Chapter 5 - Loyal

*Your POV*

     "Laurance!?" We were walking the path into Meteli when Cadenza saw us from not-so-far away.

     "Cadenza!" Laurance waved and ran to her. I watched the two embrace.

     "Too lovey-dovey for siblings." Zane. He can't be seen or heard anymore by anyone else since I grew tired.

     "You're just jealous cause you've never been close to either Vylad or Garroth." I cross my arms. Hey, me and Aaron were--are close, okay? I don't appreciate that Zane talks crap about close siblings.

     "Okay, so first off, it's so good to see you! But then, what are you guys doing here?" Cadenza pulled away from Laurance.

     I looked down, remembering why we're here. "Laurance, I don't want to have to explain everything again..." I say, trying hard not to cry. Eyanne's death is still fresh in my heart, it still hurts.

     He nodded at me.

     I thought it would be easier for me to not explain things, but just hearing everything that happened caused me pain. I fell on my knees, I'm trying too hard not feel, that I end up being taken over by my emotions.

     Just then, I was in the maze.

     I was about to panic that I raged in New Meteli but...there was no maze. All I saw was...

     Another me...

     The other me stared at me nonchalantly. She was me, but with black eyes not even showing any white or (e/c), and pale skin that's almost white. Although she had the same face features and (h/c) hair.

     The portal was right behind her. No maze, no obstacles. I ran to the portal, half-expecting her to fight me for it, but she didn't. She just stood there, not even moving her gaze from me. I went in the portal, still confused.

     But I can't let that take over my mind now, I'm raging in New Meteli! Who knows how many I've already hurt...or worse, killed!

     I came back to the real world, expecting to see guards surrounding me and Laurance desperately stopping me. But instead, I was in a bed in an unfamiliar place, only to see Laurance around.

     "W-What happened?" I ask.

     "You were crying, but then you passed out. You're really prone to those kinds of things, you know?" Laurance responded half-joking.

     "I myself was scared. Seriously." Zane admitted.

     "I thought...I thought I was in my rage form. I was in the maze. Except....there was no maze."

     "Huh?" Zane.

     "What do you mean?" Laurance.

     "I was supposed to be in my rage form. I was in that dark eerie area. The portal was there, and it had the same aura. Only there was no maze. There was only me."

     "Well, duh. Of course there's you. You were there!" Zane.

     "And I thought you were smart." I shot at Zane.

     Laurance gave me a look and I used my magicks for him to see and hear Zane again.

     "No...there was another me. But she had black eyes all over and her skin was pale as heck. It's like--"

     "It's your rage form." Laurance.

     "Y-Yeah...that would seem so."

     "Did something happen?" Zane.

     "No, not at all. She just stood in front of the portal, staring at me. Not even an expression shown upon her face." No, I didn't black out. If I did, then I wouldn't have remembered it as clear as it was.

     "So that's why..." Zane said to himself.

     "Do you know what it means?" Laurance.

     "Her rage form was in that area with her, and not out here, where she could've caused a rampage." Zane. "It's still a theory. But I figured so.."

     "Come to think of it, it's actually possible." Laurance.

     "But then...I wonder what'll happen once I go on in my rage form again?" I ask.

     "I don't know.." Zane.

     "Now, since when did you go all Emmalyn-like, Zane?" Laurance.

     "Shut up! I don't even know that person!" Zane.

     "She's basically this nerd that does stuff you do." Laurance shrugged.

     "A-Are you implying I'm a nerd?!" Zane.

     I didn't listen further to their childish argument and went on in my mind. What the hell happened? If what Zane said was real, then what happens to my rage form? Will I just be helpless?

     Although shouldn't I be pleased with this? I won't be able to hurt anyone anymore. But somehow...I've been used to my rage form. I don't know how or why, but its just that. It's like, my rage form is my shield from me actually having to kill people with my own hands. Now, I know I sound cruel, but it's better than passing out when I'm angry, right? I'll only be shown as weak by then..

     Okay, now I'm confused. But my rage form isn't something to experiment about. I guess...we'll just see it another way.

     The two were just about to argue more but then Cadenza entered the room. She was surprised at seeing Zane, but I sensed that she had something important in mind. "Oh, uhh... I hope I'm not interrupting something here."

     I stood up. "No, it's okay."

     She nodded. "So...about what happened back in Phoenix Drop... " I was not liking one bit where this is going. "I don't believe you."

     "What?!" Laurance practically yelled.

     "W-Wha...What do you mean? You mean you can't believe that Aphmau would do that, right?" I tried convincing her, or maybe more so, myself.

     "I don't believe that what Aphmau did was wrong. This is Aphmau we're talking about, maybe there was some kind of misunderstanding." Cadenza.

     "What?! Cadenza, I was there, and I told you everything! What part of it doesn't have any evidence for you not to believe it?!" Laurance.

     "No. Like I said, this is Aphmau we're talking about. There must be some kind of explanation why it happened. Things were all so sudde--"

     "There was death, Candenza! What part of it do you not understand?!" Laurance.

     No... She wouldn't... What...?

     "No one wanted that!" C.

     "But they were ready to risk it!" L.

     "Stop!" I cut them off. I looked at Cadenza. "Cadenza, I appreciate you looking at the bright side of things, but there just isn't a bright side right now."

     "I'm not looking at the bright side, (Y/n). I'm looking at what really would happen." C.

     "You're looking at what would happen, but this is what did happen." I look away. "It's as good as indirectly sacrificing us."

     "No, I don't need your lies, negativity and unreal conclusions." C. "I'll let you be to what you want, but New Meteli will not be a part of it."

     "Then so be it." Laurance said darkly.

     "But Laurance, she's your sister!" I try to say.

     "It's no use, (Y/n)." Zane cut in. "You guys should go.."

     "I will now take my leave." C.

     "Tch. (Y/n), we should be heading out after you rest." Laurance.

     "No, we should go." I say.

     Suddenly a guard went in holding a couple of bags. "Lord Cadenza says so that you should take these with you on your journey." He handed us the bags.

     Inside, there were some food supply, potions, clothing, tent materials and matches.

     "We don't need--" I cut Laurance off.

     "Thank you. These are greatly appreciated. I didn't want to be a bitter person and deny even their help.

     The guard nodded and left.

     "Let's go. We don't need to alert anyone that we're leaving." I say, taking my stuff.

     "I suggest heading east. It has forests fitting for travelers."

     "East it is, then."

~

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