Chapter 83: Mind Over Matter

Chapter 83: Mind Over Matter

Lyra step back. Gicae grabbed Lyra and pulled her away from the cell.

The metal figure bit down on the iron bars and began to pull which caused the entire room to shake ominously.

The figure suddenly stopped and stepped back, Just kidding...you...are not...very appealing. he said before he cackled wildly.

His own...flesh and blood...cut his flesh...and spilled his blood The figure slammed its head into the ground repeatedly. O how...ironic...O how...tragic...O how...tragically ironic.

His own flesh and blood? Gicae thought back to the stone altar decorated with blood stains. Did Iras family do something to him? He asked.

You want to...find out? The figure dragged his teeth across the ground. Then...bring me something...Something...good...Something nice...Something special...Something I want...Something he wants. The Figure answered.

Weve already asked you what you want and you have yet to answer. Lyra said.

A...pastry...bring me a...tasty pastry. The figure demanded.

Lets check upstairs. Gicae said before he and Lyra began to leave.

A small...pastry. The figure said with a harsh laugh.

The two went back to the ladder only to find out that it had become a door. Gicae opened it up and found themselves in a kitchen. A faceless woman was chopping the air above a cutting board as she hummed an energetic tune.

Sebastian...be a dear and bring Siegfried to the table. The faceless woman turned and spoke to a sword that was placed in a chair at the dinner table.

Sebastian...be a dear and bring Siegfried to the table. She said again before going back to chopping air and humming her tune.

Check the cabinets. Gicae said as he ignored the scene.

Lyra nodded and opened up the cabinets only to see it full of bottles labeled with skulls.

Sweetie, be a dear and pass me the poison. The faceless woman turned to face Lyra while the cleaver in her hand trembled.

Lyra looked at Gicae who nodded, so she grabbed a bottle of poison and handed it to the woman.

Thank you, dear, there are snacks in the cabinet over there if you want something to eat before supper. The woman pointed to a broken cabinet before she opened the bottle of poison and began to pour it on the cutting board. Only the best food for my Siegfried.

Gicae opened the broken cabinet and saw three pastries, each one a different size. One large, one medium and one small.

The large pastry began speaking first, Is it already time?

It sure is...they grow up so fast. The medium pastry sniffled.

Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Mother The small pastry said.

Gicae picked it up before signaling to Lyra.

Are we going to see Ira? I cant wait! The small pastry said.

Take care of my boy! The large pastry said before Gicae shut the cabinet.

I trust you. The small pastry said.

Gicae ignored it and he and Lyra exited the kitchen and arrived in a familiar corridor.

Is Ira really down here? The small pastry asked with a nervous voice.

Gicae, Im sure you noticed but something awful mustve occurred. The poison, the altar, the dagger. Lyra said.

It may become clearer the deeper we go, but the danger will increase tremendously. I think we should travel to the end in one go, if anything happens, Ill send you away first. Gicae said as he resolved to find out Ira's origin.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

I-I trust you, but this place is scary. The small pastry said. ...Um, is Ira really down here?

The two ignored the pastry and arrived at the iron cell again. The metal figure sniffed the air heavily before its mouth opened.

Give it...to me. He yanked the chains like a rabid dog. Give it...here...I wont...bite...you.

Thats not Ira! The small pastry yelled in a panic. You lied to me!

Tell us whats the fastest way down into his mind? Gicae asked.

Give me...the pastry The figure growled.

You lied to me...but I forgive you. The small pastry said.

I dont trust you, once you send us to the deepest part Ill give it to you. Gicae declared.

...Fine! The figure barked as it turned its head to look at the floor.

Death is an unmovable fate for those like me. The panic and fear I feel now stems from my bodys stubborn sense of self-preservation and I choose to deny its call. It would be naive to think that I could escape what is absolute. Do not cry over my death, Father. Do not weep for me, Mother. As a mortal, I can only accept death whether I like it or not, but I refuse to beg for my life. I welcome that endless sleep as much as it welcomes me. The pastry soliloquized in a high-pitched voice.

What does that mean? Thessia asked.

Any injuries we received while inside of his mind shouldnt have affected my physical body. At most I would receive backlash from overdrawing my psychic energy Gicae mumbled to himself.

Explain it properly for us, Gicae. Lyra said with urgency.

You dont understand it? His subconscious mind altered reality...Listen to me, that fact alone makes him one of the most powerful and most dangerous people in the entire world. Even if he never came to control it, the potential for it is always there. Gicae trembled as he ran his remaining arm over his empty shoulder.

Then we have to deal with him here. Lua drew her sword and took a step toward Ira.

Stop! Gicae shouted in a panic.

Lua halted her steps and looked at him with a questioning expression.

You cannot kill him unless youre confident enough to deal with what will come out and believe me, I doubt all of us would be able to survive what would come out. Gicae said with a grave expression.

Lua looked at the defenseless Ira with unwillingness before sheathing her sword.

Weve already established it, but whatever he is it isnt anything that has been in this world before. Additionally, he does have a relation to the Black Forest. I cant be sure of his involvement but from what Ive seen he isnt the direct cause. Gicae stated.

What do you mean you cant be sure? Kesver asked.

Like I said, his mind is complex. Instead of memories playing out directly, they are represented by objects, people, and places. Each section of his mind led to different areas that could be reached by performing a certain action. If I hadnt bypassed a large portion, we wouldve learned more about him. Gicae then began to think about the things that they missed.

The weirdest thing in Iras mind was the placement of pastries, they appeared to be some source of comfort to him. As strange as it sounded, if they had stayed in the first room with the giant talking pastry, maybe they couldve used it to get Iras mind to lower its guard.

Ira sat at the table with a small boy, both of them held some playing cards in their hands.

So...why do I have to talk about fish again? Ira asked.

If you dont have the card you say that and I fish one from the deck. The boy explained.

Oh, ok. Ira nodded.

Are you finally ready? The boy asked.

Sure Ira said before he vanished.

The boy sighed and dropped the cards, causing all of them to vanish. And I just had taught him the rules. He clapped his hands once and darkness enveloped everything.

Ira blinked a few times as he regained his consciousness, for some reason, he had the strangest feeling in his head. A sense of incongruency, the same feeling one might get from coming home only to notice small adjustments of their belongings.

What the fuck did you do to me? Ira climbed to his feet and looked at the broken crystals at his feet.

You agreed to help us did you not? Kesver asked.

Where is Avery? Ira shook his head as if to get rid of the feeling in his mind.

Shes safe and unharmed. Lyra was the first to say.

So you convinced her to let you bring me here? Where the hell is this? Ira looked around.

She didnt want us to take you and fought with us, but she suffered no injuries, small or large. Kesver said.

Ira looked at Kesver as if searching for the slightest hint of a lie. His eyes were attempting to peel away his expression layer by layer for the smallest sign of dishonesty.

Were on a small island. Its been our home for the past one thousand years. If you were wondering why we brought you here, its to show you the Storm Wall. Lyra said.

What happened to your arm? Ira looked at Gicae.

I attempted to look in your mind. Gicae stated.

Iras expression slightly changed before it shifted into smile. I really dont like you. He said with a laugh.

Will you assist us with the Storm Wall or not? Myr asked.

Yeah, Ill give you a hand Ira nodded before he looked at Gicae, No pun intended.

Thank you. Lyra said.

Yeah, but if you do one more thing I dont like Im going to kill a few of you. Ira grinned. First, Im going to kill one of you three. He pointed to the Valkyries.

Then Im going to kill you. He pointed to Kesver.

And lastly, Im going to kill you, you nosey fuck. Iras face twitched a few times as he looked at Gicae. The floor beneath him cracked under the strength he unknowingly exerted.