Luicien was greeted with a darken room or was it a room?
If anything, it felt more like a void to him, a place that did not exist yet had no limit.
Luiciens eyes scanned around.
"Mika? Victoria?".
His voice whimpered a little.
His voice echoed but didn't reach anyone's ears. He began running becoming breathless as he did, but it all looked the same.
There was no end.
"You can't escape Astra".
Luicien turned back, standing there was the man that kept haunting his dreams. The man with horns.
Luicien stood frozen for a moment.
"Who are you?".
The man did not speak, instead he put his arm up which confused Luicien.
Luicien went to speak, but the man moved at inhuman speed and just like that, the man's hand impaled through Luiciens stomach.
Luicien looked down in horror. The only thing visible was blood, which poured onto the man's arm.
The man pulled it out, which was followed by a squishing noise.
Some of Luiciens internal organs, like his intestines were pulled out too.
Luicien vision started to blank in and out. Just like that he passed out.
His eyes opened.
However, he was forced to squint due to lines of sun hitting his eyes through the window.
He sprung up to sit, holding his chest in the process and choked for air.
A dream.
He thought to himself.
The room was silent, plus he observed that the other bed was empty.
Mika's already awake. What time is it?
He thought as he yawned.
He got up to change.
once he had, he left the room going to the room opposite, as this was Victoria's room.
It had been around two weeks since they left the golden cloud town and were now in a small unnamed village.
(Knock knock).
Luicien's fist tapped on an oak like door.
"Victoria, you awake?".
Silence was the only thing coming from the room.
Until he heard something scarp against the floor, followed by the door handle being pushed down.
The door flung open almost hitting Luicien in the face.
Before him stood Victoria, she was still in the clothes from yesterday plus she had some glasses on; her hair was a mess, and followed by droll on her cheek.
That's not all Luicien noticed there was a book open on her desk along with a mug.
Did she fall asleep on the desk?
Victoria adjusted her glasses and wiped the droll away
"Oh... Luicien hi".
Luicien noticed that Victoria's already existing dark eye bags had worsened and was shocked by her glasses.
"Were you up late? Also, since when did you wear glasses?"
Victoria gazed to the side.
"Yea just looking through a spell book, I like to try and avoid that dream. Also, I only wear my glasses at night-time".
Luicien's expression softened.
"Yea I know that feeling".
There was a brief silence, before Victoria spoke.
"Let me just get ready and we'll go to our usual coffee shop".
Ever since they came to this village, they both found out that each other had a taste for coffee; Both Luicien and Victoria would go to the village's coffee shop every morning.
Luicien went downstairs and waited outside the cottage they were renting. It was made with stone, but in a modern classic kind of way.
It had two rooms which was perfect for the three of them.
The front door opened as Luicien was leaning against a stone wall. Victoria walked out, she wore a long coat, a skirt and a white top, with her wavy hair was tied up.
Luicien waved her over.
"Ready?"
Victoria nodded, walking alongside him.
Luicien's gaze turned upward.
"The weather feels nice, not too hot; not too cold".
Victoria looked up, her face remained blank.
"Oh, I hadn't really noticed".
Luicien thought things had become awkward, however before he could speak, Victoria looked down and spoke.
"Sorry I know we've been travelling together for weeks, but I can be awkward, I'm not good at social situations".
Luicien looked stunned, he wasn't expecting that.
He then chuckled a little.
"I don't see an issue with that, be yourself".
You could see the muscles on Victorias face relax.
"Thank you, Luicien".
The air suddenly filled with the scent of fresh coffee beans and false hope. There it was, the 'A witches craft'. A small locally owned coffee shop, with good prices and amazing coffee.
Luicien pushed one of the double doors, holding it open for Victoria.
Both walked in and there before them were a group of people, already placing their coffee orders. Victoria n Luicien had been staying here for a while but had never crossed paths with these people.
Victoria noticed it first. She began muttering under her breath.
"Travellers? No".
Luicien turned to look at her.
"What was that?"
her eyes started to blink trying to force herself to look at him.
"Oh nothing".
Victoria then joined the line, but her eyes were fixated on this group, especially one person.
She had medium dull lilac hair, which was tied half up and half down, that was accompanied by a fringe that went straight across.
She wore very nice clothes, a silk blouse that was white and with grey patterns, it had no sleeves.
However, she also had separate sleeves, ones that were see threw on her lower arms the same colour as her blouse.
She also wore a pencil skirt in the same colour, the same as her shoes which had to be 6-inch platforms.
Victoria's mind came to one conclusion.
She looks too posh for this area. This is outer area, but she looks like she's from an inner area.
Something came over her; her stomach started to feel a little nauseous and her head was screaming at her.
She couldn't shake a bad feeling about these people.
Before she could think anymore into it the cashier called out.
"Whose next please".
Victoria soon jolted to reality the moment the coffee lady said this.
Victoria placed her ordered of a cappuccino, while Luicien got a caramel latte.
Luicien grabbed some packets of sugar.
"Here".
Luicien handed two packs of sugar to Victoria and took three for himself. Victoria hadn't noticed he had handed She was essentially on autopilot.
They sat down and put the sugar in their coffees.
Luicien's voice broke through her trance.
"Hey Victoria, you ok?".
Victoria snapped back to reality again.
"Yea... Yea just thinking..."
The lack of sleep was getting to her.
"I'm guessing you're tired?".
She didn't reply, no just gave him a nod.
The warmth and taste of the coffee brought joy to Luicien.
"So, about what we talked about yesterday, do you think we can do it?".
Victoria was mid sip, then place her cup down.
"Yes, the teleportation spell would definitely make this easier, plus cheaper. But we need the right conditions".
Luicien gave a confused 'hm'.
"Conditions?".
Victoria picked her cup up again.
"This is a rather advanced spell, I'd need the right ingredients, which I'll have to pay out of the money I've been saving".
She made a 'tsk' sound with her teeth after she said this.
Luicien picked up his cup, but before taking a sip he said.
"Oh yea, how come you're saving all the money you get, I notice you only buy simple food and coffee of course".
Victoria's eyes darted away from where Luicien was sat which was opposite her. She looked slightly uncomfortable.
"It's... nothing special. I'm just saving is all".
Her eyes avoided his.
Luicien picked up on her nervous speech.
Is she lying? I shouldn't push it.
"Oh ok, well either way you should really look after yourself more."
Victoria's expression became wary.
"I'm not sure what you mean...".
Luiciens expression changed to concerned.
"You don't really sleep and don't eat too well".
She wiggled in her chair.
"It's nothing don't worry, let's get back onto topic".
Despite being worried about her.
She's hiding something, but I don't want her to be uncomfortable so ill drop it for now.
"Yea you're right, so how does this teleportation spell work?".
The unsettled feeling left her face as she looked back up to him, returning to that blank expression.
"Once I have the right stuff, I'll set it up in a big area most likely the abandoned building just on the outskirts of this village. I already have permission, then everyone will need to be in the room with me when I chant the incantation".
Luicien pondered for a moment.
"Seems straight forward".
Victoria brushed her finger along the rim of her cup.
"There's two things we'll need to prepare for. First off, this will drain my magic so I'll need time to recharge, this means if there are anyone whose dangerous there or soulless ones I might struggle to fight. Second off the spell has a great toll on the mind, so for a moment we may see our worst fears".
Luicien put his hands on the table.
"But this will get us there instantly? As well as saving us money?"
Victoria took yet another sip.
"Yes, we will get there in an instant, therefore we won't need to spend money staying at various towns or village's".
Luicien thought for a moment.
"Ok sounds like a plan. Plus me and Mika will help with cost".
Victoria nodded in agreement.
"But before we go anywhere, we'll need to get you a new sword".
She pointed towards his regular sword.
He looked down at his sword then back to her.
"What's wrong with my sword?".
Victoria had a dumbfounded expression, like she couldn't believe he just asked that.
"We'll for starters it can't kill soulless ones and overall it's just not as powerful, we should prepare as much as we can for this".
Luicien put his hand up to his lips.
"You mean weapons that have Quar chips? How would we even get one of those? I thought only soldiers at the magic corporation had those?".
Victoria smacked her forehead.
"You do realise Quar chips can be built right?".
Luicien's face looked confused.
"Eh?".
I feel like an idiot.
Victoria did not look impressed.
"Yes, so long as you have a mage with you."
Luiciens face looked more confused.
"A mage? Huh?".
Victoria's faced dropped almost.
Does he not know this?
"If a person gets the right material, they can build it then they get a mage to bless it with a magic of their choosing, like water for example.
Then all you'd need to do is forage it with a new sword or possibly your current sword".
Luiciens face lifted, it finally snapped with him.
"Oh, I get it now! What material will I need?".
Victoria got out a piece of paper and pen.
"Here let me write it down for you".
Luicien tilted his head in more confusion.
"You're not coming with me?".
Victoria began writing as she said.
"Well, I'll need to gather the stuff I need for the teleportation spell, plus there's something I wanted to check out".
Luicien took the piece of paper.
"Oh, ok that makes sense".
Victoria drank the last of her coffee.
"I'll see you later then".
She then got up and pushed open the doors making her way.
Luicien waved her goodbye, then turned his attention to the piece of paper that Victoria had given him.
Let's see first of ill need some iron plates, then some oil, as well as some gold dust.
Then last is crushed crystal's, in brackets it says the type of crystal impacts what magic I get to choose.
I better decide well then.
He's hands wrapped around his sword hilt and then he got up making his way to the door, leaving a little coffee still in his cup.