Chapter 5 – Conversation

“We have been waiting for you Theodore!” said a voice that sounded like it belonged to a young girl. Theodore's mind vent into overdrive. While he had made his mind faster it had a somewhat of a side-effect. When Theodore happened onto situation he didn't know how to act in he tended to overthink. And right now his mind was spinning out of control. Catching himself doing that he forcefully calmed himself down. “OK, Theodore there are some clearly suspicious people here who apparently know you. Do you remember meeting someone like them?”

Theodore walked a bit closer to the trio, while he still couldn't make out the faces he was sure he had not met them before. One of them was a clearly muscular black man, who looked mightily threatening and gave a feeling that he could snap Theodore's neck with just a move of his wrist. He was standing a little behind the shorter female in the middle together with another female who Theodore could make out, wore glasses and sported semi long hair.“OK, OK, that's not helping! Just act calm, be calm and figure out what they want. ASK what they want, start with that, yes.”

Theodore took another breath before starting to speak. “And may I ask wh.. urgh!” and bit his own tongue. “who ish askling?” “That could have gone worse, I at least finished the question” he comforted himself while resisting the urge to collapse on ground in shame.

“That was an interesting reaction to someone starting a conversation. I guess you are not quite the person we were expecting. You can put away that gun Melita.” Sainna spoke.

Melita grumbled an affirmative answer and to Theodore's horror he only then noticed that there indeed was a gun aimed at him. The fact that Melita was putting it away did nothing to soothe Theodore's nerves. Only then he noticed the phrasing.

“Did they expect the Other? How would they know about him?” Theodore was sure that the Other had not made any contacts with people like these. After all, while he was possessed he had spent all his time watching every single thing the Other had done. “And how did they discern that I was not pretending? That girl sounded so sure that I am Me!” Theodore felt that there were too many questions popping up in his head.

“So, are you the original then? Quite interesting! Fascinating even, you know, it is really rare that my visions turn out to be inaccurate! Its always a pleasure to meet someone who can overturn their destiny! My name is Sainna by the way, Sainna Reki, that big guy behind me is Hall and girl with the gun is Melita.” Sainna started to gush leaving Theodore even more bewildered.

While speaking Sainna started to walk closer to where Theodore was standing. The man behind her, Hall was about to speak, when Sainna interrupted him “Don't worry Hall, he isn't doing it on purpose.”

“Doing what?” Theodore asked, he really felt like he had not done anything besides making a fool out of himself. “Wait, didn't she say something about visions?”

“Oooh, could it be that you had not even noticed?” this time it was Sainna's turn to be confused. “I guess I can see how you would be able to not notice by yourself, but surely someone had to tell you.” she furrowed her brows.

Theodore didn't know what to think anymore. There, apparently, was something wrong about him, enough for even the muscles over there to be nervous. “Not that I didn't know that there is something! But could it be something obvious? It that the reason everyone avoids me?”

“Oh, I know, you have no friends!” Sainna pointed a finger at Theodore while exclaiming

That hit Theodore hard. “Could you please not say it loud, please?” he begged “Huh, isn't this conversation moving in a strange direction?”

“That's OK, We will be your friends!” followed up Sainna.

“That's not how someone makes friends Miss, and we still have to get back by nine, to be in time for the flight, so could you please move to the reason we have came here, please?” Hall helpfully interrupted. He truly didn't feel comfortable in this youngsters presence, even if young Miss was insisting of him being important. He also took a note, that young Miss was playing up her reactions a little bit. He guessed that was to make this Theodore guy more relaxed and no so wary to their presence.

“You are right Hall! Postpone the friendship offer. So, Theodore have you ever wondered about where this world is moving to?” Sainna asked

“Could you please wait a bit, I have some questions I would like to a...” but before Theodore could finish Sainna was already continuing.

“And I am not speaking about where are we heading as humanity, or about ever growing pollution or even where the planet itself is floating of to.” Sainna took a breath. “No, I am asking you what do you think would happen if...” Sainna started to look very uncomfortable, her voice trembling. “If every worlds govern... ment collapsed, for example?”

Theodore noticed that Sainna was panting as if she had run a marathon just a moment ago.

After a moment of silence Theodore asked “You said you had visions, about what exactly? Are you a prophet?”

“No, not a prophet, I just have visions!” was Sainna's answer. “Ah, but I cant really talk about what I actually see without repercussions. You see, every time I do something changes and those visions wont come true!”

“But you just now did...” Theodore really had a hard time of following Sainna.

“There are always ways of avoiding those changes you know! It just really burdens my mind and I get reaaallly tired! Mana levels around here also helps!”

Theodore felt that Sainna left something out, but he wasn't sure she would answer his inquiry anyway. And she knew about mana. Theodore didn't know how the Other had detected mana that was seeping from the Mana Well, but it should not be something every person could. Otherwise this place would not have been visited only by him. There regularly was some person or another hiking in these forests.

“So, assuming that she really can see future, visions, whatever, how much does she know? Could it be that I have something important I have to achieve? No, they came here expecting to meat the Other, didn't they?” Theodore really wanted to have a hour or two to think out how to proceed, but it didn't seem like Sainna would be giving him that time. She was already continuing.

“So you see, I am in a bit of a conundrum here. I was expecting to meet You, but turns out that You are now You. Ah, but maybe that is a good thing? You seem like a person I would have easier time to get along with! And I can see, that you already have awakened your powers, isn't that great! So, how about we make a little deal, hmm?”

“What kind of a deal are we speaking about? Also, what do you mean with my powers? Why did you mean when you said “he isn't doing it on purpose”?” Theodore was really bothered by the fact, that did something he was not conscious of.

“What was I talking about? Its simple really, I have to wonder, how did you live you life till now with all those shadows always surrounding you! Even now, at night its noticeable if you look for it you know!” Sainna pointed her finger at him again. “They are darker where you stand, you should really do something about it, its really creepy.”

“What do you...?” Theodore took a look around him. It took him several moments to notice about what Sainna was talking about.

Indeed, where his soul leaked out of his body and touched a shadow it seemed to be a little bit darker. He had not noticed it before as his soul was covering those shadows it touched. “Seems like I wont have to search for my affinity anymore...” Theodore could only smile wryly to himself. All those years of ignorance...

No wonder his parents thought he was a monster, or that he was ignored at school. He had to wonder, since when? He could vaguely remember that his soul started to leek out of his body around age of ten? Eleven? Before that he spoke about his soul openly, so he didn't have the best reputation even that.

Why had no one spoken a word about it? Were they afraid? Thought he would curse them? He couldn't tell.

Sainna didn't care about revelation Theodore was undergoing. She once again pulled him along. “About the deal...” Sainna gathered her thoughts. “It would go something like this – I make sure you have enough resources to live how you want, and in return, when The Ring calls, you will stand by my side.”

“You can see that Ring?” Theodore was getting tired of getting surprised. “Of course she can, but that's a relief, I am not going crazy...”

“Sure I can see it, but those two cant, and its not really something we should be talking about before time comes.” Sainna answered. “Also, keep in mind that we are not the only ones.”

Theodore could tell that she was genuinely uncomfortable speaking about this topic. So he didn't ask more, he too felt that it was not something they should delve on. They both shoot a look to the sky, reconfirming, that the Ring was indeed still there.

“What would it entail, this standing by your side?” Theodore caught himself asking. He didn't know why, but he found Sainna to be easy to trust in. Maybe it was the simple fact, that she wasn't averse of speaking with him. Friendly-ish conversations wasn't something Theodore was enjoying often.

“That is a bit difficult to answer, my goals may still change, but I will need support in... resisting some of the offers made at gathering that will result... from that call.” Sainna was again sounding as if something was gnawing at her thoughts, making it difficult for her to speak. “But I can assure you, that I am interested for what is best for humanity!”

“Was this also the offer you would have given to other me?” Theodore could not help but to ask.

However Sainna shook her head. “Yes and no, more of a no. Other You, would most probably not be as forthcoming, but he could be negotiated with.”

What was left unsaid, was Sainna most probably will want him to help with something unsavory. Theodore could only guess, but she probably expected him to hurt other people.

Theodore didn't miss it, but also didn't mention it. He wasn't that naive to believe that every human was worth saving, and just by talking you could make the world a better place, and if there really was a catastrophe coming... There would be a lot of dead people.

He also was not fond of people in general, even if he longed for some company his peers had never given it to him. His family had tried to live with him, but in the end had abandoned him, even if the Other had given the final push.

“We shall conclude the conversation here Theodore. I see that you have a lot to think trough and I am not asking for your answer right now. Give it a though and call me when you reach a decision.” Sainna said as she came to stand next to Theodore and gave him a paper strip with her number.

“I know our meeting was short, but there are places I have to be. No rest for the wicked and all that. I will be waiting for good news, see you around Theodore!” Sainna said her parting words as she walked away with her escorts, leaving Theodore standing alone with multitude of thoughts swirling trough his head. There was a lot to take in. The most damnable thing was, that he believed Sainna. And if she indeed was right, he had a lot of preparations to go trough.

Also, he only now noticed that he had not seen any of the trio clearly in the dark. “ Oh, that's just great!” Theodore concluded.