Part 2

Chapter 11: Illusion

Entry 258: It seems odd that a cult would go to such lengths just to keep the illusion of light alive in this world. Light is such a blinding thing, and the cult realizes this. Yet they truly believe what they do is right.

Who could we possibly trust? The institute would never consent to use hunting down a cult without their aid. As for other champions, nearly all were on vacation, and the remainder I simply didn't know well enough. However I had one connection that could be helpful.

His name was Aron. He was a former summoner, who consistently summoned me onto the rift. We became well acquainted, I'd go as far to call us friends, but he left his position as summoner, and became a scholar. He spent his days studying ancient texts, as well as observing the natural world. I assumed in the two years since he'd been a summoner that he would be quite knowledgeable. However, he would be at the summoner's private library, rather than the public champion one, so I would have to break in.

It was an easy enough job. During the break the doors weren't locked with magic, but with a simple padlock. I picked the lock while Lucian kept watch down the nearest corridor. Easily enough the lock was undone, and the iron doors of the library slowly opened revealing the dark room. It was much larger than the champion's library, with an impressive collection of text.

In the distance a small blue orb could be seen glowing, revealing the scrawny pale figure of Aron. His curly red hair seemed to shine under the light spell, making his eyes seem much darker as they peered down into a thick textbook.

"Aron." I greeted.

He jolted off the ground dropping his book. "Shauna is that you?"

"Yea, hey. Lucian this is Aron, Aron, Lucian." I introduced as Lucian bowed respectively.

"Hello Lucian, you must be…" He stuttered, returning the gesture.

"Her fiancé. We have a few questions." Lucian said pacing towards Aron.

I stopped him with a quick jab to the shoulder. "Sorry Aron, we're in a bit of a hurry. We need you to identify this symbol." I said attempting to be polite, pulling out the sketch of the crest from my breast pocket.

"Where did you see it, if I may ask?" He inquired shyly.

"We found it on the bodies of more than a dozen men, after they were slaughtered by Nocturne." Lucian explained.

"Anything else you can tell me about them?" Aron asked.

"Yes. They were attempting to capture Nocturne, using a human sacrifice to fuel thisa imprisonment array." I replied, showing him the sketch of the array I studied.

"Then they are the ones." He paused for a moment, looking around the library, possibly for intruders. "You can't tell anyone I told you this."

"We wouldn't have come here if we had intentions of telling others." I assured.

"Alright then." He sighed. "These people have been around for centuries, capturing beasts, and using this primitive spell to capture them. They call themselves the Occult, and are quite powerful, obviously." He explained while scratching his forearm skittishly.

"We need to find them and end them." I demanded, thinking again of the poor girl who was so mercilessly sacrificed.

"I doubt you'd be able to do that…but I do know a start." He said cowering back under his light.

"And where might that be?" Lucian said kneeling down in an almost threatening manner.

"I won't tell you…unless you take me with you." He bribed, still shaking.

I pondered the idea for a moment, knowing Lucian would disagree strongly. However, we didn't have much choice. "I don't see why not." I replied finally. This boy was smart and intuitive, qualities Lucian and I were lacked while in combat. Even with a lack of physical strength, he was mildly adept in magics, not to mention we could protect him. Like he said, this would only be a start.

Lucian shot me a glare, and I replied with a far more sinister one. I wouldn't be swayed on this decision. It was vital we find these Occult. Their intentions of capturing the monsters of this world do not justify the means used to achieve their goal.

"Alright then. The best place to start would be what is called the 'The Cathedral of the First Light.' It wasn't originally inhabited by the Occult, however once it fell, the Occult used it to carry out their…their sacrifices."

"Where might this be Aron?" I asked, patting him on the shoulder.

"Far to the north. It overlooks the frozen ocean of the Frejlord. We could take a car. It would be much faster, and of course warmer than a chariot." He inquired.

"Then we leave tomorrow at dawn. Aron set up the automobile at the institute's fourth gate." I demanded, leading Lucian out of the library.

"You're sure we can trust him?" Lucian asked worrying, as we walked through the darkening corridors.

"I can't imagine why not. I thought he might want to tag along. After all the cathedral is more than likely relatively untouched. He could gather quite a bit of data." I pointed out, defending Aron's company.

Lucian nodded hesitantly. I didn't mind that he was uncomfortable with Aron's presence. Lucian was a capable man to say the least, and something as minor as this would not affect his performance.

We made our way back to my dorm. It was 10 o clock at night, and I wasn't necessarily tired, and neither was Lucian. We decided to take a shower together. Not as much for my pleasure, but for his. I was simply too awake, and I really did need the sleep.

We turned the water to a comfortable 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and undressed. I did a cute strip tease the way he preferred, and he answered by sweeping me off my feet, and dancing me into the shower. I tried to enjoy myself, but I could hardly keep my mind off of the Occult. I had faced demons, vampires, phantoms and countless beings of the dark. However the cult gave me a curiosity, and a rather pestering obsession that I couldn't seem to get over.

Lucian had quite a bit of stamina, and lasted 10 minutes. I faked an orgasm to at least give him some sense of accomplishment, but quite frankly I was simply not there. Luckily enough for me, I fell asleep quickly. We always slept facing away, due to the fact that neither of us could stand cuddling. The cold nights were far more comforting anyhow.

I awoke early in order to prepare for the journey ahead. I assumed Aron would have an automobile prepared. I cooked a light breakfast of toast and scrambled eggs. The aroma woke Lucian easily enough, and he readied quickly before the meal was prepared. We ate in silence, and finished packing afterwards.

Aron was outside with a black car, equipped with five seats and all terrain tires. It was impressive that Aron had the ability to build these with such ease, however I kept in mind his teacher was Heimerdinger.

"It looks nice, thanks for going out of your way to get it Aron." I complemented, still attempting to be polite as possible.

"No no, it was no problem at all. I'm glad to help." He said humbly.

"Aron when are we going! I wanna leave now!" An impatient female voice called from the car.

I stared at the car, a rage building in my gut.

"I-I'm sorry Shauna…" Aron stuttered.

I clenched my fist, furious that Aron would bring yet another on what was supposed to be an expedition reserved for two. I reached the car, looking through the window. There sat Aron's girlfriend, Nina, whom I knew only from the dinner I shared with them before he left the institute. She was impatient, impulsive, and most prevalently, irritating. She shared Aarons red hair, however her skin was of a darker complexion, and she wore a feathered cap that made the already bright hair shine like a fire.

I heard Aron walking towards me, possibly escaping the incoming wrath of Lucian, who I could see out of the corner out of my eye tightening his fist.

"Look I'm really sorry but when she saw me packing the truck she insisted. I couldn't say no." Aron apologized like a coward.

"You never could." I said coldly, glaring daggers into his eyes.

I was upset that Aron would cave to Nina like that, but at this point I could care less. I needed to find them. It wasn't just a curiosity at this point, it was a need. I had to go to that cathedral, I had to find the Occult. The desire to complete this task ate away at me, and I could not begin to fathom why.

The car ride was filled with Nina's chattering. However she wasn't completely incapable in combat. In fact her use of daggers and contraptions built by Aron was quite impressive. Her skill was nearly silenced by overenthusiasm and an overall ignorance to…well everything really.

After a few hours she fell asleep, possibly exhausted from her own inability to shut the fuck up. And thus, the car was once again peaceful. I found sleet as I usually did on long car rides, and Lucian most likely conformed to his usual habit of resting his head against the window and pondering.

I knew exactly what he pondered, and every time I thought of it, it upset me. He thought of Senna and no one else. He was still so attached to her, I could hear it when he reminisced about her, and I could feel it when we made love. I could feel that he was not there, that he was trapped in his mind with her. I'd have to bring this truth up with him at some point…but that's not who I was. I was no good at relationships, nor love. I hunted the dark. I had no need for such petty things. Until I met Lucian I was alone the day my parents died. But Lucian really did help with what I would assume would be a solitary existence.

I awoke to the car coming to a loud, screeching stop, a feature of automobiles that I particularly hated. I grunted in annoyance, and looked through the car. It was completely empty. Peering out the window, I saw nothing but darkness. Despite my better judgment, I opened the door, stepping out into the dark. I looked around, catching sight of Lucian, Aron and Nina looking around with concern.

"What's going on?" I asked confused.

"I…I have no idea. We finished crossing through The Frejlord and we reached something completely uncharted. It's like…" He trailed off.

"It's like a dream…" I finished for him, thinking back to my conversation with Nocturne. I remembered the violin, and then the smell of blood. But foremost, the encompassing darkness.

"A nightmare." Lucian corrected, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"You think it's Nocturne?" I asked, trying to read my fiancé'

"It has to be, nothing else explains this." Lucian said confidently.

Then where is that violin? I thought if we were to see Nocturne again we'd hear that tune, but no. And furthermore, why would he stop us from uncovering the Occult. They tried to detain him. None of this made sense.

As we stood, the wind blew. It was a nice reminder that the outside world was still close by, and that this darkness was an illusion. We waited for the dark to fade, and for the road ahead of us to once again reveal itself.

Then, like a candle losing its light, the wind stopped instantaneously. Silence descended upon us in an unexplainable terror.

Nina opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by an eruption of ear piercing screams of terror. The darkness began to twist and turn. What seemed to be shadow like phantoms pierced the veil around us, and began to envelop us in a torrent of agony. They moaned, pleaded, cried for help. I could hear Nina among them, crying out for help, and then Aron shouting to comfort them. However I could see nothing other than the human like wraiths flooding the dark in an endless flood. I remained calm, kept composure, and allowed the illusion to continue. I knew this was nothing but a mind game, and the only way to handle such a despicable form of magic is to ignore it. I sat down, finding myself leaning against car's wheel, as screams of anguish rang through my ears. Ethereal, unfeeling hands of children grasped at my coat, however they created no shifts in the fabric.

I nearly loss my composure, when among the voices, I heard my own parents. They cried for my help, screaming as that…that witch tortured them. I knew they weren't real. That part of my life is over. The sound of their dying voices were forever burned into my memory. They rang through my dreams, they clung to my thoughts, and they ravaged my soul. But that was over now…the past has no meaning. And it never will.

Authors Note: I'm sorry this took so long, but I was having trouble finishing this chapter. Another thing before I wrap up this note, is that I truly enjoy getting reviews. I love reading them, whether they be negative or positive. If you do critique my story, that's great. But please, if you see something wrong, outside of grammar and spelling, don't just tell me it's wrong. Tell me what exactly you believe is wrong with it, that way I can actually fix it. Thank you really.