Chapter 34 - Wrong Move

Serlin and Dustin, were dazed by the Aaris looks, Aaris stood close to the barrier with himself still lost in the Nightmare...

"What the heck is wrong with this kid? Suddenly spewing such a dreadful aura, it's the same as I felt the day I fought him, it's not mana that's for sure but then what is It?" 

Laid on the ground with a grievous wound in his chest Serlin thought, pain, and blood loss were already dragging his senses slowly, he was merely able to keep his eyes open.

"Ilin has probably gone into the Reserve State, to keep up the barrier while being unconscious.

I already bled too much! It won't be long until I pass out too! For now, I have to move Ilin from there, or she will get caught up in between them.

[ PIT-FALL ]"

Serlin fell into the Void he opened beneath him and opened the other end, close to Ilin.

"What the heck do you think you are doing GEEZER!!" Dustin noticed when Serlin Opened the Void to help Ilin, but before he could do anything Serlin already reached where he wanted to.

-- Dustin - POV --

"What exactly is going on here? This wimp has not come out of the spell yet, but he's reacting to it, this strange aura enclosing his body, on top of that,

This peculiar sensation of domination and bloodthirst spewing from him, is it a Curse or an Engraved Spell? Huh? Why do I care? That doesn't change the fact that he's still a pathetic wuss!"

***

Dustin began to sweat, his grip on the sword tightening as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Aaris' sudden change in his mien forewarns Dustin instinctively.

"KIL!...IL...I WILL KILL YOU!" Aaris screeched abruptly.

-- Aaris - POV --

"Release him! I admit it was me! I did it, it has nothing to do with him! release him! I am the who is Guilty!"

Why? Why? WHY? 

Mother? How am I here again? Seeing her crying for me and begging these tastes called nobles, hurting herself for my sake, accepting the crime she never committed.

Just stop it!

I...I can't....

Leave my mother alone!! Why am I seeing this again! Stop! I beg you to stop!! STOP-

Why are you doing this? Don't go away!

Laying her head on me, sobbing, holding me gently following her last words...just Stop.

"It looks like I don't have much time..."

**

Aaris found himself a place he could never forget, crying, screaming, going through the most dreadful pieces of his being, Nightmare made him lose himself in regret and despair.

Slowly Aaris started trudging quietly like a walking corpse toward Dustin, his lifeless eyes gazed unshaken at Dustin, the dark mist started to fume out of the glowing markings on his right arm fiercely.

"This doesn't look okay, I need to hurry up…

[ CHAIN BRAID - SHELL DOME ]

"Damn it! I can't hold much longer this drains me enough, Aaris, now whatever happens you must….win." 

Serlin Braided a small dome to cover Ilin and himself with Chains, but soon after he completed the spell, the overuse of mana turned him unconscious and he also went into the Reserved state to keep up the dome.

Dustin prepared himself to land the final onslaught at him, 

"Don't get cocky brat! You are still a loser! A mere show of yours can't fool me, I'll end this, I WILL CUT YOU OFF RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF THEM!

[ SWORD SURGE - GRIM SLICE ]

Dusting ravaged every last drop of his mana through his sword to make his sword the hardest it's ever been and his strike more destructive, putting his left foot behind and right on the front, he jumped toward Aaris, aiming to slash his head off.

"Goodbye!! Aari-"

Before even touching his neck, Aaris grabbed the sword with his bare hand oozing the ominous mist and staring down in Dustin's soul with his lifeless eyes, Aaris smiled and crushed Dustin's sword.

"WhAt? HoW is THiS poss-" his legs were trembling and his voice broke but his pride didn't,

"You wea-" 

Aaris thrashed Dustin's face with a punch with all his rage he felt because of Dustins' Spell, the impact was so disastrous it blasted Dustin breaking out of the barrier, and crashing him to a boulder.

Because The user was defeated and was completely knocked out, The Spell Nightmare broke and Aaris fainted and fell on the ground.

-- Aaris - POV --

"Your Soul…

It's br-"

This dream again! 

It's always like this now, I hear things like this in my dreams but I wake up before I can hear properly.

I tried to open my eyes but they felt heavy, 

"Where am I? This familiar feeling on my back…

These walls...wait is this my room?

I tried to look around and saw caretaker Miss. Greta is beside me sleeping on a chair.

" What happened? Why am I back in my room? And where is-"

I suddenly remembered that we were fighting Dustin and went unconscious after Dustin Spell,

What happened after that?

"Uhm- I know it's rude but Miss. Greta? Hello?"

Useless! 

"Ahem MISS. GRETA!" I shouted, 

"WHA!" frightened Miss. Greta fell along with the chair, confused and dumbfounded she got back on her knees, posing her back to me, and looked around,

"What happened? Who shouted? You don't know but I am a strong mage, So

Can you please whoever you are!"

And she started sniffing, she was a bit of a crybaby, 

"It's me, Miss. Greta!" I said.

"A ghost?" She was so scared that I could hear her shaking and almost on the verge of crying.

"No! look behind you!" 

"Behind me? Aaris you woke up!!' As soon as she saw me, she hugged me out of nowhere.

" Thank God you woke up! We were all so worried! I am really glad!!!" And she started crying again, 

"I am sorry for making you worry but, this isn't time 

Where is Sir. Serlin and Miss. Ilin? " I asked her.

"Um- I think you see it by yourself!" Her downed gaze and uneasiness made me realize something is not right!