"You want me to steal."
[Well, I won't call it stealing,] Calcifer said. [It's more like taking what you want because you're stronger and have more value.]
"That's the clear definition of stealing!" Ashley retorted.
[So what, it's not like you are righteous.] Calcifer shot back.
"I may have stolen a few times-"
[A few times?] Calcifer laughed. [All the hundred and forty-five times you either pickpocketed from citizens or stole from a local mall, you call that a few times?]
Ashley gritted his teeth. "I did it out of necessity."
[I did it out of necessity…] Calcifer mimicked him, but in a poor fashion. [...well, isn't satisfying your hunger a necessity?]
Ashley was about to reply, but stopped, reality dawning on him.
Some moments of silence passed before Calcifer spoke, [Look, runt,] he said, almost in a fatherly tone. [When you have power, you don't have time to worry about righteousness.] He sighed. [I'm sure you have seen what I mean.]
A not-so-distant memory played in Ashley's head, one that was common around this part of the outskirts. Suddenly, he frowned.
[I'm not saying you should take from the poor, not that I would mind, but won't it be better to use your powers, though little, to take from the rich?] Calcifer suggested.
Ashley didn't reply, slowly seeing the reasoning in Calcifer's words.
[Those who have taken from the lesser beings, it won't be considered "stealing" if you take from them now, would it?]
Ashley clenched his fist, feeling the subtle, almost unnoticeable power coursing through his veins. "I guess so." He whispered.
[Ah, that's the spirit! Aren't I a great influencer?] Calcifer grinned. [And maybe I could show you how to activate Dark Mana.]
"Dark Mana?" Ashley asked, his interest piqued.
[Shoot! My big damned mouth,] Calcifer cursed. [Yeah… though I don't think your body would be able to use it-]
"I don't care," Ashley cut him off. "Just show me how to activate it. Besides…" He looked out of the window, his eyes fixed on a particular mall not so far away. "I'm going to need all the power I can get."
The fireworks exploded in the sky in a cadence of bright red and purple, illuminating his face, briefly showing the dangerous glint in Ashley's eyes.
***
Ashley sprinted through the night, his movements faster than before, even though slightly.
"Hey, I'm actually quite fast and lighter." He said, while maneuvering through blocks and weaving through the shadows in dark alleyways.
[Of course, you'll be fast. Which rank of the Nether Beasts do you think you're contracted to?] Calcifer retorted.
"Uhm… the annoying rank?" Ashley taunted.
Calcifer frowned. [You stupid runt!] He shouted.
Ashley smiled at his reaction.
[Now that you've upset my mood, I won't teach you how to use Dark Mana.] Calcifer grinned.
Ashley's smile dropped. "Oh, I'm so sorry, great king of the Nether Realm," he mockingly begged. "Please forgive this ignorant vessel."
[You think I don't know sarcasm, runt?]
"You don't have to take things too seriously all the time, you know." Ashley sighed.
[Seriously?…who said anything about-]
"Hold on," Ashley whispered, cutting Calcifer off.
Calcifer frowned but didn't reply.
The massive structure of a mall came into his view. Its height stretched over sixty feet tall, its lights from its signs, brightening the paths around it in a blend of gold and white. A parking lot was positioned at its side, its labels showing off wealth.
"The Imperial Celestial," Ashley whispered. "If there's one place I would gladly steal from, it's there."
[Hmm…too shiny, let me guess-]
"It's owned by one of the Celestials," Ashley cut in, receiving a grunt in return. "Elite families that are under the "Divine" care and protection of the Divine Contracted Association."
[Not that I care or anything, but why is that here in this dump?] Calcifer curiously asked.
Ashley gritted his teeth. "That's because it's the only mall in the outskirts that contains everything people desire all in one place. The problem, though, is that their prices are excessively high, and I honestly believe that it's a scheme to drain the little money people from the outskirts have, by drawing them in with messed-up stuff."
[You talk like you've been there.] Calcifer grinned.
"Of course I've been there," Ashley smiled bitterly, as an also not so long ago memory played in his mind.
Ashley shook his head, trying to clear the thought. "Also, haven't you been watching me all my life, stalker?"
[Stalker?]
If Ashley could see Calcifer right now, he would have noticed a slight reddish hue on his cheeks.
[It wasn't like that you messed up, runt!] Calcifer shouted in embarrassment.
"Well, you're the one who thought of it like that, anyway," Ashley's eyes scanned the Imperial Celestial, looking for possible escape routes. "I can easily walk in, grab the things I need, and get out."
He approached the mall, slowly but calculatingly.
"But I don't want it to end like that," he said, the distance steadily closing in. "I want to cause mass destruction so that outskirts folks won't have to buy their stuff at those ridiculous prices."
[Since when did you become a symbol of justice?] Calcifer laughed. [Now you care about other people who didn't care about you.]
"Oh, I'm not doing it for them," Ashley smiled, the mall doors in front of him. "Let's say I've got a personal grudge with this place and I wouldn't mind seeing it burn down to the ground."
The doors to the mall opened as Ashley stepped on its sensors. He calmly walked in, his nose scrunching as the chaotic, sweet smell of fragrances assaulted him.
"One thing I still hate about this place." He sighed.
Ashley selected a shopping cart and walked down the many aisles, his face portraying an amused expression.
"Though, no matter how much I hate this place, I've got to give them credit for their stuff."
[Yeah, total hypocrite.] Calcifer retorted, rolling his eyes.
"While I look for what to eat, why don't you explain to me how exactly I can activate Dark Mana?"
[I wouldn't want to waste my knowledge on you, since you won't still be able to use it, but that's fine.]
"Yeah, so whatever I do, I won't get distracted," Ashley stated firmly. "So you can go on with your lecture, professor."
Ashley picked up different foods, then moved to accessories, housewares, and clothes while paying rapt attention to Calcifer.
[The first thing about Dark Mana is its ability to corrupt, since it's well… corrupt Mana itself,] Calcifer chuckled. [But the fundamental is about you letting the Mana corrupt you, your Mana Pathways and Mana Zones to be precise.
[Every human once contracted to a Beast, be it Aether or Nether, gains Mana Pathways where they can channel their Mana through to their Mana Zones. There are two types of Mana Pathways: the Dormant Pathways and the Awakened Pathways.]
Ashley stopped in front of the dessert aisle, his mouth almost watering at the sight of the numerous sweets.
[Are you even listening to me?] Calcifer frowned.
"Yeah, sure," Ashley replied absentmindedly, opening the large fridge to his desires.
Calcifer face-palmed. [You can't even control yourself in the presence of sweets.] He muttered.
Ashley opened a can of chocolate ice cream and dug in, salvaging every sweet taste.
Calcifer sighed, then continued.
[Dormant Pathways are those that Mana hasn't passed through before, and vice versa. So, to be able to activate your Dark Mana, you must-]
Calcifer was interrupted by Ashley's scream, his hands dropping the ice cream on the floor, causing its contents to splatter across its surface, as he gripped his head tightly.
"Dammit, freaking brain freeze." Ashley groaned.
[That's it, I'm not pulling with your crap again.] Calcifer shouted. [You'll figure it out yourself, or better let me take over your body.]
"No freaking way," Ashley replied through gritted teeth.
"What's going on over there?" A booming voice resonated through the mall.