Chapter 24: The shrinking Willow
“Asato, you’re back” Erin was the first one to greet Asato as soon as he return. Asato would not say he had not expected it at all.
Despite all his flaws, Erin had a sharp enough mind to put things into perspective and to prioritise important matters over others.
“Where’s Ten? I assume everything went alright on your side?” Asato asked, sharp eyes taking a look at his surroundings. While Asato was sure his surroundings were not bugged at all, there was never a thing as being too sure of anything.
Besides, with everything going on along with his own suspicions from before, let’s just say it was better to be safe than to be sorry in any condition.
“Yeah, things went surprisingly well on our side. Ten’s asleep was complaining about too much noise and headaches” Erin waved his hand off in a joking manner to make light of the situation. Asato took things too seriously at times which was not something Erin wanted to add to his plate right now.
The pair of narrowed eyes aimed at him told him that he failed that perspective of the challenge at least.
“Noise you say? I suppose I should have considered that too” Asato muttered low enough to not be heard and by the curious look he was shot from Erin he succeeded. He was laying down the bait for the question to be asked.
All Erin had to do was to take the bait and ask the question as any sane person would.
“Yeah, about that. Asato, I wanted to ask you - Is Ten a normal person?” Erin asked the question in a quiet voice. Evidently, he did not want to be overheard about this topic too. A smart decision on his part.
“Depends on your definition of normal. Do you consider me a normal person?” Asato asked his tone totally flat. Erin just let out a nervous giggle in return.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Is there something about you that I should know? Wait, are you not a normal human?” Erin asked, his words quick and worry-filled. Asato just wondered what was wrong with the older.
Then it drew on him that he was an idiot. Of course, Erin did not know, no one knew his secret. Erin just took a lot of Asato at face value which made Asato too relaxed in his company, even enough to forget that Erin was not actually privy to his secrets.
Red bloomed on pale cheeks as Asato turned his face away from Erin’s still nervous one.
“No, it was just a hypothetical question since many people do not consider our family to be normal at all. As for Ten, you already have a guess don’t you?” Asato asked, his tone still having the nervousness from before.
But the topic was safely diverted for the time being, both their attention toward the new threat of information being presented in front of them. Of course, Erin had his suspicions with all the information that was being tossed around till now.
He was not brain dead at all, just a little slow at times.
“All I can guess was that he is a byproduct of some lab experiments. But since I can't place it from where, I can only take it that their lab had not been burst out yet or is not registered in records. Other than that I have no clue” Erin’s voice was dark and devoid of emotions.
A perfect blank on the face of someone this expressive might rattle one out if Asato was not used to the occasional bursts like that from the older beforehand.
“What I can tell you is that Ten’s energy composition is somewhat similar to the abyss magic or even closer to our family’s magic. Someone went great lengths to conceal this fact too by attempting to remove all the victims” that was the feeling Asato got from the last two attacks.
He was not sure how it connected to the attacks in the human world or if there were any other attacks that ever happened overall, but for now this was his gut theory he was going with.
“I see. This is not good news at all. If this news breaks out then it would cause a huge scandal for this power. You don’t think the demon officials are behind this, do you?” Erin’s voice was cold and clear.
“No, I don't. If they were then the balance of the whole situation would have already shifted toward one side. Whosoever is doing this is careful enough to not touch the equilibrium scale at all” that was a feat that was not easy to accomplish.
At any other time, Asato would have complimented such dedication but not in this scenario. Right now it was just a problem that was increasing rapidly.
“Understood. Anyway, what’s our next goal plan?” Erin asked, his lazy attitude back now that the serious talk was as good as over. Asato just pulled an offended face, too tired to actually pay attention to what was going on in earnest.
“You just want to be lazy by leaving things onto me, don’t you? Unfortunately, your subordinates are the ones at the easter city, not mine so get in touch with them as fast as you can” the words woke Erin who was laying down with a lazy grin.
“More work? No, you can’t make me” Erin complained but actually woke up to do his assigned work. Asato just watched in fondness as the elder left the room to make arrangements.
The setting sun made a great contrast to the room’s yellow walls, giving it a reddish tint which made Asato remember everything that had happened till now.
It had started with the fire and the smokey disease, which was a common factor but he had nothing till now to connect the dots he had with each other. In a way, he was still at the starting line and as much as he didn’t want to, he would have to involve Ten in this all too.
The other was already too deep in the mystery to make him a separate factor after all this. It would just not feel right overall.
Asato made his way through the semi-open corridors toward his room where he kept his bag. It was already half empty which made it crucial to restock back at home.
Taking out the luminescent grass’s bottle from his bag, he gave it a look. The yellow of the grass had turned into a soft blue inside the liquid and small nodes were beginning to form at the corner of the leaves.
They were starting to reproduce inside the liquid which was a good sign of their growth. He would soon need to plant these in their new location before their germination so that they could adapt and grow in there.
Too late and it would all be spoiled as a result of premature growth outside the medium.
He arranged his bottles in a line to take a stock of what he had, which made him think about the first day here. He had lost a bottle during a collision.
More specifically, one of his bottles had been stolen during the collision which seemed not a big deal. But what if it was related to the fire? Why would someone steal his bottles which were not even that expensive or rare.
The only reply that formed was to either attract his attention or there was a desperate need of the bottle for the thief.
His feet brought him out of the mansion, the streets as deserted as the first day without the fire. Asato allowed his feet to take him away from the mansion and toward the burned orphanage.
It was badly damaged, the walls still had the smell of that distinct smoke inside them which he did not remember. His feet hesitated as he willed them to go inside.
Memories of his own childhood assaulted him and of the weird conversations from his past resurfaced. But they were objective this time, his mind trying to pick them apart.
The terrifying truths at one time felt artificial to him now, they whispered to him and made him wonder what he was even doing.
And in the evening, he stood right in front of the orphanage, a stare between his past and present. The moon that was high in the sky seemed to be crying at his apparent dilemma over his choice which had led to this.
In the end, neither Asato went inside the orphanage, nor his mind reached a satisfying conclusion. It was a stalemate for all sense and purpose of the world which he was more than happy to face.
When Asato entered back into the guest mansion it was well past the late hours, the early birds beginning to wake up. He was not particularly tired, but the few hours of rest he got he really appreciated.
The morning was hectic when Erin of all people worked him up in his silly loud ways and was awarded with a pillow on his face for his service.
“Why are you so grumpy?” As usual, Asato just ignored the older as he dragged his body out to start a new day.
“Is everything OK?” Ten’s voice reached Asato just as his brain woke up enough to categorize it into what it was.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Freshen up yourself, we leave for back home at noon” Asato’s words were received with a cheer and confused look. Clearly, everyone has different priorities.
When Asato reached back home, it was a much-welcomed feeling. The magic inside the shadow mansion welcomed him back and Asato finally felt as if he was home at last.
(I'm happy and thankful for all your supportive spirit and my second place in WPC. Thank-you very much)
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone