05.06.2023
It is I, the Absolute Madman and I'm almost a week late due to slight burnout, but more about that in the End Notes! For now we finally have a comment! (RIP the streak tho):
SonicMax - Well, they are teens, correct, but they are also training to be heroes, y'know, the responsible protectors of the society. You can't guide them every step of the journey. I'm looking at this more like teaching a man how to fish instead of feeding him. And in regards to canon - do you really think Nezu just overlooked something? It's Nezu, he doesn't do shit like that.
And now, the chapter!:
Monk'ai listened intently to Izuku's explanation, asking no questions whatsoever but making sure to note every single detail of the story that he deemed relevant enough. He didn't seem to doubt the authenticity of Izuku's words, as if that was the case he'd have surely interrupted his intern by now. And yet that did not happen and Izuku was able to disclose everything in one long, winding monologue.
Izuku took a deep breath once he was done, the explanation taking more out of him than he expected and then waited for Monk'ai's reaction. The white-haired man stayed silent for a couple of moments before eventually speaking.
"Demons, eh?" He murmured, probably more to himself than to Izuku. "Do you perhaps, how long they were around for?" Monk'ai asked, which was something Izuku didn't expect him to be interested in.
"Well, from what I managed to retrace over the years, the Blade of Antwyr is mentioned in a few documents dating all the way to the fall of Rome. There are scribes telling of a 'ferocious barbarian, with a sword like no other, unmatched and destructive beyond all reason'. Although the sense could've been lost in the translation, I believe it could be the truth." Izuku explained, sharing the discoveries he made a while ago.
"So they should be known in the Middle Ages, right?" This was another weird question, but Izuku nodded affirmatively anyway, since he did discover records mentioning the Black Blade during the crusades. "That's great!" Monk'ai suddenly exclaimed and a wide grin almost split his face in two.
"And why's that?" Izuku asked, thoroughly confused.
"You told me your story, now it's time I tell you one of mine!" Monk'ai stated and began his tale.
There was once a family in what used to be the Holy Roman Empire, the biggest player in Europe, that, despite their catholic beliefs, dabbled in many forbidden arts. It was even rumored that they summoned and controlled demons, but that was only a rumor. Until it was proven true. The family's name was Faust.
One of the last generations of Fausts consisted of twin brothers - Morgen and Nacht. Morgen was a very bright child, surprising private tutor after private tutor with his astute learning ability. Seeing this, his parents decided to leave him out of their family traditions and chose to send him off to continue his education in only the very best universities that Europe had to offer at the time. Nacht on the other hand was a complete opposite of his brother, one could even say that they were like day and night. Nacht was no sloth, but studies simply failed to garner his attention, thus his parents decided to induct him into the inner circles of their family - summoning and controlling demons.
As soon as Nacht learned of the true nature of his family, he was hooked on it. At a very young age he managed to summon and enslave four different demons, proving himself to be a genius, just like his brother, only in a different area of expertise. For his achievements, Nacht's parents decided to bestow upon him a truly exotic gift - the right to summon a greater demon. Thinking himself capable enough, Nacht jumped at the opportunity as soon as it was presented, dooming the entire house of Faust in the process.
The greater demon proved to be too powerful for Nacht to control and thus he succumbed to its influence. Corrupted by the greater demon, Nacht murdered all the members of house Faust who were present in the summoning chamber doing the incident, his parents included. And if that wasn't enough, his brother - Morgen - had discovered his family's secret and wanted to stop Nacht. He was too late however and the only thing he could do was save his brother by laying down his own life.
Witnessing his brother's death was enough of a shock for Nacht to snap out of the demon's influence, banishing the creature back to the hell from which it came. Seeing the carnage that he committed with his own hands, Nacht made a vow to bury his family's secrets along with all the evidence of their rituals. He then left what remained of his family's residence behind and wandered the world for the rest of his life, using his demonic powers to do selfless acts wherever he went, hoping to atone for the sins he commited.
"That's… quite the story." Izuku stated as he mulled over what he'd just heard.
The Faust family was also mentioned in some of the documents that Izuku studied during his stay at the Fujikuma Monastery, but the story seemed too incredible to spark his interest and so he didn't dwell on it too long, deeming it nothing but a legend. Controlling daemons? And multiple at a time? Ridiculous. Impossible.
But, what if the story really was true? What if there really were people capable of summoning and enslaving daemons? What powers would those individuals possess? What were those daemons like? Did their relationship look like the one he had with the Black Blade of Antwyr? So many questions and not that many answers. He'll need to return to his research once the internships are over.
"I know. My mother used to tell all kinds of stories when I was a kid." Monk'ai said with a fond smile on his face, no doubt recalling some of those tales in his mind. "Welp, now that I know what I'm working with, we can finally get this internship started!" The man declared, already back to his normal pompous self.
Even though Izuku was tossed around like a ragdoll just a few minutes ago, the prospect of finally getting some actual experience under his belt reinvigorated him and he followed Monk'ai with a spring in his step.
Since they were already wearing their costumes, they could leave the agency right away without having to swing by their quarters. Stepping out of the building was a very important moment for Izuku, as this was basically going to be his debut in the world of heroics, even though he was but an intern for now. It is important to remember however that all of the top ranking heroes had to start somewhere, and whilst some may have more bombastic origins than others, they all used to be trainee's just like him.
Izuku had already appeared on TV thanks to his performance in the Sports Festival and even though he cared not for the fame, it felt nice to have a person or two recognize him for his feats in the tournament. His hero suit was what garnered the most attention however, as the people living in Yanaka, though used to the sight of heroes going about their daily duties, couldn't help but become curious when confronted with a hero that they've not seen before.
Forgoing the helmet might have been a sketchy call utilitywise, but the interactions Izuku had on his first ever patrol assured him that it was the correct design choice to make as people didn't seem intimidated by his bulky physique thanks to his visible gentle smile that put them at ease.
Monk'ai made sure to talk him through the main goals of patrolling, which turned out to be more complex than Izuku expected. Yet his mentor's words carried much truth with them despite him throwing in a joke or two here and there, so Izuku continued making mental notes throughout their stroll. And it could be qualified as a stroll for they were simply walking and striking up conversations with the occasional enthusiasts, clerks and passerbys.
When asked about the reasoning behind those interactions, Monk'ai explained that it was important to not only appear in public, but also to get to know the people you're protecting and in turn allowing them to get to know you. Whilst acting like an animated statue was good for heroes with overwhelming destructive powers like Endeavor, the regular pros don't have the power to make villains cower in fear with their visage alone. It's a good idea then to let the public get to know their heroes so that they can remain calm, knowing that they are in capable hands.
Time flew by when Izuku immersed himself fully into his mentor's lecture and before either of them were able to notice, the sun started ironically setting over the land of the rising sun, poetic if you ask me. With the stores slowly closing, corporate workers returning to their families and kids leaving schools for the day, the sidewalks became quite busy, even in a neighborhood as quiet as Yanaka. Just the thought of what the more busy districts of Tokyo might look like during the rush hours was enough to scare Izuku, but he was sure that with time he'd be able to maneuver his way through the densest of crowds! His bulky armor and impressive height will no doubt aid him in that.
For now though, Izuku was more than happy to let Monk'ai lead the way and follow him like a shadow, soaking in any and all potential tips and tricks that his mentor continuously shared with him.
When the number of people occupying the sidewalks started to dwindle, Monk'ai deemed it a good moment to wrap up their first excursion into the real world and return to the agency. It wasn't exactly evening just yet, but there were a couple of things that Monk'ai wanted to go over today, so they decided to head back anyway.
They parted ways upon return, Monk'ai heading up to his personal floor whilst Izuku stopped by his temporary apartment to grab a quick shower and change into something more casual, since Monk'ai already said that they were done with physical activities for the day. One quick clean up later, Izuku found himself stepping into the fake jungle that was his mentor's office.
Navigating it the second time was much easier and he managed to locate the white-haired man without any issues. It was strange to see him casually sitting at his desk instead of doing anything more in character for him, but it was also quite the refreshing sight to see.
Monk'ai motioned for Izuku to sit down on the opposite side of the desk before starting his monologue. It was mostly just recalling the tidbits of information that he's shared during the day, a small test to see if he didn't dump too many new things on his intern. Thankfully Izuku was enthusiastic and able enough to keep up with his mentor and thus managed to remember most of the things that Monk'ai shared with him. He didn't remember everything of course, but his knowledge was still good enough to impress the pro.
After spending a couple of minutes going over the events of the day, Izuku was about ready to return to his room and rest up before yet another exciting day full of learning opportunities. Monk'ai however had an ace up his sleeve and decided to use this just as Izuku was about to leave.
"Do you have any plants for the evening?" Monk'ai asked as he stood up and stretched his back.
"Not really, no." Izuku responded. Whilst he would've liked to contact either Ashido or Kirishima to ask them about their respective internships, he had no way of knowing if they were available or not. Besides, he was curious why Monk'ai would question him about his plans even though they were supposed to wrap things up for today.
"Then would you like to accompany me somewhere?" The white-haired man asked and now Izuku was completely on board.
Following Monk'ai back to the elevator, Izuku racked his brain in overdrive, trying to figure out what his mentor could possibly have to show him. He seriously doubted it was anything strictly heroics-related, but it could be something useful nonetheless.
Things started clicking into place when Izuku saw they were going to the fifth floor and his suspicions were confirmed upon their arrival. Monk'ai already explained that Edgeshot had the entire agency undergo vague soundproofing to block out the distractions from the outside world to create a quiet environment, perfect for relaxation after a long day's work protecting the civvies.
The fifth floor however, was an entirely different beast. Whilst the building was isolated from the noise outside, there was still quite the buzz permeating throughout the agency due to all the pros and sidekicks going about their daily duties. The fifth floor though was completely silent. Completely I tell you. If someone was to drop a glass marble at the opposite end of the floor, it would probably cause an indoors sonic boom. And that's not all.
Monk'ai waltzed confidently out of the elevator and then headed down one of the main corridors, obviously familiar with the layout of the floor already. Izuku followed his mentor closely, not fancying the idea of getting lost at all, making sure to mind his step so as not to make too much noise.
"Relax." Monk'ai said when he saw Izuku tip-toeing his way through the hallway. "This entire floor is soundproofed from the rest of the agency, but each room on this floor is also soundproofed from each other. Even if we were to start screaming at the top of our lungs, I doubt anyone would hear us." The man explained and Izuku followed his advice, changing his cautious steps into a more casual walk.
A few twists and turns later they arrived at their destination, a normal looking door, exactly the same as the ones they passed on the way here. Monk'ai stepped wordlessly inside and motioned for Izuku to do the same, closing the door behind his intern to isolate them from the outside world.
"I'm pretty sure that you know I used to be a wandering monk before taking up the mantle of a hero." Monk'ai started seriously. "Back when I was just a monk, I learned many things related to the inner balance and harmony, both of which I grew immensely fascinated with and study to this day whenever I have free time. One of the most important things about balance and harmony is knowing yourself and looking into your heart rather than out into the world. One of the most common ways to practice such self reflection - and for a good reason too - is mediation. A state where you block out everything around you and direct your focus inwards, drawing out all your thoughts and emotions and confronting them to gain a better understanding of who you are. That's what I'd like to teach you as a bonus. This has nothing to do with heroics and there will be no consequences if you refuse, but I believe this might aid you in your adventures." The man finished his monologue and waited to gauge Izuku's reaction.
Whilst it was true that this had nothing to do with heroics, Izuku didn't mind learning things that could potentially help him in his private life. Ever since he became the warden of the Black Blade, his existence was centered solely around his eternal struggle with the daemon. All things considered, this was as good a time as any to try and wrestle back the control over his own life. Who knows, maybe he'll actually be able to confront the daemon thanks to this?
Izuku had to admit at this point that he had dabbled in meditation somewhat, though his attempts at it failed to yield any results. Now that he had a mentor who was a real monk though, things would surely be different! At least that's what he thought.
No matter how hard he tried, clearing his head off all thoughts was way harder than it had any right to be. Especially since not all of those thoughts belong to him and the daemon seemed really uncooperative today. Must be that time of the month or something.
Monk'ai recognized his trainee's struggles and offered helpful hints, but this attempt also failed to yield any results, seriously impacting Izuku's usual go-getter attitude. He wouldn't let it discourage him in the long term of course, the potential gains were far too great for him to give up just yet, though he would've liked to achieve something today.
"It's alright kid. Everyone has their own styles of meditation. I enjoy listening to some background nature noises like the swishing leaves or distant animals hidden in the jungle. There's also this guy that I know who can get into the right meditative state by listening to hard rock." Monk'ai explained, putting his arm on Izuku's shoulder to give him some of his positive energy.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to find my own meditation focus." Izuku declared and his mentor gave him a really rough slap on the back for that.
"That's the spirit kid!" The white-haired man bellowed joyfully. "Alright, let's not force ourselves any more than necessary. Come, I've one more thing to show you today." Monk'ai said as he left and Izuku continued to follow him.
They entered the elevator and one short ride later arrived at yet another distinct floor. If the fifth was dead silence then this one was one of the circles of hell.
Steam everywhere, sweat rolling down their brows as soon as they left the elevator and an entire myriad of excited voices discussing a vast slew of different topics.
"Welcome to hell on Earth!" Monk'ai introduced as they walked. "Shinya really likes tradition and stuff, so he had an entire floor made into a giant bathhouse/sauna/hot spring combo. 'To cleanse body and soul' he said, but I think he just wanted a big bathtub." The man joked. "That's everything I wanted to show you today. If you're more of a shower guy, then you can go back to your room already. I'm gonna take a dip in the bath though." And with that Monk'ai disappeared in the men's changing room.
Izuku weighed his options for three long seconds - two of which he spent nodding to himself after deciding on the spot - and then quickly followed the man inside, eager to test out whether or not the bath would really cleanse his body and soul.
So... a guy named Nacht that uses demonic powers, rings any bells? If so then good for you, I've actually started rewatching the entire series again cause I enjoyed it immensely.
And now some information - I gotta admit I'm slowly running out of ideas, but mostly due to new ones popping up inside me noggin'. One of those is a piece of original fiction that's been haunting me for quite some time now and it'll most likely have to be written eventually, mostly because I'm really liking the idea of making something... well, original. I definitely won't abandon writing fics for MHA as there are still many many ideas I want to write, but writing something original is slowly becoming something of an end goal for me as a writer and if I were to really get down to it, I'd pull out all the gear and do something that I've never done before - plan the story out. Sounds crazy, I know, for I am the Absolute Madman, but with that title comes great responsibility and one of them is being unpredictable!
About the burnout though - I've noticed over the past few chapter here and over on Stranded that I started to struggle with finding ideas for new scenes. Chaining those random scenes that float inside my head has become quite hard as of late and so I decided to take a step back, a good look from a different perspective and a week off to reorg and rearm, hoping to get back into the swing of things. I could continue pumping stuff out, but I definitely wouldn't want the quality to decrease overtime. To sum it up, no chapter for the next week and back at it again on the 19th for Evil Within and 23rd for Stranded.
I hope you'll understand why I decided to take a short break and that the quality will be back on its feet soon.
For now have a great day and I'll catch y'all in the next update!