No Rest for the Wicked

“Come back here damnit!” Leo cried as he shouted into the night sky. His own weakness caused him to lose Zentella. To lose Cor as well. He was useless. He had the system, but couldn’t even trigger a single command.

“Leo… Leo look at me.” Lupa said shaking him, “We got to get moving now ok.” She didn’t wait and started to pull him, “We don’t have much time. Gargoyles of his level can pass on his stone curse if they want. The fact that he need them both active right now is our only blessing.” She dragged him to Sophia who was dazed from the forced sobriety, “Can you cleanse us?”

Cleanse? Leo then thought back to his skills, “Yeah… but I still haven’t rested, I will be out of MP after.”

“Fine, just do it.” Lupa said. Leo nodded and then called upon his skill.

REBECCA’S RESTORATION

Then a wave of healing energy passed over everyone. Those still under the effects of Tiberius’ killing intent and the alcohol were now back to clarity. Sophia then got up and called out Selena. “What’s the plan?”

“We move now.” Lupa said “Come on.” They go to her father and she says, “I’m taking them to Lobos, I doubt they would resist with Cor in danger .” She said it not asking, but declaring what they are going to do. Lucius just nods feeling the guilt of allowing the thing into the village. They then go and grab Lula’s weapons.

“Wait up guys.” Leo said finally finding his voice.

“Look Leo, we don’t have time-” Lupa began

“I know! Just here.” He then accessed his screen. He went to the part setting and was glad that Zentella’s health didn’t move. He then sent both Lupa and Sophia a party invite. “I doubt that this will do much right now, but accept it. It might give us options as we fight him.” He explained solely basing off their fight with Xernrex.

They stared at the screens for a second seeing what Leo sees for the first time. They press the confrimaton button and then nodded to him. Lupa’s, Sophia’s, and even Selena’s name appeared.

Lupa then turned to Sophia saying, “Can Selena run fast?”

“Of course.”

“Then you take her and follow me.” Lupa then squatted down, “Come on Leo get on. this is for the best.”

While a part of him wanted to protest, he simply had no time for it. So he relented and allowed her to carry him on her back. With Sophia on her panther they took off. Down through the forest past the village where the trees seemed to get even thicker and a mist began to roll in. It had to not be just any mist, Leo reasoned. It could be even some sort of magic mist.

“Leo…” Lupa said which Leo was surprised to hear given the speed, “Don’t blame yourself for this ok. This is my fault. I should have gone with my dad. I would have noticed the gargoyle in its vulnerable state and stopped this. This is on me.” Leo tried to protest when Lupa continued, “Please, don’t eat yourself up over this. You are going to see things here. Remember they're not real ok? We have to take this way to save time. Don’t let this mistake be added there.”

“What do you mean Lupa?” Leo asked.

Then all was white.

XxXx

Leo woke up with a start. He looked around and saw that he was back in his bed on Earth. Except… this was when he was younger. Everything was the same from back years ago. Compelled by some force he walked out of the room. Then in the hallway he saw a young version of himself staring into a cracked door. He followed and realized that this was a memory. A memory of his failure, or the aftermath.

In the room the younger version of him was peeping in were the rest of his soccer team. He finally recalled this day.

“He wanted to be goalie so badly, but he sucked.”

“We lost the game because he said he could do it.”

“We should have never listen to him.”

It was the day he finally got to be goalie. He had asked for the position and then his teammates vouched for him. They lost that game. They had told him it was no big deal, but this was how they truly felt.

Before he could even processed what he was seeing there was a jump. The next time he didn’t meet expectations. Highs school, he just got into a high level class based on his past performances, but when he started taking the class…

“I’m disappointed Mr.Salazar. We expected actual effort from you.”

There he saw his young self hang his head and just apologize.

This continued over and over. Leo one who always sees his faults is now being bombarded with them. He covered his ears and closed his eyes trying to hope that this would pass. Hope he could just get this over with. Hope that Lupa could get him to Zentella.

“You have… a very stagnant story.”

Leo eyes snapped open and before him a giant white wolf looked down on him with a voice of a male and female simultaneously speaking. “Lobos?” Leo asked.

He did not get an answer from it as the spirit continued, “It’s strange… the presentation, the context, and the setting is new to me… yet it seems stagnate.”

“I think the word you are looking for is boring.”

“It is your story, why do you wish to down play it? It is yours after all.”

Leo didn’t match the spirit’s gaze, “I’m not downplaying it. It is just as you see. The first sign of a mistake I run. It is better than dealing with the aftermath.”

“Are you running now?” Leo stiffen at the comment, “You seem willing to face your mistake and rectify it.”

Leo stifled a laugh, “Technically… this is me running away. Look at me, in another world and I’m getting a kick out of playing the hero. I don’t even want to think about my old world.”

“Because that chapter is closed.” Lobos said snapping Leo’s attention, “Is this world not real to you? Is Zentella not real? Is Lupa not real? You know they are. Yes, you have attempted to ‘re-invent’ yourself upon coming here. But that desire came from the experiences you had. A story’s current arc is informed by the past chapters, not fully defined. You are here now, in this world not your old one. You’re letting the past hold you down instead of informing your way forward. I believe I glimpsed a truly fascinating saying from you world… what was it?”

“Those that don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it?” Leo guessed

“Yes that one.”

“I really don’t think that applies here.”

“Does a child not avoid fire once they experienced the burn? You are not recognizing your story as you history. You see it as a burden. Don’t carry it all at once. Look at it yes, but focus on the current chapter.”

Then Lobos dissolved and the world of white was replaced by the rush of wind as Leo woke up still being carried by Lupa.

“Focus on the current chapter huh…” Leo echoed as he tried to psych himself up. He had a little girl that put her trust in him to save.