CH-63.2

 Chapter 63.2

"Arnos." Ray says while staring into space. "That's it for me. Can I entrust my mother to you?"

I strengthen the anti-magic around Ray. I mean to get out of this mess.

"It's too early for you to be whining. Stand up."

"My body won't move. In this place, I can't even cut ｢Beno Ieven｣. After all, it seems like I'm no match for you."

Ray closes his eyes like he's given up. Is this that mans limit?

No.

"…You can do it…"

A faint voice calls out.

"…Mo…m…?"

"…You can do it…Ray…I believe in you…because you love swords very much…"

Sheila speaks like she's delirious. Her rumours and traditions have been steadily erased so her spirit disease will be progressing.

However.

"…Sorry, mom. My body is already…"

"It's okay Ray. Mother will protect you. I'll help you."

"…My strength is…?"

Sheila's body is wrapped in a pale light then her outline suddenly distorted and changed into something else.

Spirits have a temporary body and true body. I wasn't sure if a half-demon half-spirit would have a true body but it appears like it's about to manifest.

Sheila was suffering from advanced spirit disease and her magic was about to disappear. Thinking logically she shouldn't have any power in reserves to show her true body.

She must have squeezed all the remaining strength that was left in her origin to help her beloved son.

The light settled and Sheila's true form was revealed.

A sword…

I guess if the true form of Riniyon was an eight-headed water dragon then there's no reason Sheila's can't be a sword.

Her appearance is incredibly similar to the blade my father made but the magic power she is giving off can't be compared.

I see. So it was something like that. In that case, I don't need to act.

"Stand up Ray. You can still fight. Mother doesn't remember raising you as a weak child who gives up halfway."

Ray slowly forces his body up.

"…M…om…"

He desperately reaches out his weak body and grabs ahold of Sheila's sword.

Light from the sword washes over him like its protecting him.

"…You can do it…Ray. Mother knows there's nothing you can't cut."

Ray nodded and stood up before readying Sheila's sword and facing ｢Beno Ieven｣

"Are you sure Ray Grandori? If you use that sword you won't get away with an easy price with her spirit disease. Your mother will surely disappear from this world."

Melheys speaks in a threatening tone to Ray.

He's not lying. Sheila is so weak the result is clear.

"The reason that a half spirit with an unstable origin can show its true power is because it is a once in a lifetime power. Are you okay killing your mother with your own hands?"

The reason Melheys is threatening Ray so much is because he's wary of the spirit power coming from the sword Sheila changed into. I guess her power can cut ｢Beno Ieven｣.

Sheila's calm voice calls out.

"You're wrong. I'm protecting him. I'll protect this sweet child by giving up my life as many times as is needed."

Sheila's sword glows even brighter. At first, it's strong, then it becomes blindly intense and finally, it's like looking at a comet.

"Nee Ray. Do you remember?"

Sheila talks kindly like she's reminiscing. It's a really gentle voice that doesn't seem like its a final conversation.

"Remember what?"

"When you were a child I tried teaching you cooking and when you got a knife you tried to cut the pan."

Ray smiled.

"I guess there was such a thing."

"Mother said you couldn't cut it but you tried with that kitchen knife again and again and suddenly the pot split in two. Mother was really surprised."

Even though Sheila was a sword you could tell she was smiling.

"I was really angry but you were so happy. Ray would surely be good with swords. I remember thinking that."

"I see."

Ray gently nods.

"Nee. What can you cut now that you're bigger? Will you show your mother?"

Ray slowly nodded.

"It's fine. I'll show you mom."

Ray closed his eyes in concentration and held his sword in a natural pose.

Like his sword was a toy Ray lets out an innocent childlike smile. In his mind has he returned home to when he was young? That child who was attracted to swords was following his memories with his mother.

Ray inhales and holds his breath then takes one step forward and exhales. The sword pulsed in his hand with each breath.

His sword shines, a ray of light in the darkness and slashes ｢Beno Ieven｣.

He cuts faster and faster and disperses the black aurora quicker than it can return.

How many slashes was that in one breath? To the naked eye, it looks like a barrage of meteors. ｢Beno Ieven｣ was cut and disappeared.

Still, Ray doesn't stop.

"…Arnos!"

At the sound of Ray's voice, I used magic and connected our two dimensions.

"Haaa!!"

The light sparkles and the blade-like meteors pour into this dimension and destroy the black aurora.

In a few seconds ｢Beno Ieven｣ was wiped out from my dimension as well.

"..."

Ray breathes out calmly.

Sheila's sword was now only a faint light that had almost gone out.

"…How was that mom?"

As he speaks the outline of the sword distorts and changes back into Sheila. Her body was so thin and transparent that it was about ready to disappear and she was floating slightly above the ground.

Sheila put her hand on Ray's cheek.

"…It was splendid Ray…Thank you for being my child…"

Sheila's body turned into particles of light but she showed a full smile on her face.

"…I love you…"

Ray reaches out to hug her but there was nothing he could hold on to.

As if suddenly exposed to a gust of wind Ray's mother disappeared.

"…Mom…"

Ray started to cry at the particles of light that still remained in his hands.

"…There were still things I wanted to do…" He says in a voice that comes from the bottom of his heart. "…Things I wanted us to do together…"

Ray looks down and his voice becomes so thin it almost disappears.

"…I'm sorry…we can't do anything together any more…"

Tears spill down Ray's cheeks.

"I understand your feelings Ray but its too early for you to cry yet."

Ray looks up at my words.

"Keep those tears for your emotional reunion. You can do your filial piety later without reserve."