Chapter 22: Take it back (2)

Michael’s mind felt hazy, his consciousness wavering. It was as if his body was suspended underwater, almost weightless.

He opened his eyes, but there was nothing. Only darkness.

Where am I?

He wracked his brain, trying to remember what he’d been doing before this.

I was in the library with that tutor… What was his name again?

Michael felt like his head was filled with fog, preventing his thoughts from connecting.

As he floated in the darkness, it felt like he was forgetting something important. But his emotions were tranquil, as if he had become detached from the mortal world, unfettered.

“…chael”

“Michael!”

Hmm? Who is calling my name?

He turned his head, trying to locate the source of the sound. In the darkness, there was no sense of direction.

“Wake up…”

A small light appeared in the distance, its color a deep violet. There were only a few motes of light the size of a pin-head, but they shimmered brilliantly.

Curious, Michael tried to approach it. He moved his arms and legs, swimming towards the beautiful light. Slowly, these lights drew closer until he could finally make out a shape.

A violet colored ring revealed itself, growing in size as he approached.

Why does it look like an Arcane ring? He thought, marveling at the sight.

It was only when he was right in front of it that he realized just how large the violet ring was. Its circumference was even larger than the Winterborne manor, filling him with a sense of awe.

“Michael…”

The voice he heard earlier rang out again, louder this time. His gaze moved towards the source, only to see another light in the distance, this time it was green.

Green? Are these really Arcane rings? He questioned.

Michael set off once more, swimming upwards. Sure enough, as he got closer, a large green ring appeared, very similar to the violet one he’d just seen, though considerably smaller.

Filled with curiosity, he continued upwards. The distance to the blue ring was shorter, and the ring even smaller. By now even with his foggy brain, Michael could tell that this was no mere coincidence.

But this didn’t help him find out where he was, nor how he got here.

“Wake up Michael…”

The voice calling him earlier became louder and more frantic, urging him to wake up. Now that he was closer, he could tell that it was male, though he didn’t know who was calling to him.

Am I dreaming? Did I fall asleep in the library or something?

Michael shook his head and focused back to his ascent. After passing the blue ring, he was finally met with the red. But in the center of this ring was another light, one that was almost blinding.

A pure white figure was seated cross-legged in the lotus pose, its back turned to him.

“Hello? Do you know where we are?” he called out.

However, the figure didn’t respond, as if oblivious to his calls.

Michael slowly approached him, reaching out and placing his hand upon its shoulder. The moment he did, a searing pain struck his mind.

“A-ARGH!”

He cried out in pain, clutching his head.

His vision wavered and the surroundings shook, the darkness slowly fading out of existence.

“Michael!”

Michael awoke to the sound of his name being called. His eyes flashed open, only to see Lord Winterborne’s handsome face twisted with worry, a foot in front of his eyes.

“W-What’s wrong?” Michael uttered.

His body felt weak and his mind was filled with confusion. He looked around and his eyes widened as he saw the once cosey and tranquil library in a state of disarray.

There were bookshelves destroyed, old books scattered on the floor alongside shattered chairs and tables. The sight was truly devastating.

“Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere?” The lord’s voice was shaking, his concern evident.

Michael tried to sit up, but he faltered. The man caught him before he fell back down, lifting him up into a seated position.

“I’m okay… Thank you.” He replied meekly.

Now that he was seated, he could see that there were other people in the library. Charles was down on one knee, holding his left arm which appeared to be bleeding. He was being tended to by one of the maid’s who began to bandage him up.

The youth’s once confident expression was now filled with fear as he looked upon Michael.

“My Lord… What happened here?” Michael asked, his tone innocent.

“You don’t remember anything?”

Michael shook his head, “The last I remember is…” he went silent, pouring through the recesses of his memory. Then he suddenly paled.

“I-I’m terribly sorry my lord!” he yelled, bowing his head, “please punish me for yelling at the young miss!”

He had remembered up to the moment when he yelled at Melody, telling her to take back her words. After that he’d lost consciousness and woke up in that place surrounded by darkness.

“Don’t worry Michael, Melody can take a verbal lashing,” Lord Winterborne reassured him, resting a hand upon his shoulder, “But you must be very careful in the future…”

“O-Of course,” Michael agreed, “I will never raise my voice in front of the young miss again.”

However, his words caused the handsome lord to chuckle, “That’s not what I’m talking about Michael… Look there,” he said, gesturing to Michael’s left wrist.”

“Hmm?” Michael looked down at his now tattered sleeve and almost felt his eyes bulge out of his skull.

“HUH!?”

A single shining red ring glowed brightly on his wrist, as if it had always been there.

“You went through an ascension ritual, Michael. Though not conventionally…” The man said, wearing a wry smile.

“What do you mean?” Michael met his gaze, his confusion evident.

“I mean you ascended… You dove into the Arcana, something that should never be done lightly.” Lord Winterbourne said, his tone grave. “A single misstep could cause death, or even worse…”

“What’s worse than death?” he asked, his childish voice filled with trepidation.

“Soul Dissolution… A fate that leaves your body a soulless husk.”

Michael gulped.

This wasn’t the first time that he had performed an ascension ritual, despite only just learning about it. But to think that it held so much danger caused him to pale.

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