Okumura Syndicate Ending 2

Chapter 175: Payback

The chaos raged on, with no one whatsoever having a clear answer on what to do next. All paths seemed unattainable, but they had to press on to prevent anyone else losing their control, or even their life. The signs of adomania spreading outside the walls only seemed to grow, but there was one person that could harness the stability back into place, and within an instant, he reappeared.

Aster looked around, still shaking from his experience within a mirage of his old world. Though his movement was child-like, his eyes seemed to sparkle with a strange confidence in his way forward. His eyes surveyed the remains of his grounds, he was elevated, able to see the entire garden, it seemed like he missed a lot. He took the first step towards getting down, but immediately fell into the mansion's waterfall.

"That's just great...", he moaned, dragging himself out of the water. He kept walking, now able to get a better view of the state of the gardens now he wasn't so high up."I'm so close, I can taste the fight ahead.", he uttered to himself. The flowers were visibly dying on close inspection, which clearly meant Fleur had also disappeared. "Vox better not have laid a finger on Fleur!", he harshly mumbled to himself.

There were a number of bridges to cross in the sectioned off garden, getting closer to the glorious structure he resided in these few months. The call of home dragged Aster ahead, he could practically see his friends now, he rushed through the garden across every carefully organised section. However, as he crossed the last bridge into the alarmingly welcoming halls, the eerie air hit him.

"This feels different all of a sudden, please don't tell me he's already taken over...", he thought, drawing his sword. "I'm coming Vox, just you wait!". The focused boy analysed the opening halls like a hawk, checking every possible room for Vox's presence. "He's gonna pay for severely underestimating me. I'll kill him, I swear!", he said, ideas almost escaping him. Eventually, he comes across a figure, "Aster, where have you been? Intruders took over seemingly overnight, but the higher ups, including Rou are nowhere to be seen.", he informed.

Aster's vision was blurred, he could only see shapes and colours. He fixed onto the man in front of him, and tried to make out his features; tall, rather bulky, with green hair, that's Vox right? His mind conjured an image of the fae in the man's place, now he was convinced it was me. "Vox!!!", he shouted. The weaponless figure could only dodge at Aster's clumsy attack. As he swung his fist in the air, Aster got hold of him as he tried to shake him off.

Aster was so delirious he couldn't take the risk, relentlessly going in to slash the man. "I'm going for your heart now!", he laughed, while getting ready to charge. The man quickly saw that injury was inevitable and shielded himself with his arm as Aster inflicted upon him. "Aster, what was that?!", he yelled. The boy's vision cleared to reveal it wasn't Vox at all, it was Leon from Rou's squad.

"I am so sorry!", exclaimed Aster as the guilt consumed him. "Why did you do that? I was going to tell you about the other soldiers under a sleeping spell, but I guess it doesn't matter now...". Leon shook his head, and stared at the boy before heading off. Aster looked at him, barely able to comprehend his outburst. "Wait Leon! Who casted the spell? I need to know.", asked Aster. "I'm not going to tell you anymore, I guess you'll have to figure it out yourself!", Leon shouted back.

"Hey come back here!", Aster chased him a few metres, longing for some fragment of an answer from the man. He was so caught up, that he didn't notice someone heading down the hall towards him. "I heard arguing, is everything-". Aster revolved to see Fleur in front of him. "Aster, how did you make it back?", she asked in amazement. The overwhelmed boy was speechless, so much had happened and he didn't know where to start.