Chapter 16: Another Meeting

"Adam," Barbados yelled as he barged through his boss's door, "I want a magical colour box in my room. The TV or whatever you called it." Adam looked in the general direction the moaning came from and just stared. "I need to watch a show Alija has recommended so that we can gossip on the next date." Adam held his fist up, showing a visible colour change from cool white to raging red.

"Did you not read the sign? Important meeting in progress. Also since when did your ancient self start dating?" he remarked.

"You may consider my reading skills to be at the level of a two year old. The English language is not kind to foreigners." he said while laughing awkwardly.

"Hmph," said the visitor, dawning a fabulous red outfit formed from glistening rubies, "And who may you be." She snickered.

"The name's Barbados Creative. Pleasure to meet you," he said as he went to shake her hand but took it back, "Now, more importantly. You getting that TV for me Adam?"

"Sure sure. Just get out."

"Ah also. Did you know Okia was a woman? I only found out recently." A heavy sight left Adam's body.

"Yes I did know. I employed her." Barbados left to enjoy his morning with his class. Or, is what he should have done but the woman in the room coughed loudly.

"Ahem. Barbados, how about you show me some more respect? I AM royalty after all-"

"No, I'm good." Barbados interrupted. The woman, shocked by the answer, started yelling at him.

"How could you miserable bastard talk to me in that tone! You should be treating me like a goddess. I could get you fired if I wanted."

"Actually, you couldn't," Adam interjected, "He has the same status as Erven."

The woman turned red with embarrassment, matching her outfit.

"So what, you're the queen or something? You resemble more of a ha-"

"Barbados leave!" shouted Adam as he threw a potted cactus at him, that bounced off Barbados's blessed body. He hurried away to his class and left Adam to deal with his problems. "I'm sorry about him. What were you going to ask us for?"

"That irritating mollusc has made me forget. Ah now I remember. My father wishes to meet the self-proclaimed immortal that is hidden in this academy."

"Ha. So the news has even reached the palace ears. Can I ask why?"

"The Arcanists have requested it. My father has no choice but to accept. I suggest giving me their name."

"It's Barbados. Barbados Creative." The princess's face grew sour.

"No."

"Yep"

"... This must be the funniest joke ever concocted by the universe." she said before yelling furiously.

****

Barbados's lessons became more convoluted and half the staff questioned his teaching skills.

"Did you hear about the outrageous demand he had from that 1st Year Blossoms kid. To split a rock in, not half, but quarters." The emotion tutor ridiculed the Sinborn's barbaric ways.

"You say that," said Kans, "But didn't you set fire to a student's hand?"

"That was situational and reasonable. They used mana to protect themselves. Barbados is making his first year class prepare for warfare. They've even dug trenches!" Speaking of the Sinborn, Barbados entered the staff lounge with a pair of sunglasses.

"In case you have forgotten, a race war is on the brink of breaking out."

"Oh really? Well, have you got proof from the Angels and Demons?"

"Uh yeah. Me." A silence ensued as the two looked at eachother with blank faces. "I assume Adam told you all about my real identity and all that nonsense. Then he should have also told you about the relationship between the two races."

Grog entered with a cup of coffee.

"Grog, are my teaching method barbarick?" Barbados asked. Grog laughed while sitting down to mark some tests.

"Very much."

"See!" teased the emotions tutor.

"I get it," he said defeated, "I'll stop them from digging trenches." Barbados left the room to go for a jog while the other tutors were talking about the upcoming competition.

"The staff battle should be interesting," Kans pointed out, "Especially if Barbados is allowed to participate. Who knows, maybe Erven will finally find his match."

"I'm more worried about the Arcanists being allowed to represent their society of lunatics." The emotions tutor brought up a shared worry. Grog began to give a counterargument.

"We've got Barbados. Any wild antics they bring would be given back to them at a grander scale."

"I'm afraid you're wrong there Grog." said Adam as he came in. "The Arcanists are aware of Barbados's existence after the stunt he pulled on TV. And, the King wishes an audience with him." Adam put his hands over his head and sighed. The other teachers looked at Adam with worry.

"You aren't going to allow that to happen, are you? proudly asked the emotions tutor, before asking again. "Oh god. This kingdom is done for." Veronica came into the room at the perfect time to see the sorrow.

"My god it reeks of pessimism here. Is this about Barbados going to meet the king?"

"How did you know?" asked the emotions tutor.

"Oh hi Darvin. I'm a druid, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Plants are your eyes and ears."

"Ahem. Regarding the Arcanists, they wish to only view the students' potential. I will personally be there to stop them from making any moves. Also, Darvin, go tell Barbados and Erven to attend a meeting after the day is over." Adam sat down as Grog got him a cup of tea.

"Adam. Who do you think would win? I mean between Grog and Erven."

"Erven. His natural mimicry makes up for his inability to create an unnatural event. Grog you haven't had the chance to witness it, that devouring move of his that tears everything apart."

"The Black Hole?"

"Yes. Arguably the strongest phenomena that exist. Is this raspberry tea?"

"Yes. A gift from Grent."

****

Barbados slowly poured a red acrylic substance into the cracks formed in his halo. It's been worrying him for a while as it never happened to him before and he was unaware of the consequences of it shattering. He left it to dry for a minute, before placing it back above his head and heading to the meeting. The atmosphere felt sour as the days counted to the Arcanists' arrival.

"Barbados. You will have to go visit King Harbinger in the capital in a few days." Adam told him as he arrived.

"Does this king have a phone number?" asked the Sinborn deviously.

"Yes? Everyone is using the internet. Why do you ask… no."

"Could you please tell me?" he asked with a smiling stretching across his face. The rest of the tutors prayed for the king's safety.

"I will ask for the royal secretary to deliver you the number. It is a national risk after all." Adam could almost predict the outcome but accepted it.

"This get together with the Arcanists will also be used to showcase a new piece of soul technology that revolves around the idea of the soul being used as a conduit for mana and lessening the strain on the body." The room erupted in outrage.

"They wish to test their unstable inventions on our students," said one of the tutors, "This is where we should draw the line Adam."

"If only we could. If we don't allow them to present this revolutionary device then we would be accused of being old fashioned and unwilling to adapt."

"Psst Grog," whispered Barbados to his goodfriend, "You mortals do know that toying with the soul is a sin, right?"

"Barbados, what do you mean?"

"The soul is a person's individuality, basically their proof of being alive. Using the soul in such a way... Imagine it like a piece of RAM from those computers the youngsters use. The soul is the processor of your very being, so using it is a means to store and transport mana could interrupt your processing, your very self being."

"Maybe you should learn how computers actually work. Although you were almost right."

"It's just my paranoia. Even in the past, neither angels nor demons dared to tinker with it." The rest of the meeting was about improving security and hiring mana sensors.

"What about a Recluse?" asked Kans. "With the help of a Recluse we would be able to stop an Arcanists' use of mana in an instant."

"That is a good point Kans. Who do you propose would be good for this scenario?"

"Qaz Fort. The sharpshooter that helped Barbados take down the remnant." Barbados was intrigued as he remembered the weapon used. He once again leaned over to Grog and whispered.

"Psst. What is the weapon used by Qaz called?"

"The pistol? It uses a trigger system to strike the gunpowder to a bullet."

"What's gunpowder?"

"It's a reactive compound that ignites rapidly when hit by a spark or any source of heat."

"Ahhh. You mean resonance powder."

"Sure."

"Barbados. If you have any questions you may ask them at the end." Adam said in a stern tone.

"Fine." The meeting passed quickly. Barbados caught up to Okia. "Okia, why didn't you tell me you were a woman?" Clearly taken aback, she questioned him.

"What?"

"Yeah. I only found out recently you were a woman. The full metal suit doesn't help when trying to identify you." He laughed while walking with her.

"Barb, you are such a strange person. There's many things you don't know about me, but here's something to confuse you even more." She took off the helmet to reveal her bony figure cloaked in a permanent black substance.

"You're a skeleton?"

"Who knows?" she teased as she placed the mask back on.

Back in his chambers, Barbados turned on his new TV and clicked through the available channels, until he found the show he was searching for. It was about a chemist teacher that was struck with cancer and resorted to selling illegal substances to earn money for his family.

"Woah." Barbados was mesmerised by the vibrant colours. He spent the rest of the evening watching the show, completely forgetting to research guns and gunpowder. A single knock broke his trance. "Hello?"

"Letter for Barbados."

"Mail?"

"Can't disclose. Sign here and here. Give your full legal name and address."

"Uh," Barbados said while stressing, "Let me make a phone call. Adam help, they want my legal name and address." He listened as his boss explained to him what to write. "Done. Thanks Adam."

"Details match up. Here you go sir. Enjoy your afternoon."

"You too." He put the box on a glass table and slowly opened it and saw another box inside, this time made of metal. Barbados called Adam again. "Adam, they gave me a metal box. What do I do now?"

"Do you see the lock on the box?"

"Yes." It was a wooden lock shaped like a snake.

"You need to burn it while reciting this…"

The snake burned and the lid popped off, revealing a phone number written on pink and blue paper in large grand letters and encrusted with gems.

"You have to be kidding me. Is this the King's number?"

"Yes."

"Why did they actually send it through mail in a large unidentifiable box? And how did they do it so fast?"

"They have an entire department dedicated to this."

"Is that what my tax money is being used for?" he yelled.

"Barbados, you don't pay taxes. You're over the age of 60 so you qualify to not pay any. Hell, you qualify as a pensioner." There was a pause between the two. "What are you going to do now?"

"Now?" he asked back as a familiar devilish smile grew on his face. "I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!" He laughed as he ended the phone call and dialled the King's number. A mechanical voice asked him to provide a code attached to the other side of the paper.

"Thank. You." the female voice said as it continued to ring, until an old voice answered.

"Yes? This is Harbinger speaking. Who is th-"

"Hello youngling. This is Barbados." he said, unable to contain his annoying self.