Chapter 4: Chapter Four
(by Arcademan, added on 2012-03-12 13:04:11 AEST) [Discussion Topic]
CHAPTER FOUR
Flying over the ocean, it still takes Arcademan nearly a half hour's time to
circumvent the watery divide between the United States and the island nation of
Japan. Flying past its capitol of Tokyo and veering slightly north and east at
the famed landmark Tokyo Tower, Arcademan heads for the town of Tomoeda. While
looking around for his final destination, he notices the damage from the recent
earthquake that rattled the country.
"It's really amazing what the forces of nature can do to civilization. Hopefully
it was just that...nature. That's why I'm here to find out." Arcademan thought
to himself until he sees what he was looking for.
"If memory serves me right, at least on Sakura's world, this is where Clow
Reed's mansion stood." As he lands, he notices the entire city block fenced off
with several warnings signs and security patrol to ward off any attempt at
trespassing on the property.
"I'll take a slight subtle approach. No need to announce my arrival or intent to
anyone." Using super-speed and flight, Arcademan sneaks detection easily and in
an instant finds himself within the deteriorating structure, the entire inside
of the mansion looking more like a archeological dig with several trenches and
tunnels. Scanning around the place, Arcademan is looking for a particular piece
of a puzzle that would help prove or disprove his theory that the recent strings
of natural disasters were in whole or part caused by magic...
The Book of Clow!
As the hero looks around, he hears a sound and sees a shadow. "I sense a
presence in here. Maybe whomever it is may be able to provide me with some
answers." Soon, a woman desends into the cavern and immediately notices
Arcademan. Slightly startled at first, she turns face-to face with him.
{"Who are you and what are you doing here? How did you get past security?"}
demanded the lady who was speaking in Japanese though clearly not a Japanese
person in appearance.
{"My name is Arcademan. Maybe you've heard of me. I'm from America.} Though he
speaks only English, the Powerstar on his costume acts as a translator.
"Yes...of course I've heard of you." said the woman who once knew who he was,
started speaking in English. "I'm glad to meet you however my original question
stands...what are you doing here in this archeological site?"
"I came here looking for a vital clue to a case I'm involved with. Am I to
assume this place was once the home of an ancient and powerful wizard from
Japan's past that goes by the name of Clow Reed?" quizzed the hero.
"Hmmm...I'm impressed. Not many people know much about Clow Reed...except he was
a basis for a manga and anime series over a decade ago. Most people think of him
as a myth. By the way, the name's Professor Elizabeth Blossom. I'm the Chief of
Archeology on this expedition."
"I've heard of that name before...Blossom...of course!" snapped Arcademan. "You
wouldn't happen to be related to the late Stanley John Blossom?"
The young lady sighs. "Yes. He was my husband. I met him at a dig in Egypt
nearly 20 years ago and it was love at first sight. As a matter of fact, this is
the very place where he was killed over two years ago."
"My condolences, Professor Blossom." said Arcademan. After a brief moment of
silence, he turned back to her. "I'm actually not just looking for evidence that
Clow Reed existed but something he owned...a book which may have contained
powerful magicks. I know it seems incredible to think about the aspects of
mystical powers, especially when you're dealing with scientific facts."
The young Professor Blossom smiled. "More than you think, Arcademan. Some things
cannot always be explained by science so I may be one of a handful of people who
likes to keep an open mind about magic. Speaking of which, follow me around the
corner but watch out. This is the first time anyone's been in here since the big
earthquake and this entire site is extremely unstable."
Arcademan follows Professor Blossom down a dark tunnel aided by a small
flashlight in her hand until the two come across what appears to be a smooth
wall with writing.
"We've been trying to decode this and gain entry but so far it's been a no go.
That book you mentioned earlier, while we did manage to recover some artifacts
that does establish the existance of Clow Reed the man, there's not enough
evidence to say he was a wizard or magician or had a book that contained his
powers. However, to me that wall seems to give off some sort of strange vibration.
It's hard to describe and some people noticed it more than others. Touch it."
Arcademan touched the wall and noticed something almost immediately.
"A mystical barrier. Old but functional." He looked at the writing on the wall.
"I wish my translator worked on written words. Let's give my x-ray vision a
try." He stared at the wall however got nothing but a white haze.
"Magic or lead...or a combination. Sorry I can't help you out, Miss Blossom."
"No worries. At least you tried. I'm sorry you didn't find what you were looking
for." The room began to rumble as dust and rock started to fall down from the
ceiling. "We may not get to find out what's behind that wall. If the tunnel
collapses, it may be another lifetime before we can attempt to get in,
Arcademan...uh...Arcademan?"
Elizabeth looked around and saw the hero look around the room in different spots,
then twin blasts of heat beams from his eyes flash. In mere moments, several
spots where supports were falling apart were fused together.
"I may not be able to help you get inside but at least the tunnel and housing's
stable. It should hold quite nicely."
"Thank you, Arcademan! You saved all of our long work, not to mention millions
of dollars." said a grateful professor. "Now perhaps I can go home early and
take a week off and spend some quailty family time before pluging myself back
into work."
As the two headed back to the surface, Arcademan thought to himself. "She has
family? This might be a lead." When the two reacehed the surface, Arcademan
asked. "So...you have family?"
"Yes...a daughter...my little Cher. She's 10 years old and the spitting image of
her father. Even dresses up like him and me since she often accompanied us on
location. She was naturally heartbroken when her father died but thank God she
wasn't here when it happened. It took awhile for her to get the courage to come
here."
"So...she was here. Did she go inside by chance." quizzed the hero.
"Yes...and while we were down there in the tunnels, the big earthquake began. We
were fortunate to get out in time before the front collapsed. It was only a few
days ago that we secured the opening and were a bit surprised that the tunnels
and structure were mostly intact though unstable."
Thoughts were racing through the mind of Arcademan. "So...Cher...that was your
daughter's name...You named her after the singer/actress?"
"Heh. That's her nickname. It was an inside family joke. I gave birth to her
while on this did 10 years ago when we discovered something under Clow Reed's
mansion. In the Tomoeda Hospital, we decided since she was officially born in
Japan and our last name was Blossom, her name would be Cherry."
Arcademan uttered the word. "Sakura."
"That's the inside joke. Pretty clever, eh? Well, I must be off. Got some
paperwork to do and then catch a plane home to San Francisco. It was a pleasure
meeting you, Arcademan...and again thanks for your help."
"My pleasure, Professor." Arcademan answered back. "Thank you for the
information you provided." As Arcademan took to the now-darkening skies, he
thoughts were now racing a million miles an hour and thought to himself.
"The pieces are starting to fall into place. As soon as I'm in close distance,
I'll contact the other heroes to see if they found anything perculiar in any of
the disaster sites." |
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