BLACK ROOM
"How was he so strong?" Dan desperately asks
"It's because you're still weak."
"I thought I grew stronger." Dan said, tearing up
"You did improve. You could use emotions with your spells. That made a big difference to your punch. But, you were blinded by rage. You failed."
"Am I dead?" Dan asks in dread
"No, Cathy saved you."
"Did he get away?"
"It seems like it."
"..."
"I told you not to go. You've a good heart. But, you need to fix your judgement. You are ignorant. You're too prideful and you can't see your weaknesses."
He remembered the horror that happened. The sight he would forever live with him in his psyche. He was tormented by his uselessness to save them. He woke up screaming. He gripped his hand to anything he could, trying not to let go.
Until he realized he woke up from a memory. Sam, Laura, and even Volta were standing at the end of his bed—Laura sat on a chair next to him. He was stresses out. He was hyperventilating. He took his time gathering his mind. Focusing himself to calm down.
He steadies his breathing. Composing himself.
"What day is it today?" Dan asks
"It's two days after our joint mission." Laura answered
"You took quite the beating. Glad you survive, man." Sam relieved
"Are you okay, Dan?" Laura asks
"I... I dunno." Dan said, rubbing his eyes with his two fingers
"Well, we're glad you made it alive, Dan. See you around." Sam said as he turned around, waving.
"Yeah, see you around." Dan said back
Sam and Volta then left the infirmary. Leaving the two alone.
"The doctor said you would be discharged as soon as you woke up." Laura quoted
"Right. Other than my arm, everything else would be fine." Dan said
"You need anything? If you want to eat, I'll grab some from the cafeteria." Laura offered
"Thanks, Laura. But, I don't feel like eating right now."
"Okay. You want me to stay?"
"No, I'm fine."
Laura then lets go of Dan's hand and leaves the infirmary. About an hour later, Dan finally felt like moving. He officially got discharged. He left the infirmary and to his room. While walking he saw Nate. Dan didn't even look at him.
Nate then noticed something wrong with Dan. He was about to say something but the timing felt off. So he stayed silent.
Dan was feeling drained even though he just woke up. So he went back to sleep. He woke up the next day around 8 AM.
He felt like shit. So he stripped naked and hopped into the shower and took a bath. A long cold bath at the end of winter. Dan hopped out feeling a lot better. He wore a new set of suit. He wore his headband, combed his hair, and looks at himself in the mirror.
He smiles while looking at himself. His smile started shaking. His eyes then watered. His knees feels weak. He drops to his knees and bows to the ground. He screamed. He felt the agony of being useless in the moment of need. He could've at least saved one of them. But he didn't. He was too prideful. He thought he could beat Shujin then and there.
"You useless piece of shit! Why didn't you try?! Try harder?! You let those people die because you're stupid! You're a pathetic excuse for a sorcerer! They're dead!"
Then someone heard him screaming, they knocked on his door. They opened the door.
"Dan? Mind if I come in..."
Laura saw Dan on the floor, having a breakdown.
"Dan, are you okay?"
"I let that family die, Laura! I let them die! I promised I would save them, but they all died." He sits up straight and looks at
"Is that what happened that night?"
Dan didn't answer, but the answer was quite obvious for Laura to put together. It was obvious he was in pain. She deduced that it'd be best to tell him the truth.
"Dan, look at me."
Dan stood up slowly. He looked at Laura with tears in his eyes. She wraps her arms around his back and pulls him close.
"It isn't your fault." She said
"Yes, it is!" He yelled in denial
"Dan listen to me. What I'm about to say would be hard for you to accept. It's hard for anyone to accept. But, you need to accept it as fast as you can." She stated. She takes a deep breath before speaking again.
"We're not heroes fighting for justice. We're sorcerers. We eliminate threats while also trying to save people. Threats we cannot control. I know it's hard to accept, but there's only so many people we can save. What we do primarily, is kill bad sorcerers and beasts. Being a sorcerer isn't what it's cracked up to be. And I know we didn't choose to have our powers. But, we just have to keep going. We do what we have to. We have power, we have to try to save people."
"But I let them die. I didn't save them at all."
"Even so... You have to keep going. You can't save everyone. No one can." Laura stated
Dan then lets go of Laura and sits up straight. He looks at her with tears flowing down his eyes. He smiles.
"How'd you know I don't like being comforted?"
"Hahah... I didn't. It just seemed like you needed to know it. The sooner you know it, the better."
"*sniff* Thanks, Laura."
"I'm your partner. I'm here if you need me." She said, gripping both his hands
"I promise you, Laura, I'll be a better sorcerer and partner." Dan said confidently
"So will I. If we're going to fight Shujin, we have to get stronger."
"Right."
Dan then wiped his tears dry and cleans his face. Laura stands up first and lends him a hand. He stood up and left with her.