Lukas didn't think he heard correctly, but then stared at Anthony who had lowered his hands from the steering wheel.
Matthew wasn't the one who said it, Anthony did.
It would have completely shocked Lukas if it had been Philip, but the Vampire proved out to be the voice of reason.
"You want to stay, Landel? That's crazy—he just waves around this dagger and you're like, we should stay? That's insane, isn't it, Matthew?" Philip turned to Matthew for support.
Matthew nodded slowly, but couldn't turn his eyes away from the dagger… or rather, more importantly, Lukas.
There was like, a certain rush in the way that Lukas said those words, almost as if he was trying explain himself and his actions—apologizing, but also not really?
It was like looking at a hurricane about to wreck itself, and yet there was a certain charisma in it. As if this was someone who knew what he was about to do—not fully confident about it, but also decisive of his acts.
This was the same feeling that Matthew had when he chose to sign up for the workshop to become a hunter.
This was why he was here…
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"I… are you really sure about this, Lukas? I've seen how you fought. You're actually good." Matthew spoke carefully.
"He's way more than good—actually the two of you are like naturals at it." Anthony said in encouragement.
"Well, looks like someone is having a realistic outlook on himself by not mentioning himself." Philip said and looked pointedly at Anthony. "Surely that's enough reason why we shouldn't be here any longer right? And if that's a relic—"
"It is." Lukas said.
"How'd it get in your hands—actually, that's not important." Philip rubbed his face. "Please, let's just go guys. I don't know about you people, but I really don't feel like dying anytime soon."
"You're overreacting." Anthony said.
"I'm not—just moments ago we were all fleeing for our lives and now you're being like, hey, let's stay? Let's help Lukas go destroy that thing, that thing we don't even know—"
"Dream Eater." Lukas said.
"What?" Philip blinked.
"That thing is… not a thing. She's a Dream Eater and her name is Rhea." Lukas said.
"And now you know what she is?" Philip said, voice turning a bit hysterical. "The next thing we know is that you'll go around and say that we're not actually supposed to kill her or something—"
"I… I was about to say that. At least, I think I am." Lukas sighed and covered his face while Drusilla screamed out obscenities at him.
"You what—?" Anthony looked at him in shock.
Matthew was at a loss for words either and Philip just looked at Lukas as if he was crazy and darn insane.
"Can you listen to what this guy is saying right now?" Philip glanced at Matthew and Anthony, searching for support. "Can you believe what he's saying? How does he know all of this?"
"Ugh, I kinda regret saying what I know now." Lukas sighed and lowered his head. "Is there some way to wipe their memories or something? It's not going well."
"Really? You're only thinking about that now? You've just blabbered entirely everything that you know to them?" Drusilla said, her voice not too different from Philip's at the touch of hysterics. "Oh, it would have been totally okay and amazing if you did have the ability to erase their memories right now or at least suggest them to forget about it, but unfortunately you do not. You don't have that luxury, Lukas."
"…at least not right now." Lukas said, noticing something glimmer in the corner of his vision.
[Seducer Archetype Is Improving]
[Attempts To Learn Suggestion Improved By 1%!]
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm "What are you… going on about, Lukas?" Matthew asked quietly.
"Sorry, I was just talking to myself." Lukas said.
"No. I mean… this Rhea? This Dream Eater? How do you know all of those things?" Matthew asked. "You're not making this up… I believe you aren't. So can you tell us what this all means?"
"You're willing to listen to me?" Lukas blinked and stared at him unsurely.
"…I think so." Matthew smiled wearily. "I know that I should be running home as fast as I could. Philip is making good sense, and it's not actually cowardly to run—but you're not doing that. So there has to be a reason behind it and I would like to know."
"Me too!" Anthony said. "—would like to know as well. If you're willing to share it with us."
"Can you get down the van? I'll drive if the two of you aren't interested in leaving." Philip scowled and glared at Lukas, and he tried to move. Tried to really do it, but then slammed his hands against the back of the driver's seat and looked at Lukas. "You said… Dream Eater? Dream Eaters are supposed to consume dreams and are beings that should only be able to materialize in dreams. I don't think you've got it all correctly."
"Wait, didn't you say that you're not a monster glossary!" Anthony looked at Philip with some hurt. "How are you able to spout out some facts like that right now?"
"… It's the Imago Desert. It's a wonderful historic site from ages ago, a beautiful empire that was destroyed but was inhabited and built from something out of your wildest dreams—it's something that I've read about before. But I digress, what are you saying and going on about this Rhea being a Dream Eater?" Philip frowned. "You have a name so it means that you've talked to her before right? If you're not lying about any of this—"
"Do you honestly think he'd make something like this up?"
"Delusions, maybe?" Philip said.
"Not everyone is a historic nerd like you to figure out that Imago Desert or something had this Dream Eaters. I didn't even know they existed until today, the same goes for Matthew."
"Yes." Matthew shook his head. "I'm not familiar with it."
"…Okay, so, Rhea was a Dream Eater before, but I'm not so sure on what she's now."