"He was being sarcastic..it's over. There is Zero percent chance you get out of here alive. I can't use my techniques because we're drained! Yet you don't understand it's your fault."
Barg put her hands on her face.
"Oh my god it's over.."
"This is sooo boring, there's nothing to do in here! What do you mean over?"
"We're in jail..and we can't leave. They're going to starve us to death..or hand us over to a real jail. You're not even smart enough to defend yourself in a courtroom."
"So, what you're saying is we gotta sneak out before then!"
He looked down at his feet.
"And I still got my rollerblades!"
"You're not remotely strong enough to fight these guards..and even if you were, you trespassed with malicious intent. If you go back to the school they will arrest you on the spot..you'll have a search warrant immediately."
She ignored his offering of an idea.
"It's a pretty good idea, the one in my brain right nowww."
He tried to convince her to hear him out.
"No! No more ideas from you! Your ideas are stupid and you got us in here in the first place! No more ideas from you! No more!"
"Maybe if I had a stronger and cooler and bigger and awesomer spirit, it could work."
Trying to tempt her even more.
"It sucks you're a junior version now.."
Barghest slowly curled into a ball before the door opened.
The man walked down the stairs a few minutes later. He looked into the cell silently and put his hand on his hip, looking at him.
"…I see….These two huh?" Ashi had just got back from the council meeting. He wanted to visit home before he was back working. He looked at Matsumi and Barghest.
"Yes thats him!"
Shion yelled from the top stairs.
"You know I thought this was something way more serious..It's just a kid."
"You're not even gonna hear me out?! Man, I thought that would work, it always works back home…"
He turned back to the man as he entered, Shion behind him
"It's the hag! I almost died of boredom down here!"
Ashi looked at him for a few seconds and laughed a bit. Shion seething from the top of the stairs before leaving. Ashi rubbed the back of his head before speaking.
"So..what are you after exactly? Money? Possessions? Me? Why'd you break in here man?"
"I don't want any of that boring stuff! We were sneaking in!"
"…I see…and why were you sneaking in?"
"I don't know, looked fun. But this sucks now!"
Ashi sort of stood there awkwardly for a few seconds.
"Look. I really don't want to put you in jail. The sentence for trespassing on this property is at least two years in jail, and from the way you explain things you may get five years in jail..Plus they'd take away Barghest here."
"What?! But she's my…wait a sec. How'd you know her name?"
"I know all the legends."
He moved his hair out of his face before sighing, mostly out of relief.
"I used to read books, study, and i've had run ins with tons of gods, angels and ancient beings. I fought them all and won. I've seen Barghest before many times, and shes one of the first legends i've ever read…that and I have access to her memories."
"No way! Are you a witch too? Access to her memories, for real?!"
"No…I'm…just a guy…My sister was actually is a witch though. I have access to the collective unconscious. I can see your memories too. Which is also why I don't want to jail you. Let's just say…I know of Mr. Moon."
He raised his hands to his head in protection.
"Don't read my mind, I have super secrets there!"
He lowered his hands right after.
"You know that old fart?! I don't know you though."
"I'm Ashi Zenin. Some people call me the king. Some people call me the strongest…Some people call me other names…He probably hasn't mentioned me to you..being that we haven't spoken in years."
"Ashi? It sounds familiar though, I don't know, I'm bad with names. But I'm Matsumi Ryokō! You probably read my name already though…but let me out already!"
"Well..you still need some kind of punishment..because what you did is wrong, and you need to understand that. Things dont just go your way because you want to have fun, or because you want them too. I don't think you fully understand that. You're probably the luckiest person in the world, because if Shion had been startled anymore or you ran in to the wrong person you'd be dead right now When you're selfish like that, people get hurt, emotionally and physically. I learned that the hard way…and eventually you're going to have to get serious about that. Or you're going to face a loss so bad you'll change forever..I would hate for you to lose that urge for fun. I've also seen that many times."
"You sound like every adult back home. All these rules and lectures, what's the point in doing anything you don't wanna do?"
He was barely listening.
"This place or city or whatever is super weird! People like fighting when it's only one person having fun and the other goes home crying! But when I try to have some good fun I get lectured! That's why I wanna go everywhere I can see! And I saw this place! As long as I can go anywhere, I'll never stop finding fun stuff to do! Even when we have buzzkills everywhere!"
"The adults are telling you that for a reason. The point of being a man is that you have to do things you don't want to do..otherwise everybody will abandon you. Then you'll be alone. Do you want to know what's worse than not being able to see the world? Not being able to share those experiences with anyone. You'll become a liability, you'll be alone and nobody will let you adventure like you want."
He thought about the fighting.
"You're right. Losing is never fun..which is why those people train to become better versions of themselves, and eventually they do win. It's not the same, and im trying to help you. If you're going to throw a tantrum and not listen to me… I have to think of you as a safety hazard to everyone, including my kids. I can't help you after that, and neither can Mr. Moon. And I promise none of your schemes, including the one you just thought of with Barghest will work. If you fight against us, I have no choice but to subdue you..I really don't want to do that. I'm trying to help you. I'm not even saying you have to follow every single rule there is, I'm asking you to work with me a little here Matsumi."
"Whatever, what do you want from me anyway? If you read my mind you could tell I wasn't going to hurt anyone. You want me to say sorry to that girl? What do I need to do to get out of this…pink stuff!"
He pulled on them.
"The point wasn't that you were going to hurt anyone..The point is that you, or your friends can be hurt if you continue to live like you are now. I want you to try and think about this before you make a decision like this again, and I want you to understand that if somebody gets seriously hurt, or worse..dies because of your antics then it will only be your fault. Outside of that your punishment is going to school..if you can go to school and learn something, You're free to come back here anytime you want as long as you're not in trouble..I'll even teach you some magic if you do…or you can go back home and stay there. I'll take Barghest, and I can have someone take you there now and you're free to do as you please. You can live the life you want there. The choice is yours."
"I have to go for the entire year?! I haven't even told anyone I got into the school! Oh man, seriously?!l
He pulled on the cuffs again in annoyance.
"I can't let you take Barg! Then she'll have no one to hang out with!"
"I'd set her free. She'd hang out with everyone here..If you don't want to go to school that's fine, but you cannot do whatever you want here. And if you're not going to listen to me then like I said..the road back home is yours. I wouldn't count on visiting the other kingdoms. My brother and his wife are far more cruel than me. If you pulled this same stunt there they'd probably maul you ."
"I was only supposed to be here for a day and go back with the tea leaves anyway…"
He mumbled under his breath and looking at the curled up Barghest in the corner, his red eyes squinting a little.
"Fine! I'll go to school…"
"Are you sure? You can still go. The choice is yours."
"And just be stuck back home with nowhere else to go? No thanks. I'll take my chances here."
"Alright..but try and remember what I said okay?..and if you don't then…You'll see what I mean sooner or later."
"Yeah, I got it. Let us out now?"
The door opened as the cuffs dispersed, letting them both free.
"Thanks…and why don't you talk to Mr. Moon anymore? And why does he know a king? I just caught that!"
"Around fifteen years ago me and Mr, Moon used to be best friends. We ventured the world together and fought the toughest battles this planet had ever seen..but after awhile he told me he preferred things that way, and he left and never came back. I haven't spoken to him since."
"He used to fight? All he does is paint and make tea! No way I believe that!"
"He was one of the best..but that was in the past. Things have changed..and I've grown to accept change..Me and you were sort of similar. I did things because I wanted to, and said things..I lost out on many opportunities because I didn't think of anyone else but myself."
"So, you changed into a rule adult. Stuck doing things you hate?"
"Realistically I can do whatever I want whenever I want because of my status. This is my first day back at the top. I choose to follow the rules because I'd put my kids in danger if I didn't, and myself, and my wife and friends. I run this kingdom. The rules weren't just made for no reason."
"It's a real pain…"
He sighed.
"What am I gonna do now? Vermelha is busy and Shizu went to go spy on blondie, Rai-something, whatever his name is."
"I don't know..Just..Stay out of trouble okay?"
"I don't get into trouble on purpose!"
"You sort of do.."
"I didn't know anyone would find me! Come on, Barg! Let's get outta here! Once I learn something we're coming back just so I can shove it in that hag's face!"
Barg mouthed and begged Ashi to help her and pull her away from Matsumi at this very moment. Even making small pleading signs with her hands as she floated. Matsumi waved behind him for Barghest to follow him as he stomped out of the palace. Barghest sighed and followed him silently.