I know they instructed me not to get involved in the case, but…
"Did you know that we found a drug on one of our students?"
Silas raises an eyebrow. "Okay? I do see a couple young people smoking, which they shouldn't, but I'm sure you guys confiscated it and—"
"Halo."
Two syllables. Just two.
In fact, it barely takes one and a half before Silas's face drains of colour.
He stands up abruptly and grabs Gaedric by the collar.
"Why isn't that the first thing you mention?!"
"I should just randomly drop that one of our kids was found with Halo?"
"But you know I work for—"
"That was literally half an hour ago, and I don't think all members of the Current Watchers know about Halo, so I have to be careful… especially since I know a lot about this drug."
"How do you even know the existence of this drug?! WHY THE HELL IS IT BEING FOUND ON CHILDREN?!" Silas's emotions spike, bits of spit flying as he shouts.
"That's what we want to find out. That's why, when you were explaining your story and you mentioned Rickardo… I had to send our sons upstairs. Because it looks like some dots might connect."
"How do you know Rickardo?"
"Your Rickardo and my Rickardo might be different."
"What?"
"Your Rickardo was in a gang called The Kriminalz, right?"
"Yes?"
"My Rickardo—well, I wouldn't say mine—but the one I know is from an organisation called 'The Scourge Syndicate.'"
"What? Scourge Syndicate?"
"When was the last time you saw or spoke to Rickardo?"
"It's been years. Ever since I left the gang and found my wife."
"So you don't know who runs it now?"
"Well, they wouldn't let me run that case, since I'm an ex-gang member. They think old ties might get in the way."
"I see," Gaedric says.
"What are you trying to say?" Silas asks.
"All I'll say is—research the Scourge Syndicate yourself…"
Shit… maybe I shouldn't have said that to him.
"In fact, forget what I said. However, don't just believe things without questioning them."
"What are you trying to say?"
"I remember you saying you don't believe in the Journal?"
"Huh? Yeah, I don't."
"But you immediately believed that they didn't want you on the case because of old ties to your gang?"
Gaedric stands up, getting ready to leave.
Silas just stands there—speechless, confused.
"Who are you? You're a Senior Leadership Teacher at the Blue Current Dojo, and you know this much? You're way too suspicious. The wrong answer right now could get you arrested," Silas says, on guard.
"Just a husband and a father… and I need to know this stuff to protect my family. That's all."
Silas hesitates… then slowly lowers his guard.
A couple of minutes later, Gadeon comes out of Ami's room and makes his way down the stairs. As he walks down, Ami also steps out of his room—but his expression is completely grim and dark. The colour in his pupils has faded, and a murky, muddy mist seems to linger around him.
"Okay! We're heading off, Ami! See you tomorrow!" Gaedric calls out.
"Alright! Bye-bye, Gaedric-sensei!" Ami replies, suddenly cheerful again, waving with a wide grin, showing all his teeth.
After such a long day at the dojo, Gadeon and Gaedric finally make it home. Gadeon goes straight to his room without saying a word to anyone.
As he enters, he notices the Journal Gaedric made for him still sitting on the table. He stares at it for a moment, recalling the comments both Ami and Gage made about Gaedric—but then brushes it off and drops onto his bed.
Gloria comes to the door to greet her husband, but looks around, searching for Gadeon.
"Where's Giddie?"
"He went to his room."
"That little brat! He couldn't at least say hi?!"
"He had a VERY long day today."
"So?! He still needs to say hello to his mother!"
"I know, I know, but—"
"Also… YOU BOTH CAME HOME TOGETHER?!" Gloria says, shocked.
"It's not like that, the dojo has a new rule and all."
"New rule?"
"I'll explain it later."
"You look like you have a lot to say?" Gloria says, as Gaedric takes her hand and gently pulls her to sit down.
"Halo has reached the dojo."
"WHAT?!" Gloria shoots up, her gums showing in shock.
"Not only that, but Ami mentioned something unusual to me—about someone called Jason. You ever heard that name?"
"No… who's Jason?"
"I don't know either. However, when I was walking down the hallway today, I saw Gadeon fighting with Sain't and Jynx's son."
"Why were they fighting? I mean, I know they don't like each other from what you've told me."
"Yes, however today was different. Gage ambushed Gadeon on his way to school, and it even involved students from the Deep Current getting involved."
"What the hell is happening? Is our baby in a gang?!"
"I don't know… but when Gage and Gadeon were fighting, Gadeon was saying some really strange things. And the technique I taught him—the Mirror-Man—he used it in a way I've never seen before."
"What do you mean?"
"The technique is meant for the user to match their opponent's tempo and rhythm, then send that momentum back to them… but when they were fighting, I saw two Gages."
"Two Gages? Huh? That doesn't make sense."
"The whole point is to mirror your opponent's momentum—but Gadeon didn't just mirror that… he mirrored their entire being. He became like them. He used the Mirror-Man in such a wrong way… something I've never seen before."