Max was patrolling around some districts when he noticed that the people around him were acting way too... kind. He looked around and saw everyone helping each other. A few young men were helping an old man walk. The old man was also very happy and even gave the teenagers some money after they helped him. The teenagers tried to refuse but surrendered in front of his persistence.
Customers in cafés gave additional tips to the waiters and waitresses. Old people were helped across the road. Everyone was smiling and enjoying helping others. The atmosphere became mellow and light, making everyone resonate with each other.
People were going to nearby banks to withdraw money to buy food for the needy. Max at first felt very good that there were people helping others—it matched his morals a lot. He also decided to help others, and for a time, he was led by the growing kindness in his heart.
He would have become part of the crowd—a mindless helper in the streets who helped others with no other thoughts, only becoming more and more irrational, losing his logic, and thinking only about helping others. However, Max was no normal person. He soon noticed the changes in his Domain of Emotions and how he was being affected. He took out his purple liquid with white particles in it; it turned into a yellow bubble with a pink tint, and he stopped feeling any kindness and empathy.
He looked around and realised, "The effect of the uniqueness of the Goodness Pathway." He immediately decided to contact Eric and took out his golden liquid, but he realised he couldn't contact Eric... again. "Seriously, it is getting too repetitive at this point." Yes, it was getting too repetitive—go and blame the author.
Max activated his vision, headed out to find the Aura user who was causing this effect, and teleported away.
...
Ruby, in her apartment, was doing her household work: laundry, cleaning, drying the clothes, and the usual housewife tasks. She wanted to finish her work fast so she could hop on the TV and watch some videos. She was feeling heavier than usual, and her shoulders had been hurting a lot these days.
She massaged her shoulders and looked at herself in the mirror. She found herself to be the same as ever before. She had been feeling scared being alone these days, as if someone was always watching her, creeping up on her when she turned her back.
Ring!
The bell of her apartment rang, and Ruby hurriedly walked to the door. She looked through the peephole and saw it was Zoe standing outside. Ruby opened the door and let her in. "What happened? You look happy today," Ruby asked.
"It's nothing," Zoe replied. Ruby was now feeling a little less scared now that she was not alone anymore. "Are you hungry? Making food for Max must have been tough," she asked. "Yes, I am. He eats like a black hole." Suddenly, she felt the urge to make a full meal for Zoe. She had been planning to make something for her but hadn't felt anything about it—now, however, she felt obliged.
She even felt the weight on her shoulders reduce to zero, as if it had never been there. She revealed a smile and went to the kitchen to make something for herself. Zoe also felt the urge to help Ruby and went into the kitchen to help her.
...
Claude was in his office, looking at some papers and files. He was having trouble reading what was on his mind. He was trying his best to focus. He got tired of trying to read the files and looked out the window of his office. Suddenly, he felt a pull from inside his chest and started grunting with pain and laughing like a maniac with a crazy smile as he clenched his chest.
Hahahah
His hand subconsciously took a pen and paper and started drawing. The drawing was of a warrior clad in black coming down a black mountain. Since the pen he grabbed was black, his hand couldn't draw the red background. Enduring the pain in his chest, Claude grabbed another pen and stabbed his right hand again and again until his hand started to bleed heavily, and finally stopped drawing. The pain in his chest also disappeared.
He had been having these "attacks," as he called them. He had first started having them after drawing that particular drawing, which his hand was just trying to draw. In recent times, these attacks have been growing more and more. Dr. House had witnessed one of these attacks and was able to help him.
However, he had clarified that this was a rare "medical condition" that couldn't be treated easily and would take some effort. He stated that even he didn't know if he could cure it or not. Claude had been very worried by Dr. House's tone, but he could do nothing but believe in Dr. House that he could help him. It had come as a shock that there were conditions even the best doctors in the world couldn't deal with. However, Dr. House promised that he would do anything in his power to help him, but couldn't tell anyone anything. Claude agreed without debate.
Claude was sweating heavily, and his hand was bleeding heavily, spilling blood on the desk and causing him immense pain. He wiped the sweat off with his hands, wiped the desk with a handkerchief, and put a cloth around his hand to stop the bleeding.
Knock
Claude startled when he heard a knock on his door. He immediately hid the drawing he had made between some piled-up files and sat down straight. He hid his right hand under the desk. "Come in," he gently ordered. A scrawny man in the usual blue police uniform entered with a huge smile on his face. "Captain, I have very good news to tell you."
Claude was genuinely very confused as to how and why this person was smiling and happy. Normally, he was a very reserved and quiet person who didn't like socialising and seldom spoke.
"Huh? Captain, why are you sweating so much?" the scrawny man asked as his face showed a confused look. "Oh, it's nothing. I just decided to turn off the A.C. for a while. What about you? What good news do you have to tell me?" Claude diverted the attention from himself to the scrawny man as he revealed a twitching smile.
The scrawny man blinked in confusion as his eyes widened with realisation when he remembered the reason for his visit. "Oh, yeah! I am getting married, Captain. I hope you can come to my wedding and grace us with your presence," the scrawny man told the captain. There was hidden respect and embarrassment in his voice.
Claude was in pain, but started to feel good and proud after the scrawny man walked up to his desk and handed him the invitation card. He revealed a gentle smile on his face and felt like crying. He got the feeling that something was wrong with his reaction.
He felt an increasing kindness in his heart and told the scrawny man, "Announce to all the members that their salaries are increasing to celebrate this wonderful occasion."
The scrawny man was in disbelief, hearing the words that came out of the captain's mouth. He blinked in confusion and took some time to process what he had just heard. He revealed a big smile on his face, deeply bowed to the captain, and thanked him. Then he left. Claude was left all alone in his office again.
...
Kalamine was sitting on a bench outside a café. She had been trying to apply for a job for ages but was still unemployed. She couldn't believe that, despite having a Ph.D., she was still having trouble finding a job. At this point, she would be better off returning to her home country.
For the last three days, her appetite had increased exponentially—like a black hole. She ate a lot but still felt so hungry. However, if someone looked at her, they would probably think she hadn't eaten anything for days.
She had not only been feeling stressed but also tired. No matter how much she ate, she was never full. Also, the fact that her continuous eating had drained her wallet—she could have been able to live in Paris for more than two weeks without a job, but now even surviving felt like a hurdle.
She was going to order again, but then she saw a poor boy walking around, and pity erupted in her like a volcano. She decided to ignore her financial condition right now and bought food for that boy.
...
Near their high school, Adrian and Marie were sitting in a café. They were talking and laughing like any two normal students would.
"Yeah, that movie was fun. The plot was so interesting yet simple," Adrian said while laughing. "Yes, I especially liked the character of Jess. He was so fun and such comic relief." Just as they were talking, Marie suddenly remembered something and asked Adrian, "Hey, do you know about the Shirakawa-go village incident that happened six years ago?"
Adrian blinked in confusion as he tried to recall what she was talking about. Just then, some memories regarding that incident came to his mind. "Oh, you mean the village in Japan that was completely crushed, with all its citizens also found dead?"
Marie nodded her head. "Yes. It became quite the news back then. I just found an article about it last night and read it, so I thought of telling you about it too."
"All the people there were crushed—not one person had an intact body. What could have caused that?" Adrian asked. Marie replied, "No one knows. It all happened in one night. There were many theories, but not one was able to give the exact reason."
"Scary. What if it happens here, too?" Adrian said with some fear in his voice. "Hey, don't jinx it!" Marie said with anger.
Suddenly, both of them felt pity for the dead people and decided to go to a church to pray for the souls of those who had died.
...
Back in the Church of Serenity, Eric stood up from the pew and walked to the confessional room. He opened the door and found a small and tight room. The room was completely dark. He sat on the desk in the middle of the room with the silver earring in his right hand as the door of the confessional room closed.
For a moment, everything was dark and silent. He could see nothing. In front of him, from the booth window, a little light came in as an ethereal voice asked him, "Hello, child. Are you here to confess your sins?"
Eric took a moment to take in the voice and answered, posing a question. "Yes, I am, but before that, may I know your name?"
"My name is Atid," the ethereal voice replied. "You may speak whatever is in your heart, or may I ask you some questions?" it asked Eric. "Did you ask if you could pose questions because your friend read my memory and gave it to you?" Eric asked with some malice in his heart.
"Yes, I figured you are not the type to openly speak about something until it is initiated by someone else. Also, please do not be angry. It is my friend's bad habit to look into others' memories. If there is something we can do to pay you back, we will," it apologized.
"There is no need for that right now. Just remember your promise. Anyway, you are right—I am not someone who can think of a topic to just start talking about, at least mostly. You pose the questions," Eric agreed.
"Hmmm. So, what do you feel about killing that assassin girl who came to kill you yesterday? She had her whole life ahead of her. You may not have necessarily killed her, but you ruthlessly murdered her. Do you feel any regret for it?"
"No, I do not feel any regret. That girl may have had her past troubles and experiences, but in that moment, I was in danger—my life was in danger. At that point, how could I even think of her perspective? I have never interacted with that girl before or hurt her family or friends, as far as my knowledge goes. Even while being here, I have never hurt anyone. Yes, she was ordered to and wanted to prove herself—but who doesn't? She wanted to kill me and prove herself, but I wanted to live. I am not someone who takes chances. What if she had come to kill me again after I forgave her?" Eric confessed his truest emotions about the situation as he put his right hand on his chest.
"What do you feel about your friend, Max Water Charles? How do you feel about him? Does his recklessness annoy you? Does his loudness bother you? Does his behaviour hold you back?" It asked another question, this one regarding someone he was very close to.
"No. He does not annoy, bother, or hold me back. He has been with me ever since we met in that orphanage after our parents died. He was always the sunshine around me, filling the darkness around me with his smile. Many have come and gone in my life, but he has always stayed with me, supported me, had my back, and never let me down. Yes, he is loud and reckless, but this is why I am with him—to balance out his worst sides, and he balances out mine. You can think of it like puzzle pieces." Eric answered while lightly smiling.
"Truly honest. Both of you trust each other with your lives and make sure that nothing happens to the other. That is commendable. The trust between you two makes even me jealous. Another question then: How do you feel about your wife, Ruby? What are your feelings regarding her? Does her smile bring you happiness? Does her effort in finding, trying, and making new dishes for you make your heart feel glad and grateful? Does her being in pain pain you? Is she a part of your 'family'? Do you..." The Angel Spirit on the other side of the window stopped for a moment before it said two words with emphasis, "love her?"
The light smile on Eric's face disappeared as his face became expressionless and his eyes darkened. He didn't answer for a few minutes and just sat silently. He finally opened his mouth and answered, "Yes, I do feel happy when she smiles. I feel fulfilled when I see her smile and enjoy herself. I respect her efforts in keeping the place we live in clean and tidy. I feel grateful when she makes a new dish for me to eat and boasts about it. I feel relieved that in this world, there is someone besides Max who loves me and cares for me. No, she is not part of my 'family,' and I can't say if I love her or not. That is something I am still trying to find out." Eric answered with a blank face.
Atid fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "There was a small lie in your last sentence, but I will ignore it, considering you can't fully trust us. I believe you should speak to her more and find what kind of person she is under all the masks she normally wears. I am pretty sure you will begin to love her once you open her completely like a book."
Atid then proceeded to ask the next question with a chilly voice. "What are your thoughts about the Shirakawa-go village? If I have read your memories properly, then you were the main reason for it, right?"
Eric stayed silent upon hearing the question. He could feel the weight of Atid's gaze on him through the window. Eric turned his head down and stared at the wooden ground as he answered, "That incident happened six years ago. I was just 18 at that time and living an unstable life with Max, wandering like ghosts. I was an Auri Nova rank then and was ready to advance. I chose to advance as quickly as possible and advanced while staying in that village. During the advancement process, a problem happened, and my Aura went out of control. I would have lost control at that point if not for Max. However, it caused the entire village to be crushed. I advanced to the rank of Lysi Nova but killed hundreds of people. At that time felt a lot of regret about my decision, even though I never cried. I was still silent for a long time. I still can't believe how I didn't lose control because of the guilt. But if you ask the current me, then I will say that I do feel lingering guilt, but don't pester about it much now. If I had to do it again to advance, I would do it." Eric straightened his back as he said the last line.
"You have changed a lot. In the paths that you people walk, coldness and loss of emotions an inevitable events. You were immature in your youth—ignorant, selfish, someone who didn't care much about others, and didn't care what happened to others as long as you and your friend were safe. Now? You do understand others, you do think for them, but you do not let it all stop you from putting yourself first. You can kill others with no regret or guilt now. You have learned survival and the need for it. Next and last question for today: What do you think of yourself?"
Eric was taken aback for a moment as his eyes widened a little. He thought for what felt like an eternity before speaking. "What do I think of myself? I am not a narcissist, so I don't live in a delusion where I think of myself as this perfect being, but I also do not think of myself as inferior or someone pitiful. I am a selfish person. I am someone who lives by killing others, someone who wears multiple masks, someone who hides my emotions. I am someone who lies, hides things from those who care about me, and wants the best for me. I am willing to kill others for my life. I can even sacrifice myself for my friend. I can leave the past behind easily without thinking much about it. I wish to live a normal life while also trying to remember what my dream is. I want to feel like a person with free will instead of being led everywhere by others."
Eric's voice grew heavier the more he talked, and then he finally stopped and looked down. Now that all the questions were answered, he felt his head to be very light, and he felt lighter and relieved—like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. "..." Atid was also silent for a long time and didn't say anything. Atid broke the silence between them. "You have passed the test," Atid declared.
"This was a test?" Eric thought.
"Even though you are not someone selfless and have lied during the confession in places, you are still someone human who realizes what and who you are, what they want, and who their closest are. That is enough for someone who doesn't belong to the Goodness Pathway. You may leave now. Come back whenever you want to talk again."
Eric stood up, bowed his head, opened the confessional room, and walked out, where he saw Father Irenaeus sitting in front of the altar. Eric looked at the statue on the altar again and wanted to ask a question about it, but decided that he had asked and answered enough questions for today. He looked at Father Irenaeus and said, "Father, thank you for having me, but I should not overstay my welcome."
Father Irenaeus stood up, turned to him, and said slowly with a smile, "Yes, you are right. If the church stays here for a long time, it can cause permanent alteration to people's memories after all."
"How exactly are we going to meet again?" Eric asked. "You do not need to worry about that. Let's decide on a meeting day. Today is Thursday, right? Let's meet every Thursday. It is up to you what you want to do. I can help you create domain cards, relics of the Goodness Pathway, replenish Angel Spirits, give knowledge about subjects, or just talk," Father Irenaeus answered while putting his hand on the altar.
"That sounds wonderful. Can I bring anyone with me?" Eric asked. "No, you cannot, my child. Only you are allowed here," he answered. "Fair enough, I guess," Eric replied with a little smile.
With that, Eric turned toward the main door and walked out of the church and down the staircase. He waited for a few seconds and felt the increasing pity, kindness, and empathy rising in his heart suddenly disappear. When he looked back, there was no church there, but just an abandoned land.