Chapter 84: Excursion
Norvax’s eyes widened in surprise.
" We’re underground, is it an earthquake?"
A second, more violent impact ripped through the entirety of the building.
His comlink lit up, blinking with a grey light.
Darius stared at him with a slight frown on his face.
"Code grey?!"
Code blue meant an outbreak of mild paranormal phenomena
Code red meant a mid-level paranormal phenomenon.
Code black meant large-scale paranormal activity.
Code grey meant an attack from the Brotherhood of Shadows.
Norvax gritted his teeth in frustration.
His fist brutally slammed down on the table, increasing the number of cracks on its surface.
"Damn it all!"
****
Victoria Goodison liked to think she had a life outside of her duties as one of the Videntis, the obscure group consisting of the most powerful Talented in the World under Praesagius.
Praesagius was also responsible for keeping the rest of the paranormal community in check, preventing rogue Talented from harming themselves and other mundane humans.
The secretive organization also went to great lengths to educate the Talented about their abilities.
But after the recent string of events and the lack of progress, she deserved a break from all the action.
And that was why she was leaving the Black Ink HQ with her designated butler. She stepped out of the building, lightly inhaling the fresh morning air in delight.
Clad in a loose red shirt, sleek dark leggings, and matching dark boots, she was the picture of chic elegance. Her hair fashionably flowed down her shoulders, an apparently trending outlook
She briefly caught sight of her reflection in the limo’s window.
Her lips curled into a smile at the sight.
"I look good, if I do say so myself," she thought smugly.
The elderly butler opened the door for her, stepping back with a slight bow.
A different chauffeur sat behind the wheel.
"Good morning, Miss Goodison," the man said with a polite smile.
Dark glasses hid his eyes from view.
Victoria frowned slightly, turning to her butler.
"Alan, what happened to Mr Smith?"
Alan was a mundane elderly man with silver hair and warm grey eyes. He was formally dressed in a matching grey suit, giving him a regal yet old-fashioned bearing.
To Victoria, the man was like the grandfather she never had.
It was the reason she had specifically chosen him, after all, who could guard one of the Vide tis. They were powerful entities in their own right. As a result, bodyguards seemed like a waste
"Mr Smith called in this morning and said he wasn’t well. So the company allocated us a replacement for this morning’s excursion." Alan answered warmly with a gentle smile.
The man behind the wheel offered her a smile and nodded, flashing his pearly white teeth.
" Alright then, what’s your name, sir? Are you familiar with the route we’ll be using?"
The man nodded once more.
" Thomas, my name is Thomas. And yes, ma’am. I am familiar with that particular route through the Eastern borough."
A bright smile appeared on Victoria’s face.
"Alright then, let’s get going!"
The Eastern borough lay just outside Eden City’s bustling Business district. The borough was famous for its vibrant fashion scene and the breathtaking view of historical landmarks
Out of habit, Victoria probed the man’s mind, skimming through his thoughts. Her violet eyes flared up slightly when she activated her ability.
Alan chuckled lightly, glancing out the window.
"It truly is a beautiful day outside, Miss Victoria, perfect for touring the sights."
The man glanced at her in the rear-view mirror with a knowing smile.
"Um, ma’am?"
Victoria’s brows were knitted in confusion.
"What’s wrong with this guy? It’s almost like he’s an empty shell. But how’s this possible?"
Victoria’s psionic probe revealed nothing.
Alan gently nudged her, peaking a low baritone voice.
The man had no thoughts. T Victoria, his mind was an empty slate; it was clean, devoid of anything.
"Miss Victoria?" Alan’s voice brought her out of her reverie.
"Ma’am?"
She looked up, looking into the man’s dark glasses.
"Yes?"
The man smiled at her once more.
" I have an important message for you."
The man’s smile grew eerily wider.
Victoria’s frown darkened.
"Something’s off. We need to get out of here."
" What sort of message?"Victoria asked while subtly edging towards her butler.
Alan noticed her unusual behaviour and quickly sat up straight.
The man cocked his head to the side, his neck hanging at an awkward angle.
"The Master sends you his regards, Victoria Goodison."
In the next instant, the vehicle erupted into flames in a deafening blast.
The resulting shockwave tore through the street, shattering glass panes in a cascade of glittering shards as windows blew outward from the surrounding buildings.
The ground quaked beneath the force, dust and debris surging into the air in a violent plume.
Frantic screams rang throughout the ensuing chaos as people ran for cover.
A thick cloud of smoke ascended from the burning car, slowly rising into the air.
Sirens from the emergency response teams blared in the distance.
A few bodies lay on the ground, victims from the blast.
Victoria rose to her feet, then staggered a bit.
Alan’s unconscious form lay a few feet away.
Just before the blast, Victoria compressed the air within the car around her and Alan, forming a makeshift shield.
In the next moment, she redirected the power of the blast to propel them out of the car, landing safely on the sidewalk.
Alan passed out from the immense pressure exerted by the shockwave.
" Well done, Miss Goodison," a voice spoke.
The remaining bystander began pointing to the sky.
"Is that guy flying?"
" How is that even possible?"
" Are you guys seeing this?"
Victoria looked up and saw the floating figure.
He wore an oni mask, his dark robes floating in the wind.
Her eyes widened slightly, shock and disbelief flashing across her face.
" The masked maestro, why is he here? I he’s here, does that mean the Brotherhood wasn’t his original target? Could he have been targeting the Videntis all along?!"
Her eyes narrowed.
"No, he’s different from the man who appeared at the aspirants’ ceremony. Even the mask is different. Could it be a different faction?"
The man silently lingered in the sky, looking down at her.
Then, without warning, the figure disappeared from the sky.
"Where’d he go?"
Victoria activated her ability, casting an area-wide psionic probe.
Her eyes frantically darted around the ravaged street.
Victoria desperately looked for signs of the masked figure, but all that met her were the disorganized murmurs of the small crowd of pedestrians and casualties.
She erected a dome of air, spreading it outwards.
"I’ll contain the fight to this one spot," she inwardly thought.
A fleeting whisper floated through the air, reaching her ears.
" You disappoint me."