So, let me get this straight.
You had me thinking I had a…quote unquote "Pact Weapon" this entire time. Had me stressing about any types of "pacts" I could've made.
And now, now, you want to reveal that this isn't a Pact Weapon, but something different? Something special?
This isn't some cheap magic trick! I'm not a magician, this isn't one of those weird, fantasy video games where players have HP/MP bars. I have NONE of that.
Rei and I stood outside the armory. I was a bit clueless. I didn't know what was what anymore. I just opened the door to another mystery that I'm not ready to face again.
She could tell by the look on my face I wasn't pleasant with the news. And I wasn't going to try the expression any further. But there was something about it. That same, curious look in her eyes.
Eating away at me, as if there's more to me than she never knew, and hell, there is. Never showed her the sword not once. My words was the sword.
"..you know Master. I think you're the coolest ever." She begins with simple compliments, flattery. But I'm in no mood to entertain it.
I already know I do, Rei. Tell me something I don't know.
"Cool." Is all that comes from my mouth. I want to bury my face into the poncho, disappear forever. Overreaction? Maybe.
One of the things that I thought I knew, is something entirely different. Which may…or may not hurt me in the long run.
Special blade, huh? I wonder what else is special in this world.
I take a long gaze at the busy street of New Marell. Then to Rei, the bright red oni who still, couldn't keep her eyes to herself. For me, for the people around, for the town, for the world she's never seen.
Then, the idea brewed in my head.
I open my mouth again, "A special blade, is what he told me. People out here respect you when you're special." I tell Rei.
"You and I…aren't that different after all." I comfort her. Her smile picks up gradually. I think she has an idea.
Point was.
I think Rei was lonely because well, there was no one else like her. Had to attach to ranchmasters because they were the only ones who gave her any attention, really. Whether their intent was good or bad is something I don't know.
But, if I can bridge us together, and help her realize that…you don't have to be me. If this sword…was more proof that she could never be me—and yet I still have no idea how I got the blade to begin with.
Point being. It's impossible. At the very least, I want to translate that.
Show that we are all special, in each and our own ways.
I think…I think that's what I'm going to do.
I move, Rei follows along footsteps, mimicking as always. We dodge the many people on our way. One destination in mind. Rei doesn't know what it is…but I do.
I've been there before.
I gently push open the door. The sight of many items and clothes are familiar. Of course it is.
This is where I got their souvenir gifts from.
Her eyes, curious orange eyes inspected every single item. Even going as far as to touch a few just of how bizarre it looked. It did get weird, eyes in a jar, brain in a jar, a tongue in a jar—that's just the aisle. I remembered to dodge it last time around.
We came across a bin, full of masks. Ranging from the classic hockey mask, to far estranged ones. Like the hobgoblin.
I picked up the hockey one; at least it looked familiar. Felt familiar. Never played the sport—or slashed for that matter as well. Then I held another one, appeared to be an owl mask.
Showed these two to Rei, her eyes lit up.
"Well…? Which one you think I should get?" I ask her. She blinks, thinks for a moment.
"Both."
I chuckle, "Both?"
"Well, then you have one."
I toss her the owl mask. She juggles it in her hands before finally catching it. Must've figured she never did learn how to play throw and catch with other friends. I'll add that to the bucket list soon.
She looks at me, not yet convinced…or maybe just not expecting me to give her one. "...I think your's is cooler."
"I want something like yours."
I dig in the bin, trying to find a hockey mask. Unfortunately, I couldn't. There were too many masks, and the bin was simply too large to keep continuing. Halted my rescue, and even Rei was digging for one as well.
"I think this is one of one…well, then you can have this too."
I toss her the hockey mask, and she juggles it in the air as well before finally catching it. In exchange, I take the owl mask from her.
She stares at it like it's not real. Like it might disappear if she blinks too long.
And then she holds it tight. Like if she lets go, she'll lose the part of me I just gave her.
"I…I can have this?" She looks up at me while asking, I nod.
"Uh…yeah. Just don't tell Jex."
She tilts her head, "Why not?"
My lips part open, but nothing comes from my mouth. I held it back anyways. I couldn't tell Rei, or she might start looking at her different.
But she giggles anyway.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't want to."
I slowly nod, but it feels wrong to co-sign her. What do you mean…you wouldn't want to?
Chose to forget it, I don't want to dive any deeper on what that could've meant…or potentially mean.
She straps the hockey mask on, and I would be lying if I said I didn't laugh a couple times.