Chapter
2 – Acting Like a Role Model
It’s only been a few hours since I
left the town of Poca Bellezza, and I already regret my decision to search for
John. My only leads are the rumors of his appearance here and there and copycat
vigilantes. It also doesn’t help that his powers are generic, and he’s inspired
people to act and dress like him, so I have very little to go on. As for the
news, they talk him up and explain away his actions since the reason why he’s
on the run is because he took justice into his own hands and caused a lot of death
and destruction on those who were after our family, Poca Bellezza, and the
secret government faction that my blood-related parents were a part of. That
faction has been using every means to clear his record and justify his action
as a favor to make him go back to his normal life as a hero and incentivize him
to help them, though his causing trouble as a freelance hero has both hindered
and helped their efforts.
That’s my brother, alright. There’s
not a single care in that head of his other than serving God and helping
others, even if he goes against the law. The thought occurs to me to contact
the agents I know, but I don’t want them holding my asking for help over my
head for the rest of my life, so I don’t. Besides, they don’t really know where
John is either. My best shot right now is the close by city of Solis, the Sunny
City of Tomorrow, where John used to operate as a hero and where he has the
most fans. Questioning them, I hear that John comes here every other odd month
or so to help, see certain friends, and then leave the same day, which only
raises more questions. Why would he come here more often than go back to his
home?
Many of the people here recognize
me since I’ve been here before helping out John, and because he talks about me
so much to them. They tell me about their current problems as if asking for my
help in a roundabout way. Not wanting to let them down, I help them with their
needs by carrying donated boxes of food, clothes, and more to charity houses,
carrying people to hospitals for their appointments, and performing other
menial tasks like it. Because of my help, they insist on treating me to dinner,
something I also feel bad about saying no to, so I accept. Today felt like it
was a big waste of time since I feel more lost than before, and yet, something
within me feels at peace.
I made a lot of people happy today
and helped dozens of people with their issues. This is what John loves to do,
and I can see why he loves doing it, even though I don’t feel as satisfied
doing it. The simple pleasures in life were his most valuable treasures, such
as being with family or praying in silence in an adoration chapel. Not wanting
to return to my parents empty-handed, I simply call them and unintentionally
tell them what I’ve discovered and did as if reporting to my superiors. They
tell me that they’re proud of me for helping, wish me the best of luck, and not
to push myself too hard.
“Okay. I won’t,” I say
half-heartedly.
Tonight, I rest only for a few
hours before continuing my search during the night. It’s then that I realize
that my skin is glowing a bit. I look at my reflection in a nearby store window
to see that my appearance has changed a bit. My pale skin is now an almost
bright white, my golden armor covers more of my skin, my crimson bodysuit is
grey, my black eye is also grey, and my black snake is partially turning grey
and sagging down while my white snake is pointing upward as if becoming
stronger due to its opposite’s weakness. This change in me tends to happen if I
lean more towards good than evil, but at the same time is inconsistent unless
I’m being really good.
This seems to be a sign that I’m on
the right track, despite my feeling more lost than anything. The sounds of
fighting catch my attention. Going to it, I find a group of criminals and
superhuman villains causing random damage to the city and taking things from
stores and houses.
“There she is!” one of them says.
They all start coming after me,
forcing me to defend myself. Ever since I met John, I’ve gone easier on the
people I fight, and don’t always fight with the end goal of killing my foes to
end the fight. With the way I am now, I find myself more restrained, but not
weaker. In fact, I feel faster and more able to react to attacks than I
normally am. Because of that, the villains and criminals are all down quicker
than I imagined.
Questioning them, they say that,
“We’re after you because we want to draw out your brother. He put us in jail,
and we want payback!”
“You’re not going to get payback,
but you will get jail again,” I say before knocking out the villain and getting
the same answer out of the rest of them.
The authorities arrive and arrest
the villains.
“She’s just like her brother said!”
one of the surrounding civilians says.
“She’s so cool!”
“I need to get a picture with her.”
The civilians crowd around me,
cheering me on for my deeds, and act like I’m some celebrity hero, which I’m
far from, but I have to admit it’s nice. I ask them if villains and criminals
start trouble like this to get to John, and they tell me they do. They explain that
John comes here now and then, so he can remind them why he's respected and feared,
and not to mess with innocent people. They then tell me again how I’m
everything that John said I was, and to tell him they said hi when I find him.
“What does John say that I am?” I
ask.
“You’re an inspiration to him, and
one of the reasons why he’s the hero he is today,” one of them says.
“He’s said you’re really strong in
mind and body, and you don’t let anything get you down for long.”
“That you do try to do the right
thing no matter what!”
“You showed every reason to us
today. Did he never tell you why he looks up to you?”
“Hmm. He might’ve,” I say.
The reasons John gave always felt
like honest exaggerations intended to make me feel better, but they might be
true if these people echo them, and I may just be underestimating the good
things I do more than I realize. If I do end up meeting John, I could use his idealistic
view of me as a reason to return. With everything that happened today, receiving
kindness, being looked up to, being recognized for all I’ve done, and realizing
that I’m better than I think, I feel that my search in Solis wasn’t a waste of
time after all. In fact, I believe I’ve gained what I need to keep going and
something to hold onto when I see John. I then say goodbye to everyone here,
tell them to let John know I’m looking for him if he comes by, and head to
another spot they mentioned where he’s told them he’s been, with more hope than
before that I’ll find him.
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