Owl in the Daylight

Chapter 15

The nightmares had stopped.

Audwin was relieved the first morning he woke up from a dreamless sleep after weeks of disturbing visions. It took a toll on his psyche seeing blood and chaos every night. He was glad for the reprieve his mentor bestowed upon him.

That was until he tried to get up from his pallet.

Wincing, he fell back on his makeshift pillow with a confused face. His entire body ached and he felt drained.

What the--?

He didn't remember doing any vigorous tasks that could warrant him being this worn out. Taking deep breaths, the lad calmed himself and checked his overall status. He moved his limbs and pat his torso to look for any physical injuries but seemed to have found none. So he was just--exhausted.

Odd.

Puzzled by the situation, Audwin reeled as he got up and sluggishly went about his usual business.

Aside from non-magical studies, Von began teaching him teleportation and shape-shifting a few weeks ago. Both were very advanced forms of magic and required enormous amounts of mana. He was doing good so far but Audwin knew he couldn't proceed with his lessons properly in his current state.

Despite knowing this, he persisted in doing what his mentor wanted. He refused to disappoint.

Closing his eyes, he visualized being an owl. Since he was already able to shift his arms into wings, he aimed to do the same on all four of his limbs. But try as he might, Audwin could barely draw any magic out.

His tank was that empty.

Not giving up, he continued on dragging out something. Anything that could execute his task for the day. Feeling the familiar tingling sensations on his legs, Audwin felt a sense of accomplishment and smiled to himself.

Not noticing his slowing heart rate, he suddenly opened his eyes and clung on the nearby table for support. The room was spinning.

"Master, what's happening?" his world being tilted, the floor disappered beneath him and Audwin blacked out.

***

"Don't ever do that again," Von scolded him as soon as he woke up. He then went ahead and silently listened to his mentor ranting about the dangers and stupidity of what just transpired.

It turned out that due to severe lack of magical energy, Audwin unknowingly used his life force to hasten shape-shifting.

"Yes, master. It won't happen again," he frowned, dissatisfied for being blamed for something that wasn't his fault. "I don't even know why I was too tired. I didn't use that much magic yesterday--"

"Stop worrying about it. You probably just didn't notice you were drained. You get too excited sometimes, thus you fail to assess your condition," Von quickly dismissed his concerns.

Audwin nodded, accepting the logical reasoning.

This inexplicable exhaustion continued for two more years. Sometimes, it was only once a week. Other times, it happened thrice in one week he felt like he was dying. Despite this obstacle, he persisted in learning everything his mentor threw at him. Until that fateful night when he woke up outside.

***

Audwin opened his eyes as if something disturbed his slumber. A familiar scene of fire and chaos surrounding him. Deafening screams were everywhere. It had been years since he last saw this wreckage.

I should ask master to refresh that nightmare spell. It sucks being back here.

"Please have mercy! We swear we will not defy the imperial order again!" a man pitifully groveled at Audwin's feet, clasping his hands as if in prayer.

Huh. This is a really weird dream.

"He gave no second chances to anyone. Stop wasting my time and just die quietly like an obedient dog," almost not recognizing his own voice devoid of any emotion, Audwin was even more confused. He felt his own foot lifting up then coming down hard on the man's bowed head, grinding it against the gravel.

What the hell is happening?

Horrified, Audwin tried to wake up but to no avail. He was trapped. He attempted to control his own body but he was like a helpless audience in an appalling stage play.

Pressing his foot harder on the man's head, he could feel himself start to divert a fraction of magic on it. Knowing what was about to happen, he shouted internally, "No! Stop! Please don't do this." He begged himself to spare the man. But it was futile.

He heard the man's head crack beneath the sole of his boot. Ignoring the bloodcurdling cries below him, he fully stepped on it, completely silencing the man as the blood and brains splattered out.

Audwin's mind went blank. He had no idea what was truly happening in front of him.

"Tsk tsk, my boy. You could've done it more--neatly. Please do exercise restraint next time," a very familiar amused voice approached him from behind.

Heart pounding, Audwin had a sense of foreboding. He pleaded that he was wrong. He appealed to a Higher Being, if any. To anyone listening, that this wasn't real.

His body turned to welcome the arriving figure. Finally seeing the face of his mentor for the first time, he never expected it would be in his worst unimaginable nightmare.

Towering over him, a blonde slender man glowing with youth and joy in the midst of murder and gore. His pale skin clad in a cloak as dark as a moonless night.

"My apologies, master. It won't happen again," Audwin answered robotically.

Von slung his arm on the lad's shoulders and chuckled as the pair walked away from the mangled corpse. "Well, I guess it can't be helped if you really want to let loose. You've been stuck on that tower for too long."

Audwin remained mum as he was steered through the bloody streets. Stench of burning flesh filled the air and the deafening screams were gradually quieting down.

The gloom of death began to envelop the entire town.

Audwin gave up trying to gain total control his own body. One thing remained on his mind: he needed to ascertain if this was a figment of his imagination or, worse, was real.

He willed his right arm to move. After several seconds, his fingers started to twitch until he could feel sensation on them. Then he tested it out by clenching his fist.

It was working!

Not losing his focus, Audwin tuned out his chattering mentor and gestured his hand to make a searing mark on his inner left arm.

Finished with the task, he let go of the control on his right hand. It took too much just to move that one limb.

He was still too weak.

Now, all he could do was wait for the morning to come.

Was he dreaming?

Or was he betrayed.