Berry felt like the entire world around him was spinning, his chest felt tight and a lump formed in his throat.
"Is that why I feel weird and hot?" He asked in a quiet voice. Caelum nodded, "Yes, the bomb was supposed to increase the poison levels of any rune close to it and then eventually make them go feral">
"B..but why would they do that? It could hurt people", Berry was in disbelief, could people be so cruel, that they would kill innocent people just to fulfil their own cause?.
"Because they know that once the Runes go feral, the dragons would have to step in. They once tried to change the law but seeing that they could not succeed, they resorted to taking drastic measures. They knew that once the Runes go feral it would all be over and they would have to be killed" Caelum said with a serious expression.
"So they sped up the process" Berry looked down at his hands, a wave of fear and sadness washing over him once more.
The room went quiet, both of them lost in their thoughts, the tension lingered and the small sounds of chaos from was still filtering into the room.
"Thank you" Berry said, breaking the silence. Caelum looked at him as he spoke, "thank you for saving me".
To think that his life would have ended right there if Caelum had not pulled him out of the room.
It was all so scary, it made him tired and anxious.. Earlier in that lab he felt like his skull was being ripped out of his head and he felt intense heat in his body.
So that was why.
He was deep in his thoughts when Caelum's deep and firm voice broke the silence, "We are going to have a re-evaluation process, some of the runes went feral, they had to be dispelled and some others…I fear that the poison levels might have increased".
Berry's eyes widened and he felt his blood run cold. "Even me?" He asked with fear and uncertainty in his voice.
Caelum, for the first time, gave him a sympathetic look but it left as quickly as it came, "yes even you, rest up now, you will need sleep, this might take a while".
Berry laid down properly on the bed, placing his head on the soft pillow that did little to calm his racing heart as he felt the thick covers being draped over him.
His head throbbed once more he winced slightly, but thanks to the medication, it wasn't as bad as before.
He felt a little bit drowsy and sleepier than the last time, so even if he still felt scared, he managed to close his eyes and drift off to sleep.
.
.
.
"All Runes should form three lines". The evaluation hall erupted into chaos as they runes tried to carry out the instruction.
Some of them were sobbing, while some others were already choking and feeling hot. They were all scared and paranoid.
"I don't think I will make it"
"I feel weird"
"The guy in front of me is acting weird, someone help"
"I don't want to die"
Berry stood at the back, his sweaty palms fiddling with the hem of his sweater. He had managed to get a few hours of rest and he was feeling refreshed but upon walking into this hall, he felt like his heart would explode in his chest.
He could hear his own breathing and everyone else's around him, he felt like running away from all the chaos.
"AHHHH!!"
The entire hall broke into chaos as the runes on the third line ran around frantically, they scattered themselves and screamed, running around the hall, bumping into the runes on the other lines.
Berry flinched and moved back, confusion and panic written in his face, he searched around, looking for the source of the chaos.
He found it but it was already staring back at him.
There was a Rune, arms twisted like the roots of a tree, his hair green and long with odd patterns, almost like a snake, he was making growling sounds and baring his sharp teeth.
FERAL
The tree like rune stared down at Berry, growling and hissing. Berry froze up, he wanted to move, he wanted to run away but he couldn't, the fear gripped him and made him rigid.
The dragon guards already positioned themselves, getting ready to subdue the feral rune, but then within those feral eyes, again Berry say sadness and…pain.
His mind drifted to Casper, he remembered seeing the same emotion in his eyes.
As the dragon guards gathered up their spears to stab the Rune down, Berry cried out, "wait stop!".
His voice cut through the chaos, and every head turned to him, he felt nervous but he pushed his nerves away and approached the feral rune.
The dragon guards quickly blocked his way and tried to push him back but suddenly a voice cut through the air.
"Leave him"
The guards turned their heads to the dragon king standing at the edge of the hall, he had been silently observing the entire thing and had not said a word since.
The guards were shocked and skeptical but they had no choice but to obey, they parted and allowed Berry to freely walk to the rune growling at him.
What am I doing?, Am I trying to kill myself faster?
Truth was, Berry had no idea what he was doing but somewhere, deep down, he knew it was right.
He came close to the rune and bent down to his height, looking directly at him, his heart pounded and his body trembled but he steeled himself and went ahead to follow his instincts.
Inside those orbs full of rage was sadness and pain, like a wild animal who had been trapped in a cage.
Berry became solemn, now all he could see was a human who was unlucky and forced to live this god forsaken life.
Without thinking, Berry raised a hand and gently pressed his palm to the Rune's face. The skin was rough, like ancient bark, yet warm with life. He felt an ache deeper than fear, something beyond words.
"Save me," the Rune whispered, the words faint and ragged.
As if he was triggered, a light blazed from Berry's core, bathing the hall in a radiant glow. Guards shielded their eyes, gasps rippled through the other runes as they hid their faces away from the blinding light.
"What's happening?!"
"I can't see anything!"
The light died down after a few short moments, returning the hall back to normal.
The guards around blinked a few times, looking back at spot where Berry and the feral rune was.
"What the hell.…"