Startled at my reaction, Minx pointed in a general direction to where the academy once was. I grasped Minx by the arm and began to run. As I more or less dragged Lady Minx in the direction of Minx, I began to sense him myself. It felt as though he had very suddenly and drastically changed since last we met.
As I reached the broken grounds of the academy, I saw Verex looking out to it. He had is back to me, but even still I could instantly tell who he was.
"Verex!" I yelled. He turned around very quickly and gave me a hard look causing me to stop running towards him. Minx's fingers squirmed in my hand, but I kept a relaxed but firm grip.
"And you are?" Verex asked.
"Verex, it's me Mat," I answered. "You know from the academy!....or rather...when it was still standing...."
"Mat," Verex rolled my name over in his mouth. "Oh you're the boy that constantly slept during my lectures here.........but...." he stopped and I could recognize that stern glare he gave. It was the same one he had given back at the academy when we had that argument about me sleeping. "You have nobody energy...."
I took a breath in knowing that this was not going to end well. Minx looked from me to Verex and then back to me.
"Verex...." she started.
Verex looked at her for a moment.
"Minx?" he asked.
"Yes it's me," Minx answered.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
So then they do have a relationship..... I thought to myself. But where has Verex actually been??
"I did it Verex," Minx answered. "I left Zero....I left Xerebus-sama and everyone...."
As I looked at Minx, I saw a mix of worry and sadness running accross her face. I bent down and grasped her shoulders.
"You're not alone," I said smiling at her. "So don't wear that frown. Smile."
Lady Minx's face relaxed in that moment and her eyes became a bit happier. As I stood and looked at Verex, the thought hit me.
"You're part of Zero," I said calmly.
Verex gave me a questioning look. Neither of us knew what the other was thinking and there were so many questions I had for Verex, but I couldn't ask them just yet.
"As perceptive as ever Mat. Yes, and I expect that since you know about Zero you were a part of the rival Oblivion? Correct?" Verex answered.
"Yes," I answered. "So then...."
We both gave each other a mild look.
"Are you still a part of Oblivion?" Verex asked.
Minx started shaking and I gave her a slight hug.
"No, to keep Lady Minx safe, I left Oblivion," I answered. "It's a long story. But what I want to know is....Verex how are you?"
Verex gave me an anticipating look.
"You've changed," he answered. "As Mat you were much more critical of gaining facts and using them to argue. It's strange to hear such curtious in you. I would almost say you were a different person...."
"I am a different person. My name is Tamex now, but if you want you can still call me Mat. And you've changed," I answered. "What happened to the laid back teacher of human strength and Nobody relations?"
I caught a glimpse of Verex eyeing Minx for a moment, but then it was done.
"Things have changed," Verex answered. "And by the looks of the Academy, I misssed a lot. Mind telling me what happened?"
I gave Verex a sideways glance.
"I destroyed it," I said plainly.
"Hm?" Verex asked back.
"Yes after I broke from Mat, I destroyed it."
Minx was once again shaking.
"Tamex!" she said quickly. "What are you talking about....."
"Lady Minx," I started. "This place used to be my home....or rather...Mat's home....as I already told you. And Verex came periodically into my class room and taught about experiments with human genetics and magic concentration. And.....one day when Mat and I split, I destroyed this place."
"Why?" Minx asked quietly.
"I can guess why," Verex said. He wasn't looking at me but out at the destruction of the academy that had never been rebuilt.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because when Mat became a Nobody, you, he instilled in you that apathy that he had so potent," Verex answered. "That apathy towards life and wanting to help others. He had such a brain....but was so apathetic to wanting to use it....what curse....he created you with that apathy..... Meaning that you were created to be selfish."
"Pretty much," I answered my arms moving to the back of my head constantly tying and untying the bandanna.
We both looked out into the destruction. Minx moved between me and Verex, and her gaze followed ours.
"And what happened to you?" I asked not looking at Verex. "After a few trips here, you stopped coming."
"I was busy," Verex answered.
"Liar," I commented.
"Perceptive," Verex answered.
"Did you ever make your dream?" I asked. "Ever create the 'perfect' mix of magic and matter? Or is it still in theory destined to be always?"
Verex didn't answer, but for the first time Minx's fingers tightened around mine. She was afraid.
"What's wrong m'lady?" I asked.
"Nothing....nothing...." Minx said at first startled and then more relaxed.
"Verex," I continued. "I have a question."
"You always had a question," Verex answered. "And it will always lead to an argument between us as it always did back at the academy."
"The argument of celestial matter was fun though you have to admit," I snickered.
"Ask your question," Verex said still not looking at me.
"Did you make Lady Minx?" I asked calmly.
A child erupted in the air. Minx shivered and looked at me.
"What are you saying Tamex...." she asked. "I was made by my other....I know that....."
"Why would you ask that?" Verex asked. He was trying to make it turn on me, but he was failing. I had the facts.
"Minx, your powers are quite rare," I started. "The ability to enter people's minds and break them like glass as well as a few other things I noticed...it is a rare ability. Minx as a whole did you ever have any of these sorts of powers?"
Minx remained silent, but I continued.
"And they all point to Verex's reaserch about human strength. Don't lie to me Verex, I have Mat's mind and the facts that go along with it. You were studing to re-categorize DNA and magical bonds to make the strongest human. And Minx's cells are far different from yours and mine. I have a feeling that you had to make a whole new type of cell in order to keep Minx's DNA in line. What do you say to this Verex?"
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Sorry I've been gone so long. Illness is a b**** Ya anways I'm back. (I think) or rather feeling better. Kira if you want to continue this, let me know because if not, I will. Laterz
Jet
