Masks Chapter 3.2 : Taught and Learnt

*Knock Knock Knock*

Narine knocked, and she waited in front of the Orphanage along with Max.

Mami was safely returned home.

Slowly, the door opened.

"Hello?"

"Luca, you're awake at this hour? It's almost 3 in the morning." Narine said.

"Ah, Miss Narine. I guess I was too caught up in my Book. I usually read after work, so I guess I didn't notice the time."

"You have a Clock for a reason. Anyways, can we come inside?"

"We? ...Oh! You're, uh, Max! You were here yesterday! I saw you collapse after the Trial! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I apparently collapsed from Lack of Sleep, so I should be fine after resting for a bit."

"Good, Good. Ah! Please, come inside! It must be cold! I'll go get some tea!"

"Make mine a Coffee."

"Yes Chief!"

. . .

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

Luca sat opposite of them at a Table in the Corner of the Main Room.

"I remember there being a vacant room just atop the staircase. Is it still available?"

"The Small Room? We've been using it as a Closet recently, but we should be able to move the stuff somewhere else. It doesn't have much to begin with. Why?"

"Well, Max here is new to Pake, so it should be pretty obvious that he doesn't have a home. Not only that, but the Living Quarters for the Hunting Squads isn't exactly empty either."

"So Max doesn't have a place to stay? Hmm... I don't see why not. If he can help with some simple housework here and there and get along with the others, then it should be fine."

"...You don't sound very convincing. What's on your mind?"

"You noticed. Well... To be entirely honest, if possible, I don't want the Room to be taken... especially if it's..."

"...I understand. Get Max something warm to wrap himself up with. He'll sleep on the Couch for today, and we'll talk more about it tomorrow."

"The Couch? But... Will Max be okay on there? There's bugs and everything."

"Max."

"Yes?"

"You'll sleep on the Couch today, understood?"

"...Yes Chief."

"Good. I'm exhausted, so I'm going home. Luca, find him a Blanket or something."

"Eh? b-But those are..."

"I'm tired. If you make me raise my voice, then..."

"I-Im on it!"

She ran off in a surprising burst of speed.

"Oh, before I go. Max?"

"Hm?"

"Of all the things you can do... just make sure nobody gets hurt. These kids can be... rough."

"...I'll keep that in mind. Have a good night, Chief Narine."

"Chief this, Chief that. Just Narine is fine. We both know who's stronger."

"...Then, I will see you tomorrow, Narine."

"Aye."

And she was gone.

'. . .'

Because he didn't before, Max looks around the room.

'...A Wall covered with Paintings, a Billboard with some Notes stuck on them, and a Fireplace. I learned about these earlier.'

Walking towards the Paintings, one immediately caught his eye.

'...It's crossed out. And it seems to be just after it was finished being drawn too. But, why?'

"Max! Here you- Oh! Are you looking at the Children's Paintings? What do you think?"

"I... nevermind. Is it alright if we continue this tomorrow?"

"Ah! You're probably really tired! Please, help yourself to the... Couch. Um... Goodnight."

Silently, she walked away, moving upstairs.

'...I guess we'll rest for now. And those "Bugs" she talked about... shouldn't be a problem."

He draws his Sword.

[Hate : Flare Coating]

A Black Shell coated the Blade, and after striking the Couch an innumerable amounts of times, it immediately dispersed.

'The Critters should be gone. It only burns Living Things, so it should have been effective.'

Relieved, he lays down on the now Bug Free Couch.

As he drifter to sleep, only one thought went through his head.

'...I should have... tested it out first... can't juse... use... new...'

. . .

. . .

. . .

"I'm telling you, he's incredibly gifted!"

'...Loud. Who's yelling so early in the-'

*Thud*

"...Ow."

"Max!? Are you okay? What happened!? You suddenly fell!"

'I... I guess I overused my Techniques in such a small time span, let alone new ones. I didn't expect it to make my body this heavy.'

[Life : Recovery]

'...That should do it. I figured "Life" is much easier to say than "Kindness", since they changed many names a long time ago.'

"Max! Hello!? I'm! Calling! You!"

"Ah. Mami? Luca and Narine too?"

"Yo! I've been waiting for you to wake up for a while now! How're you holding up?" Narine said.

"I could be better. I was a little exhausted, but I should be good to move around. What time is it?"

"For someone who didn't even know what a Handshake was, you're already asking for the time? Anyways, it's a little before noon. I came to pick you up for your first hunt."

'Noon. If I recall, it's the Middle of the Day.'

"My first Hunt... Where will we be hunting?" Max rises and sits back on the Couch.

"The South-West was where we hunted last month, so we'll start heading towards the North-East, in the opposite direction."

"North-East? Isn't that where the Wolves were gathered?"

"So you already know. Half of this expedition is a Hunt, while the other half is to remove the Wolves. If possible, I'd rather not have them exterminated, but rather moved or chased out."

"So we'll be hunting while also being aware of the Wolves?"

"Yup. You move out in half an hour. Meet with the others at the front gate. I still have a na- I mean an 'Important Task' to complete, so I'll be leaving now."

"Then I'll see you sometime later."

She leaves, leaving everybody in an awkward silence.

"...Mami? Luca? Are you there?"

"...Wolves? Isn't that gonna be a little dangerous?" Mami had a worried expression.

"And if you think about it, Max doesn't know the land very well." Luca was also worried.

'...I'll be fine though?'

"Now that I think about it, where are Mika and Rio? I haven't seen them since yesterday."

"Those Cubs should be in the back like before. You can check on them if you'd like." Luca says.

"I'm their caretaker, so I should keep an eye on them until they can defend themselves."

"If that's the case, then go right ahead. I still have something to discuss with Mami, so we'll stay a while longer."

Getting up, Max makes his way to the back.

'I wonder how I should teach them to use their [Wills]. They don't have the same body as a Human, so I don't know how I shou-'

"I said stop it!"

'Lenn?'

He moved quickly.

Making it outside, he saw an irritating sight.

5 Kids were laughing, while the one up front held a rock in hos hand.

"They're just a bunch of oversized dogs! You call those things Bears? The tell me, can a Bear block THIS!?"

Immediately, Max made his move.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared between them, grabbing the thrown rock from the air.

"Huh!? Who are you!? Get lost! I'm busy he-"

[Hate : Intimidate]

Subconsciously, the kid looked down, unable to meet his eyes.

An invisible force enveloped him, along with the other children.

"...Hey."

Max spoke in an intimidating tone filled with rage.

"I will only warn you once. If you ever mess with my Children ever again, then I will make sure you never leave your rooms."

Beyond intimidation, the Kids felt something stronger than fear, and slowly nodded their heads, and walked away, fear filling their face and minds.

The Kid who threw the rock, however, had already fainted from the pressure.

'...Did I go too far?'

He releases the Pressure.

"...Lenn, Rio, Mika. Are you three oka-"

"Uww~... Max. I... I protected them, I... I... I did my best to... But Rio got..."

Looking behind her, he could see Rio shielding Mika, covered in small scratches and bruises, as well as some small spots of blood.

Lenn herself was no different.

Unlike yesterday, she bled from multiple places, and contained many bruises along her arms.

'She protected Rio and Mika, and Rio acted as Mika's Shield... I think I know how to move forward from here. But first thing's first.'

[Life : Recovery]

Holding his hand over Lenn and Rio, they begin to quickly recover.

"Wha... What is this? It's... warm? It doesn't hurt anymore..."

They were fully recovered.

"Lenn, I don't know how long you held out, but... thank you."

"Eh? Oh... It's nothing much, really. I just... didn't want them to hurt Rio or Mika."

"Is this a Common Occurrence?"

"...Only around once a month. However, today they were more aggressive than usual."

"Once a month? And you haven't told Luca about this? Or Ren? Nobody?"

"I... I was threatened not to..."

"Threatened?"

"They... they took the only picture of my Parents that I had, and told me to do a bunch of things that I didn't want to do. Of course, it never got too intense, but... I was always hurt in the end."

'...A Picture, huh?'

"Do you know where they keep the Picture?"

"He... He always keeps it in his pocket to his left."

'Picture... Picture... Here it is.'

"Is this it?" He shows it to her.

"Ah, this! Th-This is!"

Her face began to fill with tears.

'Is there something wrong with...'

The Picture he held in his hand...

Was drawn on from top to bottom with various drawings, covering the faces of the 2 People in the Photo.

'...This is beyond just threatening. This was full on a Cheat and a Lie.'

Looking at Lenn, she was trying hard to hold in her tears...

To no success.

She couldn't hold her tears.

She began to cry, although in silence.

'...I don't know what to... I...'

Max pondered over a decision.

Finally, he makes his choice.

Taking the Picture in his hands, he throws it into the air.

"Max!? That's my-! What are you doing!?"

He takes his Sword.

[Determination : Time Flow - Backwards]

One Slash of his Blade caused a Blindingly Bright Red Light engulfed the Photo.

A moment passed, and the Glow dimmed away as it fell down onto his hand.

The Picture...

Recovered from the Drawings.

'That should do-'

He fell unconscious.

. . .