- Mathi frantically swept his hair that stuck onto his face off to the side as he felt the floors with his other arm. His vision was blurred. Maybe that shock had thrown him somewhere.
- Although his vision was blurred, he could remember clearly. After the circle was completed, something ripped open the Rift, jumped out in a flash, and rushed downhill.
- It wasn't difficult for him to realize that something had gone wrong. He was able to find his glasses, but with trembling body, it took him multiple tries to get his glasses on.
- Mathi: Lithia... Ugh, are you okay? You're not hurt...
- Mathi: ...! Li... Lithia...?
- It was a horrifying sight to behold. An unknown black liquid all over the place as if someone had spilled the night sky. And in the center of it all, lay Lithia.
- Mathi tried to wake up Lithia and shook her lightly. Her body was limp with no strength. Her body felt like the dead animal carcasses that he studied. A chill ran down his spine.
- Ah...
- Mathi: Ah... Ah... Ahhh...?
- His hands were red.
- Mathi, unable to realize himself, frantically wiped off his hands with his clothes. It was as if his hands were caked in mud.
- But the red liquid on his hands never really could be wiped off. The viscous, unpleasant red paint was blubbling off from his hands, where his clothes had torn, his forehead, and Lithia.
 Mathi: L, Li, Lithia!!- Screaming, Mathi grabbed Lithia. He couldn't even fathom how dep the wounds ran. Everything was red and dark.
- Mathi: W,wha, what should I do...! What should I do?
- Mathi: It's all right... It's all right. I can heal her. She will surely be cured...!
- His hands shook uncontrollably. The bright red blood contrasted with his pale hands seemed so absurd under the pale moonlight.
- Mathi endlessly casted healing spells, but it all felt unreal as if his hands weren't his. Mathi was scared to death out of worry that he might exacerbate Lithia's conditions.
- Believing that Lithia's wounds were too great for her to survive, Mathi used every magic in his knowledge.
- Mathi's mana quickly ran out and fatigue swept over him. Blood started to trickle out of his nose but he cared not.
- Mathi: What... What is this?
- Mathi took a look at Lithia's wounds and was horrified. He could see blue blotches smearing across Lithia's body.
- Mathi: Infection? Did my magic cause this? All because of me...
- Mathi: Ah, Ahhh... Ah...
 Lithia: ......- Mathi: W, wait! I will bring other adults! I'll be back! Just you wait! Got it?
- There were no replies.
- ... ... ... ...
- Mathi rammed on Beryl mansion's door but no response came from it. Joy seemed to be away. But, Mathi knew Joy had another family living in secrecy.
- (Ram Ram Ram Ram)
- Mathi: Felix! Felix! You're inside, right? Help!
- The door opened as Felix greeted Mathi. Felix quickly bent over the moment he realized what state Mathi was in.
 Felix: You're hurt! What happened!- Mathi: It's not my blood! Lithia, Lithia is...!
- Felix: What? Wait, you're hurt too! What's going on... Lithia? Calm down and explain!
- Felix calmed Mathi down as he wrapped Mathi's wounds. Mathi had gone pale from losing quite a bit of blood. His body was cold even though he had run uphill all along.
- Felix soon learned what happened as he massaged the arms and cheeks of Mathi, worn out and out of breath from sprinting.
- Felix: So the monster that leaped out from the Rift attacked you and headed toward the village?
- Felix took a sight down the hill. There were houses lit in town. It seemed that nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
- Felix knew he was not welcome here. He was an invader into the lands to conquer it.
- To him, the livelihood of humans matter not except those close to him. The death of hundreds of humans would mean nothing to him.
- ... But those close to him that he loved... They're different.
- Felix: It seemed that the bleeding has somewhat stopped. Mathi, listen closely. Joy will be out in the backyard. Go tell her what happened and go save Lithia, okay?
- Mathi: W, what about you, Felix?
- Felix: I will get rid of the monster. Don't worry. I can take care of it. Leave it to me and Joy!
- Felix rushed downhill. Mathi ran toward where Felix had told him. The blood on his clothes and body were slowly drying.
- The blood on his clothes and body turned black. As he clenched his fist, the scabs fell off his skin like worn-out leather.
- Mathi: Lithia... Lithia... I'm sorry! What if my magics were wrong? It's all my fault.
- If only I didn't egg you on... This would have never happened.
- We'd just continue our daily routines... play as usual, fight each other for stupid reasons, say goodbye, and head back home...
- Mathi could see the backyard. Joy, seeing Mathi, was waving at him. Her hands swayed so innocently, her smile so exuberant, not knowing the tragedy that awaited her.
- Mathi couldn't bear to relay the news of Lithia as he watched her bright expression.
- Mathi thought that he will never be free from the feelings and guilt of this moment.
|
Family 9
