Paradox Saga: Rising Sun

I Get A Quest

“Hey, kiddo!”

Someone was tapping my shoulders. I opened my eyes. I was back in the conference room again.

“You fine, Shiro-chan?” Sadao-san asked behind me.

“Y-Yeah,” I said as I massaged the throbbing temples on my head like someone was playing a bass drum inside it. “What happened back then?” I asked my godfather remembering what I saw on the flashback.

Sadao-san returned to his seat. “You come from a bloodline of Figures, Shiro. That also means your Metaphors are strong as your blood is pure. You see, Shiro, when two Figures of different cultures have a child, their offspring can either have no Metaphor, gain a Metaphor that’s related to one of the parents, or be a Paradox, like you.”

I kept massaging my temples. “But why did I have more than two colors on my body?”

“Nice observation, Shiro,” Sadao-san remarked. “Yes, it’s as what you think. The colors were your Metaphor,” he guessed as if he could read my mind.

He began to form an energy orb on his palm like the one that Saiko summoned on the Anaphora. However, it had a darker shade of red. It was crimson in color - like ripe tomato.

“Every Figure has a unique Metaphor and that also means they have unique manas. However, the human body is so fragile that only a single Metaphor can be imbued to a certain individual. When a Figure tries to force another Metaphor in his body…” he formed his orb into the shape of a man, “he combusts,” he finished as the crimson-colored human model burst into dust.

Quite a good presentation of how I’d incinerate to death, I taught.

“But why didn’t I die? I mean, I’ve got multiple Metaphors and stuff…”

“That’s why you’re special, Shiro-chan. Paradoxes often only have two or three Metaphors but yours are numerous, we ain’t even sure how many they are. As for the reason why you’re still alive today, it was because of the artifacts we had.”

He pointed to the screen and showed an image of a necklace made of red beads. I recognized it immediately.

“That’s Amaterasu’s Beads, right?”

Sadao-san nodded. “Yes, it is. Amaterasu’s Beads is just one of the Omnipotent Artifacts – items that are mythical in classification and are very rare to obtain,” my godfather explained. “We completed quests, well, I only helped, my son was the one who received the quest, but yes, we completed those quests in order to receive the artifacts. The artifacts contained massive amounts of power and mana.”

I scratched my head in confusion. “So, what were those glowing things that went through my chest?”

“Those were the Omnipotent Artifacts powers. Every single one of them has a particular type of mana from different cultures, seven cultures actually,” Sadao-san said and raised seven fingers. “Greek, Roman, Nordic, Egyptian, Indian and from your parents, Japanese and Filipino,” he counted as he put his fingers one-by-one.

My mind suddenly analyzed what they were saying. It was all making sense now. I was starting to understand my dreams.

“So, I’m a Paradox who’s come from different generations of figures which makes my body almost combust from the various Metaphors residing in my body but with the help of the Omnipotent Artifacts, my body stabilized, right?” I summarized.

“Correct,” Sadao-san said.

“But why now? Why didn’t I manifest these powers early?”

“Because we suspended your Metaphors, Shiro. Through the Labors done by the Heptagon, they managed to obtain a drop of pure essence from your ancestors, which were really difficult to obtain. The seven artifacts only stabilized your physical body but your ancestors’ essences delayed your Metaphors,” Sadao-san replied by detail.

“So, why did my parents went missing in the Philippines?”

“Because even with the pure essences embed inside your body, your Metaphors are too strong that even the Heptagon only managed to temporarily hibernate them. A Figure’s age of maturity is 21 but our Metaphors appear when we turn 18. But, in your case, Metaphors manifested on an early age which is a sign that they are so powerful that controlling even one may take years. Your parents knew that your Metaphors will break from their bonds when you turn 18 so they tried to find a way to remove your Metaphors from you, a very difficult and dangerous thing for Figures to do. Your Mom went to the Philippines as she had a hunch that the secret to controlling your Metaphor lies there. She went missing weeks after. We tried to convince your Father not to follow but he did. We lost contact with him a month after.” Sadao-san said as he showed images and files on the screen. “Now, since you have manifested a fragment of your powers, you can now trace your parents’ tracks… for two years before your Metaphors appear when you turn 18,” he estimated.

“Actually, it’s a year and a half…” I corrected. “I’m gonna turn 17 on March next year.”

“Which is why you must hurry, young boy,” he continued. “You have to figure out where the other pieces are as what the prophecy tells. Here…”

Sadao-san got a roll of paper out his pockets. I taught it was toilet paper but it glowed with power seconds later.

“This is a Seer’s Scroll, an item that the Heptagon received back when the prophecy was given. My son, Saiko’s father, said that this contains another prophecy,” he said.

My eyes widened. “But why didn’t you show it earlier?”

“Even I don’t know what is written here, Shiro. The scroll went with a caution stating that only the owner and the chosen one must read it first before the others or else, it would expire. Now, since you are here, if you can read this, then that proves that you are what the fifth line of the prophecy,” he said and handed it to me.

I gulped down hard. I was trying to resist the shaking of my hands. I was questioning myself as I held the scroll. What if I’m not the promised one? Will I be able to understand what this prophecy will mean? Should I back out now?

I gained enough courage and opened the scroll. I closed my eyes as the scroll glowed brightly (for some reason, all that’s happening around me always has this bright glow). When the light has subsided, I looked at the scroll. I waited for it to dissolve or disappear, but it didn’t.

“So, you’re really the child on the prophecy!” Sadao-san said and laughed. “I was right! Come on, read what the prophecy is in it,” he urged.

I looked at the scroll and read it slowly. “The Paradox shall sojourn, five companions on his side; he shall gain more than one class and rank, the mage, the ranger and the tank; for thirty nights and thirty days, the journey will not start, for this is the duration for the previous demands; if the conditions are completed, then the chosen can now depart.”

“That’s it?” asked Nami.

“Y-Yes…”

Sadao-san stood and looked at me. “Well then, that’s the first part of your Exodus. As for what it means, you should find it on your own. If you excuse me…” his hakama disappeared and was replaced by a formal attire – black suit and slacks – and removes his shades, revealing a great scar on his right eye. “I will be leaving now as the President wants to talk with me. I’ll be communicating once in a while.”

“But Sadao-san! I still have many questions…”

He smiled and waved goodbye before his assistant drew a circle on the air and they disappeared.

Nami held my shoulders. “Don’t worry, we’ll be by your side, from now on.”

“Okay…”

“All of us,” she added.

“What? You mean…”

Thyme grinned mischievously. “Yes, Shiro! From now on, we’ll live together, eat together, and sleep together!”

I made a face. “W-What?! Are you serious?”

Midorima brushed her hair over her ear. “Yes, Shiro-kun. Sadao-san told us that we should now be living with you along with Saiko and Nami as we are now officially your guardians.”

I covered my red blushing face. “How is this happening…”