December 23rd, the Sunday before Christmas, Schmidt is as reliable as ever. He’s spending most of his days in his small shop of comic books selling all kinds of goodies to customers. The only thing people ever come for is candy. On Sundays he serves Dream Catchers. Depending on their order, he’ll even serve them on days that are reserved for civilian customers. Since he lives on the outskirts of town, he has rather relaxing workdays for the most part. Some would ask how he keeps himself afloat while he answers in riddles keeping his secrets.
“Sorry for only being able to make time for right before Christmas! Hope I didn’t ruin your plans,” Schmidt says. This brawny figure is rocking in a chair clearly not made for rocking around. The pun on his sweater is a pun most fathers would think of. ‘How rude-olph me to eat the last cookie,’ it says with a reindeer eating a cookie.
“It’s fine. We don’t really have any plans for Christmas,” Shen says.
“I’m guessing you’re busy. Shop and family keeping you busy I suppose?” Nikolay adds.
Schmidt slightly grimaces as Nikolay unintentionally strikes a soft spot.
“Sunny, Selen… I’m not upset at the both of you, but you have to be more cautious when it comes to addressing a Dream Catcher’s personal history. Many have lost loved ones or never had anyone to begin with,” Schmidt claims. “I certainly have though I wouldn’t mind telling you more as long as you’re comfortable.”
Schmidt grabs two wooden chairs from the back while offering them a basket of fruits and sweets. Why he’d be so hospitable remains a mystery. From the way Smoker had dismissed them just a few days ago, you’d believe they’d be less hospitable.
Nikolay is quick to scarf down apples Schmidt had peeled and cut up for them.
“I believe it’s best that I start off with myself. Schmidt is my last name yet I am not afraid of having my identity out there. Do you know why?”
“Because it’s a common last name?”
“Exactly. Owning such a shop isn’t quite as common but not a lot of people set foot in them. People tend to ignore them even when they’re intrigued. They’re kind of invisible. Every once in a while someone will waltz in, ask for something, order something, and so much more. Sure, it’s still enough to keep myself afloat but nothing I could live a luxurious life with.”
Hiding among plain sight isn’t a bad strategy.
“Why are we even hiding to begin with? Shouldn’t magic be more well known and out there enriching people’s lives?” Shen asks.
“We don’t know. I doubt anyone other than the Sovereigns know.” He looks concerned yet it seems as if he’s settled with the fact that he might never find out. Not asking questions and keeping to himself has kept him alive for so long.
“Sovereigns?” Nikolay asks.
“They’re more akin to rumors. Among Dream Catchers you usually only know of your own position and those below you. Even when in possession of a higher quality vambrance, you likely have less access to information than you believe yourselves to be…”
“Why though? It’s a hassle for everyone, no?” Nikolay can’t grasp why anyone would keep such great knowledge to themselves. It’s irritating and frustrating yet it also excites him. Forbidden and forgotten knowledge that he’ll have to stumble upon or discover sounds like a great journey. But he still can’t forgive people being needlessly secretive for their own agenda.
“I don’t know. People are afraid of the unknown. Maybe that fear keeps them in check? I’m certainly afraid of asking questions the way you do.”
“Let’s circle back on loved ones and personal histories.”
They nod in agreement.
“I’m among some of the oldest Dream Catchers to have ever lived. At the age of 39 I’ve even outlived some of the strongest warriors out there. Could you imagine why?”
“Do Dream Catchers have a short life span?” Shen asks.
“The life expectancy of a Dream Catcher lies at 20 years. Six years higher than 70 years ago. A year lower than a decade ago. Our actual lifespans supposedly are much higher than that. But fighting demons and infighting poses such a great risk that even veterans are prone to dying. You wanted to study demons, right?” His fists are clenched and his lower lip is trembling. He’s keeping his composure but even he cannot be sure for how much longer.
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“Yes?”
“If I were you, I’d walk away. Fall in love, have a family, partake in society… There are many open secrets I’d rather keep from you. Knowing of them now wouldn’t do you any good. I became a Dream Catcher at 15, lost a friend just a year later, and gave up on being a Dream Catcher. I occasionally had to fight demons so that my Soul Solid wouldn’t be clouded by dark magic, but mostly kept to myself.”
“At 21 I had a kid. He was an accident but had it not been for him, I wouldn’t have married my at the time girlfriend. We were lucky enough to have our love grow stronger unlike most married couples that came about because of these circumstances.” He sighs. Obviously tragedy had struck at some point in his life.
“Then why are you fighting now? Or are you doing that to rid your Soul Solid of dark magic?” Shen doesn’t know of Soul Solids or what they mean to Dream Catchers. Right now, he’s focusing on Schmidt’s story. He can ask more questions later.
“Shortly before I turned 37, he took his own life. I tell most people that he had died in battle valiantly defeating a Ravager, but he was a Dream Catcher who had lost someone he held dear and couldn’t bear that burden. Our only son… My wife never knew why he did it but she could tell that I did. She left me and I haven’t heard of her ever since. I’ve been operating as Schmidt ever since that day. Crafting weaponry for Dream Catchers so they wouldn’t pass, discouraging rookies from fulfilling their duties as Dream Catchers… I can’t stand the thought of kids like you being dragged into this clusterfuck of debauchery.”
A suffocating silence fills the shop almost bursting through the windows as it crushes the owner and his visitors.
“I fight to help these kids. My craftsmanship exists to guarantee just a few more months of life for these unfortunate souls so that they may stumble upon an out that will shield them from harm.” His eyes are closed. Something says that he’s resigned to his fate.
“But a lot of them don’t find a way out, do they? They just die, right?”
“I’m an outlier because I ran away. Had I not, I likely would have partaken in a battle against a Ravager that had decimated dozens of us. I would have become just another part of a statistic at the age of 16 like so many others.”
“That’s why you told me to quit…” It finally dawns on Nikolay. “You can’t see me succeding. You can see me dying maybe even before the end of winter?”
“No. I can see you running away. Selen would die but you’d run,” Schmidt claims. It’s appalling that he’d even suggest Nikolay surviving over Shen.
“I knew of you beforehand thanks to Smoker. He, in a moment of weakness, divulged that you two were operating under your own agenda unaware of the danger that entailed. I told him to test you two with that Fusion. It’s also the reason why Mirage invited you without asking anything of the two of you.”
It’s a lot to process. No one had outright told Shen that he may die let alone that he’s going to. Nikolay’s heart grows heavier as he had been aware that lots of danger surrounds him, but being told, in some shape or form, that Shen may die because he had dragged his friend into this ordeal, is weighing it down even more. Yet, despite their fear, Shen is holding onto Nikolay’s hand.
“He wouldn’t run away!” There’s some sort of determination emerging within Shen. It’s all too familiar to Schmidt. “Even if he were to run away I wouldn’t let him.”
“That’s what my friend said about me. I dreamed of purpose yet instead I was left behind to watch others struggle and suffer while I cowered in fear.”
The silence that followed drew a wedge between them. Their image of this powerful warrior blacksmith clashing with the real Schmidt is draining them of their motivation. This warrior isn’t a hardened fighter offering advice to rookies…
“But you didn’t run away.” Though he initially reacted with being defensive, he can’t help but offer some sort of comfort. “You returned. You’re fighting again. You could have found someone else and gotten remarried but you didn’t. You could have a fresh start again yet you’re out here fighting.”
“Fighting? You don’t know the half of it but that was cute, boyscout. I’m sure that kind of pep talk will get you somewhere.” He begins cackling at Shen. Though his story is still lingering within the air, having some sort of reprive is good enough for now.
“Let me apologize for being disrespectful. If you can find answers with as little involvement as possible, go ahead. I can’t stop you. But be no Icarus. Don’t fly too close to the sun.”
A white glowing sphere emerges above them. It largens till it pops as a person lands behind them. She looks puzzled as she attempts to figure out who Schmidt’s customers are.
“I’m sorry. Was I interrupting something?” she asks. Her eyes are gray and spotted like the moon. Once again, Shen is met with an individual whose eyes speak of importance.
“No. You were just on time!” Another teaching oppurtunity for Schmidt… “Would you mind telling them why you joined the Magi?”
She’s taken aback as are Shen and Nikolay. Schmidt’s story was just used as an oppurtunity to teach them not to carelessly prod around people’s personal histories.
“I,” she stammers.
“I’m not seriously asking for it. I’m just trying to teach them a lesson,” he says. “You’re part of the Magi, right? You do study all sorts of peculiar Dream Catchers and demons, right?”
She nods. She still looks confused trying to make sense of what’s going on.
“We’re not supposed to speak of it, but you seem to respect and trust these two… Would you care to listen to the doctrine of the Magi?”