Curious indeed, the possibility of using the void to your advantage is... intriguing. Jathorn draws our attention after he tells the others to retreat, telling us

"Unfortunately, you two, there isn't much time to chit chat and explain things, not here anyways. The void got their eye fixated on Xavier like nobody ever before. We have already spotted Vanta spots forming, so we must move before they surround us."

Harko's expression changes into a look of worried frustration. They grab my hand, and as we both get up, Jatorn begins to run, and so does Harko. While still holding my hand, I have no choice but to follow, knowing what the void is. Harko looks back at me.

"I'm sorry, Xavier, for all of these sudden events. Your mind must be confused from all of it, and I will make it up to you when we get to the light beacon."

I nod. My mind has been more straightforward than everyone thinks. Ever since I heard about the void, I had a strange calm wash over me, not to mention these bandages around my neck, making me unable to scratch this constant itch around my neck. I tug at the bandages while running and manage to mark the craving. I feel as if something drips from my left hand and my neck. Looking at it, I noticed blood running down my hand and likely down my throat, but how? I barely put that much pressure into that scratch, and it shouldn't have caused me to bleed, huh? The blood from my left hand is not dripping down. Is it.. climbing on my hand? Most importantly, why am I so calm about this? I feel no need to tell anybody or even worry... My mind is blank, and I don't have any questions or wonders. I only feel curious about the void, the urge to interact with it, until I hear Harko's voice waking me up from the state.

"Xavier, talk to me! What's wrong? Your eyes are empty, staring into nothingness. What is troubling you like-"

Harko goes silent as they look at my neck. Now with the loose bandages, I believe they appears to see the wound i made. They have a look into their eyes like something unbelievable is happening

. "Xavier, tell me what is on your mind right now, do not dodge this question."

Huh? what I'm thinking about? is this some joke? Of course, the void is on my mind... no, there should be something else, yeah! Confusion! I forgot everything I couldn't remember...? this is strange. It is as if what happened previously just faded away from my mind. I shake my head and answer as bluntly as I can

"I can't remember. All of these forgotten memories are making me unable to reflect on recent events, hell I don't remember clearly what happened, what we were doing, or where we were."

Harko sighs as if I avoided something terrible. The truth is, I don't know if I have, but something is wrong, and I can feel it in the urge to seek the void

. "Xavier, my dear, this an effect of the void's fragmentation upon your mind, usually, this doesn't happen, but since the void has its eyes on you, it tries its best to catch you one way or another. It would be best if you remain focused. We are not far from the light beacon."

Just what is this light beacon, and why is it so important? No matter, I'm going to ask myself over and over as I have before. I should likely do as Harko tells me, focus, Xavier focus. Harko begins to run again, and I follow after them.

We run for a while, and then in sight comes a beam of light. I assume that is what we seek to reach, and Harko confirms my thoughts.

"We are close now, just a little bit further."

good, but where is Jathorn? he suddenly disappeared after I started thinking about the void

"Harko, where is Jathorn?"

they continue moving while speaking

"He went ahead with the squad, the amount of Vanta spots appearing was too alarming for the team, and they began to panic, so Jathorn went to escort them to make sure they got back safe and prevent death from panic while you were in a trance with your thoughts.

" Huh, so the Vanta spots are just that dangerous. It makes sense why he went ahead. Then in the corner of my eye, I see a dark shadow as we move, and I gaze toward it, noticing a pure black spot floating. Is this what people call a Vanta spot?

"tsk- This is not good. The void has already caught up to us. I hope Jathorn arrives sooner rather than later. I don't know how much I can hold them down, Xavier. I will need your help. We will have to face the abyss followers, and you will have to learn how to control the fire during combat. I will aid you but be careful."

The Vanta spots surround us, which then lower from their floating state down to a puddle state through which what looks like humans reach out and pull themselves from the puddle.

"If there is no other way to get to safety, then I am willing to fight despite the lack of fighting knowledge. I have a memory to find and restore."

Harko smiles at me

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I'm glad you kept your confidence despite everything and-"

I notice behind Harko one of the figures running for an attack to which i quickly dash and try to punch them in the face, the punch connects and a combustion of blue fire sends the follower 3 meters back, Harko shakes their head and looks around us understanding there is no time to talk, after the punch more of them begin to come towards us, Harko flicks their hand open which conjures a bright spear that they then throw, the spear richoses through a few of the followers, they then approach in close quarter range and musters a staff they use as a weapon, i aswell continue to fight these followers, despite their humane look they are wild attacking anyway they can, they are slower than i thought too which allows me to punch them and blast them with the combustion relatively quickly, after seeing how Harko made their weapon i wonder if im capable of creating a weapon for myself, as soon as i thought about making a weapon fire spreads from my knuckles in the form of claws, i use them to slice through the followers proving to be a very effective weapon, we fight them for awhile and some manage to hit me, their strenght is not to be underestimated, Harko is begining to tire out, i look at Harko and i nod and hold my hand up to signal them i will let loose a bigger flame to clear the crowd, to which they no and jump up creating light platforms, i waste no time and spin vigurously as a large blue flame spews from my hand, the fire devours everything it comes in contact with and like last time, the fire creates bodies that attacks the followers.

Harko draws my attention.

"Xavier!, Keep them off of me while I'm clearing this Vanta puddle, and once the puddle is down, we run for it, understood?"

I make my way just below Harko near one of the puddles

"Yeah! got it!"

doing as they requested, I keep the flame claws on while the fire continues to eat at the followers, something, however, feels off, as if I can feel a presence within the fire, resisting, unfazed by the flames. That curiosity from before about the void surges back, and slowly my focus is beginning to break as the presence becomes alluring. Harko notices this and yells my name, but my body won't allow me to respond. The presence calls to me, and I can feel it.

"Xavier! focus! We are almost out of here!"

Harkos's voice rings in my ears, but my body begins moving on its own, i... I can't control it anymore! The fire starts to dim, and the face of the presence becomes more evident. It's big, almost twice my size, and alluring, and I want to be with it. I want to be it! No, I NEED to embrace it! Harko jumps down at my body, which begins to run on its own, and suddenly a warm light embraces me as they tackle me and hold me tightly. My consciousness begins to fade, and my body relaxes as I hear Harko's soft, soothing, and relaxing humming. I am freed from the sudden craving to embrace the void, Harko makes a barrier around us, and they whisper to me.

"shhh, my child, I am here, relax and rest now. I will deal with this myself, don't trouble your mind with worry, for I will be fine, focus, relax, and fall asleep."

as the words reach my ear, my consciousness fades until I black out.