Magus: A Supernatural LitRPG Saga (Apocosmos Book 2) Dimitrios Gkirgkiris (good english books to read .txt) 📖

not interested in stories, you are--without a shadow of a doubt--pointing at a fool. Stories make us stronger. That's why I shared my stories with the world. I've done my part. It's time for you to do yours."

The fire was now blazing high into the night sky, little sparks getting carried along in the breeze.

"We need to share our stories to become stronger?" Louie asked, but the man still had his eyes on me.

"The story that is shared here today," he continued, "will serve as the glue that will hold your two souls together. Nothing can be left out. My role here is to make sure of this, as well as to be the conduit for your binding."

He snapped his fingers and the fire vanished at once, a thin trail of smoke replacing the blazing flames that had danced only a few seconds ago.

"You, Alexander," he said, in a voice that was both mesmerizing and unsettling. "You have a story you have not shared with anyone yet."

How? What is this? What story is he...

"You know exactly what story I'm referring to. You have been keeping it under lock and key for years. The story of your wound. Of how it festered and spread like cancer."

"How do you know about any of this?" I shouted and realized I was now standing, hands ready on the hilts of my swords.

"Alex," Louie whimpered, pushing against my leg with his muzzle.

"I know not your story," the man continued, "but it is obvious enough to me that there is a reason why you would go to this extent. Binding your soul to your animal companion. There is pain behind this love. And the only way for your bond to be sealed, and your wound to numb, is to share it."

I broke eye contact with him and instead looked down at the embers which seemed to be eagerly waiting for my story. I couldn't be sure if it was a spell this man had cast on me or if it was simply finally the right time, but I started believing that perhaps saying the words out loud might do some good.

"You said sharing my story will heal the wound?" I asked and clenched my fists, mentally preparing myself.

"Wounds like these, Alexander," the man almost whispered, "they never mend. They can only be closed. But the skin that covers them is soft and thin. It can tear easily and, no matter how well you look after them, it will hurt from time to time. But the cancer itself will stop growing and maybe you'll be able to fight it before you get lost in it."

I considered his words. I didn't want this scar to heal.

I wanted the pain. I deserved it. I needed it. This pain was me.

But sharing it would benefit Louie... and right now, that's all that mattered.

"I guess... I guess you're right," I said and sat back down. "Dwarf, I think it's the right time to tell you what I know about loss."

I turned back to face the Reality Weaver, who was looking at me with sympathetic eyes.

"This is not my story," I told him. "It's her story."

13

Rhiannon

The sun had already started its slow descent when I looked out the office window and put my laptop in my bag. Today was a productive day. I had almost finished my tasks for this week and it was still only Wednesday.

I swiftly threw my keys and wallet in my bag and rushed to get into the elevator as the doors were closing.

"You're gonna hurt yourself, Alex," said Leo, when he saw me almost hit the now shut doors of the lift. "Got a place to be?"

"I'm meeting Rhiannon and I'm super late," I said, maniacally hitting on the button.

"Why didn't you leave earlier like everyone else?" he said. "I'm only staying 'cause I've got a raid in twenty minutes."

"Because you dropped that bug on my lap, dude. And I wanted to take care of it while I was still in the zone. If my connection's good, I can still make it only ten minutes late."

The elevator door opened and I rushed in.

"I've got no idea how she's put up with your excuses for eight years," I heard him say over my smashing of the button for the ground floor.

I put my headphones on, getting my daily dosage of high-volume metal head-banging as I sprinted to the subway. I barely managed to squish through the closing doors and a few minutes later, I exited at my changing station. The next line was right on schedule, arriving in just under two minutes.

It was going perfectly so far. I checked my phone and saw a message from her

Are you fucking kidding me? Where are you? I'm starving.

Shit, she's angry. I guess I shouldn't mention I had a snack before leaving the office.

As soon as I started typing a reply, another message came through.

Hey, I'm not waiting for you again. I'll get some take-away and see you at home.

That's how most of our fights started. I was late doing something else and she had to eat by herself. But I wasn't that far away, so it would be fine if I stretched the truth a bit.

No, please wait for me outside. I got kept up at work but I'm omw. I'll be there in a few minutes.

I hit "send" and the message left just before I lost the signal on my phone. I hated this line. I could do nothing but listen to my music and look at other people's feet until I reemerged above ground.

A couple of stations later, I got off the train and took the left side of the escalator going up, skipping steps as I climbed as fast as I could. I glanced at my phone and saw that had no more messages from her.

There were a lot of people right outside the exit, probably for another demonstration. The marble of the station was reflecting the telltale blue and red lights of police vehicles.