The symbols rolled across my vision for what felt like an eternity, and even that began to fade with ti. Eventually, there was nothing left but the infinite darkness within my mind. It was rolling darkness, and at the center was the abyss. Although I couldnt see it, I knew it was there, waiting to suck in any power. Was this why I was reincarnated into another world? Was this part of who I was in this one? I didnt have an answer to that question. I only had the abyss and myself.
As I floated, I realized that my sense of self was starting to fade. Was this what dying felt like? Would I simply lt into the void of darkness, never to exist again? mories of what was important to tickled the surface, but here, I felt beyond emotion. Should I go back? Part of wanted to. There was everyone I left in Amaryllis. It wasnt just about those on the island who may be in trouble, but those in the mansion too.
How could I go back? As if the thoughts alone were enough to trigger sothing, those symbols that had been floating past my mind reappeared. So of them began to light up, and then twist and move. They floated around and around until they finally created a magic rune. I looked at the circle that had seemingly spontaneously created itself in front of . It was actually pretty interesting. If I put my power in it, I had a feeling it wouldnt explode. It was built differently from the runes normal magic users used. It had taken into account the instability of an aseeded.
Was I an aseeded? I was just a consciousness, right? I didnt have access to any magic while I was in the body of Caleb. Now that I was freed from his body, was I freed from his restrictions? I had only one choice. My consciousness was coming closer to dissipating. It was becoming harder to think. I put myself out into the void, touching the magical rune that had ford seemingly from my thoughts, and then I put my power into it. I instantly felt myself being sucked into it, followed by pain.
My eyes snapped open. It took a few monts to realize that I wasnt breathing. There was sothing blocking my trachea. I coughed painfully, lifting my hands and pulling at my face, trying to remove the crap that seed to be covering . A long tube was pulled out of my throat along with various other cables and pieces. As soon as it was out, I turned over and coughed, forcing the phlegm and abstractions free from my throat.
Damn it! I croaked, my throat feeling so raw that I wanted to throw up for relief.
Gagging for another mont, I flailed in my bed several tis. My body was exhausted and weak. Every movent felt painful and unforgiving. I panted helplessly as I pulled various cords off my body. As the blurriness in my vision returned, I found that I was in a bed not unlike a hospital bed, and hooked up to machines not unlike those found in a hospital, except that it looked more like I had been stashed in a warehouse or a storage area.
Still, my mind raged and I thought to get myself up and moving. There were no doctors or nurses that ca for . There was no loving family smiling down at in concern. There was a dark, dank room filled with crap. I was exactly like that, so discarded crap on the side of the room. I was behind a couple of crates, and couldnt even see where the door out was from my current position.
The mory of being stabbed to death was fresh in my mind. It kept replaying over and over again like a broken record, and I could only shake in the cold and horror of it all. Had I reincarnated again? This ti, did I end up in so purgatory or hell? My throbbing headache, my painful throat, all of it felt like this could be the final end considering the life I lived.
With so difficulty, I got my feet swung out over the edge of the table, and my body up in a sitting position. Most of the things that were in were gone, and even though my entire body ached, I felt better than I had for so ti. Slowly, I let my feet fall down to the cold, concrete ground. Preparing my legs the best I could, I pushed up into a standing position. I barely lasted a second when they gave out. With a crash, I fell to my knees. I grabbed onto the bed to keep from falling the rest of the way, but I quickly realized I was helpless to keep my body up.
It was at that exact mont that a loud bang sounded from the doorway which I couldnt see. I could hear small footsteps rapidly heading across the room. It sounded like there were two people, actually. I stared at the edge of the crates where they were coming. Even if they were dangerous, there was nothing I could do about it in this state. Even attempting to protect myself was out of the question. None of that mattered when a mont later a familiar face poked their head from behind the crate.
C-clyburn? her voice rang in my ear.
Mia I croaked, breathing a sigh of relief and closing my eyes.
I leaned my head on the bed, barely able to keep myself up. The two people who had entered were none other than Lilith and Mia. Mia was still pregnant, sitting at 9 months but supposedly frozen until a violent curse was removed. Lilith was still the scrawny girl who seed to have a power that sat at god-like.
What are you doing, waking up? Lilith said angrily. There is still much more ti you needed to heal. Your body isnt ready yet!
My body doesnt feel ready. I murmured, feeling half a step from passing out.
Mia ran to , and while both girls were small and one was even pregnant, they managed to get back on the bed. All three of us were panting by the ti I flopped back down. I felt little better than a dead weight at the mont. Lilith definitely wasnt lying when she said my body was weak. I felt like I was a baby.
Lifting up my hand, I could see the familiar pale skin of soone from one of the eastern countries. When I spoke, I felt the familiar sound. Actually, it felt odd being normal again. I had grown used to the body and sound of the man called Caleb. Caleb had a bit of a smoother voice and was taller. He was also literally a prince.
Hes also dead. The bitter thought rose up inside .
That was right. I got caught up in an assassination plot, but it wasnt the one I had co there for. My own adopted daughter and lover stabbed to death in a garden. With that, I left Kemala behind in that garden. After that commotion, I wouldnt be surprised if the place was swamped with guards. Did Kemala get away? What about Lyra? What about Brooke? Charlie? I had left everyone behind in Amaryllis.
Where are we? I asked as I started to recollect my thoughts and catch my breath.
Were still in Matahari. Lilith spoke guardedly, watching with slightly mistrusting eyes. Why are you here? The only way you should have been able to make it back to this body is with a complex spell! Only I have the ability to cast sothing like that in this world.
I rembered the rune I had seen within that empty space. Lilith and I possessed the sa legacy, a fourth of an ancient Demon Lord. For , that power was swallowed and devoured by the abyss, but the knowledge seed to have been left behind. I was able to construct sothing and pull myself back to my original body. At least, that was the only answer I could co up with.
Caleb died, I responded as simply as I could. An assassination attempt.
Oh! Mia put her hands over her mouth.
She was much more innocent than Lilith, and also had feelings for . She was quick to sympathize with my death. She squeezed my hand, and I had to admit that I appreciated the comfort. Dying was a terrifying experience, and I was still reeling with anxiety and fear. Part of wanted to shut out the world and just forget everything ever happened. Maybe I could sneak back into my mansion, and continue with the idea that I was dead. Then, I could enjoy the won in life and live the rest of it in relative peace.
Its not an assassination attempt if they actually succeed. Then it is just assassination! Lilith snapped, crossing her arms.
I lowered my head. I couldnt really say anything about that. I may have survived, but then again, I was never the target in the first place. I had been given this second life, and so far, I had almost lost it a dozen tis. Two tis it could be said that I really did lose it, yet I continued to make the sa mistakes over and over again.
When she saw the look on my face, Liliths expression softened. Although she was rough around the edges, I could tell that she was a caring person despite her familys reputation. The way she had protected both and my child showed that she really was soone who cared deeply about the people in her life. Of course, I knew she probably didnt care about in the slightest. Her affection had to do more with Mia, who had spent the last year by her side.
Well whatever happened, its fine now. Your soul made it back to your body, and it looks like your body is restored enough that you wont suddenly die. In fact, now that your soul and body are reunited, I should be able to heal you considerably faster than before. I suspect within a week, youll be back on your feet.
A week! I tried to sit up, but Mia grabbed my shoulders imdiately.
I was so weak, that she effortlessly managed to keep pinned to the bed. However, my shock and effort were noticed by both girls.
Clyburn Im so glad that you are here, Mia said. In a months ti, Lilith says the curse on my womb will be weak enough that she can disperse it completely, and Ill be able to safely have our baby. Let us just remain in hiding until then, okay? Just a month or two, and then we can all go ho.
Lilith watched the pair of us and then shrugged. There are still two more inheritances. Now that I know there are demons and they are seeking out the inheritances, I definitely must continue to stop them. As for you, I dont care what you do as long as you continue to make babies.
I felt like laughing at that. Making babies. I always needed to make babies. That was my purpose in this world, right? I had almost co to accept that, but then I saw how bad this world was really getting. I could only shake my head.
I need to get back to Amaryllis, as soon as possible.
Amaryllis? Why Amaryllis? Lilith frowned. In your state, traveling at all will be dangerous. You want to travel half-way around the world? This is just crazy!
They were passing a bill to extend the male protection act into sothing perverse. I felt so conflicts knowing so of the evil n have done. I dont know if the drop of demonic blood in every man led them to act out in horrible ways, but considering Ive seen just as many horrible things from won like Diba Monic, I thought it was way too easy to just bla everything on demons. No, there were good n too. I had beco friends with several of them.
I couldnt let the fact that Calebs family was rotten get to . Caleb wasnt even related to his grandfather. Perhaps grandpa knew this. Perhaps that was why he was so willing to send to my death. I could just let him die. I could let both counciln die in the sa way they had set things up for my own death. It would only be poetic justice if those two bastards died because of . However, I felt like I needed to see the bigger picture here. That Extended Male Protection Act couldnt be allowed to exist.
Simply put, I couldnt allow their assassination to happen. I had to go to Amaryllis and I had to stop their deaths before it was too late. No matter how I felt about these n, they were the strongest resistance to the MPA and were the only ones who had a chance rallying everyone against it. As much as I liked the idea of them dying, it couldnt happen yet. However, Matahari was a multiweek journey by airship. The assassination was probably going to happen before the final vote, and that was only five days away. In other words, I had no ti.
Since I had no ti, I decided not to be delicate about it. Rather, I just needed to explain what was going on clearly.
I need to get to Amaryllis as quickly as possible, I said. Like, a day if possible.
A day! Lilith narrowed her eyes.
I ca from another world I said.
Oh, this again?
You wanted to know why I was special why I can create n? Why I dont carry any demonic blood? Its sothing to do with my soul. Not my body, but my soul. I ca from another world. When I died, I ended up in this one. Wherever I am and whoever Im inside I had so kind of purifying effect. I dont know. Its just, my kids are half from another world, and thats how things are!
Mia didnt say anything, she just stroked calmly as she held , accepting whatever I said. Lilith crossed her arms and pursed her lips thoughtfully. This wasnt the first ti I spoke of another world, but they werent really there long enough for us to go into specifics about it. Plus, at the ti, I was sort of having a breakdown, so I felt it was important to reaffirm that it wasnt just psycho ramblings.
In my old world we didnt have airships. Magic didnt exist in my world, or if it did exist, no one knew how to use it. Point being, we flew on airplanes. They were smaller than ships. They were like a car, shaped in a tube, with wings on it. They can move far faster than ships. A weeks journey on an airship can be made in a single day on a plane. Please tell that this world has sothing like that!
Ive heard of such items they usually explode. Lilith spoke uncertainly.
When she said the word explode, Mias hand tightened on like she already imagined exploding along with it.
Rockets thats a rocket. So, the world has rockets. I felt relief that at least that much existed, I thought about it for a mont while scratching my chin. Okay, in that case, can you use your magic and build sothing like this? Like, a car with wings.
Im not telling you that I am able to do it, She spoke slowly, But why do you want this thing?
In a few days, a woman I brought to Amaryllis is going to set off a bomb. Shes aiming to wipe out the counciln from Matahari. Shes aiming to remove the patriarchy and set up another governnt. This entire place is about to descend into a rebellion. You might not want to stay here in general.
Liliths eyes narrowed. I say good riddance. The Matahari have not been kind to . That Queen was an awful woman, and it doesnt sound like anyone else is much better.
You dont get it I shook my head. Amaryllis is trying to push an act called the Extended Male Protection Act. They want to round up all of the n of this world and basically control our every action. I wont be able to impregnate won on my terms! In fact, I might be seriously impeded by this new regi! The first part of the act I wont be able to create more children until Im 18!
I was willing to say anything at this point to convince her that I was right, but that alone seed like a pretty good reason. The Extended Male Protection Act was an overshoot of power. It sought to control all n. However, part of that was isolating n from won and training them. n in the current world had too much authority and control. Even in Amaryllis, which was a matriarchy, n still had the slice to hold over wons heads. They wanted to get rid of the last bit of control n had. I didnt see this being much better than the spooge factory that the Evil Queen had tried to turn n into.
Two years She shook her head. What are they thinking?
I could have described to her that teenagers were too difficult to control. They wanted to reeducate n and let them out once theyve reached a sufficient age where they were less likely to rebel against authority. It was probably sothing like that.
Only I can stop this assassination, I said. That womanthe one who is doing this shell listen to .
Lilith raised an eyebrow. Why is that?
Shes also pregnant with my child.
Mias hand stopped stroking my arm soothingly for a second, but she renewed it imdiately after. As for Lilith, her expression turned serious.
I-is it a male?
Flip a coin. I shook my head helplessly. It could be.
Lilith seed to have a soft spot for children, particularly the male ones. Despite having a reputation as a man-hater, she seed to want n in the world as long as they didnt have any demonic blood. Deep inside her, she must have seen every baby born without demonic blood as being a step towards true freedom from the demons. It was the last card I had to convince her. If it wasnt enough, then the assassination would carry through. Terah would likely go to prison, and I would spend the next two years in so kind of male concentration camp.
Show how to built it, and Ill make sure it gets you the Amaryllis. She said slowly.
I let out a breath of relief. This plan was completely crazy. Put together an approximation of a plane, and send it barreling at 300 miles per hour at another country and hope we make it. That was my plan. However, I didnt doubt the strength of Liliths magic, and with magical formations floating around in my mind, sohow, I felt like this was sothing I could actually pull off. The world was at the cusp of a new era, and sowhere deep inside, I felt I needed to be there to influence events.
So, were heading to Amaryllis then? Mia said, touching her stomach.
I wanted to tell her that she wasnt coming, but one look from her and I knew that wouldnt happen. Liliths magic was already sustaining the baby in the womb with the curse. I supposed a flight wouldnt be any more taxing than anything else.
Ah yes I nodded, agreeing to anything she said.
After all, I still couldnt even stand.
There is just one more thing we need to get, Lilith said uncertainly. Well need a navigator.
Navigator? Ah, she probably ant a pilot. Soone to steer. Theyd really have to be crazy to be willing to fly this thing we planned to build. As soon as I thought that, a certain face flashed in my mind. I shook my head, wanting that person to never pop up in my mind again, but they seed to remain there despite my best efforts.
Ah I suppose I shivered. There is one person who can help us. Theyre an old acquaintance I suppose, if theyre still alive.
I couldnt believe I was even suggesting it, but she was the only woman who was crazy enough. Desperation made for so interesting allies.
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