“Ahh so for you it is a lady, interesting. I used to see a young boy, well the silhouette of one, like I am sure you see of the lady”

“you can go into the darkness too? .. are you working for the lady like I am?”

“No no no, It has been a long time since I have spoken to anyone from there”

“Then how did you know I was speaking to.... someone from there?”

“When you raised your first to attack me, and the dark lines that started to appear, I have only ever seen that color, that absolute darkness, in one place, the darkness I used to visit myself as you do now. It seems like you can borrow some of the darkness and bring it into this world. Interesting, I could never do anything like that.”

“So why-“

He interrupts me

“Since I have never met you before, I presume you have no reason to attack me. I am assuming your lady from the dark asked you to do that. No doubt she wanted to make it clear to me that you were connected to her. So that I would understand with certainty how important it is that I help you with her request”

“How did you figure all that out? Did you have to do something like this too?”

“Yes, years ago I too took a favor from… that thing. Once I completed the task it gave me, I was told that to fully repay my debt, I would have to help someone on exactly this date, in exactly this place. Or did you think I was sitting in defunct hotel because I enjoy the cobwebs and breathing in dust.”

Breathing…that reminds me

“what did you do to me? why did my transmutation fail?”

“Transmutation? Hah, I have seen many transmuters in my life, your nations army has plenty. I have never seen something like that, and no doubt it would not be considered transmuting. But how could you not know how I stopped you, there are many people who can do what I can do here as well. There just not as good at is as I am.”

He smirks.

“I can’t remember much, when the dark lady … saved me, she damaged me, I’ve lost my memory.”

“Ahhh very interesting, very interesting. I do wonder if that was something it did in purpose, to make you easier to control. It tried many tricks on me as well. To answer your question, unlike transmuters, I am a breath changer. I can charge my breaths with different energies, and those who breath them in will feel those energies effects. Most breath changers at most could make you tired, maybe momentarily confused, a little angry, a little sad. The stronger ones could make you feel compelled to tell the truth, to lie, to do...other things as well. But I can do far more than that....the little boy in the dark, it, taught me how to do so much. I am sure your own dark lady will teach you much as well, make you strong so you can do its bidding.”

Something it did on purpose… I wonder if the dark lady did this to me, made me forget about who I was so I would just believe anything she told me. It seems like she can hear and see what goes on in the real world, maybe she’ll try and convince me he was wrong later. Or maybe she realizes I’ll do what she says even if I think she’s lying…

“Did the boy in the dark save you too?”

“No, I reached out to it on my own, I needed some power to…well that is not relevant. What did your lady in the dark ask you to do”

“I have to-“

“Don’t tell him about the child, ask him to help you find your mother, the child is near her anyways”

I was in the darkness, but only for a second. That was really jarrring. But why does she not want me to mention the child. Maybe she’s afraid he won’t help me then.

“I felt that same energy again, what did the dark lady say this time”

“She wants me to ask you to help me find my mother. She says you can point me in the right direction”

“Hmph"

He half smirked haf laughed, did something I say sound that ridiculous?

"I highly doubt that is what she wants, but to complete my deal with it I must help. Breathe into your hands”

“What?”

“Breathe into your hands. A deep breath and a deep exhale, into your cupped hands.”

I’m confused, but I take a deep breath, and exhale into my cupped hands.

He does the same, and blows his breath into my hands.

I feel like a tingly sensation in my palms, and I see an image start to appear right there. What is going o-...I see an office. It looks like someone important works here. All the furniture looks like its finely crafted wood, except for giant desk at the end of the room that looks like it’s made of marble. It sticks out, looks like it doesn't belong. The office has a lot of flags hanging on the walls, they remind me of stuff I saw on those posters on the street. There is an insignia carved onto the marble table. It looks like a…a diamond on top of a triangle? Behind the desk is a window, but outside I see nothing but darkness. Suddenly the large wooden door to the office swings open. In comes a small little boy, accompanied by older man. The older man is dressed in what looks like military attire. He’s clean shaven, but his skin is wrinkled and rough, maybe even a little discolored in places. He’s bald, and holding his cap in his hand. It looks like he's wearing a military uniform. The little boy…something is off about him...something....it's hard to saye exa-

The image disappears. It faded quickly away, and I'm left just staring at my palms again. That was amazing, what other powers exist in this world?

“What was that”

“Your breathe contains some of your lifeforce, I mixed my power in with your lifeforce, and was able to show you someone connected to your lifeforce. But I don't know where that office is, it seems like somewhere in some republic army stronghold.”

Wait...connected to my lifeforce? The boy... I'm supposed to kill? That can't be....is he my brother! He looks way to young to be my sibling, he's maybe a decade and half younger than I am....and why did something feel off about him...

"He's not your brother, that is something I can say as the truth. If he was, we would still kill him but I would tell you now so that you have the mental resolve to go through with it when you found out. I wouldn't risk you finding out last second and backing out. He's not a blood relative of yours, but a connection does exist between you and him. That's why you saw him, that's why your mother needs him dead."

One split second in the darkness, it's jarring everytime, I need her to give me a heads up somehow.

The old man gives me a curious look again. But he face relaxes, and he starts to smile.

“So this is what freedom feels like, to be honest I can’t feel any difference, but its nice to know I never have to deal with the dark again”

His small smile is now a big one, he almost looks younger somehow. The dark must of been a huge weight on him.

“Thanks for helping me find my mom. And I'm happy for y-"

My world goes black.

“Kill him”

“What?”

“I said kill him. If you want to find your mother, kill him now, while he doesn’t expect you to attack”

“Why, he did was he was told to do?? He’s free now!”

“Yes, but I know that he is the type to think about his past misdeeds, wonder how he can right his wrongs. What if he tries to stop you later on, if he figures out your true goal. He is of no use to us now that we can’t force him to help you, kill him.”

I have a clue about where my mother is, I don’t need her anymore. I’ll find her on my own.

“No, leave me if you want, I’m not killing anyone, not him or any children either”

“HAH, did you think I was a fool, letting you get a hint about where your mother was. Remember what I told you. you already died, days ago when your family murdered you. You are not like the man in front of you, you are bound to me because I am keeping you alive. If I left, you would return to death, as you should.”

What if she’s just lying about that, trying to make me do what she’s asking. How could I find out for sure...

“Prove to me your not lying, that I would die without you”

“No, kill him or die here before you can find your mother”

Dammit, I can’t take a chance, if she’s right I’ll die here right now. I need to find a way to figure out if she’s telling the truth.

She sends me back to the real world.

“I felt it again, but this time much stronger. What happened?”

I have no choice, if he doesn’t die, I do. I hesitate, but only for a second.

From about a foot away from the tanned man, I raise my fist, it starts to turn black.