23 Aurice

Aurice was an awakened personality embodied within Sera. Unlike Sera, however, Aurice had deep black eyes teeming with knowledge that matched her spectacles perfectly. She has a photographic memory unlike any other, her learning skills are topnotch, and her speed in problem solving is unmatched. She's a prodigy, a genius to be exact. After observing the room, she noticed strange carvings strewn all over the walls. They seem to be mere scratches of an insane soul, but as Aurice touched each of them she began to notice a pattern. They were Runic Alphabets from an ancient language, only known to a few. Muttering the words as she passed by each scratch on the wall, the Runes started to glow. Getting more excited, Aurice moved from rune to rune until she came up to the last, etched at the center of the floor. Chanting the final words, the runes burst forth light all focusing on Aurice. She felt an almost searing heat from the light rays, as she closed her eyes, as if she knew what was going to happen. As the last of the rays seep into her body, she disappeared in a flash, leaving the room silent and empty.

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Back in the orphanage, Sister Liz went about her daily works, but still couldn't take Sera off her mind. Even though the Stedores assured her that everything is all right, she can't shake off the bad feeling that something has happened. She couldn't take it anymore so that evening she called Sister Leia to her office.

"What is it you need, Sister? Sister Leia asked.

"Please prepare a transport to City 21. I'm going to visit Sera tomorrow." requested Sister Liz.

Sister Leia sensed something is off, "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, yes. Everything is fine." Sister Liz smiled faintly. "Besides, I haven't been to the city for a while now, and I know Sera will be thrilled to see me."

"Understood", Sister Leia replied, acknowledging the request. She was about to exit the door when Sister Liz spoke, "Sister Leia, Thank you for everything you've done. I really do appreciate it.", smiling as she said the words. Sister Leia returned the gesture with a knowing smile, and gently closed the office door.

Sister Liz was now left again with her own thoughts, as she gazed outside the glass door of the balcony. "Well, time to rest. No use worrying if I can't do anything.", she said to herself. Just as she was about to close the curtains, she noticed a man, wearing all black, standing among the trees. The man's arms began to move as if cradling a sphere and blue flame pulsed in between his fingers. Finishing his spell, he shot his hands outwards, launching the blue fireball towards the unsuspecting orphanage. Realizing they were under attack by an unknown assailant, Sister Liz rushed to the phone to broadcast a warning. "We are under atta-"

'Boooooooooooom!'

The man outside knew no restraint when assaulting an enemy, he threw spell after spell never allowing his victims to recover even for a second. Debris were thrown in all directions, screams muffled by the crackling fire and the deafening explosions. His focused face turned into a grotesque grin and into maniacal laughter. He lived for slaughter, and these people were his unlucky prey. These are people of religion. People he despised. Back when he was just a kid, he wronged one of these people and he paid the price. He lost an ear in particular and was marked forever as his punishment. Now, he had the chance to avenge himself, and he did it, savoring every moment.

As the orphanage collapsed into the dust, the man in black lowered his arms in tired satisfaction. He slowly reached out for the phone in his pocket and walked away, smoking a black cigar. "It is done."

In the dark outskirts of City 21, in a deserted place somewhere in Stormfall, three people were having a secret meeting.

"You stupid $#!+! I thought we agreed that this will be done discreetly! You've made so much of a mess that it will attract everyone in City 21!" screamed one of those present in the meeting.

"Chill out. I did the job, didn't I? I delivered, just like you wanted.", complained the one being scolded, puffing out smoke from a black cigar.

"Yes you have. But now you have attracted unwanted attention. This cannot be traced back to us.", the third one tried to keep the conversation levelled.

"Yeah, yeah. Leave that to me. You just a bunch of nervewracked couple, aren't ya?", countered the second person, as he continued to blow out smoke.

The angry one clearly couldn't take it anymore and started to walk away towards their car but paused, "Mark my words, I will dance on your grave when you-"

"Hey, hey!", the second person cut the words short. "I know what I'm doing, okay? I got this. The investigators won't ever know we're involved in this."

"See to it they do not.", the third one warned, as they concluded the meeting and went their separate ways.