Down System

Chapter 37

ALEERA VERNIZE

I didn't know where it would be going, but I believed in the good.

Before going out of the big bubble, I hugged the old woman first. Showing sweet things to her wasn't my thing, but I just felt like she deserved a warm embrace coming from me for all the things she had done, especially for these potions that little did I know were intended for my mission.

I bathe myself with Invis and with the spell made with Hufana leaves to completely disappear myself from everyone. I had received luck from Namika before she left me.

When I was already alone, I roamed my sight all over the place. Finally, I came here to meet the lake again, wherein I first met my toughest rival.

Until now that I was living in the past for how many months, I could not still believe I would see Ferno again there. I did not expect myself to like him and admire him as a person. I didn't know he was this kind-hearted when he was young— totally different from the Ferno I had known.

Cutting off my thoughts about my cruel experience in the hands of King Ferno, I started to walk. As I stood near the water, I was thinking of how I could get in Figan, since Namika did not tell me any. I knew she was testing my capability of comprehending and finding logic in a thing.

I sat and touched the water, but I could not feel it. That was also the time I had realized that I had no sense of touch. The wind was strong, yet it could not caress my skin. I also tried putting my foot on the lake, making sure it was not really touching me.

If I wasn't able to feel anything, then drowning would not affect me. To assure, I had decided to swim; I wasn't mistaken, though, because I could still breathe even underwater. It wasn't too late for me to also know I could walk there. My eyes glimmered in astonishment because of these incredible magic potions.

I wandered around the lake with my face grinning. I knew my destination wasn't something to be glad about, but I was just smiling throughout. And despite the difficulty of finding the exact location of Figan, there was still excitement in me. I couldn't wait for the time of invading the Gandor's home.

Since the lake was a bit broad with its area, it had taken me almost an hour to finally discover the hole going to Figan. Just for the first look of the black eye of the needle, I knew it was what I had been looking for.

By the moment I stepped my foot inside, different voices rang in my ears— I knew it was from the red dragon and Ferno, of course. I walked towards them— to the table wherein they were sitting.

"Are you now ready to come to school again?" Gandor asked Ferno.

The young boy was in uniform, and that explained the statement of the red dragon. He would come again for long days of not meeting the academy— not really for educational purposes, but to make the people fear him since everyone knew he died, and now he was here, returning as if nothing had happened.

Ferno smiled at Gandor and said, "I am born ready. I didn't just know it at first, but now, I'm a hundred percent certain about it. Well, thanks to you."

"I knew it, dear. That's the reason why, in the first place, I've chosen you."

I placed my hand to my lower chin. So, like me, Ferno was also designed for this purpose— to ruin Hades with his power?

Still listening to the two, I sat beside them at the table. I could see the delight in Ferno's eyes. I just couldn't understand why he let this red dragon control him. I mean, if he wanted to take revenge for the wrongdoing of his mom and two sisters, he should not be including the entire Hades.

Indeed, Ferno's brain was poisoned. Because of anger, his emotion ruled over him and washed away his good thoughts. Because of Gandor's influence, he had been blinded and deafened.

I wouldn't just let him spread this evil.

"By the way, your smile is different today," Gandor added. "Is it still because of your comeback, or is there something else behind that? Care to tell?"

"I don't know, but there's really significant about Aleera."

My eyes widened as soon as I heard my name that came out of Ferno's mouth. What was about me?

To make sure I would catch every detail he would say, I came even closer to him. My brows creased when the smile didn't fade in his lip. There must be something going on, really.

Ferno stood from the table and walked around. "Since the day I return to the academy and for the moment she showed up to me, I knew there was a different excitement. I don't know, but I can see she will be having part of this journey."

I swallowed my saliva. I didn't know, but it was somehow related to my purpose. Was it just coincidence, or he meant that those things?

"What do you mean by that?" Gandor asked, confusingly looking at Ferno who was still roaming.

"Can't explain it," Ferno answered. "There's just something I can feel."

The red dragon smiled. "I knew it. You're in love with her, aren't you?"

Ferno puckered his eyebrows as he turned his gaze at Gandor. "Are you damn serious, master? I'm only twelve."

"So, what does your age have to do with this?"

"Of course, kids are not for love. We all have the right time to fall. You're thinking horribly."

"But, what if..."

"What if?"

"What if, someday, you fall for her?"

I could not breathe because of their conversation. And now I could feel the hot wind touching my skin because sweat was running down my body. All I thought I had no sense of touch with these potions inside me, but I was wrong at all.

Goodness.

Ferno came back to the table and took again his seat. "I don't think so that will happen," he said. "But, I think, it will be much better when you stop asking me about this kind of stuff. I'm going now, master."

I was dumbfounded and did not even notice Ferno leaving the place. I shouldn't be hurting, but what he had said shattered my heart into pieces. So after all, his benevolence towards me had no meaning?

I slapped my forehead because of my thoughts. This was so unacceptable. I was supposed to be not surprised anymore, since I already knew what would happen in the future and what had happened before I went to the past.

Ferno had sentenced me to death. Though he wasn't the one who put an arm on me, he still killed me. So, what was the reason for hoping for him? Nothing would change. He would still be the Ferno I had first known, no matter how hard I try.

"Poor child. He'll be losing that young, beautiful girl," Gandor mouthed when he was left alone already. "However, that girl seems to be a product of light. They do not match."

My teeth bared.

That dragon was indeed a bad influence on this world. If only people knew his true colors, they would not be worshiping him anymore. He was the root of all the bad happenings in Hades. Because of him, my mother Priscilla and I suffered from a terrible situation. Above all, it was him that pushed Ferno to spread and rule wickedness.

I had to account Ferno for everything, but it was still best to put all the blame on this dragon.

When Gandor moved from his place to another, I followed him. He entered a big door, and before he closed it, I ran in there right away.

As soon as I stepped my feet into the room, I wandered my eyes. It was wide there, dark, and empty. Now I was doubting if it was really a room or just somewhere to stay.

I was still in the middle of thinking when the red dragon lighted like a fire. Since it was too hurtful for the eyes, I covered my sight with my hands and waited until the continuous flashing ended. But as soon as I opened my eyes again, they grew bigger.

Gandor had already disappeared, but there was a man inside. Who was he?

The man walked into the mirror that was five-meter away from him and looked at himself with a grin. "I love this self, indeed," he said.

My eyes widened, even more, when I realized that man was Gandor. So, this place was meant for his transformation?

Still bringing my astonished face, I came close to Gandor, who was still reflecting himself in the mirror. I could not believe he could turn into a human. All I thought was, he lived forever as a dragon. Was that the reason he was known as a god? I doubted.

After some time, Gandor went back to the table and made himself a coffee. He acted like a normal person. When he was in this form, there was no sign of a being a dragon that could be seen in him. While sipping the drink, there was still a beam in his lip. It looked like he was ecstatic about his human form; I wonder if Ferno knew about this.

"Ugh," Gandor groaned. "What to do on this day?" He looked at the wall clock and uttered the time.

On the other hand, I remembered what Namika had told me— the potion would last for only an hour. Ten minutes more and I would be appearing again. Even before that could happen, I ran in haste. Luckily, I had gone out of the lake before the given time. But one thing had shocked me as soon as I arrived there.

"Ferno?" I mouthed.

My whole body had shaken, especially that the cold wind did not stop caressing my skin. Yet, sweats were running down my skin. Who would not tremble? I had been caught!

"What are you doing here, Aleera?" Ferno asked.

"U-uh..." I swallowed my saliva and did my best not to show off my real reaction. My action was so obvious, and it wasn't good! "I just came here to visit this place again."

"Oh, is that so?"

I nodded. "And you?"

"Uhm, well, you know this lake has been my friend. I also came here to visit. I didn't notice you, eh. How long have you been staying here?"

"Actually, I just arrived here."

"See. Don't you have a plan to go to school? You're still with your sleepwear."

I looked at myself and got surprised by my clothes. This wasn't my attire before heading here; perhaps this was the old woman's deed.

"Will go now," I said as I turned back my gaze at him. "Honestly, my parents are also here, and they are waiting for me. Gotta go!" I ran away, but before I could go far, I shouted, "Just wait for me in Ragwarths, alright?"

When I finally disappeared from Ferno's sight, I looked for somewhere I could hide in. I knew Namika was watching over me, so I would just wait for her to fetch me, rather than to continue with the fear of meeting that boy again.

I climb a tree and silently speak, saying to the old woman to come and get me, hoping she would understand me and see me using her crystal ball. I badly wanted to go out of this place, for I knew I was in great trouble. Besides, I didn't know if Ferno was real of not really noticing me went out of the lake. I knew he had no idea about my purpose, but he was not also that foolish enough to not catch this thing.

What if he really saw me? What if, in the first place, he already knew I was spying on them?