Chapter Twenty-Two: ‘Quiet guardian, take respite...’

First, the chin regrew. Bone cracked into existence, followed by arteries and muscles, then tendons, cartilage, meager fat, and dark brown skin. His neck drew out, down to the shoulders, then the chest and arms. And soon enough, Hector’s body was restored in full.

He did not wake immediately, however. He lay lifeless for several days more before his eyes finally opened again.

He sat up. He was in a bed, he saw, and a rather large one at that. The room held an air of wealth and comfort, but he didn’t spare it much attention as he saw Garovel there next to him.

The image of the reaper was weak, almost transparent, like a cloth stretched thin enough that light shone through the weaves.

‘There are clothes on the chair behind you.’

It wasn’t exactly his typical wardrobe. The black jeans felt soft and expensive, but they were too broad, so he had to use the accompanying belt with its flashy silver buckle.

‘Thank you for protecting me. I certainly would have died if you hadn’t shielded me the way you did.’

“Y-you’re, ah... you’re welcome...” The silky white shirt fit him better, though the sleeves were a bit long, so he rolled them up to his wrists. “It couldn’t have been enough, though. They saved us, I guess?”

‘Seems that way. I’m not sure where they are. I’ve been in and out of consciousness.’

He wasn’t sure if he wanted to wear the dark gray waistcoat as well, but after a moment, he opted to, and then started on the socks and shoes. “You don’t look so great, by the way.”

‘I’m just tired.’

Abruptly, a blond woman entered the room. She jumped when she saw him. “Ah! Whoa! Okay, then! Hi there!”

“H-hello.”

“You are Hector, yes?”

“Ye-yeah...”

“I’m Gina. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I believe you met my employer, Master Roman.”

“I, ah... yeah.”

“Are you hungry?”

He nodded hesitantly.

“Please follow me, then.”

He grabbed his battered helm, and she escorted him through a series of hallways.

‘Ask her how long we’ve been here.’

He tried to speak but faltered, achieving no words at all.

‘Oh, come on, Hector. She can’t see me. You have to be the one to ask.’

“Um... h-how, ah...”

She stopped and turned. “Yes?”

He flinched at her sudden gaze. “H-how long have I, uh... I mean...”

She tilted her brow at him. “Um. You’ve been here for two weeks. Well, your head has, anyway.”

‘Ask where the others are.’

“W-where, uh...”

“You’re in Walton. You came from Sescoria, right? It’s east of there, if you didn’t already know.”

“Ah. But. Where are the others? Roman and...”

“Oh, they left the country.”

‘What?’

“W-why?”

“Ah.” Gina reached into her vest and pulled out a small notepad. She handed it to him. “Master Roman left this for you. I believe it will answer your questions.”

He flipped through and noticed quite a few pages full of text. Gina led him to the kitchen and began whipping up a meal while he sat down to read.

The first few pages said that they believed Atreya would go to war in a matter of months and elaborated upon their decision to seek the Vanguard’s help. Roman advised Hector not to follow, as they apparently didn’t know where their travels might lead them.

The later pages were in different handwriting, more feminine, and it soon identified itself as Voreese’s words through the Queen’s pen. It offered details on aberrations.

‘Ah,’ said Garovel upon reading it from over Hector’s shoulder. ‘Voreese remembered my inquiry. She’s more thoughtful than I would have expected. I’ll have to thank her the next time we meet.’

‘Aberrations grow stronger the more people they kill,’ Hector summarized.

‘I suppose that explains why Geoffrey seemed more powerful.’

Hector’s mouth twisted as he scowled. ‘He’s been killing even more people... and he’s not going to stop.’

‘With everything that’s happened, you may be the only person in Atreya who can kill Geoffrey right now.’

‘I’m not so sure I can. It’s been two weeks. He’s probably even stronger now.’

‘It doesn’t really matter as long as Abolish is protecting him.’

‘I need to train...’

‘Let’s go back to Brighton first. You’ve been gone too long, as it is.’

Gina placed a plate full of pancakes in front of him. Then came eggs, sausage, waffles, hash browns, toast, strawberries, cantaloupe, wheat cereal, and a single banana.

He watched her as if she were bringing him solid gold bars.

“Master Roman said you’d be hungry.”

“You... are amazing...”

“I know.”

He dove into his meal.

Gina sat down to eat with him. “So what’s your deal, anyway?” she said, biting into a waffle.

“W-what do you mean?”

“Master Roman didn’t seem to know much about you, but he still wanted me to treat you like an honored guest.”

“Ah, uh... well... I don’t know much about him, either.”

“Hmm. Where are you from?”

He glanced past her at Garovel.

‘You should tell her. Roman and the Queen may need a means of contacting us when they return to Atreya. Gina may be able to help us with that.’

“I live in Brighton,” he said.

“Pretty far away. Why were you in Sescoria?”

“I just... wanted to help...”

She paused to tilt her head at him. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen...”

“And how long have you been undead?”

He blinked at the question.

‘Tell her five months,’ said Garovel.

“Uh, five months or so...”

“I see.”

‘Why’d you make me lie? It’s only been a few weeks...’

‘You’re stronger than you should be. And it’s better if people don’t know.’

‘I... uh--’

“Well, Master Roman said you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“Ah, I should actually get going soon...”

“You have business in Brighton?”

“S-sorta, yeah...”

“What do you do there?”

“N-nothing special...”

She pursed her lips at him.

He poked a pancake with his fork and let it linger there. “But, ah... do you have a pen?”

She gave him one.

He scribbled his phone number onto a page of the notepad and ripped it out for her. “In case, uh, Mr. Roman wants my help...”

She took it and then wrote a phone number of her own. “Same goes for you, then.”

He tried not to blush and failed.

They finished their meal, and Gina showed him to the garage beneath the house. She handed him a key.

“Master Roman said you’re a motorcycle guy.” She motioned to a red cruiser with black and white flames painted on it.

Hector looked at Gina. “Mr. Roman is just giving this to me?”

“Yep.”

“Ah--wow...”

“There should be some gas money in your clothes, by the way.”

He felt his waistcoat and found a small roll of bills in the inside pocket. “Th-thank you.”

“Sure.”

‘I didn’t realize that guy was so generous,’ said Garovel. ‘Hope he doesn’t care about this bike too much.’

‘Um. Third time’s the charm?’

‘Chyeah, right.’

‘This one’s not a Revenant.’

‘I don’t think the manufacturer was the problem, Hector.’

‘I’ll just blame you, then.’

‘Delude yourself all you like.’

Gina opened the garage door for him.

He favored the riding helmet over his helm and mounted the bike. He kickstarted it, and the sound of the engine filled the chamber. Gina gave him a wave. He returned his own and rode out.

He stopped just short of the first intersection, before riding out into traffic, and blinked. ‘I just realized something,’ he said. ‘I’m not in pain.’

‘I restored your body long before waking you up,’ said Garovel. ‘I needed extra rest, so I used the opportunity to let your pain be relieved, too.’

He turned his hands over in front of his face. ‘My body feels so light...’ He smiled inside his helmet. ‘This is fucking great! Oh, man! I forgot what this was even like!’

‘Ha. You’re welcome.’

He went to turn onto the road but stopped himself again. ‘By the way, uh... where the hell do I go?’

Garovel gave him instructions, and he soon found the highway leading south.

Mountains lay across the horizon, the very same ones he passed on the way to Sescoria. At this distance, however, he could see the occasional snow-capped peak.

‘Let’s go around those,’ said Garovel. ‘I’d rather not see you ride off a cliff.’ A beat passed. ‘Okay, yes, I would like to see that, but it’d still be really inconvenient.’

Hector roared down the highway. Traffic was a bit heavier than before but still nowhere near as uncomfortable as the city. After a while, he remembered another question.

‘Desmond’s ability,’ said Hector. ‘Didn’t you say you’d explain?’

‘Ah, yes. Desmond’s ability falls under the category of transfiguration. I think the big guy’s did, too.’

‘Which means...?’

‘Transfiguration abilities allow the user to replace body parts with a particular element. In Desmond’s case, I would guess that element was sodium.’

‘Sodium? That doesn’t explode... does it?’

‘When mixed with water, it does.’

‘Oh. So he was using... hmm.’

‘Technically, it’s not the sodium itself that’s responsible. Heat from the chemical reaction ignites the hydrogen that is expelled as a result.’

‘I... okay.’

‘Sodium and water can explode quite violently, but even so, Desmond’s explosions seemed more powerful. I assume he was also employing a soul-strengthening technique to give them an extra punch.’

‘Soul-strengthening... That sounds... useful.’

‘It’s basically just enhancing physical qualities through the application of mental force. It’s something you can only do when your imaginary power grows stronger.’

‘I’m guessing it’s not as easy as that first step was.’

‘It’s not easy or hard, actually. And unlike your iron ability, it can’t grow in sudden bursts through mental stress. Imaginary power is based upon the manipulation of your soul.’

‘So, what? More meditation, then?’

‘No. After the first step is taken, the only way to increase your imaginary power is time.’

‘Wha?’

‘See, I have control of your soul. In order for you to manipulate it, too, you and I have to spend more time together. Gradually, your soul and mine will become more synchronized.’

‘You mean, like... through the power of friendship or some shit?’

Garovel laughed. ‘No. Friendship doesn’t really factor in, unfortunately. It’s just a kind of natural osmosis that happens over time.’

‘Huh. So... no training, then?’

‘Nope. It’ll just sorta happen on its own.’

‘I guess that’s one less thing to worry about, anyway.’

‘Yeah.’

‘But, um. What about Roman’s ability? Do you know what that was?’

‘I believe his was an alteration type ability. Transfiguration and materialization are similar in that they revolve around elements, but alteration abilities are different. Rather than creating something or replacing something, alteration merely applies some force in order to change the physical state of existing matter. A real force, that is. Not an imaginary one. And the force varies between users. Roman’s force, I think, is particle vibrations.’

‘That, uh... sounds... complicated.’

‘Well, judging from how he was able to both create shockwaves and generate heat, it seems like the only explanation. And if I’m right, then that is an incredibly powerful ability.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yeah. If he were stronger with it, he’d be fucking terrifying.’

‘I guess it’s a good thing he’s not our enemy...’

‘Indeed. Hmm. Hey, pull over for a bit.’

Hector slowed down and eased into the road’s shoulder. ‘What’s the matter?’ he asked as the bike stopped.

Garovel floated off to the right, and Hector watched him, squinting. ‘There you are,’ the reaper said softly. ‘It’s okay. I’ve got you now.’

‘Who are you talking to?’

‘A wandering soul,’ said Garovel. ‘Someone died out here.’

Hector blinked. ‘What? Way out here? How?’

Garovel pointed behind him. ‘Look back there.’

‘Where? I don’t--’ And then he saw the skid marks on the road. Two sets. Intersecting.

‘Happened a few days ago, judging by the state that this soul is in.’

Hector just frowned.

‘Let’s take a break at the next gas station. I need a couple hours to ferry this one across the void. You can use the time to meditate.’

‘Okay...’

They proceeded on, and it wasn’t long before a gas station came into view. Hector stopped, and Garovel disappeared into thin air after assuring Hector of his return.

He refueled and then wheeled the bike around the side of the building where no one else was. He sat down on the sidewalk and closed his eyes, letting the sound of cars on the highway bleed into background noise.

He focused on iron shapes. He wasn’t sure what else to think about. Apart from merely coating things, nothing else came to mind, and he found himself wondering to what other degrees his power might develop. He shook the thoughts away and concentrated.

After a while, he opened his eyes again, and Garovel had still not returned, so he tried making iron. A silver lump materialized in his palm. It was almost spherical, surprisingly, but still smaller than he had imagined. He went back to meditating, and when he opened his eyes again, he saw Garovel there.

They set out again, and it wasn’t long before a new topic arrived.

‘There’s something I’d like to know,’ said Hector.

‘Yeah?’

‘Back when, um... when we first met... I know you said that you didn’t know, but... do you believe that an afterlife exists? I mean, like, any kind at all?’

Garovel was slow to answer. ‘No,’ he said, ‘I don’t.’

‘Why not?’

‘I’ve never found anything that convinced me. Do you believe one does?’

‘W-well, uh, not really, uh... I mean, I don’t know. Aren’t you kinda... experiencing an afterlife? You died, right? But you’re still alive, sort of...’

‘Ha. I suppose it depends on your definition of the afterlife, then. I certainly don’t believe in heaven or hell. Reincarnation seems more appealing at least, but I don’t see any reason to believe it’s true.’

‘So then... after we die, you think there’s just... nothingness?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then why, um... why do you bother reaping? If you think you’re just carrying souls into oblivion, then... why not just leave them alone?’

‘Because that would be a great cruelty.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘On its own, a soul will soon decay,’ said Garovel. ‘Within a day, it will become a confused mass of semi-consciousness. Within two, it will become a prison of raw agony.’

‘Oh.’

‘Ferrying souls is a task we take upon ourselves not because a higher power has ordained us to, but just because it’s the right thing to do.’

‘I see.’

‘And besides, what the fuck else are we gonna do with our time? It’s a good way to relieve boredom.’

‘Wow, Garovel...’

‘Hey, it’s true.’

The sun drew up higher in the sky as Hector sped across the landscape. The journey was quiet for a while longer until Garovel initiated the next topic.

‘I’m sorry this trip turned out so chaotic,’ the reaper said. ‘I certainly didn’t mean for you to be gone so long. I’m not sure how we should explain your absence to your parents and your school.’

Hector hesitated. ‘I’m... not so sure my parents will notice...’

‘Oh, come on. It’s been two weeks. How could they have not noticed?’

For a while, he merely listened to the motorcycle and the wind roaring together. ‘When I was younger, uh... my parents both struggled to find work. They’d often have to take jobs in separate cities--I guess because the bills were piling up or something. They were always trying to readjust things so that they could both get a job in the same place. So, ah... we ended up moving around a lot. And there was this one time... when I was about ten... and, um... ah... b-basically, they, uh... they left me behind.’

Silence drew out, and Garovel waited for Hector to continue.

‘I spent, like, almost a month in foster care, I think... and then the police found me. My parents thought they’d lost me somewhere in the new city. They didn’t, uh... they didn’t realize I was missing until like a week after the move...’

‘A week is rather specific,’ said Garovel. ‘How do you know it took them that long?’

‘Well, on the way back, the cops were really happy. Um... they told me it was amazing, because I’d been missing for three weeks... and I knew it had been longer.’

Garovel was briefly quiet again. ‘Well, shit, Hector. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it was that bad.’

‘I... it’s not, I mean... if I’d been able to explain to the foster care people, then maybe... but I... I just--’

‘No. Stop that. It’s definitely not your fault. What I want to know is how Child Services never took you away from your parents.’

‘Ch-Child Services? I, uh... I don’t, ah...’

‘Bah. How did they not realize it was a case of neglect? Was the incident reported as a child abduction? Or maybe they just thought you ran away?’

‘I don’t know about any of that, um... I mean, n-neglect? R-really, it’s not like... uh...’

‘Hector. It’s one thing for your parents to be a bit distant from you or not really take an interest in your life as a teenager. It’s sure-as-fuck something else for them to forget about their ten-year-old son in another city.’

The bike started drifting toward the shoulder, and he had to correct its path. ‘It-it’s fine, though. I mean, I’ve never thought of it like that, so...’

‘Of course you haven’t. It’s how you’ve grown up. But that doesn’t make it okay.’

Hector had no response.