Red Mask

The battle with the deputy mayor was tough, and it was close.

Way too close.

I need to get stronger and fast.

While we were freeing those captive, I heard someone scream

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!”

Me and Mara ran out from backstage immediately to figure out the source of the cry, but it was only Grandma.

Tears were streaming down her face, and she was holding a sword, the likes of which I have never seen before. It was curved like a schmitar but it was akin to shortsword as well, maybe it was a fusion of the two.

Grandma was able to deduce that it was me instantly, but to be fair, a scarf over one’s face wasn’t the best disguise ever.

“MY GRANDSON!” she screamed as she ran and embraced me.

“Y-you, God, I thought I lost you. I thought I lost you!”

“I’m so sorry Grandma, I didn’t mean to worry you like this.”

She held my head and kissed it. She embraced Mara as well.

“I’ve informed the Protection Corp’s Commander in Chief about this on my way here. I’m so glad you’re both okay. But please, PLEASE don’t go running off into trouble like this. Look at you Job for crying out loud, you’re bleeding so much!”

“I’m sorry Grandma, I didn’t mean to get hurt, you don’t need to worry so much about me.”

“Boy, do you hear yourself?! You are all I have left! Please, I can’t bear to lose anyone else, my old heart cannot take it. Imagine if you weren’t strong enough to subdue this man, whoever he is.”

“He’s the Deputy Mayor teacher.” Mara cut in.

“By the Gods… he was able to exhibit such strong killing intent?”

My Grandmother seemed to be distracted for a while as she stared at the man bound in cord. She snapped out of it quite quickly though.

“Grandma, you mean to say that you were able to locate me just by his killing intent?”

“Yes, when one is proficient enough in Karma, they are able to sense killing intent, but even then, this one was abnormal. I just… I realized that you weren’t home, and I did not want to leave anything else to chance, so I got here as soon as I could.”

“I’m sorry Grandma, I didn't think things through enough, I didn’t take you into account. I’m sorry Grandma.” I broke down in her arms.

“It’s okay child, you’ve achieved a great fear today, and I suppose that is something to be proud of, you too Mara, come here.” she said as she gestured for Mara to join in on the hug.

Just then she gestured for us to look alive, the Protection Corp was here.

“FAN OUT, SECURE THE PERIMETER.” I heard the Commander bark out.

“YES SIR!” The officers replied.

Just then, with a speed I’ve only witnessed from my grandmother, he appeared before us.

“Care to explain to us what this is? And why is the deputy mayor bound in such disgraceful fashion?” the Commander inquired.

We recounted everything that happened that night, but I conveniently left out the fact that I had wielded Karma.

“I see, well that seems to be the case, as we’re bringing out the captives now. Let’s keep the now ex deputy mayor in this state, it is befitting of those who partake in such ugly activities.”

“Curse you.” the deputy mayor attempted to mutter.

“Whats that?” the Commander mocked.

“I CAN HAVE ALL OF YOU OUT OF A JOB. YOU SHOULD BE ARRESTING HIM FOR DISGRACING ME LIKE THIS!”

“Alright buddy, it’s about time you calm down.”

And before the mayor could utter another word, the Commander rendered him unconscious with a blow to the back of the head.

Just then, I spotted the well-dressed captive from earlier. I ran over to him, and sure enough he

was alive.

“W-wha? W-w-where am I? I want to go home, I miss home.” He stuttered

“It’s okay, I’ve got ya, you’ll be home soon enough! Where’s home?”

“I’m from h-h-house c-c-chabel.” He answered, just barely.

House Chabel was a minor house that was very influential in Paprika, how could someone from such a prominent house be involved here, as a captive no less?

The Commander came over to me, and he looked just as astonished as I was.

“Laurel?! By the Gods! What are you doing here? Actually don’t answer now, conserve your energy. I NEED AN APOTHACARY OVER HERE NOW!”

With that me, Mara, and Grandma went about helping the captives out for quite some time.

“Well you folks should run along, we’ve got things covered from here. And Yugi I’ll be seeing you very soon.”

I had never known that my Grandmother’s name was Yugi up until that point.

“Sure thing Commander, you take care now!”

We bid our farewells, and left that accursed place.

-

After we parted ways with Mara, me and Grandma returned home, but instead of sleeping she called me downstairs.

“Show me it.” Grandma asked

“Show you what?”

“I can sense that you’ve learnt how to use Karma, I need to confirm it with my own two eyes.”

“H-how?”

“Nevermind that, just show me it.”

I focused on my claymore and it slowly began to glow yellow.

“You’ve grasped Karma in 2 weeks… While it is grossly unrefined, this is historical. The only other person I’ve seen do something remotely close to this is…” She trailed off before she could finish.

“None-the-less, I will be teaching you how to refine your Karma, because as it stands, it’s fighting to become the sword, and that won’t work.”

“So I have to focus on making it become one with the sword?”

“While that is good, that isn’t something you can do at this stage. It’s best to focus on allowing both the sword and the manifestation of your Karma to co-exist for now.”

“Okay Grandma.”

“Yes, get some rest for now, you need it after tonight.”

“I will Grandma, and Goodnight.”

“Oh and…”

“Yes Grandma?”

“I love you Grandson.”

“I love you too Grandma.”

-

It seemed as though I overslept, because when I woke up Mara and Grandmother were already outside training.

“You’ve got to bend your knees! Act as a counter for the added weight! Do it like this!”

Grandma was barking orders at her, it briefly reminded me of when I started training with her.

I let out a chuckle.

Just then a knock came at the door.

“Can you get that Job?” Grandma asked, shouting atop her lungs

“Sure thing Grandma.” I replied.

I opened the door to a man clad in very lavish formal wear, honestly I felt overwhelmed. Partially because I was still in my nightwear.

“Goodday, are you Job?”

“Yeah, who’s asking?”

“The House of Chabel extends its sincerest gratitude to you, saviour of the long lost eldest son, Laurel Chabel, heir to the Countship. To express our gratitude we are inviting you to attend our ball tomorrow at midnight where we celebrate the return of our beloved heir.”

“Oh my!”

I didn’t know how to react.

“Please Sir Job, we expect you to be earlier than all the guests, so do please come as early as you possibly can! Also, please accept this gift as a small token of our appreciation.”

“Oh, ah, thank you, I will be there.”

“And also, please bring the young lady that was with you as well.”

“Ma- her? Oh, I’ll uh, talk to her, yeah.”

“Thank you. Have a great rest of your day Job, and I do look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

“Oh also, what is your name sir?”

“Names matter not at this point in time Sir Job, but if you are curious please do attend the banquet tomorrow!”

As soon as the messenger left, I ran to the backyard and informed the two.

“Why isn’t that nice!” Grandma said.

“A-a-a BANQUET? AT THE CHABEL HOUSE NO LESS?!” Mara said, almost fainting. “Teacher, can we please end here for today? I’d love to prepare for tomorrow!”

“Oh my child, yes you may, I was your age once!”

She let off her signature hearty laugh.

I’m glad Grandma found it in herself to be happy again.

-

I was training in the backyard when Grandma called me inside.

“Well If you’re going to the banquet then you have to at least look the part!”

She was right, as I had no formal wear whatsoever. I never really had the need to until then.

“I have just the perfect suit, just give me a moment.”

She ran up the stairs quite excitedly, and I could hear her rummaging about. It didn’t take her long at all.

“Ta-da! What do you think of this?”

I tried it on, and looked in Grandma’s looking glass.

It was a fitted deep burgundy velvet tunic with long, tapered sleeves that seemed to come just a bit short of my hands. It was layered however, over a cream linen undertunic visible at the neck and cuffs. Over all that was a floor-length houppelande in sapphire blue silk with very VERY wide sleeves (I later expressed to Grandma that the houppelande was not my style). At the waist was a light gold alloy chain belt, and it was completed by wool pantalons and a burgundy velvet cap.

“Grandma… This is lovely! But it is all too much for me…”

“Oh nonsense, this was the garment your father wore when he was getting married, you look just like him.”

Even as she mentioned father, her smile never faded.

“Ah, in that case… I’ll wear it then.”

-

The next day came quickly, and if I am to be completely honest, I was excited for the Banquet. I waited patiently for Mara to arrive, and when she did, I will attest that she was indeed very stunning.

She wore a fitted wool dress in soft brown, with long sleeves that reached her wrists. Over this she wore a wool surcoat that fell just above her ankles. She had on also, a basic leather belt, and a white linen wimple and veil pinned to her lush red hair.

“Mara, you, you look amazing!” I said stuttering.

“You don’t look too bad, you bumbling oaf.” She said laughing just a little.

We bid Grandma our farewells and set off for the Castle of House Chabel.

-

When we arrived there, it was the most grandiose property I had ever seen! For it was the first time I had seen a manor.

It was a building of stone, with small,narrow windows and a steeply pitched roof. It also had thick defensive walls, a chapel of Ire attached to it, and a myriad of outbuildings like barns and stables. The Garden was also not to be outdone. We walked through the space divided by the brick pathway along the rows of raised beds that contained fauna to which I knew no names of. There was also a beautiful marble fountain in the middle of it all, which I stole a sip at because all the walking had made me quite thirsty.

Then we knocked on those big doors.

A man opened one of the two great doors, and said to us

“Name and House?”

I looked at Mara, because we didn’t belong to a house. We were both quite afraid but we spoke up anyway.

“Sir Job Henry, no house.”

“Mara Hopkins, no house.”

“I’ll be with you shortly,” the butler said and excused himself.

Not long after that, we heard a loud shout inside.

“YOU LEFT OUR HEIR’S SAVIOURS AT THE DOOR?!”

“I’m sorry Master Ned I did not know, my most sincere apologies.”

“Sounds like someone’s in trouble.” Mara chuckled/

“Oh you bet.”

A large man flung the doors open and spoke with a great command in his voice.

“TO THE SAVIOURS OF THE CHABEL HOUSE I WELCOME YOU!”

He welcomed us with open arms, and led us through the oak clad corridors.

“Come, come, right this way! You must be hungry from your travels. MAIDS, PLEASE GET OUR GUESTS SOMETHING TO EAT POST HASTE!”

“Sir, thank you for your hospitality, but can I speak freely?” I inquired.

“Oh absolutely! Speak to your heart’s content!”

“I get that we saved, your son?”

“No, no he’s my brother.”

“Okay, thanks. I get that we saved your brother, but why go through all this for two strangers?”

“Do I need some grand reason? My brother was lost, but now he is found, alive and well! All thanks to you! Besides, if I'm to be frank, you saved the family from falling into a succession war, and for that I can be forever greatful.”

“Ah, I see, thank you sir!”

“Also, I have a question,” Mara asked

“What is it?”

“I’m curious as to how you figured out our names, and also I wouldn’t want for the-”

“Oh don’t worry your pretty little head about it! We got that information from the Commander in Chief, but we understand that you want to keep your identities a secret to continue your acts of Vigilantism! Worry not, House Chabel always keeps its word.”

“A-ah, thank you sir.” Mara replied sheepishly.

We were served a wonderful dish of exquisite foods and wines.

Which we ate in a manner not befitting our attire.

Well no one was there so who cares?

-

After some time, the banquet was about to begin, and we were about to make our way to the ballroom, when someone gestured for us to walk into what seemed like a planning room.

At the very front of the large room, sat a man on a large wooden chair.

He looked quite familiar.

“WAIT! Aren’t you?!”

“Yes, yes I’, glad you’ve noticed. You have a keen eye, a skill that seems to be nearing extinction these days.”

“May I ask why you have summoned us sir?” Mara asked.

“Well we’ll get to it then. I want you to be my personal guard. You can continue to train as you have, you’ll receive access to top trainers, and instructors who will guide you in the way of the sword. Not to mention the various political privileges you’ll be privy to!”

“Wha?”

“You might be confused, but as a leader, it is important to recognize talent, and I see a talent in the both of you that is so strong, so refined, it’s potential unlimited. So please consider.”

“Could you excuse us for a moment?” Mara asked

She did not wait for a reply, she just dragged me to the side, and began expressing herself.

“Job! This is a wonderful opportunity, the clauses are good, and it seems we have nothing to lose… but if I’m going to be honest, I don’t want to be bound by noble obligations, they're quite exhausting. Please, I’m begging you to reject his offer.”

She spoke as though she had experience interacting with the nobility.

Mara had not known of my motivations, my past, but even without that I shared her sentiments. The life of a highlander was never one that I thought was right for me.

So my decision has been made.

“Count Chabel, your offer is incredibly generous, but I am afraid that we cannot accept it.” I said

“What?! Why?” The Count said bewildered.

“We would both like to remain as autonomous as possible, without any obligations besides our own Count.” Mara said

The Count sat and thought for a while, then he arose, and spoke.

“Follow me.”

So we followed him to the furthermost wall of the room.

He pulled a book and revealed a secret passageway, which we followed him into.

“Do you know why we are so influential throughout the Kingdom, despite being a lesser house?”

That had never crossed my mind until that point, but it made no sense

“Well it’s because of this.”

We entered into a large space. It seemed almost like an office.

There were clerks running to and fro with stacks of papers, ledgers everywhere. But there was something uniquely magical about this place. It was just then that something flew past my face at great speed.

“This little thing is a fairy.”

“A fairy?! But aren’t those just folk tales that parents tell their kiddies before shooing them off to bed?” Mara said

“That’s what we want people to think. But like us humans, fairies have existed since the dawn of creation.”

“So what is this place? And what’s with the fairies?”

“This is the most prominent intelligence order in all of Atlas. We serve the royalty and the nobility with great precision thanks to our fairy friends. You see, fairies have a unique skill that no other living being, no matter how powerful, can replicate. They can track people based on their specific Karma signature! While how they do it remains a closely guarded secret of the fairies, we are so very happy to have their cooperation.”

“Ah, I see.” I said.

I stared at the fairy that rested atop the count's shoulder, and even though I saw her/him/it, I couldn’t believe it one bit.

With their translucent wings and sparkly demeanor, their giggles sounded vaguely like the laughs of drunk men.

I felt like I was in a dream.

“Well, I must offer you something else regardless, and that is, the ability to use the servers of our intelligence order once.”

“Only one time?” I retorted.

“Yes, as much as I would love to give you more chances at it, the loss we would incur would be too great.”

“I see.” I said. “May you excuse us for a moment?”

“What’s up?” Mara asked.

“I need to tell you something.”

I deemed then to be the most appropriate time to tell her my life story.

“Oh my gosh! Job! I'm so sorry, I didn’t know! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t bare myself to speak of it then, but I have to now. I need you to understand that I have to use this opportunity for my own purposes.”

“That is quite alright!” Mara said. “I have no use for an intelligence agency anyway.”

“Thank you so much Mara.” I said as I hugged her.

“Anything for you, ya lumbering oaf.”

I walked up to the count and told him that I would like for his order to find the bastards that kidnapped my sister.

“Please, I need you to find her.”

“We will do our best, I can assure you, we will find whoever took your sister post haste.”

“Thank you very much Count.”

“Please, call me Gerry!”

When we arrived back at the ground levels of the manor, the banquet had already ended.

“Oh man, I was looking forward to dancing around in this dress!” Mara exclaimed.

“Well what’s stopping you?”

I took her by the hand and we danced slowly on the marble ballroom floor. I owed her that much at the very least, for all she’s done for me.

Shortly after, we bid our farewells and left.

-

In the following days, our vigilantism only grew, and people started to take notice of it.

“Is that a child’s drawing of us?”

“It seems like it, although I think I do look a bit prettier…”

“No actually, I think the picture is doing you a bit too well!”

“What do you mean by that?!”

“Nothing!”

“Just wait till I catch you!”