chapter 36 trust
Fighter's eyes felt like lead. As his physical strength slowly returned, a crushing exhaustion followed right behind it. His whole body felt beaten down. He didn't just lie down; he essentially slipped back onto the bed in a heap.
Kaizer finished cleaning the mess from Fighter's face and reached out, pressing a hand to his forehead to check for a fever.
Kaizer: "His temperature is high. It looks like a fever, but not a serious one. He'll be fine after some rest."
Kaizer began tidying up the room, moving things around so Fighter wouldn't have to struggle later. As he worked, he thought to himself, 'I was right to be worried. If Saint Veera hadn't warned me to check on him, who knows what would have happened? Fighter was in a miserable state. I can understand his desperation; those memories inheritance is no joke and very important for a Story Bearer. I know how psychopathic those Blood Families are toward the weak. I've already lost my sister and still have no clue where she is. If I were stronger, maybe I could have saved her.'
Fighter: "Kaizer... do you know what my ability is?"
Fighter thought, 'I shouldn't be so secretive. I need to share some information to gain Kaizer's trust and lower the UCA's suspicions.'
For a Story Bearer, one's ability is their life. In their society, sharing the details of your power is the ultimate sign of trust. Even though Kaizer had only joined this world two days ago, he understood the weight of Fighter's goodwill.
Fighter: "One of my abilities is that I can see the 'value' in people. The other... is the power to summon and control flies."
Kaizer stopped dead in his tracks. He turned toward Fighter with a look of genuine horror.
Kaizer: "Why are you telling me this? Don't you know how dangerous that is? What if I told everyone your secret?"
Fighter just rolled his eyes. He began tossing and turning on the bed, searching for a comfortable position. Despite the fatigue, if he didn't find the right spot, he wouldn't be able to sleep.
He had expected this reaction. Fighter thought, 'Telling him this much is fine. I'll be using these two powers constantly anyway, and the UCA will figure them out soon enough. They already have a rough idea of what I've been doing these past two days. If I use Rechal recklessly over and over, she won't stay a secret forever. And if the world finds out about a powerful artifact like her... it won't end well for me.'
Fighter: "Building trust is a lot harder than breaking it. And from my vision, you're incredibly valuable. You're like a pillar of light—you're like the day itself. That's why I want to be your friend."
Kaizer: "So you're saying you want to be my friend because you find me valuable? So what? Isn't that how every friendship starts? Besides, we've been friends since the first day you introduced yourself to me."
Before Kaizer could get any more sentimental, Fighter cut him off.
Fighter: "You're burning up my goddamn eyes, man. I can't sleep with the lights on."
Kaizer blinked, startled.
Kaizer: "Is that why you've been squinting every time you look at me?"
Fighter: "Bro, just go. I want to sleep."
Kaizer let out a deep sigh, but a smile tugged at his lips as he slowly walked out of the room, leaving Fighter to the dark.