𝐸𝒩𝐹𝐿𝒜𝑀𝐸

Chapter 5 - The Preparation Begins

"The Eclate Clan was meant to protect the supported regions. But uniting isn't really our cup of tea." Deon told Claude. As he rose from his seat as if he was about to exit the office, and called it a day. But Mikhail abruptly turned to Claude. With a worried expression. "I think we can do something about that.", "Are you kidding me, Mikhail?" Deon stopped, as he was near from leaving the room. But Mikhail didn't hesitate to say this to a person he doesn't fully trust. "The Eclate Clan is losing population. That even individuals who aren't blood-related to the Eclate join the clan. That includes me. I suppose 'Master' will be satisfied if we allow an entire city to participate. Liberte is the location of the Luminal Fragments, after all.", "What are you trying to say, Mikhail? Bring the 'Master' over?" Deon said, in a harsh unmannered tone. Mikhail did not pay heed to Deon's presence, and stared at Claude seriously. "So, you're allowing whoever your 'Master' is... To come over and ask permission If Liberte will be the first city to hold a Phantom Corps?" Claude questioned, with a strict and formal tone. Amethyst and Flinn listened to the situation in silence. "Yes. But there is a fifty-fifty chance, that he'll refuse. Or agree. Eclate may be a private group. But as long as it will protect the world, and the people." Mikhail announced, formally. Deon looked harassed, and took a heavy sigh as if he was growling. Claude smiled the slightest bit, after Mikhail's statement. "But may I ask... Who is this 'Master' of yours? And why are you both so overprotective to him? I want to know information about him before meeting him, on the spot." Claude stated, as he looked at Mikhail thoughtfully. But Deon suddenly flinched in despair, as if he wanted to cut the conversation off. "The Master. Also known as Daman Eclate. He is the leader of the Phantom Corps. He was considered to be the 'Chosen One', by Teur De Fantomes. Not only was he our master, but he's also Deon's father. Isn't that right, Deon?" Mikhail swiftly turned to him, with a menacing smile. As if bringing back the awful memories, since Deon and his very own father weren't really in good terms. Deon was angered after Mikhail's chit-chat about his father, as if he wasn't there at all. Yet, he didn't want to say anything. He really felt those words hit his soul. "Daman Eclate... Doesn't ring a bell... How can you say that... He is the chosen one?" Claude asked. "We will send the Eclate Clan's most talented warriors to the Crépuscule. It is a forest where uncountable Phantoms shelter. And only one will be able to survive the tournament. And Deon's father was fortunate enough, to survive such a challenge. And after that... Poof. He's now higher than a rank of SS." Mikhail explained, In a playful way. As he was slowly eyeing towards Deon with a sweet, loving smile. But with bloodshot eyes. It will even surprise you, ignoring the fact that they both considered each other as 'best friends'. "I see..." Claude said, analyzing every bit of information he got from both Mikhail and Manon. Flinn didn't hesitate but to comment to this. "I never thought someone to be called 'The Chosen One', would be an ordinary person in their past life.", hearing this Deon's skin crumpled, and his fingers dug deep in his clothes. Yet, he didn't have the urge to rage in this very moment. "Sometimes your mouth works faster than your brain, Flinn." Amethyst said, shortly. Flinn noticed that Amethyst started to comment more often, than usual. This may be a rude remark, but instead Flinn replied a silent chuckle. As soon as Claude was lost for any more questions. He reminded himself to tell this to them, for he believes that Deon nor Mikhai; fully trust him, after revealing his secret. "Also, I apologize for not telling the truth in the first place... It is no lie that me and Seventeen share the same blood. But not all of us are evil, like him. We Breathnach understand human emotions. Even though they feared us, as if we were worse than demons. And sparing humans is considered a sin in our tribe. That is why the TEMPEST targets Liberte the most, for they are here to execute me for my flaws. And ever since the humans thought of me as an ally... I felt like I don't belong to the hands of Seventeen. Ever since the humans sheltered me, when I escaped. I felt like a human as well.", aster Claude's tragic explanation. Mikhail's trust on Claude started to grow even more wider, than earlier. With the tone of his voice, he must be very sincere for his words. But nothing changed, for Deon. But suddenly. The group burst with a gasp as Amethyst began to speak, without hesitation. "That goes the same for my kind. We may be treated like rodents, and everyone thinks that my species is indeed a spawn of a demon. But not all of us are bad.", "Are you kidding me?" Deon exclaimed with a furious face. "You're really believing him? He's not any ordinary Phantom, but a descendant of Seventeen..!", "Deon. What did you feel when we were just kids? You were always bullied for wearing glasses, and everyone assumes that you're a lab-rat." Mikhail added. It sounded ridiculous, but it sounded similar to the current situation. Deon fell silent, after hearing that. Yet deep inside. He wanted to punch Mikhail in the face. Deon released a heavy sigh as he made his way to the exit, without any permission or two. And slammed the door as if he was rejected. Claude stared at Deon making his way out of the mansion, as he was slowly leaving the horizon in despair. In his 4 decades of life, he never seen someone so disrespectful to their elders. Especially with a 20-year age gap. "My apologies. Deon may be a gentle person. But occasionally, he rages and leaves the room all of a sudden..." Mikhail reminded Claude, with a hesitated smile. And that was true. Deon would sometimes hug his friends such as Mikhail, without a certain reason. He would even donate toys to the kids at the Eclate clan. But sometimes he gets furious, even if the situation is a bit simple. But sometimes he can handle his rage. Like earlier. He really wanted to rage, after Mikhail stating about his father. But he tried to keep silent. He only left once the conversation got a little do complicated. So Deon deep inside, is a polite, and caring young man. But it depends on the person he's in the presence of. "No need to apologize." Claude grinned, once more. This time comforting. "I will schedule the meeting for the next two days. With Monsieur Deon's state, we might not me able to held this meeting in good terms..."

As soon as the meeting was over. Amethyst decided to take his afternoon tea, in the room where he and Flinn settled while they were investigating regarding to the Phantom-situation – that unfortunately failed, after the Phantom's early arrival that was not in plan. While taking tiny sips of his tea. He was drawing with using a clean piece of paper and pen. He was doodling a picture of a Phantom in it's rampaging form. And surprisingly, he made the Phantom in the illustration look exactly the same as the Phantom he encountered at the underground base. He was trying to picture the Phantom's looks in that way he wouldn't be puzzled once he came across an Alpha Specie. Sometimes, Alphas bare similar features with Phantoms, such as deep black scars. That they consider as birthmarks. That's why Amethyst had such a large scar, that never had the chance to heal in the first place. As he finally made his way to the final touches. He speedily turned his head as he heard tiny footsteps. So tiny, that it sounded like it belonged to a child. As soon as the footsteps entered the room. He spotted both Fabienne and Francine. Flinn's beloved daughters. As soon as the two stared at him in contact, his heart started to pump faster than normal. As if he was troubled on what the two will do to him. Maybe make him dress up as a fairy princess, or whatever little girls would find wholesome to do with elders, especially male. "Hello, Mr. Amethyst!!!" said Francine "Hello, Mr. Amethyst!" said Fabienne. At this moment, he didn't know what to reply to them. If this were someone else, he would shoo them away making them leave his sight. But these are 7-year olds. And girls. So, he can't help but entertain them with his 'Mr. Nice Guy' attitude. "Hello there. What brings you two here?", "We are looking for our father. Mother doesn't want to read a story for us, so we wanted to make father read for us." Fabienne replied to the elder's question. And this was quite a formal answer for a girl at 7. Amethyst nodded. And he forcefully made himself smile, but it looked more of a false smile. "I stumbled across Fli... Your father, earlier. And perhaps, he's talking to Monsieur Onyx about the latest Phantom case.", "That's weird. Why is mama and papa so busy, lately..?" Francine asked herself, as she placed her wee little finger to her chin, while pondering. "If you want... Maybe you could ask Madam Kaylia to read you a story." Amethyst suggested. He didn't want to make the two think of HIM to play with them. So, he started to come up with other people as fast as he could. "Mrs. Kaylia is so boooring! She would sometimes say deep words to us, knowing that we're too young to know what it means!" Francine stomped as she whined like a fox. But Amethyst didn't complain about that at all. "Hold on a sec. What about you play with us? You're just drawing some random Phantom, after all." Fabienne glared at Amethyst furiously with both of her hands in her waist. Droplets of sweat fell from Amethyst's forehead, and started to tremble. Playing with little kids, especially girls is torture for him. Just hearing their high-pitched voice wanted to make his wolf-like ears pop fresh blood. "Well...", "Pleaseeeeee?" The twins begged as they pulled Amethyst's heavy arm playfully. Francine on his left arm, while Fabienne on his right. He felt flustered in the same time, because of the girls' cuteness, as if he was looking like a kitten. (THAT'S NOT WHAT U THINK BRO ISNT DRAKE) "Alright, alright... What story would you like me to read?" Amethyst said, at last. With a heavy sigh of relief. As he shook the both of his arms so the girls could let him free. The two giggled as they began to summersault around the place in joy. "You are going to read this really cool book me and my sister found inside Elowen's place at the children's room! It's called 'The Princess and Her Rainbow Unicorn'! But there is a twist. We should play roles on each character!" Francine explained, as she pulled out the fairy tale book, with a joyful grin. The book was seen with only a few pages, for fairy tale books are usually very short, yet the cover seems to be thick. Hearing the word 'unicorn' and 'princess'. Amethyst started to panic, as if he saw Seventeen with his own two eyes. The truth is. He even feared those words, more than 'Phantom' per se...