CHAPTER 17: Weight of the Darkness

  —Agh! —Xerox staggered, falling to the ground after the blow. The sound of his body hitting the static floor was like a radio breaking apart. He brought his hands to his face, but instead of blood, strands of pink energy dripped between his fingers.

  Haru, standing before him, was breathing heavily. His forehead still glowed with an intense green after the headbutt, but his eyes were locked on the villain. For a second, through the contact, Haru had felt something… an immense and dark presence, but he didn’t understand what it was. To him, it was only a sensation of absolute cold.

  —What… what was that? —Haru whispered, more to himself than to Xerox.

  —I’m going to kill you… —Xerox growled, hatred burning in his gaze.

  He tried to create a thread, but the headache was too overwhelming, so much so that he decided it was better to leave with his threads.

  —We’ll meet again, and I promise I will kill you! —Xerox shouted, as his threads pulled him toward the darkness of the static ceiling, disappearing like a ghost fading in the signal of an old television.

  Haru fell to his knees on the nightmare’s floor. The green glow on his forehead vanished at once, leaving behind only a trail of exhaustion weighing down his bones. The cold he had felt when touching Xerox still ran down his spine. It wasn’t just fear; it was the sensation of having brushed against something that should not exist.

  —“We’ll meet again”? —Haru muttered through clenched teeth, tightening his fists against the cold wood of the floor—. I don’t even know who you are… or what you are.

  In the temple, the night was warm. Yumi finally opened his eyes, confused.

  —Mori? —he wondered, lying in his bed.

  He tried to get up, but the pain was too strong, not only in his arm, but in his chest.

  —Took you long enough to wake up, sleepyhead —Ren interrupted his thoughts, sitting at his side.

  —Master? —Yumi’s voice came out like a barely audible thread, scraping his dry throat. He looked at his arm, which was wrapped in bandages covered with spiritual paper seals that pulsed with a soft rhythm—. The train…

  —Yes, they already told me. Don’t worry —Ren replied calmly.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  An hour later, Yumi was finally able to stand. His legs trembled as if they had forgotten how to support his own weight, and each step sent a warning stab of pain from his chest up to his neck. As he stepped into the hallway, the cool air of the temple night struck him, carrying with it the scent of incense and old wood.

  Outside the room stood Mugen, who had not moved away from the door.

  —How is he, Master? —Mugen asked without turning around.

  —He’s stable, Mugen. He just needs to stop being stubborn and stay still —Ren replied, passing by him with a smile before walking down the hallway.

  Yumi took a step out of the room, holding onto the doorframe. His cold gaze settled on the redhead’s nape.

  —You could stop yelling for a second —Yumi said, his voice icy but slightly hoarse—. Your complaints can be heard even in the dream plane, Mugen. It’s annoying.

  Mugen stiffened and turned around abruptly.

  —Tsk… looks like you finally wake up —Mugen let out, turning away again out of pride.

  —Seems like someone missed me —Yumi wore a smile of genuine joy.

  Mugen turned red with embarrassment, so he began to walk away.

  —Looks like you’re fine then, so I’m going to dinner! —Mugen blurted out in a louder tone than usual, stomping down the hallway to hide that his face was almost as red as his hair.

  Yumi watched his back as he walked away, keeping that small smile. He knew that if Mugen had the appetite and strength to shout, it meant the tension in the temple was finally beginning to fade. However, his gaze drifted back to the courtyard when he saw a figure walking clumsily toward them.

  It was Haru. The boy looked like a ghost; his clothes were dirty, he had an improvised bandage on his forehead, and his eyes reflected a weariness that went beyond the physical. When he saw Yumi standing, Haru stopped short and let out a sigh that seemed to empty his lungs.

  —Yumi… —Haru whispered, his voice breaking—. You’re awake!

  Yumi’s expression returned to the same as before.

  —Thank you for saving me —Yumi said cautiously.

  —Don’t say nonsense —Haru replied, scratching the back of his neck shyly while avoiding Yumi’s intense gaze—. You were the one who protected us on the train. I just… did what I could to make sure you came back.

  Haru stepped a little closer, swaying slightly. The green glow of his energy was completely gone, and the mark from the headbutt on his forehead was visibly bruised.

  —Looks like you had your first solo mission —Yumi commented when he saw his injuries.

  Nao arrived in the hallway, brushing the dust off her clothes.

  —Not just him! Me too! —Nao shouted, pointing toward the courtyard—. I was cleaning up the trail at the station.

  Yumi nodded, feeling the true weight of his injuries now without the adrenaline of the dream plane. —Thank you, Nao.

  Haru touched the mark on his forehead. Even though he couldn’t summon his weapon in the temple, his gaze was different from that first day. He no longer sought Ren’s protection; now he processed the battle with the seriousness of someone who knows his power is real, even if it only appears in dreams.

  —Stop chattering and come eat! —Mugen’s shout echoed from the kitchen—. If the food gets cold, I’ll give it to the cats! Move it!

  Mugen disappeared behind the doorframe. Ren, leaning against a column, let out a laugh and tucked his hands into the sleeves of his robe.

  —You heard him. Make the most of the rest.

  The three youths walked toward the dining room. Haru glanced one last time at the darkness of the courtyard. He didn’t feel fear, but a chilling determination. Xerox had promised to return, and next time, Haru would be more than ready to face him.