38 Arc 2.12 Someone, Anyone!

"Save me. Someone save me, please."

Basil struggled to move but the ropes bound him even tighter. His heart thumped in absolute fear. Tears ran down his face as cold sweat filled his body at the noises that seemed to be coming even closer. He struggled even more against the rope. If Glenn came back inside, he would not, he was not sure if he could survive the round of beatings this time around.

He looked left and right for the fifth time but there was no single sign of wood inside the dark small room.

Basil sniffed. What was he going to do, nobody was going to save him, nobody was going to protect him, he was all alone. He could be beaten to death here and nobody would even give a bat an eye, they would even congratulate Glenn for doing a job well done.

"Little one, you seem to be in trouble. Maybe I could help." The voice that sounded in his mind was deep and had a particular kindness that made his heart skip. None had ever spoken to him in such a kind manner before.

It made his cultivated flight response freezer as he tentatively asked in the room, "Who are you?"

"You don't need to shout, child. The voice was unhurried. "My name is Archeal."

The name lit an even more intense fear in Basil's heart as he struggled to move backwards as if to create a distance between him and the said name.

A sigh echoed from the voice carrying a strange sadness and pity, "You don't need to fear me. I am not like the Light Elves described. I am a traveler, the Dark Elves summoned me to help them in their fight against the Light elves and Elvina. I tried my best. 'The voice paused as if it was caught in the threads of a past memory, "But I lost. I didn't imagine that the Light elves would be even more cruel. Ah! Poor Child. You must have suffered a lot."

Basil's eyes were wet, and he lowered his head, the words of the voice echoing in his mind.

**

"Little one, you seem to be in trouble. Maybe I could help." That voice echoed again in his mind. A different life but it was the same false kindness. Basil had been so foolish in his last life, Archeal had used his loneliness, his longing for recognition and belonging to trap him into a contract before he tried to devour his soul when the wooden flower that contained his magic had blossomed completely.

To be honest, he did not care much about Glenn and his other foes from his past life but he could not help but feel a trace of hate and anger when he heard this voice again.

The scene was different, but the proceedings would be similar. Archeal would promise to save him, he would accept the contract and have the power to control shadows, he would then use the power to escape and while going stronger, he would kill a lot of elfs. The blood of the Elfs would return to the earth and in turn it would heal Elvina who was still deeply wounded from the fight with Archeal.

When Elvina would be at the edge of recovering, according to the contract, he would release the seal to free Archeal. Just this time it would be different, he would be ready and devour Archeal first before devouring the just recovered Elvina. He would gain all the power he wanted and be the number one in this world.

Then what? And Haldir, just where would Haldir fall in this plan? The smoke had filled the room and Basil fell on the ground. His vision was blurring. He twitched and tightened his wings as he panted for breath.

"Child." The voice sighed. "I am not a hallucination. I can save you. I can help you escape this place and give you enough power to become whatever you want."

"Basil. You have enough power to become whatever you want. You can do it. Even a musician." There must have been a disgusted expression on his face as the memory of Haldir playing in his ears chuckled, "Okay not a musician, maybe a herbalist. Think about it, it would be so interesting to watch everyone beg you for forgiveness when you become a force to be reckoned with. You can do it, Basil. You can do anything." The memory of one of Haldir's motivational speeches played in his mind.

It was not interesting when people begged for your forgiveness. It was boring. Even if they knelt before you, their eyes filled with awe and fear, It was not exciting at all. What was more exciting was the conversations he had with Haldir, the expressions on Haldir's face, the way his wings flapped when he was excited or proud, the way his blue eyes glowed when Basil did something he did not normally do, the scent of lavender that tickled his nose whenever Haldir got near. That was what made his heart skip even faster.

Haldir would probably be sad and a little worried if he suddenly goes missing. Would he cry? Having someone cry for him was definitely more interesting than a bunch of apologies from some hypocrites.

"Child!" The voice of Archeal was even more urgent than Basil had heard before. It made sense, should he die in this place, Archeal's soul would suffer a heavy wound and it would be hundreds of years before he wakes again.

We have to sign a contract, right? Let's… His voice was hazy and tired as he reached for the dagger in his pocket. He needed to draw a particular seal with his blood for the contract to be made. He still had enough strength to make the contract and the power he would receive from Archeal would be enough to leave this house and kill the assailant with plenty to spare.

Why was he hesitating? It was almost as if he could hear his young self asking for something.

"Basil!"

Basil was lying on the floor in the middle of the room and the entire space before his eyes was filled with smoke, but he seemed to see an image of a young man flying towards him.

Haldir was coming to save him. To save him. Him, Basil.

Basil soon felt the touch of a warm finger on his nose. He was in the middle of a burning room and yet he felt that the finger was warming more than the flames surrounding him.

He felt Haldir gathering him into his embrace as he lifted him up. Basil leaned back and he could hear the loud, powerful heartbeat. So reassuring.

At that instant, tranquility and pleasure poured into his heart.

Haldir, thank you for saving me.