AM I DEAD?
It's all dark in here. I can't see a thing. Where am I? Why am I here?
All I remember is that something hit my chest and it was really painful. Mrs. Xing probably did something to me. Did she kill me?
I don't know if I'm lying down on something. Or if I'm floating on water. Or floating in mid-air. I couldn't feel anything but my mind is working. Otherwise, I wouldn't be thinking about these things right now.
It's really weird to be in this situation. I don't know what to do. I couldn't seek help from anyone.
"Master…" an echoing voice said. Master? Who is this voice calling Master?
I couldn't tell if the voice is from a male or a female. I couldn't even identify who it is. I hope someone comes and help me.
"Master…" said the voice again.
Who is it? Who are you? I'd like to scream but I don't know if I still have my entire body.
"Master… Follow my voice," one more time, the voice told me. How can I follow the voice if I don't know if I can even move a finger?
Then, surprisingly, I noticed a small light from afar. I guess my eyes are still working. I don't know if I am moving towards the light or the light approaches me, because it's getting bigger and bigger, until it takes me all in.
Then, I guess, I'm still alive…
I felt my body moving down on something. It's like a leather chair. It's comfortably soft, but it's oddly firm.
"Wake up, Master," a voice spoke, which I think the one who is calling me earlier. It's a guy's voice.
I slowly opened my eyes and…
"Who are you?" I asked. There are seven people in front of me… or I would say they aren't people because they looked like high priests and priestesses or some powerful magicians, based on their white hoods and robes.
"Hello, Master," the woman nearest to where I am sitting greeted me.
"Master?" I said, as I fixed myself on the chair. "I'm Trick."
"We are the Karlbland," said the guy who is calling me earlier. "I am Ciaren."
"I am Vigdis, and here are the other Karlbland. Taneli, Arnau, Ferelith, Eneko, and Marcene," Vigdis spoke as she introduced these beings. "We are waiting for you to die, to be honest."
I got confused. "So, I'm already dead?"
"Currently, and to show our unrivaled loyalty to you, we are still here to witness the last reincarnation as you return to your true self," Eneko said.
"R-Reincarnation? What are you talking about?"
First and foremost, I didn't know who these beings are. Second, they're calling me master and telling me I need to be reincarnated again for me to return to my true self. Like, is not Trick the real me?
Then… Who am I?
Ferelith stepped towards me and pulled me like I'm as light as a feather. "Master, we don't have much time. Karlbland…"
She positioned me in the middle and they all surrounded me. Then, a strong force ejected from all of them in all different vibrant colors. Afterwards, they performed a chant that I barely understand.
"What's happening?" I stared at all of them, but they seemed uncompromising. "Please tell me what are you doing."
Then, the force stopped. They all looked at each other as if something not good has happened. Still, I am clueless.
Taneli spoke. "This is impossible."
"Did we do the chant wrongly?" Arnau asked.
Marcene looked at me with a ghastly countenance. "Master… Did you…"
"Did I what?" I said.
"Did you meet someone on this life?" Vigdis asked. "Like… A person?"
Fei's face registered in my mind. "Why?"
"We cannot reincarnate you to another soul because this person is pulling you back," Ferelith explained.
That might be it. Is he doing something to revive me, just like what Haru did to Ellis? Is he in Valenti now searching for my soul? But what if I'm not in Valenti? I don't know where I am.
"Ferelith, are you saying that…" Marcene looked shocked.
"Someone is in love with our master," Eneko stated.
I corrected Eneko. "Okay, there are three points I'd like to say. No. 1, he's not just a human being. No. 2, he's a sorcerer. And No. 3, he's—"
"A guy," Arnau excitedly spoke.
"A sorcerer?" Ciaren uttered.
"A powerful one, I must say. Someone who belongs in a family who yields extreme magic. Someone who can repel our powers," Ferelith added.
Marcene sighed. "This is the last reincarnation. Are you saying we can't return our master to his true form?"
"That's fallacy, Marcene," Taneli said.
"Master, who is this person?" Vigdis asked.
"He is Fei Xing," I answered. "He's a sorcerer from the Xing family. You may be right, Ferelith. He must be doing something really powerful to fight your forces, and I believe, that must be his love for me. Hence, your failure to reincarnate me."
"However…" Taneli whispered. "If someone is in love with the master, we can eradicate those feelings with our memory erasure incantation, can't we?"
"He's a sorcerer. He might be doing something to counteract our powers," Ferelith argued.
"No…" Ciaren strongly disagreed. "The reason is… you, master."
"What? Me?" Although it feels odd to be called as master, I just responded to them.
Vigdis sort of had a Eureka moment. "Yes… Of course. Taneli is absolutely correct. We can easily remove all your memories with anyone, but… You, Master…"
"What am I? What have I done?" I asked again.
"You too fell in love with the sorcerer, Master," Taneli spoke without any hesitation.
I felt my heart beat fast. I guess it's true. I have fallen in love with Fei.
"And that is the reason we can't do it, the reconstruction of your true form," Eneko said.
"But this is the moment we've been waiting for. It's the 999th lifetime already! The last one," Marcene stated.
999th? So… Trick Sylvanie is the last life before I turn to my true form? But… I can't afford to lose this life. I love it and this life is so meaningful to me. I had great friends, wonderful drag family, and… a man who loves me. I bet it never happened before, that's why they're having this problem for the very first time!
"And since this is the last, perhaps, we should give all our power to successfully return our master to his true form. Everyone, get ready," Ciaren commanded.
"Wait!" I stopped them.
"Yes, Master? Is there anything you'd like to say?" Ferelith asked.
"What if I don't want to go back to my true form and I want to go back as me? As Trick Sylvanie?"
"And be with the sorcerer?" Arnau excitedly spoke.
"Yes, Arnau, you understand me, yeah?" Somehow, among them, I felt like Arnau is the one who is in favor of what I want as Trick. Taneli seemed doubtful of my decisions. Ciaren is firm with his goal. Marcene is the most emotional among them, as she gets easily affected with the situation. Eneko is the most straightforward, the most logical among the Karlbland. Vigdis is the most analytic. Ferelith, she's the sassy one I'd say. Tied with Taneli, too.
"Master, we are running out of time," Ferelith said. "If we can't bring you back to your true form, it'll be worse. Everything we've planned will be—"
I interrupted Ferelith. "Did I plan it… or you?"
"We all agreed to it, because we don't have a choice. We must do it, Master," Ciaren said.
"But what if I choose to stay as Trick Sylvanie? Will you all be okay with that?" I argued.
All of them remained speechless.
Vigdis came to me and held my hand. "Will you be happier with that, Master?"
"I've never been happier in this life, Vigdis," I answered. "I've met the most loving people in this planet." I smiled the most sincerest upon saying that.
"Aww… Master, I've never seen you smiled that way ever. This is the first time!" Marcene sprightly uttered.
"If that's the case… What are we going to do?" Ciaren asked.
Vigdis, Marcene, and Arnau went behind me. Taneli, Ciaren, and Ferelith went in front of me. Eneko stood beside me.
"It seemed you have all take your sides," Eneko said. "Vigdis, Marcene, and Arnau are in favor of sending back Master to the last life he lived. Ciaren, Taneli, and Ferelith are in favor of proceeding with the true form. In cases like this…" He brought out a coin. "I'd let luck decide. Karlbland, get ready…"
The Karlbland made those strong, colorful forces once again and they clashed. Eneko threw the coin on air, caught it, and placed it on top of it left arm, being covered with his right hand.
"If it's the tail, I'm siding with Vigdis, Marcene, and Arnau. If it's the head, I'll turn to Ciaren, Taneli, and Ferelith," Eneko uttered. As he moved his hand up, a blue force joined the clash of forces and a brilliant light consumed all of us.
I just closed my eyes and after a moment, I arrived at the…