34 - Soulblade

Some of them weren't happy with me for changing my mind and going without them. The rest were just relieved that the Innocent was safe.

But now that they weren't preparing to storm off to save a little girl, they broke apart for the day off. We called today Sunday, and more than half of us agreed that if we didn't have to work, we wouldn't. So everyone got Sunday off. Most of the guys went off to their personal projects. I think Gary was making a fishing rod, and Cameron was talking to the twins.

As for myself, I had a date to go on.

Katie woke up around midday and found me practicing sword techniques and air walk in tandem with each other.

"How are we supposed to go on a flight together if you waste all your mana before we leave?" She accused, tossing back her unbound blond hair.

"It's not my fault you slept past noon." I pointed out.

She glared at me, then relaxed, smiling. "Are you ready to go, then?"

I nodded, and she let the Angel possess her. Feathery white wings stretched from her back, accentuating her beauty. I found myself stunned at the spectacle, now that I had time to appreciate it.

"What is it?" Katie asked, turning to look at me.

I shook my head. "Nothing. Where did you want to go?"

"Let's decide when we get in the air." She replied, beating her large wings, and lifting off the ground.

I leapt from barrier to barrier to keep up, but she easily reached her preferred altitude and waited for me.

"I told you that I'm not technically flying." I huffed, basically having just sprinted up five sets of giant stairs.

She didn't answer, scanning the horizon eagerly.

"What do you think that is?" she asked, pointing at something standing above the tree line.

I let go of my frustration. "I don't know. Let's find out."

We landed in front of the Temple as the sky was turning orange from the sunset. As soon as my foot touched the ground, a white-and-gold blur rushed to me. I tensed, then I realized it was the Innocent. She wrapped her arms around my waist, clinging tightly.

I froze, my mind racing to understand what was going on.

*She was worried you forgot her and left.* the Ancient informed me.

*That's unreasonable,* I replied, before accepting possession.

"No one could hear me." the Innocent whimpered, my tunic soaking in her tears.

I wanted to reply, but hesitated. What I was about to say seemed callous. It could wait. Instead, I hugged her back. Her golden hair was silky to the touch.

Once her sobbing slowed, I finally spoke. "Are you ready for an explanation?"

She looked up at me. "Yes."

I spoke patiently, and loud enough for the gathering crowd. "I have enough proof to believe that you are a Soulblade, until we discover some other possibility. You have abilities most people here will never have. I am the only one who can hear you because I am partnered with a blade that specifically has that ability."

"Then let me stay with you! It was miserable alone, but even more so alone among people."

"You can stay with me. At least until we figure out another way to communicate."

My mind was preoccupied with figuring out how to help the Innocent communicate throughout dinner and as we went to bed.

I stayed with the Innocent in Jack's side project, which now had the second floor's walls complete.

Nate woke me up at midnight, letting me know it was my turn to keep watch. The Innocent was soundly asleep, once again curled in on herself.

She would need a nickname, I realized, if we're going to treat her as human. I thought about it as I took up post on the Temple's roof. She was clearly too human-like to seal off in the Temple, but she would be forced to live like Silence if she stayed among the humans.

Like Silence... Who communicated with gestures. And a language based on gestures... Sign language.

I laughed. It was so simple, but perfect. The Ancient gave me an inquisitive feeling, but let it go. The remainder of my watch was uneventful.

The next morning, I asked around to see if anyone knew sign language. Thankfully, there were actually a few people who knew. When I suggested they could teach the Innocent, most of them were willing, but wanted it to be part of their working day. I agreed that it was reasonable, and we added it to their various schedules. That left telling the Innocent.

She responded quickly when I woke her up, and I explained how she would be learning how to use sign language and other gestures to communicate better with everyone. The idea excited her.

"And it's going to be difficult to always refer to you as the Innocent, so I came up with a nickname. What do you think of the name Celine?"

She smiled brightly. "I love it! If I'm Celine, what should I call you?"

Had I never told her my name? Right, that first night, in the chaos of escaping from monsters.

"You can just call me Marcus."