Chapter 35 : Present

The two strolled around in the Upper Imperial, where the ground was exclusively for pedestrians, whether they were walkers, skaters, cyclists, or other pedestrian-based vehicles. 

Meanwhile, the sky above bustled with vehicles, gliding smoothly on designated aerial highways. These vehicles could only be parked in specific spots that were integrated into some of the towering buildings. Their occupants would then need to descend many stories to reach the ground.

The walk was mostly silent, with only the distant hum of the city's technology and conversations between people breaking the quiet. Occasionally, Lincoln stole glances at Ketsukii, sensing something was amiss. After a while, he couldn't hold back his curiosity.

"Something the matter?" Lincoln inquired gently. Ketsukii turned to look at Lincoln briefly, his eyes then returning to the cars soaring above.

"I'm just confused," Ketsukii replied, his gaze locked onto the skies.

"Confused about what?" Lincoln asked, his interest piqued.

Ketsukii hesitated for a moment as if deciding whether to voice his concerns. Then, he spoke with a touch of uncertainty, "I'm confused about whether you're a complete fool..."

"Huh?" Lincoln interrupted, taken aback by the unexpected comment.

"...or if you really had some reason to just trust a guy you met a day ago," Ketsukii finished, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Lincoln blinked, absorbing Ketsukii's words. It was a question he had anticipated, one he knew he had to address. Trusting Ketsukii was indeed a leap of faith, especially since the man now knew almost everything about him. 

As much as Lincoln struggled to find the right words to explain his actions, he understood that Ketsukii deserved an answer. Furthermore, the last thing Lincoln wanted was to appear foolish in the eyes of his newfound companion.

Lincoln cleared his throat, slowing his pace to match Ketsukii's. "It can seem reckless," he acknowledged. "But over time, I've become good at reading people. I can usually gauge their intentions and character," Lincoln explained, though he couldn't help but smile wryly. "I know that might not be enough for you."

Ketsukii gave him a quizzical look, clearly wanting more insight into Lincoln's thoughts. Lincoln let out a sigh, realizing he needed to provide a more comprehensive explanation.

"I've placed my trust in people before, and it hasn't always turned out well. I've even had a nice friendly chat with someone who, I then realized, was sent to capture me. Though, that encounter had a lot more to it than just that," Lincoln admitted. "I've been cautious since then, obviously. But sometimes, you can just connect with someone. Like, me and you, we're kinda similar, you know." Lincoln explained, and Ketsukii shifted to make eye contact, his curiosity piqued.

"We've both lost our families and homes, and we both don't want it happening again. You don't like teamwork, I don't either, whether it's with the military or the council. And you don't really believe that a complex problem such as this can have a single, foolproof solution, and I share that sentiment. Though I guess, we don't have much of a choice." Lincoln concluded, hoping his words shed some light on his rationale.

Ketsukii mulled over Lincoln's words, and after a moment, he nodded slowly. "I guess I can understand that. But I won't give up on finding a better solution."

Lincoln smiled, relieved that Ketsukii seemed to grasp his perspective. "Me too."

As they continued their walk through the bustling Upper Imperial, the conversation lingered in the air, a newfound understanding between the two travelers.

"So how do you think we should find this person?" Ketsukii asked, breaking the silence.

"It's pretty obvious," Lincoln answered.

"How so?" Ketsukii asked, humoring Lincoln's confidence.

"I'll just search through people. If I find anyone's energy out of the ordinary, then he's our guy," Lincoln said.

"That is if he's even an Alvan, to begin with," Ketsukii pondered. "What if he's just some guy who wanted to see you?"

"That can't be," Lincoln replied firmly. "The man said I'll know how to find him. The only way he could've meant that was through my second vision, which could mean he's either from Alvanian or a human wielder like me. If it's the latter, then it'll be harder to find him."

"Why? I don't think there's supposed to be a difference between the two, at least in the energies that reside in them," Ketsukii remarked.

"You're right, except charge isn't a separate energy for human wielders. At least not for the ones I've observed," Lincoln explained.

"What do you mean?" Ketsukii asked, shocked by this new information.

"Charge takes over their life energy, probably the more they use their ability, and hopefully not just over time," Lincoln elaborated.

Ketsukii gasped softly, processing this revelation. "I didn't know human wielders were this flawed."

"Well, that's one way to put it," Lincoln said with a sigh. 

"Does that mean they die when charge completely takes over?" Ketsukii asked, a sense of concern in his voice.

"It's more than likely, though we don't know for sure yet," Lincoln confirmed. 

"By 'people you observed,' does that also include you?" Ketsukii asked, turning his gaze toward Lincoln.

Lincoln nodded slowly. "Mine is the worst of all of them," he admitted.

Ketsukii exhaled deeply and looked back up at the sky. "Is that why you barely use your energy?"

"That's one reason. The other was to prevent losing control of myself."

"I guess that's also because your charge is taking over."

"What do you mean?" Lincoln inquired, intrigued by Ketsukii's perspective. "Isn't it just something to do with my memories?" .

"It can't be. It wouldn't make sense," Ketsukii said. "Do you know about Wrath?" He asked Lincoln.

"Yeah, it's when a wielder makes their ability go into overdrive," Lincoln answered.

"Well, that's a simple way to put it. But it's actually when you unconsciously remove all limitations of the charge nodes in your body. This lets your charge overflow, thereby enhancing your ability by at least 10 to 15 times. But this also overwhelms your nerves and, as a result, your mental state. You could be blinded by just one emotion, and usually, it's rage. Wrath is almost like a completely different state of the same person. It's even being researched, and so is the possibility of extracting one's Wrath out of the body to create a different being. But so far, it's never been successful. The wielders just died as a result."

"So you're saying when I lost control, it was actually my Wrath taking over?" Lincoln asked, seeking clarification.

"I think it was just the mental state of your Wrath that took you over because I don't think Aytrex would've had a chance to take you down then. But that's if the theory of your Wrath being a different state of you is true. If it isn't, then Aytrex must've pulled off something really crazy to take you down," Ketsukii explained, his tone thoughtful.

"He is fast but... I have outsmarted him once," Lincoln said, recalling the first fight he had with Aytrex in the desert. He described how he had used a barrage of energy spikes to attack Aytrex from all directions, making it impossible for him to evade and stunning him as a result.

"He's just a man of mystery," Ketsukii mused, acknowledging Aytrex's enigmatic nature as they finally reached their destination.

Berm Square was a vibrant oasis amidst the towering structures of the city. Its open expanse was paved with polished gray tiles, shimmering under the soft glow of concealed lights. The square was flanked by futuristic skyscrapers, their glass facades reflecting the myriad holographic advertisements that danced across the buildings. At its heart, a mesmerizing holographic fountain sprayed shimmering streams of water into the air, catching the light in a dazzling display of colors.

People from all sides traversed the square, their footsteps echoing softly against the ground. Holographic pathways crisscrossed the space, guiding pedestrians to the various shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues that lined its perimeter. Despite the bustling activity, Berm Square exuded an air of efficiency and order, a testament to the city's seamless blend of technology and urban planning, where the old met the new in perfect harmony.

"Watch my back," Lincoln instructed and closed his eyes.

From a third-person perspective, his skeletal structure came into view. Lincoln decided it wouldn't hurt to assess the state of his life energy. After observing, he realized it appeared almost cyan in color. 

He let out a soft sigh and then extended his focus outward, his vision zooming out of his skeletal system and encompassing the skeletal systems of everyone within Berm Square. When he saw the sheer number of people, another sigh escaped him.

"This is going to take a while," he remarked, and Ketsukii chuckled in response. Lincoln began his examination by concentrating on the individuals at the outermost edges of the square, inspecting their life energy. It all appeared to be the same shade of green. He gradually worked his way inward, navigating through the crowd until he reached the heart of the square, where the fountain stood.

There, amidst the throng, he spotted it—a life energy that closely resembled his own, perhaps even worse. "Found you," Lincoln declared.