[4] The Biggest Difference
[4] The Biggest Difference
“How long am I staying here?” I asked Ethan, jumping unto the sofa.
He stretched. “I’m taking you back to Caesar. He said to bring you back if you wanted answers and seeing that you do...”
“But why can't you just tell me everything?” I groaned, nervous, “You're doing an alright job on your own.”
“He's the professional you have to go to. I’m just telling you based on as much as I could explain.” He stood, grabbing his jacket and slipping into it.
I looked at him in realization. “Wait, you mean we’re going right now?”
He stared at me, bored. “Yes, right now. We’re not waiting for the Apocalypse.”
I rolled my eyes and pushed my body off the sofa lazily, “Oooookay.” As we walked out, I felt a rush of uncertainty fill me. “Are we coming back here afterwards?”
Ethan chuckled, “Yea,” he stopped in his tracks and turned to me, saying his next words sarcastically, “Unless of course you don't like it here, I could take you back to Palm Street.”
Palm Street; The road to the old apartment I called home where I hid away from the world and only came out for food and work. Ever since I left school, I'd hopelessly searched for a good place to be alone because being at my family home wasn't the best, and I was about to take anything over a family formed from oblivion. This place? Man, I didn't mind moving in.
My eyes widened and my brows raised, “No. I’m fine.”
On our way back to Caesar's, I took pleasure in torturing Ethan out of his mind. “So... did you meet any nice Wielder girls in that place?”
He replied, smirking. “Lots.”
“Damn...” I said, offended. “...And you didn't even have the courtesy to tell me. Your best friend... Your partner in crime... Your daily ounce of misery...”
He shrugged, “Wasn’t important.”
I held her breath... “How is that not important?”
“Because,” he said, turning to me, “None ever worked out.”
I looked at the road ahead for about three seconds, and then sat with my back straight up against the seat. A blank expression overtook my face. “Sorry.”
I looked out the window as we passed the unfamiliar town, letting breeze from the overcast evening flush over my face and neck. I loved doing that - letting nature become a part of me. I felt more at home and more at peace with the world in that way.
“What's Caesar going to tell me?” I wondered out loud, admiring an old wooden building detailed to the very top in carvings.
Ethan explained that Caesar would explain what the poem meant, as well as what the different types of wielders were and then I would find out which type I was. This worried me immensely.
“Well isn't it obvious, Faye?” Ethan asked in an attempt to comfort me. “You're one of us. You saw the poem change. You see this place. Humans think this place is a desert or something. You're special. You should know that by now.”
I sulked, letting doubt consume me. “What if who I become isn’t not someone I hoped I would be? What if I'm extremely disappointed and I have to live knowing I'm this... thing and I can't do anything about it? Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Ethan assured me... claiming that I couldn’t just go back to living like anything I’d been through or seen that day hadn’t happened.
“I had amnesia in an accident and I forgot about a storm that happened today,” I said to him. “I'm pretty sure I can make an effort.”
Ethan was growing tired of me complaining. “Look. I don't know what to tell you, Faye. I didn't realise you were one of us. We can only really tell the bad guys distinctively apart from the ones we need to protect. They have an aura and a motive, and just like us, they split themselves into groups with the same abilities. The biggest difference between The Guardians and the Seguidores is what we take most pride in. We protect and create. They hurt and destroy.”
I stared ahead at the long stretch of road and thought for a moment. “You still haven’t told me about how you found out.”
Ethan's face went sour, “I'd rather not talk about it now. Right now I have to get the necessary information to you.”
“Can you at least answer me one question, then?” I pressed, saddened.
“Mhm?”
“Do you like who you became?”
He took a moment to think about it, then he chuckled. “Yea. I guess so. I’ve learnt a lot. I have my flaws though. We all do. No Guardian is perfect. For me, it’s the storm. I can’t do just one aspect. It has to be all. I can't just make it rain or make it overcast or... or let lightning strike the souls of my enemies. Well that last one yea, but the rest of the storm has to happen anyway. I can only induce a full blown storm. Our flaws are what separate us from the leaders. They're the real professionals. They're the really cool guys... like... walk-away-from-an-explosion-while-putting-on-sunglasses guys.”
“How many times have you tried just doing one?” I asked.
“Countless. Never works. See we can try and try to perfect things and fail every time. Some things are just meant to be imperfect. They’re better off that way I guess. It all keeps the balance in the universe. Usually I get into trouble with the owner of this place when I bring a storm... those Sea wielders hate me for ruining their sun baths and perfect waves when they're out by the pool or near the sea.” He laughed.
“Ahh,” I said in understanding, I shoved him. “Being a jerk even in this whole other world. That's classic, Ethan.”