The Deceitful One

Bryan stood at the top of the Damascus Clock Tower—well, almost at the top—as his hands tightly gripped the railings of the platform he was standing on. His eyes shone brightly as he surveyed the vast landscape of the city.

"Amazing!" He marveled from the bottom of his heart. The narrow cobbled streets along with the beautifully built houses and buildings took his breath away.

The sun hadn't risen yet but the night view of the city speckled with bright dots of lights that shone from the various street lampposts had a different charm to it.

Bryan stared at the beautiful scenery for a few minutes in a daze. He then shook his head and sighed, "It would be nice to share this beautiful view with someone."

He smiled bitterly for a moment but then all of a sudden his eyes lit up. He activated the rune mark on his forearm and mentally transmitted a message, 'Benny, can you come to my location?'

He then patiently waited for a reply as he knew that it would take a few minutes. And within the five-minute mark was up, the space in front of Bryan tore open.

This time, Bryan tried to pay close attention to the place behind the tear and tried to figure out where this sense of familiarity came from.

However, before he could do that, the crack in the space returned to normal and Benny had already pounced into his arms.

He looked up at Bryan with a sense of urgency and spoke mentally, 'Bryan, hurry! Eat this quick!'

Benny brought forth his tail and got it closer to Bryan's face. The latter could see that Benny's tail had curled around a stalk of strange flower that looked similar to a tulip.

The stalk was purple in color and the petals of the flower were snow white. Upon closer inspection, Bryan found out that the flower petals were slowly dissipating into smoke.

He looked at Benny and inquired, "Benny, what's this thing?"

However, Benny's tone became even more urgent, 'There's no time to waste! Bryan, eat it now or the effects of the flower will vanish!'

Bryan solemnly nodded his head and grabbed the flower from Benny's tail. Without hesitation, he put the entire flower—stalk included—into his mouth and began to chew on it.

He trusted Benny with his life. After all, he had raised the little bugger since he had hatched from his egg. The bond they shared wasn't something that was formed by blood, but by something much more substantial: choice!

Hence, Bryan did as Benny told, without a shred of doubt or suspicion in his heart.

As Bryan chewed on the flower, his eyebrows furrowed. Because the flower didn't have any taste whatsoever! And he felt as if he was chewing on a piece of cloud. There was no bite resistance at all.

He dubiously looked at Benny who was looking back at him with bright and hopeful eyes and asked, "Benny, what the hell is th-"

But before he could finish his words, his eyes widened in shock! Because the flower inside his mouth had now completely dissipated into a purple-colored gas.

But instead of traveling down his food pipe and into his stomach, it directly went to his head. More precisely, his mind where the mind runes were floating!

As the purple gas invaded his mind, Bryan felt a soothing and cool sensation as his thoughts became clearer!

Benny's eyes shone even brighter as he began to jump in Bryan's arms, 'Hurry and cultivate your meditation technique!'

Bryan nodded his head and then sat down in a lotus position on the platform. He gently lifted Benny and placed him beside him.

He then closed his eyes and began to cultivate the Medici Apprentice meditation technique.

As soon as he began to meditate, he realized that the purple gas that had entered his mind was now beginning to envelop the 52 mind runes that he had already carved.

However, Bryan didn't panic. Because he didn't feel any sense of danger from the purple gas. If anything, his intuition told him that this was very beneficial for him!

About ten minutes later, as Bryan continued to meditate, he realized that the purple gas was thoroughly washing his mind runes.

After more careful observation, he found out, much to his astonishment, that the purple gas was actually washing away the impurities in his mind runes and subsequently purifying his spiritual force!

Elated, Bryan continued to meditate as the purple gas purified his spiritual force slowly. Benny who sensed this transformation within Bryan's mind began to excitedly run around Bryan as he thought inwardly, 'It works! It works! Uncle Octopus didn't lie to me!'

Another ten minutes later, Bryan opened his eyes which were brighter than ever before. He then carefully scrutinized his mind runes and realized that the purple gas had now completely dissipated after having washed the impurities in his 52 mind runes.

He also realized that his spiritual force had slightly reduced, however, it was now more than twenty times purer than before!

Bryan turned to look at Benny and smiled brightly, "Benny, where did you get that flower from!?"

Benny gracefully walked on all fours and stopped in front of Bryan. He then proudly raised his chin and replied smugly, 'My home, of course!'

The corner of Bryan's lips couldn't help but twitch. He grabbed Benny by his armpits and began to knuckle his forehead, "You little brat! You're playing the profound game with me again?"

Benny began to giggle incessantly and then replied, 'Don't worry, Bryan. You'll know all about it very soon!'

Bryan stopped what he was doing as he sighed defeatedly. No matter how many times he asked Benny about his home, he would always receive the same vague answer.

Benny stood on his hind legs and leaned his front paws against Bryan's chest. He then looked at Bryan with bright eyes and asked, 'Did you like my present?'

Bryan tilted his head and asked back, "Present, you mean that flower?"

Benny nodded his head as he smiled, 'Yes! That was my present to you. Happy birthday, Bryan!'

Bryan's eyes softened as he smiled warmly, "So you remember, huh? Little brat!"

Benny hugged Bryan's neck as he began to nuzzle against his face, 'You're my family! Of course, I remember your birthday!'

Bryan hugged Benny back as he kissed him on the forehead, "Thank you, Benny. It means a lot to me."