"Welcome, Mr. Siprel, how are you?"
I'm doing fine, Miss Teresa, could you call down the old for me? I have urgent business with him.
"Of course, and what would you like to do with that boy over your shoulder?"
He's becoming with me, so don't preoccupy yourself with that.
Thadius began to walk past the receptionist at the Guild before stopping for a quick moment to remember something.
Miss Teresa, please take this.
[Miss Teresa grabs it]
"What's this, Mr. Siprel?"
It's a card I found whilst adventuring, it's for an Inn, I believe, a little west of here. Please send an official Guild call for someone at the Inn who knows anything about this boy.
"Of Course, but how should I tell them about the boy? "
Just send out the report for someone staying at the Black Wyvren to come to the Guild to see me, and that the Curator has plans.
"Right away, Sir."
With that settled, Thadius continued to walk past the reception desk and head straight for the second floor of the Guild.
"HEY HEY THERE HE IS Thadius Siprel in the flesh, how are you doing here today, my awesome War Lord friend."
Greetings Heathrow, it seems like you have changed one bit [Thadius said smugly]
"Hey there, come on, you know you missed me. God, how long has it been since the last time I saw you? "
"Dagger's vile, or wait, no, maybe Clithrow. Geez, I can't even remember, this is gonna be great, come on, step forward, come right into my office and make yourself at home."
Sitting in Heathrow's office, Thadius placed Aoto on a nearby couch, letting him lie, and spreading his body out. Thadius also took time to admire the craftsmanship of the room, noticing the numerous awards and decorations.
How many years have you been head of the Guild Heathrow?
"Hmmm, good question. I sometimes forget maybe ten or twelve years; they say time goes by quickly when you're having fun."
Do they? How have the tests been going, Heathrow?
Thadius's body language changed immediately; he leaned forward, boosting a much more stern face, which Heathrow matched.
"They haven't been going as well as we've planned. The LD isn't matching up with anyone, and the researchers down below are getting hungry for more subjects."
[Heathrow's eyes shifted from Thadius to Aoto, still faking asleep on the couch.]
Aoto awake but not present was in his mind thinking as he usually did, until he realized it was very quiet.
Opening his eyes, Aoto could no longer see the Halo over his head. The only thing he could hear was the voice of Soma; he had gone deaf yet again.
[Inside of Aoto's mind]
Hello, is anyone there? I can't hear you, Soma?
"Yeah, I'm still here, you realized you can't hear right."
YAH, WHAT THE HECK? I thought that my days of being deaf were long gone. I could hear perfectly in the abyss and the library. What happened?
"What happened is that giant sitting over there [talking about Thadius] ruptured your eardrums, causing the Liquid inside of you to flow out, but do not worry; your body will heal itself with due time. All you need to do is get your hands on more LD."
LD?
What's that?
"Right, Right, Right, remember that elixir of death I told you about, here and just for a better term, they call it LD, that's what we need to get our hands on to heal your body now that you're a host. "
Okay…? How do you go about that?
"I'm pretty sure that's not gonna be an issue. Aoto just sit back and watch as the rest of this fiasco goes on."
[Thadius rose from his chair and began walking to Aoto]
Scrumming through his pockets, he pulled out a small cylinder with a cap on it. Inside, Aoto could clearly tell it was LD; he was already so familiar with the substance that he couldn't mistake it.
Thadius bent down, getting to Aoto's level on the couch, and said, "It's time to get up, boy".
His breath smelled like a man who smoked profusely. Aoto thought to himself, unable to hear, but that didn't stop him from sensing Thadius. Knowing he had no other options, Aoto reluctantly sat before Heathrow.
[Thadius handing Aoto the bottle]
Confused, Aoto doesn't know what he is meant to do with the bottle until he sees Thadius begin to mimic the hand gesture of drinking something, so he does not know what else to do. Aoto popped off the lid and put the LD down the hatch.
GRAH URGH GULP AHH [Aoto's face was visible in distress while swallowing the LD]
It was thick and coarse going down Aoto's throat, tasting terrible, with every new taste Aoto's face scrunched up.
As the last drop went down Aoto's throat, almost immediately Aoto could feel his eardrums begin to repair themselves.
Woahh what the..
"Feeling any better, boy?"
Yeah, I am. Thanks for asking. HOLD ON, I CAN HEAR.
The LD entering Aoto's system acted like when a person would jumpstart another car, helping Aoto's engine start up and begin the healing process.
Overcome with joy, Aoto didn't know where to look or what to do; all he knew was that he could hear.
"This boy sitting next to me, Heathrow, is the new host for Sound. I would like you to say hello, his name is Aoto… "
"Boy, remind me again what your last name is. I forgot, or maybe I didn't read it in the contract."
My last name? It's Yamamoto.
"Now I remember Yamamoto, yes, Aoto, we have vast plans for you, but first I'd like you to meet the head of Nycon's Guild, Sir Heathrow Rigorous of the fourth."
"It's so very nice to meet you, Aoto, I can't wait for our work together."
Together? What's he talking about? What's even going on here?
"That will explain all in due time." [Both Thadius and Heathrow spoke.]
Confused right as Aoto was about to flip out yet again, a loud noise could be heard echoing throughout the Guild.
"MOVE OUT OF MY WAY I'M GOING UP THERE TO GIVE THAT WAR LORD A PIECE OF MY MIND"
"Oh, is someone here for me?"
"Thadius, what's going on?"
"I called earlier for someone to accompany our friend Aoto here."
Garius?
"So that's his name, yes, your companion Garius."
At that moment, footsteps could be heard from directly outside Heathrow's office's closed doors.
"Bang"
"Bang"
"CRACK"
Garius had kicked open the doors to Heathrow's office, making his grand entrance.