Unsound

Fabio Sails

After using the earbuds for long enough, i decided to take it off but Aelia insisted that i wear it because we were heading to a park full of children and i wouldn't want to hear their thoughts... It would be so cringey to listen to a 6 year old talking about boogers and so...

We sat on a bench far away from the children and we didn't exchange any words physically, we just use our minds to communicate.

"That wasn't bad, was it?"

"No, it wasn't bad at all. I feel much more relaxed and calm. Thank you but i really want to learn how to communicate with you properly. All you're doing now is reading my mind and sending me your reply. I wanna know how to send you my message."

She then giggled and said to me, "You're starting off slowly. You will eventually learn how to do that. Just relax."

She's right. I should relax and enjoy every single moment of my life because who knows i might be driven insane by the voices in my head like my cousin, Fabio Sails...

"Fabio Sails... Just hearing his name made me recalled what i did and i'm pissed but at the same time glad because he was suffering and it was because of me. He turned from a lovable and sane guy to someone who had suicidal thoughts...You know, i never really told you what happened to him."

"It was the past. I don't want to know what happened to him but i do want to know what were his last words."

Aelia grabbed my hand and placed it on hers. She was warm and i knew it was hard for her to tell me what were his last words but i knew she was strong enough to handle her emotions.

"My dear Aelia, you thought me how to love when i had no one and i thank you for that. What you possess is not a curse but a blessing."

I turned to her and she closed her eyes, preventing me from seeing her cry once more. I know she's immortal but she's still human and she has feelings. It's just difficult for her to accept that.

"I still can't believe he called it a blessing."

"Maybe he's right.You found love while possessing this ability."

She stood up and walked away. I had to catch up with her and this time, we were at a place where i've never seen anything like it before. We were at a hillside and there was this huge house at the top of the hillside.

"Don't be shy. Let me welcome you to my house.", she unlocked the door and her house was filled with potraits of people and statues of figures whom i've never heard of or seen. It was like a museum in her house.

"You mean mansion?! How rich are you?", i asked in amusement.

I went up to a potrait of a woman wearing a 12th century clothing and she looked just like Aelia but taller and much more fierce looking.

"That's my mother. She was a single parent and when i was 10 years old, my mother was executed because she was suspected of witchcraft and my father-- i haven't-- i don't even know his name..."

"I'm sorry to hear that. You really had a rough childhood.", i said and then suddenly i heard a voice in my mind saying, "Christopher... Danger."

"Did you hear that?"

"Heard what? There's no one else in my house except for me..."

"There's this voice that i keep hearing every night and it's trying to warn me of something."

"That's impossible. Only i can breakthrough that ward. Take off your earbuds now."

I took off the earbuds and nothing. The voice was gone. Aelia came up to me and placed her palm on my forehead as if she was trying to find out whose voice that was. She was trying so hard but she failed to do so.

"It's impossible. How are you able to hear that voice when i couldn't?", she questioned me.

I couldn't answer her back because i didn't know what happened or what i did. "You can hear spirits?"

"I--i don't know. It's just that, this specific voice keeps communicating with me and i don't know what to do.", i replied.

"If you can't hear spirits then what-- no, it can't be."

She looked so frightened by what she thought of. If only i could read her mind and hear what she's thinking... That would be greatful. Then a struck of pain came to my mind and i dropped on my knees.

"MAKE IT STOP. WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME.", I screamed my lungs out and it was useless. The ringing and voices in my mind kept getting louder and louder and the next thing i know, i passed out.

"Christopher, forgive me for what i did but i had to.", a figure approached me from the distance and it was Fabio.

"Fabio, what-- you were that voice in my mind all this while?"

"Yes i was. I could only communicate with you. I tried my best not to let Aelia find me."

"Wait, why? She tried her best to communicate with you, why avoid her?"

Everything around me started to fade and Fabio was fading as well but before he could, he told me, "Protect her for me. She's --"

Suddenly, i woke up and Aelia was by my side and she looked worried. She hugged me and i was in a dazed, i couldn't compose myself of what just happened and then i thought to myself, "What was he about to say?"

I looked at Aelia thinking that she would have heard what i was thinking but she didn't react one bit. So i asked her, "Did you heard what i was thinking?"

She shook her head and i was shocked. I thought of the same exact words once more and this time Aelia's eyes widened because she knew, she couldn't read my mind anymore.

"Why can't i read your mind...?", she quickly stood up and took out a book from her closet and start flipping pages. She closed her eyes but nothing worked.

"What's happening to me? Was i always this weak?"

"No, you're not.", i spoke out.

We were frozen. Did i just read her mind?

"Did you just read my mind?", she asked.

"I -- i think i just did. As if we switched abilities...", i replied.

"Something happened... What did you hear or see in your dreams?"

I was contemplating whether to tell her the truth or just lie about it... Then, i've decided to tell her this.

"I saw a lady. She was warning me about something.", it was not entirely a lie because i was warned.

"You're different than any other person i've met. Now, you're almost as equivalent as me."

I could see that she was completely taken aback by it. She was thinking, "You have a connection with that lady."

"Enough about that. So, what's going to happen to me now?", i asked her.

"Are you able to imitate her voice in your mind?", I shook my head saying that her voice was definitely unfamiliar. I tried to read her mind once more but i failed to do so. As if she immediately built layers of ward preventing me to hear her thoughts.

She was about to leave the room but i got hold of her wrist and asked her, "Are you ok? You seemed disturbed by me."

"I'm just trying to process all this... Will you excuse me, i have to clear my mind."

She closed the door gently and she left the book wide opened on the bed. I flipped through the pages and different spells was in it. Majority of the spells were unnecessary unless you are dealt with a serious situation...One spell caught my eyes and it says, 'antallagí'.

It's a spell requiring the user to give away their magic to their next inheritor.