Metropolis of Ashes

(50) - Tangled strings - [V]

"Eat and sleep well. Tomorrow, at the armory at 4 am. Now, you can go." — His smile ended the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Yet still, I could sense the sinister atmosphere around them. They were hesitant to stand up, until Silen did, with no remorse whatsoever.

"Anyone eager to drink tonight? I invite you to my room~" — His irritating words dispelled in the dark corridor leading from the exit.

Everyone else stood up at the same time, and each one went their own way. No more exchanges of thoughts. They were all lost in the unusual set of teams, the old man has decided for.

I didn't realize I was the only one left from them, sitting in place on an uncomfortable chair. But still, at that moment, it seemed like the most comfortable place I've ever been at. My secure home.

"Oh, so stagnant to depart? Do you want to exchange thoughts, perhaps?" — His words made me remember of his existence.

An old man with matte, white hair. His wrinkled face was intriguingly staring at me, as if expecting any explanation.

"Did you find the answer you were looking for?" — It was me who asked first.

"..."

This question. He didn't expect it at least, with the old face of his growing stunned. I could see the anxiety grow in his blue eyes for the first time since I've met him. He has done something to lose my trust, he knows it.

"Are you surprised I'm still here? I almost died, because of you." — My hands were shaking, talking to the leader of our group.

Me talking about my feelings, it was so rare. Why am I doing it... Why can't I just go away... From my problems, from my fears.

It was as if I already had an image of me escaping from here, that brought me the strength of speaking up, to some I won't hopefully meet again.

...

"If something came out of it, you would know the answer yourself. I have to apologize for exposing you to such danger. Neumiro was reassuring me that nothing would happen to you, as the cells in your body are immune to the overwhelming power that could melt any other cells by will. But... Something unexpected happened, as I think you know now. I'm deeply sorry, that it happened, but it was necessary. Our last resort of awakening the special ability. "

Huh...

He... Apologizes now...

His stare, it's filled with sorrow.

My head... Suddenly...

It hurts... So much...

"Ah... The struggles the young people go through, to find the place for themselves in this huge world... I only tried to help you understand. Your capabilities. You must feel hatred towards me now, for exposing you to such a danger. You don't even know how big of a pain is to see one of your underlings covered in blood, on the verge of their lives... Like you."

He ended with a longing stare, glaring at the ceiling.

"This mission... Do you think I expect too much from you?"

I... Couldn't answer him straight away.

What is it that he exactly expects from me? Is it to be a part of the group, to complete the mission... Or something entirely else?

"It's just strange... That while you told me I am special and precious, as so my affiliation to the Cube, at the same time you almost ended my life, trying to pursue its power."

But does it matter, if in the end, I'm going to leave?

"I told you before, we didn't know it would end like that... It's all because... You're special. A one gifted by an anomaly. An anomaly of the power yourself... The results of the test were more than positive. You are one of them. From millions of the people and timelines this could possibly happen, you were the one to receive this gift. But maybe your skill... Is a one behind our comprehension." — He continued speaking with a proud smile.

Contrary to his feelings, I did not feel overjoyed. A mysterious hunch surrounded my body.

"You saw it with your own eyes, that there are no special powers in me, apart from the strength that manifests uncalled."

"That's why I tried to quicken the process of awakening. To my demise, it failed, risking your life. I apologize once more."

Yet, despite all of his explanations, there was one odd thing that occurred to my mind.

"When and how did you exactly get to know... I possess such a gift, you're calling it?" — I tried to sound as much unconcerned as I could.

He silenced for a while, with his unmoved gaze set on the point on the floor. An outsider watching this could tell that this lasted shorter than a few seconds, yet for me, it was getting longer and longer.

"It was Aura who felt... A dissonance in the power field. A new precursor of energy appeared suddenly, just at the time when you and Silen met. The burst of the energy was so strong, that she collapsed before I could give her the task of finding the last power holder. Others could feel it too... But we were unsure. Where and who was the last one gifted? That was when Silen called in, and said that... He feels it near. Just from the person he stumbled across. You. The same one Orbis went to quiet down, the witness to our actions, turned out to be the one we were looking for so eagerly. Is that...

...Fate? To, at last, start our mission. Of changing the world around us with the last gear."

His long monologue ended with a faint smile, his eyelids were narrow, as if a sudden feeling of exhaustion surrounded his body.

He was old, just like my aunt. Yet, I wasn't experienced enough to at that time know, what having lived so many years meant. Eternal waiting is doom.

So... I was to be gotten rid of, but the string of fate crossed our plans and changed our paths for life.

That's what he wanted to say? At least... He was honest with me.

"Well then, I hope I answered the questions you have asked yourself in your mind. If you have anything else to ask me, let's continue at other time. I'm quite exhausted now, and I'll have to prepare for the mission tomorrow."

"You're going... With us?"

"Ah, no. I just have to plan everything exactly..."

He sent me last one of his soft smiles, and proceeded to exit the room quietly.

I was left alone in the meeting room, shaken by his words. So, that is... What it was...

An outburst in the field. I... Did truly feel something like that, back then. But was it powerful enough to mess with her senses? Why...

Why did it show exactly at that moment?

I... Can't remember any solid details from back then...

When my head started hurting, I decided it should mark the end of the corrosive thoughts eating me out. I stood up to leave the room, and found myself in the middle of an unlighted corridor.

Fuck.

Where is my room anyways?