132 A Frank Discussion With Oneself (2/2)

\”I think... it just needs a little love, that's all.\”

Reed silently gazed at the scene in front of him and smiled. The instant the memory ended, the world faded back into darkness.

He tenderly caressed the mote of light and let it go.

\”So, whatcha think? Pretty nice, eh? That's me, in a nutshell. Everything that you love and believe in, concentrated in the purest form possible. There's no bullshit here.

None of the outside pressures and obligations that the world -- society at large -- has tried to burden you with.

I'm your beating heart, the thing that keeps you going. Makes you want to live for tomorrow and the future. I'm the one who paints your world with all the splendorous colors in your little world,\” said the enormous face.

\”The color of love, for example. She's really brightened up your dull world, right? It goes without saying that without her, you wouldn't have even made it this far.\”

\”Let's not forget the color of admiration and respect, either. You've seen, met, and befriended many incredible people who've shared with you their wisdom. People that have pointed you in the right direction during your bleakest days, no?\”

\”And the color of failure and regret, too. You've made many a mistake, haven't you? For the longest, they served as shackles, binding you in place. Chains of guilt that you made for yourself...

But you've finally broken them. For that, I sincerely thank you, weird as that may be. For all the grief they caused you, they also ended up helping you. It brought you on a journey to find me, right? I'd say that's a pretty decent silver lining, all in all.\”

Reed bitterly chuckled and said, \”So why am I here and how are you supposed to help me? Where do we go from here? I had to go through a lot to get here, so this had better be worth the pain I endured.\”

The enormous face scoffed and said, \”Of course it was worth it, you moron. Don't you get it? I'm free! That means that you don't have to rely on that bastard's soul to use Anima anymore! You've found me and as a result, you don't need to rely on that asshole ever again!

I... might not be as strong and developed as that bastard's soul, but I'm yours. He can't take me, as he did back then with his soul. The only thing the Mark of Responsibility requires to function is a source of will.\”

\”But wait, I thought that the tattoo was something that belonged to him, though. It turned all nasty the moment he stripped me,\” said Reed.

\”No, you fool, it doesn't belong to him. Think of it... as a light bulb, or another piece of machinery. And what do machines need to function?\”

\”....Power?\”

\”Yes, exactly! Electricity! Think of sources of will as glorified, super-special batteries for the Mark of Responsibility. Does that make sense to you? Please tell me it does, or I'm gonna cry...\”

\”It does, yeah. So, what the bastard removed the battery — his soul — off the tattoo, right? ...And you, my soul, can act as a replacement battery for it?\”

The enormous face grinned devilishly and said, \”Ding, ding, ding! We got ourselves a genius over here, Ma'! Do you see now why it was worth it to come down here, even if you had to work for it?

Ah, but don't get too crazy about it. Like I told you, I ain't as strong as that bastard's soul. That asshole has tempered his soul with Mark of Responsibility for thousands of years. As for me? I haven't even gotten to enter the Mark of Responsibility once since it manifested on you.

I've been secretly mooching power off it while I was waiting for you to come down here though, so I won't be completely useless. But don't go into this expecting to be able to do the crazy stuff you used to be able to do back in the day.\”

Reed groaned and said, \”I had a sneaking suspicion something was up, but I didn't think it'd be this. Goddammit, why didn't you tell me sooner, you...!\”

\”I'm you, dipshit! What the fuck did you think was gonna happen when the asshole barged into here?!! Picture yourself, as a normal mortal, fighting a 10 foot tall, 700-pound silverback gorilla!

That was what happened to me the moment that asshole entered your body when the Mark of Responsibility first appeared on your body, almost three years ago!! I got thrashed so hard, I went partially comatose for an entire year until I recovered, you fool!

Had it not been for Lu'um and Lacrima holding my shattered body together back then, you would've died! You didn't even know about it, but they were forcibly keeping your soul from dispersingevery single night during your trainee days at the Spire!!

Ever wonder why Sweetcheeks suddenly moved into your room without reason?! Now you know, rat-brain! She and Lacrima have saved your ass more times than you can even count! Hundreds of times over, every single night while you slept. Keeping you from the brink until I finally recovered...\”