Grim Reaper’s Templars

Hugo surveyed the formless space of his spiritual world after entering deeper meditation.

Everything appeared normal; however, Hugo had a niggling feeling that something had changed. His instincts were at a clamor.

[What could it be?] Hugo wondered as he went over the mystical items ever-present in his spiritual world. The token, the scrolls, and Infinitus were all as still as statues, hovering typically in the space.

On closer observation of the items, Hugo realized that the Grimoire was giving him a slightly different vibe. Hugo was certain that if his soul hadn't advanced, he would surely have missed the slight difference in Infinitus' aura.

The transformation was so insignificant that the Grimoire's aura felt almost exactly like it had before breakfast.

[It's back to its original size. I wonder whether I'm now able to open it here as well after its activation] Hugo walked over to Infinitus to test his theory.

He calmed his mind and used both his hands to pry open the large Grimoire which nearly reached his height.

There was no change in the contents of the first page.

[Could my instincts be wrong?] Hugo wondered as he started turning through the pages of the Grimoire.

When he got to the fourth page, he wasn't met with familiar body stats, but two new sketches of mysterious ciphers.

A geometric hexagon was sketched on the top half of the page in dark ink. Six 'Z' letters were linked to its vertices by equidistant lines, and at its center, a dark crescent-moon was inscribed. Below this diagram lay a single phrase; 'Rank-2 Dark-Hypnosis spell (not-activated)'.

"My God!" Hugo exclaimed before turning his attention to the contents of the bottom half of the page.

An image of a formless mat, woven with strands blue energy was inscribed. The phrase 'Rank-1 Levitation spell (not-activated)' was written below it.

[Oh my God!] Hugo exclaimed once more.

Hugo was still stuck in an Earth mindset, but the norms on Gaia were slowly chipping away at it. Very soon, he would be swearing 'Oh Gaia' instead just like everyone else.

[This means that all the spells whose mana signatures I perceive will be inscribed in the Grimoire awaiting activation. Which creates another hurdle though. How do I go about activating these spells?] Hugo pondered as he flipped to the next page of Infinitus.

"Just as I thought." Hugo sighed after seeing that the contents of the page were the familiar body stats.

[It seems that I must perceive a spell before it's inscribed in the Grimoire. But I can't be entirely sure. I need more data before I can confirm this theory.] Hugo mused.

"I can only fully experiment about spells by becoming a mystic," Hugo mumbled as he set his sights on the nearby scroll.

[According to Bundi, the Kratos-Body-Yoga will set me on the path of mysticism in just a short while. It's time to absorb its contents.] Hugo resolved as he stepped towards the golden scroll inscribed with a blood-red omega symbol blazing like a real fire.

"Here goes nothing…" Hugo intoned as he took a deep breath before extending his hand to touch the golden scroll.

"POOOF…"

The scroll disintegrated into golden particles in a pop akin to the puncturing of a rubber tire. The particles converged on Hugo's actualized silhouette and sunk into it. Once again, Hugo felt his head throb as if a hammer was pounding inside of it.

In a matter of seconds, he was brutally ejected from the spiritual world, and shortly, he was snoring like a bear.

****

Concurrently in the dining room…

Aladdin was befuddled by the great care taken by the Matriarch and the others around little Hugo. Despite the kid's weird behavior at a few junctures, he was very friendly and enjoyed listening to his stories and legends about Gaia and mystic powers.

Even if the kid had found out about the dangers of the Island, there would have been nothing to fear. He wasn't going to have any sleepless nights over some poisonous calamity-frogs.

Hugo was a brave mature kid and everyone knew it. He rarely cried or threw tantrums like other children his age.

"Do you think the little guy was awake all along?" Constantine asked while looking in the direction of the Matriarch.

"We can't be sure. But if he was, then he is even more talented than we thought. It appears that his marking as a chosen of the Grim Reaper's Templars wasn't random." The Matriarch replied nonchalantly.

Aladdin was perplexed. The Grim-Reaper's-Templars were an organization made up of insane assassins who worshiped the mysterious ancient deity: 'Thanatos – The Grim Reaper'. All their members had pseudonyms starting with the name Thanatos.

Their famous high-level assassins included the infamous 'Thanatos – the Death Bringer', 'Thanatos – The Undying Ghost', 'Thanatos – The Grave Digger', and so on. Aladdin couldn't help but wonder how the jolly kid had caught the attention of such terrifying assassins.

[Did I miss out on something big yesterday?] Aladdin was more and more puzzled.

"Little Hugo has been marked by the Grim Reaper's-Templars?" Miss Fox exclaimed saving Aladdin the effort of asking.

"Yes. We found out yesterday. It appears that Elena gave him a token of the Templars' chosen a few months back." Tracy interjected as she arrived back into the dining room. Her brows were creased as she gazed at Fox.

[This girl is as dangerous as the rumors say!] Aladdin thought as he was subjected to the mounting pressure from Tracy's aura.

"Elena met Hugo this year?" Miss Fox sounded very surprised. She turned to the Matriarch for confirmation.

"Tracy! You know that Miss Fox probably didn't know. So give her a break." Constantine interjected.

"Is that so?" Tracy grumbled.

"Tracy! I swear that I would never do anything to hurt Hugo. I have said this more than a hundred times… But why don't you believe me?" Miss Fox sounded aggrieved.

"That is what you say. But you once tried to harm him." Tracy didn't back down.

"Enough you two. I am tired of this argument. You're like two little girls fighting over a doll." The Matriarch rudely interrupted.

"Nyee Nyyye Nyee Nyee…!" The Matriarch added in mimicry of the tones of the two ladies.

"Why are you two always arguing over even the smallest of things?" The Matriarch inquired with a frown plastered on her face. She directed a scathing gaze at the two ladies whose heads were now bowed.

[Will these two ever forgive Miss Fox for that incident?] Aladdin sighed while stealing a glance at Ali-Baba who was watching the exchange wordlessly.

Although the former captain in the Gaia Trading Union appeared to have forgotten Miss Fox's prior deeds, Aladdin knew better. Ali-Baba was patient in dealing with those he perceived as enemies. He was certain that if Ali-Baba was ever left alone with the former Manroe, a fight to the death would commence immediately.

"But Matriarch! Why did the Death Bringer appear in Elena's form? Why not mimic me or any of the others? Why Elena, Miss Fox's friend? Don't you find that very suspicious?" Tracy's sounded steadfast as she challenged the Matriarch.

In matters concerning Hugo, Tracy would become brave enough to face down even the Matriarch.

The Matriarch sighed in response and shook her head.

"The fact that you find it suspicious is the real reason why the Death Bringer chose Elena's identity when appearing before Hugo. He is a master at playing with human psychology and sowing dissent. That has always been his style." The Matriarch explained.

[So, all this is about a residence token and the Death Bringer. Why didn't anyone tell me anything?] Aladdin pondered. He stole a glance at Ali-Baba and Miss Fox and they both appeared similarly surprised by this development.

"But Matriarch…"

"Enough with this Tracy! I can assure you that these three were oblivious to the events concerning the Death Bringer and the token until this very moment. Isn't that so Constantine?" The Matriarch turned her head to look at Constantine who was seated beside her.

"Yes. We can rule them out unless they are the best of the actors on Gaia." Constantine replied with a smile plastered on his face.

"Old Man! Are you sure about this?" Tracy once again inquired.

"Absolutely. I have worked with them for some time now. I would have known if they were hiding something. Unless they've been putting on an act since the first day we met. But that is highly unlikely." Constantine sounded confident.

"I will take your word on this." Tracy decided to back down but not before giving Miss Fox one last fierce glare.

"Let's get back to business." The Matriarch said authoritatively as she observed the two ladies.

"You were saying something about meeting Elena and Chiara at our old base." Constantine reminded the Matriarch promptly after seeing her trying to recall her previous words.

"Oh! Thank you again, Constantine. But the plan will have to change now. I have a feeling that something is off about this whole calamity-frog incident. I think we should first go to Bishop Festus Bonatti to request for reinforcements. I don't want the Archbishop to be on my case if something unexpected happens." The Matriarch said earnestly.

[It's this serious?] Aladdin was perplexed. He rarely saw the Matriarch with such a grave expression on her face.

"Are we all going to see the Bishop?" Miss Fox queried, choosing to ignore Tracy's theatrics.

"Yes. It's about time you rubbed shoulders with the top clergy of the Church. We won't always be here to babysit you. Bishop Festus Bonatti may be a stubborn old fool, however, meeting him isn't without its merits." The Matriarch replied while locking eyes with Ali-Baba who was frowning.

"Am I also required to go? That old man isn't fun to be around." Ali-Baba grumbled.

"You should be the most positive about meeting him. Maybe he'll recommend you to the Archbishop if you please him. That would help you gain merit-points quicker." Constantine intoned.

"Matriarch! Didn't you say that I need to stay home with Hugo?" Tracy interjected.

"I wasn't talking to you, only the rest."

****