Elyas' eyes widened. What do you mean?! He was justifiably confused and angry. The fact that everything kept going spectacularly wrong around him these past few days, did not sit right with him.
He let out a sigh. "Look Mr… can I know your name?" The madman was already looking at him with a doubtful expression. Instead of answering, he asked a question of his own. "Are you who I think you are?"
Elyas wasn't about to get himself into whatever situation this man was involved in, so he shook his head. "I don't think so."
The madman's throat shook, "Then why am I here?"
"Look Mr, I just wanted to help a madman have a good meal. I did not expect the man to be… faking it." At Elyas' words, the gray haired man's eyes widened in horror.
He remained silent for a solid minute before starting to scream. "Our graves shall smell of ash! Our graves shall smell of ash! Our graves—"
"Stop." Elyas stared at the man blankly. "How stupid do you take me to be?"
The whole cafe was already looking at them, most startled by the scream. The gray haired man sighed. "Sir, you have to put yourself in my shoes, what am I supposed to do now that you know about me? I had to at least try to convince you I'm actually insane."
"Why are you even acting as a lunatic in the first place?" Elyas was asking an obvious, but important question.
Not long after, he got his answer. "It's a cover story. People feel strangely comfortable committing all kinds of crimes in front of someone like me. I like to think it's because they're sure even if I say something, no one would believe it." The man leaned in, put his hand through his jacket and showed Elyas an object.
The lunatic glanced around to make sure no one was looking and that he was covering it nicely with the jacket.
Elyas examined the object. It was something akin to a wallet. But instead of cards or coins, it held a monographic picture of the madman in a uniform. Beneath that, attached to the lower half, was a few lines which read:
Unit 3 Defender: Erin Lenen
This time, it was Elyas' turn to be shocked. "You… You're a Defender?!" He tried to keep his voice low while shouting, which resulted in an ugly hiss.
"Yes. You can probably guess why I'm doing this now." Erin pulled out another object from his pocket. A badge consisting of a golden shield over two crossed spears. The emblem of the Protection Protocol.
Elyas nodded. The man was doing this to keep tabs on the syndicates. Great! The timing couldn't have been better! He needed to become a member of the Protocol to access the residential records. He had considered asking Noah for them, but he remembered that they don't allow documents to leave the protocol. So, Elyas had no choice but to enroll as a member.
Even if he hadn't met Erin, he would have just asked Noah or Julius about the matter. But now that he was running against the clock, a shortcut was a welcomed surprise. "Defender Lenen, mind if I ask a question?" Erin smacked his forehead. "Don't call me that! I'm undercover!"
Elyas nodded with embarrassment. "Uhh… Mr. Erin, do you perhaps have any tips for someone who wants to join the Protocol?"
Erin blinked a couple of times, surprised by the sudden question. "Well… I guess I do? But if I tell you, you have to forget this interaction ever happened." Elyas nodded.
"The tips are not mind blowing ideas, just things to keep in mind." Erin continued after seeing that Elyas didn't object.
"Other than the basic physical tests and a few matches with Figments, there would be a few illusions to test your resilience. That is the hardest part of the entry… oh! Another thing. Since last year, they've lowered the bar of entry for Supporters, making the other classes really angry. But it makes sense, you know? You can never have enough utility."
Elyas was happy with what he heard. Now that he knew what the test was going to be, preparing would become much easier. Supporters you say… For once in his life, he was happy with the Wish he made.
Unlike most Space Benders, he didn't have the control over gravity or the ability to teleport. He could only assert his power in the void. That made him resemble a Hoarder—a Supporter whose entire job consisted of taking care of dead weight—rather than Dreamers of his own class.
I can just pretend to be one. That way, I can get in with half the effort!
At this delightful news, Elyas grabbed his cup of coffee, downed it in one gulp and stood up. "Thank you Mister!" He didn't linger, after saying thanks, he hurried out of the cafe, leaving Defender Lenen alone.
…
Today was a good day for Elyas. One could even say It was an incredible day. But Sandl had to ruin it. Elyas had to check up on the bastard everyday.
It was noon and the suns shone brightly in the sky, as always at odds with the fog lessening their heat. Elyas still had a solid two to three hours left before needing to retreat to the void.
"I really need a watch." He did, but that one dinner with Erin had cost him all he had. Elyas also felt bad if he asked Noah for more money. So, he put buying a watch on hold.
Currently, he was walking through the alleys of the north east. Houses leaned on each other for support, beams creaked with the gentlest of winds and every turn led to piles and heaps of trash.
Even with backstreet standards, one could confidently say that this was the worst. As Elyas was wondering how he should go about acquiring some pocket change, he reached the dump zone. As he looked at its rusty entrance, surrounded by its familiar circle of barren yellow soil… "What is that?" Elyas quickened his steps. Ahead, In front of the rusty scrap gate, was a crowd of people.
"What happened?"
"Why are the Defenders here?"
"Did someone steal something again?"
"No, there was a murder."
"What?!"
The crowd was as clueless as Elyas, he understood that from the confused looks most people had and their conversations. After clearing his way through the crowd and inhaling something other than dry sweat, he glanced around.
A dozen men dressed in blue and white uniforms embroidered patrolled the area, a strange urgency in their footsteps. As Elyas scanned his surroundings, he saw a familiar man dressed in nothing but black.
"Noah!" He shouted as he ran towards him. Noah turned back, his expression grave. "What is going on?" Elyas hurriedly asked, making his friend's face grow even darker.
"Do you remember the manager from Telly Burger?" Elyas nodded. Noah glanced towards the dumpsite as he said:
"We found him buried in a pile, someone had put his body there."
…
Elyas kept quiet. He had to. He was ready to open a window and escape if anything went awry. God damn it! Who found the body?!
He had planned to let Sandl die from natural causes. Elyas figured that the manager had to also be tied to the restaurant. So by holding him captive, he could get rid of the man while keeping his hands clean.
At least that was the plan. Now, The whole Protocol knew about Sandl's death, there were a dozen people investigating, and he was just one magical handprint test away from becoming prime suspect. This is bad… Elyas tried to think of something, anything, while Noah led him further into the junkyard.
Enforcers hurriedly evacuated the workers while Defenders kept the crowd from getting in. "Here." Noah said, pointing at a mound. Elyas turned. It was the same familiar giant heap, leaning against the wall as always.
Noah watched Elyas' face grow dark before he started to vomit. That reaction would have won him the Oscars. Too bad he wasn't acting. Elyas didn't need to act. The scene in front of him was repulsive enough.
Sandal's body was cracked open like a biscuit. Someone had snapped his spine along with the rest of his body in half, leaving him ravaged and mangled. His torn stomach had turned into an open buffet for the crows and the flies. Several parts of his body were missing, his forearm, a chunk of the man's belly, an entire leg and all of his chest. The dead man's vacant, glassy eyes stared them down, the reflection of the men's faces grimacing from time to time.
"Wh-who did this?" Elyas wiped his mouth as he got up, trying to compose himself. Noah shook his head. "That's what we're trying to find out."
Elyas was relieved to hear that. That meant he wasn't a suspect yet. How am I supposed to get myself out of this?! Through the bitter taste of what he ate this morning, the smell of rot and wet garbage, through the questioning face of Noah, Elyas tried to keep a straight face.
"Are you alright?" Elyas nodded. "I'm good… just it's been a bit since the last time I've seen something like that." He gave his friend a shaky smile. It's good, yes very good. The fact that I felt nausea from the sight alone can be a good alibi for me.
The men's conversation came to a stop as someone approached them. The woman had the small frame of a child, maybe even smaller. Despite that, she was wearing the white uniform of an Enforcer.
She stopped a few steps away from Noah, looked up at Elyas, and asked a question. "Who is this silver?" She pointed at Elyas.
"A friend of mine."
She raised an eyebrow. "Then why is he still here?"
"He is a Space Bender, his sensitivity to Artifacts can be useful." Noah gave another answer. She seemed satisfied with that. Turning towards Elyas, she said, "I'm Ryu, investigative head of the northern and eastern district. Nice to meet you sir."
Elyas nodded and said with utmost sincerity, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Great! What's next? Sherlock Holmes is gonna pay me a visit?! The last thing he needed was a competent Detective. But then, he thought about it some more. ...maybe it's better if he does…
Elyas had an idea. To clear his name, he was going to play the role he always played. But this time, he would be reorganizing evidence, running from law and doing everything he can to get in the way of the investigation, all the while trying to capture the actual culprit himself.
Elyas was going to become a detective again.