Nightmare Mythos

Chapter 71: Emotions

It's been hours since the battle started between Jeremiah and the Nightmare, Nicotara. As of now, the clear winner of the bout hasn't been decided nor any time soon as Jeremiah was pulling miracle after miracle by being able to dismiss not only the darkness but its teleportation and use it to maneuver around the confused creature.

Their plan to tire the Nightmare was working as Jeremiah was able to buy this much time for them.

It was an ungodly scenario, and Cesar couldn't ask for a better outcome. On his side, Klaus continued stretching while preparing, waiting for his turn to fight. His gaze moved around to observe the other three members' condition and to see how they were holding up to the relaxation they were receiving and being given by Jeremiah.

Amar was sitting on the floor, extending his hand out to heal Leah, the mysterious member of the cohort for Cesar who was still not waking up from the risky venture she did when she was procuring food.

On the side, Quentin remained staring at the Nightmare, his eyes blackened due to the fact he was using his ability to gaze at the same hideous… no, beautiful creature.

'I'm feeling heavy…'

Cesar couldn't pinpoint the time when he felt heaviness all over his body. He thought he was going to get sick due to it but still, he was revitalized very instantly to ready himself for the incoming fight that will come any time soon.

He didn't know where he was getting this kind of motivation but it was there.

'Where can I fight this Nightmare… oh, how can this sacred thing be called something like that?'

Cesar's gaze fell, his eyes becoming unfocused. He looked around once more, only to see the area around them was much narrower.

The cold, ancient table on his back vanished into the darkness. Even the old door they were meant to escape through, to delve further into the desolate mansion, seemed far... and changing.

'Escape… escape from where?'

Cesar let out a short yawn, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. Now that he thinks about it, his emotions are all over the place.

When they went down to the table and met the door that was absent right now… all hope was lost when the Nightmare was merely waiting in its place.

Cesar was disheartened.

But then Cesar saw Jeremiah standing toe to toe with the Nightmare when they even had some trouble escaping it from the marathon under the shade of candelabra. He was even going solo just to provide additional time for the group… just because he couldn't distinguish allies from foes?

Cesar was delighted.

Now that an hour had passed since Jeremiah was able to fight off the Nightmare with ease, Cesar received nothing but relaxation.

Cesar was at ease.

Cesar was shocked… Cesar was amazed… Cesar was in awe… Cesar was pleased to be on the same team as Jeremiah who was doing most of the things…

Cesar was… Cesar is… Cesar are… Cesar were… Cesar had… Cesar have… Cesar was… Cesar is…

Cesar's mind was muddled.

All these superficial emotions were so forced that Cesar felt disoriented at how unnatural everything was.

He wasn't the moody type in the first place.

-Kid.

Suddenly, a memory appeared in his head.

It seemed to be recent.

-It's …okay… Let me be… selfish this time.

'Selfish? Why are you being so selfish?'

-It's a… price to pay.

'Price to pay…'

Cesar felt an emotion in his heart that was nothing but forced and unnatural… It was his real emotions, something that had been bugging him most of the time after he left the person who he was giving piggybacking to.

A guilt that has been eating up throughout the days they went to the end of the table.

'I had no choice since he was corrupted. What a load of bull crap. You did it because you wanted to save yourself from harm…'

-Don't look back.

These words kept ringing in his ears, haunting him when he was taking a small break.

-Let go of me.

If only he realized it sooner.

If only Cesar has been more observant and has been able to think of something rather than that 'person' abusing himself just to let them escape.

-We've only known each other for days.

Again, it was a bunch of ifs.

-How thoughtful of you.

As the darkness gets narrower, Cesar suddenly finds himself standing alone in the light. Surrounded by nothing but darkness, it felt as though the concept itself had paused, with the light focused solely on him, holding the encroaching darkness at bay.

"I almost forgot you, sir."

Cesar wanted to grab the dog tag from his pocket but everything that he brought, his revolver, daggers, and even the artifact that came from that person had magically vanished.

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"How could I forget you, sir Erin? I'm not a forgetful person after all,"

As if his mind had cleared, the darkness that halted soon vanished and Cesar found himself in the same position as earlier.

The only difference this time… everyone was staring at him.

Jeremiah was holding his spear, his head twisted in the most convoluted way possible while giving him a weird look. Amar twisted his head backward while Leah, who wasn't supposed to be awake, had her eyes wide open, staring at him.

Klaus who was stretching earlier was in a weird position but he managed to still look at Cesar. Quentin, who was the closest to him, almost made contact with his face as he stared at him with his two dark eyes.

"Hah!"

Cesar let out a disbelief scoff as he smiled, his face reaching from ear to ear, revealing his two fangs which is a manifested physical change he received from his facet.

"Whatever,"

With no physical weapons to use… the only weapon he could use was himself.

Swoosh—!

Once Cesar activated his facet [Sink], he moved his two arms near him before tearing it off forcefully with the use of his fangs.