Chapter 5: Stupid Choices

Did God decide to take pity on you or what? That exam was… suspiciously easy. The questions were so simple that you just needed basic knowledge and common sense. It didn’t even seem like it was worth the outburst that occurred outside.

You scrunch up your nose. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on. Most of the Autumners had already finished their exam by the time you finished. Spring and Summer on the other hand… Most of them were still there. The back of the hall was nearly empty and had a very relaxed atmosphere. However, the front was the exact opposite!

Biting your lip, you gather your papers and walk towards the front. You could feel the cold angered gazes from the front piercing your back as you handed your exam to the test facilitator. They led you out of the room and provided you with a form to fill out while waiting for them to check your exam.

The form asked for basic details like your name, address, contact information, etc. Thankfully, they didn’t seem to ask for information about your pathfinder. You would think that it would be essential to know that but nonetheless, you were grateful you didn’t have to. By the time you finished writing on the form, the facilitator whispered a soft congratulations as they took your form and moved you to the license room.

They made you take your picture with a camera(You had to stand still for a good 2 minutes because images took a lot longer to process than our modern cameras). Plastering on one of the two photos they took onto a card, they handed over your license.

A sigh of relief passed your lips as you looked onto the thin amber-colored resin card. Your information was engraved into the resin with your picture sealed under a quick-dry formula to keep it in its place. The license looked a lot like the driver’s license you once owned back on Earth.

You left the room only to realize that you were now basically alone.

Ah.

So now was the perfect time. You glance around the hall to see if anyone was there. Aside from other people leaving or the occasional guard roaming the halls, you probably could get away with anything right about now.

Quickly! You pull out the slip of paper and follow the map. Luckily, it seemed to be the floor you were currently on. It leads you to a dark storage room, with random supplies. Looking up, you find a small window close to the roof of the room. You frown at the height and use a nearby step ladder to reach the window and quietly push the window open.

You were suddenly knocked by a sudden force and gush of wind. Closing your eyes, you brace yourself for impact!...

Huh?

There was no thump or pain in your back. Instead, you were in the warm embrace of none other than the man of the hour. Surta. He was grinning like a predator that just found his new meal as he looked down at you in his arms.

“Took you long enough. I was getting a bit bored waiting” he said.

You frowned at him and tried to remove yourself from his hold. You wince when Surta tightens his hold on you. What the hell was this fucker thinking about?

“Hey. We had a deal”

“Yes, we did. But I still need you, hostages are very useful in these situations.”

HOSTAGE?! Your eyes widen in horror and dismay. Did this fucker just make you his emergency way out?! None of that was part of your clearly verbal deal! You were ready to punch him until he let you go but he stopped you by adjusting his hold on you. He changed from lifting you like a bride to carrying you like the sack of potatoes that you truly were. Though if you were being honest, this view was perfect to see his magnificent ass---

“This wasn’t part of the deal!” You screamed. Surta immediately hushed you and walked towards the door.

“I said that I would take the fall if anything happens and you said you would give me a way in. You did your part, now I’m doing mine. Don’t you know? Hostages are the least suspected during a break in” Surta said. That motherfucker. You didn’t need to see his face to hear the shit-eating grin on his face. He played you like a fool! You groaned and covered your face with your hands.

This couldn’t get any worse! No, wait it could! This crazy pyromaniac was dragging you towards danger! “I’m going to die” you muttered to yourself. Surta is going to use you as some meat shield and you’re going to die a sad and lonely death.

Your stomach was starting to hurt as it was pressed against the blonde’s shoulder. You didn’t really care though. While the crazed terrorist was carrying you down to the Bureau’s treasury, you were focused on muttering your will. If you were paying any attention, you would have noticed Surta listening to your crazed mutterings as if it were music.

He thought it was cute actually. Even as a hostage, you didn’t really put up much of a fight to his antics. Though he doesn’t usually appreciate passivity, you were certainly an odd one. Most people would be thrashing around and causing a scene, but you did none of that. It was convenient on his part.

Surta was moving stealthily, occasionally shushing you when a guard was nearby. To be honest, you were impressed that he can still move so well with your heavy bag and your fatass. Not that you were that heavy--- that’s not the point!

He passed the first floor with ease and reached the basement. The underground floor of the bureau was complex. Since you weren’t paying attention, the layout felt like a maze, countless unnamed rooms passed your vision.

You decided to give up on figuring out the layout and trusted that the pyromaniac had done his research. Surta suddenly stops walking and puts you down. He holds your face with his hand and tilts your head enough for you to see past the corner you hid behind.

At the end of the hall, there was a vaulted room locked behind a metal door and a large guard stood in the front. To be frank, it was a letdown. You expected it to be more guarded like those bank heist movies you used to watch in your old life. Sadly there were no killer lasers or a large room with a ton of guards. You couldn’t help but pout.

“What I need is just past there. Any ideas how you can sneak me in?” Surta asked. You shivered at his sultry--- nope. You weren’t going to fawn over how sexy his voice sounded. No to thirst hours! Wait what was he talking about again? AH! That’s right.

You replied in a low voice as well saying: “Just do what you always do.” That earned a chuckle from Surta and he pulls you away from the corner and into a random room.

“Stay here and I’ll do what I do best,” he said in a mocking tone. You pout and cross your arms. You weren’t some genius that could come up with complex plans in an instant. Smirking, you decided to get back at him. Why not tease him?

“Well, I trust you. Is it wrong to place my trust in my comrade?” you ask in a sly tone. The playful look in Surta’s eyes almost instantly faded away. His sudden poker face was worrying. Did you say something wrong?

“You trust me huh?...” He said. It was like a fire lit in his eyes again and he grins. You frown as he suddenly pats you on the head. Looking up at the blonde, he had a fond-looking expression on his face.

“Wait for me then. I’ll be back in no time” He says as he walks out of the room. Leaving you lost in your thoughts. That was… odd. Surta should already have many allies in his hometown. Why did he react like he was hearing the word “trust” for the first time?

BBRRRRRRNNNGGGGGGG!

A loud alarm sounded followed by shouting. “FIRE! FIRE!” You could hear frantic running from outside the room. Classic move: Fire as a distraction. You pressed yourself against the corner of the wall, listening intently to the chaos outside. So you decided to wait.

And wait

And wait.

And wait…

Something isn’t right. Surta is usually one to act quickly. You were probably in here for ten minutes, the screaming and the alarm hadn’t died down either. What was going on?

You had to find out. You crawl towards the door and slowly open the door enough to give you a peek. The blood in your body had turned cold at the sight. Surta was fighting his way towards where you were. In his hands was the cape you instantly recognized. He didn’t even have enough time to put it on as guards were starting to overwhelm him.

It was for a brief moment but you swear the two of you locked eyes. You squeak and shut the door. Your heart started to beat frantically. That wasn’t good. Not good at all. If this continued, Surta could get captured, or worse… Killed!

But…

“Isn’t this a good thing?” you muttered. Guilt quickly set in at your sudden thought. If Surta was gone… wouldn’t the war never happen? Wouldn’t you live a safe life if he died?

“Ha… I’m pathetic” you said to yourself. You couldn’t just do that. He wasn’t just some video game character anymore. He was alive. He was real. And that crazed pyromaniac could very much die if you didn’t do anything.

Badum

Badum

Badum

Your heart throbbed as it ached with belonging. Despite how tormented you felt towards Surta, you could not deny the feeling of home he brings.

That brief relief, that short moment of happiness. That aching sense of belonging.

Wasn’t he the main character you cultivated so carefully?

Afterall… You chose him first between the two main characters.

Surta who was always honest and brash. Surta, the “cursed” child, whom loved the everyday people. Even now, you could see it through the sliver opened to you. It was so easy to kill those knights… His hand was on the clasp wasn’t it?

He just needed to press it. But he didn’t.

Surta could very much kill whomever he wanted. But he didn’t.

The pyromaniac could’ve even burned this bureau to get what he wanted. But he didn’t.

He could’ve done so many things. Was this really going to be the end to your beloved main character?

Badum

Badum

Badum

The ache in your heart swelled even more. It was leaving your breathless. The tears that began to well up in your eyes. You could hear your own heart cry out.

‘I don’t want him to die’

But what could you do?

Your eyes turned to your satchel bag and you rummaged through it. Ah! You found two potions inside, an explosion potion and a frost potion. If you mixed these together… You tried to open the potions, however…

You noticed how much you were shaking. Were you hesitating? Why were you hesitating? Or maybe…

It was fear.

‘If I wait any longer he’ll---’ you thought as you tried to push way your growing fear. If you do this, you won’t get to live your peaceful life. If you do this, you could probably die in Surta’s stead. You bit your lip until it bled. The iron taste only seemed to fuel your resolve as that feeling of belonging swelled in your heart.

“I have to save him. I don’t care what it takes.”

-Rule 3: Be as insignificant as possible [Broken]-

Suddenly a digital screen appeared in front of you. It looked like the UI of a video game.

[Congradulations! You unlocked “The Menu”! As a gift, you were given the “Title”: Mixologist!]

“What?...” You were confused. Why did this suddenly appear? And what was a title?

[Would you like to equip the title Mixologist?]

[(Yes) or (No)]

You were dumbfounded but you quickly tapped the screen for yes.

[Equip “Title”: Mixologist]

[Gained the Ability to mix potions in an instant!]

Would you look at that! Just what you needed!

[Would you like a tutorial on the “Title System”?]

As nice as that was, Surta was still fighting for his life just outside. “Skip,” you said. As you looked at the two potions in your hands. You lightly touched the two potions together. The potions glow and disappear from your hands. In one of your hands, there was a new potion with milky white liquid inside.

Shaking the concoction lightly, the mixture began to fizz. You then shake it violently as your eyes grew wide and chaotic. Bursting out the door, you scream loudly to grab everyone’s attention.

“SURTA!!!” You throw the bottle onto the ground.

CRASH! PSHHHHHHH!

Clouds thick of white fog cover the hall making it impossible to see past an arm’s length.

FWOOOM! CRACKLE!

AHHHH! AUGHHHHH

“QUICK PUT OUT THE FIRE!”

A burst of flames appears from the fog followed by wails of panic sprung as fire licked the walls of the hallway. You were about to turn away and make a run for it when you were suddenly scooped up into someone’s arms.

“Good thinking!” Surta says, laughing in an almost euphoric joy. He was finally wearing his iconic cape. Sadly you didn’t get the opportunity to get a good look at it as he sprinted away from the fire he left in his wake. Looking up at his face, you could see just how much he enjoyed the thrill of it all. The blonde ran up until he reached the roof of the building. He stood close to the edge and waited for the guards to follow him.

“I suggest you stand back unless you want me to kill this poor hostage of mine!” He exclaimed. Surta lightly placed his hand on the gold cape clasp as he laughed mockingly towards his pursuers. They froze as they looked at you. Playing your part, you decided to thrash around. “Help me please!” you shouted.

The pyromaniac was really enjoying the villain role. Clenching tightly onto the cape clasp, the vicious look in his eyes was enough to deter anyone. He salutes towards them before leaping off the roof with you. You didn’t even have the opportunity to scream as the beautiful sight took your breath away.

Wings.

Beautiful Wing-shaped cloth glittered under the moonlight. They were spread wide open as if the two of you were gliding away. It was a magnificent sight that even the game could not fully grasp. The cape left a trail of embers that looked like fireflies in its wake. Surta lands on a roof and runs off again. Jumping from roof to roof with you in tow.

The blonde then drops from a roof into a dead-end and pushed you towards the pile of trash. The male glances at you before pulling out a large ragged cloth from his satchel. He presses his body against you and covers both of you under the cloth. “Steady your breathing and keep still” he whispers. You try to do so and fail miserably. The adrenaline was making you pant. You weren’t used to this much exercise!

The pyromaniac clicks his tongue and covers your mouth with his hand. You both stayed there, curled up against each other under a stuffy ragged cloth. The heavy footsteps came and went. You were terrified. The past hour you both stayed pressed against each other, the warmth between you two was starting to make you sweat. But as time passed, a thought crossed your mind:

‘What the fuck did I just do?’

More time passed and a headache began to grow from the back of your head.

Badum

Badum

Badum

Your head was throbbing so much you could no longer anything around you. Your vision was starting to blur too.

How long were you in this position? You couldn’t really tell but…

It’s hot…

A little bit too hot as your cheeks began to warm. It was getting harder to breathe. Surta didn’t seem to be as affected by the heat as you were. There wasn’t even sweat coming off him!

No this…

Your eyes widened and you desperately tried to pull Surta’s hand away from your mouth. You needed to breathe! Surta didn’t relent however and kept his grip on your face. Being much weaker than him, the most you could do was scratch his hand.

You were starting to panic as chills ran down your body.

A fever!

But why now? Why at the worst time possible! It’s been so long… You got too comfortable. Breathe…! I need to breathe…! You began to struggle even more as if you were fighting for your life.

These chronic fevers… A remnant of the past life you thought was left behind. Usually, fevers were symptoms of something else but yours were different. They never had a reason, they came and went without reason why. They were so unpredictable that even doctors could not understand them.

But right now, your backstory didn’t matter. You needed to breathe! Lifting up your leg, you stomp down on Surta’s foot. He flinches and you take the opportunity to rip yourself away from his hold; leaving the supposed safety of the blanket that covered you both.

Pant. Pant. Pant.

You took in deep gulps of air as you leaned against the alley wall. Your vision was starting to blur as the fever built up inside you. Reaching towards the blur of red close by you, you try to get his help.

“Home…”

Your vision turns black.