The Last Quincy Chapter 18

Arrancar Outpost 1. Hueco Mundo. 4,027 A.D. Fifty years after Cataclysm.

Czer lied in his bed looking out the window of his room. From it he could see the clear, starless night sky and the crescent moon that hung in the sky. He found it weird how it was almost impossible to know whether there was a night or day in Hueco Mundo. The skies in the World of the Living were always cloudy and you could tell it was day from the little light that came from behind them. The sight of the emptiness above was alien to him. “Can’t get any sleep?” a voice said. Czer turned to see the Guardian standing by the doorway of his room. “Master Ranma,” he said surprisingly. “I’m sorry. I know I should be tired after everything I did today but-”

“There’s no need to apologize Czer,” Ranma said as he entered the room. “It’s only natural for someone not being able to sleep when they have been thrown into a situation they are unfamiliar with.” He stopped at the edge of Czer’s bed and sat down. “Although, you being awake gives us a chance to talk about your day. What did you learn from Aldarius?”

“He taught me about you,” Czer said. “He said that it was important to know who you were before he could continue teaching me. He told me about your life, how you became a Vizard, how you became the Guardian, and the people you fought in to become who you are.” The young Quincy was silent for a moment. “You fought against Juha Bach.”

Ranma sighed at Czer’s words. “That was three thousand years ago,” he said. “It was sheer dumb luck that I was able to defeat him. He didn’t die, but it stalled his plans for another millennia.”

“To face someone so strong you must be fearless,” Czer said pulling the covers of his bed closer to his neck. “I’m tired of being afraid.”

“Who said that I’m not afraid?” Ranma asked. “When I fought against the Quincy King, aside from the anger I used to power my Zanpakuto, I was scared at every moment. I had taken a chance seeing if putting pieces of my Hollow mask in his body would weaken him. If my theory of Hollow spirit energy being poisonous to Quincys was wrong he would most certainly have killed me.” Ranma stood up and walked to the center of the room. “I learned long ago that you can’t get rid of things like fear, pain, anger, and sorrow,” he said remembering the trials in the Cave of Memories. “You can’t fight them, you can’t run from them, but if you embrace these while continuing to be who you are it will make you stronger. In other words, the next time you face an opponent, you’ll have the courage necessary to endure your fear and any other emotion that would try to hamper you.”

Czer took a moment to comprehend what Ranma had said. “I’ve never done something like that before,” he said.

“Of course you have,” Ranma said. “When you were in Takiyama you were able to endure your fear and save your friend and three others.” He started to walk out of the room stopping at the doorway. “Whatever happens from now on Czer Basilus, you must stand firm and face your destiny with the courage necessary to overcome all doubt,” Ranma said as he left the room.

Czer rolled to his side. He looked at the crescent moon. “Embrace my fear to become stronger,” he said to himself as he closed his eyes.