Tiecia avoided the mysterious touch of the astral beings. The blonde-haired girl continued to run frantically. She didn't want to look back. Trauma continues to haunt her after an unknown girl has her neck broken by them, since it got footsteps alternated. Every ten steps she took, her head always turned back. Also, her breathing became increasingly irregular. What the astral beings did was unforgivable since they killed innocent people already. Tiecia questioned the academy teachers about the security.
There are Footsteps can't stop. It decided to Turn left, see there is a road in the middle. With no other choice, Tiecia turned left while swinging her staff backwards, slow them down with water. Tiecia was stupid that it could penetrate solid objects. Her heart was pumping very fast. Her breath was almost running out. Through the corridor of the room. Looking back again. The astral being chased after her. Sweat profusely, until the blonde girl was forced to give up. Her legs were forced to run, and her breath is too fast and dangerous to keep in, making Tiecia confused. She admitted that she had seen the road in the middle. Right in the corridor of the Daponia academy school. Unfortunately, Tiecia had negative thoughts. Her eyes shone in the dim light. Like a proper advantage for an assassin, monsters shrouded in darkness lacked light. From the point of view between the two, Tiecia tried to buy herself as much time as possible. The blonde-haired girl twisted half of the body. Pointing the wand at the astral beings. They echoed. Causes ringing in the ear canal. Tiecia held her ear hole. Hitting two sides alternately. Reluctantly, Tiecia decided to run away. What Tiecia cared about was safety for herself. It would be a little strange if he saved someone else, if there wasn't more involvement than this.
But halfway there, an astral figure strangled Tiecia from behind. A groan escaped her mouth. Releasing saliva in quite a large volume. Tiecia's legs swayed, her hands gripped her arms even harder. Begging to release the blonde-haired girl from the clutches of the necks by the astral beings. On the other hand, the two astral beings walked slowly. lifted her body up while choking her. The stick she was holding fell down. Tiecia's right leg gave a small kick to the knee of one of the astral beings.
"Let me go …"
The two astral beings tightened their stranglehold even more. Until the breathing apparatus in the esophagus begins to pinch. Causing Tiecia to suffocate. Both eyes widened as they looked up at the roof of the sky. The blonde-haired girl wondered about the term dying. Turns out, she's already experienced it. Even so, Tiecia didn't want to give up. Despite not having any physical advantages, the blonde-haired girl had already proven herself to have fought monsters like them.
When it was about to end Tiecia's life, the sound of sonar sounded. The astral being that was strangling her, was forced to let go of her arms. The blonde-haired girl coughed. Exhaling phlegm while inhaling as much air as possible. Including breathing through the diaphragm and stomach alternately. The right hand took the stick. Cast a spell accompanied by a bolt of lightning, aiming at them. Her right thigh moved fast. Run as hard as you can without looking back. As soon as she encountered the students who had just left, Tiecia shouted loudly. "Get out of here!"
As well as showing evidence of astral beings beside him, making the students scream hysterically. Tiecia told her to run. The astral beings continued to chase after her. Growling due to the electric shock effect. Until a teacher in a red robe comes to save his students. Disheveled long hair. Her bangs also extend to cover the two eyeballs. The hood of the cloak was opened. Her nose is sharp and there is a lip mark on the bottom right corner. On the right side of the neck, there is a tattoo with the symbol of an eagle flapping its wings. He was holding a long staff and a round shield with a color range between yellow and dark brown.
Tiecia glanced to the right. The middle ground in question has disappeared. The blonde-haired girl was astonished by the disappearance of the place.
"Are you okay?" asked one of the students with him.
"Yes. Thank you!"
"O dangerous monster, get out of here immediately! Otherwise, I will curse you—"
Before he could finish speaking, a grip from an astral being strangled the red-robed master. His teeth growled. His left arm swung from the same direction. However, he lost too quickly. The two palms of the astral beings strangled him even more violently. His head lifted soullessly. His body was stiff. As it charged again, there was the sound of sonar hitting the astral beings again. They turned towards a corridor wall. His footsteps were very slow. The blonde-haired girl glared sharply at the backs of the astral beings. Blinks while lifting the stick carefully. Making sure they don't turn around and attack the trio. His left hand opened the rodent for the shield. The moment she touched the staff, a fire element entered Tiecia's body. The two blonde-haired girls were wide-eyed, and the surviving students approached one of the red-robed teachers. Followed by Tiecia who watched the astral beings penetrate the wall. The students checked the pulse on the right wrist. However, she had breathed his last. They can't do anything. Plus, one of them had been screaming for help to anyone who passed by. Tiecia hoped that the nightmare would end soon.
It's not like that. The teachers who were not on duty, ran quickly to the incident. Ask the witnesses who witnessed the incident one by one. Including Tiecia who couldn't escape their surveillance.
The blonde-haired girl closed her eyes. She had been bullied by Sapphire and friends. Felt that Tiecia experienced a curse that killed others. The fists of both hands could not contain the emotion. Feeling the blonde girl is very weak. Her voice growled until it was heard by one of the teachers behind him. She cleared his throat and smiled.
"Do you know what happened if you're dead, right?"
"It would be a lie if I was fine," Tiecia said in return with a forced smile.
Woman in her 40s, curly hair wearing a robe complete with a black hat. She had a rectangular face, light brown eyes and stared at one of the red-robed teachers and students. Meanwhile, other students flocked to hug or check the mental condition of the students who saw astral beings. Realizing that they could attract the attention of the surroundings, the blonde-haired girl prepared to leave.
"If you ask again, you can go directly to my dorm room, ma'am. I'll explain later. Want to calm down for a moment, "he mumbled hastily.
"Wait …"
But Tiecia didn't look back the slightest bit. Knows that there is a Sapphire gang approaching students behind him. I don't want to be near them. Maybe they blamed me for the deaths around me. I have to hide, she mumbled to himself. Until Tiecia saw two teenagers coming out of a large log. Right in the middle of the corridor. Surprisingly, people were not aware of their presence. Tiecia expressed her astonishment and confusion at this kind of situation.
~o0o~
Issac did not believe that what he was doing would have a long tail. The silver-haired youth checked his own body. Starting from the face, neck, limbs such as hands and feet to even the vital organs. Everything Isaac touched had experienced a twofold rapid development. After touching the mysterious spear, it felt as if a dark energy had entered his body. The silver-haired youth was silent for a moment. Waiting for side effects when in contact with mysterious objects. Beside him, there was Reynolds eager to remove and change the bandages. But not so because the effect is not too much. Reynold's veins began to churn. The right wrist was shaking quite violently. Finally, the young man in the pointy hat made a decision. That is to continue to open the bandage again even though it is against his conscience.
The pointy hat boy looked around. No one approached them. A door appears on the right. Standing up straight piqued Reynold and Isaac's curiosity. For Reynold who had been here so many times, it was a matter of course. He was waiting for the right time to adapt again.
The bandages on both arms trembled for a moment. Remove the bandage in a spiral and carefully. A sharp gaze was directed at the left arm first. The sound of sparks breaking against tree branches. But it didn't burn completely because it wasn't too close to the flames. However, as time goes on, the tree branches turn black. Issac moved his long tree branch. Moved while looking at Reynold busy untying the bandages.
There are scars all over his arm. However, the wound can heal quickly even though it leaves a scar. The palm of the left hand was grasped slowly, casting a black shadow out of his body. There appeared a spider walking fast. Starting from the head, body to black skin. A spider blinked at Issac and Reynolds, leaping along with a web over the left shoulder.
"Spider?"
"Before I became fully human, I was born half human, half spider. My face was so ugly that people around me threw stones at me. Said to bring disaster or curse. Yes, what they say is not wrong."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Isaac whispered.
"Do not. I don't need fake sympathy," Reynolds replied.
However, Reynold looked at Issac's face full of pity. He couldn't deny that the silver-haired youth had something in common regarding his past. And Reynolds was a little better. He flashed a faint smile.
"But… it's not bad when you say it directly."
Reynold thought it was time to step forward. Trained hard until he became someone the family hoped for in the future. Of course for the Ellis family lineage that had been destroyed.
~o0o~
Since childhood, Reynold was raised in a coastal town close to the Meriley sea. The place was very crowded with many people. Especially among tourists who want to take a vacation to enjoy the hot sun. People are sitting on chairs. There is an umbrella attached between two chairs and a round table. The surface of the sand is even. Small stones scattered on the sand were washed away by the swift waves. Some people swing their legs. Feel comfortable while swimming in the ocean. Hope the holiday makes guests happy.
However, this was not the case with Reynolds. Instead, he sat pensively in a rectangular room. Cold and eerie. While everyone else was having fun, Reynold could only lie down on a mattress made of very hard boards. Imagining himself at the beach with friends. Playing water together, playing volleyball games, swimming, skating, sunbathing and doing activities that can be fun for him. Unfortunately, that dream will never come true.
No matter how many times Reynold begged, the residents around Meriley would not allow it. Especially his face that resembles a spider. His two eyeballs grew to six in number. The throat groaned in pain. His chest was short of breath. Feet and hands are still relatively safe regarding his condition. However, the limbs are bleeding. Scratches began to appear, began to blacken for no reason. Plus the back started to turn red due to the side effects of drastic changes.
Scream after scream continued. Opening his mouth while screaming in a shrill voice. Recalling the times when Reynold was insulted by the citizens of Meriley.
Reynolds parents died after an adventure. They took their son because they didn't want to feel lonely. And Reynold didn't mind coming with him. However, he didn't know that they were carrying a dangerous object. It would eventually destroy his life. It doesn't matter now or in the future. Reynold's parents actually had a famous reputation as monster killers or being called monster killers. They hunt monsters if the payoff is worth it. Of course with hard work. Reynold who was five years old at the time felt happy when he became the son of a monster slayer adventurer. In fact, his mother was in the same profession as Reynold's father. The difference is, the two take different paths in dealing with monsters. Reynolds father was a fighter. Meanwhile, his mother is a researcher and a magician at the same time.
Until one day, they get a mission in the form of hunting one of the weakest demons. Namely Kuzgan. The demon has three horns. Two side horns on the edge. And another one is on the nose. Very sharp claws like a lion pounce on prey. The flaps of the wings are black, expanding when opened. And has a thin body like a human who has no appetite. However, the demon's power lies in the source of the magical energy, where the horned creature will suck the life energy of each individual. Be it humans or animals. No one knows for sure what it looked like except for three horns.
Therefore, Reynold's parents did not take their son on an adventure. He was afraid that he would become a victim of ferocity by Kuzgan and the demon army fleet. Reynold was sad that he couldn't come with them. It was then, Reynolds Father and Mother took his hand. Hugging his son as if the touching meeting was the last between them. Then, the two took turns to kiss Reynolds forehead.
"Son, I know what you want. But believe me. I don't want to see you die in their hands. At least spare us to fight the demons."
"But Father—"
Before Reynold had finished speaking, his mother hugged him tightly. He stroked his head and ruffled his hair. Smell the scent of the hair worn by his only son.
"Promise to always take care of yourself, kid..."
Reynold was speechless at that moment. However, the warmth that radiates can be felt. His hands gripped his back. Neither Father nor Mother Reynolds would let go of his tight, warm embrace. They mumbled to each other while reciting a prayer from the Epuni language.
"Son, Father will give you a shield."
"Protector?"
Reynolds father handed him a jar filled with black magic energy and a spider. The jar was enchanted by magic by his mother. The magic pressure is so powerful. Until it is not allowed to go out. Reynold blinked at the contents. The spider walked quickly crawling a glass in the jar. Glaring sharply at Reynolds. His expression was horrified. Usually, his parents brought the item in front of him.
"I know that this jar is not very good for you. But believe me… I want you to take care of this to protect you from harm."
"But I don't want Daddy! I don't want to use it!" Reynold denied hitting his chest.
However, Reynold's father didn't seem very happy with his only son's answer. Her brown hair was blowing in the strong wind. Felt it was time to leave immediately. It couldn't linger because it would be dangerous if the enemy had come here.
"I promise, when I get home later ... I will explain everything and its uses. For now, have faith in Father!" he said with a smile.
Reynold was unable to reply with words. The cry broke. He looked up to the sky with tears in his eyes. Begging not to go. Including Mrs. Reynolds. His parents shed tears. He wiped the tears with his index finger. Get ready to go on a trip.
After that, Reynold watched his parents leave. Leave him alone. Their footsteps grew heavier. Walk without looking back. His only son was crying hysterically. Gripping the jar in his hand.
Two years later, Reynold received news that his parents had died in the battle against Kuzgan, the most powerful demon. Only found pieces of hands from his parents and a name tag in the form of a necklace. Reynold who heard his story wept loudly. Reluctant to meet adventurers who give sad news. He turned around without paying any attention to his surroundings. Run as fast as you can. As if it was all just a lie. Her tears began to be unstoppable. Gripping a jar filled with black energy and a spider. To Reynold, it was just a trash gift he had received while he was alive.
Heavy rain soaked the surface of the ocean. Silence for a moment, hearing the sound of rushing waves in front of the eyes. The wind was blowing very hard. Reynolds shouted loudly. Blaming circumstances and Gods for taking away his normal life. Keep screaming until your vocal cords run out.
Slammed the jar until the black energy entered his body. Followed by a spider that intends to infiltrate his arms. The screams from his throat were non-stop. Bleed a lot of blood all over his body. Staring sharply at the ocean and the cloudy sky. His jaws tightened. Clawed several times on the arm. Ready to end his life and surrender himself to the creature that resides in Reynold's body.