Return of the Fallen Volume 10 Chapter 134
Day faded to night on the world but in the void of space, it was always both day and night. Kazuki sat floating in space meditating. Using his newfound ability, soul reading, he could sense all living things billions upon billions of miles away. Anything and everything within this range, he could sense it as if it were directly in front of him.
Life, death, within his range, all of it was in the palm of his hand. Though, he was not seeking to destroy, nor create. Right now, all he was doing was feeling his surroundings. He could already perceive souls but now he could physically see them. Each one had its own unique shape. Sasai for example had a black snake shape for a soul while Mei had a large beautiful bird. Some shapes seemed to lean more toward one’s personality while others more toward their strengths or weaknesses.
There was no set rule for shape or color it seemed.
With a single thought, Kazuki could tell how a person was feeling and the longer he observed the more clear their soul became to a point where he could almost guess what they were thinking or possibly even say.
(So many thoughts and emotions. There are 10’s of trillions of living beings all around. On this planet, that one, many stars away there are even more. Each one feeling, thinking, experiencing and each one I can peer into and grasp who and what they are. So much coming into my senses, that it is almost overwhelming. In some cases it is but for the most part it’s all under my watchful eyes.)
Kazuki’s mind drifted as he felt evil intention. Down on Gordonia, a young man a little drunk wandered the streets on his home. His body swayed with unbalance as he stumbled but he was not bad. He simply was ready to get home and climb into bed and if she would have him he would climb his wife too.
While he walked two steps forward and one back, in the shadows another man held a dagger with a tight grip. Every now and again, the moon would come out from behind the clouds and you could just make out this mans cold expression. He was on the hunt for prey.
As the clouds hid the moon once more, the man in the shadows leapt out, and with rat-like quietness, his feet pressed softly off the ground and scurried forward right at the drunk man. The dagger raised high, the man swung it down with a swiftness.
The drunk man was completely unaware, the knife was ready to pierce his back before a flow of wind suddenly ran across the murderous man’s neck.
The bastard fell to his knees and the moment he did so, his head fell away from his shoulders and he collapsed dead on the ground. The drunk man was still unaware. Maybe if he were sober he would have heard the thud behind him, but the man was feeling himself and was in his own little world as he continued to sway down the street to his warm home.
(Was that necessary?)
Arc called out to Kazuki.
(What do you mean, that man was about to kill the other one.)
Arc buzzed with electricity as if it were shrugging its shoulders.
(And that is your problem why exactly. You don’t even know the situation, do you? That drunk man may have offended the other. You may have interfered with justice. The man with the dagger may have his own reasons. Why judge and execute like that?)
(Do you think I would make a move without checking. I could read his soul. The man with the dagger owed the drunk man money that he could not repay. The man decided to kill to remove the debt looming over his head. I simply took care of an asshole who would kill over such a trivial thing.)
(Why did you not wait. The man may have had second thoughts and taken it back at the last moment and walked away. Now though we’ll never know because you killed him.)
(Why should he have a second chance in the first place. Wait to see if he stops, that is foolish. I read his intent, he was not thinking about stopping, not for a second. He had planned this murder out a few days ago, he was not letting go of this opportunity. Tell me, if you were the drunk man would you give someone coming at you with a knife a chance to change their mind and not kill you. I don’t think so. Because of what I did, a murderer is gone and an innocent man is alive and will go home tonight.)
(Is that so? How can he be a murderer if he never committed murder? You preemptively killed him. Truth is, the only murderer right now is you as he did not kill anyone.)
Kazuki chuckled. He felt no guilt or remorse.
(Your right, I did kill him before he murdered someone so yes I am a murderer but so the fuck what. If I know someone is going to commit an evil act and I don’t stop it, that would make me the asshole.)
(I’m not saying that, I really don’t care who you kill at the end of the day but I just thought I’d point out what you’re doing. By killing someone before they act, you are depriving them of their right to choose. We only left Nevius’s place recently, don’t tell me you have already forgotten how it feels when someone steals your choice away.)
Kazuki sighed.
(Arc if you can’t see the difference between me killing that man down there to protect an innocent person and Nevius taking my choice when it came to my hatred or a healed soul, then you are lost.)
(By Nevius taking your choice, was he not protecting innocent lives. The people you would kill to get to Sephra, the number would surely fill an ocean with blood. If you can’t see this, then it is not I who is lost but you.)
(Damn you talk too much you know that. How can you even see what I’m doing down on Gordonia anyway?)
(Kazuki, you can sense a third of this Realm but with enough energy, I can peer across and access multiple Realms. Origin energy is truly a gift. Seeing what is happening in a small world that is literally beneath me, I would have to be a moron not to notice the happenings below. Now are you going to give me a real response to my comment or are you just accepting your loss this time.)
Kazuki held up his hand and looked at Arc but didn’t answer that. Instead, he stared at Arc and wondered.
(Why is it that I can see through everything within my range but I can’t see through you. Even the other artifacts back in Nevius’s world I can see their form and mechanisms but you, it is like looking at a deep dark void. I can’t see inside and it’s like my vision grows dark and blinds me of all things. What are you exactly?)
Arc was silent for a moment before answering.
(I don’t know. I wish to find out though. This is why I need your help, I need to know who I am. Am I just a piece of equipment abandoned and tossed away? Am I part of something bigger? Did I have someone I was close to, someone to rely on? How was I made? Not knowing your origin and being used by others for all of my known existence, this is something that haunts me. I crave the answers, I hope this empty feeling inside will no longer claw at me. I will understand it one day. One day.)
Kazuki turned Arc a few times on his thumb as if he were comforting it.
Arc though buzzed with electricity and shocked Kazuki but Kazuki only felt a slight itch and chuckled.
(You are growing weaker. Stop wasting your Origin energy on such petty shocks.)
(Hmph, then stop treating me like a child. Did I ever ask for you to comfort me, pity me? Just help me collect more energy and leave the warm feelings at the door.)
Kazuki shrugged.
(Kazuki, what are you doing up there come back to bed.)
Nunully’s thoughts reached into Kazuki’s head.
Kazuki had left Asuna and Nunully after a few rounds to try and learn more about his soul reading ability. He didn’t need its help before but with it, he was able to play with the two by reading exactly what they wanted and when they wanted it. The three reached greater and greater heights together and when they passed out from pleasure Kazuki decided to take a stroll.
(It looks like they woke up. Time for a few more rounds.)
Arc was annoyed hearing this.
(Stop wasting time rolling around with those two. If you got enough time to fool around then help me gather more energy!)
Kazuki smirked.
(Says the one expending energy on shocking me. Tell me who’s wasting energy here, hehe.)
After that Kazuki descended back down to the planet and rejoined Asuna and Nunully for more fun while ignoring Arc’s complaints.
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