Project Schemer - Salvatore Trilogy: Crescendo

Arc 1 - Chapter 1: Home at last

"Finally, home at last."

"And all that took four years."

"And you are still by my side and I still stand by you."

"Well, you two love birds really have a great time. Well, welcome back the spirit of art and water."

"Oh, hello Hank."

Tyerran, fate was strange the first time I came back home and now the second time, it is Tyerran welcome once again. Not that I hate this country, but a change in scenery is important, but this time, things are different. Koll is gone and now welcomes us is a magnificent lion with his lustrous golden mane. According to Hank, a lot of things changed in Tyerran and Arborine. Life has changed a lot but everything is still manageable, the house of Yhaeon's family is the same as I remember. Orlios isn't here. Hakku said he needed to leave the house for a while and clean up the mess caused by Von Einsemberg, but at least that was something far too dangerous, so he needed his brothers to go with him.

"The Salvatore and the four lords will be here at the next minute."

"How did you know ?"

"I am a bear, I can see a little bit. But not like those three brothers."

"So how are the four lords and my beloved Salvatore ?"

"I think I should let them tell you everything instead."

The first is Jorges. He is always a clingy and loving type, but that is not something troublesome. I like the way he acts. There aren't many people like them, who risk everything, even their life or even everything they have for those they hold dear. After Jorges are Aethelred, Ikuni and Caela, all Edolin's lords are here and after them are the Salvatore... my friends, I will need to visit everyone after this. Gold and Thomas must mention to the Salvatore and everyone in Arborine about the threat hanging above our head, I know we should celebrate first, but I believe there is something I don't know about that threat and there are a lot of things I don't know about Arborine and the Fukuhara family. Maybe right now is the perfect time to come up with a plan to explore and find everything.

"I am home, everyone."

The capital is beautiful as always, a lot of renovations but the general details remain the same, the palace still remains as the same palace, there aren't any changes, but that is not something bad. I like the aesthetic of the castle and I hope it will remain the same. Any renovation can be costly and it will be such a waste to use the reason to satisfy some inflated ego. Alria's old servant left the palace, but I can feel someone else, a presence not from this world, someone working for Greenwich and that is the only thing I can feel.

"It's strange, master didn't mention anyone would come today."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, agent of Greenwich."

"Why don't you just say you are Higeki?"

"If you don't reveal yourself, then why should I ? Joke aside, can you take us to Alria ?"

"My pleasure."

The man before me is wearing a black suit, with a red tie, and his posture. This is no average person or ordinary agent, this is an elite agent. This man is not some ordinary person, he is even hiding something under his sleeves, and the most important detail are his general actions. Always fix his hair, check any wrinkles on his clothing, comb his hair and do everything to make sure his appearance still remains as we always see him.

"Why do you keep doing that ?"

"I have to make myself presentable, it is an important principle in my life."

"I understand."

The first to appear is Galer. His fur remains the same, black as night, but there is someone else in the room. Mer and Ser are here. But mostly, Ser guides everything and Mer is just simply soulless, he moves like a stringless puppet, but at least Mer still does a good job as a caretaker for Ser. Maybe he still blames himself for what happened to Ser and Ser's current state. He always does everything Ser whispered into his ears. It's not exactly a bad thing and it's quite cute to see Ser doing that. Alria still remained the same as the day we left but this time, someone looked like a man in white armor standing behind him. Maybe he had a new servant and a new guard. But Alria still remains the same, same posture, same appearance and still wears the same blindfold.

"Yes, father, I know he is here. I see you have already met Hamel."

"I'm back Alria."

"How is your journey ? That must be an interesting adventure.... You don't get what you want."

"Right, I didn't get what I wanted but I learned I don't need vengeance, it doesn't have any meaning to begin with. But while we are here, why are they here ?"

Mer and Ser never leave their sanctuary, so there must be something serious and they have to leave the sanctuary. And we don't even need to discuss anything, Hamel fixed his glasses and in his hand is a large axe, his performance, he said, his aesthetic performance. Axes are weapons for people with strength, but his movement proved everything they said was nothing but stereotypes. The axe fell and split everything, but he still moved with grace. Everything should be graceful, he said, not even a single drop is allowed to stain his clothing, not the wind or the movement are allowed to mess his hair up.

"You say this is a s*******r, but I say, this is an aesthetical abyss."

The handsome man with a weapon that doesn't fit his beauty but to make up for that, he wields his weapon with grace, the axe falls and falls, split everything in its sight until all intruders are nothing but a pile of unidentified substance. Graceful and brutal, basked in his own glorious and aesthetical world, he reminded me of someone, a certain legend in Altoris's mythology. That can't be him, isn't it? No, he's gone, reduced to nothing but a legend.

"Father, thank you."

The white armor had already grabbed a black spear and threw it back at the amalgamation. Through our inspection, this thing is far too familiar. Both Tomoe and I know what this is. It has the same smell as those nobles, those creatures that once threatened this continent. Mer witnessed our victory and made sure everything was recorded, so why they appear is a question that he can't answer... Actually, we can't answer anything. This shouldn't happen. No one in this world should have the power to do this. But no matter how we try to deny everything, we can't deny the truth. The nobles or something like that returned and this time, Mer is angry. Apparently, this is something that makes Ser uncomfortable.

"We will investigate, but I suggest you also do your own investigation."

"Of course, this is also a matter that the Salvatore need to investigate."

Alria starts to introduce everyone after Mer and Ser leave. Hamel is the new servant but I know he is an agent from Greenwich. And an addition to the guard is the white armor. He doesn't speak much, but I was surprised when Alria introduced him as his father. In four years, we left Arborine. Alria learned and experimented with a lot of ancient ways to manipulate souls and he is able to retrieve his father's soul. The white armor is made by the Naudé family and this is the Naudé, so the armor is durable, but with the body of white armor, Alria's father - Erlnos, can't speak, or when he speaks the words come out are not clear, but the way he carried Alria and tend to his son prove his love. Galer still cares for Alria but a wall is formed between them. They can't return to how they were, but I believe Galer doesn't mind, he truly cares for his foster child, so I doubt he will act in a different way.

"A lot of things have changed in four years."

"And Salvatore is an official organization now, with headquarters and everything."

"Wait, how did you know so much ?"

"You can guess, I am one of your sponsors after all."

"You said one of...."

"Yes, one of them."

The headquarters is a medium-sized house, not that everyone will use this house as a place to live, so the size only needs to be comfortable for a meeting. Everything in this house is out of this world, so I guess the other sponsors are Gold and Thomas. Everything inside is perfect for a meeting and maybe some small celebration. In the meeting room are Hoshi, Taiyo and Tsuki, the three oracles from the Bear tribe. Most of the members are here, actually, except for Libitina and Kuoni, but I guess they are scouting outside. And a strange thing, I can't find Sou.

"Anyone know where Sou is ?"

"He just left. We don't know where he was but I think he will find a way to tell you."

"I hope. Well, we will wait until Libitina and Kuoni return, then we can start our first meeting."

"You don't need to wait for that long, we are here."

"Alright, then let's start our first official meeting."

This is our first meeting but I think it was quite professional. Libitina and Kuoni give us information that there is a place, almost looks like a "sanctuary", it is decorated and a lot of strange guards in the area. They are all reek of corruption and it was wise for Kuoni and Libitina to avoid encounters. We don't know much about our opponents, so it wouldn't be wise to fight against them. Taiyo can see a part of the future and Tsuki can see a small truth about them; that they are not from this world.

"Sorry everyone, I am late."

"May I ask, who are you ?"

"Dear, say hi to uncle."

"Good day and welcome back, Uncle Higeki. I am Samuel Daybreak Naudé. My mother and father insist that I am not allowed to work."

"Dear, you are four."

"I know I am four, mother, but I believe that I can do this. Can you trust me? Just this once?"

The child of Kuoni and Libitina, this can be quite interesting, but I like children and our place isn't a place where children can call it as a fun activity. This place is dangerous and no one should be here when they don't have to. Maybe this confidence, I need to find his motivation.

Act with confidence and nervousness at the same time. This will make them think I am young and confident, a nervous smile. So they don't think I am cocky. "I believe I can get any job done." Look at the report, check with the current conversation. I can't speak everything, just a small drop "There are a lot of things I found about them. They call themselves the old nobles." Everyone here is experienced and I can't be the same, build up myself with the image of an inexperienced newcomer, but I have to make myself presentable. You can't have an i***t in a meeting with the heroes of this world.

"Impressive Samuel, you accomplished a lot of precious information. Libitina and Kuoni. I will need a private conversation, everyone can leave. This is not a matter we can discuss and come up with a solution in one day."

I had to make sure everyone left, especially Samuel. After that, Hoshi and Tomoe created a barrier to avoid anything leaking from this room. I don't want Samuel to know what I have to judge his true nature, but I believe Samuel is not a normal child, a scheming and talented tactician is a better word to describe him.