A nurse pressed the call button on the bed's headrest, awaiting a certain someone. Someone that Olivia desperately wished she didn't have to meet. With each minute that passed, fear grew in Olivia's heart. She was so scared in fact, that she was seriously considering the window option again.
"A three storey drop is fine... totally fine! Yup I'll survive! Totally!" Olivia said rushing to the window.
Placing one leg on the window sill, Olivia was about to jump, but the sound of the door opening stopped her. She turned around, seeing Sieg standing in the doorway with a very disappointed look on his face. He crossed his arms and gestured for her to come over to him. Olivia blinked a few times, before putting her other foot out of the window.
"See ya later losers!" Olivia said, jumping out.
She felt the wind brush against her hair as she began falling down. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief for a few moments, before the fear that came from realising her situation set in. She began flailing her arms trying to get something to hold onto, eventually grabbing onto something hard.
"Yes! I'm saved!" Olivia thought, relieved.
She looked at what she was grabbing onto, finding that it was an arm. A very familiar looking arm. She gulped as the person she was holding onto popped his head out of the window.
"Investigator... Just what the hell were you thinking?" Ren said, his eyes filled with disappointment.
A small part of Olivia died at that moment.
Pulling her back into the room, Ren shook his head.
"That was extremely reckless. If I still had the authority to give punishments, I would've given you 10 months worth of community service." Ren said, holding his face.
"W- well that's not so bad..." Olivia said, laughing awkwardly.
Sieg chuckled, agreeing that it wasn't bad at all.
"What I'm going to give... Is much worse. You're temporarily kicked off the squad until further notice..." Sieg said, smiling. The way he said it sounded sweet, but the malice in his voice was very apparent.
Olivia tried to argue, but Ren placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. Olivia pouted before storming off.
"Well whatever, I don't wanna be in that bum ass squad anyway!"
Slamming the door, silence fell in the room. Everyone felt a bit bad for watching that unfold... everyone but Sieg. He sighed, before walking up to Oliver.
"So you're just gonna sweep that under the rug?" Oliver asked sounding a bit disappointed.
Sieg rolled his eyes before putting on a stethoscope.
"She did something stupid and she needs to be punished for it. When you lost your old attachment unit, my wife did the same thing didn't she? I never saw you complaining that it wasn't far" sieg said, placing the diaphragm on Oliver's chest.
Oliver became silent, knowing he couldn't disagree with Sieg. Still it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Lifting the diaphragm off his chest, Sieg informed him that he was perfectly healthy. He reached his hand out to the nearby nurse who handed him a pen and clipboard.
"Your body was probably just shocked by the sudden intense pain. Actually... Your increased heart rate actually helped flush out a bit of the excess descent energy in your body" Sieg said, biting on the pen.
Oliver grimaced, cursing his failed attempt at trying to skip work. Sieg managed to overhear what he said, making him sigh a bit.
"So that's why she flicked him... Maybe I should lighten her punishment then..." Sieg thought to himself, as he began drawing a sketch fox on the paper.
He placed the clipboard down before stretching. He turned to Ren, smiling slyly. Ren knew what he meant, nodding knowingly.
"Alright everyone please leave this room. I'll set up an anti-descent energy barrier outside..." Ren said, escorting the staff outside.
Oliver was confused as to what was happening, though he had a bad feeling in his stomach.
Before starting the treatment, Sieg gestured Ren to take something out. Ren nodded before pulling out a metal briefcase. On the front of the case, was the symbol for Yin and Yang, as well as some peonies surrounding the circle. Opening it up, Ren took out the two boxes that rested inside; one black and the other white. He placed the two boxes on the outside and inside of the room, before pressing the positive and negative symbols on the respective boxes. The black box released its barrier first, covering each wall of the room. The white box's barrier was released soon after, creating two barriers that would block both positive and negative descent energy from coming in and out of the room.
"I'll take my leave now... Good luck Oliver" Ren said ominously before walking away.
The bad feeling in Oliver's stomach worsened before turning to Sieg for comfort. Instead of comfort though, he was met with even more terror as Sieg he began smiling similarly. Oliver smiled wearily as he laughed out of fear. Sieg tied up his hair before putting a special glove on his right hand.
"Don't worry Oliver... This will hurt me more than it hurts you..."
From outside the room, Ren could hear Oliver's screeches of pain. He could only imagine what kind of pain Oliver was in.... No, he actually knew exactly how much pain Oliver was in.
"He always told me that it felt wolves clawing away at any imperfections in your body, then having your mutilated body be sewed back up by rusty needles. No wonder dad never healed me..." Ren thought to himself.
Thinking about how much it must hurt, Ren cringed.
"He's a brave man... Braver than me…” Ren thought, clenching his fist.
Turning to the staff, he began explaining the safety procedures when it came to the anti-descent energy devices.
"As most of you know, when these devices are set up, that one must be extremely careful when near them. If the white box outside is moved even a little bit, the barrier will break and all the excess descent energy will cause an explosion" Ren explained to the staff.
They all nodded, before walking off to fulfill their other duties. Ren breathed a sigh of relief, before noticing a strand of familiar greyish blonde hair sticking out from the corner.
"Olivia please come out" Ren called out to her.
There was no response from Olivia, making Ren slightly annoyed. He called out to her once again, however like before she didn't respond. He decided to give up his efforts and just approach her instead. Walking over to her, Ren found Olivia curled up into a ball, and the faint sound of crying.
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Ren looked at her with pity, before sitting next to her. He tried to strike a conversation, but all his attempts were met with silence. So after awhile, he gave up. Sighing in disappointment, he stood up.
"I'm sorry for bothering you then..." Ren said, about to leave.
Before he could, she grabbed the tail of his coat. He looked back to Olivia, who was trying to hide the embarrassed look on her face. He chuckled a bit, before helping her up.
"I never asked you to help me up..." Olivia said, pouting and looking away.
"Well the floor's dirty. I can't have my subordinate being a slob can I? Besides, you looked sad. The last thing I want is a sad subor- no... Sad friend" Ren said, crossing his arms and smirking.
Olivia mumbled a few things, before looking up at him with a pit on annoyance. She crossed her arms before speaking in a haughty tone.
"So how are you gonna help cheer me up then?"
Back inside Oliver's room, Sieg breathed a sigh of relief as he looked over the barely conscious Oliver. The poor young man was foaming at the mouth, shaking as if he had experienced extreme trauma. Though Sieg couldn't care less.
"Stop over reacting~! It wasn't that bad!" Sieg said whilst laughing. As he laughed he began hitting Oliver's stomach repeatedly, increasing his suffering.
Oliver - rightfully furious - sat up before yelling at the mad doctor.
"Stop that you stupid old man- why is your nose bleeding?!" Oliver asked in a panic after seeing the blood running out of Sieg nose.
Sieg was confused a bit before wiping the blood with his finger. He tasted it before nodding.
"Yup definitely blood" he commented.
Oliver yelled at him for being so nonchalant, but Sieg didn't really care.
"That's just the side affects of my miracle geez... Did you think healing any ailments would come with no side effects?" Sieg said, shrugging.
"That's still no reason to be so chill!" Oliver yelled.
Sieg looked away as he stuck his tongue out, mocking Oliver a bit. Oliver sighed before laying back down in his bed.
"I don't know why you're so cranky, your body doesn't hurt anymore right?" Sieg said, crossing his arms.
Oliver opened and closed his palms repeatedly, surprised that the pain went away so fast. Actually his body felt way lighter, as if every unchecked affliction had been lifted away.
"I don't even think my suit's healing is this good... But I guess that's what a General's healing abilities get you... But this feels totally rigged" Oliver commented.
Sieg smirked telling him that he was just salty.
"But whatevs, you're probably gonna get some awesome miracle in the future," Sieg shrugged.
Oliver grimaced before turning away from him.
"I can't even use descent energy, how can I even get a miracle..." Oliver commented.
Sieg was surprised after hearing that comment.
"You can't use descent energy? I remember you using it during that fight with the projection Fester..." Sieg said.
Oliver rubbed his head, before explaining that he could only use it while in the suit.
"I don't know, it's just like... When I'm in the suit it feels like second nature for me. But when I'm not in it, it's like trying to ride a bike with no wheels" Oliver explained.
Sieg held his chin as he began thinking. Whether or not he knew it, what Oliver just said was paradoxical. The ability to use descent energy is like rolling your tongue. If you're able to do it, you're able to do it; and if you can't, you can't just learn it. So being able to use descent energy AND not use it was absolutely crazy!
Crossing his arms, Sieg asked him how he felt when he used descent energy.
"I don't know, like energy coming out of my body." Oliver retorted.
"Is that all? Do you not feel any intense emotions when using it?" Sieg added.
Oliver thought back, before remembering the incredible sense of calmness he felt before using it.
"Right, every time I use it, it feels like I know it's going to work 100% of the time. Like, it's just something natural to do" Oliver explained, snapping his fingers.
Sieg thought about Oliver's words for a bit, before getting an idea. He grabbed his pen before offering it to him.
"I want you to fill your descent energy into this pen" sieg asked.
Oliver grimaced, pushing it away.
"That's been in your mouth... Also I told you already, I can't use descent energy..." Oliver retorted as he sighed.
Sieg rolled his eyes before tossing the pen away. He grabbed some candy in his pocket before handing it to Oliver.
"Fine then use this geez..." Sieg sighed.
"Do you always keep candy on hand...?" Oliver asked, a bit weirded out.
"What? They're tasty! Plus it helps with the nose bleeding" Sieg said, popping a piece of candy in his mouth.
Oliver sighed before looking at the candy.
"This is the third time I'm telling you... but I can't use descent energy damnit!" Oliver yelled, frustrated.
Sieg began chewing his candy, ignoring what Oliver said. The fact that he was chewing hard candy, made Oliver feel even more humiliated. As if hurting his teeth made more sense than Oliver's plight.
"Just do it. What do you have to lose anyways?" Sieg said, continuing to crunch the sweet.
Oliver sighed, before looking at the piece of candy in his hand. He closed his eyes, putting all of his concentration on filling the candy with descent energy. He thought back to all the times he had used an execution, or defended himself using descent energy. The feeling of the energy following out of his body, the sensation that the energy produced, even focusing on the faint smell of detergent that the energy produced. He tried over and over again, thinking of every possible way he could release his descent energy. However as if something was physically blocking him, not even a speck of descent energy filled the candy.
Oliver frustratedly opened the wrapper, shoving the candy in mouth. He began sucking on the sweet, pleasurably surprised that it was apple flavoured. He leaned back into his bed before looking at Sieg with a mix of disappointment and embarrassment.
"Told ya... Can't do it. I'm only good in the suit" Oliver said, as he sucked on the candy.
Sieg sighed, making Oliver feel even worse. As he continued to suck and chew a bit on the candy, he noticed Sieg getting up. The general stretched a bit, before saying something absolutely ludicrous.
"You can definitely use descent energy Oliver"
Hearing that almost made Oliver spit out his candy. He sat up, before frantically trying to deny it.
"What do you even mean? You literally saw that I wasn't able to do it!" Oliver yelled.
Sieg rolled his eyes, before crossing his arms.
"Don't yell at me geez..." Sieg retorted.
Oliver's eyes twitched a bit, telling him to stop changing the topic and answer his question. Sieg stuck his tongue out before walking over to one of the room's drawers. He pulled out the bag Damian had packed, neatly taking out Oliver's belongings and placing it on his bed. Oliver, who was obviously annoyed that he was being ignored and having his stuff rummaged through, began glaring at Sieg.
"Hey answer my damn questio-" but before he could finish his sentence, Sieg interrupted him.
"Do you know there's a theory about descent energy I'm very fond of. It basically says that descent energy is the physical embodiment of emotions and memories. That's why so many Festers seem to be based on stories or things people are fond of. Games, treasure, movies, all these things have memories and emotions attached to them. Descent energy loves to enrich itself in memories and legacies, giving birth to these beings festered from memories." Sieg explained.
Oliver paused for a moment, before asking him a question.
"I thought that festers were born out of descent energy and a concept. That's why Festers are based on certain concepts in the real world. That's what the handbook says at least..." Oliver countered.
Sieg laughed as he began folding the paper bag.
"That's why I only called it a theory, Oliver..." sieg retorted.
Oliver didn't really like how Sieg's answer was essentially just backpedalling, however he did find his theory interesting.
"... But say what the handbook says is the truth. How do anomalous Festers exist then? Creatures who don't follow this world's laws, wouldn't need to be based on a concept. They could be based on something we couldn't even comprehend... But yet the only Fester that has ever achieved the rank of anomaly... Is death. The most real concept this world has to offer" sieg continued.
Oliver was stunned by what Sieg had just said. He couldn't really counter it, since it made perfect sense. So was the handbook lying to him? Was F.A.T.E lying to him? No... It made more sense to say that it was F.A.T.E's understanding of descent energy.
"So even now... The origins of Festers and descent energy are up to interpretation?" Oliver retorted.
Sieg smiled before offering Oliver another candy.
"Life is essentially one's interpretation. Everyone lives the way they interpret is right. So whatever you believe is true, that's the truth until it's proved otherwise..." Sieg said, before leaving the room.
Oliver looked at the candy, before twitching his eye. He quickly got out of bed, slamming the door violently. He looked through the corridor for Sieg, finding him long gone.
"That damn... He dodged my damn question!!" Oliver yelled.
His yell startled the staff, so he quickly apologised before running back into his room in embarrassment.
"Damnit... I looked like a nut job. Damn you Sieg!" Oliver said, clenching his fist and crying a bit.
He wiped away his tears before looking over to his bed. Seeing his uniform neatly placed on the bed, a bit of his anger went away. He picked it up before trying it on.
Looking at the outfit in the mirror, he was quite impressed. A pair of slim fit black slack, a comfy looking turquoise turtleneck sweater, a professional hooded black coat with grey accents and an elegant white scarf to round it all off. He wondered where the shoes were, looking around the room to find where they might be. In the end he only found one shoe which was a turquoise sneaker with silver laces.
"Damian must've forgotten it while panicking... Well whatever, I'll just ask him for a new one. Now where are my old shoes..." Oliver said to himself, walking over to the wardrobe.
He found his old uniform stored away neatly, however he could only see one black shoe sitting by it's lonesome. Where the other shoe should have been, Oliver found a note from Olivia.
"I took your shoe cause you were stupid enough to pass out :p"
Oliver crushed the note as his lips begin curling up into a furious expression. He quickly put on his new and old shoes, which were thankfully opposite sides, and ran out of the room.
"I'll kill you Olivia!!!"