Axel leaned back on the chair, his gaze outside, sodium lamps flashing rhythmically, red, black, red, black, as the car zoomed past them, the wipers clicking lazily against the drizzle, not rain, the mist clinging to the city at night.
The city glowing faintly on the horizon, Vostyn's skyline a jagged halo of white and blue light against the night sky, looking like constellations. The air inside the car hummed with the low thrum of the engine and the faint, tinny sound of an old radio station.
His eyes stayed fixed ahead, but his thoughts miles away.
His mind drifting back to Optima, specifically her anima, it gave him hope, perhaps there was really an anima that could help Ophelia, and he'd find it, no matter what, he made a silent promise to himself.
If there wasn't, I'll just find those blacksmiths and get them to make it, no matter what, but I have to find them first, and this is the key to that, he looked down at the katana, sheathed, resting on his laps.
Axel adjusted it and turned his attention to Serif who was laser focused on driving, taking the turnpike south, the road threading through overpasses and empty lots, billboards looming out of the dark, he did not even spare a glance to the side.
Axel sighed, and turned away, looking at the side mirror, the billboards blurring into pale ghost, as the car pulled away.
That blank look on his face is so annoying and on top of that he refused to answer any questions unrelated to the katana, the Gishiki, according to Optima.
Although the information he got about the katana itself was little and quite vague, just that it was a unique case even among anima, and apparently it could potentially alter the whole fate of the world.
And on top of that, it had a will of its own, it could subtly manipulate people, an insidious ability in itself, considering you wouldn't realize it, and that was how it eventually ended up being delivered to him.
Apparently it was supposed to be delivered to its original weilder after "routine maintenance" or something like that, but along the way it somehow got to him, chose him, and those guys just happened to think he was the owner almost costing him his life.
But something still bugged him, Optima had said only the wielder can use an anima, so what exactly happened there, how was he able to use the Gishiki's ability, he had intended to ask Serif, but he stopped himself, the memory of those chains dripping with blood still vivid in his mind.
How am I sure he wouldn't just kill me, after all, this seems like a big deal, and yet I am able to use it, doesn't that mean something is wrong, perhaps I could be considered a threat, the best thing would be to observe for now, he saved me but so far, I know it's because of the katana, I can't trust him yet, he glanced at Serif.
"So why don't you just take it and deliver it yourself?" Axel asked.
"Because it chose you," the answer came, direct and short.
Axel rolled his eyes, apparently he was beginning to realize Serif was an avid believer in fate, that sort of thing and highly dedicated too, but it's still too early to tell.
Axel looked at Serif again, his white hair gently being blown back by the wind rushing in from the open window. His hair is sure unique, did he dye it, Axel wondered.
But he quickly discarded the thought, somehow he couldn't imagine serif doing something like that, Optima, most certainly.
But well, it sure is interesting, he leaned back, the signs for Vostyn International Airport flashed by; planes blinked in slow arcs overhead, descending toward the runway lights. The smell of salt and diesel drifted through the air vents. I bet there are animas that allow flying, he thought as he looked at the planes, the vehicle zooming on to a bridge, traffic getting tighter now.
Axel's mind wandered back to all he had been in the last twenty four hours, as Vostyn unfolded, the encounter with the man at the door, the katana manipulating time, or is it speed, he wondered, after all it did seem like he was faster when it glowed, or perhaps everyone was slower, he still couldn't wrap his head around that.
Speaking of which, Axel opened his eyes and examined the wheel-shaped hilt carefully, it was made of metal, he gently touched it, it was cold, smooth, inscriptions intricately carved into it, forming patterns, nothing he recognized, but the metal sure didn't look like something that'll glow normally.
He gently tapped it with his finger, producing a faint clanking sound, yep definitely metal, he concluded, "but metal glowing," he muttered with a contemplative expression.
No that isn't new, tungsten is a metal too, but that requires high temperature, unlike this, probably a unique property of the so called Zvezdan, I think.
I wonder if anima are science based or more supra mundane, it'd make sense if it was science, considering all it all came from a meteorite, though there was a lot science can't explain, like the compatibility, dealing with personalities and whatnot, reverting atoms back to a state, sort of like reverting time for it, those can't be science at least not the one I know of.
At least the speed and the increase in length of the chains, he could explain that or try to, but still, he sighed, "so many questions, yet no answers," he said aloud, glancing sideways at Serif.
Serif glanced back at him briefly, then back to the road, I'm guessing he's this way due to the anima or something. He blew a raspberry, I'm so bored, he pulled out his phone, the screen totally scrambled, "unfortunately this has seen better days." Axel sighed.
Axel looked down up as they followed the signs for DMC parkway, glowing palely against the dark, "if it's supposed to be secret, how come the katana is in an anime?" Axel muttered, half to himself and partly to Serif, not expecting an answer as the car pulled up into the parking lot outside Underland station.
The parking lot was half-lit and quiet. The wind carrying the salt smell of the sea, mixing with the diesel tang of the city. Axel stepped out of the SUV, following Serif's lead.
"By the way where are we going?" Axel asked following Serif as they descended the stairs into the subway station.
"To deliver the katana," Serif answered as he calmly fed in a few bills to the ticket machine; the paper ticket sliding out.
"Wait, where," Axel muttered as he hurriedly followed Serif to the platform, not that it mattered much to him as long as he got more involved in this world of anima.
"Nova Yoren," Serif answered as he stood at the platform, waiting for the train.
Somewhere in the distance, the rumble of an approaching train building up like thunder in a tunnel, "so the wielder stays in Nova Yoren?"
"No?"
Axel's brow scrunched, "then what are we going there for."
"To find transport," Serif answered flatly.
"To where," Axel asked, eyes narrow.
Serif raised a brow, and said, "Krovai"
Axel stood silent, letting the words sink in, "what, I am not prepared to leave the country, I need my passport, my documents, that's on the other side of the planet, I'm totally not prepared," Axel said aloud, in protest.
"Besides, why didn't you let me know of this earlier," he added.
Serif took a deep breath, metal grinding, a screeching sound slowly getting closer, increasing by the minute, "Because you were unconscious," he said cooly.
Axel grimaced, don't say that so cool, he was about to protest when Serif's voice cut him off.
"Besides you can't go back to your apartment, and we don't have time," he looked at his wrist watch as the train stopped, the door opening with a hiss, "they'll be coming after you, I can't allow you to go back, not with the Gishiki."
Oh right, those guys, Axel thought back to Zorans face, shivers travelling up his spine, "so how are we going there then, don't tell me there is a secret train network," Axel said jokingly.
But Serif said nothing as he sat down near a window, Axel's eyes widened, for real.