"Do you recognize it?" The Elder asks with a soft voice.
He is still sitting but now resting his arms on his legs and looking straight at the book.
Pardon....MY BOOK.

'Mystics'

"Yes, indeed I do."
He signs me to sit next to him.
When I do, he takes the book and questions me again.
"Now go on. You were getting ready for bed. And then?"
Now looking straight at each others eyes I can see that this is serious as hell.

"Crap."

"I read the book a bit and went to sleep."

"Happened something unusual?"

"I am not sure..."

He looks at me with a raising eyebrow, a sign for me to explain.

"And there we go", I sigh and continue.

"There was a page, which was ripped out before and reappeared when I began reading again. But it was completely crinkled and there was not a sign that this piece of paper had ever been ripped out. So yeah... And the content did not fit in the story of the book itself as well."

Surprisingly, he just nods.
"Where did you get it? And how?"
"At the book store"
"And how did you get it?"
"Uhm, well, I bought it..."

"Genius.
Now don't ask me how I bought it or with what, duh."

"Hmm...and why?"

"Still not much better."

"Because I wanted to read it. I liked the story... It's kind of a hobby, you know?"

Silence.

I take the chance to ask him about the book. Since it looks like he knows that this book is somewhat special or whatever...

"What kind of book is this and how did it get here?"

"What are your intentions here? And how did you get here?"

"Hey, don't start avoiding the question with asking a question." I say.

Suddenly his eyes darken somehow.

"Ah, this is scary ...shit"

"Excuse me?" He says with a hushed and slight tensed voice.

I bow my head in apology and say:
"I am sorry, Sir."

He begins to chuckle.

"Chuckling?"

"Don't call me 'Sir'. This is weird. Just Feycal. Since you are not one of us, I am not your Elder. So you don't need to call me like that either.
So now, answer my questions, please."

"Not one of us, huh?"

"So, I don't know what and where 'here' is. And I am also curious how I got 'here' ."

"Okay. Do you remember what was written on the paper?"

"Not clearly...
It seems to me like an unclear or weird kind of address but at the end something like 'this paper is useful but be careful' was written on it." I look up at him in hope to get an explanation but instead I see him reading in the book.

"I wonder if he even listened."

"Okay... Do you mean this?" He hands me the book, to face a familiar but smooth piece of paper.

"Hidden Seal in the Mist

Withal Organization

Z-Y-7-7

Black Clawd

That might be handy but be careful! "

"Yes, indeed it is. Can you tell me what this is about?"
I look up to face a surprised and shocked looking Feycal. I really want to know what's going on in his mind right now but...

"Damn it. How the heck is this paper not crinkled anymore?!"

"I honestly can't do this right away. Since I don't know you and you would prob-"

"SUPREME ELDER FEYCAL! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY. THE WITHAL ORGANISATION REPORTS THAT THE VAMPIRES PLAN ANOTHER ATTACK ON THE MERMAID ROYALS! THEY WISH TO SEE- uh, oups..." some almost black-eyed guy clothed like Logan bursts in the room while shouting this breathlessly and panicked. He stops when he sees me and especially Feycal's stare.

You know if looks could kill this guy would burn right now and become to ash in the next moment.

I can see how something golden glances in Feycal's brown eyes.

"Weird...but...
This guy doesn't seem to expect me here...and with the looks the Elder and this stranger are giving each other, it looks like they are hardly trying to hide something from me...
OH MY !
So those I have read about do really exists?!
This is ...just wow...But what are they going to do with me, since I know it...or maybe they are pranking me ...probably they want to see my reaction... will they kill me now?"

The guy bows quickly and apologizes. "I am sorry, Elder. I have been in a rush..." I can tell the guy is afraid and but I am too confusedto worry about anything but myself at the moment.

"Poor dude...I hope he doesn't get punished or something like that."

Before the Elder answers he looks at me with a sigh as if he is thinking and turns to the person.

"James. I will see you in my office. Dismissed."

With that James vanishes and Feycal turns to me.
I on the other hand look at him with, I think, sparkles in my eyes.

"Dude if this is really true... My dreams are fulfilled and the wishes are finally heard."

"What? Aren't you going to bomb me with questions or overreact?" He asks silent but kind of annoyed.

"No. Not really."

He looks at me as if doesn't believe what he just heard.

"But I have a question...you don't have to answer if you don't want, though." I show him a small kindly smile.

I can read something like softness and curiosity in his eyes.
He answers to my surprise with
"I am listening."
I take a deep breath before asking.

"Uhm...so those like vampires, mermaids etc. do really exist or was this just a joke?"

"Yes, they do and no, it's not a joke."

"So you guys are-"

"Yes, we are Ninjas."

Silence.

"You seems to be completely cool with that...this surprise me. Is there a reason?"

"Not quite sure if there is. I am ...I think I am just happy to know that it's true.
And ...yeah" I smile and look at the ground.

"He has no idea how much I am freaking out right now."

"Okay. Well then.
I have to go now... I will see you.
Than we can continue our conversation.
Until then you have to stay here, in this room. Clear?"

"Clear."

He moves toward the door and slides it open.
Before walking out he looks back at me with a nod.
I reply with a nod and a small smile. Then he walks away after sliding the door shut.