As the two of them walked closer and closer to the core, the emotions that had wreaked havoc inside Ava’s body intensified. Her chest had become heavier and heavier. She knew the only reason why she was feeling this way was that she was an empath.
She could feel other people’s emotions! In this case, she could feel other souls’ emotions. She knew Matthew must have taken this into consideration when he asked her to accompany him. But she wasn’t really used to it.
The resentment, unwillingness, sadness, and anger were just too much.
It reminded her of a hospital. Except, there was no happiness or hope, or thankfulness.
It was just pure darkness.
Slowly, her breathing turned shallow, as beads of sweat drenched her back.
"Matthew— I think— "
"We are almost there," he said while squeezing her hand. She nodded in response.
The two of them continued walking for a few more minutes before they arrived In front of a rectangular slab of wood that looked like a memorial. She frowned at the symbols on it.
"It’s not from Earth," she uttered, her voice low.
"It wasn’t. Just as I expected."
Ava looked at him.
"Close your eyes... and do not let go of my hand," Matthew said.
"Alright," she said. She complied and closed her eyes. She knew what is going to happen next and she also knew that opening her eyes and losing her concentration could kill her.
This trial is partly an illusion. But breaking out of the illusion without completing it is akin to killing yourself. It was that difficult and completed.
This is another reason why she didn’t want to accompany him. But in the end, she agreed. This is simply because she wanted to be there for him. Of course, Ava didn’t want to tell Matthew anything.
After a few minutes, she felt her feet leave the ground.
It was starting.
The trials have started.
......................
South Pole Antarctica
Underground
"The Lycans have made some significant and alarming changes," a woman that looked to be in her thirties spoke. She leaned against her velvet office chair and looked at the man dining in front of her. She turned away when he started cutting the raw steak.
She couldn’t take the smell of the steak. Her sharp senses enabled her to smell the meat.
"I hated the smell of raw meat," she said. The man before her knew this yet, he still dared to bring the dish in front of her. If only he wasn’t her son. "You could dine outside. Or do it before coming here."
In response, the man rolled his eyes.
"Why haven’t you asked someone to color your hair?" she asked. The man in front of her already had gray hairs, his face wizened. And while he was her son, he most definitely looked older than her.
"I want to wear my hair like this. White hair wasn’t too bad."
"You look older than me."
Again, he rolled his eyes and started chewing on the meat.
"I didn’t visit you here to talk about my hair, mama," he got himself some napkin and elegantly dabbed it on his bloodied lips. The steak was still fresh. Just as he instructed, they managed to cut it out of the animal while it was still alive.
A delicacy, he thought inwardly as he drank his red wine.
"Ah... the Lycans. I have heard things," she said.
"We all heard about it."
"And?"
"And what?" he asked.
"Aren’t you going to pay them a visit?"
"Not now."
"Why not? The experiments that we have is very crucial. We cannot just let them make big changes that might affect us."
"How so?" he asked. "They live in a different plane. Even if we want to use that plane— it was just a small plane. Most of it is still unexplored. I have no interest in planes. What I want is Earth."
The woman frowned, displeasure written on her flawless face.
"We have found the perfect vessel. We are at the most important stage of our experiments. We cannot let them disrupt our progress."
"How are they going to disrupt us if they do not know of our existence?"
"Would you just listen to me?" she snapped.
"I am listening."
The woman clenched her jaw. "I want you to visit their plane. I want to know what made them decide to make all those changes. After all, a united supernatural is still bad for us."
"You think they are planning to unite the supernaturals?"
"The new king and his witch Queen might have that as their end goal."
"A witch Queen?"
"Nero, where have you have you been all this time?" his mother asked.
"I was occupied."
"With whores?"
"Mother— "
"You should visit the Lycans and discover their secrets."
"Can I kill him?"
His mother narrowed at him. "You wanted to kill the Lycan King?"
"Wouldn’t that solve everything?"
"You think you can kill the King of Lycans?"
Slowly, the man lifted his lips. Then his appearance changed. His wizened face turned flawless, his hair turned black, and his cracked lips turned pink.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"Not bad. The confidence is surely astounding. But I don’t want someone who loves to bark, Nero."
"I know Mama."
Suspicions flashed in her eyes.
"You are hiding something."
"What?" he chuckled at that. "What are you talking about?"
"I know you, Nero. You are hiding something."
"I am not."
"You are lying to your own mother."
"Hey! I am— " Nero sighed. "Alright... I have visited the plane."
"And?"
"I have seen the Queen. From afar."
"And?"
"I have taken a liking to the strong witch."
"A strong witch?" she asked.
"Not as strong as you and I but yes, she might be the strongest witch that I have seen in this realm."
"The strongest witch... that is an interesting choice of words. How about the King?"
He shrugged at that.
"I haven’t seen him."
"But you still think you can beat him? How presumptive of you to look down on an opponent. I thought I taught you better."
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