Chapter 30: Trust and Bonds II
Carl sat in silence for awhile, he knew his friend all too well to know there were no jokes or lies in whatever he said.
He couldn't imagine what would weigh Sam so much that he would fear the aftermath of his breaking.
Carl eyed his friend and took a breath to calm himself, he knew all too well that both if them being agitated wouldn't help either.
"What's weighing you Sam, if your comfortable sharing I'm all ears." He grasped his shoulder and held his gaze, a gaze that spoke volumes of what the other felt.
"Telling you would take too long, I'd rather show you instead." With that Sam tapped Carl's forehead faster than the latter could perceive, Carl's eyes rolled over leaving only the white of his eyes.
Carl felt like he was watching an immersive movie where he could feel everything the main character failed with the added option of being able to emphasize and sympathize with them.
He watched himself struggle after high school much like he was currently doing in real life.
He saw his fathers struggles as he tried to raise all three of them to be decent human beings while dealing with his own broken heart.
He saw his siblings struggle in their own way to lessen the burden of their old man while also striving for a potential future where they would be wealthier.
He saw himself take a bad turn in life after reaching his limits, he saw himself fall into the dark side of society one that strained his relationship with his old man.
He saw himself struggle, being abused, cheated, betrayed, robbed and ridiculed. He saw himself in and out of gangs, syndicates, cartels, mafias and mobs.
He saw himself as he committed his first crime, a burglary. His second crime which was assault and his third which was murder.
He saw himself at his worst and his struggles as he sought asylum on drugs and alcohol.
He saw his friends trying to desperately save him from himself slowly pulling him out of the pit he had plunged himself into.
He cried when he learnt of his fathers death which was the consequence of his actions, a retaliation from his former employers and mates.
He saw himself full of murderous rage as he was ready to drown the world in blood but was stopped by his best friend and brother who time and time again helped him to stay on a right path.
He saw himself as he struggled to make amends with his siblings siblings who he then shared a complex bond with a mix of love, hate, shame and blame.
He saw his first experiences as he entered the world of Vestia and survived his first bubble, how he completed his first quest, obtained his class, joined his first party and made the foundations of his guild.
He saw the full spectrum spectrum of his life and was left speechless for he knew some actions he would gladly take again but some he knew he wouldn't unless forced to.
He finally felt the weight on his shoulders, a weight heavier than his responsibility as a son, brother and friend.
The weight of Forbidden knowledge, knowledge a mortal wasn't supposed to know but chanced upon it. He could now understand his friends sentiment intimately.
He saw his life within the gane down until his very death, he had seen the deaths of all his comrades and brothers.
'So this is how you felt, I understand. But it's okay now, your no longer alone. I will help you for as long as I live, in the same way you helped me for as long as you lived.' He vowed inwardly as he let his thoughts wander and his heart beat slow.
He took a breath and opened his eyes, he first saw his room which suddenly felt nostalgic.
He then looked at his friend who's eyes never wandered or wavered, he could now see it the subtle fear that was in that gaze how had he missed something so obvious?
"I understand, thank you for showing me Sam." The smiled a complicated smile.
There was alot he wanted to ask but he chose not to, he knew all to well how big of leap his friend had taken and so he chose to do the same afterall some secrets were better off not know.
Sam smiled back as he breathed out a sigh.
"Now we need a plan, I've already managed to acquire close to four million dollars. I've also gotten a job offer from Mr Rogers, but it'll be hard to manage our financial gains along with out gaming progress." He summarized briefly what he had been up to.
"Mr Rogers? The Inhuman who's nearing peak levels? Do you have a death wish? No clearly you wouldn't just jumo into it like that so...your at the inhuman level. No knowing you you'd probably only interact with someone who you knew you vould handle if something deviates from what you had in mind." Carl underwent stunning changes in expressions from concern to shock to a mischievous toothy grin.
"You have a way to quickly become Inhuman don't you?" He asked despite already knowing the answer.
Sam nodded in confirmation, it wasn't worth hiding anyway after all they were kin.
"Fine then I've decided, I'll handle all external matters of the game while you'll handle the internals. Until we have a rock solid foundation I won't be touching the game so he sure to save me a good class and items." Carl decided after briefly weighing his options.
"For the financial issue I had some ideas. I was initially planning to use your gambling library of memories to place winning bets and lotteries that would quickly inflate our pockets.
Once we reached lets say half a billion give or take we'll enter the entanglement industry. In about a year or two the Entertainment industry would grow due to the influence of Vestia, with us already having shares their we would be earning passively even before it balloons as investors." Sam explained.
"Hmmm, that's pretty good really. Plus I have a list of the names of movies that made it big, investing in them would surely be a good way to make quick money." Carl smiled after assessing Sam's plan.
"Alright we both have our own things to do, but firstly I'll have to make you at least a peak inhuman. I'll impart you with a cultivation technique that'll suite you along with a suitable support technique." Sam planned with a hopeful glint in his eye one that Cark saw and simply smiled at silently.