' What's going on ?'
Yunxi watched as Nalan had an expression of happiness, and wanted to reach out to her but was stopped in time by Liena.
Yunxi looked at the hand on her shoulder for a minute before looking up to the face of the owner. " What ?"
" She isn't in her right mind. She is in an illusion. "
Yunxi looked back at Nalan who was oblivious of their presence, and was only concentrating on whatever she was seeing at the moment.
Yunxi rubbed her forehead and sighed. They hadn't even entered the temple, but had already been in danger. " How do we get her out?"
Liena looked at Nalan with a calculating gaze. " The succubus targets the weakest, that means she isn't that strong. Nalan is the only one that can break the illusion. Let's hope she has a strong will."
" Isn't there another way ?" Yunxi knew how Nalan would react in every situation, despite the fact that she hadn't known her for a long time.
" There is. We kill the one behind the illusion. "
Yunxi watched as Nalan ran forward and hugged the air. Saving Nalan now was a lost cause. She couldn't differentiate between reality and imagination.
" But that wouldn't work out, since we don't even know where the succubus is. Before we manage to find the succubus, something might go wrong. " Liena continued.
" Then we should leave, and move forward. She is a burden, anyway."
Hearing Yunxi's words, Liena's eyes went wide. " Wait…WHAT???!!!"
Yunxi didn't bother to give her a reply. They say action speaks louder than words. And that was exactly what she followed. She walked forward and sneaked a glance at Nalan, before entering the temple.
Liena was torn between following Yunxi or staying behind. But she chose the former. Staying behind wouldn't do any good, since she couldn't be of help to Nalan in any way. Meanwhile, if she followed Yunxi, there's a slim chance that they might get a hold of the illusionist. (A/N: Actually…it's because you can not defy your master. )
' I hope you survive this.' Liena silently hoped in her mind, as she looked at Nalan for …maybe the last time.
…..
Nalan was looking around the dilapidated temple in search of anything that was hidden.
" Lan'er…" A soft melodious voice called out .
Her body immediately became stiff, and her eyes widened. Her heart kept thumping as hot rich blood flowed around her body. She very well knew who this voice belonged to. This was the person that …. " Mummy…"
To turn around or not was a choice she couldn't debate on. She slowly turned around, and came in contact with a bright light. She didn't bother to shield her eyes, and stared right at it.
As the light receded, a beautiful woman came into view. Lustrous blonde hair draped over her shoulders, straight bangs framing her forehead, illuminating her captivating face, a blue hydrangea flower stuck in it, as piercing blue eyes peered at her with love. She donned a white gown with the embroidery of flowers at its edges.
Her body was well proportioned. The parts which were supposed to be slim were, and the parts which were supposed to be voluptuous were. She was beautiful in every way, and had a calming aura around her. She was a beauty who could topple countries. A slender voluptuous lady. This beautiful woman was Nalan's mother.
Nalan had always imagined a day like this when she would finally be able to see this version of her mother again. Nalan was stunned, her eyes unblinking as she stared at the woman who was looking at her affectionately with a smile on her face.
" Mummy…" She muttered out once again.
Seeing her mother again brought back the memories she had locked deep down in her heart. Memories she had likely succeeded in forgetting. Scenes flashed before her misty eyes.
The woman stretched her arms out, inviting her daughter to a hug. Without a second to waste, Nalan ran forward, and wrapped her arms around her burying her face into the soft squishy fleshy bosom of her mother.
The woman raised her hand, and placed it on Nalan's head, patting her, further letting her melt into the hug. Her hand, easy weight, teased the bees hived in her hair.
Nalan didn't want to break the hug, but had to , reluctantly. She lifted her head up to look in the eyes of her mother. The tears she had tried to hold back , freely fell down her cheeks.
" Mummy…" Her voice cracked, as she sniffled.
Her mother brought her hand up and wiped her tears. " Shh…it's alright. I am here. " She comforted Nalan , her voice soothing.
Nalan nodded, and stopped her tears. With a broad smile she looked up at her mother.
Just then a dagger appeared in her mother's hand without her knowing. She pointed the blade towards Nalan's stomach, and immediately struck.
" Aghh!!..." Nalan cried out in pain.
' What's going on?'
The sharp pain from the stab awakened her to reality. Her heart ached, and was restless. A sad smile emerged on her face as she watched the woman who pretended to be her mother, looking at her with a twisted smile like that of a maniac.
" A succubus is present. Then we should watch out for traps and illusions. " Nalan's voice rang in her ears. The warning…it was already a tad too late.
The woman ruthlessly removed the dagger, making Nalan grunt and stagger back in pain .
" You didn't even put up a fight. You can't survive that stab." The woman said coldly.
Hearing what she said, while using her mother's face, fueled something hidden in Nalan.
As the woman looked at Nalan in her last moments with a devilish smile on, a dagger came out of her heart, from behind. She had an expression of extreme shock on her face.
Nalan's eyes became heavy and she was unable to keep them open. Her head became light and her legs were refusing to cooperate with her. Her mother's face started to break apart like a shattered glass. Nalan was losing consciousness by the second, and made up her mind to let go. She fell backwards, closing her eyes, and accepting her fate.
" I will be waiting. Mother…l love you ." Was the last thing she said when darkness consumed her. In a time of furtive signs, and sweet hellos and sad goodbyes. Half-truth told an entire lie. Her conscience echoes like the sound of thunder.
Somewhere….a woman scantily dressed spat out bluish liquid out of her mouth. " Damn..! I was careless. "