Tyranny: Onwards

Chapter 114- Dream On

"Oswald?" I ask when I recognize the surroundings.

"Ah, I thought you'd be showing up here again soon," he appears smiling.

"I need to know what happens with you and Kol in order for me to master the sword." he sighs and approaches further.

"Yes yes of course. Well, I am directly connected to Siron, Kol's brother, and it is Siron's power that locks Kol's soul in the sword. Because I am here to keep eyes upon Siron and keep him contained still, I happen to be able to connect to Kol and have the ability to take the dark weight from him, as he's been fighting it for so long as you know. Anyways, this allows him to reveal more strength as a sword and use his soul for a sort of 'energy' in a way. This is how you earn sharper senses when we collide and then combine." so far everything makes clear sense to me, Oswald flicks his finger and I'm flung into a fancy and comfortable red velvet chair.

"So why can't his soul just leave the horrid sword?" I ask and admire the gold electroplating.

"Because wouldn't that decrease our chances of destroying him permanently? Plus, it is a slight possibility there could be some way for him to switch swords and be free of my watch and grow once more as a sick virus from a lab." Oswald explains further.

"So, what are the red lines that appear on my arm? And the blue butterfly that flashes in front of me? Why do I hear voices and almost faint? Why does it cause me pain?" I decide to unload every question at once and he slumps, seemingly overwhelmed but still smiles.

"As for the red lines, that is the connection of me and Kol, it burns because you body isn't used to the sort of 'energy' I suppose you could call it. The overall pain you experience is also because of this, there is a sudden change throughout your body, somewhat as if it's becoming a 'new host' in a sense, absorbing this material it does not know or recognize. Thus, your body doesn't know what to do with it and freaks out a bit, I try to make sure most of this 'energy' doesn't spread to the rest of you too much though, sorry." Oswald scratches the back of his head apologetically.

"Alright, that makes general sense." I cross my arms waiting for the rest of my answers quite impatiently knowing we usually have quite limited time.

"The voices you hear are due to the cursed darkness from Siron upon Kol's sword. I'm not completely sure, but I have theories about it. My most plausible being that the darkness goes into your mind since it must go somewhere besides the sword but goes back to the sword when it's over. The fainting is also merely caused by the 'new energy' kind of like tons of adrenaline being released into you all at once, a shock to your body. As for that blue butterfly you see, I have no answers for that, I had no idea that you saw anything of the sort." he scratches his chin and stares off into thought.

"It flicks in and then out of my vision within less than a second, but I'm sure it is there, somehow I just know without a doubt." I adjust myself slightly and feel the edges of surroundings gain the slightest blur. At first the change is gradual until it all swirls about and twists in warped ways.

"I'm afraid we must part once more dear girl, don't lose me, and don't die!" he calls out to me, but I am annoyed since I still have a question left.

Why does he talk as though we are going to destroy Siron and his wicked sword when he is fully aware I must master it and use it for evil? Though, I could always just destroy it and make up some sort of story, it's not like they're always watching me. However, would that not be still hypocritical? Shouldn't I stand strong and brave in my beliefs and what I do? Take full responsibility?

No, that's not true. This is not simply about me alone, my family's life is on the line here, how could I risk that? Despite the pain they've caused me, they are also people, and I don't know how I could bear the weight of more deaths upon my back when I am hauling it on all alone.

There just must be a way around this, there has to be. And if there isn't, I'll make my own way, tear open the curtains of the universe with my own nails. Be it all alone.

"Wake uuuuuuuup!" Phoenix's complaint is the first sound my ears hear, and to my embarrassment and surprise his face is my first sight.

"What the fuck Phoenix!" I yell and sit up instantly, slightly blushing from the strange waking, though I don't exactly understand my own reactions.

"Huh? What do you mean?" he stands and looks confused.

"You're hopeless." I state and give up, brushing off. "You can't just go around waking people up with your face right in front of them! It's creepy!" I try despite the obvious lack of use it'll do.

"Are you saying nobody likes to see my face?!" Phoenix fakes outrage and laughs, slinging a calm arm over my shoulders.

"Yeah well..." I'm simply lost for anything to say back.

Then he takes my shoulders and gazes intensely into my eyes, I have no doubt it's about my freak out from before.

"Claire, are you okay?" when the words hit my ears, my heart skips, perhaps because it remembers how many times I've lied when asked this. You'd think I'd be used to it by now, especially since I'm so strictly trained. Or perhaps it simply knows already that I'm going to lie before the thought arrives.

"Yes, I'm fine." I say and force my eyes to stare back instead of being obvious and allowing them to fleet away.

"Are you sure?" he reminds me too much of Rin and I want to run away and hide, possibly cry if I could force it, though again I don't exactly understand myself.

"Yes, I promise." I state and we stand there for a few more minutes, I can't figure out whether he knows or not. It seems like he could figure it out if he wanted to, but why wouldn't he then? Would he just say nothing about it if I keep denying it? He's far too difficult to understand or figure out so I decide to let it slide, despite knowing it will still stick in the back of my mind.