A week after the bodies of the Silva Family were recovered. Miss Gia prepared the funeral of her family. The only ones who were around to attend were Miss Gia and servants who had served under her. 

It was sunny. There was a calm wind and the blade of grass around shone under the sun. A priest stood in front of the grave granting the family his blessing.

Miss Gia stood quietly. Without emotion on her face. She looked at the grave without mourning. As if something had frozen her face. She wore a black mourning outfit with a veil covering her face. Her arm hooked around Robert as the funeral finished and she gave her last goodbye.

She didn’t leave the graveyard. Everyone else left except for them. Robert remained silent, letting Miss Silva stare at the place where her whole family was buried.

“I never did know them that much,” she said with a bland voice. “The Silva  Family has always been hands-free. They don’t care how you grow up as long as you have the talent and the magical abilities.

“My parents gave me wealth. They told me to manage it myself and decide on what I should do with it. I spent it on education and learning magic. I showed promise. It’s probably why they bothered to attend my eighteenth birthday.”

She tilted her head.

“Other than that there was no reason for them. The heir has been decided and they were focused on reaching a new place in the world. My brothers were the focus of their dream. They wanted them to reach something.”

She shook her head.

“And instead they got this ending. All of them are buried here. Dreams lost. Ambition is quite the killer. But what is life without ambition?”

“You are talkative today, Miss,” Robert said.

“Gia. Just call me Gia. I got used to you. And please don’t refuse me when I call you my friend, Robert.”

“Of course.”

She took the arm hook around Robert’s arm. She squatted down and wiped the leaf that landed on the tombstone of her family. She swept her hair behind her ear and then tucked her arms on her knees.

“You may think that I’m so heartless. To never cry in front of people that I should be calling my family.”

“Did you grow up with them?”

Her answer was a shrug.

“No. To me they are strangers. Strangers whose blood I have. Is it strange to never think of them as one? Then again they were focused on making sure that my brother could become the leader of the Family and usher us into prosperity. Let the Silva name grow and prosper.”

Next to the family’s tombstone was the headstone of the eldest son of the Silva Family. He died five years earlier than the Family.

“My eldest cared. He really wanted to revive the family. He was a genius with many talents in magic. He would have thrived if he had not heard that the millennium bug was going to take the magic away. If my brother was here I might have shed a tear. He’s the only one who cared about family and hated the tradition.”

Her voice remained still. And yet when speaking about her eldest brother she cared. It made him wonder. She wasn’t heartless. If anything she was a gloomy yet polite woman who treated people around her well. She was committed to her work and spent time completing it. Yes, she does lose her temper but knowing that she grew up without her parents.

It was impressive. Robert wanted to console her. At least try to let her talk about her brother. She saw what he was doing and smiled kindly at him.

“You are a gentleman, Oswald. Even though there is no need to be like this.”

Robert didn’t answer. He thumped her shoulder and she smiled thinly at it. She continued staring at the headstone of her family. Silent with only the leaves rustling.

“I might become part of CASE now.”

“Are you?”

“My skills are still valuable to the organization. Not that I need the organization to keep me fed. The money they left me could allow me to retire early. Though I intend to let it grow on its own.”

Her voice remained leveled. The break in her voice was gone. Robert tucked his hands behind.

“Do you not think of revenge, Miss?”

“I have thought about it. I have emptied my tears and let them dry. But I can’t seem to think of doing it. My family made the mistake of ambition. They paid it dearly with their lives. I have no qualms about the people that killed them. Am I selfish? Stone-hearted perhaps?”

“No. I don’t think you are.”

Next to Robert, she stood with her hands interlocked in front. She adjusted her veil and kept her focus on it.

“Even if I do go on a path of vengeance. CASE will stop me. The Magi Families will think of it as a violation of the Pact. I have many reasons not to seek revenge. And I find it more beneficial.”

Hands pocketed on his pants. Robert thought that she made sense. Revenge was a cycle and those who take revenge will always have someone who cared enough to be angry at their demise and go after the one who pulled the trigger. Even Robert finds it hard to think of going after the people that killed her parents. It’s asking for death and he understood that it was best to leave it alone now that they had given their word not to hurt her.

She turned around and inched her face close. She gave a formal bow and said to Robert.

“I thank you for accompanying me, Robert. I appreciate the company that you have given me for these past few weeks..”

“No, thank you for keeping me away from all the trouble outside of the Villa. I needed the extra time to keep myself in top shape.”

“Then let us see each other when we can, Robert.”

She gave another bow and went straight to her car. She glided the car out of the graveyard. It was then that Robert saw Wilson waiting for him while smoking.

“Got a good rest?”

“Somewhat.”

“Tough woman. Barely cried despite the tragedy. Then again her family’s history made sense.”

Robert leaned on the car.

“So how are things?”

“Surprisingly well.”

“And here I thought I’d have more work.”

“Thankfully there are many competent people in the world, Oswald. People who can rip Guzman’s business to shreds. Strato’s team. I tell you they are deadly. Built up a reputation as a shadow group operating here in just a few weeks.”

“What else is going on?”

“Magi Families took down eighteen clans in the west.  Most of it was fought in areas where there were no witnesses, thankfully. Though I have to admit that the whole thing has been crazy. Have you seen a twenty-meter sand golem rise from the desert just to defend from a fireball? I’m just a guy who knows this side of the world. I’ve seen many spells being thrown but the wrath of these Families is something.”

Robert passed on smoking a cigarette.  Wilson took another drag of his. His eyes were sunken and the visible bags under his eyes made Robert guess how much sleep he had.

“What about the cult?”

“They weren’t around. All that damage didn’t do shit to them. The beauty of being an international cult is that they only trust themselves. Their leader Mitchel’s smart and has made alliances with others who’d hesitated them from exiting their turf. If anything it’s like we just cut one branch out of the three.”

“Guzman?”

“His racket’s destroyed. Strato’s team is moving for the kill. If anything they should have him by now.”

“How will that work? If Guzman’s well-connected then they’d have Halfbreeds working with him. Oh, did an Agent come with them?”

“They made a deal. They get to take care of the Occult. Ford has a way with words that made them. Which is to be expected from someone who does it for a living.”

Robert entered the car. Wilson threw his cigarette and slammed his foot down on it. The car left the graveyard. Wilson was silent until they entered the main road.

“So what then? They’ll squeeze Guzman out of everything then everyone goes after Ferric?”

“That’s the plan. The problem is that Ferric has a lot of customers for the Wine. It means that there is a demand. And whoever is buying them has been eager to get to him first to either prevent him from spilling the beans or protect him. Guzman did well as a Lieutenant. I can’t imagine what the Underboss would do once Strato and his team move up.”

Robert groaned loudly.

“I forgot that this is a large organization.”

“That they are. Secret Societies and organizations that aren’t well-known aren't just the problems here. The thing is that it’s one hell of a big world out there and all of them are paranoid about some bug.”

Robert folded his arms and leaned back on the seat.

“This is getting troublesome.”

“Unfortunately it is. As much as I’d like to keep it within ourselves. These things are bigger than us. Many people are involved and many factions have decided to join the hunt. This isn’t just about the Wine. Not even about the humans they kept on trafficking. It’s something bigger. It’s out of our jurisdiction now. So unless they keep roaming the city. We’ll claw their throats. But beyond that, we’d have to leave it to the other people who are in charge. I’m sorry about this. Considering how hard you worked for this.”

Robert adjusted the AC of the car.

“It’s no big deal. Still, it feels awful missing out on something you started. But if that’s what they say. Then I’d have to stand down.”

“And here I thought you were one of the righteous ones, Oswald. I’m disappointed.”

He said that with jest but there was some real disappointment in his voice. Robert explained while speaking so blandly.

“Even if I do feel like a righteous punisher of evil. All I’d be doing is cause trouble for others. And I’m not that good of a person to do things that aren’t meant for me. Call it cold, but I see no good reason to go after them. There is no incentive. No personal reason. I don’t particularly enjoy fighting so I’d be willing to risk my life for it. And lately, things have been a series of events. I got dumped into a sewer full of cultists, met a mythical being, heard a demon’s words, and got shot in the gut. I’m thankful that I haven’t been shot at or threatened by the occult guarding Gia.”

“You look relaxed since the last time I saw you.”

“The power of rest, Wilson. The power of rest.”

Still, despite all that had happened to him there was something that he was sure he’d do. Especially if they are in the city.

“But if there are still bastards left who are doing what they are doing in this country. Then don’t hesitate to call me. I’d rip their heads off.”

The sudden brutal tone of his voice made Wilson raise a brow.

Robert continued.

“Couldn’t stand seeing kids getting hurt. Always put a fury in me that makes me want to just point my gun at it. I know my limits are, Wilson. But if there are still any bastards here in the city who do this. Then I hope to God that I don’t get my hands on them.”

“Oh, I will, friend. It’s good to know that you are willing to work, Oswald. I’d send you to them if I have an address. But right now I have no leads and with everyone gunning for them. It’d be hard to make a move.”

“How long will it take?”

“A month or so. For now, it’d be best if my guys can find information.”

Robert agreed. 

He wouldn’t mind taking another rest and fully mastering his body. A month would be enough for him to truly master his current body.

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