Chapter 101: Moon Dew
After observing everything in that strange plain; that held memories of Kaelrian past secrets and untold truths, Tessa was released to return to her body.
She had no knowledge or an inkling of why she was taken in the first place. She was just glad to be released...
Tessa's consciousness jolted back to where her body was supposed to be, but instead of the reassuring weight of her limbs, she was met with an empty room.
Panic surged through her. Her body was gone, and the room echoed with silence. Her heart—or whatever kept her alive in this form—plummeted. Someone else had taken over her body.
Desperation clawed at her mind. How long do I have before I'm erased?
She floated through the walls, phasing into the open air, and spotted a cruel sight—her people, the Rhemonics, were gone. The entire outskirts of Akanon City lay desolate. She hovered in the sky, heartbroken. They think that imposter is me! She clutched her translucent chest. Adrian, please, figure it out...
Without another thought, Tessa shot forward, following the faint tracks left by the group. She sped faster than sound, racing against an invisible hourglass. I don't know how much time I have, but once the sand runs out, I'll be nothing...
As she floated, the pieces of the puzzle began to fit. If that imposter was pretending to teach me how to use my powers all this time… what was the point? Was she limiting me on purpose? That woman is wicked!
Fury burned in her ghostly form, and she pushed herself faster. I'll get back to my body, even if it kills me—again!
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Meanwhile, far ahead, the other Tessa led her group through the barren trail, marching with a confidence that wasn't hers.
Ikehara, who was practically glued to her side, was chattering away as though they'd known each other for years. She even claimed he owed her something, which made no sense at all. The group trudged along in uneasy silence, eyes flicking to each other in confusion.
Adrian walked behind, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles bled. This wasn't Tessa. He knew it in his bones. Ever since she "woke up," everything about her had shifted. The shy, compassionate girl he knew was gone, replaced by someone brash, demanding, and so selfish it made his skin crawl.
She acted like she was royalty, snapping orders, flirting shamelessly, and treating everyone around her like minions. The way she laughed now—loud and boisterous, like she was part of some depraved harem—it grated on his nerves.
And then there was Ikehara. That slimy idiot seemed to be in on the whole charade. He strutted beside her like he owned the world, and now he had the audacity to order the group around as if he were in charge.
"We need to collect four things," the fake Tessa had declared, without explaining why. Adrian's teeth ground together. The more they traveled, the more his rage boiled. He couldn't take it. Every so often, he had to slam his fists into the dirt just to stop himself from doing something reckless—like tearing Ikehara's head off.
Nymff tried to calm him down, her soothing words only pouring gasoline on his inner fire. "Adrian, it's just a phase, maybe..."
"A phase?!" Adrian growled. "She's acting like she's possessed by some ancient witch!"
The group had been walking for hours when they approached the edge of Northwind City. The fake Tessa led them towards Rivermount, a city known for its connection to the moon goddess. Apparently, the imposter needed something called moon dew. What she planned to do with it, no one knew, but the word "moon" seemed to have a magical effect on her ability to shut down every argument.
"Do you dare question the will of the moon goddess?" she would snap whenever anyone got too close to demanding answers. "Are you ready to take my place and lead this group yourself?"
And just like that, everyone would fall silent. Even Nyala, one of Tessa's closest allies, was dumbfounded by the transformation. She knew something was horribly wrong—this wasn't the girl she had trained with.
The real Tessa barely knew how to control her powers, always fumbling or second-guessing herself. This new version wielded moon magic like a sword, with the precision and confidence of a seasoned warrior. It was as if someone had flipped a switch, transforming her from hesitant to arrogant overnight.
The group made it to Rivermount City without much resistance. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, but no one dared to challenge the imposter. Not openly, at least.
At the gates of the city, a group of patrolmen stood, lazily watching their approach.
"Who are these jokers?" one of the guards snickered. "They look like they've been dragged through a battlefield. Are we being invaded, or is this some kind of circus?"
His buddy smirked. "I don't know, but they sure look mad. What's with their leader? Did someone kill her cat?"
Their laughter was short-lived. A blade whizzed through the air and before anyone could blink, the guard's head rolled to the ground, his eyes frozen in shock. The city went deathly quiet.
The culprit? Ikehara, of course. He stood with his blade still gleaming, a sinister grin on his face.
"Disrespect my queen again, and I'll introduce you to the next life," he hissed, giving a deep, overly dramatic bow to the fake Tessa.
The remaining guards turned pale and scrambled to open the gates, muttering apologies. The group strode in, heads held high as if they were royalty on parade.
The fake Tessa tilted her chin, smiling like she had just won a war without lifting a finger.
This is insane, Adrian thought, his fists itching to swing. The imposter Tessa had the entire group—and now the city—wrapped around her finger, and it was only a matter of time before something exploded.
And when it did, Adrian hoped he'd be the one to light the match.