I glanced back, realizing that the old man was awake. I walked over to him, my voice filled with determination."I have to leave here. I can't afford to put you in more danger."
He looked at me, his gaze steady."Young lad, I already doomed myself when I tried to save you from an abomination."It hit me like a brick. This old man, though we had just met, had risked everything to save my life. My eyes burned with a fierce, sudden emotion. Tears began to fall, dropping to the ground as I let go of everything I had been holding inside. This was the first time someone had genuinely cared about me. I had always believed that my existence was meaningless, that I was a burden to the world. But this old man had proved me wrong, and I couldn't control the tears any longer.
He didn't say anything immediately, but after a long pause, he spoke again."Sit down."I obeyed, sinking into the chair next to him. He gave me a small smile."There is a way to kill Aloka. But it's going to take immense luck for you to pull it off."
A faint light of hope flickered in my chest. I wiped the tears away and asked, "How?"
He pointed toward the door, and I followed his gesture."Look over there."I turned and saw something that made my stomach churn. A black arm, pulsing with dark energy, was slowly seeping its shadowy tendrils onto the floor. It was unmistakable."That's Aloka's arm. How is that going to help me defeat him?" I asked, my voice shaky.
The old man's expression darkened."Aloka's spiritual affinity is noctomancy, or shadow magic. Shadow magic originates from dark magic. And what could offset darkness?"I thought for a moment, the answer clicking in my mind."Light," I said quietly.He nodded."Smart. We'll create a weapon using the arm by reversing its innate nature—from darkness to light. But there's one problem."
My heart skipped a beat. "What's the problem?"
He looked at me seriously."The sword will have to pierce his heart directly. Any other part of his body won't do."The challenge seemed impossible, but I had no other choice."Leave the rest to me. I will find a way to drive the sword through his heart," I said with determination.
He stood up slowly, his body creaking."Such magnificent bravery, but it will take more than that."He moved toward the arm, carefully picking it up. With careful precision, he divided it into four sections and began muttering an incantation. Gradually, the black energy oozing from the arm turned from dark to grey, and then from grey to white. When it was done, the old man straightened, sweat beading on his forehead."It's done."
I watched in awe as he picked up a medium-length sword, his movements slow but deliberate. He placed the sword under a mini furnace, melting the arm's material until it became a fine ash. He poured it into a liquid substance, stirring it carefully, and then coated the blade with the strange concoction."The sword is almost complete. Let's go for a walk in the meantime," he said, his voice steady.
We stepped outside into the cool air, walking in the opposite direction of where I had originally arrived. I matched his pace, walking slowly to keep up with him. Eventually, I broke the silence, asking him a question that had been on my mind for a while."Why did you risk your life to save me?"
The old man stopped and turned to look at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips."I don't know. I just felt inclined to," he said quietly, before turning the question on me."Since going to Yommir City, how much do you know about the place?"
I hesitated, recalling my brief experiences there."Except that it's extremely dangerous and full of eerie people, I don't know much about it."
The old man raised an eyebrow."Firstly, let me correct you. Yommir is not just a city. It's an entirely different dimension that merged with our own."That explained a lot. The city had always felt like it stretched far beyond its physical borders.
We walked to a nearby liquor store, and as we approached the door, the old man asked,"How old are you? Not that it matters, but do you drink?"
I answered, "I'm 22, and I don't drink, but I don't mind indulging myself once in a while."
The old man grinned and walked inside, ordering two jars of alcohol. I wasn't familiar with the stuff; the last time I had tried it, it tasted awful, and I had avoided it since. But today, I decided to try again. I took a sip from the jar, and the taste was even more bitter than I remembered. My face contorted in disgust.
The old man laughed."You're brave enough to fight an abomination, but you can't handle a little glass of alcohol?"
I scoffed, wiping my mouth."Of course I can."In an act of defiance, I swallowed the entire jar of alcohol in one go.It was a mistake. The moment it hit my stomach, my chest burned like fire. I scrambled to the bathroom to vomit, and the old man's laughter followed me.
When I returned, I was still recovering from the intense burn."Alcohol is bitter. I don't understand the pleasure in drinking it," I said, shaking my head.
The old man smiled knowingly."The bitterness of alcohol is just one of the factors that make it worth it."
I frowned."How can you enjoy something so bitter?"
He chuckled."You'll understand once you've become more of a man."
After paying for the drinks, we continued our walk. As we passed under the stars, the old man asked a strange question."Jeremiah, can you use your wings now?"
I nodded."Yeah, I had to fly in Yommir City."
He paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face."Could you carry me and fly? I want to take a closer look at the stars."