Medica Materia A Mob Psycho 100 Fantasy AU

Chapter 3

The barrier went up on pure instinct, separating Reigen and Serizawa from Mob. Serizawa took to his feet, wrapping a solid arm around Reigen. He pulled the smaller man flush against him, the threat implied. Reigen was powerless, if Serizawa held the man hostage--

"We mean you no harm," Mob said, his voice calm. "We just want to talk." He continued holding out the bear cape to Serizawa, raising no other hand against him.

Dimple floated to the edge of the barrier. He could not go through. "Just calm down," he pleaded.

"If we wanted to hurt you, we could have done it at any time," Reigen pointed out. He sounded strained, crushed tight against Serizawa's side.

This was true. Serizawa had been naked and vulnerable before them. They had given him nothing but privacy and kindness. If their intentions had been ill, he would already be maimed or worse. These were not his former associates. Serizawa lowered his defenses, his shoulders drooping from released tension. "I am sorry," he murmured.

Reigen reached up and patted his chest, a conciliatory gesture. "I did spring that question on you pretty suddenly."

Serizawa loosened his grip, allowing Reigen to breath. "How did you know?"

"You talk in your sleep," Mob said with no judgement. "From your nightmares it sounds like they made you hurt a lot of people."

"I did hurt a lot of people," Serizawa's eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at Mob, "but they didn't make me do anything."

Reigen pushed against Serizawa's side, a reminder that the older man was still holding him. "Perhaps we should all sit down for this," he suggested.

Serizawa released Reigen allowing him and Mob to lead him back to the wagon. Mob gave Serizawa the bear robe which he took with gratitude. He needed the physicality of it if he was to tell his tale. Serizawa wrapped it around his exposed shoulders, letting the weight of the pelt offer comfort. When everyone seemed ready, Serizawa started. "King Suzuki recruited me personally when I was but twenty. I was living in the back of my parents' blacksmith shop, using my magic to help lift heavy loads." He flexed his hand then clenched it into a fist. "I didn't have the control then that I do now. Anything beyond simple tasks would end in disaster but the King believed I had potential."

He looked up to see Reigen and Mob listening, no judgement on their faces. "He told me he would help me control my powers but that's not why I went with him. He said that he was going to rule a kingdom of peace one day and that I could help bring that dream to life. I wanted so badly to use my magic for good that I jumped in without hesitation."

"At first all I did was train and help recruit others like myself. Life was idyllic. I didn't have to think, I didn't have to worry, I just did as I was told. Then one day there were enough of us to start a conquest." Serizawa wanted to say more, but he couldn't continue. What followed was so shameful that the words stuck in his throat.

Reigen seemed to understand this. "Serizawa, you aren't the first Claw Mage we've encountered." He glanced at Mob, sharing an unspoken agreement. "When Mob's village was attacked, the only clue left behind was a mark burned into some of the buildings." Reigen went to his green cloak, and pulled out a sheet of paper. When he presented it to Serizawa, the former Mage knew instantly what it was: King Suzuki's emblem.

"It took us about a week to decipher its meaning," Reigen said, slipping the paper back into his undershirt.

"Because Mage Koyama of the Seventh Brigade attacked us," Mob explained.