Part 7 (1/2)
”I beg your pardon, madam?” the figure said with a heavy British accent.
”You're some type of Genie, right?”
”Emmy, there are no such things as Genies,” Miku says.
”But he came in a bottle for Omnis's sake.”
”I beg your pardon, madam but that isn't a bottle; it's a Phin,” he informs me.
”A Phin is a vehicle that houses Shadow Servants,” Rio explains.
”Humans have a myth about beings that come out of bottles and grant wishes,” Miku explains to the figure.
”I am aware of the human's offensive portrayals of Shadow Servants,” he says, sounding less than happy with us.
”I've met Shadow Servants before but they were wrapped around a tree, greeting guests for a party. I didn't know they also delivered messages. So I thought maybe you were a...sorry,” I replied.
The Shadow Servant looks down at me.
”Yes, well, my name is Lakom. I am a Shadow Servant from The House of Three. I am not a Genie. I do not grant wishes and you will not rub me.”
It was all the Guardians could do not to laugh. I would have thought it funny too, if Lakom didn't look like he wanted to strangle me for offending him.
”What is your message?” the Twins ask.
”My message is for Marcus Cane. The First Guardian of the current Cycle.”
”I'm Marcus.”
”My Maker wishes to speak with you and your team.”
”Who is your Maker?”
”The head of The House of Three.”
Marcus looks around and, like him, the team has no idea what Lakom is talking about.
”Sage, do you know The House of Three?” Marcus asks.
”No.”
”Nevertheless, she wishes to meet with you.”
”Why should we go see her?”
”Because she is the answer.”
”The answer to what?”
”Everything.”
Lakom dissolves into a shadow again, leaps out and up into the light fixtures, and disappears.
That is so cool...
Marcus takes the Phin and reads a message engraved on the side: ”Terra Oblivioni.
First light.
Seek: Lakom”
”Judging from the reaction of the team, I'm guessing Terra Oblivioni isn't a place for fun and laughs,” I say to Miku.
”It's 'The Land of the Forgotten,'” she explains.
Rio, reading my Waves, knows I'm still confused. He tries to explain further.
”Terra is home to most if not all Tics.”
”You mean it's filled with bugs?” I ask.
”No, Tic is another word for an Angel who's addicted to drugs.”
”Drugs?”
”There's two major drugs that plague the Angel world: Peeks and CP. Peeks are black market Snaps that last for hours instead of a few minutes. Angels get a high from the new power they have. Unfortunately no matter how strong the Peek is, the high is temporary. So they have to buy more. Peek Snaps are expensive; they come from the third layer of our wings.”
”That's the layer that can't grow back.”
”Yes.”
”So the Angels get hooked on Peeks and end up depleting their entire third coat?”
”Eventually.”
”And without their third coats-”
”They can't fly. They're Grounded; earth bound forever.”
”What's CP?” I ask.
”Coy Paste,” Miku says.