My voice rang through the large expanse above me as I spoke, "Running around a place with stone walls when its pitch black is a very bad idea." I stared up.
I know what you're thinking. "What is he doing staring at the ceiling?" I was lying down. Now you're wondering, "Why was that idiot lying down while there's a guy in a mirror?" I'm sure there are a select few out there that are thinking, "He ran into the wall again. What an idiot." Those people would be correct. I ran into the wall again. Feel my pain.
"Catalyst!" I heard Mink shouting in his small, high-pitched voice, "Sebastian!" My name sounded so odd when he said it.
"What, Mink?" I tried to yell, but it didn't really qualify as a yell because it wasn't very loud.
"Are you alright, Catalyst?" Mink asked while he looked for me. I didn't feel like aiding him in his search because that would involve moving.
I simply replied, "No."
"Did you run into the wall?"
....
Ok, that was just a little pathetic.
"You did, didn't you?"
"That really isn't any of your business now, is it?" I asked as I opted to stand up and groaned. He was instantly in front of me, glowing a vibrant blue.
He giggled, "Tink and Riki talking to Daerin back in the Chamber of Daiven. We should head back there."
"Daerin?" I asked, rubbing my head on two sides, the front that hit the wall and the back that hit the floor.
Mink blinked, "The mirror being."
"Oh, yeah. Him," I swallowed, "Freaky mirror man. I remember him now. I also remember running away from him like a bimbo in a cheesy slasher flick. Why do I need to go back there exactly?"
Mink giggled, "You're funny."
I am *so* glad I amuse you," I said, glaring at him. Glaring solves everything.
"Come," he squeaked, "They are awaiting our return."
I followed him, or the glowing light ahead of me that I assumed was him. It was too dark to see anything else. I missed the freaky glowing water. We quickly got back to the Chamber of Daiven where Tink and Riki where hovering in front of the mirror, Riki's arm around her waist.
"Are you alright, Catalyst?" asked Tink, "You didn't run into the wall again, did you?"
....
I hate my life.
Mink giggled and sat down on my head. He began playing with my hair and seemed to enjoy himself.
"So you're Mo'kurei's Catalyst," a voice said. It was a calm, smooth baritone that had a relaxing affect on me. It sounded slightly amused and made my knees a little weak. I shook my head to rid myself of those thoughts and walked over to the mirror, swallowing my nerved that quivered in fear and anticipation. He frowned when he spoke again, "Are you sure *he's* the Catalyst? He's a little... you know."
"I'm a little what?" I growled, glaring at him. Of course I was that Catalyst! If they said that I'm the Catalyst, I'm the fucking Catalyst!
"It's nothing," the mirror guy said. I glared harder, my nostrils flaring out. At this point I failed to realize that there was a white mist swirling around my feet and growing larger. It quickly gained speed and began growing up to my knees. The sprites were giving each other worried glances.
"A little WHAT?!" I demanded.
Daerin licked his lips and shrugged, "You just look a little... I don't know... feminine."
My anger broke and became distress. I crossed my arms over my just and looked down at my feet, my lower lip sticking out slightly, "Oh sure, pick on a guy's biggest insecurity, why don't you?"
"I, uh, I'm sorry," said Daerin. I didn't care about his apology. It's not like it mattered or anything. I decided to just shake it off and ask him a question that had been bothering me.
"Who's Mo'kurei?" I asked as I looked up at him.
He looked surprised, "You mean you don't know?"
I frowned, "Should I?"
"Yes. Mo'kurei is the Goddess in control of the Realm of Hades, also known as the Realm of the Banished. She has a strong hatred for Iehova and has vowed destroy his children, the humans, using a catalyst she infiltrated into the Realm because she herself is not allowed into the Realm of Iehova unless summoned."
Too much new information to compute. Brain overload. Commence emergency shut down.
"Sebastian," Mink said, sounding very nervous, "You need to breathe."
"Says the guy who *isn't* supposed to destroy his race," I muttered. I sat down on the cold stone ground and buried my face in my hands, rubbing my eyes with the palms of my hands. I always knew I was different from everyone else, but I thought I was just smarter than them and realized how truly pathetic and dismal a human existence was. Am I even human at all?
"Is there any way I can stop this?" I asked softly, looking up slowly, "Or is this one of those inevitable things?"
Daerin smirked slightly, "You can stop it."
I bolted up to my feet, "How? I want this over with and out of my mind now."
"Well," Daerin said in a manner that made me very uncomfortable, "Everything comes with a price, you know. Especially key information such as this."
To Be Continued...