Calling in a favor
“Wake up. It’s 8:00 AM already” That was the voice that brought Xiao into consciousness.
Waking up was an experience on its own. Xiao could feel the effect settle in his body. His body had been asleep the entire time. Well, this one had been. The spell cloned the present body for the duration of itself. Asa consequence, one was left with divided magic.
The new body can be in the form of an animal, an inanimate object and even other magical beings. The only con was the division of magic that resulted from it. Generally, when he performed this spell, it resulted in a perfect half division of magic - enough to get by.
But this time the spell had dragged another victim and his magic had divided into more than two parts. Moreover, since Kei had a bigger physique than him, his magic ration was further depleted.
Add that to magic which maintains the array, all you get is a very limited magic reserve. Thankfully, the purpose of this visit had been achieved. He didn’t think he had it in him to try anything like this again.
“Hey, are you alright?” there was a hand in Xiao’s visions. However, it was not reaching for him, but for the book right adjacent to him. One he had received a long time ago and only ever saw one page.
“I’m getting around to it. Is it 8:00 AM already?” Xiao asked, now in a sitting position. His body didn’t protest too much but the mental fatigue was still there. Kei for his part looked no different than yesterday. There was not even a shadow of fatigue on his face.
“Yup. I came back around an hour ago, so I ordered breakfast. You’ll pay?” For someone who had not gotten much sleep, Kei was no worse for wear. Xiao felt thankful that he had already ordered the meal. He was in no shape to cook right now.
Grateful enough to ignore the ban he had imposed on Kei for climbing the stairs. Well, there surely were other ways to wake him up. Like using magic, but Kei had just waltzed upstairs when specifically told not to.
The teen for his part observed the hardcover of the book. It was a plain brown paper wrapped book. The cover had seen better days but it was also not falling apart. The pages still had their original colour, no worse than the day they had been printed. Except for the page which held the bookmark.
After going through the book by flipping the pages Kei once again opened the first page. However, this time he held his gaze there with a focus Xiao was not able to understand.
Xiao had no idea what had fascinated Kei so much about that single page. As much as he remembered, there was nothing of importance on that page.It was an ordinary page, not that he remembered. He had only opened one page from that book and nothing else in ages.
“Hey Xiao, What’s Niket that is mentioned? Is it a name? The previous owner of this book?” The voice was like thunder in his ears and despite all the protest in his mind, his hands moved faster than he could explain while he pulled the book from Kei’s hands.
That was a title he no longer wanted to hear again. For a long time, he had that place. A Niket - a home. But that was a long time ago. In fact even now when he could call what he had as a family with Noah, the truth was that it was a business relationship. Noah had gone against his family for him, sure, but that had been a more selfish reason.
Most people would not feel it, but he did.
“Wow, such fast reactions. I didn’t mean to offend” Kei raised his hands as he backed away slowly while Xiao still tried to get his mind into gear. Right, his actions had been offending. Kei surely had no idea that he would get that worked up over a word.
Even if it reminded him about what he lost.
“It’s alright. The book is a relic from one of the places I lived before. Niket is what it was called. However, the place is gone now, so this book is one of my only relics of that place” what Xiao wanted to say was of that person. The person who haunted his memories.
He was not in love with him, but he might have grown to love him if given time. However, the betrayal had caught him off guard and the separation even harder. Had that person even survived? Were they living well?
“I hope I never meet them again if they are happy,” Xiao unconsciously muttered. It was selfish, to not want to see your loved one again if they were happy even without you in their life, but Xiao had never believed himself to be good.
When he looked at Kei, the expression on the teen’s face was solemn. The smile even had a little pain in it.
“I think, if that person was as important to you as you believe them to be, they will find a way to you in time. Who knows, maybe they are having as miserable a time as you without them” when Kei finally spoke out his voice was soft but firm. There was assurance in his voice which caused a small smile to form on Xiao’s lips.
“Perhaps you’re right. But in the meantime, we have other things to accomplish. I believe I know how to go about fulfilling this wish” since things were getting heavy, Xiao finally decided to change the subject. While what Kei said was a possibility, it was not something he was willing to indulge in right now.
“ Yes, you mentioned a favour before?” Kei had caught on to the mood. He knew it meant that it was time to turn toward a new and better topic than before. So following Xiao’s lead, his voice cheered up to his normal amount.
“Ah yes. You see, there was a shadow of a siren in the water. But getting the required material from a siren is no easy task. A god stone is something only a siren who is about to die produces. There are not a lot of them going around” Xiao explained as he left the room with Kei in two. On the way, he inserted the book into the correct place in the bookcase while looking at Kei to see if he was paying attention.
“We can attack a stronghold to get one if you like. I can do it solo” Kei bragged, the grin on his face growing bigger. It felt like a joke one would make, but Xiao thought it looked more like a promise. He felt that if he asked Kei, the other would actually go out and do it.
He felt flattered with the promise, but he knew that there was a better way to go about this.
“I’m flattered, but you won’t need to. You see, a business like ours has a lot of connections that are built up over time. And not all our clients pay immediately. I called it a favour, but it's more like collecting dues.” Xiao had a smile on his face as he answered back.
One of the key features of their business was that since a wish carried so much weight, it could not be measured in money. Generally, it worked on equal barter of services. However, since not everything could be done in one go, it meant that a lot of people had unresolved payments.
And that is how this business was so self-reliant. One wish could be another's discarded price for their own.
“You already have a victim in mind. An earlier client, I take it?” They quickly stepped down the stairs. The pair stood in the space between kitchen and bedrooms, the atmosphere a relaxed copy of yesterday.
“That’s why you don’t need to worry much. I’ll set up a meeting right away so that we can get the required item right away” after the conclusion, Xiao felt much better. Now that there was an actual course of action he could follow, there was not much to be worried about.
“So, Breakfast. The delivery is in the oven and heated before I work you up. Should I get it for you along with the utensils?” Although Kei asked it as a question, he was already moving toward the kitchen. Xiao made a move to stop him but the doorbell’s sound stopped him.
“We already received the delivery right? Must be Noah” Xiao concluded while Kei held up the takeout container for him to see. There was only one visit to his home at this hour of time.
Since he was close to the door, it took less than a minute to open the door. On the other side stood his cousin, all prim and proper. Dressed in a designer suit, he looked ready to take part in a business meeting. Xiao knew better than that though, it was all a disguise.
“Xiao, you’re awake? Saves me time then. I need you to accompany me to the - hey what are you doing here this early?” halfway through his speech while coming in, Noah diverted. His eyes followed the form of the tall teenager who was setting up the table.
“There was a problem with his guardians and they had to travel. Since I’m his current employee with an empty home, his guardian gave me permission to house him here for the time being. So Noah, meet my new house guest - Kei” Xiao tried to soften the blow as much as he could but even he could see that it was having no effect. Kei waving toward Noah was not helping the case either.
“Xiao, parents don’t allow children, especially teenagers to stay with others without checks. No matter how urgent the work or mature the child. Kei’s 15 and I refuse to believe a parent left 15 years old to live alone with a stranger. Besides, what about that? How will you manage it?” Noah had a hand on his temple while he took in the domestic scene.
“Noah, I had a talk with his guardian. They had a situation in their family so the child is more than aware. Besides, I’m sure everyone in our society knows about me. It’s not strange that they left the child with me for the time being. Besides, the contract is still there” There were many situations which were a part of children in their community. And Xiao felt that was valid enough to become an excuse.
Whether Noah took it for one parent being supernatural and thus having bad home conditions or Supernatural danger to the family and child - Xiao didn’t care. Even other interpretations would be sufficient. He was not going to explain.
Taking a look at Noah, Xiao took a deep breath. Noah had gotten the message that this was non-negotiable and Xiao was not going to explain.
“Fine. You’re an adult and that is your employee so do what you want. Just don’t let it affect me and the business. I still don’t like it though” This was what it came down to in the end. Noah cared about him, but it was always about business with him. That was how he showed his care and Xiao had just accepted it at this point.
“You don’t have to like it, but I needed help and Xiao offered. So, I’ll be staying with him for the time being. Now, we only have food for two here though” Kei muttered the last part but the first part was loud enough for the two to clearly hear. Xiao found it amusing but apparently, Kei did not.
“Kei, respect. Noah, what was the situation you were talking about” At the sharp tone, Kei just stuck his tongue out sheepishly. Noah, however, was distracted enough when asked about the main reason he decided to visit. Another point of Noah was that he only visited his home for the important stuff. Otherwise, he just walked into the shop.
“Right. You know the upper north fraction of the sectrilute. The frame was killed so now there is a hurry to replace the old one. Tensions are all-time high and it is causing many problems. I need you beside me when we deal with this issue as the central branch and a new head is chosen” Noah requested and it caused Xiao to roll his eyes. There was not anything for him to do but act as a figure beside Noah.
“You mean you want Xiao to act as the figurehead so that you can gain more control over their branch” Kei cut in with a happy shopper in his voice and Xiao almost laughed. Frames were divine creatures that upheld a region. There were generally five in every region to share the burden and as far as he knew north didn’t have much competition for the seat.
Maybe this was why that duck had asked for divinity at such short notice. To become a frame was a big deal, even bigger than becoming a god. After all, there were countless gods, but only so many frames in a region.
Well, this really made things interesting a lot.
“Well, usually I would complain. But this time I have a wish from there to fulfil so I'll head there when I get what we need. Tell Era she’ll have to manage the shop on her own and get another temporary aid for her” The meaning of Xiao’s words were clear. Kei was coming along with them. The frown on Noah’s face said that he did not agree, but was not going to point this out either right now.
“I was hoping to go today itself. How early can you make it?” there was genuine impatience in Noah’s voice. One he had seldom heard and it caused alarm bells to ring in his mind. Looking at Kei he found a similar situation.
“Out with it Noah” Xiao snapped.
“Alright. Do you remember the black butterflies of the world tree? A cocoon colony of them was found in the vicinity with a black branch coming out of the ground. That is what killed the frame. A branch of a world tree has emerged there” The words only filled the air with dread while a soft voice broke the silence.
“What does that mean?”