190 She Can Shoo

Christian looked down at the sealed envelope he had been given. Although transmitting messages between kingdoms was possible, it was expensive. Each use required a large amount of magic, which could send a magician unconscious if his magic aptitude wasn't high enough. A small slip was pasted under the seal with the words, "You're Welcome" pasted on it.

Regardless, the royal seal of Ekkinshire was attached to the letter. It was probably from his father. Christian sighed as he let a bit of his mana seep into the seal.

It immediately detached itself from the paper, allowing him to open the envelope. Coincidentally, if he hadn't unlocked, and tried to open it another way, it would have instantly caught ablaze, alerting the person who sealed it. Such was the nature of this seal.

He pulled out a bundle of papers. Yes, the inside of the envelope was bigger than the outside. Half of the letters were addressed to him, and the others were for Jasmine, Keith, and Robin. Those he set aside, and glanced over his own letters.

One was from his father, which was about two pages. One was from his mother, which was ten pages long. Christian chuckled. She had probably fit half the kingdom's gossip in there. And the last one was from old Albus, the court magician.

This intrigued him, as it wasn't often that old Albus would have time to even pick up a pen, much less write him a letter. He began skimming through, to see what Albus had to tell him.

'I suppose by the time you get this letter, several things will have come to pass. But, regardless, I feel it necessary to tell you this, as it may be incredibly important.

I was reorganizing the historical records that had fallen over in the archives room. And I came across a peculiar account from a previous historian. I believe I discovered a long-forgotten prophecy the Lady of the Forgotten Wood told Edgar the Wise.

'The Hero sleeps once to save the young,

and sleeps again to save the mountain.

Where the Dipper meets the Spine,

The hero's foe you shall find

And the past emerging truth fountain.

From foe's mouth, a companion shall leap,

To harbor from darkness the hero's sleep. And maiden's heart, though hidden, true, Shall be cleared of all errs of view,

Though heavy trials, love be wrung.

In leaving, one more lesson learned,

Companion gained, and worldview spurned,

Bidding goodbye through fire and war,

Erasing emnities, two score

Before the hero's grand return.'

I included this mostly because it is about the hero. If this doesn't make any sense to you, please forget this as the ramblings of an old man who is reading too far into things. But, if it does help, then please humor this old man so that I can affirm this prophecy has come to pass. Sincerely yours, Old Albus.'

If this letter had reached him earlier, then Christian would have disregarded it. But the beginning phrase caught him off guard.

'The Hero sleeps once to save the young, and sleeps again to save the mountain' This... Wasn't this clearly pointing at Robin?

The first time Robin fell into an unwakeable sleep was when he saved those children from the goblins and burned the treant forest. And now, Robin had also fallen into a long sleep after rescuing the dwarven city, which was built into a volcanic mountainside.

"Where the Dipper meets the Spine?" Christian muttered. It sounded familiar, but he couldn't recall what it was. He put the letter safely into his magic bag, to show the others later. If they could figure out where that was, then perhaps they'd be able to find that wretched Trader.

He then turned his attention to his father's letter.

'To my first son, Christian: I know you're headed to Port Oracle, so hopefully this letter reaches you in time. I received your message, and, thanks to you, several individuals have been freed from the Trader's control. So, rest assured, the castle has been purged.

After ensuring the church was not infiltrated, I've joined forces with the local healers in order to purge the city, which is still going, under the disguise of a hidden plague having been discovered.

Please pass my thanks on to the Hero for me. And, lastly, by the king's crown, please stop getting into trouble. By all accounts, The Trader is not someone you can go against. Sincerely, King Zephron'

Christian was glad that everything was all right. But he was also slightly confused. If the letter had been sent to Port Oracle, then how had it ended up here? Port Oracle...

"Ah, of course!" He realized. There was only one person in Port Oracle who could probably pinpoint their location: Chelsea's older brother, Oracle. That would also explain the little 'You're Welcome' pasted onto the letter.

But...for this to arrive only now...It appeared things were going to happen which required this very message. Christian sighed as he burned the letter. With this, his father will know that he had read it.

Lastly, he turned towards the ten pages his mother had sent him. It was as he surmised: gossip. A certain noble was discovered to have secretly enslaved a royal elf and caused her subsequent demise, and thus had his title removed, and was executed. The rest was mere rumors and hearsay.

'My lovely chef, Cherry, has seemed a bit despondent of late. Though the food is still good, she has been utterly distracted thinking of someone. I hope you can bring that boy Ponzu back safe and sound, otherwise, I may be in need of a new chef.'

Christian chuckled. His mother was definitely up to her old tricks again. Well, he didn't mind it as long as Ponzu remained his chef. But, did his mother ever think about the fact that she would need a replacement regardless, should Ponzu and Cherry get together? ...Probably not.

He burned his mother's letter as well, and stood up. The remaining letters need to be distributed. Robin's letter, he kept to himself to safeguard until the time Robin would awaken.

------

The school windows had been shattered by bullets, causing many people to bleed. It was only by miracle that no one had died, yet. Shrieking and frightened children and adults hid behind whatever cover they could find.

Due to the recent incident, a couple of police had remained to keep the roof site secure. They had immediately called for backup, and taken down those with machine guns who tried to approach the building. But, they were almost out of bullets.

The smell of blood and gunpowder made the familiar halls seems strange and foreign. Robin had been lucky in that she had gone to visit the restroom, and wasn't caught in the initial assault. But the commotion had utterly frightened her.

"Hero! Where are you!?" She called.

-----

Robin twitched.

"What is it?" Her brother asked.

"I am being called." She replied simply. "It was a strange feeling as if she knew what was happening on the other end, yet also did not know.

"Who's calling you?" He asked.

"Little Robin." She replied. "I can get there quickly, but that means I'll need to leave you behind."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Her brother grit his teeth. "Go!-Wait, can you shoot?"

"I can."

"Take the gun in the glovebox. I'll be fine!" He ordered. "Also, here. I got you a phone. I'll call you when I get there."

Hero Robin took out the pistol, as well as several loaded magazines, which vanished into her storage bracer. "Be careful." She said, before vanishing from the car.

Her brother frowned, concentrating on

speeding towards the school.

------------

Robin appeared above a nearby water tower, surveying the area around the school. several individuals were spraying cover fire at the building while their companions closed in.

Robin's eyes narrowed. This was not the tactics of an ordinary terrorist group, but of a specialist operative, such as an FBI or SWAT team.

She disappeared from the water tower. Four gunshots, that was all it took to destroy the cover fire of the intruding party.

"We're under attack!" A member yelled in Japanese as he turned about to face the new enemy. Only, he could not see anyone there. The wailing of police sirens could be heard approaching.

It didn't take long for a decision to be made.

"Retreat!" The leader called out, and the terrorists swiftly ran away, but not before Robin downed one more.

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