[Western Fantasy] The mystery of life and death

"Lo...ka..."

A faint and indistinct call came from behind the stone platform.Loka strode around to the back of the stone platform, but he had to be on guard and approach slowly, because he sensed that the air around Mason was filled with the sweet fragrance of "dream wine", and his perception of time and space was full of stickiness. Let people indulge in it unknowingly, and the soul will become more and more stagnant and gradually fall into chaos.Loka cautiously maintained his vigilance, but gradually he realized that this did not seem to be a mental attack aimed at him, but more like a breath scattered aimlessly.

No wonder no one dared to approach "Mr. Murphy" after drinking "Dream Wine" easily.

Mason was wearing a velvet black robe, leaning on the stone platform and sitting slumped on the ground. The velvet curtain was dragged down to cover half of his body. If it wasn't for the intricate silver thread embroidery on the velvet black robe to outline his general outline, He almost merged with the stone platform covered with black velvet drapery, as if it was an extended part of the shadow of the stone platform.

Lorca's clear footsteps approached slowly, but Mason ignored them.At this moment, Mason's black hair was loose, and he leaned against the stone platform and tilted his head slightly.He straightened one leg and bent the other, with one arm resting casually on his raised knee, like a lazy and unrefined dark silhouette in the gloom.

Lorca felt that Mason might not be calling him, or to be precise, Mason didn't seem to be talking to the real Lorca beside him.

The highest-purity "dream wine" just tasted just a little on the fingertips of Loka, and he almost fainted on the spot.He looked down at the silver cup in his hand.Mason drank all the alcohol, so now he...

"Lorca..." Mason muttered vaguely to himself.Lorca had come to his side and touched his shoulder lightly.He didn't notice it at all.

Seeing Mason's face clearly, Lorca was shocked.Mason had an indulgent and contented smile on his face, and his red lips parted unconsciously. He stared at the empty air in front of him obsessively, but his eyes had no focus, as if he was looking at an empty dream far away. His magnificent purple pupils Dispersed and blurred, the faint light is shattered in a hazy drunkenness, like a dim starlight shrouded in mist at dusk.

He looked very much like a "sacrifice" who lost his soul under the control of that sorcery.As if willingly waiting to sacrifice his whole body and mind to the god he yearns for.

"Mason, Mason!" Lorka panicked in his heart, he shook Mason's shoulder lightly, but Mason was pushed to the side with a sinking smile.

Lorca quickly grabbed him to prevent him from falling to the ground.With the sound of fine metal slapping, like a puppet at the mercy of others, Mason was gently embraced by Lorca and fell softly to Lorca's chest.

"Uh...um...L..." Mason murmured in this embrace that he was so attached to, calling the name that illuminated his life, but he didn't know that he was embraced by the person he longed for most at this moment.

Amidst this indistinct drunken raving, Luoka hugged Mason tightly, his eyes were sore, he felt that his entire soul was being washed away by the turbulent warm current, and thousands of indescribable feelings filled his chest , the field of vision was already full of tears, "I'm sorry, Mason, I'm here, I'll take you home..." Loka choked and hugged the thin and soft body in his arms, clumsily messing with Mason's body. Long hair, tears rolling down, dripping down Mason's obsessively smiling face.

He has always been protected by this thin and frail body in his arms, unknowingly enduring a love that is as calm and deep as the sea of ​​darkness, and unknowingly enduring a passion as suppressed as magma erupting from the ground. Soul and soul blend together, melted together by the ultimate blazing flame of life, endured the extreme pain and torn together, the fetters between them have penetrated into the soul, Loka can't describe what kind of entanglement this is - love, pain, guilt, debt, Confession, or something else.There used to be a pure brotherhood between them and trust without any grudges. He once trusted this mysterious friend without hesitation when he knew nothing, was filled with indignation for his injustice, and was hurt by his innocent "execution" The pain is depressed, but when the truth is revealed, he is suspicious of his close friends, annoyed at being fooled, furious at being humiliated, resentful at being betrayed and betrayed by a pure friendship, so much so that he makes a big mistake and holds it in his arms This person who silently guarded him, this person who loved him with his whole life was pushed into hell.

Loka didn't know how to repay this deep and wordless love, he could only do everything in his power to make up for his mistakes, and he wanted to rescue Mason with his own hands and bring him back to Aranti.

"Mason, wake up, I'm here!", but the only answer was the frivolous metal thumping in the silence as Mason was shaken by him.

As soon as he let go of his embrace, Mason slid down limply. Lorca immediately supported Mason's shoulders and let him lie in his arms. Mason's head fell back softly, As if dying, there was still an intoxicated smile on his face, and his purple eyes seemed to be looking into the void beyond the human world.Loka felt as if what he held in his arms was just an empty shell, and the soul that should have inhabited it had been lost in the distant land of nothingness.This thought shattered the fear in Luoka's heart. He was afraid all the time these days, fearing that he would not be able to save Mason in time, "No, no, Mason, please, don't die! Please..." Luoka panicked. , Is he still late after all?

The "teardrops of dreams" on his chest emitted a faint gleam, calming his mind softly and firmly. Luoka slightly restrained the panic and sadness that almost collapsed in his heart, and he became aware that there was nowhere in this space. It is no longer filled with the confusing atmosphere of "dream wine". If you don't pay attention, you will be affected, and the chaotic emotional agitation will be infinitely magnified.

Lorca realized that this was Mason's field, and he was the master of this side.It is precisely because Mason's mental power is too great that the psychedelic atmosphere in the spiritual world escapes unconsciously while intoxicated.If it weren't for the fact that Loka's mental power is now very strong and stable, and he is protected by the "Teardrops of Dreams", with the cultivation base of ordinary magicians, as long as he enters this field, he may have already been lost in it.

Lorca also didn't dare to explore Mason's spiritual world rashly. Doing so would be tantamount to diving into the ocean of "dream wine", and I'm afraid there would be no return.Loka could only sense Mason's breath a little bit, except for the fragrance of "dream wine", he didn't have the "imprint" induction of the secret technique of Mount Kedile's Miluo sect on his body, but there was a faint feeling similar to that of the holy spirit in the Temple Mount. breath of light.

Lorca gently wiped away the remaining alcohol at the corner of Mason's mouth.The ubiquitous psychedelic fragrance in this field, as well as the breath of life that Loka clearly sensed, are sure that Mason is still alive, although he is still uncontrollably afraid that what is in his arms at this time is just a corpse.

Lorca had a lot of doubts in his heart. These days, he knew that Mason was honored here, and he also had a high degree of autonomy in this hall.Timothy seemed to trust him very much.And just now Mason took the initiative to drink the full glass of "dream wine" without anyone forcing him, and even impatiently.With such a powerful mental power of Mason, as long as he is willing, he can actively use his mana to dispel the influence of psychedelic elements on his body and mind as he did just now.But he was willing to sink into such a situation.

why?

Mason was able to quietly cooperate with Elder Abelson to destroy the guarding barrier of the "Caprico" pool under Timothy's nose. It must have gone through some careful planning before Timothy let down his guard.It can be seen how tenacious and forbearing Mason's will is. He can plan calmly and carefully, but—why is he so addicted to life and death?Why?Obviously already recognized each other, but still want to die?

What was it that made Mason so thirsty for death?

Loka recalled that in the past few days, every time he checked Mason's changed clothes, he would have a strange feeling, as if something was wrong.Mason would often torture the captives brought in cruelly, and his hands were covered with blood, but his outer robe was not stained with much blood, on the contrary, the inner clothing was even more blood-stained.

Suddenly, Loka realized that the restriction that trapped Mason might not be the "dream wine", but other means.

"Mason! Wake up! Tell me! What's going on!" Loka called eagerly with the impact of mental power. In desperation, he unknowingly shook Mason lying in his arms, and then a series of metal sounds sounded. The sound of Xi Suo Suo's light touch was divided into clearness in the silence.

Mason frowned slightly in the intoxication, his expression was no longer indulging, he became confused and painful, "Uh...it hurts...it hurts..." he moaned vaguely and softly, "dead...why...it still hurts...it hurts... "Mason's painful expression gradually calmed down again, "Oh...it's Purgatory..." He muttered vaguely to himself, but there was a kind of resignation and bleak sadness on his calm face, "Purgatory...killed by...beloved... will come..."

Loka immediately regretted it, but he couldn't say the words of regret. He even felt that he was not worthy of confessing in front of Mason.

"Lorka..." Mason clasped Loka's arms in confusion. Loka thought he was awake, but then found that Mason's eyes were still empty and bewildered. He was not staring at the person in front of him, but looking at The world in the void, where is his heaven and hell, "Oh... love... it hurts..."

Loka suppressed the pain in his heart, and did not dare to make any more violent movements. He carefully embraced Mason, let Mason's head rest on his chest, and lifted his shoulders and knees as gently as possible to carry him to the stone platform. On the bed, he helped him to lie down slowly, although the movements were meticulous and slow, there was still a slight metallic sound.

Every time I saw Mason, the sound of the tinkling of metal lingered in my ears from time to time.But Lorca had never seen Mason wearing any jewelry.When he picked up Mason, Loca supported the arm on his shoulder and felt something under the cloth.

In order to confirm his conjecture, Lorca gently unbuttoned the silver button of Mason's coat, opened the skirt of the black coat, and saw bright red blood spots on the white shirt.Loka tremblingly unbuttoned his shirt, and took a step back in shock.

Mason's pale and thin body is covered with slender golden chains, interspersed and criss-crossed, passing under the collarbone, intertwined layer by layer, and each ring passes through the two ribs and the side abdomen. There is a shocking hole on his left chest. All the thin chains finally merged into the hole, and Luoka could even see clearly that his still beating heart was covered with golden thin chains!

But he is still alive... His body riddled with holes is still twitching slightly from time to time...

"Lorca..." Mason's dream-like dark purple eyes are dilated and gloomy. Loka stares at the endless abyss of despair at a glance. All the colorful and beautiful feathers in the world are falling, flying, When the pieces were gone, Mason murmured softly, "It hurts... Please... kill me..."

Lorca backed away in horror, he staggered and fell to his knees, weeping silently with his head in his arms.At this moment, the world around him was spinning rapidly, and he felt himself falling into the bottomless abyss of purgatory. In the endless fall, the entire purgatory world was surrounded by the numb and desperate stares of the Shadowmoon clansmen. The wailing in the root forest echoed one after another, like countless dark sprites tearing at his soul, almost tearing him to pieces.

"Please...kill me..."

"Please...kill me..."

"Please...kill me..."

"Lorca...please...kill me" Mason's murmur echoed in the darkness, and the forest of roots turned into countless thin golden chains, interlaced and interlaced around, like a giant net that could not be broken free between heaven and earth. pierced by a chain, and his heart seemed to be pinched by a giant claw... The endless pain almost took away all his sanity, and only weeping and howling echoed in this purgatory.

Only then did Loka understand that this place is indeed purgatory, the purgatory of all the Aranti people of the Shadowmoon clan!Mason and his people were deeply trapped in it, enduring endless torment, life would be worse than death, but they could not escape.