There is Power in Death

Chapter 8

TW: Mentions of murder and torture.

"So, Alex. How did you die?" Benji asks me.

It's the next day, Benji and I are heading outside to train. Talan and Maddy both have things to go over with the other mentors so we were told to reap some souls at the same place we started.

"I killed myself, though it was for research purposes. I became an apprentice so I could become a Phanter and go back home to complete my research. What about you?"

"I was murdered. It was pretty brutal, actually, and painful. The murderer used a medieval form of torture."

"Really? Which one?" 

"It's called the blood eagle, something that I found out after I died."

"I've heard of that. It sounded pretty cool, but very painful. I'm sorry you went through that."

"It's fine. I've forgotten most of the pain anyways." they smile at me.

That smile. Their personality. It's adorable. 

"There's the portal Talan and I went through. Come on!"

We go through the portal and end up back in Shiba Park. Benji looks around at all the spirits.

"There are more in this area. Me and Maddy were over by a hotel, though I forget what is was called."

I should probably tell them about the wailing so they don't get scared.

"Oh yeah, don't get scared if you hear wailing. The spirits wail when I hit them, I don't know why."

"Okay!"

We reap souls for a few hours, taking some breaks to get water. On our last break we start getting hungry but Benji says they forgot the snacks in their room and suggests that we take off out uniforms and make ourselves visible to the living.

"But we're in Japan and I don't know Japanese."

"Leave that part to me! I actually know Japanese."

I would like to be surprised by that, but Benji is smarter than he looks. We both take our uniforms off and make ourselves visible. I follow Benji to a store called Lawson Shiba Park South. I wait outside while Benji buys food. Where they got the money is beyond me.

"Let's go sit in the park, then we can go back. We have about an hour until lunchtime. Let's just chill out until them."

"Okay."

"Are you still coming to dinner tonight?"

"Yup! And whether Talan likes it or not, I'm making him come."

"I'm surprised with your relationship, Maddy is more like a mom to me and it's annoying. Isn't Talan in his twenties?"

"Talan is seventeen like us, I thought he was older when I saw him too. How old is Maddy?"

"Maddy is twenty-seven, but she won't admit it. If you ask her for her age she'll just say she's twenty-one. She can pass for it, so nobody clues in. I hope this isn't offensive, but what's your sexuality? I'm bisexual myself."

"It's not offensive at all. I'm asexual."

"That's amazing! Maddy is aro and ace. Don't worry, she's already out to the whole business, otherwise I wouldn't have told you!" they stick their thumb up for reassurance.

"I don't know Talan's sexuality, but I would feel intrusive if I were to ask him."

"Do you want to know what I do?"

"What?"

"I have several pride flags in my room so people know as soon as they come in. That way they know that you're not homophobic and that you're part of the community."

I smile back at Benji, unable to hide it. His presence just reminds me of anything happy and makes me want to smile. 

Benji and I continue talking until and hour is up. I know much more about them now. We go back through the portal and walk towards HQ. Their are several other Phanters heading back as well, probably from other jobs. I notice a group of three that are all injured, one of which is bleeding. 

"Do you know what happens if a Phanter gets severely injure?  "

"I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"

I point over to the group, "Because one of them is bleeding. And they all look like they're dizzy."

"Let's go help them!" Benji starts running towards the group with me following.

"Are you guys okay? What happened?" I ask.

"W-we were a-attacked. D-demons. L-lots," one of them answers.

This is bad, "Benji, you stay here and help them. I'm gonna go alert Mr. Silvia."

Benji nods and I teleport in front of Mr.Silvia's office. He opens the door and welcomes me in.

"There are three Phanters that are injured. They said they were attacked by demons. One of them has a flesh wound and they're all dizzy."

"I thought I told them not to go down there. I shall accompany you to them."

"Okay," I lead Mr.Silvia outside. 

Benji has almost gotten them inside. When Mr.Silvia saw them he looked angry.

"I told you it was too dangerous! We've lost fifty already down there! If you die here, then you will be forced to go to the Underworld. You won't have a choice! Alex, go get Talan, tell him we need a healer."

"Yes, sir!" I teleport to Talan's room.

"What are you doing?"

"We need a healer downstairs as soon as possible! Come on!"

His face is filled with worry as he teleports downstairs. I lead him to the door, where the three are sitting on a bench. They flinch when they see Talan and I arrive.

"He's a healer? That's impossible! He's a monster."

I look over to Talan, who starting to look angry.

"Look, I'm the only available healer here! You're lucky you survived! You have two choices her, to let me heal you, or make your friend here die. It's your choice!" Talan snapped, obviously scaring them even more.

"Fine, heal him," one of them snaps.

Their friend has passed out and his wound is growing larger by the second. I didn't know that Talan had healing abilities. He puts his hands on the wound and it begins to close, looking like it wasn't there in the first place.

"Alex, have you eaten?"

"I had some snacks an hour ago."

"Then that should be enough. Come with me. we're gonna go kill those demons."

Benji tries to stop us, but I get him to stay there. Talan and I continue on to the portal that the group had come from.

"This might be hard but I can guarantee that you won't die."

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