27 - A Tale From The Past (4)

Warning: The content of this chapter may be harmful or traumatizing.

Blue blood flowed everywhere. The crows that had stopped at the time cage could slowly move their wings, but something strong still held them in place.

Eros stroked Eriu's neck, which had a puncture wound. His eyes looked down before he looked sharply at the flying butterflies, his hand brought the bloodstained knife to his lips and Eros licked the blood off.

A grin appeared as the blood ran down his throat. The prying eyes disappeared as well, except for the stray dog, which had the same fate as the crows.

Eros didn't even look at it. To him, the stray dogs were like ants and no more of a threat to him than the butterflies that flew free. The blue bloods that were everywhere were transformed into butterflies, circling the forest with their tiny wings.

In the blink of an eye, all the butterflies that were still flying around were torn to pieces like useless pieces of paper.

"Was it fun for you to watch?" His voice was calm with no sign of anger in it, "You better stop before your head becomes a display of butterflies."

"It's a warning, so you better listen."

Isn't every butterfly beautiful?

They flutter everywhere when the flowers are beautiful.

They don't live very long, but when they die, it will be a beautiful display that everyone admires just by looking at it.

But there is one thing that the universe doesn't know about them - the fact that they are more dangerous creatures than crocodiles that eat humans.

With just a little flap, the visitors would happily follow them.

Haha, not these visitors, of course. 

But visitors who want to bet their lives with them.

Bang!

Explosions were heard everywhere, every butterfly display there exploded instantly, but the woman sitting comfortably on the sofa did not turn her head as shards of glass and blue blood flew everywhere. 

"Pftt." The woman wearing a black veil smiled as her hand touched a card that moved like an actor in a theater. With a lazy wave of her hand, the cards immediately fell back into useless inanimate objects.

A sweet smile could be seen as she held the death card in her hand.

"Fate is truly cruel."

"Even when he becomes a falling star."

Come and eat as much blue nectar as you like.

In this way, you will become one of us, and we will become one of you.

The great slow moving clock was soon forced to stop. The clock of the universe began to wind back.

***

[THEY ARE NOT HUMAN!]

[DRIVE OUT THE INVADERS, THEY ARE OUR REAL ENEMIES!!!]

[THESE TEENAGERS ARE PROOF OF THEIR CRIMES!]

[KILL THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO TAKE OVER OUR COUNTRY!!!]

[FOR THOSE FIGHTING FOR MANKIND!]

Each person held a banner with writings that projected the word humanity onto it. 

Nothing could stop the rage;

Nothing can stop the death;

And nothing can stop them from taking away their right to freedom.

They all stood there and no one left. However, the screen that had been showing the advertisement turned off and on again to show a thin man sitting in front of the camera. 

After receiving an order from the director, the clapper immediately stomped on the clapperboard he was holding.

The man seemed to wake up with the sound of the stomp. His eyes turned to the right and left and he saw several people in the background worried about his condition.

This is a live broadcast.

Victims of the crimes of the powerful. The conversation between the man and the doctor leaked out, shocking everyone. 

Of course, the existence of this man was a bombshell for them to know a truth that was covered up.

'If I don't speak, their voices will disappear when I die. So I will prove that they all lived, they all laughed, they all cried, and of course they all spoke to me once before they died.'

'It will be the last chance for me.'

This line made everyone empathize with him and made them even angrier as a result of the demonstration.

The doctor sitting behind the camera immediately started his first question after making sure the man was okay, "What was that place like for you?"

The man closed his eyes and tried to visualize his old memories.

"...hell." The man opened his eyes and continued, "I feel like I've entered a secret portal when I'm there."

"That's because I can see the cruel side of humans and how terrifying a hell made by human hands can be."

"When we all entered there, we were 'punished' by them.

"We, who once had morals, slowly turned into demons like them."

"So death is the most common thing there."

"...What kind of cruel treatment did they inflict on all of you?" the second question was asked, her voice full of confusion as she asked it.

The man played with his hands and tried to calm himself, "Hm..."

"Animals."

"We killed each other until a few survived, but even surviving does not answer everything."

"The favored survivors will have their legs and hands cut off. It's a laughing matter, but they get a piece of bread and meat out of it."

"On the other hand, the unfavored will only have to fight to eat. The victims they kill may become their food for the day."

"If that person still has morals, he will be forced to eat insects."

"But the truth is, even if everyone tries to survive, they will still die because of the bacteria in the food they eat."

"Just as I once gnawed on their flesh, the insects I eat now gnaw on my flesh."

The more they heard, the more their heads ached with anger. All kinds of people gathered to hear the story of the unfortunate teenager who had been missing for over four years.

"Ah..." The doctor bit her lip, just hearing it again from him still made her angry and stunned. 

"Do you know the purpose of this?"

The man who was staring at the camera in front of him immediately shifted his gaze and looked right at the doctor, "Fun."

"Isn't it?"

Radio static sounded and one by one the people present turned into glitches. 

The man slowly looked at his hands, which were also changing, and suddenly he was joking, as if there was no sign of seriousness from his conversation with the doctor earlier.

"Don't tell me this is going to lead to Hell?"

"Em, this is great."

"Haha, maybe that way I can meet you and we can start a family life after I propose to you again."

He said to himself without answering. Still, he could hear the laughter of a woman who heard his stupid joke.

"Pftt, hahaha." The man burst out laughing while holding his stomach. The habit of talking to himself was getting worse and worse. From a small habit to something that affected his entire life.

His vision changed from red to green and green to blue. Soon the color black began to block his vision, a small light could be seen in the darkness before it pierced his eyes, making his surroundings appear blurry. 

His buzzing ears heard the woman screaming for him to wake up."Stay awake, don't close your eyes!" The woman's voice sounded panicked and he felt himself being carried, "...sorry..."

(Crying)

"Don't close your eyes, okay, I'm here-!" His vision darkened again and in a flash the woman's voice disappeared.

.

.

.

Eros knew he couldn't do anything about it and let everything go back to where it was. 

Louise panicked and opened the door forcefully at the sound of breaking pots and the strong smell of blood. Feeling the cold wind coming from the window, Louise quickly ran to the window, dropping his cane and jumping in as well, "Darling, hurry and bring Madam Quella!"

"Huaa, Eri. Eri's there!" Eros tried to defend himself, but Ariadne quickly caught him. With all her strength she went to Madam Quella's house. It was deep in the village with little light.

Quella, who was reading a book, suddenly remembered her first conversation with Eriu. That night, Eriu knocked on her bedroom door and said he wanted to hear a story. 

The story she told was about three pigs and a flock of birds, and she deliberately scared Eriu so that he wouldn't sneak out of the house and go into the woods.

But the boy laughed. As if the story was funny.

That was the first time Quella felt that Eriu was strange and she was fascinated by it.

"Is the story so funny? Usually, when I tell it to the other children, they start to cry right away."

"Yes, it's very funny and very pleasant to hear."

"?"

"It's about revenge, right?"

Quella widened her eyes and giggled.

"How did you know this story was about revenge?"

Many even guessed wrong when they read it. Everyone thought that the pigs had thoughts and wanted freedom, but if you read it again, a question will come up.

Who are the pigs?

Was the pig a pig all along?

"Pigs are fed every day until they get fat, isn't it? But from the sounds of it, the pigs weren't the first, and the crow also symbolizes 'death', but not many people know that crows fear 'death' just like any other living creature."

"Besides, why do they remember people who killed other crows and are wary of that person? It's because they have learned and know the meaning of death."

"The young pig was already dead, and the other two survived to kill the farmer. In memory of their friend, the other pigs cut off the farmer's head and replaced it with the dead pig."

"They did this so that the farmer would be haunted by the young pig forever."

"The missing leg also symbolized that the farmer could never escape his death."

Quella mumbled, "You're right. 

Because that story was made up by a slave.

It seemed like only yesterday that ahe and the boy were talking and swapping stories. Someone knocked at her door.

Quella immediately got up and went to the door. There was a sobbing sound from behind the door, which made her open it hesitantly. Ariadne's face looked pale as she held the crying Eros in her arms.

"Please save Eri's life, please..." Ariadne put Eros down and looked down in front of her, Eros next to her hugged Ariadne as he looked at her.

.

.

.

Eriu opened and closed his eyes several times. Images of Louise casting spells on him, Ariadne entering with Quella and Quella treating him. 

"Don't lose consciousness at all and stay awake."

"It will hurt, so just bear it."

As Quella said, it really hurt. It felt like his skin was being ripped off, and he could not even hear the sound of his own screams.

"You're really lucky, how could you get such a curse and still be able to breathe until now?"

Quella whispered as she healed him. Every time she tried to heal him, the wound widened and soon a black liquid oozed out of it, turning the skin near the wound black.

She remembered hearing the old story of the black blood. Many of them died and the incident caused total chaos. To see this blood blackened and this child still behaving normally was new.

Fortunately, a long time ago there was a man who managed to create a cure for this curse, and so many people were cured that this terrible disease was forgotten.

"...I hope you get well soon. And one day you will come and tell me your story."

***

Eros, who had been put in the room, returned to where Eriu was and refused to sleep. Louise leaned against the wall. Cold sweat soaked his back, he felt uneasy every time he heard that scream.

'Curse? Even with the barrier, he could still hear it.

Ariadne went upstairs with some warm water for Eros.

Crouching down in front of Eros, Ariadne handed him the glass, making Eros, who was crouching down while holding back his screams, raise his head, "Will Eri recover?"

"..."

"He will." Ariadne smiled weakly and immediately answered the question firmly, "Eri will definitely recover.

Ariadne still remembers the day when a shy Eriu tried to talk to Eros, and the day when Eros clung to Eriu. They spent so much time together that she often secretly took pictures of them.

Eriu was indeed a strange child, even she didn't deny it. Because Eriu never tried to talk to those who were his parents, but something they couldn't see.

She was of the nymph race and knew something about the dark side of the race.

Concerned, she decided to meet with her old friend. The death of her first child traumatized her friend and eventually led her to study medicine.

Though she knew he was a Chimera, she did not reveal it and hoped for his recovery.

Her son began to see them (Ariande and Louise) and often talked to them (Ariande and Louise). That's why she knew what her son was like.

Lazy, slovenly, and his favorite pastime was staring at the sky. Just by looking at him, Ariadne knew that her son really did not like to work. Yet he did it as if it were a matter of urgency.

Perhaps this is what is called a mother's intuition.

"Really?"

"Believe me. Didn't Madam Quella herself come to heal him?" Eros looked down, but immediately nodded at Ariadne's statement.

Unlike Eriu, Eros is independent, obedient, and hardworking. He was the kind of child any parent would want. Everyone knew that Eros would be very beautiful, and so some little boys tried to get close to him.

A youthful love that ends up ruining someone's life.

They did not accept being rejected and instead accused Eros of being an illegitimate child. Their bullying became so intense that they dared to throw stones and mud at him.

Even when they tried to talk to the parents about their child's foolish behavior, they just said it was child's play. Even the village chief couldn't do anything because of the silly rumors that were spread.

That's why Eriu was often with Eros when they went out. Because Eriu would immediately beat up the bullies and make them cry. When the children's parents came, Ariadne would tell them again that it was child's play.

Of course, she was proud of her son.

Until one day the bully's mother came and apologized for her child's behavior. On that day, Ariadne thought that Eriu had done something to finally see the bad behavior of the children, and that made her and Louise happy.

The praise made Eriu shake his head several times with pleasure. He looked behind where Eros was and said in a low voice, "If it wasn't me who did it, they're finished!"

His hand even made a horizontal line towards his neck, making us both burst out laughing. 

Eriu made a displeased face as we laughed and assured us, "It's true!"

"She definitely won't let that happen!"

?

"She?' Louise asked."

"Um! Charlie!"

Since then, his behavior has gotten weirder and he doesn't want to come near Eros anymore. He wouldn't even come out of his room, because every time he was forced out, Eriu would scream in fear. 

The fear was always caused by his screams and the look in his eyes.

Although she tried to say that it was a hallucination, but was it really a hallucination? Was it like her parents had told her that her race had all committed sins?

But why had she never experienced this?

Fortunately, the medicine was still left, and Eriu's behavior slowly returned to normal. Everything was returning to normal...

It was probably a lie she had made up. Ariadne knew the medicine had no effect.

Having already made up her mind, Ariadne soon stroked Eros' head, "You don't have to worry, Eri will be fine." Before she said in a low voice to herself, "He is my son."

My pride

Eros yawned and covered his mouth again as if to hide it, "I'll take you to the room, okay?" Eros shook his head and approached Louise, hoping he would stay there. Louise was startled and came to her senses. 

"Eros, don't be like that..." Ariadne did not know what to say before Louise helped her. "If you sleep and pray to the stars, Eri will definitely be cured tomorrow." Louise's words made Eros turn his head, "..."

"...Really?" Eros' eyes sparkled as if full of hope and when he saw Louise's nod he smiled again.

"Then I'm going to bed!" With small steps, Eros carefully walked down the stairs.

Ariadne, seeing his cute behavior, could only laugh, "Haha, that reminds me of Eri slipping down the stairs."

"Ah, you mean that day?"

"Yes."

Louise, who remembered the incident where Eros cried every time he saw Eriu for several days, "It was Eros who cried as if he felt it.

Louise, who had been tense earlier, slowly calmed down, "I remember before Eros found out, Eri secretly came to me and said his ass hurt."

"Haha." Ariadne smiled softly as she remembered, "But Eros finally found out and he was the one who cried a lot. Eros was very worried and wouldn't let Eri go anywhere, so Eros always brought Eri food." The two laughed quietly before the laughter faded. Ariadne sighed and started to talk as soon as the tense atmosphere was gone.

"...Let's use the last method." Louise, hearing this, frowned and immediately rejected the idea, "No, no, I reject it."

"We don't know what will happen if we use this method!" This method was dangerous and even death could occur.

"It's better to use medicine and surely Eri will recover..."

Ariadne, who heard this of course, burst into a fit of rage, "Eri has suffered long enough!"

"I won't let it happen again!"

"All I want is for him to get better!"

Louise wanted to answer her, but his voice didn't come out, he himself didn't know what to say.

"...Let's think about it, okay?" Louise said with a weak voice, "Then if things don't change, we'll use this method."