LIGHTNOVELONLINE XVI. Cynosure
Come the afternoon, Virno awaits the doctor's arrival in the orphanage. He wanted to see Faya's fight, but he couldn't afford to pay the entry fee and risk not having enough money at the end of the month for food and rent.
After the fight is over, the orphanage has a sudden burst of liveliness.
Older woman: Make way! Make way!
Rel and another man carried some unfortunate soul on a stretcher, no doubt Faya's opponent. Luckily for this one, he didn't seem to be at death's door. The doctor and Faya followed close behind.
The Leopard: Make sure you have the pain-numbing herbs ready. This shouldn't take long today. Standard fare, no extras... Cabdan can pay me next time, I don't plan on waiting around for him today.
Virno goes into the corridor, to see the commotion for himself. He locks eyes with the doctor.
The Leopard: Ah, you're here already! Good, that will save us some time. Come with us...
Virno greets Rel with a friendly wave. He nods and smiles back, since his hands were busy carrying the stretcher. He joins Faya and the doctor.
Virno: So... I'm guessing you won this one, too.
Faya: Keen sighted as usual...! Indeed I did.
She smiles.
Virno: So when can we talk about that thing...?
Faya laughs.
Faya: Ahahah Virno, don't say those things! You're going to make me blush!
The doctor awkwardly turns his head away.
Faya (hushed): I told you, not here!
She says, widening her eyes at him.
Virno (hushed): But then where...?
Faya (hushed): After you're done with the doc, I'll be in the garden. Meet me there then!
He nods.
Older woman: Alright, everybody out except for the doctor!
Says the woman, as the injured man is carried into a vacant room.
The Leopard: Actually, that boy can stay.
He points towards Virno.
The Leopard: Everybody else can go. Including you, madam. I'll take care of this today.
The nurse bows, and takes her leave after everybody else is out of the room.
The Leopard: Shut the door, would you Virno?
Virno closes the door.
The Leopard: Good. Let's get this started.
The doctor's hands cast magical glyphs, allowing him to telekinetically grab some nearby herbs and a bowl. He quickly turns the herbs to mush inside the bowl, then adds his own special liquid ingredient to them. The injured man drinks the resulting concoction and soon passes out.
The Leopard: One final precaution...
He clasps both hands together. As they come into contact with one another, the glyphs in them change, and as he separates them, a bubble of energy surrounds both him and Virno. There was no sound from the outside inside the bubble.
The Leopard: We may talk now.
He sits in a nearby chair, and pulls one close to Virno so he can sit, too.
The Leopard: There is much I want to say to you. First and foremost, is this: whatever you do, don't follow the call. Understand?
Virno looks the man in the eye, silently. Judging him.
The Leopard: I know you have little reason to trust some weird magical stranger. So ask me anything, and I shall answer. Anything at all.
Virno: Okay... Then who are you and who do you work for?
The Leopard envelops his mask in grey energy, removing it and revealing his face.
The Leopard: My name is Sadduccee. I am with Eclipse. Within our group, I am known as the Leopard. Our primary concern is to maintain the balance in our world.
Virno looks at him, stupefied.
Virno: "Balance in our world"...? Right...
Virno: Doc's got a couple of screws loose... Probably wasn't the best idea to get locked in here with him...
Virno: I take it it's too late for me to scream for help...?
Sadduccee lets out a short laugh.
Sadduccee (The Leopard): Sadly, it is. I'm afraid nobody can hear us outside this bubble, so screaming won't help. But don't worry, I promise you there is nothing to fear! As for the mask and attire... It it a necessary precaution to protect our identities both inside and outside the group.
He envelops himself in energy, wearing his mask again.
Virno: Alright... I guess my next question is, what do you want from me?
Sadduccee looks him dead in the eyes.
The Leopard: I want you to join our group.
Virno: ... Why?
The Leopard: Because if you don't, you'll have to die. That is the short version of it...
Virno stands up from his chair.
Virno: You say this after you promise me there's nothing to fear...?! You got some sick sense of humor... How come those are my only two options?
The Leopard: Because of the call. You've heard it, haven't you? A voice, beckoning. Calling you to seek it... I could see it in your eyes when you woke up yesterday.
Virno recalls the weird dream he had when he was unconscious.
The Leopard: The sword of greed calls for you, Virno.
Virno: The sword... Of greed?
The Leopard: ... The very same one your father tried to seek.
Virno recalls his father and the story he used to tell him, "The Warrior and the Cursed Sword." Is this to say it was... Real...?
Virno (muttering to himself): "... don't ever forget the tale I used to tell you, for it is so much more palpable than you can know..."
He smiles as he remembers those odd words in his father's letter.
Virno: All this time, I always taught that was a weird way to phrase it... But it really wasn't. The cursed sword... Is actually real!
The Leopard is caught off guard.
The Leopard: You know of the sword?!
Virno: A black blade emanating a green aura... So sharp that it can cut forests like butter. So hard that it can crack boulders. So cold that you cannot melt it. And it rests at the bottom of a lake...
He remembers his visions... The lake!
Virno: The very same like I saw in my dream, I'm guessing...
The Leopard stands up, somewhat panicked.
The Leopard: Whatever you do, you mustn't seek the blade!
He looks at the Leopard as if he's stupid.
Virno: Why would I seek it? The blade will bring nothing but disgrace. Let the curse keep beckoning, I'm not about to do what it tells me!
The Leopard seems relieved.
The Leopard: Good... I'm glad you think so. You are not yet ready to claim it.
Virno furrows his brow.
Virno: Not yet ready? No no no, don't misunderstand me. I'm not going to claim it -- now or ever! So you can rest easy. Now, about this organization of yours... How's the pay? What am I expected to do? Can you provide accommodation for me and my mom?
The Leopard shakes his head.
The Leopard: Virno... We cannot take you in if you don't have the sword.
Virno seems confused.
Virno: So... You don't want me to seek the sword because it is too dangerous and I'm not ready, yet you will only accept me if I have the sword with me. Are you sure you're okay in the head?
The Leopard sighs.
The Leopard: I'm sorry, but it appears that no amount of running this conversation through my head has helped me be as clear and concise as I could... The truth is that we require that sword. More specifically, we need you to seize it and use it for our benefit. Without the sword, our world will crumble in the coming years.
Virno: Ah... Well, claim it yourselves. I refuse the offer.
The Leopard shakes his head again.
The Leopard: I'm afraid it's... Non-negotiable...
Virno approaches him.
Virno: You want me to run your errands or I'll die? What kind of offer is that?! You're the worst negotiator in history!
The Leopard shakes his head.
The Leopard: I'm not here to trick you, Virno. What I've told you is the truth... If our organization does not claim the sword, we will be destroyed in an upcoming large-scale conflict. Should one of our enemies emerge victorious, they will shape the world as they see fit, changing it in more drastic and terrible ways than we can imagine.
Virno: What you've told me is the truth...? Really? So my father has actually tried to claim the blade before?
The Leopard: He has.
Virno: Cool. Prove it, then.
The Leopard struggles to think of a way.
The Leopard: I... Cannot.
Virno: Well, guess that's that! Here's what I propose: claim the damn sword yourselves, and leave me out of it. That way you get the sword, and you no longer need to worry about me. Win-win!
The Leopard: The sword most likely warps your mind to the point where you cease to be who you are. It is our hope that, by using someone young, we can mitigate some of that damage...
Virno: So you want to sacrifice an innocent kid in order to prevent sacrificing one of your own? You definitely sound like the good guys...!
The Leopard: We don't want to sacrifice some innocent kid... It is either you or nobody else.
Virno: Oh yeah? Well great, that's much better...!
He says, sarcastically.
The Leopard: Look Virno, the reason why the sword calls to you is because your father tried to claim it. You are going to live your life as a slave to its call, which will grow ever stronger, until the day you die. Know this: while your father first heard the call when he was already a grown adult, you are much younger. The fact that your mind is more malleable could give you an advantage as far as claiming the sword goes, but it also means you are much more vulnerable to its call. It may grow too strong for you to resist. What we offer you is a way to take back your freedom, at the cost of some of your sanity. I realize this may be a harsh proposal, but it is only as harsh as you are mentally weak. I offer to train you, both in body in mind, so that you can overcome the blade's trials and free yourself from its curse.
Virno: At the cost of my sanity... I think you're forgetting a pretty big part of what I have to sacrifice. If my father's tale is anything to go by, the bearer of the blade will die just a few years after claiming it. So it won't be just my sanity I sacrifice... It's the rest of my damn life!
The doctor gulps.
The Leopard: It is inevitable, yes... To free the shackles the curse has placed on you, you would most likely be sacrificing a great portion of your life, as well.
Virno laughs in a forced manner.
Virno: This is crazy... You do realize that, right?
The Leopard: Is there nothing I can do to make you accept...?
Virno ponders.
The Leopard: What if I help you and your mother out financially...? Get both of you out of these slums, and ensure that neither of you have to work a day in your lives again.
Virno: No. That's not enough. I...
Virno looks at him in the eye.
Virno: ... I also want Cabdan out of the picture. The people here don't deserve to have to answer to someone like him... If you can promise me that... I'll think about it. No promises, though!
The Leopard nods.
The Leopard: Very well. We will speak again soon, then. I hope that by then your mind is made up.
Virno: We'll see...
The doctor dispells the bubble, and Virno exits the room, pensively...