Chapter 14

"Can you stop that!?" Geros stops Ono as he tried to find what's the problem and why Zaco and Tahis are still not awake.

Ono has been playing Zaco's body who's still unconscious. Their body becomes waxy that could be formed in any way they could possibly imagine. "What?" Ono asks as he twists Zaco's both hands at a crooked angle. Zaco's body hangs in the air as he plays with it.

"I said stop that."

Ono let go of Zaco and his body slumped as if used clothes and was abandoned. He was about to reach Tahis but Geros stop the psychopath "Ono!"

"Haaaa~" He only let out a big sigh.

"What happened?" Geros asked Ono, for the nth time.

"I told you, just now you were under the illusion for almost a week."

Geros knew that already but was still surprised when he heard it from Ono. He does notice that something was amiss but he didn't expect that it's been four days since then. He didn't realize that they had been on the illusion for that long. In his illusion, he was just starting to find the young master, but he didn't know it's been days since then. His illusion was consist of a time loop. It made him believe that they just starting to find the young master.

What's more baffling is since when did they fall to that illusion. When they entered the Slums? Or Calles? Or even before that at Aros? They came from Aros from there, at the end of the city, is the Calles. And at Calles, is the Slums, but then they the scent of the young master was in dumpster near the illusion vortex or the slum. After that they entered the slum.

Geros was analyzing where they had been when he suddenly halted his steps. Frowning, he remembers the smell of the young master. Since they come to the Slums they've been following the scent of the young master. From the warehouse at Calles to the dumpster near the slum and back again. No, they've been in the Calles twice, which means the illusion started at the Calles then continued again at the dumpster causing them to fall under the illusion vortex.

It means that the scent of the young master put them in the illusion vortex. It also means that there are two separate mages in the Slums, one in the Calles and the other was the person controlling the illusion vortex. Furthermore, to be able to fake a scent it means that that person is with the young master. It also entails that the young master is alive and with a mage.

The young master found the mage in the Slums.

Knowing that Geros sighed in relief. Now, why is Zaco and Tahis still not awake? He knows that Ono is probably the one who break his illusion but why the two is still under the illusion?

He looks back at Ono, wanting to get more information before calling Master Symon. Geros knew what Ono's ability is, he's a human anti-magic. He can somehow nullify any magic. "I get that, but I'm asking why are they still not awake? How can you break my illusion but not them?"

"Oh, because I'm out of change."

Geros frowned not understanding what he said.

"By the way do you have a coin? Or a change?"

"I don't have any."

"Then we can't break their illusion."

"What does it mean? How can a coin break their illusion?"

"To break the illusion we have to give a change to the old man over there." Ono pointed at the bone scattered around the signboard.

Geros remembered the old man before. He was at the entrance of the slum, he remembered this old man with straw-like hair and his movement was strange but now that he got back, the old man before is just bones.

"A coin?"

"Uh-huh" Ono nodded and he goes back to continue playing with the listless body of Zaco.

"A coin for one's life?"

"No, a change for one's life. That old man is really tricky in his words but yeah, a coin will do."

Geros didn't understand what this crazy person is saying but finding coins in the era where only virtual money exists... It'll be hard to find even one coin.

He could only think of asking his boss to help them. Ono supposed to be with Master Symon but he's nowhere to be found. He doesn't want to asks Ono again because he knows this brain is not functioning normally but he got no other option.

"Where's Master Symon?"

"He had some business, somewhere."

"Do you know what is it?"

"I had no idea." ʅ(́ ◡◝ )ʃ

"Useless."

"He's in the Slums though. We should ask him for coins!"

(≖_≖ )

"Hurry old man!"

. . .

Al's

—Thud!—

They landed roughly from the ceiling of Al's apartment.

Maru who has been thrown and then transported felt like his soul leaving him. It was his first time being transported and it wasn't a good experience, not to mention how he was thrown like a ball before.

He looks towards Al, who's lying on the ground, beads of sweat gather on his forehead. Al's eyes are closed and you can hear his gasps as he tries to catch his breath.

Teleportation magic really exhausting him. Transferring two beings from one point to another, bending the spatial space in between without traversing the physical space between them. Warping the space then connecting it to another to travel in light-speed, not to mention they teleported with long distance in one jump. It was complicated and much more dreadful to do, that's why he never like doing it without an assistance from magic crystals.

Al closes his eyes and starts to circle his magic inside him. His magic was depleted in 2 seconds of using that teleportation. Added to that how he created that water infusion body of his then two teleportation magic. Then clean off their tracks so that they can't be followed.

His mind and body were weary and trembling, from head to toe, were calling out for a soft mattress. He was itching to sleep firmly and forget about their retched experience today. But he can't just sleep, he had to do one more thing.

Al looks at his sides and saw Maru looking back at him with worry. His face and clothes are full of blood, he raised his arms and reaches for him. Maru saw that Al wanting to reach him so he got closer.

Suddenly a strong gush of wind blows on him, knocking him to the ground. Then he was dragged by the neck and pin him to the wall. This series of actions was done within a blink. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see who attacked him abruptly, it was Al.

Al glance at him expressionlessly. His eyes were ice cold and there was no light within it. It was dark as the abyss of death and it looked like it was about to swallow Maru up. Al then revealed a soft smile, both gentle and cruel. His cold fingers, wrapped around Maru's tiny neck and gradually tightened. While his other palm was facing his front with a golden magic circle insight ready to be used.

Maru paled at what he saw from Al, it was like a bucket of ice water poured over him. He can feel the air stagnate and the temperature inside the room dropped rapidly as the apartment also dimmed. He then heard Al's wintry voice "Lesson number one, don't trust anyone."

Al looked down at the boy with the dark line over his eyes. "Anyone can betray you. Anyone."

Al knew what betrayal means, he experienced it first hand that's why he liked solitude. When you're alone, no one can betray you. Nobody can hurt you and it's easy that way. It's easier to be alone.

Never trust anyone, that's what his father taught him and his master.

Not even the child you grew up with. Not the councils that advise you. Not the aides that helped you. The servants that showered you praises will turn their back at the first sign of conflict in authority.

Not even your relatives or a family member. Now, both his father and his master had a tragic ending. He died alone and no one even acknowledges that. He wants a change but that person didn't give it to him and run away.

Remembering that person, a wave of emotions that he repressed, suddenly surges and hit Al like a tidal wave. His magic becomes rebellious and fluctuating, the soft golden particles and swirls around him become erratic and violent.

Maybe because his body was drained and tired or he remembers his past causing his emotions to become unstable or both. Either way, his blood becomes violent, making it hard for him to keep it under control.

Gritting as he attempts to control the turbulence of emotions, he didn't notice how his eyes flickering from brown to golden as he becomes out of control.

Maru who's seeing all of those trembled with both fear and surprise.