Chapter 45: Earned Life (Part 11)

"Indeed we are."

Swallowing his nervousness Nanashi forced himself to stay cool, replying, "So how did I do then? Pass with flying colors? More tests?"

"You make it sound as if our accord was not reached. You have achieved everything that was asked of you."

"Oh. Well, good."

The figure folded its hands within its robes, continuing with, "You have achieved what any aspiring Magician should, a modicum of control over your inherent abilities so that they do not spiral out of your grasp and necessitate our intervention."

"You saying it like that makes it sound rather apocalyptic."

"It's good that you understand what we are telling you."

Grimacing as his attempt at humor was met with blunt rebuttal the homunculus listened as the Counter Force added, "That aside you discovered your talent in a truly inspired fashion. Unmatched ingenuity, in that you closed one-"

"Oh my fucking god I get it. Look, it's not my fault everyone keeps forgetting that I came into this line of work as a rank amateur and have learnt every last bit of it on the fly. And why do you have a sense of humor, aren't you some impartial arbiter or something along those lines that has to maintain the appearance of complete and total impartiality?"

"As that very same thing a sense of humor is practically a requirement. How else would it be possible to administer and tend to all of reality if one cannot laugh at all of its absurdity?"

"I have no response to that."

"There never is. Better to laugh at stupidity than it is to grieve for idiocy."

Settling for inhaling deeply Nanashi slowly asked, "So…that's it then? I'm free?"

"More than free. Fate's willing you will never find yourself before this location ever again…but before we say our farewells would you prefer to receive a parting gift of sorts? A going away present?"

"What?"

"The information pertaining to your origins is held within our grasp…would you care to know of it?"

The homunculus gaped, stammering out, "How…how do you know about that? I thought I erased that knowledge from everywhere, that's why not even Manaka could get ahold of that information when she tried to figure it out!"

"Indeed, you certainly removed all trace of your history from the Root but as the one to protect and ensure the continued operation of said locale it's merely good sense that some of the Akashic Records are kept in a backup unit, to simplify things somewhat. I am able to selectively retain key amounts of information that I deem important…information pertaining to Magicians is of understandable usefulness."

Feeling a surge of confused trepidation and eagerness in equal manner Nanashi slowly asked, "It's…it's not a particularly grand or heroic origin story, is it?"

"You need not look any further than your circumstances before meeting Sajyou to understand that. Your anger and hatred of the Magi who you encountered when constructing your body was not purely born of circumstance but an ingrained attitude."

The male hesitated, cautiously asking, "Knowing this information or skipping over it…will I regret either of them?"

"Do you believe it will trouble you?"

The homunculus mulled over the Counter Force's words, trying to imagine what leaving the past behind like this would entail. Considering the life and friends he had now what bearing did his beginnings have on any of that? Would it change how he lived his life? Hell, what could he discover about himself that he didn't already suspect? That would alter his feelings on the people who were now his world?

"I was made by Magi, wasn't I? A Homunculus meant to accomplish something with my eyes and the adhoc magic circuits they implanted."

"Just so. You were created to initially pursue the path of the Root through your eyes but either as a result of circumstances outside your control or perhaps as a result of them you began to exhibit the qualities of a Magician. The working theory is that peering into the fabric of reality on such a constant basis allowed you to subconsciously begin wishing to change it, considering your less than happy circumstances."

A snort of dry amusement left the cloaked being.

"In their pursuit of the truth and immortality it is a tale all too common that Magi overlook the more decent and compassionate routes that end at the same destination."

That admission caused Nanashi to come to an immediate decision, nodding to himself as he said, "Then I don't want to know anything more. It's more than I ever wanted to know as is."

His hands curled into fists.

"That's not me anymore and it never will be. I've changed. New body, new wants…new life. You were right, just those few details are enough to paint a thoroughly fucked up and depressing picture. It's over and done with."

The Counter Force nodded its head in seeming satisfaction before replying, "Then I wish you the best of luck in this new life of yours, Magician. May we never have need to meet again."

Another hint of amusement colored its words.

"Not many are granted the second chance you were. I would advise making the most of it but you seem to have done so quite wonderfully. Farewell."

There was the now familiar tilting of reality, Nanashi's vision going dark and the male privately hoped that it did indeed end up being the last time he ever had to experience such a thing-

-and blinked several times, vision properly returning as he smiled up at the concerned face's of his companions as they looked down at him.

"Well…I'm home."