A True Heart's Test: Chapter 2 – Absolute or False

Chapter 2 – Absolute or False

A blindly light subsides as I get through the portal to reveal a beautiful forest of flowers and wildlife.

“Huh. I thought we’d be in some kind of training place that will bring out my heart’s Absolute ability,” I say.

“Adivino did say that’d we experience events that will teach you. Maybe we’re supposed to see how other people get their Heart Absolute ability so you can learn from them?” Eleazar suggests.

“I see how that could help, but still, how will we know what events to follow? Who are we going to follow and what exactly am I supposed to learn? This place looks and smells like a peaceful beautiful paradise.”

“Yeah, but something about it doesn’t feel right.”

“I think you’re just imagining things.”

The sound of people moving draws our attention to a squad of knights that are moving through the forest. They must’ve not seen us because we’re in the shadows of the trees and a fair distance away.

One of them looks around and then says, “Captain, shouldn’t we look for Lionel? He’s not here.”

“If he’s not here with us, he must’ve been enraptured by a trick of the witch in this forest. Simpleton couldn’t even follow the order of staying close by us. The rest of you better stay close. We’ll search for his corpse after our hunt is complete.”

“Yes, sir,” the knights say before moving on.

“Huh. There’s a witch in this forest. Sounds like a fairy tale you tell children,” I say.

“That’s because fairy tales, like all fiction, are inspired by real life with some being based on more real things than others,” Eleazar says.

“Right, and I’m assuming you still believe in the monsters under your bed that give you sleep paralysis and try to drag you under when you’re awake when you’re not supposed to.”

“I still believe that.”

“Of course you do.”

Eleazar and I hear the sound of someone running in armor from behind us and turn around to see a young man in armor with the symbol of a royal blue sheep crest on his chest, which is the same symbol the other knights had.

“Have you seen-” the boy says before I cut him off by saying, “Your knight friends who’ve abandoned you? Yes, we have.”

“They haven’t abandoned me! They would never.”

“I’m sorry, but your captain told them to. You must be Lionel. My name is Eleazar,” Eleazar says.

“So, you must be telling the truth, if you’ve heard my name. Yes, my name is Lionel. Nice to meet you Eleazar. I can’t believe my friends would leave me behind.”

“They said you must’ve been enraptured by the witch of this forest. Are you okay? Were you under some kind of spell?”

“No, I wasn’t. I was just distracted by the beauty of the forest as if it spoke to me like it usually does.”

“So, you were enraptured,” I say.

“I guess you could say so since the witch made the forest and I do love nature. Don’t you? The beauty of nature is so alluring that I could stare at and talk to it all day.”

“You do that a lot, Cornelia,” Eleazar mentions.

“I don’t do the speaking to the forest part.” What kind of weirdos do that anyway? “You better get back to your so-called friends, Lionel.”

“I can’t do that and leave you, civilians, alone without protection. I’ll escort you out of the forest before rejoining my squad.”

“I’m afraid that we can’t do that,” I say, “The Absolute led us here so I can get my Heart Absolute ability.”

“Oh, really? That’s amazing! I wish I had my heart’s Absolute ability. In that way, I could help more people.”

Eleazar says, “Well, you can help us by helping us get to your friends. Cornelia is meant to view some event here to help her and she may have to witness you and your friends defeating this witch.”

“Okay! Let’s do that!” As Lionel accompanies us while we walk in the direction of his squad, he asks us, “What do you guys do?”

“I help teleport people around the world,” Eleazar says.

“That explains those fancy robes of yours. What about you, Cornelia?”

“Nothing good. I just work in community service.”

“I did that before I became a knight and even after becoming a soldier, I had to be the cleaning guy for everything at the base since I didn’t do so good in my exams to become a knight. In retrospect, I feel like I should’ve stayed a community service member.”

“You’re stupid for thinking that.”

“I know.” Huh. I didn’t expect him to agree with me. “I should trust the Absolute where it takes me because it is the Absolute after. It’s literally the truth and doesn’t lie to me, right?”

“Right, I’m sure you’ll eventually become a great knight. You just started out after all,” Eleazar says.

“You’re right. Thanks, Eleazar and Cornelia.”

What did I say that was encouraging for him? Whatever. We continue through the forest and as we adventure forward, the forest grows and changes ahead of us with pretty plants and flowers and smells directing us to go in certain directions.

“Should we follow the way that’s being presented to us? Maybe the witch is trying to guide us to the knights?” I suggest.

“No, because the witch is conceited,” Lionel says, “This power of hers isn’t natural nor is she being her true self. I doubt she is a nice person.”

“Why’s that? We haven’t been attacked and this place looks beautiful.”

“Being conceited doesn’t make you a good person because you choose to become something that isn’t you and you put yourself above the Absolute because you think you know better than truth itself. How can anyone that’s like that be good?”

I guess that makes sense. We were taught in school that by the end of our lives our hearts will be judged on how closely they resemble the Absolute since all hearts are made in the image of it and all hearts yearn to be what they were meant to be whether they acknowledge it or not. Hearts become conceited when they reject the Absolute or willfully ignore the call to learn the truth about themselves and the reality of the world around us. If a heart is blackened by conceit, it is tossed away to be forgotten, but if a heart closely resembles the Absolute, it will be cleaned of stain before being forever remembered and join the many hearts gathered in the Absolute to live forever happily in its love. Of course, I’ve tried to be what the Absolute wants me to be though I don’t really know why some people who are viewed as conceited are viewed as bad since they are trying to be what they believe to be themselves and this forest doesn’t look like it’s the home of an evil witch.

After going in our own direction for a while, we find the knights who seem to be on edge and it seems like one or two of their number is missing.

“Captain!” Lionel says.

“Lionel, be careful you, idiot!” the captain says.

“I am, sir!”

“Obviously not since you brought civilians deeper into this forest.”

“They’re here because of the Absolute and Cornelia here needs to witness something to get her Heart Absolute ability.”

“Okay, whatever, there’s nothing we can do to get them out of the forest now. Just keep your eyes open. Two of our knights disappeared even though they were close to us. Since you managed to make your way back, we’re hoping they’ll find their way back as well.”

“I hope they’ll find their way back too, sir.”

“Shut up and form up!”

“Yes, sir! Come on, Cornelia and Eleazar. We’ll protect you.”

As we get in the middle of the squad of knights who move forward with their backs to us, we hear a woman’s voice echo in the forest. She says, “Beware, all trespassers. Leave me in peace or suffer the consequences.”

Soon after, two sets of broken knight armor fly at us with presumably the wearers following behind them. They scream in terror in their damaged clothes as they run away from us and tell us to run with them out of the forest because of the witch. Maybe they have the right idea.

“We won’t run away from you, witch. You’ll pay for your conceited behavior, your thievery, and the many lives you’ve taken,” Lionel bravely says.

“You should leave with your friends, boy. I’ll spare you for your appreciation of my garden. Take the offer.”

“No! I am duty bound to bring you to justice.”

“Then you will soon regret not accepting my mercy.”

The trees of the forest suddenly have thorns growing around them and husks made of thorns that look like soldiers with swords and spears rise from the ground to attack us. Lionel and the knights try fighting these forest soldiers; however, they are unable to put them down since the forest soldiers keep moving even when their heads and legs are cut off, and the parts that are cut off are replaced by thorns that come from the ground. In a desperate attempt to kill one of these soldiers, the captain repeatedly slashes it apart until it’s all destroyed. This would’ve inspired the rest of the knights to do the same, but he is dragged away screaming into the forest by a large bush of thorns.

As everyone scatters, Lionel says, “We must stand together! Stop running away!”

Unfortunately for us, the knights run away together and are now ignored by the forest knights for some reason. Eleazar tries to make a portal but is unable to and confirms it by saying so. What am I supposed to do now? Is my Heart Absolute ability going to appear now? Come on! Appear already! This would be the perfect opportunity for it. It would be storybook if it does and the answer to my prayers that I’ve been waiting for. We’re surrounded by the forest soldiers now with no way out and Lionel is exhausted and injured from the fighting. My Heart Absolute ability just has to appear now!

Lionel is knocked to the ground and struggles to get up. He says, “No! I’m not going to let anyone else under my protection die.”

As Lionel slams his sword down defiantly, all the forest soldiers stop moving, which saves him from almost being killed by them. Something has changed about him. My eyes feel like they’re telling me this, but I’m not sure what it is. Could it be possible? Lionel holds out his hand and flowers appear on the bodies of the forest soldier and they all back away as he holds out his hands. No way…

“It’s not possible,” I hear the witch’s voice echo in the forest.

“My heart’s inner ability has awoken thanks to the Absolute. It’s over for you now that I am able to control the forest. Give up and submit yourself to justice,” Lionel says.

“There is no such thing as justice. That is why I do what I do. This isn’t over yet. Not while my heart still gives me power over a portion of the forest you don’t control.”

“Come on, Eleazar and Cornelia. I’ll protect you as we move forward,” Lionel says.

More forest soldiers with flowers on them form around us that act as our guards. The forest around us also changes as the thorns around the trees retract back into the ground.

“I’m so glad that you got your Heart Absolute ability, Lionel,” Eleazar says.

“I am too, especially since I needed it now more than ever to protect you guys. We’re not too far from the witch now. The forest tells me so,” Lionel says.

How come I wasn’t the one to get the ability to control plants in the forest? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that Lionel got his Heart Absolute ability in time to save us, but still. Oh, and now the wildlife in the forest, the squirrels, birds, rabbits, and deer are here to help us too. Why not? I’m assuming Lionel getting this ability is something I was supposed to see. So, what am I exactly supposed to take away from this? Well, this isn’t over yet, so the answer should be becoming clearer soon.

With Lionel, Eleazar and I finally come across the witch with a small squad of her own forest soldiers behind her. She doesn’t look like the ugly witch I imagined her to be. Instead, she looks to be a young woman about my age dressed in gold, black, and green grass and flowers with a crown made of black and gold plants. The only part of her that looks like what I imagined is the black heart-shaped hole in her chest, her black and green eyes, and her crown because the conceited are said to always crown themselves with whatever type of crown they feel they deserve.

“Let go of your control of the forest. Can’t you hear its cries of pain as it tries to escape your grasp?” Lionel says.

“I don’t hear it. Besides, control of the forest is a power I rightly deserve after all the suffering I’ve been through and the charity I provide,” the witch says.

“What charity do you provide? You attack the Church dedicated to the Absolute and everyone who enters your forest.”

“I’ve only attacked those who’ve wronged me and those who will harm me and those I love. What your leaders haven’t told you was that I sought the Church’s help to save my dying family, but even after so many years of serving them as a gardener and house cleaner, they wouldn’t take care of my family because I couldn’t afford the bills for their constant care. I had to rely on becoming a witch and being so-called conceited to give them a home out here and the care they needed until they peacefully died.”

For some reason, Lionel kneels down and the grass reaches out from the ground and wraps around his hands. More grass from behind him reaches up and around his eyes.

“What are you doing?” I ask him.

“They’re buried here, right?” Lionel asks the witch.

“Yes, is nature telling you this?”

“It is.”

“Then you must also be able to speak to their souls. They’ll tell you how much they love me and how I was right to do what I was doing.” An odd silence fills the air while Lionel looks surprised and worried. “Well, am I right?”

“No. They feel cold…I can hardly hear their voices.”

“What?”

“They’re in the Land of the Forgotten where all lies and falsehoods reside. You made their hearts conceited like yours, didn’t you?”

“They agreed what I did was right. I punished those who wronged us, took what was rightfully ours, and protected us from people who would want to hurt us for doing so.”

“It doesn’t matter if you were wronged. You still turned their hearts into conceited, false ones and because of that, they’ll suffer for all eternity.”

“No, that can’t be true! They talk to me from time to time to tell me how happy they are!”

“Those must be the vainglory, demons in the image of your family talking to you. They were the ones who helped make your heart conceited and the same ones who made the hearts of those in the Church who wronged you conceited as well. If you continue as you are, you’ll join them and your family in the Land of the Forgotten.”

“No, no, no! You’re lying and you’ll pay for that!”

The two armies of forest soldiers and their leaders clash. While this is happening, roots come up from the ground and surround us, which have presumably come from Lionel. I can see Lionel and the witch fighting and yelling things at each other but can’t exactly hear what they’re saying in all this fighting. Eventually, the dust settles with Lionel being the victor and the witch at the end of his blade.

“I know what it’s like to fail those who you want to protect. When my brother and I were out hunting, I failed to protect him. Instead, I ran away and left him to be food for the wolves. I’ve also failed my squad and the civilians I was tasked with protecting on multiple occasions. I feel like a failure because of those I’ve lost even if I was still victorious in the end.”

“Why are you telling me this? Why not just kill me and be done with your mission?”

“Because I’ve felt the torturing cold of the Land of the Forgotten and I want to protect you from that horrible fate.”

“Protect me? You don’t have a reason to do that. What kind of knight doesn’t kill a witch like me?”

“One that wants to protect rather than kill. As far as I’m concerned, killing is a last resort option and I don’t ever want to kill anyone from now on, especially with what I’ve felt from the Land of the Forgotten and now that my Heart Absolute will allow me to take people in alive.”

“Even so, I’m a conceited witch. There’s no hope for me to change.”

“Of course you can. Everyone is capable of redemption since we all make mistakes. Trust me, I should know. I’ll help you change if you let me.”

Looking at him with a puzzled look, the witch pushes Lionel's blade away from her throat and then says, “Okay, fine. I believe you. Take me in.”

“I will, but first, let me erase this façade you’ve created and give back the forest its natural beauty.”

As he says this, Lionel puts his hand on the ground and the beautiful forest around us decays and dies but then is quickly replaced by a somehow more beautiful forest than the previous one that overtakes it and fills it with more plant life and even more varieties of wildlife teeming in it. Seeing this stuns the witch and her appearance changes to something more humble as she is now wearing a simple dress made of grass and her crown is gone. It looks to me that she’s no longer conceited. Eleazar screams in joyous excitement and hugs me because of the occasion while I look in awe as to what Lionel managed to do.

“Amazing…” the witch says.

“Now, are you ready to go?” Lionel asks.

“Yes.”

“Hold on, guys. I’ll make this journey quicker for you,” Eleazar says before making a portal.

This portal leads us to a simple small city with a castle in the center and walls around it like most cities that I’ve heard of. People in the streets are shocked by our sudden appearance and it seems like the guards in the city are even more shocked to see Lionel taking in the witch by himself.

As we watch them talk to the guards, Eleazar puts his hand on my shoulder and then says, “Ah, don’t you love happy endings?”

“This isn’t the end for them. It’s just the beginning of a new struggle. Lionel will probably fight more because of his Heart Absolute ability and the witch will have to serve time in jail,” I say.

“Don’t be so cynical. I’m sure things will be for the better for both of them.”

“Sure.”

Lionel and the witch turn around to us.

“Thanks for everything, Eleazar and Cornelia,” Lionel says.

“Thank you for protecting us and congratulations on a job well done,” Eleazar says.

“It’s my pleasure. I hope we see each other again someday.”

“Me too.”

“Cornelia is it?” the witch asks me.

“Yes?” I say.

“I recognize the look on your face. I’ve had it my entire life and know how you feel just by looking at you. Don’t take the same path I did or else you might end up hurting those you love.”

“Sure. Thanks for the advice.”

Thanks, but no thanks. There’s no one I really love so there’s no chance of me doing what she said. The two then say their goodbyes before walking away from us.

“So, what have you learned?” Eleazar asks me.

“Nothing in particular other than I’d like to have a similar ability to Lionel’s,” I say.

“Oh, come on. There was a lot to learn from what we witnessed even though they were reminders of things we learned in school.”

“Well, do you want to take a rest before we go to the next place?”

“No, I want to keep going.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

There was hardly anything for me to learn from that besides what I already knew about Absolute and conceited hearts. Maybe it’ll all make sense when I’ve seen everything I need to. Now more than ever I’m anxious to get my Heart Absolute ability. Eleazar forms a portal and we head off to our next destination.

A True Heart's Test: Chapter 1 – Finding Your True Heart

Chapter 1 – Finding Your True Heart

Today’s another day and it’s another day I don’t feel like living. Not because I have any kind of depression or because I feel physically ill. Instead, I feel mentally ill because of the repetition of my everyday life. It’s all fruitless community work. Help out so and so with their animals on the farm, help garden, help clean someone’s house, take care of the neighbor’s children, clean the floors of the church, and so on and so on. As far as I’m concerned, I’m a slave to my town.

“Oh, you’ll get used to it,” another community service member says.

“The people appreciate what you do,” I’ll hear said to me.

“It’s not easy, but it’s good honest work.”

Yada-yada-yada. The only time I felt appreciated for my work was when a random boy five years younger than me made a purple, red, and blue bracelet for me for helping him clean his house. It’s the one time I got anything extra for working and felt appreciated for my work because of his kind and appreciative words and want to know more about what I do, so it feels like an irreplaceable treasure to me and I wear it every day. It’s a shame that I don’t always see him since he’s at school, but I do try to see him when I’m not working, which is rare. My parents say I need to work as much as possible to be noticed and get a real job that has better pay and more honor in performing it. I do as they say, not because I want to do as they say, but because I want to live on my own as soon as I can though, at this rate, I’ll be an old lady just like the other girls that worked this kind of job. Actually, I might not even get out of this job since many old people still work it because they either love it or because they’ll be poor without it. Even if they get promoted and get to work for kings, queens, the Church, and the like, they’ll have to work till they’re old and have to have someone take care of them.

“Are you daydreaming again, Cornelia?” my mother asks me.

“Yes, I am. It’s not like I need to go to work yet,” I say while continuing to sit on the porch and look out into the forest and then up at the sky.

My mother says something to me, but I don’t listen. Instead, I just try to enjoy looking into the sky and in the forest as much as possible. I don’t even know why I waste my time doing this because it’s a small joy that makes me want to go back to it during work. It’s like the few times my parents and I go on vacation. The relaxation just makes me want it more and hate being at work even more.

While my mother is still talking to me, my father comes out presumably to say something else. He looks like he’s about to say something until he is stopped by a portal appearing in front of the house, which I ignore and continue to look up at the sky because I know who’s coming out of it.

“Cornelia! How’s it going?” the guy coming out of the portal says before the portal behind him closes.

“Eh,” I say.

“Cornelia! Get up and greet your best friend. I’m sorry, Eleazar. She’s in a bit of a mood today like usual,” my mother says.

Ha! Best friend. He’s nothing like that. You’re always in a mood too, mother, but you always deny it.

“It’s okay. I can understand Cornelia’s annoyed language. She’s glad to see me as I am to see her,” Eleazar says.

I think it’s better to say that he’s lying and he knows he is. Eleazar sits next to me to look up at the sky before looking at me. Now, whatever good feelings I got from looking up at the sky are ruined, so I stand up. Getting a better look at him, I feel so underdressed compared to him. His long black hair is in a ponytail and he wears a gold outfit with black and red trims and a heart necklace around his neck. This along with his black boots was given to him by the Church and the royalty that he serves as a sign of their thanks and his work. In comparison, my grey dress with light gold lines around my neck, sleeves, and waist and my grey boots make me look like I’m homeless.

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I’m still trying to figure that out. You know how my portals work now,” he says.

“It was better when your heart wasn’t completely dedicated to the Absolute. You could go anywhere you already were.”

“Hey, don’t say that. Thanks to my dedication, I can create portals to go anywhere and the Absolute brings me to where I need to go. When our hearts are completely dedicated to the Absolute, we are completely ourselves and can do what we were created to do.”

“Oh yeah? Then why don’t I have an ability like yours? I’ve done my fair share of praying and trying to be the best person I can and I’ve got nothing to show for it.”

“But you do! You help our hometown in so many ways. You’re so unbelievably talented.”

“I’m so unbelievably replaceable. There are tons of people who do the same kind of job that I do and many of them do it better.”

“I’m glad you said it,” my father as comes out of the house all dressed up.

“Don’t you have to go to work?” I say to him.

“I am. Love you and see you later.”

“Sure.”

“He’s just joking, Cornelia. Your father and mother really do love you.”

“Whatever. Look, I can’t make portals, pull swords out of nothing, breathe fire, summon animals, none of the special abilities that I hear a lot about and even see in this town. I’ll be just like my parents and their parents before them by being stuck working this thankless poor job for the rest of my life.”

“I didn’t get the ability to teleport anywhere until I was a teenager and my parents are hard workers just like yours with no magical abilities. Having parents with normal abilities doesn’t mean that you’ll have the same ones for your whole life. Don’t you remember the stories?”

“I know about them, but those abilities typically change around our age. There hasn’t been any kind of change in me.”

This is one of the reasons why my parents like Eleazar more than me. They always talk about him as if he’s some kind of hero I should follow in his example. He had a luxurious life handed to him by royalty when word of his heart’s ability reached them. Now, he’s an escort for all kinds of kings, queens, and high-ranking clergy members. He’s talking to me about the Absolute and how I should appreciate what I have, but I ignore it because I hate these speeches he gives me and I hate his overtly happy attitude to the point where I never want to see him. Why did the Absolute even make him come here? It could be…

“Shut up for a second,” I say to stop his ramblings, “Maybe you were brought here so I can discover my heart’s true ability!”

“I don’t know. Don’t you have to go to work and help take care of your family?”

“What’s more important? Becoming my true self to serve the Absolute in the right way or constantly walking in circles?”

“Becoming your true self.”

“Right. Besides, my parents don’t need me.”

“Yes, they do. You’re their daughter.”

“No, they never did. They only needed someone to make money for them,” I say before ducking my head into my house to say to my mother, “Mother! I’m going out with Eleazar! We’re going to find my heart’s Absolute ability!”

“Good, good! Make your father and me proud,” she says.

“Sure.” Turning to Eleazar, I push him along and then say, “Come on, come on! Portal us out of here!”

“Okay, hold on.”

A portal opens and on the other side, I can see a busy office. We go into it before the portal closes behind us.

Eleazar approaches the man dressed in gold like him that’s sitting at the front desk and says, “Hey, Mr. Adivino.”

“Back already, Eleazar? It’s a good thing your portals gently push aside people and open in open spaces.”

“It’s all thanks to the Absolute.”

“Sure is. Who is this with you? Your best friend that you talk about so much?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Who is this?” I ask Eleazar.

“This is my advisor or rather an advisor or mystic for those with a Heart Absolute ability. He, along with the other mystics, have the Absolute ability to consult to Absolute typically to ask if a course of action is correct.”

Great, another ability to be jealous of. If only it was so easy if me to get an answer to every question I have.

“So, you’re going to ask if us going to find my heart’s Absolute ability is correct?”

“Yep!”

“How long is this going to take?”

“This shouldn’t take too long, young lady. Just be patient while I get the help of the other advisors.”

Adivino goes away while I go find someplace to sit.

“I can show you around the place if you’d like, so you’re not just waiting here,” Eleazar says.

I take one look around the building to see all the people with fantastic Heart Absolute abilities such as turning objects into gold, sprouting wings from their back, and the ability to make copies of themselves. Not wanting to see other people’s Heart Absolute abilities, I decline the offer then continue to look at people using their abilities regardless and daydream about what ability I’ll get. My hope is that I get something different that’s unique to me since two people having the same Heart Absolute ability while both are alive is incredibly rare. Maybe I’ll be able to turn water into a solid substance, turn invisible, immediately clean things in the blink of an eye, or perhaps something simple like superhuman strength. I’ll take almost anything as long as it gets me out of my current job and life situation.

From a distance, I can see Eleazar talking to one of his friends that can teleport objects from one place to another. I don’t remember if he told me that she’s related to him in any way or a distant relative since I hardly pay attention to what he says during his visits. It’s also possible that she isn’t related to him and her heart’s ability is something new in her family, which I keep hoping is the case for me. Typically, a child will inherit one or a combination of their parent’s or grandparent’s abilities, but there are cases where a child or even multiple children in a family will have completely different abilities. Eleazar sees me looking over at him and his friends and motions for me to join them, but I shake my head. He then gets them to come over to me, the idiot.

“Everyone, this is my best friend, Cornelia. She’s a really friendly person,” Eleazar says.

Despite seeing the obvious sour expression on my face, Eleazar’s friends still introduce themselves with smiles on their faces and tell me about what Eleazar said about me. Is having a sickeningly happy demeanor a requirement for working here? Also, what am I some kind of pet brought to a show in tell? Eleazar must’ve been telling many tall stories about me if everyone is fussing over me as if I’m some kind of celebrity.

“Eleazar, we’ve come to a decision,” Adivino says as he comes back.

I push through the crowd of Eleazar’s friends and ask, “So, what is it?”

“You are to go with him to learn about your Heart Absolute’s ability by experiencing a few events that will teach you about it.”

“Yes, yes! Finally!”

“This is great, Cornelia-”

“Come on and make a portal already! Come on!” I say as I grab Eleazar’s arm and pull him out of his crowd of friends.

A portal opens in front of us and I try to get Eleazar to hurry up, but he’s resisting as he says his goodbyes to his friends.

“You’re her guiding light, Eleazar. Take good care that she learns what it really means to be herself and the true value of love, truth, and the Absolute,” Adivino says.

“Don’t worry, I will!” Eleazar says before going through the portal with me.

Finally, I’ll be able to get my heart’s Absolute ability and become truly myself. Then, I’ll be able to live a happy and satisfying life.

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Corrupt power is a poison that was once a cure 

Fallen societies create Hell on Earth and these stories follow several people who try to make their homes a better place or escape it. From secret societies manipulating history behind the scenes to a lone gunslinger with an unquenchable thirst for justice, there are many ways to change the world even if you start with yourself and the people you know. 

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The paperback of the final part of the Venatores Noctis series is out!

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Even after freeing the world completely from the grasp of the vampires, people still fall back on their sins like drug addicts. As a result, the next generation of vampire hunters is born and trained through trials and tribulations to destroy not only the sin of the world but also the sin within themselves and those they think are on their side as the worst threat to humanity may come from the traitorous sinners that lie within the Church. 
This book includes the last part of the Venatores Noctis series (Adoption Through Blood, Bastard Inheritor, Defilement of Falsehood, and Consequences of Compromise) and an extra story (Useful Suffering) inspired by a dream along with Behind the Story extras that detail some of the thoughts and inspirations behind each story.

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Download for free on Smashwords-https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1164128

Even after going through an action movie-like series of events, Silas seemingly hasn't changed America all that much as criminals still fight for power both in the underground and in the political and corporate worlds. Because of this, he tries to take a vacation, but can't ignore a cry for justice even if he does end up killing more people and making himself appear to be the grim reaper.

Tragedy, Justice, and Tuesdays: Chapter 2 – Justice, Bringer of Corpses

*Concept art for the officer badge for Silas’ police department. Top “Justice is inevitable” Bottom “Death is inevitable”

Chapter 2 – Justice, Bringer of Corpses

It takes me a while to get to the junkyard because of all the police around, but I eventually do and catch two armed goons talking in front of the only entrance. Let’s hear what they have to say before I head in. Maybe they’ll get me some helpful information.

“Are you sure this isn’t a death sentence?” one of them asks the other.

“Yes, I’m sure. The mayor has ensured our protection. Besides, Silas may be a psychopath, but he’s not a complete idiot and has to know the implications of what would happen if he attacked us and our boss.”

“He took on the most powerful in the entire country. What makes you think he cares about consequences?”

“Because things will get much worse for him if he does anything. You can’t go around shooting people on your own terms forever. The police will come to our aid and the media will further villainize him in the view of the country.”

“I feel a little safer now, I guess.”

“Good. Now, stop worrying and keep an eye out. He should be here soon.”

That one goon does have a point; however, do I really care about what the world thinks of me and what they might do to me? Heh, no. I come out of the darkness shooting and head into the junkyard the same way. This reminds me of when I was outgunned by myself a time not too long ago and it doesn’t occur to me that I’m alone until fifteen of the goons are dead and none are left. Going further into the junkyard, I find a man in a suit sitting in an office who appears to have been expecting me. He has a smug look on his face and looks relaxed despite me pointing a gun at his face, which makes me hold in what I have to say. His look causes me to look and walk around the room and look outside while keeping an eye and gun on this man.

“You don’t need to worry about any traps, grim reaper. You’ve already triggered it, but it’s not something lethal in an obvious way. It’s more deadly in terms of your reputation,” the man says.

“I don’t care about my reputation. I only care that justice is served,” I say.

“It’s a brave thing to say, but you already know the consequences of such actions. Bringing me to justice will not end well for you. I have many connections that will bail me out of jail.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

“Oh? Are you sure? Who do you think owns this quiet and beautiful resort town?”

“You’re the mayor?”

“That’s right and what do you think will happen if you try to bring me in or kill me?”

“It can’t be worse than the consequences I already deal with for already offing so many others like the president.”

“The people of America and other countries knew that most of the men you knew were corrupt, but they don’t know me. You hardly did. My crimes are more hidden than those overblown amateurs, which is why they come to me to tear certain people apart and send them in packages to their loved ones.”

“You fu-”

“Be careful with what you choose. You kill me and the country will think that you’ve really gone too far and will have to put you in prison for life or kill you on the spot.”

“I don’t care! You killed my best friend’s parents and threatened my family!”

“I’ll do more than threaten them!” The mayor takes out his phone that’s ready to call a number. “One call is all it takes to make them disappear and end up like your friend’s parents. It doesn’t even matter if I can get a sentence out. If the people on the other line of this number see that I’ve called, then they’ll know what to do. Also, if they hear that I’ve died without getting a call, then the consequences will just take longer to reach you. You only have two choices as far as I’m concerned. You either work for me and I make the rest of your life as easy as can be or you try to arrest me to no avail.”

“Looks like I’ll have to arrest you then.”

“You’ll…you’ll what? Haha, you’ll what? Hahaha! Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

That’s right. Lower your guard and put your finger away from the dial button. I relax my arms and lower my gun as he laughs in my face. There we go.

“That’s right. I’m going to arrest you. Bring you to justice.”

“Hahaha! You don’t have the authority!”

I quickly shoot the mayor and then his phone so his dead fingers don’t touch the dial button.

“I didn’t need any authority to shoot you in the face.”

Okay, now I need to get out of here and warn my family and Josh about what will-ah, hell it’s the police. Thinking on my feet, I exit the office and see a large pile of cars. I climb it then jump from it and over the walls of the junkyard. The landing wasn’t that soft so I hide get away as fast as I can and hide under a nearby bridge to catch my breath. This whole town will be against me and the mayor’s men will probably go after my parents next, so I call the people I know who are looking after my parents and tell them the situation.

They tell me, “If they know we’re here, where should we move them?”

“I don’t know back to the city, I guess?” I suggest.

“How’s that a good idea?”

“Because I have safehouses here and lots more people who are on our side. It’s the only option I can think of.”

“I guess it’s our only choice too then. I’ll see you soon then.”

“See you. Oh, before you hang up, are our lines still secure?”

“They should be. We’ll triple check it since we may have traitors in our mist if they know about your parent’s location.”

“Thank you and be safe.”

“You should be more worried about yourself, especially after what you did. You’ll need a miracle from God to get out of this alive.”

“I’m already praying for one.”

After hanging up the phone, I start to think about what my options are in terms of leaving this place. This vacation went horribly even though the bastard who killed Josh’s parents is dead. I still feel ashamed that I wasn’t able to protect his mother when I had the chance. What am I even going to say to Josh when I see him? Will I see him? I’ve just called Josh again and again he hasn’t picked up, so I put a lollipop in my mouth to calm myself down while I leave a message. Dang it. It’s apple flavor.

“Josh, please, pick up. I need you now more than ever, bro. You’re going to hear me starting up trouble in the news because I killed the mayor of the vacation town we’re in because he was the one who cut up your parents and sent them in a package to us. I’m coming back home and my parents are too because their lives are in danger. Please be safe,” I say in my message to him.

Time to leave this place. After crunching down on the lollipop, I head into town and try to keep to the alleyways and out of public sight.

“Grim reaper!” I hear a child say from a second story window.

There goes my cover.

“Keep quiet!” I say as quietly as I can.

“Okay!” the child says in a quieter voice. “Are you in trouble?”

“Yeah, kind of. Do you need something?”

“I do actually. My family is in trouble. Can you help? It’ll be real quick with your skills then you can keep running from trouble.”

“I…”

“Please! I may never see them again if they don’t get help now and the police are busy for some reason.”

“Okay, okay. Show me where they are.”

The child comes downstairs and into the alley where I am then into the town’s streets. Luckily, we get by without really seeing anyone but hang on. There seem to be fewer people as we continue and these streets are supposed to be busy, especially during this time of the year. This smells fishy.

“Where are your parents, kid?” I ask.

“They’re here,” the child says.

Many people come out of their houses and businesses, some of which are armed with guns. These people are led by four adults in suits who I assume to be the child’s parents since the child walks up to them. Damn. I should’ve picked up earlier that it was a setup. Well, I’ve shot my way out of stickier situations.

With no other option, I draw my gun and am about to shoot until one of the child’s parents says, “Do you really think you can shoot your way out of this?”

“I can try,” I say.

“You’re outnumbered and outgunned, grim reaper. We’ve been studying your methods ever since you rebelled against your chief of police and we’re beating you with something you can’t fight against.”

“And that would be?”

“The innocent people behind us who’ve had enough of your reckless killing and our child. Your faith and values will not allow you to shoot either of them.”

The child pulls a gun out of his shirt and points it at me along with the rest of the crowd. This child looks no older than twelve and already he’s being used by his parents in this way. It’s such a shame that it pisses me off in a special way.

“We’ll let you say your prayers to your God as an act of respect for your deeds,” another one of the family members says. “Today marks the day the reaper dies-”

I shoot the child and his family then the few people in the crowd who have guns. This scares the mob who are now unsure of what to do. One person tries to quickly pick up a gun, but I shoot the gun breaking it.

“Anyone else wants some?! I can do this all day!” I say.

What I say scares the crowd into running away. Well, that’s that, but what can’t I move? What are my eyes focused on-oh, yeah. The child. I’m sorry that it had to be this way…don’t look at me like that. What other choice did I have? I’ll pray for your soul and mine. I should get moving since I hear police sirens in the distance.

Getting to the shipyard, I discover that all the ships are gone. They probably won’t be here until tomorrow morning. It’s probably a good idea to hide in a shipping container until then. The police will be looking for me all night, so I find the shipping area, and lucky me, the guy watching the cameras is busy watching videos on his phone. Just to be safe, I knock him out and then try to find a safe container to hide in. That is until I hear someone nearby. Looking into who it is, I find a drug deal going down, and to my surprise, I act without thinking and kill the drug dealers with the knife’s end of my gun since it’s almost out of juice. Oh, yeah. I have to give my gun a recharge.

I find the nearest guard outpost and see that the guards are all asleep. Using this opportunity, I use their gun chargers and take their ammo. Damn revolver is supposed to be better than a standard one, but only when I need it set to stun or when I need a more powerful shot both of which can only be done when it's fully charged, but using the functions make it drain fast. While waiting for my revolver to recharge to a good level, I finally look at my bloody hands and remember the face of the child and the people I’ve recently killed. Why has it taken me so long to feel the impact of killing a child? Why did it take so long for me to think about the consequences of shooting people who were just afraid of me? Why did you put me in this situation, God?

There are so many eyes watching my actions, not just those in Heaven. I’m not an inspirational leader or a peacemaker. I’m just a guy with a gun and a want for justice in this world, but people treat me like I’m the angel of death that has come down from Heaven or up from Hell. What am I supposed to do? Have I even been doing the right thing? I can only hope that I find an answer soon because I keep being faced with big decisions at the drop of a hat. Tch, there’s no way to get any answers now, so I’ll have to wait till I get back home. My confessor should have some answer or maybe Josh if he snaps back to his normal self.

After that horrible bit of self-reflection, I see that my revolver is charged up to seventy percent. This’ll be good enough to get me through the rest of tomorrow, so I take it, find a shipping container to break in, hide in it, then sleep in it until tomorrow morning when I hear a boat’s horn. Going outside, I see that this boat is the same boat that brought me here. Thank God. I’ll be home soon. I go on the boat only to find the police all over the place. They probably knew that I’d take the easiest way out of here though it’s at this time I wish I knew how to drive a boat.

“Search for him! He’s around here somewhere,” an officer says.

Come on, come on. Please get here faster. There are so many cops around here. Don’t mind me. I’m just another face in the crowd. Please, don’t make me shoot anyone who misunderstands me. Almost here…almost…okay! Without thinking, I rush forward with everyone in the crowd. I’m home free-

“There’s Silas!” I hear someone say from behind me.

Dang it! I rush forward and into the boat. Before I can find a place to hide, the boat suddenly starts moving. Why did it leave so suddenly? Looking behind and around me, I see that the cops haven’t managed to enter the boat. I can even see from the deck of the boat that the cops are still at the dock. That was a miracle.

“Looks like you're still helpless without me,” I hear a familiar voice say from behind me.

Turning around, I see Josh with a smug smile on his face and his mini-submachine gun on his hip.

“Josh, you ass,” I say as I give him a hug, “Where you the one who got the boat moving?”

“Yeah. I thought you’d get caught by the police here, so I forced the captain to start the boat as soon as you got on board. Couldn’t be bothered to change your clothes, could you?”

“Of course not. You know how much I love my cowboy hat and long gunslinger coat. We should get the civilians to safety. The police will probably chase after us with their boats and helicopters.”

“There’s no need to worry about that. I have our people coming to meet them right now and distract them and people on our shores.”

“I hope I didn’t start a war between our home and the town.”

“No, but we are the inspiration for a bigger change that’s happening right now. The country will be different for the better if we set a good example to follow.”

“What about all the misunderstandings that turn good people against us? What about the radicals who deliberately pretend to be like us but pervert the good reasons that we fight for?’

“That happens with all movements as far as I’m concerned. Just leave all the planning to me like you always do and the rest of it in God’s hands.”

“Thank you. So, how did you get your spirit back?”

“Prayer and my wife beating my senses back into me. Oh, and those messages that you left for me. It all reminded me that I can’t let the cycles of tragedy and justice get to me. We can’t make this world perfect and there’s a chance that the next generation may ruin it when we’re gone. Regardless, we have to do our best and like I said, leave the rest in God’s hands.”

“You’re right. Thanks, brother.”

“And thank you for bringing justice to my parents’ killer.”

What Josh says brings tears to my eyes as I can’t help but cry. Josh also cries for his mother whose remains I say we’ll get back eventually to give a proper burial with her husband. For the rest of the ride home, we talk about old times over a couple of drinks. Not long after, we arrive home to find a crowd of our officers holding off a crowd of scum-I mean journalists. Looking at them and hearing their many incoherent questions gives me the idea to give them a reminder about why I fight. Of course, I have to ask Josh if this is a good idea. He agrees and then gets this event set up. Once everyone is calmed down, I stand in front of the crowd to talk to them.

“Before I start, I’ll take one question,” I say.

About a hundred hands raise up along with many other voices. I pick one random hand out of the crowd, and I’m pretty sure the person who stands up wasn’t the one I picked.

“How do you justify your recent actions? What is your inspiration for it?” the reporter asks.

This is actually a great jumping off point, thanks be to God.

“I’m glad you asked that. My inspirations are my conscience and what I know to be right tempered by my faith and my interpretation of what God wants me to do.”

“So, you’re saying that your God justifies your violent acts?”

“Yes, and my acts are right and just. What Americans forget is what makes our country special. It was founded on the people fighting for their God-given rights against their oppressors who had more power and resources than they did. We must remember that even though God has given the presidents, kings, and bosses of the world power over many things, God is the one who gives power and He gives us, the people, the low class scum of the world to overthrow our leaders if they prove to be corrupted by their power and their vices.”

A reporter tries interrupting me by saying, “Sir, I don’t think you know your history well-”

“Shut the hell up. I’m the one reminding you why I do what I do and I’m under no obligation to answer your questions.”

“What then do you think of the Civil War?” a reporter asks.

“Oh, I like that question because I was going to get to that part, so I’ll honor you by answering it. During the Civil War, the south and the north had their disagreements with slavery being one of the reasons. Regardless of the reasons, we must remember that righteous order has its place just as much as a righteous revolution when the opposing side fights for something that is unjust and must be brought to justice.”

“What if someone justly thinks that you’re unjust and must be brought down?”

“Then bring it on. If I’m wrong, I’ll gladly suffer for my sins. So, does anyone want to do the honors?” I say with nothing blocking my body and my arms out.

Looks like no one is brave enough to shoot me. Part of me wishes that someone did because of how guilty I feel for my recent actions.

“That’s how it’s going to be, huh? If so, then it looks like it’s time for me to get back to work. Don’t forget or skew what I said today,” I say.

My officers surround Josh and me as we make our way through the crowds of reporters and civilians some of which are on my side and others who aren’t.

“What’s on the agenda for today, boys and girls?” I ask my officers.

“The usual reports of violence and theft,” an officer says.

“There are also the officers for the vacation town you were at who want answers and your head on a platter,” another officer says.

“Tell them to get in line. I’ll explain myself to them later. First, I have to take care of the trash in my home so move to your stations and clean the town of crime.”

“Yes, sirs,” my officers say as they get into their police cars and drive off.

“What should we do?” Josh asks.

“It’s Silas, the grim reaper! The first one who claims his head gets the prize,” a crazed person with a gun says.

This crazed person is followed by many of their friends who come out of the crowd and around us.

“Here’s our job for today,” I say before Josh and I take cover.

“Why do you get a nickname and I don’t?” Josh asks.

“Because I look cooler and do cooler things while you don’t?”

“Without me, you would’ve been dead years ago.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

We start shooting the criminals and take many of them out. Some of our supporters take out their guns to help us. In addition, a few of my officers come back to help, however, more crazies come out to fight.

“Well, this is a mess. I bet you wish you were still on vacation,” Josh says.

“Oh, please. This is just another Tuesday. We’ll go on vacation later,” I say.

I then put a lollipop in my mouth and make sure it’s root beer flavor. After I kiss my cross necklace and cross myself, I step out of cover with Josh to get to work. Today is another day of injustice and justice, sin and redemption, but it’s also another day to make a difference. In other words, it’s a day like any other.

The End