Jaxith was sitting on the edge of his bed, a grim witness to Irene’s nocturnal torment. Her slumber was a tempestuous sea, her body wracked by tremors and drenched in a cold sweat.
“This surpasses even her usual nightmarish episodes,” he muttered, concern etching his features. “She’s been sleep-deprived for far too long. Conquering this terror must be our immediate focus. At least try conquering your fear, young girl.”
Suddenly, Irene began to murmur, her voice a low, guttural sound, a language foreign to his ears.
“Dest’alo, fer’inkara,” she whispered, the words chilling him to the bone.
“What is going on here?” he exclaimed, his voice sharp.
Her murmurs crescendoed into a heart-wrenching sob.
“No, no, no, please no!” she cried out, her voice laced with anguish.
“This is getting out of control, it’s definitely much terrifying for her now,” he thought, a knot of dread tightening in his stomach. Then, a chilling sight – smoke began to emanate from her hands.
Panic surged through him. “Irene, wake up! Break free from whatever this dream is right now!” He shook her shoulder, his voice urgent.
He felt her forehead, burning hot. “Damn it, she’s feverish. We need to get her some medicine immediately.”
Irene stirred. “Why… why did you do this?” she gasped, crimson tears streaking down her left cheek again!
Jaxith’s brow furrowed with deepening concern as he witnessed Irene’s tormented struggle. Her jaw clenched, and her eyelids fluttered shut with such force it seemed they might shatter.
“IRENE, WAKE UP NOW!” he roared, gently shaking her shoulders. His voice cut through the air, and she jolted upright, a primal scream erupting from her lips.
“WHY WON’T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?” she shrieked, her hands clawing at her face in a desperate attempt to ward off unseen horrors. A soft, searing sound hissed through the air.
“Ahhhh!” she cried again, recoiling as if scalded. Her cheeks were flushed crimson, the skin raw and inflamed. As if her hands were going to burn them.
“Calm yourself, Irene, calm down,” Jaxith soothed, his voice a low rumble. “It was just another nightmare, okay? Look at me.” But his words fell on deaf ears. Her gaze was fixed on her trembling hands, and a cacophony of the same unsettling whispers echoed through her mind. Then, the familiar agony returned – a searing pain lanced through her left eye, accompanied by a throbbing headache that threatened to cleave her skull in two. She crumpled under the renewed assault.
“Lift your head, Irene,” Jaxith urged, but she remained frozen, a statue of despair. He reached out to comfort her, placing a hand on her shoulder. But she recoiled violently, her right hand lashing out like a venomous snake. Strange, crimson vapor erupted from her palm, swirling past Jaxith and engulfing the wooden stand between them. The wood ignited, crackling and spitting flames!
“GET AWAY FROM ME!” she shrieked, her voice a raw, guttural sound. Her left eye, now a grotesque parody of its former self, was inflamed and bleeding profusely. Consciousness seemed to slip away, her gaze vacant, unfocused, oblivious to the chaos she was wreaking.
“By the gods, Irene, what was that?” Jaxith exclaimed, startled by Irene’s actions. He quickly poured water on the smoldering stand.
“No, what did I do? I nearly killed you!” Irene cried, fearfully staring at Jaxith, tears streaming down her face.
“Don’t worry, it’s alright,” Jaxith soothed, moving closer.
“NO, IT’S NOT! DON’T GET CLOSER!” Irene screamed, backing away and then falling from the bed. The door burst open, and Miller rushed in, his face pale.
“What’s happening?” he asked, his eyes widening as he saw the charred stand and Irene huddled in the corner, blood and tears marring her face, her eyes wide with terror.
“Miller,” Jaxith said, “prepare something for a fever.”
“Of course, man. Are you sure you don’t need any help here? I heard the screaming and came as fast as I could.” Miller’s voice was still trembling.
“Don’t worry, I can handle this,” Jaxith replied, his gaze fixed on Irene, who was now rocking back and forth, her legs drawn up to her chest. She kept her hands outstretched, palms facing away from her body, as if warding off invisible flames. And she was looking at Jaxith in shocked manner.
“As you wish,” Miller said before closing the door.
“I knew that girl was trouble,” Miller muttered to himself as he walked away. “What were you thinking, Jaxith, bringing someone like her here?”
“Listen, whatever happened, you need to forget it and calm down,” Jaxith said, stepping forward.
“Don’t get closer,” Irene pleaded, fear constricting her voice.
“Why?” Jaxith asked gently.
“I’ll hurt you too,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
“No, you won’t,” Jaxith reassured her.
“I SAW YOU DEAD!” Irene screamed, her voice echoing through the room. Jaxith halted, listening intently. “You’ll die trying to protect me. I don’t want anyone else to die because of me,” she confessed, her voice trembling.
“Listen to me, it was just a dream,” Jaxith soothed, trying to comfort her.
“No, it felt real. He was standing behind you… STOP, STOP ALL OF THESE VOICES!” Irene cried, her voice rising and falling like a storm. She clutched her head, pain contorting her features. In her distress, she inadvertently burned her face with the heat emanating from her hands. Jaxith quickly intervened, firmly grasping her wrists. “Get a hold of yourself, young lady, and keep your hands away from your face,” he commanded.
“LEAVE MY HANDS NOW!” Irene shrieked, glaring at him with defiance.
“No, I won’t,” Jaxith declared. “I won’t let go until you control yourself.”
“I can’t, I’ll harm you too. I can’t control anything!” Irene cried, tears streaming down her face, the pain in her head and left eye intensifying.
“AHHHHH!” she screamed, and with a sudden, inexplicable surge of force, she kicked Jaxith in the chest, sending him flying across the room.
“AHHHHH! WHAT DO YOU WANT? I DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING FROM THIS LANGUAGE!” she shrieked, burying her face in the floor, her hands clawing at the wooden boards.
Jaxith, recovering from the unexpected blow, watched her in astonishment. “How did she become so powerful so suddenly? That wasn’t the strength of a fourteen-year-old hybrid girl,” he thought, his mind racing. But there was no time for contemplation. Red vapor began to swirl around Irene, a chilling sign that she was on the verge of losing control entirely. This wasn’t just self-harm anymore; she could kill herself, and anyone else nearby.
Jaxith leaped onto her, pinning her down and gripping her wrists tightly. He activated his negative abyss ability, a surge of dark energy enhancing his strength and reflexes. “FOCUS, IRENE! YOU CAN’T LOSE CONTROL!” he shouted, but she continued to struggle, her eyes filled with anger.
“YOU’LL GET HURT! I CAN’T CONTAIN IT! GO AWAY!” she screamed.
“I’m not leaving you,” Jaxith insisted. “Just focus.”
“I CAN’T!” she roared, and a powerful shock wave erupted from her, sending Jaxith reeling. He managed to maintain his balance, the negative abyss providing the necessary support, but it was clear that brute force alone wouldn’t be enough. He needed to find another way to calm her, to help her regain control. The inn shuddered under the force of her outburst, her screams of anguish echoing through the cold night.
“IT’S JUST LIKE THE DARK ENERGY THAT I USE IN NEGATIVE ABYSS! YOU NEED TO CONTROL ALL YOUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS TO STOP IT!” Jaxith yelled, his voice echoing through the room. Irene remained face down on the floor, her sobs unrelenting.
“I CAN’T DO IT! PLEASE, JAXITH, END THIS NOW!” she cried, her voice raw with despair.
“End what?” Jaxith asked, his voice firm.
“You know the right thing to do,” she wailed, “AHHHHH! PLEASE END THIS MISERY! I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!” Her screams were agonizing, a cacophony of pain and fear. The voices in her head, a terrifying, incomprehensible language, were driving her to the brink. Jaxith watched her in shock. She wanted to die. Again. But surrender wasn’t an option. He had faced similar situations, understood the depths of her despair. Without hesitation, he moved towards her.
“LISTEN TO ME!” he roared, grasping her head and forcing her to look at him. He then took her hands in his, turning her palms outward to deflect any stray energy. “THINK ABOUT EVERY GOOD MOMENT YOU’VE HAD SINCE WE MET!”
“I can’t,” she whispered, her eyes squeezed shut. “Just go. I won’t blame you. You can go back to your life. Or end this pain now.”
“Nothing like that will happen. We’ll continue what we were doing and reach Lance.” Jaxith declared, bringing her hands close to his cheeks.
“What are you doing? If I lose control, you’ll die!” Irene cried, opening her eyes wide and looking at Jaxith with terror.
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“Then don’t,” Jaxith said, his voice unwavering.
“No, I can’t! GO AWAY!” Irene shrieked, another shock wave erupting around her. Jaxith, however, intensified the flow of dark energy within him, his body shimmering with an eerie, shadow-like glow as he braced himself for the onslaught.
“I’m not leaving you, so you better start controlling yourself now,” Jaxith declared, his voice firm.
“I don’t know how,” Irene sobbed, tears streaming down her face. “Please, don’t make it any harder.”
“Focus on the good memories,” Jaxith urged. “Remember when I saved you from the assassin, or the demon? Remember when I made the mayor regret insulting you? Come on, girl, I know you’re stronger than this!” He could feel the heat radiating from her hands, sweat beading on his brow and silver beard. If she lost control, his face would be incinerated. He was playing a dangerous game, a desperate gamble. Irene tried to focus, inhaling deeply.
“Come on, take a deep breath,” Jaxith continued. “Remember Senka. Do you remember when you finally found the horse that loves you, despite your demonic side? Remember when you healed him?” Irene winced, the pain in her left eye intensifying.
“I don’t think this is working, Jaxith,” she moaned, blood-tinged tears flowing freely.
“Focus!” Jaxith insisted. “Do you want Senka to live without you now? After saving his life, he became so attached to you.” He watched in dismay as her face became increasingly inflamed by the damage done by her hands. The heat emanating from her hands is scorching the air, he could feel it from her hands.
“I’m just a demon, Jaxith,” Irene sobbed, the tears never stopped, either from pain or from what she saw. “I just didn’t want to accept it earlier.”
“Stop thinking like that,” Jaxith said firmly, his voice gentle. “That’s precisely the source of your turmoil, that’s why you’re not focusing. Those are the negative thoughts I’m talking about. Remember when the stable owner gave you his daughter’s dress? You have so much to live for. Just let go of these negative thoughts, and you’ll be just fine. Life won’t always be bad.” Irene looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and a flicker of hope.
“Trust me,” Jaxith said confidently. “Whatever happens, I’ll always be by your side. Now, banish those terrifying dreams from your mind.”
Irene closed her eyes, focusing intently despite the lingering pain and the persistent whispers in her head. She tried to recall Jaxith’s words, their shared moments – his unwavering support, his promise to never leave her side. Slowly, her breathing steadied. Jaxith noticed the heat radiating from her hands begin to diminish, the temperature gradually returning to normal.
He calmly placed her hands against his cheeks and Irene immediately opened her eyes in fear.
“No, you’ll get bur-burnt?” Irene stammered, her eyes widening in disbelief as she realized that nothing had happened to his face.
“You did it! I told you you could,” Jaxith exclaimed proudly, beaming at Irene. He noticed that her hands were still warm, but the heat no longer emanated from the strange vapor. It was the fever, something was still lingering within her.
Irene gradually became aware of the silence, the terrifying voices in her head finally subsiding. She looked around the room, taking in the chaos she had wrought.
“Are you okay now?” Jaxith asked gently, loosening his grip on her hands. He didn’t want to hurt her, not even unintentionally.
“I… I did all of that,” Irene whispered, her voice trembling in disbelief.
“Relax,” Jaxith said, his voice firm yet soothing. “Stop thinking about anything negative for now.”
“Ahh…” Irene groaned, clutching her head. Dizziness washed over her, and she swayed precariously. Jaxith quickly pulled her into a hug, supporting her weight as she rested her head on his chest.
“The voices?” Jaxith asked, his concern evident.
“No, they stopped,” Irene replied, her voice weak. “The headache is still there, but my left eye feels better. I’m just a bit dizzy.” She raised her arms, wrapping them tightly around Jaxith in a fierce hug.
“It’s probably just the fever,” Jaxith soothed. “Miller is preparing something for you. Just rest.”
“I’m sorry, Jaxith,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. “I nearly killed you. I don’t know what’s happening to me.” She clung to him, her body trembling. Jaxith could feel the tremor radiating through her, a testament to the emotional turmoil she was experiencing.
“Shhh, I told you not to think about it anymore,” he murmured, gently stroking her fiery red hair before wiping her tears across her face. He paused, noticing how her red, inflamed face winced with pain as he wiped away the tears. He stopped, unwilling to cause her further discomfort. Her red, inflamed face is so sensitive now.
“I saw you dead, Jaxith,” she whispered, the fear returning to her eyes. “I saw you de-“
“Enough, Irene,” Jaxith interrupted firmly. “Relax your mind. What truly matters is that I’m here with you now. So please, stop dwelling on it and try to rest.” He tightened his left arm around her, continuing to stroke her hair in a comforting rhythm.
“Do you think I’ll hurt people?” Irene asked, her voice small and uncertain.
“Of course not,” Jaxith said soothingly, “you couldn’t even hurt a rabbit. You even objected when I suggested killing the baby beasts. You know, I truly believe greatness awaits you, Irene. You’ll overcome this, and you’ll make the world a better place. I’m certain of it.”
“You’re just trying to make me feel better,” Irene murmured.
“No, I’m not,” Jaxith insisted. “I believe in you, Irene. I truly do. And I’ll do anything I can to help you achieve your potential.”
Irene was silent for a moment, tears escaping from her eyes. His words offered a glimmer of hope, as they always did. She was really happy after hearing him.
“Hey,” Jaxith said gently, “you’re quiet. Is something wrong?”
“Just the headache,” she whispered.
“We’ll find a solution, Irene,” he promised. “I promise.”
“Thank you, Jaxith, for everything,” she murmured, her grip on him loosening. Tiredness was finally catching up to her.
Jaxith looked down as he continued to stroke her hair. She had fallen asleep, her hug now a gentle, unconscious embrace.
Knock knock.
The door creaked open, and Miller entered, carrying a small tray with a wooden cup of green liquid.
“By the gods,” Miller exclaimed, surveying the chaotic scene – the messy room, the charred furniture.
“I’m sorry, Miller,” Jaxith apologized softly, not wanting to disturb Irene, she needs a good sleep after what she’s been through. “I barely managed to contain her." Jaxith's back was to the door, so he hadn't seen what Miller was holding.
“It’ll need some repairs, but the important thing is you’re both safe,” Miller said calmly.
“Thank you, Miller,” Jaxith replied quietly.
“I brought the medicine for her,” Miller explained. “It’s an herbal remedy quite effective against fevers like this.”
“Could you bring it here, Miller? I can’t leave her side tonight,” Jaxith requested.
“Of course,” Miller agreed, stepping forward. He placed the tray beside Jaxith and then noticed Irene asleep, clinging to him. He saw the blood under her left eye and the slight burns on her face.
“Thank you,” Jaxith said, stroking Irene’s hair and glancing at the burns. “I’ll administer the medicine in my own way.”
“I might need your help finding a good doctor for her,” Jaxith said quietly. “Or perhaps Emelia knows of something to soothe her face. It must be quite painful, it truly hurts her.”
“I’m sure Emelia will think of something,” Miller replied.
“Good,” Jaxith agreed.
“Does this happen often?” Miller inquired.
“No, but it’s getting worse,” Jaxith admitted calmly, his gaze fixed on Irene. “And the worst part is that I don’t know how to truly help her.”
“I doubt Emelia has a solution for your own burden,” Miller said, “but I understand now why you chose to help her. I couldn’t bear the screams, let alone the thought of her pain.” He paused. “Take care of her, Jaxith."
“I will, Miller. I will,” Jaxith replied softly.
“Are you certain you don’t want any help? Another room? A proper bed?” Miller offered.
“No, I don’t want to disturb her. I’ll sleep like this,” Jaxith insisted.
“There’s hardly anything to even rest your back on in this corner,” Miller pointed out.
“I’m fine, Miller, I slept under worse conditions before. But thank you for your concern,” Jaxith assured him.
“Alright, whatever you need. Good night,” Miller said, and then left the room.
Jaxith looked back at Irene, then around the devastated room. He resumed stroking her hair, gazing into the distance, lost in thought about the night’s events.