Sacrificial lamb

Before he sent the message, he’d been contemplating if it was the right first move. After he sent the message the same thoughts were still racing through his mind. The task he’d been set up with was a difficult one. To find someone willing to give it all up for a noble cause. Only one problem; few people shared his view. Most thought him mad for his beliefs. Those people were blind to the suffering around them. Which had become evident during the last festival. They might not thank him immediately, but down the line they would.

Lucina was already waiting for him downstairs. As was normal these days, Jiu was accompanying him, wearing the harness that would help him. “Let’s walk,” Míngzé said as he greeted her. While he could not be completely sure this was a good idea, he at least knew Lucina had partially the same goal. Only she hoped it would give her answers. “How is the jaw?” A nice icebreaker if you asked him.

“Yeah, I’ve had her for a few weeks now, but she’s still getting used to everything.” Even so, the pokémon really wanted to help him and was almost always at his side. It was in a way nice and he felt safer this way. She often gave him the impression that she knew what she was doing, which helped him a lot.

Míngzé nodded shortly. “That’s good.” It would make this whole conversation easier. Last time everything had gone through her phone, but that would not work now. With this question behind them there was no evading the real subject. Míngzé responded with only silence as he kept walking. His eyes were directed at something straight in front of him.

“The thing you lost last time we met.” The artifact. Although he could not name it, that would reveal too much at once. “I’ve been wondering what it is for. Its power is too great for a normal person to withstand, that makes me wonder what it can do,” Míngzé repeated what they had discussed last time. Only now he entered the conversation with more information. “When I discussed it with Sāng, he seemed to believe it is dangerous and a threat. What do you think?” He turned his head towards Lucina, awaiting her response.

Míngzé clenched his jaw at the angry tone Lucina used against him, his eyes slightly narrowing as he gazed towards her. The pokémon at his side also noticed a change in her demeanor and a low rumble echoed from deep down her throat. Softly he tried to hush her and placed one hand on her head. What he did not see was the twitch of her lips and how her red eyes stared at the girl. “It is fine,” he said calmly, although his voice betrayed that he was a bit nervous.

Her answer has not changed. It was her road to answers and she was angry because she’d lost it. During his conversation with Him, Míngzé had never gotten the impression that this artifact would hold answers, but it did hold change. “On the contrary, I think it is a problem he has it.” There was a sting in his chest as he said those words, his voice strained. Only saying these words felt like betrayal, and this was only the beginning. But all would be well. No blood would be spilled and those few people he mentioned would be safe. Nothing had changed.

“You said that it holds a lot of power, but in order to use that power, someone has to die.” While her emotions were taking control, he tried to stay as calm as possible. It would not help if they drew attention. Bit by bit he was revealing certain parts because he felt like he could trust Lucina, if only because she was determined to find the answers she was looking for and she firmly believed these artifacts held that knowledge.

Even if one of those pieces was currently out of reach, it was a good thing that he had an idea of where it was. He could never be too sure where Sāng would hide it, but it was definitely somewhere difficult. A place people would not immediately go looking. For now however, that was not yet his concern. It was best that they remained separated for now, it gave him more time to do his part. It seemed Lucina’s anger was lessening again after hearing this. Which was good. If they were going to work together, he could not have her being angry at him too.

“You didn’t,” Míngzé said with an affirming nod. There was only so much she had told him last time. Small puzzle pieces that were not nearly enough to understand the full picture. The remaining pieces he had found after. “Someone who knows much more about this told me.” As he talked he kept walking at an unhurried pace. They were simply going out for a stroll after all.

He continued immediatly. “They also told me that person has to do it willingly.” An unwilling subject would also do the trick, but make it a whole lot more difficult. It did not matter, Míngzé had already decided that he would not force someone to take this burden upon them. That is exactly why he told her it had to be willingly. “But where do we find someone like that? I know you would do anything for answers, but this?” Míngzé turned his head towards her. He always told her that her own life was not worth the answers she was so desperately seeking, and he still stood with those words. “Who in their right mind would want to do this?” He kept talking while his thoughts were racing to find answers. Ever since his conversation with Him he had been thinking about this, but so far he came up empty.

Jiu was still tense at his side. He could feel her walking closer to him than necessary and each time she moved he knew it was because she looked at Lucina and her pokémon. She was ready to do anything necessary to protect Míngzé. He made an effort not to give her too much attention, choosing instead to focus on the conversation that had grown silent. Since Lucina had found one of these artifacts herself she at least knew something about them. The question was how much. Only recently he had learned more after the little conversation he’d with Him. But for all he knew she also had a similar thing happen.

Lucina’s voice broke through and she ignored all he had said. Or at least, mostly. Now it was his turn to remain quiet as he thought about his answer. What was the point in denying that little detail? The fact that she brought it up meant that she too had been in touch with Him. “Yes.” He clenched his jaw, remembering the last time he spoke about this. Although he had a feeling Lucina would have a different reaction.

“To find someone willing to sacrifice themself to unleash that power,” Míngzé answered her question. In a way that was the truth, he did however leave out the part where he swore his alliance and gained a new affinity in the process. The fact that he was looking for someone already meant he was on a mission for Him. “In all honesty, I don’t know where to start. Where do you find someone that wants to shoulder this burden?” A memory came back to him, causing him to dig his nails into the palm of his hand. His mind raced back to his first conversation with the Deity and when he told Him that it was his to bear and his alone. That was before he was presented with the chance to aid in the removal of them for everyone.

Normally this was not something he would discuss with Lucina, but his options these days were limited. The reason he did trust her was because of her own goals. While they were far different, he knew for a fact that she also wanted to bring the pieces together. That is all that mattered. It did mean that he had to reveal certain things, but so did she.

Míngzé slightly narrowed his eyes when Lucina mentioned another party. He could not help but immediately distrust this person. “Who is he and how does he know about this?” he asked cautiously. Already he was trying to figure out how it was possible someone knew about these artifacts. They radiated an ancient feeling, just like the place where he had found his. He had never heard about them before in any way

Lucina was already talking about going back to him, but not empty handed. He shook his head. “Why would you even bring them to him? Do you even know why he wants them?” Question after question left his mouth. He would keep the details surrounding the one he had in his possession to himself, especially after this newfound information. As long as he did not know who this man was and what his plans were, he would not bring any of these parts close to him. Yet it seemed Lucina’s plans were different.

A sigh was on the tip of his tongue, but he managed to swallow it back. Of course she did not know who he was, yet had already decided that he was worth her trust. Míngzé could only feel his own trust slip away. When he had his affinity, he could sense the spirits, but he had no idea what they said. This man however could communicate with them, meaning he had a greater understanding of his affinity. This made him doubt if he would be willing to give up his affinity in the process. Míngzé’s lips remained a thin line as he stayed quiet.

Míngzé again shook his head, not agreeing with whatever she said. “Why? I don’t think it is stupid at all. Another thing I was told is that we best secure this sacrifice before all pieces find their way towards each other. If you ask me, its best to go and ask him before showing them to him.” His first goal was to find someone who wanted to do it willingly. It was not his problem that this person wanted to see them. If he so desperately wanted them, why would he not go look for himself. As the thought flashed through his mind, a frown formed on his forehead. Lucina had her goals, Míngzé had his, but what did this third party want? “Besides, time is a luxury we don’t have. Unless you want to steal back the piece Sāng has, you will go back to him empty handed.”

His jaw clenched at her question, although the answer was an easy one. “I like being alive.” And he was scared of dying. There was so much he still wanted to do, and hoped he could do after all this was over. When the world was back to what it was before affinities were a thing.

“Because it is,” Míngzé countered her immediately. Not every part of it was, but with a possible solution in sight it was a bit easier. “Why is it you want to bring him at least one of those pieces?” It did not make sense. Unless that man would be angry for returning without any, but then it would only mean that he might not be that trustworthy. Míngzé drew a sharp breath in an attempt to maintain his composure. As he grew frustrated, he noticed how the Ninetales next to him did too.

In a frustrated gesture he rubbed his eyes as she continued creating problems where there were none. “I don’t have to find someone else if you go up to him and ask him.” She made it sound like he was here asking her to be the sacrifice herself. If that had been his goal, he could understand her anger but not now. In a swift motion he lowered his arm again.

And it only got worse. “Can’t you see I’m here trying to help you? I came to you, told you about what I think is crucial information, and this is how you react?” A staggering breath escaped after the words left his mouth. It was the same. Exactly the same as before. It was not fair that he kept things from her, but at the same time her reaction now showed he was right in doing so. She too probably would not get it if he revealed more. “I’m not here asking you to kill yourself, all I’m asking is that you—” but before he could continue his sentence a lump formed in his throat. He could not get the words over his lips. He wanted her to ask someone to do exactly that. Kill themselves.

It was infuriating that no one seemed to understand what he was getting at. They were all so quick to judge. That is how it went with Sāng and how it was going with Lucina. “Nothing to say now, I see.” Had this man promised her anything in return if she brought him the pieces? Míngzé was aware she lacked some knowledge about the world, making her somewhat of an easy target. Perhaps that is what happened. For all he knew, she already had a whole plan set in motion that started with this one stranger.

Míngzé really thought he would have an ally in Lucina, someone who would understand and help. Sadly, things proved to be otherwise. He came to a standstill and turned towards her. Talking this way was a bit easier, especially since the whole conversation became heated. “Finding a plan B in case this stranger of yours does not want to do it anyway.” Or more like finding a needle in a haystack. In all fairness he did not know where to start. Probably online, going through some forums.

“In case you forgot, I was not the one who lost one immediately,” he said, his voice carrying a sharp edge. Not that it mattered much for now. Míngzé was glad he knew who had it so he did not have to worry about it for now. It gave him time to do his part. First a sacrifice, then all the pieces.

Because of her next words he fell silent and Jiu too noticed the difference. He knew the weight of his task, but hearing it like this made it come crashing down. “No, of course not, you are my friend,” he said. A loud and deep growl sounded as the ninetales moved and came to stand between the two. She bared her fangs at Lucina, a warning to back off. Normally Míngzé would tell his pokémon to stop, but Lucina’s words had caught him completely off guard.

There she was again with the fact that she would not give it to him. Míngzé shook his head and looked away. “Yet you are so determined to bring them to him,” he said impatiently. All he wanted was for her to let it make sense, but it only got worse. No one wanted these pieces for no reason. They were no bookweight, or a nice souvenir. Not that it mattered, at this point he knew she would not tell him what their plan was. But there was something, he just knew it.

“Yes, because I don’t trust plan A will work.” More that he simply did not trust this man at all as Lucina has not given him any. The fact that she clearly kept something from him did not help. They had to find someone else too, but apparently she did not think it was enough. “Well I don’t know, I’ve never done anything like this, have you?” Míngzé fired his question at her as he threw a hand in the air.

His words had been horrible, but there was no way to take them back now. They had a clear impact on her as she told him about all the hardships she’d gone through to get her hands on this. Míngzé firmly kept his lips together. He was very close to revealing his own story, but he did not want her to know. Not anymore. Another comment lay on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed that one too. No matter what it meant to her, she still lost it.

Jiu puffed up her chest, making herself as big as possible. Hints of embers danced at her teeth. One wrong move and she would snap. Míngzé felt her pulling on the harness, but he tried to keep her back. If he wanted to avoid any bloodshed, he could not stay much longer. There was a challenge in her voice as she spoke to him. He was knee deep in this whole mess, there was no going back now even if he wanted to. Even if she did not want him involved in any way. Unless he told her everything right now. “No,” he could hear himself say. “I’ve nothing left to tell you.” The words felt final, too final, and likely they were. It was fine. If no one wanted to help or understand him, he would take matters into his own hands.