The Infinite Night: In every magic, there's a mystery

Chapter 8: A New Place

In the ethereal realm, Tassa stood before Nia'le, her presence radiant in a gray dress, her golden hair elegantly braided. Ayamani, ever watchful, tended to their physical bodies, ensuring their safe return when the time was right.

"Welcome back, Nia'le," Tassa greeted him warmly, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and joy.

Nia'le, now separated from his mortal form, approached Tassa cautiously, his curiosity evident. He asked if she could truly see him now, his voice tinged with a hint of anticipation. Tassa's smile widened, and she responded with a touch of playful honesty.

"Well, unfortunately, yes," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Nia'le, seizing the opportunity to indulge in a moment of lightheartedness, gave her a sidelong glance, attempting to channel the charm of James Dean with a hand resting on his chin.

"Well, can you describe how handsome I am now that you can see me, Tassa?" he inquired, a playful glimmer in his eyes.

Tassa's response held a touch of mystery, her words carefully chosen.

"Unfortunately, I can't," she replied, her tone teasing. "From certain angles, I find it difficult to determine how to describe you."

Tassa's laughter resonated in the ethereal space, a lightness that contrasted with Nia'le's cold gaze. The playful exchange halted abruptly as a memory stirred within Tassa, reminiscent of someone named Xart.

"Are you done?" Nia'le interrupted, his expression unyielding.

Tassa, caught off guard by the sudden shift, gathered herself before responding, "Oh, um... yeah. Anyway, where are we?"

"We are in the exact moment where you're supposed to say how handsome I am," Nia'le retorted with a hint of playful arrogance.

Tassa, attempting to regain her composure, chuckled. "Oh, yeah... about that. I can see a tall, fair guy with big curly brown hair. He has blue ocean eyes, kind of like my... ex."

Nia'le's curiosity piqued, he questioned, "Who?"

Tassa blushed, her hands covering her cheeks, and she turned away. "Did I say ex? Well, he's not yet, but he's supposed to be. However, I'm not planning to divorce him no matter what happens. Wait, divorce is for marriage, and we aren't yet—"

Before she could finish, Tassa squeaked and screamed, startling the serene atmosphere. Nia'le quickly silenced her with a stern command.

"Shut it!" he insisted.

Undeterred, Tassa continued with her whimsical banter, "I'll be inviting you to our wedding, Na-eyal."

"It's Nia'le, and whatever," he replied, a mixture of annoyance and amusement in his tone.

As their conversation unfolded, a red dim light pierced through the darkness—the eyes of a Grim Reaper. Nia'le's eyes widened at the sight of ghosts and unimaginable creatures. It was his first encounter with such entities, sparking a mix of awe and trepidation.

"This isn't really bad, don't you think?" Nia'le remarked, trying to find a positive perspective.

Tassa, however, responded with a bored expression, questioning his outlook. "Really?" she asked.

Undeterred, Nia'le enthusiastically pointed at the spectral beings around them. "Look, you see those ghosts lingering around?"

Tassa, unimpressed, replied, "Who doesn't?"

Nia'le, with a unique perspective, shared his view. "Well, for me, they all look like lanterns in real life. Especially the way they float up, and not to mention they kinda look like white paper floating in the air. And you see these creepy red dim lights because of those Grim Reaper's eyes? Well, for me, they all look like shining fireflies, making the pavement glow for us." Tassa couldn't help but marvel at the imaginative way Nia'le perceived the surreal surroundings.

As Tassa attempted to walk away, Nia'le held her hand and began singing, "You would not believe your eyes, if ten million fireflies." Tassa couldn't help but laugh at his less-than-impressive singing voice.

"Talk about no talent. Well, that's the hidden talent that you really need to hide, deep inside ya," she teased. Nia'le simply smiled and held both of her hands, encouraging her to embrace the surreal moment.

"Come on, Tassa. Don't look back," he urged.

Tassa, skeptical of the whimsical scene

unfolding, retorted, "But what you're doing is ridiculous. I'm not a kid, Nia'le. You're turning this infinite night into your imaginary place."

Nia'le, undeterred, responded with a touch of romanticism, "An imaginary place of us. Well, am I supposed to be afraid in this place? It's better to stay here and skip time than to go to jail, you know?"

Tassa abruptly stopped and confronted him with a serious question, inquiring if it was true that he had killed about 50 people. She also pressed for the reason behind such actions. Nia'le, maintaining a mysterious demeanor, responded, "Well, it's 43. And it's hard to explain. Stop meddling, will you?"

Tassa, filled with concern, glared at Nia'le and tightly held his hand, urging him to share his burdens. "It's okay to say it to me," she reassured him. However, Nia'le let go of her hand, turning his back and walking away.

"I'm sorry. I just don't want to remember it anymore. You see, just like you, I am also living in an infinite nightmare because of my horrible past. And if only I can forget it," he confessed.

Tassa approached him, apologizing for bringing up the painful topic. Surprisingly, Nia'le didn't harbor resentment. Instead, he immediately accepted her apology.

"It's not your fault. It's me who's being implicit," he acknowledged.

As Tassa looked up at him, a sense of connection resonated with the past, reminiscent of Xart. Nia'le suggested they walk and talk, steering away from the topic of his felony.

"Let's enjoy this moment, shall we?" he proposed, extending his hand to Tassa, waiting for her to take it. Tassa gulped, a wave of memories washed over her. She watched as Nia'le bowed before her, a gesture that reminded her of Xart, who had once done the same. Slowly, she reached out and held his hand, a slight smile forming on her lips.

"You remind me of someone," she confessed.

Nia'le and Tassa continued walking together, their arms intertwined, engaged in joyful conversation. Nia'le, curious, asked, "Yeah, who could it be?"

Tassa's voice softened as she replied, "My dear Xart." The mention of Xart brought a mix of nostalgia and warmth, intertwining their present journey with the echoes of a cherished past.