Elevate

A Boundary's Quest

His tied chocolate hair swayed with the arid wind as he stood forthright in front of Era and the others. He slowly took off his trench coat and took himself inside. His dark brown eyes reflected the moon’s light. He slowly pulled off his false mustache. He just made a new image of himself - elder than what he is for real. He needed to blend in, in order for him to move around the city.

“Am I late?” He asked for clarification.

The man chuckled and clapped his hands slowly. “No, you’re not. Obviously, we’re all in the right time to talk things out.”

“What is he doing here?” Carmilla snoopily probed.

“I called him when I saw the fire engulfing the Forest and offered him a spot for him to join.” The Butcher articulated.

Carmilla quailed on him with a contemptuous look. “But you said that, this course is not intended for you?”

He tardily scuffed his head to take back his response before. “I got a lot of things to think when the Butcher offered something to me. Guessed he did induce me to join you.” He added.

“Well…I don’t know what the man had offered you in return for joining us, but I guessed you would be such a help to everybody.” Guilbert said. “I didn’t expect that the self-reliant, up-front Leovander Hunts would link in with us.” He added then came a soft chortle from himself.

“Who knows what would appear following after this.” He remarked.

Cody ensured all the windows of the office and made sure that the thick curtains were in place. “Why don’t we get things to work now?” He suggested.

They took the thing off from the long table. Cody grabbed something from his bag and spread it over the table. It was the map of Embreal City. They gathered around and took their stools. Mr. Butch brought with him his things and put them behind his back on the chair. Guilbert cleaned his throat and pointed something on the map. He took some of those pins and laid them near his hands.

He focused at Mr. Butch and said, “We already know where is the other flower. Unfortunately, the woman whom you gave the flower was killed just before the fire break in the Forest. After all of searching for it, we didn’t realize that it was just her, our friend, Favia…”

“Favia…it was her name.” He said almost in a whisper.

Carmilla clasped her hands and plumped her lips. “When I gave you the music box, there was a small piece of paper attached in a small compartment of it. I didn’t know that you haven’t still opened that part…”

He shook his head slowly. “No…”

“When I found out about it, I headed straight to her store, only to find out that she’s already lying…on the floor, aching to survive the wound on her. I tried using my strength to heal her, but it was desperate. Instead, she remembered it all and told me to go to Era, specifically Vixen to talk about the flower. She lost her life in front of me…and...and I couldn’t do anything to save her…And the flower was taken away from them when someone bombarded the place.” She stared at her hand as she could feel her eyes pouring tears.

Vixen stroked her spine to calm her tides and overlooked to Mr. Butch. “We just want some answers on why Favia didn’t remember any single thing about the two of you and why did you decide to come it like that.”

He took an outstanding drag. Leovander was sitting next to him and intently listening to their conversation. He had information about the flower, but to him it was just a story passed on from generation to generation up until people don’t know the factual one.

“We agreed to make her forget everything for the safety of everybody. We wanted to secure the flower so much that the three of us conceded to do it. We locked her memories and put on a timer. And...she can only remember everything when she’s near her death.”

“That’s why she only remembered your names when she’s fighting to survive…” Loshiana uttered.

“Did you find something that would lead to the person who’s responsible for her death

?” Leovander asked.

Carmilla cupped her pockets and took it. She placed it on top of the map. It was a pin with the symbol of an eagle’s eye. “When I was getting in her place, I got in a way with a certain man. I did not see his face clearly, but I was able to see the same pin like this. So, I got a conclusion that it was the same person…”

“May I take a look at it?” Leovander requested.

Carmilla took it and gave it to him. “Are you familiar with that?”

He glimpsed on it for a while and watched to them. “It’s the same symbol that the officers give for loyalty. Only a few wear this and somehow they see it as a sacred one. When I was working with Zyrender before, there’s only one pin that’s left. Most of them were awarded to those elderly people. I think the person who’s wearing this is related to us…”

“You’re right. Maybe I could ask Dad about it.”

Leovander’s expression suddenly became dull. “Are you going to trust him even after what happened right now?”

The young lady stared at him with such compelling eyes. “I don’t want to think anything else right now. I don’t want to be disappointed by his plans.”

“What if he’ll turn into a foe? What will you do?” He asked her again.

“If that time will come, then…I’ll do the thing which I think is right, whether it is approved or not by him.” She replied.

“If that’s the case, we really have to go to the Everdeen’s” Guilbert said. “Now, let’s get things clearer.” He added and spread the map for them to see more clearly.

He took one of those pins and fastened it to where the Forest is located. “This is where the fire had started.” He took another one. “And this is where Favia had died.”

Everything followed as he put those points in certain spots.

“I think this is everything, don’t you think?” Guilbert uttered.

“Wait, there’s one more spot that I think we missed.” Vixen said and took the last piece of the hooks. She placed it on the Long Range Fountain. “It’s where we found the children and Devina’s tomb. There’s something off in that place, but I don’t know what it is.”

“We can check it out after we settled these things.” Cody offered.

“Okay. Now, this is all we got. First, we need to go to Zyrender, next we need to get someone from Jack’s subordinates for him to talk about them. The healer stuck with her decision to keep her mouth shut, so it’s less a blessing for her to take as the whistleblower. Then, we need to find the flower and take it back. ” Guilbert prompted.

“When you’re able to have it again, what are you going to do with it?” Mr. Butch said.

Vixen rubbed her arms and thought for a while. When she found her words to say, she took a fine breath. “I have a plan…I’ve been thinking about it since most of the time. I still can’t disclose it to anyone of you right now…but I want you to trust me.”

“We trust the Eye. No one would ever see a glimpse of the future that lied upon us except you.” Leovander stated.

She smiled at his answer and somehow she felt that it was secured to be part of a group where people trust you more than the things that’s happening. They believe what they see.

“We can help.” Howard attentively stated with his eyes in deep focus. “We can search for someone to help us out. Right, guys? He looked over at his team, waiting for their response.

Annie scratched her head and was a bit nervous. She knew that among them all, Howard is the thrill-seeking one. She glanced over Trixie and gave her the title to have a response in behalf of them.

She crossed her legs and thought for a while. On the other side, Mr. Butch had hoped that she would decline. But, he knew after all that Trixie is not like that. She’s dauntless and somehow she reminded of him of her mother, Mariella. The child was able to see his expression that he let out a frail smile to cover himself.

“Well, if it will help us out to have a breakthrough with this and have the justice that we needed, then why not?” She said and slowly a smirk was placed on her lips. She’s into it too.

“Then we’re all set. We’ll give you three days to find someone to talk with us, then we’ll know what we’ll do to that person afterward.” Carmilla said.

“Okay. God it.” Annie pondered.

Loshiana stood from her seat and moved near the window. She swayed the curtain in the side and peeked over. The sun is slowly rising and the light will soon shine in the city. They will clearly see the result of the fire. “We need to go…” She turned herself to look at the others. “I got a feeling that something will happen inside Embreal.”

“We’re being cautious here. Pack up your things and we’re going to my father.” Carmilla said.

“The kids will be on a different path. They should start the hunt.” Loshiana pronounced.

“Right. I don’t want Zyrender to see me at all right now. You know, I left the Committee to be independent and to pull myself from those loads of responsibilities.” Leovander stated.

They took their things with them. Cody gave him a tap on the shoulder. One of the Committee is an alliance of them now. “Where are you planning to go now?”

He put on his trench coat. “I’m going to meet someone. You’ll see him soon enough.”

“When will we see you again?”

He looked at him with a grin on his face. “I’ll be the one to search for you. Let’s just say that, I can be a substitute to your Eye.” He chuckled.

Cody didn’t know what that means but he trust the man. He knew that he was against Penelope in the first place and maybe that’s why they don’t tend to get along with Zyrender since then. There’s still a lot of things to tackle about the man, but they only got a little time to settle. Everything had changed and it was like they’re chasing time. The stories they got to listen and confided by everyone were now slowly becoming real.

They could feel the pressure stumping them and they’re trying hard not to fall. It’s their way to continue still. When the sun had risen, they unlocked the way and came out of the club. They stared over the scope and witnessed such a horrendous output. Those untouched, copious trees were not burnt and turned into dust. Those houses that they have built for a long time were barely seen. A large part of it had turned into grey, except for that path which is going to the spring.

The bell had rung from the distance and slowly the people went out from their spots. The sound had caught their attention and somehow they were driven to the Long Range Fountain. Era went near to see what’s happening and saw those in the other levels approaching the source. In the second level, they heard some mumbles as their eyes stared in the same direction. There was a new platform established in the center of it, in front where the fountain’s water is running to the top. Footsteps were heard and in an instant, came into a march of those guards and in the last row was Zyrender Everdeen.

He moved on the platform and looked at everyone. He was the eye-catch of them all.

“I think your Daddy will try to explain what happened. Hopefully, he would run out of sugar-coats then he’ll just be a bitter-sour one.” Leovander commented as he glared at the man.

Carmilla didn’t give him an acknowledgment and just silently let him. She knew that Leovander had so much years to be with her father than her. Basically, the man knows a lot about her dad, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.

Zyrender tapped the microphone. They’re waiting for him to talk. He glanced everywhere then for a while, he directed over the Forest from the distance. Taking a breath, he decided to talk.

“I know all are in deep questions why it had happened in the Forest. But first, let me apologize for it. I’m sorry if we have to close the city and that our dome is back again. I know that these past few months, our team had been busy making a difference inside Embreal. And I should say that our sleepless nights have gone into a result.” He spread his hands up and looked at the crowd. “Our dome is standing now. The main reason…why we needed to put it into stand is just right here…”