Chapter 58: Random Encounter

*Davina*

I stopped and turned to look at a startled Purpura. A shadow hung overhead.

"Something wrong? Lady Davina?" Dean asked, turning to look at Purpura and Sou as well.

I gasped. "You can't sense it?"

He furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Afraid not."

"Seems I can't get anything past you, old friend," an unfamiliar voice said.

I looked up and gasped.

An eerie purple orb hung above the ground. Inside was a man wearing a black suit. One of his eyes was obscured by his long blue bangs.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Who are you?"

He put his hands into his pockets. "Someone who is quite interested in you."

"What do you want?"

"I want to talk. Alone."

I shook my head. "Anything you have to say, you can say to me here."

"Lady, who are you talking to?" Dean asked, touching my shoulder.

"I don't know, but I don't like his vibe," I said.

"So, there is somebody here?" Purpura asked, looking up.

I nodded. "But, for some reason, he seems to be invisible to most people."

Purpura and Sou looked at one another.

The stranger chuckled. "It proves how much your spiritual power stands above the rest. It's why I need to talk to you."

"What are you planning?" I asked.

He grinned. "Well, for now, nothing. However, I have a favor to ask of you."

I curled my hands into fists. "Fine, I'll talk to you, but Dean comes with me."

He sighed. "You really don't trust me, do you?"

I glared at him.

He sighed again. "Alright, fine. If that's the best I can get."

I smiled at Dean. "Let's go find someplace to talk."

Dean nodded.

"Sou, Purpura, go ahead of us. We'll catch up with you later."

Sou furrowed his brow. "Okay. If you say so."

"Be careful," Purpura said.

I nodded and walked off with Dean in tow. I glancing over my shoulder to see the man following. Why couldn't anybody sense him?"

"This guy, who do you think he is?" Dean asked.

"I don't know, but his aura is powerful. Although, not exactly sinister. There's a sadness hanging over him."

We returned the Aviary. "Here is fine"

He snickered at the sight. "How ironic."

"How?"

He laughed. "Well, you can say a have a thing or two for birds."

What did he mean by that?

"Why the secrecy?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"There are things that must be kept private."

"What sort of things?"

He floated down and undid his sphere. "As a descendant of the Time Keepers, you must know the history of this world and of others."

My eyes widened. "Are you not of this world?"

He nodded.

"Are you here to hurt our world?"

"That depends, really."

I frowned. "Depends on what?"

"On whether or not you can defeat the herald from my world."

I gasped. "Wait, the Dark Lord is from your world?"

"Indeed. He's a servant of one of my colleagues."

"Your colleague, huh? What do you want with our world?"

He smiled. "You really like getting down to the point, don't you? I like that."

I frowned. "Well, if you're not going to tell me, I'm not going to talk to you."

"Worry not, I will tell you. We seek this world's power, but it's not ripe enough. You have a long way to go. But, if you were to defeat the Dark Lord, we could claim your world's power and use it to further our own agenda."

"What agenda?"

"That's a secret."

I gritted my teeth. "So you're saying that you will back up your colleague? If so, we might as well fight you now."

He laughed a raised a hand, causing the various trees in the Aviary to shake as they expanded. "You may be strong by this world's standards, but you can't hope to match my powers."

"Is this that guy's doing?" Dean asked, staring at the trees.

I nodded. "I think this guy might be the true Dark Lord."

"You flatter me." He grinned as his single visible eye glowed. "But, you are not incorrect."

"Then, are you here to steal this world's powers?"

He shook his head. "No, not yet. I'm just here to test your worth. I will merely be observing. However, I will be willing to spare this world if you promise to be my eyes in this world."

"Why do you need an agent in this world? Don't you have the ability to see everything?"

"True. But, it's difficult to make out individual details."

"So, you wish for me to observe for you?"

He nodded. "Yes, as a descendant of the Time Keepers, your observational skills are quite sharp. Not to mention, you possess an impressive spiritual energy."

"Very well, but what will I get in return?"

He smirked. "The satisfaction of sparing this world and all its inhabitants. Well, for some time anyway."

I clenched my teeth. He was basically rubbing it in that he could destroy us whenever. "Fine. I will accept."

He smirked and handed me a bracelet with an emerald eye. "Very well. Then, we have a deal." He created another orb and got inside. "And don't worry, I'll keep my distance." A vortex of darkness opened up, sucking him in.

Dean glanced at me but didn't say a thing.

I sighed. "That weirdo is gone, but now I have some idea of what's going on. He seems to want us to be his spies."

"What for?"

"I-I'm not sure. He just wants me to watch the happenings in this world. For now, we will do as he wishes. In the meantime, we'll just have to keep an eye out."

Dean nodded.

***

"Sorry to have kept you waiting," I said, joining Sou and Purpura who were waiting by the entrance of the zoo grounds.

Sou turned to me. "What was that about?"

I sighed. "I met a weirdo."

Purpura frowned. "A weirdo?"

I nodded. "Yes, but, well, I'm not sure what to make of him. He claims to be more powerful than the Dark Lord. And, I do not doubt his claim."

Sou gulped. "Is he here to harm us?"

I shook my head. "No, he said he was merely here to test us, for the time being." I sighed. The way he spoke, it sounded like he wanted us to grow stronger to defeat the Dark Lord. Given they were theoretically on the same side, then he must've wanted us to help 'ripen' up this world's potential.

Purpura crossed her arms. "What sort of test is he talking about?"

"He didn't really specify, but, if I were to guess, it has something to do with fighting the Dark Lord."

"Are we ready to do that, though?" Sou asked.

I shook my head. "Probably not. Which is why we need to get stronger. Although, I think that's what he wants. It honestly scares me."

Purpura nodded. "So, basically, he's a creep?"

I laughed. "Yeah, that sums it up pretty well."

Sou stared at me. "Do you think this guy is an alien?"

"He did say he's from another world, but he didn't say which one." I touched my chin. Although, that portal of his... It reminded me of the record about the primordial world my ancestors wrote. According to the notes, all realms and timelines lie within the same great ocean of existence. That world was home to beings of great power, creatures of darkness with incredible abilities.

"Abyssia, that's where he from. It is a world of eternal, infinite darkness."

Purpura frowned. "Infinite, huh?"

"Yes, but not only that, there is also the fact that time doesn't exist there. Which means, the people there are immortal. Well, in theory anyway."

"Like some jellyfish?" Sou asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, but, well, he seemed different from a jellyfish. More like a spider."

"What makes you say that?" Purpura asked.

"Interacting with him self like I was being spun into his web. Plus, there was the fact that he called me his 'old friend'."

"So, he's been here before?" Sou asked.

Dean hummed. "You think he might've known David, your past life?"

I sighed. "I don't recall him from any of my recollections of that life, but he did know about my ancestry, so it's possible."

Purpura stared at the bracelet. "Did he give that to you?"

I nodded.

He touched it and held it up to the moonlight. "It's beautiful, but something is off about it. Like, it's giving off a strange aura."

"Strange, how so?"

"I feel like we're being watched, and not by anyone in this world. More like someone from outside of this dimension. I think that's where it's coming from."

"He must be watching us," I said, touching the bracelet. That man, who was he truly? Was he an ally or an enemy? Or was he a threat to our world?

Sou patted me on the back. "Hey, don't worry. Whatever that guy's planning, I'm sure we can stop him if we have to." He grinned. "After all, I can neutralize all attacks!"

Purpura chuckled. "Not everything. Didn't Ava hit you?"

Sou blushed and scratched his head. "O-Oh, right. Yeah..."

I giggled. "Thanks, Sou. Anyway, let's not worry about that for now. Let's meet up with the others." They looked like they'd driven off. Thankfully, we still had our car.

"Where did everyone else go?" Dean asked.

"Seiya and Zivan said they needed to go investigate something."

I tilted my head. "Something?" But, they didn't come to the Aviary with Dean and me. Could there have been more unusual people at the zoo?"

He chuckled. "Although, I wouldn't be surprised if they just wanted to sneak away to make out or something."

I looked down. Something told me that wasn't it. My eyes shifted toward the moon as clouds passed by it. A full moon... I'd never noticed how beautiful it was.

I blinked as I thought I saw a dark figure passed through the clouds.

Shivers ran down my spine. Malice hung in the air. It felt similar to what David and the other sages had prophesized about the Dark Lord. But, that meant he was nearby.

Purpura glanced at the sky. "You sense something evil too, don't you?"

I nodded. "There's no mistaking it." I gasped. "The Dark Lord! We need to find Seiya and Zivan before they engage in combat with him. Now!"

We got in the car and drove off.

Sou took out a phone and dialed a number.

"Who are you calling?"

"Big bro. I'm gonna tell him to avoid fighting him if he meets him. Hopefully, he hasn't done anything reckless."

My eyes tracked the shadow. He was heading toward the center of the city. Something big was potentially going to down tonight.

"Seiya, Zivan, please be safe," I whispered.