7

Dreamless Town in the City of Reverie was known for inducing hallucinations. The walls of the town, its sky which had eternal night were parasitic. One could hear the sweet eerie sound of lyre however none could understand the origin of the sound or its name. The town was shrouded in mystery and darkness.

'How are we going to travel?' I asked young master. Our impromptu trip started early morning. Reverie was a day travel from our city of Minner.

'My horse Aethon will take us' the man said while caressing the black monster. Sure, it was a horse, however it was far bigger than one. It had black hair which looked as if they were smoke emitted from its back and nape. The front part of his body had a crimson shape fur that looked as if it was burning red coal.

'Neigh…Neigh….'

No don't tell me.

It really was a monster. There is no way a horse can have homodont Canines and red colored eyes.

It really was a bad idea

'Young master it is really a horse?' I asked apprehensively while pointing at the monster.

'That's rich coming from you, who owns twenty feet abnormal snakes with crazy diet.'

'Ack….' The man got me by the neck. Even I had monsters. Two at that.

'Come on now.' He said while extending his hand.

'Yes', I said while gratefully taking it.

====

'So, what is its diet?' I asked. We have been travelling for quite a while now. It was my first time travelling to another city. I was thrilled but scared at the same. Sure, I did not care if I lived or died but that did not mean that I was not scared of dying. I was scared of the pain and the aftermath. What if there was heaven and hell after dying? I was not sure if I was really suited for heaven and I was terrified thinking about the punishments that awaited in hell. If I died successfully, I might reach my parents, if not then I might lose the chance to do so forever. Voluntarily moving towards my death was another kind of thrill, flooding me with various kinds of thoughts.

'Just human meat'

Just human meat? Well, I could have guessed it sooner or I was expecting him to say that.

'Where are your snakes. The more weapons we have, the better chance of defense we can make.

'They will reach Reverie on their own. They have been trained to memorize every route of this country.'

'Do you know the reason why abnormality occurs'. I asked him

'It is mainly due to soul cursing. If an animal commits an atrocious deed like cannibalism or killing innocent humans which is condemned as being highest sins their soul will get cursed and change its shape thus, they will turn into monsters as punishment . It can be applied to humans too '

'I see.'

Silence ensued

So awkward.

I was never a person to start a talk. After being a Vaidas Kanya I only knew how to do lip service. And it had been a while since I have actually talked with someone even though this man was nothing but a mysterious stranger to me with cryptic eyes and ambiguous world. The only way I can keep my anxiety down was by looking at my surrounding. The lush trees and verdant fields. The peonies and daisies growing in merry companies of the daffodils. I saw some nobles who were non ichors moving in pompous carriages. As the scenery passed on after another a completely new world opened its door to me. The door I banged so much that my hands started bleeding and I lost all hope. Now that it has opened its door, I do not want to go in. I do not want acceptance.

The man has made us invisible to the surroundings. A shaman can control the soul of a person in various ways. An ichor has perfected his art in soul manipulation. By making the soul invisible to the surroundings one can also make the physical body disappear.

'Look over there it is the temple of seventh Ichor' He said while pointing at the surroundings

'Yes, Delphi was it?'

'Yes, Delphi was the ichor who was proficient in hunting and cultural arts. She is known to be down to earth and beautiful woman with an academy of scholars.'

'Reverie is the town dedicated to her. But I think there were nine scholars altogether.'

'They were her muses.'

Young master was enjoying the conversation. He knew various things. From trees we have crossed to the history of every place. It really seemed that all the books in the mansion were read by him.

'Young master knows about a lot of things'

'I just have lived long enough to know about these things.' There was melancholy in his words, his golden eyes looked glassy and distant. He looked lonely and sad as if reminiscing about the time that has past long ago.

'Do you really think so that we would find the remnants of Damocles there?'

'I do not know. It is the best shot to find It. That is why I do not want to take you'

'Don't think too much about it. I am not doing it without a reward.' I said reassuring him.

'Just for a mere name? I don't think so that my name is more important than your life.'

'But I know you will protect me' I said smiling at him.

'That sure is true. I cannot get you killed unless you have killed me.'

'Yeah. Yeah'