18 The gathering

It was around an hour later. It was really close to departure from the hole. Most of this time we spent in silence as some of our people tried to gather power from within themselves. It's almost like monk cultivation, but instead of gathering the energy, they gather in the dark. It's how every sorcerer in this world either regains or increases their power. I don't know how true it is since I can't do it on my own, but I guess it works for them.

I felt a strong shockwave. Others also did but I think it wasn't enough to wake them up from their 'sleep'. I will quickly just have a look and run back to them.

I went through the buildings still in the sun's rays. The shockwaves' power started increasing with each step I've made. I also started hearing the shockwaves being made. It was not very loud but an annoying sound. I went behind the building and with the edge of my eye, I saw two sorcerers. One's spells were almost unseeable. From my observation, his power was that dark went into the ground and he could manipulate the stone with it to create spikes, small craters, and walls.

The other mage was a little weird. His power was to imbue his voice? But it wasn't just loud it was something else. Like waves of dark sound that was a rather destructive force that was not heard nor seen. Well, I could see it but not too precisely. As both rock and sound waves struck it created a shockwave so powerful that one fourth of the arena could feel its power.

Both mages were incredibly skilled. The one that used stone was able to somehow sense those hard to notice attacks from his enemy. And the shouting one wasn't just staying there. He was able to move while attacking. He was almost dancing on the field while predicting every spike made by the stone mage.

This fight was really interesting. Both mages didn't give up in any way. There were no openings in their moves. They were dodging each other's attacks like madmen. No one hit a single spell; it was either dodged, neglected, or just missed. I was looking at it with amazement. The dark sand was spreading around the buildings where they fought. The stone sorcerer created a big boulder and threw it in the direction of his opponent. It was easy to destroy, but while the boulder was flying the stone mage started running in his direction. He didn't predict that since getting hit by his waves from point blank was probably a suicide.

But he still took the risk. He went straight onto him. This moment as he approached the sound user looked slowed in time. Every step was slower and slower. The stone mage made a movement with his hands and a stone wall was slowly rising from the ground. At the same time, the sound mage was almost at the finishing move. But the stone wall appeared faster and while going fully up it hit the chin. Then in the same motion, the stone mage created a stone spike as the sound mage was falling. And it pierced right through him. Afterward, that same spike with malice expanded with other spikes. It looked like a big spiral. And at the very peak of it. The body exploded from the inside since he created spikes so big that the body wasn't able to withstand. It was a great rain of blood.

When I saw that it reminded me of what my brother did to me. And suddenly the pain returned. As it wasn't there, now increased because of the psycho, I coughed blood on the ground.

"Who's there!" Shouted the winner of the duel.

I started running in the direction where I came from. I ran as fast as possible, but since my stomach ache was increasing, each step was agonizing. I went between those same buildings made of sand. This very fine view was in my head when I came here. But now I realize just how filthy they are. Those bricks are now completely dark-red; it always was… I just didn't realize it until now. This new image in my head made my entire body get goosebumps. The hands of the people in this city. All in red color. Blood flowing from them. Disgusting. This place became darker than it already is. This hole with no escape. A prison for wicked souls. This is it. People can be scarier than those that we can find in the woods or those of foreign origins and power. All of them… Are filth…

"Hey, you! Where are you going huh?!" The man screamed while searching for me.

I had to hide. That's the best thing I can do right now since he can catch up to me any second now. There are two buildings really close to each other if I can get through the gap between them I can maybe hide.

I slowly started walking through it. That was a really bad experience. Well, I'm not very big, but the feeling of being closed between two walls that cannot be broken is a stressful experience. I got through that though. The stone mage was still searching but he didn't go into any of the niches. I could gasp from the stress. It suddenly got dark around here.

When I looked over I saw… The man's face again… As if it was living… But I know this is just my imagination. I moved my hand through his face. It was just like a fog, it disappeared as fast as it appeared. "Why is this happening to me again?" I asked myself, but I couldn't find a good answer so I just thought it's from the fatigue of the pain that, again, increased because I saw his face. It reminded me of that day… It was two days ago… But that scar will be in my head for the end of my days…

I sat down on the ground and thought to myself. It was long and deep thought. "Who am I? Why is my fate so cursed? What's the point of living…?" Those are the three questions that I don't know the answer for… It's like a deep spiral of stairs with each stair being the question and the spiral being infinite. The spiral with each step and question leading to the infinite void of null. A dark void that needs to be avoided. Something that resembles our souls and minds. Something that shouldn't make us fall down. But it does. Those weak… They will only fall in the ocean of their own soul and the stairs of their mind.

The only thing that those two see is a black silhouette with no motion. Blurred in dark. A soul devoured by its own purpose. The purpose of slow death… Both mind and soul would only look at its prey and try to catch it off guard...

But it's not mine. This is not my fate. Even if I'm put into this void. Thrown by 'noble' society. If I want to change my fate. I need to change them all. Royalty. Royalty is the thing that makes us look… Inhuman. We lose our feeling of compassion and true love. That fake feeling that we are given from birth is nowhere close to that of poor families. They struggle and fight every day with their fate. They can be despised, laughed at, and tortured. But they will never lose their pride. And what with royal? They would throw their own children to the grave if they made the smallest mistake. Because they are not perfect…

I stopped. I had to stop at some point. It took too much of my time, I need to go and find others. It's almost time we head out. I need to check on them.

I left that place between buildings and quickly looked around if everything was okay and if it's free for me to go.

The way back was easy and I got there pretty quickly. And when I got there I saw the stone mage talking with the rest of the group.

"Wait, you are already in this?" I questioned the mage and he looked suspicious to me. Why would he want to find me? That's the important question, but it's too early to ask him that.

"I am! That's why I was screaming and trying to find you. Your friend was able to locate me and give me the information that you would probably go my way. And since you were injured I knew that it was you behind the building." The mage explained.

"..." Such a misunderstanding… I'm a fool, to be honest…

"By the way my name is Lucas." The man introduced himself. I don't know how he is here. He radiates completely different energy than anyone here. He is more… Colorful? Radiant? He is not a black and white person. He still has energy and hope.

"Why are you here Lucas?" I really need to know why someone of his energy is in a place like this.

"I was a bastard son of a baron from the eastern lands of the human continent. I was pretty close to the orcish territory. You probably know if you are human. The city is called… Oh…

"Laylia…" I answered him with a depressed voice.

"Yes! Wait... Why did you say it like that?"

"That's because…"