Test of The Coin
The answer Ryo gave him was what he was looking for. He wanted him to make it clear yet that he was still worthy of being leader. That was only one out of five yet. The others had yet to be asked about the coin. The next one wouldn't have it so easy. For some one who thinks more than he should. The brain may betray its heart. In doing so… that would also mean he'd betray his friends. Is it possible resentment might still be over powered by the love of friendship. His answer will decide that.
Rowen tossed in his bed. He had gone on an expedition with a group of astronomers that had been just starting out. The van they took had gotten a flat and they had no spare. It was him that got voted to go hunt down help. Resulting in a long walk into town through the rain. He had attracted a high fever when he finally reached home. Instead of going in to the doctor he went to bed. Strange dreams had filtered their way in. He found him self sitting in a park during the night. So it didn't seem odd for a stranger to walk up to him. All until he was called by his armor name. Which no one had called him since he left the group of the Ronins.
"Strata." The stranger said getting his attention.
"How do you know me by that name?" Rowen inquired.
"It doesn't matter. You have been purposely staying away from your friends. Why is that?"
"… I don't fit in with them."
"And this gives you reason to separate from the group?"
"I'm not needed right now."
"I thought friends… were always needed." The man stated.
"Don't twist my words around! That's not what I meant."
"Then you're trying to hide from yourself."
"No."
"You're not worthy of Strata!"
"Yes, I'm… I was chosen for it."
"Prove it."
"How?"
"Easy… take my test. Or are incapable of such a task."
"I'll take your test!"
"I challenge you. I cast in front of you a coin.
A coin of: action and reaction, logic and illogic, past, future, redemption and death.
Your life lays with in this coin. I challenge you. Can you tell me of fate? Fate of the past will reign the future. I challenge you. Look back on your past to tell me now, of the actions of logic. The logic of redemption has an illogical reaction. Can you tell me that is true? I challenge you to toss this coin. Can you tell me where… your friends are? Can you tell me that they're actions of the past… leave you damned? I challenge you to look upon this coin and tell me this one thing. To tell me where you stand in the twisted world of redemption and the damned. I challenge you. Your life lays with in this coin."
Rowen looked at the coin and thought about what the man said. A while past before he answered.
"I can. I look at this coin… and I see they're actions are my redemption not my damnation. It is only my self that brings it. I'm too logical in an illogical world trying to find my place in the in-between." Rowen said tossing it back to him. " Here, here is your coin. If fate of the past will reign the future… I will find my redemption there as well, because my friends will be there. Any past actions of mine will be forgiven. My illogical reaction is this. I'm willing to be damned now for redemption that I can create my-self, but won't."
"With in this coin is lays your life… I find it fitting. I hope your past will reign."