28 Meeting the Guild Master

Around ten years ago:

Null stood in front of the LegendSlayer guild hall of the city Canguard. Canguard was the home of the LegendSlayer guild master, Alic. Alic's job was to run the entire organization of LegendSlayers. And Null, a relatively young LegendSlayer, had just been called to meet Alic.

Null was extremely nervous but not about visiting Guild Master Alic. He was nervous about becoming a father.

Null had made his way past the guards and up to the highest point of the building. He hesitated for a moment before he knocked on the guild master's door.

"Come in!" Alic said as he sat at his desk with the best view of the city.

Null carefully and slowly opened the door. He spotted Alic who's back was to his view and his desk. "Um… Sir, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Come on in and take a seat."

Null carefully closed the door and hurried to claim a seat in front of Alic's desk. In his haste, Null tripped over his own feet, caught his balance and sat down with red-tinged cheeks.

Alic smiled and said, "We all have those clumsy days, huh?"

Null's cheeks grew redder, "Yeah." His wife frequently teased him, in a loving manner, about his clumsiness. Especially, in the kitchen.

Alic's smile fell as he pulled a file from one of his desk drawers.

Null shifted nervously, why did Alic want to speak with him? Was he being fired? Shit, he was getting fired. His license would be revoked. He'd over done it. Ayla and he'd have to start over. Damn.

Alic opened the file and turned it to face Null. The picture of a seven-year-old Kyrie with chains around his wrists, ankles, and neck – was pinned to the inside of the folder.

This was…Null frowned. He'd heard of this kid. He was instrumental in the defense of several smaller cities. But this… he'd rather have been fired if it could've prevented a child from being treated like that.

Alic tapped the top of the photo as he said, "We got a report that this child was being abused by the Say clan. The boy was located in Avalon when we received the report two weeks ago." Alic looked from the photo to Null. He was gauging Alic's reaction. And whether he could be trusted with this mission.

Null reached for the photo in shock. The Say Clan? They'd slowly fallen over the centuries but this. They'd reached a point of such desperation that they'd treat a child like this. Null felt his hand clench as he placed his other hand on the photo. This child needed someone to protect them.

Null glanced up at Alic, "You said was. Where is he now?" Did they bring him in to help this child?

"We've already rescued him and brought him here." Alic folded his hands on his desk as he continued. "His father helped us get him out and bring him here. But it was discovered a week ago that his father also had a part in abusing his child."

Null ground his teeth. He would never do that to Ayla and his children. "How can I help?"

"The child's spent most of his time in isolation since we separated him and his father." Alic watched as Null's hands clenched in another flash of barely controlled anger. "I've been spending evenings and nights with the child, but we need a more permanent solution. Someone who can spend more time with him." Alic leaned forward. "That's where you come in."

Null moved his hand and looked at Kyrie's photo. His heart ached. Null's wife was pregnant, with twins. She'd need him. His children would need him. This child needed him. Null looked back at Alic and asked, "Will I be able to take him home at some point?" If he could then he wouldn't need to choose.

Alic smiled sadly as he said, "Probably but we need to give him enough time to get comfortable with you. Before you agree to take on this mission, I feel I must inform you that child's ability is of S rank. He could destroy this faculty and much of its surroundings. That's why I've been the one spending time with the child."

Null watched Alic as he processed what he'd been told. "You picked me because you think my barrier magic will be able to contain his ability?"

"Yes. And because you've spent a lot of time volunteering to help children." Alic leaned forward flipped the picture back to reveal the child's information. Kyrie Say, age 7, aura level 600. "You can stay here and read the file. When you're done, I'll take you to see Kyrie." Alic let the picture fall back into place and started reading another report on his holo-display.

At least there was a chance Null could be there for all of them. He carefully took the file and began reading.

♢ ♢ ♢

Null sighed as he finished reading the file. Alic stopped his work and looked at Null.

"What's wrong?"

"This whole damned thing." Alic gave Null a sad smile and Null continued, "What are we doing to keep James Collin safe?" Null closed the file and placed it on Alic's desk.

"Ah," the child who sent the report. "I have informed Headmaster Raven Clof to keep a close eye on him, along with some of my most trusted LegendSlayers." Alic folded his hands on his desk. "It helps that his clan hasn't found out that he sent the report."

Null frowned and asked, "Could we bring him here? I could take care of both of them. And the file says they're close, so James may be able to help Kyrie." Then he could keep both of them safe. Safer than anyone else could.

"We'll see how things go with both of them. If needed, we'll bring James here." Alic stood and said, "But let's start with seeing how Kyrie reacts to your presence."

♢ ♢ ♢

Alic and Null arrived in front of a control room. There was a display attached to the wall outside the room and a guard on either side of the door. Alic activated the display. When it turned on it showed a young Kyrie with bandages wrapping around his neck, wrists, and ankles. Kyrie had his knees pulled up to his chest with his arms wrapped around them. He was watching something.

The room was brightly colored, and toys were scattered about. Many of them along one wall. Several of the toys were scattered around Kyrie. And Taru rested against the wall opposite the one with the toys. A large bed was located against the back wall.

Null was watching Kyrie as he asked, "What's he staring at?"

"The door." Alic frowned as he moved to the door. "Give me a moment to talk to him before you come in." He opened the door and stepped inside.

As soon the door opened wide enough for Kyrie to see who was at it, he unwrapped his arms and let his legs fall to his sides. Kyrie shouted in excitement, "You're early!"

Alic went forward and crouched in front of Kyrie. "I'm am." Alic glanced at the toys surrounding the boy before he said, "I know you get lonely when I'm not here." Alic looked back at Kyrie, "So I've brought someone that can spend more time with you."

Kyrie scrambled into a position where he could stand quickly. Was dad? He could get another hug. They could play! It had to be dad. It had to. "Is it Dad?" Kyrie asked with batted breath as he tried to glance around Alic's form.

Alic shook his head. "No."

Kyrie crumpled. He'd hoped it was his father. Kyrie tried to look past Alic again. Maybe it was Mom? He missed her.

"It's someone new."

Kyrie frowned, "You mean a stranger."

Alic gave Kyrie a sad smile. "Yes, but it's someone I trust to take care of you."

Kyrie jerked his head up to look at Alic, his face the picture of fear and betrayal. His small form shook with the pain of it. It was happening again. Why did adults have to be like this? They promised, Alic promised. He was, "You were supposed to keep me safe."

"Ky-"

"My father said you'd protect me!" Kyrie shouted as the room started to heat and an alarm went off.

Alic wanted to wrap the distraught child before him in his arms and reassure him that he would – was keeping him safe. But he'd tried that before. Kyrie had regained control of his abilities, but his panic attack had become worse. "Kyrie, I'll do my best to protect you and the many others who need me to protect them."

Kyrie's chest heaved as he watched Alic. He closed his eyes. He took a breath, then another. When he reopened his eyes, the alarm had stopped, and the temperature of the room had returned to normal. "The stranger is… supposed to help you protect me?"

Alic nodded as he said, "Yes."

"Like my father did?"

Null had slipped into the room while Kyrie's eyes were closed. "No. But I'll take care of you and help you learn to take care of yourself." Kyrie watched Alic with a curious tilt to his head. "My name is Gerard Null, but you can call me whatever you want."

Kyrie watched Null with skepticism. "What can you do?"

Null looked at Kyrie with surprise and confusion. The first question Kyrie asked was what he could do?

Alic glanced at Null and said, "He wants to know what you're capable of. What makes it so you can stay near him."

Null looked back at Kyrie, smiled, and said, "I'm good with making barriers. In fact, there are very few living creatures that break one of my barriers." Null crouched before Kyrie. "So, when you're scared or sad or angry or really really happy you can express all of that when I'm around. I won't let you accidentally hurt someone." And Eventually he'd do almost anything tokeep Kyrie safe. Even if it meant risking the discovery of his secrets.

Kyrie watched Null for a moment before he said, "I'm fine. I can keep controlling it like normal."

Null sat on the ground and said, "Keeping all that in is hurting you, isn't it?"

Kyrie looked down at his hands and grabbed a nearby toy to fiddle with. He shrugged and glanced at Null through his bangs then looked back at the toy. "I can handle it."

Null watched the child before him. After a moment he placed his hand over the toy Kyrie was fiddling with. Kyrie jerked his head up in shock. And Null said, "With me you don't have to. You can be just like any other child."

Kyrie turned to look at Taru. And as Kyrie watched her sitting there, Null said, "It won't be easy, and it'll take time, but I promise I'll do anything for you Kyrie."

Kyrie's mouth twisted with skepticism. He'd heard it before. But they'd left him, his parents – James. They hadn't stayed and neither would Null.

Eventually, Kyrie turned back to find Null and Alic sitting near him. "Can we play a game?" They wouldn't stay, but that didn't mean they couldn't play.

"Of course," Null said.

Kyrie grinned and Alic watched him seriously, "Hold on. What game did you have in mind?"

Kyrie blushed a bit as he glanced at the toys and games off to the side of the room. "How about Jenga?"

Alic smiled while trying to look stern. "That's what I thought you'd say."

Kyrie's grin widened. "Can we?"

Alic shook his head as he smiled. He turned to Null and said, "He uses his ability to cheat when we play Jenga."

Null laughed and turned to face Kyrie, "You're on. But I'm using my barriers."

Alic sighed with a smile as he said, "Why did I have to be born with such a useless ability?"

Null and Kyrie giggled as Alic stood and grabbed the game. Predictably, Alic lost first, Kyrie was next and Null won. After all, he could replace the risky blocks he removed with a barrier to keep the tower from falling.

Alic sighed and stood up. "Well Kyrie, I'll leave Null with you, I've got to get back to work."

Kyrie frowned, "You're coming back right?" Alic wasn't pawning him off on Null, was he?

Alic nodded and said, "I promise. I'll be back this evening, like normal. You need to keep Null out of trouble for me." Alic winked at Null.

Kyrie nodded his head with the expression of one having been given a very important LegendSlayer mission, "I'll do my best." He'd make sure Null didn't cause any trouble on his watch! After all some adults need watching. Like them, the ones that made Taru.

Alic tried to keep a straight face as he said, "Good." Alic left the control room that'd been re-furnished to have the decor of a child's room with a bathroom attached to it.