Chapter 55: Morality And Desire

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Morality And Desire

Victor opened his mouth. Closed it again.

Paul raised an eyebrow, waiting.

"Tell me more about Hana," Victor finally said.

The words seemed to catch Paul off guard. He studied Victor for a long moment, something clicking into place behind his eyes.

"Ah. So that’s what’s eating you up inside." He leaned back slightly. "You can’t wrap your head around it. How someone who did what she did to Mira could also throw herself in front of a blade for someone else." A faint, tired smile crossed his face. "What, are you one of those kids who still thinks the world splits clean into good and evil? Black and white?"

Victor said nothing.

"The world doesn’t work like that, kid. I’ve seen enough of it, in the Gates and out here, to know better." Paul’s voice dropped, more serious now. "It’s not moved by good or evil."

"Do you know what moves it?"

"No." Victor admitted sincerely.

Paul sensed Victor’s desire to learn. And a knowing smile formed.

"It’s moved by Desire and Morality. Whichever one’s stronger in a person at any given time, that’s the one that wins. Sometimes morality wins. Sometimes desire does. Same person, different day, different outcome.

It’s the reason we have the law, rules and regulations to ensure that Morality always wins."

Something settled into place in Victor’s mind as he listened.

He remembered Popo, a barbarian capable of executing his own tribesman for cowardice but still capable of bleeding himself dry trying to protect what remained of his people.

Jaja, willing to throw his own life away for Victor’s sake and just as willing to challenge Popo to a death match over pride and grief.

Desire and morality, pulling the same person in opposite directions depending on which one carried more weight that day.

"You won’t get it fully yet," Paul said. "But you will, eventually. Just know that regardless of which one wins, it only favors the STRONG and POWERFUL."

He exhaled, something easing slightly in his posture. "Now. About Hana."

A real smile broke through this time, soft and genuine. "She was a menace, honestly. You know, she never wanted to awaken as a priest in the first place, and hated half the restrictions that came with it, even though she enjoyed the attention and benefits.

Still, that mischievous streak of hers never really went anywhere." He laughed under his breath. "There was this one time, back at the church, when she swapped all the holy incense out for aphrodisiac incense. Said she wanted to see what the other priests would do once they got good and worked up."

Victor laughed despite himself.

Paul kept going, one story after another, and the two of them talked for another hour. Not until a guard’s voice finally cut through.

"Time’s up. Back to your cells."

Both of them were still half-laughing when the guard spoke.

The weight of the conversation somehow lighter than when it started.

Paul rose slowly from his seat.

"Guess that’s my cue." He gave Victor a small, tired smile. "Thanks, kid. It felt good, getting to actually talk about her like that with someone."

"I should be thanking you. I feel like I actually know her now."

Paul nodded, "that’s good. As long as you do. And kid, try to check on Mira from time to time. She refused to visit, but I know she’s the most wrecked. She lost her best friend, her team, and her fiancé, all in one night. She may act strong, but she is actually a softy inside."

He already turned to go, when something stopped him mid-step.

"Oh. I almost forgot." He glanced back, voice dropping lower. "Watch out for the men in white. The ones in white robes."

Victor frowned. "What?"

"Just remember. You owe them a soul, and they always come to collect."

Before Victor could ask anything else, Paul gave a small wave and walked off, escorted back through the door he’d come from, leaving Victor sitting alone with the dead phone still in his hand.

"White robes?" He muttered to himself.

—

Victor stepped out of the Rankers Correction Facility feeling much lighter than he’d entered.

Having a person to talk to about what happened made him understand not just Hana but himself too.

"Morality and Desire..." he muttered, deep in thought. Things were starting to make sense to him.

Though he knew that he still had much to learn.

His eyes elevated to the artificial sun far above, as if addressing it. "If morality keeps you up there, whose Desire fell you." Another thought struck. "Or is it the other way round?"

He shook his head. This was thought for another time. After all, he still had the rest of the year before that time.

What was important was this. His effect in the past was changing the future.

At first, it was his entering into the yellow gate. Mr Kelly got injured.

And now, Hana.

"But I did the right thing. I am sure I did." He tried to convince himself.

If he did not interfere, Mira would have lost her life. Paul and Hana would have gotten away with a heinous crime.

But Hana did not have to die.

Victor did not mind sending her to prison. Death was just... he sighed.

Maybe if he had done things differently. Maybe.

That was thought for another time. He had a place to be right now.

Growl...

He grabbed his belly. "I should get roasted fish and milk for lunch, before I meet dad at the hospital."

He made his way to the bus stop.

—

Meanwhile, at the edge of the city, a Blue Gate was forming.

A group had already gathered in anticipation, standing a careful distance back, every one of them radiating the unmistakable presence of Rankers.

At the front stood a tall man dressed like he’d stepped out of a different century entirely, Victorian-cut coat, cane in one gloved hand, white hair swept back above a long, neatly groomed mustache.

He watched the shimmering outline solidify in the air before them, patient, almost amused.

"So it’s true." His voice carried easily across the gathered group. "A Blue Gate, exactly where there said it would be."

He turned slightly toward the man beside him.

"Send word back. Tell our friends of the Dark Guild that I’m very interested in their proposal."

(Author’s note: Oh, it gets more entertaining. Just keep them gifts and golden tickets coming.??)