Purified Souls Ch.6 Fears And Dreams

''Hi! It's me, Nicholas Lumia. It's been a few days since my daughter had to save her friend, Hina from herself & harming her parents. Lately, my daughter has been exhibiting weird abilities I never taught her.

She has also been having some other energy besides her usual light energy appear. I think I am starting to understand why it feels familiar....

Now to Lumia's Bookstore.''

Estelle told us, I think I figured out what that strange ability I felt the other day, warning me of Hina's anger was. Years ago, when I was a child, my father told me stories of his father having a unique trait.

One where grandfather could greatly sense any corruption or danger about to happen. Walking through town, he knew who was possessed & who was free of any malevolence.

Apparently my father did inherit the trait, but not as inherently strong as his father.

Marisa asked, ''Estelle? ..You okay?'' Estelle said. ''Hmm? Oh! Yeah, I am fine. I apologize, I was lost in thought.'' Marisa said in a confused tone, ''O..kay? If you..say so....''

Estelle said snapping out of it, ''Our day is just beginning. Let's get ready for any customers coming soon, alright.'' Marisa said with a sigh. ''Right....''

The Narrator said, ''A few hours later.''

Satisfied Customer said, ''Thanks. Alright Bye.'' Estelle said, ''Okay. . .I think he was the last one for today. It was a quieter day today, but it's time to close up now.''

Marisa asked, ''Umm....So why does....your family sell books anyway?'' Estelle answered, ''Oh, right. I suppose that needs to be answered. Especially for you people reading right now.''

Marisa said, ''Huh?''

Estelle explained, ''You see, this business apparently started by my grandfather's hands. My father told me he was a interesting man with interesting principals.

He wanted to keep everywhere free of evil spirits & help people as much as he was able. After thinking about it, He decided to start up a business exorcising people's places for hire.

He unfortunately soon realized that he couldn't support himself just from money of exorcisms alone....

After debating every option, he decided to help another way by making a bookstore. It was his beliefs that knowledge could help in another way.

Apparently sometime before I was born, he left my father & mother to hone his skills somewhere far away. He never came back.... No one knows where he went.''

Marisa asked, ''Wow.... So....you've....never met....your own....grandfather?''

Estelle replied, ''Yes. I've only seen him in one photo with my father's younger self.'' Marisa was thinking about it, ''Hmmm.....''

The Narrator said, ''A little bit later at night....''

Estelle yelled, ''I'm retiring for the evening, Marisa. Sweet dreams!'' Marisa yelled back forth her room, ''All....right..''

Estelle told us, After we fell asleep. In our 2nd floor hallway....

Old Man Spirit said with a creepy laugh, ''I've found them. So this Lumia girl is in the room on the right, while this Marisa is on the left. (Giggles) I can't wait to feast. Sorry for this.''

Estelle told us, This old man spirit spread his energy to both of us, & went inside our minds. Soon after.... I started having a dream with endless darkness and....

Estelle's dream self asked, ''Huh? What's going on? Hmm? Is that....a dollar on the ground? I wonder how much it is? (Giggles)''

Estelle told us, As I went to go grab it, suddenly a huge pile of money fell on top of me. It took me a few seconds to surface out of that pile.

Estelle said hyperventilating, ''What was that? (Gasp!) Look at all this money! (Gasp!) So much money! (Laughing)''

Estelle told us, Out of nowhere, I noticed the money started on fire with me still in the pile. I managed to get out before burning. How sad.... All that money gone....

The Narrator said, ''Meanwhile....''

Marisa asked while looking around, ''Where am I? (Looks around) (Gasps!)''

Marisa told us, When I looked around me, I saw Estelle standing there giving me a strange look....

Dream Estelle said with a mean tone, ''Marisa! Ugh! Why haven't you left me yet? Don't you know, I don't need you in my presence! I never needed you!''

Marisa asked, ''Huh?! Estelle? What....are you....saying? Where is this coming from?''

Dream Estelle continued, ''Your a demon! I don't need you in my family's bookstore! Your help isn't needed anymore!''

Marisa asked raising her voice, ''Estelle? Aaaaa.... What's....wrong with you? Is this....what you've thought of me....all this time?''

Dream Estelle replied with a disgusted gesture, ''Yes. Hmm! Your presence is a bother to me!'' Marisa was in shock.

Old man spirit said, ''These two have excellent energy ripe for my feeding. A demon girl with insecurities, & a human girl with-hmm? No.

What is this? That Lumia girl has human energy, but there's something else I haven't ingested before? . . . .

Hmm. Whatever this energy is, it feels great! Go on! Time for more nightmares! What can I craft next!? (Cackling)''

Estelle told us, Suddenly, my nightmare of burning money transformed and distorted into a different dream.

I was transported to the front room of Lumia's Bookstore. When I turned around, I saw my parents both alive and just staring into my eyes.

My parents fell down. They were on the ground looking at me, laying in their own blood.

Dream Father asked, ''My daughter! Couldn't you have saved us? Why didn't you?'' Why did you have to be in the way?''

Dream Mother asked, ''My daughter, why didn't you save us in time? If you weren't in the way, we could have survived!''

Estelle asked, ''Father? Mother? Why are you here? You already died weeks ago. This can't be real, can it?''

Father and Mother said, ''We died that night, and you could have saved us if you were only stronger!''

Estelle screamed, ''No!! Nooooooooooo!!!!''

The Narrator said, ''Elsewhere....''

Marisa asked, ''Estelle. I've....never seen you....like this. Do you..really hate me that much?'' Dream Estelle replied, ''I....I hate you! Who could ever like a demon girl?!''

Marisa thought with tears, ''Estelle really....thinks of me....this way? Why? Why! Why?! Does she....really....hate me? Is this....how she's thought of me....all of....this time? Will she....reject me too?!

Dream Estelle asked, ''Are you listening? Demon girl?!''

Marisa told us, In that moment, it hit me. Memories of her actions.

Marisa thought with tears, ''Wait a second.... Is....this really....her? Is it possible? This can't....be her.... I've....been watching her for weeks....

She has....never talked like this before. I've watched her help people and never look happier. When talking to me, ....she was bossy, ....but she....

Dream Estelle walked up and slapped her, ''Listen to me! Leave! Leave this place and don't come back!''

Marisa said glaring at her eyes, ''You.... can't be..Estelle. The way....she treated me, these last 2 months.... those can't be lies.

I remember the way she constantly looks at me. You....don't have the same look as she did. . .Your not her!!''

Dream Estelle reacted, ''Huh? Huh?! Uhhhhh....!''

Marisa said quietly, ''What....is....happening?''

Marisa told us, Suddenly, this fake Estelle started cracking from the face and the whole scenery with her.

After that, I was hearing what sounded like a old man's laugh. After searching, I saw a strange light in the distance.

Estelle shouted with tears, ''Mother?! Father?! What's wrong with you?! Why are you acting like this?! . .Aaaa!''

Estelle told us, My father had a strange look. Then the scenery changed. it was just me and my father in my room.

Father Lumia said with irritation, ''My daughter! You don't deserve our family business! Your not taking proper care of it! You know that!''

Estelle said with tears, ''Father? (Sniff) . .I am trying my best! I've been trying to do everything I can! I have tried my hardest to do things as you have always done for this town!!''

Father Lumia yelled, ''Was all that I taught you growing up, worthless? Did I teach you anything worthwhile, my daughter?''

Marisa yelled, ''elle! Estelle!! Estelle!!!''

Estelle asked in confusion, ''Huh? What happened?''

Estelle told us, Without warning, my horrible dream paused and Marisa came through a wall.

Estelle asked still crying, ''Marisa? (Sniff) What's happening?'' Marisa said, ''I think....this is a dream. It is not real. I think....something is causing us to have nightmares.''

Estelle heard a soothing voice, ''My dear.... surely you don't believe me and my husband could really think of you that way?

My daughter.... Open your minds eye to the truth.''

Estelle said with urgency, ''Wait. Wait! That soothing voice?! Was that....?''

Old Man Spirit said, ''So! You have figured it out, didn't you! You messed it all up!''

Estelle and Marisa reacted, ''Ughh....''

Estelle told us, After we heard that voice, everything started cracking like glass. When it broke, we were now in some strange realm standing on nothing, and the background looked like a abstract painting.

We saw a strange looking spirit in front of us....

We saw a bald man with gray hair below his ears. A miserable expression. He had a wispy beard. He wore a grey kimono tied with a red sash, and a black hakama underneath, with no legs to be seen.

He was holding a cane with both hands. He seemed to have a strange chain attached to his back that had some strange spherical cage on the end.

Marisa asked, ''Uhh.... Who are you?''

Old Man Spirit replied with a cough, ''Call me Yume`. I am a yokai that feeds off nightmares of people with solid fears. Please, I don't like violence. That is why I feed on the fear in people's hearts.''

Estelle asked, ''Hmm? So were you going to drain us of all our energy?''

Yume` replied, ''Yes. I have been asked by another entity that wants you dead for whatever reason. It has been requested that I suck you dry until their is nothing left.''

Estelle asked with urgency, ''Who asked for you to do this?''

Yume` said with fear. ''I....I can't tell you. He threatened me to stay silent on that matter.''

Estelle asked, ''You....really can't tell us?'' Marisa was lost in thought.

Yume` said, ''See this chain on my back? The cage at the end shows how much energy I collected from my victims nightmares. It had a quarter left to go, but you messed it up. So unfortunately....''

Estelle and Marisa reacted, ''What?!''

Yume` yelled while straining, ''I....I'll have to put you-IN A DEEPER SLEEP THEN BEFORE!!!! GO BACK TO YOUR NIGHTMARES!!!!''

Marisa asked, ''What's he doing?!'' Estelle said, ''Uh! I'm not sure!''

Estelle told us, He started putting his arms out and clenching his fists, using his stored up energy to get buff and twice the size he was before.

Buff Yume` yelled, ''I'm sorry for this, but I need your energy! Ahha!!''

Estelle proclaimed, ''Marisa! I don't think....that we can talk our way out of this!''

Estelle told us, I tried to reach for both my sacred fan, and my short sword. I realized.... in a dream space controlled by this guy, we didn't have our weapons.

Marisa said with panic, ''Wait! I can't....summon my grimoire. Why....can't I summon it?'' Estelle said with anxiety, ''I think....he is able to control what happens....in his space.''

Marisa asked, ''What....can we....do then?'' Estelle replied while getting nervous, ''We need to think of something else.''

Estelle told us, We started running around, trying to avoid his slams and attacks. If he caught us, we could possibly be put back into those nightmares once again.

We started running away from him. Then, we started seeing giant versions of our memories and our combined favorites. After a few minutes, he caught us both with his huge fists.

Buff Yume` said, ''I'm sorry, but I can't let you go.... (Sigh) It's time to go back to sleep....''

Marisa thought in that moment, ''If I was going to die this night, the only thing regret is.... I wish I could have had coffee tea one last time....(Sigh).''

The Narrator said, ''With a ding!, out of nowhere. Yume` paused, and scalding coffee tea fell on his head. Huh?''

Buff Yume` said, ''Oww! That hurt! Hot!-Hot!!-Hot!! How did that happen?!''

Marisa said feeling better, ''Coffee tea? (Sip) Hmm, good.''

Estelle said. ''Wait a minute.'' Estelle thought to herself, ''I wish for tons and tons of strawberry roll cakes and tea cups!''

Marisa said puzzled, ''Hmm? Um?''

Estelle told us, Out of nowhere, like I thought so.... A whole giant pile of roll cakes and my favorite tea cups fell on us.

Buff Yume` asked with anger, ''Oww! Ow! Ow!! (War cry) You insolent girl! That really hurt! How are you girls doing that?!''

Estelle yelled, ''Marisa! I think I understand now! We can wish for things, we can wish our weapons back! Wish for things!!''

Estelle told us, Because he dropped us when my wishes landed on him. Marisa and me could spread out from him. and got our weapons back, along with constantly picturing other things to pay him back.

Estelle thought to herself, ''Hmm.... I wish for burning money! Usually, I wouldn't do that, but It is his punishment!''

Buff Yume` screamed, ''Burning money!? Ahh!! You think, ....you girls are the only ones who can play that game?! Then.... I'll show you!!''

Buff Yume` thought to himself, ''I wish for raining canes! Tons of raining canes!''

Marisa asked, ''Raining canes?! Really?! Ah! Ug! Uh! That's what he wished for?'' Marisa thought to herself, ''Hmm.... I wish....for giant Rice balls!''

Estelle explained, He got covered in rice and rice fillings. I got fed up with all this, and grabbed my short sword.

I gathered my inner strength, and I ran for him, paying him back by slicing both his arms off.

Buff Yume` cried out in panic, ''Agh!! Argh!! My arms!! My arms!!!''

Estelle told us, I grabbed my fan, paused, and begin picturing loving memories of my parents raising me, with all their caring....

Once my fan amassed enough light energy, I braced myself. I threw my fan at him once more.

Buff Yume` cried out, ''No! No!! Nooo!!!! It can't be!!!!''

Estelle told us, My fan sliced off the chain connected to his back. His body paused and with that, that is another job completed!

Buff Yume` cried out, ''No! No!! NOOO!!!! That was....Ugh!!''

Estelle told us, With his chain cut off, he started shrinking and shrinking.

Yume` shouted with panic, ''What have you done?!?!''

Estelle told us, After he got really small, out of nowhere, a huge flash of light blinded both of us.

We both woke up at the same time, realizing that the sun was rising outside. We both asked each other if what just happened was indeed real.

Confirming it was so. That following day, we closed the bookstore and I put up sign. We took a day off to heal and rest....

The Narrator said, ''Afterwards, above the village....''

Dark form said, ''Oh! there you are.''

Yume` barely alive said, ''(Cough, cough) Sir. I failed. Look at me, I'm tiny.''

Dark form asked with irritation, ''You....failed? No matter. (Evil Smirk) I'll just have to devour you instead.''

Yume` asked, ''Huh? What?! What?!?'' Dark Form shouted, ''You-think, I Rintarou Lumia!, will stand for your failure!?!?''

Yume` said frightened, ''Sir!, -please don't!! Don't!! No!! Aghh!!!!''

The Narrator said, ''With that, he was sucked into his hand and was just gone.''

Rintarou said with a tiny smile, ''Hmm.... He was barely even a morsel. He failed me as well. Now-now, what to do next?''

The Narrator said with a gulp, ''....goodbye....''