Chapter 19: Uncertain Paths

  The four of us—Theodore, Akira, Maki, and Taki—sat in the dim light of our temporary refuge, our voices low as we debated the strange nature of Maki’s blessing. The air smelled of mildew and old wood, and the flickering lantern cast jagged shadows across Maki’s face as she twirled a dagger absently. We struggled to piece together how her power worked. It had first revealed itself in a series of bewildering incidents. Through our discussion, we pieced together that Maki had used her ability twice. The first time, she unknowingly copied what she thought was Ray’s original blessing, only to later realize it was a stolen copy of an enhancement ability. And then, when the Elthias capital was ravaged by a meteor shower, she mimicked my gravity blessing to protect herself—as if it were second nature. Yet, even with these demonstrations, none of us could truly grasp the mechanics of her curse.

  Frustration bubbled in the room, and soon voices rose in heated discussion. Akira, who had taken on the role of our reluctant leader, turned to Maki with a sharp gaze.

  "You hid a royal blessing while we bled for you," Akira hissed, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "Was that your ‘element of surprise’—letting us die clueless?"

  Maki’s eyes flashed with defiance. "Everyone conceals their true power," she snapped. "Ray did the same—and it gave him the element of surprise. When the stakes are this high, it’s only natural to hide your blessing."

  As the debate wore on, we grew restless. We had been waiting for what felt like an eternity, and it became clear that Lucky wasn’t going to be sent back. Boredom and anxiety mingled in the air. Maki was the first to break the monotony. "I can’t sit here forever," she declared, kicking her chair back. "What if the Ravencrust have betrayed Ray? What if he needs our help right now?"

  Her words cut through our idle chatter, but before any action was taken, another concern surfaced—my own precarious position with the Elthias Kingdom. The group debated whether I could return and act as if nothing had happened, continuing my role within their ranks. However, the risk was too great. Someone might have seen me with Ray’s group, and if word spread, I could easily be labeled as his ally. If that happened, the kingdom wouldn’t hesitate to capture me—or worse, eliminate me outright.

  Days passed without resolution, and the tension in the house grew palpable. We all began to fear that the universal curse might activate at any moment. None of us knew when—or if—we would start feeling the presence of others sharing our blessings. The uncertainty was maddening.

  Finally, we decided to leave in search of more information. Scavenging through the old house, we found a set of worn, inconspicuous clothes to disguise our identities. With heavy hearts and cautious hope, we split into two groups: Akira and Taki would form one, while Maki and I would venture out together.

  Later that afternoon, in a quiet, nearly empty coffee shop, I found a moment to confide in Maki. I leaned forward, my fingers loosely clasped together as I chose my words carefully.

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  "You asked me why I follow Ray," I began. "The truth is simple—I'm not the smartest, and I know my decisions aren’t always the best. But with Ray, I don’t have to worry about that. He has a way of turning everything in his favor, of carving a path to greatness even through his flaws. He sees things I don’t, makes decisions I wouldn’t, and somehow, they always work out. That’s why I trust him."

  I glanced at Maki, gauging her reaction before continuing.

  "Back in our world, Ray built a company that rose to dominance. It wasn’t always at the top—he made it happen. He had no real competitors. That’s not luck, and it’s no coincidence. It’s him. That’s why I follow him—because with Ray leading, I know we won’t be lost."

  Maki’s gaze remained steady as she interjected, "I already know that about him. I admire him, truly. And I see a bit of you in him, Theodore."

  I managed a small, wistful smile. "Thank you, Maki. But tell me—how did you end up following his trail?"

  Her eyes grew distant as she recounted her past. "I was a dancer and a martial arts coach. I once met Ray at a competition—he utterly destroyed one of my students. That loss ignited something in me. I began gathering information about him, following his every move from afar. I never imagined I’d end up here, chasing him into the afterlife."

  Before I could probe further, she hesitated. A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face before she abruptly stood. "Excuse me," she murmured, slipping away to the restroom, leaving our conversation hanging in the air.

  Meanwhile, Taki and I found ourselves wandering the quieter streets, far from the oppressive uncertainty of the house. The night’s chill seeped into my bones, a stark reminder of the past I’d tried so hard to forget.

  Seated in a secluded corner of a rundown park, Taki looked up at me with wide, curious eyes. "Akira," she began hesitantly, "you mentioned before that your father... that he killed you. What really happened?"

  I sighed, knowing it was time to let the truth out. "I’ll tell you," I said softly. "My father was a brilliant physicist—a man so consumed by his work that he nearly lost himself. At first, he was a loving man, taking care of our family. But once he began working for the government—and even beings beyond our understanding—everything changed."

  I paused, gathering the memories. "He became distant, swallowed by a darkness I couldn’t comprehend. I remember finding him drunk, muttering about his research. Then, one day, everything snapped. My mother vanished without a trace, and when I reached out to him, he was gone. That night, he returned home with a gun. I’ll never forget the terror as he pointed it at me."

  My voice wavered. "He said, 'My son, I will bless you with this.' Then he aimed at my leg and fired. I woke up in this world—reborn from the fire of that betrayal."

  Taki listened intently, her silence a comforting presence in the dark. As I finished, a heavy pause settled between us—a shared understanding of pain and survival.

  After a moment, she hesitated before speaking. "Akira... there’s something I’ve been meaning to say." She fidgeted, glancing away. "I think I figured something out about Maki’s blessing. It’s not stolen—she copies blessings, but the Elthias royal family steals them. The being that granted us powers told us that the nature of our blessing is shaped by both its name and our own imagination. That means... Maki’s blessing might be fundamentally different from the Elthias family’s after all, right?"

  My eyes widened at the realization. If she was right, it meant Maki wont have to fight for her life against the royals.

  Before we could fully process the implications, Theodore appeared, his expression troubled.

  "Akira, Taki," he announced, "Maki tricked me. She ran off to look for Ray."

  A cold weight settled in my chest. Damn it, Maki. What have you done?