Chapter 82: An Open-Minded Individual

Chapter 82: An Open-Minded Individual

Calm down. They didnt injure her from what I could tell, they just blocked her so that she couldnt get to you. The boy didnt flinch under Iras hold, in fact, his body began to fade before he reappeared sitting in the chair Ira was in.

Ira did appear to calm down a little as he took a seat.

You really are something...Quite obsessive. The boy commented.

I dont remember you being this fucking talkative. Ira retorted.

Are you the only one thats allowed to change? Any perceived change is most likely due to your consciousness spilling over to me. The boy asked.

What are you? I mean really...Youre real, I know that much, but what are you? Ira changed the subject.

...Im just a remnant, a byproduct of a violent transition...Just ask the Wolf, he knows who I am. The boys eyes continued to dance between yellow and red as he looked at Ira.

Yeah, thats really helpful, just incredibly helpful. Ill just go get him right now. Ira said sarcastically. Can I go now? He asked.

Im not the one holding you back The boy closed his eyes and went into thought before he opened them and spoke, Youre in a preservation device, they mustve used it to avoid the recoil that came from the Collapse.

Ira laughed a few times before looked up at the dark ceiling above him, Im going to kill someone.

You arent at the stage where you can say that yet. Bide your time, grow, and then do whatever you want. If you really want to kill them just make sure to open the Storm Wall first. The boy advised.

Why? Ira asked.

If the continent of the Higher Races is on the other side then youll have plenty to consume...after you grow enough you can take a piece of the Storm Wall for yourself. The boy said.

Wait...A piece of it? Can I do that? Ira asked with a visible greed.

We still have some time here, so Ill tell you a story. The boy smiled, As you already know, there was a Wolf who ate the Moon and then ate the Gods who came to kill him. Usually, when Gods cant die, they resurrect albeit in a weaker state than before. The Gods who were eaten by the Wolf died permanently. When all the Divine Races and Gods found out, they chased the Wolf into the Origin Storm, the source of all power. The Wolf thought he would be ripped apart by it, until he found out that it could be eaten too. The boys eyes flashed with an unfathomable intensity.

Meanwhile, the Higher Races looked at a crystal coffin-like container. Inside was Ira, who was clearly unconscious, the coffin holding him would prolong his state of comatose. After all, it was the very same thing Lyras group used to avoid any fatal injuries after the Collapse.

Gicaes third eye began glowing as he opened his eyes, he turned to Lyra and spoke, Its possible to enter his mind, but as a precaution, I can only bring one of you along.

Then its Lyra...Its too bad because his bloodline is interesting to me. Thessia said.

So what? Do you want to perform the blood rite with him? I doubt Karas descendants would approve. Ustia asked.

I said it was interesting, thats all. Thessia replied. Hes not even twenty years old and is almost on par with me while Im in this form. She added.

That makes him dangerous...Find out if hes related to that Black Forest, whatever it is. Myr said.

Is it really that dangerous? Kesver asked with skepticism.

If we stepped foot in it we would all die in an instant. Even though we are resistant to mental ailments, looking at that forest made me feel as if my mind would break Lua replied.

Well, whatever hes involved in, well find out in just a moment. Lyra stated before she nodded to Gicae.

Listen, Ustia. If my heart rate increases rapidly or my eye goes dim, that means something has gone wrong. If you, Myr, and Lua all begin to heal me it should draw us out. Gicae said with a serious temperament.

Is he that dangerous? Lua asked.

I received an injury when I attempted to find his exact location, it wouldnt be good to underestimate him this time. Gicae said before he sat down in front of the crystal container and closed his eyes.

Lyra nodded to the Valkyries before she did the same. Waves of psychic energy began to flow out from Gicaes turquoise eye before they covered him and Lyra. The waves danced for a few moments before they flew towards Iras head and sunk in.

Gicae was the first to arrive in a long dark corridor. How?! He looked around in a slight panic for some unknown reason.

Lyra appeared beside him and looked around but didnt seem to be shocked by anything. Is something wrong? She asked.

Wrong? You could say that...This isnt the structure of a mind. If he was a Dream Walker it would make sense, but hes not. Gicae said while he constantly examined his surroundings.

Calm down first...What does it usually look like inside of someones mind? She asked.

Not usually, always, it always appears as an almost fog-like web of memories and thoughts. Only those ancient Dream Walkers might have some sort of organized format, but nothing this complex. Gicae explained.

So youre saying he did this? Lyra inquired.

No, he didnt do this. This is...This is all subconscious, this was all made subconsciously meaning he isnt aware of it. Gicae began to walk forward.

Lyra followed close behind with cautious steps, it was her first time entering someone else mind and she had no way to defend herself.

What pushed his mind to this state? Lyra asked.

I have no idea...There is no amount of trauma that could cause this. None of it should be like this...since there is no sign of Iras presence here that means its all subconscious thought, but you dont understand how impossible that is. Gicae responded in a low voice.

As they moved toward the shack, the cloth to the tarp swayed ever so slightly. Gicae and Lyra stopped moving to look and saw two glowing red eyes staring at them.

Be careful not to trigger any response. Gicae whispered without moving.

I understand. Lyra responded while keeping completely still.

The eyes remained locked on them for what felt like hours before they closed and the tarp moved to cover the cage.

They hurried into the shack and once they entered they found it was as large as a cabin.

Eat up, Siegfried...Eat up, Siegfried...Eat up, Siegfried A faceless woman raised a spoon to an empty chair. She continued repeating the same sentence as the contents fell from the spoon and onto the chair repeatedly.

Whos Sieg Lyra caught herself as Gicae gave her a meaningful gaze.

We must watch all of our actions from now on, were moving further toward something and the danger will only increase. Gicae said. He wanted to leave immediately, but at the same time, he was fascinated and fearful of everything inside of Iras head.

They slowly walked around the woman pouring the liquid into an empty chair and arrived at a table with a rusted dagger sitting on it.

Look around for another door or exit. Gicae said.

Lyra nodded and began to search the room, other than a chest in the corner, there was nothing of note. She examined the chest and found that the keyhole was an odd shape.

The dagger. She called out to Gicae.

Gicae hesitated before he picked it up while keeping his eyes on the faceless woman. Seeing her remaining still caused him to let out a sigh of relief. He moved to the chest and inserted the dagger before twisting it, the chest creaked open on its own exposing a ladder that led down a dark hole.

There was a faint noise coming from the hole, but it was too far away to hear properly.

Ill go first. Gicae said before giving one last look at the faceless woman and climbing into the chest.

Lyra followed behind him and the two once again arrived at a corridor that was far more narrow and ominous than the one they first entered. A rattling sound along with a muddled voice echoed throughout the entire corridor. The voice was a grating mess that sounded more like metal being scraped on a hard surface. The two moved toward the source and found that is was a rusted iron door.

The Grass...Alive. The Trees...Alive. The Plants...Alive. The Animals...Alive. The People...Alive. Yet they...Die. They all...Die. The voice that sounded like metal being forcefully ground together spoke cryptically from beyond the door.

Gicaes hand hovered over the iron latch while he looked at Lyra. Should we enter? He asked.

Weve come this far. Lyra responded.

The latch squeaked loudly as Gicae lifted before it made a loud click once it was set in place. Once the door was opened, Gicae and Lyra looked inside and saw a humanoid figure covered in a dark grey metal. The figure's arms were wrapped in chains that were attached to a wall and was blocked by rusty iron bars.

They all...Die. The figures head shot up and gazed at Lyra and Gicae.

They met its gaze and felt as if its black eyes were peering into their souls. A line of sharp and jagged teeth decorated its face like a crooked smile. Overall the figure bore a similar appearance to Ira when he fought Thessia.

The figures turned its gaze away from the pair and continued to speak, Kill to eat...Kill to sleep...Kill to die...It is constant...Death belongs in the world...Just as much as life...To kill is to die...To die is to live...To live is to die...They all kill...They all die...They all liveIt is constant...

...Are these Iras beliefs? Gicae asked with uneasiness.

The chains shook as the figure looked up again and sniffed the air loudly, like a predator searching for traces of its prey. You...You dont have anything I want...Nothing nice...Nothing good...Nothing special...Nothing I wantNothing he wants.

What is it that you want? Lyra asked.

The chains rattled again as the figure began to laugh. Gicae and Lyra winced as the sharp laugh filled the room.

Have you...looked at it? Its...painful...and dark...you lose everything in it...but it gave everything...in return The figure said.

When Gicae saw that Lyra was about to speak again he stopped her, Lyra, this is a manifestation of something in Iras mind, it probably isnt a good idea to listen to it.

SMART! The figure shouted before it jumped around violently.

It suddenly stopped and returned to its former position before speaking, There isn't a...particular need for more knowledge right now The figure cackled which filled Gicaes and Lyras ears with discomfort.

"It looks like this...thing, is preventing us from moving to wherever we go next." Gicae said.

"Maybe we have to find something it wants." Lyra stated as she looked at it.

...Its too bad your abilities...rely on...mana The figure said regretfully.

Why is that? Lyra asked.

Because...I would have consumed you The figure gnashed its ugly metal teeth as it stretched the chains to their limits.