Oh hai guys o/ I'm back! I'm very very very sorry the update took so long. So many things happening and I am so sorry, please don't murder me. I'll try to be on top of my game more and update quicker. Anyway! I wanted to thank you guys for the positive and constructive feedback you left me and the ridiculous amount of people wanting to follow this poor soul's story! It is really nice of you :3 Anyway, I wont keep you! I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! :3
Chapter 2: Night Terror
Jude's POV
I stood there…completely shocked at what I was seeing. I couldn't move—all feeling had left my body.
"How can this be? W-What am I seeing? Is this real? Am I dreaming? Is this some sort of sick, drunken fantasy?"
I regained control of my body and viciously smacked my in the face, leaving a flushed red imprint from my left ear to the corner of my mouth.
"Wake up Jude…Wake up from this sick nightmare…."
I slapped myself again and again. Tears rolling down my now beet-red face.
"WAKE UP!"
The body in the bed twitched slightly, moaning from extreme pain and evident exhaustion.
"L-Ludger!"
I ran over to the bed, panicking as I saw the man I befriended years back quiver and sweat beneath his thin, navy-blue sheets. Suddenly, it stopped. The blinding aura, the twitching aggravation—all of it…gone. I placed the back of my hand upon his forehead and as I predicted, he was burning up. It was scary, really. I've never seen him in such pain and deep inside, it was kind of disturbing me. I undid the covers to expose his now-seemly unconscious body to get a closer inspection of any wounds or bruises that he might have fallen victim to, but found none. I examined the man some more and noticed something odd…but incredible at the same time! Ludger seemed completely unchanged, looking the exact same in terms of face, hair and eyes and donning the same garbs as he wore when we last saw him five years ago, as if he had been preserved for all this time, while the rest of us grew up.
-Ngh-
Oh, no! His head was on fire. I noticed him shake beneath my now-sweaty palm. I let go of him quickly and stumbled into the main room to the kitchen area. The area was rather small, somewhat smaller then my own kitchen area in my own apartment or even my dormitory kitchen I had while living in Fennmont. I rummaged through the cabinets, trying to find to something to treat his weakening ailment, but found nothing. For the far of my right ear, I could hear the low moans of the resurrected martyr. Having not found anything could possibly aid him, I opened the fridge and pulled out an unopened chilled bottle of water. I returned to the room as quickly as possible and saw the man of two toned hair now sitting upright, clutching his temple and shaking it violently. I charged at the man upon seeing his misery.
"Ludger, don't do that! It'll only make it worse!" I yelled in protest, trying to pry his hands off his aching head
The Kresnik man outstretch his arms, pulsating with a glowing yellow aura again, and let out a deafening cry.
-GAHHHHHHH-
He screamed. I released. That piercing cry frightened me beyond compare. I looked at him in horror.
"L-Ludger…"
He wasn't listening. His head had been protruded upwards, his emerald green irises staring mortified at the motionless ceiling. After a moment, he seemed to unclench and lower his wingspan. Backed away at other side of the bed, I called out to him again
"Ludger…?"
He slowly lower his head to face me, the aura around him still pulsating. His gaze fell upon me, my ember irises connecting tightly with his hypnotic, emerald green ones. His expression expressed that of one who just saw a ghost. He was scared, shaking, and vocalizing small frightened grunts.
"Was it…really him?" I thought to myself, inching closer to the 20-year-old hero.
His was startled by my movement and let out a quiet yelp while shying from me.
"W-who are you?" he said in a low, choked up voice. His expression turning from scared to hostile.
"Ludger, d-don't you recognize me?"
When I got close enough, I placed my hand gently upon his cheek, a slight shudder trembling under my sympathetic palms. His eyes did not leave mine (not that I wanted them to) but I wanted him to see it was me. A moment following, Ludger lifted a hand from the bed and touched mine. From his emeralds fell a tear, shimmering in the Elympion moonlight, followed by a soft smile of relief.
"Jude…" he spoke up, in a voice just above a whisper.
Hearing him call my name out again brought me great joy—a joy I didn't think I could ever have again. I smiled and throw myself at him, flinging my arms around his thin, pale neck. I buried my face into his neck, tears beginning to stream down my otherwise content face. He has returned, and…and I was happy.
"Ludger….."
Milla's POV
My sister and I made it to the Hallowmont with ease. I stepped out of the ominous void of the Temporal Crossroads and found myself at the tip of the peak. I hadn't been back to this place in five human years, and surprisingly…nothing had changed. The skies, were still dark and gloomy but still somewhat calming, with clouds swept across the seemingly endless skyway, pierced by ominous mountain peaks in the distance. I look around, nobody but my spirit sister and myself occupied the space. I cross my arms and let out a deep sigh.
"Hmm…there seems to be no monsters present." I say aloud as I look around at the rocky landscape.
Muzét hovered over close to me with a huge smile on her face.
"See Milla, you were worried about nothing. Now, let's travel back to the spirit realm and we could umm, do more of those human activities you like so much!"
I look at her with a rather deadpan and slightly disgruntled expression and dismissed her suggestion almost immediately.
"Muzét, we only just got back to Rieze Maxia, there is still so much we haven't investigated yet! We must leave no stone unturned!"
Without another word, I proceeded towards the rocky pathway that lead to the base of the Hallowmont towards my shrine in Nia Khera, Muzét solemnly following behind. Her face was obscured, pointed down like a pouting child being escorted home by a reprimanding parent. This act proceeded until we reached halfway down the mountain. At that point, I was getting quite frustrated with her. What was this act for? What was she hiding? I wanted answers and I wanted them now. I stopped in my tracks and turned to her, my long, strawberry-blonde hair swishing 180 degrees with me—my magenta irises piercing her melancholy gaze.
"Muzét, I mean it this time…" I stomped my foot, "What are you hiding from me….?"
The blue-haired spirit lifted her head to reveal her soft, electric-yellow eyes looking back at me. She blushed slightly.
"Milla, what's the matter?"
I crossed my arms and shook my head in disbelief. I obviously wasn't going to get anywhere with her playing coy like this. With possible danger ahead I did NOT have time for her acts. She proceeded to hang her head again and started floating further down the Hallowmont, bypassing me. I let out a deep sigh.
"You promised me you were going to change and for a while I was believing you were…but lately...you are being secretive again…"
The floating spirit stopped a mere few yards in front of me and turned slowly, looking me dead in the eyes.
"I've done nothing wrong, Milla…now, can we please just move onward? I'm…tired…."
Her response shocked me. Was that true? Was she really just not up in her strength? I do admit, she has been somewhat "out of it" but I never actually believed it, having been so used to her more eccentric, vivacious personality. Perhaps I was being a bit too hard on her.
"Muzét…."
"I'm sorry, Milla…"
My sister proceeded forward without another word, and I followed suit. The remainder of the trek down the mountain was silent—not a word nor interaction passed between the two of us until we reached the shrine.
Oh dear...
What could possibly be going on with "that one"...? All the pieces will come together soon, I promise. Again, thanks for waiting, you guys, I'm really glad you are enjoying it! Please continue to leave your feedback and I will continue to please you all o/. See ya again soon!