In a certain room hidden from public eyes.
A person sat in a broad chair, face and gender obstructed by the shadow emphasized by the dim overhead light.
On the stole before him was a small tray carrying little fruits of different rainbow colors.
Before the seated persona was a masked person on his knees.
If Ohta was here, he could have recognized this person as the other Assaulter that got away.
"Forgive me, my lord, we were unable to ensure the consequence of the debt. Before..."
"You let the new kid, highly praised as trash survive even after seeing your works." The seated persona interrupted.
"My months of hard work to keep this organization a secret gone because of your incompetence."
"My lord," the Assaulter bowed even lower, sweat dropping from their exposed skin in large beads.
"You can only pay for this with your life. Go to the grand square and kill yourself." The seated persona ordered lazily.
"At least your death may serve to lie to the rats of my true motives."
"Yes, my lord. May the wings of the azure dragon beat upon this servant for such glorious mercy."
....
A ’Caution Tape’ was pulled from one end to the other, across the tree garden.
Avalon medical staff in their over all white worked around the place, some of them addressing the state Sofia was in.
There was also the investigators walking around the place.
Ohta sat against a tree, on a thick protruding root.
Carefully observing the men and women work.
Also, his head hurt. Ever since he touched that fruit, he had been seeing images, flashes again and again.
Ohta massaged his temple gently.
"Are you okay?" A man asked.
Ohta raised his head to him, wondering if the question was rhetorical or an attempt at making fun of him.
How the hell was he supposed to be alright seeing as his entire day had been filled with attempts on his life?
Even the Iga clan had limits.
And now, people were dying and turning to trees before him.
Ohta faked a side smile. "Yes, I am good sir."
The man, if he could be called that was entirely made of iron. He was six feet tall, having arms and legs like a person, dressed as one.
His eyes were a beautiful gold, even more surprising, he wore glasses that sat on his nose bridge.
He was obviously made with care and the intention to look as human as possible. He even had hair that blew in the wind, and adaptable facial features to animate expressions.
’A golem’ Ohta thought to himself. He remembered reading about them back in the clan. But never seen one.
They were a race originally made by the molding of mana specifically to serve man. But somehow developed souls, and those became their own people.
They were known to be critical thinkers, and even in today’s world, were responsible for a lot of the futuristic designs that have shaped society.
Also, Ohta noticed that same umbrella shaped pin the students had on the golem’s attire.
It was Blue.
The medics and all the others on scene also had similar pins of varying colors. Most were green and yellow.
"I am Doctor Rock." The Golem introduced with a hand stretched for a handshake, "You sure you don’t want to get those legs checked out? The pain must be unbearable."
Ohta’s gaze tightened. He was wearing trousers, and somehow, this golem knew that he had issues from using Mirage steps.
"Don’t worry, it’s nothing."
"Nothing...hmmm. I heard today is your first day in Avalon."
Ohta nodded, taking the hand.
A firm confident, but controlled grip in a hand shake.
"Yes, it can get overwhelming especially if it’s your first time. If you need to talk, please come by the clinic..."
"Doctor Rock!" A call from a medic interrupted their conversation.
Ohta and Rock turned.
"Something’s happening to her." The medic added.
Doctor Rock hurried over, and so did Ohta.
By now, most of Sofia’s body had become hard wood. Eyes, staring blankly into nothingness.
The only evidence of life she had was her heaving chest.
On her forehead were seven branches. One look withered.
Another was producing a fruit. This small fruit was indigo in color.
"Oh, damn it. It’s already producing the second one." Doctor Rock said. "Has anyone found the first fruit yet?"
The medics around shook their heads.
"First fruit!?" Ohta asked.
"Yes, this is a corrupted version of the Lotus Tree Of Memory from the legends of the Odyssey."
Legends of the Odyssey.
Ohta remembered it. Even in his previous world, such a legend existed.
Odysseus and his men landed on the island of the Lotus-Eaters (Lotophagi), an indigenous people who survive almost entirely on the plant.
However, those that ate the fruit immediately abandoned their quest as they had lost their memories of Ithaca.
This plant was a corrupted version of that one.
"We call this plant the 7 rainbow Lotus Fruits Of memory. It is a demonic curse of the 2nd circle."
"Demonic circle?" Ohta thought out loud.
Demonic circles were how curses, the primary power of demons was measured.
The problem with curses was that even though the use of mana could counter it, it could not null its effects once it had been casted.
The only method was to meet certain conditions of the curse, or to totally eliminate the affected parts of the curse—which was ideally has been the most effective method in dealing with curses.
Ohta was beginning to understand how messed up things really were, and he felt the slow rise of a headache.
Doctor Rock continued his explanation.
"...It first produces an indigo fruit which signifies its birth. And then 6 others like the rainbow in a span of three days that lead to the victim’s lobotomy." Doctor Rock Explained.
"Of course, this is the same thing as mental death. True death of the victim can only be stalled if the fruits are not consumed."
"Consumed?" Ohta asked again, having a forbidden feeling rise in his heart.
Doctor Rock nodded. "Yes, memory fruits are fragile. Very fragile. Because of their peculiar nature, one does not need to eat it to consume it. A mere touch with human skin is more than enough to..."
Doctor Rock paused, eyes narrowing on Ohta behind his glasses, "Mr Ohta Waterfell, is there something you might want to tell me?"
’Shit. He is already on to me. Golems and their quick critical thinking.’
"It was accidental. I tried to help her and touched an indigo fruit. I swear, I meant no harm." Ohta raised his hands half way in surrender.
"I doubt that. And that is why you should be arrested." A deep commanding voice came from behind.
Everyone turned. A bald dark skinned man with three vertical tribal marks on each side of his face approached.
His steps were heavy enough that the earth carved with each foot.
He was huge in both size and presence.
He was dressed in a red tunic, a short cape. They were badges of different colors one side of his chest.
However, the most defining thing about him was the mana density.
Ohta could not sense mana, but even he could see as little sparks were created from the man’s sheer muscle movement.
At his approach many on site made way for him to pass.
As they did, they also bowed in reverence.
Ohta heard the whispers.
"It’s Babatunde. The 13th Grand Enforcer of the Heaven Supreme Emperor."
"I heard he brought down an entire herd of rank 6 demonic Wyverns with one strike of a palm."
"Really? A herd of Rank 6 demonic wyverns are more than enough to bring down an entire city. And he did it with a palm strike?"
Those whispering shut their mouths as he arrived.
Babatunde stopped just before Doctor Rock who bowed deeply.
Ohta was stumped for what to do. It was not like he knew this person, and truthfully, he did not care enough to bow.
Such was the nature of a man once tagged by the world as the Underworld king.
A mistake in Babatunde’s eyes.