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Volume 5

Chapter 14: Sage Warns the Sinners

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Graham was driving like a racer, dodging cars and traffic in a two lane highway in the middle of the crowded city of Manila.

And yet, though it can be seen as reckless and rage-temptingly aggressive on the outside, inside, AG, with his white mask, was still seated cross-legged as they made their way to their destination.

By the time they reached the bank, a full escort of limousines and armored trucks could be seen parked in the distance and the flag in their cars were all the signs that they were there because of a royal VIP.

Still, men in black suits barred their entrance to the bank premises and it was all because of the sleek black car that ignored everything and entered the arched drive way of the bank lobby.

The tension between the men in black suit and the royal guards were heating up when AG took a step out of the car as a holographic [email protected] rendering of the Main Branch in Geneva’s General Manager greeted him respectfully.

“Let me explain the…” these were the first words of the General Manager but as soon as AG dismounted the car that Graham drove, he immediately went in the building and strode with clear elegant yet light footsteps towards the deepest depths of the building without talking nor intent on listening to the man.

Behind him was Graham and AG’s two bodyguards.

The man, of course, felt like he had just been shot in the head as he felt the repercussions of what AG just did. For sure, not only there was no next time, the entire bank and its name are ruined from today.

And it was all because of a small mistake.

In the elevator, the General Manager kept on trying to explain but AG only silently looked forward, not even a slight and as small as a glance was thrown to the poor man.

Upon reaching the lobby, they saw the mother and son pair, along with the Branch Manager, the two guards with eye glasses, and the poor receptionist.

Seeing AG’s bodyguards, especially Graham, the two bank bouncers loosened their ties and cleared their throats, trying to ease up their intimidation.

When the royal sovereign saw AG, she can’t help but frown as she yelled at all of them: “What is the meaning of this? Do you know who I am? Do you know that detaining me here is a crime against the queen of the Uglya Kingdom!”

The Branch Manager trembled. Not because of the threat of the queen but because he recognized the big man that was with AG serving like a body guard.

When the queen felt that he was ignored, all the more she raised her voice and pointed at AG. “You! I am talking to you! Who do you think you are standing in front of me like you are someone? Don’t you know who I am?”

No matter how loud her mouth became, AG ignored her all the same. Her son, used to the backing of his mother, even approached AG and spoke mockingly.

“You! Can’t you hear my mother talking to you?”

Graham raised a brow, AG’s two bodyguards raised their brows, and the two bouncers of the bank was so happy that they couldn’t help sneering.

It was at this point that the Geneva General Manager stepped forth to the mother. “Please, don’t provoke him any further than this. I beg you. Any more than what you have already said will give you the regret of a lifetime. So, please, for your own good, just get away from here as soon as possible.”

The royal sovereign, upon hearing this, had the most incredulous expression as her chest rose up and down and her crooked nostrils became big and then small.

“Y-Y-You… what did you just say?” with her trembling finger, she pointed at the [email protected] rendering of the General Manager. “Y-You dared to… to threaten me with him? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?!! My name is Biatchra Pangetsis Uglya! I am the queen of the Uglya Kingdom! My royal guards are just outside and if you don’t let me go right this instant, I will personally announce everything I have spoken earlier and I will not let this country get away with this!”

After she spoke, she strode forward with heavy steps and pointed a finger at AG.

AG only gave her a glance before his gaze fell down to the boy beside her. Under his piercing glare behind his mask, the boy felt his heart clench.

When he turned his eyes towards the royal sovereign, the queen’s lips tightened to a stop.

AG’s visible facial expression had no change and there was the usual calmness of an underground lake and the sucking dark emptiness of the void.

Like an aged lion king of the forest looking down at a cub, the queen and her son felt like they were glanced at by a monster capable of eating them alive in an instant.

AG finished his visual scan and then glanced at the crying and trembling receptionist and said to Graham. “I don’t need her.”

Graham nodded and went to pick up the poor woman.

He took an envelope on his jacket packet and handed it to the woman, then whispered something on her ears that the woman’s eyes widened before she gave AG a glance and then the two managers, then glared at the queen and her son, and finally back to Graham before nodding and running off towards the entrance.

After that, AG glanced at the two door guards. “Do you want to work for me?”

The two bouncers exchanged looks before they took their steps and joined at the very back side of AG’s two other body guards. Since they were already in the same black suits, the two of them blended in without a hitch.

After that, AG finally glanced back at the queen and took a step. The queen felt her knees were about to give in but as a mother, she protected her son and then took a step back not noticing that for every step that AG took, she was actually matching it with a back step of her own… until she ran out of space.

In panic, she asked, “W-Who are you?”

AG raised his cane and used the head to hit the forehead of the queen as if she was a maidservant who had done something bad.

“Who I am is not important. The important thing is, I want you to know that you and your country, from now on, are working for me.”

The queen, seeming to have heard a ridiculous joke, had her eyes widen in disbelief. “How dare you?!”

But AG hit her forehead again. It was the same kind of hit as before; not heavy, just light enough to knock her head back but not create any lump. Yet still, it was at a strength strong enough that it reached her soul… and most especially, her ego and her identity.

It was a direct insult to her identity as queen and yet it was also a direct display of WHO this person with a mask was.

“You say that I dared? Then let me show you something that will explain everything to you.”

AG’s voice remained calm and bland. It wasn’t at a high tone but it weighed like a ton in the ears of all of the people that could hear it.

Both the General Manager and the Branch Manager felt their hearts clinch, especially the General Manager as he knew personally who this person was.

With the two bouncers holding the queen and her son, the group rode down and eventually reached the Pandora’s Vault in no time.

There, when they all, especially Graham and AG, saw the floating sword in the middle of the vault, they couldn’t help but gasp cold air.

AG in particular clenched his teeth but maintained his cool as he walked forward to check on it.

He leaned back slightly, “How many minutes has it been in this form before you cut the connection?”

The question was meant for the Branch Manager who stuttered in reply. “L-Less than a minute… sir.”

Hearing this, AG glanced at Graham, “Was he only at the time?”

Graham nodded. “Yes.”

AG inhaled and lightly tilted his head up, shaking his head as he exhaled, cooling his boiling temper. After that, he faced the queen in the far back gladly held and restrained by the two bouncers.

“How ironic, really, that Pandora’s Vault… held the box that could destroy the world. Now, because of the way you see yourself, you’ve… just… opened… pandora’s… box…”

Four taps on the forehead on each of the four last words. The same light yet very degrading force made the queen tear up in fear and horror. She was only ugly but she wasn’t stupid.

From the very first tap on her forehead earlier and most especially now, she had already accepted the fact that AG was not someone held down by status and laws of the world. She was aware of the existence of that underground black market facility –Goldwyn City, and she had been briefed that no since their country had no idea what it was for and what was there, they have to be absolutely sure not to ever provoke anyone from that place.

And yet now, because of her arrogance, she had just provoked that very existence.

The tears on her eyes flowed like rivers and her ugly son was now crying in utter fear. But AG didn’t care and he continued to tap on her forehead like she was a criminal who just made his investments go down the drains.

“Arrogance, little girl, is always the key to everyone’s demise. History had taught us that arrogant people tend to be the ones who fall and die the most painful and hardest of deaths. But you… ugly woman, had not only opened Pandora’s Box, you also made… me… very, very angry. In fact, I am so angry that even the sum total of a hundred of your country’s economic value will not even suffice to ease my temper.”

AG’s voice remained calm but every word felt like lead bullets hitting her soul over and over.

The boy’s cry became louder but when AG glanced down at him, without even saying a word, the boy had to force himself to stop crying.

“Please… I’m sorry… I…” before she could even finish, AG tapped her forehead again with the same very restrained yet very violent force as the others.

He leaned his ears closer to her and whispered, “If I say that you can speak, you can. But if I do not give you the permission, you will not… say… a word.”

Three taps in the forehead and the queen’s sobs grew deeper and more fearful. She was so frightened, in fact, that from her long skirt that covered her entire lower body, the back side began to get wet.

“Do you hear me?”

“Yes. Yes I hear you very clearly.”

“Good. Now, regarding what I said earlier, can you repeat that to me, please?”

“Me and my country is working for you.”

“Good. Now, get out of my sight.”

That she let loose the dam made the two bouncers that held her feel disgusted and yet also wanted to laugh louder at her. AG sighed and then turned his back against her to face the now officially first ever [artifact] on Planet Earth.

Graham didn’t wait for her to say anything as he gave the two bouncers eye contacts to take away the mother and child he came back to AG and then lowered his head and asked, “Boss… what now?”

“What else can we do? I’ve already asked someone to create a seal for this artifact. As he is now and the things that’s happening, it is very dangerous for us if he’s able to get his hands on this one. In three days’ time, seal off this place. Disable all cellular networks within the nearest 30km and do not let any kind of transmitting devices get close to the nearest 2km radius of this place.”

“Yes, sir.”

Graham turned around and move immediately when AG called. “Wait.” he faced AG as he waited for him to speak additional instructions. “Contact UNICORN and tell them that I know their secret and that if they do not comply with my demands, I will release the demon they created and ruin all of their plans.”

“Right away.”

Graham also left and only the two bodyguards had remained there, looking around at the place.

AG watched the floating [artifact] that rotated in its own axis with thoughts that run deeper than the deepest ocean in the planet.

His placid expression and tranquil presence bid a very ominous presence that made the two behind him not daring to even breath loudly. His still shoulders and unmoving pose, hands on his cane, quietly observing the sword… was much more frightening than any other frightening scenario the two could think of.

Augustus Laniary is a very patient man and he was so wise and patient that it was frightening to imagine just how deep was his insights and schemes are.

In this very moment, he seemed like a grand sage of a fantasy world, watching a creation that he had no idea of and yet wanted to control or seal for the sake of the completion of his own ambitions.

He murmured, “I’ve tolerated enough. Time and time again, the set backs are pestering me, testing how deep my patience goes.”

AG hissed the words in between gritted teeth and yet his countenance remained calm in the outside.

*****

“What was that earlier?”

“Yeah… ever since that weird fit, he’s been quiet.”

Volt and Thorn were looking at Siva from behind. The white world of snow is still around them while the quiet sound of their hover boards making way atop the piled up snow echoed by.

Siva… has been looking up from time to time towards the sky and each time, he would always sigh.

While they were making their way down the very large snowy mountain range dodging rocks and trees, Siva was sometimes seen looking at his hand, clench it, then sigh again.

And then, at one point, he murmured, “What was that feeling? I think I’ve felt this same kind of feeling before… like… a part of me was missing. Different than Amanda’s… and definitely not like Baron’s… it’s more like a personal something… like one of my arms or legs... or like… part of my soul.”

*****

Janus was at the edge of the floating island, looking at the far distance plains covered by a sea of clouds.

Behind him was Gabriel and Garin, and the five young ones, waiting for the old man to finish his sighs.

“Too early…” Janus murmured but the words still drifted in the air as it seems that everything became silent for his moment. “It’s too early for this world…”

“Teacher…”

“…”

Hands behind his back, the old man looked like a Sage as he gazed at the horizon. The afternoon Sol painted the sea of clouds orange and vermillion, becoming more and more purplish as the Sol behind them sets in the direction of the west.

But then, he raised a finger and pointed at the blue sky. BOOM! A magic circle expanding a magnificent sight of a hundred or so meters wide centering on his finger appeared in the blue sky.

Seeing this alarmed Gabriel and a panic stricken pale face Garin took a step back. The kids were delighted to see this but Garin felt different as he felt that there was a different sense of danger that came from whatever magic spell this was.

“Teacher!” Gabriel screamed in worry.

Janus turned to glance at him then came back to look up to his magic circle. “I have never intended to use this in the first place but considering that the world outside is just so daring, it leaves me no choice but to cleanse the sins that they want to sow before they even get the chance to awaken him. So, I shall make my move here and now.”

With his words, Gabriel clenched his fists as he looked down to grit his teeth in anger.

“Those bastards! For their greed for power, they are willing to sacrifice this world and the millions of lives in it! I swear that when I get a chance, I will kill them all myself!”

Garin only listened. He was taking note of everything that was happening with the old man. It’s been a while now since he’s had an idea of what [this world] and the other world these two were talking about.

Still, regarding the latter, he still couldn’t get where it was and only thought that there was another world in the game aside from the one they are right now.

No matter where it was inside the game, Garin thought that it was going to be accessible once they completed whatever grand quest they are after.

He was actually looking forward to it.

Then, Janus spoke with regret in his voice as if his words were intended for someone not with them.

“I’m so sorry about this, child. I never wanted this day to come. I wanted to use this spell for a different purpose but knowing the greed of men, might as well stake everything on him than live a longer life filled with bitter regrets.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Janus’ spell was cast towards the blue sky and vanished like an illusion.

Gabriel walked forward with tears. “Teacher…”

Janus looked back at Gabriel, “The seal is lifted and the vessel selection restriction is now lifted. The first to discover their existence –according to the rules set by Mana– they will choose their own vessel.”

Garin and the kids were confused but they remained silent because they knew that these two shared a very complicated relationship, and they also knew things that’re sometimes too advanced on for them.

Janus sighed and then turned to him. “Gabriel, you knew very well that this day would come sooner or later… although today, it did come very early…”

“…”

Janus shook his head. “Don’t worry. This is the last stand for me. Now, we leave everything up to his mission. For the moment, the vessels will be chosen and the rise of the Chaos Gods unavoidable. Everyone will have their own vessel, I’ve already chosen mine; he is his; she is hers; and with how the flow of events are proceeding–” at these words, Janus sighed and looked back at the sea clouds, “–the final war will be coming a bit too soon. In this process, the Chaos Gods will be required to choose sides if they want to survive and this will serve to hinder their plans for a little bit of time. For our mission, that time will be enough. They’ve pushed my arm too far so they must be warned of the consequences of their actions.”

Gabriel and the rest could only look at that back of his that seemed to feel like he carried the world with it.

A few moments of silence passed by before old man Janus sighed yet again. It was a sigh that had more weight in it. Regrets, perhaps, but no matter what, the old man seemed to have lost some of his spirit of ancientness as his back seemed to have lurched for a bit to reflect his old age.

Right now, to Garin and the youths, he doesn’t seem to look like a player anymore but instead an actual old man from a faraway country side looking at his farm devastated by a great flood.

“Sigh… in the end, it really led to me lifting my finger against him. I just hope that if he does wakes up this time, he understands my intentions and doesn’t sow a seed of hatred against me.”

Garin thought to himself, “Who was this person he keeps on referring to?”

“The Chaos Gods…” Gabriel uttered with some bitter thoughts. “Teacher, when the day comes, will I be…”

Janus chuckled and interrupted him. “You already are capable so don’t worry.” As he spoke, Janus turned to the kids and then to Garin with a warm smile.

Garin felt that that smile was somewhat awkward. It was like he was seeing a pope smile at him. It was a kind of smile that came from someone who had a very high and lofty status, looking down at something small of an existence like his.

He couldn’t help but feel elated, happy, and glad from the bottom of his heart. It was just that kind of smile.

Gabriel nodded softly, “I will do my best.”

“I trust you will.” Janus patted his shoulder and then turned towards Garin. “And as for you, I have a task that’s in need of your assistance.”

Garin was startled but then, thinking that he really did wanted to take part in this Grand Quest of theirs, he nodded with conviction. “What should I do?”

Janus smiled.

*****

Meanwhile, in the Continent of Tiara…

Back in the Garuda, in the very depths of the ship, in the secret room intended for a single existence…

An elegant looking man seated in the side of his bed looked up as, in the darkness of the room, as a light from the ceilings came falling gently.

The light fell down and the man stretched his hand to catch this light that formed into a shape of a bottle.

“Father…” the man whispered full of love.

After the bottle formed, he crushed it and a note was left in his hand. He unfurled the note and read the contents before his hands trembled and the note burned with black fire.

“I will–” He stood up and then walked in front of him as a door opened up into the light outside. “–kill him as you have ordered.”