Chapter 95: Talon, The Game Master


    Fire filled me, and I rocketed into the air. I needed to burn off some energy, and the cksmith wagon should have something for me to do, but I used Kara''s magic to make a hood like Cable''s, and then I cut loose. I put serious power into my fire and picked up speed as I rose to the air and headed south.


    I didn''t really have a n, but I really hadn''t taken much of a look around, and maybe a quick sprint to the sea and back would be a good way to lynch some of this freakin energy. I burst out of the clouds and soared over the billowing fluffy clouds that towered high into the sky, and then I aimed myself south and pushed my speed to the limit; within minutes, I could see the endless sparkling blue sea.


    I changed my path and angled down to the uing water; I didn''t want to go further than this, but I did want to check out the beach. I dropped down, and a cloud of sand shot up and made it hard to see for a few seconds, but my view cleared fast, and the endless open sea stood before me. I sat down, crossed my legs, and put my hands behind me, leaving me propped at a rxed ny-degree angle.


    This was nice. It truly had been longer than I could remember that I had any time to me. Yes, Gripton was here with me, but he has been so quiettely, I almost forget he is here sometimes.


    <em>''Yes, about that, since you are alone now, I think that this is the best time to talk about this.'' -Gripton.</em>


    <em>''Hmm? What''s up, old man?''</em>


    <em>''You no longer need me here with you; I think it is time for us to say our goodbyes.'' -Gripton.</em>


    <em>''What?! You said you were stuck here with me! What the hell old man! I came here to rx! What the fuck?!''</em>


    <em>''I know, and that is another reason I have to go. I could have left at any time, but I have stayed with you this entire time because I was worried about what you might do. I can''t stay around and lie to you anymore, Hyde. The Game Master is officially here, and if I stay here, he will not have any limitations.'' -Gripton.</em>


    I stood up and started to walk up the endless beach, my head awash with my thoughts on what the God in my head had just told me. Leaving, gone...I wasn''t sentimental, but Grip had guided me from the start, even if he had to use force to do it. A part of me understood the rest of what he said, but the big part of me said that I was losing the best friend I had ever had, no...Grip wasn''t just a friend


    <em>''Do you have to go? I don''t know if I''m''</em>


    <em>''Come on, Hyde! You can bullshit your friends and I''ll bullshit mine, but let''s not bullshit each other. Hyde, you have arge number of people that rely on you and each of them will help you achieve your goals. I have been getting Nina ready to take over and she knows all the functions of your mind and the things I have cataloged.'' -Gripton.</em>


    <em></em>


    <em>''So...that''s it? You will disappear, and I''ll never see you again?''</em>


    <em>''Win Hyde. Fucking kicking Talon''s ass up over his shoulder; that is the Game Masters name. Do not challenge him unless you are the dominant ruler over thisnd; anything less will spell your disaster. When I go, he will be limited to a single magic, but he will have free choice, but he can not use your magic.'' -Gripton.</em>


    <em>''Why don''t I just go kill him alone? I am strong now, Can''t I beat him?''</em>


    <em>''NO! Do not try to provoke him! Now that I am leaving, he will no longer be able to track your movements. While I am with you, I not only put you in danger now, but I put your family in danger.'' -Gripton.</em>


    That froze me stiff in my tracks; what?


    <em>''Are you telling me he knows where my family is right now?''</em>


    <em>''Yes, and this is why I need to leave.'' -Gripton.</em>


    My hood was already up, and I was already in the air.


    <em>''HYDE! Talon will not attack yet, and even if he did want to he is too far. Calm down, I won''t put your family at risk, but you also need to be more thoughtful and pay more attention to things going around you. Let the women help you; they are the back of your kingdom. I have to do this to protect you and them, Hyde; I don''t want to leave you here alone, but I think you have a grip on things now. You understand why I picked you, right?'' -Gripton.</em>


    <em>''You picked me?''</em>


    <em>''Really? Nine billion people, and probably about a hundred and fifty thousand die every day, but you were just picked randomly?'' -Gripton.</em>


    I had no answer, it made sense, but why out of all the fucking people in the world I picked? Who the fuck was I? There had to have been a hundred and forty-nine thousand, ny hundred and ny-nine better choices than me. I was just some piece of shit that had a life full of disappointments and let downs. I was back now, above the wagons, but about two or three miles above them, but I just hung in the air.


    <em>''I watched your life, Hyde, you weren''t always like this. There was a time when you were a lot different, but then your mother died, and your father cut himself off from the world. I have watched you slowly slide and change into the rough person you are today, but you were different before the world took the light away. I know it has been hard, but Hyde, you''re the toughest son of a bitch I have ever seen. You did want to die when I brought you here, and I know why you were ready to give up, but it''s not like that anymore, is it?'' -Gripton.</em>


    My eyes were starting to cloud up, but I didn''t wipe the tears, I let them pour down my face as my mind was invaded by the memory of the day it all changed for me.