I Reincarnated to Another World as a Woman-Chapter 112: Berserk
CRACK!
A single lightning bolt strikes where Aldriana is supposed to be. She dodges it at the last second.
Some of her hair gets singed.
In the next few seconds, several smaller lightning bolts strike in rapid succession, chasing Aldriana through the cave.
"Arthur, stop!"
Julian lunges forward and locks his arms around Arthur from behind. He ignores the pain searing his skin, ignores the heat burning into him. He just wants Arthur to stop.
"Julian, move!" Liam yells, holding Maeve back as she tries to rush forward. "You can’t! You’ll get burned!"
"He’s getting burned!" Maeve screams.
A surge of water suddenly crashes in from Aldriana’s direction.
It is not light blue like Liam’s water.
It is dark blue. Deep. Heavy. Like the ocean’s depths.
The wave slams into Arthur and douses him. His fire sputters, dims, but does not die completely. It still burns, unstable and furious.
Only then does Aldriana’s vision clear.
She sees Julian clinging to Arthur from behind, his face twisted in pain, teeth clenched as he fights to hold on.
"Stupid Julian," Aldriana murmurs.
She tightens her focus.
She has to stop Arthur before another wave of lightning comes down. She can already hear the rumbling in the distance.
"Get off me!" Arthur shakes violently, trying to break free.
A single lightning bolt crashes down, striking Julian.
"Aegistrum!"
"Julian!" Both Liam and Maeve scream. Maeve’s voice breaks as she cries out in fear.
Julian squeezes his eyes shut. He promises himself he won’t let go until Arthur stops. Even if it kills him.
But the pain never comes.
A shield shimmers faintly above him.
Aldriana stands with one palm extended, facing Arthur and Julian.
"Liam, pay attention," she says sharply. "Water can do this too."
She moves her hands in smooth, flowing motions, almost like a dance.
"Aqustrum."
A thin layer of dark water manifests, not splashing, but draping. Like a silk shawl made of liquid night. It moves gracefully, ribbons of water weaving through the air, wrapping tightly around both Arthur and Julian.
The moment the water touches Julian, the pain disappears.
He tightens his grip on Arthur.
"Stop struggling," Julian pleads, his voice breaking. "Art, it’s me. Julian. Your younger brother. Julian."
His words shake.
"Art, wake up. Please."
------------------------------
Arthur feels the world go muted.
It’s like being trapped inside a bubble, where every sound from the outside is muffled and distant. He can still see everything, but his mind refuses to grasp that all of this is happening because of him.
It feels unreal.
Like he’s watching a movie play out in front of him, detached from the screen, unable to reach through it.
"Arthur, stop!"
Hm. That sounds like Julian’s voice. Why does he sound scared? What’s happening?
Arthur feels someone slam into him from behind, arms locking around his torso, pinning his hands.
No. Don’t do that. ’He’ doesn’t like that. Julian!
A voice that sounds like his, but louder, rougher, roars, "Get off me!"
Power surges through him.
Oh. Wow.
It feels incredible. Liberating. Like chains snapping apart.
But... I can’t control it. What is this power?
Something wraps around him. Tight. Cool. Soothing.
A whisper reaches him, close to his ear.
"Stop struggling. Art, it’s me. Julian. Your younger brother. Julian."
Yeah. I know who you are, idiot. Why do you sound like you’re crying?
Another whisper follows, softer. Fragile.
"Art, wake up. Please."
"Julian!" Maeve screams.
Arthur feels it then. Julian’s grip weakening.
No. Julian!
Liam holds Maeve back as she tries to rush forward. "Aldriana!" he shouts.
"Yeah, yeah, I know!"
Water coils around Arthur again. Silk-like. Layer after layer after layer. Tightening. Pressing him down. Cooling the fire.
Julian? Julian!
Arthur panics. Julian’s arms are slack now, barely clinging, but still refusing to let go.
Arthur fights.
Not the water.
Not Aldriana.
Himself.
The other presence. The one roaring. The one burning.
’He’s’ weaker now. This is my chance.
Arthur gasps, sucking in air like he’s been drowning. His lungs burn. He coughs, once, twice.
The world snaps back into place.
Sound rushes in. Light. Heat. Pain.
The silence is gone.
------------------------------
Aldriana notices the exact moment Arthur regains control.
She sees it clearly in his eyes.
But she keeps the layered water wrapped around them, just in case.
Arthur turns and catches Julian before he can fully collapse.
"Julian. Julian!"
"It’s okay." Aldriana’s voice is calm, steady. "He just passed out. He’s not in any danger."
Arthur looks at her, eyes raw. Pleading.
"It’s okay, Arthur. It’s okay," she says gently. "You did well. You took control back. You won."
The tension drains from Arthur’s body all at once, like prey scattering when a predator retreats.
His knees give out.
He sinks to the ground, Julian still in his arms.
"Julian!" Maeve rushes to them.
Liam finally lets out a relieved breath. He looks at Aldriana, who is watching the three of them sprawled on the ground.
She turns to him. "We need to put Julian on his bed. He needs rest."
Liam nods. He steps forward and gently persuades Arthur, speaking in a low voice, to let Julian go.
When Arthur finally releases him, Liam lifts Julian and carries him to his bed, with Maeve following closely behind.
Arthur stays where he is, slumped on the ground, staring at their retreating backs.
"You’re not coming with them?" Aldriana asks. "You need rest too."
"I..." Arthur’s voice cracks.
He looks up at her, eyes wide, frightened, almost childlike. The look doesn’t belong on a twenty-seven-year-old man.
"What just happened?" he asks.
Aldriana approaches and places a hand on his shoulder. "You showed me your true potential. And you took control of it."
Arthur lets out a hollow, sarcastic laugh. "If hurting my brother counts as success, then you’re wrong."
"Arthur, listen to me." Aldriana crouches so they are eye to eye. "Look at me."
"What just happened would happen to ninety percent of magi," she says calmly. "Especially those who learn magic in a crash course."
She pauses. "Yours wasn’t a crash course. It was a bullet train."
Arthur swallows.
"You leveled up your magic in less than twenty-four hours. It’s not unheard of," she continues. "But it almost never happens."
Arthur searches her eyes, desperate to find a lie.
"If you want someone to blame, then blame me."
Aldriana’s voice is steady. "I take full responsibility. I was the one who saw you were about to lose control, and I did nothing. I let it happen."
"Why?" Arthur asks. His voice sounds almost childish, but the desperation underneath is real. He just hurt his own brother with his own hands. That is unforgivable to him.
"Because, like I said, it was going to happen," Aldriana answers. "Now or later. Somewhere in your future, it wouldhappen. And I would rather it happen now, when your fire isn’t that powerful yet."
Arthur clenches his jaw. "And what makes you think it won’t happen again?"
"You," Aldriana replies simply. "You’ll embrace your true potential. And because of that, you’ll never let it happen again."
Arthur looks at her and freezes.
There is no doubt in her eyes. No hesitation. No fear of him.
Only trust.
He closes his eyes, then opens them again and notices Sam still lying unconscious on the ground.
"Oh. Right. Him. Don’t worry," Aldriana says casually. "I put a shield on him. He’s not hurt. Help me carry him to the bed."
She straightens. "We all could use some rest."
