Chapter X: Unfettered
Pathos stretched, forcefully shutting his eyes in protest to the sun rays spreading from the ceiling. He'd slept well again that night, but was reluctant to get out of bed, too lazy now that he was no longer obligated to rise to meet some new goal. Nevertheless, Pathos stretched again, rolled off his bed, and landed clumsily on his feet.
Pathos was unbearable aware of how alone he felt with Celestine there. Even when he first met her, those few days he spent in the village, she was there to greet him in the morning. It simply felt wrong to occupy the place with her gone.
He stopped for a moment. I wonder where she is? Pathos thought, failing at getting the strap of his bag to sit comfortably on his scarf. Wherever she is, I just hope she's safe...
The Absol's thoughts petered as he finally managed to get the irksome strap situated. His concern was replaced by hurry as he started out the door of the base. Pathos was hungry, but he wasn't sure if he'd still be receiving free meals; he figured it best to not test the thought.
Pathos had asked himself what he could spend the morning on. There really weren't many options, but one caught his attention immediately. After talking with Maea the night before, he wanted to turn around and go visit Rasim again.
On his way to Rasim's house, he carefully shoved himself through the seas of Pokémon, trying not to get sidetracked , as there seemed to be a few new stands situated about the hub. Since it was quite early in the morning, the light through Fort Securitas was almost as tired as the crowds it bathed. Pathos only hoped that Rasim would be up by this hour.
When the Absol stood face-to-face with the door to Rasim's house, he froze. Rasim said that he's more than willing to help... I just hope he'll be just as willing at this time.
Pathos stood in silence for a moment as he sorted out the most comfortable way to knock on the door. A few solitary minutes crawled by before a groggy Smeargle cracked the door open, and Pathos sighed in relief.
He was about to start talking when Rasim's expression brightened, that signature smile creeping onto his face. "Oh, Pathos. What's got you up and about so early?"
"Um..." Pathos said. "How'd you know it was me? I... haven't said anything yet."
"Come on, Pathos," he chuckled at Pathos' confusion, "who else could it be this early in the morning, especially after last night?" After not getting a desired reaction from the Absol, he shook his head. "Well, whatever. Care to answer my question?"
"O-oh." Pathos tilted his head, maintaining eye contact with Rasim. "Honestly? I just... want to talk. I don't have much else to do, since missions are out of the question, because... you know. I'm just looking for some company."
Rasim's casual smile found its place. "Well, come on in! I'd love to talk with you."
The Smeargle stepped aside to let Pathos in, the Absol embracing the surprisingly homely demeanor of the room inside. Pathos let himself into the back room, Rasim shortly behind him. Among all the different paintings, Pathos noticed here weren't many depicting something that resembled the vast expanse of desert above their heads.
Pathos eyed one the paintings, which had a bizarre collection of shapes that melded together in ways that gave a confusing impression. Pathos turned to Rasim, who was off against one wall, slowly and carefully dragging a claw across one of his paintings, as if unimpressed.
Pathos walked over and asked, "Hey, Rasim... I talked to someone at The Invictus last night. I heard from them that you haven't always been blind." The Absol peered at another panting, one that looked much like a vast, swirling landscape filled with blue and red. "So... what's it like out there? Outside of the desert? Is it as beautiful as I think it is?"
"Well, I could take the easy way out and say 'yes,' but I think it's best that it be left to you to decide that fact. There's so much to see, too much to see in one lifetime." Rasim made a clicking noise with his tongue. "What brought that up? Are you thinking of going somewhere?"
"Well... sorta. It's just... On my first mission the other day, I caught a glimpse of what I believe is Prato della Vita." Pathos then realized he'd not told Rasim his once-companion's name. "Myteam leader... Her name's Celestine. Me and her... we weren't able to get there, but... the sight's been engraved in my mind since. It was... the last time I was able to enjoy something with her."
"Hm," Rasim murmured, twirling his tail in his paws. "You're not just telling me this. It sounds to me like there's something you want to do. What's up?"
Pathos stared helplessly into the Smeargle's eyes. "Rasim, there's somewhere I want to go... Where I think Celestine might have gone. But... I don't want to do it alone. I... I'd hate to steal you from your work, but, it's a good few hours away, and... I just need someone to talk to."
"I see..." Rasim tilted his head. "Would you not be able to teleport there? If I recall correctly, The Invictus is part of a teleportation network the Empire has. Wouldn't you be able to go there using that?"
"W-well, I can't exactly give an exact location, or a name. I've only been there once, and I didn't stay long enough to really know. So... I don't really think I can get there unless I go on foot."
Rasim raised an eyebrow. "Actually, forget that for a moment. Just yesterday you seemed so conflicted on whether or not you should let your partner be for now. And did I not suggest that you wait? Why are you suddenly so eager to go find her? "
"W-well," Pathos spoke softly, his posture drooping, "...I don't know. I just can't help but want to try and make up. Maybe I'm crazy, but..." He sighed. "Rasim, please, just this one time, can you come with me?"
Rasim looked at the Absol, not speaking for a minute or two, but pacing slightly. "...I don't exactly grasp what your motives are, but if you're sure about it..." He looked away, but his voice was projected all the same. "What all do you have for supplies?"
Pathos shifted bashfully. "N-nothing... All we had is now with her. I don't have any money, so I can't even go and buy something."
Rasim started heading towards the door back to the living room. "Well, luckily for you, I had to do some exploration of my own a while back. I kept everything just in case it could all come in handy. I guess I was right to do so." The Smeargle's dead eyes traced their way back to Pathos. "Follow me, will you?"
Rasim led Pathos through the hall, and into the other doorway. Rasim shot a few balls of fire at lanterns, which lit up the area, to show a modest kitchen. However, there wasn't time for Pathos to get used to the room, and he was dragged into yet another backroom, which, when lit up, showed itself to be a bedroom. There was another door in the back, and a small ladder just to the left, which burrowed into the ceiling.
The Smeargle walked over to a rickety table next to a bed on the left side of the room, a small, bulging drawstring bag slouching on the tabletop. Rasim clutched the loop at the top, and raised it in front of him. He stared at it as if he'd just remembered something but almost instantly forgot what it was, and was trying to understand what it was.
"I'll give you some food to put in your bag," Rasim said—a hint of embarrassment crept onto Pathos' face—dropping his head, then turning to Pathos. "...I'll go with you. I'm not about to let you carelessly wander off into the desert. In a place that barren, there's no need to stress yourself."
While he felt a little guilty, Pathos was relieved that Rasim would be accompanying him. He wanted—no, needed—the Smeargle to be there to provide emotional help, to to help him confront Celestine.
The newly formed duo gathered their supplies, and made sure they had all they needed. Then they traversed the cave, through the city, up the path, making it to the overlook. Pathos stopped and glanced back. To think he was now tracing his steps back to where his journey began...
Outside, Pathos and Rasim were greeted with a faintly fresh smell that lingered in the air. They simultaneously breathed it in, the scent calming them before they headed for a set of doors, careful not to step on any of the glass domes. There was a lever mechanism just to the left of the doors, something Pathos had neglected to notice before. At least now he knew that there was a way to get out.
Rasim heaved the lever back, a shattering clang shaking the ground. The oppressive set of doors creaked open, the drawbridge just beyond wearily lowering a few seconds later. Pathos had expected the Golurk to be roaring to life, but they rested ever more. (He admittedly wanted to see them stir once more.)
Once the team had settled their feet onto solid ground, the gates closed, and the drawbridge was raised, leaving the two Pokémon alone in the desert.
"So... which way is it?" Rasim asked, looking around. "You'd better be really sure about where we're going, because if we get lost out here, we'll never get back."
Pathos chuckled. "Well, it wouldn't be the first time I'd be stranded out here." Pathos shrunk back when his statement brought a frown from Rasim. "Tasteless joke, right... "
Pathos looked around, making a whole three-sixty. "Don't worry, I remember. It's..." he trailed off, lifting the compass on his scarf, only to remember it was only directed towards the various waypoints. He sucked one of his cheeks in, and faced the wooden fortress, backing up. Let's see... how did it look when me and Celestine first got here?
Pathos, thankfully, was able to recall, and he reassured Rasim. "...That way," he said, pointing to their south-west.
"Ah, I see," the Smeargle retorted, a minute trace of worry in his voice. "Let's hope that holds true."
Pathos nearly turned his head back, but resisted the urge. There's no need to be unsure about this. I need to do this... In a line of events that felt very similar to Pathos, they began.
Pathos had mostly been in an unaware state for a while, until he noticed the methodical thump their footsteps made, dragging out of his trance. He tried to force it from his mind, but it grew ever more apparent, slowly driving him to insanity. He finally gave in and looked at his companion and said, "Hey, Rasim. I also heard that you used to come to Fort Securitas a lot when you were serving the Emperor. Something about Dorothea captivating you. What made it so fascinating to you?"
A nostalgiac smile crept onto his face. "Well... I'm not sure, honestly. I haven't been able to see it with my eyes in so many years, all I have to go off are my memories, which can be fuzzy. But... there was something majestic about the contradiction that resides within its existence. A lake—a sign of life—in a desert—a symbol of desolation..."
A quick gust of wind interrupted Rasim. "Well, not in the sense people would expect. Which makes it even better. What an unassuming appearance! Who'd suspect to find that untapped gold mine just under their feet?" He imitated a smelling motion. "The cool, soothing scent... The suave glow... How could one not be enticed? Sure, there's many beautiful places in the Empire, but Fort Securitas? It's a gem, a marvel."
The Smeargle chuckled, and he leaned his head back, squinting his eyes in response to the sun. "I used to know someone who was baffled how I could prefer Dorothea over Prato della Vita. I tried explaining to them how much more important Fort Securitas is, but they never could see it from my view."
Pathos raised an eyebrow, digging through his mind, having recognized the statement. "Rasim, did... have you ever met an Aggron named Maea?"
Disbelief splashed onto Rasim's face, and he shook his head, a huff escaping him. "Arceus... Yeah, that's who I'm talking about. She must be the one who told you all those things about me, huh?" That drew a nod from Pathos.
Rasim closed his eyes and bobbed his head, continuing, "That's a bit of a surprise, but it's great to know she still remembers me. Perhaps I should go pay her a visit sometime," he muttered, snickering. "Well, I guess you happened to also talk to her about... this, too." Rasim scratched his chin. "Anyway, completely off-topic, but... would you mind if I told you a little more about myself? We've got more than enough time, and I think it'd only be fair if you knew more about me."
"What reason could I have to stop you? Go ahead." Pathos reassured him, accompanying his statement with a brief smile.
"I'll start with my blindness—you already know, I've not always been blind. But I'd probably been court painter for... three, maybe four, years when the blindness started to settle in. I was unsuspecting at first. I'd started having troubles getting around at night, and I just thought that maybe... I don't know... I guess I just didn't let it get to me."
Rasim's expression softened, and his shoulders slumped. "But... when my eyes started to disagree with bright lights... I knew something was up. I didn't want too big of a deal out of it, so I never brought it up. I'm still not sure if that was such a good idea."
He shook his head, looking off in the distance. "It became hard to focus on my work, and when it was inquired if I was alright, I had to give in. His Highness made the choice to discharge me. He was reluctant about it, that's for sure; I could hear it in His voice. But He didn't want to risk anything bad happening, either to me or to the works I made, and that's fine. I'm far over it now."
He ever so slightly shifted from somber to glee. "Though, I've heard people say that the current court painter doesn't hold a candle to me, which warms my heart."
Pathos made a clicking noise, thinking. "How long ago was this? It sure doesn't sound very recent. I never could get myself interested in current events..."
"Arceus," Rasim said, scratching his head, "I want to say... around five years ago?" He smiled sadly. "You'd think that my fame would continue to this day, but to be honest... No one really bats an eye, or recognizes me. Once you leave the scene, that's it. Everyone moves on to the next person in line, your name having departed with you."
The soft howl of the wind again swooshed by before Rasim resumed talking. "But whatever. I've sort of been living casually, I don't really need to draw too much attention to myself. I just want to be... the painter that's occasionally seen around town. I enjoyed being the court painter, but... sometimes, there was just this nagging pressure for me to finish the painting just as it was wanted. This is a nice break from the constant work of being court painter."
Pathos hummed, and blinked a few times, his eyes a bit sore. "So what about your experience in exploration? You mentioned you've done that earlier."
"Ah, that. I often traveled to gather inspiration for my artwork and to get some fresh air to fuel my sanity. It was oftentimes more work than the paintings it was for!" Rasim glanced at Pathos. "Perhaps I should take you around sometime, show you what else this world has to offer?"
A delightful grin spread across Pathos' face. "Yeah, I'd love joy that. I'd like to show Celestine, too."
Rasim moved over to the Absol's side and put a paw on his back, rubbing slightly. "It's a deal, then."
Pathos sighed, and closed his eyes momentarily. They'd been walking for a few hours, and he'd slowly been getting more tired. He remembered how it was to travel all the time as a refugee; he hated it. At least this time he knew that there'd be relief at the end of it.
Pathos and Rasim talked off and on, which helped greatly to occupy the time, because just as the sun was setting, the quaint, rustic buildings that comprised the village crawled from behind the horizon. Pathos looked up and sighed as he took in the familiar sight, reliving memories. It had felt so long ago, yet it also felt so recent. There, in front of him, was the same village where his new life began.
Rasim was rather confused. "A settlement... out here? I'm surprised you were able to find this, Pathos."
"Well..." Pathos began, looking at the buildings, "I didn't find it. I was brought here. By Celestine..." An eerily echoic lack of words followed a sentimental frown on Pathos' face before both were swooshed away. "Why don't you follow me for a little bit more?"
The Smeargle obliged, stepping behind Pathos and extending a reassuring hand."I'm the stranger here, it'd be pointless not to!"
It was almost nostalgiac to Pathos, the village. He'd spent a good few days there, and was surprised just how much of it he recognized, despite his time there feeling like a distant memory.
While Pathos could have done any number of things, visited a few people, there was one place he needed to visit first, an obstacle that needed clearing.
Pathos brought Rasim to a ragged tent, drapes indicating the entrance, a dim glow exuding from within. The Absol took a weighted breath, and steeled himself. He hesitated a second time just before entering, but shook his head and went through.
Just to his right sat a familiar Slowking, tinkering with various objects. He aggressively shook his fist before going limp but perking up a few moments after. He paused, and turned around, nearly jumping from his seat when he saw who had just entered his residence. "...Pathos?"
A half-hearted grin flashed at the Slowking as Pathos let himself into the tent. "Long time no see, Vadimas. I hope things have been well. I'm not interrupting something important, am I?"
"Of course not! I needed to take a break anyway." Vadimas stumbled off his seat, and only just then he noticed Rasim. "And... who is this?"
"He's Rasim, a friend of mine. I met him a few days ago at The Invictus," Pathos answered, stepping forward. "But, I didn't come here to introduce you two. Actually, I... I want to know if you might have an idea where Celestine is? She's... she's gone missing."
Vadimas looked puzzled and worried, and, slowly, he said, "Celelestine...?"
"Y-yeah..." the Absol admitted. "We... got into an argument, and things escalated pretty far... She ran off after that, and I haven't seen her for nearly two days, and... I thought that, maybe, she'd have come back here?"
Vadimas exhaled through closed lips. "I... no, I haven't seen her... Are you sure she's not anywhere back at The Invictus?"
"About as sure as I an be. I don't think she'd settle in with strangers at all, that just doesn't sound like something she would do. She's too humble."
Vadimas still faced Pathos, but no longer maintained eye contact. "I'm afraid that I... I can't tell you anywhere she could have gone. I've kept her in my sight since I'd met her, and we rarely left the village."
Pathos' heart sunk, the pillar of optimism he'd built up simply crumbling beneath him. He was so hopeful that she'd be here, so confident that he'd find her. Yet he'd just wasted away his time because of his unfounded belief. He wanted to kick something, to let out his frustration.
Instead, he held his breath, and then sighed. "...Well, thanks, Vadimas." Pathos wasn't sure what to do. His only lead, useless.
"Pathos, I..." Vadimas uttered as he approached to comfort the Absol, but Rasim held him back, and gave him a gesture that said, 'Let me deal with it.' The Slowking reluctantly obliged.
Pathos looked up at Vadimas. "Anyways... is there anywhere in town we could rest for the night? We've spent all day crossing the desert, and we're both tired. And, well, I really don't feel like going back right now..."
"Ah, yes... Follow me, will you?" Vadimas said, turning to his desk for a few moments before politely wedging between the two and out of the tent. Rasim obeyed immediately, but Pathos lagged.
"So, um..." Vadimas said, taking a few moments to form his words, "How's The Invictus been? I'd expected that you'd be coming back a day or two after you left. After a few more days had passed, I really didn't expect to see you any time soon. Granted, I wasn't too worried about anything, but I am surprised to see you back so soon."
Pathos tilted and shook his head. "It's been so-so. I joined Celestine to do work there, but our first job was a total failure. It's... I think it's partially what led to our argument. At least I have a home for now..."
The Slowking hummed, greeting a passerby. "Ah... I do recall you wanting someplace to stay. I'm glad you have that much, even if it's come at a cost."
"Mm," Pathos mumbled, his mind a little disjointed from the conversation. "I wouldn't exactly say it's worth the cost, honestly. I know you're worried about Celestine, too."
"Wait, Pathos, you never told me you had trouble finding a place to stay before. Care to tell me about it?" Rasim exclaimed, his quick interruption startling Pathos.
The Absol bit his cheek. "Well... I was in a bit of a terrible situation before I met up with Celestine. I used to be a refugee, but I never really had good luck there."
"Arceus... well, I'm sure you're quite glad that you've gotten out of that. You at least have a roof over your head."
Vadimas nodded. "I would love to upgrade from my tent, that's for sure..." He cleared his throat, continuing his march. "Anyway...You're absolutely correct, Pathos. I'm very worried. But... she's capable. I believe she can handle things herself." Vadimas then stopped, his mouth agape, but he closed it when he turned to Pathos. "But... when you finally meet back up... Keep an eye on her, please? I would greatly appreciate it."
"Yeah... You have my word," Pathos affirmed.
Vadimas brought the Pathos and Rasim to a neat building a few stories high, windows placed evenly apart on each floor. The Slowking checked them into the hotel and said his farewells while the duo went to their room, where they settled. (Pathos wondered why he hadn't known about the place beforehand.) The Absol dropped his bag and went straight for one of the beds in the room and relaxed as he hit the mattress.
Holding some food he scavenged from Pathos bag, Rasim sat down next to him. "Vadimas... he seems like a nice guy. Are you aware of the fact he trusts you?" The Smeargle's question didn't rouse an answer from Pathos, and Rasim puffed out his cheeks. "...You're feeling dejected because you feel like you've accomplished nothing today, aren't you?" He sat the food down in front of Pathos. "...Why is that?"
"Because I screwed up again!" Pathos growled, jerking his head. "I wasted all that time, yet nothing came from it. I was so sure Celestine would be here. Maybe you were right... Maybe I should have just waited..."
The Smeargle flipped his tail around in his paws, playing with it, but he stopped to shake his head. "Are you sure you wasted your time? Because it seems to me that you learned something today. You learned that Celestine isn't here."
"And? Can you explain to me how that's a good thing?"
"It's an important fact. I mean... this isn't the only place she could have gone. Perhaps it's the most logical, but not the only." He stood up off the bed and walked over to a small table, brushing a fine amount of dust off, grinding it between two fingers. "It took so long to walk out here, I don't think she would have wandered any farther."
Rasim sat back down, on the bed across from Pathos'. He rested his head in his paws, and his eyes gazed upon Pathos. "Now you have a rough area of where to look. Now you have options. Look for the next.."
Pathos now had a mouthful of food, and he craned his neck towards the window, where the sun was beginning to rest beneath a blanket of clouds and desert expanse. He cleared his mouth and said, "But... the trouble is settling on where to look next. Maybe Vadimas is confident in her being able to protect herself, but I don't feel like she can fend for herself... I can't let that happen again..."
"Then don't let yourself get so beat up. Keep going. Don't sulk, get up and do something about it. You're not going to be able to do anything if this is your mentality. You need to have faith in yourself, and in Celestine." Rasim roughly pat the Absol's back, and went over to his side of the room.
Pathos briefly got up so he could reposition himself on the bed. He curled up, his head facing towards the window. Have faith in myself and Celestine... he repeated Rasim's words, his voice still lingering in his mind. He wondered just how much longer he'd have to do so, because nothing felt the same to him without Celestine there.
In the morning, not long after Pathos and Rasim had woken up, Vadimas hastily paid the two a visit, a rapid knock on the door alarming them.
"Pathos... I never got to thank you for accompanying Celestine. I was a bit selfish-thinking back then, so... I hope this can make up for it," the Slowking said, producing a small, clinking sack. "I managed to scrounge up some extra change for you, something I really should have given you earlier. It's around 2,500 Poké, if I counted right."
"Wha—really?!" Pathos exclaimed, looking around for his bag, skipping over to pick it up when he spotted it. "Vadimas, I..." Pathos trailed off, baffled, his eyes plastered to his gift.
Rasim hopped over to Vadimas to receive the money for Pathos. "Honestly, thank you," he said. "Pathos hasn't really had the best couple of days, so it's very generous of you to give him this."
Vadimas shrugged, turning his head. "Well, I really do owe it to him. He helped me when I was simply too incompetent to look after Celestine. But... thinking about it now... Perhaps it was for the best. He helped me come to my senses."
The Slowking shakily knelt, and he eyed Pathos as he rested a rounded paw on his head. "Pathos, Celestine needs you. She's... right now, I'm positive she needs you there more than anything."
Vadimas squinted as he shifted his gaze towards the window, rising to his feet again. "But... when you see her again, I also want you tell her I'm sorry, and that... I want to talk to her again sometime." A sad grin formed on his face. "Well, until next time, I suppose," he said regretfully, making eye contact one more time before he opened the door.
"Wait, Vadimas," Pathos requested just as the Slowking was about to close the door, coaxing him back into the room. "I'm... also sorry. For being as rude as I was. I really wish I would have stayed and talked with you a little more. I just want you to know that I'm really grateful for your help."
Vadimas gave a faint chortle, a twinge of surprise and happiness intermingled within. "It's fine. I've had my fair share of unfavorable moments. I really wish I could help you out, but I'm just so damn busy, I can't afford to lend a hand. I... again, I'm sorry. It's important that you let Celestine know that." He cleared his throat, and straightened his posture.
"A-anyway. I'll be taking my leave. Rasim, would you help Pathos out? I think maybe you could do that for me, but also for Celestine. Take it as atoken of my gratitude," he said, Rasim nodding in acceptance.
"And you, Pathos," Vadimas hesitantly said, breaking off as he caressed his chin. "Good luck—and please—find her, okay?"
"You have my word, Vadimas." the Absol promised, eliciting an acknowledging nod from the Slowking as he left the room, finally ushering in a new topic for debate.
Rasim put down the sack of money on his bed and looked back at Pathos. "Hey, Pathos. What's your history with Vadimas? You two talked like you know each other on a personal level."
"Well... Vadimas is a sort of father figure to Celestine. I think... Anyway, Celestine found me battered and bruised in the desert, so she brought me here, where Vadimas helped fix me up." Pathos moved around erratically in a slightly anxious manner. "He lost Celestine one day and he was too caught up in his worry to look for her himself. But as you heard, I never really thanked him for it, and I really didn't speak much to him."
"Then why don't you ask him to accompany us back? I'm sure we could get him situated somewhere in Fort Securitas."
Pathos yelped as he accidentally bit one of his cheeks, forcing a sigh to break away. "Vadimas was always super busy before me and Celestine went to The Invictus. I have no doubt that that's still the case, and I don't think it's right to separate him from his work. Especially after how... intrigued he was about the Influx."
Rasim stopped, his brow creasing as his gears churned his thoughts. "There was an Influx? Was it near here?"
"Yeah. Right on top of a refugee camp. Just a few people made it out, and they came here. Vadimas had them lead him back, though I don't think they appreciated it much."
Rasim crossed his arms and his expression changed, a disappointed frown overlapping his smile. "I personally could never get so worked up over them. Everyone knows there's nothing they can do to stop them. They can only hope they're not in the crosshairs of the next one. I respect the Emperor's and Serafino's attempts at finding ways to combat them, but there's just no way around the fact—it's hopeless to stop them."
His sudden aggression on the matter surprised Pathos. A great contrast to his normally lax demeanor, his agitation brought Pathos' opinion out. "Surely it's not completely hopeless? With something as dangerous as the Influxes, you can't just expect people to sit back and accept the fact that they could be killed at any moment of any day!"
"I'm not saying they should! I'm merely remarking that it's meaningless to find ways to stop the Influxes... It's not like I don't hope they magically go away, either! I just don't want to give myself some sort of false hope that I can change the future..."
Rasim's attitude suddenly changed, and he beamed at Pathos. "But... I'm not going to make a huge deal out of it. Back to Vadimas, do you know what he's always so busy with?"
"No... He was gone for about a day once, said he had to go somewhere. I still never bothered to ask, and neither did Celestine. I guess he never really had a reason to tell me."
"Hm," Rasim responded as he onto his bed and began swinging his legs, his feet making a quiet thump as they hit the frame. "Pathos, when you and Celestine meet up again, how confident are you in your abilities to do your job at The Invictus?"
"Calling it confidence would be an overstatement. I'm not even sure, honestly. Maybe it's okay, but... I wish I was able to do more." Pathos scorned, tightening his muscles and clenching is teeth. "The mission we failed wasn't just our first mission—it was a practice mission! Not even the real deal! And we blew it! I'm gonna need some real encouragement if I'm going to start working again as soon as I find Celestine."
The Smeargle looked down, a sad motion swimming across his face, coming to rest at his eyes. "Ah... I suppose that would be the case, then. I suppose confidence is the least of your worries right now..." A sudden wisp of thoughtfulness sparked a quick movement, leading Rasim to leap off the bed.
He cleared his throat, resuming his conversation. "Anyway... what do you think about making our way back to Fort Securitas before we waste too much time? I believe we're done with what we came here for."
"Oh... right," the Absol responded, motioning for Rasim to set Vadimas' gift into his bag.
"Honestly, though... it'd be so much more convenient if all the different places out here had an easier way of connecting to other settlements. I mean, for the major ones, there's the Empire's system... but what about here?" Rasim frowned after he set the sack within Pathos' bag, causing the Absol some surprise at its heft. "Don't you think? It'd make everyone's lives just a little better. Just a random thought, sorry..."
"N-no, I understand. Walking was the worst part as a refugee. It seemed as if we only got a day or two of down time before we were up and about. Just makes me wonder if it's like this in other places of the Empire..."
Rasim slowly walked towards the door of their room, laying a paw on the latch. "A little bit... Not quite in this way, but yes, there are people trying to get away from the Influxes. If you're looking for safety and solitude... You're not going to find it very easily. There's a lot going on, and the Emperor is trying his best to get it all sorted out."
He tightened his paw around the latch's handle, undoing it, creaking the door open. The Smeargle's voice deepened, a grain of remorse giving it a chilling spice. "He's been trying for years. Things aren't going to settle down for a while."
'Then why not do what you can to make it easier, even in the slightest? That sounds like a fine idea to me, Rasim."
"Mm. Maybe so. I guess we'll just have to see in time. Let's go," the Smeargle said with the door open, bobbing his head towards it.
He and Rasim started out shortly after with relative ease, managing to return home a little earlier than they anticipated. Pathos reluctantly left Rasim behind at his house, while he strode off and returned to The Invictus.
The Absol stopped in the hub, intently staring at the flowing water at one of the various open areas in the ground, the soft crashing of the water soothing him. He made a mental note to visit Lake Dorothea soon.
Pathos stared for a few more minutes before breaking away and going back to his room. He'd thought about where he would need to look next for Celestine—or even if he should look at all. He was fresh out of ideas, though perhaps Rasim could help him come up with a plan.
He decided that he would visit Rasim again in the morning, to try and find a better way of going about his search.
Morning brought with it an interesting feeling, a certain eagerness that was rather unfamiliar to Pathos. After snacking on some food from his bag, he started for Rasim's house, but was surprised when Rasim was there to greet him in the lobby of The Invictus, managing a conversation with Iris at the time.
"Pathos, you never mentioned you'd been acquainted with Rasim! I wasn't even aware that he'd been here in Fort Securitas!" Iris exclaimed, hyper with the sudden resurgence of the Smeargle.
"W-well, at the time, I wasn't aware that he was the court painter. Otherwise, yeah, I probably would have told you about it," Pathos retorted.
The Smeargle nodded at her, clutching the strap of his bag. "Well, it was nice to speak to you again, Iris. But I need to talk to Pathos. Could you also see if Serafino is available anytime soon, too? I'd like to speak with him again, too." he said, giving her a wave, and motioning for Pathos to stick by him.
"So, do you think you've prepped yourself enough?" Rasim questioned lightly.
"Um... What?" Pathos asked. He wasn't aware of anything he needed to be ready for.
Rasim shook his head, huffing, thumping his head. "Ah, right... Forget about that. I want you to follow me, I want to show you something."
Pathos squinted, his mind not able to connect the dots. "I... Yeah, I guess I can." He began to follow, but kept his head down, trying to figure out what was going on.
In a few minutes, they arrived at the teleportation room, which took Pathos two steps forward, but one step back. He'd anticipated Rasim leading him somewhere within the base, not outside.
Pathos looked at Rasim expectantly. "Rasim... what in the world do you have in mind?"
A smooth grin came to, and the Smeargle laughed. "Oh, you'll see. It took me a little bit to think it up, but I got an idea. It's a surprise, but I think you'll like it," he said, tempering Pathos' suspicion.
Rasim greeted the Beheeyem in the room, who also expressed surprise at his arrival. The Smeargle quickly whispered something to them, and they nodded their heads.
"What did you tell them?" Pathos asked, eyeing the two creatures as they floated towards the raised platform.
"I just let them know where we're heading, why we're going there." He sauntered to Pathos, raised an arm and hesitated before resting it on Pathos' back. "You know, the place we're heading to... While it took me a while to come up with what to do... I didn't have to give much thought into where to go. I think it's got just the perfect charm for you." The Smeargle ruffled the fur on Pathos' head. "Best not to keep them waiting, wouldn't you say?"
The duo marched up the stairs, and situated in the middle of the platform. The Beheeyem repeated to them the same course of preparation Pathos heard the first time he was there. Pathos sighed, and then held his breath as he braced for teleportation.
And within moments, they were gone. Pathos still had to wait a few moments for his sanity to return from the mental jolt. He was a little frustrated he still wasn't able to brace himself for the sudden shift in location.
Finally, when his eyes agreed to cooperate again, he found himself in a checkpoint eerily similar to the one he and Celestine had used to return from their mission. There wasn't as much effort funneled into detail, however, as the room was very bland and unwelcoming, not to mention that the two teleporters didn't seem to bat an eye.
Pathos looked around, and located Rasim at the other end of the building, ushering Pathos to hurry up and follow him outside. As much as Pathos hated to admit, Rasim's excitement rubbed onto him, and now he was raring to see just what it was the Smeargle demanded he see.
And yet, when he walked through those doors, he blinked, he wasn't quite sure he believed what he saw.
The perch upon which he found himself overlooked snaking mountains of layered sediment, all various sparkling shades of salmon, a few splatters of shrubbery adding beautiful accents. At the base of the spires, Pathos could see what appeared to be strings of white sand, harshly giving way to a sprawling canvas of mild green and patches of royal orange.
The pseudo-grassland birthed a number of outcrops very similar to those closer to Pathos, though not nearly as obvious. Right down the middle of the plains a river severed the land in two, slithering for Arceus knew how long. Just barely on the horizon, more sedimentary slopes reached for the sky, curving and trickling back towards the range Pathos stood on.
Pathos now brought his wide-open eyes back to himself. It wasn't very exciting where he was, at least in comparison to down below, with more burgundy and tan than there was green. Just behind the building an even taller ridge spiked, possibly connecting to another range of rugged hills unable to be seen.
After giving a double-take, even a triple-take, the Absol still wasn't quite sure any of this was real. It was like being in the mountains and overlooking the endless landscape filled to the brim with a majestic emerald. And yet, it was also significantly different, broadening Pathos' perspective on the world; that there was more to it than the limited view he'd been given.
Rasim instinctively inhaled the arid freshness of the air, letting it soak in. "Pathos, this is Precipice Plains. Somewhere in the middle-northern part of Prato della Vita, just south of the Empire's norther border. It's... a very secluded part of the Empire, but it's a worthy reward for those dedicated enough to seek lands as gorgeous as this."
Rasim's eyes were usually very empty, but Pathos noticed at that moment that they contained a certain enjoyment he wasn't familiar with. "I may not be able to enjoy this properly anymore... But, Pathos, you... you can. It's apparent that you long for something other than that damn desert, and I don't blame you. I figured that I could take you somewhere new. Somewhere familiar yet so drastically different from what you know."
Pathos was breathless. He kept opening his mouth to speak only to leave it agape and look around himself for the umpteenth time trying to comprehend what he was seeing. "R-Rasim, I—"
"It's fine, Pathos," Rasim managed to get out past some light chuckling, heading towards the ledge of the plateau. "You'll have plenty of time to take it all in, trust me. Why don't you follow me for a bit?"
The Smeargle showed Pathos down a gradient that curved off from their previous position, a thin path that could be seen to head right down into the edge of the grassland. As they neared closer, Pathos had to resist the urge to rush on ahead and leap into the field, to feel the short grass lick around his paws. But when they finally made it down, he hesitated just before the turf. He was suddenly unsure, debating the decision entirely. But Rasim pulled him forward, and it was as if he stepped into a whole new world.
The grass had a particular feel that was neither soft nor hard, giving him the slightest tickle, though it certainly wasn't unpleasant. It wasn't until now, when he was this far down, that he managed to fully appreciate the scale of the landscape, just how far it stretched past the horizon. Somehow, it felt even more vast than the desert. It almost overwhelmed him, the gravity of it.
Rasim turned, now walking backwards, as he inspected the massive structures they'd left behind. "I'd love to take you all the way to the Janus river, but I'd like to at least have some daylight as we make our way back. So I'd say we should stop... here."
The team halted, and Rasim lowered the small sack that he'd brought along to the ground, and Pathos followed suit. The Smeargle began to say something, but Pathos was still too mesmerized by the landscape to care, preferring to direct his attention to it instead of Rasim.
The painter sighed, and clapped, finally catching Pathos' attention. "So... What do you think? Isn't it a magnificent change from what you've grown to know?"
"I... I'm not sure what to think. This is so surreal, like some sort of dream." A faint smile lit up his face, and he made yet another three-sixty. "But... I still don't get why you've brought me here. Surely it wasn't just to show this place off?"
"You're right," Rasim replied, walking over to Pathos, his hands tangled behind his back. "Yesterday, after I asked you about your confidence, I spent some time thinking... What could I do to help? I came up with a plan, but... I wasn't too sure about how I'd introduce it to you, but..." A jittery paw made its way to Rasim's face. "Pathos, I want to help you, to make sure you can do your job. I don't want you to fail again. I want to teach you how to be that much better."
The Smeargle rested his paws on his knees, and bent over for a second, then sat on the ground, sighing as he rubbed the grass. "I know you want to be able to protect Celestine, to do your part. But... until you can be confident with what you can do, I don't think that's possible. I want to help raise your confidence, maybe even help you grow stronger, more ready for the challenges you'll face when doing missions for The Invictus."
"W-well, yeah! That sounds great, but... how? I can fight, I can help out... what more is there to know?" Pathos questioned, also taking a seat on the grass.
Rasim leaned back, using his arms to leverage himself. "You need to be able to mentally prepare yourself, and you have to be ready to make changes to your plans as you go forward. And not only fighting. I just think you could use some tutoring, is all. You don't need to spend your time with me training you, but I think I could really help you out. What do you think?"
"I mean... it couldn't hurt... And I guess it would give me something to do." Pathos looked past Rasim, locking on to a distant formation. "...You're sure this will help me?"
The Smeargle bobbed his head, thrusting himself to his feet."I'll try not to waste your time, and if you don't like it, that's fine. I just figure you should give it a shot. I'm more than willing to give my fair share of input."
Pathos sucked in his cheeks and tilted his head, letting the offer swirl around in his mind. For what it was worth, he wouldn't mind obtaining some more knowledge that could be used on missions. It could help him take some weight off of Celestine's mind. Perhaps Rasim was right—maybe it really could help him believe in his capabilities, too.
"Yeah, I'll give it a shot," Pathos eventually answered after some time. "I'm... not sure exactly what this will be like, but I'll humor you."
Rasim clapped and rubbed his paws together and said, "Rightyo! It's on short notice, but I hope you don't mind if we start right away? It's better to not waste time. I do want to get home before dark. More for your sake than mine." The Smeargle started to rise, but stopped halfway. "Pathos, have you ever been in a dungeon?"
"Yeah, twice. Neither time was enjoyable. As a matter of fact, my first mission? The one me and Celestine failed terribly? Yeah, that was a dungeon mission." Pathos snarled, and shook his head. "The unpredictability, the danger... It's unbelievable. And yet we were expected to succeed? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it. I don't get how anyone's able to deal with them."
"O-oh, I see..." Rasim shamefully responded, backing away, but he straightened out shortly. "It's almost a guarantee that you'll be sent on more missions like those, though. Wouldn't you like to be able to put up with them, even if just a tiny bit better? Does that not sound nice?"
"N-no, it sounds great! I just can't grasp how they could have expected us to do well... the place was nightmarish! Pitfalls everywhere, fog like you would not believe, and I even got thrown off the edge at one point!" Pathos stopped as he noticed Rasim's face swirl, confusion and wonder making Pathos backtrack. "Um... Celestine managed to save me... somehow. I... didn't really pay attention, and before I knew it, I was back on the path."
The Absol rolled his head around, and looked away. "Anyways... yeah. I wouldn't mind that. It's just... how and where the hell do we start?"
Rasim bit his lip and swung to his feet, placing a digit on his chin, and he spun a bit before stopping. "How about something easy? Would you be interested in expanding your abilities?"
The Absol scrunched his face, and pushed out one of his cheeks, slowly letting air seep through the corners of his mouth. "What do you mean?"
"Like... how would you say..." Rasim responded, attempting to find a good example. "Maybe I can instruct you on how to better engage in combat? Or maybe you can figure out alternative ways an attack can be used, which could easily benefit you in a tight situation?"
"Huh... that doesn't sound terrible, but... I can't really do that if there's nothing for me to fight," Pathos mentioned, letting his head rock to the left.
"Not exactly..." A few seconds of concentration were drawn onto Rasim's face, and a faint, ghastly caricature of the Smeargle materialized beside him. Pathos and to blink a few times, and shake his head to understand what he was seeing.
Pathos curiously approached the afterimage, and he was surprised to find that it was rather tangible. "...What even is this?"
"A target," was the answer he got. "It's good for a few hits, and it's better than attacking someone. I can't do much better, but I hope it works."
"Okay..." the Absol started, backing away. "So what am I supposed to do?"
Rasim set one paw on his hip, and extended his other out towards the substitute, taking a few steps away. "Attack."
"Alright..." Pathos said, hunkering down, preparing to attack. Without lifting his eyes from the faded representation of Rasim, he focused on gathering energy in his scythe. He ran through his mind how he would strike, and where. He contemplated, then lunged, leaping into the air, sawing his blade through the left side of its torso at an angle. The substitute swirled and swooshed into the air, then reshaped itself into a slightly different form as Pathos landed and spun around.
Pathos quickly glanced at Rasim, expecting a look of approval. But instead, there was a hint of scorn blended with neutrality, accompanied by a mild shake of his head.
The Smeargle noticed the disappointment on Pathos face and quickly walked over and said, "S-sorry if I seemed displeased. You did well. Your Night Slash is effective, don't worry." His expression hardened, and he knelt down. "But you can do better. You attacked in a way that could easily allow for a blow to come from above or below. It's also easy to dodge and counterswing against. The way you jumped can work, but it's better to jump in a way that allows for you to contort your body in the air. That ability comes in handy more than you would think."
Pathos' forelegs went slack, and he leaned his head back, exhaling a groan. "How can a simple attack be so in-depth?"
"It's not that it's super complicated. You need to learn how to read your opponent, Pathos. Change your methods based on how they act. Attacking the same way every time will only get you so far. Yes, dungeons' have ferals. But you know what? They're not always going to be 'feral'. You will encounter those that know how to fight." Rasim gripped Pathos' shoulders. "If you're not prepared for it, you will fail."
"You can't honestly expect me to get how to do that by attacking a dummy!" Pathos said back.
Rasim shook his head, waving his arm to dissipate his substitute. "Yeah, you're right." The Smeargle rested his paws on his knees to help leverage himself to his knees. "That's why you'll be fighting me."
Pathos scoffed, though his face displayed his worry. "Rasim... isn't that—"
"Dangerous?" Rasim interrupted, "Yes, it is. But is it anywhere near as dangerous weaving your way through dungeon hallways, praying that you don't encounter any trouble?" Pathos opened his mouth to answer, but Rasim didn't give him the chance. "No? Then fight me."
Rasim dropped into a stance, his tail slowly whipping back and forth. Pathos followed suit, but with far less enthusiasm.
"Hey, Rasim, don't you think you could at least take a little bit more time to—" Pathos began, halting his words to dodge the Smeargle suddenly launching forward and swinging his tail ferociously.
"Arceus, Rasim, calm it, will you?" Pathos managed to say before having to dodge again.
To his surprise, Rasim actually stopped, but he did not drop his form. "Perhaps I should repeat myself. Fight. Me."
Pathos exhaled through clenched teeth, his breath carrying his frustration. Pathos didn't want to fight him—but did he even have a choice?
So he waited. He waited for Rasim to make his move, since Pathos figured he likely wouldn't have much of a chance on the offensive.
But he was caught off guard when the Smeargle spawned a disconcerting stream of yellow-orange fire, forcing Pathos to move to the side. Rasim waggled his tail, commanding a blob of water to condense from the air above them, drenching their surrounding, and forcing Pathos to halt his movement.
Pathos had gotten the hint that he simply couldn't wait it out—he needed to engage, even if he was at a disadvantage. So the Absol kept evading Rasim's attacks until a noticeable pause appeared, and Pathos rushed to the opportunity.
He charged in, gathering energy around his scythe. He first swung his blade vertically to let loose a Psycho Cut to hopefully break up anything the Smeargle had planned. He then prepared to jump—at least he made it seem that way.
Rasim fell for Pathos' fake-out, as he prepared himself to counter the leap. But surprise had hit Rasim hard when Pathos, instead of vaulting, sidestepped to the left so he could slash the front of his body—but Pathos stopped just before he hit the now vulnerable Smeargle.
Pathos wasn't aware he had been holding his breath until he heard Rasim let out his own breath. The Absol exhaled, and his ears were met with a hearty laugh from Rasim, who flopped back onto the grass, a bright grin garnering most of Pathos' attention.
"You had me, Pathos. I... hadn't anticipated that. That was phenomenal, Pathos. Exactly what you'd been told to do. You not only managed to fool me, but you also read my attempt at counterattacking, and used it to your advantage." He swung himself to his feet, and looked at Pathos. "If you ask me, you did perfectly."
Pathos wanted to be upset that Rasim had so suddenly insisted on fighting, but he couldn't overrun the joy he was feeling. He was right—Pathos had done it right! He hadn't even noticed during his attack.
"I'm not sure you noticed, but I proceeded to attack you from a distance because you had to engage. Your opponent isn't always going to be the one to attack first. You're going to have to get your paws dirty, that's just a fact. So you have to be able to do just that, otherwise the battle isn't going to go your way." Rasim huffed, the adrenaline in his blood now at a standstill. "Do you get it now? Why it's important for you to have adaptability?"
"I... I suppose so..." Pathos said, his mind drawing a blank when searching for more of a response. He sat down next to Rasim, letting out a relieving bubble of air. "So... what next?
"Well, it wouldn't be terrible if we continued, and did a little more... But I think for a first day, you've done fine." Rasim's smile was accompanied by a small shake of his head. "Not to mention you really weren't properly prepared for any of this. Hell, I didn't even bring anything! I'm not going to do that to you. Why don't you take a small rest, and then we'll make our way back?"
Pathos enthusiastically nodded, hist attitude completely changed from earlier. "Yeah, that sounds great."
The two enjoyed some down time, with Pathos occasionally standing up and looking around before sitting down again, and Rasim's casual whistling bringing a calming mood over them. After a few minutes, Rasim called out to Pathos, and they began walking back towards the mountain.
"Hey, Rasim," Pathos muttered as they closed in on the slope, "You mentioned earlier I wasn't fully prepared. Was that aimed towards me not understanding why all that stuff was so important?"
Rasim whirred, smacked his lips, and faced Pathos. "Well... you're half-right. It's not just having the right mindset that makes a difference." Rasim tapped a finger to his temple, and then his chest. "You also have to be ready for the strain you'll be putting on your mind and body. It's imperative that you can effectively get yourself prepared."
The Smeargle's eyebrows enunciated the sudden emergence of something in his mind. "Why do you think psychics have to be in such a good condition mentally? It's a natural ability they have to be able to extend their mind to affect the physical world, on top of already dealing with whatever goes through their head normally; their mind is constantly under pressure greater than most others, and as a result, they usually get exhausted more easily."
Pathos was intrigued. He'd always just accepted that psychics were simply better at mental tasks, but it never crossed his mind to think about how that would affect them in the long run. More mental strain... could that be part of the reason she was so stressed out...? Pathos entertained the thought for a bit.
"So, maybe it's not as important to you that you be ready, but when it comes around and bites you, you'll have no one to blame but yourself." Rasim stopped the conversation for a bit, then continued a little while later. "But um... How much later would you like to meet up tomorrow? I'd like to give you more time to get ready than I did this morning. I figure that'd be more convenient for you?"
"O-oh..." Pathos said, retracting from his thoughts and returning to real life. "Well... maybe sometime in the afternoon? That way, if I'm feeling it, we can still head out earlier."
"Flexibility, I see..." the Smeargle noted as he mentally jotted that down for later. "That sounds good to me. For now, let's focus on heading back, alright?"
The two casually scaled the slope leading to the checkpoint, where they were zipped back to The Invictus. From there, Rasim led Pathos back to his home to surprise him with a well-earned meal.
"I thought I had more to offer than this, but I guess I had remembered wrong... in any case, I really hope it attends to your tastes," the artist said as he gestured to to food he had set on a table—all for Pathos.
The selection, despite its lack in size, was still rather vast by Pathos' standards; there was meat of some sort, vegetables he'd never seen in his life, some delicious looking berries, and even a few pastries! For the umpteenth time, Rasim's generosity had left the Absol speechless, barely able to utter even the smallest of thanks. "Rasim... you really don't have to keep doing this for me..."
"But I will. Pathos, you can't keep being so modest. You're not used to being so welcomed, that's fine..." Rasim placed a nonchalant paw on Pathos' back, making him wince slightly. "But isn't that a good thing? It just means you're more able to appreciate the gratitude you do receive."
Pathos bobbed his head, eyeing the pastries. It was a little difficult for Pathos, because ever since Celestine had left, he'd been depending on Rasim so much. It didn't feel right. First it was Celestine, and now Rasim...
"Sorry... I just... Celestine was completely selfless, and... she was always taking care of the big and little things for me..." He looked at the food again—but this time, he completely shoved it out of his mind, locking his eyes on Rasim. "But now... I just don't feel right taking so much away from you, and—"
Rasim marched over and brought Pathos into his arms. The Smeargle held the motionless Absol in the embrace for a few moments, then pushed away, keeping his paws firmly on Pathos. "You're not taking anything away from me. I'm giving you these things, by my own volition because you deserve them. You came to me in a time of need. As such, I give you things to help you out."
Rasim let go of Pathos and walked over to a painting on the wall to straighten it. "You never asked for these things, because you don't feel anyone owes it to you. But... since I met you, my life's gotten livelier, better. I don't often get the chance to talk to people, but you... You've given me that chance. I'm finally doing something with my life other than painting. I have things to do in my down time, I don't have to rely on painting to bide my time."
He sighed, and trotted to a chair beside the table, and he sat down, stretching slightly. "So, allow me to repeat myself—don't be so modest. If someone is giving something to you, accept it! You'd be amazed at how much people really care about you, Pathos." Rasim rested his elbows on the table, setting his head in his paws. "I get it—you're not used to people being so friendly. You're used to them having an unfounded vendetta against your species for whatever reason. But for Arceus' sake... don't take for granted the people that care about you."
Pathos sat down, closing his eyes as he dropped his head. "I just..."
Rasim shook his head, standing up and moving to his side, comforting him by patting his back. "It's fine." Rasim ruffled the fur on his head and gestured to the table. "Why not go ahead and feed yourself before it goes stale?"
Pathos calmed himself and nodded, his eyes just a tad watery. "Yeah. Thanks, Rasim." Rasim moved away, letting the Absol get to his feet and approach the table. But he stopped, and looked back. "I... really, thanks. It's nice to have someone that feels like family."
Rasim's face conveyed acceptance of the compliment, but then it was overflowing with curiosity. "Do you... not have a family?"
"Well... I do. Um.. did." Pathos rolled his eyes and sulked, fully facing Rasim in the process. "Honestly, I don't know. We were in a refugee camp... there was an Influx, and..."
Rasim's expression went blank. "...You lost them... Right?" Pathos nodded.
He exhaled through loose lips, leaning back. "I... I'm sorry, Pathos," he said with a large amount of guilt in his voice. "Do you want to talk about it, or...?"
Pathos' posture had tightened, but he did his best to shrug it away. "It's not that big of a deal. I've gotten over it. But... thanks for your concern."
"It's not a big deal. Just don't be afraid to bring anything up to me," Rasim said as Pathos finally went after the food.
There wasn't much activity between the two proceeding their conversation, and Pathos headed home shortly. He was dead tired, and ready to collapse on his bed as soon as possible. Rasim had helped improve his mood greatly, and he'd been able to fully appreciate his company. To think, he made Rasim's life so much better! It was an extremely enlightening thought.
Pathos got to his room and hopped on his bed, and stared down the moonlight streaming into his room. He was entranced by it, and fell asleep not a moment later.
Morning arrived quickly, Pathos found, because it felt like mere minutes after he'd fallen asleep, the sunlight was pushing through his eyelids, urging him to get up.
He had to rub his eyes and blink a few times before he could keep his eyes open enough to get out of bed without running into anything. He spotted his bag against the wall a few feet away, and he fetched it, slinging it over his neck, the sudden weight of the bag reminding him of the money Vadimas had given him. He then checked around the rooms to see if there was anything else, before he sighed, and headed for the door.
By the time he was about halfway down the hall to the hub of the base, he didn't quite feel like heading over to Rasim's quite yet. And besides, their planned time was in the afternoon. He had plenty of time to waste before then—he just had to decide how he was going to spend it.
He could go have a conversation with Maea, or maybe he could go talk to Iris about Rasim. He could use some of his cash to buy some items, too... But he eventually decided on walking around, since he hadn't made himself too familiar with the layout of the base.
The obnoxious crowd that was there the first day Pathos was there had shrunk in size, much to his relief. The Absol glanced down all the various corridors he came across; the ones connected to the scaffolds and ladders only lead the team and guest rooms, he'd assumed, so he avoided those. Instead, he voted for the corridors on the ground floor. And, without putting much thought into it, he decided against all the unfamiliar ones, and headed down the main hall.
Most of the rooms and hallways that sprouted from the main corridor didn't give a nice vibe to Pathos, except one in particular—the mission room.
There weren't many people there that day—just a few teams. The Snover from before, Edur, was also on duty that morning—he was talking to a few people at the moment.
Pathos eyed the mission board. He'd never really had the chance to give it a good look, so he was rather curious what the layout was like.
So he walked over, and was a little let down when he found out just how simple it was. There were a few categories, like local missions and long-distance missions, along with some that labelled just what the teams would be doing. Pathos honed in on the category named "Rescue", reminding him of the first mission he and Celestine had to do. Did his lack of confidence have anything to do with the outcome of the missions?
Regardless, he glanced at all the different posters that hanged from the board. So many different statements and descriptions, all with their own messages from the clients... it was a very confusing system. The Absol locked onto a mission, curious. He glanced at the message left by the client, which read:
Please help... I ran off, and... I was frustrated. I didn't realize what I'd gotten myself into until it was too late.
Now I'm lost in a dungeon with no way to tell where to go. I'm low on resources, and I'm not sure how much longer I'll last...
The message left by Panni felt much the same, the plea, the desire to just go home. Why did they have to fail the mission...? Did her family ever find out about what happened? If not, will they ever find out? Pathos still wasn't sure if he'd be confident enough to take another mission after that.
Pathos read on to the next line, and when he read the client's name, he felt confused. He stared for a moment, then rubbed his eyes, expecting to have misread. But he looked again, and his heart froze. Right there, scattered amongst the thousands of different words and messages and various job details, there were three words that made him drop to the floor.
Client identification: Celestine.
End of Chapter X
