Chapter 6: An anxious heart and the worst nightmare
Sunday was getting close, and Jūtarō was getting more anxious about his crush with Hephaestus, he practiced every night talking to the Hephaestus doll to declare his feelings to the crafter transient, his heart was pumping fast and he hasn't slept well everyday until now, even Salomon tried to convince him to skip school to rest his body and mind, but he wanted to keep going, Shiro saw him closing his bedroom's door and noted he wasn't in very good condition, like the reliable friend he is, he was worried for Jūtarō's health.
- Jūtarō, you don't look well, do you want to skip school and rest? I could leave a message to Mr. Mononobe to notify him…- Shiro told him his suggestion, even if he was against break the school rules, he would prefer to help him than risk his health.
-No, I'm fine, really…I will rest at lunchtime…- the summoner answered, but he wasn't too convincing.
Shinjuku Academy, Soccer Field
Mr. Jinn was giving his P.E. lesson to the boys of 2-B class, make them jogging around the soccer field, in normal circumstances, Jūtarō is good in sports, not like a professional athlete or the top students from Yoyogi Academy, but he's good enough, his app battles give them enough physical prowess, besides he got training sessions with Toji and Moritaka sparring them and his mountaineering activities with Zao and Chernobog, but this time, he wasn't in top conditions, Mr. Jinn was giving the beat of the jogging at the start of the line with his lamp as whistle.
-Ok, boys, now we will practice shot at goal, Jūtarō, you will be the first goalkeeper…-Mr. Jinn said while he takes the soccer balls from the bag and accommodates them in front of the goal, the summoner stands at the goal and takes position, the first shooter is Toji, the half-transient was preparing his shoot, but before kick the soccer ball, Jūtarō had collapsed suddenly, his body was lifted by Mr. Jinn, the genie transient carries him to infirmary while he tells the rest of his students to keep with the lesson.
Shinjuku Academy, Infirmary
The young summoner woke up from a long sleep, he looks around to get familiarized with the environment, looks at the ceiling and turns around to see curtains around him, he feels still tired but at least not like at the P.E. Class, he accomodates his body in bed at seated position to have a better look of the room he was, then he catches a familiar bovine transient seated in a desk next to the window preparing some trial medicines.
-Oh, you finally wake up Sleeping Beauty, you feel better now? – the bovine transient asked him about how he feel that moment with his usual relaxed attitude, the summoner felt a mix of calm and confidence with the new doctor of his school.
-At least better than before, Shennong…- Jūtarō responded with more familiarity to the doctor.
-It's Dr. Shennong to you now, young man- the transient from Penglai responds hitting in the summoner's head with his folder slightly and keeping his coolness.
-How may times I have to tell I hate when people don't take care properly by themselves, so… what you were doing before to make you fall like a stringless marionette at P.E.? – the doctor lectures him and asks him about the collapse he had before.
-It's a personal issue…a heart issue...- Jūtarō answered uncertain, Shennong gets a little more serious and takes his stethoscope to place him over the summoner's chest.
-Did you have felt anything wrong with your heart recently? – the bovine transient keeps checking Jūtarō's heartbeat, but the young man feels awkward with this sudden situation.
-sorry for make you worry doctor, but I was talking about a sentimental problem, not a problem with my heart…-the young man corrects himself, the bovine therian then takes off the stethoscope from his patient's chest and looks at him a little confused.
-Umm…sorry about that, Kasei- Shennong blushes and apologizes to him for his awkwardness, After making him a checkup, Shennong takes the phone from his desk and makes a phone call, after some minutes, he backs to his patient.
-I talked with Mr. Mononobe, I suggested him to let you skip today's last classes, he accepted but he wants to talk with you before you can retire from the rest of the day- Jūtarō nods and gets out from the infirmary, the he sees another familiar face, it was Toji waiting for him with his serious expression but his eyes were looking to the floor before see him exit from the infirmary.
-How are you, everything Ok? - Toji asked his guildmaster with concern.
-I'm fine…I was just exhausted from another thing, they let me skip today's last classes, but I must talk with Mr. Mononobe before- Jūtarō answered to his friend, Toji then proceeds to ask him another question about what is going on with him while they go to Staff Room.
-that another thing…is the thing you reserved yourself to talk with Mr. Jinn? – Toji landed the question, but the summoner stayed silent and gets blushed.
-I'm going to interpret your silence as a yes- Toji said with some tiredness in his voice and sighs, that kind of topics aren't exactly his forte, and because he didn't want to pressure his friend.
Shinjuku Academy, Staff Room
Both summoners come to the Staff Room's door, Toji knocks and a grave and mature voice sounds.
-Yes, who is it? – the voice asked, and the half transient student answered with proper manners.
-we are Sakimori and Kasei, Mr. Mononobe -Toji responds presenting themselves.
-Oh, you may come in…- the voice responds and Toji opens the door.
-With your permission, Sir- Toji announces and both students enter to the room, Mr. Mononobe manages some papers in his desk before attends his students.
-Thank you for bring Kasei here, Sakimori… you may retire now; I'll take care of him - the teacher told him while takes a chair and places it next to his side.
- yes, Mr. Mononobe, with your permission- Toji makes a reverence and exits from the staff room closing the door, later the teacher proceeds to talk with his protegee.
-Dr. Shennong told me about what happened today at P.E. and his suggestion to let you skip classes, but besides Mr. Jinn told me about your sudden memory recovering and Ms. Ziz told me about another thing you asked to her to keep it personal, she didn't told me the details because it would be like a treachery to your trust…but the reason I wanted to talk with you before let you go is…why didn't you wanted to tell me about all of this?...- the professor let go all that fact count with seriousness and concern to his protegee.
-I…wasn't sure about if I had to tell you, I wanted to try figure out how to deal with my problems to don't make you feel worry too much for me…you have been a good person with me and…you're almost like a father to me all this time…I just tried to manage my problems by my own…but that didn't resulted well, right? - Jūtarō told to his guardian with pain in his heart.
-…I see…Is good you wanted to try manage your own problems, but you must know when you have to ask for help…or at least someone could give you a little support, you know I will always will be available to hear about your problems, keep in mind you're not alone now…- Mr. Mononobe lectured him in a fatherly way, then he embraces Jūtarō in his arms and changes the topic.
-about your collapse in P.E., you want to talk about it? maybe I could help…- the professor asks him, expecting some answer, after some seconds in silence, Jūtarō doubts to tell him, but decides to speak out the cause.
-I have been practicing something all these nights professor…you see…there's someone I started to hang on for some time…and I wanted to talk with that person about what I feel for…- Jūtarō explains about this issue, but Mr. Mononobe interrupts him suddenly.
-Sorry for interrupt you but, who is this someone you're mentioning? call it mere curiosity…- the professor asks him abruptly, the summoner stays a little shocked about that question, but instead of answer him, he takes his phone and shows to Mr. Mononobe a photo of Hephaestus.
-His name is Hephaestus…he's a transient student at Kamata Tech in Ota Ward, and I visit him at his home sometimes…he's a little shy…but he's kind…strong…and noble…he has been very nice with me- Jūtarō talks about him with his guardian and blushes.
-well… the scars and the flaming eye makes him look wild…but as you say, he's a nice person, so…you like him? – Mr. Mononobe asks him directly about Hephaestus, Jūtarō is shocked and tries to make an answer, but he just mumbles and cannot articulate a single word.
-It's Ok if you don't want to answer, but if everything results good, present him to me, please?... just to give him the boyfriend/father lecture…- the teacher comments this giving a smile to his protegee, Jūtarō is still shocked by the comment, he nods with the head and retires from the Staff Room to go back to the dorm, after Jūtarō retires, Mr. Mononobe stays a little longer in the Staff Room, he ponders about Hephaestus and takes a book hidden in his desk.
-He found the first one, the first one of the most noble souls from the 23 worlds, the nemesis of the current World Representatives, the first World Savior- he opens the book and passes through pages until he stops at one specifical blank page, an image of Hephaestus in a kind of glorious radiance, surrounded by flames and weapons, wearing a strange armor appears at the blank page. -Role of the Artificer, Rule of True Betterment, The Prince of the Fire Oceans- Mononobe reads the paragraph written below the image.
Shinjuku Academy, Dormitory One
Salomon cooks some chicken curry in a crock pot meanwhile his master lays at bed watching his phone's photo gallery scrolling all the photos he had, some from Claude's beach party and his intent to engage himself with Jūtarō in marriage, the Halloween festival at Umamichi Academy, Chernobog's Debut as actor, the first year anniversary of the Guild, until he reaches to the album with photos of Kamata Crafters, they became like a second family to Jūtarō and wished to present his friends to the crafters soon… he thought they would become good friends between them.
After Salomon served dinner, the summoner keeps in mind the idea to call Hephaestus again, maybe listen his deep and mellow voice could help him ease his worries, but it would boost up his awkwardness about his crush, he hesitates for some minutes until finally decides to call him, Jūtarō changes the gallery app to the telephone app and picks Hephaestus' number, after some minutes in waiting, the summoner hears a sound, then familiar voice initiates the conversation.
- Umm…H-hello? – Hephaestus answers insecure.
- Hephaestus…? – Jūtarō answers back nervously.
-M-Mama…H-how are you? why did you call me? -the transient crafter responds in his usual shy tone.
-I…just…wanted to know what you're doing, and how are you there, everything fine? – Jūtarō asks with the same shy tone as Hephaestus.
-I-I can't lie to you…something is wrong with Talos lately, he has been getting abnormal reactions, and he says he had visions about an entity stalking him…a-all of us are kinda tense here, I-I'm still working in a way to help him, I hope get that solution soon…- Hephaestus tells him about the problem with Talos, the summoner stays silent, after hear about the android's problem, he suggest something.
-I'm sorry for what you're passing through now, maybe we should cancel that appointment and leave it to another day…- the summoner said to the crafter at the phone.
-NO! – Hephaestus said aloud at the phone surprising Jūtarō, after that burst of emotion, the crafter recomposes himself and keeps going with the conversation.
-W-what I wanted to say is t-that is not necessary cancel the appointment, Talos hasn't had those reactions lastly, and it's always nice you visit me-us, I mean visit us Mama…- the crafter commented.
-If you insist…then I'll come this Sunday…- Jūtarō said to confirm the appointment.
- A-and Jūtarō? – the crafter said after the confirmation.
-Yes? - Jūtarō asked.
- t-thanks…for calling me...- Hephaestus said before finishing the call.
-you're welcome, and thank you- the summoner answered to finish the conversation.
After hung up the phone call, Jūtarō thinks about what Hephaestus said about Talos' problem, he wondered if there was anything he could do to help Talos and about his feelings for Hephaestus, suddenly, the Hephaestus doll hovers over his face and a voice trying to imitate Hephaestus talks to him.
-Who was that? – the voice asks imitating Hephaestus in jealous mode and moving the doll to make it more convincing.
-Salomon, please stop…- Jūtarō just orders to stop this game.
-Salomon is not here! I am The Great Hephaestus! a proud member of The Kamata Crafters, and your knight in shiny armor! and I want to know who was at the phone! why you're having a conversation with that poser knowing you have the real one right here?!, I LOVE YOU! BE MY LOVER! KISS ME!- the doll moves and makes dramatical poses giving emphasis to its dialogues to finally get closer to Jūtarō's face ordering a kiss.
- Salomon, just stop, please- Jūtarō laughs and tries to stop Salomon's game, but both fall from the bed still laughing, then the young summoner grabs Hephaestus doll while Salomon takes Talos doll and both play to pass the time until bedtime.
Crafters' Workshop, Kamata Tech
After the last abnormal reaction of Talos, the tension has been relaxed a bit, but the crafters are still wary about what could happen in any moment, Takemaru and Kurogane were giving the last details to the last order from a client to send it tomorrow, meanwhile Amatsumara was attending the last client of the day about a new order for the next month, Hephaestus was finishing a set of prosthetic limbs to the local hospital while Talos was assisting him with the blueprints and last minute changes to a certain prosthetic arm before the end of day, with the last client gone, the crafters finally could relax at the living room/dining table at the upper rooms of the workshop.
-Man, what a day! that client was really picky with those last-minute changes to all my perfect work in the furniture set. – Takemaru complained while he was lying at the sofa.
-maybe you should stop attend that type of orders Take-Niki, those "Karens" don't appreciate a good job and service even when they saw it in their faces- Kurogane followed him complaining tiredly while he was sit in the floor.
-Hey! don't say that again! maybe those clients don't give enough credit to our job, but they pay for a good handmade work, and we should proud ourselves for our craft, so I hope don't back to listen you complaining, you should be thankful with the clients, even if the complaint is justified- the oldest crafter and grandfather of the group lectures them about how attend picky clients or "Karens" like Kurogane was starting to call them due to the popularity of certain webpage in Tokyo called "Reddis".
After giving them the lecture, he came back to the kitchen to prepare dinner, meanwhile, Hephaestus was seated at the dining table with his computer working in the unknown code, Amatsumara watches him work in silence until chooses to talk with his other adopted grandson.
-Hey Heph, how you're going with Talos' issue? - the old man asked to Hephaestus with paternal feeling.
-I'm still on it, Old Man, this code is harder than I believed it would be, but I'm getting close, until now, the structure of the code shows some words, negative words- the fire god transient reveals some of the decoded structure of the unknown code, in the structure, the main words are words denoting negative things like FEAR, EVIL, DARKNESS, HATE, PAIN, SUFFERING, SADNESS, etc.
-well, that's a really ominous code, I never seen something like this before, do you really can handle this, Hephaestus? – the older transient asks with concern while he rubs his chin, Hephaestus groans a little because of exhaustion but keeps working, he was going to answer Amatsumara, then another voice enters into the conversation.
-He can handle it Mr. Amatsumara, my creator is a genius and I know he will find the way to resolve my problem- Talos answered to the older crafter instead of his creator while he comes in to the kitchen, the answer makes Hephaestus blush of embarrassment and berates him for his cheesy comment making the flame from his eye gets more lively and burning more than before, even another flames burst from Hepheastus' scars from his head and face.
-T-Talos! you can't say that kind of things like that! it's embarrassing! - the crafter says to the android in an upset tone.
-why you say that, Creator? Is embarrassing to say I have faith in my creator to help me? Is embarrassing to say I believe in you, Creator? – the android asks with curiosity to his creator looking him with hope in his eyes and holding his hands.
-Admit it Bro, your robotic Pinocchio loves you too much, Hephpetto! - Takemaru comments and the crafters laugh, but Hephaestus submerges into his work and hides his blushing face because of the embarrassment.
-Talos! - the Olympian transient mumbles and grunts to himself upset while his adoptive brothers are still laughing for the oni's comment.
-well, changing the topic, Tvastar told me he will come back to the workshop next week after finishing his errands in Little Deva Loka- Amatsumara announced the coming of the last Crafter, but the reaction wasn't what he expected.
-SHIT!- the other crafters exclaimed with disgust at unison aloud, even Talos.
Hephaestus' Underground Lab
Talos was in sleep mode in his tunning chair, it seemed like it was going to be a peaceful nighttime, but that was going to change to the android…
In a dream
Talos open his eyes and sees the underground lab, it seems nothing was wrong except for one thing, he saw in front of him someone crying over a dead corpse in the ground, he gets close to see the scene, then he notes who was crying aloud, it was Jūtarō and in his arms, there was another familiar face…
-NO! NO! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE, IT MUST BE A LIE! - Talos yells shocked when he sees the bloodied corpse…
Hephaestus was dead in Jūtarō's arms, there's a hole where his heart was, a bloody puddle was under his dead body, then Jūtarō stands up and turns around to see Talos with a deep hate and Boundless Tail in his hand wanting revenge.
-Mama, please tell me! Who killed my creator?!- the android pleads him, but the answer he got wasn't the most comforting one.
-YOU DARE TO ASK ME WHO KILLED HIM?! LOOK AT YOUR HAND, MONSTER!- the summoner yells at him with rage and signaling his right hand.
Talos doesn't dare to watch, but he rises his hand slowly with closed eyes, he feels a pumping feeling, then he opens his eyes widely and watches what is in his hand, the same paralyzing feeling from other nightmares invades him again, there was a still pumping heart in his hand, his creator's heart, he let it drop to watch his own bloodied hand transforming into a more menacing and wretched monster hand.
He feels how his face is burning, he turns around to a mirror and see how his face is transforming, his face is becoming into a wretched mix of robot and organic, his eyes become red and his mouth transforms into a mouth full of pointy metallic edges, Talos is petrified by the transformation, but turns around his head to see Jūtarō stabbing his face with Boundless Tail.
Talos wakes up suddenly, he checks up his reflection in a mirror, his face and hands are still human-like, his artificial sweat tries to cool off his processors, the android proceeds to go back to the armchair but something else was in his way.
-You…- the android said to the entity with disgust, this time face to face, the entity stays silent until he answers with that distorted voice.
-Hi, my dear puppet, did you like your last dream? – it asked to the android teasing him.
-what are you?!, what do you want from me and my family?!- Talos asked it angrily.
-I'm what you had to be, I'm what you must be, and I will accomplish what you left behind, stupid puppet- the entity answered with a calm rage in his distorted voice.
-what I left behind? No… do you mean...- Talos realized what the entity was meaning with shock and impotence, the purpose of his creation.
-Yes…that purpose, the purpose your creator imposed over you…that one purpose…I will accomplish it…and I will be complete once for all- the entity commented about its scheme.
-I will stop you!, you will not put your hands over my creator, never!- Talos warned it with determination.
-And you think you will stop me, puppet? I'm the one who pulls the strings, your strings my oversized Pinocchio, you're dancing to my tune, soon, you will assist me to achieve my purpose, and that time would be…sooner than you may think- the entity menaces him with a cunning tone.
-what?!- Talos wonders to the entity but this disappears in air, the android listens its distorted laugh in air, the decisive confrontation was settled, and Talos was determined to protect his Creator, protect him from that evil entity risking his life, and even, risking his most deep wish, and free himself from that thing.