Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 412: Old Yule's Therapy

Act 2: World Beyond - Chapter 412: Old Yule's Therapy

Dense mists shrouded the skies and surfaces one would not be able to see an inch from their eyes. The ocean lay deathly still, not a single ripple or passing wave. Within this dense fog and sailing above the still waters, a ruined ship floated around, a lack of sails and the rotten state of its decks suggesting it was abandoned.

"So, an executive has died. How saddening. What a waste of a useful man. He held such promise for the dawn of new humanity." A shadow appeared within the mist, hidden from others. Her voice trembled, evidently sorrowful for some reason. "Is it true?"R/ê/Ad lateSt ch/a/pters at nô(v)e(l)bin/.c/o//m Only

"If it wasn't true, I would be a liar, and do you believe I am? I never lie." Another shadow roamed in the mists. Only his steps were heard on the ship's deck, one creaking step after another. "Truth is the most valuable virtue. As the seekers of a higher form, we should embody that ideal, unlike your fake tears."

"W-what do you mean? I am in mourning." The womanly shadow wept. "The loss weighs heavily on my heart. Not that you would understand since you don't have a heart."

"I hate you. If not for your loyalty to the leader, I would have killed you a long time ago." The other shadow said plainly. "Perhaps I should go ask for permission from him. Your death is long overdue. You glib tongue vixen."

Before the two shadows could close in on each other, a third appeared in the middle and shouted, "Enough! You bring shame to the New Dawn and our leader. Mars is dead. That is a fact. He died in his post at Shattirma."

"Shattirma...that place of antiquity is still full of dangers. I warned the leader a while ago that setting up bases there would only complicate our work. Now we have a dead executive. Do we know who killed him?"

"Ah, poor souls of the ones who slighted us. They will endure so much agony from now on. May Mar's soul be appeased with their heart-wrenching cries."

"That's where it gets difficult. From Mar's last report, he visited a remote part of Shattirma named the Burning Valley. For an odd reason, no messages or recordings have reached us ever since."

"So, the perpetrators are unknown. Do we send a force to the Burning Valley?" The male shadow asked.

"Our leader says to forget it. He can't be bothered with a failed branch. Most of the research there yielded no results anyway. Their main use was smuggling people to other facilities. Instead, warn all branches to increase their vigilance. I'll inform the absent executives." The third shadow sighed, grumbling about the lack of urgency from the absentees.

"Right. Right. What was the main purpose of that branch again?" The womanly shadow pondered. "Ah! It was elementification. They never once succeeded with that using any of the natural elements. Unlike my sweet, dear tree dwellers."

"Those are failures as well. Nothing but a mass of mindless puppets. Nothing close to the ideal we seek." The other shadow said coldly. The womanly shadow chuckled and raised her arms.

"Enough! The two of you continue your work. Disperse at once." The last shadow shook his head. The three shadows disappeared from the ship. Mists rolled around, and the ocean remained still. The ship continued sailing to parts unknown.

.......

'Damn...' Oscar thought as he flew across the room. His body crashed and broke past several pillars of ash corpses, and he rolled on the floor before Erden reached to stop him. The ringing in his ears failed to dampen the ferocious roar of the ash humanoid. Staring at the creature, Oscar rose and grunted as he cracked his dislocated shoulder back in.

"Next question. When you fought alongside Oscar in the war on the plains, you were confident and resolved to fight. What were you thinking as you did so?" Old Yule ignored her question and asked her one.

"I wanted to fight alongside him. I didn't want to be a burden anymore. I wanted to get over it, no longer worry or cause others to worry about me. I thought it was over....I thought I could move on." Hot tears felt like magma on her cheeks. She bit her lips, ashamed of her current state, helpless and at the mercy of another. "But I'm weak. I can't do anything. I haven't changed at all. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"So why do you comfort Oscar? You helped him calm his nerves and sleep well at night. What do you want to get from that?" Old Yule stood up and came closer, her face a few inches away from Avril.

Avril thought of Oscar. Their three to four years of memories flowed through her mind, and she smiled. She adored those memories, the times they bickered, read and wrote together, trained, and talked. At least she had good memories to think of before the end. "When I first met him, he was injured and yelling with a smile. I don't know why, but I enjoy comforting him, and I enjoy it when he does the same for me."

Falling silent, Avril slowly turned her lips to a frown, and she lowered her head. "I promised I would fight with him and get to Vallen together, not be held back by my past, but in the end, I couldn't do it. I'm nothing but a failure, a slave. Here I am, still bound in chains." Her eyes no longer held any tears to cry, and she glanced at Old Yule. She wanted to see Oscar one last time before dying. "Maybe it's better this way. I'm tired."

"On the contrary, I believe you've made significant improvements." Old Yule smiled and snapped her fingers.

Everything distorted and faded into darkness. Avril realized the chains were gone and fell into the void. Not knowing what this was, she allowed herself to fall freely.

Avril felt her heartbeat and the coldness of the floor. Her eyes slowly opened, and light spilled in through the cracks. Stuck by the sudden brightness, she sat upright instantly, wondering what was happening. Thirsty for water, her lips smacked themselves.

"What is going on?" Avril's eyes wandered around, unable to see clearly from the blurriness of awakening.

"You're better." Old Yule was kneeling next to her.

"O-Old Yule?" Avril stammered through her dry lips. Oddly, the smile from Old Yule put her at ease, not the fake warm smile, but a genuine one. Confused, Avril glanced around, seeing no cages, chains, bodies, or blood.

Suddenly, a warm pair of arms embraced her and brought her close. A hand stroked her head gently. Everything was so warm. Avril was speechless, unable to process that this was coming from Old Yule.

"Poor you. You comfort others with all your heart yet keep yours somewhat closed. It's alright. These wounds take time to heal, long periods. You can't be disappointed in yourself. You've made significant progress already. You haven't fainted or had seizures from the illusions I put on you. That's an amazing recovery for someone with a past like yours." Old Yule croaked in laughter. "You are not useless; you have done well so far in your condition. Believe in yourself more."

The last few sentences rang through Avril's head. She cried again, but this time, not out of fear or sadness but of the comfort and love that those words poured into her. Her hands naturally wrapped around Old Yule and accepted the old grandma's warmth.

"Geez, you're around forty and crying like a child. Well, I suppose it's alright." Old Yule smiled brightly.