K: Dissensus

The first night after the Will-training had occured.

One would see two parallel guest rooms when going upstairs after having entered the tavern. The rooms offered two beds, one large window, wooden walls and a floor and warm ambient light for the eve and shining light for the morning.

However, it was dark right now, as it had become night. But one would make out the interior with ease if they were to stare long enough at the darkness that filled the rooms. The boys resided in one, while the girl resided in the other.

It was cold. It was Spring, not yet Summer, indeed and Ray was still awake and unsettled. Staring at the ceiling as he had given up falling asleep one hour ago already, he was unconsciously deciding on speaking his thoughts out loud again :

"What am I even doing man... Shit, I need to get myself back togehter. Quick, or else... I'll fall somewhere. But where to..? Leo. Man, what am I-"

He slowly crawled out of his bed with what strength he had left from the training. Acting solely on instinct and without any second thoughts he made his way to Leo's bed. The tips of his blonde hair had become blackish due to the use of his fire; they showed his exhaustion perfectly. "Leo." "Leo." He whispered his name, though it achieved no results, resulting in Ray to take things a step further. "I know you're not asleep.", he said and so, in his belief, climbed atop Leo as he did, when they first met, sitting on the boy who was in fact asleep. Ray realized that immediately once he noticed the calm breathing which wasn't his. His look went down to the sleeping face of Leo, what finally pulled Ray out of his trance, making him feel extremely guilty for being responsible of possibly ruining one's peaceful sleep. But he didn't back off. No, instead he stayed where he was and observed his friend. "This guy.." Ray was confused, confused by Leo. "How could one be so weak and so strong at the same time?" Ray was falling into thoughts again. "Mhh..." "Oh, Shi-" Leo opened his eyes slowly. They both looked at each other in silence. "Is everything.. all right?", Leo asked in a soft tone. Ray was clueless, he didn't know how to explain himself. "Y-yeah. Everything's-", Ray stopped for a moment, "No, actually, I hate it." "What-?" "I hate the fact that I'm- like, why? Why are you like that? I thought we were going to change the world, make it our own. Togther-" "But we are-" "Stop. You don't even notice it, Leo. The fact that, I'll be a drag for you soon. Maybe I'm- just not cut out for this-." Ray was frustrated, first from the inside and now it had to come out: "Shit, maybe you should just forget about me-". Ray's mouth stopped talking, guilt and regret filled him as he felt second heartbeat. A comforting warmth and the sweet scent of apples and cinnamon surrounded his body; as he saw how Leo gave him a heartfelt hug, Ray became quiet; a peaceful harmony returned into him. "There is no competition, though, Ray.", he couldn't see it, as one side of his face was resting on Ray's stomach, but Leo smiled again. " And we're gonna make it, aren't we?" Ray was calm again, together with his mind at ease."We're going to make it. Together.", Ray said quietly. The coziness had made him sleepy and Leo's tight hug wouldn't let him go, he thought, and so, Ray let himself fall forward and finally fell asleep. Atop Leo, who now was the one awake and flustered.

The next morning brought a new guest into the tavern. The children were still up in their rooms, only Daniel and Boss were up. Daniel, who was enjoying a bottle of beer, didn't look at the newcomer but Boss did and he was greeted with her smile. "Cherryboy, it's been a while!", he punched Daniel's shoulder so hard that Daniel let the bottle drop to the counter, thankfully not spilling anything. As he recognized not the voice, but rather the scent of Charles, he let out a laugh of relief. "Damn, ah, this does bring back memories.. How've you been, Charles?" "Probably better than you, well at least I'm not chained down to some kids.." Boss put down a beer with smack that severed as 'welcome' to Charles. "Shanna..", Charles said amusingly to what Boss responded with a wink.

"It's only three of them though, nothing I can't handle." Daniel drank, Charles put down his bottle he had drunken the half of already.

"Three? 'Thought it was only two.. I sense Ray.. and some girl." "Mhm, there's 'nother boy.

What? Did you become so rusty, you can't sense people in a room right above you anymore?", Daniel provoked him. "Nah, it's okay. After all, you didn't see me coming, so you're still weaker in Will than me." Charles pushed down Daniel's head. "You look good, Shanna. Same as back then." "So do ya, Charles. Same as back then." Charles had a bare upper body but wore the jacket Daniel had thrown away, and after having spotted in the trash, he fixed and wore it as of now. Charles carried a carefree atmosphere around him which complimented those of Shanna and Daniel. After all, three members of the ARCHITECTS were gathered at one place, so of course a sense of camaraderie would be felt when entering this area of the tavern. Exactly what Ray and Leigh felt when coming down to get some water.

"Uncle Charles?" "'Morning." "Good morning." Boss put down two glasses of water for the teenagers. "Ray, I got something important to say..but first.. We're missing one other boy now, aren't we?" Ray tensed up, the memory about last night crawled back into his mind, plus, he had just witnessed the same situation which was left off last night, as he had woken up just a few minutes ago. Leo came down. Charles inspected Leo, moved his eyes to Leigh who downed the water, then finally got back to Ray. "Strong team.", he thought. "What is it?", Ray asked. "So? Ah, yeah... Basically your old man wants you back." "Tsk." "He sent me to find you too, can you believe that?" "Like, become a decent parent, finally.", Charles and Leigh spoke at the same time, exchanged views. Charles had to laugh, and so did Boss and Daniel. It left Leigh with confusion. "Now what?", she asked, not expecting the answer she was given: "Just like your mother." "Wha-", she whispered. "Now,

'course I won't drag you back home. I'll let you handle your dad yourself. But do it in the near future please, that idiot starts getting on my nerves.." "Yeah, alright. I'll do it sometime at the end of the month, is that alright?" Leo was just standing there. Then, the music started playing and he looked the man in the eyes but asked Ray: "What're you gonna do?" "Nothing big,

I'll cut off the past once and-" "For all.", Leo finished Ray's sentence. "Just come back safe, so we can be together again after that." Boss raised her eyesbrows, Leigh took off to the rest room, Daniel finished both his and Charles beer while he wasn't looking and Ray had to surpress his slight embarrassment. "Yeah, I'll be fine. But you'll have a real challenge, going up against the king." This peaked Charles' interest in Leo. "Alright, then. I'll assume this will also happen at the end if this month?", Charles asked Leo directly. "Guess so. If Mr. Cherrywine allows it, I'll try earlier." "Man.", Daniel made his way out: "We'll meet at the same place as yesterday, don't be late." Charles laughed, he was impressed with Leo. His first guess was that he was a let-down, however he acknowledged the one who had surpressed his presence so he wouldn't be sensed by someone like Charles Blackwood. "Good, I'll be there-" "Leo is a good name." "Ayo, Charles!" Charles caught the bottle of beer that was flying his way with his right hand,

gave Ray some last parting words and finally took off. Leo had a clear image of Charles, he knew that man had strength he wouldn't use carelessly against the weak.

"The crazy bring even crazier into the world, right, Jackie?"

Charles opened the bottle, and made his way home, by foot and Will, just how he came.

Ray was given the task of igniting his hands while having them covered in water, for he was standing in the lake, or rather kneeling, so that only his upper body was hit by the cold, fresh air. Leigh on the other hand, had Boss,

"Shanna, look at her back", specifically at the black pattern. It was only small now,

positioned at the middle of the spine but it would grow to cover the whole body if that much power was needed. "And where is Leo?",

Ray asked Daniel, who was teaching him,

while concentrating on his hands.

"I said to him that he should go, get some clothes." "What kinda task is that? Plus, he doesn't have any money." "This town doen't have any money. The people here live genuinely with themselves. Everybody's welcomed into here but few take the chance to stay." "So there's no money system.. Now it makes sense..", Ray thought. "Plus, I gave him the task to make out Charles' location." "How?" "Through Will,

of course." Ray was once again amazed by the possibilities one could achieve and then got fired up. The steam turned into bubbles, then made the water splash; There were blows you could hear coming from the surface of the water, splashing it out of the lake onto the ground. Daniel and Ray smiled at each other with success in their eyes.

"Will that be all?" "Yes, and thanks again for helping me choose these. I've really no sense for fashion, I think." "Oh there's nothing to thank for,

dear." "You have such a lovley atmosphere, my child." Leo was sent 'shopping' alone, but he wasn't lonely, as the town folks recognized him from his day of arrival they offered their help and were too nice to turn down, so Leo gladly accepted their offer.

After parting ways with them, he focused on his task. He had seen him. A clear picture formed in his mind. Eyes closed, mind focused, feet stood on top the ground. His feeling expanded, now it was the footsteps of other people he could sense but the range would have to grow if he was to make out one, single person who was outside of Pandemonium. Leo stopped because the pain in his feet grew too strong, as did Ray; his heart pained too much. "You'll have to overcome the pain. Force it." Ray didn't even see Daniel due to the thick steam he had created. "Think outside of the fire. You want it to hurt?" "No..", Ray understood and tried not to get rid of the pain in his heart but to erase it. Short screams of pain came out of Leigh's mouth. Boss was erasing the black pattern from Leigh's back which damaged her skin badly, leaving traces of light red behind which were then removed as well by Boss. The painful part was done and Leigh stood up shakingly, and felt better at last, as one could tell by her relieved facial expression.

"The Godsent-Familiy uses these patterns to force their children into their soldier-life.",

Boss said. "Do all of you know my mother?",

Leigh asked. "Well, dear, she is a close friend of ours." "Do you know where she is?"

Boss answered with a shake of the head. The black pattern appeared in the middle of her back again, as if it was called for. "Fuck.

I can feel it. Is it back?" "That's odd. It must've been strengthened with something." "Something even you can't overcome?", Leigh was getting nervous. "It's prolly the familiy itself." "Huh?" "The pattern is a tradition, right? Your mom had it as well." "That means..

I'll have to overpower my whole family?! From the first member? That's- How many years-" Boss put her hand on Leigh's shoulder.

The hardest tasks are achieved by the strongest wills.

Leigh has to overcome her predecessors,

Ray his heart,

and Leo his past.

-Then ask yourself, for whom do you fight?-

The eyes widened, the rush of blood grew, the harmony between thought and nature seemed balanced, thus, resolve was born anew.

"I'll fight for.."

End of 'Königsmord: Dissensus