In the Uptown District: Ivory Heights
He had been summoned by Sir Isaac, a middle age man, his once-dark hair now thinning at the temples, leaving a wispy fringe that barely resisted gravity. His posture had long surrendered to years of study and indulgence—shoulders stooped, back curved like an old book, abandoned on a crowded shelf.
"Sir you called?"
"Yes, I did, you fool! What took you so long?" His scrutinizing gaze landed on Ledger, his hand tightening around the arm chair. He seemed a bit too agitated.
Ledger sighed internally
He had just been rudely awoken from a rather pleasant dream where he had been in the shoes of this old geezer, and had to run at a full print up the winding stairs just to arrive here. Of course this exempts the searching of the rooms he had to go through to find the geezers location.
"Sir Isaac", He began, I was monitoring the hedges this morning as you requested and immediately rushed here the minute you uttered my name," he added cautiously, "But given the vastness of your mansion—evident of your wealth—it took some time to reach you."
He bowed deeply showing respect and remorse his thought however filled with poison
Imbecile. He thought angrily. These steps alone has crippled a trained man. What do you take me for, One trained in fucking cultivation?. He felt like rushing this man and beating the shit out of him. However, he had to be patient else, all the waiting would be for nought, and currently he just didn't have the energy to do so.
"I suppose that is true. Forget that for now, the guest tomorrow wont be coming. I want you to bring more of the talisman I requested from the madame."
"Also" he added "Set up the Library for I wish to contact outside help to deal with...the thing downstairs" he began scratching his chin in thought on finishing speaking.
Ledger paused, not out of confusion but disbelief. was it time, could it be, had he lost it atlast. Each of this thought raced through his mind, each more pleasing than the last. He began thinking of the multiple zeros bound to grace his dust filled account. It had after all finally arrived, the crux of the whole scam.
"Sir, you mean the shaman" he asked feigning terror, confusion and a bit of abject horror. all this done while scrutinizing the man's appearance.
This brought a number of question to his already chaotic mind. One of such being whether he had lost his hair?. He was certain he hadn't been this bald…perhaps even his hair knew when to bow out gracefully. he thought condescendingly
"In the basement." Isaac added still in thought the shaking of his hand increasing in intensity. The intensity of the wailing and screeching has...increased. The voices…are clearer" he shivered his hand shaking going up a notch, "but it matters little—the talisman I purchased might not hold it back for long, but it would be more than enough time for the shaman to come."
"Yes, my lord. I will do as you request." Genuine happiness grazed his face from the anticipation of the new look his account would soon take .
In the Middle Town District, near Azone Fields
Life moved at a steady, practical pace.
Sebastian lay sprawled in his bed, expression teetering between pain and fleeting sadness. The discomfort stemmed from hunger and the news that his father who had been declared missing would remain known as a terrorist to the public, his name uncleared by the government. Furthermore, this time it felt permanent. No one escaped the mist-shrouded boundary that protected the safe zones from the Scorched barrens
His father had been part of the navy, sent on a mission to the west, across the treacherous seas that separated their country from the feral lands known as the Scorched Barrens. The edges of those lands were encased in ice—cliffs and sheets that had proven nearly impossible to scale. Yet the name "Scorched" had stuck, and Sebastian could only shake his head at what he considered stupidity.
As for his father… a navy man, one of the best, now lost to fate. Should he really say "lost"? after all many of the top officials had proclaimed him a dead traitor. His father, a top-ranking captain, now a traitor. It felt wrong.
Rising from bed, Sebastian staggered toward the shower—first to clear the fog of sleep, then to silence his stomach, which seemed to have declared war overnight. Its grumbles were so vigorous that he half-expected it to hit an octave at any moment.
The shower was short. Breakfast followed: cereal and ice-cold milk—not warm, which he found horrendous. He sat before the television, attempting to keep tabs on the morning news.
He had just been trying to settle into the zone when his phone rang. It was his mother.
"Morning, Mom." he began on answering
"Hello, Seb. I hope you've eaten."
"Currently doing so," he replied he looked up squinching his eyes to read the headlines.
"I hope you're doing okay" he asked.
"No need worrying. I just called to see how you are doing and to remind you to Concentrate on your schoolwork. As for whether am doing okay, lets just say his previous disappearance has served as a lesson that your father's disappearance will always be temporary and will be rectified as always in the future. That man—he's unkillable, a cockroach even."
"I suppose that's true," he smiled while continuing to shove food in quickly
"uh mom have you changed your mind in regards to—"
"No...Seb," his mother cut in sharply. "Focus on your studies. I want you to know that joining the army isn't all they've made it to be."
she sighed pausing for a moment before continuing her voice cold
"Joining it has been made easy for a reason...especially the navy now... its to dangerous even the non-combatant in the field don't have it easy...just try your best...okay"
she paused waiting for his answer, He didn't
She sighed again deciding to continue
"I know you can do it...a bit of work and you'll be sorted, grades sky high, the best university and such. You just have to pour your heart and soul into it"
He knew why she said it them making joining much easier than previously. Entry requirements been lowered so far that anyone with half-decent AP scores could enlist. Many considered it, if not applied, after all pay was really good but, surely it was too good to be true.
He mumbled that he understood.
The call ended with his mum wishing him a number of good-luck and well-wishes at school which made him think that shit might hit today. He dropped the phone with a sigh, changed into his uniform, and set off toward his school: Phoenix High Wing.