(Mira Oka)
I was going to help him.
“S-Slow down!” Ace stammered. “If you need some time alone that’s okay too. That was my fault, I’m sorry, I pried-”
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” I said quickly. “More importantly, I have a few questions for you.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Regarding the day you attacked that guard.”
He rolled his eyes. “Not this again.”
“This is crucial.”
He sighed. “I know, I know. What is it?”
“How did it feel?” I asked. “What were you feeling? I know you said you didn’t have much control, but what was your mind like?”
“My mind?” He paused for a moment, looking as though he was deep in thought. “Well, I was mostly just angry? It was like I wanted that guard to bleed so much. I wanted him to feel pain. I was desperate, so I just ended up attacking.”
He then looked down, frowning.
“I see,” I said after a while. “I think I know what to do. Be right back. Stay there.”
I hurried back to Laura and Lena’s place.
“Is everything good out there?” Laura asked.
“Yup,” I replied. “Do you still have that bottle to stop someone’s ability temporarily?”
“Yeah, it’s on the shelf on the right. But why? You didn’t use that in ages-”
“Don’t worry about it,” I cut her off, grabbing the bottle. “Also I’m going to borrow a cloth.”
“Have fun.” Lena called.
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I left the house and went back to Ace.
His eyes darted to the bottle that was in my hand. “What’s that for?”
“For testing,” I answered. “Follow me.”
Rubbing his arm, he walked behind me.
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We stopped by a tall tree quite far away from the house.
I pulled out a rope from my bag.
Ace pulled his hands away in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“It’s fine, don’t worry,” I said. “Your wrists.”
Cautiously, he stuck out his arms. I tied the ropes around his wrists. Then I tied the other end of the rope to the tree. I then took out the cloth.
Ace’s eyes widened, as he took a step back. “You’re going to drug me!?”
I shook my head. “No, this stops your ability for a temporary moment. I had it when I was younger, and it really helped. I’m only going to use it if something goes wrong. But we shouldn’t use it too much.” And with that, I tied the cloth around his mouth. However, his teeth went over it.
“What’s this for?” He asked, though it was somewhat muffled.
“To make you shut up.” I replied, waving my hand carelessly.
He turned to me with a confused look.
I rolled my eyes then smirked. “You fell right into my trap. Man, you’re easy. Doing exactly what people tell you to do. That’s weak behavior. You’re going to end up getting yourself killed.”
“I literally burned your ankle.” He replied, already, clenching his teeth through the cloth.
I turned to him with a shrug. “And that’s it? That’s all you're capable of? Is that what you’re going to do to the council? Reach their ankles?”
He was shooting me a glare.
I decided to add, “If the only thing you can do is run away and roast feet, your purpose is pathetic-”
“That’s it!” He yelled, before lunging at me. His wings were out, and his jaws extended. His eyes were red again and his sharp teeth stabbed through the sheet. Luckily, the rope was pulling him back.
“Take control!” I called. “Resist the urge of violence!”
He started shaking.
“You can do it!” I encouraged. “Now try to stop it. Make it go away. Resist your temptation for violence.”
He let out a low growl.
“You got this.”
His form didn’t change. Worth a shot. Letting my arms out, I approached him slowly. I undid the cloth. Holding the bottle, I quickly opened the bottle and poured the liquid into his mouth before he could protest. He started coughing, falling to the ground. and the wings and other parts went away instantly.
“You almost did it,” I started. “You just need to summon it quicker and learn how to get rid of it.”
He scoffed. “So you didn’t mean any of that.”
“Yeah, it was just to make you angry as an activator,” I replied. “It did work. But you need to tone it down a bit.”
He sighed. “This isn’t going to work-”
“I’ll be right back.” I headed back into the house. Lena and Laura helped me get papers and a pen. I walked back outside to Ace who’s eyebrows were creased in worry.
“Ace, it will be fine,” I told him, once I reached near him. “Just follow what you’re feeling and then try to make better use of that.” I tied the cloth around his mouth again. I pulled out the pen and started scribbling. “Now I’m not perfect at drawing, but you will clearly see what I’m trying to draw.” Once I finished, I held it up. It was a drawing of a guard.
Ace’s eyes became red again. He almost leaped, but kept it back this time.
I sighed in relief. “Good. Now reverse it. Descend that anger. Backtrack. Transfer that ambitious feeling to something positive.”
He was shaking his head and trembling again.
I walked over to him, undid the cloth and gave him the medicine again.
He swallowed and they were gone again. “You can’t keep giving me that.”
“I know. You almost got it though-”
“This isn’t going to work,” He then whispered. “Just let me out.”
“It is going to work,” I replied without missing a beat. “It already has. You’re just not thinking of the right things.”
“Then tell me what I should think about!”
“How am I supposed to know what you think is right!?”
Silence.
Then I said in a quieter voice, “But I do have something in mind that affects most people.”
He sighed before I tied the cloth around his mouth.
I crossed my arms. “Do it.”
The features returned. Though he didn’t attack. Or even tried to. He was trembling though,
“As I said before, use that ambitious from violence to something more positive,”
He was still shaking, but I continued. He needed an example. “Perhaps to someone you care about, or someone you want to protect.”
His eyes were shut tight. Not long after, the sharp teeth were shortening in length. The jaws were going back to their original size. The wings were disappearing. He opened his eyes and they were back to being brown colored. He heaved a sigh. I went over to him, undoing the rope. “You did it! I’m sure if you keep going at it, you’ll be able to use it as a protection rather than a threat.”
“P-Protection?” He replied, baffled. He rubbed his wrists before turning away. “Don’t say stupid things like that. There’s no way that’s going to happen.”
“There’s probably a lot I need to learn about you,” I started before giving a small smile. “But I’m glad I got to help you at least a little.”
`“Well it wasn’t like I asked you to,” He snapped. I could see his face turn red. His shoulders hunched over. “But…thanks.”
I hefted my bag. “Let’s get dressed to go.”
He turned to me.
“Where are we going?”
“The Grand Mall.”
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