(Chapter - 40)

  [Out of Control]

  Karu and Tushar hold Asroy tightly, their eyes filled with anxiety, as Obhoy demands answers from him.

  Karu : No no no! Asroy! Get back to yourself!

  Tushar : Listen to us! She's our friend! You can't hurt her!

  Karu : Control yourself! You're not evil like him!

  Tushar : Asroy! Please don't say anything!

  Obhoy : …I see, this won't work.

  Obhoy creates a ring of massive flames around them. The fire is only inches away from touching them. The towering flames trigger Karu’s childhood memories — the burned garden, the fire… and his mother’s death. Tushar feels himself weakening under the unbearable heat.

  Karu : A-Ahhh!

  Tushar : No! The heat…

  They both release Asroy and shield themselves — one trembling in terror, the other gasping under the heat.

  Obhoy : Done. Now lead the way… Asroy.

  Meanwhile, deeper within the forest, Badoliresh, Tori and Mehaki talk, unaware of anything that is happening.

  Tori : This place is probably called… Badoliresh.

  Tori says, observing the towering trees around them. Mehaki glances around as well.

  Mehaki : Badoliresh?

  Tori : Yes, a dense forest that makes you feel as if it has just rained.

  Mehaki : How do you know so much?

  Tori : Well… I used to study the books in Miraz Monjil when I was alone. And later Karu told me a lot about plants and stuff. He had good knowledge of some places in the Wind Forest, and where different trees are found.

  Mehaki : I see. Why are these called rain trees?

  Tori : If you hit one tree, it will pour the water stuck on its leaves like rain on you.

  Mehaki : Oh, that's interesting.

  Tori : This is where the Badoliresh area began.

  Tori softly touches a tree, which looks sturdier than the rest in front of them. Something comes to his mind and he turns to Mehaki.

  Tori : Mehaki… Let's mark the tree. So we'll be able to find it if we ever come here again and remember this day.

  Mehaki : Okay.

  Tori searches in the grass and picks up a sharp stone. Then he carves a symbol of a flower on the body of the tree. It’s not perfect, so he smiles awkwardly.

  Mehaki : What did you make?

  Tori : Uhh… I tried to make an Ariya flower, but it’s really hard to carve it on a tree.

  Mehaki : Ariya flower? Why?

  Tori : To leave proof that you were here with me.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Mehaki : Huh? Then what about you?

  Tori : Oh.

  Mehaki : Give me that.

  Mehaki takes the stone from Tori's hand and carves a symbol of a water droplet beside the flower.

  Tori : Is it a water droplet?

  Mehaki : Yes. Now there's proof of you being here too.

  Tori : Haha.

  Mehaki looks in the direction they came here from. Her eyes are tense.

  Mehaki : They should've come here now, right?

  Tori : Maybe they haven't dealt with Asroy yet.

  Mehaki : Hmm…

  Tori : Mehaki.

  Mehaki : Yeah?

  Tori : I got really scared when you said Asroy attacked you. I couldn’t believe he could do that, but worrying about whether you were alright scared me even more. And when you said you saved yourself with the Ariya flower's magic, I was so glad! More than that, I was proud.

  Mehaki’s eyes soften, she smiles gently at him, her eyes sparkling. Tori feels a warmth in his chest.

  Mehaki : Thank you for believing in me from the very start.

  Tori : That's my duty as a friend, isn’t it?

  Mehaki : Hmm!

  She looks in the direction again and sighs. Her body stiffens, one arm brushing against the other. She slowly paces back and forth, her mind restless. Tori stands still, also wondering deeply.

  Tori : *Karu and Tushar should've handled the situation already, right? What's taking them so long? They're not in trouble, right? What should I do? I can't let Mehaki feel insecure… Asroy and Tushar should’ve come running by now… calling out, “Inufa!”*

  Mehaki : Um… What if we get lost while going back?

  Tori : No, Inufa. You won't get lost if I'm here.

  Mehaki pauses for a moment and looks at him in confusion.

  Mehaki : You called me… Inufa?

  Tori : Huh!? *Shoot! I didn’t realize.* Um, well… My mind wasn’t with me.

  Mehaki : Hm? Then where was it?

  Tori looks at her.

  Tori : I was wondering about what's going on there.

  Mehaki : Me, too… I feel scared.

  Tori : Oh, it's ok. You don’t have to be—

  As he slams his hand against the rain tree, a huge amount of water instantly falls on him and he screams in surprise. Mehaki gets startled too at first.

  Tori : —SCARED!

  Mehaki : Whoa! Hahaha! Tori… What did you just do? Hahaha!

  Tori is all drenched in water, droplets sliding down his hair and clinging to his eyelashes.

  Tori : Ah… I forgot that it’s a rain tree for a second. Now look at this.

  Mehaki : Haha… Here, take this.

  Mehaki takes out a handkerchief from her pocket and hands it to Tori. Tori feels really embarrassed by his own mistake.

  Tori : Thank you, Mehaki. *I could’ve just dried myself with my powers… but I couldn’t refuse her.*

  Mehaki : No problem.

  Tori wipes his face and pushes his wet hair back. Mehaki sighs as she still feels restless within.

  Mehaki : *I can't help but feel something is off. Should we actually go and see?* Tori… I think we should go back now.

  Tori : No, Mehaki… Wait–

  As Mehaki takes a step forward, Asroy appears before her in a violent rush of wind, his eyes still glowing faintly orange. She freezes in shock, then quickly starts to call the Ariya flower. Tori rushes towards them.

  Mehaki : *Ariya flower — My companion of rosy powers… Respond to—* Woaah!

  Tori : Asroy! Stop!

  A powerful whirlwind from Asroy engulfs her and rapidly spins her. Before Tori can reach Asroy, the wind takes her to a distance and drops her on the ground.

  Tori : Mehaki!

  Tori rushes to her in panic, helping her to sit up. She's still feeling dizzy.

  Tori : Are you okay? *Asroy's hypnosis is still in effect!? Then what happened to Karu and Tushar? Are they alright…?*

  Asroy sends a wind strike towards them. Tori stands in front of Mehaki, closes his eyes tightly and uses his powers as a shield to break the wind. He looks at Asroy again, who stands still at a distance, with no expression on his face.

  Tori : *Obhoy is gonna use you, huh? Fine. Let's see if you can overpower me.*

  His blue eyes begin to glow as he gazes at Asroy intensely. Tori launches a surge of water toward him. Asroy uses the wind to stop the water and send it back to him. Tori raises his hand and the water stays still in the air. He divides the water into small splashes and throws them to Asroy, multiple at once. Asroy dodges some and gets hit by the rest. He covers himself with his hands. Tori smirks as the splashes continue pelting him.

  Tori : *How is that?*

  Mehaki gathers herself from the dizziness and finally stands up. Seeing her getting up, Tori quickly starts moving closer to Asroy.

  Asroy : Ugh! Just get out of my way and let me take Anami.

  Tori furrows his brows as he runs towards him.

  Tori : In. Your. Dreams!

  He jumps on Asroy and tackles him on the ground. Tori looks at Mehaki, who's standing a good distance away from them.

  Tori : Run!

  Mehaki immediately proceeds to run but before she can move from the spot, Obhoy in his fire figure appears between her and them, facing Asroy. Mehaki halts, her eyes widened. Tori tenses up while still holding Asroy down beneath him.

  Mehaki : *If I run now, I'll get caught because of the sound. I'll just stay still. He's not looking at me anyway… Please, just leave them alone…*

  Obhoy : *Sigh* Why do you always end up on the ground, Asroy?

  Tori narrows his eyes at him with anger.

  Obhoy : Now, brother Asroy… Tell me where the blessed girl went?

  Mehaki : *Ah! What should I do now!?*

  Tori : No!!

  Tori grabs Asroy's mouth but he pushes Tori off him.

  Asroy : She's standing right behind you!

  Mehaki : !!!

  Tori : ASROY!

  He grabs his collar and shakes him.

  Tori : What have you done!?

  Mehaki’s heart races. Obhoy finally turns around. Mehaki flinches seeing the fire figure turning to her, and Obhoy’s fiery eyes widen.

  Obhoy : What…? It can't be…

  Mehaki stiffens in fear, clutching her hands to her chest.

  Obhoy : Mehaki ma'am…?

  Mehaki : ! *Huh? Mehaki ma'am!? That's what... Onol calls me!*

  Obhoy's form of fire figure slowly fades, revealing a boy with black hair and black eyes, wearing a black t-shirt and dark grey pants. He slowly lands on the ground. Seeing a face Mehaki knows so well, her eyes freeze — as if struck by lightning.

  Mehaki : Onol!?

  Tori : !? *What!?*

  Tori gets shocked, hearing Mehaki calling that name.

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