Matsumi had already left Heiwa inside for her to be stabilized for now. He sat on the small stairs near the entrance as a wave of exhaustion just attacked him. At the same time his mana slowed down drastically. He hung his head down.
"Oh man…what the…"
He didn't know why he felt this way in specific, he'd felt tired before but this was different.
Barghest floated a few feet to the side of him, tapping the hospital walls.
"Well..seems like you're going to have to fight..and you're going to have to fight hard Matsumi…These two peoples lives are in your hands now."
"I know they are…which is why I feel a little bad…"
He raised his head.
"Is it bad to say…that throughout that whole thing…I was having fun?"
He hadn't felt it before, this wasn't like the normal fun he was so used to. He was in danger, and always being a step away from the aggressor…it was exhilarating to him.
"…When two people battle in anyway it fuels the soul. Competition feeds us as living creatures. Perhaps you think fighting is stupid..but some people can not ever run away from it..the adrenaline..the atmosphere…the energy you have after surviving and winning…it's exhilarating. I don't think it's bad at all that you enjoyed it. Fighting doesn't have to be inherently bad, and whether i'd like to admit it or not you fight for a good cause. You have a good heart.."
"I think that's the first time you've complimented me!"
He laughed a little before pushing himself off the stairs to stand up.
"I wanna feel that again, that fun. Let's win this thing, all the way!"
"Alright..i'll put my pride aside and work with you. Especially for Vermelha's sake. Who knows what they're doing to her…But..There is a condition."
"Yeah? "
"You still have two days before we officially head for Heldor's Tower. I want you to work with someone I know on controlling your mana..and I want you to learn a specific technique that you might like."
"I'm up for that! What is it? Can you tell me?"
"The last I heard he was staying in a local hotel around the outskirts of town..though he's unpredictable. Regardless he should definitely be able to help."
"As long as he doesn't talk my ear off, I want to see more magic!"
"Well he definitely knows a lot about magic. Probably way more than me or anyone you know. He can probably do anything with it."
"You've know him for a long time?"
He started walking away from the hospital until she would lead him to the man.
"All my life. I don't think i've ever not known him. He was very acquainted with my father."
"Woah! And you're really old! He must be a super geezer then."
"He is getting up there in age..but he'll live another two hundred years before he kicks the bucket..knowing him it'll be two fifty.."
"I wouldn't wanna be that old. Then you'd have nothing to do."
"Oh he has something to do..he has something to do alright..at least..in his eyes I suppose."
"What does that mean?"
"..Some people decide to dedicate themselves to certain causes. Certain ideals and standards. Things that make up who they are. He dedicates himself to vengeance in the night and Verisimilitude during the day."
"Huh? Well, as long as you don't think he's weird or something."
"He's definitely not normal by any means. Not at all, he's actually one of the not so normal ones.."
"An old weird guy? Now I have to see what he looks like."
"He kind of looks like you to be completely honest. Maybe when he was your age he sort of resembled you actually..same personality and all."
"For real?! Just like me?!"
"Yep. Same hair and everything..Instead of roller skating he loved to paint. So maybe not as active as you were.."
"I've never seen anyone with my hair! But painting is kinda slow…"
"That's the thing..his style was wild and exciting..it was a spectacle in town whenever he performed..he was in love with the arts. Acting, Dancing, Art, Music, Combat. He was a figure that could've rivaled Toyoko who did all of those things originally..that was until the fated day. The day where that heart of gold was taken from him indefinitely."
"What happened? Why'd he stop?"
"I believe all creatures have their fears..they hold their emotions close to them..It's a defense mechanism..because all we have is what we experience. There is nothing that enrages man more than betrayal. He was betrayed that day..and ever since then he has become a hero in the underground world of the humans."
"So, do you have a fear?"
"..The end of the world is my only fear..only because it's an end I can't fight against or run from. It will inevitably happen and I will most likely live long enough to see it..so long as there is mana on this earth I will live..even if it's through a new vessel."
"You'll live forever? That's cool! But the end of the world is kind of a big fear, like the whole planet. I wouldn't even worry about that."
"The scariest fears are naturally the most frightening and gargantuan in nature. Nobody fears small things. It all leads back to something larger at hand. Something deeper buried in the mind."
"Is that true? Nobody fears small things? I haven't really thought about things I fear. But if you say so."
"I think it's best not to. People who think about them a lot tend to lose all control of themselves. You can't live life trying to prevent everything."
"That's true, I can't run around worried if I'll fall or not. I just won't! Where's the man, though? I want to see that magic already!"
Barghest nodded and opened the hospital doors and moved down the street. She headed for the local hotel.