Insight From The Delirious Vision

I was never much susceptible to illnesses, in fact, I could not remember the last time when I was ill despite always doing dirty work as well as living in unsanitary conditions. Perhaps, my way of life imbued my immune system this way, or I was simply lucky to never experience it. Right now, however, I could finally feel the weight of this misery that pressed down on my lungs and whole body as if it became twice as heavy.

Throughout the days, it did not feel as much, I wholeheartedly believed that I was merely exhausted, but once this avalanche of weakness, cold and pain struck me, I realised that I had been ill for quite a while. It was an unusual experience for me, thus I could not even predict such an outcome. From Nila's words, which stated, "Seems like your body acclimatised poorly to the Dlayla region, it happens quite often to the first time travellers.", I suspected that my arrival to this world must have been to blame. In the end, I did not just traverse one region or even realm, but a whole damn universe. Or wherever the hell I ended up.

Nila put me to bed and enveloped with both mine and her blankets, then she made tea that was given to us by the priest. He seemingly noticed my poor state immediately, unlike Nila, who only now was in a hurry to fix this mistake.

After the tea was prepared and set on the bedside table, she touched my forehead with her palm that was so slender and cool, "You really are burning, hm…"

Nila extended her hand towards the suitcase that was lying underneath her. There she took her notebook and turned pages until she got to the one she already opened before. I knew of it because I already was able to read the name of one of the spells, Pollux Miaplacidus, the healing spell.

"This one is meant to enhance the healing. Castor… no, this one is for mental distress." she murmured while reading through the chapter of Gemini twins. After a short while, she groaned and slammed her notebook, "Not only are support spells annoying to cast, but they also are so situational…"

She summoned her staff and immediately, several stars formed within its tip. She pointed them at me, but instead of the orange light from the healing spell, a blue light escaped it and enveloped my head. Nila whispered, "Castor Miaplacidus."

At first, I was taken aback by the spell I did not know, but fast enough, my whole body relaxed along with the thoughts that weighed down my eyelids. Nila turned away while saying, "Have a rest, I will bring a priest or a doctor here."

The last thing I saw before being swallowed by the dream world was her narrow back that got further away from me with each heavy blink. I silently extended my hand towards her without ever knowing whether it reached her or not. I did not want her to leave.

Dreams never visited those undeserving of them, instead, people of sin were often accompanied by nightmares, and I was not no exception. Normally, those would be vague, with only blurry sight catching familiar faces along with voices that never once told me a word of praise. Illness, however, enhanced their effects exceptionally, not only I could savour every second of my crimes and persuasion, but also hear clearly hateful words that escaped lips I could not see no matter how much I turned my head.

"Do you really want to tell me that of all the people I sent to rob the Jewellery shop of Mont Blanc, you were the only one who escaped custody? Do you really think I am this fucking stupid, trash!?" exclaimed the man while pulling me by my hair. I was always disgusted by his deep wrinkles and yellow teeth that reeked of cigarettes, but, of course, never could say a word to my "older brother". In the end, I was someone lower than a chore boy, I had no say in anything, especially if the plan, that was obviously moronic, went to shit. I was always at blame for every single misfortune that our gang stumbled across. I was thrown out and abandoned several times because of it, but I always came back, begging for forgiveness on my knees. That day was not an exception.

"Dusk, clean my boots, I stepped into shit.", "Dusk, clean the damn toilet, it reeks after our party.", "Dusk, there are fucking rats in the attic, get rid of them!" and many more favours ringed in my ears, forcing me to remember the smell that got stuck in my nostrils for weeks along with the humiliation I felt upon completing them. Naturally, no one ever thanked or rewarded me for doing dirty work, only left me numb from pain if I did not comply with a smile.

"Dusk, you are a failure.", "Dusk, you are useless.", "Dusk, it would be better if you were never born." Those kinds of phrases I heard on a daily basis. I thought I already grew numb to them, but after experiencing freedom from labels for a few weeks, they struck my heart with a new force, all thanks to the illness that malevolently plagued my head.

I wanted it all to end, I wanted it all to burn down in the pits of hell! But upon imagining the ignition of this flame of vengeance, I saw brand-new faces that surfaced from them, along with the poisonous words that left nothing but smouldering coals from my wish.

"How did I deserve it, Simon?...", "Father… Why did you kill him?", "The world would be better without someone like you around.", "You are a monster whom I shall harvest!", "If Dusk ever gets to this village, I will take his life with my own hands!", "Why didn't you accept my hand, Dusk?". These memories were painful, they brought nothing but despair onto my soul. Did you think I chose to be the way I was? It was circumstances, only because I was wronged by life did I become the way I am. I was not at blame here! I would never do it if my life was more fortunate!

No matter how hard I screamed back at them, my flames of vengeance faded away inexorably. Only smouldering coals remained besides my feet, but to my surprise, even they did not remain mute. I could hear barely audible whispers that stated, "Do not let these crimes rot your soul." and "Only the future matters, all is as easy as that." The words I was well familiar with, the ones I heard from the two who were never hateful of me… And what cute words of encouragement those were! I honestly could not decide whether I should laugh or cry upon hearing them once again! Alas, I was too far gone to rely on them… in the end, I was Dusk the Snatcher and would forever be.

Suddenly, the delirium of the nightmare began fading, and I heard faint words coming from beyond my head. The whole image became blurry, until only a blank page could be seen before I opened my eyelids. The one leaning in front of me was Nila and behind her stood Faust and Riaz, two fellows whom we met earlier today. Riaz's book was glowing faintly, but slammed it, following my awakening, and smiled, "Her majesty, Farhen bestowed you with the end of plague, congratulations!"