VARIANT (For The First Time, I Don't Mind Losing)

Chapter II - Oracle

Silence filled the chamber after Kyoka said those words.

All of them looking at her as if they're expecting her to suddenly laugh and say that she was messing with them.

But none came.

Katsuki was the first one to recover and asked, "Are you fucking serious Ears?!"

He felt a mixture of emotions all at once.
Excitement, competitiveness, determination, and sheer dominance as he envisioned himself already succeeding. He stood up to look at Kyoka straight in the eyes for assurance.

She nodded and said with confidence, "Yes. I was shocked when I found it too. But I can guarantee you, it's a hundred percent real and reliable."

From his seat, Eijirou couldn't helped but say "Holy shit, Bakugou!! We have a lead now!" as he stood up too out of excitement, fist pumping in the air.

Katsuki managed to repressed his emotions. He still had to know the full story. That and, he didn't wanna looked overjoyed and start smiling.

That's not him.

He settled for a sly crooked smirk and faced Eijirou, "Alright settle down Shitty Hair. I had to know first," he then turned to Kyoka, "How'd you find this clue?"

The sorceress walked at the table and everyone stood up now, waiting what she'll do.

She pulled an ancient scroll from inside her violet cape.

It was huge to be labeled as a manuscript type, and one look tells that it's already very worn out, as if even the slightest force could rip it or have it disintegrated.

She carefully undid the bind and spread it ever so gently, putting four thumb-sized pebbles on each corner to keep it straight and flat. "I found this at the deepest parts of the library of Ashurbanipal.."

"What the fuck are you even doing there??" Katsuki sharply turned his head to her at the mention of the place. That was on the other side of the world. How'd she managed to get there?

Kyoka smirked and just shrugged.
"I had my own adventures." she casually answered.

"How did you managed to convince them to let you bring this home? This looks like a very important scroll.." Mina commented as she picked up the bind that holds the scroll closed. It was a string, but made of gold and etched with small yet delicate pattern of different colored gems, with emerald as the center. Obviously, it seemed something that belongs to the likes of a king's documents. Something like this may not be even displayed in public's eyes.

"I didn't." Kyoka said smugly.

All of them looked at her for a few seconds and Mina laughed in understanding her mischief. "You're evil Kyoka.." she said as she lightly punch the sorceress' shoulder.

Denki and Hanta hummed in agreement, Eijirou simply shook his head with a smile, while Katsuki looked at her with a little hint of pride.

"Hey, no body knows this was even there in the first place. It was burried under piles and clearly ignored." the sorceress defended, but still maintaining her smug look.

"Ignored? Or hidden.." Katsuki quietly says as he eyed the scroll. Nothing there made sense. He couldn't even figure out if it's a map, a manuscript, or a just a sketch. The symbols are nothing he ever heard nor learned about. He leaned down a little closer to get an even better look. All the symbols are written in dark red color. Like dried up blood.

He tried to look for something to indicate what it can be, but he can't come up with anything useful.

Finally he straighten again and eyed the sorceress, "So, was this a fucking map or something?"