Elegy: Lost Shadow

 As soon as Asa finished talking to Anemone, he left to go and meet with Seekers' guardian. Much like always. Seekers' guardian was sleeping on top of his booth.

 "Hey.. Alnico….Alnico! Break obsessed guardian!"

"Asa…you should lower your voice. What is the point of my wearing a mask if you are just going to use my name anyway."

 The former chuckled before he said, "A first name isn't enough for people to identify you by. Do you know how many people I know with a name such as yours?"

 "Name one then!"

"Huh,"

"I told you to name one Asa. So please, be my guest."

 "..…You win, Zahavi. You are the only person I have ever heard of with that name."

"Idiot," Alnico said, "Now both my name and surname are out there for the world to consume. And that's all thanks to you."

 "Let's just be real here…you are a guardian. No sane person would ever want to make an enemy of you. If you just called me here to whine, come on, at least buy me a drink. That way, either I will sleep by your whining or the booze I will be high on. Just saying."

 "Anyway, Asa, did you do that thing I asked you to do for me?"

"I did. I analyzed that little boy's spiritual vibrations like you asked. He is a beastling concept user like you suspected. A well awakened one too."

 "I guess Given wasn't lying."

"Given?....ah, your former workmate from the time you worked security in Lota. That was way before you became a guardian. Back then, you, Given and Asher spent an unhealthy amount of time together."

 "You know, you make nine years sound like a long time. By the way, the time we spent together wasn't unhealthy. But yeah, that was the Given I was talking about.

 I met him for the first time since Lota burnt down nine years ago. In fact, he was behind the whole bystier situation thanks to his blood law synthesis ability. He was controlling the bystier in order to take back the boy. In fact, I wouldn't even be surprised if he has employed the same tactics to kidnap other people before him. For now, he won't be able to try anything for a while. I took care of him personally. I almost sent him to the grave but someone interfered."

 Asa took a deep breath before he said, "So, how are your investigations going?"

"I am drawing too many blanks I am afraid. I will tell you what I have figured out so far though. There is faction operating in the background…calling them a faction is just undermining their strength. I will call them an organization. An authoritative one at that." After all, one of them was strong enough to overcome my soul paralysis. Such strong Aether.

 "You see, everything they have done points at only one outcome. They aim to awaken the universal seed. The being that people typically refer to as the true vessel. The increase in the number of abductions has been because of this. You see, they are trying to find people with high compatibility to all forms of magic, just like the vessel would have.

 That's why Given came to retrieve the boy. The Beastling concept just happens to be one of those abilities with high compatibility to all forms of magic. He couldn't put it past the possibility that the vessel could have been that boy."

 "Sounds like wild speculations if you think about it, Zahavi. Isn't the whole universal seed thing a highly classified myth?"

 "My speculation branch from the very fact that it is a classified myth. No normal person would come across such information."

 "I see but…..isn't the seed said to appear in a time frame when all ten pieces are together. So right now, even if they find the person suspected to become the vessel, it's useless unless all ten pieces do in fact exist."

 Alnico jumped off his booth before he stood next to Asa, "There is a high chance of them existing in this time frame. You see Asa, let's dive into the past for a bit. Let's start, sixteen years ago. What happened to the royal family and what happened to this village? Those were probably the only important events of that year."

 "That one is easy. Someone was born in the royal family. They were called the piece of lightning because of the seals they possessed in their eyes. I think that was all for the royal family. For the second part, Seeker was founded and became an actual village. That was only made possible because the kingdom received external pressure because of the attack on a refugee camp site. We were almost a target for official sanction on account of discrimination. The village was formed as a means to appease the masses."

 "Alright. At least you still remember the history we were told to study. I thought your mind was only full of booze and human physiology," he took a deep breath, "Next, what happened nine years ago in the village of Lota?"

 "Alnico please. Everyone knows that one, the village was burnt down and over a thousand people died. To have an exact estimate, ten people survived that endeavor and the land has been inhabitable since. The court named the target or source of the fire as Hell's Destructive Flame as they couldn't ascertain who it was.

 But from the ten survivors, seven, who were civilians by the way, claimed that the flames descended from the sky and thus another name was given. They called it Heaven's Wrathful Flame. Both names were meant to apply to same person and they are very much wanted." They are considered a criminal by the state.

 Alnico sighed before he added, "Did you know that all that destruction was caused by a child. Roughly between seven to nine years old. Anyone who survived can vouch for that fact. A little kid destroyed the knight force in that village and burnt the village itself to the ground. Do you think a normal child would have that much power? Let's be real here, even gifted geniuses or prodigies wouldn't have that much power. The kind of power it would take to make a place inhabitable. I mean, aside from guardians, no other knight has that kind of power.

 The only explanation that would fit is if …"

"If the child was a piece. The piece of fire to be exact." His jabber is actually making sense. Lota's destruction was what solidified his transfer as he was one of the few survivors. Just like everyone who survived, their obsession with that little trouble maker seems as kin as ever.

 "Okay Asa, you are catching on now. One more, have you heard the latest piece related information from the kingdom of Faqualora." This one is way passed a rumor at this point. He went and sat on the ground. Leaning against his booth.

 "Piece related…oh, that's right. Another piece was confirmed. The piece of life was the official title. That makes three pieces in all."

 "You get it now right, this would be the opportune time to search for the vessel. Wait too long and all the kingdoms will be involved in the hunt. After all, the one who controls the seed controls all the pieces in the end. People who have noticed this trend have already started making their plays.

 The number of abductions has been skyrocketing as of six years ago. As things stand, it will only keep growing unless the vessel is found. I have already resigned on trying to save everyone. I already know that I can't do it. I can only minimize the casualties. Finding the vessel would be the most efficient way to do that."

 "I wondered why you were sent to Seekers. I mean, you are an invaluable addition to the Assault and Defense unit of the Kingdom's knight force. Why would they send you to an almost empty village?"

 "It should have been obvious. Because it needed someone with a brain unlike you. I mean like imagine, sending you here. Asa."

 "Don't wet yourself from carrying the weight of all your lies. We all know that I am smarter than you."

"And somehow I am the one called the Kingdom's greatest strategist. The Central guardian, Alnico Zahavi."

 "Wow, now your name and title are common knowledge to the world. Some genius you are," Asa added, nodding his head in disappointment.

 "I can't think of a comeback. Must be because it is noon now."

 "I don't think time has anything to do with any of this." He let out a sigh, "I almost forgot you hate stressing yourself during your break. Break-obsessed guardian. I have gone to check up on the patients. Call me if you need me. Don't sleep on the alcohol too, your wallet is plenty fat, Mr. Kingdom's greatest strategist."

 "I get it."

It's been a while since I have felt this stimulated. I got into a fight that was worth my time for the first time in years. I got to see my dear friend though he is on my soon-to-be-dead list now. Plus, I feel like I am interlocked with someone right now.

 For my people, I have to find the vessel. But that is not important right now, I have to find Heaven's Wrathful Flame first. Use the piece to find the vessel. Too bad the only clue it left for us was," Don't you dare touch my Zero!" Isn't that right, Given.