Return of the Fallen Volume 10 Chapter 2
The tall woman before Kazuki had just claimed to be his aunt. The woman called for Kazuki to follow after her as she along with Fera’s soul left the room.
Kazuki though was stunned. He had just learned that Daisius was the one who saved him the first time and also the one who brought him to this Higher Realm along with Fera’s soul. Not only that, the reason he did this was that his master ordered him to and that this master was in fact Kazuki’s grandfather.
Kazuki’s brain stopped working momentarily, that is until a voice called out from within his soul world.
(Kazuki, your grandfather is the master of this place and that woman is your aunt?)
Kazuki snapped back to reality.
(I honestly don’t know. It’s hard to believe Nunully but I couldn’t sense any lies from either of them. At the same time, this place is confusing my senses. It’s hard to read this place. What about you Asuna, what do you think?)
Asuna was annoyed.
(What kind of family treats you like that. Daisius or whatever, for him to try and kill you, what the fuck is his problem. Not just him that woman who didn’t even give her name but claims she’s your aunt. The way she looked at you, that isn’t the way an aunt looks at her nephew.)
Kazuki hadn’t noticed anything strange in the woman’s look but at the same time, he wasn’t really in the right state of mind to notice such things as crazy news had just hit him repeatedly.
Nunully nodded along with Asuna.
(Yes, that woman has the look of a predator staring at fresh prey. Kazuki, make sure you stay cautious of her. I’ve seen plenty of women like that in mother’s establishment. They put on that fake smile and pretend everything’s nice to lower your guard then they attack and make men melt and lose all reason.)
“Kazuki, did I not tell you to follow me, hurry up before you start to annoy auntie.”
A sweet voice like honey called out to Kazuki from outside the room. It was his supposed aunt. After both Nunully and Asuna’s warnings, Kazuki became extremely careful as he walked out.
His aunt stared at him but Kazuki couldn’t tell what she was thinking and was about to apologize but the tall woman turned and started to walk once more.
“Come along. Father is not someone you make wait. The others will also not appreciate it if you’re late.”
Walking down a long corridor, the walls were lit with strange crystals Kazuki had never seen before. Each one contained energy but Kazuki again couldn’t identify it. Maybe if he got closer and physically touched them would he know but with his aunt’s brisk pace, he had no chance.
(Kazuki this place is…beautiful.)
Nunully’s words were right on the mark.
The walls were made of a material Kazuki again had never seen but their color of silverish white, made them appear like satin. He wondered if they were actually soft to the touch. The floors appeared firm yet his steps carried a bounce while walking as if the floor reduced his weight. Instead of paintings, there were drawings along the wall. Some things he recognized such as inscriptions but also there were other inscriptions he could not find the meaning of.
At first, he thought they were nonsense but how could that be when they radiated with power that was beyond even him. This was shocking to some extent. Kazuki’s knowledge was vast and deep. He thought he knew every magical inscription as it was all based on the elements. These inscriptions though contained something else besides the base elements.
While focusing on these strange lines, Kazuki could feel his mind being pulled away from his body.
(KAZUKI!)
Nunully cried out in worry. Her shout snapped Kazuki’s mind back into place and he felt cold sweat on his brow.
(What was that?)
This question of his though could not be answered by Asuna or Nunully as they had no clue either.
“Oh, I forgot you are not under this house’s protection, neither are you a Demigod or a God. Mind the walls or your mind could break and you would be driven mad.”
His aunt said the bare minimum it seemed. There was no explanation just a small warning. Was their genuine concern for his well-being or was she just covering her basis, Kazuki didn’t know but one thing for sure, he would no longer focus on the ancient language written on the walls.
The fact that he felt he could not resist in the slightest was eye-opening. It told him that even in a simple hallway if one was not careful they could lose themself.
(I’m in a mere hallway and yet one can go insane if they’re not careful. This passageway is this dangerous already. The dangers in the rest of the Higher Realm, I can’t even imagine what they could be.)
(Hmph what’s so dangerous about those squiggly lines on the wall? Isn’t it just some weird fancy artist’s fetish.)
Asuna couldn’t understand what had happened. One second Kazuki was walking down a hall, the next Nunully was screaming at Kazuki for some reason.
(Asuna, didn’t you feel that odd energy. There was something wrong with Kazuki, he was in danger just now and the energy coming from the wall was what caused it.)
Asuna looked confused.
(Asuna, Nunully is right. Those lines on the wall are not so simple. For a moment it felt like my body and mind were separating completely. For those of us who have combined and fused our mind body and soul. I don’t know what the consequences would really be if one were to separate them but if my aunt’s warning is any indication, I would have gone mad and my psyche would have shattered.)
Asuna was shocked. To her, she had been completely unaware that Kazuki was even in any danger. Her guard went straight up afterward.
(I don’t like this place. We need to return as soon as possible.)
Kazuki tended to agree.
(For now, that is not within my power but you’re right. At the moment though I have no clue where this place is. A Higher Realm where is that exactly. Not only that, I don’t know how one would even begin to go back. All I can do is follow along and see what these strangers want from me.)
Kazuki became even more curious about the ancient language. His knowledge didn’t just include his own memories but those of Zephris and Glacious as well. One was the world’s greatest alchemist and the other was a dragon that had lived for countless years and knew many secrets. With all of this combined though, Kazuki couldn’t see through this magic. Not only that but there was a difference in who and how it affects someone. Kazuki felt his mind being pulled away but Nunully only sensed danger for him and Asuna felt nothing at all.
Kazuki glanced around but concentrated on nothing for fear of losing his mind as he continued down this path.
Very quickly The tall woman, Fera, and Kazuki all arrived outside of large doors. Kazuki wanted to know what the doors actually looked like but again he feared if he looked with anything more than a cursory glance, he would be in danger.
Before the doors opened, his aunt gave him a piece of advice.
“Kazuki, I don’t think I need to tell you this but if what father says about you is true, you are one to say or do something you shouldn’t. This is not one of those measly weak Lower Realms. Father says you recently became the strongest being down there. Well, this is not a Lower Realm. Here, you are tiny, like an insignificant dot in the middle of a star or better yet a galaxy. You don’t know how things work here so only speak when you are spoken to and avoid being aggressive in any way possible. In the end, just stay in your lane and I believe things will work out for you. Don’t do that, and things will only end badly for you.”
His aunt spoke to here before a booming voice called out from behind the door.
“Alutra! Enter!”
“Ah, I forgot to mention that. Kazuki I’m called Alutra. Our introduction is kind of late but the circumstances well as you can see are not ideal. Just remember what I said, don’t act out or speak out of turn. Be a good boy, got it?”
Kazuki nodded.
The large doors ahead opened by themselves and the three entered a wide room similar to a throne room. The room was lit with bright light and there were multiple, tall strong pillars on both sides of the room. On the left as well as the right, there were dozens of people. Each one gave off an immense amount of pressure and Kazuki dared not look at them.
Sitting in the center on a large chair made of what looked to be large draconic bones was a young man. Kazuki did his best to avoid looking at anyone in the room but the moment he was aware of this man’s presence, his eyes were drawn to him. Just like the drawings and ancient language written all over the corridor walls, Kazuki could feel his mind separating from his body as he looked at the man.
The man as well looked at Kazuki. Seeing Kazuki’s eyes, the man couldn’t help but smile and as he did, a domineering presence spread throughout this throne room.
This feeling of having your mind being pulled away along with this intense pressure was absolutely crushing.
The man opened his mouth and casually spoke.
“So my grandchildren have finally arrived. It took you long enough.”
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