As the Sun was coming close to setting, August was struggling for wisps of air inside the cocoon, subconsciously.
After enduring so much strain from the echoes he had already fallen unconscious but the lack of air in here was proving it difficult for him to even zone out.
He was in a completely different state where he couldn't control his senses but was able to hear the voice of his mother from outside.
Everything felt like a fever dream, like it wasn't real at all.
He had endured the voices of elements piercing into his mind for many times now, he had resisted their wills which tried nothing but turning him into their vessel.
However, the situation now was very different from those other times. Today, it wasn't his sanity but his very life that was in danger.
As a last desperate attempt he gasped for air, but only felt the suffocation due to lack of it.
The temperature inside the cocoon rose tremendously, August covered in sweat was literally at death's door.
Just when August gave up on his life, something stirred in his mind. A thought formed all by itself.
No more like it was forced into his thinking by some unknown power.
It was dark inside this cage just a while ago but not anymore.
August in an inexplicable state, somehow managed to open his eyes. From the narrow passage of his eyelids he saw brilliant light flashing inside the darkness of his cage.
And the source of it was right above his head.
Ethereal motes of energy gathered in pristine lines, giving away the luminous wisps of light—slowly taking shape of a crown.
The crown ignited with brilliant golden light, making it difficult for August to keep his eyes open.
After that he remembered nothing but that he was able to finally breathe again. He was no longer dying a suffocating death.
Outside of the cocoon, Sophia was revolting against the mist woman who wasn't letting her help her son.
She had to help him quickly otherwise, she was afraid something bad would happen.
Not daring to think that thought aloud.
By each passing moment Sophia was growing more and more desperate.
Suddenly from within the cocoon that had caged her son, rays of brilliant light seeped out.
Every living creature in the vicinity that was able to sense the essence, caught up to the sudden change in the atmosphere.
Like the awakening of an ancient power.
The light only grew more blinding and at the next moment the cocoon exploded.
Her heart sank,
"No!!!"
She shouted on top of her lungs.
Was her son hurt?
A chill ran down through her spine shaking her to the very core.
However, at the next moment she struggled to catch her breath before finding herself completely awestruck at the sight before.
The woman with pearl white hair let go of Sophia, mesmerized by the sight before her eyes. She gasped slowly as her jaw fell in awe.
Valerius, who was battling the creatures at a distance, turned his gaze towards the strange phenomenon.
The light was so bright that every one of the town's residents looked towards the west gate wondering what might be happening there.
In the middle of this whole situation, August being the centre of attraction was shockingly free from his cage and now levitating in the air.
His eyes were closed and this wasn't his doing at all.
It was the crown above his head that had attracted so much attention.
A relic of the fallen era.
Everyone sensed the change in essence then immediately as though that sudden change became invisible.
The creature waves found themselves confused as though the goal they had come here for had suddenly vanished.
The ones who had managed to survive, ran backwards for their lives, the wave that was approaching as their reinforcements changed their direction midair turning back to where they came from.
The light slowly grew dimmer, giving off the considerable change in shift of essence. The aura of the sudden awakened power also grew dimmer.
Light of the crown flashed for the last time and then it vanished turning into ethereal motes of energy again.
August fell down as his mother rushed—catching him in her arms before falling onto the ground.
Sophia, Valerius and the lady with white hair, no one had any idea of what just happened as no one spoke for a while.
— —
It was already nighttime when August finally opened his eyes.
Surprisingly, he wasn't feeling any pain at all. On the contrary, he was feeling quite fine actually.
"Hey! You finally woke up," someone stared close to his face suddenly, startling him to the core.
"Woah!!" He jumped out of his bed. "Hey! Who are you? And what are you doing in my room?"
Not bothering to calm down, he kept screaming for his mother, "Mom!"
"She's not here," the girl sitting next to him replied. She was hardly one year older than him. Her chestnut hair was tied in pigtails as she took a full mouth bite of a snack.
Of course August knew of her but wasn't yet familiar with this girl. She was one of his mother's students.
However, the question wasn't why this strange girl was here peacefully enjoying snacks at his room but rather he wanted to see his parents.
"Then, where is everyone?" He finally calmed down and sat down.
"I fo— fon't" with her mouth stuffed, August wasn't able to understand her words. Only after he stared at her for a while as she slowly completed chewing she replied clearly,
"I don't know," the girl took another bite.
"They ..fif"
August placed a hand on his forehead, as he waited for her to speak clearly again,
"They didn't tell me."
'Argh, this stupid girl'
He gritted his teeth in annoyance.
"Don't you worry," the girl waved a hand. "your mom said she'll be right back soon… oh—"
Her eyes shone with curiosity something that told August that wasn't good for him at all,
"You are the teacher's son huh? My name is Shelly, what is yours?"
She blabbered everything so fast like a ball of energy.
"Ah.. I'm Augustus," he replied.
"Okay, but Augustus is a bit long. I'mma call you August," she said.
'Really?' August was now convinced that this girl only had one brain cell.
The girl with a snack in her tiny hands approached him, and started patting his head suddenly, treating him like a little child,
"Don't you worry August, big sister Shelly is here to take care of you."
"What?" August stared at her dumbfounded. "What are you doing? You are not my sister or anything… eh?"
As he was talking to her, she shoved a snack in his mouth,
"Ah.. you don't know about me but I am your big sister who was taken away by monsters when I was a child." She gave a dramatic expression,
"That's why I wasn't with you till now forgive me my long lost brother. But here I am now, I fought those big monsters only to get back to you. Because whatever happens I Shelly, your big sister cannot leave you alone. Never."
August tried to say something in between but she kept going on and on with her made up story.
August stared at her in confusion and for the first time in his life, he wasn't happy that he survived the echoes.
— — — — —