Chapter 521: Odd

As surprising as Anna turned out to be Prophecy and Igna being the reincarnation of Staxius, their bonds remained as roommates. White-curtain of which lit in the amber lighting of the room brightened. Time showed 05:45 – from Cle to the unlikely event made time seem as if a sliver of what it was. The orangish glow eased the prior discussion. 

'Past is the past,' thought Igna. 

'Present is what matters,' thought Anna quietly holding her breath.

"About the monster curse," voiced Igna.

"-oh," she coughed, "-startled me."

"Were you dreaming?" 

"Yeah," she grazed her nose, "-don't know really, I feel empty but happy. Do you ever feel that way?"

"Now's not the time to discuss psychology. What explanation are we going to give about the sudden recovery?"

"The curse didn't affect me, tis the mana depletion. Thanks to that demon," she gulped, "-as threatening as she was, the cast spell is awesome. My flesh and body feel real, I can touch, feel, and sense the warm saliva down my throat."

"To much detail," he stood, "-I'm glad you're safe, roommate."

"Yeah," she nodded to slip under the blanket, "-I'm going to sleep."

"No worries," said he moving to the door, "-I'll have the doctors notified. We need to pay rent, Mr. Kord isn't going to be happy."

"Oh shit," her closing eyes sprung, "-don't tell me…"

"You argued about paying the rent so…" he held the 'so' part.

"Help me cover it," her hands locked in prayer, "-I'll pay you back later, I promise."

"Fine," he smiled, "-I'll cover it this time. Girl," he said coyly, "-you owe me."

"Yeah, I got it," fatigued materialized in a slow and loud yawn.

Three figures stood at the ready, each strained to speak, they eyed one another in attempts to read the room. A few hours had passed since Igna entered, nurses and doctors didn't care much. Her recounting of the past took longer, contrary to what it seemed. And so, armed by a comforting grin, "-you guys waited long?" 

"Igna," approached Leonard, "-what did you do?" 

"Calm down," a shift in the grin had the man stand down, "-there's no need to scream, tis a place of recovery." Effectively shutting out Leonard, he approached Rena and Lampard, "-come here," a gesture at Leonard returned by a sneer. 

"Listen, everyone," a heavy sigh from Igna had them gulp. The tension grew, the feet froze, hands tingled, the heart sank, "-Anna's fine." 

"What?" returned Rena blinking incessantly, "-she was on her death bed…"

"Are you a healer or mage?" wondered Leonard, "-I don't sense any mana from you…"

"I'm a chef," replied he, "-have you guys checked the Arcanum recently?" to which he held out his phone, "-here, read this article."

Weekly Digest posted, "-the controversial young rookie rejected and cut ties with Lady Yuki after stating her mistreatment. Cle sure has been eventful this year, we saw two highly sought-after ranks given to the youngsters who turned the Arcanum into a battlefield. Kyle Darker was given the Red-collar while Igna was granted the Black-collar from the esteemed Lord Amsey in what seemed to have been a declaration of war by Igna who saw fit to use the shamed Dungeon-Style cooking. By what could be described as a miracle, his dish, blatantly rejected by the judges, revitalized Mr. Amsey into the tycoon we only heard about in stories. The retired old man returned to a strapping young man of 20 years old. Scientists are left baffled, mages are left gawking, and he who made such a meal is left on a deserted island. Will he find fame or fall to ruin, only time will tell. I personally think Igna Haggard's going to be the most controversial star in the growing digital world." Written and edited by Lia. 

"How though?" wondered Leonard, "-reversing time on a person's body isn't even plausible with magic. I supposed Magiology could probably spare a few years, not like that, the process is beyond our reality."

"I used the Elder Blood of a Dragon," said he, "-don't underestimate me, I might look weak, but I have my sources."

"Did you fight a dragon?" wondered Lampard, "-I dare you to prove it," he lifted the walking stick, "-prove it."

"No need," he smirked, "-I don't care about you lot," taking a few steps back, "-Rena, Leonard, Lampard, Jen, I say this here and now, I don't care about you. Being treated at this hospital is just a way to say thanks for the past, I want no part in the lives of people who'd be so willing to throw me away. I don't get where the grudge or hate originated, tis where I stay, we're all but mere acquaintances," turned to Leonard, "-you, young noble of the Goldberg's, you better take care of your friends." 

Broad shoulders ambled strongly to the corner, "-Igna's changed," said Leonard.

"I can sort of understand," said Lampard dropping onto the metal seat, "-we treated him like shit. Rena and Jen forced us to slowly hate him, and it worked. Part of me hates the guts and courage he has."

"You don't get it," added Rena, "-it's not a goodbye. We did push him away and he returned the feeling."

"Don't say you know shit now," fired Leonard, "-most of this began because of thy plots."

"No fighting," cried Lampard, "-let's just be grateful."

The pace quicken towards Jen's room, '-was it wise?' wondered he, '-pushing them away. It feels right when considering all… part of me wants to support them best I can. Probably a lingering feeling of affection or something, I don't know.'

'Tis thy heart,' commented Éclair with a heart-sticker.

"Congratulation, you made me gag," he chuckled arriving at her room. Plants laid about inside.

'Jen,' staring through the door, '-good to see…'

Her head gently faced him, "-don't stand in the doorway, come in, Igna."

"Impressive," the door opened, "-how did you know?"

"Had a feeling," she smiled and fixed onto a television showing the coverage of Cle, "-Anna's situation grew dire, part of me thought you'd come as a prince in shining armor. You're always one who cares despite being betrayed and shunned, are you perhaps a martyr?"

"Phrased that way," he took a seat, "-makes it sound scandalous. Was the trip worth it?"

"To Coria, I don't remember," she stared into an empty spot, "-memories of the time are foreign to me. I do hear voices here and there – a side-effect I guess…" 

"What now," he asked, "-you've lost the right hand, what of the dream?"

"My dream's long been broken," said she solemnly, "-I wasn't strong enough. Was wanting to join the wall-guardians that big a deal… I wanted to catch up to my big sister."

"Stop it," interjected he, "-you wanted to join the Wall-guardian?"

"Yes," the would-be tears stopped in sudden confrontation, "-is my aspiration so lowly you use such a harsh tone?" her brows knitted as if a soldier lifting his shield. 

"No," the eyes crinkled, "-did so to stop you from crying. Don't you know where we are?"

"Rotherham," the response came blandly.

"Correct, a round of applause for you," he clapped silently.

"Stop being sarcastic."

"Stop being a pain."

"What do you want…" the pitch rose, "-if it was about annoying me, then, Igna Haggard, the task's successful."

"Oh, thanks for the honor," the smugness all but increased, "-jokes aside," he released her pent-up frustration, "-I can arrange a new arm for you."

"Stop lying," she sighed, "-the technology's not even possible yet."

"Ha-ha," pinching the forehead in grief, "-there's a reason why Rotherham's a secret to other nations. You're standing on the ground where Magiology is of great importance, the scholars here are far smarter than anything you'd ever seen."

"Seriously?" her voice warmed; "-can I have my arms back?"

'If I had the Symbol of Kronos, turning back time on her injuries would be simple. Guess it's time to call in favors.' 

"Give me a moment."

Out of the hospital and into a well-trimmed garden opposite the building, the sun rose over yonder, few people went to and fro, most were busy talking over the phone. By the vestment, they were scholars or people of intellect, not because most wore glasses, rather due to the white-overalls or special work outfits.

"Éclair."

"I got it," said he, "-give me a moment." Multiple people were contacted; using the Haggard name sufficed to gain entry at a normal level in the ever-stretching pool of projects Phantom commissioned. As a leader of the organization, Elvira had the privileged to access anything she wanted, and the hierarchy began from her to then diffuse into the lesser agents. Éclair, a being who now maintained itself via self-operating mechanical arms, stood as an exception. He also had the privilege to do what he pleased at an even deeper level than Elvira. 

"Hello, Clarise speaking," the earpiece rumbled by a strong gust.

"Hello Clarise," said Éclair.

"Oh, the spirit, you reactivated from long years of being dormant. How can I help?"

"My master would like to speak with you."

"Master?" background noise suggested she stumbled, "-is King Staxius back?"

"No," interjected Igna, "-I'm afraid my uncle isn't here. Good morning, Lady Clarise, I'm Igna Haggard, son of Courtney Haggard."

"The young heir," said she slowing her speech, "-if Éclair deemed thee as master, I don't doubt thy have great potential. So, what can I help with?"

"A simple favor really, one of my friend's lost an arm. I'd like to-"

"I accept," she voiced with no hesitation, "-you want her arm back. I expected an order along the lines of creating a world-ending explosive or something."

"World-ending explosive?" he laughed, "-a good sense of humor."

"No, I was serious…"

"Ok?" an awkward pause followed.

"I'm joking," she broke the ice, "-when would you like the arm delivered, where's the patient?"

"At the hospital, the name's Jen."

"Found her," snapped she, "-I'll have her fixed in two days."

"Damn ok, I'll leave you to it. How about the fee?"

"No need," said she, "-I've been cooped up in the lab for an eternity. Getting out for some fresh air sounds good as payment."

"Thanks again."

"No problem, call again if you ever need something built. "

"Will do," the call ended. '-What a weird conversation.' 

Thus, ended the whole Cle event. The media did squeeze every single bit of information on the fellow chefs. Many went on to be in renowned restaurants as the trainee. The Red-collared Kyle went on to work at Loron. Lady Yuki and Yanni were on speaking terms. A fact that would be solidified per Yanni purchasing the building besides Loron in hopes of remodeling the two establishments into a big, fine-dining restaurant. Chef Leko returned to the Adventuring academy; the media sure was hungry for an interview. Kyle saw fit to hog the spotlight, he did interview after interview and even appeared into a famous late-night talk show called Hoggar. The popularity further boosted and engrave his name into the Arcanum. 

Stepping from the world of cooking, Igna remained at Rotherham. Lady Elvira as well as Prince Julius showed and even took him to multiple deals with other interested parties. The way he walked, acted, and spoke, sometimes had the people around doubt the boy's origin. He would often reflect Shadow's personality so closely a few older guards were urged to salute in fear. 

There and then, on a warm Wednesday evening, a certain memory came to mind. Most of the day was spent browsing the Arcanum, mostly, Lokka. He adventured down a massive rabbit where a particular name appeared. The Pride of Hidros and the story of her disappearance, the myth of an unfinished film of the presumed dead star's return. 'Aceline, what happened to the movie, I swear we bought a filmmaking company to shoot and show the story of Luna…'

"Hey, Éclair, do you know anything about what happened to Aceline?"

"No, I do know the movie was finished in the allocated time. Well, that's the last transmitted message from Aceline – after that, the filming crew, director, and all involved disappeared. We weren't able to follow up as it's in enemy territory." 

"You mean Alphia," he paused, "-Is there no way to track Aceline's location?"

"No, I'm inclined to think she's dead. Why bring her name up now?"

"I don't know, I said I didn't want to get involved but it's beyond me now. I remember planning to make her the star of the watchmaking company… wait, what happened to that project?"

"The watch-makers are still making watches for military use. Meldorino was claimed and they sort of stole the watchmaking world. The brand is very sought after."

"Man," he facepalmed, "-I even went through the trouble of creating a fake hero and villain to promote the brand. I'm sure they're glad I disappeared."

"Yeah, you said it," he laughed, "-they annual release a special edition for the celebration of Luna."

"Damn it," he facepalmed, "-shit, remembering isn't doing so great for my mind." 

"Master Staxius did lay a lot of groundwork for possible expansion."

"…"