Un-Chain

While Uti slowed her cries and eventually stopped altogether, she still had red eyes that made Uteu feel incredibly guilty.

Uteu wanted nothing more than to get them out of this space.

The question was how?

All that they could see before them was the Zero Blood. Right at their heels, behind them was the dark red cloud of resentment formed from all of the men, women and children that Harkal had killed to drain them of their magic.

Uti continued to cry against his shoulder and he could do nothing more than pat her back to soothe her. Looking back at all of the times Uti used her magic, Uteu wondered if she was using her own happiness to counter the resentment. Her ability seemed to stem from light and her will from what he could tell.

He was honestly amazed by her but at the same time he worried for her. His littler sister shouldn't have to b.a.r.e such a heavy burden just to protect him.

Uteu was not a Psyche. He couldn't draw upon this Zero Blood or any of the magic it has stored like Uti and Harkal could.

Uteu gritted his teeth.

Think! What could he possibly do?

Delving into his mind he could feel that Grello and Harvet's chains were still safely tucked away deep within himself. Looking around he could see small black dots peppered around his mindscape, Uteu knew instantly that it was residue left behind by the resentment.

Uteu wondered though, was it possible that Harkal had no idea that the Zero Blood, combined with the resentment formed some type of reaction to one another? Together they could destroy connections. Did Harkal make this with such a thing on his mind?

Uteu doubted that Harkal planned for something that had no real benefit to himself. It didn't seem like he even realized he had brewed resentment in the first place.

Uteu suddenly had a crazy thought.

Like how the resentment could force it's will, it's thoughts upon him, could he reverse it? He was a Chained One wasn't he? He knew that he could form connections with others, permanent and temporary so... would it work?

The resentment, it had all belonged to people once. Although dead, wasn't a part of them still here?

Looking around his mind again he observed all of the residue once more. Looking at it from another angle, the small black spots looked almost like a chain.

It was crazy... but Uteu wondered if he could connect himself to the resentment. Perhaps, like Uti he could change its shape into something else, something more gentle.

First, he needed to form a connection to understand it. Hasn't the resentment been trying to force him this entire time to do just that?

It was twisted and painful, but it was without a doubt, a way to form a connection. He recalled how he had once tried to force a chain connection upon one of Grello's maids. It dawned on him that the splitting headaches were similar to each other.

Opening his eyes, he looked down at his anxious little sister.

"Uti..."

Uti glanced up from her place in his arms and titled her head in curiosity at Uteu.

"You don't have to be sad anymore. I'm going to take care of it. You don't need to use your ability alone anymore."

With his words, he held her close, tucking her head under his chin and keeping it there with his left hand. He shushed her when she tried to move away or say something. Uteu needed time to brace himself.

He knew that it was an insane idea. He also knew that he wouldn't just be putting himself at risk, but his little sister as well. Yet, once Uteu was struck with the idea, he couldn't help from believing it to be the right choice to make.

"Trust me." He whispered to Uti.

Uteu smiled when he felt her relax in his hold and nod.

Uteu took in another deep breath and kept his hand over Uti's head as if to shield her from what was coming next.

The red cloud of resentment swirled around them. It had caught up to them while they were stationary.

Uteu had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep himself from shaking. Any shivers and trembles now would be felt by Uti and he did not want to show her even a bit of his doubt and fear.

He reached out a hand, voluntarily touching the red mist. A black crystalized hand grabbed onto his own, making it look as if he were shaking hands with it.

As soon as he felt the invasion within his mind he didn't fight it. Rather, he guided it carefully, moving it discreetly in the way he wanted it to. Using this method he was not bombarded with lingering memories and thoughts.

The black dots formed rapidly inside of his mindscape. He let them sway back and forth in a downwards motion. Looking at the dots like this, they resembled snow.

Slowly, he moved the dots into place, trying to form a frame to contain them. A cold sweat broke out around his forehead. The resentment shook violently, rejecting him. They darted away, scattering about, trying to cause damage inside of his mind.

Uteu began to feel doubtful of his choice to let in so many pieces. Just then, a grey crystal star flashed inside of his own memories. He remembered the star that Uti had formed out of the black crystal hand around his hip. He remembered how it felt, cool to the touch and smooth. But most importantly was that it was free of all resentment.

Using Uti's star as reference, he waited for the dots to slow down, careful to intervene if it was too close to a vulnerable part of his mind, before moving them back together to form a compact star frame. It clicked, like it had slotted into place perfectly. Uteu could feel that it was the most appropriate shape for this particular chain.

He felt satisfaction while he looked upon the now lightly glowing frame. It was all thanks to his amazing little sister that he was able to find the correct shape.

She had been guiding him this entire time, unknowingly teaching him how to deal with resentment. Rejecting it fiercely was not the way, he needed to treat it gently.