Relaying in myself part 2

I decided to find him and see if we could sort this out today. After some searching, I spotted him resting on the top of a tree, a strange place to relax.

Now the challenge was how to approach him, I took a deep breath and, I decided to just go for it.

As I got closer, he suddenly spoke in a calm "Roy Celgius. Are you stalking me or something?"

I froze for a second. His awareness was amazing, though it was also my fault for not being subtle. He jumped down from the tree, closing the distance between us.

He extended a hand with a slight smirk. "I'm Crimzo Lee. Heard a lot about you. So, what do you want?"

Crimzo Lee had the sharp, calm look of someone who never missed his mark. His black hair was tied back loosely, with a few strands falling over his narrow eyes that seemed to notice everything. His build was lean but strong, made for speed and precision.

This was easier than I thought. Maybe I really overthink things sometimes.

I shook his hand and said, "Since you already know me, I'll be direct. I've been observing our colleagues to find out who's the best here, and your skills stood out. We have the chance to pick team members, and I'm impressed with what you can do. I'd like to get to know you better."

He raised an eyebrow, then said. "Teams, hah? Not interested. There are plenty of others more skilled than me. Go talk to them."

Turning his back to me, he climbed the tree again.

I wasn't ready to give up. "What if we spar? A friendly fight to decide maybe or even a sniper challenge. If I win, you hear me out. So? What do you think".

Crimzo paused and glanced down at me, his expression unreadable. Then he shook his head. "Seriously? I know who you are, Roy. I've seen what you can do, all the time here. If my calculations are right, you'd crush me. No thanks."

His refusal caught me off guard, leaving me at a loss for words. This wasn't how I thought things would play out.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, took a deep breath then I spoke. "You're too quick to assume, didn't you" I said, my tone cool and controlled. "I wasn't offering a fight to prove anything. It was a simple proposition; so, you can see for yourself what I'm capable of, that what I believe."

Crimzo didn't flinch. He turned his head a little. "You're wasting your time, Roy" he said flatly. "I don't need you to prove anything for me. If you want to talk, then talk, I am all ears. But don't waste my time about joining you. I'm not interested."

It was obviously clear now that I wouldn't get anywhere with him today.

This is just like I expected. I nodded, accepting that my attempt had failed. "Ok fine, but remember Crimzo, you can't just hide in the trees forever. Eventually, you'll have to make a choice."

And without waiting for a response from him, I simply turned and left the place.

As I walked away, I could feel that this wasn't over. I've failed to make an impression today maybe, but I was certain Crimzo wasn't someone who could be ignored.

I just needed to figure out how to crack him and know the truth behind him.

That night, I sat on my bed, reading my book. The room was quiet, I barely noticed when Andrew entered, his footsteps are light as always.

He sat on the chair with his arms crossed, a curious smile on his face. "So, Roy, did you go and talk to him?" he asked.

I looked up from my book looking at him and replied. "I did. His name is Crimzo Lee. That's all what I got of him." I paused, looked back to my book. "He didn't accept my offer to join us."

Andrew raised a brow. "Really? Did you try to convince him? Challenge him to a friendly fight or something?"

"I did," I replied. "He completely brushed it off and said that he wasn't interested. What I got from him is that he doesn't like responsibilities. He seems... distant, like he's avoiding something, that what I felt."

Andrew frowned. "Huh. That's going to be hard. But, then again, everyone here has their own dark story, that what I believe. No one grows up in a world like this without scars."

I don't know why, but I feel that the air is getting heavier with his words.

After a pause, Andrew spoke again, with a quiet voice now. "Do you remember that day Roy? The day our mother gave her life for us?"

I stared at the floor, the images flashing in my mind.

"Of course, I do. How could I forget? I was 10 years old, even when I can't remember anything, she's the only one I could not forget, every memory of her is here in my mind."

Andrew's look was distant, like he was staring into the past. "I can still see her face," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The way she looked at us... There was no fear, just love. She didn't even hesitate that time."

"That day," I began, my voice steady but cold, "was when I made my decision. I swore I'd change this world. No one should have to make a choice like she did. No one should feel the feelings of losing someone."

Andrew nodded. "She believed in us. She saw something in us worth protecting. We owe it to her, not only her but also to everyone we've lost."

I closed my book and leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "We'll do it, Andrew. We'll build a team, stronger than anything, then we will get to the top and crush the system of this world. And when the time comes, we'll make them pay for every life they've destroyed."

Andrew smiled. "That's my brother. Cold, determined, and unshakable."

For a moment, there was a strange comfort in the quiet. No words were needed; we both understood what was at stake. All the scars we carried made us stronger, those scars were like fuel for the fire burning in both of us.