I stared at the young boy, I didn't need to ask. But I did anyway.
"Are you blind..?"
I only got a nod in return, there weren't tears. No sobs. No screams. Just silent acceptance of a fact.
"How did this happen?"
The boy slowly opened his mouth, the teeth blackened by the heat of the flames.
He then closed it. His fingers tapped against the table in a rhythm, thinking about what to say most likely.
Yet I already expected the answer.
Finally, he answered the question.
"A door.."
His voice was hoarse and dry, even after drinking water.
My eyebrows shot up, confusion filling my eyes.
Which quickly turned into suspicion. Had Nephis or perhaps one of those Valor dogs paid him out for his silence? Perhaps it was evident. And they were trying to cover it.
"A door...?"
I repeated the words, not believing the boy.
He nodded, sipping some water.
Then he opened his mouth.
"An unknown region of the dream realm."
My gaze flickered, my suspicion lessening, and my need to know things as a researcher growing.
This was rare and useful information. Expensive information.
"Any idea where?"
The boy cocked his head to the side, as if thinking.
"On the clouds."
He finally answered after a few moments.
My tense body relaxed, disbelief washing away the suspicion.
"On the clouds," I repeated, my tone humorous.
"Anything notable?"
The boy paused. Perhaps hearing my disbelief.
"Solid clouds, flickering with colors. Marble pillars. Marble Palace."
He stated blandly. As if even speaking of the place hurt him.
My gaze flickered, disbelief replaced by interest. It didn't sound like the boy was lying.
And now that I think about it. I doubt the boy could be bribed easily.
My eyes narrowed, thinking about the boy's words.
Where could such a place be?
Permanent clouds. Where could permanent clouds be seen? Or the clouds are being blocked by something.
An answer formed instantly. Above the hollow mountains. It was the only place recorded with such information.
My gaze narrowed further.
Then I looked at the boy again and realized this wasn't important.
The boy's condition was more important.
I threw on a facade the boy couldn't see. Falling into my "employer role" easily.
I couldn't have the boy thinking I cared for him. I already have one brat to deal with.
"Our deal is done. You cannot fight in such a state."
I paused, gauging the boy's reaction.
There was nothing. Not a twitch.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the boy spoke first.
"I can fight, I just need to learn to see without my eyes."
He stated, his voice filled with emotion for the first time. With determination.
"I can fight." He repeated, his voice firmer.
"I must."
I stared at the boy. I don't know why, but I believed him. The problem was. He couldn't see. And the mess in my kitchen proved that.
I could perhaps get a memory for him, or an echo similar to Cassie's.
My brain halted at once. Cassie. Surely, she would know what to do in such a situation. After all, she is blind and still reached Ascendence.
My brows furrowed. But could I trust her after everything? I knew better now. She was a snake. Able and willing to do anything to help Nephis reach her own goals. A devoted follower who had forgotten about her own life in exchange for helping another.
But this went beyond personal grudges, right? Hopefully, she wouldn't ask anything outrageous in return.
Perhaps, she would ask something of the boy himself. Maybe try and recruit him if she learnt his abilities.
My eyes narrowed at the thought. She would, there was not a single doubt in my mind.
The boy told me more about his teleportation ability. And it was overwhelming in its utility. Able to tear at the space itself, replacing anything, even himself with that space. It is true teleportation.
And such an ability was rare, even rarer than elemental aspects.
The boy's aspect had to be at least that of a Supreme rank, perhaps even Sacred like Cassie's.
I nearly chuckled at the thought. Two blind people, both with Sacred aspects.
My thoughts stopped wandering as I saw the boy's hand grasp the table, his knuckles whitening.
Yet the table didn't shatter; the self-control of the boy was obvious.
"What do you want in return..?"
He asked slowly, his voice firm, but filled with quiet expected refusal.
I didn't reject the offer of something in return. I would have helped the boy either way.
But more useful information couldn't hurt.
I pondered the possibilities. I could ask about the place above the clouds in greater detail.
But the boy seemed rather hateful of that topic.
I could ask about why he was being chased by Morgan of all people. But such information wouldn't benefit me too greatly.
And then there was the boy himself. Or rather something more intresting, his aspect.
Such information was always useful. Either for an ally or an enemy.
But then Cassie could possibly see it in one of her visions.
I racked my brain for an idea, countless possibilities, all with negatives and positives.
In the end, there was only one true request.
"You owe me a favor."
The boy was from the outskirts, he knew the price of such a thing.
The boy himself blinked, seemingly taken aback by the request.
Then he nodded.
I grasp his hand in my own, shaking it once before releasing it.
Now it was time to do something unpleasant.
But before that, it was time to learn the boy's name.
It was quite awkward to refer to him just as a he or boy.
I cleared my throat, noting down that the time for food and hydration was approaching.
I asked the question.
"So, what's your name?"
The boy's hand trembled for a mere moment, then steadied.
His empty eyes gleamed with an emotion, a powerful one. Pride.
His mouth opened faster than before, the words lacking any stutter, any hesitation.
"You can call me Apex."
He declared proudly, a small genuine smile plastered on his face.
I made sure I wouldn't forget the name. I doubted I even could. This was a true name most likely. Or perhaps just a part of it. Unless some crazy parents decided to call their child such an egotistical word.
But the question was, what was he the apex of?
***
[A day later].
"Now, remember what I told you. Do not share too much, do not try to outwit her. And don't accept anything you are confused about. I will be in the house, just raise two fingers, I will be there."
The boy nodded. He wasn't empty as before, he seemed focused. As if already snapping back to reality after such an injury, and the trauma of it.
I vanished within the shadows, my body crawling through them, until I finally materialized in the basement.
I still had matters to research, to think about Antarctica and Jet's offer.
I made sure to leave Gloomy with the boy. Just in case Cassie did try anything.
***
[An hour later].
I sat silently. I didn't make a sound. Breathed steadily. And sipped water regularly.
Even if the pain was gone. The impossible heat, and the dryness with it still remained as phantom pains.
And so, my need for water grew, even if I didn't need it as much anymore.
Besides, water tasted pretty good when it was clean and cold.
Finally, after a few more minutes of waiting. A person sat down in the chair opposite mine.
I noted down the quietness, the precise slow movement of the chair. As if scared to startle me.
Then there was a polite cough. I could almost see the hand in front of the mouth. Making a gesture neither of us could see. Or at least I hoped so. It wouldn't be nice if the person had summoned her echo.
"Hello there." She paused something akin to confusion slightly audible in her next words.
"I'm Ascended Cassia. You may refer to me simply as Cassie."
I nodded, making sure to remember her name.
"You may call me Apex."
I stated blandly.
There was a long pause, before Cassia started the conversation.
"Just in case you are wondering. No, I cannot see right now."
I nodded, a small fake smile forming on my face.
It was still quite odd to speak to a person without seeing them, or them you. It felt as if every word needed to be studied. Each change in tone, each pause. And after understanding each aspect of these things. You needed to combine them into an emotion, a facial expression.
"And your age?"
She asked quietly.
"Fourteen."
There was a long pause, a very long one.
"I see."
My eyebrow raised, yet neither of us could see that. Hopefully.
"May I know how this happened..?"
She continued her questioning.
I shook my head from side to side.
"You may not."
I paused, selecting my words.
"And if we may, I'd like to move to the part of learning fighting in this condition."
There was no answer for several moments. Then there was a quiet sigh.
"As you wish."
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