The Light of Mercy and Darkness of Justice: Chapter 2 – Complexity of Darkness

Chapter 2 – Complexity of Darkness

“Your city is such a beautiful and amazing place, Timeo,” John says to me. “I love the designs of the old Art Deco buildings, the Gothic-inspired ones, and the ones that your best friend has his offices in.”

John then continues to babble on about what he likes about my home city of Meridian from our high-rise room as I drink my favorite red wine, and our wives talk to one another, and our children play. He’s truly a saintly man, whose bright smile and optimism never fade. It makes sense given his past of being born and raised in an adoration chapel, but the fact that he’s been able to hold on to his faith despite going against so much proves the strength of his character. Even though he lost a lot of people like his blood-related parents and friends, with whom he went to a superhero academy, in a short span of time, he’s never lost himself or let his emotions get the better of him. Sure, he’s fought against the law, but he hasn’t sinned or hurt or killed anyone who didn’t deserve it.

During my time in Poca Bellezza, I felt the infectious comfort of life in a rural area, one that made me want to live there, stop working, and live there forever. In contrast to how I felt, the locals, like John, were all work and faith-focused and wanted to do everything they could to help their neighbor. They are the model image of what a Columbian town and people should be because of how patriotic they are and want to improve their country. I hope that Meridian will be similar to them in the future and that I can be just as hopeful, pleasant, and welcoming to be around, just like John is.

“So, what’s the plan to get more support for the Dominion for today?” John asks.

“Today’s plan is not much. We’re just going to a meeting and visiting some of the hospitals my family owns,” I say.

“There’s no such thing as a day that’s ‘not much’. Every day is important and valuable, no matter what small things you accomplish during them.”

“Ah, one of your valuable lessons that I forgot about. You’re right in that every day is important, as every move we make has to be as perfect as possible, so we can avoid total failure. Let’s make the most of today, John.”

This reminder of treating every day as a gift from God makes every day feel special and helps me concentrate on making the most of it. Even the mundane things, such as the meetings we go to and the work we have to do at my family’s hospitals, feel more special and impactful with his mindset. My plans change and become less business-like as I invite allies to my home and places like restaurants and bars to talk. My best friend, who I consider a brother, Lancetto, John, and I meet at a barcade. We have a private room to ourselves, but after the meeting, we enjoy the arcade, milkshakes, and food like a bunch of children. Klinge Geben, a mutated superhuman and another friend of mine, meets us the day after at a simple family-owned restaurant, where John and I treat him, his family members, and the heads of his companies to dinner. After, Klinge takes me aside.

I ask him, “What’s wrong? I thought we were all having a good time.”

“We were. Dinner and everything were wonderful. I was just wondering what happened to you?” he says.

“Nothing’s happened. Why?”

“You seem to have lightened up and are taking it easier more than you usually are. It looks like your new friend, John, is rubbing off on you.”

“I guess he is. He has reminded me of how valuable the simple things are.”

“Well, keep it up. People need to be reminded that we’re more than punishers of criminals.”

“With the upcoming parade, I’m sure they’ll remember it.”

The next day comes, and it’s something different than the last. John and I spend the day with my apprentices, Kane Mundr, Raziel Emundatio, and Polina Yelizaveta, along with my wife, Darcy, and three children. In the morning, in my house outside of Meridian, we eat breakfast together, and I lay out the plans for today.

“Huh? We aren’t investigating any criminal groups or illegal dealings behind the scenes?” Kane asks.

“Nope. It’s just going to be a day we spend with one another,” I say.

Kane waits for me, expecting me to say something else, but when I don’t, he says, “I don’t mind the day off now and then, but shouldn’t we do more to establish the Dominion than relax, especially when all eyes are on John and you? Polina and I have been investigating several criminal groups and cleaning out the lesser and up-and-coming ones with Raziel, who are in over their head.”

“No. As I mentioned when I left, I trust that the three of you will take care of Meridian while I’m away. Where I made a mistake in was not coming back here more to spend time with you all. You are all my family, after all. Even you, John.”

“Aw. Thanks! You are becoming like a brother to me,” John says.

Kane throws up his hands and accepts things as they are.

“I’m fine with it. It’s better than scraping the bottom of the barrel for criminals and villains to fight,” Polina says.

“You don’t need to worry about me, father. I trust your every word,” Raziel says.

“Father? I thought you only had three kids,” John says.

“It’s a long story,” Kane says. “I’m technically his ‘son’ too, informally adopted into his family by Darcy.”

“Does that include you, too, Polina?”

“No,” Darcy interjects. “It’s not right for single men to be living with single women, especially my boys.”

“Do I need to remind you of all the times you forced me to cuddle with you in my bed?” I ask.

Darcy ignores the question as if I didn’t ask it, and smiles like a villain who got away with a crime. Next, we visit a museum that features a new section with relics from centuries past that were recently discovered in the undercity, one of Darcy’s family’s art houses. We then finish the day off with dinner at one of the best high-rise restaurants with a nice view of the sunset. The day flew by, and by the end, I recognized that I was trying to recapture the feeling I had in Poca Bellezza. As if wanting to prove the selflessness of my taking everyone out for a relaxing time, I ask everyone if they had a good time, and they say they did. In private, I ask John the same question again, adding on my realization, and if I wasted the day.

“Spending the day with your family is never a waste of time,” he says. “You did say that it’s been a while since you last spent time with them and that you just told me that you wanted your apprentices to feel the same joy you felt while you were in my hometown, so there was nothing selfish about what you did.”

“Yeah. Yes, you’re right. Thank you, John,” I say.

Picking up with my original plans, I visit the allies I’ve made in the undercity and invite them to the parade, saying that I’ve also rented a room where they can watch it, if they don’t want to be publicly seen because of the horns on their bodies. Some of them agree to go, while others want to continue in their perpetual penance, but even some of those people are convinced by John’s warmth to go. The last days of the week are filled with other meetings with the mayor, police, my Knights council, parish members, and visiting my family-owned schools. With everything set, this parade should be fruitful for the Dominion, just like the festival at Poca Bellezza. On the day of the parade, all of my friends and family head out early to get everything else set up and ready.

John and I stand on one of the parade floats with apprentices and family, while my closest allies have their own respective floats ahead of us. This parade celebrates the protectors of the city, not just the Dominion, but also the police, other hero associations, our elected officials, smaller charities, community groups, and people from the many museums. Today’s parade is the first one that I’ve covered most of the cost of since the Dominion is the majority group of the parade. The streets are full of happy people and supporters of its protectors, who cheer us on and take pictures of us.

“I’ve never felt this popular before. This is the first parade that I’ve been a part of,” John says.

“I’ve gone on these before, starting with my parents. Since my family is one of the most powerful and founding members of the city, we’ve always had our own part in the parade, but never to this extent,” I say.

When the parade comes to a stop at City Hall, every group and their leaders speak about how much they love their city dedication to protect it, and give their personal stories, but that’s not the most important part of this. The most important part is the one where reformed criminals, many of whom my apprentices recently apprehended and my allies improved the lives of, speak about how they’ve changed their lives after doing their time and the reintegration support that they’ve received.

One of the ex-criminals recounts, “I stole and killed out of desperation, thinking myself justified in doing so, so I could pay the bills and buy food and gifts for my family and friends. I didn’t even blink if a kid who was the same age as my own got hurt.” The criminal holds back her tears. “So, thank you. Thank you for slapping me and forcing me to see the error of my ways. Now, I can go back to my family with an honest job, and say, with confidence, that I’m a good person, a worthy mother, and an honest wife.”

An ex-villain steps up to the mic. In his story, he mentions that, “I spent much of my life going in and out of jail, not only because of the connections that I had with dishonest politicians, but also because I thought there was nothing more fun to do in life than to hurt others. It was nothing more than to distract myself from the fact that I didn’t want to ask myself what the right way to live was, or that if living for fun was living at all. When L’Obscurité’s sidekicks and I fought, it was like I was killed and born again. They knocked sense into me, and the wonderful people at the rehabilitation centers allowed me to make up for my many deeds, and even though I won’t be able to repay everyone I hurt, I, at least, have a way to bring to justice others who think like I did, and hopefully reform them into protectors of the city.”

Every ex-criminal and ex-villain is cheered and applauded by the crowds.

“Wow. This is an amazing event, Timeo. I love the stories of the people you’ve helped reform,” John says.

“This is the culmination of what we’ve been doing. The purpose of justice isn’t just to punish sinners, but to make them see the error of their ways. In my many years as a hero, I’ve learned that it’s better for my foes to repent and become better people than for them to die or get locked up, and now, the fruits of mercy in justice show, and the Dominion will receive more employees and honor because of our reformation programs,” I say.

“You’re such a smart guy. I can’t believe you thought that far ahead from such a simple plan.”

“Eh. It was an obvious one.”

“Not for me, it wasn’t. My only two methods of solving problems are talking and mostly fighting, but you do more than that by just telling people what to do.”

 “I guess I have to admit you’re right. Still, you know, who’s really responsible for what’s happened and the reason behind my talents.”

John crosses himself and says, “I do.”

The final and last reformed criminal is reintroduced to his family, who he didn’t know were here today, but I’ve managed to find them, and how he’s reformed himself. They thank me for what I’ve done for him, and the man thanks me from the podium, and I thank him from my mic in return, thank the people who helped make this possible, and thank God, most of all.