Reiyouki Sentai Seitenger

1.8 Real Duties

As the discussion was going on, they had no idea that a sinister plan was about to be put into action in continuation to the terror that was released during the devastating mountain incident.

"Daytime... that should be the perfect spotlight for me to do what I have to do," Siriso mumbled as he stood on the rooftop of the tallest building in the area.

He was eyeing the peaceful town with a grin.

"Juman!" he growled as he called the name.

Soon after, a rune circle appeared behind Siriso followed by a black-armored monster materializing in the middle of it.

"You called for me, Siriso-sama?" Juman politely inquired as he bowed.

"We'll proceed... as soon as the sun rises. I want to hear everyone's screams of despair, fear, and pain the moment they start their days."

A maniacal laugh soon followed it as thunder roared and lightning struck through the sky.

xxxxxx

"Now that I think about it, who is that woman, anyway?" Eichirou asked as he eyed the portrait on the scroll. "I've seen you and Mom hanging that portrait near the family shrine for as long as I can remember. But I never really knew who she was."

"Come to think of it, I had a similar dream the night before the fire," Misae suddenly declared. "But it wasn't a woman who told me about the Vessels."

"Then who did?" Nanami asked.

"It was a falcon."

Well, that wasn't exactly the answer they were expecting.

"A falcon? Are you serious?" Eichirou asked incredulously.

Now even Itsuki and Shuichi tried to recall the events before the fire that might have been similar to what had happened to Misae and Erika.

"Would ripples of water be considered as a message giver?" Eichirou queried all of a sudden.

Itsuki groaned, which made him slap his forehead. "Great! Now Mother Nature could talk to you. How is it possible for water to give you a message about these Vessels whatsoever?"

"I'm serious!" Eichirou insisted.

"Since when?" Itsuki retorted.

Eichirou exhaled before he got close to exploding and beating up Itsuki. "I had that weird dream the night before Mom's 2nd death anniversary. I think I even heard Mom's voice from the ripples."

Hideoki listened carefully to what the kids were saying. As he listened to them, most of the questions he had tried his best to look for answers were slowly being... well, answered. "What about you two, Shuichi, Itsuki?"

The two boys didn't say a word for a few moments. Until...

"The fire surrounding me and Misae that night..." Shuichi answered in a soft tone. He closed his eyes, perhaps trying to get a clear picture of the event. "They were increasingly hot. But instead of scorching us as it did to the others, the fire only surrounded the two of us. It was as if... it was forming a circle to protect us. I don't know how, but I think I even heard voices saying 'we will protect both of you, so do not worry...' or something like that."

Hideoki nodded as if saying he understood. Then he faced Itsuki. "It seems to me you've also experienced weird things similar to this before the fire."

To Itsuki, he felt that the way Hideoki said those words was a statement that the man knew about it. "The trees... particularly those that were near Kawazumi Hall and Prince Palace Hotel... The way they rustled with the wind made it as if they were talking to me."