Before anything else could be said Wester returned and called out to them. They went down where they saw Wester sitting, he looked up at the boys and liked the sight of them being together.
"I see you guys are getting along. Friends yet?" Wester asked.
"No" Ash answered instantly not giving the question a second to sink in as he was getting irritated by his father's words.
"Let's make this clear I find him suspicious and I'll be blunt about this, I don't like you" Ash said with a straight face as he faced Lynx who just stood there.
"Don't be like that Ash" said Wester trying to soothe his son's harsh words.
"I'm only speaking my mind. I'll go and get things ready for tomorrow" Ash said before walking to the door and closed it as he left.
"He'll come around" Wester said trying to cheer Lynx up, but Lynx didn't get what Wester was trying to do and he wasn't fazed by Ash's words either. "Well I have things to do. You can walk around if you want just don't get lost or into trouble" he added before leaving. Wester then walked to where Ash was getting things ready and entered, they worked in silence as they moved chairs, tables and did some cleaning.
"You know Ash" Wester started slowly as he broke the silence.
"No" Ash answered without letting his father finish.
"Just hear me out" Wester replied with a light laugh. "I don't think Lynx is a bad guy, I can tell" Ash just listened silently without interrupting his father.
"Tchh. Just say it" Ash said knowing his father had some sort of idea that was about to make his blood boil. Wester sighed in defeat knowing he couldn't hide anything from him before speaking.
"Well I would like for you to look after Lynx" Wester said slowly without facing his son.
"What! No! I have exams in a few weeks, I don't have time for babysitting. You too took him in you look after him" Ash voiced aloud in protest facing his father.
"I know but just, take care of him for me ok" Wester said with a soft gaze looking over to Ash as their eyes met. Ash looked away swiftly and started moving the chairs quickly. He didn't reply, but Wester knew he would do it.
"Oh and you can see if he's interested in the exams too" Wester said with a light laugh knowing that it would drive his son crazy, Ash remained silent and gritted his teeth as he felt the veins popping in his head. The only reason he would go along with the idea was because it was his father who asked, if it was someone else who had asked he would have declined without a second thought. They finished organizing the chairs and tables and went back home where they saw Lynx who was playing on the game. Something then came to Ash's mind and so he asked.
"What about his papers and the money, can you even afford it, we spent a lot to get me in"
"Don't worry about it" Wester said with a chuckle.
The skies darken bringing night and Ash was in his room, when he got home he explained the exam system to Lynx, but because Lynx was clueless he also had to explain the school system, the benefits of the school and so on. Wester was out and Lynx spent his time playing the simple game that he kept losing at. Wester was out on the roof that night overseeing the city when Lynx walked out from inside. Lynx sensed someone and looked up. He then effortlessly climbed the building and sat beside Wester who was looking over the town. Wester had longed sensed him from he stepped outside of the house and knew he was coming up to him, but he did nothing as if he didn't know. Lynx sat beside him and wondered how he reached the roof as there were no stairs or anything that led to the roof and climbing would be a hard task as there were hardly any good footing. Lynx sat beside him as they both looked over the town together in silence. There were flashing and dancing lights, the rhythmic sounds of people bustling about, small drones that were moving about luminated in the sky and the quiet sounds of transportation. The wind wasn't cold and had a comforting chill to it as it kissed their skin as it blew.
"So why did you come here?" Wester asked breaking the silence.
"I just saw you and decided to" Lynx answered simply. They both then went back to being silent until Wester spoke again.
"Did you plan on what you'll do?"
"Mhmm, I plan on trying the exams with Ash"
"Why so?"
"Well for one Ash said joining will open many opportunities and if you work hard you can change the world and a lot more and I like the idea, it's much better than my first one" Lynx spoke looking over the town with a plain voice and face.
"I see and what was your idea then?" Wester asked and Lynx paused for a moment before answering.
"Well I planned to just kill everyone and destroy everything. Just let it all rain down, bit by bit all by my hands, that's what I mostly want" Lynx answered slowly explaining unbothered by his words with a calm yet empty tone as he stared into the distance. He didn't know why but just talking to Wester didn't make him feel he needed to hide anything, maybe with all the crisis he went through he just needed someone to talk to.
Wester looked at Lynx slightly surprised by his words, Lynx kept looking in the distance as the wind gently blew and moved his hair, even though he felt Wester looking at him, he didn't meet his gaze. Wester then focused his gaze back to the city and chuckled to himself.
"I don't blame you kid, I support you. You know when I think about it the world below and the one above are of the same thing, like a mirror. When a girl looks at her reflection she sees the flaws that no one else does, but to others there's nothing. I would actually do the same thing, the world is a messed up place built on power and lies" Wester spoke as he lifted his head slowly to the sky, he too seemed like he had a lot to say, and just needed someone to talk to too.
"Then why didn't you" Lynx asked still not facing him.
"Well I dunno, maybe I was a coward but I think I was just lazy"
"Maybe"
"All I want is a world where we all get along like a family, a world of peace, truth and equality. If I can't have that then there's no need for the continuation of our kind, I'll make it right through Hell or Heaven" Lynx continued his voice getting low and slight hint of bitterness.
"I don't know what's right or wrong, but do what you want, that's what everyone else does anyway. That's what everyone does" Wester said in a low voice repeating the last sentence but more softly. They went silent for about a minute before Lynx spoke.
"Do you think if we are at the verge of extinction we would put our differences aside and join forces?" Lynx asked
"Most likely" Wester replied. They once again fell into silence, but then Lynx broke it once again.
"I just hate everything" Lynx said in a low voice with a hint of emotion.
"Me too" Wester muttered his eyes casting sadness that was unnoticed by Lynx.
They both sat remaining in silence as they had no need for words, soon Lynx left and Wester was left alone, the sky and the wind his now his company. Morning then raised and Wester was back to his cheerful self again. Lynx days went by one after the other as he stayed with Wester and Ash. Ash had no interest in Lynx what's so ever and had to put up with one of his father's demented mad ideas. His father's behavior was nothing new and he should be used to it, he was but it still drove him crazy. Ash always thought it was a miracle he was still sane, but then he remembered no insane person said they were insane because they thought they were sane. Ash could only sigh in defeat as he couldn't find closure for himself. He smiled getting an image of his father's bright gleeful goofy expression with his garnet coloured hair and his happy red coloured eyes. His appearance was similar to his father's and he was proud of it, but then he shook the thought away getting serious again and thought his father needed to grow up, but even despite that his heart couldn't help but smile.
Ash dedicated all his time helping his father or studying and now he was looking out for Lynx, it wasn't a thrilling task he enjoyed, but he was doing it because his father asked. He hated how he always fall victim and agree to his father's crazy ideas, he couldn't help but always say yes. Ash felt as if he was encouraging his father's craziness when he agreed without meaning to, probably he was crazy too. Ash couldn't help but sigh at the thought. Ash spent most of his time either studying, training or doing the most difficult task he had every gotten and that was teaching Lynx.
Lynx couldn't read nor could he tell time and he could hardly write, Ash could only curse inwardly, he had no faith in Lynx whatsoever. As he was looking down at Lynx who was copying some text that was given. Ash was trying to think of other methods to teach him and as he was in deep thought realization finally hit, he couldn't sense any energy from Lynx. The information had been nipping at his brain ever since they met, but because of the sudden situation at hand he kept fanning it away. Ash only stood there looking down at Lynx deep in thought, he knew that a few Coreless people existed but he had never met one and it was very rare and even so the one he met wanted to enter the exams, to Ash it just sounded like suicide. Lynx was clueless, coreless and illiterate in Ash's eyes, but he wouldn't let other people problems bother him as they were of no use to him. He already knew that Lynx would fail which enlightened him a bit, because if Lynx failed he wouldn't have to look after him anymore.