14 Out Of Control

Freya's POV

As Cassius' eyes slowly regained their clarity and sharpness, I felt my heart fill with a wave of relief so intense it almost knocked me off my feet.

"I am back," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Just imagine how much he had suffered through my heart ached for him, and without a second thought, I wrapped my arms tightly around him, praying that my embrace would provide even a fraction of the comfort he needed. As he broke down in tears on my shoulder, I felt his calm facade crumble away, revealing the deep wounds and scars that he had carried for far too long.

"It's okay," I whispered, holding him close and running my fingers through his hair.

"You're free now, Cassius. You're free."

MC's POV

Breaking the long-needed embrace, I regained my composure and asked.

"How are you here right now? What about Dahlia?"

Freya's eyes softened with understanding as she spoke in a calm and reassuring voice.

"Dahlia is asleep. I cast a spell to make her fall asleep earlier than usual. I have about an hour before I do."

Realizing that time was of the essence, I stood up, ready to leave.

"Then, we should get out of here before you fall asleep too."

Nodding in agreement, Freya placed her hands on my temples and began to chant, her voice growing stronger and more determined with each passing moment.

"Effugere. Effugere. Effugere. Effugere."

Tears appeared on the once-invincible walls of the white void as my mental prison began to crumble. Within seconds, the white void disintegrated into nothingness, and I was plunged back into the real world.

As my senses were bombarded by the sights, sounds, and smells of the world around me, I struggled to find my bearings.

"Aa... Aaa. Ah?" I stammered, my body still adjusting to the sudden return of my senses.

My legs gave out, and I stumbled, but Freya caught me, her concern etched on her face.

"Be careful," she said softly, her voice filled with concern.

"It's been a long time since you've been in touch with your senses. Take your time."

I nodded and sank back down, hoping to feel better. But instead, the opposite happened.

As I sat alone in the dimly lit room, attempting to reconnect with my Magic, a searing pain began to burn within me. My breathing became shallow and labored, and my body writhed in agony.

Slowly, the realization dawned on me that my Mana was out of control, rampaging through my body and destroying everything in its path to feed an ominous and powerful entity forming inside me. Blood trickled from my nose and ears, and my vision blurred as I struggled to speak.

"Something's wrong," I gasped out, my voice barely audible.

"What's happening, Cassius?" Freya asked, her voice laced with concern.

I tried to answer, but my words were choked off by another wave of pain. I could feel the dark force within me, straining to be unleashed like a hungry beast finally set free.

"Go!" I managed to croak out.

"Something's happening to me. You need to get away from me!"

Freya hesitated, clearly torn between her loyalty to me and her own safety. But I knew there was no time to waste.

"Please, Freya," I urged her again.

"Whatever Dahlia did to me...something's happening."

For a moment, she looked like she might refuse, but then she nodded and gathered her things.

"I'll find a place to hide," she said, already moving towards the door.

"You'll be okay, Cassius. I promise."

I forced a smile, even as the pain continued to consume me.

"I will be...cough...fine" I lied. By now blood had started trickling down my eyes but I still forced a slight smile on my face, assuring Freya I would be alright.

With no other choice, Freya took her sack and rushed to find a place to cloak herself before her time was up.

"Cough... cough."

What the hell is happening? I need to get out of here before something bad happens.

Staggering to my feet, I looked around the hut for my belongings, knowing I needed to leave before it was too late.

By the time I found them, the pain I was feeling was already two times more intense than what I was feeling at the beginning. But I continued to push through the forest, gritting my teeth as the pain intensified with each step.

This is nothing. I experienced hell before. I can get through this.

I repeated it like a mantra in my head as I got through the forest and finally crossed the boundary spell that Dahlia had set up.

By now, I was feeling an all-consuming pain across my whole body as if hot knives were being stabbed into me repeatedly.

Collapsing on the ground, I collect the remaining willpower I have left and force my rampaging Mana to trigger my apparition magic.

"Gaah!"

A pained scream rang throughout my vicinity as I willed my Mana to wrap little by little around me.

Slowly, a thin green-black Mana encircled my entire body while my eyelids became heavier and heavier.

So sleepy....No. No. I have to stay awa...

As my eyelids grew heavy, I saw a cloaked figure approach me. And then...nothing.