What does it mean to trust someone?

Is the sign of trust means that you are willing to turn your back to someone while you give them a knife? Does it mean that opening yourself up to that person? Even if we risk getting hurt in the process. The risk of being betrayed and suffering damage that may take months to recover from.

To trust someone is to turn your back on them and trust them that they do not betray you. And so it takes skill to have a good eye on people, and to become good at that skill means that you must suffer getting hurt from the people you love as well as being betrayed by them at a price.

It’s what my Mother used to say to herself and to me at times. Though i cannot understand what it means, what i do understand is that trusting someone takes a lot of courage and skill to achieve. To risk something that may be even greater for yourself.

My Mom often talked about the nature of humans and what it means when interacting with it. It got worse after i got kidnapped. She nagged and nagged at me for a whole day. At first i listened attentively but by the 2nd hour, i was bored out of of my mind as i just nodded as she talked.

By the 5th hour, i was dozing off at times but fortunately, my sister was there looking at me with a mean face, smacking my head with the butt of her spear every time she saw my head drooping.

At the end of it, my head was pulsating from all the hits i took and if someone cut my head bald, they would see my scalp becoming swollen and red. Last to say it was not a fun time for me, i would be annoyed and even mad at them when they were in the middle of scolding me, yet i couldn’t as i could see tears running down my mom’s cheeks as her eyes turned red.

So in the last half of the day, my mom started to how and wail while she scolded me, while my sister kept her cool and looked on with an impassive face. Yet in that moment i could see her grip from her spear tightening as veins bulged in her hands.

What ever happened after that i had no idea, but what i did hear was that due to the incident, my dad turned the whole dynasty upside down because of his boiling rage. At one time i saw the Family Guardians gathering in the grounds and set off to god knows where.

It wasn’t until a week after they came back, yet they were doused in blood all over. But as i looked closer, it wasn’t their blood they were wearing. Even after a year passed, my family never talked about it again. As i also noticed, the surrounding security became even tighter than usual.

Overall, even though the people protecting me in the shadows increased with also the constant nagging of my sister, everything was fine and dandy. I could still move around wherever i went as usual.

…

A bright light covered my body, waking me up from my slumber. My mind was still hazy about what i just experienced, so it took a bit of time for me to recover. Warm sunshine bathed my tired body. I felt the soft and comfy sheets of whatever i was lying on as well as the pillow on my head reminiscent of a bird’s feather. The soft feeling of a blanket covered my body as i lay asleep in whoevers room i was.

I sit up to look out the window near the bed. I saw the hustle and bustle of the people in this city. Merchants selling their products, while the citizens bartered at them for the prices. Their voices were loud enough for me to hear them a couple stories up.

‘So I’m back.’ i thought. I try to stand up as i remember that i still need to talk to Mr. Samuel and Mr. Frank. But i failed as i tumbled into the ground, being on my knees.

‘Don't stand up kid, you’re still weak from the soul binding.’

I heard a voice that surprised the living daylights out of me, i look around the room but noticed that no one was there except me. Okay, now I’m confused.

‘Its me child.’

A small person manifested on my right shoulder. A small man wearing navy blue shorts and a colorful t-shirt designed with flowers. The small man was also wearing sunglasses, as if he was out on vacation.

“I am on vacation, kid. Compared to the place i was trapped, anywhere is a vacation spot to me.”

He conjured up a small cup and drank from the straw of it.

“Huh, who are you?”

“Sigh, this little… Its me kid, Its Lucius, remember? The person who you are connected by soul?”

“Ah, so it’s you, Mr. Lucius, didn’t recognize you there.”

“Its fine, child.”

It took a moment for me to remmeber who it was on my shoulder. Memories flashed into my head as i now remember what i just did. Yet the moment i went into the portal, everything was fuzzy from there. But judging from Mr Lucius now being binded with me, it must have meant i succeeded.

Even though the process is alien to me but whatever.

“Oh gotta hide kid, someones coming.”

The door opened and creaked every so slowly. The person who went in was Amanda, holding a tray of food. The moment she went in i said hi as i haven’t seen her in a while.

“Hi Amanda, long time no see, and is that food for me?”

But instead of saying hi back, she had a look of shock on her face as if she had seen a god walking on earth. Covering her mouth with both of her hands, she dropped the food she was holding, thus falling into the ground wasting good food. She could have given to me, you know.

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Before i could say anything, she made a dash out of the room and went downstairs, presumably. Before she comes back, let’s go back to bed first.

I pull myself up from the ground, though barely, and managed to lay down again in the bed, with my head staring towards the ceiling and my body sprawled in the bed.

In a few moments i already saw various people rushing into the room. Mr. Samuel entered first with mixed expressions while Mr. Frank followed behind with his usual indifferent expression. He also had a beer in hand as he entered.

Followed by Amy carrying cleaning supplies to clean up the mess she made. Mr. Samuel came near me and gazed at me for a few moments and said.

“So how you feeling, kid?”

I thought of it for a few moments, and with honesty i say.

“I actually feel fine, i don’t feel any pain in my body at least.”

“No, i meant the other thing.”

Ah, so he was meaning that. My fate being the one to destroy the world. Honestly, i was done thinking about that whole ordeal. I didn’t feel anything about it that much since for one, i already have someone helping me behind the scenes, but i don’t think anyone else but me needs to know of it.

“Well, Mr. Samuel, it is what it is.”

I shrug it off as i didn’t pay it any mind. I looked out the window to gaze upon the busy streets of the city. There was no point in thinking about it anymore. If it was already decided that my fate was like this, then the answer was really simple. In my madness i didn’t think of it but the solution was actually pretty simple.

“I just need to break my own fate. It’s not that complicated.”

I turn back to the others with a genuine smile on my face as i thought about my decision. My words caused a startled expression to appear on Mr. Samuel’s face. Mr. Frank didn’t react much as he just drank from his beer and left the room as fast as he came.

I didn’t mind it as i assumed that he was already so busy from taking care of the bar and of myself. I noticed that Mr. Samuel had a wide grin on his face as he heard what i said, and replied.

“That's the spirit,, kid. But breaking your fate int easy kid, many tried and many more have failed, so you sure you want to go down this path?”

“Yup positive.”

“It’s your death then.”

After that, Mr. Samuel left the room along with Amy, who just finished cleaning up. I gazed outside and saw the bustling crowd again as i pondered about my future. And i try to answer a question that is key to breaking my fate.

“Okay, so how exactly?”

“How? Simple child.”

Materialized in front of me was Mr. Lucius, in his vacationing form. He took a sip from his cup of juice and said.

“Just become strong kid.”

“Well, isn’t that obvious, Mr. Lucius? What i mean is how? And didn’t you tell me that in exchange for letting you out, you’ll help me break my fate?”

Mr. Lucius stood there rooted to the ground looking confused as to what i just said, but in a moment a look of realization came upon him as if he remembered something. In a short moment he took a composed and dignified stand which wasn’t that dignified in his action form, and said.

“Yeah um ehem, I did I? Okay then, ill just held you become super strong then, it’s not that complicated, really?”

My eyes shined as i heard his words. If it’s not that complicated, maybe even I can understand it and become strong.

“Don't get your hoped up kid, it maybe simple, but it is by no means easy. For Example.”

Mr. Lucius then conjured a magic circle the size of a fist, and on the surface it was very simple. So simple, in fact, that even a toddler can understand it given time. But the more i peer into it, the more it doesn’t make sense.

Once i made sense of what looks like an equation inside the circle, it suddenly changes into a more complicated equation, and once i understand that it repeats itself until i couldn’t even understand what i am looking at.

“This child is a magic circle that contains everything i know about magic. In it are the various spells, glyphs, ancient languages known and known to man. If it was any other person, the moment they would see this, they would go insane just from a single glance at it. But i made an exception as i simplified it enough for a mortal like yourself is able to look and understand it.”

So it was like that. But i have a question.

“How does this contain everything you know about magic?”

“Its like a visual representation, child. But it’s best you don’t look any further. You might turn into an idiot if you do so.”

I looked away as fast as i can for fear of my mind breaking. I just started out so i really don’t prefer breaking on the first few weeks here.

“Okay, so i get it, its impressive that you know this much, but how is it going to help me to become stronger? ”

Mr. Lucius gave a sigh and gazed at me for a few moments with a pitying look. I don’t know why he’s looking at me like that. I believe i asked a very simple and valid question.

“Ill teach you magic kid, that’s how.”

Ah, so that’s how. Facepalming, i thought of resting more than it seems. My mind isn’t that active as i thought it would be. I lay my head down on the pillow, looking up at the ceiling and pondering.

“Child, i admit that you may not be the brightest person i ever met, but you’ll do fine, i think.”

Mr. Lucius said as he pulled out a hammock from out of nowhere and lay down on it wearing his black sunglasses. His words aren’t that reassuring, to be honest.

Nevertheless, all I can do for now is believe and have faith in myself. And also the train is really hard. I closed my eyes as I wanted to drift into dreamland again, but failed as someone busted through the door. Opening my eyes in shock, i looked to see who it was, and realized that it was Mr. William.

I was confused as to why he was here, but then i remember that i was laying here for god knows how long.

“Cosmo, it’s good that you woke up. Time for training.”

“But…”

Before i could finish my words, Mr. William grabbed me and teleported into the training grounds. I landed on the ground with a thud and saw that i was back in that dreadful place. I was about to say something but was interrupted by a {Hellsphere} that grazed my head just off a few inches of hitting me.

I already knew who it was and started like my life depended on it. Which it does. Looking back, i saw three {Hellspheres} forming in the air around Ms. Flying tiger. Her crimson eyes were peering into me with no hint of emotions as she launched the spells directly into me.

Seeing that there were three {Hellspheres} about to kill me, i moved my body to respond before i could even think it through. I didn’t know why, but I conjured a scythe into my hands based on instincts. The length of the handle matching my own height, and its blade shimmering silver as if it was calling my name. I wanted to admire it a bit more but i don’t have the time for it at the moment. Let’s do so after.

I gazed at the incoming {Hellshperes} coming together side by side of each other. Before it reached me any further, i grabbed the handle of the scythe with both hands and swung it sideways, cutting the {Hellspheres} in half, grazing my sides by just a few inches as it flew beside me. Hitting the dirt behind me with a great boom that echoed in the training grounds.

Surprised that i managed to even do that, i looked at the scythe and admired its lustrous surface, reflecting my face on its sharp blade.

“How the hell did i do that?”

‘It’s because of me Kid’ Mr. Lucius Said in my mind.

‘How?’

‘Its simple really, the scythe is a gift from me and along with the scythe were some basic stances and forms i imprinted in your mind.’

‘Cool! Thanks Mr. Lucius.’ i replied with apparent joy in my voice.

‘Don't thank me yet kid, you’re training with that little lady over there isn't over’

A bigger and more powerful {Hellsphere} appeared right in front of my face. Time seemed to have slowed down as it seemed that my life flashed before my eyes.

“Crap.”