We Owe It To Ourselves

Spiraling down a deep, dark-blue abyss. Spinning. I was lost. 'Where am I?' I would've asked, but I couldn't feel anything...not my limbs, not my lips...nothing. But I felt my heart, to my relief, I felt it pounding about in my ribcage. I felt drowned, or drowning?

'Breathe.' He said.

'Who?' I wondered who said that.

'Breathe, Kolin.' He shook me.

Who. Who. Who.

'You can rest now.'

Gasp

I took a sharp breath, screamed, and grabbed my hair with both my hands. "GAAAAH!!!"

I was suffocating, every breath I take is immediately followed by another instantly. I grabbed next to my leg. It was wet. I looked at my arms, and it was indeed my sweat. "Why now?"

Couple of steps at the foot of my bed was me, my own reflection, I realized. He was shivering, like a kid fresh out of the bath. Wet, and cold. He looked scared.

"Me? Scared? Scared of who?!" I snarled at myself. Me? The God slayer? I snickered, "Sure. Sure."

I took of my damp tank top and threw it on the floor. I did the same to my bedsheets. When I again looked at the mirror, I realized--or again realized that I had no scars, no belmishes, or even any 'imperfections' in this body. I am almost forgetting how I looked like before, but I knew I was riddled with scars. Scars from both my enemy and myself.

Deciding that a shower is not worth it, I put on a flanel and went outside. We arrived to South Korea two days ago, and I have been sight seeing--with Sypher as usual. And like every morning, I went to the cafe for some coffee.

"Kolin!" Called a somewhat raspy voice, 'It's Brody.' I thought

I glanced at him, but continued walking. With how his personality is, I doubt he'd find that offensive.

"Yo." He held up a palm, "What's up? You look unwell." He said while patting my shoulder.

"He always looks like that, didn't you know." Cut Sypher and I felt a bulge in my forehead.

"Just dehydrated." I dryly replied.

Brody Rufina frowned, "Tsk! Tsk! You're no good, Kolin. You should always take care of your body, for it is a temple." He said, clicking his tongue more. I paid him no mind, however, I don't really feel like saying anything nor do I have the intention to.

"I sat down at my usual spot where I can see the outside on my right due to the big glass window...can you even call that a window though? It's just glass.

The waiter set my drink down at the table, and I stared at it. It was a rosetta.

I frowned. The foam started to swirl until it was just a spiral. I inspected it more, curious as to what happened.

"Woah, this latte art is quite nice," said Brody. "You've just been staring at it for a while," He gave me a concerned look.

"Ah, well, it's beautiful," I said.

'My mana.' I thought. Somehow, my mana is leaking out quite aggressively. Enough to cause changes around me subconsciously. I closed my eyes. It's best that I control my mana output, lest I want these humans to see it.

Calming down, I took a sip of my drink. It went cold. 'Ah, dang.' I thought; it was still good though.

"You wanna go with us?" I asked Brody, he always looks busy. I see him at the pool as a life guard, or sometimes I see him at the bar as a bartender...a janitor, and a librarian. 'An ultimate part-timer perhaps?' I guessed. 'Plausible.'

"Nah man, I got some work to do at the highest floor this afternoon," He waved his hand, "I'll pass for now. Thanks though."

I looked at him up and down, "Alright." I glanced at Syhper who was munching on a sausage roll, "Shall we go?"

"You're not gonna eat?" She said in between munches.

"Not hungry," I replied.

"Let's go then." She stood up and dusted herself off.

...

South Korea was really a breath of fresh air. Unlike Paris, it didn't smell like piss all around. It was quite pleasant. We are currently near in the Incheon port, and since we have approximately 2 weeks, we decided to go to Soeul and stay there for the time being.

"Do you want to stop by anywhere?" Sypher asked, glancing around our surroundings. The time is 9:44am and the weather is sunny and clear.

"Not really, we've visited most of the attractions here anyway." I replied as I rested my chin on my palm. The little gremlin, to my surprise, hit my arm causing me to smack my head on the cupboard. "Ow! what was that for?!" I complained in annoyance.

"Gahaha!" she laughed and giggled, "Why so serious, what's gotten into you all of a sudden?" She queried.

"Sigh. I'm just a bit sleepy...and I'm starting to worry about Caner." I answered. While that was true, it wasn't really the exact reason. It's just that...the close I get to my goal, the more anxious I get. It's like the universe is telling me not to proceed--which I cannot just do. Not now. Not this far.

"Oh, that guy will be fine, for sure." She said, but added, "But what if he was stranded on Barbados...or got lost in France."

'Well, he does have a poor sense of direction...' I thought, "He'll be fine." I assured her--and myself. 'I'll release some morse code using my mana...I hope he can sense it.'

I felt my eyes contract...and I was suddenly lulled by the slight hum and shiver of the car. "I'll doze off for a bit," I said to Sypher, "Wake me up when we're there."

"Sure...?" She looked confuse, but nodded nonetheless.

I started thinking about my plans and things I need, and it...is a lot. 'No use thinking about it now.'

We owe it to ourselves...

Before I completely doze off, I felt something. Mana so large, my own reacted. 'What was that?' I widened my eyes but quickly squinted to focus on feeling the mana.

"Oh, it's quite windy today, isn't it?" Said Syhper...and indeed it was.

'It's causing ripples...' I thought. 'Is it Caner?'

I peered outside the window, looking for anything unusual. However, nothing came up.

I close my eyes again, but this time, to open up a bigger one--one that can encompass the whole planet. I observed anything suspicious, or any signs of Caner but found nothing. It doesn't even feel like Caner's signature.

Keeping my greater eye open, I searched and looked, searched and looked, but nothing. I clenched my jaw in frustration, and widened my search, recklessly using my mana.

"K-Kolin...?" Sypher tapped me.

"Not now, I'm sleeping." I said as an excuse.

"K-Kol-Kolin y-you're glowing!" Sypher yelped in surprise, and with that, my eyes blinked open, immediately shutting off my mana output.

I turned my glance to her, and to the driver who was eyeing me from the rear-view mirror. "What happened?" I feigned ignorance.

"I-I dunno, you smashed the cupboard, and next thing I know, you were glowing!" She said, and I looked my left hand and the destroyed cupboard.

"O-oh, well it must've been an old thing...you sure you're not drunk?" I asked her, but she furiously shook her head.

"Well, the driver saw it too, right?" She looked at the driver, and he nodded.

"It's nothing, it's just fancy magic trick--" I turned around, glancing everywhere. I felt it again, but much close this time.

'Calm down, Kolin.' I said to myself, trying my best to quell the urge to just fly away like I did last time.

'Yo.' rang in my head. It was a voice of a young kid...

'Missed me?'