Shadows of our end - KDA x Male Reader (Original)

Act 1 - 039

Getting busy with the whole psyche and emotional evaluation. I have been focusing on specific things to test reactions. It's like grasping at something and jerking it till she gets a reaction out of me. I think I understand it... it agitates a specific emotion like picking at a wound and the moment it tastes blood it digs deeper tearing it open.

It feels horrible, my heart suddenly sinks as I feel the heartbreak all over again but tenfold - true sorrow to the brink of feeling dead on the inside, that the pain in my own despair becomes so much that it feels all too much to bear with. 

Ashe then looks me in the eyes, "It's not as strong as it should be."

"Meaning?"

I then chip in with a pained tone, "I feel like fucking shit... like... I want to burst into tears and scream... and-"

"You aren't that is the problem," Ashe states. "I am going to dial it back a bit, no point focussing on dread and heartbreak when it isn't the emotions triggering your power."

It's been like this the entire time, it is horrid. Went through emptiness, guilt, loneliness, frustration, and anger. All pushed to the furthest point making me feel like I have never felt before only for it to not be as bad as it should be.

I feel my emotions shift back to normal but with a sudden bump making me feel... lighter.

I then look at Mom and Lauren, "That wasn't as bad as it should be?"

Ashe then states, "You should have been in tears if it was the emotion that you can't handle - I am going to say it straight Kiriko. Your kid here has an unnaturally strong will and I don't want to chip at it."

I look back at her, "Is that bad?"

"Emotional manipulation can break your psyche - the same way how some unorthodox torture methods make you insane, change you forever."

Lauren then suggests, "Take a break for the day, Kiriko let's run through it and see if there is something else to aggravate it."

Ashe then adds, "You know, his emotional trigger can be tied to something more positive."

"Don't."

"What?" Mom looks at her.

Ashe then looks at Lauren. "Not saying it is anything bad, sis. Just that the emotion that could trigger a shift of change can be more positive. This relies on emotions that he never felt growing up and I am going to need both of you to start telling me backstories so that I can pinpoint it."

"Ashe-"

"I won't overstep-"

"No. Not that," Lauren sighs. "We can just use natural progression instead of poking a stick."

I then look at Lauren, "I don't have years to even get a fragment of power."

Mom stops me, "There will be progression no matter how we go about it, this isn't for the sake of getting you to progress but to find if you need a buffer."

Lauren then looks at her, "Oh... I think I misunderstood the purpose."

"Same here," Ashe chips in. "You want to make sure that he doesn't ever lose control and lash out at anyone near him. I can say right now three emotions are the strongest and that is Inadequacy, Helplessness, and fear of loss."

Lauren then states, "Makes sense. These two are related."

Mom then adds. "If his will is strong enough to deal with it, then I am satisfied for now and want the two of you to go through some session together to see if there is a virtual limit, because there is a mortal limit-"