Chapter 23- Help
The last thing Elise remembered was giving Bwi a command. She expected to die because according to the book, only a willing soul can fight the ancient magic. She was sacrificed.
It was the plan she truthfully and sincerely wanted to save her friends. She was ready to die like what happened to her a year ago.
The dark sky changes to red and the surroundings become colder.
--
Elise blinked when she woke up at a bus station. She checked the surroundings and found out that she was finally home.
Elise checks her body and realizes the bruises on her arms but she can't remember where they came from. Her clothes change to a school uniform. Was she reincarnated again? She asked herself confused.
"Yohan!" A girl shouted.
"Bitch Yohan!" another girl shouted. They laughed crazily after throwing raw egg to
her.
Elise flinched and tried to move her body while still catching the raw egg. The dirt on her torso was plenty. Now, She was sure that she was getting bullied.
"What unexpected new life to welcome me." she retorted silently.
The dark alley on the bus station where she was standing changes. Elise's eyes blinked again and now she was in the darkroom.
The room was so dark and only a personal computer was turned on, making a light blinding Elise. Where is she? she thought.
"Damn you! I told you to buy food! Get the hell out of your room! Bitch!" A man shouted outside and kept knocking on her door.
The noise thunder on Elise's door. Her body was in pain. She smelled a very bad scent coming from the room she was in. After a moment Elise tried to stand up and turn on the light. The room was messy. There's a lot of garbage and some of the things were crashing.
The light opened and illuminated the whole room. Elise saw a shape of rope in the shadow, After she adjusted her eyes she searched for the room.
The rope hanging on the wall appeared and a corpse of a woman. Elise gasped and tears formed in her eyes. She shouted loudly
--
The scenarios keep changing and there's a lot of creepy scenes appearing in Elise's eyes. She was exhausted. She felt the deep pain in her head that made it hard to breathe.
Now, she was on the street cold because the snow kept pouring. It's been hours since she went into this world and Elise felt the frozen cold on her skin. She was on the verge of hypothermia. Her sight is blurry.
Elise wanted this hell to end. She feels like dying over and over again. She was numb from the mental pain and wanted to give up. She forgot why she was in this place and sometimes her mind wondered if the scenario was her reality. Her memory was disoriented. She forgets some name she was sure she knew before she went to this place.
The snow is slowly pouring into the dark alley where she was staying. The mountain of garbage was beside her and at the end of the narrow alley was the signage of a motel.
The street lamp was shining brightly at the next street making her eyes shone slightly but still no emotions were shown. Elise's eyes are dark with no hint of light. She was lost in oblivion. It was a terrifying sight.
The people are scared by her poker face. Tried not to walk near her. Elise heard the familiar Christmas carols on the streets. She felt the familiar feeling when she was living happily.
"Happily?" she whispered.
The scenes of the kids happily singing carol songs. Where did she learn it? Her mind was hazy but shadows of small children kept appearing...
The sound of the piano started to play on Elise's mind. The memory of a child having blonde hair, pale skin, and bright eyes shows in the spotlight singing a lullaby. Elise blinked more times and the music started to be loud.
"Who is she?" Elise thought.
The warm feeling envelopes Elise's consciousness. Made her stop the trembling. The white bubbles sparkling on her surroundings made the scene change.
Like a film of memory, The red surroundings change to red and white making Elise's eyes blink more times than she heard a voice.
"H-help me... Please...." voice of a child asking for her help.
Elise was in the dungeon. The familiar dark prison and the cries of the children are echoing to the place making Elise question the reality.
Heavy breaths followed the cries and the loud thud sound brought the shuddering fear to Elise.
"He's here." whispered of a child in a small voice but still heard by Elise.
"Kill the weak f-"
Chains moving from the prison cell were loud. It appeals to the freight of the children as they try to hide themselves from the scary person.
A sound of a metal gate was heard. Another torture for the pitiful children, Elise thought
Last night, someone almost died because of exhaustion. The man drained them by sending casting spells that felt like thousands of needles on their bodies. Aside from the whip of the man continuously doing when he desires. Elise and the children develop the fear they won't forget for the rest of their lives.
It was the hardest and all they could do was to endure everything until they received the gift of death. Somehow, they don't wish to be saved anymore... The luxury they tended to achieve was the easiest and painless death.
Elise laughs in her mind. It was one of the nights of terror she experienced. Why was she here again?
"Eh?"
"..."
"Again?" Elise mumbled and a frown appeared on her face.
The surroundings are changing again between red and white.
The dungeon started to shake. The debris was falling and children were shouting giving Elise a headache.
"I-I..."
"H-Help me..." Elise whispered...
--
Alicia's golden eyes meet another pair of big round yellow eyes.
"Hi! I'm Rin." he said and slightly tilted his head to see the people lying on the ground.
Nero looks at the spirit guardian that appears in front of him. The cat is color white and has yellowish eyes. It smiles at them making him feel at ease.
"Hmm, You must be Alicia." He said again then smiled widely.
"Hi. I'm Alicia Forbe." she said in a small voice.
"I'm Nero." he said in a plain voice.
"I'm Elise's friend." Rin told them.
"I will use my power to heal everyone but it will be hard for Elise. I need your help, Alicia." Rin said after a moment and stopped smiling rather than becoming serious.
"He is cute." Alicia thinks while checking out the white cat.
"You flatter me, my lady." Rin answers then chuckle at Alicia. She flushed thinking that she just disrespected the spirit guardian.
The white light gleams on the cat's body then slowly, the wounds and the pain that Nero felt are healing quickly.
Nero feels the relief of being healed. His body becomes light. Alicia experiences warmth after the low heat on her body. It's not painful anymore, she can lift her arm and the familiar tickling feelings she rejoices while checking her power.
"Thank you, sir Rin." Alicia mumbled after a minute.
"Now, Let's save Elise." He said after, his eyes changed to a serious one line. It was scary but Alicia is determined.
--
The white light keeps appearing in her surroundings. It was like a spotlight changing its location for seconds. Elise blinks more times than a tear falls on her cheek.
"A-Alicia..." Elise speaks her name.
"Elise! Elise! Oh my god!" Alicia comes to Elise then hugs her.
Deja vu... She already saw this scene. The man that looks like a fox is staring at her seriously and sending shuddering chills to her. It was a mind-blowing chill.
"I-I'm sorry." Alicia said while hugging Elise.
The white light disappears... The golden bubbles appear shining to Elise's surroundings bringing a warm feeling to her heart. She felt the joy and the fear were gone.
"Wake up..." A white cat appears in front of her.
"Who..."
"Wake up now, My lady." Rin said, his eyes are brighter gold.
"R-Rin?" Elise mumbled.
The red aura cracks like glass and slowly the pieces are falling... disappearing into the air.
"I'm here to help you. Why didn't you-" Rin said then tears fell on his eyes.
"Why are they always, always..." He stopped talking then extended his paw to Elise.
"My Lord, Welcome back." He whispered in a very small voice that never reached Elise's ears.
--
Alicia flinched and her consciousness came back. She trembles and looks for Elise in an instant.
It was a small moment but she saw Elise being whipped. Tears fell on her eyes. She saw the other children being chained and the blood was all over the place. Her heart broke into pieces.
The corpse face of Elise changes. She was still pale but it was better now than before. Later, Alicia cried and the solemn silence of the place describes the breeze coming from the wind touching their skin. The sound of the river flowing added to it and the ray of sunlight made the Saint sparkling beautifully.
Alicia cried her heart out. Hugging the thin pale person with her eyes closed. She never thought that Elise experienced such terror.
She appeared to be a tough and serious kid but she never really saw her pain. Alicia wondered if she would be able to help Elise despite the smile she gave to her. Alicia's heart goes to the child she adores so much like a family.
--
The spirit guardian vanished after making sure that they were all fine. Rj gains his consciousness and his memories of before are all gone. He doesn't remember what happened after he fell asleep.
The sunny morning touches their skin. The heat made Nero cast a spell to prevent them from being too exposed. Though the heat was good, Elise appeared to have the flu. The spirit guardian, Ren, said that it was normal since her body isn't used to magic. But it will go away for a few days. Just proper care then Elise will be fine.
Carson and Rio are both dizzy. Rio went for Elise to check her condition. He wanted to use his magic to heal her but Nero stopped him explaining what happened. Rio lifts Elise after covering her with a blanket. She's sick, that's why they need to find a place that won't endanger her condition.
Carson doesn't remember anything aside from the moment he followed the command of Nero. He's dizzy but manages to help the crew.
Rj made a tent again but he cast a spell for the ventilation for a sick person. He is worried for Elise and wants to give her a comfortable stay.
They become busy. Carson wants Nero to come back to the palace but their mission isn't done yet. They still don't know why some mercenaries went missing on this mountain. They need to investigate throughout and find the cause then report it to the emperor.
Nero decided to stay for more days. He needs to make sure that Elise is okay. But prolonging it will also get them for potential attackers.
"Carson." Nero speaks his name.
"Tell the palace that we need to close the boundary of Yaven mountain. No one can enter. Under the imperial command, drive away from everything that will sneak out. For further investigation, We will stay in this place for more days."
"Yes, Your Highness." Carson gets his command and quickly goes.
Nero narrowed his eyes. As long as he has the guards to take care of the boundary, he will surely finish his mission. There are a lot of things he needs answers to. And everytime the situation calls for it. This commoner girl was always the reason for it. Something about her getting involved in the situation. It's getting annoying but Nero thinking of the happenings made his fox eyes appear more prominent.
He made a decision. They won't exit this place until the investigation is done. He mumbled to himself.
He surveyed the area after receiving Carson news. They made preparations. He is ready. Tomorrow, He will do his mission.