章 22: Marked

Hugo steeled his heart and voiced his concerns.

"What is wrong with possessing a token? Don't you all use one to move out of town?" Hugo could no longer hold in his curiosity.

"Damned brat! What's wrong with having a token? …Token!" The Matriarch yelled at Hugo whilst also scornfully mimicking his tone.

After hearing Hugo's idiotic question, the Matriarch was seething with enough anger to start spitting blood.

Giza was hidden by a rank-6 concealment formation, making it all but impossible for anyone beyond the walls to discover the town's existence. Even vastly powerful mystics that had attained the emperor-rank of prowess would be unable to discover the town unless they expended great effort carrying out a detailed but targeted search.

But here in Giza, one pudding-headed kid was inexplicably using an unofficial token to effortlessly leave and enter the town. How could the defenses of the Dark Church's most secret base be so easily circumvented by a mere kid?

The Matriarch looked stupefied by the sheer level of ignorance displayed by the 'kid' in question.

"Who gave you the token? I don't have time for your nonsense. So, you'd better be completely honest with me. Otherwise, I will just call the Church's inquisitors to interrogate you." The Matriarch's added, her tone riled and intimidating.

"It was from Elena. She said it was safe to use the token." Hugo chose to reveal the source of the token right away. He could easily read between the lines and see that the situation was very grim.

"Which Elena?" The Matriarch and Constantine questioned in unison. They appeared to have been deeply affected by Hugo's reply.

"Elena Fabrizio. She is one of Fox's friends. Don't you remember the red-haired girl that visited us some two years ago?" Hugo replied, expressing his confusion.

He still couldn't fathom how on earth the token could be dangerous. Hugo had already utilized it a couple of times to leave town and hadn't yet faced any backlash.

"Is that Fox girl in the know about you possessing the token?" The Matriarch questioned. Hugo could tell that the Matriarch was very concerned about this.

"No!" Hugo shook his head in denial before turning to look at the elder who was still standing by the curtained window.

He had carefully followed Elena's instructions to the letter and even picked a time of the day when the town was almost deserted.

How had the blacksmith found out about the token? Was he involved in creating the barrier? These were some of the questions on Hugo's mind.

"Elena is the one who gave me the token when I told her about my boredom," Hugo added choosing to remain frank. "She told me that Miss Fox already has her own as she's part of the Dark Church."

The Matriarch rose from her rocking chair, walked over, and stood hovering just above Hugo, who was reclining on the antique couch just beside the fireplace.

The Matriarch's wrinkles appeared more creased as she looked into Hugo's eyes.

Hugo began to feel uncomfortable with the Matriarch's proximity and bowed his head to begin a timely observation of his dirty brown boots. However, the Matriarch was having none of that…

The Matriarch lifted Hugo's chin so that his eyes stared directly into hers. He could see that her eyes had begun glittering with a gray luster.

As Hugo looked closer, he noticed the swirls of glittering onyx black and tinges of blue at the edges of her eyes. The Matriarch's eyes were mysterious and soothing.

He began to feel his entire mind relax as he was swallowed by the depths of the Matriarch's gaze… He seemed to have attained a very tranquil state and just wanted to laze around without a care in the world…

However, before this state of relaxation could engulf his consciousness, the familiar ancient sigh and golden light once again burst out within the confines of his spiritual world…

Hugo was excited as this was the first time he was seeing the light in the past six years of his stay in Giza.

The golden radiance baptized his mind, negating the effects of the Matriarch's hypnosis spell.

Hugo continued acting like he was still entranced as he had no way to explain how he could easily escape the effects of a spell cast by a mystic as powerful as the Matriarch.

"Hugo! This is a very serious matter… Think about it carefully before you answer. Has anyone seen you using the residence token?" The Matriarch's voice was very melodic, like a rider soothing a startled horse.

"No one else has seen me use the residence token," Hugo answered mechanically trying his best to appear spellbound by the hypnosis.

"Who gave you the token?"

"Elena Fabrizio."

"Does Miss Fox know about the token?"

"No."

"Was Elena with any other person when she gave you the token?"

"No."

"How did you manage to leave the town unnoticed?"

"I only used the token when it was time for the morning service. Not many people are around, especially at the deserted eastern gate."

"Where did you go to after leaving the town?"

"To the terraced farms on the Mountains."

"How long have you used the token?" The Matriarch asked while stealing glances at Tracy, who was now frowning.

"A few months, maybe four."

The Matriarch and Constantine both sighed in relief.

"Can the two of you explain to me what is going on? Did you have to do this?" Tracy sounded anguished.

The Matriarch gestured quickly to Tracy, trying to signal to her to catch on. "He is lucid." She whispered.

At last, understanding lit her face and she stopped asking questions about the topic. However, her slender trembling hands were rolled into fists.

Constantine and Bianca exchanged glances, before turning once more towards Hugo who appeared to have just woken up from his trance-like state.

"What happened?" Hugo acted surprised, turning to the Matriarch who was just returning to her seat.

"Hugo! You can keep the token, however, never use it to bypass the formation barrier of Giza again!" Constantine implored while tossing the residence token over to him.

"Remember! Never show it to anyone else. Clear?" The Matriarch added, her tone very solemn.

"But everyone else also has this token! Why are you treating it like something special?" Hugo asked, in an aggrieved tone.

He had expected some sort of punishment but was instead encouraged to keep the token. Apart from the hypnosis which was useless on him, Hugo had gotten away scot-free.

[What has happened to the usually stern Matriarch? And why are they so surprised to hear that Elena gave me a token?] Hugo wondered as he stuffed the token back in the pockets of his Khaki shorts.

Constantine and the Matriarch exchanged glances, and Hugo got the impression that the fogeys were plotting something unknown to him and Tracy.

"Hugo! Go to your room and change out of those dirty shoes and pants. I need to discuss something with your Grandma and Elder Constantine." Tracy implored.

[When will these people stop treating me like a child?] Hugo remained in the comfort of his seat, refusing to budge an inch. He needed to know what was so special about the token.

"Little boy, don't think that I have forgotten about your trips out of town. What do you think your punishment should be?" Matriarch Bianca interjected; her tone authoritative as usual.

Hugo's face fell.

[The way the Matriarch changes moods is not scientific.] Hugo thought, however, he said…

"Grandma Bianca! I'm too bored in the house and town. Why don't you allow me to go to the library?"

"Not this topic again. Enough… Go to your room. We need to discuss a few things that aren't meant to be heard by little boys like you." The Matriarch curtly replied, leaving no room for Hugo to argue.

Hugo sighed as he trekked towards his room.

[Not this again. Why do they always chase me away when visitors come around? Are they talking about mystic powers?]

Hugo didn't even bother trying to eavesdrop on the conversation happening in the living room. He was certain he would be found out by the Matriarch.

****

In the living room of Hugo's home, a standoff was taking place between Tracy and the two elders.

A frown was plastered on Tracy's youthful face as she glared at the Matriarch and the Blacksmith. She was very disappointed with her teacher. Her hypnosis spell on Hugo had scraped beyond her bottom line.

"Couldn't you just question him directly without casting the spell?" Tracy asked, her voice laced with rage.

"Hugo has always been an intelligent child… He could see the gravity of the situation. Why did you have to use a spell to cross-examine him?" Tracy continued while glaring at the Matriarch. If stares could kill, the Matriarch and Constantine would have died thousand times over.

The Matriarch sighed while gently shaking her head.

"Tracy! We used the hypnosis for his own good…"

"For his own good? …Own good!? How is hypnotizing a six-year-old considered a good thing?" Tracy bellowed at the Matriarch. She was incensed by her words.

"Can't you even have some bit of trust in the words of a child? He is not some criminal being investigated by the Church! …Have you gone senile with age or do you have the 'war paranoia syndrome' like the other high-ranking officials?"

"Matriarch! You disappoint me…"

Words flew from Tracy's mouth that she never thought she'd even think, let alone say out loud. She was like a volcano erupting after a thousand years of dormancy.

"Hush… Hush… Tracy! Hugo is just upstairs. You don't want him to hear us arguing? Do you?" The Matriarch implored; her tone concerned.

Tracy sank into a nearby couch while burying her head in between her hands. She was genuinely trying to get ahold of her emotions.

Constantine remained silent and continued to observe the raging Tracy with an amused expression on his face. The only thing missing to complete a perfect personification of the stereotyped old housewife watching a serialized television soap was a bag of popcorns.

He winced whenever Tracy raged and trembled when she acted defeated.

"Do you know who made that token?" The Matriarch inquired after seeing Tracy finally starting to settle.

"Who made the token and what is special about it? Everyone in town has one!"

The Matriarch sighed before once again turning to look at Constantine who remained standing by the window.

"Young lady, I am very sorry for what we did to your son." The elder's tone was very soothing.

"However, we had to because of the origins of his token, …and the danger it might pose." Constantine paused while looking at Tracy who appeared to have completely calmed down.

"Hugo's token comes from a very old colleague of mine. He is known to the people of Gaia as Osiris - the Dark Saint…" Constantine paused while stroking his silver-white beard before continuing in his ever-calm tone…

"In our circles, we know him as Thanatos - the death bringer." Constantine's voice turned dramatic at the very end causing a great impact on Tracy's mind.

With a trembling finger, she pointed at the blacksmith and inquired…

"You… You… you were a colleague to that madman?" Tracy felt like she had been on several roller coasters today. She was once again turned into a mess after hearing Constantine's revelations.

The blacksmith did not directly answer but turned to look at Bianca who was silently watching the exchange.

"MATRIARCH! …You were also a colleague to him… Mother Gaia! What have I done? Why did I bring Hugo to this town?" Tracy sobbed.

She was deeply regretting her decision to raise Hugo in the hidden base of the Dark Church. The Matriarch whom she trusted was in some way associated with one of the most dangerous psychopaths in the history of Gaia.

"How will having the token affect Hugo's life?" Tracy asked after settling down once again.

"The children that receive his tokens will become his inheritors," Constantine answered, stealing a glance at the now silent Matriarch.

"So, let me get this straight! Hugo will turn into a serial killer like him?"

"Thanatos is not like us… He has slain multitudes remorselessly. He is the true definition of a psychopath. Is there any way we can pull Hugo out of this?" Tracy asked pleadingly.

Constantine only sighed while shaking his head. "Not a single marked one has ever escaped this fate. What has happened has already happened… We should just prepare your son for what is to come."

"Is this the same as what I have heard in the legends?"

"Something similar…"

"Sorry to ask this young lady… But is Hugo your biological son?"

"Yes! Why do you ask?" Tracy's tone was defensive.

"Tracy! Constantine has been a friend of mine for a long time. He is one of the few people who can truly help Hugo." The Matriarch interjected.

"He is a son of a friend of mine who is being pursued by the Order. I am just taking care of him in her stead." Tracy mumbled.

Constantine sucked in a cold breath after hearing the response.

"The Order consists of the worst kind of bastards in Gaia… Hugo's fate with Thanatos may not be all that bad considering his circumstances…" Constantine sighed as he lamented over Hugo's rocky fate.

"I forgot to ask… But what do you get out of helping Hugo?"

"We find Him…"

****