MEANWHILE
"So, you're in a better mood."
"What can I say? I just feel naturally better."
"Yet, you're still sad?"
"Is it obvious?"
"No, in fact, If I didn't go on this walk with you I would have never felt your energy. You're happy, yet there is still something... wrong isn't there."
"It's Alfred. He's my best friend. I don't like to see my friends hurt. I work really hard to make them my friends."
"Work?"
"I'm sort of unlikable. That's just how I am. I'm either the young weak one, or the oddball in the group. Both of those don't really work with groups of people or even just singular people."
"Fair. I think you're a cool guy. I can see why Alfred..."
"Alfred what?"
"Nothing. It's just that he sent me a letter one day."
"About?"
"Well, his job. How it was going, and all that."
"He never brought up that he had a brother or that he communicated with him at all."
"He... sort of hates me and our other brother."
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CHAPTER 51: Opened His Eyes
26Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzQOGvMOrV
"What do you do?"
"Well, nothing in my eyes... I might have used the wrong word. Maybe not hate, more... wants to block out that fact we exist."
"That's not a word, that's a sentence."
"Tomato, Potato."
"That's not the saying either..."
"Regardless, we all went towards different paths, and we conflicted with each other a lot. They're also our fathers. He... responsible for most of the splits in this family."
"I can relate to that."
"Right. Guess we both had shitty lives back then huh?"
"Guess so. Toast to that."
"Amen, brother."
"So, you haven't spoken to each other in years?"
"Well, we still talk. Me and Alfred that is. However, when I worked at the top of the government they intercepted my messages of me and Alfred. From there it was just a matter of time."
"That sucks."
"Yeah around the time he met, you are around the time I had to stop writing to him."
"Around the time he met me? How do you know?"
"He wrote about you."
"Oh? Was it how much of a dumbass I am?"
"I can't say. Alfred is not here."
"Mm... Interesting."
"So... Out of just asking... How did you meet my brother!? Was he moody, overly happy, a weird man with white hair!? Tell me!"
"You sound so excited, why do you want to know so bad?"
"Secret is... I love my brothers. Xdred and Alfred are always going to have a special part in my heart. Even if they don't talk to me or rarely do. I just want to know anything about them."
"I guess I can relate to that as well. Alright, then I'll tell you. It all started from a meeting I was in before I joined the Undershow."
"You're in something else before the Undershow?"
"I... I was in The Otherside. At the time it was the Zoul Crime Family. I was young and stupid."
"No- No way!"
"So, your brother might have already known about me."
"How?"
"I- I was friends with the guy he was next to. Best friends. Dazin Zoul."
"No way."
"However, that's a story for another day. I'll just give everything about me and Alfred."
"Aww. Of course, you do this."
"Don't be too sad. Dazin in the story."
"Alright! I'm listening! Even though I wanted Xdred in it..."
"Okay. This is how I met Alfred."
...
"Where... Where am I?"
"Hello, Alfred."
"Oh? You. I'm really out cold then huh?"
"Today. The day."
"Did I... die?"
"Nope. Your friend saved you. Then they brought you to some location. I can feel your brother's presence, however..."
"I thought you said they saved me."
"Wrong brother."
"Captain?"
"Yup."
"Oh... That's nice. I... want to apologize to him. I just was so ashamed of myself to do so. So I stayed out of his life. I can see now... that was a mistake."
"Stop your yip yapping. I'm not a therapist now."
"Don't forget whose mind you're trapped in. Now... why am I here?"
"You're here with me because I've kept you here."
"Why?"
"You're body. Needed to relearn your abilities so you can use them the moment you reawaken in your own mind. I told you it's the big day. They're set in stone. They're ready for usage!"
"So... Can I leave?"
"Yup. However, you've been out cold for some time. I made it so you can still hear conversations though so you know the rundown of what's going on in your pathetic agency. Can you wake up?"
"I can wake up. Easily. With the power."
"Good. That's what we've been waiting for. If your friend didn't save you then. You could have actually died."
"You... we're talking about Apollo, right?"
"Yeah. However, he's an asshole anyways. Stop hanging out with him."
"Never... He's..."
"He's?"
"Someone I could never walk away from."
"Ugh. You're... You're so lame. Anyways, I do sort of like him."
"You do!? I mean... you do?"
"Sort of. I like his ability. It's... something I've never seen before."
"His wolf form? It's useful. Good for combat and non-combat. Yet, why would it catch your eye?"
"Yes! It by itself is sort of mediocre... But! What makes it amazing is that poet's touch. That! That makes me find him admirable. However, he's such an asshole he immediately goes down to a 5."
"You'll never like anybody I like! Not my ex-wife, Not my agency, nobody. If you opened your head more you liked them."
"Too much work to be honest. I'll try again so that day I'm truly bored. However! Something that is interesting is that Z kid. He's... in the family huh?"
"Looks like it."
"That's great! Someone I can definitely rely on to carry our name."
"I'm carrying it out just fine."
I'm not an old fool. I've been everywhere. I've seen everything... Also, I can kind of see your thoughts. Unless something changes, you're not carrying out our name."
"I see. Well, I already did all I could do anyways."
"So, it's like that huh?"
"I'm not confirming or denying."
"Good thing Z exists. He's my favorite right now."
"Wow, I'll put in a good word for you. Maybe I should also sign a cake in your name and give it to him."
"Quiet with your sarcasm. I genuinely do find interest in him as well. He's... fun. I love his way of thinking. He's so twisted. Way more twisted than you think."
"Why do you think that?"
"The moment you laid eyes on him. I know what he did. Cheeky bastard."
"What's that?"
"Can't say it. It's a secret."
"Of course it is. All you do is keep secrets."
With that the room stood still, nothing but the two looking at each other and Alfred rubbing his finger and thumb together.
"You seem scared? What's the issue?"
"I felt so useless over the span of these years. I felt like I couldn't do anything. I watched so many people die. I fought to survive on my last breath every time. Now. Things will be different. Who knows? Maybe I can change the world of Zoe usage as we know it."
"Who knows? I know. Now that your abilities are finally usable... You better show me what you promised. For years the name alone has kept most people at bay. However, with this recent battle you and your idiots partook in. Everyone thinks no one inherited the techniques, they think they're gone now. People we haven't seen in years are going to come back for control. So when you awaken, teach them something about why the name Polemos reigns supreme, promise?"
"I promise."
"Now then. I suggest you do awaken, since I'm pretty sure you don't want to wake up to more loss than you already have."
"Why that?"
"Wolf kid is dying."
"What!?"
"Yeah. I can feel it from here... I'm surprised you can't. You should feel it. When you think of someone. You can feel them. Don't forget who's kid you are."
"I can feel it. He... really is dying. I... need to save him."
"Wake up then. I'm tired of looking at you anyways."
"Later... father."
ALFRED OPENS HIS EYES
"Shit. I don't know where I am. How am I going to find hi-"
"When you think of someone. You can feel them."
"Right. I can use that now."
It clicked. Like a water drop falling into an infinite lake or a light that has been off for so long. Begging to be turned on. A switch of the flip. It felt... amazing. For the first time in a long time, Alfred Polemos is able to use his ability.
"Guess. Guess I'm breaking out then." Alfred then clenched his hand as he completely annihilated the roof above him and started to fly towards Apollo's location.
"He's in the city."
Alfred dashed towards the city. As it was full of people and lively. The beautiful lights, the sounds of talking, the joy flershing through the air and hitting him as soon as he entered it. It all felt... off. Apollo dying yet, with no signs of fear. Alfred was starting to get pissed off.
"You... Better not die on me. Before I even get to say two words to you. That's the boss's orders! No! That's a friend's order."
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