HSS: Lorelei 5

Lorelei 5

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Commissioned by Binge Reader

Word Count: 1077

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“Ah, so you were bullied by Kita-kun, huh? Yeah, well he probably just wants you to be a better person than you are, you know?” Elma Freischutz ate a pastry across from me. One among a dozen others. She was drawing quite a bit of attention from various passerby within the Paris Arcology bakery. She paid no attention to the scorn sent her way. She didn’t think it was beneath her. It was no apathy either. She simply did as she wished. “So, the real question is if you’ve changed since he’s talked to you, that’s what’s important.”

“You believe he’s correct then?” The words left my mouth to a litany of denials from my gods and companions. Our path was righteous. However, I was not the kind of individual to plod onward without confirmation when it came to being just. I am not righteousness. Neither am I a fiend. So, why cannot I find it within me to refuse Miyakuro’s words completely? “Am I being irresponsible with my powers by not using them for the sake of others now?”

Was I responsible for every death that I could prevent?

If such was the case, then why did Miyakuro support Li Song’s goal to disband the Preservers and pursue the peaceful restoration of his Clan?

Would Li Song not be responsible for a multitude of deaths he could prevent by lashing out?

“I dunno. I just do what I think is best. And, when Kita-kun complains about something, I change. That’s it.” Freischutz tilted her head to the side, holding a cup of black coffee in the air with a finger outstretched. She kept her hat upon her head with her spare hand. She’d look very prim and proper, if she weren’t biting down on a whole croissant. “Kita-kun says I’m an idiot, but I feel like he says things like that because he wants me to be smarter. So, I do my best to get smarter and everything works out. Maybe, Kita-kun wants you to go out and help someone, instead of just staying in your room? He’s really not the kind of guy who tells people to save everyone. He hates people like that.”

“Alright, then.” The thought to decry her statement as gaudy and simple reigned within my mind, but I forced myself to acknowledge her words. Who was I to deem them worthless, anyway? There was wisdom in venturing out to try something. Change is good. It’s the means to becoming better than what one used to be. Or, worse. However, with my aim of helping another person, the latter was unlikely. “Care to enlighten me on how I should do that, then?

“My father once told me to always start small, so how about just doing a good deed before we get back home? Maybe help an old lady cross the street, or destroy a few hundred Chimera?” One of those were quite different from the other; however I didn’t mention it. For Freischutz and much of the Preservers, killing many Chimera is as easy as aiding an elder across the street. I suppose it’s to be expected— “I mean, are you really still afraid of not being normal?”

Those words struck me with a force with which I was unfamiliar, even though the one who spoke it had no malice.

I was familiar with the term of “an armor piercing question.” However, I thought that phrase did not suffice. I felt as though a weight of my perfect size and shape slammed into my person, then I was shattered into a thousand pieces that became scattered like dust. Pulverized into powder, I felt as though I was cast adrift into the wind by a question that was asked by a young woman whose body was that of a little girl, who followed the guidance of gods within her mind, and who held claim to the title of Hierophant, the Concept which shall rule over all magic.

And, I am the Keeper of Souls.

“Eh, Lorelei? Why’d you get up? Are we leaving already?” I saw double. No. That was extremely overdramatic. I understood more clearly after seeing a different perspective. Miyakuro’s perspective had been harsh, grueling, and difficult to swallow. However, the weight of Elma’s words was as heavy as a tungsten skyscraper, but as clear as glass. “C’mon, we can spend more time here! I haven’t even eaten what I’ve ordered yet. How am I supposed to bring Kita-kun something he likes? He’s hard to please, you know? I’m going to get fat just tasting for the flavors he likes.”

“Get him something plain, then something a step above that. The arse is an old man trying to be young.” I retook my seat whilst Elma blinked. My mind was awhirl and barely capable of handling what I’d just been given. Every obligation and duty I’ve had, and wouldn’t have had, didn’t compare to what I now had. And, then there was the power I had that was supposed to help me shoulder it, which I just allowed to go unused… while I tried to be a human who shouldered a weight for a multitude of gods. “Get him something plain to complain about, then give him something better. He’ll like you better for thinking ahead..”

“That’s… genius! Absolutely amazing! He always talks about thinking ahead and stuff. I can prove that I’m doing that… for him!” I was not normal. Elma was not normal. None of the Concepts were normal. Our duties, what we’re meant to do, requires abnormity. I’d ignored that. Miyakuro’s words had another meaning. Not only was I trying to accomplish something the entirety of humanity still squabbles over since the advent of civilization, but I was also disregarding the power I was supposed to uphold my responsibilities with. I was ignoring the responsibility to humanity for all the faith I’ve taken. “This’ll be great.”

I was raised in a house of plenty, given all I needed to be at my best, and studied all my life.

Is that not a cry for immediate action as the Keeper of Souls, because I need not reach out and try to be normal like all the other Concepts?

There will surely be problems that can be solved by Lorelei Altringham in the future.

However, now, there were problems that needed to be solved by the Keeper of Souls.

And, I was sorely behind in that regard.