Dungeon (Part 4)
"I asked how old you are." His voice hardened and sat at his broken throne. It was then that an earth-shattering roar was heard from the distance and the room trembled.
As soon as we've arrived his room he only started asking me questions like this. The first one was if I was comfortable. Crazy, right?
"It seems your principal's angry. If you don't hurry up and answer at least ten questions of mine then I'll kill you before they get here. Understood?"
I remained obediently sat on the clean chair he provided. There was venom and distaste in his voice but his eyes remained calm, as if he was lying.
What an oddball. He sat at the murky and dirty throne but he gave me a clean stool chair albeit short or childish.
"I'm 16 this year..."
He hummed before asking again, "What's your favorite magic element?" Seriously. This was too casual.
Is he going to jump and kill me when I lower my guard?
Nonetheless I kept answering his questions. "Electricity..."
"Not gravity?" He eyed me and smirked. "You look like the type to like gravity magic, isn't that so?" This cursed guardian, Sullivan, sighed.
"You don't have to be uptight. I know you can get out of being captured if you really want. But why are you staying still like a puppy? Did you realize our strength's difference? You're personally stronger than me though? Ah well, aside from the age gap, I guess I'm pretty stronger than you now." He chuckled.
I can't help but feel perplexed at his tone. He's acting like he knows me. "Do you perhaps... know me?"
"Yeah, I do." He answered instantly and I saw a ripple of emotions waved in those human green eyes. His tone was soft too.
"Next question. Since you're still a student what do you want to be when you grow up."
"..."
Did I mistook the whole event and it was actually just the academy's career evaluation program? What the hell?
He ignored my silence and just started talking on his own. "Oh! If you still haven't found your true calling or taking any interest outside of fighting then maybe you should try the healing-surgery career?"
He's really acting like a personal psychologist or something.
The ground trembled once more, getting closer from where we were. A pillar eventually crumbled and fell. My curiosity got the best of me.
"Are you perhaps a guardian?"
This was the only thing I could connect with. If he was a guardian, I don't think he's the Sacred Guardian but maybe a guardian in another aspect, then it would definitely be possible for him to know me.
I wasn't from this timeline after all.
"Hmmm is it your instinct telling you that?" A question for a question.
I replied honestly. "No. I just heard it from the headmasters."
It was half-true. It was true that I heard it from Instructor Pedrio but I also found out through the system based on my connection to the future and my timeline's own histories.
"Ah that's right. Peter did say that..." Sullivan muttered. To be able to call our headmaster in a nickname and a soft tone as if they were long-time friends, it seems I was right. They do know each other.
Maybe all the headmasters and this cursed guardian knew each other from a long time ago. Maybe they were friends even.
It also explains the slight sadness in their eyes.
"So about your instincts... what does it say about me? Come on! I won't kill you for any words you say. This is a bargain so answer honestly."
My mouth wouldn't open. It wasn't as if I didn't have an answer. I just didn't have a logic behind my emotions and train of thought.
Also, there was still this lying ache somewhere from inside.
It was the same pain and gentleness I felt when I first met Khalique and he talked about a topic I didn't quite understand.
"My instincts tell me... that you are not an enemy..." albeit slow, I eventually mustered up the courage to pour out the truth.
It was weird. Very weird.
What I once thought would be a dangerous situation ended up becoming cozy and insufferable as time goes by. Never had I once not felt hostility towards an enemy and them towards me.
It was indignant. Unimaginable. Quite crazy.
And there he was, face crumbled and brows creased upwards in surprise, confusion and to what I thought was pain. He shifted at his seat, face covered by his silver hair and tapping a finger on the throne.
"Mother."
Did he just call me mother? Or was he aware of my unconscious skills?
"You are Tabitha Obiel. 16 years of age. You have a little brother named Regan. A descendant of Aliara. You like history and prefer to cook for the people you love. And you are..."
He stopped tapping his finger, the same way he stopped talking.
Sullivan's lips formed a smile and a blasphemous laughter came out. "What are you doing?" He turned back and I flinched instantly. The speck of hostility from earlier had intensified. His eyes turned back to slits like a reptile.
"Now what shall we play? Mortal, don't you pity me? You said I wasn't dangerous, right? Then how about making a contract with me?" He smirked at me. His debauched expressions came back.
Insane. Was he insane? He turned into a completely different being. The wings on his hips regrew out from his body, some blood splattered out and it looked horrific.
I finally stood up and walked backwards away from him. The casual person from earlier was nowhere to be found.
"You're a real piece of shit..." I cursed out and chuckled drily. Did he clawed at my heart? Was I really soft enough to pity an enemy? I'm crazy.
Shit. My temper's soaring.
My hand clutched the short sword from Khiel, and stance myself for battle.
[Dust Palace]
As I activated it, his wing penetrated my defenses but before it could reach me, it turned to dust. "Try me if you can, demon!"
I'm losing my sanity.
I charged at him with light feet and avoided attacks from his outstretched only wing and lengthened sharp fingers. "Hahahaha! Foolish mortal! Know where you stand!"
Sparks clashed and clinked at the tremendous force we both gave to our blades. Shit. At this rate, I'll lose my ground.
[Mana Manipulation: Mana Strike]!
A magic circle appeared beside me and a mana sword rushed out with intense pressure to the demon. He avoided it, barely scratching his shoulder. I flinched though.
It was unsettling that it's letting me hit his body and besides that, there was a nagging feeling inside not to hurt him anymore.
"Who are you?" I growled. A bitter feeling grew in my distrustful heart. Why. Why does it hurt seeing him like this?
"Hahahahaha! I. Am. Sullivan! Didn't I tell you? Mortals sure are stupid!"
I grinned at him, making sure it was obvious I was mocking him. "Heh! Do you even know my name? Demons sure are stupid."
His only wing twitched. "Do I even have to know the name of my prey?!" And he attacked me again. I had to be more careful this time. His movements became erratic and hard to read.
Sometimes he'll swing his arm to the left and while I blocked it lightly, he'd twist himself and attack me by his wing and then his arm.
Fuck.
I blocked with the short sword.
[Damage Taken had reached 30%. Do you wish to use
Ah! I had this!
'Short sword! State the defensive magic you can use.'
[The defensive magic spells incorporated within
"You're pretty silent, Blessed Mortal! You will never escape me for as long as I'm here!" The demon, Sullivan, laughed extravagantly and attacked just as much.
Tsk. He was stronger than me but he didn't rely on it but instead on his quick work. Rogue-like small and light movements.
I had to make a small sacrifice. As he lurched forward with his sharp fingers, I launched myself closer and activated the poison spell on the sword.
The sword glowed violet and left a scratch on his cheek. Instead I was knocked away to the other side of the room with a loud bang. Incidentally a pillar next to where I landed collapsed and the debris had smacked me around.
Shit. That hurt.
[Warning! Accumulated damage had reach 63%. Do you wish to use
'No.'
I stood back up and ran to where he was squirming in pain. Damn. I didn't know the poison was that bad.
My eyes narrowed at him. A corner of my heart sparkled in delight as if a chance had appeared for it. And as if I was possessed, I fused with a magic I've never used before nor know the function of.
"[Sensory: Sullivan, the Cursed Guardian of the Golden Throne]. The rite of purification will now commence." My mouth moved on its own and my body moved like it was used to this action. My skin shined brightly and I felt taller than I usually was.
"By my right as the direct attachment of [Mother], I banish Varvatos from Sullivan's body. The overseer and creator of the Crimson Gem acknowledges the annulment of the millenium contract." My feet walked towards him and the hand that seemed fairer than mine touched his forehead as I said those words. "The clocktower has begun to move properly."
Sullivan the demon, no, the Cursed Guardian of the Golden Throne shook violently and screamed in pain.
Truthfully I didn't know what happened.
"Foolish brother. You didn't have to do this. Don't make mother worry." My mouth moved again before the light dimmed.
It felt like the possession stopped and I could move my back on my own accord once again. I stared at Sullivan. His body was bathed in a gold light.
The scratches he received from our fight was slowly healing. Good for him. I bitterly thought.
The red skin turned into a normal light tan. His long hair which was silver formed into a short icy-lilac one. His body, over all, turned thinner. He became skinnier than before and almost became as petite as me but he still seem to have more muscles than I did.
His size became smaller. Seems like someone around Khiel's age. Was this guy possessed like me too?
"Taby!" A portion of the gigantic door blew up and an angel flew towards me. Wait no, it was a rose-gold haired guy who had wings that flew towards me.
"Khiel!!!" I ran to him and hugged him.
You little shit! I was more worried about you than myself!
He looked like I just died when I was kidnapped so I thought he would be in a chaotic state but he looked fine.
"Are you okay?! Where's that fucker?!" He growled and got out of the hug. His hair was tussled in the wrong places but he looked the same, although I frowned while seeing injuries to his face and body.
Tsk. You can't leave a scar on a handsome face, cousin! I really want to scold him.
"Oh right! I didn't know what happened to him but..." footsteps finally reached us and the first to be seen were the headmasters and Nessa.
Nessa was out of breath and pale as she tackled me in a hug. Even the headmasters looked ragged, looking like they haven't slept in days.
Wet. I felt thick water pouring on my shoulder. Was Lanessa crying? "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! If only I wasn't preoccupied! I could have— sniff! It's my fault! It's all my fault!! I'm sorry!" She rambled aggressively while sobbing on my neck.
I could only pat her back and comfort her. The headmasters also felt the emotional atmosphere and looked away. Khiel however had an awkward look in his eyes. Did they fight?
I didn't think I was gone for that long though?
She continued to cry.
The others managed to arrive as well. Most of them were heavily injured but nothing that couldn't be solved by this timeline's healing surgery. Yuri had scratches and botches of blood on her arms but since she was grinning from ear to ear, it seemed she was fine.
Polisha, Mariah, and Louille looked just as okay.
Aside from the fact that the fake Erazubeth Kalil had a surprise face while glancing at Nessa on top of me and crying, she seemed to be good.
But it didn't fit well about why some others arrived first and the others later though?
As I examined the difference, as mentioned before the early birds looked ragged and much endured than others, their eyes had bags underneath. While the late dwellers looked perfectly well than the headmasters.
Wait... "Rakhiel. How long have I been gone?"
"You've disappeared for four days in total."
"WHAT?!" I couldn't help but stand up while carrying Nessa. She wiped her face and moved back. "I was only here for a few hours though."
"This space has a slow time than outside and other places." A boyish voice that almost sounded like Regan answered my curiosity.
My eyes wandered the boy with icy-lilac hair and familiar green eyes. Sullivan, or the person I thought was Sullivan stood awkwardly away from us.
"Ah. Sullivan, you're awake?" I walked over him and checked his condition. As I thought, my body didn't trigger any danger from him. He was safe.
"Is he the demon? What happened here? Did you fight?" Khiel and Nessa bombarded me with questions. I eyes the headmasters who only nodded before ushering the others at a faraway part of the room.
"Well first of all, he was possessed by a demon. You're a guardian right? Sullivan's your name?"
The boy shook his head. "My real name is Timothy. Ah! You can call me, Timmy! That Sullivan name was the demon's alias." He tugged at my sleeves as if begging me to believe him. Despite how he looks, he seemed more child-like.
"Oh… That's still weird. When did you become friendly with him?" Nessa nudged me.
I gave an awkward chuckle. "That's because he slips in and out of the possession, and he tries to befriend me. Plus he's very casual too. Is it weird? He even gave me career counselling." I explained honestly.
It didn't work though. They looked at me as if I was crazy for trying to befriend a demon.
'Hey! It was the other way around!'
"Well it's whatever! Should we find a way to get out of here?" I told them. When I turned back to the boy, Timothy or Timmy, he was talking to the headmasters.
To be honest, it looks like he was being scolded.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
It was then that my body tilted to one side and I fell on the floor coughing.
My eyes burned. A tingling pain ran throughout my body. I should be able to handle this much!
[Mana Percentage: 2%]
Shit! When did my internal mana deplete?
Ah. That unconscious spell. Was Mother a powerful spell? Well, I guess I did went and cleanse a soul from demon possession.
Aggressively, my body collapsed down on the ground and I vomited blood.
"Uggghhhh!!!" Pain. Pain. It was painful. Fuck. It hurts so much. My tears stung more as tears ran out. Shit. Salty water hurts bleeding area but I can't stop crying from the pain!!! Fuck!
I couldn't even focus on what happened to the others or if I heard them calling me. My body staggered dangerously from side to side as I tried to stand up.
When I thought that I was finally okay for a brief moment, a powerful blow struck the back of my neck and I passed out.