Chapter 57: Reality Versus IIlusion

**THE DEMON’S LOVE**

*Chapter 57: Reality Versus IIlusion*

Amari’s

Rymond nodded his head at me and I simply presented a faint smile. I need to make sure my capability of controlling Dark Magic is a mere illusion. We’re on our way to resume our journey to meet Darkness, the terror and horror of the people. I’d be lying if I say I am not scared or anything, this is my first time stumbling something whose power could grant someone both power and Dark Aura. If my will here is the root of the problem, does that mean my life was all along a lie? Then what would become of Rymond and Zaren after I leave?

No, no. I need to think of this well and logically. Controlling Dark Magic doesn’t make me a bad person, think positively.

I told Zaren, “Since we killed those Dark Practitioners, what would happen to us along the way?”

He smirked, pointing at Bal with his chin, “That thing there betrayed you so if we encounter a Dark Practitioner along the way, we could make use of him.”

I slightly widened my eyes, “But… he didn’t put me in any harm. If he got killed, his family will…”

“If he doesn’t die, someone else will. That naturally depends on whether we don’t meet Dark Aura ahead or if we do. If we don’t, then his life would be spared. But if we do… I don’t think Rymond wouldn’t make use of him, either.”

I opened my mouth, intending to say not to use someone else’s wife like it was a tool but with the intention of murder in Zaren’s eyes, even after saying it to him wouldn’t be that much use. If I could save Bal’s life then I could also save someone like Zaren or Rymond. If I were to die the moment I meet Darkness, I will make sure to forcibly lift out pact off and make him live his way the way he wanted to. As for Zaren, I’d make sure he doesn’t put himself on the line again. Everyone had given me a second chance; hence I must make use of the little time I have. Even if I must kill myself on the process, if its exchange was for everyone’s lives, I wouldn’t mind.

Rymond yelled in his adorable voice, “The road ahead is particularly dangerous. Knights, make sure you wear the masks I gave you and summon your power the moment the horses jumped on that wriggling trees right there.”

Now that he mentioned it, I could clearly see from a distance the hideous yet odd and terrifying sight of whatever was in here. There was strong aura of Dark Magic, the trees seemed to be swaying or mixing up together, and there were eerie hums of women or whoever those were, and creepy sounds of footsteps as though someone was beside us all along.

“This felt like a Déjà vu, but we’re walking, more like galloping in an Illusion Dimension and those who couldn’t discern reality and this dimension would be forever stuck here. Those who couldn’t get out of this Illusion are eventually the food of Darkness.”

I glanced at Zaren who laughed and nodded his head, “Many of my knights experienced this but most of them unfortunately lost their lives as we didn’t know this thing was present before actually meeting with the Demon in the Northen Area.”

I heard another chuckle from Zaren then he added in reluctance. “As we set-off, I warned the knights that the same thing would appear so I ensured that their safety would be guaranteed. In fact, Amari, they knew all along that these wriggling trees were the root of this Illusion. So, can you hold my hand and trust me?”

An Illusion is not reality. As Rymond had said earlier, if I couldn’t distinguish reality and this Illusion, I am not appropriate to be called an Elementalist. Zaren isn’t someone who will lend his hand whenever I got intro trouble because he promised that he’d save himself first before he tries to save me.

And for that sake, I am living in this Illusion and not the Reality. I summoned my Light power as it engulfed me and then slowly, but strongly, the Illusion messed up with my mind as though it was creating new memories that I had never experienced before.

It was painful but it felt natural, too. As though these foreign memories were mine to begin with. No, wait, these were all not mine, but Amari. But why… is Amari’s memories being played? I felt my head throbbed and I groaned. This is the moment I try controlling the Dark Magic.

I lifted my hand, then attacked the barrier, the wriggling trees but then it returned to me, so I jumped up, floating in the air. I gaped when the horse disappeared, but I didn’t lose my composure. I unsheathed my sword and swung it everywhere, until I saw the same wriggling trees again.

“Amari, your dad loves you, he just doesn’t know how to show it.”

“Mama, why does father hate me?”

“Amari, my daughter, I, your father sincerely felt apologetic that I couldn’t be of someone you can rely on whatever time it would be.”

“Yula… do you still remember the time my father hunted, and the rabbit’s head scared you off? You looked like a crying rabbit than the…”

“Amari!”

“Master!”

“Duchess, your dress!”

Suddenly, memories of the past created a ruckus in my mind as I felt my heavy breaths. No, I shouldn’t believe this. I held my breath, looking down but what greeted me pained me to death. It was Arvhin’s cries and sorrows. No, no… my baby. I shouldn’t… my baby.

“Mama! Arvhin is here!!”

“Yula, our child knew how to talk!”

“Zaren, take a look at this. Arvhin drew you quite.. uniquely.”

I gasped, panted, and trying to get out of the Illusion the Darkness gave me and with all the strength I left, I swung my sword as I summoned all my powers and broke the barrier. Suddenly, I felt a tingling pain on my left arm as I staggered to land on the ground.

“Amari!”

Ah, finally. I am in the reality.

My hand trembled as I felt my blood rushed down on it. It was too late. I thought I could control Dark magic; I didn’t know it would be this… terrible.

“Wake up!”

I couldn’t hear them as I felt my vision blackened and my strength weakened, along my heavy breaths.