Project Pegasus

V 1.1 Chapter 4: The Inauthentic Dasein.

An authentic Dasein is constantly aware of its existence as its OWN; to be defined by itself and not by others. While the inauthentic Dasein lives lacking in awareness and allows oneself to be socially constructed by others. Thus, authenticity is lost.

- Martin Heidegger (Being and Time)

***

---Emily---

"I am not the same as before!!!"

"Huh?!" Thea uttered in disgust, switching her gaze towards me. "Hahahaha," she laughed as she put her palm in her face. "What's this? A loser trying to defend another loser. Interesting. This is interesting," she continued laughing. "Then let's put you to the test. I'll use these hands of mine to see if you are worthy of me!!! Sophia," Thea warned her twin-tailed companion. "Don't interfere. She's mine."

Carrying Hiiro, I put him under a tree, and walked back to where I was.

"T-the 'me' right now is different," I uttered in a soft voice. "I am stronger!"

"Huh? What are you even talking about?" Thea replied pointing her scepter to me. "Phantom Bullet!"

Immediately, I cast Phantom Shield, and as the Phantom Bullet reached the barrier, it dissipated into the air. Then, I ran to the right side so Hiiro won't be in the path of Thea's spell.

"Phantom Bullet!" Repeatedly, Thea cast the spell. Each time, I countered by casting Phantom Shield to repel her attacks. "You faker," Thea screamed. "Is that the only thing you can do? You said you're stronger but the only thing you're doing is casting that annoying shield over and over again."

Her offensive strikes continuously blasted through. However, I couldn't fight back. My mind is telling me to go for the attack, but every time I tried casting an offensive spell, my hands would shake and my mind would go blank. My mouth wouldn't open

"Hahahaha," Thea laughed. "It's useless! From here on, consider your path a one-way road! Just put your tail between your legs and get your ass back where you came from! Screw your 'I'm not the same as before' bullshit. You're still the weak faker like you used to be."

Her attacks are getting stronger and stronger.

"You're trying to act like a mighty animal... but insects are insects," Thea shouted, "This is revenge for destroying the village, for killing my family. Die! Die! Die! "

"Fly," I put my scepter between my legs, then cast the spell. Soon, my foot slowly parted from the ground. My body was hovering above the trees.

"Phantom Hands," Thea yelled. Hands made of shadows appeared beneath Thea and tried to grab me from below. But I dodged them. Soon, more hands appeared on the ground and tried to grab me again.

"Stop running away you filthy trash," Thea strongly said. "I'm going to put you back to where you belong."

A Phantom Hand soon got a hold of my foot. It pulled my body fast into the ground. A dozen more Phantom Hands held me preventing my escape...

...But that was a trap. It was a Water clone I made earlier. As the clone melted back into its watery form, I positioned myself behind Thea.

"In... Infer... In..." But, my hand was shaking too much. The rune I wrote then disappeared. A Phantom Hand soon grabbed me and pinned me hard to a tree. Thea sensed my presence.

"Any last words, pretend necromancer?" Thea uttered. "Phantom Bullet." As the ball of energy comes close, I looked down, waiting for my end.

"I'm sorry... Mother..."