Chapter Twenty Two: Overfilling

XXXX

    The next day came, and I found myself reading a note that had been slipped under the door. It was from Triton. Well, it was actually labeled 'the Rebels'. So they must have eyes on me somehow, to know I'm in this room. Granted, by this point everyone must have eyes on me, but it's alright. Only idiots usually want to fight this guy.

    Sipping on coffee, I read the note carefully.

Dear Mr. Night,

    It has come to my attention that you wish to have an audience with me. I have heard your arguments, and feel like we can come to some kind of deal. So, tonight I will meet you at a warehouse in the SunLord District. It's marked with a rectangular sign, with the words 'Boxing Plant'. Tonight at nine I will meet you, and do not disappoint. Or else there will be no more contact.

        --Triton

    It appears I am getting my wish. What gets me is he's coming here, and I don't have to travel. Thank God for that, because traveling as a necromancer sucks, and I can only handle it for so long.

    Halina walked in the room with a small bag of groceries for breakfast. She sat at the table, and handed me a box of donuts. "Here, you greedy bastard."

    "Thanks, I appreciate it." Opening up the package, I grabbed a jelly filled. "How was the trip?"

    "Fantastic. Just overfilled with fools," she replied, twisting open a bottle of juice. "I don't even live here, and I could barely stand it."

    "Oh, why's that?"

    She huffed in a way one would judge a being who was judging art, for much of art is subjective. And even though most know this, only total idiots would find a way to make it about themselves and their miserable pain.

    "Just a bunch of magi were coming up to me, asking me if I was human, and why I was there shopping." Halina ate a donut, her anger written clear as day. I remained silent to let her vent some more. "Ugh, remorseless fools. One even had the audacity to say 'My bad, I hope I wasn't mean spirited'. The nerve of some people!"

    "Mean spirited? Is that even a word?"

    She shrugged. "I do not know. I find the lines blurry at times as to what's pertinent, and what should remain behind closed mouths, like doors of lost souls and dreams."

    "Another interesting topic. I'm sorry you had to deal with the bullshit that are idiots. Most have no idea how to live in this world, or respect others."

    Halina cocked her head, almost listening for the correct answer lying on the wind. "You're being rather nice today."

    "I did once say I was the most selfish man. What? Did you not believe me?" I asked, hoping the words I was using were correct. It'd be a shame if some morsel of a buffoon believed they were the only ones who knew how words worked. Language, can be tricky at times. "Ignorance is the lord of truth and wisdom."

    "Life sucks," she said. She finally noticed the note. "Oh, so your efforts are paying off."

    "Yes. Apparently I am worth listening to."

    Who'd a thought. Downing my coffee, I got up and dung into my duffel bag. My notebooks and binders were tucked deep within. But that's not all. I touched the manila envelope, thick with papers. Not what I need, but it was comforting to know they were still here. Safe, for when the worse happens.

    Ignoring the envelope, I grabbed the binder, and went to the current stage. "The schedule isn't perfect, but we're making progress. For as long as no magi armies gather for true war, we're safe. The rituals cannot be completed."

    "I'm curious as to why you know so much about the Witch," Halina said from across the room. "It honestly is mind boggling."

    I paused, and the room kept on spinning. Silence in its voice. "Don't ask yet. Triton will sure to have mind readers, and I can't have you leaking like a balloon."

    "You're bringing me with you?"

    "Gotta have a meat shield."

    She blanked. Her dark features went wide. "I wish you were King of Jokers."

    "So do I." Tucking the binder in my satchel, I found the will to live very lingering. How weak I am, to think there's nothing in this world I can't touch. One day, if one is patient. I am, but counting in millenia takes some time. Which even death does not have.

"Come on. Eat that shit because there's work to be done today."

"Ditto, you once made me wait an hour for the shower."

I played offended. "Huff. I was bloody and wounded. You've never had dried blood on you before. Crusting like shame after a guilty night."

"Alright, what was it the demon called you, King of Darkness? Whine to someone who cares." She collected her things, and bolted for the door. "Just remember idiots have no ideas."

"Fair. Fair."

XXXX

    Standing around in Ursula's office, Halina was picking at her books she had neatly placed in her personal library. Ursula was grading papers, forcing me to watch and wait for her to finish. Ugh! How boring. I'm a man of action. Of adventure! At least, that's what I like to claim.

    After finishing looking at my phone, I placed it on a shelf. 

    "This Reader translator is rather useful. Being able to understand all these titles," Halina said in awe. "The Biology of the Burrow Jackel. Various Niches of the Huem Region. Fascinating."

    "Yeah if you're a nerd," I muttered. "Too lame for me and my tastes. I've faced dragons, demons, angels. Knowledge is only useful if it gets you more power."

    "Isn't all knowledge power?"

    I shook my head. "No, because knowing just to know leaves you dry and useless. But knowing to further your knowing so you may kick tons of ass is far more useful than knowing with the ability to spew facts."

She raised a brow. "Come again?"

"It doesn't let me kick ass!"

"It makes you kick butt in the biology world," Ursula added in. She looked more average today, less jewellery, more simple hair. But still tight clothing which never seems to move. Kinda never realized how easy it is to read people now. I guess I'm getting pretty good at seeing the world.

"Ha! Ditto would die before he learns real knowledge." Halina cocked her head. Her fingers rubbed down a spine of a familiar title. She read it aloud. "Poems from Dusk to Dawn. By Joshua Kroom."

"Talk about literature. Old literature at that. Halina, that's the probably one of the most famous series of poems in Hidden lore. Similar to your Shakespeare, where it's read in an English or literature class at some point or another." She removed the book, and I felt my blood rush a little. Did I say it was ancient? And we talked about power. Ironic, in only the ironic sense. "Here, let me see. I'll show you some classics."

But she was already reading the first page.

Beware children for down below

Is a pool where lovers always go

Do not venture unless you have a heart of lore

For the Keepers must keep the war evermore

So go children, beware the sound

Of the crisis that is above the horrid ground

Halina laughed mockingly. "This is a great poem? Sounds like something a first grader would write."

"Which makes it even more profound and special," I said, shivering from the words. "The Beginning is a mystery to even scholars, unsure as to the meaning, or why Joshua put it first."

"I like Land O' King." Ursula set down her silver pen, and motioned for the book. Halina handed it over, giving the magi time to clear her throat and read the poem.

Land of Kings, a sacred place.

Where none shall escape the cruel gaze

Time ever lasts,

so Queens give love to infinite subjects

But while King's find their Lands under rule

Lords and Ladies lurk, waiting for a thorn to pluck

Kings and Queens blind to their draining of resources

Find a home, and make it your own

Oh well.

    Halina made a face. A twist between silly pain and making a fart. "You Hidden have strange ideas of what poetry is. And what fancies for meaning. I think it's funny."

"Joshua was a special case," Ursula said. "He was a magi who'd gone insane, and his poems were said to be his visions of the future. Nonsense to me, but they sure are poetic." The magi turned to me. "Well, do you have a favorite poem?"

"Hmmmmm."

While I thought, Halina read a few more poems, entertaining us.

"Magic and the Likes."

Fun, is the way of magi

What? Am I being too convincing?

Breaks are needed

Wars to be waged

Justice to deliver

For all except death itself

"The Ten Who Were Born."

Ten that were born

In an age with nothing but glowing ash

Ancient are they, searching for a home

They claim lives, each and every one

The one who hides from all

The one who enrages all

The one who cuts all

The one who mystifies all

The one who moves all

The one who loves all

The one who corrupts all

The one who kills all

The twins that separate all

And they bleed for sins and rare else.

"Alright," I said. Finally moving from place, I took the book, and flipped through a multitude of pages. Joshua sure wrote a lot when he was alive those thousands of years ago. Imagine, having your work become immortalized. Not everyone gets the honor of life after death in the most grand of ways. "Found it. From Lovers Remorse."

If you can see the path ahead

Find what Gods even lose

A never ending story,

Joyless for the birth of remorselessness

And you claim to be a man of words.

Pathetic!

Keep up here everyone, stay ahead

For the Path now falls weak with sweat

And damp with love.

Closing the thick beast, I wiped at my nose. Why don't I have any tissues with me? My nose was running like crazy.

"Not the most famous one, but hey, better than the hundreds of poems of the stupid Valley Tree that every other poet has written about."

"Joshua loved the tree just like we all do," Ursula said. She was writing more, in a notebook I feel like has been around more than once. Weird. "Anyways, I'm done now. So let's get going. I have two more classes. We must hurry."

We left, going down a very silent hall. Plants and pictures of animals were everywhere. I hated being here, surrounded by all this life. It was disgusting. Made my nostrils burn with pitiful rage. My hand brushed a fern, and I chuckled as it crumbled to dust.

"Don't do that to the plants," Ursula snapped.

I held up my hands. "I found it like this. Besides, it shows the full circle, don't you think?"

"Only you'd see grey and find it beautiful," Halina commented. I found that insulting. Art and beauty belongs to no singular idea. Magi are very singular, very linear. Beauty is beauty, and ugly is ugly. But are there no shifting lines? Tell me, can you have the power to move a mountain, and call it an improvement?

"I'm not exactly the prettiest man Halina. We see our surroundings in a different view." Finding the need to change the subject, I directed my question to Ursula. "So, how long has Triton been active?"

Ursula froze slightly, before continuing on. "About four years now. But this is the most he's been real trouble."

Four years huh? Eh, I suppose that makes sense. Ditto, you really need to start thinking things through. What did your old master once tell you, when you asked for advice?

'Don't die you stupid idiot.'

Ah, yeah.

"Has he hurt any civilians?" Halina said. "Rebels, never play nice."

I opted for the more sensible answer. "And soldiers do?"

"Ugh, got me. Seems school has you on your game Ditto. Impressive."

I beamed. "Thanks. I try my best Halina. It's why I'm not lying in a ditch somewhere."

We reached the classroom, and I felt something inside my gut. Magi watched us walk down the steps. Sighing, I knew of the most ancient rules and laws, some must not be messed with. What rule you may be asking is being tampered with? The defiance of free spirit. To be seen as though bound to another is a fate against nature and life itself.

The Man Who Dies for Fun is a title to defy everyone. I mean why I chose it has meaning, but meaning I've found out over my life is just as flexible and additional as snow. To Die for Fun is to do as you please, because you aren't afraid of consequence.

Going down those stairs made me sick.

XXXX

    Blood, for some, means dying. To lose it means a slow death. To get it means you were dying and still could. Others find it scary, like seeing it starts the end of what you find sane and normal. It's strange to believe blood is horrifying. Really, when touching it, smelling the runny liquid, you should smile. There's worse places for your blood to be. Splattered on the wall, where it gets dirty and gross. Can't use that stuff ever again.

    It was later in the afternoon, and Halina and I were heading back to the hotel to get ready. I was curious as to how all this would play out. Triton was bound to be a powerful magi, another alpha male. And usually, I don't enjoy being the alpha male, opting for the local alpha to be in charge. And I don't, can't, take Triton's status away. But I need to be on his terms equally.

    If not, then there's no way I can't get what I want.

    "Hey Ditto, you find it odd how quiet it is out?" Halina was looking around, eyeing the small buildings. Strange, there weren't many people out. "How far away are we?"

    "A few more blocks," I said. Now, it wasn't super late, but late enough for people to be inside, ignoring the wild. Wiping away a drop of sweat, I sniffed. "Come on, a few streets down is a busier section."

    However, as we moved, three figures appeared out of an alley. Magi, one emitting some sort of mist from her hands. A misdirecting spell. I cocked my head. "A few days in a row. Great."

    The three moved, slow in my eyes. Two held up pills, both I recognized. Sighing, Ever Heart glowed eagerly. Too eagerly. "Halina, stay close. I have no clue if there are more. We are going to push through. Do not leave my side."

    She nodded, even when the two magi turned into giant monsters. Like the fae from West Michigan. Their magic burned the air. Reaching into my satchel, I pulled out the blood glove. Turned out it's been very useful, and covering my left hand, I found the will to fight.

    The middle magi was normal, and with two large swords in his hands, it was clear he connected with fire. The others didn't matter, because their strength was overwhelming.

    "Hello, Necro--" I didn't care. I formed a barrier of blood between us and the left monster. It's magic I momentarily forgot, to unleash necro-lightning upon the right monster, while using Ever Heart to beat back the two fast swords. The magi was strong, but I had demon tucked under my skin. He flew back, allowing Halina and I to step forward while I shot blood bullets and more lightning to clear the path.

    "Go!" I yelled, using every ounce of strength to knock the right monster off its feet. Halina ran fast, but I saw the normal magi get on his feet. Without thinking, and quite literally in between two crazy near-demons, I threw my sword.

    If it wasn't for Halina, I'd have failed. She ran by at the moment the magi finally gained his balance. He watched her go past, and my sword struck him like a rocket. It literally sent him multiple feet away.

    I smiled, then remembered what I was doing.

    The left monster was a nature magi, from what I could tell. It finally got around my red shield, the right one gaining its bearings again.

    Sighing, magic flared to life in my arms. What I did yesterday had been rather impressive, even by necromancer standards. But these things were near demons. Hard to kill with just will and might alone.

My neck cracked, and the tune of 'Mr. Roboto' slipped past my lips.

The pale right one screamed, a tune that reminded me of something close to my heart.

The grey left one threw a punch, green flames coursing bright and dangerous. Paley sent out a mist of something. Clenching my fists, I sent out a wave of black death, consuming both attacks. Both reeled in pain, yet not dead.

"Ditto!" Halina was over the body of the normal magi, hands reaching for Ever Heart.

Oh no. No. No. No.

"Wait, stop!" But she grabbed the sword, pulled it out the body, and what looked like a struggle, tossed it. Running and rolling, I grabbed it out of the air, turned, and slammed the blade into the concrete. Small pieces and dust went everywhere.

The creatures composed themselves the best monsters could. God, these things must be either tougher than hell, or I'm getting bad at killing. Their burn scars healed over in a white mass of skin.

Halina was behind me. "Uh, what do we do?"

My jacket was still oozing with power. Blinking, it took me a second to refocus. Why were no other magi around? Feeling rage, I knew what had to be done.

    Standing, I spun. "Run."

    We sprinted, turning around a corner. I stopped and let Halina continue on. Holding my sword like a bat, I swung into the pale beast. Ever Heart split its chest wide open.

    It landed hard, shaking earth. Stepping over the creature, I speared the other as it came charging in. Its forehead was softer than I thought it'd be.

    Decapitating both, I sniffed angrily. Attacking me in broad daylight? Stupid morons.

    I held up Ever Heart, the blade cascading purple tinted blood. Tilting my head, I said, "Huh. I guess I shouldn't be surprised."

********

    Watching the trees sway back and forth, I remained motionless to the appearance of gods and mortals. What was it about me that made others try hard? Or give up hope? What do I say? The trees, like always, refuse to give me an idea, opting for the easy way out with silence. Whispering instead were the weeds, each one clawing for victory in an unwinnable fight. I've always felt sorry for weeds, really. Small things, with no rightful place in the garden. But we all just want a place to eat, a place to call home. I know I do.

    Hugging myself, I gathered my thoughts and left the courtyard for my office. There was trash everywhere, signs of the festival going well. I once again avoided everything that happened out here. Free stuff is no motivator to me. Though I see how it appeals to others.

    It was nearing dusk, and I was out later than I should. Never have I been a nighthawk, but this time it just felt different. Everything was happening so quickly. No closer am I to finding out why Ditto is here, or if it's truly for war. She could have been lying for all I know.

    War. The word was burning me, killing me. I clicked my pen, and felt no relief.

    Finally reaching my office, it was dark and empty. I've enjoyed visitors. Or anyone except my friends. Humorless I may be, I do try my best. Every one and again it roams through my head the thought of watching the sunset alone, old and wrinkled, smiling as the flowers hurt me. Waiting patiently for--

    A buzz went off, scaring me near off my feet. Recovering and clicking, I saw a glow from my bookshelf. What in the name of Kam?

    Going over, I saw a phone. Intrigued, I picked up the device, examining it. Rectangular, black, it buzzed again with a bright screen. It has to be Ditto's. If I recall correctly, he was right here before we left.

    Great, another job to do.

    My stomach growled. But not before dinner.