Chapter 04 - True Sight

Camden tapped his shoes along the pavement when he arrived at the station, it has started raining, soon enough, the snow will start falling and the streets will be clogged with snowflakes again.

Ever since he was a kid, Camden have always hated winter, he came from the outskirts of the city, from the town nearest to Fubuki, the place where the Dark Yozas had been banished to. The sun never shines in Fubuki, and the snow falls all year round, and as a result, it was always cold in the town where Camden lived, and winter made that worse, especially because they weren't rich enough to afford a heater. It was a relief when Camden started learning to control his Fire attribute but it was still dangerous to keep a flame unguarded inside their home that was only made out mostly with light materials.

But he had witnessed how the other inhabitants of the City of Light enjoyed the snow, they come out no matter how cold it was to do all sort of things, like snowball fighting, skiing, snowboarding, making snow angels, or just taking walks and taking pictures. He doesn't get it at all.

The station was already busy even though it was only seven in the morning, everyone was at edge since everyday, the kill counts were climbing up at an alarming rate. Light Yozas have started worrying for their safety and most of them were starting to just stay at home. Camden had never seen the City of Light so dull and lifeless, now that most of its inhabitants are either dead or staying at their houses.

"Hey, lovely morning isn't it?" Arielle teasingly said as he entered their office, Camden just scowled at her and removed his coat. Arielle knew how much he hated the rainy and winter season, being friends with her since they were in the academy.

"Beautiful," Camden replied sarcastically. "How is it coming along?" He asked Knoxx who was constantly typing and scrolling on his laptop.

"Still nothing, the only way we know of until now is to use the in-depth exam, but there's no way we can examine everyone in the city, it takes too long and too much money and skills, plus success rates aren't that high," Knoxx answered.

"Hey Yllana, why are your mates late?" Camden asked Emman.

"You're the only one who's late Reyes," Emman answered without looking at him. "Javellana sent them to run some errands," he added.

"Errands?" Camden asked.

"Coffee," Knoxx replied.

"You are abusing your superiority Javellana," Camden said teasingly and opened his own laptop, even though he knew researching regarding the same subject will be pointless. Knoxx was their best researcher, if he can't find anything, how can Camden?

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about Reyes," Knoxx replied. "Anyways, check the website I sent you."

"Okay," Camden said and opened said website, only to have his laptop blasting with the sound of someone moaning. "What the - Knoxx! You absolute bastard!" Camden exclaimed and immediately turned his laptop off. He had watched his favorite tv series the night before and he forgot to lower the volume down when he was done. 

Camden ignored the laughs of his partners and just sulked as he opened his laptop once again.

"Oops, wrong link," Knoxx mocked and chuckled.

"Why would you even have the link to that?" Camden inquired and lowered down the volume of his computer, playing safe. He then opened his files regarding Magical Cores. 

Magical Cores are as wonderful as they are troublesome at times like this, because the ways of determining them are scarce and really hard. They only show themselves upon birth, and never again.

Upon birth...

"How many Light Yoza have a Time attribute?" Camden voiced out his thoughts. If magical cores only show themselves upon a Yozas birth, then maybe, someone with a time attribute can see the time of a Yoza's birth and see how their magical cores manifested themselves.

"I'll check," Arielle said and typed on her computer. After about a minute she answered, "there's only ten of them, having a time attribute is extremely rare, why?"

"What if we could get Yozas with time attribute to look at the time of a Yoza's birth and find out how their magical cores manifested themselves? It's gonna be a slow process but it could be a start," Camden explained.

"Going back a few days in time already takes up too much Maho, going back to a certain time of a Yoza's birth can drain a time attributed Yoza, Reyes," Emman said.

"Really?" Camden asked, he hadn't thought of that. "How'd you know?" He asked.

"My sister has a time attribute," Emman replied.

"Your sister's Melissa Yllana?" Arielle asked.

"Yeah," Emman answered.

"She's one of the most powerful time attributed Yozas up to date, Yllana's statement is credible," Arielle said.

"Well, it's just an idea after all," Camden shrugged, crestfallen.

"Why the long faces? Here's the coffee," Natasha and Jason chose that particular time to come in with trays filled with mismatched coffee cups. Coffee are savior!

"How can we have money for guns and ammunition but not for buying matching cups?" Jason asked.

"Because Mercury is the closest planet to the sun," Camden replied uselessly and stood up to get a cup for himself.

"You just hurt my brain with that answer Reyes," Jason said.

"I'm actually surprised that you have a brain Alcantara," Camden retorted.

"Enough about that, I think I'm onto something," Knoxx said, earning everybody's attention. "I sent you all links," he added.

"If this turns out to be a link to another pornsite I'm killing you Knoxx," Camden said whilst opening the link Knoxx sent them.

"Tempting, but no," Knoxx smirked.

"I'm more interested about the fact that Javellana has access to pornsites," Jason mused.

"Of course he has, he's a guy, all guys watch porn," Natasha muttered.

"Wow, how disappointing was that statement," Camden said and looked at Natasha with questioning eyes while waiting for the link to open.

"Why? Are you telling me that you don't?" Natasha said.

"I'm not saying that, all I mean is that you should quit stereotyping," Camden said.

"I second to that," Emman added.

"Yeah, whatever," Natasha said and shrugged.

They all turned back to their laptops where the link that Knoxx sent them has already opened. It led them to a website about legends in the City of Light, it was opened on one specific legend actually. It was called the Legend of True Sight.

Long ago, while time was still new, wars are already happening, mostly between the Yozas and the mundanes. These wars can go on for a decade at most before ending, and they always result in so many casualties from both parties. However, one day, these wars were halted when a mundane family tried to convince both sides that they can actually live amd coexist harmoniously, they are the Franco clan. The Yozas and the mundanes didn't heed their advice at first, frustrated, the Francos searched for another way to completely end the wars between the mundane and the magical community.

They ended up making the formula that made the mundanes forget about the existence of Yozas, and talked to the Yozas about making their existence a secret. Because of that, wars were ended and it became peaceful again. 

Because of this, the ancient deities decided to reward the Franco patriarch with the gift of True Sight and being able to wield Mahos of their choice, and he'll be able to pass these abilities on to every male firstborn of his family.

True Sight is the unique ability to actually see magical cores. Whilst everyone can see people normally, people with True Sight can see their magical cores as well if they're Yozas. In the form of a flaming ball on their chests. 

The Francos are said to have played a huge role in banishing all Dark Yozas to Fubuki when the war between Light-cored and Dark-cored Yozas emerged. They are characterized by a wave shaped birthmark on their left shoulder, and up until now, they remain to be one of the most famous legends and myths in the City of Light. Their legibility was always doubted, but there are some who claims to have known people from this clan. T

"Dude, I understand, we're all desperate, but a legend? Seriously?" Camden said after reading it.

"I know it sounds crazy but what if this is true? This clan could be the answer to our problem," Knoxx demanded. "Arielle, kindly search for people with the last name Franco in the city, we'll start there," he added.

"It's not like we're actually getting somewhere anyway, I'd say this is our current best shot," Emman said.

"True," Natasha seconded.

"Imagine reporting this to the chief, oh we found a legend and we're following it sir!" Jason said exaggeratedly with matching hand gestures.

"Do you have a better suggestion then?" Knoxx raising an eyebrow at Jason.

"Uhh, how's the search coming along Vera?" Jason asked, evading Knoxx' stares.

"That's what I thought," Knoxx mumbled.

"There are fourteen families with the surname Franco in the city, eight of them lives on the outer towns, how do we find out who the main family is?" Arielle said.

"They have a birthmark on their right shoulder right?" Camden asked.

"Left shoulder actually," Natasha stated.

"I hope you're not suggesting that we look at their left shoulders to check, because it's freaking weird to ask people if we could see their left shoulders," Emman said.

"Not really, we're police officers, everybody knows about the killings, we could just say that we're hunting for the suspect, and he has a tattoo on his left shoulder or something," Arielle explained.

"Well, we should locate all fourteen families and start checking their left shoulders then," Jason shrugged.

"I already did, there are six families in the main city, and the first family doesn't live that far from the station," Arielle replied. "We could head out now," she added.

"It's raining," Camden whined.

"Do you want to put an end to this or not?" Knoxx asked.

"I want to," Camden pouted.

"Then stop being a baby and let's go," Knoxx told him and stood up, wearing his coat.

"Let's go!" Jason said excitedly and finished hus coffee before wearing his coat. Camden just sighed crestfallenly and finished his own coffee before wearing his own coat. 

They walked through the spacious hallway of the station towards the parking lot, they will be taking the van, since it's the only vehicle that is unused at the moment and they'll fit quite nicely. 

"Who's driving?" Emman asked.

"Me, I'm the only one who knows the address after all," Arielle said. Knoxx tossed the keys to her and they all went in the van. Camden looked out the window as the van rolled out of the station and squirmed at the raindrops splattering on the window. Thank goodness that the city has wide and clean sewers and aqueducts, or he'll have to worry about flooding too. He absolutely despised those.

"Why do you hate rain so much Reyes?" Emman asked.

"I came from the outermost town of the city, Yllana, just a few miles away from Fubuki, and even with that much distance, we can still feel the cold from that place. The rainy and winter season made that cold worse, so I hate them. I guess I just hate the cold in general actually," he explained.

"Understandable," Emman shrugged. The van fell silent once again, the only sound that can be heard was the gentle music coming from the radio. And at long last, they arrived in front of an average house.

"I think only two of us should go, too many officers could freak them out," Arielle suggested.

"You're right," Knoxx agreed. "Who wants to go?" He asked. Camden immediately closed his eyes, there is no way that he's gonna go out beneath the pouring rain when he has a choice to not go.

"I'll go," Natasha volunteered. "Vera, you down?" She asked.

"Yeah, let's go," Arielle agreed and grabbed an umbrella before they both went out of the car. They rang the bell at the gate for at least three times before a guy came running out from the front door and approached them.

"What is it?" They guy asked.

"Good morning sir, I am Officer Arielle Vera and this is Officer Natasha Soriano, we're police officers. I think you've heard about the killings recently?" Arielle said and they showed their ids and badges. The guy just nodded as an answer to Arielle's question.

"Well, we have a lead, and they said that the suspect has a tattoo on their left shoulder, we're checking every house, just so you know, would you mind if we take a look at your shoulder?" Natasha asked.

"Oh, not at all," the guy said and pulled his left sleeve to reveal his bare shoulder, no birthmark to be seen. 

"Thank you for your cooperation sir, and sorry for bothering you in this weather," Arielle said, trying to mask her disappointment. She was lowkey hoping to find the main Franco clan on their first try. 

"It's nothing, you guys are working hard," the guy said.

"Duty calls, sir, stay safe!" Natasha said.

"You two as well," the guy said and waved before he ran towards his house once again. Arielle and Natasha both huffed as they made their way towards the van. 

"It's not this family then?" Jason asked when they got in.

"No," Arielle replied sadly.

"Well, we still have thirteen more families to check right?" Emman said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Yeah, joy," Natasha mumbled as they drove away.

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