188 Welcome Back! (1/2)

”Honestly, I wasn't sure whether or not it was the right choice... But I have people waiting for me, friends who mean the world to me right now... I don't have time wasting on that Dark spirit's mind games.”

Zestari wasn't certain, but John seemed different, maybe having an option to change the path changed him in a way. But she could tell just by looking that he had slightly matured.

”It must have been hard... Sorry...” She Apologised

John didn't know why she was apologising, but before asking that, he had another thing to ask

”What happened to the room...? Where is all the darkness?”

”This isn't your consciousness... I guess you could say it's a space I created where that guy won't hear us.”

[Is she referring to the spirit?]

”What happened, to him...? Or rather... What's happening outside?”

Once John asked this, Zestari remained quiet as she looked up at the ceiling.

”John, promise me that you'll become stronger... Much stronger than you are now... Because at this level... You won't be able to stop it.”

[It...? More importantly...]

”Why are you telling me this now? That was already the plan, wasn't it?” John asked

Hearing this, Zestari looked once again at John before asking

”That was wasn't it...?”

[Why does it feel like she's saying goodbye...?]

”Hey... Did something happen? What's wrong?” John asked with a worried expression

”Nothing, nothing at all, wake up, John. Hopefully one day, we'll be able to meet again.”

[Wake up...? Why is she talking like that?]

”Wait, Zestari... You aren't leaving somewhere are you?”

There was no reply. As he moved in to ask something else, he suddenly felt his mind being pulled somewhere along with an urge to sleep.

”Wai-”

And just like that, he disappeared from the room.

”Honestly... You��re such a handful.” Zestari muttered before disappearing

-------------------------------

John slowly opened his eyes before breathing in as much fresh air as possible. He looked around and noticed that everyone was here. Not just his party but even Azure's party.

”What's going on...?” He asked with a confused tone

He was kneeled on the floor and everyone looked at him nervously in an attacking stance

John tried moving the chains but it wouldn't budge.

[Zestari, what's the situation?] John asked

There was no reply. As he continued to stand there in that position, he looked over at the area where both Ariel and Serena stood.

They looked nervous about something. As he continued to stare at them, Ariel noticed something was different about him and asked

”Hey... Isn't that, the normal John?” Ariel asked

”He hasn't changed... But, you're right... He feels different than a while ago.”

John's body felt much different, his eyes hurt like hell along with his forehead, and he felt something on his back which he could move.

He turned around to see what it was and couldn't believe it. It looked like a dark wings, but uncomplete, it was nauseating, and even so more the fact that it was coming out of his back.

[There's a hole in my back...?]

As he tried to move, a surge of pain passed through his back, eyes and head.