Chapter 17: THE GUNSLINGER [PART SIXTEEN]

The day passes slowly, an evening marred by the slowly fading light of the five suns streaming through the far window. Unmoving the form of the Gunslinger continues to sit in quiet enumeration, meditation passing time eternal.

Communication fizzles as Daniel’s runs between homes and establishments slowly crawl to a conclusion, light weaponry and heavy messages delivered without fail. 

“Go home Daniel.” Old Joe insists as he watches the doctor-in-training finish his meal. “Tomorrow’s going to be a hard day.”

“That it is.” Daniel replies as he sets his spoon down, pointing to the corner of the room. “With the Vigil with us I’m going to have to drain a lot of bodies.”

“Your faith is placed in a strange place Dan.” Old Joe sighs. 

“I still believe in heroes.” Daniel quietly admits as he glances over at the still form of the Gunslinger. In slow breaths the young man sits unmoving across the bar, eyes shut as a mind wanders.

Old Joe shakes his head. “Well you read too much news. All that stuff’s exaggerated anyway.”

“Maybe it is.” Daniel smiles. “But still choose to believe.”

Taking the plate from the counter the Old Man shakes his head. “Well believe it or not that’s on you. Go home Dan, I don’t want Anita worrying about you any more than she already is.”

“Ah Ma won’t care anyway.”

 Old Joe chuckles at the young man’s answer. “You know she cares a lot about you? Don’t dismiss her that easily.”

“Are you kidding we got into a huge fight last night about this whole thing with Alto. I’m pretty sure she’s sick of me being here.”

The Old Man closes his eyes, laughing. “She went to March with David when you were born and when she got back she would not shut up about you. Practically the entire town got sick of listening to how cute you were and how much you looked like your mom.”

It takes a moment for the young man to process the information, embarrassment as he tries to hide his face. “That’s…”

“She even brought a photograph and basically showed everyone she treated. Swear nobody wanted to get sick or injured for a good two months.” Old Joe continues with a smile. “She loves you in that weird way of hers; all parents, and grandparents, love their children.”

“You haven’t seen some parents in March then.” Daniel replies bleakly.

“Good parents.” Old Joe corrects as he folds a cleaning towel into his apron. A careful smile on his face, the man waves towards him “Now get out of my bar Daniel and rest up.”

“Alright alright you don’t have to kick me out.” The young man stands from his seat as he laughs, turning to glance over at the Gunslinger at the corner of the room. “Alto.”

“Yes?” The reply comes instantly.

“I believe.” Daniel speaks with faith, smiling. “You can do this easily.”

“I don’t know if I can.” Alto answers truthfully.

“But you still try. No normal person would willingly go against a Collective Mage for some small town strangers. If that’s not proof that you can take her down I don’t know what is.”

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Alto stares off into the darkness of a far corner, processing the words. “Thank you.”

Daniel scoffs at the response, yawning as he stretches tired muscles. “Well depending on how bad it gets I’m probably going to be busy tomorrow cleaning up your mess. So if I can have one request it's to try to keep it clean.”

“What do you mean?” Alto tilts his head curiously.

“Well according to the papers every time you meet a bandit gang it’s always a slaughter. Gods I remember Federated Daily headlining an entire story where you piled…”

“I-I think that’s a case of mistaken identity.” The human interrupts as he hides an expression. “Taking a life from this world is… it’s not to be done easily.”

Daniel stares at the Gunslinger, glance reaching down to the weapon at his side. “That’s a fragment of the God Gun right? I don’t know what sect of the Five you believe in, but I was raised as a Cataclysmus so… ”

“Oh dear.” The Gunslinger smiles at the named religious branch. “That’s an interesting sect from my experience.”

“Right.” Daniel nods with pride. “I don’t know if you’re one of the Five, but I mean to take a life with that gun it’s… it's not wrong. All it is is just one step closer to salvation right?”

“It doesn’t feel like that.” Alto answers quietly.

The Doctor-in-Training stands, a smile upon his face as he ignores the words. “Well, in any case you have a goodnight!”

Eyes watch him leave, a silence falling onto the world as Alto just stares into the universe.

A mind of faith reaching forth, a prayer to dead gods spoken in souls.

One answer given to him, whispered upon the wind of the great deserts and wastelands.

The Gunslinger stands from his meditative position, a path ending right at the bar in front of the bartender.

“Hello Alto.” Old Joe begins, a small smile upon his face. “You want some dinner now?”

“N-no. I’m fine.” The Gunslinger answers with a strange tragedy, a single weapon placed upon the bar.

The divine shape of the revolver cements its place, gods watching it as he speaks the next words. “Take care of this will you?”

The bartender stammers at the words, Alto clarifying the statement. “I’ll be back. I just need to clear my mind for a bit.”

“B-but without your…”

A dismissive glance silences him, Old Joe watching as the mortal being takes the step beyond the doors and into the world.

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