"Well... this is certainly new," the old man smiled at her as he accepted the taco. "I’ve never eaten one for... years."
Ava nodded awkwardly. "Thanks for... earlier." She cleared her throat. "I have to go to— "
"Sit down," the old man’s voice echoed inside her head. She flinched. But said nothing. Just now, she could confirm that the old man was indeed more powerful than her. Maybe she could run away but she wouldn’t be able to remain conscious in a fight.
So, she chose to listen. She sat down and immediately noticed the shield that the old man created around them. Luckily, Ava already texted Matthew about the bodies earlier, she even told him about the strange old Shaman.
"Dream walking."
"I’m sorry?" Ava blinked.
"I said... You are the dream walker, aren’t you?"
She gulped. How did the old man know?
"If you are wondering how I knew... then you can only blame Romeo Maclary. But fret not... I didn’t tell his mother about you and your ability."
Ava slowly placed the other taco on the circular table that circulated them. "I don’t know what you’re talking about," she said.
"Ah... you are not panicking." The old man mumbled to himself. Ava wasn’t sure if she should respond as it didn’t feel like the old man was actually talking to her. "That’s... a pleasant surprise." He lifted his gaze and stared at the cloudy skies. "I guess... I have become too old. Perhaps the people these days aren’t that scared of the unknown anymore."
Ava frowned but quickly adjusted her expression into a cold one when the man looked at her.
"You can’t control it yet," the old man continued.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"You are a very good liar. A normal witch... wouldn’t be able to spot it. But a fellow dream walker could easily feel it."
"You— "
"Did it start with nightmares?" he asked. "Then the lucid dreams followed."
Ava blinked. He was right. It did start with nightmares then came the lucid dreams. Then... she accidentally walked into a person’s dreams.
"I was surprised that you haven’t met anyone like us in the past. Younger witches who cannot control this ability would usually fall into traps of the more experienced witches and die."
"Wait... are you saying that..."
"That people like you and I exist." The old man finished her sentence. "It’s rare. But... I met another one just about... thirty years ago. Sadly, I have no clue where... he went. Perhaps he is already dead. I have been looking for him for years."
For some reason, Ava could feel regret coming from the old man. She couldn’t help but wonder why.
"So, when I heard about Mr. Mclary’s weird incident I thought it was him. But then... I found you."
The old man frowned at her. "How did you get your abilities?"
"I— "
"Don’t deny it. I can feel it. You are an empath aren’t you?"
Does this mean the old man could feel it? As if sensing her question, he nodded. "I can feel it."
Ava pursed her lips. Unimpressed by the current situation, she frowned her brows and tried to remember where she had seen the man before. She was confident that she had already seen this face but for some reason, she couldn’t remember it.
"Ah! Please forgive me. I have actually forgotten to introduce myself. I am Gaas..."
"Gaas!? Shaman Gaas?" Ava’s eyes widened.
"So you’ve heard of me."
Of course, Ava has heard of him in the past. Trillium keeps track of really powerful witches. Priestesses and Shamans. However, she really couldn’t remember his name earlier.
"The ones who saw my image would remember seeing my image but not my name. I made it that way. So, there’s no point in beating yourself up."
"So..." Shaman Gaas spoke. "The Lycan that is panicking while running towards us... do you know him?"
"Yes." Matthew was panicking? Ava couldn’t help but look behind the old man. She wasn’t surprised to see Matthew here but for him to panic? Why?
"Then I shall not harm him."
"I am working for him."
"I am well aware."
Then why did he ask if she knew him? Soon, the realization hit her. "I am sleeping with him. If that’s what you wanted to know."
"Ah... that is none of my business." the old man nodded.
"I know." But what choice does she have? This old man could hurt Matthew!
"Tell him not to approach."
Ava did as she was told. She held her hand up and stopped him.
"He doesn’t look too pleased."
"No. He is not happy." Ava said.
"Are you familiar with the Lycan’s Promise?"
"I know."
"And you still dare to sleep with a Lycan?"
"You already said it," Ava said. "That is none of your business."
"Right. But as your future teacher..."
"What teacher?"
"Oh? Did I forget to mention? From now on... I will be teaching you how to properly use your abilities."
Ava blinked. Then she blinked again. A fucking teacher?
"I already have a teacher," Ava said.
"Oh?"
"Yes. So..."
"Who is it?"
"What?"
"If I kill your teacher then you won’t have one anymore, no?"
"What?" This crazy old man.
"Am I right or wrong?"
"Well..." Ava looked at Matthew who stood a few meters away from them. "Technically that is true. But you cannot kill her."
"Then who is she?"
What the fuck is wrong with this old man?
"I told you. You cannot kill her."
"Are you looking down on me?"
"That’s not the point." Ava said. This was actually the first time she felt exhausted while talking to someone. Was that even possible? "You cannot just kill anyone."
"Why not? I want to teach you and the best way to teach you is to kill your current teacher."
"Alright. Let’s stop talking." Ava waved her hand. "I can’t be your student."
"Why is that?"
"Because... "
"Because what?" the old man actually looked curious.
"Just because I don’t know you? Isn’t that enough reason?"
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