Chapter 40: Alone

The next morning, Alata sat on the roof of the castle looking in the direction of the Newlaphaine kingdom where his friends were. He was a bit sad and depressed because although he had the power and was determined to kill Elastor and Julia, he felt lonely and empty. The feeling of fighting against his friends was never what Alata wanted, even though he knew he was always the weakest member, he was trusted and respected by everyone. Alata thought:

"Coming back home is boring. Nothing new. It's strange now that I remember the time I spent with everyone."

He lay down and looked up at the blue sky. Alata became silent, very silent. His mind was full of thoughts that wandered in the sky like a child. Alata sat up again and lay down again, he sighed dejectedly. In Alata's head, there were only very fanciful thoughts that no one could understand. Alata looked down on the lives of the people below, so simple, everyday, full of life, bustling and happy. People were trading in the market, children were playing on the street, fishing boats brought fish into the port, everyone had a life of their own and they all enjoyed it. Alata observed everything with an eye that wanted to be. Frustrated, Alata went to Exos's room to read a book, but he couldn't because he couldn't read either and accidentally broke ten of Exos' bookcases. Going to Laura's room to check the fortune-telling and ended up and clumsily broke the magic circle and caused the devil to crawl out, but luckily, Laura handled it in time. Going to Hatai's room to do physical exercises, but Alata couldn't lift the lightest dumbbell or do many push-ups, even accidentally pushed the heaviest weight and hit Hatai's leg, causing him to faint. Going to Zack's room... Well, who wanted to go into Zack's room. Going around the castle to see many things, but Alata always brought bad luck. All over the castle there were signs of Alata because of the calamities brought. The laundry room was overflowing with water, the kitchen was on fire, but the fire in the kitchen spread to burn the garden, the bathroom collapsed through a dozen floors, the cattle were damaged, so they ran around and dirty the precious carpet and the Throne Room, somehow thieves stole the royal crown and gave Urizen so much headache. Then Alata dejectedly returned to his room to rest and avoid disturbing everyone. Alata thought to himself:

"What is the meaning of life? I need an answer."

Alata met Sansa again, she was sleeping, she slept all day. Alata whispered while Sansa was snoring:

"Sansa, wake up. I want to talk to you for a bit."

Sansa opened her eyes and woke up then replied:

"Ah, Alata, what did you come to see me for?"

Alata said:

"You said you're a beggar right. How's life outside?"

Sansa replied:

"Ah, well you know. Life is very happy, me and a few other kids often play or troll adults. Some days we don't have anything to eat or money but it's okay as long as we're still alive the next day. We beggars live freely and happily like that."

Alata said softly:

"Can you take me out there?"

Sansa replied:

"What's wrong? You've never been outside before?"

Alata slightly bowed his head because he was a little embarrassed, he said:

"Well, I've never been outside the castle to see what it's like outside. I've always been in father's lab in the castle."

Sansa smiled happily and replied:

"Okay, but do you have the key to open the cage?"

Alata said:

"Ah... Well..."

Alata turned and saw Reaper sleeping on the bed. He gulped and whispered:

"Be quiet."

Alata slowly moved closer to Reaper's bed, he focused on watching Reaper as he slowly reached for the key to the cage. Sansa watched Alata while holding her breath nervously. Alata quickly grabbed the key to the cage but suddenly Reaper snored and turned towards him. Alata instantly held his breath, he grabbed the cage key and moved slowly back to Sansa's cage. Alata slowly opened Sansa's cage and Sansa whispered:

"Really startling, a little bit more and you'll be dead."

Alata replied:

"Yeah, let's go."

Alata opened the cage softly and Sansa stepped out swiftly. They then silently left the Reaper's room. Alata used The Ghost's wind power and brought Sansa out of the castle. They then smiled and held hands as they walked around the city. They enjoyed playing with each other, walking along the streets in the most natural and free way. Alata felt new, like he had never felt this way before. Sansa took Alata to meet the other kids and hang out with them. The children did not see Alata as a stranger but simply a friend, this simplicity surprised Alata. They played together all day. Teasing the fishmonger to make the fish they catch fall into the sea. Stealth stealing fruit from the seller, later they were caught, so Alata had to take the money to pay, then he also bought a lot of food for his friends. Then they painted pictures on the wall of the house and accidentally included The Dream Workshop. Sansa showed Alata many things he never knew about this life, which partly changed him. He was very fun and happy every minute with Sansa. While walking, suddenly Alata bumped into another kid, if it was Alata before, he would scream in anger but now, Alata helps the child to stand up and gives him candy. It was just a small trip, but it changed Alata so much from being arrogant and stupid to being more caring. They played until dusk. Alata and Sansa sat on the roof of The Dream Workshop and watched the sunset, Sansa said:

"How do you feel? It's fun, isn't it?"

Alata smiled and replied:

"Yeah, it is."

Sansa said:

"You're so strange Alata, it feels like you've been suppressed too much and today is the day you let everything go."

Alata replied in confusion:

"What do you mean?"

Sansa said:

"Have you ever felt truly free? It's the feeling that no one will stop or deny your every decision. All your actions will be your own and your responsibility. And to have freedom there must be a will, a goal and a dream. My dream is to have a house with all the other beggar children, we all can eat and be happy, that's all."

Alata replied:

"Is that so? As for my dream..."

Sansa said:

"What's wrong? Don't you have a dream?"

Alata replied:

"Maybe so? I don't know what a dream is?"

Sansa said:

"It's your wish, your decision, it's like flying in the clouds."

Alata looked up at the cloudy sky and replied:

"Flying in the clouds? Then let me show you. The Ghost, merged with me."

Alata put on the ghost cloak and carried Sansa on his back, he said:

"Let me show you what it's like to fly in the clouds."

Alata flew up with Sansa, she was traveling through the clouds. Sansa touched the clouds and laughed happily. Sansa said in excitement:

"How can you fly?"

Alata replied:

"I don't know, I just tried that."

Alata led Sansa to fly across the Highland Continent. They flew over the desert of the Sandx kingdom, the green plains of the New Lanxter kingdom, the fairy forest of the Newlaphaine kingdom. Alata was a little nervous as he approached Newlaphaine castle. Alata slowly flew over the garden behind the castle where everyone trained together, he flew at a height few could see him. Although a little worried and angry, Alata still wanted to see them. And the next thing was very unexpected, Alata and Sansa saw under a tree, a small tombstone was erected with Skeletor placed beside him as if sitting. Crusadia team was just there and prayed for Alata thinking he was dead. Alata was very touched, Sansa said:

"Alata, how are you?"

Alata laughed and flew high through the clouds. Alata said cheerfully:

"I see, I understand what a dream is. Thank you, Sansa."

Alata flying faster made Sansa more excited, he said:

"So your dream is..."

Alata replied cheerfully:

"My dream is..."

Suddenly someone's claw grabbed Alata and Sansa. Alata looked up and saw Reaper in half-crow form. Reaper said shadyly:

"Son, why did you take my guinea pig out?"

Alata hastily replied:

"Father, I'm sorry. Let me explain."

Reaper smirked and said angrily:

"No need to explain."

Reaper knocked out Alata and Sansa and brought them back to the castle. Moments later Alata woke up to find himself chained to a lab bed with dozens of solutions being injected and he, opposite Sansa, was locked in a cage. Alata struggled to free himself. Suddenly Reaper appeared behind Alata and said:

"Good evening son."

Reaper scratched Alata's face and approached Sansa. Sansa said worriedly:

"Who are you? You're hurting him."

Reaper kicked Sansa's cage startling her and angrily replied:

"Shut up whore. Tell me now, what did you do to my son that he became weak and didn't focus on training new element."

Sansa said calmly:

"I just consider him a friend and play with him."

Reaper angrily replied

"No, it's you, it's all your fault. He's become too weak."

Alata hastily said:

"No father, it's not her fault but mine. I made myself weak to understand the meaning of my life. Elastor and Julia are not enemies." Reaper painfully said:

"Oh my son, how foolish have you been? How you can forget your mission is revenge your brothers and sisters? Now let's begin the brainwashing process, I will turn you back into a new Alata."

Alata struggled harder, Alata angrily said:

"What do you think I am? Tell me! Who am I really, are you lying to me?!"

Reaper became silent, he sighed and said:

"Son, let me tell you how I got you."

Alata and Sansa were worried and silent. Reaper continued:

"Actually, you are not my biological child, you are just like her, just a beggar and orphan. I kidnapped you and transformed you. Dozens of nights of torture in all forms of both physically and mentally, hundreds of children like you had the same thing. To create Artificial Elemental Spirits. When all of you die because of horrible pain, I performed necromancy to transform you and create an Artificial Elemental Spirit. But no one was alive but only you. The perfect, only, experimental and pawn I'm most proud of. My greatest tool."

Alata became so shocked, he realized that Reaper didn't see him as a son but more of an experiment and tool. Reaper took two long nails and coldly stabbed them into Alata's head through his skull and into his brain. Alata didn't know what the pain was but kept struggling to get out, blood flowing down painting his forehead in red. Reaper devilishly said:

"Come back my son. Hahahahaha!"

Reaper channeled a high voltage surge from one of his monster experiments inside Alata and shocked him. Sansa was worried and said:

"Let him out now! He's in so much pain!"

Reaper replied:

"No, he's coming back."

Alata could not endure the electric current for long and died, his soul separated from his body but Reaper quickly performed a necromancy, he prayed:

"A new soul, a new personality, a new person, an old body, a new tool."

Reaper stabbed Alata hard in the chest with a knife stained with green liquid, Alata's soul immediately re-entered his body. Sansa was silent in worry and Reaper smiled proudly. Then suddenly Alata automatically broke the chain and pulled out all the needles, he looked like a lost soul. Sansa worriedly said:

"Alata, are you okay..."

Alata breathed out a breath of air, his eyes were bleeding, and Alata said in horror:

"I'm fine."

Suddenly Alata thrust his spear through Sansa's cage, but barely hit her, he coldly said:

"But I don't know who you are."

Sansa was so shocked that she couldn't cry. Then Alata laughed like a madman mixed with Sansa's cry. A madman was always a madman...