Chapter 487: Aeriel

He had... a very strange dream. One that felt so vivid, yet at the same time, one he could hardly remember. Only little moments of it... Some sort of horned figure descending from above, laughter, a lot of it, to the point that it almost made him insane, even while only being a dream.

He remembered the gaze of shadows, the way his soul felt while being stared at like that; it wasn’t a good feeling. He remembered his vision getting darker than ever, and whenever he looked at the face of another, he couldn’t make it out; their features completely darkened.

The last thing he remembered from that dream... was himself crying, a lot. As many different images he didn’t recognize kept playing in his mind, driving him more mad than he already was.

How weird of a feeling it was... he didn’t want to experience it again, yet at the same time, he was very interested in it. He felt as if a lot of it was very important somehow, but he had no idea what.

He had no idea if what he had just dreamed was nonsense, or something of the past. Or... a strange theory: that he had one of those warning dreams... one that was trying to tell him something...

Was the Abyss going to try to take control of him...

But if so, why in this way? He had never had it do anything like what happened in his dream; it usually just took it over when it could. The only explanation he could come up with was that it was trying to somehow break him, while he had no way of seeing what his mental fortitude was up to because he didn’t have the Codex.

The system still worked, well, everything outside his ability to leave the Wonderland, but everything else was fine; the only thing gone was that he couldn’t see it anymore.

But would it really do that...

Speaking of it, it had been... quiet. For a while now, he hadn’t thought about it, but it had been a while since he had heard it talk; it was surprising, even more so when he realized he hadn’t said a word when he told Avius that he hated him. If he had been in Demon of Dread, he would have definitely barged in.

He couldn’t say he wasn’t frightened; after all, he had no idea what it was planning. And if this dream really was him getting corrupted by it, then he was going to have to worry about it... and really, it seemed like this was the case. The only flaw in this theory was the figure: the Abyss didn’t have horns, at least from what he remembered, but he specifically remembered those horns.

...

The only problem is that he had not met anyone with them, so if it wasn’t the Abyss somehow, he had no idea.

A part of him hoped it was; that way, he actually had some clues. If it wasn’t, then he was completely oblivious to what was happening.

’Either way, whatever was happening... I’ll get through it.’ He smirked slightly. ’And I’m not the only person who thinks that.’

If there was something he could take pride in, it was his ability to survive, to adapt, and to have an instinct that allowed him to get out of dangerous situations, one that had saved him many times in his life and made it so he never really worried about trusting his gut.

And since he was a Beast, it was also better, since his instinct was even stronger than it had been before in many of the hardest times of his life.

...

Leaving his room, Aether noticed some shadows walking through the halls, a sight he had not seen the day before... It was interesting to see; he wouldn’t have thought he would see someone lost here.

Walking up behind them, he spoke up. "Hello?" This made the two shadows stagger, turning to face him... he felt a weird feeling, one he had never thought he would feel: familiarity. For whatever reason, he felt as if he knew them, even if they looked like any other Lost.

When their eyes met, the Lost quickly ran past him, running away and leaving him more confused than before.

’Is there something wrong with my face?’ He didn’t think he had gotten that ugly in the three months that he had spent in this place, so what was up with them? And even if he was, he was wearing Elpis’s face, which didn’t change. Did something else scare them, but what?

It was just him and his mantle, nothing else. So if it wasn’t him, then was it his mantle? "That’s just... stupid."

He said, rolling his eyes and continuing to walk. He had some things to do... that being getting himself something to eat. After all, he had not eaten anything since arriving. Did he know how he was going to get the food? No idea, but at the same time, he was going to have to try and see.

He had no money; I mean, of course he didn’t. How could he ever have gotten money from this place so fast? And since it’s a new region, he wasn’t sure if they had adapted to the normal system.

...

Yet as he passed A.’s office, he heard someone inside talking to him. Stopping, he listened...

’We are glad to have another region from this world; after all, our last has given us some powerful warriors who have fought with pride against the Readers, not your kind, of course. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. So, have you thought about my offer?"

He recognized that voice; it was Merwin the Third, the King of one of the biggest stories inside the Wonderland, someone with a deep hatred against Readers, and someone with probably the richest Kingdom, and if not, definitely the strongest and most influential.

He was... very important, to say the least, and to think he would personally come here... it was obvious just how much it meant for them to get A. and his people on his side.

...

He was a bit annoyed, but also very interested in what A. was going to do.

The boy sighed, tapping the table with his finger. "I have heard it... It’s just that I didn’t really understand. What do I gain from this, joining your so-called alliance?’

Merwin smirked wickedly, opening his arms up. "What do you get? Well, let me tell you that if you do decide to come with us, all the other Kingdoms from all the other stories will give you aid when you need it, and you also, in return, that’s how an alliance works. And that’s more than you could ever get, so be grateful for it and stop asking for more A."

A. didn’t respond instantly; instead, he stared the man dead in the eyes, as if trying to see if he had really just said that... and once he realized he was serious, he burst into laughter, which shocked Merwin, as he just watched A. laugh his heart out.

...

But then he suddenly stopped. "I find it very funny how you think you can barge into my Kingdom and say something like that to my face; you really have some guts... and don’t you dare call me that again. This is an important meeting, so it’s very disrespectful to use my nickname.

Next time, say my name, or I will kick you out. I’m already doing too much by letting you continue after you said something like that."

Merwin studied him, trying to see what to say next, but really, he was a bit... out of words; it was probably the first time anything like this had happened.

And honestly, he was all for it. He was really enjoying their talk.

The man chuckled nervously. "Of course, my mistake. I will use your name. I apologize, Aeriel."

Aether instantly stiffened... he couldn’t remember A.’s name before, so why was it different now? Why, when Merwin said it, did he hear it so clearly... Was it... just a one-time thing? Was he just overthinking it, and he had just forgotten it...

It didn’t feel right, but at the same time, was there any other explanation?"

Aeriel sighed, satisfied. "Alright, thank you. Now all continue... No, that’s my answer."

...

"Are you sure... I mean, you know you are going against the whole of the Wonderland... if you aren’t on our side, you are on their side... and there’s nothing bad in the deal."

A. chuckled. "I know... And really, I don’t really care; even in my world, I was already on the brink of a war with all of the other Kingdoms, ruled by my brothers. So it wouldn’t change that much...

I built this Kingdom by myself, from nothing, and while it isn’t anything great, It’s mine."

Merwin gritted his teeth. "If you love it that much, then you would know to make the right decision and accept the deal; your people will die."

...

"I’ll die before them, and take you down with me if I have to."