Once Zeriav caught a whiff of the news about his chair, he set about to exorcise whatever malicious spirit or daemon was hunting it.
It caused quite a stir, that even Lovushka’s Truth Serum had written about it.
The news spread, and the chair became an urban legend that thrill-seeking students started to visit it on purpose just to sit and try it out.
“I’ve been sitting here for 2 hours yesterday, and nothing even happened. It’s just a made-up ghost story.”
“Well, my friend went there all alone in the middle of the night….. And he said he felt a ghost shadow appear behind him before he lost his consciousness and his Flame!”
“All you guys are idiots! Why are you even seeking death and trying this chair if it’s supposedly haunted!?”
‘Well, it was human curiosity to blame. They want to experience if it’s true or not.’
Ronin was glad about this development, because it was getting harder and harder to level up.
First, one regular student can make him reach one level.
Then, it took two. Then four…. eight…..
It keeps adding up exponentially…..
Until he’s in Level 35 now, and he had stolen the Flames of 28 students….. yet still hasn’t leveled up to Level 36.
He needed more. He wanted more, not just for power…
But killing was so fun!
And that thrill of being able to get away with it so easily—.
“I will destroy that chair now.” Zeriav suddenly came, holding a golden, ceremonial ax.
Ronin’s eyes widened, but narrowed smugly again.
Alright, let him break this chair. He can still make another one, and have Klio beautify it for him.
Imagine how horrified the people would be when they see it back again, confirming that it was indeed ‘haunted’.
But then, golden hands stopped the Monk student from lowering the ax.
“Don’t do it, Zeriav! You’ll be destroying school property, and that’s against the rules!”
Cermin was now surrounded by two guards at all times.
But he was still allowed to keep studying in the Academy due to the complication of his cases….. and Head Councillor Verita’s belief in his innocence.
“I don’t want you to get in trouble too! If it’s really haunted, you can just try and exorcise it with incense and chants again!”
Zeriav gritted his teeth. “But it’s not working, Cermin. If I don’t act now, this daemonic chair may continue to harm others!”
“Believe in yourself, Zeriav! You were able to keep off the ‘daemon’ in me thanks to your rituals, right? If you stay patient, maybe you’ll drive away the ‘daemon’ in this chair too!”
Ronin sneered. ‘I was definitely not driven away by some “ritual”. I’m very much still here, haunting these grounds.’
Cermin continued to try and convince his friend, his white brows furrowed in deep worry.
“Destroying school property and artifacts, especially from the Temple of the Gods, will get you expelled despite any explanation! So let’s calm down and not get you expelled, ok!?”
“You’re the only friend I have left….. My only true friend, who never wanted anything bad from me. I don’t want to lose you too.”
Zeriav’s fierce eyes softened, and lowered the ax.
“Alright… I will try to find another way to stop these hauntings. You do not have to worry about ever losing me.” Zeriav promised.
“Thank you, Zeriav! Let’s go return that ax now at the temple and continue with the ritual, ok?”
Ronin watched them behind the walls in his usual cloak.
Not wanting anything bad with Cermin….. He highly doubts that.
Even when he’s the calmest and taciturn of all the friends, and acted the most genuinely protective over him…..
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have skeletons in his closet.
All the four friends took Cermin in to use him.
Volken wanted to get rid of an opponent.
Rabuka wanted power and prestige by being his lover.
Pavone was a mix of both. At first, he just wanted to befriend Cermin and turn him into his party’s Lyr for power and prestige like Rabuka.
But because of the situation with this ‘benefactor’, he wanted to make sure Cermin stays in his lane and does not become an enemy.
So what does Zeriav want?
His intentions were revealed once Ronin had read his mind.
(He is the prophesized one….. The one who will return the missing king of gods…)
(I must keep him pure. He cannot be tainted by these daemons at any cost.)
(I have to purify him. I have to purify him, and shelter him, and hide him from this tainted world….)
(So that when he faces the darkness, he will be ready. And he would not be deceived.)
Ronin cursed under his breath. “Damn oracles, they’re all just troublesome.”
“I underestimated you, priest. I have to make sure I eliminate you worse than the others.”
He set forth to scheme under the shadows as he always does. Everyday, he grows stronger.
He feeds. He will keep on feeding…..
Until he finally gets to feed on his one and only prey.
————————–
Cermin looked back at the chair before they left.
It felt like it was staring back at him, hungrily.
Wanting to devour him. His life, his soul, and every single piece of him…
It distrubs him every night. Just like that…..
That dream with hungry eyes and teeth and claws that grips his heart.
“Min…. Cheng…..”
“Min….. Cheng…..”
“Why….. did you… Why… Min Cheng…..”
Over and over, it called out to him.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Red dripping forever and ever against the cold pavement.
The darkness consumes, and keeps on consuming.
Until it consumes all of us, pierce through us, crawls inside us, eat us from the inside—-
“Cermin!”
Someone made him snap out of it and wake up from the greedy dream.
“Pray.” Zeriav told him. “Pray, and it will all go away.”
“The daemons that are trying to crawl inside you will disappear once you pray.”
He blinked, and then naively nodded.
“Right….. Yes, you’re right. I just need to pray.”
He recited the incomprehensible chant for guidance of the Celestial Gods.
It used to be gibberish to him, but Zeriav had explained to him what it meant.
“I pray for peace.”
Stab!
“I pray for silence.”
Shouting. Again and again. Shouting his name.
“I pray for Light. A light among the darkness.”
But there was no light.
There were only the shadows, the sky blank and empty.
Not a single star on sight.
He repeated it until he was sweating and shaking as he prayed.
“Von il pazin. Von il morin. Von il aurin. Aurin daer fausfo.”
And it does go away the longer he prayed.
But not for long.
It still comes back. Just like the night.
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