There was only one way to escape Sublimus- or rather, there was only one way Arian could think of. Right now, he was trapped in a vision. This is not real, only a vision, a glimpse into understanding an actual problem in the real world, but this here- this is NOT REAL, Arian had to remind himself. Partly because it all felt too realistic and partly because, as long as it was just a vision, the nightmare would end as soon as the vision was over.
When the vision ended, Arian would get out of here. It was the only way of escaping Arian could think of.
I just have to see the thing, the vision wants me to see- the thing that will hopefully give me a hint, why these girls are all so exhausted- if there actually is something like this.
By now, Arian completely believed he had just been paranoid. He could kick himself for reacting so overdramatic. Such a small issue- probably not even an issue, and just your imagination and overthinking made it into an issue. Arian was so angry with himself. He hated himself for how easily he had drifted off into using his old powers. The prince had reacted too hastily and now had to pay for it.
And how he paid. Being the plaything for a beast was really not fun. Arian had lost count of how often Sublimus had bitten into him or jerked him around. At some point, Arian had disconnected.
Only now did he realize how easy this had gotten for him. He was so used to feeling pain that he could just disconnect from it. He didn't know if he should be happy about such a feat or a bit scared about his mental health.
Well, whatever the case, it wasn't important right now. The prince mentally facepalmed himself and tried to think about something more important.
At least I know, I haven't seen or heard what the vision wants to show me, because otherwise, I wouldn't be here anymore.
This could have various reasons. Arian suspected it was because he wasn't currently in the right place. After all, this place seemed fast and limitless.
From what Arian could make out, considering how the sand felt and how the mountains were shaped, he suspected this was a place like the red desert where the Akai-Dezato Academy was located. Maybe not exactly that place, since it was a desert and Arian hadn't seen a drop of water there- but something similar.
Anyway, I'm limited in my sight, since it's dark. And of course I'm distracted, held up and weakened by Sublimus, Arian thought bitterly.
Given these factors, it was natural, he hadn't had the time to explore the vision like he wanted to or even properly think about it.
This had to change now- and fast. The sooner he could break out of the vision, the better.
While his situation seemed hopeless, since he was at Sublimus' mercy currently, there was one strange advantage. Arian didn't understand how it worked, but that was alright. He didn't have to. All he needed was for it to work.
His advantage lay in the fact that the water made him stronger, and at the same time, it weakened Sublimus. This was all he needed to know in order to form a plan.
Well, he wasn't sure if he could call his idea a plan. It was rather simple and vague. It would change with the situation. But for now, he had to get away from Sublimus. He had to flee into the water.
Even though it seemed impossible, he had to try- he needed to get away from Sublimus.
Maybe he could throw Sublimus out of the vision altogether. Arian wasn't sure if this would work, but he had a suspicion about how Sublimus ended up here in the first place.
At first, Arian had been surprised that Sublimus was here with him. After all, this was Arian's vision- a vision that had nothing to do with Sublimus. And no one had ever thought about such a phenomenon as the beast and its bonded human being in a vision together. It was unheard of and not recorded in any book of the royal library. Since so many members of royalty had been bonded with a qilin, Arian suspected they were right. It was just that his case was different, because unlike them, he wasn't bonded to his beast anymore.
A breaking of a bond between beast and human happened very rarely and was different for each species of mythical creature. As far as Arian knew, he was the first person to break away with a qilin. Of course, there was no knowledge about his unique situation.
Which meant he had to come up with the explanation himself. He suspected that because he wasn't bonded with Sublimus, he couldn't access his powers freely. Similar things were proven. People with a broken bond had tried to use their former powers before, and most had turned mad, experienced pain, or even died.
But what exactly happens when people still access the power of their former beast? That was a field barely explored.
Arian suspected Sublimus had to somehow allow him to access his vision. And by doing so, Sublimis got the chance to enter the vision as well.
This was a scary thing to think of, given how much Sublimus seemed to hate Arian and how easy it was for the prince to use his old powers without much thought. Since Arian had possessed them for so many years, it had become second nature for him to figure out problems by relying on the power of visions.
It had made so many things easier for Arian, but now, it had turned into a nightmare- a deadly nightmare, which made it extremely hard for Arian to escape.
But the prince was determined. He wanted to show Sublimus that he couldn't finish off a prince so easily. He wanted to show the world that he was strong and, ultimately, that he was the only right choice, the only heir to the throne.
Therefore, he needed to live.
Arian thought about all these things, envisioned them, tried to feel his desire for the throne, and then he attacked. Similarly to how he entered the vision, where he imagined different scenes, to which he wanted an answer. Arian now imagined all his goals in life, pressing against the faint, almost non-existent, severely damaged connection that still somehow lingered between Sublimus and him, and excited in the back of his mind.
During the six years they had been bonded, Arian had never been good at using their mental connection. He was aware he probably only explored a fraction of what was possible with their mental communication.
Yet he knew enough to influence Sublimus through it. Mentally, he held onto their feeble connection while at the same time shielding his thoughts from a possible counterattack. Since Sublimus powers were mostly belonged to the demesne of mind, Arian knew he couldn't withstand a mindattack from his former beast for long, even if he was prepared.
Sublimus was just too powerful.
So Arian needed the element of surprise on his side. All he needed was to distract Sublimus long enough, so he could get to the water.
Right now, Sublimus probably thought Arian had given up, that he didn't have the strength in him to fight back, and only moments ago he would have been right.
Arian had indeed played with the thought of giving in. But now he had changed his mind.
Arian counted to three in his head before he abruptly opened his eyes, which he had tightly pressed together at some point. At the same time, he pressed with all the mental force he could muster against the faint bond lingering between him and Sublimus. His intention was clear: GET OUT OF HERE!
It was a gamble, really. Arian didn't know if their connection was still strong enough that such a mind attack could actually work on Sublimus now that their bond almost didn't exist anymore.
Arian was all the more relieved when Sublimus suddenly let go of him and gave a frustrated snort.
Arian immediately pushed back with his mental attack, instead preparing himself for counterattack by shielding his thoughts and mind, pushing them as far back from the connection with Shublimus as possible.
Simultaneously, the prince reached for the sand on the ground, took a handful, and threw it at Sublimus' eyes.
It was a simple trick. One that had probably been done a thousand times.
But Arian had surprise on his side, so Sublimus was slow to react.
Which meant, Arian suceeded.
The beast flinched back, blinking his eyes almost immediatly.
Arian knew this stage would only last a moment, maybe seconds if he was lucky, so he had to act quickly.
Now or never!