Kito had gone numb all over. He had taken in all of the information but it wasn’t quite registering in his mind. There was something nagging at him. Something in the back of his mind. He couldn’t quite place what was wrong, though he had an inkling he could possibly have been going into shock. He wasn't sure, though. It was a little much to take in, he figured. Talya would need to know. He’d need to go and find her and let her know, and they would need to go together. He wasn’t sure where she was, but the Rebellia could let him know he was sure. She couldn’t have been far. His mind was racing too fast, too many things going through it. He couldn’t be dead…

Mannes Tiko was one of the strongest people Kito had ever met. He was top-ranked within the seal guardians for a reason, second to none in the way he fought, so something that could defeat him was… Unimaginable. Kito had fought alongside him during the final years of the war. At the dark city, the forests of Xaltrol, and of course at Yhor’Dheel. The only person Kito had ever seen defeat his father in close combat was Xan himself. And even then, Xan had to try as Kito had never seen him try in single combat. So how could he have lost? Words were being said, Kito was still staring at his hands with his brow deeply furrowed. They were asking him something.

“Kito?” A voice said, softly. A hand on his shoulder, a softer, nicer voice in his ear.

“Honey? Are you alright?” Katy said, perching herself on the side of his chair.

Kito looked up and sniffed, his gaze moving around everyone who was looking at him with worry etched on their features, “Sorry, I’m alright,” He said quickly, “Go on.”

“The report was that Mannes Tiko was defeated in combat,” James said, placing his helmet on a small table near him, “The scene indicates a battle far beyond anything I've ever heard of. Mannes wasn’t only pushed, he was beaten. He has been missing for almost two weeks.”

“A week or so is normal for Mannes,” Sapphire explained, “But two weeks is almost unheard of.”

“What could have beaten a seal guardian?” Katy looked between everyone, “I mean, it’s not impossible but they are the most powerful people around right now. Was it a demon?”

“Researchers have been trying to figure it out,” James leaned back again, sighing, “There are some traces of magic left over that they can’t quite place. Definitely not demon.”

“Can’t place?” Kito’s gaze shot to James, “What do you mean they can't place it?”

“The energy doesn’t seem to have come from anything we know of.” Sapphire replied, “It could be some new hybrid discipline, or maybe a monster we thought was extinct. Definitely wasn’t anything angelic or demonic.”

“That’s worrying.” Kito blinked at her.

“It is, that’s why we’re sending you,” Sapphire gestured at Kito, “If something could defeat your father, the only hope we have of tracking them down is you, Kito.”

“I’m not at 100% yet, you know that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sapphire shook her head, “You’re the most qualified for this job. It’ll probably be a more long-term job as well. Might be good to get yourself a team.”

“The most qualified?” James asked, eyebrow rising, “I was under the impression it was just because it was his father that he would want the job.”

“That too,” Hiralda leaned back, “But Kito and his Red Mask were the most skilled tracking unit in the alliance. They were the ones who found Xan’s scattered generals after his defeat at Yhor’Dheel and led to us finally ending the war once and for all. Something with this much power shouldn’t be as difficult.”

“Depends,” Kito stood with a deep breath, “We’ll need to track it the old fashioned way until I get some hint of what it actually is, Talya is the best at that. Then I’ll be able to track it with magic.”

“We can give you a team if you’d like.” Sapphire stood as well.

“Nah, that’s alright,” Kito frowned, “I have some people in mind. If you could let me know where Talya is, though. That would be grand.”

“We’ll get you everything you need,” Sapphire smiled, giving Kito’s shoulder a squeeze, “You’ll find him. I know you will.” Kito met her smile with one of his own. His own doubts and insecurities were swirling in his mind, but that smile seemed to beat them back at least somewhat. Sapphire always had that effect on everyone.

***

Sapphire and the others stayed for dinner. They talked about the state of the alliance, what was happening with the resistance, a little about Magistratia, though no-one ever knew anything about Magistratia. The resistance had been pretty quiet lately, according to Hiralda, though Crossings had been getting worse. In the past day alone Sapphire had apparently fought off two of them. Magistratia as always was getting in the way of Nyxtria and Sylvia’s war. Apparently there had been another skirmish between the sylph and nyx forces, interrupted in the end by Magistratian Hunters. All fairly common stuff from Kito’s understanding. Most of the small talk went straight over Kito’s head. He was too busy thinking of the people he needed for his team. The new Red Mask, he supposed. This was a bit of a suicide mission after all. What if they did find whatever it was that defeated his father? He definitely needed people tough enough to back him up in a pinch. Katy and Seiko were definitely a good start. If Seiko even wanted to come of course. He would need to ask him. Kito was numbly aware that he hadn’t eaten any food. He was too absorbed in his thoughts. Talya was the first person he needed to find. Someone with a ship, too, he definitely needed that. Not an airship, that would be too easy to shoot down, if the thing they were looking for was actually as strong as they had been led to believe. A small ship and crew then, available for the whole journey. He rubbed the back of his neck. Most of the Red Mask had died at the battle of Yhor’Dheel. Sapphire was unavailable, of course. Alyssa Navado was off in the mountains who-knows-where, Yuki was preoccupied as well. He needed to think outside the box. People he knew from before the war, then. His mother? She had a nation to lead in the Golden Peaks. That was it. The Golden Peaks. Kito blinked a couple times, he had his other members. They needed a ship, a small crew, a healer or medic and one more heavy-hitter… Kito smiled.

“I have my team planned out.” He said, looking up from the table.

“That didn’t take long,” Sapphire blinked at him, her mouth full of food, “Is it the Red Mask?”

“No, they’re all busy,” Katy raised an eyebrow, leaning on the table with her elbows, “The last time we saw most of them was at our wedding.”

“You know I’d join,” Sapphire’s gaze dipped slightly, clearly feeling torn, “But the boss…”

“Of course,” Kito cut her off, “I wouldn’t ask you to disobey orders, Saph. I have a group in mind. Four of them I’m not sure who they are, more so than what they are.”

“Well we’d need a proper medic or healer, so I’m guessing that’s one of them.” Seiko piped up, leaning back in his seat and looking at Kito intently.

“You’re coming?” Kito’s brows arched upwards.

“I am,” Seiko met his gaze, “I can’t have you getting yourself killed when you haven’t figured out what the hell I am.”

Kito chuckled, shaking his head slightly, “Fair enough. You’re right. Seiko’s a great field medic but we need a dedicated healer, and we need transport. I’m thinking of a ship and a small crew.”

“Sounds fair,” Sapphire stroked her chin, “Airships are bigger, and they require magic to run. A normal ship would be the way to go for a mission like this one.”

“Talya is obviously your first choice,” Katy nodded, “She’s one of the heaviest hitters the Rebellia has.”

“Second choice,” Kito corrected her, “You’re my first choice.”

Katy blushed, grinning and running a hand through her hair.

“Cute,” Hiralda said, “You got anyone else in mind?”

“I do,” Kito smiled, “Our first port of call is gonna be Paramess of the Golden Peaks. I’m gonna call in an old favour.”