章 14: Freedom
"I never thought I would hear you say those words."
'Yeah well, I did. Now teach me.'
Given Max's demanding nature, Netami knew he had to. But why? How could this information benefit him?
"Well, it's difficult to describe. People learn how to use them as children, such as speaking and walking. But I will do my best."
He sighed
"Your powers originate from your soul, which is why you can see your drive manifesting within. You may also access your powers from outside sources. For example, a person with a water drive can utilize water from a lake or something related to that, However, this is really difficult to do, even I am unable to do so."
'Ok? I don't care. Just tell me how to use the first way.'
Netami pounded, he appeared touched by Max's words.
"How impolite, be nice to your teacher, but fine. It's not that difficult. You can do it like I do. Imagine a lake flowing from your soul to wherever you desire to use it."
Max went dumb. It couldn't be just that right? Since childhood, he imagined numerous ways it could work. They were all so difficult and complex. This was not at all what he had imagined.
'Y-You sure that's how it works?'
"Yeah, why wouldn't I? Can we go now?"
Max shook his head to break out of his trance. And followed Netami to and up the wet, old stairs. For some reason, they were calming to Max. It wasn't just this, old objects in general had this effect on him.
He looked down and sighed, leaving this topic alone for the hundredth time.
The third floor.
'Only one more after this one.'
Max slowly whispered.
But first, they had to get through this one, well mostly Netami, as Max was too worn down to fight and could only run.
However, Netami had shown himself when defending Max when he went to examine his soul. So Max wasn't worried at all.
When they opened the door, they found themselves in an empty room with only the stairs to the next story visible. At least they didn't have to navigate the narrow, maze like halls.
They attempted to open the windows, but they wouldn't budge, it wasn't like they expected them to, but it would have been a pleasant surprise.
But it was odd, why was this room so different? There wasn't even a monster here. Even the first floor had one.
But then Max heard a groan. Looking up his questions got answered as he saw a gigantic stack of flesh on the ceiling.
They had to climb up fast before it woke up. But as he was about to steep on the first step of the old and this time dry wood of the stairs he got thrown onto the wall.
He woke back seconds later.
'Can I not get tossed around for once?'
He looked at the awakened monster. It was as tall as the room and occupied most of its surface. Its flesh was darker, and the bones that protruded from it were cracked but appeared to be strong.
Looking to his right he saw Netami. Looks like he wasn't the only one that was ambushed by this atrocity.
The creature approached Max, opening one of his many jaws to display a set of frightening teeth.
'You should brush your teeth more, what if I were a girl? I would absolutely not date you.'
The creature frowned as if it understood the human language. How fortunate. It looked to want to stab Max with one of its numerous tentacles that extended from his torso.
'Okay, river pouring from your soul to, um, my palm. Come on, work!'
Max nervously repeated those words to himself as he attempted to use Netami's method.
And just as Max was ready to be bitten, a spike similar to the one from earlier emerged from his palm, this time large enough to match the monster silhouette, and pierced it.
The beast let out a sobbing howl, which felt like an earthquake. It then tumbled to the ground, Max doing the same.
...
When he awoke, he found a fatigued Netami standing in front of him, protecting him. Max smiled. He'd gotten a drive, but he needed to be careful not to utilize too much at once to avoid repeating this incident.
But the most important thing was that he had a drive now. A little tear escaped his green eyes, which were more vibrant than before. But he kept it together. He couldn't cry, not now.
Netami, seeing Max awake, hugged him and began crying for the millionth time. He was shedding tears for both of them. But then he let go and looked at Max with a big smile.
"Why didn't you tell me you got a drive?"
Looks like he wasn't knocked out before.
'Well, I wanted for it to be a surprise.'
He put his hand on his head and spoke nervously.
"What is your drive, anyway? It's not a primary, and I don't believe it's a mutated. It must be the ultra-cool and mysterious ancient darkness drive. Or the outlawed one, but it didn't look like it so I don't think it is."
'It's not that cool.'
"It is! It's so mysterious that the only reason people are aware of its existence is because of the dark dragon Azel. Sibling of the dragon king Axel."
Max gritted his teeth as he heard the name of the person to whom his hatred belonged to. But it didn't last long as his attention got stolen by something Netami said earlier.
'Wait, what do you mean it doesn't look like the outlawed version, you know how it looks?'
Netami was caught off guard by this, he then answered nervously.
"Y-Yeah I learned this in school before I became an orphan."
Ah, school... after what occurred that day, Max refused to attend because he was afraid of the other students' looks and chuckles.
"So... what now? I don't think it's a good idea to climb higher, this floor is safe now that the monster is dead."
...
'No.
"No? No what?"
'We have to climb higher, we have to escape before the sisters see that we aren't home.'
Netami sighed, what a dumb reason to risk your life for. He wanted to argue more, but he found himself climbing the stairs to the fourth and final floor.
'Damn it not again.'
Arrive at the fourth floor they were met by an old friend, the corridors.
This time tho they seemed peaceful, they were bigger, the wood was actually stable and they didn't lead to rooms.
It was an endless walk.
"Hey Max, you know after this is done I know another place."
'Don't even think of it.'
Netami chuckled.
"Im just joking... but really I've enjoyed spending time with you, having a friend is awesome isn't it."
'Yeah...'
He stopped and looked down so Netami couldn't see him.
'It really is awesome.'
What Max was trying to hide was the few tears pouring from his eyes.
After walking for what felt like an eternity. They had reached a door.
Hopefully behind this door is something that would help them get out of this cursed place.
Only if it was that easy...
Opening the door they saw something they would have never expected. Max gasped.
There stood three men, and in the middle, there was drawn a symbol meant for summoning, what they were witnessing was a ritual for an outlawed power. Or how some call it a
A call for power.
Max dropped his scabbard. Hearing the sound the men turned to them.
It was quiet for a while, and all they could do was establish eye contact. But it was quickly broken by one of the men's words.
"Get them!"
Max grabbed his scabbard and then started running.
"Max follow me I remember the way out!"
Remember the way out? Is that even possible there were three floors full of endless corridors.
Netami used his wind to get in the front. And started guiding them out. The men were still on their tail tho.
'How are they so fast?'
Max was able to avoid several of their attacks from behind, but some of them hit him; fortunately, they weren't very powerful.
'Come on go faster!'
When Max reached the third story, he understood that this was definitely one of the most dangerous because they couldn't take shelter from the attacks.
He wasn't the only one to realize this tho, Netami started using his wind to also help Max escape their attacks. And were able to get to the second floor.
Back in the halls, Max didn't need the help of the wind anymore so getting to the first floor wasn't that hard.
Running to the door from where they entered Max heard Netami shout at him.
"Use your drive on it! That's how you can open it!"
When he heard this, he didn't waste time and began utilizing Netami's method to channel his drive. This time, it arrived nearly instantly, unlike before. Another question that he will have to ask teacher Netami later.
This time, instead of a spike, a black liquid flowed out of his palm. This Max could answer himself. This was his drive's normal state.
The liquid got absorbed into the door and then opened the door.
After so long, the boys hurried out of the building. They quickly hid in the darkness, waited, and watched the men return inside when they couldn't find them.
They fell to the ground from exhaustion.
"We did it!"
'Yeah, we did.'
They were both on the edge of falling unconscious, yet they laughed.
"Man, what a night right? We got trapped in a building full of monsters, you got a drive, we watched and were chased by some men doing a ritual."
Truly this has been an exhausting night... wait what time was it? The sun was rising so it had to be almost morning.
So they were able to escape from the house, but now they had to return home and explain why they hadn't been there all night.
Max sighed.
'Hey, can teacher Netami answer me a question?'
"Hm? Oh yeah sure."
'Why was I able to use my power faster this time? It's only my second time.'
"Well, really only the first time it's hard then you can do it almost instantly."
'I also have one for normal Netami.'
"Yeah, what's that."
...
'Did you know all this time how to open the door.'
There was a moment of silence before Netami answered.
"I did..."
'Then why didn't you tell me? Or just use yours to escape?'
"I could have... but I was so excited about this that I didn't want to leave, even if it seemed that I was shiting my pants off."
Max sighed.
'And why did you make me use my drive on the door, couldn't you do it?'
"I was too exhausted."
It was suspicious, but Max decided to trust his friend.
"Were those all of your questions?"
'Yes...'
"Then come on let's go home"
...
When Max arrived home, he had no idea how harsh the scolding from his sisters would be. But that didn't matter, he couldn't wait to practice using his drive.
When he was able to leave he met Netami who also got the scolding.
"Man, you were right. These sisters are harsh!"
Max spent the remainder of his day practicing using his drive. This was all so new to him. It was so cool. He finally had a drive. It took him thirteen years but he did it.
At night he tried looking for Netami but he couldn't find him. He most likely was resting. So Max went to bed, planning to practice again the next day.
...
'I guess my plans changed a bit'
He said while looking at the now destroyed orphanage, the dead children, the dead sisters, and the dead priest.
'Hey if you can hear me voice in my head, remind me to not let my guard down again.'
He glanced at the familiar figure that stood in front of him. The cause of all this, and the one who murdered all of them.
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