Nightmare(1)

Ethan gulped.

[Next, imagine your body lying inside the coffin in this mansion's hall. Imagine the empty face of your uncle; wounded by crying in sorrow the face of your caring aunt; the face of always cheerful Lena, stained with tears, where there will never be any smile from now on. And imagine the faces of your little sisters, who can't understand what death is yet; from now on, they will know about it, even if they don't want it.]

The image easily came to Ethan's mind. He vividly imagined what his teacher said; it was a nightmare. Especially with the reaction of two young girls, his mind was able to clearly paint this wretched piece of art. How two identical girls are staying near his coffin, glancing at his body confusedly, thinking that their brother is just sleeping. Millicent would try to wake him up to play with her words, but without receiving any reaction from him, she would try to climb to his coffin, but was stopped by her parents. And at this moment, she would understand that her big brother would never wake up again, and her sister would understand it too.

It was unbearable, so Ethan closed his eyes, trying to stop this sight. But the image in the darkness became only more vivid. So he clenched his fists until they turned white and his teeth until it became painful. But his teacher didn't stop, as if he hadn't seen Ethan's reaction, as if he wanted to make Ethan suffer more.

[But it won't end here. That young knight, Pablo, who wasn't able to protect you, will be executed. Though not only him. Because the nephew of the Anselm City Lord was killed, the guards will give their all to find the culprits, so Mr. Brick will meet his fate on the scaffold alongside the parents of those kids. Of course, that honest and dutiful guard, Ash, will join them too. People would think that their kids, who were around when you were killed, got off lightly, but I won't agree with it because it's just the beginning of their hell.]

[Stop! Please stop...]

Ethan's vision is blurred due to tears, and quiet sobbing is heard in the room.

[Heh, I'm not finished yet. Let's imagine what would happen to Ms. Leta. Knowing her background, I think the execution that I mentioned would be very different. The only one who would be executed would be her, because the other guilty parties would already be dead. And she would accept it readily.]

Ethan tried to close his ears with his hands, but it was useless against the voice inside his brain.

[The maid who killed in reality to protect her beloved young master would forfeit her life because she wasn't able to save him in another reality. How tragic.]

His teacher sighed theatrically. 

[So, Ethan, answer. Do you still feel guilty because Ms. Leta killed that third-rate robber?]

His teacher's voice was merciless.

[No. So, please, stop this ugly story, I beg you.]

[Alright.]

Ethan's quiet sobbing continued in silence.

***

After some time, he was able to calm down and wipe away his tears.

[So do you understand now that your life is not only yours?]

His teacher's voice returned to its usual calmness.

[Yes, I understand.]

[So you should never, do you hear, feel guilty about your enemies.]

[Yes. I won't ever let my family and friends suffer because of them.]

Though Ethan's voice was quiet, his resolve was firm.

[Good. I'm glad that you understand it.]

Though Ethan can't see his teacher's image, through his voice, he was able to imagine how he is now sitting in his chair arrogantly, with the corner of his mouth raised.

[If you calmed down, you should sleep now.]

[Um, but before that, I want to know what that spider-like artifact is that you made, teacher.]

[Ah, this?]

The little spider made from metal moved his legs and crawled to Ethan's palm.

[Just an unfinished artifact without many functions.]

[But it can move on its own.]

[Because I'm controlling it.]

Judging by his teacher's voice, Ethan was able to imagine how his teacher was rolling his eyes.

[But how? Is this some kind of golem?]

Of course, Ethan didn't know much about golems, but he heard of them.

[Golem? Huh... I don't know how golems work or how to build them, so it might be the case...]

His teacher suddenly became silent, as if some bright idea had come to his mind.

[Yeah, it might just work!]

Ethan was confused by his teacher's sudden energetic outburst.

[Um, what!?]

[Ah, it's just that I found the way to learn more about this cage. You know, this spider-like artifact is working thanks to the bracelet on you, and I can control it because of the thin thread of your mana, which is connected to the cage. And...]

[Um, wait! How is there a connection between the bracelet and the cage?]

[How can I then read the scanned books in the bracelet if there isn't a connection with the cage?]

His teacher's words were reasonable, but they weren't the answer that Ethan wanted.

[Um, I want to know why you didn't tell me about this.]

[Ah? My bad, I forgot to mention it, but you learned it now. And, besides, if you are worried that you might run out of mana, it won't happen because of your natural mana regeneration speed and how little mana this connection is needed to maintain.]

[Um, okay. But what about this spider? Shouldn't it need mana to move?]

[Yes, you're right. But I put inside it a small mana stone as a power source, so it won't need much mana. And, besides, you too can control it because, you know, the bracelet is on your wrist.]

[Really?]

[Yes, though, for now it can only move its legs and send the image that it's currently seeing.]

[Can I control it for a moment?]

Ethan was curious about how to control something.

[Fine, just sent your mana to the bracelet.]

[Um, okay.]

Ethan sent his mana, and a familiar image appeared, but besides the book and 'Search' square, there was added a new square with the name 'Connection' on it. It looks like his teacher tinkered with the bracelet when Ethan was unconscious. Without asking his teacher, Ethan pushed with his mind 'Connection', and after that, pushed the square 'X-00'.

After that, things happened very quickly. At first, he saw a gigantic image of himself, and, naturally, because Ethan had never seen giants, he panicked and moved his real hand, on which the spider was. Spider started to fall, revolving at the same time, which wasn't good for Ethan's vestibular system. And before the spider reached the floor, the connection was severed.

[Hiss... I didn't expect that I would feel the headache too.]

But Ethan didn't answer his teacher; he was too busy clutching his head.

[Let's call a day for now.] 

Ethan somewhat nodded, and after his headache subsided, he went to sleep.