I've got some interesting answers to your questions, that's for sure. But they'll have to wait for a while, since I've got a few extra projects I have to finish and some IRL stuff going on aside from that. I'll get to it as soon as I can!
While you wait, feel free to speculate, and check out what's been on my playlist recently! Just so you can hear a bit of what I listen to as I write.
Neither candidate was really a great option. We can only hope America is still standing in 4 years and that the candidates then are better than these previous elections. Not holding my breath on that last part.
[X] Ask if Void has a counter, you know Love was able to get you through, so if all this Negative emotional energy equals the Void and Void Glyph, then the same must be true for Positive energy too right?
[X] Ask if there are any new spirits down here in the Void. If you can't save Purson right now, you can still help someone else out of here right?
As a star goes out behind him, luminous energy dissipating away, Purson's light outline seems to dim as well. He puts a hand on his chin, and nods. If he had eyes, you'd imagine that they'd be closed right now. "Yes, I believe you're on the right track. Rei, that energy that you tapped into is called Will. And yes, that's capitalized."
"Ok, and Will is…"
"It's every human's pure, unfiltered determination. Their "will to live on", as I'd put it. It naturally counteracts the Void, and when it gets to a certain level, any human could have the power to transform into a Kamen Rider or Magical Girl."
"Are there any differences between Kamen riders and Magical Girls, or…?"
Purson shrugs, and you feel the strange urge to faceplant if it wasn't for the fact that you're not sure if there's a floor. "Sorry, I don't know that. Must have forgotten." he pauses for a moment, and then continues, "But what I do remember is that the average person will never gain enough Will to naturally be able to transform, so instead it must be raised by alternative methods. While I don't know all of them, it's definitely either through natural exposure to high amounts of mana and Magic, or…"
"By those contracts with the Void that both Himari and Akemi made, right? But won't Will naturally conflict with the Void?"
"Bingo. I knew Akemi was right to tell my other half that you were a reliable person. But as for your question, there is one other thing aside from internal determination that raises Will. I can't recall the exact definition of it, but it's how much adversity and how important the person with Will is in the grand cosmic scheme of things. Don't ask about that "grand scheme" thing, that requires time we don't have right now."
Something about that definition seems to ring a bell. Not just the "adversity" part— everybody knows damn well that you faced plenty of that back in the Guild. "How important someone is in the grand scheme of things."
Wait. Didn't Mai talk to you about…
When it hits you, you can practically feel your face going deadpan. "It's— it's their main character energy? Are you serious right now?"
Purson just tilts his head a bit. Even though his face is featureless, you can impossibly still sense the smug cat grin he's giving you. "Mmm… perhaps! It would certainly explain how somebody like that Mako boy you told me about was able to become a Kamen Rider."
Purson pauses again, and silently changes up the topic, just by a bit."But seriously, there's a high amount of Will present in all three of you, and I'm really proud of that."
"Proud? Of me? Why?"
"It takes adversity to gain will, but becoming a Rider? A Warrior? That takes strength of character." He looks away for a second. "I don't know much about what you've been through in the Guild, but my other half's heard things from Akemi. There was only tragedy, only decay there. It hurt, and you could barely breathe. There was no hope, no sun…"
He looks back at you, and you can't feel your lungs for a second. "But you didn't sink like some of the others. You stood up, and with a smile, punched through the dark. You're really strong Rei. No matter how you choose to use that strength, you'll do great.
Oh. Oh.
"Uh, would you mind if I just, um—"
"You can take your time to cry. Just try to keep on listening to my explanation, since we only have so much time."
You take some time to wipe your eyes (because there's some space dust in your eye! From a stray meteor!) As you look back at Purson, you're pretty sure that he's still smiling, but it goes away after a second as the metaphorical timer ticks down. Another star goes out. When he speaks again, you can hear how he's beginning to speed up. "Getting back on track now, people who are naturally able to transform or even hit that threshold of high Will after a while gain something called a Will Seed. You'll know it when you see it— look out for them, they're powerful. As for others in your life that could gain more Will and more power, I believe Kirata could genuinely become a Magical Girl."
Wait, her? "Kirata? The Archmage? She can get stronger?"
"You saw how she cast that wind barrier— she's got enough skill and mana to cast a transformation spell on herself, easily. It's just that she doesn't believe in herself enough, and doesn't realize how amazing the things she can do are. She has the power, she just needs to see her own potential." Purson huffs.
As Purson takes a step back to view the horizon, you begin to think on what you've learned.
[Social Check; DC 60/80/???]
[55+19+6(EP)=80. Great Success!]
While you don't know of the "alternative methods" to gain more Will (you're gonna be saying that a lot, aren't you?) when you boil it down to its three components, Magic, determination, and main character energy… while you can't think of anybody that could already be a Kamen Rider or Magical Girl, two people come to mind as people that could be Kamen Riders in the future.
First off, Jun. He's never come up to you as the "main character" type and he's not very good with magic that isn't predone for him. But he's been with you for ages, has a past with the Yakuza, somehow generated one million yen in one week for you and Akemi, and stands around all of you while you're transformed. You wouldn't be surprised if Himari lended him a suit to kick butt in, or if he made a contract with the Void but managed to scam it somehow.
And second… you'd never want to bring him into this, but speaking pragmatically, maybe Arata? He has that spirit of justice that from what you've gathered, Kamen Riders are supposed to be all about. As for determination… maybe? He definitely seems like the enterprising and driven type, but you're not sure that you'd ever want to bring him into this life. You, Akemi, and Himari were practically Guild natives by the time you got out— combat comes naturally to you, but not to a civilian like him.
Maybe something to consider when you're desperate. Internal monologue done, you turn back to Purson- he's still looking out at the mini-universe you've both been pulled into. Another star in the distance dims, and he sighs deeply. "I'd estimate we have about two to three minutes left before you have to leave for your own safety, Rei. If you have anything that you need to know before I return control to my mortal half, now's the time."
You have hundreds of questions, if not thousands. If there's anything more to the Void. If the Assassin's Guild is still trying to hunt you down, or if they even know about you and Himari. And you want to know how you can get stronger, so you won't have to worry about losing ever again. But you ditch those questions by the wayside— there's something more important.
"Alright, since we're here in the Void, um. Is there any way I can help you? And failing that, is there anybody else in the Void that I can help?"
Once again, Purson looks at you with an indecipherable expression. "…I get what you're trying to ask me, but we're not in the Void right now."
"Wait, what?"
His metaphorical eyes flicker over to the dying stars on the horizon, and he sighs. "Ok, we've got enough time for this. Where you're in is called my Heart of Hearts— I mentioned it at the beginning of this conversation. It's essentially the… metaphysical manifestation of my soul. My inner world and mind palace, so to speak. I was able to pull you in because my soul was surrounded by Void, and as you know…"
"The Void has that whole "consuming" shtick?"
"Precisely. Also, you were basically trauma dumping, so the Void would've probably gotten you anyways. But you'll only find me here— and it's best that I don't leave, for Purrson's safety. The cat."
He pauses for a second, and places his hand on his chin one more time. "But if you really want to help me, there is something I need you to do. There'll be something in it for you as well, since it'll probably give you some answers on, uh… everything."
You huff. "I'm gonna be honest, I'd probably be down for helping you even if you told me that I'd have to cut off a limb and break a kneecap. You're Akemi's friend and a great asset to the team, so just tell me."
"Alright then, let me just make this quick. I don't know what I originally was or how I was born. I forgot it, along with a lot of other things, after prolonged Void contact. But what I do know is that there are others like my other, more catty half. Others who… let's just say that they hang around people like you and Akemi."
"And your point is…?"
"If you can find those others, there's a chance that you'll be able to maybe… bind us together, and put the missing pieces to the puzzle in their right place. Basically, find the other talking animals out there that double as mentors. They're called Sparks, I believe, and more talks like this will get you closer to the truth."
Shit, you have to go out there and talk to the mysterious (and quite possibly annoyingly stuck up) Magical Girls and Kamen Riders? Say it isn't so. Hopefully most of them are like Mako. Tearing your thoughts away from how much time tracking down these mysterious heroes is going to take next week, you turn back to Purson.
And you hear the deafening sound of something cracking; it hurts to hear. It hurts a lot, just like when you got tossed around by those memories from the Void. Behind the outline of Purson, you see the starry sky beginning to flake off, like shattered glass being blown away. Behind it is something, something where when you look at it, your brain seems to have to stretch itself just to understand what's in front of you.
Purson puts a hand on your shoulder. "Mmm, looks like it's time for you to go. Any last questions?"
"Uh, what's your favorite type of cat food?"
"My other half doesn't need to eat. But go feed me chocolate or something. I hope to see you again— goodbye for now!"
And with a staggering amount of force, Purson picks you up by the shoulder, and throws you through the starry sky—
And you wake up in your bed, drenched in a cold sweat. Purrson is curled up on your lap. Not a dude this time, just the same white cat that you've been used to.
"Rei? You good in there?"
"I'm fine, Akemi! Um, plans might have changed though!"
"Rei…!"
"It's fine! Just give me a few seconds to calm down!"
"Do you understand how that makes it sound worse?!"
"Pipe down! My big sis is explaining how she can make the weather change!"
You sigh. Yup. You're back home. You'd never want to be anywhere else right now. Author's Note:
If it wasn't clear, this version of Purson looks something like Truth from FMA. But without the stupid grin.
Your activity selection for next week is going to come either in a few hours or tommorow— I just wanted to make sure you all had some time to digest all this new information.
"It's every human's pure, unfiltered determination. Their "will to live on", as I'd put it. It naturally counteracts the Void, and when it gets to a certain level, any human could have the power to transform into a Kamen Rider or Magical Girl."
While you don't know of the "alternative methods" to gain more Will (you're gonna be saying that a lot, aren't you?) when you boil it down to its three components, Magic, determination, and main character energy
Wonderful chapter, and I think the name Spark works very well here!
Sparks to light up the cold sky~
And now we have an objective reason to make our own guild!
Makes me wonder if that's why the other guilds full of Kamen Riders and Magical Girls exist? If they learned about Will and wanted to create an environment to gather more.
And now I can see a potential time where Rei, Akemi, and Kirata would gain their Seeds.
When they take back what they lost to the Void, and rip those marks of sin from their hearts.
(I am keeping this music for this chapter this makes me write poetically-)
