Colour Kid's Arc

Chapter 7 of 11

Ink Gray had her hand on the door, but the door opened first. A tall figure stepped in. Dark robes flowed around his sandals. His hood was up, but Colour Kid saw a sharp jaw and steady eyes underneath. The cafe went quiet again. The banner Colour Kid had painted still hung above the counter, runes and wires glowing side by side. "I am looking for the boy who made that," the robed man said. He pointed at the banner without looking at it. He looked only at Colour Kid. Ink Gray stepped between them. "State your faction." Her voice was flat. The robed man shook his head once. "No faction. I came from three towns over. The pulse reached us by sundown yesterday." He pulled something from his sleeve. Not a weapon. A folded cloth, painted in colour. A child's copy of the banner. Colour Kid stared at the small painted cloth. Somebody far away had already tried to repeat what he did. The old photograph of the two witch leaders still sat on Mara's table, the handshake creased but clear. The robed man set the cloth beside it. "There are more of us coming," he said. "Some to learn. Some to stop you." Elder Bright spoke from his corner without standing. "It has spread. I will note the date." He did not sound surprised. He did not sound glad. "The war is no longer only theirs. It is yours now, child." Ink Gray closed her log book with a snap. "Then we move. Now." Colour Kid picked up the painted cloth. It was warm. He folded it into his pocket and followed her out into the gray street, where colour was already creeping along the curbs without him even looking.