Chapter 9: Mateo the Cowardly Hero

Alna and I approached the makeshift wooden door. It was quite large and it fit inside the clear cave entrance well. Still, it wasn't perfect and I bet it let the elements in. 

"This has to be the place." I said turning to Alna. 

"Yeah, without a doubt. I can smell something further inside." Alna sniffed the air. 

"Should we knock or just enter?" I pondered.

"Just enter, I know there are two people outside." A voice made us both jump back. I wanted to summon my weapon and clearly Alna thought the same but we held back. 

"Seriously, you both are far from stealthy and I heard you approaching from a mile away." The voice came from further inside. We both looked at one another and decided to throw caution to the wind. I pushed opened the "door" and we entered into the darkness...

The dim evening light lit up the path ahead of us but barely. I could see only a bit in front of me but when the darkness began to grow overwhelming Alna took the lead.

"I can see better in darkness, follow me." I nodded as she held my hand and guided me. Her hand was warm and soft. I was glad it was dark...my face was bright red. 

As we walked further in, we both saw small lights emit their glow further in. 

"How did he throw his voice out so far?" I said as we kept moving. With the amount we walked it would be impossible to sound so clear without some sort of device or ability. 

"Because I'm using a spell that let's me throw noise out further." the voice said answering my question...

"That sounds like...convenient magic." I said but honestly I wanted to laugh. While it was still magic, throwing your voice out further seemed like a silly magical power. Part of me though began to realize a truth I didn't want to believe just yet...

The darkness subsided and we finally arrived in a well-lit room. There wasn't much here though aside from a depressing make-shift bed and a shelf filled with books. I also noticed what seemed to be trash thrown around too, namely bones and random artifacts that I wasn't familiar with. 

"What do you two want from me?" the voice finally had a body to go with it and one that I didn't expect. A middle age man stood before us, his dark brown hair flowing to the middle of his back, his clothes were old and worn out. He wasn't heavy but equally was far from in shape and he shorter than me and in retro spec I was just slightly above average height for a traditional Japanese man. 

"Are you...the former hero?" Alna asked also surprised by the man who stood in front of us.

"Hero? Me? I was labeled that I guess ages ago but do I look like any type of hero you can think of?" The man said as he stood at both of us as annoyances. 

"I'm MIzuki...this is Alna. We are here to see you former hero." I said trying to get some sort of introduction going but quickly seeing I was failing. The man stood before us and just sighed.

"Name's Mateo...yes I was the so called "hero" but as you can see, I'm not. So again, who are you two aside from names?" Mateo said, still annoyed but I could see he was a bit intrigued.

"Well Mateo, Mizuki is actually the current hero and we were told you..."

"Oh so you're the new sucker they chose to be a hero...let me guess some weird voice summoned you here too and said you have a SOUL and can win this fight...yada yada." Mateo waved his arms mocking Mr. Voice but being right on the mark with his statement.

"Yes...I was told by...well we call it literally Mr. Voice, not really sure if it is a male or what but...aside from that he told me to search for you."

"Why?" 

"You are joining Mizuki and me in our quest to end Slain." Alna perked up and tried to get a rise out of Mateo but clearly that just irked him. Mateo walked over to the make shift bed and plopped down on it.

"I think you both just wasted not only my precious time but your own. I'm not a hero and I'll be honest with you kid, nor are you." Mateo smiled darkly.

"That's cruel to say..." Alna was about to walk towards Mateo but he stood back up and then summoned what looked like a mini trumpet. 

"You see this? This is how I was able to talk to you both despite being far inside this little cave. This is my "Heroic Ability" I can summon tools that have magical properties." Mateo then summoned another weird looking device, it reminded me of a portable speaker.

"What's that?" I asked inquisitively. 

"This allows me to hear sounds from anywhere I put it. I have about ten of these outside the mountain area. Their range is about thirty or so feet and the minute anything passes them, the sound carries back to this one I'm holding. Again, why I said your stealth was terrible." Mateo made the device vanish and once more sat on the edge of the bed. 

"You have impressive tools Mateo..." Alna said but Mateo just squinted his eyes angrily.

"Impressive tools? These tools are good for almost nothing aside minor convivences. Nothing here is deadly. All my tools just help with life but nothing that can be used as weapon...I'm sure Mizuki has the same thing." Mateo began laughing until I summoned my katana.

"My sword seems to have been made for me, I don't know much about it aside from the ability to defend automatically..."

"Wow...that's freckin great...a sword!? See you are more of a hero than me! Clearly our Mr. Voice just summoned me from my world as a joke!" Mateo was now visibly angry, shaking with rage. His fists began to clench tightly. I honestly felt bad for him...I  was about to try and comfort him a bit when an all too familiar presences broke the moment. 

 "Mateo...you are an idiot my boy." Mr. Voice suddenly appeared in its usual misty form and Mateo jumped up now 100% livid.

"You bastard...you appear now to what mock me? Show me a true hero after summoning me from my world to suffer in this dark dank cave!?" Mateo walked towards the mist-like being but Mr. Voice just sighed.

"Let me make this clear. I do not do anything with no purpose. Everything I've done so far has had meaning even if your little mind can't comprehend it."   

"SO THEN WHY DID YOU MAKE ME A HERO WITH SUCH A USELESS POWER!?" Mateo screamed as his fists went up I wondered if he could even hurt Mr. Voice.

"Had you not run away and shirked your responsibility of being a hero, you'd understand that your power is only a starting ability...Just like MIzuki's." I wanted to ask more but Mateo stopped me.

"So explain this other power!" Mateo shouted.

"Originally my plan was to have you meet with a young woman...she has the power of awakening and was meant to fully unlock your ability of Spatial Creation. However, you ran off like a coward and thus after trying to make you listen for years I came up with a plan B...him." I didn't need to know he meant me. 

"So Mateo ran off and the plan changed?" Alna asked.

"Yes...however this plan might be better now that you have Mizuki. You three need to understand this...he is always listening." 

"Slain?" I spoke finally.

"Yes...I speak in a way he can't fully understand but do not be fooled, even now he is aware that something is happening that could finally bring an end to him and thus why I need to be careful and cryptic. It isn't kind but it is necessary."

"What is our next move then?" I asked.

"Your next move is to find your last party member, the woman I mentioned before. Her power will explain so much to you all and unlock the hidden abilities you both carry. It can also help Alna become stronger as well. Now I must go once more. Head for the Forest of Infinity. Alna you know the way. Remember...everything...I...do...is...being...watched..." Mr. Voice vanished leaving us three in the dark once more. 

"He just assumes I'm going to join you two." Mateo cursed under his breath.

"You need to...we might finally be able to beat Slain. I know you two haven't seen Slain and honestly, nor have I. Still, I know what he has done to this world and it's disgusting. He contorts this world to suit his needs." Alna looked forlorn and I stood there unable to answer. I figured Slain was a bad guy, clearly anyone egotistical enough to try and be God is but what has Slain done to this world?

"That isn't my problem. Had I known all this ages ago...maybe I would have actually been like Mizuki here and rose to the title of hero. Instead, I spent the last I don't even know how many years here in this cave afraid." 

"Why?" I asked.

"Why what?" 

"Why did you hide here? Why did you choose this cave?" I walked up to Mateo, I didn't mean to be threatening but I was honestly a bit peeved.

"It's safe here. No one comes here, monsters avoid this place and I have everything I need. Books, areas I can get food and water. I may not be in my own bed in my world but here isn't bad." Mateo put his arms in a shrug and that is when I finally snapped.

"You are a coward...wow. Since day one, I came to this world confused...wondering if I could rise up to be a hero. Despite that fear and the sheer amount of confusion from this world I still tried and am still trying. Look at you...you just gave up instead of even embracing your role." I was so angry but I kept my cool nonetheless. 

"Some of us are born to be heroes..." Mateo said with tears rolling down his face.

"Some of us aren't but that doesn't mean we can't become heroes." I replied back.

"Look...I'm not a hero Mizuki...I'm just a magician with useless talent...almost a mirror image of what I was in my world. Unlike you, in my world I wasn't anything special...I was a true loser." 

"I was special...WHAT MADE ME SPECIAL HUH?" I grabbed Mateo by the collar and shoved him back towards the wall. Alna tried to stop me but I wasn't backing off.

"In my world Mateo I was a loser too! I worked day in and day out as an office worker who had no redeeming qualities! I would work all day and night, then go home to drink an occasional beer and then sleep to repeat the same crap. I did that for years and never blinked! What makes me special?! You know what makes me even close to a hero?! That I am trying to do something amazing for once in my life!" I was crying making the argument seem a bit less powerful but I couldn't help it. Alna put her hand on my back and despite my armor, I could feel her warmth and reinsurance.

"Mateo...it isn't too late. Mr. Voice never said you aren't important now...maybe you aren't a hero but you can help us...help Mizuki and be heroic. We need you Mateo." Alna smiled weakly and Mateo looked away. 

"Let go of me..." I wanted to continued holding my grip but I obeyed and pulled away. Mateo fixed his shirt and looked at both of us.

"Join us Mateo." I was still mad but I knew in my heart Mateo was very much like an alternate version of me. The me that wanted to give up the moment I saw that Dingo and was attacked by it. Yet, unlike him, I had someone to come to my aid. Mateo...he was alone.

"I'm useless...you both know that right?" Mateo broke the silence.

"I am too...without her...I'd be probably either dead or worse." Mateo took a deep breath and sighed.

"Fine...but here's the deal. If I don't get a true power upgrade from this girl...I'm coming back here. Deal?" 

"Deal." I held my hand out but he just slapped it away.

"You have my useless power Mr. Hero. Now lead us towards death." Mateo made a wicked smile.