Carl's Motivation

Hell, all my life, I've been getting in the way of important people. I've had my moments to shine, but half of the conflict that happened with Orion's coliseum, and that dangerous mission, was my fault. My own entitled fault.

No, I needed to hear that in the harshest tone possible. Hearing it like that set me in the correct place after so long of trying to find it.

I haven't done anything worth mentioning.

Sky fought a person who could've been called a God. He fought Orion, he fought the other White Stones. He overthrew the hierarchy just for a chance at not just his life... but our lives... and I had the nerve to stand here and doubt his real motivation.

Really, what the hell is wrong with me? Where did I find that entitlement?!

"Boo... I'm sorry for making you upset... but I completely agree with you. I don't think I've done anything worth his attention or friendship, yet, he still offers it to me. I'm... lucky right now." I muttered.

"Don't get all sentimental on me now, I don't care about you enough to console you. I'm going to bed." Boo said, getting up out of the chair and leaving. She was so stern and serious, it was hard to sense any compassion from her.

"Doubting your friends is one thing, but telling them that they might lack in a certain quality hurts worse. That's how it is with Boo... sorry about that. You look a little upset." Shike said with an awkward smile.

"I don't really know what else to do here other than my best with training. I want to become somebody Sky can rely on... like you four..." I revealed it to Shike.

"I don't know a lot about you, Carl, but I can tell you're a good person. If you keep that up, I think Sky will be happy either way. The world might brand him as a monster, but he's a really nice guy like that. We'll talk more tomorrow, okay?" Shike asked me. We bumped fists and he walked off. Both Belle and Alexia waved to me as they left the lobby.

"Hey, Uncle Carl! Check this out!" Faith ran up to me with a can of something in her hands and a weird wand in her hand... and when she blew it, bubbles came out?!

"Wait, did you just call me Uncle Carl? That was... so weird." I said, clutching my chest. Was I old now or something?

"Huh? Well, you are Dad's friend, so I thought that's what I should call you. Is that wrong?" Faith asked me.

For such a brave and valiant little girl, she really did have that curious side to her.

"Not really, it's just weird to hear... and see. You really are Sky's kid, aren't you?" I said, analyzing her facial structure. Faith seemed to notice and outlined it with her hands.

"Yup! Through and through! I was eavesdropping on your conversation just now." Faith said, blowing more bubbles.

"That's not something you really mention out loud... sorry you had to hear that from me," I told her.

"Don't be. I was inside of Dad the entire time, I knew what he felt and how he was thinking. I thought you would've figured it out by now, but his feelings were amplified by the rigid System in his body, at least, that's what I think. Otherwise, Dad really appreciated your presence, Uncle Carl." Faith told me.

That at least made me feel at ease... but I still wanted to improve whether that was the full truth or not.

"It's weird, talking to you like this. You're only three years younger than me, yet you look my age, and you can fight even better than me. Is there an extent to your knowledge?" I asked Faith.

"Hm... of course, there is. Everything Dad knows and a little more is what I know, and the rest is blank. I hope I can learn more one day, but until then, I'll be stuck wanting more and more. Hey, Uncle Carl, what did you think of that Red girl?" She asked me.

"Red? You were with your Dad for that long? Well... it's been so long, but I really liked her. If I was more useful, I could've combined my efforts with Sky's to save her... but I've well accepted her fate and grown from it." I explained to Faith.

"I see. As long as you've grown from it. I've been asking all of Dad's friends, like Mandi, and Alex... and um... what's the name of the girl with the twin? She's the smarter-looking one." Faith pounded her brain for the answer to her own question, but I chipped in to help her.

"Rin! That's right. I asked her as well! Next, I'll ask Lia." Faith said, solidifying her motivations.

"Oh, before you go, can I ask you about Avie?" I grabbed Faith's attention one more time and she nodded.

"What would you like to know?" Faith asked with a smile.

"You said you were within Sky as soon as he woke up on the Isle with us... what about Avie? Where did she come from? I've been wondering that for a little while." I confessed.

"The same as me. It's hard to explain... and Avie doesn't like it when I tell her secrets to other people. I'm sure she'll tell you one day." Faith told me.

"But, I can't talk to Avie myself, how..." Before I could finish, Faith ran off to go find Lia and Lily, probably to ask them questions.

Seeing Faith before my training continues tomorrow might've been what I needed. Hearing those encouraging words, and even how a little girl like herself can still care for me, might be exactly what I needed to set me on track to become more useful for my friends.

I would train my eyesight, become smarter, anything that I needed to do to improve as a person.

Starting tomorrow, I would be giving everything my all!