With every step Pathos's resolve grew stronger, kind of like a detective whose case was about to be solved with this one simple talk. Alongside him Ruem continued to ramble on and on about the numerous characteristics Jhoel has.
But his voice was barely audible by Pathos, completely dissociated from reality.
Around the corner someone bolted out. Screaming, dagger in hand. Before Pathos could even process what was happening the stranger's dagger had already reached Ruem's abdomen.
Pathos's eyes turned towards Ruem in shock as the attack happened in mere seconds.
«Pathos» Ruem!
The stranger gazed towards Ruem's face, smirking. Expecting any kind of reaction from his stead, however Ruem's chest wasn't bleeding nor did he make any grunts.
«Ruem» If you want to rob someone of their money the first thing you have to do is ask, then you threaten, and finally you stab them.
The stranger started to sweat as he noticed no apparent reaction from Ruem, as he backed away leaving the knife behind Pathos leaned forward, worried of the injury he might have caused. However there was no wound, the blade itself had gone through one of Ruem's wormholes created just in time to stop the attack.
Ruem slowly took out the dagger from the wormhole while it slowly closed once the dagger left its gaping mouth. He held it up in the air, showing it to the bandit before throwing it to the ground.
More footsteps reached them and as if the attack was already planned from the start, both Pathos and Ruem were surrounded by bandits.
Pathos turned around to see the road blocked by two of them.
«Pathos» It's an ambush!?
Pathos gazed at the difference in numbers, most of these bandits had knives, some even had pitchforks, others had nothing, just their bare hands. Pathos looked back at Ruem, unlike this time he wasn't afraid, he knew why they were doing what they were doing yet his hand was clenched ready for everything.
«Ruem» We are just passing through ok, I wouldn't want to worsen the situation you are already in.
Ruem's kind reminder of his condition as a slum made him frown in anger.
«Bandit» Bastard!
The bandit that backed away rushed forward once more, his hands were empty yet he didn't even consider backing down.
«Bandit» I'll rip those clothes off the both of you!
Ruem, however, simply opened a wormhole where his foot was going to be making him trip on the ground right In front of Ruem. Pathos watched as Ruem leaned down to say something to the bandit.
«Pathos» Ruem let's just g—
Before Pathos could mention something, someone grabbed on Pathos's arm and pulled him back, another bandit ready to take Pathos hostage. As Pathos looked at the man grabbing him he noticed the knife in his hand.
Shit! He couldn't dodge this. Now would be the perfect time for his Prometeo to awaken! Then why wouldn't his body fight!? What was so different from back then?
But just as he tried to find the difference, the sensation of being cornered with no hopes in sight, made his body react accordingly. He recalled the horrors of that moment where he felt despair and hopelessness.
⬛⬛⬛⬛
Someone whose language was unknown, whispered into his ear.
His own Prometeo started to crackle around Pathos's body prepared to defend himself. Someone moved faster than anyone could expect.
Ruem lunged himself forward, his fist loaded.
The man who was holding Pathos's arm was sent spiraling towards a run-down shack. The poor foundation of that shack quickly collapsed once the thief crashed inside. Pathos's gaze was fixated on the thief. Before Pathos could even turn around, Ruem vanished and rushed toward another thief whose weapon was already raised.
Pathos's eyes shook.
Around him, Ruem attacked thief after thief. Their attempts to defend themselves failed miserably, each of their strikes was either easily dodged or redirected through a wormhole. Pathos shifted his gaze toward Ruem, unsure what to do. The slums standing against Ruem were clearly outclassed, yet they refused to back down.
Were they still this desperate to risk their lives for something so minuscule? Their clothes couldn't possibly be the solution to their problem. So why were they still here? Why risk!?
Before Pathos could intervene, the sound of footsteps grew closer as one of the thieves approached him, knife in hand. The thief thrust his blade toward Pathos's stomach.
Pathos quickly reacted, dodging the attack as the thief stumbled forward from the force of the attack. The thief turned around and approached Pathos once more. Pathos, sweating, asked:
«Pathos» Why are you still fighting!? Didn't you just see what he did to your friend?
The thief completely ignored his question and slashed toward Pathos's chest. Pathos dodged again, the two continued their exchange, each attack swung with the intent to kill.
But Pathos's senses felt sharper, almost like his body was growing, the thief's movement seemed slower with each second that passed.
«Thief» Hold still!
«Pathos» Ain't this a little too much for some clothes!? Hah!?
Despite how kind he has been this far, his kindness would be rewarded with an attempted robbery, despite his desire to help. The man who was swinging a dagger for dear life clearly killed someone more than once. Someone who didn't deserve death.
As their exchange dragged on endlessly, Pathos decided to act. After dodging yet another attack, he countered. His fist connected with the man's cheek, sending him straight to the ground. Pathos's hand began shaking with adrenaline.
The thief, now flat on the ground, grunted in pain as he coughed up blood. Pathos's gaze shifted toward him, prepared. The thief tried to lift himself but fell, his face smashing against the sand.
Pathos's face relaxed once he saw the state the thief was in. He expected him to get up and fight back, but the punch had clearly taken its toll.
Did he overdo it? He knew for a fact a punch from him wouldn't deal that much, could it be that his body was resonating with the Prometeo?
Pathos turned toward the battling Ruem. He watched as a thief threw a chair at Ruem—only for it to travel through a wormhole and reappear above the attacker, crashing onto his skull cracking both the chair and his head.
The chair shattered as wood collided with bone, and moments later blood started spraying out, painting the dry sand red. The man fell unconscious as the sand swirled around him.
More men continued to attack, yet none of them could even touch Ruem. Pathos noticed the clear difference in strength despite being outnumbered. He looked again at the man lying in front of him and wondered whether this battle was worth fighting.
«Pathos» Ruem…This isn't worth it, they are barely holding on their own.
«Ruem» They are killers Pathos, they do this activity daily.
Pathos looked again at Ruem. Ruem fought as if he'd been born with his powers—using them effortlessly, fully familiar with the Prometeo's capabilities. Perhaps Pathos was overthinking it, or perhaps Ruem was right.
In a moment of distraction, another thief snatched the dagger from the defeated man and tried to stab Pathos.
«Thief» You fuck!
Pathos turned around to see the thief thrusting the dagger toward his eye. Thanks to his newfound strength, he grabbed the man's arm, blocking the attack—but the thief didn't falter. He pushed the dagger's hilt with his other hand, forcing Pathos back against a wall, their hands locked in a struggle for control.
The thief yanked Pathos away from the wall, tripping him and sending him crashing into the hot sand. The thief lunged on top of him, blade lifted high.
«Thief» Don't make this longer than it has to be.
«Pathos» You think killing an innocent life while suffice for your hunger?
«Thief» Yours wont be the only life i will take.
The thief slammed the blade downward. As Pathos reached for his hands desperate. The attack came to a halt, but the dagger sliced deep into his palm and fingers.
«Pathos» GAHHH!
«Thief» You should have stayed still.
The blade slashed through his skin. Pain scorched his hand like a flame, yet Pathos continued fighting. Every movement the blade made worsened the wound, but he had no intention of dying. He pushed back while the thief leaned his entire weight into the attack.
«Pathos» Stop!
The dagger began slipping from Pathos's grasp as the blade cut deeper and deeper, his blood dripping onto his nose.
«Pathos» Ugh!
«Thief» Where's all that strength now, huh?
Pathos's hand trembled; he didn't want to die. Not yet. He still had someone to save—his journey wouldn't end at the hands of a thief. But his resolve faltered as the blade inched closer to his face.
Sweat rolled down his forehead as doubt consumed him. In a desperate attempt, he used every last bit of his strength to push back. At that moment, the air around Pathos began to crackle with thunder.
He could no longer hear the battle—only the electricity resonating through his body. The crackling grew louder, forcing the thief to cover an ear against the thunderous roar. Pathos's body began to emanate electricity, alarming the thief even more. Pathos snapped the blade in pieces. The same hands that broke metal seized the thief by the head.
«Pathos» I won't die! Not until I save what's left of my family.
The man's face met Pathos's forehead. A dull crack echoed. Once. Twice. Three times. Blood splashed across Pathos's cheek, warm and metallic, yet he didn't stop.
His head was caved inwards but Pathos refused to release him. The thief struggled desperately until both his hair and Pathos's silver hair began to stand on end. Ruem sprinted forward, kicking the thief aside.
«Ruem» Pathos! What are you doing!
«Pathos» R-Ruem!?
As the thief corpse gets thrown aside Pathos stared into the sky as the clouds above circled around them as if a tornado was about to form.
«Ruem» Stop whatever you're doing!
«Pathos» I—I don't know how!
Ruem glanced at Pathos, then back at the falling sky. The thieves around them trembled in terror—some collapsed, others ran for their lives while those who fought laid motionless on the ground. Ruem raised his hand as the storm threatened to obliterate a quarter of the city.
The sky darkened, spiraling on the exact spot of where Pathos was standing as if his fear and anger boiled the clouds above.
«Pathos» What is happening!?
«Ruem» Your Prometeo control it!
The wind started to pick up, becoming stronger each second that passed. Ruem raised his hand towards the sky in an attempt to manifest a massive wormhole.
But the size of the wormhole was far smaller than the clouds, they covered the sun itself shadowing the city and the exact spot both of them stood. Slowly a droplet fell followed by another and then another until it began raining.
The situation was dire—the sky could strike at any moment, and Ruem's wormhole was still incomplete.
«Pathos» I don't know how!?
The wind began blowing off furniture and pieces of someone's house, spiraling them in the air. Pathos tried to suppress the power, but he didn't know how. Electricity surged violently from his body while Ruem grew weaker as the wormhole expanded.
His blue electricity spread into the clouds, jumping from one to another. The darkness was lit by bright bolts streaking endlessly across the sky.
He took it back; he didn't want to control this power anymore! He shouldn't have lost control, but how was he supposed to do that when he barely knew anything!? What was about to happen? Were they about to be struck by a bolt!? Damn it!
Ruem's face frowned as if he was unsure whether his powers were enough to hold such a storm.
«Ruem»…Fuck it!
Pathos shouted. His voice cracked, drowned by the wind.
«Pathos» What can—
Before Pathos could say anything else, Ruem's wormhole dissipated. Pathos looked at Ruem—panting. Ruem turned, grabbed Pathos by the collar of his cloak, and dragged him through a wormhole he'd manifested at the last second, saving both of their lives. Pathos looked back at the run-down city of Serras as the wormhole closed behind them, not allowing him to see the destruction he would have caused.
Both of them landed on the ground with a loud thud. The clanking of metal and the dripping droplets of Pathos's blood quickly followed. Both of them stood in silence waiting for the storm to finally make its roar. But it didn't? The numerous thunders calling upon the fall of the sky. Wasn't heard.
«Pathos» It Stopped?
Moments later, the sound of glass shattering filled the silence. The sound of the bolt itself came second to the glass which echoed in the sky. The sound they expected to come was far different. As if it had hit a giant glass frame as big as the city.
«Ruem» Ah! My ears…
Pathos covered his ears followed by Ruem, as the chaos slowly calmed, Pathos looked at his new surroundings.
The place was dark, with only the dim daylight faintly brightening its end. The place reeked of rotting trash, but to Pathos it wasn't just a smell—it was suffocation. Each breath dragged the city's filth deeper into his lungs, to the point his nose had to be closed.
Ruem, however, didn't seem to mind. Instead, he quickly turned his attention to Pathos. His face mixed worry with confusion.
«Ruem» I thought we would have died!
Hearing Ruem's loud yet calm voice brought Pathos back to reality. Aside from the smell, he noticed something else—his hand, pierced with pieces of metal. Pathos looked down, the shards stabbed into his hand, blood dripping everywhere.
Despite the injuries, he didn't feel it as much at first. He only grunted, teeth clenched, as he tried to stand through the pain—but he couldn't, because the pain was far greater than what he could withhold, the lies he was putting himself through made the agony worsen. Ruem knelt down in front of him, speaking with a concerned tone.
«Ruem» Look I know I said that I wouldn't take you as my apprentice.
Which made Pathos question what he meant by it since neither he nor Ruem ever mentioned the word apprentice in their entire conversation.
«Ruem» But if you want to show me such potency, do it somewhere safe. You don't want to end up like me do you?
But his tone shifted once he saw Pathos's hand. Pathos couldn't even answer. He wasn't quite sure himself anymore. Ruem calmly grabbed Pathos's hand, holding it gently before speaking.
«Ruem» You managed to break a metal blade with just your bare hands? No it can't be that if that was the case your skin would have been able to withstand the blade itself.
Pathos turned to look at Ruem, questioning what he meant, but he simply smiled, an attempt to calm Pathos down. Without warning Ruem's hand lingered on Pathos's head for a moment longer than necessary. His smile fell as he explained.
«Ruem» Listen when you own a Prometeo, you can't let your emotions get the best of you. Despite being a separate living thing, it's still connected to your very soul. When you feel sad, it resonates. When you feel happy, it resonates and when you feel anger—it resonates.
Ruem examined Pathos's hand with care as to not touch parts that might hurt him. While Pathos listened and watched with care.
«Ruem» Every emotion, if left unchecked, could cause your Prometeo to completely overwhelm you. To protect your soul from breaking, it will release every bit of power it has… until nothing is left of your soul and your Prometeo.
If it wasn't for Ruem's quick thinning both of them would have turned into ashes, he felt so tempted that he completely lost reason, that hopelessness was filled by that flame that protected him without counting for the aftermath.
Is that what it is? The flame protects your spirit from breaking? No if that would be the case then why was it so difficult to control is it not supposed to be used to protect…Yet
«Pathos» I'm sorry. I almost killed us both…I didn't nor do I know how to control it. I felt as if my body was throbbing with power, and when I was about to die I—I panicked. I–I didn't know…
He truly didn't know his power could be pushed to this extent, everything felt so hazy in that moment just like in the past. But this time however he remembered everything, because he came to his senses.
«Ruem» Nah don't worry, as long as we got out you don't have to apologize to me.
But what about that town they were in?
«Pathos» Do you think that bolt destroyed that town?
His concern over those people overwhelmed him, despite what they had done to him he wouldn't have done what he did nor did he even consider it. They were poor and they fought for what little they had.
He acted out of fear for his life.
Ruem however blew hair out of his lips.
«Ruem» I don't know probably? probably not? Could have also missed entirely.
Missed entirely? Really is that what his excuse was? A miss, despite the clouds being as big as the city itself.
Pathos immediately rejected it because of how dumb the idea sounded considering how Ruem was being so concerned for their lives.
«Pathos» Missed entirely!? Are you being serious!?
He pointed at Pathos's hand while bringing his other hand to Pathos's arm, holding it still throughout his shakiness.
His hands were shaking with fear and his eyes couldn't even focus for a second. All those events starting from the storm to the attack happened in a matter of seconds.
«Ruem» Your concerns should be focused more here.
Pathos's hand, covered in crimson blood which made him froze for a bit. Without warning….Ruem pulled out one of the metal shards. Pathos's arm instinctively pulled away in pain but Ruem held it still using every strength he had to do so.
«Ruem» Dont move you'll just make it worse idiot
«Pathos» How was I supposed to do that if you didn't even warn me in the first place?
Pathos was screaming inside, his teeth clenched as the pain became worse. Sweat rolled down his face. Ruem yanked out another shard without warning. This time, Pathos's other hand smacked the concrete as he tried to hold back his cries.
«Ruem» You can scream, you know. It's not like we need to be quiet or anything.
Pathos shook his head quickly, refusing to meet Ruem's eyes. His face was pale, but he kept forcing the words out.
«Pathos» Just keep it going!
Ruem smirked faintly, almost amused by the boy's stubbornness. He didn't comment further, but the silence said enough:
«Ruem» Alright, Mr. tough guy.
Ruem pulled out yet another shard. Pathos screamed silently, confining the sound within his own mouth. After several agonizing minutes, his hand was finally free of all the shards leaving behind a scorching sensation around his hand. Ruem tore a strip of tissue and wrapped it tightly around Pathos's hand.
«Ruem» There. It should be over now.
Pathos slowly pulled his hand back, checking the tissues somehow dry. He tried clenching his fist, but strangely, it felt normal. No pain. No more blood gushed out.
«Ruem» Don't force it too much. I managed to close your wounds for now, but it'll take time to heal.
He checked his hand again, not even a drop seemed to clench this piece of tissue as if the wound had closed completely.
«Pathos» Closed? A tissue doesn't exactly stop a bleeding you know?
«Ruem» What am i stupid? I know that, I closed your wound with the Prometeo. Oh right I forgot to mention this to you…
Ruem smacked his own head as if he were scolding himself.
«Ruem» Open wounds can be closed by making your fingers glow and using them as if it were hot iron to mold the skin shut.
This peculiar ability about the same flame that threatened their lives seconds before almost surprised Pathos, but then he focused more on one fact.
All this time Ruem was using this peculiarity to close his wounds without even warning him. Angering the already frightened Pathos
«Pathos» And you thought not mentioning this to me was something important!? Is that why my hand felt like it was scorching alive!?
Ruem responded by scratching his head and replying with a guilty tone.
«Ruem» Yeah my bad.
Pathos took a deep breath trying not to make the same mistake twice which Ruem made that a lot harder than it was supposed to be. Breath after breath he calmed down, taking his sweet time to catch his composure.
Ruem however couldn't help himself but comment about the fight.
«Ruem» By the way you laid that guy out.
Pathos pulled back with confusion. Was he keeping an eye on him the entire time?
«Pathos» You saw that?
In response he nodded his head once with the same sparkle in his eyes he had on their first encounter.
«Ruem» Yeah of course I did. I was keeping an eye on you at first but once that dude was laid out I didn't even bother checking again.
Then again Pathos wasn't happy with how the situation came to be despite that being self-defence it lingered in his heart the same way the taste of sour stays in one's mouth.
«Pathos» About that. How did it feel when you punched them?
«Ruem» Ah? Why you ask?
Pathos's tone shifted becoming serious as those events replayed in his mind like a record, this time about Ruem who didn't even show the slightest care about their lives.
«Pathos» Was it necessary for us to fight them? We could have easily escaped together with your wormholes, yet we didn't. Why didn't you do that immediately?
Ruem took a deep breath taking the question in as if he knew he would be asked this question, he spoke his tone natural and calm as if the answer was clear.
«Ruem» What question is that I was protecting you that's why.
«Pathos» Protecting me?
That was clear to him but the way he showed them no mercy at all despite the dislevel on the scale. He could have sent them somewhere else yet he didn't, was that because he couldn't.
As he stated before it took time for him to use a wormhole after one is made, but he seemed fine when using them in combat, could that be because the cooldown comes into play when the distance isn't somewhere near him?
«Ruem» Yeah what else would be the reason?
«Pathos» It didn't seem like it to me. It looked more like you wanted to kill them right then and there
A bit embarrassed, Ruem spoke again, his tone shifting from calm to guilty.
«Ruem» Well I did get carried on a bit. Also sorry for bringing you there in the first place, I didn't think they were going to try and hurt you too.
Pathos grabbed his own cloak and began cleaning his face of the blood of the thief.
«Pathos» Are they going to be fine?
«Ruem» Yeah I cracked a few bones but they won't die from it.
As he pulled the cloak away from his face he remained fixated on the blood of his victim that drenched his well cleaned cloak, his expression dropped in discontent. He never wished to resort to this kind of violence.
Pathos spoke in annoyance, wondering just how one could be so calm about a situation so dangerous
«Pathos» Cracked a few bones. Do you even hear yourself when you talk?
Which Ruem responded back with an equal annoyance.
«Ruem» I don't want to hear that from you after caving a man's face in.
Pathos did not reply, the guilt of such a horrendous act towards someone whose life was on edge made him question his own actions despite there being no malicious intent behind them.
«Pathos» We should have left that place when we had the chance.
Ruem softly slapped Pathos's shoulder.
«Ruem» Oh don't be so melodramatic, do you think THEY would care for your life like you do?
And the question was already answered, one of the thieves made it clear that Pathos's wasn't the only life he would take. His motivation could be many but the glint in his eyes. They were empty, completely blinded by his own crimes,
He didn't care for his need to survive, he wanted him dead just for the sake of it. The clothes were just an excuse to commit his kills, which made him wound just how many lives he might have taken before going for Pathos's.
Ruem slowly got up, pushing on his knees to do so, before looking around to understand where they might be. Pathos stared at him, scratching his head, rubbing his bearded chin—before finally realizing something and exclaiming "OHH-!". Pathos tilted his head to the side, trying to understand what that exclamation was for.
«Pathos» OHH-?
Ruem turned around with a loud smile on his face, almost proud?
«Ruem» Come on, let's go. I know where we are.
«Pathos» Hopefully somewhere that isn't there.
«Ruem» Nah it's far from there but closer to where we were supposed to go.
Pathos immediately pushed himself upwards, but as he did so his butt started hurting from the earlier fall. He began rubbing it to ease the pain. Ruem, who was looking at the end of the narrow road, glanced back and saw him rubbing his butt. Without wasting a second, Ruem raised his index finger, which faintly began glowing.
«Ruem» Are there some wounds that need to be closed?
In a panic, Pathos put both of his hands in front of him and waved them frantically, devoid of letting Ruem touch him again with that flame.
«Pathos» I—I'm alright, don't you worry!
«Ruem» Mhm?
Pathos tried to put up a fake smile to hide his pain, but Ruem caught on, and his finger began glowing even brighter until the air above it started to swirl, making it seem like the air itself moved under his command.
«Pathos» Don't you dare.
Ruem's face twisted into a happy smile, the kind of smile a nurse puts up before plunging a nail in your arm. Pathos became more and more agitated.
«Pathos» Ehy!
A wicked grin formed on Ruem's face. His eyes closed as he approached Pathos—until both of them heard a man shouting at the top of his lungs. Their attention turned toward the voice that came from the other side of this narrow road.
«???» Get back here, Bitch!
The scream filled the road. Their voices echoed on the street, until Pathos spotted someone: a lady holding a bag that rattled with seemingly coins and a pile of clothes that apparently she didn't own, behind her, a black man with very small glasses, raising his hand as he shouted at her. Pathos realized what was happening and prepared to intercept her.
«The man with small glasses» Grab her!
«Pathos» I got her!
The thief spotted them blocking the road. Without hesitation, she bounced from wall to wall, climbing like an animal to slip past their reach. Pathos stood in awe, while Ruem simply followed her movements, a bit surprised himself.
«Ruem» Oh?
«Pathos» Wha!?
Pathos tried to give chase on the ground, but Ruem grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back. Pathos looked at him, only for Ruem to wag his index finger as if saying no.
«Ruem» Tsk! Tsk!
«Pathos» What are you doing!? She's getting away—do something!
«Ruem» I'm not moving from here. I'll leave that to you, my hand however, will hold onto your cloak until I see you catch her using your Prometeo.
Pathos stood there for a couple of seconds before slapping himself on the chest reminding Ruem of who was the one who nearly killed them.
«Pathos» I can't! You know I can't—you've seen how poor my control is.
«Ruem» I know. But this time, focus on how you want to catch that thief. Remember, you're not trying to kill her—just catch her, okay? No storms this time, alright?
His eyes faltered until he gazed at the thief who went higher and higher with each jump. He didn't have the slightest trust towards himself, but if Ruem wasn't going to do something then he had to try.
Ruem released Pathos, giving him a chance. Pathos looked ahead at the thief leaping from wall to wall. He tried to use Ruem's advice, shouting Bom and Pim, but only made himself look like a fool. Ruem, who had only made him believe those words would help, chuckled.
«Ruem» I think we both know that's not gonna work
«Pathos» Shut up!
Annoyed, Pathos decided to scrap Ruem's tips and follow his own gut. His mind traveled through memories of his father, killed by the hands of those meant to protect men. The sound of screams, the sight of blood… his mother, kidnapped for reasons yet unknown.
Rage bubbled up, burning through him, mingled with betrayal so sharp it felt like a blade against his chest. The sensation he felt when his fist connected with the slum's face and when he snapped the blame in pieces. The crackle he felt around his body would become his weapon
Pathos's Prometeo pulsed, sparks leapt across his skin. His hair stood on end. The air itself crackled, trembling with power. But before he could let that rage consume him, he took a deep breath calming his own mind.
Electricity condensed around his legs, making the ground hum.
With this newfound control he jumped wall to wall copying the thief's movement until he reached her. With a last jump Pathos appeared right in front of her reaching towards the stolen goods that she stole.
He wasn't going to harm her, he wouldn't let his own flame kill more than he already had, this time he would have been the one to control his Prometeo.
The lady's eyelids opened with fear, astounded even that she was caught up with such ease.
Seconds later, he yanked everything from her arms and threw it to Ruem, who opened a wormhole to deliver it back to the owner.
He had done it! He was able to conceal his power and use the right output to accomplish his task.
Pathos turned to Ruem, desperate for his reaction. At first, Ruem crossed his arms, pretending to stay cool. But as the moment sank in. His smirk cracked into a wild grin. He threw his arms up and bounced on his feet, shouting like a madman.
«Ruem» Yeah! Let's go, Pathos! You got it!!!
The black man, after catching his belongings, looked at them in shock, his jaw froze at the display of power. His gratitude however turned to surprise the moment he saw Ruem's figure jumping with such euphoria.
«Pathos» I got it—I got his stuff.
But Pathos's joy distracted him—he was still suspended midair and so was the thief whose fear made him slip and plummet towards the ground followed by Pathos who swung his arms in the air.
«Ruem» Ah—shit!
Ruem prepared himself to conjure a wormhole to catch them.
Yet, Pathos focused again. The electricity returned, this time natural, fluid. The sensation, the emotion—it all came back full circle. The prometeo shone bright inside his body
He caught the lady midair, bridal-style and by twisting his body, he launched themself toward the nearest wall—then bounded from wall to wall all the way down, carrying her safely down. His shoes screeched on the concrete as he slid to a stop between Ruem and the black man.
Silence came next all too stunned to even speak.
Pathos's smile grew wider, he had done it again, he managed to control his own power without exterminating anyone.
Just as he was about to celebrate, the lady in Pathos's arms screamed into his ear…
«Lady thief» Let me go! Let me go, you monster!
She escaped his grasp running the opposite direction, before she could run away, the black man punched her square in the face. She went from standing to laying motionless on the floor in an instant blood gushing from her nose, probably broken.
Ruem and Pathos froze, their jaws dropping in unison. One word echoed in both their heads—"Damn!", as they stood there in awe.
«The man with small glasses» You ain't going nowhere.
He raised his foot to stomp on her chest but before he could, Ruem appeared behind him through a wormhole, locking his arms and pulling him back.
«Ruem» Now, now, no need to be this aggressive towards her.
The man froze, his eyelids opened entirely as he recognized Ruem's voice. At the exact same time Ruem's head turned upwards almost as if he were pondering about something.
Both of them stood there for a moment before the man elbowed Ruem in the chest, making him spit air.
«The man with small glasses» It's you! You profound scum show your face again!?
Pathos stood there admiring this petty scene like a show. Ruem seemed to be taken aback however, not by the elbow that was previously planted in his stomach, but from this stranger alone a friend of his?
«Ruem» You!? Wha—eh—ehm—what a surprise…Jhoel how have you been
As he spoke his name Pathos's world froze for a couple of seconds as he realized who this stranger was, Jhoel….it was him. While both of them continued on bickering about their past incidents and what not.
«Pathos» Jhoel?
But his tone was barely audible to weak to be even heard by their back and forth. Gazing towards him, he tried recalling any memory he might have had in the past with him but nothing seemed to come to mind. This man was a total stranger to him.
Mustering the courage he had he stepped forward, slowly walking up to him as in to not end up like Ruem just did. As he was about to reach him he tripped onto the thief that was still dormant on the floor, alarming both Jhoel and Ruem.
His face met the concrete floor, slowly he rose up and before he could fully stand someone helped him up Jhoel.
«Jhoel» You'r ok buddy?
Both of them were face to face with one another, it was now or never.
«Pathos» Are you Jhoel?
The sudden question seemed to confuse him.
«Jhoel» Yes? Why'd you ask?
There was no point for him to hide this to Jhoel, his name might not sound familiar but his Father's.
«Pathos» I'm the son of Cheelus Raimei. He sent me here in search of you!
His head backed, his lips froze right as he was about to speak and his breath halted... Jhoel's face said it all, that name did strike a memory to him but the face he assumed made the news feel like a tragedy.
«Jhoel» Why….Why are you here!?