The Academy Of Space And Time

Where I hear of how everything changes, again

"I cannot believe my father was your leader," Jeff replied. He almost spat at Jinn while getting the words out.

The Reaper spilled a little of Jeff's blood, from his finger, and Jeff grit his teeth as if there was something poisonous that had made its way in all of his veins.

"You've got a lot of secrets, Winter," Jinn said cheerfully. "You love drawing, but you've never told your friends. You would rather have them believe that the frescos in your room were made by Sean. You're very good at it. Then, why do you hide it? Because you're used to hiding things about yourself. I feel a very strong source of magic residing inside of you. You must be one of the most powerful Enchanters in the world but your grandfather knew how dangerous you could be, and he decided to restrain you. You must always be restrained."

Jeff was reacting to his words as if he was feeling physical pain, just like Raegan had done.

"But here lies your contradiction — the thing you are, but you don't want to be. Your father's son," Jinn told him. "So single-minded it drove him to madness. If you want to put that stubbornness to good use, join us."

Now Jeff, just like Raegan before him, looked as if he had been drained of all energy. I knew what was waiting for me.

"Ryan, there you are," Jinn was unstoppable. 

He spilled my blood. This was like a game to him. Telling us those things, while he hurt us with his mind, all of this was disgustingly entertaining to him. In the corner of my eye, I could see Alice battling Jake. I trusted her to get the job done. Not that I necessarily wanted Jake to die... Jinn's next words made me snap out of my thoughts.

"When you were a kid, you always thought you couldn't be loved," he said.

I was horrified. But eventually I gave up trying to think about it — the more he talked, the more I felt my whole body ache. It really felt as I'd imagined — a prickling, painful sensation that started from my finger but moved on to my circulatory system.

"Well, well," Jinn added. "What does that say about you? You know it doesn't make sense, but you still feel that way. Still, you don't do anything to buy love or affection from other people. You're selfless. Pay no mind, it's not a compliment. That's your worst trait. Not that all of your other traits are good, obviously. But putting others' needs first can lead you astray. Deep down, you know no one has ever loved or understood the real you, and so you strive to find a connection with new people. But always doing things for others and not for yourself is not living. If you really want to be some kind of superhero, you have to decide. The way you act damages your team work. You'd be more than willing to suffer for all of your friends, but have you ever asked yourself what it is they want? Sometimes we must admit that we can't have control over certain things in life — such as love, or tragedies happening to people who don't deserve them. You won't be able to suffer in their place forever, and they don't want that either. You think you'll end up doing some things for yourself, but you'll only do it to prove your worth to others. If you want to stop feeling like you have to prove you're worth something, Ryan Barnes, you should really join our side."

"And Edgar Wollstonecraft," Jinn started saying, as he pricked my friend. "What is your one true weakness? Why, you need people. You put all of your hope in a certain someone, and..."

"Stop," Edgar growled. "Stop. Don't say anything more. I know what you are going with all of this. Those were what the Greeks would call fatal flaws."

Edgar grit his teeth not to scream. I'd been curious, for about a second, about what Jinn was about to say about the certain someone Edgar didn't have to trust, but then I realised I didn't care.

"But our flaws, as human as they are, are not fatal!" Edgar exclaimed. "We completed the quest! We made it. We finished the one thing you never could. And why would we join you now?"