บท 2: Inspiration and Comittment

"As your class advisor, it's important to me that you guys understand what you want in life. Right now, you are all at the age where your decisions begin to matter and creating goals for your adult life is necessary. Your homework for today is to go home and think about what it is that you truly want in life."

Eiji, who had finally returned to school after being "sick" for a few days, listened intently. He felt as if he could resonate with what the advisor was saying as his life was starting to turn chaotic, he felt as if he needed a sturdy path towards a destination in mind.

"A goal and a path to it huh?"

"Yo Eiji! Why are you talkin' to yourself?"

Turning around, Eiji looked at his best friend seated behind him.

"Tadao, what does being successful look like to you?"

Tadao was stunned by the serious question. He had known Eiji his whole life and never saw such an earnest look on his face.

"Hey man, are you good? I mean I guess a hot girl and a happy family is the dream for me but what brought this up?"

"Hm, I see thanks bro I'll see ya around."

Before Tadao could even get a word in, Eiji was already out the door.

"I can't waste time here anymore, oh Tadao, I wish I could share how I once shared the same dream but it isn't possible anymore."

Great figures always have had a goal, I need to figure out what I can do to increase my chance of survival, and quickly. This must be how Ghouls feel all the time, like lit candles in the wind, never knowing when a strong enough breeze will take you out.

Upon arriving back at home, he began to make haste in his plans, it's not like he could ask other Ghouls about what to do, he didn't know where to even find them. Or if it was safe to.

Opening his laptop he began his research, not worried about other people seeing his history or searches. Ghouls were a common topic of discussion in the world, it was normal for citizens to fantasize about them or research them extensively.

Lets see, lets see, "How much stronger are Ghouls than humans?"

Clicking on the title of a research article coming from the CCG or Commission of Counter Ghoul, he began to get insight into what he actually was.

He began learning about how some all Ghouls have an increase of about 4x to 7x the strength of a human with their same build and that all Ghouls have enhanced senses, some of them having a certain sense or two amped to the extreme.

Understanding these advantages, he began to wonder, how do Ghouls even die to Investigators?

Clearly these advantages aren't enough to let any Ghoul roam as they wish. But, what if I were to train my body, wouldn't the increase by exponential? What about my senses? Is it possible to train them?

Slowly but surely, as if wind was sweeping away the fog clouding his mind his goal began to become clearer and clearer.

As if possessed his head snapped to the sound of a chirping bird visible through his one window. Catching just a glimpse of the blue flap of wings as it took off.

A singular word came to mind seeing this scene. Unfettered

What was Eiji right now? A shackled animal fearful of the other beasts in the jungle and his so-called "prey" whom he currently held no hate for wants his kind dead, a feat they were capable of doing.

Closing his eyes, he could visualize just what these chains were. Fear for his life tied his head and worry about the future tied his legs. Arm's imprisoned by morality and heart held back by… himself.

Viewing article after article and seeing the lives of even the most vaunted Ghouls, his goal was complete and his path lay at his feet.

"This, this can work. I am already inhuman and the path to power is widened not by cause of addition but its width has been multiplied. It must be possible for me to become so strong that no one can harm me. No one can intrude on my life for fear of facing my strength, and most importantly, I can live as I please like before, unfettered by the world's tethers."

Face donning a new mask of resolve with eyes unknowingly glinting a colder light, Eiji without wasting a second dropped himself and started doing push ups, exerting himself to exhaustion.