Chapter 20: Prejudice in Ergastulum Phantasia

  “Farid.”

  “Yes?”

  “Frankly, I’m starting to have doubts about whether our preparation would go to waste.”

  “Are you worried about the higher-ups? Have you so little faith in your nephew?”

  Dr. Lee stood beside Dr. Farid as they looked on at the Cursed Phantoms trapped within the containment unit in the Ergastulum Phantasia, the dungeons of the Tokyo Sanctum, located under Aogashima’s volcanoes. Though it rose in Tokyo, the West’s hand was clear in its design – back in the days when it still wielded real political power

  Lady Meng was busy taking tabs on how many Cursed Phantoms they had gathered. She used her guzheng to calm them down to acceptable levels. The two scholars watched as her fingers moved deftly across the instrument, the melody barely audible through the glass panel.

  “Don’t you think that the Aberrants of modern times are rather strange?” Dr. Lee said, uneasiness settling into his tone.

  “Guangyao, don’t be afraid to speak your mind.”

  “If you say so.” Dr. Lee cleared his throat and let out a long exhale. “Remember the first Aberrant that appeared after several hundred years? You should be very familiar with what happened. After all, you were the one who picked him up.”

  The events that occurred were still fresh in Dr. Farid’s mind. The destruction of the Ironkeep when the spell over Obscure Scarlet shattered, recognising the shy and unassuming youth as its master the moment he stepped into the compounds of the Sanctum. Dr Farid could still remember the bespectacled youth hiding away with his powers, aware of the attention on him. And with a name like Dante, rumours only spread faster.

  The God Hands explicitly granting powers to someone else outside the circle of existing sorcerers after hundreds of years was first touted as a miracle. However, it quickly spiralled into unease when news of the Aberrant claiming the Regalia spread.

  To add oil to the fire, there was a darkness inside Dante that terrified many. It was something that was terribly misunderstood. The persistent and relentless misunderstanding marked the beginning of his eventual departure from the Sanctum. His farewell gift for his service was a whipping so merciless that the flesh split free from his back.

  All for a crime he could never have committed.

  My poor, sweet Dante. Dr. Farid was so immersed in his own thoughts that he did not notice that Dr. Lee had stopped talking.

  “Farid?”

  “Sorry, as you were saying?”

  “I was saying that perhaps we should treat Aberrants with more caution.”

  “Why do you say so?”

  “Do you not feel that there’s always something in them that poses a danger to all of us? First, it was -”

  “Dr. Lee, I suggest that you stop right where you are.” The door to the containment unit whirred shut behind Lady Meng. A fire burned behind her eyes as she lectured Dr. Lee. “That had nothing to do with Dante. The integrity of the evidence that is probably on your mind has already been tried and tested. They hold as much water as you can hold in your hands.”

  “Which amounted to something,” blustered Dr. Lee.

  It was apparent that Lady Meng was having none of it. “Out of respect for you, Dr. Lee, I suggest that you think before spreading such unfounded opinions. If the same needless suffering were to befall you, I doubt that you would be singing the same tune.”

  She spun her heel and left the Ergastalum Phantasia. “What a sharp tongue,” Dr. Lee remarked.

  “What she receives, she reciprocates,” Dr. Farid replied. “However, I do understand where you are coming from.”

  “Ever the mediator.”

  “Maintaining objectivity is my life’s mission,” Dr. Farid said. “I hope that there will be a day when we uncover the truth about what we know frighteningly little about.”

  “Which one? Cursed Essence or Aberrants?”

  “Let’s take things one at a time, shall we?”

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  “Of course.”

  ***

  “Before we start, you should know that your tie has a skinny end and a fat end…” Felix clicked his tongue as he fumbled with the long fabric, grumbling to himself. His latest attempt ended up in a lumpy knot and a comically short tie.

  I should have bought a clip-on. He sighed as he undid the pathetic attempt at a knot and switched to another video.

  “Having tie troubles?”

  Felix turned around and was greeted by Lady Meng, who was leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on her face. “Shut up,” he retorted. “Come in here and help me out for a bit.”

  Lady Meng let out a low whistle as she took in the sight of him dressed up to the nines. “Now everyone would know that you have a meeting with the Elders today,” she said as she straightened his collar.

  “They deserve to know whenever there is an important meeting,” he said. “Transparency, isn’t it?”

  The Elders could have just settled on a standard white three-piece suit for formality, but they found a need to distinguish themselves from the rest of the sorcerer society. One must have decided that the outfit should come with a heavy ass cloak that was unique to each of them, topped with flashy accessories. Felix had a white cloak with an ox-red underside. Light metal armour adorned the shoulders, and aiguillettes hung on the right side of the cloak as an embellishment.

  “Why are you here? Don’t you have work?” Felix asked.

  “I came to give you this.” Lady Meng turned over Felix’s hand so that his palm was facing up and placed a small white pouch on it.

  Felix took a peek inside the pouch. His heart warmed as he broke into a smile. “All this time?”

  “I couldn’t bear to throw them away. You know what to do with these,” she said quietly and patted his shoulders. “I hate to say this, but you look really good, Venerated Elder Lee.”

  Before Felix could deliver one of his usual snarky comebacks, someone came banging on his door. Andreas Pereira, an Ancil working in the Ergastalum Phantasia, breathed heavily as if he had sprinted here.

  “What is it?” Felix asked even though he had an inkling of why he was here.

  “It’s your father. Come quickly. The guard…”

  “Don’t tell me about it. Leave us, I’ll head there myself.” Felix sighed and checked the time. At this rate, he would be late, but it would not hurt to keep the Elders waiting. He collected whatever he needed and waved Lady Meng goodbye, heading off to the dungeons.

  As he descended the steps into the Ergastalum Phantasia, he greeted the guards with a curt nod, waving them off when they tried to address him by his title. A hubbub of voices and mewling from phantoms imprisoned in their cells filled the air. They shrank away from the light, quivering in a pulsating dark mass in the corners of the cells.

  No wonder the guards had earplugs in. Anyone who worked here would become delirious from all that screaming.

  The only people who did not have that privilege were the human prisoners. Sorcerers who once broke the laws come here to pay their dues. Retribution, whatever the system called it. Felix stopped in front of a cell, and the guard let him in.

  Felix stepped into the room and looked at the dishevelled elderly man sitting on the edge of his bed. His eyes were glassy and empty. They stared directly at the wall in front of him, unblinking and unmoving. The door slammed shut behind Felix, announcing his presence.

  “Who’s there?”

  His father’s voice was still strong. Even after being locked up for years, he had not weakened one bit.

  Felix scoffed, “How are you holding up, old man?”

  His father turned his head in the direction of his voice. A gleaming smile spread across his face.

  “Jo-”

  “Shut up, Lee Min-suk,” Felix said, lowering his voice.

  Felix approached his father and took out a wad of cash from his pocket. He often carried a bit of cash around if he ever needed it. A dull thwack reverberated through the room as Felix struck his father across the face with it. Yet, his father was unfazed and swiped at thin air with his crusty hands. “Give it! Give give!” his father demanded like a rabid animal.

  “Here you go.” Felix scattered the money into the air. His father caught a few of the notes, holding them up to his nose and breathing in deeply, savouring the scent of fresh banknotes.

  “Disgusting,” Felix muttered under his breath. “Lee Min-suk, I hope you die soon so I won’t have to deal with your bullshit.”

  As Felix left his cell, he turned to the guard and tapped on his own ear. The guard took out her earplugs on his signal. “Are you the one who called for help?” he demanded.

  The guard nodded.

  Felix glanced at the guard’s name patch. The name ‘Eunice Cho T.W. was embroidered on it with gold thread. Judging by the insignia on her shoulder, she was merely one rank higher than Andreas.

  “Are you new here?” Felix asked. “A transfer?”

  “Yes, Venerated Elder Lee. I was stationed at the Academy previously.”

  A transfer from the West and already commanding people at her lowly rank, Felix thought as he turned his nose up at Eunice. “Don’t you ever call me up again to do this, Eunice. Just leave him to die and exorcise him if he becomes a phantom. I hate coming to the Ergastulum. It ruins my mood.”

  “But he was asking for you over and over–”

  Felix placed a hand on Eunice’s shoulder and gripped it tightly. Her shoulder pad squeaked, and she winced slightly. He brought his face close to her ear and lowered his voice to a harsh growl. “I. Don’t. Care. Do not command your subordinates to come running to me. Understood?”

  “I'll take note. It won't happen again.” Eunice gulped. Large beads of sweat rolled down the side of her face. Felix let go of her shoulder and backed off. She had gotten the message.

  “Good.”