Chapter 12: What Happened Last Night?

After a long awkward walk back to their designated room in the castle, Warren and I sat in our room in silence. Both of us were unhappy with the results of our mission.

"Warren, do you know why the master made you an agent?" I ask Warren out of curiosity.

"I begged the master for the title ever since they found me. Because I lived in the castle my whole life, I witnessed many soldiers, agents, and colonels doing missions for the Inari. I eventually found myself admiring them as the townspeople cheered them on when they came back from missions. Because I admired them, I guess I just ended up wanting to be like them."

Warren looks at me and asks me in a serious tone, "Roger, what did they tell you about me when they partnered us together?"

"They told me that you were a powerless agent with exceptional close combat skill for your age. They also told me you had a bad habit of doing what's right."

"And what's wrong with doing what's right?" Warren retorted.

"Sometimes doing what's right isn't the right thing to do."

I felt like I was having a conversation with a child. After my last statement, we both sat there in silence again, still trying to comprehend everything that happened. This whole time, there was a question gnawing at me. It's been gnawing at me ever since this morning when he woke me up after his fight with the commander. Without hesitation, I cautiously asked him the question I had been dying to know.

"What is your power exactly? I was told you were powerless and we never spoke on the subject, but I know you're hiding something."

He questioned me, asking why I was suspicious of such a thing.

"The Teleporter Orb. The rules of that artifact state that you can only teleport to locations both the holder and the orb have been to. You teleported us home but you never had the orb here. Plus, I've been doubtful and suspicious ever since you claimed to have fought off the commander. I took one hit and I was almost unconscious, and that was with a level four artifact active. I assumed that sometime during that last night, you found your power. Am I right or am I wrong?"

Warren stands up and walks back and forth in front of me while rubbing his hands nervously. He looked like he had something he had been dying to share with me too. Before he talks, I also mention a few words that the master claimed about his wrongdoings. I mention the stolen level five artifact and the infiltration of their base. I couldn't believe such reckless actions and wanted explanations.

Warren stops walking back and forth and faces the direction away from me. Assuming that it'd make it easier for him to explain without seeing me. He took a long pause then explained everything afterward.

"You're right. Last night, I think I discovered my power."

"You think? What do you mean by you think?" I asked for clarification.

"After I took a Teleportation Bead from them, I went to their base. I tried looking for an artifact to come back with, but I couldn't find anything. Until the maids helped me. I claimed that the commander needed an artifact, and I assumed they thought I was talking about a level five artifact that the Kannon had in storage. So I took it and used the Teleporter Orb to come back."

Slightly fascinated, I asked, "What was the level five artifact?"

"It was called Wukong's Curse. It granted me greatly enhanced physical capabilities and heightened reflexes and a bunch of other powers in exchange for my intelligence, memories, and emotions."

"Your intelligence, memories, and emotions? What kind of artifact is that? You'd basically be tossing away your humaneness. Don't tell me you actually put the artifact on, Warren."

My sudden interest in the artifact died down as I heard the artifact's sacrifice. Warren made eye contact with me as he looked over his shoulder. From the look in his eye, I could undoubtedly tell that he used the artifact.

"I used the artifact, but that's when I awakened my power. When I activated the artifact, I wasn't affected by the artifact's cost. I was able to use the artifact's power without losing my intelligence, memories, or emotions. And on top of that, I was able to use the artifact's power without having the artifact on myself."

I didn't understand what he was saying, it sounded unbelievable and idiotic. A power that relies on artifacts? I didn't believe him but I also knew he wouldn't lie about such a thing. To verify this claim of his, I stood up and took out my level four artifact.

"Sorry, Warren, it's hard to believe such a power would exist." I hand my ring to him and ask him to show me his power.

He reaches for the ring and hesitates before grabbing it. He places it on his ring finger and activates it. Warren's skin gradually got harder and tougher until it became a shade of metallic grey. He slowly takes the ring off while the power is activated. My eyes pop from shock as I slowly take the ring from him. The ring is in my possession and I back up to see his entire body enveloped in iron.

"That's not all." He says in a gloating manner.

He shuts his eyes and clenches up his body before suddenly disappearing. He reappears near the window, leaving behind blue particles while I continue to marvel and laugh nervously.

"You're teleporting. Because of the orb?"

He teleports right behind me and startles me.

"Yep. Another thing my power allows me to do is to use the artifact's power without being restricted by its artifact limits."

I wasn't sure if he noticed it, but he could also use two artifacts at once. He had been teleporting around the room while using the ring's power. I asked him if he could still use the level five artifact that he stole, but before he could answer, we were interrupted by a knock at the door. He claimed to be the butler. Warren deactivates his iron skin power and gives the butler permission to enter the room.