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<03/14/1972 – 23:24 | Manhattan, New York, United States>
In the hopes for Nyar that anyone else would get either a new job or a promotion, a few days passed without much to show for anything. In a way, he also failed to convert any amount of credit into cash given all of the searches conducted. Taylor presented everyone with the fifty dollars she saved from her trip to the outlet mall, but it only went far enough to keep a surplus of food in the house. Nyar was only able to take them all to the park again a couple of times, whereas no other potential vacation spots were used due to the lack of funds. While Danny got paid a few times from his job, the accumulated funds were barely a positive net gain for the savings to go to international transportation.
So naturally, things became a bit more boring around the house. Nyar worked with Danny to fix the television's electrical problems, but they were faced afterwards with an issue receiving any transmission of any broadcast, so even that was a waste of time. But while it may not feel like much was happening, everyone else was probably trying to prepare themselves for tomorrow.
Today is March 14, and that means that after the sun comes up again, Jane Venn would turn seventeen years old. Taylor and Danny already hinted that they knew about it in advance. Taylor said something about some people choosing to celebrate their official birthday at mid-night on the day of. If that were to be the case for Jane, then she would consider herself seventeen in just thirty-six more minutes from now. However, plenty of people, herself included choose the hour of their birth. At 9:30 A.M., Jane will officially begin her birthday.
Exciting right? Jane knew already that having a birthday right now was as meaningless as anything else in the world. Maybe it wasn't like that back then, but right now, turning seventeen does absolutely nothing to help her out. What would even be the point? Tomorrow would just be as messed up as any other day of her life. Plenty of people probably enjoy it, but Jane knew she couldn't, all because she is herself.
Though Danny and Taylor were both sleeping like babies, Jane was carefully shifting on her sides every ten minutes, glancing at the digital alarm clock on the shelf to keep track of how many hours it would take to get any sleep around here, but as that time ticked on past midnight, Jane never found any sort of peace. How can anyone sleep in a world as messed up as this one?
With enough time spent attempting to rest, Jane soon felt that the gesture was entirely useless, and she put on her jacket quietly while creeping outside of the bedroom. Nyar is probably asleep too, but nobody would mind if she went outside to sit in the open field like she did before. Jane stepped outside through the front door, trying to close it silently to not wake anyone up inside. Her estimation of the lowered temperature tonight was spot on. It's only enough to make someone cold without a light jacket though, so the frigid breeze is no big deal today.
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Chapter Theme Shift: Mysterious Atmosphere ~ Vampire Knights OST
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Jane went to her new favorite spot, just west of Nyar's house where an open field of unused land rests. Nyar never said it was part of his property, but nobody else ever uses it. So, he installed a cheap wooden bench to sit on over in that field, and Jane decided to sit there under the clear night of the stars. The chilling sensation around her heightened her senses and thoughts once more, but Jane only decided to contemplate anything after sitting down on the bench.
Sitting down under the sky, Jane steadied her glance upwards, watching the radiant glow of every twinkling light, the millions of them all. The heavy glow of the moonlight was out too; brighter than normal given tonight is another full moon. The scenery quickly reminded Jane about her inexplicable feeling and attachment to the thought of the full moon, which only happened a while after she was branded. By now, that sensation is long gone, replaced by the sorrow in her eyes.
All of these stars are beautiful, individually and collectively, but the light from that moon is just plain mysterious. The light of the moon, solar glares reflected off that shinny rock are actually the primary source of magic, and due to the technology always available from the continent of Sprawn Valley, only those such people were ever able to harness this energy in a usable manner. They converted its light with some sort of algorithm and mirror magic, storing them into lunar crystals and crystal fragments. From there, they complete the conversion from lunar light into Leray magic, supplied by an invisible veil of energy that spans all over Sprawn Valley. The light from this moon created all that is possible with magic.
Jane held up the top of her right hand for comparison while she thought. The moon is also responsible for whatever happened to her with this symbol. The blast of light from the full moon is what blasted her body and zapped her right hand; Jane was sure of it. The spell wasn't illusion magic or phantom light. The sequence was never an eye trick either. The magical spell bomb of E-7 mark 64 literally transformed the direction of light's travel in the higher atmosphere, turning day into night in the town of Blue Port, and after that happened, everything went to hell from there.
The moon, and this symbol hiding behind skin; they are both connected. Jane never understood exactly how it all works, but if the moonlight is responsible for all magic, perhaps it holds all the answers. But in any other state or country outside of Sprawn Valley, the moon is but a pretty sphere that shines vibrantly, supplying extra light in the dark, and giving further mystery to the cosmos of this galaxy.
The sight of the stars and moon jogged Jane's memory quickly. All of the training she did to become a better fighter, to become eligible for classes, and to ultimately become a Leray master; all of this was stolen from her, just from this one symbol. The curse made Jane lose her mind, and try to go into a deadly place alone without much of a real thought for anyone else. But even now, with this stupid crest inside of her skin, what else is there?
Danton said it himself, that the initial scans suggest the symbol is going all the way down to the alteration of her DNA, her own genetics. Still does this sound impossible to her now. Danton did say that the deep scanning of the data obtained was still incomplete and needs further analysis, but he also spoke about other things. People all over the world, even people inside of Sprawn Valley hate symbols and magical markings, but Jane knew she never asked for this. Yet there must be thousands of people who hate her right now. Jane couldn't blame them. Everyone (including herself) should hate this marking, hiding behind her skin in plain sight. If only there were a way to reverse it all.
Then there is the rest of the world. What would life be like if magic never existed? People live like this all the time, even here in America. Though they at least know that it exists in a different part of the world. Is this all people have to look forward to? Everyone tries to struggle to land some job everyone hates, or something that is boring on its own, and their reward is to hold their own in a house, barely making it by. That's not magic; it's hell on Earth. New York was supposed to have so much to offer, so much to show for. Instead everyone and everything is dead.
"Told you we'd find her out here."
Startled, Jane jumped up from her seat on the bench, only to find Danny and Taylor curiously spooking around. They must have woken up trying to find where she went.
"You should have said something before going out on a walk," Taylor lectured.
To another fear, Jane had to ask since the big guy wasn't currently standing here. "Where's Nyar? You both didn't wake him, did you?"
"Relax," Danny assured. Jane is right to wish Nyar asleep. He wouldn't usually allow anyone to wander or sit down at night, no matter how close to home they are. From this angle, he can still see the house, so nothing is worth getting alarmed over. "Nyar's still asleep. I figured you just went out for fresh air." Waiting for Jane to retake her seat again, Danny and Taylor both joined her.
"Hey Jane?" Danny knew it wasn't important, but he needed some sort of opening if he was to find out what was bothering her. "Getting a job actually sucks. It's the worst."
"I figured it would be." Jane didn't mind the warning, but even with her friends here, nothing was shaking her thoughts away. Everything horrible that has ever happened to her is still happening now. They can't fix this.
Seconds went by without another word. Danny lowered his head in the failure that followed. What the hell is wrong with her? For the past three weeks, Jane hasn't been even a portion the amount energetic as she used to be. That same reckless girl who almost got us all in trouble twice in flight and another at the airport, even after that, it didn't even bug her for a single moment. So why now is Jane shutting down like this?
Jane did it once more, holding up her hand next to the solid moonlight, certain that her fate was forever locked in. She would remain like this forever, a twisted marked one with the power to destroy anything she ever wanted to. This mark was never meant for her. It was supposed to be used on one of the Scarlet enemies, powering up some generic asshole who would use the symbol in combination with dark magic to bring great harm to Sprawn Valley. There is no chance they would have designed a mechanism for reversing the effect and removing the symbol. There would be no desire to. After realizing this once more, Jane let a few warm tears streak into her eyes, trying to hold them back. It doesn't matter what they know. Nobody will be able to reverse the cursed spell bomb. "I know you're both just worried about me."
Why is she crying? Taylor knew there had to be something bothering her. Jane was like an open book sometimes, but she had no idea it was something this bad.
Barely composing herself and her voice, Jane tried to summarize everything for them. "I'll never be able to undo the damage this thing has ever done. I'll never be able to remove this cursed symbol."
That's why she keeps holding up her hand to the sky. Danny cleared his throat, trying to remind Jane, "We talked about this already, remember? Whether you can remove it or not, you're able to decide when and how you use that crest inside of Sprawn Valley. I know that it causes a few problems here and there, but think about all the good you can do with that instead, just like how we shut down Alpha Zero."
Jane clenched her teeth at his remark. Danny doesn't understand at all. "And what about my goals?" Her voice soon turned into frustrated shouts. "What am I supposed to do about becoming a Leray master? What do I do about all the people back home who want my head on a stick? Do you think they care about that sentimental crap?!"
Danny stood back up, trying to make her see the bigger picture. "You've already been pardoned for that. And there still isn't any proof yet that the symbol can't be removed." Jane didn't have a reply, but that expression of anger survived on her face. Danny sighed and sat back down, giving up already on figuring out what exact thing was bothering her. "I can't believe you're letting this get to you." Danny remember all of the amazing times they shared together in Sprawn Valley, back when Jane was still herself. Even while she was lying to him about her symbol, she was still persistent, and determined to do anything and everything it took to find peace for herself. "Back in Sprawn Valley, the Jane I knew would never have given up on this."
The Jane he knew? Jane pondered why he would say something like that. Was she really acting all that different from before? And what's it to him anyway? Why are Danny and Taylor always so interested in her? Why do they care in the first place? It doesn't make any sense!
Taylor tried to keep her optimistic about it too, since it is possible that the symbol can still be removed. "Don't worry about it Jane. The people at Eldora Tower know what they're doing. They'll find some way of removing the symbol."
Jane nodded her head in denial of that hope. "How can you even be so sure of that?" Jane tried to draw the image of her symbol in her mind; a bright blue oval shape with a tiny open circle in the center, and two rings coming out as if to represent a planetoid. Sometimes the symbol's color wasn't the same, but it never really made a difference either way. "I keep thinking about the night I was branded by it, and the week it nearly killed me, the time I spent sick, and the other time the symbol's activation made me pass out afterwards. I think about what's going to happen to me later." Her voice lost nerve again, her body trembling from the thought of it all. "And I get so scared!"
She's shaking as if she were cold. Jane just said she is scared. Taylor quickly realized what that meant, and hugged Jane on the side for comfort.
Danny could hardly believe it, but that look of fear in Jane's eyes is more real than it will ever get. I should have thought of that. Jane has a symbol that nobody knows about, that nobody understands, and the only thing certain is how dangerous it can be, as well as how unlikely it is to remove.
"I don't know anything about this crest," Jane admitted. "How am I supposed to find peace with that? How am I supposed to go on knowing I'll never remove this dangerous tattoo? I may not even be human anymore!" Finally embracing Taylor's comfort, Jane let all of her feelings pour from the depths of her soul.
"Jane?" Danny tried to comfort her anyway he could, but all anyone could ever offer her now is hope that things will work out somehow. Knowing Jane, that will never be enough.
Jane didn't even let Danny get any words in either, since there was more to that for what's really bothering her. "And how can anyone outside make peace like this? I never thought America or Kalamo could be such scary and dangerous places." Taylor let Jane go, giving her more time to think. If Nyar choses the wrong guy just to convert credits to cash, he could be murdered? What kind of screwed up planet is this place? "Without magic in anyone's lives, nothing good ever happens to anyone."
"You know that isn't true," Danny settled. "Did you forget how much fun you had learning about this place? Or how about going to the park several times? We even went to the beach. Taylor found a new friend and went to the outlet mall. Nyar even took us out for amazing food. There might still be a few places Nyar can have us go to." Danny knew it was true, but refused to spoil the surprise for now. "You can't tell me that you didn't have just a little fun, because I was there beside you for half of it all."
"Why should that matter," Jane retorted. "Just because I was having fun doesn't change how horrible the world is without magic."
"Look," Danny stated. "Even I got used to the Leray magic thing given enough time, and realized that no matter where you are, every place in the world has its downside, including any sort of activity you could be doing. But you coming here with us to learn all of this stuff, whether you like it or not, that's part of your journey. You told me that yourself." Jane still wasn't accepting the answer, instead choosing to pout in silence. But nobody could ever lie to themself forever. "If you think I'm lying, I bet you didn't know that before you and I met, I was scared to death of Leray magic, thanks to what Nyar tried to warn me about. But I never really knew what to think until I got my own hands dirty."
Why is he saying this? Jane knew what he was trying to do for her, but trying to explain his own life story wouldn't change what's wrong now... Wait! Jane's eyes sharpened with a single exhale while remembering the look in Danny's eyes, on that very first day. He just said that he was afraid of magic, before they actually met in person. Danny and Taylor learned about it on the same night they arrived in Sprawn Valley, according to what they told her about it earlier. Does that mean...
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Jane recalled it all, that moment in the classroom. Before that day ever happened, Jane never managed to find any real friends despite getting close to it, but having trained all the time for magic was one of the main reasons. Most of the time, nobody ever understood how cool or amazing magic is. That day, where two new students arrived, as normal as Taylor was behaving, Danny was staring at Jane, right in her eyes as if he had never seen such a person in all his life. But in a way, that's actually true. To Danny, at that time, Leray magic was a totally new and mysterious concept. Thus, the people that were always involved with it were just as mysterious as aliens from another world.
Danny? Is that the reason you kept staring at me that day? You must have thought that I was some kind of freak, or some person constantly involved in magic. You weren't attracted to me; you were just curious. From an outsider looking in, even the people there are total unknowns. Danny wanted to learn everything about Leray magic, despite knowing how scary it could be. And Taylor, well... Maybe she just jumped into the subject because she thought it was cool. She seemed more normal than him either way. What incredible powers must I have inside? That must have been their questions for her, despite never asking directly, since it would probably seem rude.
But Jane knew this was a double-sided epiphany, for herself included. In all her life, Jane only tried to train one group of unwilling people who turned out not to care about Leray magic. After that, she became more distant to involving anyone ever again. But even while Danny and Taylor were curious about her, Jane remembered how she felt about them that same night. It got much weirder when Danny and Taylor wanted to show her what they could do with magic, despite never learning it. They had to be people new to Sprawn Valley; Jane was sure of it, and she decided to teach them both as much as she could. Jane now had to ask herself why. Why did she take her own interest in these two? Why did she also become curious about them both? Is the thought about outsiders of Sprawn Valley just as similar as they've seen her before? Danny and Taylor, both of them like total aliens. They brought their worldviews into a place where it may not have belonged, into an unknown and scary world. What did Jane do in all that time but try and push the magic concept further into them? It turns out that Danny was afraid of Leray magic, while Taylor was pretending to get into it just to hide her own secrets. Yet Jane never saw that coming?
Still, back in Eldora City, they were both honest with her about it without her ever asking. Danny and Taylor, they both will never love Leray magic like she does. Despite that... "Danny? Taylor?" Jane felt awkward just speaking, since she just spent minutes in dead silence drowning in her thoughts. "If you don't love Leray magic, why do you both defend it so much? Like every time Nyar says something about it? Why do you care about whether people can use it or not?"
"Well," Danny began his answer before Taylor could, but they both likely had the same thoughts, leaving Danny to now take her question in the spotlight. "Leray magic, it's... It means everything to some people that I know. Despite what Nyar might claim, people choose to live their lives by living with magic, battling with it constantly to raise their money and experience. They live and breathe magic, and in return, Sprawn Valley's government allows and encourages this, while also protecting their own citizens from those who use it for the wrong reasons. If you love or hate magic, I don't care either way. But to try and tell somebody else how they should live their life, to try and prevent them from doing that one thing that actually makes them happy, I don't care how much you know about anything in the context; that's just wrong!" Jane listened to every word, since Danny now seemed so sure of himself. "There were two reasons that Taylor and I wanted to help you remove your symbol. What I just said applies as one of them. Nobody can tell you how to live your life, and I don't care if symbols are illegal or not; it isn't your fault that you beamed that thing onto you."
"But it is—"
"Jane!" Danny barked. "You did everything by the book back then. When you accepted that unknown orb from that stranger in the woods, you had no idea who he was. So naturally, you couldn't trust him. Am I right so far?" Jane didn't answer, so Danny continued his breakdown through her own eyes. "And because you didn't trust him, his advice was just as void, whether it be a warning or a plea. Since you couldn't fit the damn thing into a supply sphere, the next best thing would be to use it. You even told me before - that spell bombs with negative permanent effects were beyond rare. Everything you did was logical and normal at the time. So if you keep telling me it's your fault for getting branded, I'll start throwing Shadow Waves at you until you admit that I'm right."
"Uh," he's serious? Danny must have forgotten that he literally can't use any form of magic right now. Still, he would willingly attack her with Leray magic just to change her mind?
"Anyway," he continued, "the other reason we helped you out is because from the moment you decided to teach us about magic, we've been good friends. And I'd like to think we still are."
"I couldn't have said it any better myself," Taylor added. "To be honest though, I'm beginning to love magic for the right reasons, more than I did before. I think I just needed time to warm up to the idea." Taylor knew that in the beginning, she could use Leray magic to her advantage, in the event that her parents came to capture her. In fact, she actually did do just that. But that's not a yearning for power; that's just a defensive attachment; they're not the same thing.
"And hell..." Danny felt a little embarrassed to admit this too, but Jane might as well know the reason they are all friends. "Having you absent from our journey to the airport would have been such a drag. You can be so stubborn all the time. All of your hyperactive energy did get on my nerves for some time... But if I had to really go without that in my life, it would suck! Everything would be so lame, all the time!"
Jane almost gasped at his confession, but was reminded simultaneously what he meant by that. Jane could remember just as well. Most of the time, she always had some sort of passionate energy, whether she was happy or angry, backed into a corner, or sentenced to a state of solitude, but even she was aware of the past few weeks. This horrible city is finally getting to her, isn't it? Or maybe it's the stupid symbol? Regardless of it all, Danny and Taylor are choosing her to be her friend, simply because they want to. That's all there is to it.
Jane sighed, attempting to wear just a slight smile. "I know you both love me as a friend."
Taylor hadn't heard of it phrased that way before, but it feels right. She can love someone in so many different ways, and this right here is love for her best friend.
"But," Jane glared at Danny with her sharp green eyes. "If you threaten to beat me down with a barrage of Shadow Waves, I'll have to teach you a lesson in combat, Danny Mason."
Danny's throat tightened, since Jane sounded so intense saying that. Jane could whip anybody out of shape with the flick of a wrist, but maybe one day, that symbol won't be as powerful as she thinks it will be. "I guess I'll take you up on that challenge, after we return to Sprawn Valley."
"Wait, you mean we're going back to Sprawn Valley after all?" Taylor knew this was the first time hearing this from Danny. Naturally, Jane was curious too.
"I don't know when just yet," he reminded. "I mean, I really need to see my folks as well. So I'm still thinking of some way to arrange that."
Taylor thought of something else while reminded of Jane's unusual symbol. Danny of all people would be the guy who could figure it out. "While you're at it, don't be shy about thinking of a way to remove Jane's symbol."
Jane held her arms in friction for personal warmth. "Yeah, like he'll ever understand that."
Danny however decided to give the idea another pondering, his curious expression returning. "Well, first we have to find out what symbol the thing is. Everyone claims the symbol is experimental, even I agree with that. But we can't rule out the possibility that the symbol has actually existed before in the past. Or maybe it was modified from an existing symbol that is well known. And then..." Danny stared straight up at the bright moonlight above. Many times now has he heard of this concept before, that Leray magic actually comes from the moonlight. This means, if any other country had the right technology or knowledge of how to properly convert that light into magical energy like the mages of Sprawn Valley do, there would be two countries practicing magic, not just one. Anyway, that's not the point. "There must be some connection with the moon and symbols. I don't say that just because you were blasted with that light in Blue Port."
Jane remembered it all too well, but somehow, even Danny and Taylor could sense the connections. If magic comes from lunar light, it would mean that symbols also come from the same source.
Leray magic is a converted form of lunar energy, because of some strange rule where people can't directly harness that pure energy, or something like that. But then would that raw format of Leray energy, or perhaps dark magic be the direct source of symbol creation? "How do you create a symbol in the first place?"
Checkmate. Jane never thought of this before, and that's because nobody really knows how to generate symbols on their body, except for the criminals who do. This time, the spell bomb did all the work for her. Maybe Danton would know how to draw symbols. If he knows that, what else is he not saying?
"Anybody?" Danny thought Jane would know, but she doesn't. That's just it then. How can Jane give up when there isn't even enough information to go on right now? "I guess that is the question of the day then. But we don't have to figure it all out tonight."
Well Danny didn't really figure anything out, but he does know how to ask the right questions. Taylor almost laughed, comparing his skills to that of a detective.
"Thanks for helping. I guess I just need to rest. I'll worry about it later." Jane stood up, clenching her jacket and finding the direction of Nyar's home.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Danny knew Jane wouldn't really answer him honestly if she weren't alright. She is still getting freaked out about that symbol. It isn't fair for anyone in Sprawn Valley to treat her any differently because of that, but Jane too will beat herself up over it, even if the entire problem is just having an unfair advantage for battling.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Jane didn't turn around to face either of them when she answered, and she shortly began pacing back to the house on her own.
Danny knew Jane was still going to be stinging for a while longer, but he didn't want to move just yet, not on a beautiful night like this. From that look Taylor was giving him, even she wanted to stay longer out here, maybe.
"Well at least we have a moment alone."
One way to put it. Danny felt just a little more nervous than before. He remembered asking Taylor out on Route 787, and she actually agreed to it. His request was totally genuine; it just didn't feel the same with all of the other girls he ever asked out before. Beyond this, Taylor is still more beautiful than all of them.
Why is he acting all skittish now? Taylor knew things were awkward from the start. Danny just had weird timing is all. But after everything that's happened, she was sure of herself now. Any moment without Danny was hurting more than it did before, more torturous than anything she ever felt. "I missed you at the mall."
Danny felt bad about that one, but he couldn't help it then. "I had work." Oh, that didn't sound right coming out. "Er, we can always go somewhere else any other time, just the two of—" Danny stopped short, when his memory reel stopped short on one single moment. It was always enough to freeze his nerves. After all said and done, Danny was the one who let Taylor fall off that cliff. She fell, and under any different circumstances of detail, her head would have cracked open completely, leaving a pool of blood just under her—
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Chapter Theme Shift: Premonition ~ Vampire Knights OST
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Why'd he shut up all the sudden? Taylor had to take more time to notice that Danny was shivering slightly. Is he really cold with just a mild breeze? "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Danny swallowed. "Just don't worry about it."
No way! He's doing it again?! "Hold on. I know that look. You were thinking about the cliff again, weren't you?"
"Can you really blame me for that?" It must have been obvious. Danny wasn't always reminded of that incident, but he could never really forget about it. His arrogance almost got her killed!
Taylor hopped off the bench and hunched down in front of Danny, clenching both of his sweaty hands. "None of that! No one is blaming anybody." Taylor watched as Danny's face nearly sunk again. Why is he always like this? "You're different now than you were before. I know you would never let anything bad happen to me again. And I won't let you push me away like that!"
Danny let all of that feeling out with a long breath. "I'm sorry Tay. You know I didn't mean it like that."
"Then why can't you just think of all the good times instead?"
"Have you ever seen a body drop that far down before? Right before you hit the ground, I couldn't help but predict what was going to happen next. Even though you're alive now, I still play it out in my head that you never survived."
"Why?"
"Because I still find it to be an unbelievable miracle that you didn't die or explode from that fall." Danny met her eyes again, certain of why she hated this memory, but now his words just made her look like she was about to hurl. "You're still alive Taylor!" Danny knew it was stupid to think otherwise. "You being here right now, holding my hands, that's my miracle. I think about it because I know you're alive, and I'm thankful to whatever cosmic force saved you."
Cosmic force? Oh, right. Danny was never really a religious person, but lately he's spoken more about god and miracles. He must really think there is a god just because she survived.
"I just feel like I'm supposed to thank someone. That's all."
"Why can't you just be happy that we're both here now, together?"
"Of course I am." How could Taylor think that? Even right now, she just looked surprised by that statement. Danny stood up gripping her hands more firmly. "You don't think I go about my day with an idle mind, do ya? Whatever it is that I'm doing, you're always in my thoughts. And that's because I love you too Taylor. Always! I would never have it any other way."
Though it took another moment, Taylor accepted the tingling sensation around her as she smiled and twirled Danny and herself back onto the bench. "I know you do. I just wanted you to say it this time."
If Danny could twist his entire face from confusion, he would have done it right now in front of her. Why now must Taylor be a spaz? Could she not have just asked some other way? "Well, getting back on the subject, I know I said some things to Jane so she would feel better, but..."
"Don't tell me," Taylor interrupted. "You don't truly love Leray magic like everyone else?"
"I guess a part of me just doesn't understand it. I mean," after everything everyone has ever taught him, "does anyone out there really know what Leray magic is? Most people hate magic because of that mystery. And yet plenty of people practice it all the time, still not fully understanding it."
"I don't know what you mean. People who live by magic in Sprawn Valley understand enough to get by."
"But even they have limited information. You've got school history lessons on magic, dark magic that is forbidden, countless spells, and then the source of all magic. But something still doesn't feel right."
"Is it about the symbols?" Danny didn't act this way about it before. But even right now, he's just being himself, and Taylor was happy enough to indulge his thoughts.
"No... I think something else might be up. What if, and I know this will sound far out there... What if the government of Sprawn Valley, that is Danton and all of his team members are covering something else up? Not about symbols, but about where magic actually comes from?"
"Why would they do that? Aren't they on our side?"
"Sides wouldn't matter when you consider the severity regarding disclosure of confidential information. Let me put it this way then." Danny kept his eyes on Taylor, hoping to have her attention in the event she does understand. "Sprawn Valley from the beginning of time is the only country in the world that has available Leray magic. And from what I can tell, that is because they have the technology and ancient knowledge of how to convert magic with the mages - which contain the same skills."
"Okay..."
"Technology and knowledge. That isn't too difficult to obtain given enough time. Don't you think it is strange that in all of the nine or ten centuries that Leray magic has existed, no other country has ever been able to replicate those results?"
"But I thought everyone outside the country hated Leray magic, so why would they?"
"No," Danny denied. "Not everyone. I'm sure there are plenty of people like you and me who would almost kill just to have Leray magic installed in your own area. There should be agencies researching the concept of magic based on how to first generate it, and then have that process replicated in their own research zones. I just know there are people interested in that, so why has it not happened yet anywhere else? Nobody can answer that question."
"Well it would have to do with the way they process their magic source. Wait, yeah." Taylor didn't realize how fun that was just now, to try and piece this together. But then how does it all work?
"Then that must mean," Danny continued, "that whatever process mages use to convert Leray magic, or perhaps harness the initial energy source is highly classified, something nobody in their right mind would ever share."
"Well then, maybe it should stay secret."
"A good point. But in Jane's case," Danny reminded, "Danton should not hold any information back about such things. You never know if something like the source of magic or its process in conversion might hold the answer to removing her symbol. I'm starting to get that bad feeling again, like somebody we know, such as the guy at the top of the chain is hiding something from us which could be helpful."
"Is it worth checking out?"
Danny thought about it long enough. "No. If I get Jane to ask Danton about it over the phone, he'll just pretend not to know. I think I'll implant the idea into her mind when Jane decides to go back to Sprawn Valley. That way, she can ask the man himself in person. If Jane finds out that Danton really is hiding something which could potentially help her, what do you think she would do in that situation?"
Taylor answered, "You don't have to remind me. It would be a repeat of her championship battle against him, or something else involving explosions and such. Jane can get completely physical if she really loses her temper."
"So can you."
"What was that?"
"What?" Danny poked. "You don't remember? Back when we found Jane in Lennith City? I think you gave her an extra bruise in the face, not that Jane didn't deserve it at the time."
"Oh." Taylor glanced down at her hand, balling it into a fist. She did do that to Jane, huh? "Maybe I should be careful not to pick up any of her habits."
"And I'll make sure not to provoke you either. But if we both ever step foot into Sprawn Valley again, you and I are having a battle of strength."
"Fine by me." Danny sure is something. To think that he was afraid of Leray magic, so he tried first not to learn any of it just to protect Taylor from that exposure. Then he learned it for the same reason, pledging to protect her by using magic. And he thinks he did her wrong at what point in time? Come on, you big idiot.
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Chapter Theme Shift: Feels Like Goodbye ~ Joe Bongiorno
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"Taylor?" With her eyes gleaming back at him, Danny knew what promise he needed to keep. "Whatever happens now, all I know is that I will never let any harm come to you, from any world. I hope you understand what that means. I'm never leaving your side anymore. So if I do end up visiting my parents in Kalamo, I want you right there with me. I can hide you better than you think I can."
"And what if I don't go to Kalamo?"
Tough question, but the possibility does exist. "Then I'll just find a way to bring my parents to me instead."
Of course he would have a backup plan. Danny is getting smarter than he used to be, sharper as well. It's too hard to believe that he was never like this before Sprawn Valley. Danny must have hid it the whole time, but all the way back to the first day they met in the park while Taylor was being bullied by some creep, Danny chose her as his friend over anyone else.
She slid closer to Danny, wishing to feel the warmth of his body heat longer. If only things were any easier... "You know, you don't always have to keep your distance if you're nervous."
"Who said anything about being nervous?" Danny's face was only a foot away from Taylor's, but nervousness was absent right now. "I know. I've never been good at all that touchy romance stuff couples do. That's probably because most girls turn me down, and the few that didn't want anything to do with me... But then I met you, and realized that relationships are about a lot more than that."
"Keep talking. You're good at that part."
Seeing her smile let Danny do the same. "I'm not totally clueless. Look up there," Danny pointed. "We have the whole sky, and this beautiful full moon to ourselves."
"Yeah." Her voice was soft then, a spoken whisper ready to slumber. Taylor slightly leaned in towards Danny's shoulder too; feeling more relaxed than before.
"There are only some things I'm good at. You want to learn one more?" Taylor looked at him now in question, their faces almost touching. But instead of letting her talk, Danny leaned his face in closer, all to hold Taylor's lips inside his mouth. As sudden as his move was, Taylor didn't jump away or slap him silly, despite her racing heart. Danny was sure this is what she wanted.
She could feel her pulse about to jump out of her chest, but Taylor did her bet to remain calm. Sharing her first kiss with Danny, he's so warm and... Taylor maneuvered her neck slightly, allowing herself a chance to kiss him back... So this is what making out feels like. Why did she not try this with him before?
Danny held her closer while they both shared saliva, and he stroked the back of her hair gently. A wave of emotions spilled over into his thoughts, melting everything else away entirely. Taylor! You're the most wonderful person in the world, and you mean everything to me. "I love you." He could barely get the words out while sucking faces, but that's all he needed to say.
Taylor continued this with him, and vowed to spend the rest of tonight right here on this bench. Forget about time or sleep. Tonight is their night, and nothing could change that. Whatever happens now, Danny, I'll always be with you, always! Let my name be stamped into your heart forever.