Chapter 9
“Thank you for saving my daughter,” she said while bowing her head toward me.
“Oh.. um, you’re welcome.. I guess?” I said hesitantly, because I felt like I should thank her daughter as well, that the notion I was the one saving her was.. not really accurate.
We.. kinda saved each other, yeah.. She pulled me from my thought, my dark thought, I was falling, but before I could fall too deeply, she came to me, with willpower alone, I knew it was true because I saw her state.. and she did it for me. A stranger, who she just witnessed, came running, face bloody, gripping tight a knife, blood running down its length, that was just used to kill a.. bad person. But she didn’t know that, how I looked when I came could have made several kinds of misunderstandings, coupled with the panic she obviously felt at that moment, and despite all that, despite just experiencing a horrendous situation herself, she trusted me, and comforted me. And I respected her for that, adored even. I knew I couldn’t have done what she did for me.
I knew I would have felt even more horrified then, one killer exchanged for another. The only reason I could stomach what I did was because of this new power of mine, I knew I had the opportunity to fight back, so I used it. But she was powerless when I came near her, hell, she almost couldn’t even move her body. And that feeling, if I was in her position, just by thinking it, was scary. So what she did for me, I treasured it.
…
I was too far gone inside my mind at this point, that I didn’t realize Yafumi’s mother had stood up and walked over. I only realize it when I felt gentle arms covering me in a hug, blanketing me, it assured me that I was safe, though how did I even feel that from a hug was anyone's guess.
“There there, it’s over, you don’t have to worry about anything,” her voice too, was gentle and pleasant to the ears.
“Let it all out, it’s okay. You did a great job..” What was she talking about? Let what out? I didn’t cry, or.. did I?
“You are, a good man. I know it, I believe it, and you should too..” she continued, her hug tightened around my body. I hesitantly brought my arm to her back as well, and we stayed like that for a minute.
When I felt calm again, we backed off each other, and I immediately noticed something on her shoulder, and I swore, that the wet spot on her shoulder was not in any way come from me. It was already there when I hugged her, case closed.
I excused myself from her and go to the bathroom, to refresh myself, I had enough sad thoughts in one day, full capacity, done.
~
I saw my face in the mirror after I washed it, haggard, bag under my eyes, and generally just looked miserable. But seeing my face got me thinking. Could I Observe myself? The answer was, yes, I could. And it just showed my regular status. Oh yeah, I did get that new Observe feature, right? I should test it, but whom should I use it on? My self? Nah, it cost mana, it would be a waste on me, I rather use it on someone else. Maybe I could ask Izumi permission to use it on her? It would be rude just to use it without asking first after what she did for me. Wait, she was an abyssal right? She should be, because I was pretty sure this part of the hospital was for supernatural only.
I headed out of the bathroom and found Izumi sitting beside her daughter again. I approached her and grabbed a chair on the way to put it near her for me to sit. “Feeling better?” she asked me curiously, with a worried tone that I slightly noticed.
“Yeah, I didn’t realize I was bottling it up still. I thought I was over it,” I shrugged and gave a chuckle to ease the situation. Feeling conscious about our earlier predicament.
“It’s quite alright,” she smiled reassuringly. “The first time, killing a person, whether they’re bad or not. It should be hard,” she added. “It is proof that you are a human being, you have a heart, a good heart.”
I nodded at her, already feeling better, but she wasn’t done it seemed.
“You shouldn’t be worried about what you have done.. you should be worried if you didn’t feel bad about killing anymore,” she slowly said, her tone colored by surety and conviction.
Seemed like the Takanashis were amazing women, I thought internally while I stared at her. And maybe she saw something on my expression because she covered her mouth in mirth.
“Ah, late bloomers. You’re like a child again, everything is a wonder, new things, new people, new reality, but.. same old.. violence, and brutality,” her tone darkens at the last part. “How long have you known the Abyss, honey?” she continued hurriedly.
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I quickly schooled my expression after she finished speaking, “It’s only been just one day I think, wait, what day is it today?” I asked.
“Sunday, you slept through the night,” she replied, amused.
“Huh, didn’t know I was that tired,” I shrugged. “two days then, since I got my power,”
“You have much to learn then,” she nodded to me with a soft smile. “The Abyss is.. a dangerous place..” again, with that dark tone. “I could teach you about the Abyss if you wanted,” she added, surprising me. “Not just to survive, but to better control your own power, to fight, to look out for yourself, and others you cherish,” she finished.
“Why would you do it for me, though? I’m just a stranger, and I didn’t really save your daughter if you have to know. We.. kinda saved each other,” I felt kind of embarrassed to admit it like that, but I told her anyway. “I’m thankful of course, if you really wanted to,”
She sighed then, “Honey, I heard what happened from the Yukis. It’s fine,” she answered. “Besides, my daughter just entered the Abyss too. I didn’t expect my child to have a latent power so strong she just only awoke to it when she was 18,” she looked at Yafumi's sleeping form then, “I had hoped she didn’t have one,” her eyes conveyed sadness, but it was hard to notice for me even this close. “So you’ll be training together with her, you have to protect her, you hear me?” she asked, her face stern.
I nodded, showing my willingness, this was a good opportunity that wouldn’t just come for free.
“A favor for a favor then,” she nodded, her face relaxed again, “I’m sorry I have to put you up to this, honey. But..” she sighed. “It’s complicated,” she whispered while looking down.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to explain it, I don’t want to pry into personal business,” I told her with a tone that I hoped was reassuring. She only nodded absentmindedly, still looking down.
I didn’t know what to do to comfort her, or if I even should. So I just told her what I intended to do in the first place. “Hey, can I test one of my new magic spell on you? I figured it out just earlier and wanted to see the result of it, it’s harmless!” I worded it like that because I wasn’t sure if I should tell anyone about how my power worked.
“Sure, but I don’t know if it will result in anything if you use it on me, honey” she answered after she finally looked up.
“What do you mean?” I asked, curious. She fall silent for a moment before she shook her head.
“It’s nothing, you can try it on me,”
So I used Observe, charged with mana. I didn’t know how much I should use, but because we were safe, and my mana was full. I used about 90% of my mana and cast Observe.
For some reason, she felt it when I used Observe, maybe because this one used mana.
“Oh, this.. feels like.. divination..” then she made an alarmed face. “No! Please, stop it!” she exclaimed, her face desperate. But it was already too late, the result was in front of my eyes.
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Name : Izumi Takanashi
Age : 51
Guild : None
Level : 37
Relationship : 83
Hp : 345/750
Mp : ?/440
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Weakness : Inability to use mana, weak physical body.
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Condition : Mana Poisoning, Damaged Core.
[Expanded] Mana Poisoning & Damaged Core
Izumi Takanashi is in a constant state of mana poisoning, which originated from her damaged core not being able to purify mana fast enough before it circulate inside her body.
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Mood :
-feeling remourse because she didn’t prepare better for her daughter introduction into the abyss, she should’ve known better.
-happy because her daughter is safe in the end, and managed to find a good partner at her side, that she is sure now will protect her daughter when she need it.
-sadness because her condition prevent her from protecting her daughter from the abyss’s danger.
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Relevant Information & History:
Izumi Takanashi was a former heir to the Takanashi Guild, which was now extinct after their war against another Guild. Izumi managed to escape the fall of her Guild by employing the help of her fiance and several loyal guild member, while being pregnant at the same time, she was the only one that survived but in the end, almost died due to severe injury. She was found by some random Abyssal group, but they didn’t recognize her identity. After being healed to prevent death, she was shortly put into a Mana Factory.
There was a fault in the machine she was put into, resulting in her core being damaged. When it was discovered, the group decided to sell her via the Abyss Auction, but before their plan came to fruition, the factory was attacked by the expanding Yuki Guild then. To ensure her safety and that of her future child, she made a deal with the Yuki Guild with what remaining wealth she could find buried in her former guild secret stash.
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I was a fucking idiot. Of course the overcharged Observe would give me relevant information. I should have known, should have told her what the skill did. And I just said I wouldn’t pry about personal business. I groaned a little thinking how dumb I was.
I heard a sigh, so I braced for the incoming anger that sure would follow, but it didn’t.
“It’s fine, hon. I would need to tell my daughter about it in the future anyway, and you too need to understand why I asked a favor of protecting my daughter, being on her side, and generally being a good friend,” she smiled at me. “She’s a good girl, deserve better than fussing over her sick mother all week, she didn’t have that many friend either,” she continued. “So, can you be that someone for her?”
I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded to her again, face serious, so she could recognize my resolution.