37 Chapter 10: The Change 11 (1/2)

”P-pardon?”

”It is as what you heard,” She just sighs, ”It's perplexing on one's part as well as to why one have been called out like this. This never happened before. An anomaly has disturbed the order of things, now one is left with no choice. Let one show you the visions now.”

She began to walk towards me.

And I stopped myself from moving away.

”Give one your hand.” she says as she halted as she stood before me.

She reached out an open hand and waited for me to place my own hand on hers.

I lifted my hand. Hesitated.

Closing my hand into a fist.

I looked around and tentatively eyed the several purple orbs of fire hovering high from the ground.

'Dark element'

Is Aerra really... the fated fallen one?

I glance at her as she just watch me in silence.

If I don't believe her now,

and she happens to really be the one...

then the entire seven kingdoms would be after her someday to kill her...

Everyone would cheer in her death.

”...”

I shut my eyes close, clenching my fists on both my side.

I can't even try to imagine such scenario.

It's too much.

I lifted my hand once again.

Opened my eyes and looked at her,

”Okay, I'll help you but just to save my sister. I won't do any unnecessary killing nor destruction of anything!”

She nods.

I placed my hand on hers.

She looks down and was about to place her other hand over it when suddenly she gasped and I watch as her eyes widens momentarily, studying my hand.

”Interesting.” she murmurs, turning to look at me. ”Who sent you here?”

”What? —I was teleported here with Aerra by accident.”

She shook her head, ”No, who sent you to be in this dungeon?”

”It was by chance,” I replied, ”We were doing a Hunt Job for some village and for some reason, the bandits we were after went to scavenge some treasures here”

”It's too peculiar to happen by chance... for you of all people to be here at this moment. Are you sure you weren't sent here on purpose?”

I can see her staring deeply at my eyes.

I nodded vehemently, ”Positive!” I replied.

”Then one hopes, this time— this lifetime would be the beginning of the end” she uttered, scooping my other hand instead and clasping it tight against her two hands.

Suddenly, several scenes flashed on my mind. It fleeted by so fast, too fast for ordinary eyes to catch.

Like taking a glimpse of a picture book with pages being turned so fast before you, making it hard to comprehend anything at all even before you could even try to understand the pictures you just saw. But the pictures were moving and the scenes were flashing pass my eyes. It was so overwhelming, I had to close my eyes shut to make it stop

but instead,

I caught one vision that made sense.

Finally, she releases my hand.

”There is one last thing one will give you as a parting gift. Don't misunderstand— this will help you awaken you own powers.” She whispered,

”Have fun! ♪”

And then a giggle lingered into fade.

I opened my eyes.

And saw Aerra about to collapse on the ground before me. I quickly caught her up just before she could fall down.

I watch the black of her hair slowly fades back to white.

”Aerra!” I shook her a bit but she didn't respond.

Her breathing seem normal though. It seems like she's fast asleep.

Aerra...

Slowly, the room fell to darkness.

The purple glowing orbs that hovered up in midair slowly gathered before us and began to join as one.

It flickered like a dying candle light

But just before it faded, it once again floated up high. This time, it solidified into one red orb.

One heavy grunt emits and sounds of chains echoed around the chamber.

Then...

—the red orb shined.

An otherworldly cry suddenly emitted in a tremendous roar that made the entire ground quake violently.

The echo of the roar was so loud it was almost deafening.

What the blazes?!

I summon a ball of lightning on my hand to provide light to the room.

To my horror, a fiend lurks few feet away from us that stood almost a hundred of feet tall.

Is...

IS THIS THE PARTING GIFT SHE MENTIONED?!

It was hideous as it was mortifying.

It was so otherworldly

It went on making another loud cry like a warning as I hurried to carry Aerra up to my back to ran and make the farthest distance I could to get away from the fiend

It went on making another loud cry like a warning as I hurried to carry Aerra up to my back to ran and make the farthest distance I could to get away from the fiend.

I need to keep her safe, I thought,

while I kept running across the room but suddenly the chains that bound around it went berserk and began barraging against the walls and ground like whips, breaking all the stone slabs. The torned walls' red inscriptions suddenly died down and fades away in smoke.

Without warning, one of the chains' end appears on our side. It smacks at the ground and the impact explodes on us even before I could have react.

The force sent us flying off in midair,

I could only reach an arm for my sister as she was separated from me

dust screen covered everything on sight.

I closed my eyes as I hit the ground, shoulders first. I grit my teeth at the pain but there was no time to dwell over it,

As soon as I was able, I pulled myself up

and hastily searched for Aerra.

I crawled to her and hurriedly took her to my back and carried her with me.

I pushed at my knees and stood back up on my feet.

Darn this! The entire room is round, there's no corner at all to leave Aerra for the meantime so I can fight that ghoulish monster, I thought to myself as I turned and watch the chains that kept going on and on, randomly hitting any area of the room with devastating force.

If only Eriol is here...

No—!

I shook my head.

I shouldn't keep counting on him!

I have my own powers.

I'll protect what's important to me,

I turned my head to look at Aerra's sleeping face as it lays peaceful over my shoulder,

”I won't let it touch you”

I promised Papa, I will protect you.

「Aeron, you will protect your sister for me, wouldn't you?」

「I will always protect Aerra!」

I will always protect Aerra!!!

I faced the beast like a challenge and began to call all my lightning out.

It doesn't have to come out of my hands, I thought, as I held on to Aerra tightly. I just have to make it come out on it's own.

—!!!

Lightning began to appear everywhere in the room, striking at the ground in a haphazard fashion.

I focused at the chains

As all the lightning began to unleash towards all the chains that the monster was controlling to mindlessly damage everything.

the bolt ran the length of the chains

and swiftly crawled up towards the monster and began to electrocute the entire thing on spot.

The monster's loud cry was overshadowed by the loud sound of electricity that enveloped it, filling the entire chamber for over a minute or so.

And then it stopped.

I found myself panting.

I released too much magi than necessary,

it worn me out to have done that one massive attack.

I fell down my knees in exhaustion.

”Is... is t-that over?” I gasped, breathless.

I shifted Aerra over my back, making sure I don't drop her.

I closed my eyes and was about to relax for a bit but unexpectedly the ground began to shake again.

I looked up and realized the monster was trying to get out from it's shell or whatever it is that bound it, by seeming to force it open.

I shuddered at the sight of it as its hands began to stretch free and across the room.

It made another deafening cry before turning its head towards us.

It's about to finally break free, I thought. Just a few more and it's entire body would be unrestrained.

That's it.

I've used up all my energy with the last attack.

I can't fight back anymore.

I can't even run, let alone stand.

I slowly took Aerra down from my back and carefully placed her flat against the ground.

Darn this!!!!

I clench my teeth in frustration.

I should have conserved some rather than taking it all out in one attack, I thought to myself as I opened my eyes.

I'm such an idiot!

Huh?

Where is that light coming from?—

I followed the source of light and realized they were coming from my hands.

But I'm all out of energy.

How is this possible?

Ah? Wait.

What is this?

A symbol appeared at the back of my left hand and glew in white light and another on my right but otherwise in black.

The white symbol began to spread out in me and faded all the bruises off my skin. Healing it. I began to feel energized.

I brought my hands together and for some reason, something in me just suddenly knew how and what I should do with it.

I stood up and faced the monster,

just at the exact same time it finally gotten out and began to crawl forward and towards us.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and bright blue lights covered me

I flipped my eyes open.

The lights materialized into varying shapes of formless swords hovering around me, some are completely blue but some are completely black.

I stomp one foot behind me, planted my toes deep until my foot burrows at the ground and then

I charged

How odd.

My body feels like air.

There's this kind of rush that was welling deep inside me but at the same time I feel at peace. It's almost scary

I looked around me and everything is but a horizontal line. I was moving fast.

I look ahead and saw the monster in my focus.