The Seeker | Volume 2

Officer Palsy leaned over the table as he slowly slid over the wrinkled up photo taken of the "malformed heap of flesh" as the head police chief described it in his own words.

On the other side of the table, prominent detective Ling Kitonow stared down at the disturbing picture with eyes of intrigue and some deep sense of horror, although he didn't bear to show much emotion at its sight.

Ling was a broad young man of Chinese origin, who had neatly combed black hair to the side and perfectly clear skin, making him rather popular with the young women of the Katshin Empire.

"I would say the description fits this to almost a perfect degree, something of this caliber makes me question why the photo is in perfect quality. I'd personally think whoever took this photo has some ample sense of maturity and a deep sense of knowing now to properly handle themselves in the face of such a horrifying organism."

Ling said in a calm voice, his deep blue eyes filled with a deep sense of intrigue. Officer Palsy, who had his hands folded together, shared Ling's curious expression.

The gas lamps overhead the burgundy table illuminated the blurry and grayish white photo taken of the heap. And the overall lack of illumination given from the lamp seemed to give the environment around the photo a deep pang of foreboding mystery.

"You told me it was found in an empty jail room?"

Ling then asked, not bothering to look up from the photo. Palsy hummed in approval as he took back the photo and studied it carefully. The contours of the flesh heap seemed to move under the dim lights, almost making it appear lifelike in the overall lack of illumination. 

"Last Saturday they found this. The person who was inside the cell was a man named Isaiah Walls, but he escaped and we have no idea where or who he even is."

Ling nodded slowly, staring up at the gas lamp which swung back and forth slowly in the gentle breeze given from the small window in the left corner of the room.

"Would you say it's necessary to find and or track down Isaiah? Or is this case something you've seen before and it's not of much ample importance?"

Palsy asked in an inquiring tone. 

"I do have a family to feed, that's why I became a detective and sheriff of the Katshin Empire to begin with. Although the scraps of information given by Gray in his letter say the scene happened in the Chesipil Criminal Detainment Unit in Seraphis Kingdom."

Ling continued, "That voyage would take weeks if not months given the current season, and I don't want to come face to face with whatever horrors lie within the Sefirot Sea during the late summer months."

Officer Palsy's brows furrowed as he tapped his fingers in a repetitive manner against the table. 

"I can always work to arrange faster means of transporting us to Seraphis Kingdom before fall. I do have crucial connections with Admiral Kaelin, he has among the biggest wealth in the kingdom given how frequent people use his ship as means of transportation."

Admiral Kaelin was the wealthy captain and owner of the ship; The Sovereign. It was originally a cargo ship used during the last Transcendence war, often prioritized in moving large amounts of cargo and troops from one location to another.

But after the war ended almost 300 years ago, the Katshin Empire grew wealthy via its heavy capital investments in tourism. Although almost every emperor who ruled over it hated the amount of frivolous guests entering the kingdom at random times of the day.

"Doesn't Admiral Kaelin not take kindly to long visits across the sea? Everyone who goes on his ship says his opinions on long form travel down derive far from their own emperor."

Ling asked as he sipped his Oolong tea. Officer Palsy watched silently as he continued to rap his fingers against the table. Ling looked down at his pocket watch and sighed.

"Unfortunately I'll have to cut our meeting short, officer. My family wanted me to stop by the market and pick up some food for dinner. I suppose we'll continue to discuss the situation tomorrow."

Ling cleared his throat as he stood up and put the porcelain teacup down onto the tiny plate. He then looked back towards the younger officer and tilted his head upwards a little.

"Unless you can consult someone else whilst I'm out, I'd say that's a much more beneficial maneuver when it comes to getting things done. Isn't that right, officer?" 

He asked as he put on his dark blue silk rain jacket and stepped out the door, leaving the rather dim office belonging to Palsy.

Palsy listened to Ling's footsteps gradually grow quieter down the hallway, the sound of the opening and closing front door. He grinned as he picked up the teacup of Ling's Oolong tea and took a small, hesitant sip.

Ling held his hand out from under the shade hanging over the door, feeling for even a tiny raindrop. The Katshin Empire always seemed to have a large, menacing blanket of dark clouds hanging overhead. 

He heard the distant rumble of thunder calling to him in the west. This reminded him to take out the small, wrinkled note that his wife had given him, one filled with multiple ingredients and items he needed to purchase in the market.

As Ling stepped outside, he continued to hear the distant call of the thunder, an eerie reminder of what was yet to come. The smells of freshly cut fruits, vegetables, pastries and exotic dishes filled his nose as he proceeded towards the market.

He looked back down at his list and noticed that the ink writing had become slightly smudged from it being folded up in his pocket. But from what he could bleakly interpret; he needed some peas, carrots and cucumber. Along with some fresh bread, butter and a few bottles of milk to keep in the refrigerator down below in the cellar.

The dark clouds above rumbled again as he felt the cold sensation of raindrops begin to hit his body. He looked up and scoffed at the sky, before putting the note back into his pocket and dedicating the required ingredients to his memory.

As Ling made his way through the market, the atmosphere was quite different in contrast to the recent conversation he had with Officer Palsy. The vivid image of the flesh heap continued to resonate in his mind as he grabbed a few loaves of fresh, warm bread and put them into a nearby basket accommodated for customers.

"Mr. Kitonow, I'm honestly surprised to see you at this hour. Shouldn't you be spending time with your family?"

An elderly woman; Mrs. Brecker asked as she handed him a bushel of fresh celery with a smile. Ling forced a smile as he took the produce and chuckled lightly.

"Unfortunately Madame, my duties as a detective are something I deeply prioritize. Lucky my wife deeply understands my duties and allows me to work whilst she raises the kids and works at home."

He replied as he handed her a small pile of bronze coins, which she took and stocked into a bucket underneath her stand.

"Well, I'll be on my way now, good day."

Ling said with a smile as he tipped his hat and continued to proceed down the market. The numerous smells and sounds of the market continued to pour into his ears, serving as an ample distraction from the ominous photograph he saw.

He couldn't help but listen to others' conversations as he walked, and this was quite easy for him. Ling was an Order 8: Lingerer of the Connection path, which allowed him enhanced hearing capabilities and secretive ability to listen to other specific conversations.

Though, this ability was rather annoying. Whenever he attended a public gathering or something of the sort, he would often wear something to cover his ears to prevent himself from going deaf.

Ling felt the rain start to come down harder, so he instinctively sped his walking pace. The urban areas of the Katshin Empire were rather gothic and run down to a certain extent, with unwanted foliage and moss climbing up the old, rustic stone buildings.

Upon reaching his address, he took out his house keys and entered his home after opening the door. He heard the pitter patter of footsteps as his son; Hàorán, came down the stairs to greet him at the front door.

"I suppose your duties today were as mundane as ever?" He asked as he grabbed his fathers suitcase from him and removed his coat, hanging it on the rack situated by the wooden front door.

Ling smiled and ran a hand through his son's brown hair. 

"I would admit it was quite an uneventful day." He replied, not wanting to bring up the flesh blob he saw in the photo.

"Mother's getting ready to make dinner. Did you find the necessary ingredients on the list?" 

Hàorán asked. Ling nodded as he took out the smudged list of assorted foods. Hàorán sighed in annoyance as he took the wrinkled note, shouting to his mom in the kitchen.

"I got you those writing essentials for a reason. Are you still using those ink supplements that our grandfather gave you 50 years ago?"

Ling chuckled softly at his son's sudden exasperation. "Your mother seems to have a deep alignment with olden times, doesn't she. But yes, I managed to get all the required foods."

He said as he pulled out the basket filled with the vegetables and bread, which were slightly damp from the aggressive rainfall outside.

Hàorán took the basket with furrowed brows, gazing back up at his father with wide eyes. "These are soaked, did you even try to protect them from the rainfall?"

He asked in a joking tone as he entered the kitchen and put the basket on the counter. Suddenly, Hàorán spoke up from the kitchen.

"Didn't you say we needed milk? Because I don't see any in the basket. Mother said she's making her famous milk pudding, but using water would be the most revolting thing I can think of." 

Ling sighed suddenly at the sudden revelation, putting his coat and hat back on before gazing out the small window and seeing that the rainfall hadn't let down yet.

"I guess I'll be back in 20 minutes, watch your mother while I'm gone."

Hàorán nodded as his father stepped out the door. Ling quickly made his way down the street before entering the market and picking up the milk bottles. 

Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind him which rang loudly over the downpour. "Mr. Ling, I'd like to speak with you."

Ling turned around and saw that it was Admiral Kaelin. The man had a deep gray mustache and was wearing casual clothes. His gray hair was messy and unkempt, but he always seemed to wear his admiral hat, a silent way of acknowledging his status.

"You wish to speak with me, Admiral? Did Mr. Palsy contact you after I left the station earlier?"

Kaelin nodded, before taking Mr. Kitonow by the arm and leading him into his house, which wasn't that far from the market. Ling noticed that Kaelin was also carrying groceries, and he had quite a lot.

Ling guessed that the reason he possessed quite the absence was his overall walking distance from the market, which allowed him to carry heavier loads without exerting himself too much.

"What's the reason you consulted me?" Ling asked. Kaelin remained silent as he led him into his house. The captain's house was run down and old looking, with a dimly lit fireplace and a captured prize hanging above it on a mantle. The slight embers of the flame seemed to emit a sinister aura onto the scales of the unknown creature.

"You want to go to Seraphis Kingdom? I usually would decline, but tourism rates have dropped about 50% given the upcoming bad weather. The rain outside will be the least potent weather we'll get in the next 4 months." Kaelin grumbled as he sat down in his rocking chair, picking up the hot cup of coffee which was heating above the fireplace.

"I didn't think you'd actually agree, Captain." Ling was taken aback by Admiral Kaelin's willingness to assist him across the sea.

"Should I bring Mr. Palsy with me?" He then asked.

Admiral Kaelin looked up at the man and sighed. 

"As long as you don't cause too much trouble, you can probably bring your whole family."

Ling sighed a sigh of relief, a small smile on his face.

"That's quite the relief. I had no idea how I'd tell my wife I was disappearing for a few months. And I'm sure my son; Hàorán, would fall behind in school due to my absence and inability to tutor him on subjects he lacks knowledge in overall."

Admiral Kaelin sipped his coffee slowly and looked out the window at the market, which was starting to decrease in patrons due to the heavy rain. Kaelin then sighed, not looking back to Ling.

"Pack your things soon, we're leaving in 2 days."

Ling raised an eyebrow in sudden puzzlement.

"2 days? I have a major appointment scheduled on Tuesday. Mrs. Hampshire requested I come to her house to figure out a certain case…although the older woman might just forget it in the end."

He chucked, throwing atop his rain hat and coat, waving the older captain a goodbye before heading out the door back into the rain. He picked up the milk bottles he had left on the front porch and started to make his way back to his estate, when he heard a slight noise behind him.

Ling turned around in curiosity and saw a black and brown cat looking up at him with curious eyes, glancing at the numerous bottles of milk in his basket.

When Ling was younger, his mother always told him that cats can drink milk. But Ling could spote ribs of the poor creature poking out from under its brown and black fur.

"You want a drink, buddy?"

He asked playfully as he leaned downwards and took out one of the bottles of milk. The cat happily trotted over and pressed its lips against the opening of the bottle, allowing the creamy liquid to enter its mouth.

The cat let out inaudible purrs as it drank the milk, which warmed Ling's heart.

"Mishu!"

A voice suddenly called out from over the rain. Ling looked up, confused as he saw a young girl with fiery blonde hair run over the cat and pick it up, holding it close to her chest with a smile. She then looked at Ling and blushed a little.

"I-I'm sorry, Mishu tends to run off a lot. Thank you for feeding him though."

The girl gave Ling a nod, before walking away into the rain.