[68.6] Words can be Just as Immortal as Time

After arriving back to our cave, my vision started growing hazy.

I guess I pushed myself too much today…

I put down Asmonious and collapsed onto the grass on my back. 

Asmonious panicked, "Mother! Mother! Are you okay?"

I yawned, unable to fight off the incoming sleep, "I… I just need a nap."

He sat down next to me obediently, watching me with anxious eyes.

As I drifted off to sleep, I mumbled, "I really should… Make a barrier… To keep us safe from them…"

…..In the darkness, a soft voice whispered in my ear.

"Reika… Please wake up…"

I furrowed my brow, opening my eyes to see only darkness. I mumbled, "Cyrus? Is that you?"

The voice answered, "Reika… It's getting harder… I don't know… I don't know if I can do this without you…"

"Without me?" I sat up and shouted, "But I'm right here!"

Cyrus slowly appeared in the darkness, his entire body covered in a blinding light. He looked at me, his expression revealing just how stressed he was. His eyes had dark circles and his hair was no longer brushed and tied to perfection.

He lowered his eyes, "Reika… Please wake up."

I ran to him with my hand outstretched to him, "Cyrus! Wait-"

My eyes suddenly snapped open, my hand still reaching out in my sleep. My back was drenched in a cold sweat and my limbs ached. I sat up and looked around, "Huh? I'm still here?"

Ugh…

Why do I keep having those dreams?

It happens every time I manage to fall asleep.

"Asmonious… Are you hungry? Hm? Asmonious?" I found the boy was no longer in my eyesight or anywhere near me. I stood up, rubbing my forehead, "Asmonious? Where'd you go?"

As I searched around, my blood chilled once I realized he was nowhere to be seen.

Oh no… 

Don't tell me…

Did Vira and that piece of trash come and steal him while I was napping!?

I started running around the mountain, screaming out his name in a panic.

I should have made that barrier BEFORE I fell asleep!

"Asmonious! Asmonious!?"

A low growl came from the bushes and my footsteps froze. I felt a cold chill seeping into my bones as my breath caught in my throat.

I… I have a bad feeling…

It feels like…

I'm in the direction path of a deadly predator.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, but when I opened my eyes, all I saw was an ominous black smoke around me.

Demonic magic?

*groooowl*

I gulped, "There's something behind me… Isn't there?"

The creature emitted a low growl as if responding. It didn't sound like any creature I had ever heard before.

I slowly turned to face it, but it was far more terrifying than anything I could ever imagine.

Rather than a creature, it was a beast…

No…

It was something even worse than that.

With the body of a wolf, talons as sharp as a hawk, several heads of a wolf, a lion, and a bear; as if every predator was combined into one. Shadows were warped around the creature, twisting and coiling as if they were snakes.

I took a step back, my eyes wide with fear.

Wha-

What the hell is that thing!?

Don't tell me this THING ate my little disciple?!?

The creature slowly walked up to me, the shadows at its feet swaying madly with each step.

I summoned a giant icicle and pointed it straight at the monster. I shouted out, "Take another step and I won't hesitate to shove this through your heart!"

The creature paused in his steps, seemingly staring at the icicle pointed at it.

It turned its head towards me, making me shrink back unconsciously.

In what looked to be its eyes, was a heart-clenching look of pain and rejection. I paused in confusion as I felt a painful stuffiness in my chest.

How could a beast give a look like that?

I heard a low whimper come from its throat as it lowered its head submissively and suddenly disappeared into the shadows.

I ran toward the direction it had run off to as I shouted, "Asmonious! Asmonious! Where are you!? Asmonious-"

"-I'm here."

I came to a halt and turned to see Asmonious stepping out of the bushes. He forced on a smile, but something seemed off. He avoided my gaze as I watched him closely, "Asmonious… What's wrong? Did you run into that monster? Did you get hurt?"

He raised his eyes to look into mine. I was shocked to see the darkness in his eyes even deeper than they had been the first day I met him.

What caused him to look this way!?

His voice was low, "Everything is okay… Master."

I felt as if I was run over by a car, "M-Master?"

  Not mother?!

He's calling me Master now!?

What…

What changed?

As I stared at him, a smile slowly crawled across his lips. That smile combined with the dark look in his eyes made me shiver.

Why does that expression seem so familiar?