Reincarnated as a Genius Mage-Chapter 37: Nightmare

===========

(Jennette POV)

We’ve finally arrived at Ludia.

It’s been rough— having to travel for days with a smart-ass, sharp-tongued kid who refuses to act like a kid.

And as we arrived at the sparsely furnished room that smelled like wet wood— we settled down, and arranged our things; though we didn’t carry much.

I had a few clothes, and other important stuff in my sub-space pouch. But the boy had less. Just three or four clothes, Maybe.

The room had two beds, just like I discussed with the waitress.

And as Charles and I talked and settled down for about thirty minutes— I told him to wait for me, that I needed to collect our food from the waitress downstairs; and that when I come back, we’d talk about that merchant business plan of his that he had in mind.

That’s all that happened. And now I’m on my way downstairs.

As I walk down the stairs— I hold my head high, and my back straightens.

These days— the teachings, and the lessons that I learned from my family keeps seeping out more. And it’s making me act like a refined young lady of sorts.

But I can’t help it. It’s not my fault. Etched lessons don’t fade away easily. They’re like permanent bonds.

The perverted gazes of these thirsty, and drunk men are on me. And I can feel it.

A soft and solemn sigh leaves my lips.

They’re all lucky I’m used to this.. If it was 9. No, 8 years ago, I’d have sliced their limbs off.

As I walk toward the counter, a familiar pang hits my skull, and I raise my hands to massage my forehead softly.

It’s that feeling again...

Anytime I feel this pain— it’s like my entire soul is being read, and my body feels light; like my steps and my actions are controlled— like a puppet attached to strings.

A dreadful chill crawls up my spine as the thought swirls in my head.

And I shake my head— fading those thoughts away.

That’s a stupid thing to think. I just have to get this food, and go talk with Charles. Enough thinking about strange things.

"Oh, you’re here for the food?" The waitress asks— her tone’s high pitched and expectant, but her facial expression is neutral.

"Yes. Is it ready?" I ask, my tone slightly layered with anxiety.

I must be feeling anxious because of that stupid thought.

"Yes ma’am, it is. Please wait for me while I go bring it." She says as she rushes inside— heading to bring two plates of warm food.

I’m standing by the counter, waiting for her. And the whispers of some of the men fly into my ears.

"Yeah, that inn was our favorite spot." One man says— he has green, long, and flowy hair.

"It’s a shame." Another one with black hair and sharp eyebrows reply.

"Truly... But there’s nothing we can do about it except waiting for it to be rebuilt. It’s not like we can go fight that man Alexander."

"Exactly! Curse that bastard Alexander!" The one with the black hair says as he slams his mug on the wooden table.

"But what I’m curious about is who the hell the swordsman was that could keep up in a fight with the ruler of fire for over two days!"

"Yeah, I heard rumors. They say he’s an S-rank mercenary that was commissioned in the Orcan war. But rumors are rumors."

"Tsk, still... Fuck Alexander that asshole! He razed a whole street!"

The men keep hurling curses at Alexander. It seems like he has been here in the past. And from what I’m hearing...

He fought with someone? That must have been quite the sight.

"Here’s the two plates of food, ma’am." The waitress— with a bow, hands me the tray of food.

I nod, and I take the tray from her. "Here." I slip a five bronze coin from the pocket of my gown, and I give it to her.

Her face lights up with awe, and her lips widen with a bright smile. "Thank you, ma’am!"

A warm smile stretches on my lips, and I nod, and walk upstairs.

As soon as I open the door, I yell, "Ed! The food you’ve been waiting for is finally here!" But no reply. "Oh, he slept off."

That’s disappointing. After being all giddy and nagging that he wants to eat, now he’s sleeping... Well, it is quite understandable. He must be exhausted from that long trip.

I drop the plate of food on a wooden table next to his bed.

And I sit next to him— on his bed. Slowly carressing his hair.

"He looks so cute when he’s sleeping... as long as his mouth stays shut." I whisper.

I wonder what he’s dreaming about. It must be something sweet.

===========

(Charles POV )

It must be dream. Yes, I know that it’s a dream, because what I’m seeing now is too absurd.

No. See? I can’t even see.

It’s dark. An endless expanse.

And I don’t think the concept of direction exists here. It’s just.. it’s just a directionless, and void expanse.

And the worst thing? It’s that I... I’m not... I’m not me.

I don’t know how, but I’m floating through this space devoid of light.

Light. Wait.. light?

There’s a bright light shining, the only thing I can see. But.. at a corner? Corner?

Corner doesn’t exist here. It’s more like— the middle of nowhere.

My eyes keep twitching and shaking as I view the light. But my heart.. it isn’t even beating. And I don’t know why.

Hee...! Hee...! Hee...!

What... What the hell Was that? No, forget about that. That light...

My eyes squint— as if reflexively. And I see it clearly.. a spotlight.

No, it’s not a spotlight.. There are two spotlights— shining down at something.

And my eyes squint more— zooming in on the object under the shining spotlight.

It’s...

Huh?

Wait.. How? How is that possible?

No... But why?

Marcelle?

And I try to run to her, to scream, cry, and hug her.. but.. I can’t.

What the hell!! Why can’t I scream?!

My mouth won’t move... and.. I can’t even move my body.

But.. come to think of it, since I found myself floating in this void.. I’ve not moved my body.

And then I slowly realize it...

I’m.. I’m just a floating eyeball— hovering in the endless space.

But, the moment I saw Marcelle— standing on nothing; under the warm light of the spotlight, with that beautiful smile on her face— waving at me... I couldn’t even hover anymore. freёwebnoѵel.com

It’s like I’ve been paused..

I can’t float or hover...

I’m an eyeball suspended in motion— suspended in darkness.

But something isn’t right..

What are those?

The light from the spotlight gently outline the strings on Marcelle’s body... Connected to all her joints.

As I traced the strings highlighted by the spotlight— my gaze ascends upward— and I see it; where the strings are connected to.

There’s no heart, in fact, there’s no chest. But if there was— my heart would have sinked down to my stomach right at this moment.

A giant, toothless, and eery grin, stretches wide. And a long tongue hangs from the grin— looking like it can swallow everything.

And the entity’s two large eyeballs.. They are the source of the spotlight that’s shining down on Marcelle.

And now I know.. the strings on Marcelle— the ones that control her; they are tied to the long, black tongue of the entity.

The thing is bodiless— it’s eyes are the only source of light in this void, and the energy that I feel from it.. it’s chilling in an otherworldly sense.

Hee! Hee..! Hee...

A cracked, heart wrenching giggle echoes— the weight occupying the endless void.

My gaze descends from the thing and falls back at Marcelle who’s highlighted by the spotlight— she still has that beautiful, wide smile. But...

That’s not... That thing.. it’s not Marcelle.

My eyes lock with her hollow, dead eyes, spiraling like an endless abyss. Her smile— it isn’t beautiful... It’s offsetting. And now, she’s waving at me.

<So you are the one that is expected to defy Fate?> From her mouth... A scattered and deep voice rings through the void. I don’t know how I’m hearing. I have no ears. But... I can still hear.

<Oh hoho, THEY must be so pleased. THEY even blessed you with the flame of eternity.>

It... Knows?

As I hear its scattered voice, that dirty energy of it’s presses its weight on my soul. And I’m being crushed by a chilling, and terrifying pressure that’s weighing— not on my body, or the floating eyeballs I am... But... my soul.

<Listen, Edward. Listen closely and remember... Remember that I will always be there, watching you. Remember that I exist... And remember my name, Edward. For when the time comes, it’ll burn your soul to say it... To say...> Its voice drops to a low whisper as Marcelle’s head tilts slowly.

<Lucifer.> The scattered voice echoes.

Hee.. Hee.. Hee....

The eery giggle echoes once more— slowly fading into the darkness.

The floating eyeball— me, starts getting sucked— into the mouth of the being; like a vacuum sucking in dirt... I can’t control my body, and I can’t even scream at this horror.

And immediately, my eyes snap open as I jolt in shock.

–Huff.. Huff.. Huff.. Huff..–

My breath is coming out heavy, hard, and laced with fear.

My heart contracts, and a pain pangs at it— like it’s being hit hard with a hammer.

Beads of sweat swim through my face, and my entire cloth is drenched with sweat.

My gaze descends and rests on my hands— which I clench, and unclench to verify...

I’m... I’m awake.

"Lucifer?"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺