Hello, readers!
I'm deciding to slow down the update so
that you can enjoy the feeling of waiting for story.
Here's the 4th Nightmare!
Hope you like it!
Ignia: Hope you like it!
Now, let the fairy tale begin.
The 4th Nightmare
Karis' POV
Big sis' hugging Ignia.
They're really interesting.
Uuuhhh...
I'm annoyed that I must seperated from Elsword...
Even though we've been together for quite a time...
Did he not think of me as someone special?
I can't sleep well because I'm too worried.
Hence, I go out from the cottage.
The time's 4AM, the sun will rise soon.
The sun, huh...
I remembered the day when I turn into my true form.
It's also at this hour.
I put Elsword's sword in the jungle before my true form destroy it.
Since she will absolutely not allowing any hindrance get in her way.
Good thing Elsword found it before her.
Since I'm her, she know where I put it.
But, since she can't find it anywhere she went berserk.
I walk into the jungle.
I feel like to meditate inside.
Meditate is the only way I can get the peace of mind.
"It really is calm inside the forest."
I look around and all I can hear is the sound of crickets.
Looks like the frogs are sleeping, teehee.
I walk into the forest deeper and deeper.
Since my memory's not bad I can remember the route to get back to them so I have no worry about getting lost.
"Hmm?"
I thought I saw light.
Fire.
However it's not wildfire.
It's just camp fire.
I wonder who's there...
I take a peek at the spot.
There I found Elsword's looking into the campfire.
It looks like he's thinking of something.
"Elsword?"
He noticed me and smiled at me.
"Hey, Karis. What are you doing deep in this forest?"
"That's my line, why are you making a campfire here?"
I poked his forehead.
We may seem the same age, but for some reason he's just like a little boy.
"I woke up at 3AM, and then for a certain reason I can't sleep, so I decided to go outside and sit like this, how about you?"
"Well we're most likely the same, I also can't sleep."
I sit beside him.
The campfire's warm.
His long red hair and his cute face made him looked like a handsome girl.
I can feel my face blushed as I look at his face.
"Your face's red, Karis. You got a fever?"
"N-No, it's just because of the campfire."
I know it's lame, but at least I managed to make him believe me.
"Say, Elsword."
"What is it?"
He smiled at me.
But somehow his smile's a little different than usual.
"What do you think of Aisha?"
He's silent.
I bet he's pondering how to answer me.
Why can't you just say 'She is a nice friend'?
"To tell you the truth, I don't know what should I feel about her."
"-What do you mean?"
I'm a little irritated by his answer, but at least he's honest with his words.
"Back then, I'm feeling that she's just a troublesome girl, since she always have a fight with me. But later, I'm feeling that she's a very important person to me. But due to recent events, my feelings started to subside. Now, I don't know if she's still important to me or not... Hahaha, why must human's feelings changed so fast?"
He laughed at his incompetent.
He's feeling bad because he can't be a faithful man.
But it's just normal.
It's very hard to stay faithful to someone who's no longer with you.
But when that important someone back, you no longer know how to treat them once you've forgotten about how to treat them.
I smiled and pull his head close to my head.
"K-Karis?"
He's blushing, of course I also blushed.
But I need to do this.
"You've done nothing wrong. It's just normal if that kind of thing happened. All you have to do is... Look at what you have now."
He looked surprised.
But then he smiled.
He pull my body closer and we embrace each other.
"I'm okay even if you say you love Aisha... I'm just a newcomer after all."
"Don't say that, Karis. You're the most important person in my life now."
I'm very happy.
I'm his important person.
"I would love it if you're willing to be m-my... Girlfriend..."
My face turned crimson red.
I shook my head frantically.
"N-No! I... I'm not ready yet..."
He laughed.
"Hahaha, you're so cute, Karis. Even though you used to call me Cherry boy, you're a Cherry girl yourself aren't you?"
"Muu... Stop teasing me..."
I lowered my head, embarrassed.
He patted my head and caressed it gently.
"It's fine, Karis. I will wait until you're ready, I don't want to rush my relationship after all."
"... B-But..."
"Yes?"
I mustered all of my courage to say it out.
"I can't be your girlfriend yet... But I can be your 'Partner'."
His eyes widened, and it turns gentle in a moment later.
"Nice to have you with me, partner."
He smiled and kissed my forehead.
It's just a kiss on the forehead.
But... Why I felt it's more embarrassing than on the lips!?
My face's really red now.
I can barely differentiate my face with my hair due to the similar color.
"Do you want to go back?"
He asked me.
I shook my head and held his hand.
"Let's stay here for a little longer."
He nodded and rested my head on his shoulder.
It's very embarrassing.
But I'm so happy.
The Camp
Morning arrived, we get back at the camp before everyone wake up.
I return to the cottage to wake everyone, Elsword's preparing breakfast.
I never thought he's able to cook.
"Wake up, sleepy heads."
I shook Ignia and big sis' body.
They slowly opened their eyes.
"Good night..."
"Good night in your dream, wake up. It's already morning."
I pulled Ignia to stand up.
She pouted unhappily but still stood up obediently.
"Karis onee-chan's so mean... I want to sleep for a little longer..."
She walked like a zombie and got out of the cottage.
Now it's big sis' turn...
I inhale deeply and whispers in her ear.
"Ignia wants to take a bath with you, sis."
Her eyes opened with clear consciousness, and with a flash of light.
"IGNIAAAA!"
"KYAAAAA!? NOOOO!"
She got out of the cottage in a flash.
I only thought about it just now but it proved to be effective.
I gave my wry smile to her.
Now I turned to Aisha and Vara's cottage.
They're sleeping while hugging each other.
Their hair are untied.
Umm... Can someone tell me which one is Vara and which one is Aisha?
When I'm pondering it seems like one of them's awake.
"... Morning, Karis."
This one is Vara.
The emotionless tone like usual.
"Morning, Vara. Let's have a breakfast."
She nodded.
"Hey the other me, let's have a breakfast."
"Ugghh... Let me sleep for awhile, the other me..."
T-The other me?
"Um... The food's going to get cold if you're late."
"Can't help it... *Yawn*"
Aisha finally got up and they got out of the cottage too.
I sighed and got out the cottage to have a breakfast with them.
Elsword's cooking is not bad.
Elsword's POV
We've finished our breakfast, Karis' helping me washing the dishes.
Even though we're not working I still have my savings from when I'm being the 'El Search Party's member. Aisha also got quite a saving.
At least money's not the case now.
"Karis, are you doing fine?"
"Don't worry, if only washing anyone can do it."
She grinned.
I love her smile.
Even though she's not human, I still love her.
I'm feeling a little bad for hugging other girls last night.
I need to stop that.
"I'm going to look the others for awhile, will you be okay by yourself?"
"I'm fine, I'm about to finish this after all."
She's right, maybe I should go first.
And then I saw Aisha and Vara's reading the same book.
Oh my, they really looked like twins.
"Hey, what book are you two reading?"
"You won't understand."
"She's right, Els. This is a mage's book."
Vara and Aisha's very similar, with the difference of their personalities.
"I see, have fun then."
And then I go to see Ignia and Harza.
They're-
"NOOOOO! Onii-chan!"
Ignia and Harza's having an indecent wrestle.
Harza's trying to pinch Ignia's cheeks while Ignia who's rebelling against her pushed Harza's chest with her legs and hands.
Any man would love this show, but I can't let this continue.
"Harza, that's enough. You know Ignia hate it."
"Onii-chan!"
Ignia ran towards me and hug me.
She's like my little sister so I don't mind hugging her.
"Muu... I want to play with Ignia..."
"I know you love cute things, but this is too far."
I sighed.
Harza looked disheartened.
I felt bad for scolding her like this.
Hence, I patted her head.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have scold you."
She smiled.
"I don't mind."
'Because you're so kind... You ended up hurting the others...'
I can barely hear anything in her whisper.
"What did you say just now?"
"Nothing, forget it! Igniaaaa!"
"KYAAAAA!"
Harza...
Something's wrong with her.
But I don't know what's the wrong thing.
"Hey, Els."
"Oh, you're done, Karis?"
"Yes, I can see Vara and Aisha's having a very close relationship, maybe because they share the same DNA despise their elemental difference?"
"Maybe you're right, Karis?"
We laughed.
I can feel at ease when I'm with Karis.
It's the best feeling.
Suddenly Ignia came to us, looks like Harza's finally exhausted.
"Karis onee-chan."
"Hm? What is it, Ignia?"
Karis smile at her.
I can slightly sense sadness from Ignia's eyes.
"Can I talk with you privately?"
"Uh- Sure, I don't mind."
"Then I will take my leave."
I leave them by themselves.
They head into the jungle.
Looks like even Ignia need someone to share her stories with.
...
It's already 1 hour, did a private talk really took that long?
Suddenly Aisha come to me.
"Els, where's Ignia?"
"Ignia? She's with Karis alone, in the jungle."
I can see terror in Aisha's eyes.
"Wh-What's up, Aisha?"
"... You won't believe it."
I can sense a great danger.
I remembered past scenes.
I can feel chill ran through my spines.
"Harza's incapacitated near the river. Her wounds are heavy, Vara's now trying her best to help her. We need to find Ignia soon, or Karis will also be in a grave danger."
Karis' POV
Ignia took me quite deep into the forest.
I wonder why we need to get so far from the camp.
"Ignia?"
"Yes, onee-chan?"
"Why we're getting so far from the camp?"
She stay silent and...
"There's something I want to show you, onee-chan."
"Something?"
She stay silent again and bring me further in the forest.
After walking for about 1 hour, she finally started speaking.
"Onee-chan, with this, I don't think anyone would know we're here."
"Of course, it's so deep in the forest, so... What are we going to talk about?"
Her scarlet eyes are closed.
Slowly, her hair color changed, from pink to crimson fire red.
She opened her eyes slowly as she summoned her burning spear.
"I want to ask onee-chan... Can onee-chan die here?"
Her sharp, red eyes that are totally different than her usual kind eyes are glaring at me.
She wants... To kill me?
"I-Ignia? Stop joking..."
The me right now who isn't a succubus can't do much.
It would be bad if she's...
"I'm sorry onee-chan, but you guys are too easy to tricked. I never expect that even onii-chan who's already used to war and betrayals can't figure out my act, how stupid."
She grinned maliciously.
She's a total different coin side than the normal Ignia.
It's just like she has two different personalities.
"Ignia..."
I glared at her.
No matter if she's an enemy or not...
No matter if she used to be really close with us even if it's just for a short time.
To think that she will betray us...
And calling Elsword stupid...
"I CAN'T FORGIVE YOU!"
"Kyaaaa. How scary, onee-chan!"
Her grin widened and she charged me with her burning spear.
I take out my knife that I always bring with me to block her fire tip.
Luckily my knife's quite long so I did't get burned.
"Quite a fancy knife you got there, onee-chan."
"Stop calling me that."
I turn hostile toward her.
There's no use being gentle with enemy.
"It's made of mythrill, an alloy that's said to be the strongest and the sturdiest. It's so sad and a waste that this knife's only made for a weak woman like you, onee-chan."
"... You know that this knife's only one in the world?"
"Of course I know, I always research my prey's history before proceeding to hunt them. That Harza's not a challenge, she's also too weak."
"Y-You even hurt Big sis!?"
"You should be grateful that she's barely alive. If I want I can turn her to cinders easily."
"You-!"
I gripped my knife handle stronger, I channels my magic power to the knife that makes it grant the ability to 'phase' through any obstacle and hit the enemy.
"Cheap trick."
She saw through my movements and leap backward to avoid the slash.
She's strong, even though she haven't show me anything I can understand, her experience in battle's higher than me. To think that she's still so young.
"Don't worry onee-chan, to respect your skill in combat I'll show you 50% of my power."
Only 50%?
Is she underestimating me?
I'm going to show her that I'm not that weak!
I charged to stab her.
But she spun her spear to create a flame barrier.
I can't pass the barrier.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue and leapt backward.
"Too bad onee-chan, you're not allowed to touch me even if just one finger."
She looked at me with intent to kill.
"Because your kind's what disgusts me the most."
My kind? Succubus?
Saying that, she disappeared.
"...! Where are you!?"
I looked around, but I can't find her anywhere, and then-
*Smack*
I felt a hard object slammed my stomach.
"Aaaakh!"
I coughed out blood and fell bacward.
"... Too weak. You're not even a bit close to Harza's level. Is this your power after you lose your succubus power? You're no difference than normal human with low magic power."
I can't forgive her...
But my power's not enough.
I lost almost 80% of my normal power.
It's so annoying...
To think I will believe in someone and ended up like this.
I... Can't believe in anyone but Elsword...
Do you need my help, Karis?
This voice...
No, it's impossible, my ancient instict should've been erased.
There's no way it still linger here in my mind.
I'm not your ancient instict.
But I'm your another personality.
Put it simply, we're just like Ignia there.
Who got two different personalities.
I'm also...
Able to be like Ignia?
Not able, but you already can do it since
long time ago, different than your natural instict.
When I help you you can still have your self awareness.
Re-Really...?
Only silence remains.
Should I... Trust that voice?
"Sayonara, onee-chan."
Ignia channels her burning spear with huge flames.
The flames swirls wildly like a storm.
I can be certain I will be burned to crisp.
I-
"KARIS!"
I looked at the voice's source.
"Els..."
Finally at relieve, my strength left my body.
I'm feeling so weak.
"Ignia! I won't forgive you for what you did!"
Elsword charged Ignia.
"O-Onii-chan!?"
Still in her burning form, her expression distorted at the sight of Elsword.
Aisha's also here, she treated my wound, I think my organs are injured, but I can still heal it with Aisha's help.
"Are you okay, Karis?"
"Not really, the blow Ignia dealt really hurts..."
I smiled weakly.
Good thing my injuries are not too heavy, but it's enough to stop my movement.
I think I will rest a bit...
Elsword's POV
Karis' not too heavily injured, thank goodness...
Now I need to defeat Ignia, to think she will betray us, I can't believe all of the times we've passed are just an act even though it's only for a short time.
"I'm going to bring you down!"
"Gu-!"
She's hesitating.
What happened?
To think that she will cold bloodly hurt Harza and Karis she hesitated to attack me?
I bring both of my swords together;
"Double Mega Slash!"
She blocked it with her burning spear.
"...! 'Flame Ruler'!"
Suddenly her body's engulfed in flames.
I retreated in order to avoid the fire.
Slowly the flames subsided.
And...
Ignia's hair was untied.
She wear something similar to a shrine priestess' clothing.
Her spear's different too, it's about 2 times longer.
Her eyes are sharp and scarlet colored.
Is this her Priestess form?
I held both of my swords tightly.
"-! Onii... Chan... AAAAAAKKKH!"
Her spear's burning.
The flames are far greater than before.
And her body's also bursting flames and form two pair of wings.
Flame Goddess, that's all I can think.
"Ignia!"
I charged her, but I was strucked down by a swipe of her spear.
The distance she can reach is too great!
With this I can't get close!
"... Guh-! 'Flame Path'!"
She swung the spear down.
A line of fire is assaulting us.
If I avoid it then Aisha and Karis will get hit, tsk!
I cross my sword and blocked the flames.
But it's impossible to block flames, my body's burned.
"GUAAAAAAHHHH!"
The flames subsided, my clothes are slightly burnt.
The flames isn't created to burn things, but to burn soul.
If I kept on being burnt I will be dead for sure.
Is there any way...!
"- 'Sword Assaults'!"
I summoned swords from the sky and chase down Ignia.
However, those swords are being burnt to cinders by her deadly flames.
So this is the power of Fire Priestess...!
She fly slowly to the sky.
Ignia look down at me with sad looking eyes.
"... I'm sorry, onii-chan..."
She lift her spear high.
Flames are swirling wildly.
The size of the flames orb is huge, It feels like watching a sun in a close range.
There's no way to avoid this attack-
Is what I'm thinking.
"Damn- It!"
"Els!"
I can hear Aisha screamed my name.
She swung the spear down.
"... *Sob* 'Eternal Flames of Purification'!"
I can see her tears.
Ignia's crying.
The last thing I can see is Flames are engulfing my surroundings and my body, and burnt my soul also the enviroment.
The very image of hell.
The 4th Nightmare End
That's it for The 4th Nightmare.
Is it worth a read? I hope so!
I know it's a cliffhanging end, but you need to
be patient until the next Nightmare published!
Ignia: I looked really different in that Miko form.
If it's hard for you to imagine just try to imagine
Itsuka Kotori with 2 flame wings and long spear.
See you again, my dear readers!