I didn't know what I was running for, it could have been because I just wanted to run, or maybe just affirm the one thing I could do better than the others, but I ran.
"It was bound to happen eventually, at least he got it over with."
Thrive said crossing their arms from within the mind space.
"Yea, but he also just yelled at Jax, that's gonna be kind of awkward when he gets back."
Will said with an exasperated sigh.
"Would you have preferred he kept it bottled up until it got someone hurt during a mission?"
"No, but an outburst wasn't the right way to go about it."
I pushed their voices down, they could bicker if they wanted, but I needed a vent that wasn't my best friend.
I pressed on, faster as I weaved through trees, letting my body run where it felt right until I found myself sliding into a clearing.
The feeling was hard to describe, like a feeling of necessity to be where I was at but also wrongness coming from the woods before me. I didn't even realize I had grabbed my spear until I held it out in a ready stance.
For a moment nothing seemed to happen until there was a blur of movement that came to an impossibly instant stop. Wind rushing past it as if finally catching up and going to far.
The creature was confusing and horrid to look at standing at the size of an average horse, but seemingly constructed entirely out of hands. Its hooves were clenched fists, its snout made up of dozens of hands woven and laced together to form a roughly equine shape. Yet ignoring all of that, the worst part about it was that it spoke.
"Chosen of Indigo, have you been sent to intercept my mission on behalf of your mistress?"
I stood, unsure for a moment but something told me not to lower my spear as I said.
"No, we just happened to cross paths, but something tells me you're not here for a simple chat."
"That is correct, I have been sent because Selene Drakemire, Liora Aeris, and Thalia Platinumhair have learned knowledge deemed forbidden and as such are the subjects of a knowledge hunt. Considering Selene Drakemire is another Chosen of Indigo she is exempt due to the immunity clause, are you here to invoke your immunity clause for another?"
"Immunity clause? I don't get what you are asking."
"Lady Indigo is the bride of Master Red, and therefore her chosen are exempt from the Familiers of Red through the Immunity clause, Lady Selene's will be used to protect herself, however you can choose someone in the hunt to spare, and which to leave at my mercy."
My body froze as a familiar coldness swept through me as I felt both so weak I would collapse, but also my body wouldn't dare move. The creature seemed to see this as a cruel mocking expression seemed to spread, the fingers along its body rippling as it seemed to find humor in my face.
"Ah, so you are unaware who I stand as the representative of. It seems you have met my master before, his presence alone seemed ingrained into you quite well."
The creature began to walk towards me, and past me as my body was too paralyzed by the old fear to move. I could barely even turn my eyes to see the look of superiority on the creature's face as it said.
"I shall kill one of them and leave the other, consider this a pity."
I strained against the fear, trying to turn, to make my mouth move, but even as my jaw quivered from the effort and my muscles hurt from the strain instinct rooted me in place. From within even Will and Thrive were pushing, but it was like something was helping my body suppress any attempt to move.
Tears built in my eyes as my entire body shook with effort.
Why?
Why can't I take on people twice my level like Selene?
Why can't I have the power Jax has?
I have tried.
I tried so hard.
I woke up and trained, and worked, and struggled, and fought, but I couldn't keep up.
Its not fair.
I want power
I can't be a burden
Even as these thoughts ran through my head the creature continued past me. My spear was raised, and I was ready to fight, but a single word shut me down like an off switch.
I hate it
I just wanted to go on an adventure, meet friends, explore dungeons. I knew that it wouldn't be pretty, or even nice all the time, but I wanted to at least try.
Instead I was welcomed into a world of vengeful beings beyond the paygrade of even the highest level adventurer, and with them came destruction, and pain, and death.
What did I ever do to get caught up in Ymer's hatred other than tell him no? What did I ever do to receive Misery's Ire other than strike back when he struck at me!?
It was cruel.
It was vindictive.
It was wrong.
My muscles strained against my body holding me hostage, pain shooting through me as a cruel ripping sound was faintly registered as my hand grabbed the ripcord and pulled.
Flames shot from the Revolution Core as the pain and aether pumping through my veins forced away whatever had been trapping me.
My mind returned to reality.
There was no sudden surge of power, no grand display.
This was no story where the good guys could win on sheer effort.
This was reality, and reality was most cruel.
The creature left the clearing, heading towards the ruins we had been to earlier.
Whatever held me seemed to release as I dropped to my hands and knees, tears dripping on the shaft of my spear.
"I-I'm so fucking pathetic."
I gasped between ragged breaths, my entire body shaking from the tears that seemed to come in a heavy stream.
Will and Thrive didn't speak, both stood silently as if unsure of what to say.
So I remained, wracked by shaking gasps and cries that seemed drowned out by the silence of the forest. Even if I rushed after the creature and tried to help, one word would just shut me down and make me useless and a liability.
A liability was really what I was developing into these days.
"Are you sure about this Clay? You know what's going to happen if you do this."
The voice came from ahead of me as I looked up and saw the blurry visages of a pair standing there, one was taller with bright orange hair and a nasty scar running along his face while the other was shorter with a more nervous energy about her. The taller figure was walking towards me and as they spoke I was surprised by just how gravely their voice was, like their vocal cords had been damaged somehow.
"Are you going to give up?"
The question was simple, and felt strangely sharp as I staggered to my feet and with a face streaked by tears I asked.
"What can I even do, I'm useless to them, and even if I was somehow useful I get shut down by a single word, how can I do anything here?"
"But are you going to give up?"
"What else can I possibly do!?"
"Try."
"Try, TRY!!?! I have tried, and I couldn't even move."
"So what."
"So what?! What do you expect me to do here!"
"Try anyways"
I gave the figure a look of confusion as I could see their face, charred and scared, with a window to see their teeth in their cheek as the figures hand swung out and struck me across the face, causing me to fall back.
"Aiden Hollowcreek, it does not matter if you have tried and failed, it doesn't matter if you feel useless, what matters is that your friends are in danger and you don't sit there and do nothing."
The fear and doubt continued to simmer inside of my chest as I staggered to my feet as I looked the man in the face.
"Are you going to give up?"
"......no"
"I can't understand mumbles, are you going to give up?"
"I said no."
"Speak up so I can actually hear you."
"DAMN IT I SAID NO!!"
The mans hand shot forward, slamming something into my chest as a strange feeling like it sinking into my skin shivered through me as I looked up in bewilderment.
Before I could ask what he had done a system message appeared.
Your Revolution Core V2(D) has absorbed the necessary components
Your Revolution Core V2(D) has begun to grow and develop
Your Revolution Core V2(D) has evolved into Revolution Core V4(C)