So this is what papa was talking about…"
"…"
… [2 YEARS AGO] …
… "Pandora" …
On an early morning outside the Oasis Southern exit.
Mark and Lucy traverse the ever hot outer-land sands in dark robes.
"So what you're saying is…"
Lucy begins
"There's a limit to how much (souls) I can use??"
A 10-year old Lucy asks skipping from rock to rock
"Indeed there is."
Mark responds stroking a full beard he rocked 2 years ago!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"You see Lucy..."
Mark begins.
"(souls) is the balance of your soul and physical energy--"
He begins.
"Yeah... yeah… and 'using it in my daily life is called projecting'."
Lucy says cutting him off subconsciously
More focussed on sticking the landing to the next rock!
"Ahh…"
"Well yes."
Mark responds awkwardly
"Well I know that..."
She says prepping for the jump
"So just tell me about the limit thing already!"
She shouts jumping!!!
"…"
-silence-
"…"
(sticks landing!!!) "Hehe."
Lucy smirks smugly to herself. [ (._.)/ (10! 10! 10!). ]
"…"
"Right."
Mark says face palming
"W-well…"
"In most cases the average human only uses their physical energy."
He says trying to regain his composure
"You know muscles and the like…"
He adds
"However, their come times when soul energy is added secretly to aid human exertions."
He says more composed.
"Can you tell me when?"
He asks.
"eh…"
Lucy exclaims caught off guard
"aaaah…"
"Big boss fight??"
She says laughing awkwardly.
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"No."
Mark says unimpressed
"Oh…"
"Hehe-he…"
"Take for instance you're trapped Is under a huge boulder that will crush you in a matter of seconds…"
Mark begins
"How would you escape?"
He asks
"I'd smash it with (souls)."
Lucy responds blankly
"For this exercise let's say you have yet to learn of (souls)."
"Now what?"
Mark asks
"Hmmm…"
"Nothing I guess…"
"Am dead."
Lucy responds
"Now let's says there a small enough to your right that lets you escape."
"Now what?"
Mark asks
"Isn't that obvious?"
Lucy says
"I'm taking it."
She says
"Even if it means leaving Xavier behind to be crushed?"
Mark says
"Eh!"
"Where did Xavi…"
Lucy exclaims caught off-guard
"So what do you do now?"
Mark ask
"W-well then I'd do my best I can to make sure we both get out of there."
Lucy says hiding the flush on her cheeks
"And if your best isn't enough?"
Mark asks
"It will be."
Lucy responds seriously…
"…"
"Well let's say it isn't."
Mark says stopping to watch her expression
"Ah--"
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"It is in these moments that the body deems it important to add soul energy."
Mark says continuing forward.
"Ofcourse nowhere near the amount we use when we consciously tap into (souls)."
He says
"But sufficient enough to escape the situation."
Mark says.
"If the fear is sufficient enough…"
He says
"Or will to live high enough…"
He says
"Bits of the soul's energy are released to aid the bodies cause."
Mark says to an attentive Lucy as they walk
"…"
"And so…"
Mark begins
"The ability to call upon the soul's energy consciously…"
He says
"And incorporate it with our physical energy to aid our cause."
He says
"Is what we call (souls)..."
Mark says
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Now."
He begins once more
"Can you tell me why the average person isn't just born with the innate ability to call upon soul energy"
He asks.
"Huh?!?"
Lucy exclaims caught off-guard
"What's with all the questions…"
She thinks
"Ah well…"
Lucy says sheepishly
"B-Because the 'all-knowing' wished it that way?"
"He-Hehe…"
She says awkwardly
"…"
-silence-
"…"
(sighs) "No."
Mark says
"Ack!"
Lucy exclaims trying to make herself smaller
"It is because soul energy is exactly that."
"'Soul' energy."
Mark says tone a little more serious.
"It is the energy that gives you life."
He says
"Your life span."
He says to an attentive Lucy.
"It is not meant to be used for the benign."
He says
"So what do you think would happen should one use 100% of their soul energy."
He asks
"They'd…."
"They'd die…"
Lucy responds attentive
"…"
"Precisely."
Mark says before giving her a light smile
"…"
"At a 100% you're essentially using up all your life span."
He says
"So having a limit to how much you use."
"A cap if you will."
He says
"Is of vital importance."
He says
"As such we have what we call a perfect harmony."
Mark says
"That is…"
"To use a maximum of 50% of your soul energy."
He says
"Doing so ensures you prevent doing irreparable damage to your soul while still maintaining the god-like perks that come with using its energy."
Mark says.
"…"
-silence-
"…."
"Hmm."
Lucy exclaims in thought
"But pa--"'
"…"
She pauses her cheeks flushing a light red
"M-Mark…"
She says to Mark who nods
"Wouldn't using 50 only leave you with 50 too?"
She asks.
"…"
"Well you'd think that wouldn't you?"
Mark responds stroking his beard.
"However that doesn't seem to be the case."
He says
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Soul energy…"
Mark says
"Well it goes without saying is but it's beyond our understanding…"
He says
"And over the years the only thing that's clear is that for some reason using anything less than 50% doesn't permanently reduce one's life span at all.
"…"
"Almost like until 50% is what's acceptable for us."
He says stroking his goatee curiously
"…"
-silence
"…"
"Anyway."
He continues
"Using beyond 50 is overtime."
"It eats away at your life span 'permanently'."
He says
"So never must you exceed it."
Mark says taking his glasses off for a quick wipe.
"Beyond 50 and you're actively trading your life span for power.''
He says
"Power that…"
"Like it or not would probably rival God himself..."
He says wearing his glasses
"No one person should be privy to that much power."
Mark thinks deeply as Lucy watches him with a worried expression on her face
"Ahaha…"
Mark laughs softly when he notices her worried expression.
"It is quite the intriguing topic, is it not?"
He says patting her head.
"So little one…"
"No matter what you do never go beyond 50%."
He says
"Always maintain harmony."
He says
"…"
"Well I say that but I'm not even sure if it's possible to go beyond 45."
Mark says smiling
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"Mark."
Lucy begins
"what's the highest projection you seen?"
She asks
"…"
"The highest projection ehy…"
Mark echoes her, trying to remember .
"Hmmm…"
"…"
-silence-
"…"
"There was this one boy…"
Mark says
"Probably furthest I've seen if memory saves me right."
He says smiling
"Who was it?"
Lucy asks
"…"
"Is it you Mark?"
She asks vibrantly
"Ahahahah…."
"No."
Mark responds laughing
"It was a boy who was in my care on one of my travels."
He says
"Projected just over 43%"
"…"
"Mighty impressive wouldn't you say so too."
He says smiling to Lucy who nods in agreement.
"43 huh…"
Lucy thinks
"Truly was a marvel to behold."
Mark says stroking his beard.
"Where is this boy now???"
Lucy asks.
"Hmmm…"
"I'm not quite sure in to be honest."
Mark responds
"He was quite the driven individual…"
"So it's hard to say for sure…"
He says
"One thing's for certain though."
Mark says
"Wherever he is he is probably still fighting just as hard to accomplish his 'goal' as before."
He says smiling to Lucy.
"Ah.."
Mark exclaims….
(".....")
"Though now that I think about it there is another."
Mark says tone more serious
"However it was just a rumor at the time."
"So I can't quite say I believe it."
He says
"Would you still like to hear it?"
Mark asks Lucy who nods
"Right well it was about a child…"
He says remembering
"A child in the North…"
"49% they said."
Mark says stroking his moustache in thought
"4-49?!!?!"
Lucy thinks
"R-really?!?!"
Lucy asks shocked.
"Indeed."
Mark responds
"The now supposed 'Black Blade of House Siyah'…"
He says as Lucy watches on attentively
"However..."
"Given the 'nature' of the Blades…"
"I'm more inclined to believe it was merely propaganda."
He says
"Ri-right…"
Lucy responds hint of relief in her tone.
"Anyway…"
"Just stay under the limit and stick to your training and who knows maybe you can achieve these great heights too…"
"You're certainly my most talented pupil so far."
Mark says smiling warmly and patting the head of a flushed Lucy
"…"
-THE PRESENT-
("The most talented huh…")
Lucy thinks to herself opening her eyes slow.
("...…")
Her vision is blurred.
("That doesn't sound too difficult…")
She smiles softly
("Heh.")
She scoffs
("Who am I kidding…")
She thinks
("I can't even maintain my harmony while protecting the people I love.")
She thinks
("...…..")
Her eyes wonder to Xavier who seems to be shouting something.
("Oh well, it doesn't matter.")
She thinks smiling
("Sorry papa…")
She thinks
("But I'll be heading off first.")
She thinks
"Lu-Lucy?"
Xavier's eyes meet Lucy's and a myriad of thoughts rush him.
("It is my duty after all.")
She thinks giving sorrow filled smile
("Sorry.")
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Barry's gun goes off!!!
Its sound carried by the wind echoing the Oasis!!!
"…."
"…."
-To Be Continued-
-2 HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT-