I sat down next to my mother, who was leaning against one of the many broken walls of our house. She had been bandaged up by the guys Madelyn called Cloaks, the same guys who were now all around the neighborhood repairing the damage that hadn't been magically reset with whatever magic they had used before.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8yL78wkw6
I watched with confusion as they placed the small boxes that were on their backs on the ground. They opened up those boxes, and inside, I could just barely see what looked like small vials, each one holding a strange liquid with a different color. On the side of the vials, held in place on the very side of the box, seemed to be small pieces of paper with strange writing on them.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzlgJPtY8u
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPn00dkezz
The hooded guys took a single piece of one of these slips of paper, held it up to their face, and began to chant something that I couldn't hear.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHjGnbHToa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ci5to940B
Then they let go of the small paper, letting it float slowly to the ground. As soon as it touched the ground, it began to morph into a small white creature that actually looked a little cute. The creature was as small as a fist and had no features as it took on a human shape with a strange symbol on its face.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MomA0pgFz
"Whoa..." I said, not realizing that I was talking out loud.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHyf1546eb
"Interesting, aren't they?" Madelyn said, appearing beside me out of nowhere.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbaKbaaF7j
I couldn't help but let out a small yelp in shock as I turned to face her.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOOZxBLLj4
"Sorry," she said, smiling awkwardly. "I guess your nerves are still on high alert after what happened."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUQLM0NHWa
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIhdvvW6eT
"It's fine," I said, trying to regain my composure. "So... um, these guys are going to fix our house with those things?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHjjAQ7Bg9
"They're called Willensschiki, small little manifestations of a person's will given form," Madelyn explained.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxYQTVcoqL
"That's a big word," I remarked, looking at the little guys carrying small pieces of wood and rocks.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF4iB2bEdJ
"It's German," Madelyn said.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnykjDwb5R4
"Yeah, sounds like it," I replied, observing the other Cloaks who were assisting their little Willen-somethings with the hard work, grabbing the much bigger rocks and debris and piling it all up in a single pile.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlzTbhn4vV
"Are they pillars?" I asked, though I was pretty sure I knew the answer. The feeling I got from them was off, as if I was looking at people who didn't belong. It was a different feeling from Madelyn, weaker but still dark.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHrwQLShYT
"They're not pillars," Madelyn said, her arms crossed. "They are the very thing us Pillars are trying to prevent."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtVwql3I0d
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ696k0lY4St
"What?" I asked.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JRqK3LKPR
"They have the Blight," Madelyn explained. "The Blight is a demonic disease caused when organic matter comes in contact with Demonic energy. That organic matter will soon disintegrate after experiencing intense pain from the infection."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkoIgXGgke
I didn't know what to say; it sounded so horrible to even put into words.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTXXQ3ZNP3
"That's one of the many reasons why we hunt demons, to stop that infection," Madelyn added.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMN9J6oE9P
"So then wait!" I exclaimed. "A-are we infected? I mean, we were fighting that demon for so long, all that poison touched our skin!" I yelled, panicking.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZszgTmuzx
"Don't worry," Madelyn said with a small smile. "Pillars are immune; after all, we have a demon sealed within our bodies."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYLTeXx8kF
"Uh, yeah, duh," I said, realizing the obvious.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJiYTbAjva
"But people, not so much," Madelyn said as she looked towards the Cloaks.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6HLQWHX4f
"You said that this disease takes people's lives," I said. "They don't look dead."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe98iRu85yn
"They're the lucky ones," Madelyn said, her eyes becoming sad. "They were able to scrape by with just a little bit of life, but their lives are forever changed." Madelyn explained. "Now they are forced to live in our world, help fight our battles; a normal life is forever taken from them."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT52dTPfNRf
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GoJKeJI2a
I stood there and listened as Madelyn explained how Cloaks all have a strange burn mark somewhere on their body. She explained how their lifespans are cut short by half and how they can wield strange abilities in the form of talismans and other artifacts that Pillars are unable to use. They can create spatial fields devoid of life for Pillars to fight in and create concoctions that can heal many injuries and wounds.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97hqg71kh4
All in all, a Cloak is a Pillar's assistant, but as I looked at Madelyn, I could tell that it was much more than that.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq5sWJ9Kgk
"Pillars have a responsibility to protect the people," Madelyn explained. "When we fail our mission, people get hurt, they get killed, or cursed," she said. "That's why my grandfather got so angry when that demon escaped."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2PPI0bG88
It wasn't hard for me to remember the old man's anger, his serious tone as he spoke to his granddaughter.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l51JBj8Ub
Madelyn let out a sigh. "Cloaks are created because Pillars failed to do their job, and therefore they represent a Pillar's greatest shame."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViChFI1JRA
Madelyn cared; I could see that. I could tell that she would do anything to help these guys. She hated being a Pillar; she obviously hated this life. It wasn't hard to tell why.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNn3MFc7vS
"Either way..." Madelyn said, turning towards me. "It's about time you said goodbye," Madelyn said.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYI1mh5ZCR
"What do you mean?" I asked.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBHoP9oPtA
Madelyn's blue eyes began to shift away from me to something behind me. I slowly turned my head towards the direction Madelyn was looking and saw... "Mom?"
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PrnXjSlcs
Madelyn put her hand on my shoulder. I looked into Madelyn's eyes and could tell exactly what she was thinking.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajvkUHbBE8
"It's time to say goodbye to your mom," Madelyn said.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJezXNTCLC6
I looked back towards my unconscious mother and couldn't even imagine saying goodbye, not to her, or my sister.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkSq6fRXN9
"You have to," Madelyn said, her voice low. "If you stay, you will only bring them pain. I'm sorry, Ethan, but this is for the best."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFEEakZtx8
I could feel tears in my eyes. Shit, I hated crying. "Mom..."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7ib4glQSJ
"I can't do it..." I said.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWH4KaFHQn
"You must," Madelyn said immediately. "You must for you and for them."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx5hSj9Wrh
Madelyn, I get what you're saying, but this world you're talking about? I know nothing about it. And this... this is my family."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvH4SGawGfg
Madelyn, her gaze sympathetic, seemed unsure of how to navigate this conversation. "I can't just leave, not with the house destroyed, my mother unconscious, and my sister not even home yet," I protested, my eyes fixed on my mother's still form.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaiGTYdkat
With a reassuring smile, Madelyn asserted, "Don't worry. My family will handle everything."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDFjI0j72U
A puzzled "What? How?" escaped my lips.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkrlMudtsp
"That's not important," she replied, her focus unwavering. "What is, is that you can never see them again. Soon, the dark aura that surrounds this place will dissipate, and these people can go back to living their ordinary lives."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYMdckq3HE
I met Madelyn's unwavering gaze, realizing there was no room for negotiation. I had to leave my family.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fuc3aEMZF
I walked towards my mom and reached out to hug her. I was crying my eyes out, but I didn't think that Madelyn could see. I hoped she couldn't.
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGM79ZqNzi
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1pzJX1jgi
"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered in her ear. "I'm sorry, but I gotta go," I said. "I have to leave you and my knucklehead sister..." I smiled, even though I wasn't even close to feeling happy. "I'll love you always, and no matter where I go, I'll always be your son."
240Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeZY4VBi2a
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns13.59.196.41da2
