Eclipse: CH 5

 Chapter 5

"Ryuga, are you okay?"

 

The sudden question startled him a little, forcefully pulling him away from his own world. He looks to the side catching Gai peering at him with concern.

 

"Yeah, why?" What prompted that? He's pretty sure nothing is off with him...

"Ah, nothing. It's just you looked a bit tired, and your complexion looked a little pale. Have you been sleeping well lately?"

Though it's with Gai's question he finally starts to feel like it. How hard have he been ignoring it to not feel it at all?

"Mm, I slept for sure. But maybe not as well."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Lately I've been getting these strange dreams though I don't remember any of them. Sometimes I got woken up in the middle of the night or very early in the morning too."

"Don't you want to go see the doctor for that?"

"It's fine. It'll probably resolve itself in time." Gai looked like he was going to say something more, but chose to hold his tongue.

"..Okay. Just don't push yourself too hard."

 

Their short conversation ends there, and Gai went back to whatever he was doing before.

Maybe it'll be okay in time.

Maybe.

He's telling himself to not worry, to not give it much thought. But honestly, he's not that convinced too. He was being truthful with Gai. There's no use lying to him, he knows anyway. He still can work, he still can function, and he still can fight well. Plus, sleepless nights aren't that rare to him.

He's really just fooling himself now. Maybe he should go to the doctor.

 

 

Shaking his head in an attempt to clear it up. The weather is grey this morning and it somewhat reflects his current mood. Is something wrong with him? He doesn't know. The doctor said there were no side effects other than general fatigue and minor injuries. His blood wasn't contaminated so he's not turning or anything. So, there should be nothing to worry about.

 

As such, here he is back to his job.

 

Tonight's task was rather calm compared to the usual stuff he does. He along with a few other priests was dispatched to one of the other villages on the outskirts of their region to help with evacuation process. This village, similar with the last one, was badly wrecked up in multiple attacks. Luckily, most of the villagers turned up unharmed safe for a few of them. There is an ancient war bunker not far from the village so they must've hidden there when an attack comes.

It was in between the process that Gai jumped him with the question. Now that there's not much to distract him, he's been mulling over it ever since.

Putting his palm against his forehead to check - no, he's not having a fever. There's no pain anywhere in his body...

Almost by reflex his hand returned to his neck, lightly rubbing it. How long has it been already?

 

 

"Father, we have finished loading up."

"Okay, tell the rest we'll be moving back to the church shortly."

 

-Ah, it's been almost 2 weeks since then. It didn't even feel that long. Well seeing as he's been busy working day and night it's not that odd to miss the flow of time.

What is it, really? So far, he can say there is nothing unusual with him, and that is as far as he can tell. Insomnia? It explains but for some reason it feels inadequate.

 

There are the strange dreams too - if only he can recall more of it, then it might give him some clue. The only thing he can remember is darkness and a bright light at one point ahead (a tunnel?). Sometimes he can hear what sounds like muffled howling somewhere in the distance - not like the one made by the vampires; it distinctively sounds more like a wolf. He remembers waking up feeling confused and tired.

Was there a meaning to the dreams?

He is fully preoccupied by his ruminations, unaware of two pairs of eyes watching over him with concern.

 

 

*

 

 

The travel back to the church was just as uneventful as the way to the village. They started on their way around sunset; it's a risky period but with this many hunter around, there shouldn't be any problem.

 

And there was no problem at all.

 

It's weird, with this many people out and about not a single vampire is seen. Until a few days ago they were still going hard as usual. The strangeness of this situation disturbed him. There must be something happening in the background.

He ran off as soon as they reached the church, after making sure everything is fine with the villagers. Is he running? Maybe. Not long after they started on their way back, he began to feel his two friends' eyes on him. He knows he shouldn't do this, but he doesn't have the answers they're looking for at the moment. And rather than spending his time feeling this way, he ought to go clear his mind for a bit. Then maybe he could put it together.

 

Rustling in the bushes caught his attention. Snapping to the side where the sound came from he tried to make out what's hidden in the bushes. Animals? Or-

He didn't get to finish his thought before a familiar growl reaches his ears followed by an immediate attack.

He's more than ready for this. In fact, this'll do well to clear his mind. One by one fell by his sword. Is that all of them? Looking around, the body count is noticeably lesser this time. It looks like the production speed is slowing down, probably because they have started to pull the people in to prevent more casualties. Wonder how is it with the others? It'll be great if it's true. At least they have one less thing to worry about.

 

Glancing to the back, there seem to be a movement at the corner of his eye. Was there-?

 

< Are you looking for something? >

 

"-!!" The voice came together with a vicious headache shooting through his skull. The pain had him staggering from the sheer impact of it. What was that? It felt like it was shot directly into his brain.

 

< Catch me if you can. But can you? >

 

So full of amusement, he can almost see the wicked smile that accompanies the voice. A direct challenge. A taunt. A flash of silver and pale yellow crossed his mind. He knows this voice. And he knows he shouldn't do this.

 

I'll catch you.

 

The flickering of the shadow beckons him, pulling him further away from safety, away from where he should be. He broke into a chase unheeding of the risk. Somehow, he felt like he'd get out of it alive no matter what may unfold. On what basis, he doesn't know. Just sort of felt like that.

 

Tonight, the moon hides behind the rainclouds. Sometime after he rushed out of the church, rain had begun to fall in a light drizzle. It has turned quite heavy since then, forcing him to keep his track while taking shade under the tall trees. Yet he refuses to give it up. Should've alerted the others, so at some point the thought came to him, but it's rather late by now. He's already quite a distance away from the church.

 

The trail of shadows leads him to a fallen structure. Easing himself inside, he is greeted by the sounds of water drops echoing in the wide expanse of what seem to be a damaged castle. Tall pillars and ornate beams laying around in broken pieces. It feels somewhat colder in here despite maintaining most of its outer structure.

A rustling came from his left. Eyes snapped towards the sound, trying to look into the dark. He drew his blade in a flash of silver. The rubbles along with the dimmed down moonlight created a lot of shadows.

A low chuckle reverberates. The sound bouncing off the hard surfaces scattered throughout the place making it hard to locate. The predatorial edge to that sound sent chills down his spine.

 

The hunter becomes the prey.

 

"Show yourself! This has been going on for too long."

 

His voice eventually drowned in silence, safe for his increasingly harsh breathing.

 

"My, rather impatient, are you?"

 

He went still at those words, spoken directly into his ears.

He turns around with a swing of his blade, only to cut through thin air. Confusion mixing in. Fucking bastard.

 

"Chill out. You're enjoying this too, aren't you?" Amusement drips from those words.   

"Stop fucking around." He shouted back, raw anger welling up from inside him.

"And you call yourself a priest?" The voice replies with mock exasperation. He can hear what sounds like flapping of wings. Bats?

 

This is not going anywhere. He couldn't follow the man's movement with his eyes, more so when he can barely see anything at all. So, he closed his eyes and instead focuses on his other senses - the echoes bouncing off of solid surfaces, the slight shift in the air current. If you can't see it, then don't. Probably sensing what he is trying to do, the other party went silent.

 

There's no use keeping quiet.

Soft scratching on the floor.

I still can hear you.

A draft from the right.

There!

 

He immediately turns to the right, blade swinging down in a swift arc, exactly in time to intercept the strike. His blade connected with the man's weapon in bright sparks.

 

A sword?

"You looked surprised, priest." He shifted his weight onto his sword, pushing against Ryuga's own. "Didn't see that coming?"

Ryuga struggled against the force before deflecting it and quickly regains the distance. "Why do you have a silver sword?"

 

The man lifts the offending item as if to inspect it, stray beam of light reflecting off the metallic surface in silver glow. "I wonder why."