DCMAGR | Chapter. 38: Contact (Patreon)

If I did it before the Grim reaper could stop me, then there would be no problems. I’d be able to send the soul I wanted to Elysium and⁠— deal with the repercussions later? Though… there should not be any repercussions… I looked at Ash who had started looking at the roof seemingly relaxed.

“And…” I began. “When do I do it?”

“I don’t know…” Ash replied letting out a long breath. “Do you genuinely believe you’re ready for Elyisum? I do not understand Grim reaper things but there must be a reason to be told that. This whole Underworld thing is stupid.” She sighed.

I almost sighed upon hearing her conclusion. “It is. Though…” I looked at Ash who was simply laying in bed and looking at the ceiling. “Why did you say that us Denizens should stay in the shadows?”

Ash took a breath. “Have you seen what type of weapons humans have?”

“No. I haven’t.”

“Well, it’s not pretty. Most of the civilized regions of the Underworld can probably be wiped.” She uncomfortably shuffled. “Should we be identified as a threat to this world then the outcome won’t be pretty. The Abyssal Hunters are well aware of that so they do their best to avoid being in the limelight.”

I frowned. “I see… Should I… be worried about it?”

“No,” Ash said after a brief moment. “Nothing to concern yourself over, just something to keep in mind.”

I nodded hearing Ash, not really knowing what to say or how to continue the conversation. Was there anything to even say? Perhaps in the future I could try to pass a soul but for now I didn’t really know what I was even doing. Ash was… well she was relaxing I suppose. I had no clue why she was even here.

I looked at the carpet and decided to stand up, grabbing the scythe along with me. I took a step forward before Ash said something.

“You cannot leave through the door, it is completely barricaded.”

“Barricaded?” I asked in confusion.

“Hmhm, they are not doing renovations yet, the rooms were barricaded since they didn’t suffer damages. People like to vandalize places like this sometimes, so Sullivan opted to close them down,” she explained. “I got here through a portal, and one must leave with a portal. I would’ve used the other room, but since I have no idea how it looked like I couldn’t,” Ash lamented apathetically.

“I see…” I agreed somewhat deflated. “Then I’ll get going then.” I prepared my scythe before thinking about where to go. I didn’t feel like resting anymore, talking with Ash had alleviated my mind at least a little. I glanced at the window, the sky was still a bright blue, it was probably around mid-day. The park? I thought about it and nodded to myself.

The tree in the park. I pictured the tree and swung down. A rift opened in front of me. As I stepped into the gap, Ash called.

“Kat.”

“Yes?” I tilted my head, only to see her looking at me with an awkward smile.

“I am sorry…” She took a pause. “About yesterday…”

About yesterday? Her mood became hopeful sadness as she finished her statement. I recalled what had happened, our conversation last night and how I felt. I shook my head. “Don’t worry about it, we all make mistakes.” I tried to console her but it came off kind of weird.

She smiled and laid in bed, her mood becoming slightly more serene. I turned to the portal and crossed it, and in an instant the sun overwhelmed me. The portal closed as my scythe vanished into thin air, leaving only the rustling of the tree to be heard. I leaned against the tree for a few seconds, basking on the soft grass, the coldness on my back and the sun filtering through the foliage.

It was… relaxing.

I closed my eyes for some time taking in the surrounding sensations and relatively pleasant emotions. The forest was too quiet and staying with Ash was a no go. She wanted to be alone after all. I stayed in place for what felt like a minute or two, letting the things that had happened somewhat wash away with the calm I was feeling.

Worrying about the Grim reaper right now is pointless. What I had to do was⁠ simply take it slow until the next time I had to help. I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, this time feeling a lot better, or rather just considerably more relaxed. I straightened myself away from the tree and stretched a bit before finally deciding to move.

I rounded the tree and started my walk, looking at the clear cut grass and at the people playing through the small plain that consisted of the park. I walked with my gaze wandering wherever it felt like it; watching dogs run across the grass, birds flying up in the sky, or people walking on the sidewalk. Eventually I gaze forth only to see the much familiar bench, and of course. The Old man. I smiled without realizing it as I approached, while he watched other things elsewhere.

He began to cough, and cough. I paused. Then the coughs escalated into a violent thrash that made me nervous in an instant. The peacefulness that i felt was gone, replaced by a sinking feeling as I rushed to his side. Is he dying? My mind rushed for answers as I rushed to be by his side, somehow it reminded me of the dog that defended me on the hiking trail. Please don’t die! I pleaded as I finally arrived.

“Old man, are you okay?!” I worriedly called as I placed my hand over his back, not really knowing what to do. He kept coughing for a few seconds before it finally subsided.

“Yeah…” He agreed, his voice coarse. “Didn’t think I’d see you here Kaiti.” He said slowly sitting upright.

I sighed realizing that the Old man was alright. He wasn’t dead. He wasn’t dead… A wave of relief washed over me.

“Kaiti, are you…” He drew his words. “Crying?”

“Crying?” I asked in confusion as I felt a trickle go down my cheek, the moist sensation lingering on my cheek. I cried? But… he was alive. I shook my head. I didn’t know how to explain it to the Old man, whose face looked at me with cryptic worry. “I… a dog died I guess…”

“Sit down.” He gestured gently. “Let’s talk about the dog.”

I nodded very slowly and sat along with him. He cleared his throat and began to speak.

“Was this… dog…” He awkwardly said. “Your pet?”

I shook my head. “More importantly, Old man, you’re not dying, right?”

He chuckled. “I shall die when I die, no use in stressing about it.” I scrunched my face a bit. “I guess you didn’t like that.” He pondered with a frown for a few seconds. “How about this; If I am dying I’ll give you a call, how is that?”

I hurriedly nodded looking at his smile.

“So, what is your number Kaiti?” he gently asked.

“My number?” I frowned before realizing he meant the phone number. “I don’t remember it.” I admitted.

The Old man chuckled. “Just give me a call then, pull out your phone.”

◇ ◇ ◇

The Old man promptly guided me on calling him, the process of him saving my number as well as the process of saving my number. The whole process lasted a couple of minutes.

“There you go,” he said with a small smile.

“Tha⁠—” I paused. The Old man had helped me add his number. Wasn’t I like I supposed to know that already? I felt sudden embarrassment. “Thanks.”

“Did you remember the dog?” The Old man asked with a small frown. “It’s not easy to get over the death of your loved ones.”

I sighed. “The dog was… It was a dog that I met outside a hiking trail. It followed me when I gave it food, but…” I paused, unsure if to continue any further.

“But?” He nudged.

“But a bear attacked and the dog tried to protect me. Unfortunately he died in the process.” I lamented.

The Old man froze as I felt sudden nervousness come from him. “But you’re alright, right?”

I slowly nodded in confusion, his tension eased a bit. “If he wanted to protect you then it’s not something you should concern yourself over. You’re safe right?”

I nodded again. “The thing is…” I paused, feeling uncomfortable. The whole thing just sounded silly. “I didn’t need to be protected?”

“Oh you had bear spray?” He nodded. “But a bear can still injure you, so don’t be so confident next time.” His tone turned harsh at the end.

“Sorry.”

“At least the dog is in Elysium, so you can rest easy that he is happy.” He consoled me, but I froze.

“About that… a… let's use an example.” I fidgeted. “Like the example with my work partner.”

The Old man looked at me strangely. “That example was rather bizarre, but I suppose you have your reasons.” I swallowed and nodded at him.

“If…” I felt the tension suddenly leave me. I could just tell him the truth. “If part of my responsibility is making sure a soul reaches Elysium, and as I am about to do that, the Grim reaper comes and snatches said soul. Would it be defilement?”

“Defilement?” He asked in confusion.

“Well, the dog died for me…” I took a deep breath. “So wouldn’t it be my responsibility to respect his death by placing him in Elysium myself?”

“I suppose so.” He agreed with obvious confusion.

“If I was snatched of that right by somebody that had nothing to do with the dog. Would it be defilement?”

He frowned. “I suppose. Though I fail to see how this could possibly be a real world scenario.”

I sighed. Right, this was just an example. “It was just an example,” I shook my head. “The dog is indeed in Elysium.” I chuckled, masking the sinking feeling I had in my stomach.

The Old man looked at me straight in the eye. “Kaiti, I am sorry I cannot provide a better opinion, but if this situation affected you so much perhaps talk with the Grim reaper and tell him that it was your job.”

“I… did…” I said with slight apprehension.

“Then.” He frowned. “Do not let it occur again. The prey is yours, it shouldn’t be snatched.” He declared resolutely.

“The prey shouldn’t be snatched?”

“It’s just a way of speech,” he clarified. “Though I do find it concerning that you had to see a dog die to a bear.”

“Concerning?” I asked, raising my brow. What could possibly be concerning about it?

The Old man nodded. “The blood the⁠—” He paused taking a look at my face. “The sight I suppose.”

“Is that concerning?” My confusion grew by the second.

“I think it is, yes. But it’s better that you don’t remember.”

But I did remember. I however, did not tell the Old man that sensing the worry he felt.

“Well ignoring that, how did it go with your co-worker?” He looked at me with curiosity.

“Ah I talked to her, at first there was… misunderstanding. But I think it’s mostly in the past.” I swallowed. “Part of me still doesn’t want to understand that the misunderstanding happened, but logically speaking there is no reason for her to lie.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly.

I shook my head. “I know she didn’t lie.”

The Old man placed a hand on my back. “If you ever need to complain just give me a call.”

I looked at him with surprise. I could just call him? No⁠— what if he was busy? “I can’t trouble you like that.” I sighed.

He solemnly shook his head. “I’ll allow it, even if I am a busy man,” he smirked. “I gave you my number for a reason, better put it to use.”

I felt a small warmth spread through me as he said that, a fuzzy feeling of happiness. “I will call you, but don’t complain.”

He smiled. “I won’t.”

My heart rate increased ever so slightly from the happiness I felt, but it was alright. I could call the Old man now. I could talk to him at any given time.