The Abyss Stares Back

Chapter 8: Not The Handholding Type

In the morning, inside Carbon Manor, Senadin and Zulli were awake before the sun came up. Each had their own room to sleep in connected by a larger living area with its own balcony. On the other side of the living area from their rooms were two other rooms which were empty, giving the impression the that these quarters were meant to house traveling groups of up to four individuals, though the beds in each room were large enough for two for any that were keen enough to double up. Sen and Zulli both noticed there were multiple doors in the hallway that they assumed led to quarters of the same kind, making this a rather large manor to reside in. That wasn’t to include the other buildings connected by grand courtyards they had seen on their way in the evening before.

Their visit with the manor’s owner, Garrus Carbon, was fast and simple, while the whole day seemed to fly by. Sen had killed his first monster, not without a fight, and Zulli had nearly been killed by her first monster, which Sen had come to regret. He felt responsible for leading Zulli into such a dangerous situation.

Sen had trouble falling asleep, which was normal in his world. In this world, he had been so drained by the amount of information and things he had to understand that sleeping came easier. Last night, his demons caught up with him. Sleep had not come easily, and he woke before even getting a few hours of needed rest.

Before bed, he and Zulli had a quick conversation with August, then when he had left, had a conversation with each other. Zulli curtly avoided the topic of how she was hurt so badly by the monster that cut her down, and talked to Sen about their plan as adventurers and as friends.

They reiterated the fact that they wanted to stick together through whatever they chose, and they reinforced that they would make their decisions together. Zulli posited that they could stay in Vitesse and work things out with the adventure society, to become proper adventurers. August gave them little information about the quest that Garrus had in store for them, but was able to divulge that it would be located in a lower magic area, spawning lower ranked monsters, which sounded better to Sen.

After August had left, they came to an agreement while gorging themselves on the veritable feast Garrus had sent up via magical dumb waiter. After going on the quest, they would dedicate their time to the adventure society, become proper adventurers, and then build a team. Traveling to whatever area Garrus had planned would give them a better view of the world, culturing them in it, and Zulli was finally convinced when Sen mentioned the quest was most likely a better adventure than the adventure society could offer them at their current power level.

They both said their goodnights and retired to their connected rooms on one side of the guest quarters. Alone in his room, Sen couldn’t even act like he could fall asleep. He sat down on his bed, his clothes and equipment engulfed by shadow, before being replaced only by the pants he acquired on his first day in this world. He hadn’t known if he could instantly replace his outfits using his voidspace ability, but it worked, shrouding him in shadow and replacing the clothes almost instantly with the comfortable pair of gray cloth pants.

He solemnly closed his eyes, and put his face in his hands, resting his elbows on his knees.

***

“You already have a lot of weight you’re carrying.” Zulli said.

They both leaned on the railing of the balcony in the crisp morning air before dawn. From the balcony they had a decent view of the park district. The morning birds were waking up and sending out their songs.

Zulli obviously couldn’t sleep either, as she had come out of her room soon after she heard Sen’s door open. Sen made them a pot of tea, after messing around for some time with a teapot that was able to heat water magically with its own intrinsic magic. They sipped their tea from intricate porcelain teacups.

“That’s why you wanted to get out of the city. You need the distraction, because the weight is hard to bear.” Zulli continued.

“I feel like I have to carry it. That weight.” Sen responded after thinking for some time.

“Strong people carry weight.” Zulli told him. “But carry too much weight and it crushes you.” She put a hand on Sen’s shoulder. “And if it gets to be too much, other people can help you carry it.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“I know, Sen.” Zulli responded, pulling her hand away from his shoulder. “And I know you will be sorry even if I tell you not to be. But you don’t have to be. I can make my own decisions. It was my decision to go out there.”

“I know.” Sen said. “I should probably lay it out for you now. My mind is not healthy.”

Zulli leaned into the balcony, but positioned herself facing Sen, her body language insisting Sen to continue with what he had to say.

“Despite knowing the reality of any situation, my mind tends to tell me that what I’m doing is wrong, or that I could do it better, or that it’s a waste of time. All at the same time. Over time I have developed some certain principles, and I have to stick by them, or else I’ll lose myself.” Sen told her.

“And you’re going to tell me these principles, right now, right?”

Sen let out a raspy sigh of exasperation. “I was hoping what I told you would be enough. You remind me of someone I knew back in my world, you know?”

Zulli’s head leaned toward Sen. “They sound pretty cool. And no, you were the one who decided to tell me about yourself, you can’t leave me with more questions.”

Sen looked away from her and into the sky, which was still dark but brightening in the morning. The two moons that orbited the world were on the other side of it, and only the brightest stars outmatched the coming dawn.

“You’re going to think it’s stupid.”

“Sen, I have more fundamental knowledge about this universe than most people on this world. I pretty much can’t think anything’s stupid because I can see the reason behind everything.”

Sen’s eyes looked sideways to Zulli, and she saw the purple tinge around his dark irises that almost sparkled in this specific instance at this specific time.

“You’re pretty reckless for being so smart.”

“No deflecting. What principles?”

“I have to be righteous.” Sen said, lowering his eyes to the courtyard below. “That’s a simple as I’ve been able to make it. I have to make sure that innocent people don’t get hurt, that my actions don’t hurt anyone they’re not supposed to, and that I get and give respect when it is earned. Those are the top three. There’s smaller ones, like don’t be greedy, don’t be too proud. Stuff like that.”

“Yeah…” Zulli said, looking into her empty teacup. “That is pretty stupid.”

Sen frowned. He poured out the miniscule amount of now-cold tea left in his teacup over the balcony and turned around without saying a word, walking back into the guest quarters.

Before he could make it to the door, Zulli had wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a huge hug. Her shadowy body was cold, at least, colder than any other body Sen had been hugged by, but he could feel a positive reaction, as if the immense energy from a supernova was being leaked into him, giving the impression that her embrace was warm all the same.

“I thought you’d know I was kidding.” Zulli said.

“I’m messed up, Zulli.”

The moment played through his mind again. In hindsight, it should have been so easy for him to realize she was making light of a heavy conversation. The unhealthy and enigmatic poison inside his mind, however, had other plans. This was the same poison he imagined led him to inhabit the void before coming to this world.

“Thank you for telling me. I can already feel what you’re feeling, even without your aura. You don’t have to try and hide it.” Zulli told him.

“I think I can feel you too. Garrus said our souls are connected. Knowing that now, I can actually feel it more.” Sen said, grabbing Zulli’s arms and pulling them down to release her embrace. “I think its like any other ability I have. I hardly know how to focus it, and I’ll have to work on it to feel it better. But I will try.”

“Don’t, Sen.” Zulli said. “I don’t think it should be your duty to reciprocate anything I do for you. Just let it come naturally, and try to relax a little bit. I think that’ll be the best way to go about it.”

Sen nodded, despite knowing he couldn’t relax, and they heard a knock at the door before it opened.

August walked in, no longer wearing his armor, instead wearing a tan, collared shirt with black pants. He strode a couple steps before setting his stalwart eyes on the two out on the balcony.

“Have a seat.” August said, pointing at the couch in the living area before taking a seat in a chair across from it.

Sen could see the sculpted tone of August’s chest and neck, and was taken aback by the comic-book look of his muscles, to include his definition of his arms seeping through the sleeves of his shirt; even his abs were seeking through.

“Why is everyone so good looking in this world?” Sen asked as he walked in with Zulli following close behind. They both sat on the couch, not too far apart from each other.

“It’s a product of essences and going up in rank.” August told him. “Every essence user is naturally more attractive. That being said, I want to formally apologize to both of you before anything else.”

“Apologize? For crushing our auras in the cafeteria?” Zulli asked.

“No, that was my job, and I’m not sorry about that.” August responded.

Sen made a defiantly skeptical face.

“I assume that you will be taking Garrus’ offer. When you do, you’ll be under my tutelage until we get back.” August told them. “I’ve never had any pupils before, and I never planned on having any, at least not for years to come. I will fail you multiple times in the process of figuring it out, but Garrus insisted I do it anyway.”

Sen and Zulli shared a look.

“I meant to ask last night, you seem pretty close with Garrus, he’s not part of the adventure society, right? Why do you work with him so much if you’re an adventurer?” Sen asked.

August put on an uncharacteristically soft expression as his elbows met the arms of his chair and he interlocked the fingers of both hands. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding.

“You’ll get a better impression of our relationship if you choose to go to Silverwind.” August curtly remarked.

“That’s where this quest is taking us?” Zulli asked.

August nodded.

“Instructor August Niles.” Sen said, half-sarcastically.

August said nothing, while staring intently, directly into Sen’s eyes. His gaze was cold and unwavering.

“I’m sorry.” Sen said, almost immediately. “I should be thankful to have someone show us the ropes of this adventuring thing.”

August still said nothing. The morning sun breached the horizon and was sending its rays through the balcony windows. He stood up and walked towards the door.

“I’m going to talk with Garrus, meet us in the parlor room within the hour.” August said before walking through the doorway and closing the door without waiting for a response.

“He’s so intense.” Zulli said to Sen after August had left.

“Yeah.” Sen replied. “I think he’s seen some things. I knew a few guys like him, back in my world. Really reliable guys. Just rough around the edges.”

“Does everyone hide things?” Zulli asked.

“Almost everyone. And if they say they don’t, they’re lying.”

“Well, this isn’t your world. Maybe it’s different.”

Sen nodded.

“I hope so.”

***

“Ah, great to see you two.” Garrus had announced while walking into the parlor room from the same room he had the night before, August in tow.

Sen and Zulli hadn’t finished descending the stairs before witnessing him entering the room, the timing a little too peculiar to be coincidence.

“Sleep well?” Garrus asked.

“No.” Both of them retorted at the same time.

“I usually don’t.” Both of them said at the same time, again.

“Woah!” They both exclaimed, pointing their fingers at each other.

They shared a look of whimsical confusion infused with admiration before looking back at Garrus.

August had his own look of confusion on his face, the most generous look behind the curtain of his stalwart façade that either of the outworlders had seen.

Garrus didn’t show his surprise if he was, and ushered them to a fanciful wooden, circular table off to the side of the parlor. They all took their seats, filling four of the six wooden chairs surrounding it: Zulli and Sen on one side, with Garrus and Zulli on the other, a chair separating the two parties on each side.

Garrus and August stayed silent for a moment, their attention dressed onto the two outworlders. Garrus knew the silence would be filled if he allowed a social vacuum, and August didn’t mind the silence. Sen could see the game being played, and didn’t like it, but broke the silence anyways, knowing there would be no benefit in winning. Zulli looked back and forth between everyone, unsure of the social cues at play.

“I want to know why you have an interest in us.” Sen said.

Garrus interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on the table. “Your essence, Sen. And Zulli, your confluence essence, in particular. They are special.”

Sen’s eyebrows raised, and Zulli’s chin raised inquisitively.

“Like, Uniques? Legendaries?” Sen asked. “Is my translation power working right?”

Garrus’ lips curled downward as he thought.

“Not exactly unique, and not exactly ranked as any kind of rarity. They are simply special. I dare not say too much more on it. The knowledge I have of them is fragmented, but I’ve been to a place where there may be answers waiting for you.”

“You have to be getting something out of this, right?” Zulli interjected.

“Of course, you’ll be bringing me back my sword, and finishing an excursion I started many years ago.”

“Your sword?” She asked.

“Yes. I left it where you need to go. I retired from adventuring not long after I had left it there. It has great sentimental value to me, and I wish to display it on my wall.”

“A rich man’s chore.” Sen said.

“A rich man’s chore, indeed.” Garrus agreed. “I understand your mistrust, Senadin-”

“He likes to go by Sen.” Zulli interjected again.

“Sen-”

“My friends call me Sen.” He corrected.

“Friends?” Garrus asked. “Indeed.” Garrus said, his eyes lowering, and Sen could see a look of regret crossing Garrus’ face, if but for a moment.

Zulli looked at Sen, then to Garrus, then to August’s blank expression, not understanding why people just didn’t say what they felt.

“Perhaps -friends- is something that we could be, eventually, Senadin. Zulli.” Garrus said, pulling out the Potent Essence from his coat pocket, followed by a smaller, bluish-gray stone, followed by a translucent, dark crystal wand that had a pointed light emanating from the base, giving the impression of a comet flying through space. Given that Garrus had pulled all the items out of the same pocket, Sen had finally surmised Garrus' coat was a sort of dimensional storage space much like his own voidspace.

“Last night, I had nothing for you Zulli, so a friend of mine found this for you, to sweeten the deal.” Garrus said, pointing at the crystal wand.

Zulli’s silver orbits lit up for a moment.

“But as I was saying, your mistrust is well placed, I understand that. I have not proven to you that I am worth your trust. My accommodations made for you last night were barely an inconvenience and could easily be an elaborate ruse to earn your trust.”

“Carbon manor is used during the monster waves to house adventurers protecting the city.” August said plainly. “Do not say it, Garrus.”

“Carbon is pure.” Garrus said with a sheepish grin.

August looked at the ceiling in defeat before his stoic expression returned.

“Anyone who says-” Sen started.

“-that they’re pure, isn’t.” Garrus finished. “Yes, yes, I know.”

Sen gave Garrus a placid look.

“Of course I have my own demons. I am not on the best terms with the Adventure Society due to my not-so-legal dealings in and out of the city, but you’ll find that in this world, compromises are made between those who mutually benefit from each other.”

“So the Adventure Society knows you break the rules, and they allow it?” Sen asked.

“I don’t break the rules so much as bend them, and you’ll find that restrictions are made to limit the use of certain accoutrements, not outright abrogate them. In return for their legal disregard, when it’s my time to help out, I help out.”

Sen clenched his lips together in thought.

“I don’t want to work with you if you’re doing some really bad stuff. But I feel like I’m a good judge of character, and I don’t think August would work with you if you’re doing those things either.” Sen said.

“August is a good boy.” Garrus remarked.

August made the lightest of grunts while looking to Garrus, a tinge of dismay in his eyes.

“A good man. August is a good man.” Garrus corrected.

A quiet giggle came from Zulli, quickly halted upon August’s gaze reaching her.

“Can we get on?” August asked the group.

Sen nodded at August, mutually understanding his distress.

“I just wanted that peace of mind.” Sen said.

Garrus put a hand on the Potent Essence and slid it across the table, where Sen caught it before it slid onto the floor.

Item: Potent Essence (Epic) – Essence

Holds the power of pure potency, unlocking the user’s full potential.

You have 3 of 4 available Essence slots.

This Essence is now yours to absorb, but not to take. If you refuse to absorb this essence and keep it for yourself, it will be given the designation: Stolen, and cannot be sold at normal shops without consequence.

Sen read the text carefully, wondering what power divinated it, giving it the ability to brand an item as stolen. He put that thought on the backburner while he lifted the brilliant silver cube in his hand. He felt the power ooze from it, and while it felt heavy for it’s size, it seemed to help him move it to whatever position in space he wished it to go. It felt to Sen as if one universal force was acting against it while another bent to its will.

“You want me to unlock my full potential?” Sen asked Garrus, looking past the Essence in his hand.

“I want to see your potential for myself.” Garrus told him, his attention bereft of any distraction.

A thought crossed Sen’s mind. He had no idea how to absorb the essence. He looked at it, hoping a dialogue box would open in his vision to give him a yes or no option, like a video game would. This specific game was not the handholding type. He would have to experiment and experience all the game had to offer to uncover its secrets.

Sen’s fingertips pressed against the side of the cube cupped in his hand. His hand began to tremble, the cube obviously jittering as Sen applied more and more pressure.

Garrus’ lip curled in the most paltry of grins.

“What is he doing?” August asked, a look of distress coming to his face.

The Essence cracked like glass before shattering, a tinny sound reverberating throughout the parlor. Zulli scooted her chair back as silver light exploded from Sen’s hand, twirling in the air before strands of silver light pooled and collected in Sen’s chest.

It felt like his blood pressure skyrocketed. He could feel his heartbeat not just in his head, but everywhere. A rush of power saturated him. He kicked his chair back as he fell to his knees, one hand on the ground while the other clutched his chest where the Essence had entered his body.

Garrus stood up, and August followed suit, and they walked around the table to watch Sen.

“Should we-?” August asked, looking at Garrus.

Garrus simply shook his head, his eyes never leaving Sen.

Zulli seemed unfazed as her leg crossed over the other.

“It’ll be over soon, Sen.” She reassured him.

Sen let out a loud grunt that silenced to a low grumble. He was unable to come up with any words to say but quieted as the silver light emanating from his chest dimmed. When the light was gone, Sen held himself up on all fours, heaving his breaths.

“I have never seen an Essence absorbed without a ritual before. Do they always crush it like that?” August asked Garrus, his expression obviously surprised.

“Never have I seen an essence crushed in someone’s hand like that, August. Never.”

Sen caught his breath. Zulli had scooted her chair closer to him to place her hand on his back, comforting him. He felt the immense nature of her supernovic energy through her hand, and it ironically helped to calm his nerves.

“Ha!” Sen let out. “That was awesome!” He said as he sat back on his rear. Zulli pulled her hand away. Sen’s arms locked behind him as he threw his head back and he closed his eyes, his face toward the ceiling. He relaxed as the relative peace of the parlor room washed over him. “It was like Kaioken times twenty. I felt like I was going to pop.”

“Kaioken?” August asked.

Essence Absorbed – Potent

Potent Essence has linked to your [Spirit] Attribute

Progress to Iron Rank: 50%

Potent Essence Ability Manifested

Sen mentally swiped away the dialogue box. It minimized itself to a faintly glowing purple tab on the side of his vision. His mind was still too stimulated to fully comprehend the information.

The potent essence linking to the spirit attribute effectively tripled the amount of mana he had in store, and he was feeling the debilitating effects lower mana levels had on his mind. His perception was also increased, which gave him the feeling of paranoia and hypervigilance. His mind also raced with more memories, remembering certain smells and conversations he thought were long forgotten, or at least placed in the deep recesses of his mind.

“Wow.” He said, not opening his eyes, still attempting to calm himself.

“Perhaps you need some time to recover before we continue.” Garrus told Sen, his hand waving nonchalantly.

“No, no.” Sen retorted. “I can feel myself recovering. It’s noticeably fast.”

The spirit attribute was also linked to how quickly his mind could recover from debilitating effects. He could feel the ambient magic around him soaking into his body to recover his mana.

“Can you feel the Essence Ability you gained?” Garrus asked him, his impatience seeping through his tone.

“It feels like it can wrap around me.” Sen said, feeling the new ability as any essence user would, even without a textual implement like he had with the MSRT in his quick-use slot.

Sen’s attention shifted back to the dialogue tab he had minimized, and his mental acuity opened the Essence Ability’s description box on its own. Sen read it over.

“Oh my…”