We headed down outside of the tree house and walked towards the edge of the stone spire. But when we got there both Navy and Pete turned towards me with a very sad look in their eyes. "Y-young Sid… about what Darwin has told you about his mother… The truth is, his mother is gone." I was confused by Pete's statement. "Yeah, that's why he wants to find her isn't it?" I questioned. "N-no! That's not it." Navy said with a painful tone. "She's gone, as in she's died Sid… she's been dead for a long time now…" I didn't understand what they were saying, how could that be true? "What do you mean? How could she be dead? Wouldn't Darwin know that? And if you both know that, why wouldn't you tell him?!" I said angrily. Pete had a shameful look in his eyes. "We… we have told him before young Sid. You understand that Darwin has the blessing, bubble over right?" Asked Pete. "Yes and!?" I responded, still unable to comprehend what was going on. "That blessing was his mothers. She passed it on to him." Navy said with a sad look in his eyes. "Yes I know that, he told me all about it, he cherishes that power like nothing else in the world matters! But that doesn't explain anything!" I shouted once again. I could tell that Navy was getting frustrated. "No! How could you be so dull Sid!?" Navy shouted at me angrily. Pete put his hand on Navy's shoulder to calm him and said, "Navy, that's enough… Sid doesn't understand. Young Sid, when a person passes on their blessing… The price for such an action is their life…" I Ed shocked by what I had just heard. Pete's words cut deep and I didn't really understand how that was possible. I felt a pain in my heart when he uttered those words, but I don't exactly know why. "If that's the case… then why is Darwin still looking for her? It doesn't make any sense! Darwin is adamant that she's out there, that's the whole reason he wants to come with me on this journey!" I shouted as my gaze lowered to the ground. "T-that's… Well… Darwin still believes she's out there somewhere. He refuses to believe that she is gone. He loved her so dearly, and Darwin is such a good young lad. I was close friends with his mother in my younger years, but one day she showed up and was incredibly sick. We had no idea what kind of illness she was afflicted with, but it was akin to some kind of botanical poison. She was a very well traveled person, and would often travel to places in the world that are considered highly dangerous. She surely came into contact with more dangerous creatures and plants than any person I've ever met. It was my belief that she most likely contracted something while on one of her research trips. We tried everything but were unable to find anything that could cure her… She was deteriorating quickly and eventually she fell unconscious and could no longer care for herself. All the while Darwin was here at his home with no idea of what was happening to his mother. Eventually, we took her back here to their home and we placed her in their bed. Darwin was just a young boy at that time, and really didn't understand what was going on. He just thought she was sleeping and honestly we didn't have to heart to explain that she was dying. It only took a few days later until she had died in her sleep. But, since Darwin would sleep next to her, we believe that before she died, she must have elected to pass on her blessing to Darwin, her cherished son. After she passed on her blessing, Darwin fell into a deep sleep for almost a month. W-when she passed it on… her body simply vanished as if she was never here at all. We couldn't even bury her to help Darwin understand…" Pete said as he gazed out at the night sky. "Young Sid, we care very deeply for Darwin and we have watched over him for many years now. I have tried to explain it to him many times, but just as you have said, he truly believes she is out their somewhere. If he is to accompany you on this journey, please look after him. He may even come to realize one day that his mother is truly gone, but until then I think you should just let him follow his heart. I know that you are a good child, young Sid. I could tell from the moment we met that there wasn't even a shred of malice in your energy. Will you grant my request and look after the boy for us?" Pete asked with sorrowful eyes. Navy then spoke up again, "I know I was upset earlier, but it's because I care about Darwin as if he was my little brother. I know that you are strong enough to protect him, but don't sell him short. That kid is incredibly smart and can use his bubbles for all sorts of different things. I'm sure he will be of help to you." I was a bit taken aback. Both of these guys truly cared for Darwin, and they clearly trusted me. I did not want to betray the trust they had in me. I had already been separated from Ivan and Oli, there was no way I would let anything happen to Darwin. "Of course. I will look after him, and I'll even help him train to become stronger. I promise not to push the topic of his mother with him, and I apologize for getting angry with you. I can tell that Darwin and his mom mean a lot to you guys. I won't let you down." I said as I raised my hand to my heart. "Atta boy young Sid." Said Pete. "I trust you." Said Navy as he reached out his hand to bump my fist. Pete bowed his head slightly towards me and said, "Alright then, now that that's all out of the way, let's get some rest and plan to head out early tomorrow." And so we did. Or at least they did. I stayed up for a bit longer that night, and continued to strike out at the impenetrable object I had found for training. I was determined to get stronger, no matter what it took… There was a lot on my mind since meeting Pete and Navy. After sparring with Navy I realized that there were people with abilities I could never even imagine. I genuinely thought Darwin's bubbles were so cool, but Navy's Lighting was something else. He was sure to be someone of great renown in the future, especially with a father like Pete. The two of them were extraordinary people. I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be someone who my friends could rely on, that way I would never get separated from them again. I also couldn't help but think about the meeting I had with Vulcan… Something he said kept replaying in the back of my mind but I wasn't sure if I was just overthinking it. He said "If the path you have chosen is blocked, simply make a new one." I didn't understand what he meant or why he said that to me as advice. It was clear that he was a creature of unfathomable strength. It's not hard to believe that monsters like him are worshipped in some places in the world. It just made me wonder even more as to what he meant by those words. Did it have something to do with Fritz? Was it about me?
Before I knew it, I had been punching out at the unknown object all the way until dawn. Welp, I guess there goes my sleep. I looked down at my fists that were calloused and rough now. They were no longer bloody like they used to be when I first started punching the unknown object. Yet no matter how many times I struck it, I couldnt feel any type of give. Just what was this thing I was punching anyways? Maybe I should have been more conscious about what I was punching, but I figured if it was something I couldn't damage then it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Still, I wanted to damage it. I wanted to break it apart and feel it give way under my fists. I felt like if I wasn't able to do atleast that then there was no way I could take on thing like Vulcan, or even that disgusting worm monster I had encountered in the forest.
Even though Dawn had broken through, Instead of heading into the tree house I just plopped myself down on the ground where I had been training all night. I laid back and put my hands behind my head and looked up at the canopy of the magnifigum tree. I felt myself dozing away, until my eyes shut.
End Sid