Chapter 3 Ethereal World

Chapter 3 Ethereal World

The warmth of the luminous sun shines upon him, Davis lies relaxed on the lush green fields. He smiles as a kind lady, with brown hair and loving blue eyes greets him, his mother. Davis is back home with his mother, who died 7 years ago.

“ Mother?”

“ Davis...”

“ Where am I? Why are you here?”

“ There is a lot we don't know, Davis.” she said in a gentle voice.

“ I don't get it. I was just stabbed in the chest. Am I dead?”

“ You aren't dead Davis. You are in your Ethereal World.”

“ Ethereal..... World?”

“ Your ideal paradise.”

“ Back with my mother...”

~

On the other side, Cecilia and Faustus are looking over Davis.

“ He should be in his Ethereal World.” said Cecilia.

“ Ethereal World?” Faustus asked in curiosity.

“ Unlike you and I, Davis isn't born with Hexis. He must pass a trial and earn his Hexis.”

“ A trial.... He'll be okay then?”

“ Those flames are mere figments of our imagination, an illusion.”

“ I see. Thank goodness.”

“ However, I cannot guarantee he'll make it back.” Cecilia's voice turned cold. “ If he doesn't pass this trial, his mind will be forever trapped in his Ethereal World, in a limbo-like state for all of eternity.”

~

“ It was 10 years ago, on that fateful day, my birthday. My mother was in a car accident on her way home. The doctors tried everything to save her, but to no avail. She still died.”

“ That is what you remember,” the manifestation that took the form of his mother spoke to him. “ It is not what truly happened.”

“ You're not mother, are you?”

“ I am but an envoy of your Ethereal World, depicted in the form of what you hold dearest to you.”

“ I don't remember what happened.”

“ You don't remember the truth.”

“ I remember a false memory where my mother died in a car crash. But that's not it, is it?”

“ Far from it...... Do you want to remember?”

Davis looks up to the clear blue skies, the soft clouds floating above. “ Yes, I do.”

~

10 years ago, this day, my birthday, my mother died. What I remember was a fake memory, that she died in a car crash, but the truth was much darker. I was only 7 years old, I hardly anyone to talk to. The only person I could find comfort in was my own mother. She was a kind and gentle mother. She gave me reassurance in my darkest hours, praise in my triumphs. I had just come back from a harsh day at school. It was typical. Teachers were reprimanding me for my behavior and none of the other kids wouldn't talk to me.

“ I'm home, mom.”

“ Welcome home, dear. How was your day?”

“ Lonely, as always.”

“ Now do try to make some friends.”

“ They all won't talk to me. It makes me sad” I began tearing up, as always. It's times like these that my mother would comfort me. She gave me warm hug, holding me in her arms.

“ It's okay. You don't need to make 1000 friends. Just make a few friends that you'll cherish 1000 times more.”

“ Thanks, Mom.” I said as I wiped my tears away.

I went up to my room. I was reading, as I always was back then. It was my birthday, but it was never anything special to me. My mother would pester me every year about it, to celebrate and make a memory of my birthday. I couldn't care less. My father was always away from home, on important business trips. So my mother and I were, most of the time, the only ones at home. I felt bored and lonely. I wanted to make friends.

I glanced outside the window, to see a group of friends playing in the fields. I envied them so.

“ Why don't you go out and play with them.” I turned around to see my mother standing at the door. “ Go on. Go make some friends.”

And so I did.

A little while later, I came home to tell my mother about all the friends I had made. As I opened the door, I broke down in horror. A demonic creature was standing over my mother. It was lanky in figure, with gray skin clad in black feathers. The creature had blade like arms ending in feminine hands with long, sharp fingernails. It had a single torn, feathery wing and white bandages covering its eyes. Its coal-black lips and rows of teeth smiled in delight as it leaned in closer to my mother. My mother signaled me to run, but I was frozen in place, too frightened to even twitch. The creature leaned in even closer. Its mouth gaped wide open and in an instant....... It bit my mothers head off. I screamed in terror and sorrow as in continued devouring her. Her blood staining the floors as the creature tore her apart and indulged in its meal. Then, it vanished into a flutter of black feathers.

“ That was all I remember. The truth that was sealed away from me.”

“ Yes. Now you must choose. To return to your grim reality or to remain in your perfect world, where you can be with your beloved mother? Choose wisely....”

~

Cecilia and Faustus wait patiently as they oversee the ritual.

“ He hasn't failed has he?”
“ Not yet, the flames remain. He still has a chance”

“ Let's just hope he makes it through.”

“ Ah, Demon Slayers performing a Hexis Ingenium Ritual, at the break of midnight.” A tall, lean man wearing glasses, with pointed ears and neat scarlet hair, enters through the window. He was dressed in a butler's uniform, cast in dark black fabric.“ My young mistress, Lady Libitina, would be very joyous to know of my find.”

Cecilia drew her blade.

“ Who are you?” Cecilia asked angrily.

“ Caedes, humble servant of Lady Libitina,” the man replied.

“ Crap, this isn't a homunculus. He's a real demon.” Faustus said in panic.

“ Faustus, stay here and guard Davis.” Cecilia forged a spear in her hand. “ I'll deal with him.”

“ A Genesis-class Hexis of Steel? This will be interesting.” Caedes cackled as he readied for battle. “ Come at me, girl!”

Cecilia threw the first punch. She held her spear firm and lodged it at the demon. Caedes dodged the projectile and returned the attack with a swift punch. Cecilia evaded his blow and proceeded to stab him with her sword, throwing him out from the window. Cecilia didn't want to risk Davis' safety and decided to take the battle elsewhere.

“ The power to forge steel weapons out of mere nothingness. Cecilia Phantomwing, holder of the Genesis Hexis of Steel.” Faustus whispered to himself. “ I'm sure she can win.”

Cecilia overlooked the felled demon from the window as he gets up.

“ Let's take this battle elsewhere, Caedes. I wouldn't want to damage academy property.”

“ Fair enough.” Caedes said as he smirked in delight. “ Let's take this to the garden.”

Caedes took off with blinding speed. Cecilia followed in pursuit.

A fearsome battle was to begin. A battle between a demon and a demon slayer.

~