Chapter 26 -- Better than one
AIO: The origin of Ishi is finally revealed. And in doing so, Chapter 25 has become my biggest chapter yet - surpassing Chapter 10.
I'm so glad I was finally able to write it. It's been in my head for a long, long time.
The atmosphere was quiet. Mildly shocked.
The result of a wave of unpleasant nostalgia.
Retracing the steps of something once buried... Had indeed been difficult for Ishi to conquer.
He had spoken the tale of his past - obviously not verbatim, but a blurred, linear recollection.
Glimpses and images... Bits and pieces...
Over the years he had falsely thought he had come to terms with it. Giving it occasional thought.
But speaking it aloud - to other people, turned out to be far from an easy feat.
He breathed heavily, looking down with a subtle focus.
Ishi: "Th... That is how I came here..."
His soft, gentle voice did not match the destructive capabilities of the boy described in the story. It drew the others back into the present.
They had already witnessed Ishi in his 'violent state', but perhaps not to that extent.
Reach: ...
Reach didn't know where to start.
His upbringing shared similarities with Ishi - particularly their solitary years and physical suffering, however, he could not help but feel even more saddened. He swelled with empathy and sorrow for Ishi's sake.
...
The night sky silently loomed above.
Thorn brushed her hair while she sat with a composed expression.
Tomo was serious, and sad.
Ishi still wore the clothes he'd changed into after bathing - black pants and a dark grey shirt, no shoes.
He grabbed the material of his shirt at the chest, extending the solemn mood of the group.
...
..
.
Ishi: "Have you ever watched everyone you love be slaughtered in front of your very eyes?"
.
..
...
He looked forward at nothing.
That line he spoke without error.
Horrors replaying in his head - you felt instant understanding of Ishi's actions.
The pain. The anger. The rage. The indomitable violence.
The sincere, overwhelming sadness.
...
Reach had not been through that kind of ordeal. Neither Thorn. Nor Tomo - as far as he could remember.
Reach pondered on an earlier exchange with Ishi.
'I already got my revenge.'
Reach: ...
Reach looked down, then up.
Reach: If everyone you love dies, and you swear vengeance on the person who did it...
Reach: And you kill that person...
...
...
Reach: ...What do you do... After that?
The words 'aimless' and 'lost' entered Reach's mind.
Things he had picked up on before. But this time, from an entirely different context.
Reach: ...
Tomo was the first to move.
He got up and sat next to Ishi.
Quietly, he put his arm around him.
Ishi: ...
Ishi noticed Tomo, but continued to look forward.
There was no essence of immaturity or joke to his company. Tomo simply sat with Ishi, in comfort.
Ishi was... Appreciative.
...
It took a few minutes for Ishi's demeanour to change.
Initially comparable to a cat on edge - stiff, uneasy. To the cat's eventual normal, calm manner.
Reach grasped Ishi's nuances in emotion, finding an appropriate window to speak.
Reach: "Thank you for telling us that... Ishi."
Ishi: ...
Reach: "That must have been hard."
They made eye contact.
Ishi: "M-Mm."
Thorn cared less for the kind words, but she remained quiet.
In her head she tried to piece together the workings of Ishi's disease.
Thorn: ...
Reach more so thought about Ishi's memory.
Reach: I wonder if his brain put an automatic block on what happened.
Reach: Especially early on. To protect him, somewhat.
Reach's maturity sometimes appeared far beyond his capacity, as someone who spent so much time alone.
But then again, perhaps it was fitting for his age of 26.
Ishi: "I... I know what happened."
Reach: ?
Ishi: "I get it. I do."
Ishi: "I've always known."
Ishi appeared to be arguing with himself, or convincing himself of something.
He ruffled his own hair.
Ishi: "Sometimes it just hurts... To think."
Reach paused. He understood that notion.
He spoke in a steady, monotone voice.
Reach: "Yeah. I know."
Reach sat on the other side of Ishi.
They shared a still moment, together.
...
...
...
Reach soon continued, with the mood more at ease.
Reach: "So you've been here since..."
Reach: "...Since all that?"
Ishi: "Y-Yeah."
Reach: That's a long time. He's 24, right?
Reach could relate to that notion, as well.
Reach: I want to ask more about the island and the ship, but now's probably not the time.
Tomo: "Hey Ishi, I want to ask more about the island and the ship-"
Reach: "Oi."
Reach swatted Tomo from the other side of Ishi.
Ishi: ?
Ishi missed the comment.
Reach: "Th-This world sure is big, huh?"
Reach looked up again.
This time thinking about the villagers and the invaders.
Ishi: "Yeah."
Thorn - moved onto cleaning her blades, also thought.
Thorn: I wonder how strong those people really were. The ones who killed Ishi's friends and family.
She glanced at Ishi.
Thorn: But even as a boy...
...
Thorn: ...He was stronger.
She didn't know what to make of that.
So she skipped straight to the point.
Thorn: "Tell me about your disease, Ishi."
Ishi: ?
Reach and Tomo were curious, too.
Reach had some idea - so did Thorn, but they were not certain.
Ishi: "O-Okay..."
The three listened intently.
Ishi looked down at his palm - softly clenching and releasing his fist.
Ishi: "I'm... Aware of it."
Reach: ...
Ishi tried to navigate through his thoughts.
Ishi: "I... I wouldn't say I can control it."
Ishi: "Or maybe I can... Sometimes..."
...
Ishi: "It's more like..."
Ishi: "...It's a part of me."
Ishi looked at both his hands.
Thorn: It doesn't appear to be something as simple as a variation of strength or speed.
Reach helped the discussion.
Reach: "From what you've told us, and from what we've seen... It seems to change based on how you feel."
Ishi: "Y-Yeah... Kind of..."
Ishi put his palms together.
Ishi: "I find that... The angrier I get..."
He looked at Reach - black eyes to black eyes.
.
Ishi: "...The stronger I get."
.
A chill went down Reach's spine.
Reach: Wh...
Ishi: "It can happen in an instant."
Ishi: "A-An instant for everything to change."
Reach: ...
Ishi: "For me to see red."
Ishi: "For me to want to hurt others."
Ishi looked around.
Ishi: "A-And the thing is..."
Ishi: "...I don't want to hurt people, but..."
...
...
Ishi: "In the moment... It actually feels good."
Thorn tried to hide her grin.
Ishi: "It feels like they're getting what they deserve."
Reach took a moment to process the information, but he certainly understood that powerful feeling. Thorn, too.
Reach: "Yeah. I know what you mean, Ishi."
Tomo: ...
Ishi: ...
Ishi bit his lip, thinking about those who ruined his village. That blur of mayhem and helplessness.
Ishi: "H-Hah..."
Ishi: "It still... Frustrates me."
Reach looked straight ahead.
Reach: "Things are different now, Ishi."
...
Reach: "You're... Different now."
Ishi looked at Reach again.
Ishi: "What do you mean?"
Reach looked next to Ishi. Communicating to him, but not making eye contact - thinking as he spoke.
Reach: "You're strong, Ishi."
Reach: "You're knowledgeable."
Ishi: "W-"
Reach: "You're... Free."
The word 'free' took Ishi by surprise.
Reach nodded.
Ishi: ...!
Ishi started to feel a sensation in his stomach and throat.
An instinctive urge to hold back an emotion. He didn't know why.
Reach's words felt reminiscent of Valmond. Of Ishi's Dad.
Reach: "I'm sure they'd be happy to know that."
Ishi: A... Ah...
Reach said it a second time.
Ishi put his hand over his eyes. His lips quivered.
..
.
Reach: "You're free, Ishi."
.
..
Tears started to roll over Ishi's fingers.
He wept.
And wept.
...
Tomo and Thorn smiled.
.
.
.
And soon after... This long night finally came to an end.
- - - -
The next day.
Ishi slept well - likely from mental exhaustion.
Reach woke with Tomo's legs over him.
Thorn had slept stoically.
The three started to gather their things and prepare for the day ahead.
Tomo made a hot drink and gave it to Ishi - who sat there drinking it while wrapped in a blanket.
Ishi: I like Tomo.
Reach put his bag over his shoulder.
Today he wore a light grey short sleeve shirt plus his normal black pants and boots.
He wore a few accessories around his wrist - bracelets and thin fabrics. Tomo was unsure where Reach got them.
Reach looked at Ishi, who sat there like a hermit.
Reach: ...
Reach: "So."
Ishi: ?
Reach: "Would you?"
Ishi: ...?
Ishi: "Would I?"
Reach glanced at Tomo and Thorn who were getting ready to leave as well.
Reach: "Yesterday I asked; would you ever leave this town?"
Ishi: !
Ishi: "O-Oh."
Reach looked back at Ishi.
Reach: "You want to do something, right?"
Tomo and Thorn stood next to Reach. Tomo blew his nose.
Reach: "Come with us."
Ishi: I...
Reach: "It'll change your whole life."
Ishi gulped.
His eyes were longing.
Longing for something more...
...
He put down his drink and removed his blanket.
He put his elbows on his knees. He thought, looking down.
Reach sharply watched.
Reach: "Don't forget what I said last night."
Ishi: ...
Ishi: ...I-I'm...
Ishi's default response was to doubt himself. To second-guess himself.
Again - he didn't know why.
Ishi: "I'm... Unreliable..."
Reach: ...
Ishi: "My mind... It's..."
Ishi: "...It's always scrambled..."
He held his head with both hands.
Ishi: "I contradict myself. I get confused. I can't tell what's right and wrong."
Ishi: "I-I-"
Reach flicked Ishi in the forehead.
Ishi: ?-
The flick decent enough to cause an instant red mark.
Reach: He really is different when he's not angry.
Reach patted Ishi firmly on the head.
.
Reach: "You're not the only one."
.
Reach's words once again took Ishi by surprise. He seemed to have a way of reassuring Ishi.
Reach: "All of that doesn't matter."
Ishi: I...
Reach: "If anything, you're the most reliable."
Reach spoke determinedly.
Reach: "So?"
Ishi: ...
Ishi thought to himself as he slowly stood up.
Ishi: I... I've never spoken this much... Since being here.
...
Ishi: I've never told anyone... That story.
Ishi: That... Horror.
...
Ishi glanced at Tomo and Thorn. He looked at Reach.
Ishi: "I... I trust you, Reach."
...
Ishi: "I can see it in your eyes."
Ishi nodded as he spoke softly.
Ishi: "Okay."
...
Ishi: "I'll come."
Reach smiled.
Ishi: I'll try to get rid of the unnecessary thoughts.
Ishi looked up at the fire red sunrise.
Ishi: These people have made me realise...
...
Ishi: ...That I am... Free.
- - - -
They walked towards the outskirts of Fleeting Maroon: Seamless Potential.
Tomo: ...
Tomo reflected on the group's diverse interactions with Ishi thus far.
Tomo: He's less concerned with where we come from and why we're here.
Tomo glanced at Ishi from the side.
Tomo: He's more concerned with who we are... As people.
Tomo found that he naturally had a fond perception of Ishi.
...
...
Ishi wore a black long sleeve shirt and black pants.
He brought some basic belongings, but he was someone that didn't need much.
Ishi: ...
...
Ishi didn't think much as he proceeded towards the exit. He wasn't particularly sentimental, but he had been here for a while.
He did notice that the town was calmer than usual today.
He felt a small sense of relief.
...
They arrived at an entryway different to the one they initially came through. This one smaller and silver.
Reach: ...
Reach: So there are many ways in and out of town.
Ishi glanced around, knowing that the entryways here are where people tend to loiter and attack others. But that too, today, seemed quieter.
????: "Hey!"
A person yelled from behind.
Ishi: ?
Thorn: ...
The four turned around to find a group of people in white outfits.
They wore red gloves and their faces were exposed - mostly men with stubble.
Reach: ?
Ishi: "Couriers."
Reach: "Hm?"
Their faces were not recognisable - mainly because they were not memorable.
A few of them had passed by before.
Ishi: "They dispose of dead bodies."
Reach: "Oh."
Reach: "Right, okay."
Reach responded to the one who'd spoken.
Reach: "What do you want?"
????: ...
A number of them pulled out silver weapons.
Reach: ...
Ishi: ?
Ishi: "I-I thought they were harmless. Forced to work under Gatriox against their will."
A cold face came over Ishi.
Ishi: "I had decided... Not to kill them."
One courier shivered - clearly knowing of Ishi's reputation.
Reach placed his hand on Ishi's shoulder.
Ishi: ?
Reach spoke again to the courier.
Reach: "Are you sure?"
????: "We..."
...
????: "We may have been under their rule..."
...
????: "...But..."
Reach thought to himself.
He looked up to the sky. His eyes becoming colder. Vacant.
Reach: Ah... I know where this is going...
Reach dropped his bag.
The courier spoke - hints of indecisiveness.
????: "Th-There is...!"
Reach's face turned murderous.
Reach: It has been... Some time...
Thorn caught on - watching eagerly.
The courier yelled one final time.
????: "There is such a thing as honour!!!-"
Reach: "How idiotic."
BLITZ.
Ishi: ?!!!
Threaded between them all in a heartbeat - their necks were snapped.
A series of cracks and thuds filled the air.
Ishi: H-He...
Thorn smirked as if it was the obvious outcome. Tomo stood calmly.
Ishi gauged the reactions of Thorn and Tomo - concluding that this was standard for Reach.
Ishi: He is...
Reach looked down at his hands.
Small bits of flesh between his fingers.
Reach: Ishi's right...
Reach smeared the flesh together.
His face still masked in darkness.
Reach: This feels... Good...!!
Ishi shuddered for some reason.
Ishi: I-I guess I really don't need... To worry about them...
Thorn approached Reach from behind.
Ishi: ?
Thorn: "Hey, Reach."
Reach turned his head slightly.
Thorn: "Why don't we fight?"
Thorn: "Just for fun?"
Reach: "Huh?"
Reach turned around and stood up straight. His eyes still cold.
Reach: "Don't play with me."
His voice was stern.
She gripped one of her blades.
Ishi: Wh-What is she-
Ishi: What are they-
Tomo walked over casually. Perhaps not sensing the danger of these two.
Ishi: ??
Tomo returned Reach's bag to his shoulder.
Reach: ...
Tomo: "Come on."
He spoke softly.
Reach: ...
Tomo glanced at the corpses.
Tomo: He really is... Powerful.
Reach ignored Thorn and walked away with Tomo.
Thorn: ...
Thorn frowned.
Ishi was impressed.
Ishi: A-As expected of Tomo...
Tomo avoided Thorn's eye contact.
Tomo: Th-Thank god they didn't start fighting...
The four left through the entryway with their unique thoughts intact.
They approached the edge of the breathtaking base of dirt. Numerous thin bridges surrounded it on all sides alike when they entered.
This time they noticed small piles of ashes - some on the dirt and some far below at ground level.
Reach: ...
...
Reach peered over the edge.
Reach: "So do we jump?"
Tomo: "Not funny."
Reach seemingly back to his normal self.
The four chose a bridge that felt stable enough and commenced their descent.
Ishi: ...
Ishi was the last to set foot onto the bridge.
He hesitated.
But, he held out his hand...
...And took his first step.
...
...
He looked up, down, and at Reach admirably from behind.
Ishi: Watch me until the end... Reach.
- - - -
A middle-aged woman with divine magenta hair, sat comfortably, somewhere.
????: Hmm...
...
????: So... He's finally on the move...?
...
????: And with... Strong companions...?
She wore some sort of tall, colourful hat.
Her eyes were concealed.
????: I'll say it again...
She grinned, looking upward.
????: "...What turbulence... Awaits us?!!"
- - - -
The story of Tomo. Reach. Thorn.
All three of them.
And now Ishi...
...Shall return...
...After a tale...
...Of too many dreams.
[Chapter 26 -- End]
