Chapter 21: Unknown Battle

Third Person's POV

While Astra grapples with her identity crisis, a silent observer watches her intently through the story's window of the convenience store.

Standing across the street, the Reaper watches from the shadows, his gaze fixed on her with grim determination. From a distance, he observes her every move, waiting for the opportune moment to fulfill his grim duty.

As he quietly observes, a ripple of disturbance cuts through the air. A mysterious man appears beside him out of nowhere.

"Are you new?" the mysterious man inquired, his gaze not on the reaper standing beside him but focused intently on the interior of the store where Astra is.

The reaper is taken aback by the sudden appearance of the man. He had assumed the man was just an ordinary bystander and had momentarily forgotten to remain invisible, making himself visible.

He examines the mystery man from head to toe, attempting to glean insights about him. However, the man's attire—a black overcoat and a hat—obscures his eyes, preventing the reaper from discerning any details about his past or future.

"Who are you?" the reaper cautiously inquiries, paying no heed to the mystery guy's question.

"If you're here to claim her soul, don't bother," the mystery guy warns, fixing a sharp gaze on the reaper. "Tell your boss to stop sending reapers after that person (referring to Astra) because like the ones before, I won't allow it!"

At the man's words, the reaper immediately heightens his guard. In an instant, everything around them comes to a standstill.

The cars stopped, people froze, and even the leaves hung still in mid-air. It was as if time had paused, and the world held its breath, silent and motionless.

"Armann!" he exclaimed, recognizing the man's identity. "So, you're the reason we've been working overtime, chasing after that missing soul," the Reaper stated with a hint of frustration.

With a swift motion, the Reaper summons his Scythe, the blade gleaming with dark energy, ready to hook someone's soul.

"We've already filed a petition with the Supreme Head about his soul. Yet, here you are, still trying to harvest her soul," Armann quipped, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Armann conjured his bow, woven from the fabric of purple nightmares. Drawing it back effortlessly, a purple flame arrow materialized, aimed directly at the Reaper.

As the tension crackled between them, the air seemed to thicken with anticipation. Armann's stance exuded confidence, his eyes locked onto his target with unwavering focus. Meanwhile, the Reaper remained poised, his expression unreadable behind his enigmatic facade.

"I know nothing of what you're talking about. We haven't received any letter from you. Furthermore, his soul has long been scheduled for collection. The candle of his life is dwindling," the Reaper retorted.

As the purple flame arrow hovered menacingly before him, the Reaper's demeanor remained composed, his gaze meeting Armann's with a steely resolve.

"I suggest you rethink your stance, Armann," the Reaper replied coolly, his voice carrying an air of authority. "The Supreme Head's decisions are absolute, and no amount of interference from you will alter the inevitable."

Armann's grip tightened on his bow, his resolve unshaken. "I will not stand idly by while you continue to manipulate the threads of fate for your own purposes," he retorted, his tone laced with determination.

"Listen, Armann," the Reaper began, his voice carrying a weight of curiosity. "Death is a natural part of life. It's the way of the world, the cycle that sustains everything. So why are you trying to break this fundamental law?"

"We are not trying to break it because we believe in protecting what's right," Armann replied firmly, meeting the Reaper's gaze with unwavering determination. "Astra holds a crucial role in maintaining the balance between the real world and the realm of dreams. If she falls into the wrong hands, chaos will ensue, disrupting the harmony that keeps our worlds in scale."

The Reaper scoffed, his expression darkening with disdain. "You cling to your ideals like a child grasping at shadows," he replied. "But you fail to see the bigger picture. The Supreme Head's decisions are not to be questioned, and neither are mine."

Armann's grip on his bow tightened further, his resolve hardening. "I may not have all the answers, but I know enough to stand against insanity and protect those who cannot protect themselves," he declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "And I will not fail in my duty to safeguard Astra, no matter the cost."

With Arman's final declaration hanging in the air, the unknown battle ignited into a tumultuous clash of wills and forces unseen. The air crackled with tension as the two rivals faced off, each driven by their own convictions and motivations. Amidst the chaos, shadows danced and flickered, casting eerie shapes upon the ground.

With a flicker of movement, the Reaper swung his scythe in a wide arc, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Armann deftly sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and calculated.

The clash of weapons echoed through the silent street as the two adversaries engaged in a dance of death. Each strike and parry was executed with precision, the tension between them palpable in the stillness of the frozen world around them.

As the battle raged on, Armann's resolve remained unwavering. With each arrow he loosed from his bow, he chipped away at the Reaper's defenses, inching ever closer to victory.

But the Reaper was not so easily defeated. With each swing of his scythe, he countered Armann's attacks with deadly precision, his movements swift and decisive. For a moment, it seemed as though the outcome hung in the balance, the fate of Astra and her soul resting on the outcome of their clash.

The reaper was poised to deliver his final strike, intending to claim Armann's soul, when suddenly, someone intervened and intercepted his attack.

Due to the impact, the reaper was thrown back a considerable distance.

"Are you alright?" the newcomer asked. The Armann nods catching his breath.

The reaper recognized the newcomer as another Armann, given their similar attire. Knowing he was outnumbered and outmatched, the reaper decided to retreat from the battle for the time being.

"This isn't over yet. We will meet again, Armanns," were his parting words before vanishing into thin air like a wisp of smoke.

As the world around them gradually resumed its normal pace, Armann's tense stance eased slightly, together with his bow.

"Why are you here?" inquired the first Armann.

"They sent me to fetch you," the newcomer replied. He was the Overseer of sector A. Armann and overseer have the same purpose, to deliver dreams but they are a bit busier cause they are also in charge of teaching the newcomers.

With a knowing nod, Armann understood the implication behind the message.

Satisfied with the outcome, he redirected his attention to the convenience store, where Astra still remained unaware of the recent events. With a sense of fulfillment, Armann knew he had once again fulfilled his duty in safeguarding her.

The newcomer Armann walked away and disappeared in an instant, leaving the first Armann behind, knowing that he would follow.

Inside the convenience store, Bryan entered as a customer. After selecting his food, he sat beside Astra, who was already seated near the window. While busy eating and conversing with Bryan, Astra's gaze drifted towards the outside. There, she noticed a man wearing a black overcoat and a hat standing across the street, observing them.

"That's him! Yeah, I'm sure it's him," Astra exclaimed, pointing her finger at the spot where the mysterious man had been standing.

"Where? Who?" Bryan turned to face Astra, his expression one of confusion.

Armann was unaware that Astra had spotted him. He glanced ahead and started to walk, fading away like a bubble.

"There!" Astra pointed again, but when they looked back, the man had vanished, disappearing into the flow of passing cars just like the night before.

"Where did he go?" Astra wondered aloud, her brows furrowing in confusion.

"Who did you see?" Bryan adjusted his chair and sat back down.

"The man from last time. The one who suddenly disappeared," Astra explained. "I saw a man wearing black standing on the opposite side of the road."

"Really? But I didn't see anyone," Bryan remarked, scanning the street again.

"Exactly!" Astra insisted. "He disappeared, just like last time."

"Let's not focus on him. Even if it's true, what's going on then? Did he hurt you?" Bryan asked, trying to redirect the conversation. "Don't dwell too much on him."

"No," Astra admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by her own reaction. Bryan was right; as long as the man didn't pose a threat, she shouldn't let him consume her thoughts. She took another sip of her drink, sinking back into her seat with a pout.

"Hey! Don't change the topic. I almost forgot where we were," Bryan teased, trying to lighten the mood.

~ To be Continued ~