Chapter Fourteen – Eugene's Perspective
Eugene opened his eyes to find himself in a place;
A place filled with brown pillars everywhere, gray fog spreading around this strange location, stars in the sky, and a floor of glass colored blue, red, and purple.
Where am I? Is this another dream?
Eugene began moving between the pillars and the fog, trying to explore this place, and after a while of moving…
Aaaaaah…
He started hearing the sound of a child crying.
Where is this sound coming from? Eugene moved, trying to trace it, turning left and right continuously.
He inhaled deeply, then said:
Where is this sound coming from?
He kept moving, and as he advanced…
Oooof…
The wind was strangely strong.
Eugene's expression tensed as he tried to hold onto the ground so he wouldn't be blown away by the force of the wind, saying:
What kind of strange dream is this? Why is the wind so strong?
But the wind didn't last long; soon it began to pull the fog, the stars, and the pillars toward a specific point.
A golden sphere began to form, swallowing the pillars and stars, absorbing the gray fog.
He looked up, astonished at what was happening.
What is this?
Yet it seemed that his painful memories were chasing him, even in his dreams.
Soon the golden sphere transformed; its color changed, and red flames appeared, like blood.
He raised his eyebrows as his heartbeat accelerated, saying with tension and sorrow:
This sight…? It's like the attack on the village.
The flames coming out of the sphere intensified before gradually decreasing until they disappeared, leaving a deep darkness spreading from its core, until the blood-red color turned black, like a dark abyss.
Eugene stepped back, still feeling a sense of unease at what was happening.
Boom!
The sphere exploded, spreading black matter everywhere.
Eugene raised his hand to shield his face and closed his eyes as he looked straight at the explosion.
He slowly opened his eyes to find the place had turned pitch black.
When will this dream end? Or the nightmare, or wherever this is…
He expressed his discomfort in his voice.
He turned his body toward the opposite side, and as he turned his head as well…
His eyes widened. The fear he normally felt intensified; his heartbeat quickened, and he began to sweat, despite being in a dream.
There was a giant eye behind him, staring at him. The iris held a red triple star.
The eye started trembling, and the triple star shot out a very red beam.
Eugene jumped from the top of the bed, his heart racing as if he had run ten full miles, sweating profusely.
He moved his hands to wipe his face and hair, looking down.
What a disturbing dream.
He got down from the bed and headed to the bathroom, took a hot shower, brushed his teeth, and looked at his body with eyes full of sorrow and disgust, focusing on the burn.
I still can't accept this burn.
He left the bathroom, putting on clothes: brown pants, a white shirt, a brown coat over it, and black shoes.
He left the house and headed toward the cafeteria.
The place was filled with students preparing for lessons, eating, or talking with their friends.
He entered the cafeteria, scanning around.
Where did they go?
He approached the cook and asked:
Has Rin, Reem, and Farid come here?
The cook, taking student orders, replied:
No.
Eugene raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He turned and left the cafeteria.
Where did they go?
He started walking around the academy.
"Look, it's Eugene… He lost his talent. Hehe. I feel sorry for him. He's spoiled by Musa; let him be."
The students' comments were painful, but Eugene ignored them.
H… aah… ah…
He began hearing cries and moved toward the sound, finding Reem sitting on the ground with Farid beside her.
They were in a garden, a branch of it—a relatively small garden.
He approached her, saying:
Where is the crying coming from?
Farid turned to Eugene:
It's Reem.
Eugene looked at Reem, moving beside her:
Why are you crying? Did something happen?
As he reached her side, he saw Reem's cat floating in a small pool of blood, with a golden knife in its center.
Eugene's eyes widened, his expression turning to shock and sorrow, saying:
W-… What happened here? What happened to the cat?
Reem lifted her face to Eugene, tears covering her cheeks.
Someone… killed it…
Okay… calm down a little.
Eugene tried to soothe her and asked Farid:
Who did this?
Farid grabbed the knife and said:
It's an expensive knife. I don't think any fool would buy such a knife just to kill a cat… So I think one of the wealthy students did it.
Eugene felt a surge of anger, veins visible on his face.
Those bastards… annoying… He was about to go search for them.
Wait, Eugene, calm down. You can't do anything reckless.
Eugene stopped and took a deep breath.
Aaaah…
He opened his eyes, saying:
You're right… then tell me, Musa or any teacher?
Ding… ding… ding… The classroom bell rang.
Eugene noticed Rin wasn't with them.
Wait… have you seen Rin?
Farid and Reem looked at him in surprise.
Reem, concerned:
You mean he wasn't with you?
Farid added:
I thought he was with you.
So Rin isn't with you, nor with me. Where did he go?
Farid placed his hand on his neck:
Last time I saw him was after I left my apartment at midnight to buy some food, and I saw him heading toward the garden.
Eugene raised an eyebrow, thinking:
Rin would never go out alone at midnight… And why would he go out at this time?
Farid said:
Then you go to the garden. Reem and I will go to Musa and tell him what happened.
Aaah… ah… aaah…
Reem remembered her cat and began crying again.
Farid, anxious:
Wait… wait, calm down a little.
Farid headed toward the garden:
Okay, I'll go to the garden. See you later.
After a while, Eugene arrived at the garden, looking left and right for Rin.
Riiiinn, Rin, where are you?
Over time, Eugene's heartbeat increased, imagining a thousand scenarios:
Was he kidnapped? No, no. Then dead? Or… I hope not. Maybe he ran away from the academy.
Then he spotted Rin asleep on a chair.
Rin, he rushed over, kicking him.
Aaah! Rin shouted, jumping from the chair, holding his stomach.
Rin looked at Eugene angrily:
You bastard! Why did you do that?
I should be asking you that—why are you asleep here?
I couldn't sleep, so I left the apartment hoping to feel drowsy.
Eugene noticed the coat covering Rin and asked:
Where did you get that coat?
Rin looked at it:
I think it belongs to Professor James.
Eugene was surprised by the name:
James? I've never seen him here.
Rin, taking the coat and standing:
He works in Protection Sciences.
Eugene noticed a paper on the ground and picked it up, opening it.
A chill ran through his body as he remembered the dream he had.
Rin looked at him, and Eugene froze:
Are you okay?
He went to the paper with the red triple star.
I think it belongs to Professor James.
Eugene stood up quickly:
We need to find him.
Rin raised an eyebrow:
Why?
Eugene, nervous:
Well… to return his coat.
Rin kept looking at Eugene, noticing the tension on his face.
Okay, let's find him.
Eugene thought to himself:
Ha… did my lie really work? Good, he doesn't need to know about the dream, or he'll get anxious.
Eugene and Rin moved, searching for James.
After a while, they found Musa sitting on a chair, feeding ducks.
"Professor Musa!" Eugene called, approaching him.
Musa turned toward them in surprise:
Eugene… Rin, why didn't you go to class?
Eugene stood before him:
Forget class. I need to ask—have you seen Professor James?
Musa froze, surprised:
James? There's no one by that name in the academy.
Ha… what?! I saw him and spoke to him yesterday.
Rin's face changed to shock and fear, sweat pouring down.
Are you sure there's no one in Protection Sciences named James?
Even Eugene looked tense and worried.
Musa stood, slightly concerned:
Yes, there isn't. Why are you asking about him?
Before Rin could respond, Eugene handed Musa the paper.
Musa opened it and froze at the symbol. His pupils contracted, sweat dripping, staring intently at the paper.
Eugene noticed Musa's reaction and trembling hands.
Musa, with a nervous, awkward smile, said quietly:
I-Is this paper James's?
Eugene and Rin nodded.
Musa quickly tore the paper.
Eugene was shocked:
Why did you tear it?
Musa, still smiling awkwardly:
It's just a drawing… yes, yes, there is someone named James.
Rin felt joy as fear left his heart:
Really!!
He took the coat from his shoulder and gave it to Musa:
It's a coat you can return to him.
Musa quickly took the coat:
Of course, now go to class.
He placed his hand on Rin and Eugene's shoulders, gently pushing them toward the classroom.
Wait, I want to see James.
What? No, James is very busy. Now go.
Eugene, insistently:
But I want to see him.
Later, you can see him. Now go.
Come on, Eugene. We'll see him later. Musa pushed Rin toward the class.
I'll walk alone.
Eugene walked, thinking to himself, glancing at Musa suspiciously:
Something's wrong. Why is he anxious and scared? I'll figure it out myself.
Once Musa confirmed Rin and Eugene had gone far enough, he looked left and right nervously, moving back toward his home.
No… no… I need to chop the wood to start the fire…
As Musa heard this chant, his legs trembled violently.
Musa said, fear in his eyes:
No… impossible…
He ran incredibly fast, reaching his house in less than three seconds.
He entered and slammed the door, sitting on the floor, holding his head, like a child being chased by a monster.
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End of Chapter Fourteen