The Children Of Thalia

The Council at Works - 2

"Wait a minute, I can explain!" Ansel mendehem once, then continued to speak trying to defend himself. "The boy can fight."

"Yes, let's report it to Gabriel." Sean said, cutting out Ansel's words.

"agree. Wait, what's the number?" eli said, picking up the phone lying next to him.

"WAIT-WAIT-WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!" Panicked Ansel immediately pushed his two friends. "Shortly, okay? Listen first. I don't just give information to just any kid."

"Surprising those words sounded from you." Kuro commented, which Sean and Eli also agreed to. But Ansel did not stop defending himself.

Ansel sat politely, for an occasion so rare he did his seiza in front of his friends. Then he explained. "I'm not bragging. Kuro, you saw for yourself how he was doing back then, didn't you?

Kuro was a little stunned when he recalled what he saw during the evacuation of Jirca orphanage. A sight that he himself could not believe. "The boy was the only one I knew besides Ansel who could withstand William Wilxes' full assault, even as he staggered with a terrible wound."

Normally, if the one who said it was Ansel, Sean and Eli would laugh as if the information was just a past breeze. However, the story is different if Kuro Fuyuki said it. When Kuro was serious, everyone could see him. Kuro will not brag when the situation is serious, in contrast to Ansel. That's why his friends can be sure that what Kuro says is a fact based on what he sees.

"Explaining it that way sounds like it reduces the information." Ansel moved his fingers agilely, making his character launch a series of skills that became the final attack for the boss they fought. After a black window of their achievements appeared on the screen, Ansel further explained. "He was hit by three shots, one in the shoulder blade, one in the back, and a close-range S&W Magnum shot in the right chest. But he's still alive. I don't believe it either. He could hold on for almost a minute until V came to his aid. Isn't that hard to believe? Even I myself am not sure if I can survive if I am in the same position as him."

Sean and Eli fell silent, as if rethinking their choices. Ansel jelah got a good choice to aim for. If what he said was indeed entirely true, then the Wild Dogs would make a huge profit this year.

"People like that, if you don't exaggerate, does he belong to one of the factions?" ask Eli.

"That's the weird one" Kuro replied, replacing Ansel. "He's an orphan, lives in a suburban orphanage. He has a younger brother, as well as a sibling. I was looking for a little bit about him, but he was not from a big family, or was under a party. He's a pure diamond covered in mud. I'm sure he'd never be glimpsed if Ansel didn't happen to find it."

"It's hard to believe." said Sean, looking down at things.

"Nah-nah, you said so, doesn't mean he's really clean. You see, I did an additional investigation with Gianni, and I found an interesting fact."

"And what is that fact?" Ask Eli.

Ansel, with a wide grin and a cheerful tone answered him. "The boy's name is Theodore Radley Asera."

Right after Ansel said so, the room went pitch-black. The light disappeared into the darkness that had come from nowhere. It doesn't look anything, it doesn't feel anything, it doesn't sound anything. It was only jet black, as if all the light in the world disappeared suddenly.

However, a second later, the light of the ceiling light again illuminated the room. The shiny floor, the level bed, the red and gold wallpaper, the television screen connected to the game console, everything was again visible. Of course, including Eli who was still silent, fixated without moving a finger, as well as three friends who had moved so ceapt in the dark.

Kuro Fuyuki drew her black sword, visible from the pose she was doing. He slashed at Sean, who pulled Ansel's collar and pushed him against the back wall. Ansel who was still showing his grin looked so calm, stretching his hand at Kuro as if telling the young man not to go any further.

"Surprisingly, you acted without thinking any further, Sean." Ansel said as if he did not see what was in front of him, or he did see and was aware, but did not care. Sean glared at him in anger, which really felt like a desire to kill.

"Don't talk first, Ansel." Kuro admonished him firmly. He then stood up straight. "I cut off your ability to use the gift for six minutes. Sorry, but there's no other choice." He said to Sean.

"No need to apologize, that's right." Said Eli who was still sitting. He slowly released the controller in his hand, then leaned against the cold wall behind. "Take him off, Sean. Let's hear more from him."

Sean Fabre Sephoris, a seventeen-year-old boy over four months old. There is a reason why he was elected chairman of OSIS at such a young age. He was the second strongest in his force, just below Ansel. The gift he had, «Darkest», was the power to manipulate darkness, in the sense that he could bring darkness whenever he wanted, as well as create weapons from that darkness. The reason why Kuro was forced to use his power to stop Sean was because in that darkness, Kuro knew that Sean was using dozens of different weapons directed directly at Ansel. So did Eli. He cannot see, but he can feel it. Sean really intended to kill Ansel back then.

"You're crazy!" sean sat on the bed. "What do you mean you brought the boy here?"

"There's more than one reason, actually." Ansel sat back on the floor, grabbed his controller again and continued speaking, "most importantly because he is talented, also knows how to use his talent. I was after him before I knew he was Asera. Just so you know, I was also a little hesitant to keep inviting her after knowing her real name. But I see he's more than worthy to get in here, so I don't change my mind."

"That's not a good reason." Sean's Comments. "You attach great importance to your own preferences. You know who he is, but don't care about it."

"If I didn't care." Ansel was furious, for the first time annoyed to hear Sean's comments. "Eli... or Gianni hasn't told you? Or did you even read the Wild Dogs report about yesterday? He's attacked. The one who took care of him, whom he considered his own father, was killed before his eyes, his family was almost killed. I care, that's why I told Gianni to be his personal doctor, so that his safety is guaranteed as well as to be able to keep an eye on his condition. I deliberately came after hearing that he was better, then what did the boy say? He's going to take the Helder entrance exam, he's going to join the Wild Dogs, in exchange, he wants his family's security assured. He cares about his family, so I find it hard to resist."

They fell silent, the three people, who had initially put their doubts on Ansel, instantly fell silent. Kuro and Eli knew why. Kuro hears straight from Ansel, while Gianni is Eli's official subordinate. However, Sean who had just heard about this was trying to understand again. But he also has a reason.

"You know what OSIS received after signing the invitation letter for the boy, don't you?" 

"of course. No one can forget the time you almost got killed."

"Then why do you think you won't get yourself killed?"

Ansel's hand suddenly stopped moving when Sean discussed it. "..... Now come to think of it, my life is in danger, isn't it?"

"More than that, may you be safe on the first day of the entrance exam." Eli's comments, so cold that Ansel could sense that for a moment, he was like Kuro.

Sean let out a long breath while patting the jidat. Ansel is Ansel. In serious situations, he kept joking. "You knew from the beginning that your idea was bad. Then why are you so sure you're taking him to the Wild Dogs?"

"Because he's a decent man. No more, no less." Ansel answered briefly and firmly, making his friends stare in disbelief.

"All right, I'll follow your plan first." Sean raised both his hands. He walked back to the front of the tv, then grabbed his controller again. "But I don't want to get involved any further. If one day there's a knife stuck to your neck, I won't come to help."

"Oh, no need to worry, I have Kuro and Rolfe." Reply Ansel, chuckling. But Kuro replied cynically.

"You let me face the boss alone, why do you think I'll be with you when it comes?"

"Oh, come. It doesn't need to be that." Ansel patted Kuro's back several times. "At the same time, Sean, knowing that there's DiMichelle who's a potential new student now, I don't think you can keep your hands off."

"..... I-i know. This year's entrance exam will be very different." Said Sean. As chairman of OSIS, he certainly understands what Ansel is saying. This year's registrants aren't ordinary people. That was why he divided the registrants into related factions. "But if he finds out you're one of the reasons the boy signed up for the security division, I won't help."

Ansel stopped playing for a moment. His eyes rolled, thinking of various problems and solutions, then again staring at the screen in front. "If that time comes, no one will be able to help me. Except, well, Theo himself."

...* * * * *...