Two Sides

Hiwo lets out a smile

I expected this scenario to come up, I planned it well, and I should be proud of myself.

He loosens the grip on the spear, trying to prove this is going to take a lighter tone; there wasn't a need for violence.

“When I first met you at the library, you were looking for books about the goddess”

She nodded in response, studying his expressions and body further, trying to discern what his plan is

“Then you approached me, clearly trying to skip class, sleeping almost in the library. Why is that?”

The question left her confused. What did this have to do with anything?

“It doesn't matter why I approached, I just wanted to”

Hiwo sighs out expectantly, “It's because you knew someone like me wouldn't care about what you said. You did go ranting about your beloved goddess to me, then for the whole class, seeing that I didn't budge”

Shina takes on a defensive tone, “So what? I just wanted to finally spread my beliefs to someone new”

“So I was the only one you could do that to? That's why we met… I'm heartbroken,” Hiwo chuckles to himself.

“It's not that only, I just knew you needed someone to talk with as well. I took advantage of it”

He lets out a fake frown.

“You make yourself sound manipulative. We both were outcasts. That was our connection”

“Even if you're right, you went on to tell me your troubles too, how you live in a single-parent household, how you were tormented in middle school and how you just gave up on everything. That's why I thought the goddess was for you”

He nodded, “Because she solved all our problems, we both became devoted and ignored what others thought. But there is a difference between you now and then”

Hiwo turns his eyes sharper, his hands clapping together. The silence followed soon after, the river kept flowing, making quiet sounds while the fresh air added a sense of revelation.

“You were still human back then, with thoughts, actions and desires of your own. Now you are merely an extension of the goddess”

Shina doesn’t reply; she just stands there glaring at him. She knew there was some truth to his words, but she didn't want to admit anything.

“Which is why I think when you use that orb of yours, you gain something human in exchange, which makes you realise all the mistakes you made”

Shina scoffs, “What if I merely become an extension of her? Is there something wrong with me trying to place my savour?”

“No”, Hiwo shook his head.

He puts his hand into the air and points towards the sky.

“That sky is as endless as the number of deities. If she didn't exist, then one of them would help you”

Shina frowned “Think about that person we met yesterday, he never even summoned his deity”

They both knew that was true.

“You got rid of Kazu, I saw that figure under the moonlight, the abrupt ending to Ayuri crying”, Hiwo posed against her choices.

Shina shook her head, “I wanted to gain some other experiences. His power is useful too. Enhanced hearing, magic sense as well”

“That's exactly how you knew I was going to talk about this, listening in on your own teammates” his tone was filled with frustration.

Shina didn't reply; that was something she regretted this entire time, the idea that her distrust and consumption led her to hide things from the one person who would listen.

He cleared his throat and began his next point.

“You gained sadness, destruction, fulfilment, and someone else's wishes. You aren't the same person we knew before. When will it all break you down?”

She turned away for a second, thinking about her reply,

“I am a person who consumes others; they are part of life. I haven't killed anyone; their lives can still be redeemed by me”

Hiwo nodded, “So those beasts you consumed, they make up most of you now, isn't that an issue?”

“I need humans to fill the gaps, more specifically, humans with high magic to overwrite them” Her voice raised higher this time; she wasn't expecting him to take it there.

Hiwo sighs out disappointed, it was like talking to someone who didn't change even if proved wrong, someone imaginary until now changed her beyond what she used to be

“I can't let you go down somewhere that dark, such as a human killing spree, maybe consider absorbing deities or animals, perhaps”

He cleared his throat, and there was a determined flicker across his face as his stance tightened, knowing it was pointless to suggest such things.

“Let me make you a choice: either kill me and finish the path you started, or turn away now and stop absorbing”

Shina shook her head clearly in denial of his words.

“I won't do anything if you don't stop me from taking those two powers. She made sure to make me in charge of that, I won't fail her”

Hiwo gripped his spear tightly before letting go again; the balance of his decision weighed heavily.

“Then make your choice, you will either pick us or you will pick the goddess. I can also end the decision for you”

Shina glared back, clearly displeased with the defiance of orders given. Hiwo was already clutching the spear again, his hands ready to stop her at all means.

“You can’t possibly think that you can stop me”

Seems she is willing to fight as well if needed, if it comes to that. The shina that will leave here will never be saved; some sort of seed should be planted within her.

He firmly grips his spear, tightening it fully around his hand.

“I was planning to fight you, but I think that's an even worse way of dealing with this. Violence is something you are most likely desensitised to already”

Pointing the spear towards Shina, he makes sure it hovers next to her face. She didn't move; there was no need to move, knowing that her reaction time and physical powers wouldn't even be needed.