The Chronicles of Sorataki: Lucid Wish

Chapter 24: Reaching redemption

Allisa

Natalie screams sent a jolt of panic down Allisa's spine causing her to move that bit faster. Swinging her sword for Orba who grabbed Natalie by her leg, Allisa swung it at the betrayer but just like the other attempts Allisa's blade passed right through him and she almost lost balance due to putting too much weight behind the attack.

Rolling and recovering onto one knee, Allisa looked around desperately for Natalie's scream. She just needed something-anything to pinpoint her true location. As her eyes swept over the countless mirror images of Natalie and Orba in the same pose to all corners of her vicinity, Allisa could not help but feel trapped in an illusional maze. A chuckle sounded from all around her as her eyes darted around for a sign for the real Natalie and Orba. It was from Orba although she could see his lips saying muted somethings to Natalie in the same breath. What she heard and how and when his lips moved did not sync

He's creating illusions with sound as well. Allisa thought.

She saw Natalie trying to break free by jumping up on her only planted leg to kick Orba in the face, Orba, however, blocked the blow with the hilt of his blade. Natalie staggered and Orba who tossed her aside Allisa witnessed her falling backward from left, right sideways, and front. She knew most of them had to be illusional reflections in reflex. Allisa jumped for the nearest one only for her fingers to catch nothing, the Illusion fading to her touch, the other's illusions showing Natalie continue to fall to the ground wounded and winded.

She saw Orba with his one wing leap down towards Natalie soon after, black tendrils flowing off the ground around him like the miniature shadow of a great sea demon, a glowing red eye on the crossguard of his sword bleeding sinister energy. Natalie using her black wings flipped out of the way before his blade could stab her. Gritting her teeth, Allisa stopped dazing. She needed to be there helping.

"So tenacious. I guess what he said was true," Orba's voice called out from all around. "But pointless in the end. Why try to look at what you cannot see?"

He was trying to bait her. Allisa knew it, still, she could not help but try again to slash at him as one of the many reflections came by. Nothing, just like the others. Allisa cursed.

She just needed a moment to think, he was using the power of suggestion to bend sight and sound like he was. With this in mind she tried reaching out and... it was like she'd stretched her hand into a violent current, she didn't understand it logically but in her gut, it felt as if someone or something had already filled the well of suggestion to the point of bursting. So overwhelmed with another's passing will that there was no room to fill it with her own. Panicked by this, Allisa tried to reach out for this odd current, tried to negotiate for it to stop-to allow her just a little bit of wriggle room but it did not listen, in fact, it refused outright, it snapped her will back like a whip flogging a hand reaching for a cookie jar. It was odd that-

Another cry of pain from Natalie, the sound of something hitting the ground hard got her to open her eyes again in shock. Blood trail from where Natalie was sent flying littered the ground. The red trail identical with all reflections of them making where she truly was anyone's guess but tainted the apparent void white ground in far redder than what really should be there. Natalie was struggling to get back to her feet despite her recovery. Orba with his one black wing landed some way in front of Natalie gently.

"You thought to use your meager knowledge of dreams?" Orba's voice boomed all around her. This time the Orba that Allisa saw before her lips did not move. "Foolish, as if I'd teach you anything that you could use against me."

Allisa felt like she was just slapped in the face. This man betrayed her, betrayed them both. And now they were stuck in his trap, with no way for her to undo his illusions. No way to tell one from the other and reach Natalie.