Chapter 229: DARK MAGIC
"Where am I?" Aristia muttered.
Looking around, she seemed to be in a forest.
The first thought that came to mind was if it was the same forest where she was being chased in the dream.
But when she focused, she realized it wasn’t the same. Even though it was nighttime, she could tell that this forest was different.
"Please, Kai. Leave now."
Aristia quickly turned. "Who was that?"
Her eyes widened seeing a woman and boy.
The light from the moon illuminated their faces and she noticed that they looked quite similar. Enough for Aristia to know that they were mother and child.
But what was shocking was that the Kai the woman mentioned was the Kai she had just rescued today.
"You’re very special to me. I need you to survive. Please. For me." Kai’s mother begged as she hugged him. "Your father, he—"
"Do you think you can hide from me?" A male voice yelled, cutting off Kai’s mother’s words.
Panic filled the woman’s face as she turned in the direction of the sound. She quickly turned back to Kai.
"You need to go. Now!" She urged.
Kai shook his head. Tears filled his eyes.
"No, mother. I don’t want to leave you. I will protect you from him."
"You’re too little, Kai." Tears filled his mother’s eyes. "Just know that I love you, my little boy. Go now. Run and don’t come back. No matter what. You will find someone who will treat you well. When you do, be grateful and loyal." She hugged him tightly and kisses his forehead.
Kai could only stare at her face, tears dropping down his face.
"Go!" His mother yelled.
With that, he ran.
After he had gone a little distance, e stopped and turned, then hid behind a tree.
Then, he saw that the monster, his father, had finally caught up to his mother.
The man smiled obsessively and Kai could hear him say to his mother as he gripped her chin.
"You can never run from me. You are mine. Your body, mind and soul. We are meant to be together, even in death." He smiled, his eyes swirling darkly.
Kai shivered at those words and gaze, not to mention his mother, who was on the receiving end.
"I love you. Don’t ever try to run away again. I’ll always find you. Don’t force me to break your legs. Now where’s our son?"
"Don’t touch me! You’ll never find him. Kill me instead! I won’t let you defile him with dark magic anymore." His mother spat venomously. She hated being unable to do anything.
Kai didn’t hear the words his father said to his mother before dragging her away, but he knew that his father chanted a spell from the black smoke enveloping them. The next second, his parents were no longer there.
He sank down on the ground and cried with his hand over his mouth.
Remembering that his father could come for him, he quickly got up and ran, stumbling in the forest.
He was alone in the vast forest, only accompanied by the sound of crows and wild animals occasionally.
He ran with no sense of direction, only knowing that he had to obey his mother and go far away. He couldn’t let his father catch him.
He knew that his mother could never escape again. His father would make sure of that. She would always be watched, never happy.
It wasn’t always like that with his family. They were once a happy, loving family. His father loved him mother deeply.
His father also loved him, but he knew deep down that his father loved his mother more than he loved him.
But his mother loved them both equally. They were her only family.
That all changed when his father gained interest in dark magic. Gradually, he ban practicing it, despite protests from his mother.
They were white mages and practicing dark magic was a taboo.
But his father didn’t listen. Dark magic was like an addictive drug. Once one began using it, it became difficult to stop.
What started as just an interest turned into something darker. He became blinded by dark magic and sunk deeper into it, even forcing Kai to join him.
His father’s love for his mother developed into an obsession, influenced by dark magic.
His obsession and possession became dangerous and they became unsafe, stuck in a toxic cycle.
He began limiting his mother’s movements outside.
Although she hid it in front of him, Kai could see that she was deeply pained. He was so sure because he would always catch her crying when she thought he wasn’t there.
Tears blurred his vision as he cried for his mother.
He ran tiredly, feeling tired, thirsty and hungry. He had food and water, but he didn’t want to stop.
He felt he would die, but he shook his head.
"No. I have to endure. For mother."
He couldn’t tell how long he ran until he finally reached the edge of the forest.
He could see civilization now.
He moved to a building and fell to the ground, exhausted.
Slowly, he took out his water flask, gulping the water down.
Someone stood in front of him, watching him curiously.
It was a man.
"Are you alright, boy?" He asked and handed him the uneaten bun in his hand.
Kai’s hand rested on his bag. Inside it was a pouch of coins, bread, and some dried meat.
Even though he had some food in his bag, he still collected the bun the man offered.
"Thank you," he thanked the man.
The man nodded and left.
Kai leaned against the wall of the building and rested.
After he rested, he got up, feeling scared and uncertain. He was in an unfamiliar town, alone without the presence of his mother or father for the first time in his life.
The dream changed.
Kai was holding the money pouch his mother had given him in one hand, while the animalskin bag he carried was slung over his shoulder.
He stood in an alley, surrounded by a group of older boys.