Chapter 33 Pandora’s Box (2)

Stepping through the portal I could feel the separation.

No longer was I holding Darwin's hand.

No longer could I see his soul.

It was disorienting but not unexpected. I insisted exactly for reasons such as this.

When I am caught unaware, in an unfamiliar place surrounded by what I perceived as enemies. So that I could defend myself.

The countless dying souls could attest to this fact.

Whenever one came past me I could see the resentment in the soul.

It was at that moment that I felt regret, not that I came here, no, but that I didn't prepare accordingly.

I had no weapon with me. My combat prowess was limited by not only the lack of weapons but the fact that I don't have any training.

'I need to find Darwin' I thought to myself, that was the only logical solution.

'Darwin can protect me' with that thought I started to look at the souls and their routes

After watching for a bit I found that there were places where those souls wouldn't go.

I don't know why but that was my route. I couldn't afford to engage with them so instead I would avoid them.

…

It was with a carefully planned route that I found myself wandering. With no way of knowing where Darwin is I had to just wander until I found the light of his soul.

While I couldn't avoid the natural obstacles of the realm I could plan a route where wherever I go would not be inhabited by any malevolent souls.

With wandering as my direction I wandered wherever I could. The only consideration I took was to stay out of the malevolent souls' sight.

While I was avoiding the souls I picked up a stick and tried to reinforce it like I saw Darwin do.

It was a difficult process, every time that I tried I would have to open a cut on my hand letting my white colored aether flow out in gaseous form.

Even once I had done that it did not get easier. To control the aether outside of my body took considerable effort.

Once I had enough control over the aether I let out into the air I carefully directed it to the stick.

*CRACK*

The stick didn't even last a second, the moment my aether had touched it the stick died.

It was weird for a second I could see a soul.

But immediately after I saw the soul my aether touched it and it was gone.

Trying again I pick up another stick but this time instead of trying to touch it with my aether I try to infuse it.

Slowly through the same cut the gaseous white aether flowed out but this time I put it under the tightest control I could.

This time I push the aether further into the stick I had picked up.

I could see a soul forming in the stick I had infused and I aimed exactly at that.

White edges appeared along the stick's soul slowly overtaking the stick.

By the time the white aether had completely taken over the stick, it had undergone a complete transformation.

Instead of the brown branch that it was, it now looked like a dagger.

The stick had shortened to about twice the length of my hand and the end of it was sharp.

It fit in my hand perfectly.

*WOOSH* *WOOSH*

Slashing at the air to test the blade I can hear the wind being slashed.

…

So caught up in my reverie of the blade I hold I fail to notice the soul sneaking up behind me.

The only warning that I had gotten was the flash of light in the otherwise black world that I saw.

It was trying to sneak up upon me and had succeeded in doing so.

By the time I had noticed it it was within arms length of myself.

The soul looked as if it was going to slash at my right so I preemptively dodged to the left.

*SLASH*

"AHH" I cried out.

It seemed that I didn't dodge correctly as I was still slashed at the hip, a long gash appearing at my side.

I turned toward my right swinging the dagger toward the soul. Adrenaline fueling my body I pushed the dagger with all my strength.

*SLASH*

The dagger cut through the soul like a hot knife through butter.

Before I knew it the soul was cut in half.

And in those half's I could see a dot. In a desperation of adrenaline I didn't let up in my attack and with both hands pushed my dagger with as much strength as I could towards the dot that was revealed.

*UUAAHH*

A shrieking cry was made the moment my dagger pierced the soul's dot.

And after a moment the soul completely disappeared.

…

"Hah" "Hah"

I panted my legs giving out on me dropping me to the ground.

A deep tiredness appeared as the dregs of adrenaline left my body

The slashing wound that that soul had given me was still bleeding though so I could not sleep.

Although I could not see the wound I could still feel it. Once I had a good grasp of where it is I tore a piece of my clothing off then wrapped it around the wound all the while giving pressure to the wound.

Slowly I breathed in and out. I could not black out here. The loss of blood was making me lightheaded and after I had bandaged the wound my body was starting to get more and more tired with no objective to fulfill.

Slowly my eyelids started to fall.

I held out as much as I could but I could not resist the pull of sleep.

…

*GROWL*

I didn't wake up normally, instead I woke up to the growl of my stomach.

Groggily getting up I try to call for Tama but then remember where I was.

Putting my hand back on my wound I apply more pressure hoping to kill the pain that was aching me.

"Aoif?!" Turning my head I see Darwin approaching me.

"Are you okay" fussing over me he checks my wound.

*GROWL* another growl of my stomach interrupts him.

I could sense a sly emotion from his soul.

Bringing his hand to my wound I feel his aether enveloping my wound and soon enough the torn muscle and skin are patched up.

Picking me up in a piggyback carry he whispers to me.

"Come on let's go find some food"