I fucking knew it. I knew that kid was too suspicious. He gave off such a weird vibe, like he knew he was smarter than everyone else. I doubt I'd need to tell Rebecca about this, but nonetheless I need to gain her trust, no keeping secrets from her for now.
I slept like a fucking dog that night. When I woke up, I felt like a new man, completely refreshed and rested. Looking back at what I had done during the game against Aion, I was rather proud of my performance. Although, I wondered how I would've won if I didn't have the magic blocker. Would it have even been possible without it? It didn't matter, in every scenario I imagined I would've had it anyway. Besides, with the way Aion was cheating, figuring it out and also using that against him was an insane strategy to come up with so quickly.
Finally, I left my room and went down to the hotel's lobby to see if there was anything for breakfast. Luckily for me, there was. I loaded my plate with eggs, some bacon, and a stack of pancakes before sitting down at the same table Rebecca and I had sat at last night. Rebecca showed up soon after, dressed well as usual. This time she wore a black skirt that went down to her knees and a red sweater.
"Hey, Fredrick." She said casually as she sat down with her plate.
"Rebecca." I responded in acknowledgement. She frowned and turned to face me.
"What was it like?" She asked suddenly, her eyes daring.
I thought for a bit.
"The Maze? I mean, it was interesting, you should hear what I had t-"
"No, no, no. That is not what I meant," She said, flustered all of a sudden. "You were raised to be a super genius that didn't care for human emotions at all. To see the people around you as nothing more than tools. You were supposed to do anything to achieve your goals. What is it like, how are you feeling?"
I paused, and thought for a second. What was I feeling? Not sure, I only really know what to think in terms of trying to accomplish my goals. I always felt fine unless something in my mission went wrong. Was she testing me? What answer did she want to hear or expect to hear?
"I'm not sure. I don't really know anything else."
"That's not true, Fredrick. Something changed, there's a reason why you let me become your personal bodyguard. You know you didn't need one."
Damn, she was starting to see through me. I shouldn't have let my guard down. She wanted to see something the entire time.
"What do you want?" I asked, starting to get annoyed. She pushed herself closer to me, her hands laying on mine.
"Believe it or not, up to you. I want you to feel human again, to feel human emotions. I know how you think, you think in terms of black and white. But the world is so full of color that you're missing so much."
There was a weight to her words that made me think she was telling the truth for a second. I'm not supposed to be a normal human. In order to be perfect, you need to get rid of all useless things. Emotions, distractions, everything else. I am perfect, and to continue existing this way, I cannot let her tell me otherwise.
"It's exactly that color that I see, but I don't need it. I wouldn't expect you to understand. I can see everything the way it is, perfectly. If you get rid of all distractions, all that remains is the truth. It's what has gotten me this far. I will continue to win as long as I live."
She sighed, looking defeated. As smart as I am, I still cannot figure out what all this was about or what her goal was.
"Well, I figured that would be pointless. I'm not done yet, you better expect me to keep poking you."
"Yes, yes. I had a feeling you wouldn't give up that easily. Just know that it doesn't matter. Anyway, I feel like we've spent our time here well. Let's return to the Arcane Syndicate HQ to see what the rest of our mission will be."
She nodded, giving me a rather nasty look. We paid the hotel clerk for our stay, then Rebecca went to change back into the guard uniform. Afterward, we made our way to the airport to bring us back to the states.
…
Back at the Arcane Syndicate HQ, we were greeted by another couple of guards who brought us into the facility. The boss swiftly met up with us at the lounge area.
"Fredrick." He greeted me, coldly.
"Boss," I nodded back. "How's it been?"
"Well, Fredrick. You failed a mission, then completed a much more difficult one. Also, Viktor has made significant progress over at Jefferson High. So, you're not out of the woods yet."
How pleasant.
"I see, Vik sure is impressive."
"Indeed, now we will begin to send you back. But first, there's something I need you to do while we wait for Viktor to finish his goal."
I paused.
"What might that be?"
"Oh, nothing much. You are going to finish up the last of your studies, we have found new information on magic and how it works. The books are already in your room, get to reading them whenever you please."
How nice, finally something easy.
"That, I can do." I responded, allowing myself to be at ease, not realizing my body had completely tensed up. The boss smirked and then waved his right hand.
"Very well, you are dismissed. You and Rebecca are to stay in your room until you are finished reading. Do not get the wrong idea, if you two even begin to think of doing anything naughty, I will kill both of you."
I couldn't see Rebecca, but I sighed in annoyance and pinched my forehead.
"The thought wouldn't have even come to my mind if you hadn't mentioned it, thanks, boss."
He smiled.
"Off you be."
…
Rebecca and I entered my room. It was custom for the guard and their person to develop a healthy relationship, so the guard entering their room isn't uncommon, although it's rather rare for the guard and their person to be the opposite gender.
Rebecca took a look around my room, which was pretty standard. I didn't like the idea of taking time to personalize it, took too much time away from my studies.
"Wow, lots of personality here, huh?" She mused.
"Funny." I responded, nonchalantly. "I know you said you were going to poke me, but could you try to hold off while I'm reading."
She took a look at the giant stack of thick books towering on my desk, and started to pout.
"Awww, come on! I'll never be able to talk to you at this rate."
I smirked.
"Nonsense, give me an hour. Go get yourself a coffee or something in the meantime."
She hesitated for a second, then seemed to have made up her mind.
"Alright, fine. Exactly one hour. When I'm back, we're going to have a chat."
I smirked, then turned towards the books lying on my desk.
"You got a deal, if I'm not done then you get to slap me or something."
She stifled a laugh.
"Haha! I might have to hold you to that."
She then left my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The way she acted was so peculiar. What was it that she wanted? She talked about how I was supposed to 'feel human emotions', but don't I already do that?
Whatever it was she wanted from me, I decided it could wait until later. I walked over to my desk and started power reading through all the books I had to read. The information was very interesting, talking about how magic doesn't follow science or normal logic, which unironically made sense. After about 20 minutes, I had finished reading all the books in 20 minutes, not bad for my standards. In the past, I had been able to read these in less than 10, but 4 books with 1,500 pages each in 20 isn't terrible either. Thanks to my perfect memory, remembering this wouldn't be difficult either.
I decided that for the remaining 40 minutes, I'd take a nap. In order to stay perfectly focused and thinking at all times, your brain needs to be fresh. It was something that a teacher of mine told me once, and I agreed with him. Laying on the covers on my bed, I could only help but wonder about a number of things. What did Rebecca want? Why did she care so much about me? What is going to happen to Viktor?
Luckily, I'd get these answers soon.
…
I awoke to a knock at my door. Stumbling out of bed, rubbing my groggy eyes, I pull myself to the door and open it. Standing in the doorway was Rebecca, as expected.
"Hey, Rebecca…" I grumbled. This nap took more out of me than I thought. She seemed startled.
"Oh, sorry Fredrick. Did I wake you?"
"No, you di- well actually yeah, but I wanted that to happen. After I finished reading, I decided it was time for a nap until you arrived."
"Oh. I see." She seemed upset almost.
She and I sat down at my table, and she started talking.
"Fredrick, you've always seemed…" She sat, pondering her words for a moment. "So sad to me. Now that I know what they did to you, I need to fix you."
Fix me?
"Fix me?" I wondered aloud, bewildered. I was created to be perfect, and I was. In order to maintain perfection, there are sacrifices to be made. "There is nothing about me that needs to be fixed. I am perfect in every conceivable way."
She sat, her face unreadable. It felt like my answer was satisfactory.
"Fredrick… You don't really believe that, do you?" Her face was now one of genuine concern.
"Well, of course not. I am as perfect as a human can be. Everything goes the way I want it to, and that is satisfactory enough for me."
"That's what I'm saying. You don't realize that to live in a perfect existence prevents you from experiencing life's greatest joys."
"Is not the greatest joy in life winning, is not the ability to achieve perfection?"
"It's not that, Fredrick. You need to understand that being perfect, manipulating things as you please, isn't it. While I understand you were born and raised to be this way, it's up to you to break through it. Use your intelligence for good."
For good?
"There is no good in this world, people commit crimes, lie, use, and abuse each other. Every day, people die. Humans at their core are rotten and disgusting. I symbolize hope, and faith. In perfection. If every human were as perfect as I, then the boss wouldn't need all the magic items in order to correct humanity."
Rebecca frowned, then started thinking again. It seems as though she didn't have a response ready for this.
"Yes, humans are gross," She started, choosing her words carefully. "But, the way you go about things doesn't fix that. The boss refuses to see the good in humanity. When we go to Jefferson High, I need you to try to find the good in people. Can you do that for me?"
I decided to give her question some thought. I stood up and started pacing around my room. The good in people? Did such a thing exist? In order to maintain perfection, all possibilities must be considered.
"Sure, I'll do my best."
Rebecca smiled.
"Good, I'll be your guide. I will make you human again."
"Well, best of luck."
Human again? I'm not entirely sure what that entailed, but Rebecca can try her best. No matter what happens, I will continue to exist in a perfect reality, maintaining balance at all times. I will always win, there is nothing in the world that can stop me. If Rebecca wants me to feel human, I'll have to show her that. The truth isn't always what people need.
I turned to go take another nap, so my thoughts could collect, but I got a notification on my phone.
It was Viktor.
V: Fredrick, I am going to execute the final phase of my plan, everything rides on you now.