See Through My Eyes

“By aura you mean chakra, right?” Azu begged to differ, finding Mihd’s use of wording unusual.

Mihd simply shook his head, clarifying, “Not chakra… aura. They’re different. My ability to sense chakra use is no different than any other script user. Scytales are really good at obscuring their chakra. Their aura, however… that can’t be hidden. Think of it like a unique signature. Not only do people have one, but objects do as well. That linen on that bed, has an aura. These wooden walls, have an aura, the water in a bucket, it all has an aura. Not only that, but your aura is mixed in with your chakra which is dispelled into the scripts we use.

“When a Scytale does something like use a looking-glass script, it alters the aura of that object or element due to the invading script exposing it to the user’s original aura signature. I locate those changes and identify whether a rat is present or not. Pretty easy work for good pay.”

Akari stepped in, asking Mihd to show Azu the painting, which drew an excited grin onto his face.

“Voila!”

Upon presenting the canvas to Azu, Akari watched closely from the side, eager to see what kind of reaction she would get from him.

“That’s an interesting portrait,” Azu said, Akari finding his impression somewhat deflating.

“Describe what you see,” Mihd then urged.

“It’s clearly a portrait of Akari, but the lower half of her face, all the way down to her neck, looks as though you took a cloth to it and smudged the painting.

Mihd was bursting at the seams with excitement, chanting, “You see, mademoiselle. That’s what’s unique about this. Everyone’s perspective is different. That’s what picto-scripting is all about.”

Akari wasn’t convinced, however, as she questioned Azu on how many people he saw in the painting. But when he confidently answered only one, she couldn’t help but accept that Mihd was telling the truth about his painting method. Proving that the only way she’d find answers as to why she could see Toyo in the painting, would be to ask herself.

“If we’re done stargazing, I would like to offer you a job.”

Azu recognized the unique skillset that Mihd wielded and figured that he’d better take advantage of it. “I want you to work as a Counter-Scytale for us.”

His sudden offer came as a surprise to Akari, but she was soon filled with curiosity as to what Azu might have heard back at the pasture. Perhaps he even had answers as to the whereabouts of the Futamata tribe. With all that being said, she was unsure if Mihd would be the best person to rely on and winced at the thought of having him around all the time. After all, his most defining feature was his ability to consume copious amounts of alcohol.

“Accepted! I accept your offer good Ayur.”

Akari nearly choked, “Three-meter rule, drunkard!” she hollered, “You stay three meters away from me in all directions at all times.”

Paying her no mind, Mihd jumped straight to monetary details. “Twenty coins per day,” he demanded.

“That’s fine, we’ll be traveling for about a week,” Azu confirmed.

“With a danger multiplier of course,” Mihd then nefariously added.

“Hey!” Akari barked in frustration.

“If you’re being tracked by a Scytale then that means someone is after you,” Mihd stated firmly, “I know I said the work is easy, but I never said it was safe. Once they know what I can do, I may be their first target.”

Tapping his finger against his head, he drilled in the true reality of what the grim world of being a script user looked like. Akari was also aware of the dangers that laid ahead. The horror of what Sir Didact did to her mind still lingered deep within her.

“When do I start?” Mihd inquired.

“Right now,” Azu informed. “We head for the Imperial House starting from today. Once we enter the capital, your job is done.”

Akari was lost. Why would they go to the one location that the Empire was bound to be? “Do you have a plan for not handing me over to the Coordinate General?” she questioned.

“The Sovereign. We make it to him, the Coordinator General can’t touch you, and it’s where the answers you’re looking for are.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

“Yes. It turns out that Norin never hired those twins for protection, but I doubt they followed us on a whim. Someone gave them orders.”

Akari had already suspected as much, but Azu saying it out loud only made her wonder just what exactly it was that everyone was after. The feeling of invisible hands grappling at her as eyes watched from all around sent shivers down her spine. She had something that they wanted, but not even she had a clue as to what it was.

“And what if it was this so-called Sovereign, himself?” she pressed.

“It’s a chance that we need to be willing to take. We can’t hide from the twins and the Coordinator General forever.”

Azu then turned towards Mihd with his convictions clear. “You hear that? You’re up against the Mu clan and the Coordinator General. Think you can keep up?”

Mihd dug his pinky nail into the crevices of his teeth, tirelessly trying to claw out a stuck piece of food. “That’ll be a times five multiplier,” he added. “Whatever,” Azu brushed off.

“Good. In that case I’m on the clock. And your first problem is right here in this village.”

“What?” Azu hollered, completely thrown off guard.

“Someone has been watching this town ever since I got here,” Mihd terrifyingly revealed, “And watching very closely.”

Alarm rolling over her, Akari yammered on in a panicked fluster, “I checked all the reflections, I never noticed anything. Not even on the spoon in my hand.”

With a touch of instigation tainting his tongue, Mihd’s guilty pleasure reared its head. “Didn’t I tell you that bodies could be controlled? Someone has been manipulating this entire village… Now that, mademoiselle, is quite magnificent.”