The Heart Five

8: Up Above and Down Below

Benevolence Hospital, the World Down Below

“So this is what that undead defect meant about fighting one another,” Quaza (Knowledge), still recovering from the incident earlier ponders while nurse defects tend to each of them. “Are you sure he said Lord Voix is involved head captain?”

“I’m definitely sure,” I replied as I noticed how slow my healing was. “We need to speak with Lord Xpir about this abomination ASAP. Have you noticed anything, Denver?”

“That nickname again,” he sighs. “But what do you mean by noticing anything?”

“I think I do notice,” Raxion (Wisdom) struggles to sit up. “Our godly powers are diminished.”

“What do you think is the cause, Justin?” I asked Raxion.

“I think it is primarily due to Lord Xpir’s losing of influence over this world,” he answers. “Justin or not, we need him to come out soon or these people will die.”

“Where are the others, Kevin?” I asked Suxil who was in front of me.

“Garxeus (Sympathy) went out to thank everyone who helped us, Zamel (Love) and Maozter (Happiness) offered to help in treating the other survivors, Zereal (Hope) and Xaicerc (Wonder) went to the canteen, Whenz (Assurance) just went to the comfort room, you know how he is with people, and uh Texilon (Patience) is doing his detective work outside gathering a lot of clues probably.” Suxil glances at the others in bed, “the rest of them are here lying down and getting themselves treated.”

It must be difficult for all of them, including me, to experience defeat even when the raid was successful. Why is Lord Voix here, that bastard of a Supreme Being? As I gaze at each one of us, Denver is still discussing with Justin, Kevin and Myco are also locked in a serious discussion, Razelli and Leozena seeming plan to get over to my side to ask for forgiveness about the thought that maybe they failed, but I they didn’t fail of course which is why I won’t scold the, Zirack, Semcaxa, Zenphea, and Krozel kept on looking at me, I don’t know why, maybe they were just as concerned as I am, and lastly, Quezar (Inspiration), Zeharp (Peace) and Xilvas (Fidelity) are just lying down, feeling depressed.

I’ve got a lot of issues to try and fix. I’m like a damn drunk person who is trying to organize my thoughts to think which to prioritize first. As the head captain of the Essential Core, I need to find a way to drive that damn the Death being away from our Verse. I mean, what is going on with the mind of Lord Voix? Is he not that busy to do something right now in his very own Death Verse to have the time to come here and cause more problems for us? I stood up thinking that there’s no time to lose. I thanked the rejects who came to our aide in driving the defects away. This is getting chaotic, my mind. If only Dizane was here… no… she is dead… why is it that I can’t get her off my mind? Is it because I loved her so much that I can’t let go? I’ve got issues on my own. I need some advice. I can’t do this on my own…

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

“Are you okay? You seem to be lost.”

“I don’t know, Semcaxa. I just need to set things straight…”

She sits beside me, “What is your main concern as of this moment? You can tell me…”

“Lord Voix,” I sighed. “As of this moment, he is the main concern.”

“Then focus on this concern, right now.” She pinches my cheek, “Wake up. Don’t go disappearing like the Supreme Being of Sleep, Lord Xeel. I… we need you as head captain. Be strong for your children.”

I gently held her hand away from my face, “Thank you… for waking me up from that nightmare. I think I know what to do.” I stood up and immediately left.

“(O///O)”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

I requested for the head of the rejects to make an appearance. I wanted to discuss a lot of things, especially to a leader.

“Strange,” the president of the rejects remarks, “Usually, the essential beings would demand a lot of things. Now, I think my ancestors were mistaken. However, I ask that you would stop yelling at my representative even if you are greater than us.”

“I did what I have to,” I looked at the view in front of the president’s window. “Now I realize why you act so impure and imperfect. Lord Xpir once told us that we were created to be pure and perfect. He later changed it when we wanted to have romantic relationships with our fellow essential beings, perfect yet impure. I don’t see it that way. You don’t look like an honest leader yourself.”

“Are you implying something, essential being?”

“Don’t lie to me,” Essence beings like you are no different from the mortals. “I just need to know if every reject are truthfully rejects.”

“I guess I can’t lie to gods like you,” he sits down. “We no longer consider ourselves as essence beings. As you can see, I have been secretly corrupt… like the mortals. However, I am still a great leader and it was I who suggested going to your aide. You see, things have changed ever since you kicked our ancestors out of your paradise. You’ve been too late in fact.”

“What are you referring to anyway?”

“Lord Voix appeared thousand years ago and until now we have been fighting against our own kind under that monster’s influence. Some of them went to worship him while the rest of us remained loyal ‘still’ to Lord Xpir. We’ve been hanging on and we are able to push them back for who knows how long.”

“Opportunity came when we arrived and foil their recruitment plan, right?”

“Yes and I’m sorry if I took the opportunity,” he laughs. “There really is no lying to you. We want a truce.”

“I’m listening, as the head of the essential beings, I also want a truce. However, you cannot return to the Essential Core.”

“The Essential Core, eh?” he smiles at me, “You know I call your dwelling place as Paradise whenever my grandchildren visit me to ask for stories. They wanted to at least meet you guys. You are all over the news.”

“Let’s go back to discussing the plan,” I stopped him from derailing our discussion. “We can send our own essence beings as additional soldiers for your espionage. We will also be searching your entire… territory in case there are double agents around just like that representative.”

The president is taken aback, “I-I didn’t know…”

“That reaction was genuine and true,” I pat his shoulders. “In exchange of us providing protection to your territory or nation, we would like to work hand-in-hand with providing balance to the whole verse. All the while we thought that defects have already destroyed the balance of essences in the universe, but thanks to you rejects, the world is still at a balance.”

“I see so that is really the case,” the president agrees to my request. “I only have one request for the truce, the end our war…”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

“That’s it,” Quaza sighs. “I thought he would ask for our technological advances at first, but you know this war has been going on for forever.”

“To think he has been here for one thousand years,” Raxion scorns. “This is absurd!”

“To coexist with them for now,” Yxede ponders. “That’s a good choice, but next time I want to be there when you speak with their leader. The god of leadership always needs to be in a leader to leader meeting, you know.”

“At least I’ve laid out the plan. Now, the rest is up to the rejects and those we’ve left behind. We need to return and report everything to Lord Xpir. Our children probably miss us already. I say it’s the best time to leave.” I saluted at the essence beings we are leaving behind, “I will give honor to the dead and I promise to bring more soldiers.”

One by one, the essential beings headed straight to Essential Core. When I arrived, everyone already went ahead to their headquarters. I know it will be difficult for the essence beings to find out death in their family, but as their leaders we have an obligation to do so and as their friends, we will also mourn for their death.

“You look stressed out,” Zirack has not yet left. “I was waiting for you.”

I sighed and asked her, “Why?”

“You need some more push,” she presses the palms of her hands against me. “Do you feel it, the warmth? Right now, I’m giving you willpower.”

I subconsciously held her hands and closed my eyes, “I thought this only works towards mortals, but it feels good to have the willpower to face the challenges in life, yeah?”

“It does,” she smiles and presses her lips on my cheek. “I know that I can’t give you the luck that Razelli can provide to the mortals, but I hope it helps ease your worries.”

I smiled. When I opened my eyes, she’s gone. If the previous Dizane were alive, she would’ve been mad at me for allowing someone to kiss me on the cheek. I’ll go the families of our fallen soldiers first and then go home.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

After offering my condolences to the family of the dead, I headed straight back home. Reporting to Lord Xpir can wait for tomorrow, the important thing right now are my kids. I can’t wait to see my children.

“I’m home-“

I was pinned down on the floor. As I opened my eyes, I see four youngsters crying. It was unusual to see Axent cry but at least I found out that he does cry. Zorg still had the loudest cry among the four of them. Dizane wept silently brushing her tears on my clothing, and Azalan, her hugs made it difficult for me to breathe.

“Seriously,” I grinned, “do you really think your father would die?”

“What happened?” asks Axent.

“You are still too young to know,” I wiped off his tears, “seeing that you are still crying.”

“I won’t cry again!” he yells at me. “I’m even using muscles right now that I should not use because I’m lazy. Be thankful that I am doing this for you!”

“Alright, thank you very much~” I turned at Zorg. “Kid, that’s enough crying. It’s already annoying and overacting…”

“Didn’t you hear, father?” Dizane glares at Zorg, “He said shut it!” she smacks him hard on the head knocking him out.

“Dad, are you okay, are you hurt anywhere?” she asks with maximum concern.

“I’m fine but, with all of your weights combined, I probably won’t make it until later…”

“Oops,” she kicks the knocked out Zorg off and stands up. “Big sis, dad can’t breathe…”

“I know but,” she’s still weeping, “I thought I would not see him again…”

“As you can see,” I brushed her hair, “I am physically right here~”

Azalan lets go and stands back up, “We’ve been very lonely without you…”

“I know, that’s why I hurried back home,” I sighed and looked at one of the essence beings working under me, “Anything new inside?”

“There’s nothing much, head captain, except for… those… four kids and your room uh… bedroom…”

“… … … …” I bit my tongue “Any other things to report outside?”

“The kids are… they were uh… they…”

“We beat up some of the essential beings from the Zanza Squad teasing Azalan,” Axent gives me some photos. “I took the trouble to show you our teamwork.”

My smiling face started to twitch.

“We also made friends with people from the Justice Squad,” Zorg, fully up and alert, wears his glasses. “Children with sense of justice like us deserve to be our friends. I showed them how VIOLENT I can be when our sister was being teased.”

My lips began trembling.

“We didn’t kill them,” Dizane smiles innocently. “We only maimed and seriously injured them…”

I stood up and laughed, “I’m going out… ask for forgiveness to the guardian of those children you beat up…”

“We already did that,” Azalan halts me from leaving. “We sent letters to Captain Robax.”

“What did you tell him?” It seemed like my fingernails found a way to get in between my teeth.

“We wrote in there that we were sorry and that we added that he sucks at parenting.”

“FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU”