The backyard was sectioned into an entertainment deck, an open patch of grass, a lush tiny forest, and a tennis court in the back. It was as disgustingly grand and nonsensical as the rest of the house. It was criminal how all of this was for one person.
A family of blue songbirds had made their nest in the garden, right in the shrubbery under the shade of the lemon tree. The little delights hopped close to Belaphorde’s feet and chirped in hopes of treats. No matter how adorable of a show they put on, Belaphorde's gaze remained on the third floor. The vague sense of frustration was somewhat grounding as he lost connection with his body. The sunlight hit his skin, but he didn't feel like it was him experiencing the warmth.
He would admit that crawling half-naked in the middle of the night might not have been the sanest thing he'd done. Something had called to him that night, and it was not only cabin fever. The light. It was like speckles of a rift. No, it was a rift. A creature had walked out of it. Did it mean that the final stage of an ichor-filled S-ranker with all their capacity was a rift? He'd ask Tina about it once she was available.
Through a window on the first floor, Bel could see the professor in front of a computer with several faces talking to her on the screen. He didn't want to think too hard about how he was talked about as he was a subject of study to the scientists gathered in that call.
“Here you are. Studying without me? Don't make me nag you to act healthy and take breaks.”
Vigo walked down the path while adjusting the cuffs of his borrowed shirt. A fluffy white towel rested on his neck. He wore arm and wrist supports and a knee guard could be seen under the folds of his black pinstriped pants. It was an odd mix of football goalie and businessman.
“It's just some light entertainment while you were away enjoying the pool.” Belaphorde jested and closed the book to give Vigo room on the bench. “I'm glad to see you recovering.”
The old man's bones popped as he sat down with a groan. “This Esper still got plenty of endurance. All of the medical help has also done wonders. However, I won't be doing anything but swimming for a while. You should also try it. Exercise, on whatever level you can manage, is key to not shrivel up like a raisin.”
“That's odd. I'm sure I've heard that a raisin is exactly what you turn into by staying in the water. Besides, you if anyone should know I can't swim.”
“You know what, I never thought about that. No math. No swimming. I messed up your education.” Vigo laughed and Belaphorde shared a knowing smile with the veteran.
“Don't beat yourself up over it, sir, or you will despair over the mountain of education I missed. There would be no end to it.”
“We'll make due somehow.” Vigo ruffled Belaphorde's hair. “All joking aside, you have been acting strange ever since we came here. What’s on your mind? Tell me.”
“Strange? When you spoke with Tina you made it clear that I am acting exactly as predicted.”
“Don’t give me that. It was predictable in the sense that you were not well. I know some of your behaviors and moods but I’m still not a mindreader.”
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“Then why are you not angry with me? Look at how I have been behaving.”
“My boy, why on earth would I be mad at you?”
“I’m weak. Dumb. Irrational.” Belaphorde spat out. “I continue to put everyone in danger, including myself.”
“So what? Do you want me to scold you, to tell you that you are an evil, bad person?”
Belaphorde was about to speak but stopped himself. The walls around his mind were too well fortified to let him get too close. Let at a crossroads Belaphorde felt empty.
“Listen here.” Vigo began with a sagely tone. “Some people truly have black and evil souls, but their lives are so comfortable, sitting at a desk, going with the flow, they never realistically have to face difficult situations or benefit from that evil strand.”
“Yes, yes. And good people can be put into impossible situations. But what are we if not our actions? No one can be inherently good, that’s ridiculous.”
“Some bite back? Good. But you are once again incorrect. You are a good person, no matter what you think. I know it.”
“There really is no way to reason with you. Is it the old age or the fever that has made you this… whimsical?”
Vigo laughed heartily. “I’ve always believed in cultivating hope. Without hope, there’s only darkness. Hope is faith, and I have faith in you.”
“Are you quite done? Or does this disciple need to fetch ink and parchment to write down your philosophical monologues?”
“Not right now. It’s too bright out and I haven’t had any wine.”
A silence set over them. Beads of sweat ran down Belaphorde’s brow. He felt parched.
In a gentle tone, Vigo spoke to the sky. “Maybe not right now, but know I’m always ready to listen. No judgment. Not from me.”
Belaphorde remained silent. In his mind, he had ideas forming of how to use his powers to fight back. If he ever wanted to be more than a miserable sidekick he needed to evolve. But for the moment he needed to become the transistor that could heal Kaigo. Looking at the Gates and tactics he had read, one path was much more intuitive than the other.
***
Tina had called up the two men and given the green light on “Project Turntable”. By utilizing Belaphorde’s monster capacity and the Rennocanse Gate which creates a healing effect when they are connected they should be able to whittle down Kaigo’s ichor at the healing rate. It would be slow, but it theoretically could work even if Belaphorde’s body was still burned out on Guiding.
“What if the ichor is too much for Belaphorde? This is S-rank ichor against a burned-out Guide.” Vigo asked as they followed her towards the extensive garage. Belaphorde limped behind, the numb feeling in his body keeping the pain at bay. To the others, it had to appear as if Bel was slowly recovering.
“That’s the experimental bit of this project. I could not find any other cases like ours but evidence suggests there should be no lasting damage to Guide Belaphorde if he ends contact if it ever becomes overwhelming. The real risk factor here is Kaigo activating his abilities, which is why I am equipping you with an Artifact.”
The door to the garage stood out in the modern house. It was made of steel marked with danger signs and a camera overlooking above it. Tina looked into the camera and held up a blank card. With a warning beep and flashing yellow lights, the door slid open to show only a small compartment of the larger garage space. Two motorbikes stood ready to drive out. On the walls hung matching biker suits and helmets. In the corner stood a metal bar that continued up through the house.
Tina walked up to a fortified cabinet. She looked into yet another camera and flashed her card. The vault opened and on display were three glistening Artifacts lit up by a row of Cores at the bottom. There was a black crystal spike about the length and thickness of Belaphorde’s arm. It gave him chills just looking at it. Next was a mysterious opal skull mask. Tina went for the third item, a yellow-white crystalline shield with spiral patterns.
Vigo whistled at the sight of it all. “That’s some cool loot, what do you say Belaphorde? We never went up against monsters of high enough rank to get this sort of stuff. But to be honest I’m most interested in those wheels.
“This,” Tina began, “is Aegis. You put your hand through the opening here and by charging it with a little bit of energy it will create a barrier that will in equal parts absorb and reflect the magic coming towards it.” She then opened one of the cases with a marble Core. “If you charge it up with this the shield repairs itself from any damage it might have sustained and creates an area that suppresses all magic for twenty to thirty seconds. Only use this in an emergency. I’m trusting this to you, Esper Vigo.”
Vigo took the Aegis and tried it on. It was a bit heavy since he was still recovering but damn he felt awesome holding that shield that once had been a body part of a nasty monster. He took the core and put it in his breast pocket, tapping it twice as to make it extra secure. “I’ll do my best to protect our main star. Are you ready, Belaphorde?”
Belaphorde sighed. Of course, the items needed the magic power of an Esper to work. The thought passed quickly and he responded with a resigned nod.