A sunrise like any other. Sakolomé turns over in his bed, having woken up a little earlier than usual.
There was no school today, so Sakolomé had planned to train as usual. Suddenly, his gaze falls on the desk in his room where Melinda's teddy bear sits.
He gets up, takes the teddy bear, and lies back down on his bed. He stares at it thoughtfully.
Sakolomé: "Melinda... I hope nothing bad happened to you wherever you are. I hope you're happy."
As he continues to gaze at the teddy bear, a memory flashes in his mind.
He suddenly sits up on the bed and concentrates.
A flashback of Melinda's words strikes his mind.
~Then as he freed me from the cage, he handed me my clothes and said:
"Listen to me, little one, all is lost. Go to Monor City and look for my residence. I am the former soldier of Monor City; my name is Albert Félixon. Go there, and once you find where I lived, look under my bed, find that cursed book, finish reading it completely, and discover how to end Sy666. Once you're done, burn the book quickly!!!"~
He comes out of the flashback and murmurs:
Sakolomé: "Monor City... Albert Félixon... cursed book..."
He looks at Melinda's teddy bear again and seems struck by an idea.
Sakolomé: "What if Melinda's disappearance has something to do with this demon? If I can find where this soldier lived and get that book to read it, maybe I can understand better!"
Sakolomé quickly gets out of bed and rushes to the shower. He brushes his teeth, takes a shower, and runs out.
On his way out, he bumps into Salomé, who falls to the ground.
Salomé (falling): "Ouch! That hurts!"
Standing up, Sakolomé looks at Salomé and offers her a hand.
Sakolomé: "Sorry Salomé, I'm just in a bit of a hurry!"
Salomé grabs his hand and gets up with his help.
Salomé: "How can you be in a hurry today? There's no school?"
Sakolomé: "That's none of your business!"
Salomé: "When you say it's none of my business, now I want to know."
Bakuran arrives in the hallway and sees Salomé talking with Sakolomé.
He walks past them without interrupting, enters the shower, and relieves himself.
Bakuran: "Ahhh... that feels good!"
He exits the shower and still finds Salomé and Sakolomé talking.
He interrupts them:
Bakuran: "What are you two talking about so early?"
Salomé quickly responds:
Salomé: "Sakolomé is hiding something, and he doesn't want to tell me!!"
Bakuran: "Salomé, you know he doesn't have to tell you?"
Salomé insists:
Salomé: "But I want to know!!!"
Sakolomé sighs:
Sakolomé: "Seriously Salomé?!"
She nods her head.
Bakuran feels slightly left out.
Bakuran: "I don't know what you're talking about, but I also want to know!"
Sakolomé: "Hmm... anyway, get ready, clean yourselves up, and meet me outside. I'll tell you more!"
Salomé: "No way. You think you can trick us with that? Like we'll go clean up while you take off?"
Bakuran nods with an ironic tone:
Bakuran: "She's right!"
Sakolomé frowns.
Sakolomé: "But... no, I swear I'll wait for you. Trust me!"
Salomé and Bakuran exchange glances before nodding simultaneously and looking back at Sakolomé.
Bakuran: "Alright then, you'll wait for us?"
Sakolomé nods.
Once their baths are done, Salomé, Bakuran, and Sakolomé gather outside to talk.
Sakolomé: "Actually, there's a very important book I need to find."
Salomé is surprised.
Salomé: "A book about what?"
Sakolomé: "A book that might contain lots of cursed spells!"
Bakuran widens his eyes.
Bakuran: "Cursed spells? Where did you even hear about this?"
Sakolomé: "Actually, I can't tell you more. Follow me!"
Sakolomé takes off flying, followed by his younger sister and brother.
They fly until they reach close to the city (specifically near a police station) and land on the ground.
Sakolomé: "First step: go to the police station to inquire about an officer."
Bakuran: "Which officer?"
Sakolomé: "His name is Albert Félixon—an ex-soldier who supposedly disappeared."
Bakuran and Salomé exchange puzzled looks.
Sakolomé thinks for a moment.
Sakolomé: "This might be tricky. I don't think they'll give us information about a soldier—even one who's dead or missing—because we're Killer Men."
Salome makes an annoyed face:
Salome: "They're exhausting with this Killer Man thing!"
As the kids bicker among themselves, a policeman observes them. He approaches them and asks:
"Hey, what are you doing here?"
Then he looks at Sakolome and says:
"Wait a second... isn't this little Sakolome?"
Sakolome looks at the policeman and seems to recognize him too. He smiles:
"Please Officer Édouard! Haha! It's been ages!"
The policeman smiles too:
"You've grown so much now! Look at you; who are these two young ones with you?"
"Please," replies Sakolome. "This is my little brother and sister!"
Édouard observes Salome and Bakuran before turning back to Sakolome:
"I can see the same intensity in their eyes as in yours; it's incredible!"
Sakolome chuckles slightly embarrassed.
Édouard greets Salome and Bakuran before returning his attention to Sakolome:
"So what are you looking for here at the station?"
"Please," replies Sakolome. "We'd like some information."
Édouard is intrigued:
"About what?"
"About a former soldier," explains Sakolome. "His name was Albert Félixon."
Édouard touches his chin as he thinks repeatedly about Albert Félixon's name as if reciting a magic formula before seeming to have an epiphany:
"Now I remember; Albert Félixon was a soldier here who surprisingly stopped working according to recent news. He supposedly went to a village far away from Monor City—and we never heard from him again!"
A chill runs down Sakolome's spine; Albert Félixon is real—Melinda hadn't lied.
"Oh I see," he says. "And where did he live before leaving for his village?"
Édouard sighs:
"Sakolome, why do you want to know this?"
"Actually," replies Sakolome cautiously. "It's kind of confidential…"
Édouard frowns as he looks at Sakolome:
"Sakolome—I hope you're not planning something foolish?"
Sakolome shakes his head:
"I swear."
"Albert Félixon was quite reserved; he still lived in an isolated place near Monor City Park in District 13."
Sakolome smiles:
"Thank you so much Officer Édouard; one last question."
"Which one?" asks Édouard.
"How are Grafay and Yuki?" asks Sakolome.
Édouard smiles then replies:
"They're doing well; Yuki will soon be released from prison by the way—but Grafay is really hot-headed."
Sakolome bursts out laughing:
"Hahaha! Always making things worse for himself that Grafay!"
Édouard sighs as he responds:
"As he always says—prison is his home."
Sakolome thanks Édouard for his kindness before continuing on with his brother and sister.
"Tell me," begins Salome. "Is this officer someone you met in prison?"
Sakoleme nods:
"Yes; he's a very fair man."
Bakuran adds:
"I see that in prison you made something like family there; after all—it makes sense to stick together."
"Exactly," concludes Sakoleme. "Well now it's time to speed things up guys!"
Sakoleme rises into the air again followed by his brother and sister.
What adventures await them next? Time will tell…