[Rina]

TheSpatialWeeg

"......"

While Schezo has been feeling a bit better, there's still a tinge of loneliness in Schezo's heart. Lemres is out right now, leaving Schezo to huddle up on his bed. He's met a few people, but he's quite distant from everyone. Who could blame him? With everyone calling him a pervert and his generally unpleasant attitude, he's not inclined to socialize anyway. Though...Lemres didn't bother locking the door, and Schezo trusted that he would do so on the way out. The Dark Wiard didn't double-check the lock, meaning that someone could just waltz on it.

[TheSpatialWeeg]

"..."

Outside of Schezo and Lemres' room, stood the smol girl known as Rider. It had been a while she had any sign of the Dark Wizard she teamed up with to save Raffine. While the mission could've gone much better at the homestretch (as in, they had a little fight at the very end), they managed to put the conflict to rest with Rider offering to listen to the Dark Wizard's story. She said they would try to schedule it later...

...however, that part never came. Whether it was just the fact that Schezo's been overall busy or just a string of bad timing cases on her part, Rider couldn't really communicate with him. She held hope that this time would be different, though. With an ounce of bravery, she knocked on the door, only for it to open by itself. Several red flags ensued as her little heart began to race. Did someone break in?!

To her relief, it was not the case. The Dark Wizard was the only one on the apartment, however he looked a little...odd. Rider wasn't exactly sure what, though. She wasn't the best at read emotions.

"Mr. Schezo...? I came here to talk..."

[Rina]

? That Warlock never locked the door?

Hearing Rider's voice alerted him to the open door that she's peeking out of already. At least it's someone he recognized, otherwise, he would have been a little paranoid. Schezo masked his dead-eyed expression and acknowledged her presence.

"Is that you Rider?"

It also occurred to him that he owed her an explanation for his behavior in a past mission. He lashed out rather intensely at the last leg of that mission, and it wasn't like him. He promised to explain her, but he never got the opportunity to do so. He beckoned to her to come in; he could use some company to break this eerie silence.

"You may come in."

The room itself is...oddly cozy? Though it's likely Lemres had the most input in room decor. It's also quite strange that there's only one bed. Who's sleeping where? Does Schezo sleep on the couch or the bed? Or the floor even? The bookshelf is filled with a bit of magic book and literature, closet is filled to the brim with clothing, though it'd help to get the duo a second closet; one for the both of them.

[TheSpatialWeeg]

"Right. Please excuse me..."

Well, she says that when she had sort of already entered the apartment, but manners were manners. That remained unchanged for the most part, which she was rather thankful for. As she quietly took a good look at the rather simple and cozy apartment before settling herself on the couch, Rider looked at the Dark Wizard for a brief moment.

She believed that Schezo most likely remembered that deal, however she didn't wanted to go straight to the point, however that was pretty rude, wasn't it? Best to start a normal conversation first rather than just get to the point.

"How have you been recently, Mr Schezo...?"

[Rina]

"I'm quite well."

Blatant lies.

"Lemres is not present at the moment, so I could only serve some tea for now....if you wish to have a cup."

If Rider can pick up on it, Schezo sounded...less than okay. He's headed to the kitchen to brew some tea, but he's more or less trying to hide how he's feeling. Once the water is getting heated, he went and sat down on the couch next to her...but not too close. While he's a to-the-point guy, he's ironically beating round the bush on how to present his actual feelings.

"If I may ask, have you heard about the tale of a boy lost in Rana?"

[TheSpatialWeeg]

"Y-yes, please..." the little girl said and nodded in response to the tea offer. Tea was her go-to alternative for most occasions when pumpkin juice wasn't around. Regardless of such, she sat in silence, fidgeting a bit when suddenly Schezo asked if she knew of a tale of 'the boy lost in Rana'.

She began thinking. That tale...had she heard it somewhere before...? Ms. Accord had shared a lot of bedtime stories to her, but...was this one of them? Or was it a story Schezo was familiar with because it came from his homeland?

"...I'm sorry...I'm not familiar with that story...would you care to tell me about it...?"

[Rina]

"Very well."

Right on cue, the kettle was going off, prompting the Dark Wizard to turn it off and bring over the cups of tea. Once set on the table, Schezo cleared his throat, ready to begin his story. It's not a tale known outside of his homeworld, so naturally Rider wouldn't know about it. Hopefully Rider has the patience.

"A time ago, there was a boy, the age of 14. He was a student of a magic school, attending one that is of a singular gender: Male. He didn't stand out much in the ways of academics, but someone else presumed otherwise. During a school trip, the boy heard a voice. The voice called to him, drawing him away from the class. The voice came from a mirror. The mirror's reflection is pristine, but the frame is in ruins. When the boy touched the mirror, the reflection turned dark, pulling in the boy down into the labyrinth of Rana. The boy was lost and understandably confused, wanting to find a way back..."

Schezo picked up his cup of tea, taking a sip and gazed into the drink's surface. His story is not yet complete, but he shall continue if he still has Rider's attention. This was just the first act of the story.

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Rider's gaze stood firm on Schezo as she listened to the tale, occasionally taking a sip of the tea in her hands. The story seemed to successfully pull her in, due to how she looked curious as to how it would keep going. It's something she never heard of before, and that kind of curiosity could be expected from a young kid.

"I-I see...please, do continue." Rider quietly insisted.

[Rina]

With Rider paying attention, Schezo continued the story.

"The boy wandered around the labyrinth, fighting to defend himself from the dangers. The only thing he desired was to return back home. The boy came across a fortune teller, leaving the following words: 'I know not where your alignment leads.' Left with more questions, the boy continued on. The corridors were winding, filled with puzzles and traps, but he still sought to escape. As if by fate, during his exploration, he discovered the ancient magic of Rana. It was incomplete, but it was enough to catch the attention of an ancient artifact, wishing for a display of power. The boy proved his worth, and the artifact deemed him worthy to wield the mystic artifact. In turn, this brought the attention of a mage in the labyrinth. That mage was the voice that beckoned to him, wanting to reveal that the boy is a worthy successor to the mage. He awaited at the center of the last floor, wanting to see how far he's gone. Though a magical duel, the mage was defeated, passing on the title to the boy, and leading him to the surface and back to his home."

Schezo's tea cup seems half-empty now... His tone got more serious all of a sudden.

"However...the power was much more feared than the boy imagined. His classmates wouldn't draw near, his family was also stricken with fear. It was as if the spell passed down was a curse. The magic he learned in the labyrinth was dark magic. His classmates wouldn't draw near, his family was also stricken with fear. Years became mere hours to him, and his time would far surpass that of his family and classmates. To the threads of time, all he knew were gone before he. The weakness that comes from isolation took hold of him, growing an obsession for power so he would not feel weak. Yet...he still wasn't strong enough to defeat someone with only a fraction of their power. Unable to pursue his goals, knowing his power is inferior to that of someone many years early. Afraid to befriend anyone, knowing they'll be gone before him, be it to time, or the boy's fearful power. He didn't belong. He believed he only had himself, lost in a self-created labyrinth..."

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Rider kept listening to the story, never interjecting to ask any possible questions. However, as the Dark Wizard progressed through the tale, the little girl began getting more and more distressed with the direction the story was going. 

Won't this story get any better...? She thought to herself.

As much as she wanted that to be a thing, something on the back of her mind told her that this wouldn't be the case... "U-um...is there...more to it...?" She reluctantly asked Schezo.

[Rina]

Unfortunately, this story is not even close to lightening up...

"Is he really 'living' if he's trapped in his own labyrinth? The boy had no answer, he knew not where his alignment leads, after all. He's been seeking an answer for many years. His appearance hardly changed due to his magic, being but a mere fraction of his true age. He lacked the social tact to let out his emotions because he chose to be alone. Mislabeled, fear, ridicule...that was all he was exposed to. Everyone was all the same to him. They would either be gone to time, or spat out harsh words that he would only just mask his disdain for. Above all, he despised being called a pervert."

Schezo's eyes dulled. He is about to reveal the purpose of this story...by revealing who the boy's name is.

"...that boy's name is Schezo Wegey."

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Rider's previous doubts were confirmed as the story did not end on a happy note. So far, what she heard was a frankly depressing tale that she'd probably have nightmares about for a while, all while waking up crying when that'd be too much.

However, the twist is what caught her. As soon as she registered the name, she gave a look at Schezo. One of mostly shock, but there was a glint of sadness in that look. What she just heard...was that really his story?

"S-so...y-you meant to say that...t-the boy in the story...is you, Mr. Schezo?!"

[Rina]

He nodded. It was a roundabout way to explain his story, but he's never forward with his grief.

"Yes. Whether I would be thrown aside or left behind, it's all the same to me. The end result is that I'd be left alone. I don't want to be alone anymore, but at the same time, I'm fearful of trying to get close. I've done so much wrongs, all of the bridges have broken down before they were made."

Schezo put the cup down on the table, his eyes staring out into the empty teacup. It's not focused either; his eyes are wandering, and they've turned into his dead-eyed stare. The fact he's telling this to someone that's 1/20th his age didn't help matters to his pride.

"Haha...what is my pitiful existence...? Was all that I sputtered just a waste of my breath and your time...?"

[TheSpatialWeeg]

Rider's shock toned down a bit, but it was clear that she was kind of desperate to say something, anything to pull Schezo out of this funk. No one was deserving of such sadness to be brought upon them...well, at least, it was how she thought.

Rider stumbled around mentally for words to use so that she could somehow help him without things to go south, all the while she was stuttering. Eventually, she decided on a sentence. She could only hope that things wound go smoothly.

"W-well...I think you're a cool guy..."

[Rina]

"Huh...?"

Schezo found it hard to accept comments and flattery, considering there was more of the contrary. If Rider had more words to back it up, he'd likely react it to a bit more positively. Right now, Schezo could use some uplifting words that tell him that he's better than he thinks he is. His self-esteem is incredibly low as it stands.

"...Do you mean that? We only just met. After all, I've endured scathing comments for at least 100 years. It's unlikely they'll change."