskill. He paved the way for all the other Seekers by showing them how purpose can awaken a person's true potential.
Sadly, the first Seeker died a few years later in a battle with a Shardmonster. According to the League, he died heroically, but many believe that his bed had suddenly taken on murderous intentions.
Kael could only hope that his inevitable end as a Seeker would be just as beautiful. Dying in bed was better than dying in a stinking gutter.
"You're zoning out."
The voice from the communicator brought him back to reality. Right. Now was not the time to philosophize about meaning and purpose. He was all too aware of his own purpose in sitting in this quiet street cafe today.
Maybe some of the other visitors would wonder why a boy who looked barely legal was sitting alone in a cafe on a Tuesday morning, not going to school or at least not working. But maybe not, after all, there were all kinds of people in the royal capital - as well as some not-so-human things to avoid, unless you were a Seeker.
Kael cleared his throat, straightened up, glanced around to make sure no one was listening, and then spoke softly into the communicator he held to his mouth.
"My mistake. How long until they arrive?"
His partner's voice hesitated for a few moments before answering. Kael was getting a little nervous. The chances that everything would go according to plan were practically zero. And even then, the plan involved him walking right into some thick shit.
But what could you expect when you were about to execute a crime that would get you blacklisted by the entire league.
Kael grinned. In a way, it was an honor. Not many could claim to be a recognized terrorist. But if the plan worked, he wouldn't even be recognized, just a terrorist.
A small consolation.
"The convoy is one street away. Get ready. Do you remember everything?"
Kael nodded, but reminded himself that his partner couldn't see him. A little embarrassed, he nodded again - damn.
"The cartel will attack the convoy - if you didn't screw up the deal with them. In the chaos, I'll attack the last car with the help of The Cold One - if it's the last car and your information isn't wrong. Then-"
The voice interrupted him.
"Get to the point, we're running out of time."
The words made Kael's blood race.
"Ignore everything. The money, the chaos, the artifacts - only the file counts, right?"
"Exactly. Don't get distracted. Your sister is counting on you."
Kael clenched his teeth and grimaced. He grinded out:
"I know that better than you do."
"Then don't screw it up."
His partner replied.
'I'm so going to punch him in the face when this is all over...'
But Kael's thoughts were interrupted as the first armored vehicle of the League convoy rounded the corner and began to descend the street where the cafe was located.
Kael remained seated. The street was wide, but not as busy as other streets in the Kingdom's capital. No surveillance cameras, but still other citizens. He himself would have liked to avoid collateral damage as much as possible and could only hope that the civilians would simply flee as soon as the first attack took place.
Just as much as he could only hope that his partner hadn't screwed up the deal with the cartel. Kael didn't trust him, but at least he knew he was competent. But this wasn't just any parade, this was a fully armored convoy loaded with Seekers of the League. If the cartel thought this was just some easy cash grab, they were in for a big surprise - and not one of the good kind, more like a birdshit on your new shoes kind of surprise.
Oh well. They were just a diversion. Still, so many other things could go wrong. And if it did, the only lead would vanish into thin air. Kael couldn't afford that.
So it was worth the risk.
He began to count the vehicles as they turned onto the street one by one.
"One, two, three, four... five?"
Something was wrong. He hissed into his communicator as the first vehicle approached.
"You said there were supposed to be four cars!"
Again his partner was silent, but this time the pause was brief. When he answered, his voice was as calm and annoying as ever.
"Count again."
"Five, you idiot!"
"I got it, Kael. Calm down."
Kael almost laughed out loud. Calm down, he says. He's about to turn himself into a terrorist. How can he calm down?
But somehow his partner was right. Getting upset wouldn't help the situation.
The first armored car reached the cafe. Kael followed it with a tense expression. Then the second.
"Is it still the last vehicle?"
The third vehicle passed.
"I don't know. You have to check the last two... but that should be possible with your Soulskill."
The fourth vehicle. Kael slowly rose from his chair and craned his neck. His Nexus pumped in anticipation, Soulfuel flowing through his tense body.
"This is such a bad idea..."
The fifth vehicle drove by. Kael turned to the other patrons in the café, put both hands to his mouth, and shouted as loud as he could.
"Please evacuate! There's about to be-"
His warning was interrupted by a loud hiss somewhere below - and then a loud bang as a rocket-propelled grenade struck the first vehicle in the convoy, flipping it onto its side in a storm of smoke and shrapnel. The vehicle crunched across the hard asphalt before coming to a sudden halt. The upturned front door flied open, and a woman in a blue and black uniform leaped onto the side of the dented car.
"Ambush!"
And then chaos broke out.
Figures in black balaclavas leaped from the alleys. Some carried rifles, others were apparently unarmed - Kael, of course, immediately recognized them as Cartel Seekers.
The other four cars in the convoy came to a screeching halt. The rear and front doors flew open and more League members jumped out.
The first shots were fired, but they seemed to bounce off the League Seekers as if they were being shot at with hot air. One of the Seekers raised his arms and activated his Soulskill. A moment later, the bullets flying at him stopped midair and turned back. Several of the cartel members fell dead to the ground.
Another Seeker in uniform jumped out with inhuman speed, something manifesting in his hand. A breath later, he swung a mighty war-axe at the first Cartel victim. A moment later, the Seeker was engaged in brutal hand-to-axe combat with two Seekers of the Cartel.
Sparks flew, but the battle raged worse elsewhere. Another rocket flew off, but was destroyed midair by a protector of the convoy. Soulskills were activated everywhere, crashes and explosions filled the streets as citizens fled in panic.
Something flashed and the armored vehicle, lying on its side, exploded in a raging fireball. Pieces of armor flew around, smashing into storefronts and buildings. One of them flew straight at Kael. With a lightning-fast high kick, he knocked the shard aside and picked up his communicator.
"Holy shit! There are at least ten, no twenty Cartel Seekers! What the hell did you tell them to get them to mess with the League?"
His partner replied hastily,
"The truth. Also, learn to count. This is your chance. Go!"
But despite his partner's urging, he was already on his way. Hood up, balaclava on, he ran straight for the last car in the convoy. The passengers were busy fending off the attackers with a hail of bullets and Soulskills. Only one had remained by the car, on his knees with his hands on the floor.
Suddenly, a shockwave went through the ground and Kael nearly stumbled. Several of the cartel members lost their balance and fell to the ground. Some managed to get back on their feet, but others were immediately neutralized by the League's Seekers in their defenseless state.
But the lone guardian of the armored vehicle was too distracted to notice Kael coming from behind. He barely managed to turn his head, his serious expression changing to one of surprise as Kael's foot struck him square in the face.
The Seeker was knocked away and fell unconscious to the pavement. Kael gave him only a brief moment of attention before his gaze shifted to the next car in line, vehicle number four.
Since his partner didn't know if the file was in the last or the second-last car, Kael had no choice but to search both. He cursed the situation. Even though the cartel was fighting hard, it was clear that they were losing - and that seemed to take them by surprise.
Kael grimaced, his lips parted.
'Of course you're losing. What do you expect if you trust McTroy?'
His partner was a master at giving false information - whether on purpose or out of incompetence, Kael honestly didn't know anymore.
With a sigh, he activated his own Soulskill. If he had to inspect two vehicles at once, it would take two of him.
He let out a soft, annoyed laugh, more at himself than at the world around him, and concentrated on his Nexus. The Soulfuel flowed through him like a flood, making his body vibrate with energy.
And in the next moment, a perfect copy of Kael stood before him - only this one had an expressionless, cold face.
It was one of the incarnations of his personality, his own Soulskill.
If purpose forged a Soul Skill, Kael still didn't know why he had awakened this ability.
After all, it only allowed him to summon incomplete versions of himself.
And the copy before him was the Cold One.
"You know what to do."
The Cold One, as Kael called this incarnation, looked at him with the same expressionless face as always. He looked around and narrowed his eyes. Then he asked in a monotone voice:
"Who are we killing?"
"No one! And you should know that because you are me, or we are me!"
Kael sighed.
What was the point of creating doppelgangers if they acted on their own accord...