Chương 45: Chapter 24: Archive (Part 1)
It's been two hours since I escaped from the beach. By this point, at least some of them would have regained consciousness. And whoever would wake up would be left alone with Ethan until another wakes up. As dangerous as a situation that can be for their minds, I think everyone on the island knows enough to not trust Ethan. So it should be fine. At least that's what I have to tell myself or I'll never be able to concentrate on what I am doing.
Ever since I remembered that my demonic side had taken control back then, I have tried to probe into my own memories. Without a doubt, there are gaps in my memory. I feel like I came to know a lot of things for a moment and then forgot them. Which is, needless to say, only possible when ridiculous amount of power is used to make me forget.
Kais: "Well, it's not all that surprising though."
Something like this is a pretty normal tactics for psychics, in fact. Since most psychics try to hide their identities from others, erasing people's memories in case they get found out is a common practice among psychics. Pretty much every psychic on the planet would know how to erase someone else's memories.
Kais: "That said,"
It's not like this comes without a price. In fact, there's a pretty hefty price. The amount of energy used to go into specific parts of another person's brain to erase a part of their memory is really significant. And if you try to replace those memories with false ones then the price almost doubles up. No half-psychic has this ability because the amount of energy it requires is more than any half-psychic can muster.
Kais: "But I wonder, for someone like him, will it really be that big a deal?"
Surely it's not like Barry wouldn't be even a little exhausted after that, but still, the amount of psychic energy he possesses is much larger than normal. If he had used it in time, he would even have been able to easily see through my illusion. Maybe his mind was more exhausted because of other things that he didn't think of it all being an illusion. Or maybe because he is a ghost, there has been a change in a few of his capabilities.
Kais: "Well, looks like time is up for that."
While I was thinking all this, I had been walking towards 'a particular place' on the island. Now that I have reached there, I need to put other thoughts on hold.
Kais: "Okay then,"
This 'particular place' happens to be the other side of the island. From what I could gauge from my abilities, this side is as far from the tomb as the side where I first opened my eyes on. SO the tomb is exactly in the middle on this axis.
Well, finding that wasn't really the main goal for coming here though. The goal was to find an inconsistency within the legend.
Kais: "And it looks like I found one."
The legend has mention of a pond near the tomb, but there isn't one. That's something that can't just be glossed over. So I tried to see whether I find it if I followed this direction. And I did.
There's a pond near the point where the island ends. This side is not a beach and is in fact covered with grass everywhere. The point the grassy lands end, the sea starts. And this is a major reason why I specifically chose this direction to come to rather than any other direction I hadn't been in.
With my aura reading, I could sense sand in all other directions other than this one. In this direction, all I could sense was grassy lands. And the highest chances for a pond existing is where sand isn't.
???: "Well would you look at that. The first person to come here is you."
A sighing voice came. I turn in all direction to find who is talking but there's no one. I use aura reading but can't pick up any aura other than mine and … a fish's.
Kais: "No way. I can't possibly be talking to a fish right now?"
I am probably frowning right about now.
Fish: "You have a problem with talking to fishes?"
An angry sounding voice came from the pond.
Kais: "…"
Fish: "What?"
This is just another level of weird and I have no response to give to this.
Fish: "Uh, whatever! You better listen since you are not talking."
The fish comes to the surface of the pond. It's golden (like every other creature on the island). But there is something different about this creature. And I mean other than the fact that it can talk, its aura feels like that of a psychic.
Fish: "I am what you would call an 'archive'."
Kais: "Archive?"
I believe that's a term used for non-living things.
Fish: "Archive of the psychics."
Even if you say that, I won't know what it means. From what I know about the pond from the legend of the island, it's just supposed to exist. There is no real significance to it. It's just something that is mentioned in the background. This is probably why both I and Sona subconsciously or consciously ignored the fact it's not there. But the legend might be incomplete. Or there could be legends related to that pond I haven't heard. That was my reasoning in deciding to find it, but I would have never expected something like this.
Fish: "What's wrong? Is there seriously nothing you have to say to that?"
Kais: "That's not the case, it's just …"
Fish: "Just?"
Kais: "Just … your aura is that of a psychic and it's really bugging me how?
Fish: "It's because I am a psychic."
That's not the point. From what I know, only humans should be capable of being psychics.
Kais: "Yeah, I figured that. And I also understand that the reason you can speak is also because you're a psychic. But how can a fish be a psychic?"
Fish: "I am little offended by that, but anyway, the man who ruled over this island decided that he would perform an experiment to see if a creature other than humans can harness psychic abilities and I was his answer."
It replies in a matter-of-fact tone. And well, her answer sounds logical but,
Kais: "The man who ruled over this island, huh. How many years ago did this happen?"
Fish: "I haven't been counting years so I don't know exactly but it was probably about a thousand years ago."
Wait! Thousand years! That means –
Kais: "I … see. So when you said the man who ruled over this island, you meant –"
She probably is talking about –
Fish: "Yeah, I meant Ozyllus."
*******************************
Abyss: "How's it going, god?"
-came the voice of devil in a sarcastic manner while the owner of it looked Ozyllus in the eye as both of them keep floating in Kais' consciousness.
Ozyllus: "Well, since you don't really seem like in a very friendly mood, let's get to the point."
Abyss: "I agree. So why did you come here?"
Ozyllus: "Well, the first reason is to ask you why you are in this boy's mind."
Abyss: "It's because he has the most potential as a psychic out of all the living creatures. And so I would be able to absorb more energy from him than anyone else."
Ozyllus: "True. The second reason is to ask you to leave this boy's body."
Abyss: "Denied. That's not happening."
Ozyllus sighs. The two have said all they have said with straight faces looking like they are completely indifferent to what their conversation is all about.
Ozyllus: "The third reason is to ask you to not show yourself in front of others too much if leaving his body is not possible."
Abyss: "It's not like I have been parading myself. I have only taken over his body three times by now."
Ozyllus: "Three times, you say?"
Abyss: "Yeah, what about it?"
Ozyllus: "I know you took over his body once to kill Barry and that you did it recently when he was about to face everyone else on the island."
Abyss: "And you want to know when the other time was?"
Ozyllus: "I do."
Abyss: "Well, let's see. Two half-psychic morons and a stupid Aural woman were trying to kidnap him and bring him to this island. I took over his body to send him to sleep when he got hit by that woman so he can't resist. I did act as if I was sleeping so they wouldn't have known something like that happened."
Ozyllus: "I see. He too has no idea that happened, which is why I wasn't able to find this in his memories."
Abyss: "Yeah, yeah, that's all fine and all. Now leave if there's nothing else."
Ozyllus: "Man, you sure seem hostile today."
Abyss: "When have I not been hostile to you?"
Ozyllus: "When we first met."
Abyss: "That was only because I didn't know who you were."
Ozyllus: "That's fair. I guess we did become sworn enemies later on."
Abyss: "Yes, we did. Now get out of here."
With the hostility not dropping and irritation rising, Abyss gives Ozyllus a threatening glare. Seemingly unaffected though,
Ozyllus: "You know; I am curious about why you even answered my questions."
Abyss: "Because I didn't think someone like you could do me any harm even if I were to answer them."
Ozyllus: "Really? That's all."
Abyss: "That's all."
Ozyllus: "A little hard to believe."
Abyss: "I don't care if you believe it or not."
Ozyllus: "Fine, fine, I am leaving. Besides, it's not our era to fight anymore. It's theirs."
Abyss: "Theirs, huh?"
Abyss's eyebrows twitch on hearing the word.
Ozyllus: "Yeah, I have sent the man with Eyes of Truth to destroy the boy you are inheriting. At least try to challenge him, okay?"
Abyss: "Cheap provocation."
Ozyllus: "Obviously it is. I am not nearly as good as you in the art of provocation after all, devil."
Having returned the sarcasm, Ozyllus decided to leave Kais' consciousness. Unfortunately for him, something unexpected has happened and he would no longer be able to do so. Unknowingly of that, he floats while pushing his body to reach out of The Cage – the cage that binds the devil.
*******************************
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
Zyanide100
Zyanide100 Kais once posed the question, "Why is The Cage named what it is when it is such a pleasant place to be?"
Here's the real answer.
*****
Additionally, I wanted to mention that I've made a discord server for Scarlet Dream.
You can find the invite in the description of the story.
*****
If you liked this story, please support it by giving a review, grading the chapters, voting power stones or just simply commenting.
Stay healthy!
Tình trạng nguồn điện hàng tuần
-- Xếp hạng
Quyền lực 
-- Đá
Quyền lực