In the aftermath of their abandoned quest for treasure, their utmost priority was ensuring Sougo's safety. Yet, Sougo had been confined to his bed for two full days, displaying no indicators of improvement. Mika, plagued with concern, watched helplessly as Sougo's condition deteriorated, a fact unknown to him.
In an attempt to diagnose Sougo's ailment, Mika delved into a plethora of health books, yet only one theory seemed plausible. He believed Sougo was the victim of a severe affliction of dark magic, leaving him disabled.
This condition was known as Darkalayas, a disease synonymous with excessive exposure to magic–specifically a special type of magic. Sougo was ensnared within the depths of his own mind, waging battle against the encroaching darkness.
"Darkalayas?" Luna echoed, unfamiliar with the term Mika had introduced. "What is that?" Curiosity won her over, through mix of concerns and confusion in her voice.
"Yes," Mika answered. "In the ancient era, dark magic was famed for its curse and its immense power. It originated from the Dark Lord, Hestaval, an ancestor of my grandmother." Luna found her intrigue piqued by the enigmatic history of Mika's grandmother.
"The statue Sougo interacted with had a profound impact. It filled him with impurities and resurfaced past traumas. This is the primary cause of his condition," Mika elucidated, explaining the reason behind Sougo's feverish state. "Dark magic still lingers, and this particular type, known as Cursexsumtolon, is what afflicts him. Darkalayas is the disease he must overcome." His eyes frowned with worry, his hope wore thin.
"I have books, forbidden texts, that detail and describe dark magic. After all, witches are no stranger to dark magic," Mika asserted, acknowledging his knowledge in this area of expertise. "But so far... I have nothing to cure Sougo with..."
Dark magic was the prime suspect behind Sougo's decline. In their present predicament, the curse was so elusive, it seemed futile to attempt to rescue Sougo. His fate now rested in his own determination and bravery.
While Mika was figuring out a plan of action, Sougo found himself lying in the murky abyss of his subconscious. He was adrift in a pool of an unidentified substance–lost in a dreamless sleep.
Gaining consciousness, Sougo attempted to stand, but was immediately consumed by a crippling headache. He massaged his throbbing temples, attempting to dispel the pain and his clouded memories.
Struggling to his feet–his vision blurred–Sougo discerned a shadowy figure extending a hand towards him. He could not grasp its form, only a cryptic figure reaching out.
"Sougo..." Its voice resonated in the void, deep and masculine.
"How do you know my name? Who are you?" Sougo demanded.
"You don't know yourself, nor do I. So, who are you really?" The figure questioned back, a hint of mockery was on its voice.
Upon closer inspection, Sougo realized the figure was a mirror image of himself–the voice that came was himself.
"Ah, I remember... Ryoutomei Sougo, the proud samurai who abandoned his family to partake in wars. Is this you?" The figure mocked further. "The one tripped with guilt, unforgiving of his past by the cause of his action to choose the Shogun's will over his own kin." The figure smirked.
Without responding, Sougo materialized a blade with his mind and decapitated the figure.
"A peaceful soul who desired nothing more than tranquility, now granted his wish in death. Is this not what you sought? It's better than the world you lived in." The figure regenerated behind Sougo, persisting in its query. "A world of no wars, yet, in vain because of the nature's wrath. The victim of the failure you promised to your daughter..."
"Aggh!" Sougo grumbled, slaying it once more, disregarding its question. "What do you know of me?!"
"Everything," The figure continued its smirk, his whole figure morphed into a indescribable shape. "Your past, your family, your wishes, all of you..." Its voice echoed throughout the dark endless void–a voice of a demonic echo.
"Do you persist in your quest for meaning in your very existence here? Or... there's another reason?" The figure transformed, taking the form of Sougo's offspring. "Is this what is?" It smirked, going too far by taking the form of his daughter.
"Miyuki...?" Sougo's eyes dilated, the depths of his pupils quivering in shock as he beheld his daughter once again.
"Just like you, your daughter had the same fate," She spoke as a daughter would to her father. "A fate before his father's summoning. The new life."
"She's waiting for you..."
The figure revealed that Sougo's daughter shared his predicament, having also been summoned to this plane of existence.
The revelation struck Sougo with a disorienting blow. He pleaded for the figure to restate its message, but each repeat of the truth chipped away at his sanity.
As Sougo lifted his gaze to confront the figure, it dissolved into nothingness.
"Your daughter was also called forth to this realm. Are you not in search of this very answer?" The figure re-materialized behind Sougo, morphed into an elderly woman.
The revelation left Sougo in a state of stupefaction, his mind grappling with the unexpected knowledge of his daughter's existence in this place.
"And what of my wife?" He questioned, inquiring after the presence of his spouse.
"She too exists in this realm, awaiting your arrival," the figure responded. "But truthfully, I sensed something about her way denser and mysterious... How strange..." The figure lasted his information with a tinge of mystery
"But where? Where can I find my family?" Sougo demanded, but the figure fell silent–ominously silent.
"The answer to your question lies ahead in your journey; I am forbidden from interfering with the threads of destiny and fate. However, I can assist in making your path less heavy." The figure shape-shifted back into her original form, a nebulous figure of darkness with eyes glowing brightly white. "Allow me..." Its hand, formed from swirling shadows and fog, reached out to Sougo, offering aid and assistance.
"Hold. My. hand..." Its voice colored by mysteries left Sougo hesitant.
Yet, Sougo rejected the offer, slashing through the figure with a swift, deal-ending strike. Though he had declined its assistance, he embraced the truth of his daughter's and wife's presence. The knowledge stirred a potent blend of emotions within him, but ultimately, it imbued him with newfound confidence.
Its words might spoke of lies, but the heart bore the trusts...
In the wake of their discourse, a brilliant light pierced the void. Sougo's Syyon, previously shrouded in darkness, began to radiate with luminescence.
The void itself fractured, and from the cracks, salvation emerged in the form of a radiant light that embraced Sougo.
At long last, Sougo was roused from his subconscious abyss.
Barely parting his eyelids, he recognized his surroundings as Exliya–albeit in a state of extreme physical exhaustion–his body barely registering sensation.
"You're back!" Mika, joined by Luna, celebrated his recovery. "You worried us, you lummox!"
"How long was I–?" Sougo asked Mika.
"Two days and five hours. You were unconscious for very long, glad to have you back," Mika replied with a relief sigh accumulated from thousands of hopes and prayers.
Armed with newfound knowledge about his family's existence, Sougo mustered the strength to sit upright and narrated the surreal account of his dream.
Mika was utterly astonished, deep in silent over how ridiculous the good news were...
The fact that Sougo's family could still be in this realm left Mika in a state of disbelief, while Luna remained oblivious to Sougo's tale.
"I see, congratulations then! I'm glad they exist in the same world. I look forward to helping you find your family. With that being said, we still have one week. That is, we'll train our arses off from dawn to night." Mika pledged to continue looking for Sougo's relatives. "Then again, why don't you rest for 3 days? We still have time." The same old Mika with his unbelievable caring personality, he forbid Sougo's reckless moving.
After their conversation, Mika thought about training Luna in aspects of magic so she could defend herself from harm. She had a lot of mana inside of her–based on the mana perception they sensed in her–was useful when trained properly.
And so, Luna and Mika both together trained while waiting for Sougo to recover.