Nightshift 21: M21 - M30 Hallway

[not_a_savior]

Nowe was only slightly cheered by the thought of getting to meet up with Renji and Sora this evening. His conversation with Kadaj had gotten him thinking, and despite how good the food smelled he found himself unable to eat.

Caim was here. Weakened. If there was any opportunity to exact his revenge, this would be a perfect place, wouldn't it?

Comments

[grosse_sklaven]

"I suppose that will give me just enough time to inform Edward that there's no need to wait for me, and that will be that. If you wish to come with me, then by all means; otherwise I'm sure that we'll meet up later, seeing how our goals coincide."

Adelheid drew both rapier and flashlight, frowning as he had to change the batteries for the latter. At least he had a fair number of those, still? It wouldn't have done for him to lose his vision; while the monsters could very likely see in the dark, Adelheid could not... and for a moment, he was jealous of Eric's ability to do so.

But there was no time for petty jealousies. As he limbered himself up- and made a mental note that the deep wounds of the night before hadn't fully healed- he added, "I will say this, though. Hearing his words make me wonder if we can trust him at all; while we don't necessarily have a choice right now... he made reference to how nature triumphs over all and can take care of itself, if humanity would only get out of the way. In my world, that was the teaching of a mad blood cult, not any 'savior' that I would care to know."

[dead_draven]

He shrugged. "I suppose I can simply borrow your journal and then get it back to you tomorrow during the day. I think that finding those in need is more pressing at the moment. I'd be happy to accompany you."

Eric watched him change the batteries with a little internal sigh. He wanted his friend to be able to see, of course, but he found flashlights annoying if just for the fact that people had a tendency to turn them on him without thinking, effectively blinding him for a short while at night.

"That is very true," he said with a nod. "Who knows, really? All we can do is wait and match his actions with his words."

[grosse_sklaven]

"I agree, but that goes without saying by now." A bit of a smile at that; obviously Eric believed that finding those in need was the important thing. Otherwise Adelheid likely wouldn't be alive, let alone planning to rescue another.

"As an aside," he continued conversationally as he tested the light to make sure it worked, "that healing power you possess is quite amazing. Normally a dislocated shoulder, let alone all of the other injuries, would have made my planning a rescue operation an exercise in futility. Hopefully, this time, I won't require another saving."

Adelheid smiled, very faintly, as he kept the beam away from Eric's eyes. He didn't want the older man to think that Adel couldn't defend himself, even if Eric- if anyone in Landels- knew just how powerful Adelheid was. But at the same time? The teenager was starting to realize, blow by painful blow, just how limited he was and how far his own power could take him. It was still a sobering thought, and while he went through that he had to hold on to some vestige of his own pride: otherwise what would be the point of trying to improve? If he lost his powers, and became just another face in the crowd... he would have lost what defined him to himself. Ironically, it was his meeting with Ed and Hughes earlier, and the realization that there were many others weaker than himself, that was aiding him along this path. So long as there was someone else to protect, and by corollary someone to whom his strength mattered, he could keep going. He could keep getting up and fighting these monsters, putting forth all of his effort, so long as someone needed that to be done.

...and it was at times like this that he missed his dear sister the most.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. And perhaps it was the presence of Eric, whose expression could be so avian at times... perhaps it was the memory of the bird that seemed to haunt the man's path... perhaps, even, it was just the memory of discussing authors and their works with his sister... but he couldn't quite keep himself from softly quoting, "'Let my heart be still a moment, and this mystery explore.'"

Even Adelheid himself wasn't sure which mystery, out of the myriads that pressed around them, would be the object of his scrutiny. The only certainty would be that, whatever it was, it wouldn't be a mere breeze that would greet them.

((Going to here. ))