23 The Heart of the Forest (4)

Aether's eyes widened. "What did you do to him?" He shouted.

"Aw, nothing." The bellowing voice was gone. Once again, the giggles returned. "I don't kill humans, it's a hassle."

Aether slowly reached for the stat bracelet. "Then what did you do?" He asked. He couldn't keep it on – there was a chance he would need more powerful spells. Spells he wasn't supposed to know yet.

"I sent him back. Back to the human world, to where you opened the gate." The voice whispered. Aether gritted his teeth. He could hear the whisper so clearly, it was almost as if the creature were right behind him.

"Such a rude man," He heard a sigh. "I even offered him a sliver of the future!" The voice giggled. "So, what about you?" Aether immediately closed his eyes.

"I respectfully decline." He took a sharp breath as something touched his shoulder.

"Open your eyes, young man." The voice whispered in his ear. "Weren't you the one who demanded I show myself?" It chuckled. "Is the young child afraid now that the scholar has left?"

Aether took a deep breath. The river. Five meters ahead, two steps to the right. That was where he believed the voice really came from. What lived in a creek and led humans astray with offerings of the future?

"Scared, scared little child."

What killed spirits of nature and took over their land?

"Would you like a hint of the future? A sliver of it, to light your path in life?"

What was even capable of such prophecies?

"I respectfully decline." He repeated his words.

"Aw," The voice almost sounded disappointed. It seemed confused for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. "Then why open the gate to my realm?" It asked with a hint of curiosity in its mocking voice.

"The spirits." Aether spoke. "Did you kill them?"

It giggled. "Kill them?" It asked. "No, I don't kill spirits. It's such a hassle."

Aether furrowed his brows. "Then how did they die?" He waited for a response but heard nothing. Was it gone? No – he couldn't believe that. He slowly took a step forward.

"I never said you may walk freely in my home." The creature's voice echoed in Aether's ears. He felt something grasp his arm.

He quickly motioned to grab the thing holding his arm. The moment he could get a hold of the creature's main body, it was over! His hand touched the cold thing around his arm, and at the same time, he heard a bellowing laughter.

Before he could even react, a cold hand grasped his wrist. "What would such a weak child do against me?"

It yanked Aether, lifting him up by his wrists and throwing him back to the ground. The young man breathed out in pain as his back hit the ground with force.

"Such rudeness, no human has manners anymore!" Aether winced. He could feel the nails of the creature burying into his skin.

"Let go of me." He hissed.

"I don't want to." The creature replied with a giggle. "But I will gladly do so if you accept to hear a hint of the future."

Aether shook his head, keeping his eyes clenched shut. "Let me peer into your future as I did with him!" The creature almost begged. "Let me tell you what awaits you!"

The young man drew a sharp breath – that was it! "Open your eyes, little human child!" The creature whispered. He could feel its breath on his face.

"A weak child such as me can do little against you." Aether answered the creature's previous question. "Now it's your turn. Why did you let wildmagic run rampant in the human world?"

For a split second, silence followed his words.

"Heh," The creature chuckled. "Smart human – you figured it out."

"I did. A question for a question, an answer for an answer. You are in my debt, obliged to give me an answer!" He swallowed the disgust he felt and waited.

"You are smart." The creature let go of his wrists. Aether scrambled to get up, though with his eyes still closed, he still felt somewhat defenceless against the creature. "A human asked me to, and I agreed because it sounded fun. That is your answer." The creature's giggle sounded from all around him.

"A human." Aether repeated, taking care not to phrase his words as a question. "Thank you." He gulped. How was he going to get the creature to stop? His hands reached for the stat bracelet. He could always kill it – it would be the most guaranteed solution, albeit defeating such an illusive creature could prove to be difficult.

He wondered where the creature was. If only he could look around to reorient himself. But opening his eyes meant showing a glimpse of his future to the creature. And that – he simply could not allow to happen.

"Open your eyes, little human." The voice whispered into his ears. He felt something brush past him.

"No." He replied. The flowing water, he could hear it. He tilted his head to the side, trying to pinpoint its location. That was where the main body of the creature was – he was sure of it!

"How pathetic." The creature giggled. "I almost pity you – fearing even a glimpse of your future despite your brilliance. You are smart enough to make use of that information."

Aether shook his head. "Some rules of nature must never be broken. I know that better than anyone."

The creature fell silent, and Aether finally heard the low sound of flowing water clearly. He dashed towards it, knowing he was running towards the creature. His feet hit something, and he stumbled.

"Hey!" The creature shouted, an alarmed tone in its voice. "I never allowed you to-"

"Thunder!" Aether's shout echoed as he fell on his knees. His hands crackled with lightning as they touched the flowing water.

A cry of agony sounded, and at the same time, he felt the world return to normal.

"Doirioth's Flame burn you!" Lord Ladran's bellowing voice suppressed all other noise as Aether felt incredible amounts of mana gather around him. He threw himself aside and covered his head with his arms moments before the ground shook with an explosion.

Silence followed the loud noises. The sound of flowing water was nowhere to be heard, and neither were the agony filled screams of the creature.

"Aether? Oh, by the gods, please tell me you're alive!" Lord Ladran's panicked voice sounded all of a sudden. Aether felt his hand on his shoulder and when he opened his eyes, he was met with a pale face, as white as a sheet of paper.