CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Every punch, every hit, every attack brought a sharp stab on Lux's soul. They were not average physical attacks, and every time they would go at each other, memories flashed before Lux's eyes.

This was a unique ability but also a rather sadistic and cynical one. Physical injuries are one thing, but the flashbulb memories were another thing. It distracted those attacking and placed them at a disadvantage, lost in their memories.

This was what was happening every time Amaliel got the upper hand and struck her. Every contact would bring back some image or sequence from her memory, something she could not defend against. All she could do was stand strong and retain her sense of what reality was.

Lux watched on as Felix walked among the white walls of the labyrinth. He moved slowly, and was murmuring to himself as he often did in this situation. His eyes were squeezed shut, his hands shaking lightly at his side, and a drop of sweat was falling from his jaw line.

Her arms were crossed as she watched him. It had been nearly 60 minutes that Felix had withstood delirium. It was his new record and he was still going strong avoiding the impending madness.

He then slowly opened his eyes and looked up to Lux, and smiled weakly. He looked like he was managing pain while trying to act like it was no big deal.

"You are doing amazing," she said to him. She began to step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, returning a comforting smile and removing the delirium from his mind like snuffing out a flame.

He relaxed immediately, letting out a sigh. He regained his composure instantly and looked back at Lux with a sense of pride.

"I think you are ready," she said.

They walked back to reality, right within Lux's apartment as the sun was setting in Augusta. The air was warm and smelt of tropics, as always, and the sun in the room was lit in an orangey haze. It was home, and there was a new sense of peace whenever they return to that familiar environment.

The labyrinth, in all honesty, was not comforting in the least because it was not necessarily real. It was a figment of Lux's power and mind, not a livable environment.

"Do you really think so?" he said, sitting at her two person table they often ate meals at. He rested his head on his forearms, slumping forward and watching Lux walk around her kitchen and take out the kettle she used to make tea.

Lux turned back to him and nodded, "I am sure," she said, "I think you have proven you can handle your fears. The real question though is if you yourself are ready."

Felix thought about it, looking out the window as a palm tree of the oasis blew in the light dusk breeze as characteristic of Augusta's always reliable weather. Was he ready to confront his fears in person? Both Lux and Tertius, their guild master, had agreed that the last step in overcoming one's innate fears are to address them head on. This could only happen, however, if one could muster the will and courage to do so and work towards it never plaguing them again.

"Maybe," he said.

Lux did not respond. She placed the kettle of water on the lit fire and watched it for a moment before turning to sit across from Felix. She mocked his actions, coming to rest her head on her forearms as well.

Felix looked up into her golden eyes as a thought passed his head. "What about you?" he asked quietly, looking at her and raising and eyebrow. His voice was muffled in his arms, but she heard him loud and clear.

"What about me?" she said, also raising her eyebrow. "Have I not told you? I am not entirely human so I am immune to the effects of delirium."

"No, not that. I mean, you are half human if I am not mistaken. And you have told me before you have a soul. So just how can you be immune to delirium when it targets a soul? Should you not at least be half affected?"

Lux, blinked, wondering if his bombardment of questions was finally over. Assuming they were, she began to answer.

"Felix, it is never a partial thing. Either you are affected or not, there is no half-assed delirium."

Felix was taken aback by her crude choice of words. She almost never spoke with anything less than well developed syntax and vocabulary. This was partially because of how she was raised with Tertius and what was expected out of her as the most powerful mage in the guild.

"Are you saying you have no soul, Lux?"

"No, no, I definitely do," she said swatting away his comment as if it were a fly with her hand. She was speaking so causally even though Felix had just asked if she had no soul. "All that happens is that I use my… other half."

"Other half? You mean your demon half?"

"Yes," she said quickly, "That exact one. I use it to shield myself in a way. I do not want to say I let it 'take over' my human soul, but that is the truth."

They did not speak for a few seconds, just let the light fade until they could not see each other's emotions in the dimmed room. The sun was now completely below the horizon.

"So you just… prevent it from affecting you? Are you sure that is healthy? Are you sure letting your non-human half shield your human half is good for you?"

"God, Felix," she said standing hearing the kettle boil, "What is with all the questions? You should not worry about me. You should worry about whether or not you are going to pull through with your own journey."

Felix did not want to say anything else back. If Lux did not want to talk about it, as she clearly was showing, she would avoid it by changing the subject. However, Felix did have to think if he was ready or not to make the decision to tell his family the truth.

Lux filtered the water through the ground leaves and into two cups, handing one to Felix.

A.N. - I have the flu and it snowed 14 inches today. Woop.