They both entered the library still whispering intensely when they reached the librarian desk they were interrupted by the librarian fake coughing, they both fell silent he asked gently "Good morning young lads what can I do to help you?"
Sakata and Mano at the same time "Good morning " Sakata continued "Sir where can we find the history section and all the historical records of famous people or criminal?"
The librarian "Your purpose must be intense! It's the second turn back in the right-wing "
Mano "Thank you"
The librarian "And both remember to keep it quiet! Otherwise, you will have to get off the library! And no snacks are allowed!" He ended it with a cold chilly smile, they went straight to the section and started to look into books that spoke about famous people lives, Arthurs, scientists, and so on.
After an hour of searching, they read family trees together then read different books. Mano gave Sakata a book he was reading and pointed something with the title 'A tragic life and death of the later emperor Mitskaki ' Sakata looked puzzled but Mano whispered "It's your grandfather!" Sakata was shocked, he took the book and began to read of what seemed to be an article it began with :
'The great emperor Mitskaki was reportedly died yesterday due to fire that destroyed all his castle leaving only ashes. The reason for how the fire started is yet unknown. All the authorities are suspecting it was intended by someone from inside the castle and that he or she wanted to kill the emperor. The emperor of all tribes was a powerful man who could not be killed by someone ordinary. The tribe leaders are discussing the future of the kingdom and pointing out that the famous murderer and assassin "The shadow Phoenix " is responsible for this as she is known for the killing of Hercules and several important figures of the royal family. Yet no link was found to connect her to the crime scene and the shadow Phoenix had remained up till now nothing but a ghost! What is the future holding for us, let us pray '
Sakata was confused rather than surprised and yet happy that they've found something, he looked at Mano and said "Explain, please! This article is a hundred-year-old or probably more! How come he is my grandfather?!"
Mano sat closer to him and said, "Look all I know is that you relate to him somehow! Your mother was his daughter and his heir after he died but because she was framed for the murder of Hercules she was casted awayfrom the family and considered as a criminal! Then the throne went to your uncle Hiro! That is all I know "
Sakata "So you are telling me that because she was framed she was no longer a family member?"
Mano nodded. Sakata confusedly asked, "There are lot of gaps in this story, don't you think?"
Mano "Yeah but here is a thing, I heard them talking once about how dangerous is for you to go outside the borders it would get you killed they say. They even told me to get you straight back home because they might hunt you down and kill you!"
Sakata "Why would anyone want to hunt me down and kill me? I mean I have nothing and not even recorded as one of the royal family! What do they want from me?"
Mano took a deep breath and said cautiously "Do you know what they mean by the chosen one?"
Sakata "No "
Mano whispered in a lower tone than before "Look there is something I want to tell you but the rest you get it from Mika because I swore in my mother's grave that I won't ever tell you! Okay," Sakata hesitated but then nodded, Mano continued "There is a scroll that some say that your great-great-grandfather wrote before he was murdered, no one ever was able to read its content except you and your mother. I heard that your mother was able to read it when she was pregnant with you but I think she had read it way before because it took too long to get her plan in the way she wanted! " Sakata interrupts "What did The scroll say?" Mano "I think it shows a prophecy about the future. She told several people different versions of it so no one can know the real one, only the involved people in the prophecy knew" Sakata interrupt again "And do you know it ?"
Mano "No clue "
Sakata "But how come I am involved but know nothing about it? This isn't fair"
Mano "Sure it isn't! But unfortunately, they are waiting for the right moment to tell you everything"
Sakata sarcastically"Haha! Yeah, it would never come"
The librarian came nearby and they went silent, he creepily looked at them and left. Mano felt uncomfortable and said, "I swear to god this man is creepy! Let's please get out of here my guts says to do so!"
But Sakata wasn't listening to him, he was staring at the end of the section to an old shelf that seemed to be nearly forgotten, Mano "Hello, Sakata are you listening?"
Sakata "Did you notice that book a while ago?"
Mano turned his head to look where Sakata was looking and said "What do you mean?"
Sakata pointed at the middle shelf at the end of the history section, Mano looked closely and saw a thick brown book that was dusty and its title was written in golden like patterns 'The wanted book' it looked so creepy that gave chills to Mano. He said, "Don't even think about going there and touch it. This place is bloody scary enough, let's go out now!"
Mano immediately grabbed his stuff but Sakata remained sitting.
Mano "for heaven's sake get up!" He grabbed his shoulder and forced him out of this section as they went further Sakata regained his consciousness and started walking willingly away from the book but before they got out the librarian stood in front of them and said, "Going somewhere, lads?"
Mano "Sorry sir we are in hurry!"
The librarian "You need to register first if you had taken or borrowed a book"
Mano "We took nothing, sir. You can see that we are empty-handed"
The librarian "And what about the book that your friend is holding?"
Mano "He isn't holding..."
When he looked at Sakata who wasn't just holding the book in his hand but rather embracing it. Mano and Sakata were stunned. How come it got there? Did Sakata took it?.
Mano quickly whispered, "Give it to the librarian"
Sakata "I can't!"
Mano "What do you mean by you can't?"
Sakata "I can't move my hand" He looked worried at Mano who was panicking by now. He didn't know what to do, he said, "Sir can we borrow this for a day? I will get it back tomorrow"
The librarian "Sure, but if it was damaged or I saw a ripped paper or scabbing on the book you two will be fined, this book is the only copy left!"
Mano thought 'And that makes it more creepy' He smiled coldly and went to sign the registration papers. While Sakata was still embracing the book unable to let go, they walked back to Sakata's house where they have to explain how and why they are borrowing this creepy book hoping that it won't cause a problem.
Mano "I have a desire to cut your arms just to take this book and burn it to ashes" Sakata was oddly quiet, Mano went on, "And now it's affecting you! I hope it's not possessed !"
Sakata murmured, "If you cut my arms will it hurt me?"
Mano stopped freezing from what he had just heard. Mano "What ?"
Sakata looked at Mano with a dim glare then said, "Will it hurt you if you cut my arms? I don't believe you can do such a thing especially to me"
He grinned and it made him feel like his soul was being stabbed with an icy blade. The dark aura that surrounds Sakata was growing, Mano immediately grabbed the book trying to detach it from him but Sakata showed strong resistance and strange behaviour. The both of them started wrestling to win the book but that didn't last long. Mika came out of nowhere separating them then the book fell on the ground near Mano, he immediately grabbed it and saying"Hold him still"
Sakata was about to jump on him to take it but Mika hold him tightly and said, "What is the matter? It's just a book"
Mano "It's hexed and It affects him only"
Mika looked at the book "Take it straight to the house I will bring him"
Mano did as he was told and ran to the house holding the book. Mika struggled to maintain Sakata in his grip until he said in demanded tone "Sleep!" Sakata fell asleep immediately, he then took Sakata's arm and place it around his neck holding it with his left hand while holding his waist with the right. The people around him asked to help him but Mika refuses in the excuse of Sakata was having a mental breakdown and wanted to walk him home because he was ashamed of what he did. People understand his situation and left him. Once people were no longer near him he demanded again "Walk!" and Sakata started walking with Mika back to home.
After what felt like fifteen minutes they reached the house where he found Mano standing near the door waiting for them. Mika opened the door once they reached it and entered. He placed Sakata on the sofa and the book on the kitchen table. Mika woke Sakata up and both looked worried at him Mano immediately asked, "Are you alright? Do you feel weird?"
Sakata was having a headache sat quietly for few seconds then said, "What had happened?"
Mika "You found a Salem book!"
Mano and Sakata both asked "A what?"
Mika sighed and sat opposite them, Mano sat next to Sakata. They both were waiting for an explanation quietly, Mika said, "Salem book is nothing but a book that belongs to the witches of Salem that they used to do some pretty messed up stuff to anyone who crossed their way"
Mano was as confused as Sakata was and asked "Didn't they all die? How come the books are not destroyed?"
Mika deeply sighed "That is what I was going to ask. How in the world you two came across it?"
Mano "We were sitting in the library doing our little research when Sakata told me that how come we didn't notice the book before?"
Mika "What you mean it just popped off from nowhere?"
Sakata was confused and said, "We were just discussing something when the librarian came and looked weirdly at us, I thought he was just giving us a sign of stop speaking so loud but .."
Mano "He was creepy but I don't remember how he looked like although I was looking at him when we were speaking!"
Sakata "from what I remember he was a tall young man with yellowish green eyes"
Mika was struck by this description and went straight to the kitchen, he took the book and opened the door throwing it out of the house's fence.
Then he came straight back closing all doors and windows. Sakata and Mano remained sitting on the sofa not moving, fearing that they might interfere. Mika then took a knife from the kitchen cut the palm of his hand and let it bleed till the floor was covered with blood he drew a circle and symbols with it, then stood up and made his injured hand above the circle, murmuring something. The bloody circle turned into flames then was carved in front of the front door. Sakata was amazed at what he just saw saying"What the heck was that?"
Mano "Sir, at least just explain to us. It's ridiculous, hiding the truth won't last long. Someone found out who he is and want to track him down"
Mika looked frustrated at Mano and said, "No that would be much worse now. He is hexed and that what make it dangerous to lay our guards down "
Sakata was feeling weird, he was angry, confused and the rush of killing someone is all over him. He began to breathe heavily, when he wanted to look at Mano or Mika his vision was blurred and almost seeing nothing but pitch black. He started hearing voices calling him to come and join with them, and some hooded figures were surrounding him. He fell on his knees covering his ears and closing his eyes tightly. He was murmuring, "this is not real! This is not real!"
Mano and Mika were panicked to see this happening to him. When Mika came closer and heard what he was murmuring he said in a terrified tone "This cannot be good"
He went immediately and called someone he was in intense conversations with that person on the phone and began shouting, while Mano remained with Sakata trying to get a word out of his mouth.
Then Mika furiously spoke to them"Apparently he isn't in his damned office or home when I need him. He chose this day to go out camping that jerk"
Mano "Who are you speaking about?"
Mika "His damned uncle Hiro"
Mano "Hiro, Him? Does he even know that Sakata exist?"
Mika "Of course he does"
Mano worryingly "Then what shall we do?"
Mika went quiet for few seconds then said, "Oh dear!"
Mano was terrified it didn't sound like a solution nor anything good. He looked at Sakata who was trembling while closing his eyes and ears. Mika had no idea what to do nor Mano did which was more frustrating for them. Then Mano began gently calling Sakata's name as if he was comforting him, Sakata began to calm down a bit then eventually opened his eyes and put his hands on his thighs, he was still trembling and cold. Mika asked gently "Are you okay? What is happening to you ?"
Sakata couldn't look at any of them and said in a trembling tone "they are surrendering me"
Mano asked "Who ?!"
Sakata "Some hooded guys! They are surrounding me"
Mika sat down next to him and placed his hand on his shoulder murmuring what had seemed to be a spell. After he finished the spell, Sakata was no longer trembling, he just sat quietly and didn't answer then he lifted his head saying"why you kept this hidden? "
Mano noticed his eyes changed into light grey, it was sparkling.
Mika seemed a bit uncomfortable asked, "What they've told you?"
Sakata wanted to answer but he suddenly felt flustered and replied, "I don't know it was some language I didn't understand"
Mika "Try to remember please it might be related to something else and not related to the same situation as your mother's"
Sakata stood up Mano noticed that he grew taller and so his hair. He was slowly starting to resemble his father.
Sakata "My mother? The one who left me while I was ten, that one?"
Mika calmly "Don't speak about your mother like that"
Sakata "Why? She was a criminal after all, besides had killed a lot of people"
Mika couldn't hold his temper anymore he shouted, " That was ONLY because she wanted you to have a normal life, not filled with darkness like hers. She did what she thought was right for you. So don't speak like you know everything !"
Sakata angrily" That is exactly my point I know nothing, not even her name. What do you expect me to do? Huh? Of course, I believe what I have heard from others"
Mika trying to reason with him "She is not a criminal. No criminal do what she did, she sacrificed everything even her life just to save you, and now you speak badly about her just because you heard someone does? Do you even know who she is? Do they know who she is? No one will ever will because your damned grandfather's uncle made sure no one will ever know how horrible he was back when she lived with him. So don't ever speak like this about her, she deserves better"
Sakata backed a bit, he realized how awful he was. Mano on the other hand was a bit curious, he asked, "So how long the two of you knew each other? You seem like you know her for a long time"
Mika quietly "Yeah I know her for a long time"
Mano was suspecting something Sakata noticed it in his tone.
Mano concluded "Long enough for you to fell in love with her?"
Mika looked surprised and suspicious at the same time and said "I admired her never loved her, Why ?"
Mano "I don't know, I am curious "
Mika arched his eyes brows and asked, "What is wrong with you?"
Mano "Nothing I just wanted to make sure of something, but I do have one more question! Who are you? "
Sakata and Mika were amazed. Sakata was confused then he remembered, they read the whole royal family tree and Mika's name was not listed even when he surely knew that he was his uncle from his father's side, his father was listed in the noblesse and tribe leaders chapter but no sign of Mika's name.
Mika was showing no reaction he answered "My name is Mika Mordroc"
Mano "But there is no record of you in Mordroc family, it ended with your father and he didn't have any children"
Mika "That's because they think that I am dead. Me, my other two brothers, and sister were considered criminals with fifteen pages of things that each did"
Sakata "Criminal? You?"
Mika " Yes, me! Now can we end this and consecrate on how Sakata is feeling?"
Sakata immediately "Curious, I want to know everything, Tell me"
Mika " No, Not until you tell me what the hooded figures told you"
Sakata was about to reveal but Mano interrupted "Why so you can delete his memories?"
Sakata hit Mano with his elbow and whispered "Don't!"
Mika not surprised"So you know. Don't worry it seems that nowadays it does not affect Sakata. He is growing stronger and turning into something that I hope is good"
Sakata "Turning into what? What do you mean?"
Mano "It means that you either become a demon or something else"
Sakata laughed saying"Please, Demons, Witches, curses or Salem book is nothing but stupid superstitions"
Mika and Mano remained calm. He stopped laughing when he noticed how serious they were. Sakata looked in both confused and disbelieve at them but they remained serious. He said, "Really? You two believe this?"
Mano "Bro we don't just believe it, we are this"
Sakata "What demons?"
Mano seriously "Only me, Mika is a goblin, right? "
Mika shook his head disapprovingly.
Sakata was not convinced. He said, " So you mean that the tribes' powers are all real?"
Mano nodded, Sakata looked at Mika and he nodded as well.
Sakata "This is ridiculous! "
Mika "No boy it's real and you are turning into one of us look at the mirror"
Sakata went to see himself in the mirror and saw that he grew a bit taller and his hair grew longer, while his eyes were shimmering grey.
He said, "Impossible!"
Mika "No it's not. From your features, you are neither going to become a demon nor a goblin"
Mano disagreed "No he resembles his father more!"
Mika "Even if father is the goblins tribe leader, He is half-half"
Mano "But his mother was a witch and his father is a goblin, How come he is neither?"
Mika "It doesn't go in the way you think"
Mano was going to say something but Sakata said loudly "Can you please stop? You are making me panic, how the hell this is happening to me?"
Mika "It's how life is. You grow up a normal child then one day you eventually arise your hidden powers, so that is why I am asking you about the hooded figures"
Sakata "Why they visit me? Do they help arise my powers or they are the one who defines who I am?"
Mika "Neither, they only appear surrounding you just because you are the chosen one"
Sakata "I don't get it?"
Mika sighed "Listen, you had always surrounded by them. They are nothing but the ones that controls the darkness that exists within you, no one knows who they are but they show only to the heirs of the throne. You, your mother, and your great grandfather. This is the sign that you are chosen as the heir of the throne and they also murmur something while they are surrounding you as if it was a chant, so when you hear it your hidden powers don't go unleashed"
Sakata was quiet for some time then said, "I heard something I am not quite sure but I think it was the word ' Hades ' or something like that"
Both Mano and Mika dropped their jaws
shocked and went pale.
Mano "Oh holly....!"
Mika "Mano! You better call Settsu like now"