The Final Piece

  It has been morning by the time Maxwell had left the goblin’s nest. Their fowl stench had kept him awake all night.

  Still, he’d made progress and though the goblins were just as weak as Rei had said, they were masters at scavenging.

  In just one night, they had retrieved every piece of equipment that he’d requested. While most of it had been discarded a few pieces seemed brand new as if they’d been stolen.

  It wouldn’t be too long now before he could an act the final step in his plan, though perhaps he was getting ahead of himself.

  There was still much to do, he’d need to begin testing soon. It could take weeks before he would make the breakthrough he’d need.

  For now, he silenced his thoughts. Rei must not have been able to find him last night when he didn’t return.

  He’d almost completely forgotten about her. What would become of her after his plan was finished?

  He certainly couldn’t keep telling her that he was searching for Maximus’s killer. Eventually, even she would come to realize it was a lie.

  Perhaps she would need to join Buros as another sacrifice for his vision of a better world. 

  There were bound to be more of them, obstacles standing in the way of what had already been a predetermined outcome when he’d first arrived.

  Thought, he couldn’t deny that Rei had her uses. If she survives what’s to come, then perhaps she’d truly earn a place at his side.

  The crunching of leaves had interrupted his thoughts. He’d felt like he was being watched since he’d left the goblin’s nest.

  He’d chalked it up to being his imagination. It had been a sleepless night after all, though now he’d heard proof that something was following him.

  When he heard another crunch from behind him, he’d stopped walking.

  With a hand on the handle of his sword, he turned around to see that there was nothing behind him.

  “Strange” thought Maxwell.

  He turned back around to see a small crimson fox with three tails. In its jaws was a book of some sort with an envelope tied to its cover.

  This was a new creature for Maxwell. Its appearance closely resembled a kitsune, a fox spirit from Japanese folklore.

  “Why have you been following me?”

  The creature didn’t speak, it merely stood still as if it were one of King Midas’s statues.

  He cautiously approached the creature. It made no sign of fleeing.

  “Is that book for me?”

  The creature made no response.

  He knelt down and took the book from its jaws. As soon as he did, the creature bolted away.

  It ran so fast there was no point in giving chase. Whatever its intentions were, it had succeeded in delivering its cargo.

  Maxwell untied the envelope to find that it was addressed to Maximus. He opened it and was shocked to see its contents.

  A hand written letter, but what was most shocking was that the hand writing was that of his mother’s.

  He quickly read through the letter, after he’d finished a tear had begun forming at the corner of his eye.

  He wiped the tear away and flipped open the book. Once again he was shocked to find his own handwriting scribbled all throughout the book.

  When he’d finally shut the book which he now knew to be Maximums’s journal, a smile began to form across his face.

  The final piece of the puzzle he’d been missing had just fallen right into his lap.