Nobody likes pain. Even at the slightest degree most are not willing to go through it. But who's to blame them. For one to experience pain something from them is usually targeted. And for the pain to manifest that something is usually dear to them. Whether peace, a loved one, a state of mind or like for Lozo a normal state of life. For the pain to get to you, the thing you are losing must be equally dire. And the more its painful the more one is likely to run from it.
An attempt to escape the unpleasantry of daily life or a specific situation to try and rebuild the stable state that the body so much needs. An attempt to rebuild the state of zero uncertainty and an easily predictable space of events where the body that locate and evade pain when necessary. In short somewhere safe for them and for whoever they hold dear around them.
But see the thing about pain, well to me, is that it's usually a call... And in as much as running away from it creates a safe space now, that pain is bound to be experienced again thanks to the cascading chain of events in this accursed world. And what then. Would you run away? Or try to face it? Cower in fear or look straight ahead?
"I don't know sir." A dark shadow answered hovering about the entity parched above on a giant tree in the middle of a forest.
The entity gave a smile, a dark teethed smile.
"I don't think there is a correct answer… only consequences of each choice. But luckily for us we've got a front row seat to see each of the consequences."
"Are you sure about this, Lord Kar?" the dark shadow asked.
"This is their first journey. I've already given them the first hymn. Only consequences follow now." the dark demon said as a strand of his stitched-up finger came undone.
Between the slight opening his orange blood. A single drop escaped the tension and cried down. Down to the forest floor filled with dried up leaves and vegetation.
Just then nature caught flames. Deep red orange flames that gnawed on everything in their path. They slowly spread across the ground rising and falling as they consumed. A feast that was growing closer and closer to an unwary village nested just at the edge of the forest.
The demon smiled as the torrents of flames spread across the woodland landscape.
"Only Consequences follow now." He said as the stitch in his finger closed. Sealed away by dark threads.
***
Several days had passed since the incident at the learning hall. It was bright and early, the morning sun gracing its warmth to all. Lozo walked across the white tents yawning his way through. There was no one at the camp, possibly still sleeping, so navigation to the big building just at a distance, with a bell on top, was easy.
Another yawn came but this time Lozo was ready for it. He swatted it away with the piece of paper in his hand.
'Why'd I wake up so earlier?' he thought regretting the decision he made on the previous day. He pushed through the brown grass feeling moisture seep into his boot sandals. His toes didn't appreciate it that much. They stung in every step from the cold getting to them.
'He better be there,' He thought remembering his appointment with Kisharu just the previous day.
<>
He was seated cross legged just outside his room facing the garden that grew next to it. He had grown accustomed to it especially for when he thought and plotted. The sooth of the flowing stream reminded him of home. Back at the orphanage. It reminded him of the few things he had not consciously tried to forget about that place.
He took a cleansing breath in and let it out. Relief is everywhere when one stops thinking about their troubles.
Just then footsteps joined him in the garden.
"Meditation. Never thought you were one to engage in such dull activities?" His voice welcomed itself into Lozo's comfort zone.
"My Old man taught me this. 'Whenever you feel bad just sit and think about nothing.'"
"Old man? Your father?" Kisharu asked.
"No just an old man I used to live with. Anyway," Lozo said trying to brush away the subject." Why are you here? The mission isn't until tomorrow."
Kisharu joined Lozo on the wooden pavement. He raised his pressed trouser and sat, legs hanging by the edge.
"Yeah, it's about that. But first I see you haven't filled out your conditions. Is it that hard to be selfish?"
Just behind them through the slide door Kisharu could see the paper he had given Lozo. It was over turned with the conditions part empty.
"I don't know… it's just…"
"No worries. Bring it whenever you like. Just don't hold onto it for long. Now for the reason I came here. It's about Cilia."
Cilia?
"Yes. I'd like you to look after her during the mission."
"Why?"
"The reason isn't that important but... those three aren't at the best of terms yet and with Karin's stubbornness, it'll be long before they make up. So, I need you to look after her. She's only just woken up from the two months and something about her doesn't seem to be normal, possibly due to the heavenly ruling. Hence, I'd like you to watch over her."
Lozo nodded.
"Good." Kisharu said as he rose. "I'm counting on you for that."
"Oh, one final thing before I leave." He said suddenly halting on his way out.
"Yeah, what is it?"
"You never told us how you and Hinari ended up in that mansion. It quite the important detail in your induction to the family."
Oh right. Lozo thought. Just a few days after his wake, Dok and Kisharu narrated how they found him and an unknown girl in an old mansion in the woods. He had never really given them his account of the incident. Not that he wanted to. He'd rather forget it, hard as it was. That was in the past and the past stays where it is. In the past.
Out of sight, out of mind. Was it?
Kisharu noticed the pause in Lozo. Pushing it wasn't going to get him anywhere.
"No worries kid. Past stays where it is, right? Also, you are in this family now…"
Lozo nodded. It was rather odd how Kisharu had said something he had just thought. Like as though he had read his mind.
"Yeah," Lozo answered. "And as for the paper, I'll hand it in tomorrow."
"Good." Kisharu said before walking away.
<>
The learning hall door was open. Judging by the rusting hinges and moldy corners it was never closed to begin with. Lozo walked into it his eyes looking to the giant bell at the mast of the front door. He had heard a creak and his mind didn't fail to bring up the image of him getting flattened by the bell. He paced lazily the morning drowsiness serving more and more yawn and a slight strain in his sight. He pushed through hoping to get past the morning with little sleep he had had the previous night.
After his visit Lozo had an epiphany. The paper on his drawer fluttered more and more like it was urging him to come up with an answer. Like Kisharu said, It was just being selfish. What's hard about that?
And he was right. Being selfish just meant to ask for the thing you desire most in the world. Overthinking it just meant that it wasn't as important as you might want it to be. Hence as he gave one final look at the paper in his hand, he nodded to the writing. It wasn't as selfish but loving is sometimes selfish.
Kisharu stood at the open space of the learning hall. He wore his usual, formal clothes but still managed to scream unemployed and lonely just by the untucked shirt. In his hands he held a black bag. A shoulder strap bag that by the looks of it was full with something.
"So, you finally have your conditions." Kisharu said, noticing the curled-up paper in Lozo's hands.
"Yeah." Lozo answered. "It's only one."