A Crumbling Society

Part 1-18

I looked at Liza and questioned if both of those things were true then why the mystery behind it. Why fight me when I got close to the president while astral walking or why shield my foresight from the meeting, it all just makes things feel more complicated. Either way Liza suggested we get out of here first and began walking up the narrow staircase. Once we got out the ground fixed itself and the brick blended in once again with the wall. We began walking out of the alley and Liza told me that he was a creep and she's surprised anybody has ever wanted to work with him. I agree, I just see things from different standpoints so it's a little more business for me than impressions. She went on a rant, and I still let my thoughts get the better of me by overthinking. Was what he said true, or helpful, or just to throw me off. It wasn't helping and I missed a majority of what was being ranted about and decided to just let it sit and not worry so much about it. The sun was positioned differently letting us know we had been in there for some time. We passed a store and I saw the time; I asked her if she wanted to have lunch and me asking shut her up enough to agree she probably should eat. We headed to a deli and got small things to pick at and walked back to the park. There was a bench that a group had just gotten off of and we snagged it quick. We sat and ate and talked about other things non-hero or personal related and while in mid-sentence talking about one of my jobs, I noticed something.

A figure was moving in the distance, only this figure I've met before. The probability that they're here right now is very slim in human standards, but for me, this is really bad. Its Karma, I mean the literal incarnated corporeal form of karma is standing over in the distance beside a tree looking at me. Without saying a word, I forced myself up off the bench and Liza followed my movement turning her head in confusion. She even asked me where I was going but I didn't even acknowledge one bit of her. I made my way down the path and took a shortcut through a bit of grass but finally reached her. Karma was smiling at me, but in a way that you do when unfortunate things happen, and it just so happened you keep running into the same person. "Who died?", I asked her with a worried look on my face. "Nobody", she said, but she did start trailing into something else.

"I'm here Carson because something is about to happen, something bad".

"You know you're not supposed to tell me these things, it makes other things bad", I told her.

"I know, I know but I can't help it. You know I've always been there for you in these situations, and I'll always be there too, but I couldn't not tell you"

"That's fair, but I do appreciate the heads up even though I know I'm not supposed to know what's going to happen"

"Of course, you're one of my favorite people, and we always have a good time"

"I wish you could help us out with all of this because it would really make a difference"

"It would, but you know how the laws of order work. I'm a being of natural power and it is my duty to let the influence of my ability to pass on to others. I'd be interfering."

"I know"

"Well, I've got to go, I've been here long enough. I'll see you in Valsyri for a meetup?"

"Yeah, if I ever get back there. Thank you again!"

"You're welcome, anytime", she said while throwing in a wink. Her body faded out and then was completely gone. I turned back to return to where I had left Liza and, on my way, I could hear a couple arguing over one of them getting a text from someone random that made the other angry. A few more things were going wrong on the way and I was greeted by a confused Liza standing in wait. I told her I was sorry and that it was important. She can't see Karma because of her being a form of pure magic. There was an "oh" that trailed a bit in her response and then she explained that I just looked like I was talking to someone behind the tree. I laughed a little and told her that worked with me. We sat back down at the bench and talked for a while about what to do tomorrow for the fashion show. The biggest thing we agreed on was how we were optimistic that none of the villains had figured out who any of us are so that would work to our favor. Except for Takeover and he's way too far to be here this fast to ruin everything. That having been said our plan is to get in and try and talk with him afterwards. The usual thing for what we've attempted so far with everyone else. Liza liked the plan and also brought up how she was excited to see the different outfits, then she asked how exactly we were supposed to get in. I told her that we had passes and pulled them out of my pocket. She looked at me cautiously and then mentioned how I just made them up from magic. I laughed a little and said, "well sort of." Now she won't stop talking about magic, I know I opened this door, but I changed the subject really fast. "What do we do after we get the team back?", I asked her. She exhaled in thought then responded with, "Well, I'm not really sure."

"You guys could always stop the Society from causing destruction"

"Eh, not the biggest issue on the list I think"

"True, hmmm, maybe confront the president and see why he had a change of heart, or just a complete change with his alliance to the villains"

"That sounds like a good option"

"Then go for it, all of you! I mean, that's the only thing it seems you can do. The guy turning evil just doesn't seem right to me and something has to be going on."

"I think you're right Carson, I've been thinking about it too, I saw the president a few months before all this was going on. He seemed fine and thanked the team for the hard work, now it's almost like a complete 360 and he hates us?"

"That's what I've been saying! The only thing that can be making him do this or act like this in general is the villains. The bigger question is how, or what!"

"Maybe, the question is whom!"

"Liza! You're absolutely right! Now that's thinking like a leader, what you said to Worm and what you're saying now. You don't really need me to tell you how to think or what to fight for, I know you had that episode in India, but you've improved a lot since then. You started asking the right questions and standing up for what is right, even though it feels like all hope is fading away. The darkness could have consumed you like it did worm in the metaphorical slap you gave him, and yet you're still hopeful this could all turn around. He does only choose to see the dark in his heart. If only he had light to guide him out of it"

"Well thank you, I really am trying and- "

"Oh my god!"

"Umm, what? What is it?"

"That's literally it!"

"What is? You keep stopping after reacting and its confusing."

"Dark Star!"

"I didn't say Dark Star though"

"I know, but him finding light because his heart sees dark, you can see a Dark Star"

"I'm sorry I'm not following"

"The thing that I saw while astral walking, it attacked me, only it didn't really. Worm said maybe it's there for a reason to tell me something else. I didn't put it together until now, the dark being is a Dark Star demon, or "Obscura Stella, Daemonium""

"Oh?", she looked a little puzzled.

"Liza, Dark Star demons are rare, they usually resemble evil, but they're actually seen as messengers. They latch onto a host when something is going on in hopes that someone notices, in this case, me. I haven't ever seen one until now, the reason they're confusing because stars emit light to guide and this demon is a contradiction to light that's why it faded away in shadow, which is its light. It was trying to tell me something, it was saying the president needs help."

"Oh!", she says this time with understanding. "Well, how do we help him?"

"This means there's a force at play making him do all of this, it has to be magic related"

"Does it though?"

"What do you mean?", I turned to look at her.

"Well, this whole time you haven't really done the heroics, and you don't like using or talking about magic. Therefore, I feel this is unrelated to that in a sense of if you were connected then you would have seen it in your vision. You saw us, the Legion so I think it has to do with us, from Earth world. You also saw the president and several attacks-

I was understanding but not following fully as my face looked confused.

-and you saw the Society. Which puts me thinking they're behind it, the president only addressed the public to say they've caught so and so and to make more threats against us, but then he announces a super villain team. It's too obvious at this point, and you told me once before magic isn't always accurate or precise, your vision was spot on but for different reasons than you think."

"Liza, you're absolutely right, it's good to see this side of you like your confidence has come back too! I wasn't sure where it was going at first but now, I can see it too, so, what now, what do we do?"

"We get the team, and westop the Society and get the president to safety." I nodded in agreement withher, and we mutually decided to head back to the hotel.