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10.6% A Psychic's Scarlet Dream / Chapter 17: Chapter 9: Reversal (Part 2)

Chapter 17: Chapter 9: Reversal (Part 2)

Sona: "Don't you feel ashamed of yourself looking like the man who kicked your ass?"

Dragon: "Sona, was it? I see that you know some things I'd really want no one to know."

The dragon looks at her with the same eyes he had when the killing intent towards Ethan Kales had taken over his aura.

Sona: "Well, too bad I already know it."

But she does not flinch on seeing that. It is almost like she had expected it, even though that isn't the case.

Dragon: "But what if an 'accident' happens to you and you become unable to tell anyone?"

The dragon uses a very well-known roundabout way to threaten her. But being well-known doesn't make it any less meaningful.

Sona: "Do you honestly believe I came here that unprepared?"

Dragon: "You are telling me you expected something like this?"

Sona looks at the dragon with hostile intent clear in her eyes and the dragon asks the expected question.

Sona: "I always considered Death to be weaker than you. It's not that surprising to me that it lost. I was shocked at first because I thought it was winning but then it suddenly exploded. The end result – I'd say I had more or less expected that."

The dragon knew this is the truth. From the beginning he had known the only reason for her shock was the situation suddenly turning from her victory to defeat. But what comes next?

Dragon: "Are you telling me you came here knowing you'd lose? Or are you telling me there's still some card up your sleeve?"

She smirks.

Sona: "Which do you think?"

Dragon: "Huh!"

Her attitude surprises the dragon. It is as if the dragon has fallen in her trap and she is barely holding back on her laughter because of it.

Dragon: "What … did you do?"

Sona: "Nothing."

Dragon: "Huh?"

Sona looks up at the sky ignoring the anxious dragon.

Sona: "I just remembered something."

Dragon: "And what's that?"

Sona: "Why should I tell you?"

The dragon is irritated but trying to suppress it. Not being able to see that irritation on his face, she is a little disappointed, but still feels joy in the fact that he has became anxious and irritated.

Dragon: "Why you …"

But even though he tries to intimidate her, the dragon doesn't do anything to force the truth out of her either. He understands that something like that won't work on her. The fear caused by his special effect is barely present in her. The dragon has no idea why she is behaving in such a way.

Sona: "So you are just going to stop at intimidation?"

Dragon: "I might have to."

Sona: "Ha! Ha! HA! HA! HA!"

She laughs as if she has never laughed in ages.

Dragon: "Are you even sane anymore?"

Sona: "I don't know."

This woman has lost her mind. This is all the dragon can understand from her behavior. He thinks of just ignoring her. After all, there's no way to understand what's going on in her head. If only there was –

Sona: "What's wrong, dragon? Wishing to be a psychic now?"

The dragon clicks his tongue in annoyance.

Dragon: "Will you just shut up?"

Sona: "Ha! Ha! As if I'll ever do something because you asked me to."

Dragon: "What's wrong with you, woman? I can't remember ever doing something so horrible to anyone that they would hate me this much."

Sona's laughs came to a halt. Her eyes as they stare at the dragon are bloodshot. A silence follows. This silence is so unsettling that even the dragon is petrified in his place.

After a short while, that seemed like an eternity to the dragon, passed, Sona looks down.

Sona: "So you say you don't remember, huh? Well, that's not surprising. Why would a dragon like you bother to remember the people whose lives you destroyed?"

Dragon: "What … what the hell are you talking about?"

In this moment, the dragon, the most powerful creature on the island is trembling in front of Sona, the spirit-user without any spirits left to combat him and the weakest on the island.

Dragon: "When did I ever destroy anyone's lives?"

Sona: "When did you destroy our lives? Are you trying to make me remember those painful memories now?"

She looks at the dragon with bloodshot eyes again as the dragon takes a step back.

Sona: "I see. So it wasn't enough to take everything I had from me. You still want to bring me more pain by reminding me of those days."

Dragon: "W-wait a second! That's not what I meant and you know it."

Sona: "Stop making excuses!"

Dragon: "E-exactly, stop making excuses to lash out at me."

Sweat has formed on the dragon's forehead. His breathing has become heavy and the pressure in his brain is making him unable to think.

Sona: "You truly are and always will be – pathetic."

*******************************

When I first entered the tomb, I felt something off. It was like something had changed. But I couldn't hear or see anything happening. So I kept that thought at the back of my mind and started walking.

Slowly as I walked, the darkness lessened by increasing number of lights, I realize what was going on.

Girl: "I feel … so dizzy … right now."

She complained of dizziness earlier but I didn't realize the reason for that. I thought it would be because of the shock and fear she would have sensed when the dragon heard about Ethan. But that was not it.

Kais: "Are you going to be okay?"

Girl: "I'm … sorry to say but … I don't think … I would be … okay."

She trips over a pebble. I try to catch her falling figure but I am too far away and she ends up falling head-first. When I try to pick her up, I feel her weight is almost negligible, like she isn't even here.

Kais: "I know she is made of energy but … isn't she too light?"

And then I notice. She has started to fade away. The energy is dispersing and flowing back to the direction of the exit/entrance. As soon as I see that, my brain comes up with a theory for what's going on.

Kais: "That feeling I had when I entered – could it be related to this?"

What if this tomb is cut off from the rest of the island? What if this place is in a space of its own?

Kais: "Also …"

There's the fact that I have been walking for a while, going deeper and deeper, but I have not reached anywhere. From outside, the tomb never looked this big. What if the moment I entered the tomb, I was transported to a different place? No, if we go by that assumption, then this might just be the real tomb."

While I had been thinking, the girl continued to disappear and now she is gone. I am left alone in the tomb. I have a theory on how this situation has come to be, but something is still unclear.

Kais: "But he would have probably known about this, so why did he send her here?"

My theory about her disappearance is that because she is energy, she needs an actual host and she can only stay within a certain range of that host, which would probably be the dragon. Since she came into a different space, she could not stay here for long because the distance between them automatically grew exponentially large. But he should have already known this would happen. So why did he send her in the first place?

Kais: "I'm burdened with enough questions already and more keep piling up. What's wrong with my life?"

Of course I only say that as a joke to relax myself. I don't say it expecting an answer would come. And yet,

???: "There's nothing wrong with your life, Kais."

A voice rings out answering my questions.

Kais: "Who's there?"

I hear footsteps coming towards me. The lights are dim but enough to allow me to see someone walking towards me with a torch in his hand. The place I am is narrow like a lobby but wide enough for two people to walk side-by-side. So it shouldn't be a problem for me to run away if I can't use teleportation in this space.

???: "'who's there?' Are you serious? Can't you think of a less cliché way to ask?"

Kais: "What?"

???: "And why are you asking anyway, you already forgot?"

The voice is of a male. I can distinctly recognize it and I have no reason to not suspect him after what that girl said in front of the other two.

Kais: "Ethan … Kales?"

Ethan: "So you do remember. Good to know."

Kais: "Why are you here?"

Ethan: "Would you believe me if I said I am the ghost of Ozyllus?"

Kais: "Even if you were the world's best actor, I wouldn't believe it. I have seen how he truly looked, you are different from that."

Ethan: "I see. I guess a psychic would have trust in his eyes, even if he can't have trust in anything else."

Kais: "Tch!"

During our conversation, he kept walking with the torch in his hand and I keep slowly moving forward.

Kais: "Who or what I trust in and not is none of your business."

Ethan: "Well, I guess it's not."

Kais: "So tell me, why are you here? This time say the real reason."

Ethan: "Nah, sometimes reality is too boring to speak of, and I like to indulge myself in whatever's the most interesting thing to do."

Kais: "So basically you are a troll?"

Ethan: "A troll in a dark, cave-like place makes me look like an ugly monster from dark fantasy books."

Kais: "Well, it's not like I have a much better opinion of you than that."

Ethan: "Yeah, I figured that might be the case."

We stop as we have reached a point where we could clearly see each other with the torchlight.

Ethan: "I am curious though. With all that has been happening with you, did you get a chance to think about that object?"

I didn't. Back then I decided I'd hold on to it but now it's gone, and I have no idea where. At least, that's the truth.

Kais: "I sure did. And I have a few suspects in mind that it may actually belong to."

But no way am I not taking my chances here.

Ethan: "Well, I hope I'm not one of them."

Kais: "You are."

Ethan: "I figured."

Ethan grins. I have no idea what's going on in his head.

Ethan: "I suppose I can tell you this much. It was mine. I took some help from an Aural friend of mine to place it in your wallet."

Kais: "And that all was just a setup to meet me, I presume?"

Ethan: "Well now,"

He grin grows wider.

Ethan: "Why would you think I would have wanted to meet you so badly I would set all that up?"

That kinda makes me seem arrogant but anyway,

Kais: "You wanted to confirm I'm a psychic."

Ethan: "Oh?"

Kais: "I don't know why but I got a chill when I shook your hand. That was because you were somehow checking my aura, wasn't it?"

I don't know this for certain but it's my main guess.

Ethan: "Yeah, well done. Your guess was on the mark."

The fact that he knew it was just a guess is kinda annoying but I'll have to roll with it for now.

Kais: "So anyway, since you don't seem to be willing to say why you're here, is there something else you can help me with?"

Ethan: "Are you sure you worded that correctly and it wasn't like 'is there something I can help you with'?"

Kais: "Like hell I'd help you."

I fake a disgusted face to see if it annoys him. But it seems like he's faking a smile as an answer.

Ethan: "Oh boy! This is only the second time we are meeting and you already hate my guts."

Kais: "I get the feeling that happens a lot with you."

Ethan: "Ah! That's a psychic's intuition for you."

He says as if he's proudly displaying something he has rather than something I have.

Kais: "So, anything you'll tell me or are you just wasting my time?"

Ethan: "That's harsh. Anyway, if you want me to tell you something, then …"

He starts wondering for a while before finally saying,

Ethan: "Well, there is something that I actually wanted to ask you but,"

He pauses, probably intentionally, making me anxious.

Kais: "Ask me what?"

Ethan: "Do you know ghosts are real and Barry is one of them?"

*******************************


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Zyanide100 Zyanide100

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Chapter 18: Chapter 10: Hidden Pasts (Part 1)

Ethan: "Do you know ghosts are real and Barry is one of them?"

Wait! My brain didn't even process that.

Ethan: "So, did you know this?"

Kais: "You –"

Ethan: "Yeah, what?"

I see him smiling as usual, only this time I can't keep my calm completely. This might only backfire but I gotta ask.

Kais: "How do you know Barry?"

Ethan: "Well, that's simple."

Kais: "Simple – how?"

The burst of emotions inside me isn't coming out. Instead, I think my face right now has become emotionless.

Ethan: "Hmm …"

Is this some kind of defense mechanism my body seems to be using? It might help me use psychic if needs be but, the anxiety deep within me continues to grow because of it.

Kais: "Answer already."

If he takes any more time answering, I might not be able to stop my emotions from running wild.

Ethan: "You really shouldn't try to hold back those emotions."

Kais: "Who are you … to give my any advice?"

Ethan: "I guess that's true too. I am not a psychic like you, I can't completely understand your pain, but I sure as hell know that it's not good for you."

Ethan's tone during these lines has suddenly become serious. I look at him to find that his smile has completely disappeared.

Ethan: "Anyway, the decision is up to you in the end."

Kais: "You … haven't answered my question yet."

Ethan: "How did I know Barry, right?"

Kais: "Right."

Ethan: "Are you sure you want to know?"

I understand what he's trying to say. Knowing the truth might hurt me even more. But regardless, I have to find out what he means.

Kais: "Yeah, spill it."

Ethan: "Well, as you wish then."

He walks towards me not saying anything. I have my guard up for anything suspicious he might try to do, but

Ethan: "The Eyes of Truth"

Kais: "What?"

Ethan looks at me but I can't look back.

Ethan: "This is the reason that I know you … and that I know Barry."

His eyes – there's some kind of shine coming from them. They are glowing enough to make me avert my gaze from them.

Kais: "What's that?"

But no eyes should be able to shine like this. And, this light coming from it is … blue. There's no blue light I can see that his eyes would be reflecting. But then, what's up with him?

Ethan: "I said it before. These are the 'Eyes of Truth'."

Kais: "And what's that supposed to mean?"

What are these 'Eyes of Truth' anyway? That just sounds like a name you'd come up with to sound cool.

Ethan: "Do I really need to say?"

Kais: "Of course you …"

And then it dawns on me. I have heard about something like this before. I think I know what it means.

Kais: "They are … from the legend?"

Ethan: "Well, I guess you remember now."

A man whose eyes could not be deceived.

This was one of the stories Barry told me. If it's true, then 'Eyes of Truth' would be a pretty accurate name for them.

Kais: "But that means … you are …"

Ethan: "If you are thinking I am the man from that legend, I am not. At least, I don't think I am. I am just a 20-year-old normal human with special eyes."

Kais: "But then why do you have them?"

This isn't something hereditary. So that possibility does not exist. Then how can he gain something from a legend of about 1000 years ago.

Ethan: "No idea."

The 'Eyes of Truth' keep glowing and the shine is always blinding. It is as if the eyes don't want anyone to look into them while they look into others.

Kais: "You are … no normal human."

Ethan: "Or so you say."

Kais: "You –"

Ethan: "Against completely inhuman people like you and her, do my eyes really make that much of a difference."

*******************************

Sona: "You truly are and always will be – pathetic."

The sight of a human insulting a dragon is rare to say the least. What is even rarer is the sight of the dragon not retorting.

Dragon: "Damn!"

To think a being like him would actually be terrified of a human who could do nothing but talk was beyond imagination. Yet, this moment has come to pass.

Sona: "Don't bother, dragon. You will never be free from the terror you are feeling now."

Dragon: "What!?"

Sona: "I did say I have done my fair bit of research, didn't I?"

Dragon: "You did, but … what's that supposed to mean?"

The dragon's anxiousness is finally coming to his face. Sona is delighted to see this. She doesn't want his expression to relax. She wants him to keep suffering for all eternity. That's the severity of the hatred she has for him.

Sona: "Figure it out for yourself."

So she decides to not tell the dragon anything. Keep him in the dark while bullying him – the perfect way to cause suffering. That's the thought in Sona's mind.

Dragon: "You … answer me this instant."

The words that sound like a threat are far from it. Said in a shaking voice, these words are the dragon's cries for truth –

Sona: "You want answers?"

Dragon: "Of course I do."

Sona looks at the dragon with the same bloodshot eyes. She is utterly disgusted by this creature. She wants him to keep suffering. Yet she still has some sanity inside her. She won't let an opportunity slip away.

Sona: "Then, answer me first."

Dragon: "Huh?"

Sona: "Don't be so surprised. There are a lot of things I have no idea about. But you know about them."

The dragon understands the point too, but whether he can answer or not depends on the questions. If he doesn't answer though, he won't get any answers in return.

Sona: "So? What do you say?"

Dragon: "I can't guarantee I will answer."

Sona: "Then I can't guarantee you'll get any answers either."

Dragon: "Tch!"

He clicks his tongue. He wants the answers to his questions. It is not something he needs, but something he desperately desires after seeing Sona's animosity. But is that desire strong enough for him to ignore the reason for which he tries to hide 'those answers'?

Dragon: "Well, what is it you want to ask?"

He decides to ask. After all, there's a chance her questions would be ones he can answer after all.

Sona: "Well, now that you're ready …"

The dragon has calmed down a little because of the sudden change in Sona's behavior from complete killing intent to a mix of killing intent and curiosity.

Sona: "How long do you have to live?"

And then a question comes that agitates him again.

Dragon: "What-"

This is a question he never expected anyone to ask him, because no one should even be able to think of it.

Sona: "I know you are going to die shortly. I am just asking how much time is left for it to happen."

Sona's eyes are still bloodshot but there is also a tiny glimpse of certainty in them. She knows for a fact that the dragon would die. How she came to know about it? Only she can answer that.

Dragon: "How do you know about that?"

The dragon does not understand how anyone could know about something that – he has done his utmost to hide from the rest of the world.

Sona: "I'm the one asking questions right now."

He clicks his tongue. Sona is not going to answer and there is no point in trying to force her to, because it won't work. This much is clear just from her last sentence.

Sona: "Now answer. Or is that something you can't tell me?"

Dragon: "No, it's-"

She demands an answer and the dragon can comply, so there should be no reason he shouldn't answer. That's the line of reasoning that drives the woman whose mind is almost at the brink of insanity.

Dragon: "I won't say."

The dragon, however, still refuses to answer. This isn't something he has an obligation to keep secret, but something he wants to keep secret. And to him, both secrets have the same value.

Sona: "So that's how it is?"

The dragon knows what is coming. She would lash out at him. She would insult him and try to intimidate him. The dragon is more powerful but for some reason he will still be afraid. That's what is going to happen. At least, he thinks that is what's going to happen.

Sona: "So, the time left is so short you're afraid to tell me?"

*******************************


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Zyanide100 Zyanide100

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay healthy!

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