Chapter 25

Author: Thanks for reading and for supporting me. Please rate the book and comment.

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NIGHT TIME

"Stay away from me!" So, brother Den said in anger and a dejected Zil had no choice but to leave him alone. Guess his pleads and begs were getting too much.

Soon, they'll reach their destination, but were too tired to continue and so, they decided to rest in the woods close by the river, and not far, their horses were secured.

Den was picking up more wood for the fire while Mira was attempting to light it when Zil came around. Pleading and begging to be his student. Annoyed and tired, Den snapped at him.

Dejected, the kid approached Yuuki who sat on a rock at the river bank.

He took a seat on the rock close to Yu, sighing in disappointment, pouting.

Definitely, trying to get his attention and Yu, knowing this, gave it to him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, smiling.

Well, he (Yuuki) already knew why he was in such a bad mood.

"Brother Den refuses to accept me as his disciple. I mean, sister Mira is already his disciple so why can't he accept me as well?"

Hmmm,......

"Maybe he can't use magic," he (Yuuki) replied.

Talking to Tilo, he said something like this as well.

Also, he hasn't seen Den use magic. Maybe he couldn't.

"Then he should teach me sword arts"

This kid......*Sigh,........

"Zil, have you ever thought that, maybe, it has to do with your intentions?"

"Huh?" A bewildered Zil asked.

"Not many people are fond of revenge, including me. Do you know why?"

Zil dare not answer but Yuuki answered anyway.

"Because it might cause innocent lives, and it always takes everything away"

Takes everything away.......... the kid thought and then asked,

"So, you mean, brother Den suffered from revenge?"

Well,......

"I don't know, but one thing is for sure, he doesn't like revenge, neither does he like the thought of becoming strong for revenge"

He (Yuuki) thought that might be so when Zil raised the topic for the first time.

"But I can never forgive those demon Island! What they did to my village! We were only ordinary people! Just making a life. We meant no harm" a furious Zil voiced out.

Yuuki understood. However.........

"Maybe if you change your approach, he might accept you"

True, that made sense. The kid thought, nodding, but the anger within never left.

"Also, the truth isn't always what it seems to be. There could be more"

Bewildered, Zil asked, "What do you mean brother Yu?"

Yu smiled, replying, "I'll explain"

**********️️*****

LATE IN THE NIGHT

"Ahaha!!" Den yelled out, sweating, a horrified look on his face as he woke up.

He just had a realistic nightmare and to his surprise, he was not the only one.

On his right was Yu, also in a sitting position, sweating like crazy. Zil in the middle, looking like he was having a nightmare in his sleep and Mira, on his left, also looked like she was having a bad dream but the two haven't noticed.

Neither have they noticed the weird condition their horses were in.

"You also had a nightmare?" Den asked, worried.

He should be worried about himself yet here he was, worried about Yu.

The guy (Yuuki) let out a sigh, struggling to get up but he made it. He stood, looking up at the night sky.

(Just so you all know, both slept with their masks on again. Must be hard hiding your identity)

"Why is this happening?" He asked himself and Den replied, "I wonder why" , each talking about their own nightmare.

It wasn't only about the nightmare. In his dream, his body, his heart in particular, was causing him great pain. Yuuki was suffering, and he couldn't take it anymore. Luckily, he woke up.

Still,........he felt the pain but was acting fine. Not wanting Den to know about it.

"Something is not right" Den voiced out, cautious and alert as he looked around.

Coming out of his thoughts, he watched as Den stood up, staring at the river.

Following his gaze, Yuuki noticed there was a thick fog, all over the river, making it impossible to see.

One couldn't see what was on the other side either.

Sensing danger, Den heads to the river. Only coming to a stop when he was close enough and Yuuki joined him, not forgetting to take his sword.

"This isn't ordinary fog," Den said.

"I know, the fog came out of nowhere. I can sense danger" Yuuki replied.

In panic, Den called out to the two, "Mira! Zil! Wake up!!" But to his surprise, there was no answer.

He turned back, looking at his companions who were still asleep, having a nightmare and it was visible on their faces. The reaction of their bodies.

He glanced at their horses. They were still there, but motionless. Almost like.......they were dead.

This.........

"They won't wake up anytime soon. They're trapped in their nightmares. If you can defeat me, they'll be free" a familiar voice came out of the thick fog.

Both recognized the voice right away.

Hold on, are the horses having nightmares as well? Nightmares about what? Being sold to ruthless owners and suffering in their hands, or dying in a battlefield.

Oh, maybe their nightmares are about losing races.

"I know I'll find you. And you're together, again" the ever so familiar voice spoke again, interrupting Den's thoughts.

Right, now wasn't the time. She was here and he should be angry.

"Come out if you dare!" Den yelled out, bringing out the anger within

This was a perfect opportunity. He never got to pay her back for hurting his disciple.

This time, nothing will save her.

Den was starting to lose himself. Blinded by anger, vengeance, clouding his reasonable self.

"Den" Yuuki called out to him and he snapped out.

Oops, he almost lost himself again.

Trying to calm down, he breathed in and out. And it worked like magic. In no time, he was calm but his desire remained the same.

How should he kill this little girl?

"I see my dolls couldn't take you down. Were they too slow?"

Guess they weren't perfect. Then again, they were new creations.

But then,......it was too late. She couldn't perfect them anymore cause they were already dead. These people killed them all.

Her book shared this information.

However........

"This time you won't escape. I'll avenge Pike. But if you obediently hand over the key, I will show you mercy,.....enough to grant you a painless death"

Den was confused. She was here for the fake key?

Who was she? Was she on Demon Island’s side? Or another group who also wanted the keys.

Which group did she and Spider belong to? And why were they after the keys?

"Tell me something. Did you kill the people in Fall and then turn them into living dead?!"

If so,.....then this girl and spider really did belong to demon Island. They attacked Fall and Live village. The petals of rose red at the scenes were proof.

"Why should I answer?!" Her voice came through again.

"Then I'll just get it out of you!!" An agitated Den yelled out.

D**** that little girl! Where was she hiding?! He couldn't pick up her scent either!...................Didn't matter, he'll find her anyway. And he still plans on killing this little girl! How.....How.....How should he kill her?

"We need her alive," Yu reminded him. Like he (Yuuki) could hear his sinister thoughts.

Always, bringing him out of his dark thoughts.

Isn't he lucky to have him (Yuuki)

"I'll keep that in mind," Den replied, smirking.

Staring into those blue eyes of his (Den), Yuuki was reminded of his pup again.

How he wish to take off that mask of his (Den)

Just to confirm he was only hallucinating.

Still, how he wished he was wrong.

"Ready you are!" The lady's voice echoed, alerting the two and both knew she had already made a move.

Den could sense danger all around even though there was nothing.

Where was it coming from? Left? Right? Below?

Getting a clear confirmation, he (Den) yelled out,

"Above!" but Yu has already figured it out and has already unleashed his sword.

Ready to strike down anything that came their way.

However, his body suddenly gave up on him, again. Why was this happening now?!!

He fell on his knees, holding tightly on his sword, unable to get up. So much pain,......he was in so much pain and it was impossible to fight.

Luckily, Den was fast enough. Seeing this, he immediately took hold of the sword, surprising Yuuki once again, and then blocked the attack.

It was a doll. A paper doll with no gender, as huge as a human.

Guess the lady has run out of humans.

Anyways, each hand held a sword. Used to strike down the two but Den was able to block the attack with the heavenly sword.

Saving both himself and Yuuki.

And then,......it disappeared.

Only to come out again with more.

The attacks kept coming from all directions and just like the first one, they were all paper dolls, each hand holding a sword.

Unlike the living dead, these paper dolls were faster, skilled, vigilant, literally intelligent but still, were nowhere near Den's level.

He easily blocked their attacks, cutting them down with the heavenly sword, protecting Yuuki.

Luckily, that little girl wasn't aiming for the two (Mira and Zil) as well and this made it a lot easier.

Also, with the help of the heavenly sword, the paper dolls could no longer regenerate when they were killed.

As such, it was easy and took no time to defeat the summoned ones.

Getting rid of the last paper doll, the attacks suddenly ceased.

Giving Den sometime to rest.

An astonished Yuuki stared at a breathless Den. Impressed and thankful.

He was right. Tilo saw wrong. This guy was much stronger considering he just defeated more than twenty of these capable dolls, on his own, right before his eyes. And he was starting to think he (Den) was even more stronger than him.

"Tsk! You're pretty fast for a human with only sword arts skill!" The annoyed culprit voiced out.

Den didn't care.

He was not done yet!

It was payback time.

Now sure of it. He looked at a particular tree (Which the scent came stronger from), across the river. Glaring fiercely with murderous intent obvious in his eyes.

He found her.

This tree was the lady's hideout and he has found it.

With the thick fog she released, she could hear and see every little detail while keeping herself safe. Attacking from the fog sounded like a great idea to her but who knew he was facing no ordinary enemy.

She has also noticed. Den has found her.

The lady was both surprised and terrified. Realization hitting her hard on head.

No wonder Pike lost.

His magic, 'Dream Butterfly' was the strongest, one of a kind, and could be used for both defense and offense yet he still lost against this guy.

And even her attacks proved useless against him.

This guy,.......... he was sharp, fast, the only one yet he brought down all her attacks.

This.........

No! She couldn't afford to lose! She had to get the golden key!

Prove herself useful to her master.

Make him proud! She dare not disappoint her master!

And at this moment, an idea popped in mind.

Yes! She held the book of life and death. A book which could also create an illusion! If she could............

"Huh?......"

This.....This...... She was speechless, surprised, horrified when Den appeared out of nowhere before her, holding the heavenly sword, ready to kill her.

The lady recognized the sword and she knew, this was no ordinary sword. A heavenly sword that could take the life of anything and everything.

Destroy the soul completely, leaving no chance for resurrection.

She.....She.... She's going to die!

Someone!......... anyone!......help!!

Frozen in place, terrified, she couldn't move. She could only watch as everything played in slow motion. The sword inching closer to her neck.

However, her book, hanging midair before her, detected her feelings and the strong desire to survive and so, it took action on its own for its master.

It opened to a certain page, emitting a bright red light. The sword was a second away from reaching her neck when she disappeared. Along with the book.

And like on cue, the thick fog began clearing as well.

Den ended up supporting himself on the very branch the lady sat on and he grit his teeth, annoyed by the outcome.

He was fast enough yet still missed the chance to kill her.

"Tch" he (Den) vent out his frustrations.

The fog cleared, Yuuki finally saw Den, answering his question about where he went. And he also figured Den went after the culprit and lost her.

That lady was the same one they encountered in Fall. He wondered how she was able to find them.

And why she wanted the key.

*Sigh, Yuuki sighed, gently laying down on the ground before staring up at the night sky.

He was exhausted. Suffering. With this unrepairable body of his, can he really help Den?

He felt like a burden. Like he was going to be one (A burden) all the way.

What a mess!

*******️️********

RIVER BANK.

"How are you feeling?" Den asked, watching as Yu took a seat on the rock beside him.

"Fine. I guess they're okay as well" he said and Den looked at the two (Mira and Zil), following his (Yuuki) eyes.

That little girl really was the cause of their nightmares. Mira and Zil looked so much better after she left. Looks like they were no longer having nightmares.

She must have used that plan thinking they'll be trapped in their nightmares, won't wake up anything soon,.....and then, take the opportunity to steal the key.

Too bad he and Yu woke up. Their nightmares weren't something they wanted to be trapped in.

"I wonder who sent her and how she found us. What they need the key for" Den asked the golden bar question.

Yuuki had no idea.

He looked at Den, thinking he wanted to know more about this guy.

So much more.

"You do know no one is innocent, right?" He (Yuuki) blurted out, surprising himself.

Why did he bring this up?! Definitely was a bad idea speaking out his thoughts, right?

Looking at him, Den smiled, replying, "I know. No one is innocent. That's why I define innocent people as those who have never gotten blood on their hands. Never destroyed multiple lifes. Never caused disaster. Accepting who they are, and working hard to be someone good" he (Den) chuckled, asking, "Doesn't make sense, right?"

Yuuki had nothing to say. Only thinking about what Den just said.

"Well! You'll only know who's innocent and who's not when you meet them" Den said, smiling.

Yuuki had the same thoughts. However, throughout his years of duty, he started to believe no one is innocent.

People are selfish,................he was no less.

Leaving the sun when he promised to always stay by his side. Joining Den, when he (Den) knew nothing of his hideous past.

He was selfish. And he wonders if his actions will ruin lifes.

"Yu......."

"Huh?" He (Yuuki) asked, coming out of his thoughts and giving him (Den) his attention.

"You'll stay with me, right? All the way" Den asked, and Yuuki was speechless. His eyes widened as he stared at those impatient blue eyes of his. Waiting for confirmation.

But Yuuki dared not answer.

There was so much more. So much more Den didn't know.

Will he still ask this if he knew the truth?

For the first time in a long time, Yuuki was scared.