Longing Hearts part 6

Ch6: Engage

Weather in Vadstena was rainy, a steady flow coming down on earth with no wind changing the direction of the rain drops. Koro, Tori and Mainda wore waterproof, black jackets, covering their heads with the hoods, as they walked the fairly busy streets of the small town. The sea nearly spilled on the paved surface beside it, a combination of the moon’s faze and the recent, never ending heavy rains. There was no sign of extreme negative energy in the air as they approached the manifestation’s location. Koro glanced at his sister, a surge of calmness taking over him. It felt like all could be right in the world.

The three followers entered the small park that surrounded the castle and headed to the back view of it and near a smaller building just behind the road surrounding the moat. The manifestation seemed to be oddly hiding behind there, as if this castle was a place people went to pour out their negativity.

‘’The locations rarely make sense lately.’’, the black haired male expressed his thoughts a bit louder than usual, since the downpour muffled his voice.

‘’It only shows how messed up the world has become.’’, Mainda said back.

‘’I just wonder if this has happened before. I doubt the masters face such an issue for the first time.’’, Tori spoke up as well and as they turned to face the back of the building the dark matter turned visible. It was barely there, but it began expanding as soon as it sensed the energy of the three followers. Koro glanced around them to assure that no one was there. No one would do anything but the bare minimum in such a downpour, thus leaving the park completely void of regular citizens.

‘’I’ll leave it to you.’’, Koro announced and took a few steps back as the manifestation stirred further, expanding into a blob nearly as high as the building. Its energy became tangible as Tori stepped near it, stretching his hand towards it. The darkness took a liking to him immediately and began surrounding his body piece by piece, while reducing in size. In the meanwhile, his sister bit on her palm and created a long, crimson sword from her wrist. She took a stance, her attention fully on her other half as he sucked the darkness inside his own body. There was no sign of hesitation when she charged against him, piercing though his torso again and again, the masses of darkness exploding and dispersing with every attack, grunts barely audible under the heavy rain. Koro couldn’t help but admire their determination and lack of fear when it came to the fight. It was a very unnatural way to fight; wounding your ally, especially when it was a person you happened to love dearly, was no easy task to achieve. It only confirmed in Koro’s mind that they had done this a number of times.

In no time, both Tori and Mainda stood in front of him, panting lightly, but with an expression of accomplishment on their lively faces. Koro nodded and was about to comment on their effectiveness when a shiver run down his spine, rendering him immobile, his jaw clenching abruptly. His eyes traveled around him hungrily, trying to find the source of the uneasy feeling. It felt out of place, like nothing he had ever met before.

‘’How interesting…’’, a foreign voice was heard and Koro focused on its source as it approached them from the right. The two apostles seemed frozen in time as well, only their eyes being able to move. A large vain throbbed on Tori’s forehead as he struggled to break free. This sensation of helplessness could only be connected to the powers of a master. The short male who stepped near them had both his hands behind his back. There was no sign of hair on his tanned head and his eyes were black and sharp. On his body was a long sleeved white shirt, completely soaked and stuck onto his well-built body and a pair of black pants. A smirk played on his thin lips.

‘’Ikrov’s huh…’’, he mumbled and looked first at Koro and then Tori. A thick brow lifted when he focused on the woman. ‘’You are Saika’s… I see.’’ Koro wanted to speak, but his mouth refused to open. The mere presence of this foreign person rendered them all useless. ‘’You must be wondering who I am…’’, he spoke louder now, as the raindrops fell on his bald head with ferocity. ‘’Name’s Yabu. Transfer it clearly to your masters. The time is finally here. This world is ready…’’

Slowly, the foreign male walked away, his words etched deeply into Koro’s mind. He had no clue who this man was, what he had done to them and what his words actually meant, but a sensation of fear was left in his soul, an aftereffect of the powers he had used on him. When the man called Yabu disappeared from their sight, his energy vanishing as well, only then he regained full control of his own body.

‘’What the fuck was that?’’, Tori exclaimed, locking eyes with his friends. Koro was unable to speak, despite having full control of his jaw once again.

‘’This man has the same taste our masters have. I knew this could happen…’’, Mainda muttered to herself and her brother found himself glaring at her.

‘’What are you even saying?’’, Tori spoke for both of them and the female sighed, tucking the hood further down her head as her nose and cheeks had turned fairly wet.

‘’How much do we know about our masters? Are they good, bad or something in between?’’, she answered with more questions. ‘’The way I see it, masters can do anything they want, destroying or assisting humanity as they go and not all of them seem to possess the same set of values.’’ Her words made Koro involuntarily frown. They made so much sense that he felt idiotic for never thinking this way. The love the followers had for their masters made them never doubt their actions. Mainda shrugged.

‘’Sure our actions can be controlled by our masters. They deem us unsuitable and get rid of us if needed, but who judges them? Who can even dethrone an actual God?’’

Her question was left hanging between them, almost tangible. They slowly moved to get to the hotel room they had rented in order to wash up before traveling back to the airport. There was no time to rest and for the first time Koro was happy for it. It left him with less energy to think. No agreement was set, but all three of them were going to report the man and his words to their masters, keeping the thoughts Mainda had expressed hidden within themselves, despite knowing full well that both Ikrov and Saika could read them.

As Tori, the most appropriate person to give the report, explained the success of the mission and turned the conversation towards the unknown man and what he had managed to do, as well as his words, Koro saw his master’s eyes waver. For the first time there was fear and rage dancing in those usually apathetic, blue orbs. He took a full moment of silence after the report was finished, not even trying to make eye contact with his followers and read their minds for further details.

‘’You may rest now. I shall call for you when needed.’’, he uttered and waved his hand dismissively.

The two males glanced at one another skeptically, but exited the room, heading for the bedrooms’ wing to get some shut eye, if possible.

‘’I wonder if Saika had the same reaction.’’, Tori muttered, checking his phone to see that he had no messages. He scowled, clearly annoyed by the situation. ‘’I hate having her away from me, you know?’’, he added and sighed. Despite him talking about his own blood, Koro could actually relate. He did find himself missing Nadia, wishing that he could spend a night with her as soon as possible, before he went out on another mission.

‘’I get it…’’, he replied and patted his shoulder, making him chuckle.

‘’You go see that brunette cutie as soon as possible and have a good time. I’ll let you know if there are any updates.’’, his friend said and Koro gave him an ironic smile, before changing course, heading for the library, where Nadia usually hanged out during mid noon when she wasn’t on a mission.

‘’Thanks man.’’, he called back to Tori.

‘’Have fun!’’