Chapter 17
"You know what else gives you power?" Volkner asked, giving Kenny a freshly brewed cup of coffee.
"Thank you.." Kenny accepted the offer and gently blew on the cup.
"Knowledge.." Volkner sat back down on his chair and crossed his legs. "If you want to become stronger you must also know more, especially about the things you're dealing with. I mean that's no rocket science right there."
Kenny hissed when he accidentally scalded his own tongue with the coffee. "I guess you're right about that Mr. Starr." He gave his cup another gentle blow. "This coffee is good by the way."
Volkner replied with a hearty laugh. "I make the best coffee in the GAS. I think that's what promoted me to be a pillar." He jested, scratching the back of his head. "Anyway, we have four Pillars, one for each region. As for me, I'm the pillar for Sinnoh region. Then there's Giovanni Epcar for Kanto, Claire Williams for Johto and Wallace Reyes for Hoenn. You may have heard of them on TV." Kenny saw Volkner eye a picture frame on the top of his desk beside a red plastic pencil holder. "That is Claire by the way, she is my step sister. Her family adopted me half a year after I lost mine. I became a pillar after a few months she became a pillar."
"As a Pillar for eight years, I've been dealing with devils for almost ten years as a GAS personnel so I can definitely tell you some things about them. And I guess I can also tell you about what I did earlier."
Kenny nodded.
"My ability, you could say." Volkner smiled. "The one that allows me to protect this city. And Sinnoh as a region."
"Okay." Kenny clenched both of his fist on his lap. "I'm ready to become stronger." Kenny's enthusiasm was replied with Volkner's amused laughter.
"I've already told you some information the past week right?" Volkner started, cupping his chin. "Devils are capable of scourging, some choose not to but some choose to do so to control their powers." He took a sip of his coffee. "Aside from that information, there are three classes of devils that you need to know."
"And it's very important to know which one you are dealing with, it will save you a lot of troubles." Volkner laughed. "To say the least."
"Okay. But three? That ain't a lot." Kenny wiped a sweat from his forehead, the coffee heating up his temperature.
"Well, three so far." Volkner held his finger up, correcting him. "There could be more. Anyway, these devils are classified base on what they can do. Abilities and such you know. That's why you need to be very wary."
"Abilities.." Kenny echoed. With the information Volkner was about to share, maybe he could classify himself in the category and maybe even classify Paul too, if ever. Kenny gulped silently, feeling a little unease.
"First we have the Faerie devils. These devils are the weakest of the three. They don't transform nor they have outrageous strength. They still are stronger than an average human." Volkner took another sip and traced the rim of his cup with his finger. "We rarely find them here in our world."
"Our world..." Kenny too traced the rim of his cup with his fingers, the uneasiness in him ballooning.
"You could say they are like most of us. They just stay in the Netherworld, not bothering with this whole devil-human hatred cycle."
Here, take this. Use it to survive in the human world.
NOW! KENNY! RUN GODDAMIT!
The sudden memory almost jerked his body up from his seat. "Where is this Netherworld?" Kenny asked, clutching his teardrop-shaped sapphire necklace unconsciously.
Volkner thought for a while. It took him a couple of seconds to reply. "We still haven't found it yet. Research is still being done. We have found portals all over the regions that might lead us to the Netherworld but how we access these portals is still unknown."
"Like gates?"
"Yes!" Volkner held a finger up. "Just like gates. These portals connect our world with theirs. So far, there are only a handful of devils that can access these portals, that means not all devils are capable of traveling through."
Kenny looked down on his cup. His murky reflection starting to fit his fuzzy memories slowly into places where they belong, from the moment he ran from a group of strangers with his village on fire to waking up in the forest on the outskirts of Twinleaf where he met Dawn for the first time.
"So far we have discovered three portals here in Sinnoh." Volkner continued. "One in Lake Valor, the lake situated between Sunnyshore City, Pastoria City and Veilstone City. The second one is in Lake Acuity, outside of Snowpoint City. And lastly in Lake Verity near Twinleaf Town."
'Lake Verity near Twinleaf Town...' Volkner's voice echoed in his head.
Kenny! I'm sorry I broke your favorite toy this morning! I'm sorry I got mad! I'm sorry for making you ran away. I'm sorry for hurting you.
"It's okay, I forgive you. Let's go home Dawn."
"What happened to your clothes? They are all torn. You are full of injuries. Are you okay?"
"Yes... I am okay."
Kenny felt a bead of his sweat slide down his cheek, remembering the nightmare of running nonstop and waking up outside of Twinleaf.
'Could it be...'
"Anyway, side tracked." Volkner chuckled. "The point is we still don't know much about these portals, so back to I was saying before about Faerie Devils. They are usually peaceful devils, they don't really cause that much trouble aside from the usual scourging."
Kenny inwardly shook himself up. He thought that now was not the best time to ponder about his past, which only lead him to ponder instead on what he really is.
'They don't transform...peaceful devils...don't really cause that much trouble aside from the usual scourging.'
'Am I a Faerie devil?' He asked himself.
'The weakest of the three..'.
Kenny couldn't help but feel a little sadness ripple in his blood.
"Second, we have the Imp devils." Volkner continued. "These devils are much stronger that Faerie devils. They can do what we call 'metamorphosis'. Metamorphosis allows these devils to change forms base on their bloodline. With metamorphosis, some can gain access to extra physical abilities and resistances, again base on their bloodline."
"What is a bloodline?" Kenny asked, noticing how the air conditioned room was slowly killing the warmth of his coffee like how it has done to his nerves.
"Bloodlines are special families of devils that have ancient powerful roots." Volkner answered. "Their name, or 'blood' has been passed on from generations to generations originating from ancient powerful families of devils."
"Wow.." Was all Kenny could utter.
"But you don't have to worry though Ken bud. A majority of these families are already gone, extinct, either from the previous war or by their own abilities." Volkner heaved a sigh.
"Own abilities?"
"Yes. Some of their abilities do cause harm to themselves. Physical abilities cause harm to the user. They become more agile, faster, stronger, sturdier, outrageous regeneration, but the strain and stress hurt them too." Volkner took one final sip on his cup before standing up and placing it on the sink behind his office. "Some of these devils fear their own ability, for those who use their ability a lot don't live very long."
Kenny breathed out a lengthy exhale. He too soon finished his now-cold cup. Volkner took Kenny's cup and placed it too on the sink. He sat back down and continued his discussion.
"And lastly, Bane devils, the most powerful class of devils." He started again. "I don't even know where to start with these devils." Volkner held his temples. "For one thing they are capable of manipulating things outside of their own body, which makes them very distinct from Imp devils who rely on physical strength." Volkner started pressing his temples. "They don't have an Imp's metamorphosis but they don't really need it. Some can manipulate gravity, some can induce hallucinations, some can control electricity, fire, water, other elements, excrete poison and acid etc etc." Volkner sighed. "There's no end to the possibilities of what these devils can do."
"But it has to come with a price right?" Kenny stood up, surprising Volkner in his seat. "Something that horrifying, has to come with a price. Like metamorphosis? Right Mr. Starr?"
"Well you are right about that Kenny bud." Volkner cleared his throat. "These devils have so much essence in them that for them to exist, they take away life."
"Take away life..?"
"These devils, they exist not without a price. You see, bane devils have the most essence of all devils. That's why they are regarded by the GAS as the most dangerous class of devils. So when bane devils are born, their young bodies can not handle that much essence. For devils to live, there has to be a balance between their physical body and their essence, unfortunately babies are no exception. This balance has to be maintained or else the body will disintegrate as the essence will consume it."
"So mothers need to lessen that essence if ever they want their babies to live or at least survive the first few years."
As Volkner continued his discussion, Kenny's toes started to curl up. "So how do they 'take away life'?"
"To keep their young bodies intact with that much essence, mothers sacrifice themselves. When devils die, bane devils particularly, their essence dies with them and thus making their bodies empty..." Volkner's eyes cast down. "Can you see where this is going Ken bud?"
Kenny felt his stomach crumble on the inside. "I'm sorry. I can't say I can..."
"As the mother sacrifices herself, she turns her body into this bluish gem we call a 'birth stone'."
"Here, take this. Use it to survive in the human world."
"If you want I'll give this to you someday."
"This birth stone becomes a temporary storage for the baby's devil essence. The baby of course, carries this stone throughout its life until his body can fully store and utilize that essence."
"I see..." Was all Kenny could utter under his breath, struggling to process all the information. Remembering his sapphire pendant, he suddenly felt the urge to hide it behind his shirt.
"Kinda sad and cruel, don't you think? It's one daunting fate to choose to continue the lineage, dying if it means for their generation to continue existing. That's why these devils are only a few percentage compared to Imps and Faeries, some were so afraid that they have died out eventually."
Kenny sat back down, aside from sudden realization of what his sapphire pendant might be, emotions in his chest were whirling up a storm. Pity, fear, and sadness rallied inside his heart. "That is very cruel indeed..."
Volkner sighed. "Out of the three devils, they are the most hateful and vengeful. I guess you can't really blame them for that."
Volkner took another deep breath. "For most of these devils, they blame this world for the cruelness of life. They really are such tragic creatures."
Silence befell on the two for a few seconds.
"If you were born with this kind of power, what would you do Ken bud? Take it out on this cruel world? Or use it to help others?"
Kenny was left speechless. The hum of the air-conditioner seemed to have become louder. He was aware that what Volkner said was rhetorical. He was not required to reply or say an answer, but still deep inside of him he thought deeply of an actual answer, if not for Volkner at least for himself.
'Maybe use it to help others..' He murmured to himself unsurely. 'But I guess I wouldn't really know, that would be thoughtless and irresponsible of me to claim something like that.'
"Then it wont really be much of a power then right?" Kenny replied. "A 'curse' would be much more fitting."
"But you know what they say Ken Bud?" Volkner replied, pulling off his signature grin. "As long as there's coffee in the world, how bad can this world be? Right?"
...
"About tomorrow Deedee, what are we going to do?"
Dawn and Kenny were already at their final day staying in the hospital, tomorrow they will be dismissed. A month-long recuperation did not seem as long as they both expected.
The talk Kenny had with Volkner a few days ago was cut short with a phone call. It was so urgent apparently that Volkner had to leave the hospital at that same night. Volkner did promise to see him and Dawn again soon. Volkner still has not shared to Kenny about Volkner's ability or about Reverse Scourging. He could only guess that it has something to do about moving really quick.
"I can actually kill anyone with just a flick of my finger."
Kenny thought that it must be more than just moving fast if Volkner was capable of doing something like that.
When he returned back to Dawn's room that night, Dawn was already asleep. The medicines have made Dawn more sleepy than the usual, which he found to be comforting. Dawn has been depressed even since the school incident, with both Paul and Zoey's death.
He remembered Dawn mentioning to him about Zoey, a classmate and close friend of hers. Dawn have mentioned that she wanted Kenny to meet Zoey. And now that opportunity was stolen from her, from them. He couldn't really blame Dawn for being depressed. He was happy when Dawn started school again and found new friends after leaving Twinleaf and arriving here in Hearthome. But now, it felt like they both have gone back to the start.
"Deedee, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
It took a minute before Dawn replied. She took her glance away from the swaying curtains and gently turned her head towards the brunet. "No Kenny. I'm sorry."
"But I'm not going back to Twinleaf.." She added, biting the insides of her cheeks.
"I was just thinking about you Deedee. Don't you think it's much safer back there?" Kenny said. "I mean of course I will do my best to protect you, but..."
And lastly in Lake Verity near Twinleaf Town
"Aren't you worried for your mother?" Kenny continued. "I know you don't like her but.. I just can't help but worry after everything that has happened."
A strong gust of wind blew past the curtains sending a slight chill over the two. Dawn tightened her grip on her blanket. "Don't get me wrong Kenny. I worry about Mom too. But I'm sure she will be fine. We've lived there for so many years already and nothing has ever happened."
"But..but.." Kenny wanted to insist, especially after what he had learned from Volkner. But he was not even sure if he should tell Dawn about it.
"There is still one thing I need to do here in Hearthome." Dawn looked back at the swaying curtains, witnessing the setting sun afar shooting orange lasers into the room with gentle warmth.
"One more thing? What do you mean?"
Dawn bit his lower lip. She looked back at Kenny with a fierce expression that even surprised him. "I want to go back to the school."
Kenny abruptly stood up, his metallic stool making a clanging noise as it fell and rolled on the cold tiles of the hospital room. "Are you nuts?! For what Deedee?! Why? Is that the medicine talking? We are lucky enough to survive and now you want to endanger yourself again?" Kenny frantically waved his hands. "Please tell me what you want to achieve by going there? Why would you risk your life again? Not to mention that the place is under quarantine, it might be impossible for us to even go near that place."
As Kenny spat all these words at her, he deeply hoped for her to back down and maybe realize that indeed it was a crazy idea. But Dawn didn't even flinch. Her fierce and determined look was still plastered on her face. Realizing his defeat, he took his stool and sat back down. Kenny heaved himself one lengthy exhale.
"I know Volkner already told me. And I saw those notes in his notebook. But.." Dawn glanced at her fingers, fiddling with them.
Kenny's puzzled eyes grew larger. "You mean.."
"Yes Kenny. Paul is not dead yet."
Kenny's mouth was left hanging. "How sure are you that he's not yet dead?"
Kenny didn't know how to process what Dawn was saying. And as he thought he couldn't get any more bewildered, he did as what Dawn replied to his inquiry almost made him lose his wits.
...
"So this is the Hearthome Medical Center."
Karen stood at the rooftop of a tall rundown condominium across the hospital. She pressed her right foot on the ledge as she examined the infrastructure in front of her. The chilly December winds swaying her silvery locks in the air. She tied her hair in a tight ponytail and heaved a sigh.
She checked her wrist watch. "Fifteen more minutes before nightfall. And tonight is a full moon. This will be a piece of cake."
She sat down on the ledge of the rooftop and let the coldness snake up her bare arms, her legs swaying back and forth. She has always loved the coldness with the advent of winter brings.
She picked up her mobile and dialed a number. "Koga? I'm already in front of the hospital. I'm just waiting for night time and your signal."
"Okay, I got it." She examined her polished nails. "Keep the doctor and that blond dude busy so I can have the hospital all to myself." She heard Koga grunt on the other side of the line. "Trust me. That boy you're talking about is somewhere there. My shadows have already scouted the place. It's only a matter of whether he is still alive or not." She soon napped her phone shut.
The lengthening shadows of the buildings and stores with the setting sun behind her giving life to a seemingly foreign sense of solace inside her heart. She felt the condominium's cement with her hands, the coldness and roughness of the texture of the ledge suddenly surfaced a memory she thought she have long forgotten.
"Are you hurt? Poor child."
Karen woke up, slowly opening both her eyes from the dust falling on her face. The darkness around starting to vanish as light poured through the cracks of the boulders being lifted slowly over her body. Luckily, the desk beside her bed have provided her young and tiny body enough shelter as a triangle of life from the disastrous earthquake that happened last night.
"Hey! We still have a survivor here!" The lady that asked her earlier tried moving another larger boulder that have squeezed a portion of Karen's left foot against a nearby drawer.
Karen, still shaken and shivering from the trauma, looked up to this middle-aged woman. This woman offered a hand down to her as soon as she was able to remove the boulder. Karen didn't even know what was happening, why her entire body was petrified and bloody, her muscles stiff as if it was glue that streamed down her veins. The only thing she remembered was right in the middle of the night, as a bright light flashed through her curtains, an earthquake suddenly happened. And the next thing she knew she found herself embracing her knees beside her desk as everything around her started falling apart violently, until a wall beside her collapsed and was able to partially crush her left leg. The pain was so intense that she fell unconscious right away.
Remembering the brutal memory of last night, Karen looked up to this unfamiliar woman in front of her with both relief and uncertainty. Karen wondered how she managed to survive herself.
"It's okay.." The lady softly smiled. She then undid her ponytail that revealed her flowing cerise hair that reached past her shoulders. She then used the cloth as a bandage for Karen's injured leg. "Aren't you a tough cookie for surviving that." The woman said.
"But you're safe now." The woman bent down as she easily carried Karen's ten year old battered body in her slender and fair arms. "I'll take care of you. You don't need to be afraid anymore."
"My name is Marilyn, what's yours?"
Karen forcefully shook off the long-forgotten memory that suddenly surfaced. 'Focus. Focus. Focus.' She chanted.
Her stormy gray eyes gradually turning crimson, she clenched both of her fist as she stood up on the ledge.
"Zoey please be alive. I know you're in there somewhere too. Let's go back home."
...
"What..did..what did you just say..?" Kenny wanted to confirm if Dawn had really said it.
Kenny could not believe what Dawn was saying. Kenny could not believe that he was still able to say something after what Dawn had said.
"I said I can still smell him. It's faint. But it's there. He is still alive Kenny."
For Kenny it was now more than just simple loss for words.
'Dawn can smell Paul..?' Kenny thought crazily.
"And I'm going to find him." Dawn finished.
Chapter 17 End: Price and Power