Epilogue: Shadows Of The Future [END VOL. 1]

♛ ♕ ♛ ♕ ♛ ♕ ♛ ♕ ♛ ♕

Around the time Sakuta-kun and his rather carefree friends were beginning the boy’s training regimen to prepare for the Northwind Triathlon, a secret meeting was taking place in a remote location. In the tower of a ruined stone keep close to the Aurelian-Zephyrian border.

Like a fly on the wall, I, the magnificent Phantom, listened in from the shadows, expecting to catch something of interest. It was my own way of passing the time.

Of the meeting parties, I recognized one immediately as the Duke of Aurelia, Marlon Cleishay. And the other? It was anyone’s guess, but the white-cloaked individual exuded an aura of self-importance comparable to my own.

“Holy one, I received your summons. Is something the matter?” Duke Cleishay timidly approached the man who sat atop a rather gaudy piece of red furniture, a fool’s throne.

“‘Is something the matter?’, he asks…” The man in the cloak scoffed. “That heretic Yamada Sakuta still roams free, continuing to sully our plans with his gross incompetence and dumb luck. And you dare ask if something has gone wrong?”

“I apologize, my liege.” Duke Cleishay fell to one knee. “I only ask so that I can make certain I’m fulfilling my duty as your herald.”

Herald? Quite the pushover for a member of the nobility, aren’t we? I’m sensing a master-servant relationship here. Or perhaps something juicier? Let's find out, shall we!?

“Never mind the groveling, Marlon, how are your efforts progressing in Morningstar Castle?” The cloaked man asked. “Did you succeed in your task of dealing Veranda’s camp a blow to their credibility?”

“Yes, holy one.” Duke Cleishay flashed a grin. “The hearing was a wild success. The groundwork by my inside agent at the Engagement Ball paid off with Veranda losing face in front of the council, and Yamada Sakuta being forced to compete in the Northwind Triathlon.”

“Acceptable job, assuming this isn’t fabricated nonsense.” The man replied curtly. “Then can I assume our other arrangements have been taken care of to ensure banishment is the result?”

“Indeed. The message requesting aid, intended for Senator Henrí Kawar, was intercepted en route.” The Duke seemed all-too-pleased with himself as he explained. “Without a dragon riding instructor to teach him, or this piece of hardware I borrowed…”

Duke Cleishay held up a device in his left hand, a crystalite.

“...Yamada Sakuta will be helpless in that leg of the event, and will not be able to recover the points necessary to beat my son Charles.” He continued. “We have contingencies in case of unexpected circumstances. And visitors, in particular…”

“The Phantom, you mean?”

My ears perked up at the sudden mention of my name. I did so love being the center of everyone’s attention, and the Engagement Ball had done wonders for my public appeal. I wondered when I should make another appearance for the fine people of Aurelia.

“Yes, my liege.” Duke Cleishay replied. “His origins and motivations are still unknown to us, and he seems to be wary of our plans. We would be wise to not make an unnecessary enemy of him at this current time...”

The first intelligent thing I’ve heard from the man’s mouth thus far.

“No! If we are to make the Cabal’s dream a reality, we will need to eliminate meddlers like the Materializer and this Phantom!” The cloaked man slammed his fist down on the armrest of his chair. “You—and your inside agent—will only receive the agreed-upon compensation when the job is finished. No loose ends.”

“I… understand.” The Duke muttered.

“Do what you must, research new sources of power, kill whomever in the castle you need to in order to succeed.” The cloaked man’s voice echoed against the stone walls. “The time to act is drawing near.”

It appeared things were heating up in the race for power in the Kingdom of Aurelia, and a new player of some formidability was orchestrating things behind the scenes.

“Once Yamada Sakuta is out of the picture, the kingdom will finally be ours for the taking. By my hand, by my blade, we will begin a new age of the gods…”

…………………..

I phased through the wall of the keep, walking solitarily through the forest. Deep in thought, I contemplated my available options.

Crushing the two schemers right here was one of them, but I would not dare to call myself a ‘showman’ without at least seeing how things would unfold first. Rash decisions ruin the fun.

Sakuta-kun had been progressing at a rate that even exceeded my own lofty expectations, but something else needed to give for him to reach his full potential as the Materializer. Another domino needed to fall. Like the two schemers in the keep, I also had a personal goal that involved Yamada Sakuta.

Since the Soirée, I had always been there, watching his every move. An important juncture approached for the boy in which success and tremendous failure were both very real possibilities, and he still failed to open the gift I had so graciously left for him.

So which will it be, Sakuta-kun? Will you be able to overcome the challenge set before you, or will you flounder about in disgrace while your friends meet their doom?

The choices were all so decadent that I felt a wicked smile tickle the corners of my lips.

“I will continue to watch for as long as Sakuta-kun continues to grow.” I ran my fingers over the surface of my mask. “But maaaybe in the not so distant future, it will be time for the Phantom to re-enter stage left…”