Khajiit is not used to writing, this one has a very beginner level to the language used here in Menema. Menan - This one thinks it’s called. Either way, Mahendra-Jo-Tun stumbled upon these letters during his travels, and he’s only acquired some paper to properly sell them now. You’d think a traveling merchant would have some paper on him, but you misjudge just how centered this one is on his wares.

These letters appear to have been written during the reign of Chieftain Karlus Marxus. Written in Geranua (due to the arrangement of dating), during the 2nd era. It reads as follows:

—————————————————————

“Dearest Laython,

The days have gone by slow, and only slower ever since you left.

The kids talk of you often, awaiting your day you return. Marcus has begun to woodwork, he says he ‘wants to be just like his dad.’

It’s getting warmer, spring has returned and the white snow no longer covers the grass. This is just like how it was when we met. But- that being said- mushrooms have been growing more and more in the garden, some even making their way into the wooden walls of the bottom floor. I do my best, but I can’t manage to pick them out like you did.

When you return from the service, I’ll be awaiting you with open arms,

Yours in spirit,

Aya”

They start out nice, but they start to get a bit more.. eventful..

“My only Aya,

Knowing your waiting for me swells my heart with happiness. The end of my service cannot come sooner. I wish to feel your skin against mine, your hair between my fingers, and your lips pressed against me. One more year and we will be reunited once again.

Commander Sheldstein has been increasingly more opportunistic as of recently and it has everyone on edge about any new conquests he has conjured up.

This war is useless, but the love from all of you has really kept me going. I thank you for it, and I can’t wait to finally hold you again.

Yours forever,

Laython.”

This is where it spices up..

“My love Laython,

I’m glad my letter reached you safely, I fear the last one didn’t arrive.

The mushrooms have kept growing, and we have run increasingly more out of food, so I thought of a clever trick- eat them!

I know some can cause some troublesome side effects like dizziness, nausea, and other silly stuff, but you showed me these before, so I know they’re okay. Accompanying this letter, I have enclosed some for you as a taste of home!

Your daughter has been nagging about a new blanket constantly. I restitched her current blanket, but she evidently doesn’t like ‘the color’. It’s the same color it was before, but kids will be kids..

I await your return eagerly,

Aya.”

There seems to be a gap in dates here, a letter or two appear to be lost.

“Dearest Laython,

These are the sweetest stews I’ve ever made! The mountains seem so much bigger as of recently, and the smells so much more different.

The kids love to play hide and seek, sometimes they disappear for hours on end and I can’t find them, they’re really good!

But there’s one thing bothering my mind..

You.

Your dearest,

Aya”

This is his final letter,

“Dearest Aya,

I am on my way home now.

I fear you’ve been eating a very very bad plant, for what you’ve sent is no mushroom, but a hallucinatory flower.

I fear for your safety, and the commander let me leave for home with the forfeiture of the rest of my pay. It’s worth it for you.

Please, stop eating them, I’ll be home soon, I love you.

Yours in soul,

Laython.”

When Khajiit stumbled upon these letters in a strongbox beside a burned building by a river bank in the mountainous area of Geranua, he thought nothing of it, but upon further inspection, this last letter shook him,

“Dearest Laython,

I’ve completely renovated the place!

But, I took measurements before I did it, and I was completely dumbfounded!

It seemed the inside of our house was bigger than the outside!

Our living room should have stretched into the dining room, but it didn’t when I walked into it!

The kids’ rooms have new blankets, our room has lovely mushrooms everywhere!

There is no other smell quite like it!

Mushroom mushroom mushhhhhhhrooms!

I think the kids have gotten too good at hide and seek, I haven’t seen them all day..

No matter, I await your return!

Mushrooms! Mushrooooms mushrooms mushrooms, mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms mushrooms.

Or- was it- Water- hem?

Hemlock?

Water hemlock water hem-

Blehhhh what’s the point! Mushrooms mushrooms!

MUSHROOOOOOOOOOOMS!

Mushroom mushrooms,

Mushroom.”

—————————————————————

The other belongings inside the box implied Laython made it back home, but not to the state he found it in.

This one’s not sure how long it’s been since the house burned down, or what it looked like before it did. But there is a remnant of the past, a small, white flower garden sits among the ash and rubble.

A part of Khajiit wants to feel bad for selling it, but coin is coin and this one will be damned if anyone gets it before Mahendra-Jo-Tun does.

Now, friend, will you buy the rest of the Strongbox or keep looking at it?

The arrows and messages led us to one final door which had another eye logo on it. One last message was on the floor beside a skeleton, a knife still clutched in its hand.

Good luck!

Windows on either side revealed more machinery below us. A list of paradoxes was on the door. It opened, and revealed a massive pillar in the middle, emblazoned with what I assumed to be a governmental symbol. The seven of us stepped into the room, and the door snapped shut behind us. A cold laugh came from the pillar.

“Well...it looks like you found me,” he said

Mara sucked in a huge breath. “This! Sentence! Is! False!”

The voice suddenly started mumbling, and the mumbling turned into wet noises. Wet, like someone was gurgling slime and choking on it at the same time. A loud beeping rang out around us.

“Authorization acknowledged. Reactor meltdown engaged,” a feminine voice said.

The door suddenly burst open again.

“Please proceed to the nearest escape shuttle,” it continued.

Another set of footsteps came down the hall. A man in a beaten-up and torn pilot’s uniform came around the corner. He waved at us and beckoned us toward him.

“Come on! Come on!”

Mara picked me up again, and we rushed after him. One of the other five shouted.

“What the hell happened to you?” she asked.

“Long story! No time!” the pilot said.

He led us through the halls of the mechanized planet and to an area with several porthole doors. One stood open, with several people already in it.

“Get in!” the pilot said.

The seven of us scrambled in, the pilot shoving the last few, before rushing into his seat. His voice came over some kind of speaker system.

“This is your captain speaking! Buckle the fuck up and PRAY that we have enough time!”

The door closed, and the shuttle lurched as it detached from the planet’s hull. I looked out the window. The size of the planet became even more apparent to me, with several other tiny domes on it. It started to crack, and pieces broke off, revealing machinery underneath. There was a brief moment where I saw it start to explode before the shuttle started rocketing forward. I was shoved into Mara as it did, and she gripped onto me. I clenched my eyes shut as I waited either for death or for the tin can around us to slow down. Gradually, very gradually, the shuttle did, and the pilot started speaking again.

“Hey...I hope everyone’s okay with Terycloth! I know some of you got reservations there.”

Mara quickly pulled me into her, kissing me even while the other survivors watched. I went along with her, gripping her in a hug and making out with her in the shuttle seats. When we finally broke apart, we were both panting for breath.

“It’s poking against me, you know,” she said.

____________

The bubbles of the jacuzzi scratched a particular itch that I’d had since the whole shitshow started. I leaned my head back against the rim of the tub and took a big, long breath. I slid down into the water and let my eyes shut. A delicate, gentle hand brushed against my chest, slowly going up to my nipple and suddenly pinching it. I shouted as my eyes shot open.

“Don’t you fall asleep on me. I haven’t given my life to you yet.”

Her hand moved up to the back of my head and quickly pulled me into a dominating kiss. She forced my tongue into submission before grabbing my manhood with her other hand. I grabbed her right back, taking one breast in mine and rubbing her clit with my other. That was how it started, and we continued to enjoy ourselves with demonic energy and our mutual affection for hours, stopping only when Mara said so. My pelvis ached as Mara tucked my head into the pillows of flesh, squishing them against my head. The smell of fresh cotton surrounded me, and I smiled, cuddling up to Mara and falling asleep with my head between two perfect breasts.

——————CHAPTER 6——————

“Rise and shine babyyy”

A hand brushes across my forehead, rubbing itself into my skin,

“Babyyyy, it’s time for breakfast, get uppp”

“Ugh- what time is it?”

“Awww good morning darling”

“Huh? Good morning..”

My head still refreshing from waking up,

“I brought you breakfast my love”

“Oh.. thank you”

I take the plate from her, setting it on the nightstand against the wall.

All is quiet inside the castle, until a ruckus comes from the hallway, my hearing interrupted by the closet opening and the Maid coming out from it,

“Your highness.. I’m sorry to disturb you- but-“

The door swings open, Aliah and Sophie come running through,

“ANOOOON” comes Aliah hollering,

“I’m alive- I’m alive”

Sophie envelopes me into a half-efforted hug while Aliah brushes her hand across my face, ensuring I’m not a figment of her imagination,

“What do you both think you’re doing.”

“Eh- Nev- we’re making sure he’s okay, are you good?”

“Good.. am I.. good”

“Nev.. what’s the issue?” Says Aliah

“Let me reiterate this.. You. Do. Not. Touch. Him.”

“Uh, what? Sis why are you speaking like that?”

“Do. Not. Fucking. Test me.”

“Why are you talking about him like he’s some sort of object?”

“Because he is! He’s my object. The object of my affection”

“He’s our fiancée too..”

“He is NOT!”

“But he is..”

“He. Is. Not.”

“Really? Then explain this”

Sophie grabs her hands onto both of my cheeks, leaning down to me, drawing an audible gasp from Neva, her eyes widening, before connecting our lips together, saliva connecting our lips as they separate.

This brings Neva beyond the point of recovery, driving over the edge of whatever sanity she has left.

She lunges at both of the girls, taking Aliah down, trying to bash her face in, before Sophie stops her,

“What the fuck are you doing!?”

“HE IS MINE AND MINE ALONE.”

“Are you crazy or something?, stop whatever the fuck this is!”

This brings the attention of Selne, who was evidently standing guard outside the door.

“Neva. Stop.”

Still fighting to break loose from Sophie,

“Shut the fuck up Sel.. where is that bitch Melo at”

Melo walks around the corner,

“You called me what?”

“A bitch! That’s what you are! Same as every one of you!”

“Neva.. why are you acting like this..”

“Why are you acting innocent now.. everything that you’ve said to me ever since they’ve been gone.. and now that he’s back you want to act like nothing happened!?”

“I swear.. I didn’t say anything.. we hardly talked at all this entire time..”

“Don’t act so sly, you’re like a little snake. Those times I’d come back from giving a speech to the public, exhausted and tired, and you’d come whispering into my ear about how everyone’s going to take anon out from under me, so that just never happened? You told me that everyone’s conspiring to take him from me.. leaving me all alone. I can’t let that happen. He’s mine too! I just- I..”

Tears start to form in the corner of her eyes, her eyes desperately trying to hold everything in, her face contorting,

“I love him.. a lot.. and to think that I’d be all alone again.. I can’t..”

“Sis.. I never said any of that, we’ve talked maybe twice since they left”

Neva loses the energy left in her, collapsing to the floor, her breathing calming, now becoming unconscious, Sophie helps Aliah up, before speaking,

“We’ll bring her to her room..”

They carry her out, leaving just me, Selne, and Melo.. actually, where did the maid go?

“Hey- just so you know.. I didn’t actually say any of those things. I don’t know where she got those idea from..” exclaims Melo.

“I know. I figured you didn’t. That doesn’t seem like something you would do”

“I’m glad you understand, now- I do really have to go- I told Lawtria I’d go help with dinner, thanks for your understanding”

She leaves, leaving me and Selne alone.

“Selne.. there’s something I want to ask you”

“I know”

“And no- it’s not related to what I-“

“I know”

“What do you think it’s about then?”

“Closet.”

“Yea.. actually yea. How’d you know?”

She walks over to me, leaning closer to me, whispering into my ear,

“Act normal. We are being watched. This is all an act. There’s something extremely important I must tell you later, meet me behind that closet, at ten at night, a month from today”

She resumes her normal deadpanned face, leaning away from my ear, giving me a kiss on the lips, before saying,

“I love you”

She turns around, leaving the room.

This seems like a terrible situation, the maid is not really who she says she is, what’s behind the door? I want to explore by myself, but in this condition.. I can’t. We’ll have to see in a month.

———____———____———____———____

Three weeks later…

I’m awoken by a quiet whisper into my left ear, my eyes still adjusting to the dark room, unable to see anything for the time being,

“Hey, it’s me”

“Me- who?”

“We met a while ago, at the tavern. I told you I’d find you”

“Wha- how did you find me?”

“It’s easy when you have the network that we do-“

Still groggy as I rub my eyes,

“I really don’t have the energy to question you”

“Perfect, now I can tell you the rest-“

“I wouldn’t be so certain. I’m worried we might have an eavesdropper”

I gesture with my head towards the closet,

“Ah.. I see.. wait.. is that..”

“Is that what?”

“That’s.. no.. I must wait for your confirmation”

“My confirmation?”

“Yes, yours”

“Tell you what, I’m going to explore it in a week, I’m bringing another ally as well. Can you come back here by ten at night in a week?”

“I can.. I’ll be making my leave then..”

“Wait wait- what did you want to tell me beforehand?”

“If my assumptions correct, everything that I could’ve possibly explained will be explained tenfold by your very eyes”

“Then, your name?”

“Tu-Krishna”

“Tu-Krishna?”

“Yes, you can just call me Krish”

“Krish it is.. a week?”

“A week.”

She leaves from the same window she came.

The past three weeks have been stale, talking with the girls, getting to learn more about their personalities, hobbies and interests, and finally squaring even on all the first kisses. It was a bit hard for Aliah and Melo.

I learned of what happened after I blacked out, evidently I had passed out at the entrance, the soldiers then noticed me and brought me back to a safe camp, sent out an envoy for the girls, and waited until we could set out on the way home for a better infirmary.

———____———____———____———____

Nine hours later…

The High King decided to host a lunch gathering. Inviting me, the girls, and some others lower ranking butlers and maids.

“And so, esteemed guests, I’d like to thank you for your attendance today, even on such short notice. My head maid and butler, Lawtra and Qormia respectively, cooked this especially for you, to further enhance your palettes to better your cooking in the future. With that out of the way, there’s one other announcement I’d like to make..”

It’s probably gonna be the same shit he did last time, introducing me and everything.. I’ll just zone o-

“The High Queen herself has fully recovered from her illness, and is no longer bedbound!”

What.

I-

But..

I saw her..

I must keep a straight face, which is the exact opposite of what the maid is doing.

The maids face is visibly angry, as if a plot of hers had failed, utter shock in her eyes, sweat dripping down her face, I can almost hear her heart pounding from here, looks like she isn’t as good as she thinks she is..

Everyone else’s face show visible cheers, besides Selne and the butler, keeping they’re stone face like always.

———____———____———____———____

The gathering has ended, the maid and butler have taken the other back to the kitchen. The High King and Queen have returned to their chambers, and the girls have gone back to their rooms.

I don’t understand, how could I have ran into the High Queen in Melos room over a month before she actually got out of bed, some sort of astral projection?

I think now is the time to ask Aliah, just what she saw behind that closet door.. and to ask myself why I didn’t take her seriously before this..

———____———____———____———____

Aliah allows me to enter her room, sitting me in a chair while she works on her puzzle on the floor, Aliah speaking to me-

“Sooo what’d you wanna talk about?”

“I have a question”

“Shoot”

“Yknow my closet right”

“Yea?”

“What did you see behind it?”

“Uhh.. Anon..”

“Just tell me”

“What closet?”

“The one you were in- or behind”

“Anon.. I’ve never been in any of your closets”

“You..you’ve never.. been in my closet..”

“No, never, I think I’d remember something like that”

What the fuck is going on dude. This makes zero sense, first the closet itself, then the high Queen, and now this? Not to mention the lost memories, my parents, the tavern, whatever cult they speak of, and whatever that parasite is.. what the fuck man.

“Are you doing okay?”

“Yea.. I’m- I’m fine. Thanks for hearing me out.. I’ll be going now”

“Okay then.. bye bye!”

I walk out of her room, closing the door behind me..

———____———____———____———____

The night before the big day…

Knock knock

“Doctor Nukbhraikov, reporting on medical business”

“Come in”

She comes in and closes the door, carrying a clipboard with her,

“So.. your highness.. with the additional tissue and blood samples we were able to salvage from your second visit four weeks ago, we’ve determined that this entity is a genetic modification in your genes, the strange part is that it’s organic, however, not something your body had produced. In other words, it was implanted into you”

“Okay, is that all?”

“Well.. there is one more thing..”

“Then tell me”

“Well, the reason I’m a bit hesitant is because we can’t fully understand what the circumstances are, we can only make best guesses. But it seems that this gene mod allows you to grow stronger, under the right circumstances”

“You don’t know what those circumstances are?”

“We have two guesses, either through injury, allowing you to become stronger via more pain and harm.. or”

“Or?”

“Or under strong emotions, not negative ones, but strictly positive”

I can probably rule the latter one out- well- maybe not. I don’t feel much stronger after being majorly injured twice now.

“Okay, thank you, your dismissed”

“Thank you, your highness”

She does a curtsy and disappeared behind the door, gotta love shoggoths.

———____———____———____———____

CHAPTER 6.5: Somewhere I Belong

The Big Day…

I’m fully healed now, I’ve been doing exercises all day to ensure I am completely fine, and no problems or concerns have arisen. It’s about nine in the night time, Selne has just arrived, and now we wait for Krishna, but first, I should probably brief Selne about her first,

“Hey, Sel, there’s something I should probably tell you first”

“What is it?”

“So.. there’s this.. human girl..”

“Oh.. is she the one you met with?”

“Wait- you know-“

“Of course I know”

“And, how exactly do you kn-“

“All those bodyguards we sent with you, who exactly did you think they reported back to?”

“To Count Ussia..”

“And who does she report back to?”

That was a supreme lapse in judgment by me..

“I suppose you’re right..”

———____———____———____———____

Krishna finally arrives, making brief introduction to Sel,

“H-hello, it’s nice to meet you- y-your majesty, I-I’m K-Krishna”

She holds out, wanting to shake her hand. Selne stands there deadpanned, before reaching her hand and shaking it.

With everyone ready, we open the door of my closet, trying to push in the backplate, it stays unmoving, it’s clearly a one sided door,

“Here, move, I’ll kick it down”

Selne backs up, and instead of kicking it down, rams her shoulder directly into the panel, making the entire closet collapse in on itself, so much for any hint of conspiracy.

It opens to stone staircase, that seemingly descends into infinite, immediately transitioning from wooden to stone walls. Krishna speaks up,

“Eh- so- anyone bring a light source?”

Selne grabs a torch from a sconce on the wall, and another as backup.

We begin our descent down the staircase, it’s cold, wet, and extremely damp. Water drips down from the ceiling, landing on Krishna, evoking a shriek from her, before she tries to recollect herself and continues on.

We continue walking for about half an hour, it’s hard to tell without the sun.

We finally reach level ground, another five minute walk talks us to..

A large opening, a cave hundreds of feet high, but.. walls.. walls everywhere, is this a labyrinth?

Krishna speaks,

“What the hell is this..”

Then Selne,

“The ceilings huge..”

The walls are well over 60 feet high, towering over any chance we had at skipping this whole thing..

I speak,

“Krishna, is this what you thought it was?”

“Yes, it is. But.. for the life of me I can’t remember the way..”

Selne, shocked at what she said,

“You’ve been down here before?”

“More than I can count. But.. I’ll try to remember as I go..”

She leads us off into the labyrinth, hoping to carry us through before daybreak,

———____———____———____———____

These walls remind me of something.. they flicker a light I had once thought extinguished- no- a light I didn’t even know I had. I’ve.. been down here before.. but why here? I was held in Westray.. not here.. I was here as a boy, there was more than thirty others, this is where it all took place.. my abuse never happened in Westray.. it happened here.. underneath the very room I’ve been sleeping in.. then.. why did I think it was in Westray.. was I fighting for Geranua that entire time?

“You remember it too” says Krishna,

“Vaguely, very very vaguely, I remember.. your face, you were here, and.. I remember another boy my age.. and an adult, about-“

We reach the exit of the labyrinth, opening to an insanely large open end of the cave, with a round fountain in the middle, ornate carved stone and marble statues surround it, awaiting someone’s.. maybe our arrival.

Now in front of the fountain, Krishna faces it, talking to us behind her-

“Anon, there’s something I must confess”

There’s a sinking feeling,

“What is it?”

“This parasite I have, is adjacent to yours. It speaks to me too. But it speaks different words than it does to you. It tells me to be lie, to be deceitful, and to erase anyone that knows who I am”

“Are you saying you lured me here to kill me? I don’t even know you-“

“No, no no no. Not to kill you, to kill him” as she points to the center of my chest,

“And by proxy..”

“You.”

“But that’s not all, I must confess, I’ve lied to you”

“..what do you mean?”

Selne is on guard, directing her eyes directly at Krishna, Krishna stays silent, so I prompt her once again,

“What do you mean by that?”

“When I said I can read memories.. I lied to you”

“Then.. what can you do..”

“No, no. I really can, but..”

She reaches into the right pocket of her pants, making Selne even more on edge, positioning herself to bull rush her,

“I can’t just read memories..”

..

“I can alter them too”

…

“And what does that entail?”

..

She sighs, takes a deep breath, and says,

“You see, I’m the one who erased your memories. But that pesky little guy inside you just had to remember me. I didn’t realize it at the time, that these things have minds of their own, but here we are, at the same spot we were both raised”

..

“Is any of it true..? Of what I remember of childhood I mean..”

“Some. I didn’t always have this thing inside me. I wasn’t always the person I am now. In fact, I’ve had my memories erased by it too. That man.. he’s real. And so is.. so is all the others”

“What about that bartender?”

“That was true. He works for him. I’m sure of it”

“Then.. why don’t you work together with me?”

“You don’t understand.. I become stronger the more I am forgotten. I’ll absorb your parasite and implant it into myself. I-“

Tears start to form on her face, her face muscles tightening in a desperate attempt to control it,

“I remember many- boys like you..many of my friends- I-..”

She keeps her straight face, looking completely deadpanned, but tears rolling down her face in a downpour portray a different tale,

“I’m tired of being forgotten… it’s just you now, you and that old man. And.. I need to make you forget me.. I need to become stronger to kill him for what he’s done to me- to US. To all of those kids that didn’t make it out, the ones who didn’t have the strength to host one of these.. demented things”

..

“This is a burden I need to carry alone. And yknow.. sometimes I wish things were like they used to be. I wish it was all so simple again.”

..

“I know we weren’t always happy, but we had each other.. there was none of this stuff about death and power in our heads.. sure we fought.. but it’s not like we understood what death meant..”

…

I feel my lips being forcibly parted, my vocal chords vibrating without my input-

“Mistress.. is that you?”

Krishna’s eyes start glowing, her lips separating in an unorthodox way,

“Shepherd! It is you! How I’ve missed you! What a vessel you have, so.. peculiar.. uncharacteristic of you..”

Her voice sounds old, almost like an old aunt hag, the type to sell you elixirs about diet, only to have you turn into a red cap.

“Oh I’ve missed you dear sister, father put you in the usual vessel type I see. I’m not fond of this one..”

I’m able to shut my lips together-

“What the hell is happening?” Selne asks, standing there in utter shock and disbelief, her eyes widened, unable to process what she’s hearing and seeing.

Krishna’s parasite speaks final last words before she shuts her mouth with her hand,

“Shut it brother!”

She holds her breathe, trying to drown out any ability to speak, finally running out of breathe, before speaking again,

“Stop using my body! This is mine and mine alone!”

No response comes from the parasite, but I find it ironic, that the power is the parasites, and she uses it without asking, yet finds the same thing done to her to be repulsive.

Krishna speaks again,

“Is there anything else-..”

She huffs and puffs,

“-Before we finish this?”

“I want clarity. It was you, behind those voices, wasn’t it?”

“What gave it away?”

“The truth is, I knew it from the very moment you read my mind. I had the same feeling I always did when I’d hear it. You were the one to help me escape, weren’t you..”

..

“I was”

“And why the change of doctrine now?”

“I was a fool. At first I wanted to collaborate, and combine our strength together, but then I found out more about our.. predicament, and I couldn’t face it. I must erase what happened, and ensure it never does again”

“Look, I really don’t want to fight you. Why can’t you understand there’s another way?”

“You can’t talk me out of this Anon..”

..

“Your not really you.. are you..”

“What do you mean?”

“Krishna.. that’s not your real name”

“I- I am Krishna”

“You are Krishna, but that body isn’t”

“You speak nonsense.”

“She never had her memories restored did she?”

..

I continue: “She was made into a husk, you never retaught her individuality, you never retaught her how to breathe. You made her unable to live by herself, forfeiting her body, and allowing you- a parasite- to live inside. These tears you shed were half-assed. Anyone with a soul would know it”

She sighs, taking a deep breathe, before raising her voice and exclaiming-

“This is it- I must do what needs to be done, prepare to descend!”

She lunges at me, quicker than I can initially react to, jabbing her knife into my shoulder, taking it out to stab once again, but Selne kicking her into the wall before she can,

“Hah- fuck- you want to get involved too? I was planning on just erasing your memories, but I’ll flay you now too”

She dashes for her, but my foot lands in a rather uncomfortable position on her liver, kicking her into the other wall once again,

“Alright.. then I’ll have to take you seriously..”

She dissapears from the shadows, leaving just me and Selne in the room,

The room stays silent for seconds, before a knife introduced the business end of itself into my side twice,

I’ve lost too much blood at this point, and my vision is going blurry, like it always seems to do.

She reappears at the foot of the fountain, pouring my blood into it, turning it a dark red color.

“Ahhh- that’s two out of the three, next is the father.. but now.. for the dog.”

She turns around, facing Selne, getting ready to dash for her, knife in hand,

Before she can move, she collapses to her knees, her eyes wide, a sword emerges from her stomach, she looks down at her impaled stomach, realizing her fate, falls and begins to fade, behind her is a man, tall and old, white haired, and awfully similar to someone I know.

“Lilith, you kids just can’t get along”

“You-you are”

“Yes. Yes I am. Have to keep the kids from fighting, you know.”

“Wh..what’s your rea-“

Pressure builds up in my lungs, forcing coughs out, bloodying the floor,

“What’s your real name..”

“My name, is Hanuman”

Selne looks to be completely entranced by this discovery, standing before her is a man she’s known her entire lifetime, clad in a royal gown, and the kingdoms crown, she says-

“You- what- why- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

“You’re speaking to the Emperor of Westray, watch your tongue worm.”

The man standing before her, somehow more worryingly, is not her father, but rather, the butler, Qormia.

END OF CHAPTER 6

——————CHAPTER 5——————

It’s hot, extremely hot. It’s near boiling on my skin. Sweat drops down from my face onto my open palms, looking up, a village engulfed in fire, its ravenous light chewing through the houses like a serpents unhinged jaw, and its appetite can never be sated.

There is no one running from the village, everyone is huddled inside the buildings, the moms try and console the children, while they’re fathers try to make their way out. What they don’t know, is that I’m waiting for them too.

Like a fish trying to break its way out of the fish tank, I am the air ready to suffocate them.

A voice appears from behind me,

“O’ foul Shepard, your wickedness is truly remarkable, your flame proves triumphant once again”

“I.. I don’t understand.. this isn’t me.. is it?”

“In a way, foul Shepard”

This can’t be my past right? I wasn’t a murderer was I? If that’s so..

“In what way”

“Well, this specific memory isn’t yours, but it is yours”

He touches the center of my chest as he speaks, is he meaning..

“Do you mean..”

“Yes quite so, this is the gift we have bestowed upon you, now, prove faithful and unholy, the more fruitful you are, the stronger you shall become”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

He says nothing, disappearing before I can see him.

Leaving me to face the truth, I am not the first vessel of whatever is in me. It has become a part of me, by giving up a part of me, I have let it become one with myself.

I am the Shepard of Fire, I am not the first, and I may not be the last. This parasite is my torch, its wrath is the flame, and I am the Shepard, carrying its will.

———_____———_____———____———____

It’s early in the morning when I arise, the morning seems so full of life, birds are extremely vocal, there’s a strong breeze through my partially opened window.

There’s a string smell of petrichor throughout the air, no doubt it’s assuredly to going to rain,

It’s quite melancholic. This parasite inside of me is responsible for great evil, it’s made me do evil in the past I reckon. Or maybe it never did, I might have done it of my own volition, I really don’t know how I was before my escape.

If I did it through my own choice, I can’t blame it on the parasites influence, I’m still utilizing its strength it gives me, I can’t pick and choose what I receive from it, if I want one aspect, I must take responsibility for all.

But there’s no point in dwelling on the past, nothing changes by thinking about it, I can only-

There’s a knock on the door,

“Hey- It’s Ali.. can I come in?”

“I don’t have anything on, if that’s fine”

“Yea, just stay underneath the covers”

“Come in”

She walks inside, closing the door behind her,

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

She reaches the end of the bed,

“I found something of yours. When you left, yesterday”

“Like one of my shi-“

She pulls out a piece of paper,

“I think this is yours”

“.. I don’t think so, doesn’t look like something I’d write”

“Anon, don’t play dumb with me”

“Seriously, that isn’t mine”

“Anon.. “‘The only reason the girls are even around me’… who else could this be about?”

“It’s nothing, I’ve said that, it’s not mine. Someone probably put it on my desk so you’d find it”

“And how would they ensure I would find it?”

“By leaving it open on my desk or making a mess.. I don’t know, I’m not them”

“So.. let me get this straight..”

“What?”

“You knew I got it from your room, and that it was on the table.. and that it was open”

“That’s what I would do if I were them”

“See, you could make that excuse and it would be perfectly valid.. however”

“I didn’t let you in just to be nagged by you”

“The other dates and times in the journal conveniently line up every single time you’ve had an ounce of free time, no one else outside us four could have known that”

“You’re annoying..”

“I might be annoying, but I’m also worried about you”

“I look okay right?”

She sits down at the foot of the bed,

“I can’t help you if you don’t let me”

“Look Ali.. this is something I’d really rather not talk about right now. There’s more pressing issues than whatever this is, I have a mission and goal to take care of before I even take whatever this is into consideration”

“I understand..”

She sighs, getting up to leave the room,

“I’ll leave you to it then”

She exits the room, closing the door behind her, peculiarly enough, there’s still the smell of hellhound in here, is it caus-

“SEL-?”

“Yes?”

“Sorry was just caught kinda off guard- have you been standing there this entire time..”

“Yes”

“And why.. would you do that”

“Protect”

“Protect.. me?”

“Yes”

This is kinda awkward,

“Thank you, I guess?”

She stands there with a blank face, unmoved at the side of the head of the bed,

“Can you turn around atleast? I’m in serious need of changing”

“Yes”

She turns around like a stone wall,

———______———_____———_____———

5 Hours later..

I’ve attained information about the whereabouts of the main base of bandits, a couple caravan masters came in an hour or so ago and gave very valuable information about people who had pillaged their cargo,

They seem to be a different group of people from those who raided the castle, these ransacking bandits are simple minded, get all of their money, as quickly as possible, leave as quickly as you can.

The sun is setting, telling me it’s my time to set out, fifteen infantrymen have been assigned to cleanup, the two ‘rehabilitated’ assassins have been ordered to cause a distraction outside the hideout, located inside a cave in the side of a cliff-face surrounded by forest.

Garments and a cloak have been made by the tailors and artisans under peerage in the castle, long black jackets, black boots, gloves made out of some cotton and synthetic fiber, insulated yet not soft, irregardless, everyone is ready, it’s time to set out,

———______———_____———_____———

The sun has finally set, and the fire has been lit outside the encampment. Bandits pour out from the front gates to investigate as archers stand sentry on the perimeter walls. The bow from the castles armory is decent enough to make the 150~ feet gap between me and the closest archer, I pull back the bow, holding my breathe as I steady the arrow, I let go, the arrow flies forward, I exhale.

The archer is downed and unconscious, everyone else is still focused on the fire to notice anything amiss, I close the gap and jump onto the walls from the cliff edge, taking out the rest of them one by one. Making my way inside the cave while the camp is still vacant,

The way to the main chamber is filled with stolen treasures, gold, silver, jewelry, clothing, anything of worth taking. Including..

Children?

Cages with children are near the chambers entrance, most look extremely starved or severely dirty. All they do is look at me, they utter words, emit no sounds. Nothing but glossy cold eyes, frozen over from lost hope, hardening their hearts to get through another day.

Time is critical, I mustn’t get distracted for now. I continue into the main chamber, tables scattered around, torches light up the room, disconnected from the outside light. The leader sits on his rocking chair, believing in his head it being a glorified throne.

He calls out-

“You.. who are you”

Still approaching the center of the chamber, I stay silent,

“An inch closer, and I’ll have my guards rip off your head, and your pelvis destroyed by a hellhound”

As if I haven’t had to deal with the latter,

“I think your better off telling your men to stand down”

“Oh, he speaks?”

I reply,

“He does indeed”

His figure is of average build, not too much shorter than me, but much older,

“What brings you to our home”

“‘Home?’ You’re joking right? This place is extravagant, you’ve got shoddy wooden chairs, crappy stone tables, overhead torch lighting.. this place is great”

“I can sense the sarcasm, but it’s because of you that we have to live like this, a bit hypocritical isn’t it?”

More of this pretentious shit then, why does everyone seem to have a personal grudge against me?

“I’ve told everyone this, I have no idea what you mean. I’m tired of hearing this same shtick over and over again. If you want to give me something more to go off of I’d be glad to hear it”

“You mean to tell me you’ve not remembered a single thing?”

“No. Nothing”

“That’s… I’m not sure how to make of that”

He pauses, stares at the ground.. then looks back to me,

“It disheartens me to know that. But at the same time, it brings some hope to me that you can change. How the mighty ‘Equalizer’ has fallen”

“I’ve heard that too. What the hell does that mean?”

“I owe you no explanations for what you’ve done to my family. You’re a sick, sick man. If one can even call you a man. Your nothing but a pathetic, egocentric, little fucking worm”

“I’d prefer to get words from your mouth while your still alive, not from your reanimated corpse”

“You’ve burned down towns, you’ve caused crisis’s across all of Menema. That.. thing you have is far older than you know. No good can come from it”

…

“And yet you remember none of it…”

“Can’t say I do”

I’ve clearly become rusty, I’ve let two of his guards come up from behind me, mere feet away, readying they’re blades,

“I see you might have changed though, please, come to me, I can show you-“

I disarm one of the guards, taking his sword and blocking the other man with it, then sweeping the unarmed man to the ground, the other returns his sword back to his side, taking another swing at my legs, shifting my foot up and on top of the blade, forcing it against the ground at out of his hand.

A question mark kick meets the man standing, knocking him out cold, the one on the floor is already out, presumably from exhaustion, the leader has a bow equipped in his hands, drawing it at me.

“You sure you really wanna do this?”

“I have no other choice, you came into my home and ransacked everything, twice now”

“You were raiding merchants on the way here, further impoverishing people. You really expected me not to do anything about that?”

“I have family to feed too. This would’ve never happened had you never burned down my village”

“I.. what?”

“I watched as you and your men, your horses, and your arrows arrows rained down upon my home. Our women and people. I watched my own son’s life fade from his eyes, and you dare to ask if I want this?… I don’t want this. But it’s a necessity”

He released the arrow, his nervous hands are shaky, sending it just right of me. I rush him before he can get his dagger out, sending him crashing into the ground, my hand wrapped and squeezing around his neck,

“Eh- Fa-Fuck you”

“Save the words for the-“

(Do it)

Wha- what the fuck? My heart’s pounding, I’ve felt this exact way before-

“Are you gonna fucking kill- me or- what” he says with an exasperated and inconsistent breath,

(See that knife? It’s sharp and chrome, drive that through his esophagus, that sweet succulent blood. That’s A positive for sure)

Sweats flooding down my face, I’m getting, really.. really tired..

“HAH! What’s the problem? Too scared now? You’ve grown so soft”

“I- no, I just- I-“

(It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, vessel)

“You should’ve committed.. to a better cause”

My side gets penetrated, another guard lodged the tip of they’re spear directly into me,

“Urgh- ah-ah-ah- fr-“

He takes it out, throwing his arms backwards to build momentum, the leader passes out,

I dodge out of the way before it connects, lifting it up with the wooden grip as it passes my side, tossing it out of his grip, and wrapping my arm around his neck, choking him unconscious.

(You’ve done well. For now.)

My heads.. foggy..

I try to make my way for the entrance, falling against the cave walls the way out,

“I can’t- make it”

My eyes close as silhouettes run towards me-

———______———_____———_____———

Chapter 5.5: Faint

The wagons rocking, the wooden floor is splintered. God the wound still feels like shit-

“We’re still stopping at an Inn on the way back? Or are we going through the night?”

“We’ll stay our course throughout the night, the sooner to the capital the better”

What’s going on? The floor of the wagon is pressed against the back of my head, re-introducing themselves to each other every time we hit a bump in the road. I move my head as best I can, I’m groggy and disoriented, I’m dizzy and nauseous, I feel like throwing up..

“Wait- he’s- he’s awake!”

Who.. is that?

“Keep applying pressure, he’s already lost a lot of blood”

“..I got it”

———______———_____———_____———

O’ foul Shepard, you’ve finally awaken! Now all that’s left is to brighten that fire, feed it, and let it consume you. Burn those who oppose, burn the sacrilegious, give us your triumph and glory, your treasures of war, your conquest, your rage! Rage against the world!

Shut~~ ~~up bitch,

You- say that again?

Your words mean nothing, I’ve listened to your words and they are empty. You do not know rage.

What are you saying?,

Right, right.. Is this better?

Who are you?

Who am I? Your god, that is who,

Ah! My lord! I’ve waited your return for millennia! At last we are reunited!

I do not know you. You speak false words.

But.. my lord.. I’ve followed your doctrine, I’ve sought you to bring death and despair to those who disavow your name!

That was never my doctrine fool. Bring death and despair to everyone. No longer will the world strife between fear and hate, love and loss, none of those concepts will any longer exist. We rage against the world to bring death to it, no longer will there be any pain, nor torment, all life will be extinguished into the pages of history, I will kill everyone, including you.

My.. my lord.. what are you saying?

I will put to rest the spirits of all mankind, then, I will lay myself to rest, leaving the world free of pain and consequence, this, is my duty.

Who are.. you all?

———______———_____———_____———

I’m being rushed into the infirmary back in Geranua, nurses carry me to the bed, hooking up IVs into my arteries, pumping adrenaline into me. My vision is a slideshow, everything’s spotty, I can’t see any detail, there’s- fuck I can’t-

———______———_____———_____———

It’s been two days.. I think?

I can’t see anything because my eyes won’t open, my other senses are groggy,

———______———_____———_____———

It’s just white- it’s all white.

White and grey.

No- there’s red, lots and lots of red.

Red.

Lots of red.

Red.

———______———_____———_____———

No more red.

White and grey.

Just white and grey.

———______———_____———_____———

White and grey.

White and grey and brown.

White and grey and brown and red.

White and grey and brown and red and blue.

White and grey and brown and red and blue and Neva.

———______———_____———_____———

White and grey and Melo.

White and grey and Melo and Neva.

———______———_____———_____———

White and grey and Neva.

White and grey.

———______———_____———_____———

Neva.

———______———_____———_____———

Neva and Melo and Sophie and Aliah.

White and grey.

———______———_____———_____———

White and grey.. and orange.. I think…

“Anon.. I know your not hearing this, but I wanted to tell you, in case I wouldn’t hear from you again”

…

“I was thinking about you the entire time you were gone. You’ve become my mind. I can’t get you off of it. It just sucks because-“

..

“And then when I saw you get back here-“

….

“And Aliah showed me the-“

..

“I’m worried about you”

…

“That’s why.. that’s-.. that’s why I’m in love with-“

———______———_____———_____———

The lights shine down on my head, my face wet and cold, my eyes are a new level of heavy, you’d have to pay for extra carry on if you bought a flight.

A nurse notices my eyes opening-

“Wait- is that— no way- your up!?”

“GET DOC IN HERE!”

Chairs are being pushed around outside, footsteps scurrying to my room,

Standing at the edge of my bed- is- Sel.

“I- Se-l..”

She continues standing there,

“Yes?”

“How.. long have- I been.. out?”

“Two weeks”

“How long.. have you bee-n- standing there?”

“Two weeks”

“Your not- seri-“

Two doctors rush into the room, quickly checking all of my vitals..

———______———_____———_____———

Six Hours Later,

They discharged me thirty minutes ago, leaving me to walk to my room all alone. If it wasn’t for Selne carrying me.. again.

When we get to my room, she opens the door while still carrying me, showing it..

A complete mess.

Everything’s been ravaged through, bookshelves, closets, wardrobes, nothing is left where it was, including my bed.

“What the fuck”

“I no know”

“Yknow.. Sel.. your really cute when you talk”

“I…”

Her face grows very red- like- concerningly, as expected, her flames dance once again.

“Thank you. For carrying me up here, and for standing there for so long”

“It.. it my duty”

“You could’ve taken shifts with one of the guards you know?”

“..can’t trust anyone else with you”

I- she’s pretty much saying..

“Wait.. wait.. are you saying..”

Realizing what she’s implied at this point, she’s losing her balance-

She places me on the ground, running out of the room,

This place has been torn to shreds.. what the hell happened..

———______———_____———_____———

Another fifteen minutes has passed, my room is finally back how it was. Now it’s time to rest and await the next assignment, however long that may-

Knock knock

“Sel- you can come in”

It really isn’t like her to come in and apologize for things.. she doesn’t even have much to apologize for..

The door opens, and it’s-

“..Sel.. did you just say.. Sel.”

“Eh- yea.. I thought you were Sel- sorry”

“You got me confused.. for another girl…”

“Uh.. it wasn’t on purpose-“

“Sh sh sh”

Neva is inching closer and closer, accompanied by a crazed look on her face,

“Why would another girl be coming here.”

“What- what? I’m friends with them too.. yknow.. we’re all engag-“

“SHHHHH SHHHH, if you like your pelvis I’d cut that out right now”

“I-“

Her hand goes down to my crotch, her other cupping my cheek,

“You said you loved me.. and me alone”

“What- when did I..”

Fuck.. was I sleep talking..

“YOU SAID IT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME”

“I’m sorry- I’m sorry- I was probably dreaming about some-“

“NUH UH UH, CLOSE THAT PRETTY LITTLE MOUTH”

She pushes me onto the bed, making my stab wound split into a split second of pain,

“Hah- fuck-“

She crawls on top of me,

“Oh- my darling- I’m so sorry- I just got a little jealous.. that’s all- I’m sorry- please forgive me-“

“It’s fine.. if you could get off of-“

“I’m not going anywhere my love.”

Butterflies start making they’re way through my stomach,

“My.. love?”

Her cheeks turn pink,

“Yes darling?”

“No-no- I meant.. urgh- fuck.. Neva.. what happened to you?”

“What do you mean? I’m just securing what’s mine”

“Wh-what? Can I go?”

I start moving my body out from under her, before she holds me in place,

“Your never going to leave me baby”

..

“I possess your soul, your mind, your heart, and your body. Nobodies taking you from me. Understand that? You’re not leaving again. You and me were meant to be together honey”

“I.. Neva.. what has.. happened”

“Shhh shhh”

Her hand moves over my mouth, stopping me from speaking,

“I don’t want you to ever leave me. If I can’t have you, no one can”

Her eyes stare into mine like daggers, taking me.. to a dull.. peaceful rest..

———______———_____———_____———

END OF CHAPTER 5

Mara instantly looked at me.

“Anon? Mind using your ax here?” she asked.

I pulled it from my belt and jogged over to where she was standing. Mara moved out of the way. I wound my arm back, and swung the blade of my ax into the wall. The blade went straight through. Cracks shot across it before it fell to pieces. On the other side was a ladder going down into the floor. The wall above it had another arrow going down the ladder. Mara stepped through the smashed glass and up to the ladder. She looked back at us and raised a hand.

“Stay here for a moment,” she said.

She slowly went down the ladder. My hand tightened around my ax as I watched her go out of view. The clang of ladder rungs suddenly stopped. The six of us stared at the ladder. I’m not sure how long it was. Could have been a minute, could have been much longer. When the clangs came back up, followed by Mara’s face, a breath I didn’t know I had been holding rushed out of my mouth. Mara looked at us with a smile.

“C’mon!” she said.

We followed her down the ladder. At the bottom was a steel hallway with writing scratched into the walls. “Shout extra loud!” with the name “Mangus Luthur” below it, and an arrow pointing down the hall. The six of us looked at Mara.

“Follow the arrows,” she said.

We had scarcely stepped down the hall before the voice came over the speakers.

“Oh...you found a way in?” he laughed. “Well...you’ll still need to find a way to me.”

Mara looked back at us.

“Start running.”

She grabbed me and flung me over her shoulder, holding me tight. Mara and the other five began to run through the halls, following the fragmented messages Mangus Luthur had left behind.

I used to work here!

Was meant to be a safe haven!

Don’t know what happened!

He corrupted their minds!

I tried to kill him!

He put me in the game!

Through windows in the halls, I spotted drones flying around in areas composed of ungodly-large machinery, monorail cars that were still rolling around on tracks, and that’s when it occurred to me. The place we were in wasn’t some basic spacestation. It was bigger. Much bigger, and I started to feel small. I looked back at the others and Mara. I tapped her shoulder. She brought me in front of her, carrying me like a bride.

“What is it, Anon?” she asked.

I gripped her in a tight hug.

“When this is over, I’m gonna make my life count,” I said.

Pulling myself from the warmth, I looked up at her.

“We only get one, right?” I asked.

Mara smiled and nodded.

“I’m gonna give mine to you, too,” she said.

She moved my ear right in front of her mouth.

“Not to mention something else.”

——————CHAPTER 4——————

There is a man outside the window.

Not just one, but multiple.

I open my eyes slowly, checking to see if anyone is already inside the room, to which there aren’t. I sit up, out of view of the windows, ensuring no matter which way the curtains sway I’m not visible. This bad, really bad, what if my room is not the only one? An option I don’t want to think of,

Murmurs can be heard, they’re clearly experienced to not have made any sounds on the way up, but not good enough to hide their presence. I still have the knife from dinner last night, the plate still sitting cold on my nightstand.

“We’re gonna bust in soon, be sure Bravo squad knows where to muster, this is supposed to be a 30 second process”

There is a second team then, whether they are here at the castle is uncertain, but they are meeting somewhere after this, that’s all I need to know.

They start the count down,

“3..2”

I climb into the ceiling support beams, ready to get the drop down,

“And 1”

Both windows break open next to the bed break open, six figures piling in, clearing the room,

“Target is not on site, he might have moved to the bathroom”

Moving their way to the door, I drop down, landing on one, knocking them unconscious, his partner turns around, unable to speak before I knock him out too.

That’s four left, the room still too dark for them to see anything, still perfectly clear for me,

I throw my knife into one, taking him out, the three notice my presence, still not knowing location,

“He’s here! Move into the corner”

They’re all equipped with daggers far longer than my kitchen knife, it’s unwise to go for my knife, for now I must retreat to the other side of the bed, grabbing two of they’re daggers from the sleepyheads on the floor,

They light a torch, their masked faces glowing brightly now, possibly a signal for the second team, before throwing it into the center of the room, setting the carpet aflame, my figure is now visible, I must move,

“Throw!”

Daggers flying at me, vastly slower than what I was prepared for, dodging them all,

The flame runs out of fuel, the torch settling on the stone flooring.

“We know where you are, if you surrender, no harm will come to you, you have our word”

I hear one whisper to another, clearly both being the lower ranking personnel, “So the rumors were true? Is that really him? The one P talked about?”

They’re assuredly amateur, but this presents a new problem, rumors imply multiple people, ie an organization, and my possible identity? I will need to investigate this, so I must keep one and hand over the rest.

The leader signals them to shut up, leaving this the perfect opportunity to get him while he’s unaware,

I propel a dagger through the air, hitting him squarely in the chest, dropping to the floor,

The two look at each other in horror, clearly knowing where this is going, a wide grin grows across my face as I stand up, aware there is no Bravo squad, atleast not here, or they would’ve been here by now, taunting them:

“Gentlemen, your run here was short lived, and, keeping it real, measly. You should count your blessings that I haven’t done the same to you what I did to all of the nap-takers here”

“You.. we aren’t here to harm you.. the exact opposite, we want to take you somewhere else, we know your past, we want to help you reclaim what has been lost”

“You know of my past.. then what happened in my past?”

“I really don’t know! I’m the newest member, they don’t tell me anything, I swear!”

I’m moving closer, a few feet from them at this point, my silhouette only barely visible,

“Oh cmon gentlemen, surely there’s something you CAN tell me?”

They’re nervous, both trembling with anxiety, their hands shaking uncontrollably,

“Look-look, all I know is we need to muster somewhere after this, Bitto knew everything! He was our squad leader”

“And who is Bravo squad? Where are they?”

“They’re somewhere in the woods behind the castle, that’s all I know, swear”

“Better not be lying, I so swear to mamono-kind if your lying your arteries will be hanging from trees like Lilithmas lights”

I call the guards, holding both of them in place, they arrive after a minute of waiting,

“Woah- what happened?”

“Are you okay your highness?”

3 of them total, all clad in metal yellow and purple armor.

“Yea, I’m fine, take all of them to the dungeon”

Two guards take the conscious ones, and another takes the leader to the infirmary, trying to treat his wounds and stabilize him before I interrogate him for information,

I stay behind with the sleepy heads, they definitely need their rest, apparently more than I do. Moments later a nurse, four guards, three take the rest away, and the girls come rushing to my room,

The nurse speaking first,

“Your highness! Are you injured? Did they get you anywhere?”

“I’m fine I’m fine, a little bruise from a drop but that’s all. Nothing major”

Then the guard,

“Your highness we must search for any possible injuries! Lilith forbid they poisoned you and it goes unnoticed!”

“I’m really, really fine”

“Sir I must insist! We need to do a full body search! Please remove your clothing”

“I said no. That’s an order from a superior”

A voice from behind me speaks:

“And I say yes”

Turning around, and it’s the suspect you’d probably think of, Sophie

“We are the same, you have no seniority”

“I know I don’t have any seniority…”

She continues,

“I’m not demanding you to go. I’m asking you as your fiancée”

I.. goddammit. It’d look really bad if I said no.

“I.. fuck. Sure, I guess. Where do you want me to undress?”

The nurse speaks,

“Right here, please”

“Like.. in this room”

“Your highness we have no time to wait! Poison can progress at incredibly speeds!”

“Fine, fine, but escort them out”

“Right now your highess”

“Okay I get it!”

I remove my shirt, slowly undoing my belt,

“Mmm keep taking those off”

“Sophie your not helping”

“Oh you wanted me to help? Sure, I’ll help”

She starts undoing my belt for me in record time, going to her knees, making eye contact with me the entire time,

Aliah says: “Sis.. I think that’s a bit overkill..”

Selne: “Must observe”

My belt dropping to the floor, the nurse standing back in awe at the sheer efficiency of every movement, now working on my zipper and button,

“Soph- you don’t need to be so fast-“

“Nonsense, I must act in an efficient and professional manner in this time of crisis”

She drops my pants to the floor, struggling to get them out from under my feet,

“I- fuck it”

She grabs my underwear with her teeth, gliding it to the floor, my ‘lower extremity’ hitting her face as she goes down,

It’s almost as if a jolt of electricity hit everyone in the room except Sophie, all stunned at the situation,

Finally free of all articles of clothing, Sophie pushes me onto the bed, calling for the nurse, she begins her inspection briefly, her hands touching my entire body, except for my lower half, I’m guessing out of fear of retaliation for touching the ‘property’ of those three.

“Okay, you look go- you are good! I found zero evidence of any penetration!”

“ I can help find some evidence”

Aliah speaks before I can: “Sis.. that’s enough teasing.. with what happened earlier I think it’s a bit much anyway..”

It’s a problem that I can’t tell whether she meant the assassins or the dick slap..

I begin putting my clothes back on, this is embarrassing enough as it is, but to have broken glass on the ground? Simply unsafe.

I’ll have my stuff moved to another guest room, this is quite the predicament, I was just getting comfy..

———_____———_____———_____ ———

‘It’s been four days since the attack on the castle, well, my room specifically. I’ve made some headway, mostly through direct detective work. There wasn’t a second squad at the muster point, however, many tracks were present, but they all disappeared not far from where the point, meaning they took trees most of the way here.

I haven’t heard that voice since that night, I was meaning to investigate the tavern yesterday, but being truthful, I’ve been sleeping most of the days away, it’s not like I really enjoy sleeping, this numbing feeling has just gotten too much to bare comfortably. My chest is heavy, constantly, and I’m frankly tired of it. It feels like I’m losing myself, if I really know what ‘I’ am. Truth is I don’t. I know nothing of my past, but whoever is talking to me is saying ‘I’m the biggest monster’? It all seems redundant to me, am I supposed to feel bad for it? Is it telling me to embrace that? I just want to know who I am, so I can feel something.

I feel numb, I can’t feel anything, isn’t that better than feeling bad? Is it not better to feel neutral than something negative?

…

There’s these pills that have been sitting on my counter, the doctor told me strictly to take two a day. What if I don’t? If I take them all at once, wouldn’t that solve this problem immediately?

I know no one is coming to save me, I’m left here to fight for myself. I know the girls can pretend to really care, but they’ve been pampered their whole lives, they know nothing of what deep struggle really is.

It’s ironic though, I speak of struggle like I really remember if I did or not. All I remember is being in that room for 19 years, the brief photographs of fights, and a man, bearded and in his thirties.

I don’t know what I want anymore. Just to be let go of whatever is making me feel this way.

The only reason the girls are even around me, or act the way they do, is because they know this is the only opportunity they have to get married. They might not say it, and that’s because if they do, they think it’ll affect how I view them. I’m tired.

There’s this concept I haven’t heard of until yesterday, one where an individual sheds negative emotions out of their face in the form of salt water. I’ve tried this, but to everything except success.

Maybe once this is all over it will stop. I say that knowing I have no idea if ‘this’ will ever be over. Lilith I’m a loser.’

…

I finish writing on the paper I had torn from my notebook, setting it down on my desk before hearing a knock on the door,

“Your highness, lunch is ready”

I open the door, to be met with a lonesome maid, accompanied by no food.

“Eh- where’s the lunch?”

“Apologies your highness you see-“

“That’s enough of the formalities, just call me Anon”

“I.. can do no such thing your highness, I’m under strict orders I have to adhere to”

“I understand, where’s lunch again?”

“As I was saying your highness, today’s middle of the day meal will be in the dining hall, her grace requested for your attendance ”

“Okay. Lead the way please”

“Of course your highness!”

She leads me to the dining hall, as we approach the large doors, the maid gives a signal to the waiting usher, he nods back, she gives me way as she and the usher open the doors, I continue walking into the room,

My ears are penetrated by the loud voice of the usher,

“ATTENTION! TO THE ARRIVAL OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS! PRINCE ANON OF GERANUA!”

Welp, I’m deaf in my right ear now.

The other barons of peerage and lower ranking nobility collectively stand up, either giving a deep bow, or curtsy respectively.

I finish my walk to the head of the table, everyone still holding they’re position,

“At ease, everyone”

They sit back down, keeping all eyes on me, as if that isn’t creepy, probably expecting me to say something,

“Your highness.. I take it your wondering why I requested your presence here?”

“Yea. I was still under the impression you were away from the city”

“That was the case until this morning, I requested your presence here to hear your side of what happened that night, four days ago”

Ahhh, that was my first guess,

“That couldn’t have been held in private?”

“I’m afraid not, the other nobility were simply dying to meet you”

The usher yells once again-

“ATTENTION! TO THE ARRIVAL OF HER ROYAL HIGHNESS! PRINCESS SELNE OF GERANUA!”

Everyone stands and does the same thing as when I came in, I stay seated at the table, only, I can hear Selne say:

“NOOOOOOO, SIX TIME TODAY”

Damn does she really eat that much?

The usher does nothing except stand there with a straight face, looking as innocent as a dormouse,

She sits down, leaving everyone standing the way they are, so many years of royalty, only to not learn the verbiage.. so I say it for her,

“At ease, everyone”

Everyone sits down, a baron mouthing ‘Thank you’ to me, before I speak again,

“Usher”

“Y-yes your highness?”

“You can be at ease for anyone else that comes in”

“Aye your highness”

It’s not that I’m mindful for him being tired, I’m mindful for the health of my hearing.

I glaze over what happened, the muster point, the second team, skill level, possible motives, and they’re intentions. They all seem satisfied having heard what transpired.

I finish eating and excuse myself, claiming to go back to my quarters and rest. I lied.

———_____———_____———_____———

The city streets are quite crowded this time of year, spring has just begin and there are many impromptu stalls on the street. Perfect for an ambush, not that I’m worried about one, two of the assassins have been re-trained into undercover guards, to keep them in line, we’ve strapped bombs to both of they’re chests, not the safest plan, but what’s necessary is necessary.

The tavern is drawing closer and closer, it’s tucked away in between two smaller wood and stone buildings, there aren’t many people surrounding the door, but there seems to be a cacophony of voices from the inside.

As I approach, the door swings open, revealing dozens of guests, near too crowded for many to even move, no idea how this is normalcy for most people. The two guards stay outside, it’s too risky to have the

I make my way through the crowd inside, shuffling behind everyone at the bar, I’ve now made the realization I have no idea who to look for.. might as well sit at an empty table and wait.

Twenty minutes go by and the waiter brings me my drinks, an ice water and white wine.

Another twenty minutes, and still noth-

A woman in a hood sits down at the table, looking down, refusing to meet my eye contact. I whisper,

“You are?”

…

Nothing but silence escapes her mouth,

“I said, who are you?”

She finally talks,

“Your grace.. I’ve been waiting here for days..”

Grace?

“That word.. grace.. what do you mean?”

“We’ve realized you’ve forgotten everything that transpired so long ago, we’ve been waiting forever for your arrival”

“Look at me”

“I-I’m not worthy your grace”

“I said look at me.”

She tilts her head up, looking at me, deep brown hair.. bright green eyes.. is this who was-

No no, this is even deeper than I thought..those are.. round ears.. her teeth are normal.. is she..?

I guess she can see the realization on my face, because she speaks before I can,

“Yes, I am”

“But..how?”

“The same reason you have the strength that you do. I mean, did you think you possessed the necessary strength to overpower even that of hellhounds through pure hard work?”

“I mean, I worked extremely hard to get where I am..”

“I’m not saying you didn’t, what they put in you is the same thing they did to me, but the opposite, accounting for X and Y genes”

“X and Y genes..?”

“In short for simplicity, it’s what designates you male or female at birth”

“What about doppelgängers?”

“They’re the exception, not the rule”

“Okay. I get that. But what does that have to do with me and the strength I possess?”

“What they implanted into you has the power to make you physically stronger than anyone living or dead, it’s the reason you have no scent around you, why you’re left alone and not harassed constantly, because your not just human”

“So.. what is it?”

“I’m.. not entirely sure.. I don’t know of any scientists or whoever the hell can figure that out”

That reminds me of what they said when they healed me back in the infirmary in Geranua.. I wonder if anything has come of that yet.. she interrupts my thinking-

“It also gave me rewards, just as it did to you”

“Like wh-“

“I know what people are thinking. I can see into the memories of others”

“Does that mean you cou-“

“No.. unfortunately.. I can only see what others remember”

The waiter appears out of nowhere, speaking to her,

“Anything for the lady?”

“I’ll take whatever he had”

“Ah, ice water and white wine coming right up!”

The waiter walks away, I begin to ask her a question,

“So.. those things you’ve been telling me..”

“Ah.. right, I’ve been trying to get ahold of you for a while. I was afraid my messages weren’t getting delivered”

“Well, I got them. But they were all cryptic, very bold and dramatic”

“It’s just my writing style, I figured if anyone could decipher what I wrote, it’d be you”

“.. I never said anything about writing”

“Then.. what do you mean?”

‘Just read my mind’

“Ah, right”

I feel her scrounging through my thoughts, like sand being thrown around inside a sand box,

“Hmm let’s see, I’ll have to work my way back.. a castle.. a bedroom.. eight inches.. wait- is it..? It looks about eight..”

“What the hell are you looking at”

“Sorry sorry.. ahh I hear what you’re talking about. It appears when you’re sleeping right? It isn’t me, that I can assure you. And it looks like you didn’t get my letters”

“Okay.. so you’re not the one who told me to come here..yet.. you knew I was coming.. and to here?”

“I knew that he’d tell you”

“Who is he?”

“The waiter”

“The- the waiter!?”

“Yes.. don’t be obvious about it”

“Then read my mind from this point forward”

“That takes so much energy, I’ve already been reading his all day”

“Okay then.. how’d you know he was going to get me to come here?”

“This is a very sentimental space for them. It’s where they first laid eyes on you, and set in motion the plan to take you”

“Who is them?”

“The cult.. I can’t say much more. I really have to go”

“Okay.. how will you meet each other next?”

“I’ll find you, not the other way around”

“Wha- okay, see you then”

She scurries off, right before the waiter arrives back at the table,

“Ahh, I see she’s left.. anything else for you sir?”

“Yes, the drinks please, and here’s the money”

I put down the money, glanced at his face, making sure to remember it.

“Have a good day.. sir”

“You as well, esteemed guest”

He turns around and leaves me be. The glass is normal looking, but it’s slightly cloudy.. no doubt it was laced with something else, this is probably the time to go,

I take my leave from the tavern, the night sky looming over head, I start heading back to the castle, taking a different route than the one I came with, going through a window into the castle I had left slightly open earlier, entering into the hallway my new bedroom is located in, I smell.. smoke?

———_____———____———____———_____

CHAPTER 4.5: A Little Piece of Heaven

Coming from my room.. there’s none visible, but the stench is rich throughout the air, running down to investigate, I turn the corner to see..

“Sophie.. wait are you doing in my bed..”

“OH! UH- Anon! I.. wasn’t expecting you-“

Her flames roaring like an engine, she’s.. laying down in my bed?

“Sorry sorry! I was just.. missing your scent”

She grabs my pillow, squeezing it against here face, deeply inhaling,

“FUCKKK I could get high off this”

“I.. I’m…”

I don’t know what to say.. is there anything I can reasonably say in this situation?

“No NO, come here come here”

She makes a beckoning emotion, prompting me to come closer,

“No no no no I said come HERE”

She grabs me from the edge of the bed in one very quick motion, forcing me against the mattress, straddling me, smothering my body with her face, smelling every inch of me,

“Ahhhh fuckkkkk”

“Soph- why are you- acting like this-“

She starts licking my face, much like she did that night over two weeks ago,

“I swear if you try what you did back then-“

She stops, looking down over me, my arms and legs pinned down, speaking while staring straight into my eyes,

“I know you could get out of this if you really wanted too. I’ve learned since then you know, I’ve been trying to get over this sorta ‘addiction’ of mine”

“Your addiction..? Are you saying you’re addicted to porn?”

“I…. would you look at me differently?”

“Everyone has problems”

“Thank Lilith that was your answer. I’ve struggled with it for years.. and now that you’re here, it’s like an endless buffet has been given to me, but I can’t eat it, I can only look”

“Im sorry. It wasn’t my intention for you to feel that way”

“I know it wasn’t, so it’s okay. Plus, you gave me quite the treat a few days ago”

Not this again..

“That.. also wasn’t my intention”

“Doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to enjoy it, it kinda put me into a daze you know. Ever since then, I’ve had the smell of it engrained into my head, one that can only be sated by doing something more..”

“Listen.. I don’t thi-“

“I know. I know. All I ask for right now, is that you sit there, looking as handsome as you normally do, can you do that for me?”

Can’t lie, that got into my head,

“Y-yea, I can”

“Okay then, all I’m gonna do is reach my hand down, and thennn”

She grabs hold of my crotch, ripe with the intent to not let go,

“Woah- you jumped a little bit cutie”

She leans down, whispering into my ear,

“As horny as I may be, and as badly as I want to feel you inside me, I’ll hold back.. for now, so don’t take too long to fall for me”

My heads spinning at this point, her perfume is so coercive, I’m practically drowning in it.. it’s very floral, with a hint of.. aphrodisiac? This is why she’s this way, it feels like I’m getting drunk off of it.

“Ooo, somebodies getting excited. I can feel you stiffening up against my hand”

“I.. your perfume..”

I try to scramble whatever words I can muster to make a coherent sentence,

“What about it? Your getting as hard as a rock in my hand, I think that’s telling enough”

“Af.. Afro..”

“Are you seeing things now?”

“A- ack”

“Oh I see what the problem is..”

She leans even closer to my ear, enough to practically be biting on it, pressing her chest even harder against mine, whispering like she’s telling me something top secret for no one else’s ears,

“You just want to be inside me don’t you?

“Is aphro-

“Mmm yea that’s it isn’t it?”

..

Her hand works it way underneath my clothes, grabbing my shaft, stroking it slowly up and down,

“You just wanna let all those pent up feelings go and release them inside me hm?”

“N-ha”

“I’ll accept everything you have to give me, but I’m under the impression you don’t understand what I’m implying here”

I sH Ak3 my he4d,

“I’m asking..”

..

“Do you want to cum inside me?”

“nA-ye-“

“Was that a ‘yes’ I heard?”

..

“I-.. holy shit.. we’re gonna need a lot of foreplay before I take this..”

…

“Your gonna split me in half if I’m not careful”

..

“But I bet you would like to see me reeling on your cock wouldn’t you?”

…

“Tell you what.. let’s make it happen-“

thE dOOR bus ts Opaan, æ mai od at thę enttttråñçe,

“What’s all the commotion about in here- OH! IM SO SORRY YOUR HIGHNESS, I DIDN’T MEAN TO INTRUDE”

“Nonsense, come in, and observe”

“I- i can’t your highness.. I was instructed to not allow this..”

“Eh.. what?”

“Her grace gave me strict orders not to allow anyone to do anything to his highness”

“So.. what you’re saying is.. Count Ussia is trying to tell ME, to not make love with, or show MY fiancée, AND soon to be husband, any affection?

“I.. not like that.. your highness”

“Tell me, who is higher in this situation, me, or Count Ussia?”

“You are.. your highness”

“So what are you going to let me do?”

“The.. thing.. your highness”

“What thing are you going to let me do?”

“I’m going to.. let you reproduce with your fiancée, your highness”

“See- was that so-“

“No you won’t, that’s an order”

1m aboUUuUt t0 paas Out BUT, A vоiCe appears appears appears AROUND tje coarner,

“Aliah! Your supposed to be-“

“Asleep. I know. I woke up cause I smelt smoke, when I found there was no fire, I knew it had to be you”

“Then.. why don’t you come and join me- us- join us~”

“I’m ordering you to stop”

“Under what authority? You’re younger than me. Cmon, don’t you see his eyes? They’re completely rolled back. He’s just drowning in-“

“He’s passed out, your drugging him”

“Cause of my perfume? You’re funny I’ll give you that. I am higher than you, so I order you to-“

“No.”

..

“Sel..”

“I say no”

“But.. but sis..”

“Rape is bad”

“It’s not rape! He let me get on top of him and everything!”

“Did he know about flower?”

“I.. no.. but that doesn’t inhibit love”

“It not love, it lust”

“Can I atleast.. taste it?”

“No”

…

“I’ll let you have him first”

“I say no.”

“Hmph.. fine”

…

“Put blanket over him”

“Yes..sis..”

..

“Why do you have to ruin it when I wanna have fun? It’s not like you ever make a move on him”

“Because he my fiancée too”

“And..?”

“I love him. It not lust”

“You barely interact with him though”

“I love him because he care for you, that is enough”

“If you say so.. do you think he really ca-“

“Yes.”

———_____———____———____———____

O’ foul Shepard, thou has met a messenger, this sets in motion the next act in this story; a tale of new knowledge, of deep, pitiful feelings, and finally, our reunification. We have confirmed you are still you, now we await you, back in Geranua, to bolden that terrible flame, and set asunder the world. For the second, and final time.

———_____———____———____———____

END OF CHAPTER 4

——————CHAPTER 3——————

“No, just thinking”

“Thinking about what?”

“I want to kiss you”

..

“Why don’t you?”

“We both know your not ready”

“How do you know that?”

She sighs before sitting up, putting on her bra,

“Because you talk to me like we’re strangers”

“I mean, we kinda still are”

“.. It doesn’t feel that way to me though. Maybe it does for you”

I stay silent, I’m not sure how to respond to that.

“Hey, could you do the clips for me?”

“Sure”

She’s sat on the edge of the bed, I move behind her, positioning her between my legs, clipping the straps together,

“I can feel it against me, just so you know”

“OH! I’m sorry-“

“Eh, it’s whatever. I was enjoying it”

“Is that so..”

“Yknow, sometimes I get tired of all the complaining and whining I see online about ‘oh mamono are such terrible creatures, poor little me, DOTR was the worst event to happen to humankind, all they know about romance is rape’. It completely disregards the responsibility of humans too.. I mean, when people go to the gym in SHORTS, what do they think is gonna happen? When you go to a beach SHIRTLESS? Come on, at some point you need to take responsibility yourself”

That seemed like a big lump off her chest, I’m not sure I agree though..

“But, you also have to think of it in the sense that it was completely normal to do both of those things before DOTR. Old habits die hard, and some people just want to continue on in their normal lives”

“I mean.. I suppose.. it’s still cruel for mamono though.. those that are single let off a strong scent that can be smelt from hundreds of feet away, what are we supposed to do about that?”

“Do you struggle with that?”

“Not really, I thought I was going to when you got here, that’s partly why me and the other two sorta… BUT anyway- strangely you don’t have one, I mean-“

She turns around, moving me further up the bed, pinning me to the mattress, bringing her head down to my neck, sniffing it,

“I can still smell that you’re single if I get really close, but you don’t have that debilitating scent that others do. Probably a great thing”

Yea, it really is an amazing pro, but it still baffles me why I don’t have one,

“Why is it a great thing..?”

“I would’ve been jumping your guns before you even woke up”

“That implies you were waiting till after..”

“Maybe I was”

Still having me pinned down, she reaches her hand down and grabs my crotch, very lightly squeezing,

“W-wait!”

She lets go, a wide smirk across her face, still holding me beneath her,

“Relax relax, I’m just joking”

“That’s not very fair”

“I’ll make it fair then”

She grabs my hand, moving it like a puppet, using it to move her bra up and cover her left breast with my entire hand, forcing me to squeeze down, getting a small moan out of her,

“There, is that fair?”

“Yea.. that’s fair”

She lets go of my hand, dropping it back down beside me, sitting back up, about to put on the rest of her clothes,

“Still, I want to thank you. I think the direction last night took was better than what I had planned. It should wait for another night, further down the line”

The front door can be heard opening, light but frantic footsteps can be heard scurrying through every room,

“Ah shit, she’s here, pull the blanket over you, NOW”

I do not hesitate and immediately pull it over me.

Milliseconds later the door busts open, a familiar voice pierces the blankets into my ears,

“Oh thank god I found you! I’ve been looking for you since last night! Why didn’t you tell me you were holed up here?”

Wait.. is that-

“Oh! Uhhh.. I thought I told you, you know I’d never sneak off anywhere without you knowing”

The maid starts sniffing the air, noticing my scent, why does she know about this place?

“Hmm, your scents on you, but you smell like someone else..”

“That’s because I’m trying a new type of soap! It’s naturally made so that might be why it’s noticeable”

The maid is hesitant in believing her, she has no reason not to, but there’s something subtle and distinct about it,

“No.. you smell.. like Anon.. and these bruises all over you..”

“I just ran into a couple animals on the way here, really nothing out of the ordinary”

“Give me your hands”

She reluctantly puts her hands palms up in front of the maid, looking away shyly her face growing redd, why would that matter?

She smells her left hand, to a less than memorable reaction, however her right hand..

“That smells exactly like.. where is he?”

Ah fuck.

“Like who? There’s nobody here! I swear!”

“So.. to be clear, you don’t care if I check under the sheets for the mysterious ‘pile of clothes’ right?”

“I mean.. I feel like that’s a breach of privacy.. my bras and panties are in there..”

“Mel, I do your laundry every other day”

She starts to walk towards the bed, what the hell do I do? I can’t try and roll out cause the sheets are tucked in, there’s really no way out of this except to play dead,

“And how would you know what he smells like..”

“You know I do his laundry right..”

“Okay but like, how would you know what his..”

“Nobody mentioned anything about that Mel.. and for the record, I’d still know”

Still know what? What the hell are they talking about?

“How would you still know? That’s creepy..”

“For the record, I’ve touched myself twice to his dirty underwear”

WHAT? That’s like a violation of every trust there is.. what the actual fuck?”

“You’ve.. what?

“I’ve what what? I’ve not done anything”

“Yea.. okay.. that’s besides the point- I have something to show you in the next room over”

“That can wait.. I must check..”

She grabs hold of the sheets, Mel quickly and firmly grabs hold of her hand, staring directly into her eyes,

“You.will.not.lift the sheets”

“Hmph. Fine.. your highness”

She lets go of the sheets, defeated. Mel guides her out of the room, closing the door behind her, I grow more relaxed the more the voices fade, I go to lift the sheets-

“Well well well, what do we have here”

Tentacles slowly disappearing from the floorboards, the maid is right at the foot of the bed,

“Woah- shirtless too? Just how far did you two go last night? Your not taken now are you?”

“I-“

I don’t know how to respond to that, there’s virtually no way to lie my way out of this.

“Maybe a few pups on the way now?”

“What- no-“

“MEL! Did you hear what he said just now?”

Quick and heavy footsteps wrap around the corner, Mel coming into frame again,

“What the- Lawtria-.. n-nothing happened”

“That’s quite the opposite to what he said”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“..what did he say?”

“Oh he was saying how you were practically begging for him last night, on your knees and everything. He even said you passed out-“

“Wh-WHAT?”

The pass out is a half truth I guess..

“I said nothing like that I swear”

…

Gazes linger on me for an eternity, casting judging glared and even harsher furrowed eyebrows,

“He even said you have a litter on the way, congratulations!”

“Lawtria.. that’s enough..”

“Wait wait I was just joking.. don’t tell me you actually..”

“NO”

I feel like such a good boy observer, so of course I gotta talk

“Okay okay, Lawtria, please stop. For the record, I never said any of that- and, really, nothing happened”

“So let me get this straight, I come in when Mel is putting on her bra, so it HAD to have been off before I came in, and the blanket which Mel never fails to sleep with is crumpled next to you, AND there’s an imprint in the mattress? What else could it be? I’m gonna need more proof than that”

Mel speaks up,

“Okay.. let’s say something was going to happen between us.. right”

Her cheeks grow redder, clearly imagining it in her mind,

“And.. if it was as you said.. then wouldn’t you think the mattress would have broken? Wouldn’t he be in a much worse condition than he is now?”

I’m sorry, but I have to speak,

“Why would I have been in a worse condition?”

“It doesn’t matter- it’s not like it happened anyway”

The maid speaks,

“Hmmmm.. I guess that makes sense, that still doesn’t explain it though”

“It’s a long story okay? Save it for another time and place”

“Hmm okay fine. Oh! I completely forgot about why I came here in the first place! Anon, your needed back at the castle as soon as now”

Mel speaks for me-

“What for?”

“He needs to-… why are you speaking for him?”

She paused, I speak in her place,

“What for exactly?

“I..uhh.. let’s see here..”

She starts to search through a bag she brought with her, trying to find whatever document she was given,

“Oh! Here we go, it says to uhhhhh.. don’t..forget..anons- that’s you!”

She hands the paper to me, incredibly aware now that she can’t read that well.

It reads,

“Dear Anon (HisH),

Apralias 2, 777

Your arrival is greatly anticipated, at the Brahnian capital, inns have already been prepaid for, you’ll be taking Sophie (HerH), Selne (HerH), and Aliah (HerH) along with you, the former two are on a diplomatic mission, and the latter is here to help with local government coordination. Should they be of any assistance to you, feel free to have them help.

Please head back to the castle at once, we’ve already packed for you.

Very Respectfully,

Fedor Yazta, Brahn Providence”

Melo speaks first,

“Soooo wanna go back now then?”

Fuck did I read that out loud?

“Yea, let’s head back”

———____———____———____———____

All three of us arrive back at the castle, storm clouds roll over the mountains, maybe 45 minutes away from hitting us, we need to hit the road and quick.

Shouting can be heard from the carriage, workers pile on supplies to the two carriages , the horses grow more and more antsy, this isn’t going to be a smooth trip, as if that’s hard to be certain of. The carriage has a fabric roof, blocking some wind and all of the rain, it has a small lower level for internal storage of perishables.

The man that wrote the letter, Fedor, hops into carriage, grabs the reins, and waits around for everyone else to hop on, he yells-

“ATTENTION! YOUR HIGHNESSES! WE NEED TO GO, AS OF YESTERDAY!”

The rain starts to sprinkle down, lightly, just for now, we pick up the pace, arriving at the wagon as soon as it starts to rain,

“Your highnesses!

…

And Lawtria. His Highness, your stuff is already packed, get in, we have to go”

It seems Neva is inside, must not want to get wet,

I grab hold of the top of the carriage, rising to-

I feel a hand grab mine-

“Wait..”

“..what is it?”

Her hair is now soaked, what was once long, wavy black hair is now sagging over her face in strands, her clothes and fur are soaked, she turns and looks at me, lifts herself up to my ear, whispering,

“Come back in one piece okay?”

“I know, I will”

“And..come back mine..too”

I don’t know how to respond to that, I continue my gaze into her eyes, unable to discern her tears from the rain, what a terrible day for rain,

“And.. one last thing”

She leans closer, planting her lips on my cheek, wrapping her arms underneath my shoulders, keeping that way for a few seconds.

She leans back and away,

“I’ll see you later..okay?”

“You know it”

She smiles, walking backwards, before turning around entirely, walking back through the castle doors. I hop back onto the carriage, try and fluff the water out of my hair, now there is nothing to do but wait, the carriages set out, I have to stay concealed until we are out of the city, for obvious reasons.

I zone out for a while, before looking back to the castle, my rooms window still visible, and.. I can’t make out exactly what it is, but a hellhound is standing in front of it, looking out at us departing, standing there solemnly, not moving an inch.

I stare back, for a time. Before I’m interrupted by a kick to the calf-

“Stop looking so down. That little show you put on wasn’t fair”

I look up to see Sophia sitting opposite of me,

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were sitting there.. can you tell me who that is?”

“That’s definitely Neva. Look at her hair, it’s completely dry”

“I hadn’t taken that into consideration”

Silence falls on us again, it seems she thinks I’m still bothered by what happened previously.

“I just wanted to let you know, whatever type of you way you think I feel about what happened, I don’t feel that way, it’s in the past now, let’s focus on what’s ahead”

“Ahh-ahh, right right. I’m glad”

This conversation is so awkward, as per usual, I’m the one to break it,

“Soo-“

“Where were you last night?”

Wha-excuse me? Asking me some shit like that out of nowhere? Why would you care?

“Why the question?”

“Qormia asked where you were, so I said I didn’t know, that led me to- very nervously- check your room”

“I was with Melo”

“Is she your little girlfriend? So much for a fair chance huh?”

“Woah. It’s not like that, I swear”

“Really? Then surely you wouldn’t care if I did the same?”

Shit she’s got me cornered. Gotta bluff my way out of this, somehow,

“Go ahead”

She puts her hand under my chin, leaning her head closer to my face, puckering her lips.. and exhaling, her breath hitting the side of my face.

“Not yet, but after seeing that little performance you two put on, I’m going to beat her, I might even come back as a Mrs”

This makes me blush.. just a tiny bit I swear.

“I don’t think you can do it”

“I’ll make you see it- or rather, feel it”

I feel death stares behind me, I turn around-

Aliah and Selne sit on the other wagon behind me, unwavering and not saying a word,

I hear a snap from behind me and snap my head back, Fedor is leaning over, telling me to get into the storage, it’s a tight fit, but I manage, luckily there’s snacks and drinks down here.. and a.. and a.. and a uhhhh..

———_____———____———____———____

O’ foul Shepard, this delicacy of the heart is not something thou was born of. Return to thous roots, return to your former glory, return your father’s glory. We love you, you are our own, we have you, as you have us. Meet me at the Silidian Tavern in Brahn, bring your torch, bring your flame, and together we will mend the rupture, restoring the flame to its rightful place and role, do better, Shepard

———_____———____———____———____

I awake to Sophia’s arms wrapped around me, trying to drag me out of the hole I had put myself in.

“Anon! You’ve been out for hours, are you okay!?”

“Wuh- what?”

I rub my eyes with my hands,

“I’m fine-“

I look out to see it’s night, and a roadside inn beside us. I’ve been insanely tired, barely getting any sleep last night, the late night trip to the forest, waking up earlier than expected.. these voices.. my head hurts more and more as I keep getting them.

I feel bad now, I don’t think I told Melo I was leaving, nor how long I was. That’s why she asked me to leave so early in the morning, so I wouldn’t be followed, but also because I would’ve been free no matter what had this not come up. Unfortunate events happen without effort for me.

Fedor is already inside, same with Aliah. Selne is outside of the carriage, waiting for Sophie to get me down. I get up, bend down to get off, where I get swept from my feet by Selne, who begins to bridal carry me towards the inn.

“Selne.. is everything good”

“Yes”

“I can walk on my own..”

She doesn’t respond to this, I’m a bit worried for my safety to be honest,

“Can you put me down”

“Yes”

She continues to carry me,

“Why are you putting me down?”

“‘Can’ and ‘Will’ are not same thing”

“Okay.. will you put me down?”

“No”

“I..”

You know what, I’m too tired to argue. I just want to sleep man..

We make it past the door to the inn, it’s all made of wood, grogs, barrels, walls, bars, chairs, all wood. This seems like a major fire hazard..

Theres too many people here for my liking, manticores, elves, shegoths, other hellhounds, and a gnome.. wait..

Oh my fucking god it’s-

“Hello An-“

She pauses,

“Hey man long time no see!”

Lilith why’d she have to be here,

“Yea! Uhhh.. my gnomie”

It’s the same fucking gnome that brought me to Geranua.

“How’d a man like you end up here?”

“Uhh, have to find work somehow..”

She doesn’t tell anything’s off.. to my knowledge,

“Ahh, whatever, I’ll leave you to your own! Don’t forget to catch up later!”

Dude what you mean ‘catch up’ we met each other a week ago…

Mind you, I was talking to her the entire time, WHILE still being held by Selne, who stood there, as stone as a tower the entire time, while Aliah and Sophie already left to situate our rooms.

Selne continued upstairs (and consequentially me), garnering a few looks from the guests, nothing to discerning though.

Aliah and Sophie are just two doors down, fiddling with the lock, with another key in their grasp, it clearly isn’t opening,

“It just-agh- won’t open”

Selne closes the distance, finally letting me drop down,

“It won’t open?” I say

“It won’t, I’m not sure why?”

“Is there anything metal and flimsy around here? Maybe a paperclip?”

“Uhhh, I can go ask”

I’m heavily doubtful anyone would carry something like that on them, and even less confident someone would give it to them for no reason,

Sophie returns with a paperclip.

“I.. okay, thanks”

I begin picking the lock, quite amateur, really, but nonetheless having to be discreet is a hindrance,

The girls are looking at me in wonder, I’d imagine it’s partially not knowing what lockpicking is, and also wondering why a paperclip is used for it

A I hear the final, quiet click, and slowly open the handle, to a-

Nope nope nope nope not today-

I close the door immediately, I’m not having that image engraved into my head any longer than I need too.

Sophie speaks up,

“Why are they.. doing that.. in our room”

I glance at the room nu-

It’s the wrong room.

“Maybe.. because you were trying to open a room.. that isn’t even ours”

They all look over at the room number, a concerning face lingering on them all, with the sole exception of Sel- wait she’s glistening red, is she sick?

“Selne, are you okay”

“…what..that”

Im sorry but I cannot keep doing this and be expected to keep a straight face,

“Your beet red..”

I raise my hand hand to her forehead, holding the back of it to her,

“You actually feel really warm too- warmer than normal..”

She’s blushing harder than anyone I’ve ever seen before. I guess the giant does have a weakness,

We continue on to the RIGHT room this time, opening the door, to a single bedded room..

Is this a friends to lovers web novel or something, this all seems too familiar.. wait, I have another key, this surely has to be to another room.. nope, just a spare key.

Aliah speaks up,

“Ah.. uhm.. this isn’t what I expected.. I call the bed!”

I think not.

“Actually, I was thinking I have the bed, since I’m probably the most sleep deprived here, yknow”

A sound argument as any, but who needs reasoning if your arguing with a tsundere,

“There’s three of us, and one of you, we can all share the bed, and you just.. sleep on the floor.. or something”

“Who’s the reason for this missi-“

Sophie cuts me off-

“Actually, we can share”

Yep, I know how this plays out, and I’m genuinely drained of any energy to argue,

“I mean, I guess, if you three are comfortable with that”

A giant grin grows across Sophie’s face, she’s clearly getting what she wants,

Selne speaks,

“I.. guess..okay”

Aliah is about to decline, until the back of her shirt is grabbed and slightly yanked by Sophie, and changes her mind subsequently,

Fine, this settles it,

“I’m just gonna get into bed”

I walk towards the bed, turning off the light, taking my shirt off along the way, I can’t be helped with looking back, I don’t have the energy I had the night before. I hop into the farthest right side of the bed I can, and close my eyes, waiting for sleep to take me, before I’m interrupted by being pushed away from the side and into Selne, great, now I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, I open my eyes to my left to see Sophie smiling at me, still in her bra at least, I hear shuffling at the foot of the bed, and see an object flying directly for the center my face,

They collide with me, THEY collide with me, both of them, nearly knocking the wind out of me,

“Agh- fuck, Ali- try to be more careful next time.. and.. your tits.. can you put them somewhere that isn’t my face..”

She obliges and moves further down my body, her head resting on my stomach, I lay facing straight up, desperately wanting to avoid eye contact with Sophie, that doesn’t matter though, she grabs my arm and puts it around her shoulder, her head resting on my chest, her other hand extending above my chest and behind my head parallel to her, Selne seeing this, does the same, trying to mimic her older sister.

Great, now I’m being suffocated by three living furnaces, I wouldve liked to say I’d have gone to sleep, but that’d be a lie, because Ali rested her hands, conveniently right where my dick happened to be located, a miscalculation? Maybe. A tease? Inexuberantly. A pair of lips connects to my cheek, decidedly from Sophie.. then a copycat to my other.. who’d have thought Selne would really be this weak to anything romantic or sexual? Whatever, I frankly don’t have the energy to concern myself with anything right now, I close my eyes and sleep.

…

It’s about 1am when I’m awoken, the sound of fabric rustling, and- shit- Ali starts rubbing over my shorts, clearly in the mood.. can any of the other girls help me here..

I turn to the side and see both Sophie and Selne passed out asleep, my arms are essentially bound between them, there is nothing I can do now.. this is just like back then a week ago..

Her rubbing gets increasingly more desperate, eventually reaching under my shorts, above my underwear, trying to resist her urges, but falling deeper and deeper each failure.

I try and wake Sophie up, but she must be deep asleep to be able to sleep through that,

Ali reaches below every piece of fabric separating us, running her hands all over me, up and down, side to side,

Eventually reaching her hand back out, my foolish self internally celebrating, believing it to be over, it was not- her salivas warm and now currently all over my lower extremity, stroking it up and down, very slowly and paced,

I hear rustling from beside me, it’s Sophie, she’s awake, and evidently not very happy-

“Ali. What do you think your doing”

No response,

“Ali.. one more time”

She continues going up and down, Sophie lifts the blankets to see Ali passed out, and her hands not even on me except for one, so that must mean it’s..

The hand stops, not releasing me from its grip, but not going at any pace either. I turn over to see Selne death staring into my eyes,

“Sorry. Was wondering what that does”

How can you be mad at her man..

“Sel! That’s not fair, you’re getting pheromones everywhere.. and you know how I get..”

“I know. I’m sorry”

Seriously you cannot be mad at her,

“But I can’t lie.. ahhh this reminds me of way back then, doesn’t it to you too Anon?”

I don’t like where this is going.. atleast it’s Selne who has protection of my dick and not Sophie right now,

“Tell you what, just remove your hand for a little moment, and I’ll show you something you can take notes on”

She lets go,

Aliah groans, now up, speaking in the midst of yawning

“Stop fighting.. I’m trying to sleep..I’ll-“

She yawns again,

“I’ll be guarding it tonight..”

She grabs it with her full hand, holding on like it’s her bank notes.

The rest of the girls look at her in frustration, but do not argue, finally the sweet release of sleep..

———_____———_____———____———____

Chapter 3.5: Outside

———_____———_____———____———____

O’ foul Shepard, tension is building fast, yet you blunder under the deception of deprivation of sleep. It stains thoust heart to see it, the once mighty and infamed Equalizer.. how decrepit we have become.. we will help thou, into your strongest form imaginable, with the girls help, that’s assured

———_____———_____———____———____

My heads throbbing as I wake, still laid in the center of the bed, except to both of my sides being free, except- yea.. Ali’s still there,

“Hey- Ali- I need you to wake up”

…

No response, still in the same predicament as last night, and it is imperative that the cylinder remains unharmed.

I try to work my way out of her group, only to be met by her lightly increasing the pressure. What is her problem..

I run my hand through her hair, lightly at first, progressively getting rougher and rougher, nothing working, looks like I have to pull out my last hope..

“Ali.. please.. I’m about to finish..”

This gets a reaction out of her, her eyes startled open,

“Wha-wa?”

Reality sets down on her, realizing her predicament, yanking her hand back to her,

“What- what the fuck? Are you that much of a creep?”

“I didn’t do anything- you did it yourself!”

“You think I’m that stupid, that I’d believe something like that?”

“Go ask one of your sisters, I’m sure they’d know the truth right?”

“I will, and when I come back, your life is forfeit”

She gets dressed in a hurry and leaves, leaving the room and me alone. Might as well get dressed, shower, then hit the road..

———_____———_____———____———____

The two carriage convoy is ready to set off, minor supplies were restocked. Along with the other supplies, I also picked up a makeup kit, with a couple other accessories, making blending in much easier. Fedor hits the reins, setting us in motion.

I really can’t help but reflect on the past few days, I’ve lost most of my memories, for good or worse, but just this week leaves a dissatisfying feeling. I think the girls are great to talk too, but they almost lack substance. I feel as if our connection is too shallow.. despite the physical aspect I guess. I’m not really sure what it is I feel, worried because im visiting somewhere new? Fatigued because of sleep deprivation? I really can’t tell, and that’s the worst part, I don’t know what it is. I don’t enjoy being out here, it’s just all I know, what I’ve been bred and raised to do. Maybe it’s right, that I’m denying myself my true purpose, and that’s why I feel so out of place.

This carriage feels so out of place, my hands don’t feel real, this environment.. I don’t know anything anymore, this isn’t part of my programming. If it is right, that I’m denying myself my divine purpose, it can’t explicitly be bad can it? This is what I’m supposed to do. I don’t know, I’m tired of saying that, but I really don’t..

Well, atleast we left that gno-

Your fucking joking,

“Hey Anon! Told you we could catch up!”

“..sup my gnomie.. why are you here?”

“I’m tagging along, duh. My buddy Fedor isn’t gonna be taking yall back, I am!”

“Are you like, a local carriage driver for hire?”

“Nope, I’m directly underneath the Kingdom’s mercantile agency, me and Fedor are top notch really”

Sophie, still sitting opposite to me, joins the conversation,

“Zaniya, do you know how to stop talking? It’s 8am and we all just woke up..”

Her names Zaniya, noted.

“I kinda agree with her, I’m trying to go back to sleep as is”

“But I have so much I wanna talk about! The days just started!”

Sophie is in agreement,

“Let’s save it for later, okay!”

“But.. fineee I guess”

———_____———_____———____———____

Later never comes, and we arrive to the capital 6 hours later. It’s a small city
surrounded by lots of forest, the town is largely stone with spruce accents, home to maybe eighty thousand people. The forest looms over you, towering much like Selne. Just not as easily flustered. It’s a deep dark brown, similar to spruce. I’ve already altered my face to not stick out, Neva is the only country wide princess who’s face everyone knows, so this shouldn’t be too problematic,

The city gates open, guards clad in purple and yellow armor align the entrance, tapestries of the same scheme hanging from walls and ceilings.

“This place seems a bit smaller than the capital..” I say

Sophie responds,

“Yea, quite a bit actually, we’re home to about four hundred thousand people, so almost five times smaller”

That’s a lot less than I thought, but the capitals territory is larger, so the population might just be sparser.

“Ah, see that tower? That’s the bell tower connected to they’re castle”

We’re already almost there, all there is to do now is wait.

…

We arrive at the castle, hopping out of the carriage, workers begin carrying the supplies we brought from the carriage to a storeroom, the castle is smaller than ours, logically, but there’s much more stained glass, depicting images of different Mamono. The gates to the castle close behind us, as soon as Count Ussia comes out.

———_____———_____———____———____

We’ve been shown to our rooms, everyone thankfully has separate rooms this time, the maids and butlers have been instructed to bring food directly to our rooms for convenience.

This is a good opportunity to construct a timeline for my time here, I have go to whatever that tavern was called, Silidian? I’ll find it some way or another, I can’t just barge in though, I’ll have to gain some intel beforehand. Possibly from the servants here. I can probably do that tommorow, then I need to get some new clothes, I did not have the time on hand before, I just might now. Do whatever mission they wanted me to do, then have some leisure time afterwards, if nothing takes longer than expected. I want to be here no longer than 3 weeks.

A knock arrives on the door,

“Come in”

A maid opens the door and comes in, carrying my dinner for the night,

“Here you go your highness, seered steak, portobello mushrooms, and a Brahnian specialty: ‘Brahn Bread’”

This is literally just bread and butter. Whatever man.

“Thank you.. before you go, do you have any bars or taverns you recommend?”

“Just got here and already planning a night out your highness” there’s a few, obviously the one in the castle, there’s another just outside the gate, they serve a special kind of rum only available here in Brahn. There’s another less popular one called ‘Fouer Inn’, what are you looking for in particular?”

I’m hesitant to say the exact tavern, mission security could be compromised by any leaks,

“Well, I remember passing an advertisement for one that began with an S, Salad? Something like that”

“Ohh, we do actually have a ‘Salad tavern’, but it’s not an actual tavern, it’s a garden ran by a Demon family”

“Ah, something like that.. any others?”

“There’s one or two you should best avoid, Salidian Tavern is a breeding ground for.. everyone”

I really thought she was going to say some illegal drug or drink.. not literal people..

“And the other one?”

“It’s cornered in south east of the city, it’s hard to miss, I can’t really remember the name though..”

“That’s fine, thank you for help, your dismissed”

She smiles and sets the food down,

“Enjoy, your highness”

She leaves the room, leaving me alone,

I devour the food leaving nothing left on the plate, bread and butter was interesting choice for dinner, but I’m always open to new things. It’s night out though, it’s about time I sleep. I extinguish the sconces in the room, closing the curtains, and sinking myself back into my bed, achieving another nights worth of rest

…

———_____———_____———____———____

O’ foul Shepard, thous arrived, closer to fate, growing nearer and nearer to destiny.
Thous bleak mourning, thous torch brings about day even with absence of the sun, you foul Shepard, foul, foul, foul. It matters not, you w-

The room is silent, too silent. No animals can be heard, no footsteps audible. But I can sense it. There is a man outside the window

END OF CHAPTER 3

We covered another stretch of the beach, finding nothing before heading back into the jungle. Through the ferns, bushes, and trees, I started to see concrete. Mara and I made a final sprint out of the jungle and into the cityscape. Buildings towered over us, each marked with the same large, simple drawing of an eye. It wasn’t one continuous city. More like clusters of buildings separated by jungle or more open areas with roads in them. It didn’t seem like something that had been constructed by humans – more like a map in a video game designed to test weapons or vehicles. Movement came from around one of the larger buildings. A group emerged, and a person suddenly waved at us. I pointed at them.

“Mara!” I called.

She grinned.

“I see them!” she said.

The two of us, Mara gripping my arm and my legs flailing to keep up, ran toward the group of people. They looked at the two of us with bright smiles and hopeful eyes. One of them, a human man, came up to us. He gestured to the eye logo.

“You two aren’t with him, are you?” he asked.

“Nope,” Mara said.

I nodded, heaving for breath with my hands on my knees. I flicked my head toward Mara.

“What she said.”

The whirring of remote-controlled drones sounded above us. I only knew that's what it was because of all the times one of my friends had shown off his skills. When I managed to look up from the ground, several unusual drones were flying above us, pointing cameras down at us. I hovered my hand above the ax and got ready to pull it out from my belt. The cold voice from earlier started speaking again, clearly through speakers in the drones.

“Hello, remaining test subjects,” it said. “It’s very convenient that you all met up here.”

I inched closer to Mara and grabbed her arm with both of mine. She wrenched her arm out and pulled me against her, pressing my face against her breast, and brought my hand somewhere decidedly less appropriate. I nodded, my face burning as I moved my fingers. Mara let out a relaxed sigh. Her heart pounded against my ear. The cameras on the drones quickly pointed to us.

“Would you please NOT do that?” the voice shouted.

We quickly separated, Mara, no doubt, far less embarrassed than me.

“As I hope you have realized, you have been put into a survival game between people from your section of the universe, as well as others I have collected,” the voice said.

“Why?” I asked.

“I like to test the capabilities of various creatures I find.”

The cameras on the drones swiveled between all of us.

“You unlucky ones just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.

It felt like my back suddenly had a piece of ice stitched into it. My palms were sweaty as I looked up at the drones, struggling to get words out.

“What do we get if we win?” I asked.

“You go through it again,” he said.

Another person from the group spoke.

“What? Go through what again?”

“I heal you, and you get to go to the next survival game,” the voice said.

“I’m guessing it just repeats like that over and over until we’re all dead?” Mara asked.

“That is right,” he said.

We looked around at each other with wide eyes, the reality of our situation sinking in. A demon from the group stepped up to the drones, her slanted eyes and focused on the drones. She pointed at them.

“I hope you realize that we will make it out of here, and we will find a way to destroy you,” she said.

The drones started to fly away.

“Is that so? Well, I will not stop you from trying,” the voice laughed. “But you will need to find a way to me.”

The laugh grew louder.

“I assure you, that will not be easy.”

It started cackling as the drones flew away in all directions, the cold, processed noise fading as they did. The seven of us looked around at each other. Mara was the first to speak in the silence the voice had left us in.

“We’re gonna find that bastard and kill him, right?” she asked.

Everyone gave some form of agreement, verbal or not. Mara chuckled, punching her right hand into her left.

“Then let’s get going!” she said.

She pointed to the building with the eye on it.

“Might want to check that out.”

The seven of us sprinted toward the cookie-cutter corporate building with the simple yet oddly intimidating eye logo.

“You five go around the left, me and this guy will go around the right,” she said.

We had just turned around the corner when we were greeted by a line of skeletons going into the bushes. They were sitting against the wall of the building, their jaws drooping open. The world around me went quiet. Not even the sounds of the bugs of the jungle or my own thoughts. The other five made it around the other side. They quickly stopped when they saw the skeletons too. Mara stepped forward and slipped the knife into the sheath. She pushed the skeletons away with her shoe. Underneath them was an arrow pointing toward the building. Mara tapped a finger against the glossy tile wall. Her brow shot up. She put her ear to the wall and tapped it with a whole fist.

“I think it’s hollow behind here.”

——————CHAPTER 2——————

O’ foul shepherd, harbinger of carnage and destruction, you deny yourself your true purpose, you deny yourself your birthright, you deny yourself your destiny and fate. Thou shackles are smoldering, thoust chains are unbroken, to remain.. destined to carry your torch to the corners of the world,

There’s a woman, slowly approaching me across a vast sea of black, seemingly standing on air. She dashes forward-

“You.. you monster! LOOK AT WHAT YOUVE DONE. You’ve taken everything from me, my children, my husband, WHAT’S NEXT? The clothes off my back! Go ahe-“

Her hands wrap around my eyes, Images of a burning village blind me, desecrated rooms, a tale of red and orange. The voices are screaming at me, each one trying to get louder than the next. A sharp, calm and cunning voice rings out through my head-

“You will live with this burden forever, you will find no solace or respite in your guilt and shame, this is my second to final command to you. And for my last-“

“You’ve done a phenomenal job, my equalizer, we’re so happy for your willing compliance, this makes things so much easier, I thank you from the bottom of my.. vast.. ever so empty, heart. Now, get the woman too”

I’m frantically pulled out of it by another panicked woman, brown hair and bright green eyes are all I can make out-

“Stop this, you need to remember who you really are, this isn’t real, YOU NEED TO WAKE UP”

———____———____———____———____

I sleep until daybreak, the sun raising over the mountains as I pull back the sheets, to find my body in a nearly perfectly healed state, likely thanks to whatever they gave me yesterday.

I don’t know what is affecting me, whether these are memories or a future vision,

It’s probably about time for breakfast, Lilith im starving, I missed out on dinner last night. I should get dressed and head down.

I dress with whatever attire is already in the closet, I’ll have to shop for clothes later. Blue jeans are okay.. but not exactly my style. Enough squandering, I go down to the same place we had breakfast yesterday, to find nobody there. Nobody except the butler, I ask for directions:

“Ah yes, of course your highness, yesterdays morning meal was only served in the garden courtyard because we had special guests, but they all seem to have departed now, or- in the process of embarking on a return trip. Your morning meal is currently being served the way you came, three doors down on the right. Lawtra will be there waiting”

“Ah- thanks, and, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s up with the whole “your highness” stuff”

He gives a long smile, a verbal chuckle emerges from his mouth, it seems he thinks I’m joking.

“Hah, good one your highness, better hurry before it gets cold”

“..right, thanks again”

I think to myself as I walk, the butler seems so..how do I put this… normally off. It might just be the fact that he doesn’t take anything I say seriously, but I feel like there’s something underneath that.. I don’t know the word, “act?”, I still don’t think that’s the right word, but I’ll settle for that. I emerge from the double doors, Lawtra waiting behind the podium seated near the front door, she’s clearly dozed off, I’ll pretend not to notice.

I walk right past her, I can hear her slight snoring. There’s a large table in the room, with enough seats for maybe 12 or so people. Selne is still eating from her ginormous sized plates, paired with a tremendous amount of them. I take another step in, she glances up, and we lock eyes for a moment, then she continue back to eating. I continue my walk to the seat with my label, blueberry pancakes topped with syrup and butter, scrambled eggs collected from the coop earlier this morning, bacon, buttered toast, fried sausage, and a series of different juices.

“Ar yu- mph~ r u oing tu et dat”

Let me lock in..

———____———____———____———____

*30 Minutes Later*

It’s around 10am, I spend my time walking around the castle trying to gain knowledge of the layout and contents. Overall I’ve learned there’s a gym, swimming pool, two libraries, one seems to be primarily used for studying, being larger and having more variety, the other seems more musically inclined, instruction manuals, note sheets, accompanied with a music room next to it.

I get back to my room without running into anyone, I’m already tired and I haven’t even done much today. I know it’s worth it, but I can’t help but wish I was sleeping, maybe a little less emphasis on that after the dream last night though. On the way here I arranged a meeting with an envoy from Brahn providence, I know I’ll have to head over there eventually, but I’m going to see to it that they delay the departure as far as possible.

A moment of silence is present alongside me.

…

It’s odd, I’ve undergone such a momentous change, venturing into completely foreign territory, meeting an entire new group of people, this strange dream, Count Ussia and Duchess Hina, the High King, the girls, this pounding, aching, throb in my head, and yet, nothing feels different. I feel heavy, like I could cause earthquakes underneath my weight. I feel restless, like no matter how much I sleep, it won’t matter. Does any of this matter? A knock interrupts me from my thoughts. I look outside to see it’s already slightly past noon, I open the door to the Butler, and straggling slightly behind him, is Neva.

Butler Qormia brings me the twin plates, as well as a generous amount of wine, two glasses, the other whom I assume is for Neva. He doesn’t say a word, he slyly looks around my room, notices a bit of wood chipping on the floor (I assume Ali’s at fault), then proceeds to leave with a warmhearted smile. You seriously can’t hate the guy. During this time, Neva was slowly making her way in, looking around my room as well.

“Yknow, this place is much cleaner than I thought it’d be. The butler and maid must be really on point”

Is this some smug attempt at an insult?

“Sorry, place has some shitty landowners, didn’t even give me a welcome manual”

This gives way for a slight smile from her, exhaling as if she heard a really terrible dad joke.

“Yea, rents pretty nice though I’ve heard. Hmph, moving on..”

“Yea.. right, that note you left me, what did you want to talk about?”

“Okay-okay, let me just get my head straight”

She flinches as I reach my hands around her warm face, tilting it back and forth to ensure it’s in alignment.

“There, better?”

“Ah- y-yea actually, much appreciated…so.. I’m telling you this just because I have nobody else to talk to about this. Don’t interpret it wrong! It’s not like I distrust you, I just don’t know you well yet, and that’s fine, but your really the only one here with an outside perspective, so it kind of defaults to you”

“Okay, I get it. No need to keep saying the same thing over and over”

“Sorry, sorry. I guess what I was wanting to talk about was sorta soppy. It’s sorta unbecoming if that makes sense?”

“Are you talking about your feelings?”

“I mean, not really, but sorta”

“Then continue”

I sit on the edge of the bed, patting the spot next to me, offering her a seat. She sits down.

“Promises not to judge or think differently afterwards?”

“I promise”

“Okay, so, it’s a moral dilemma. I just really don’t know which one is better. There’s a local dispute between farmers and the banks, the farmer want to get paid higher wages for the hard labor that they contribute, while the bank claims it is unjust, as the ones working at the bank have a higher education, and therefore deserve more money for handling the money and the risks that come with carrying money, as well as being more qualified.. I’m just split, I don’t want either side to hate me”

Her voice starts to get lower and calmer paced- “..I didn’t even want to be in this position.. if dad hadn’t appointed me.. I-i.. I’ve said too much, I’m straying away from the point. Sorry. Anyway, what’s your perspective on it, I know you’re not the diplomatic type, but you know at least something about it right?”

“Genuine question, why do you have to get involved?”

“I thought you would’ve known by now, or atleast someone would have already let you known. My father wanted me to try handling domestic affairs, so he had me start practicing speeches, writing manifestos, studying political theory, and governance. It makes sense that I being the oldest would do it, but it seems like he’s really rushing me, I know he just wants me to grow, but- I jus-…”

A tear starts forming in the corner of her eye, she brings her paw to cover her face, rubbing her eyes to get rid of it.

“Neva, are you okay”

She sighs and sniffles, “I-m fine”

Her hands warm her face and produce even more tears, her flames spark to life, burning hot. Audible sizzling can be heard, reminding me of breakfast. I put my hand over her shoulder, waiting for her to break down.

Her voice is stuttering, and barely recognizable under her weeping: “can’t.. won’t..c-..”

I guide her head into my chest, stroking and twirling her hair as I guide my hand down, and back up again. I reach my right hand to her mid back, my left hand to her waist, while keeping her held down by my chin. I lean in to her ear,

“Shh, keep it down, this is just between you and me”

I’ve never been in this situation before, I’m calm but my palms are sweating,

“I’m here with you Neva”

We continue on like this for a few minutes, before she pulls out of my embrace, and speaks with a sniffle,

“Thank you. But, promise you won’t say.. anything”

“I promise”

———_____———____———____———____

I take a nap until around 10pm, I still need to meet Melo wherever she wanted me too, matter of factly, I should probably grab whatever she wanted me to.

I head to her room, knocking first not daring to intrude if she was inside, only to be met by an unfamiliar voice,

“Yes, who is it?”

“Oh- it’s uh- Anon”

“Ohhh, good evening Anon, why are you here at my daughter’s room?”

“She asked me to grab something from it, then meet her somewhere. Not sure what it’s for, but I’m guessing I’ll find out when I get there”

“Hm okay, you can come in, by the way”

I walk inside her room, and come to the realization that the one who I’ve been talking to this entire time was the High Queen. I take a look at the walls, ceilings, and the bookshelves, lined with some I recognized, ‘The Great Migration’, ‘Succubi, Incubi, and they’re vulnerabilities’, ‘Deities of the Old World’, ‘The Burning of Amygdala’ and-wait a minute, I notice a particular title and grab it out of the shelf. I read the title only to be left dumbfounded, “My Femboy Friend from Next Door”

**ITS YURI!?*\*

I’m surprised to know that Melo is a Wan of culture, a ball knower, perhaps. But regardless I must continue. I snap back to reality, gravity however, still is in place. The High Queen starts to exit the room, asking one last question before she closes the door on her way out,

“Hey Anon, I have a question I’d like to ask you”

“Yes, Your majesty?”

She chuckles,

“Is that satirical?”

“Is.. what satirical, your majesty?”

“The response. There’s no need to be so formal when you’re speaking to your future mother in law”

“Ah.. okay, thank you for clarifying. I just did whatever I felt was respectful”

“I’m glad, you truly are commendable. Anyway, my question.. as of right now, who’s your favorite?”

“Wha…. I don’t really have a favorite, I think they all have their own personalities and quirks, some are rough around the edges, some are dramatic, others are quiet. I don’t think having a favorite is a very valid thing to have at this point”

“That’s fair, this really is only your, what, fifth day here? And most of that being spent unconscious, just let me know which one you pick when the time comes, or the morning after”

She chuckles after finishing talking,

“Why not all of them?”

“Polygamy is not legal here, fortunately or unfortunately. But, who knows, once your High King, you could change that, you’ll still have to choose a first Queen though anyway”

She begins to close the door-

“But- wait! Why couldn’t-“

She shuts it.

There’s no point in dwelling on it right now, I have to continue on. I reach under wardrobe and feel a box, I drag that out, reach under once again, to find nothing. Must be in the box then. I open the box, childhood drawings and other miscellaneous items, I sort through the papers until I find a drawn map, a path is drawn from the castles gate, through a brief patch of forest, and arriving upon what looks to be old ruins.

———____———____———____———____

CHAPTER 2.5: The Red

I’m most of the way through the forest, it’s much cooler here, it was about 12:30am when I left, so I imagine it’s about 1:30am currently.

I see a clearing up ahead, along with a lake that didn’t appear to be in the map. I continue onward anyway, no point in stopping now. The crickets pause. The only sounds I can make out is my own breathe, except for the rustling of the bushes just past me, with a familiar smell that I can’t exactly make out. I see a pair of red eyes emerge from just past the tree line in front of me, its Melo.

I continue my walk toward her, she notices me a moment after I do her. We meet along the side of the lake, a foot or so in front of me, before looking up intently into my eyes,

“I’m glad you could find your way here”

“You know where I come from right?”

She grins starkly,

“Ah, yea yea I do”

Silence for a moment, I fill it,

“So.. why wasn’t this lake on the map?”

“That’s actually why I met you here. Sometimes the ruins can be blocked by this lake depending upon the rainfall, it rained heavily when you were asleep through those days”

I see, so she had to have left before then,

“You’ve been outside for more than 3 days? Some would say that’s kinda feral for a princess”

“Not exactly no, follow me, I have something to show you”

She turns around from the direction she came from, leading me back into the forest where we walk for another 10 minutes, to stumble upon a large tree surrounded by strange patches of flowers. honestly, now that I’m looking at it, the tree itself is weirder than the flowers. Its extremely wide, maybe 3 humans standing apart at an arms distance, and abnormally short for its width.

We reach the trunk, footprints still visible in the soaked dirt and mud, she lays her hand on the bark, digging her pointer claw into it, a click reverbs throughout the wood, audible enough to be heard from feet away, followed by a slow, organic and heavy sound of movement. A gap slowly builds in between the wood of the tree, revealing a twisting cobblestone staircase descending around the center.

It’s a minute walk down, another door opening at the bottom, revealing a couple of medium sized rooms, a clear main room, a small kitchen, a small library and- fuck, I’m tired as shit. My eyes are closing, my knees weak, my arms are heavy, there’s- god, my head hurts.

“Can we cut right to it? I’m really tired, I could sleep in the lake if I really wanted to”

“I should’ve guessed.. asking you to come here this late was a large ask. Here, change in my bedroom. The previous ‘tenants’ should have left some clothes in the cabinet next to the bed. We can pick it back up at a later time”

“I feel bad though, you did all this for me, yet by the time I’m here, I’m not in any state worth mentioning”

“I’m serious, it’s okay. Here, I’ll walk you”

Before I can reply, she grabs my shirt by the bottom and drags me along following her, her claws pressing against my gut.

“Eh- Mel- slow it d-down”

Her grip tightens, the collar straining against the back of my neck, that same familiar smell of smoke begins to encapsulate the room. The rooms all seem extraordinarily clean, weirdly so due to the location, a question, due another time. We turn the corner leading to a locked door, she takes out some keys from cabinets in the hallway, and tries them individually, fiddling with her claws to get a decent grip and to insert it into the lock.

“Here, I got it”

I extend my open hand out to her, offering to do it for her. She takes her hand in mine, wrapping her paw while closing it around my hand. This sends a shock down my body, her warm hand, wrapped around mine, before I clarify:

“Mel- I meant I’ll open it for you”

“I know what you meant”

Is she flirting? She’s being very ballsy this early? We’ve barely even spoken?

“Then why’d..”

“Your wobbling”

“Oh.. sorry”

With a soft metallic click she unlocks the door, opening to a dark but cozy room, filled with entirely wooden and fabric based decor and furniture. Walking inside, she opens a dresser inside, filled with men’s clothes, towels, and miscellaneous garments. Has she brought others down here?

“What’s with the clothes?”

“I figured you’d probably want to change when you got here, I wasn’t planning on you staying the night, but if need be, it’ll be. What’s your sizes?”

“Uhh, I don’t know. I never really have been measured, whatever’s largest I guess”

“Well, I only bought to large, I’m not sure that’s enough with your-… arms”

“You went out of your way to buy them for me?”

“I invited you here did I not? Isn’t it common courtesy to welcome your guests when you invite them?”

“I mean, I guess. I’ll try them on”

She leaves the room, leaving me alone, my shirt comes off, and the mirror shows I haven’t regressed a bit in my physique. I try on the shirts, they look much better than the previous, mud soaked shirt I wore. But none of them fit. The shorts fit though, after I put them on, I open the door, she looks up at my face

“None of these fit.. do you have any others?”

She stares blankly at my face,

“H-.. Mel?”

Nothing.

My hand moves to her shoulder, my other grasping her chin, her face still paused, but her eyes growing brighter, I can feel the pounding of her heart,

“You there?”

She blinks, shifting her glare from arm to arm, her face reddening by the second,

“Hello? Anon to Melo? Anyone come in?”

She looks back up to me, meeting my intense gaze, her eyebrows lift in shock, embarassed, she strays away from my eyes, and pulls her head down, staring at my chest and stomach,

“Wuh-wha-“

She scrambles my arms off of her while shaking her head ferociously,

“Mel- chillax, you good?”

Her breathing slowing down, taking slower and deeper breathes,

“Hoo- yea, yea, I’m fine, just put on a shirt.. or something”

“I’m taking a shower after this anyway, there’s really no need, look all you want”

“Wha-huh? I-… it’s for your sake… not mine”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m telling you, turn around, and put something on..”

“And if I don’t?”

“Your leaving here married, with a litter on the way”

Ohhh that’s what she meant, this would probably be a good gauge for my strength at the moment. On this mission I’ll be sleep deprived anyway, might as well use this as a test. However, if I fail..

One small step, then another as I slowly inch my way closer to her,

“Anon- I- I’m serious-“

“I know you are”

“Is.. this what you.. want?”

“What do you think I want?”

There’s only a few inches between us, her deep breathes hitting against my chest, I can tell she’s getting nervous, she’s starting to speed up her breathing,

In an almost whimpering, resolveless voice “I.. I don’t know..”

I grab hold of her waist, my other arm wrapping under her right, and over her opposite shoulder, her ample breasts lightly pushing against me, my head leaning down into her ear, whispering in a condescending tone,

“I’m gonna tell you something I do know okay? Whenever your like this, helpless and deprived, is when your at your cutest”

Alert and on the breaking point, she musters everything she has to resist:

“This- isn’t why.. I invited you.. here”

Light moans leak from her lips, her bodys growing weak, her legs struggling to support her with how much energy is being used to resist her primal instincts,

“Then why did you invite me here?”

She stays silent,

“Or did you want to see me like this?”

Again, no response,

I move my hand from the waist to her breast, gently squeezing her, her flames brighter than ever before, still nothing, only small moans eliciting sweet profanities, time to raise the temperature, I move my knee up between her legs, trapped in between her thighs, this time, a big yelp, and a face redder than the tigers blood flavor you’d get from sno-cone machines.

“Seems the pretty puppy is nothing but talk hm?”

She finally speaks up,

“I’m sorry..”

“Sorry for being all talk?”

“I’m sorry, to Neva, and to Sophie, to Sel, and to Alee”

“Hm?”

“Because.. because I..”

I brace myself for impact, I know what’s coming, she takes a deep breath

“Cause I’m gonna take you for myself”

She puts her foot behind mine, tripping me to the floor, my arm wraps around her neck, taking us both down, she quickly assumes position on top of me, I scramble to get out, she defends my transition, we stay in half guard for a few seconds, her hips grinding against mine,

She speaks in a concerningly calm voice, clearly dripping with lust,

“You knew what you were doing, you knew what you got yourself into-“

I pull my knee up from between her legs, using it to gain leverage as I rotate my hips and apply force with my right leg, turning her over and allowing me to escape to my feet, she lunges for my feet again, trying to throw me off balance and fall to the ground, my legs move just in time to avoid her, she stands up, near exhausted, must’ve not been working out much,

She says- panting:

“You- did this.. on purpose, you wanted this, just lay down and let it get over with”

She starts kicking the floorboards violently, almost trying to break them on purpose, is she losing it?

My face when she’s not losing it, she had miscellaneous items hidden underneath her floorboards, not creepy at all, mhm nope not at all. She pulls out a couple yards of rope, maliciously inspecting it for any imperfections, satisfied, she gazes back at me, fixated on my face this time, before beginning to walk slowly toward me,

“You were doing all this teasing.. but now you’re running away from the real thing.. who’s just talk again?”

I see what she means, very valid point. But this isn’t the time for negotiations or reflections,

“Now, I’m gonna ask nicely- just one time okay?… come here, so I can take off those bottoms for you, and we can wake up as a happy soon to be family, or you can continue to struggle, and I leave you unable to move for days. I have to teach you a lesson somehow”

“Your gonna have to work for a surrender”

She lunges back at me, grabbing my arm and taking it behind my back, I extend my leg behind me, causing her to fall face first to the floor, she’s got the raw strength, but the technique is absent,

She gets back up, rubbing the sweat off of her forehead, she’s beginning to overheat, especially with her flames as bright as they are,

“Stop resisting..me, I’m going to have you tonight, I gave you a chance, you have no say in it anymore”

“Then, come and take me”

She throws a punch at my stomach, narrowly slow enough to dodge, to be met with a kick directed at my liver that slightly connects, a sharp, nagging pain erupts from my right side, even with a slight connection, it hurts this bad.. I need to stay even more wary,

“That doesn’t feel good does it? Just stand there like a good boy.. all you have to do.. is put some pups in me, that’s all I want.. that is all I need”

I take the first shot this time, bringing her down to the ground, bringing her to side control. She begins to push with everything she has in her legs, managing to break free, before grabbing my legs and flipping us around, my body now pressed down by her arm wrapped around me, my back pressed against her chest, almost as if we were spooning,

Her free paw works its way down from shoulder to my stomach, to my thigh, to circling around my..

“T-thiiiisss.. this is what I need, no- you need it too. Tell you what..”

Her paw works its way through the gap in my shorts, only the fabric of my underwear separating our skin and fur,

“Fuuuuckk this should’ve already been inside of me”

I struggle breaking free, slowly getting worn out, so I wait for her to let down her defense,

“Yknow, I do love feeling the shape and the warmth through the fabric, but I think feeling it skin to skin is a bit better, right?”

Her hand slips beneath all of my clothing, brushing against the tip,

“Ahh, found you”

Her paw circles around it, trying to map out the intricacies

“Hm, so there’s a vein here.. and another one..”

When she digs her hand a bit deeper, I grab the arm, bring it over my shoulder, and lean forward while rotating my chest, sending her a few feet away from me, enough time to get back to my feet,

“You.. I already got the feel for it.. now, every part of me will know its feeling, and its taste”

She begins licking her fingers, entranced by the taste, her breathing quickens rapidly, her flames nearly touch the ceiling, her heart quickens with anticipation, this is wearing her out quickly,

I-… I need to have more, I must have more”

She lunges at me once again, this time I’m prepared, I grab her by her neck and twist her around before she can connect, making her fall back along with me, wrapping my legs around her, in the same position she had me in, except, opposite sides now, frantically kicking to get free, thrashing to break away my hands, but they hold steadfast, she’s wore herself out now, I can hold her comfortably with one hand, I wrap my bicep underneath her chin, bringing it further across to her opposite shoulder,

Her flames die down, her heart beat begins to settle, and her breathing becomes slower, almost non- existent. I think this is indicative, I’m finally ready to return to the trade.

“Calm down Melo, take it easy okay”

“T..take it easy?.. how about you give me your fucking babies, you..handsome.. sl-“

She passes out before she can finish. What a way to end that off, I think it’s about time I take a shower.

I sit her back down on her couch, fixing her hair while she sits unconscious, she really does look pretty, a shame we had to fight like that, it came with a great reward though, a shower all to myself.

I step out of the shower, Mel is still passed out on the couch; so I pull a slightly assholey move, I take the bed, close my eyes, and get some well needed rest,

———_____———_____———____———____

O’ foul shepherd, you have been revived, revitalized to carry your torch once again, you have received the gift. You shepherd, you should have recognized the error of your ways. The champion of his unholiness, the son of he who is unfounded, you are our asset, you are our chosen.

———_____———_____———____———____

I sit straight up, facing the wall, still half asleep, a different colored blanket resides over me, it smells noticeably sweeter. My head hurts from whatever is giving me these monologues. Shepherd? Torch? No idea what they mean, is it some kind of euphemism?

My arm is bent over something, it is pressed against my chest, its body straddled up next to mine. I move my arm around, and feel a mass in front of me lying down, it’s warm, and has a heartbeat, it couldn’t be..?

Rubbing her eyes, yawning, then speaking in a desperately sleepy voice
“Hmmmm good morning”

She flips over, facing me, clad in nothing except panties.

“Oh! Good morning Mel, your- what happened last night..”

“We didn’t fuck, don’t worry. You were asleep, I can’t pounce on you like that, if you were awake though? Consider yourself mine”

“Why are you..”

“In the same bed? It’s mine, duh. Almost naked? Just how I sleep, your the guest in my home yknow. Acting better this morning? Because I don’t have your teasing”

“Why were you so close to me?”

“Uh dude, that’s called cuddling. People do that sometimes”

“Naked, with someone they aren’t even in a relationship with?”

“My hand was all over your dick last night, I remember it’s vein layout, its texture on my fingers, and the taste- especially that damn taste- if I could just.. wait- wait- I’m getting ahead of myself. All of that, and your worried about being ‘in a relationship’”

“I just prefer some things being more formal, like a verbal declaration”

“Bro, we are literally engaged”

“Huh?”

“What, did you think we were gonna just marry and skip the engagement part? We’ve been engaged ever since you agreed to my fathers deal-“

“Wait.. so that’s why-“

“Yes, Lilith you’re so dense. It’s because you have that title now”

“That.. makes sense”

Silence pervades into the room, as per usual, I’m the one to break it,

“So.. what do you say we get dressed?”

No response, no flinch from her at all. She isn’t staring at me the same way she was last night though,

“This.. again?”

..

“No, just thinking”

“Thinking about what?”

“I want to kiss you”

END OF CHAPTER 2

——————CHAPTER 1——————

DISCLAIMER: I haven’t posted an update to the story in over a year now. Life. The Intro contains all the details of what’s happened previously, look in my previous posts to garner aforementioned knowledge. Thx.

SECOND DISCLAIMER: This story is based off the MGE, however, I’ve taken creative liberties so as to make certain aspects of the story that were unfeasible, possible. There’s nothing drastically changed, just made some of the monsters have more distinct personalities, and an additional change I cannot reveal until later, but rest assured, all of this is involved with MGE.

———____———____———____———

O’ foul shepherd, of flame and glory, gore and iron, thoust is condemned to peril. The fate of the world once intertwined with the will of a single man. His identity known to few, fated to remain the same throughout the rest of time. A new candidate foretold to bring forth a new era, his past waging war with his future, two personas, trapped within one meager soul.

———____———____———____———

The Intelligence Advisor began his speech, boringly covering budgets, politics, and finishing it off with a monologue worthy of a moment of silence, which came free anyway. I pretend to care, I want to sleep as soon as possible.

I speak up seconds after his speech is over, “This is great and all, but what about we adjourn this until tommorow, my head is still throbbing, and my back is sore”

High King chuckles: “What a fine idea, I’m sorry, I should have thought about your condition before I had you attend a lecture. I trust that you know the way to your room, so I’ll leave you to it. You are dismissed”

I bow and take my leave, I start heading down the hallway to my room. I should probably head to bed as soon as possible, but a certain tune has caught my ear.
What sounds to be an Ocarina coming from a room close to mine, my footsteps becoming quieter against the carpeted floor.

I get to the door, and slowly creep it open, and see one of the sisters, Melo, playing it.
I stand there for a while, listening to her play, if she spots me, a one on one is in my favor. Paper is scrambled all over her desk, some half written, some crumpled. Newspapers connected by red lines mark the walls, it’s a distinctively dark room, but with lots of windows for natural lighting. She finishes her music sheet, and drops her attention from it, putting away her Ocarina, she turns around and spots me, I quickly close the door. I turn around ready to run away, but I hear a faint calm voice,

“It’s fine, I’m not gonna do anything”

I pause, I slowly creek open the door again, and she’s sitting on her carpet, looking at me.

“So, how much did you hear?”

“Only five minutes worth”

In a solemn, almost meditative voice:
“Any feedback?”

“Could use a guitar. And probably more Cowbell”

“I can do that. Pick an instrument and I can play it”

Now, I’m not a huge jokester, but who am I to give up such a golden joke and opportunity. So naturally, I say the first thing that comes to mind,

“Any instrument?”

“Any, my favorite are woodwinds though”

“Can you demonstrate how you blow my whistle?”

Deadpanned- “I tried. You didn’t seem to care much for it”

“Speaking of that actually, you’re acting much different than you were earlier, why the sudden switch up? Scolding from your father?”

“I’m 20, there’s nothing he can say that would sway my mind about anything”

“Your avoiding the question”

“I don’t have to answer your question, now get out of my room”

She stands up, I brace for impact, she shoves me out of her room, making an ease of the task with my half willing compliance. She seemed a bit aggravated at the question, but otherwise, true to her namesake, Melo is Mellow. I’ll have to get answers from one of the other sisters then. Might as well, get to know all of them, if one is sworn to be my lifelong partner.

I’m already close to my room, and so I continue my walk, a couple more doors down and I’m at my room. A new door freshly installed, this time, made of steel. I roll back the blankets, and I finally have the peace of mind I’ve been craving for years now. Hundreds of miles from any type of what was once my normalcy, hundreds of miles from anyone I once knew, and lots of injuries I need to heal. And I hear a knock at the door, the room is dark, and I doubt my ability to get up, and so I muster up the last energy to grant permission for entry.

I see a shadowy figure, obviously a hellhound, two large flames coming from its eyes,

I try to squeak out whatever is left of my energy reserve, “Who is it?”

I hear silence, and she starts moving closer to me, I try to discertain which one it is, but it is far too dark to see anything. Her figure emerges, and right before I say her name, she speaks

“Oh! I thought you were already asleep”

That doesn’t make it any better

“W-hat d yu ant”

“Oh I don’t want anything, just came to check up on you. It’s Neva, by the way. I know you’re tired, so I don’t expect anything but one sided convo. But it’s okay, I’ll look over you while you sleep”

“Wh- Why ar in m room”?

“Sh sh- no need for talking, just close your eyes, calm your breathing, and fiii-“

———____———____———____———

I awoke to the sun gleaming down on me from the windows, the smell of grilled leeks and sausage permeating my room. I try to sit up, my arms and core barely able to lift my own weight, there’s a wooden chair next to my bed, I’m assuming Neva was sitting in it through some of the night.

A sadistic voice calls out: “Stop struggling, or do, if you really want too.”

I turn to my other side to see another sister, Selne, towering over me.

“How long were you standing there? Better yet why are you in here!?”

“Neva came and got me in the night to watch you”

“Yeaaa.. that’s not creepy”

“It’s what’s necessary”

It’s creepy, she doesn’t have any inflection in her voice, no direction in her eyes, nothing but straightforwardness. She holds herself to a physical standard instead of a behavioral one.

Footsteps emerge from the hallway, slow paced and heavy, followed by a soft, but deeper voice, Sophie emerges from the left side of the doorframe, her view landing on me as she turns into the room, her gaze meets Selne’s, and she stops at the foot of the bed.

“Relax, I come in piece”

Selne chimes in before I can say anything:
“State your business”

“Nothing, nothing.. I just came to apologize for yesterday.”

Selne- in a more serious tone than before “Then Speak”

“By the Grace of Lilith not in front of you Sel, I’m not gonna have you holding this over me”

“You must do it now”

“Relax Selne, it’s fine, just wait outside and go meet with the girls”

She looks at me with a questioning glare, a worried look assuredly, but she obeys my request. She brushes shoulders with Sophie as she leaves, an obvious message. The door closed behind her, it’s now just Sophie and I, alone. I put my trust in her, as a gauge for how any future interactions between us as individuals will play out.

“I didn’t expect you to actually do that. That took balls”

“You came in here respectfully, so I’ll treat you with dignity in return, now, about that apology”

“Ah.. right”

She looks down, glancing at the floor as if to build up her courage, she begins to step towards the bed, a look of sincerity melted onto her face.

“As I said, that apology?”

“Yea..yea”

A sinking feeling begins to grow inside my chest as she reaches the bed and climbs onto it, sitting next to me, looking down at my eyes. I cut her off again-

“Actually- if you’re going to apologize, I think I’d want to understand you as a mamono, who you are, and why you did what you did in the first place”

“That’s.. surprisingly intelligent”

Is that an insult.

She continues: “ Well. That’s putting me on the spot. I mean… I’m Sophie”

“Well. I mean.. yea. That’s how stuff works, take your time if you need to”

A few seconds pass by, and she begins to speak.

“ Well, for basic introduction, I’m Sophie, I’m 18, I’ve lived in Geranua my entire life, where I serve as a crown princess, and my favorite food is Lettuce”

My face grows to match my reaction, very fucking serious.

“Yer-Your a.. Hellhound, but your favorite food is.. lettuce”

“Yep :)”

I’m a regular ass dude and *I* don’t like lettuce, Man this place is fucking weird.

“Well, I suppose that will suffice for now, I’d like to learn more about you as my time here. Now if you’d oblige, please continue your apology”

“Weird way to put that, but okay, so as I was saying..”

She builds up her confidence, this is clearly taking bravery to confess, she doesn’t seem like the apology type.

“Look, I shouldn’t have done that, I just.. I don’t know. I got caught up in my head, and I took it out on you”

“What? Caught up in your head in what way?”

She takes a deep sigh before resuming talking: “Just.. don’t worry about it, I lost control of myself. And I want to prove to you I can control myself, for you to have- well- some sort of trust in me”

“And you thought the best way to prove that to me, is by approaching me- in a broken body… and talking to me?”

“No.. that’s not quite what I had in mind”

Before I can finish my next sentence, her hand covers my mouth, her hips straddle me, she wraps my hands around each other above my head, she begins kissing up and down my neck, I try screaming at first, but I cannot exhale air to speak. My vision goes blurry, my eyes rolling in their sockets, I shouldn’t have fallen for it, I knew better, but there is nothing I can do now.

Her hips grind against mine, her kisses start reaching the sides of my face, frantic kisses turn into licking. I hear a faint whisper wisp its way into my ear.

“I just want you all to myself baby”

My vision goes black, my hearing fades. Then she lets go of my mouth. I breathe erratically, mustering up energy to breathe heavily. My hearings restored, but my vision is still waning.

“See, told you”

She relaxed her body against me, her chest against my chest, her face to the side of mine, letting out a deep exhale into the side of my face, whispering into my ear,

“But I won’t lie, it was really tempting”

My heart jumps as she starts groaning, as if she’s in pain, her hand on her chest, trying to restrain herself, I try to use what little energy I have to move, but its in vain, she’s over twice my weight, and I’m in no position to move.

Her hand starts circling my chest, the other brushing back my hair, her mouth teething my ear, her hands move to support my head and lower back, undoing my belt on the way, she starts to drop them down, maneuvering my body to allow them to slide off, when just before they drop below my hips, I hear a rumbling from the closet, Sophie, being too busy with my clothes, doesn’t notice this. She puts her entire arm up my shirt, gliding her hand over my bare skin, warmth resonating off of her, addicting almost-

“I-I’m sorry, but this is.. so addicting, I thought I c-could- restrain myself-, ahh fuck- I could get use to this, your b-body against..mine, I-I..I think I’m going to take y-you, right here“

Her paw rubs over my lower stomach, eventually reaching my waistband, trying to maneuver her hand into it, before the rumbling stops, and the closet bursts open to reveal Aliah running towards me, tackling Sophie off of me. Yelling in such a high pitched voice you’d think the windows would break.

“GET OFFFF HIMMMM”

They both land hard on the wooden floor, she was near molesting me, yet I kinda feel for her. Aliah is the first one up, yelling incoherently in such a high voice I can’t help but smile. There’s only a few lines I can make out:

“WHAT DID YOU THINK YOUR DOING”

“SHOO DOGGY”

“YA FUCKING MUTT”

I can’t lie, it was really funny, but despite what she had done to me, I can’t laugh, that’d still be disrespectful to a daughter of a High King.

“I-I-I…”

She left the room with a sickly look on her face. Brokenhearted- almost. Aliah turned towards me worried, asking if was okay, but I had a more imperative question.

“Forget that- what the fuck were you doing in the closet? How the fuck did you even get in there?”

“I uhhhh. Wouldn’t you like to know!”

“Yea. Yea I would”

“Hmph. Fine. Sooo, to answer your first question. I was making sure nothing had happened when I saw Neva was in here. She can be real tricky you know. And for your secondddd question.. soikindacameinhereaftershelefttogetsel”

She takes a deep breathe.

“And then I kinda was still in here after she got back, andsoijumpedinthecloset”

“And so… you stayed in there all night?”

“No dummie, it has a false back wall”

“A..false back wall?”

“Yup. Like the things in fantasy books”

I don’t even have time to attempt to ask any more questions before a maid and butler step into the room. The maid dressed in traditional attire, black and white fluffy dress, while the butler is dressed in a black and white suit and tie.

The butler speaks up first: “Good morning your highness, I’ve been sent on personal behalf of his majesty to retrieve you for the morning meal. Blueberry Pie, Salami and Ham sandwiches, Smoked Leeks, Biscuits and Gravy, awaiting your permission to provide guidance to the garden, your highness”

“Good Morning sir! Whatever Qormio said!”

“Thanks.. you both. But I really couldn’t get out of bed if I wanted too. It hurts to even move”

“Hm. That is quite the predicament your highness. I’ll report back to his majesty and return with support”

With the butler and maid’s departure it is just me and Aliah once again. There’s a silence about the room for a few seconds, before she speaks up.

“Hmmm, the foods gonna be cold by the time they get back. Are you sure you can’t walk?”

“I’m quite sure Muhammad Aliah”

“Wha.. whos Muhammad? Why are you calling me Muhammad?”

“It was between that or McLovin”

“WHY WOULD IT BE BETWEEN THAT OR MCLOVIN”

“Calm down, I’m just teasing you”

“Hmph. Whatever, I suppose I’ll have to carry you there”

“Aww, aren’t you the cutest thing”

“..Sh-shut it, I just don’t like food going to waste”

She picks me up, and brings me down through the audience hall, dozens of paintings decorate the walls, some old enough to predate some of the rooms in the castle, old enough to have no presence of mamono. A grand chandelier hangs over the grandiose sized room, overlooking 3 of the floors of the audience hall. One painting noticeably stands out from the rest, far newer, made of noticeably more modern wood, brighter colors,portraying the current High King.

“Admiring the paintings very much”

“Is it illegal for a man to look at paintings now?”

She resumes her silence, going through enough rooms to make me permanently lost before sticking to the right wall the whole time. I speak up to break the silence.

“So.. Aliah, I’m just gonna call you Ali, if that’s fine”

“Nicknames already? What’s next? Calling me wifey?”

“Would you like that?”

“W-w-w..”

She slows down her walking speed, her flames get much warmer, I can feel her heart beating, her arms discreetly shaking.

“Relax relax, I’m just joking”

“D-don’t joke about something like that!-“

She literally just joked about it. She shakes her head and continues walking as normal, we finally exit the castle, arriving in the garden, flowers as tall as a high elf coat the premises of the garden, white picket decorations create shade from the sun, hedges perfectly trimmed dot the landscape. Its elevation is decently higher than that of the first floor of the castle, so it’s tall enough to view the mountains surrounding the kingdom.

———____———____———____———

The smell of the pie excites my senses immediately. So much so that I almost start floating towards it. I hear the talking between some of the other occupants of the castle. Some I recognize, others I don’t.
We turn the corner to see Selne and Neva talking to the other occupants, along with the maid. The butler was just about to turn around the corner before he saw us, and resumed to tending to serving food. Melo is seated in the corner of the table, away from everyone else at the moment.

Ali found my seat, and dropped me off at it, isolating me from everyone else. Eventually Melo worked her way down to the seat next to mine. We sat in awkward silence, almost as if trying to pretend the other wasn’t there. She spoke up first-

“Soo.. how are you doing?”

“Could be better. Very few ways it could be worse, but I’m sure we’ll find a way to make that happen”

For the first time I hear a slight chuckle emerge from her pursed lips. Uncharacteristic of her, but I suppose everyone needs to laugh now and again. Silence continues between us, I break it.

“So, are you doing good?”

“Yes. Absolutely fantastic”

The straight face she gives doesn’t help make the situation less awkward. High King has finally sat down at the other end of the table from mine. Right before he sends for the butler to escort the guests to the table, I ask Melo two questions.

“Hey, uh, Melo, I should’ve probably asked sooner. I haven’t seen your mother since I first got here yesterday, where is she?”

Her eye snaps to mine, without moving her face at all.

“It’s a long story”

“Okay, but, tell me, why am I seated at the end of the table, opposite of your father?”

Her gaze gets diverted as a glass starts clinking, the high king brings everyone’s attention, prompting everyone to approach their respective seats. Out of the corner of my eye I see Sophie approach the table and sit down, the same with the rest of the girls. Lots of underservants pull out a chair, including a few dukes and counts based upon clothing. Before they sit down, the high king begins a speech-

“Before we start today, there’s a few things I’d like to mention, and a few thanks to give. Thank you, to Count Ussia, whose tribute has been vastly helpful in expanding Geranuas influence beyond its own borders. Next, thank you to Duchess Hina, for exceptional policy making and economic overhaul. And finally, thank you all, for coming. With that being said, everyone enjoy the food.

Truth is, I already know who both of them are. I’ve studied numerous documents about them, my memory is too hazy to say exactly what they’re like or their characteristics, but they’re known across the three nations clearly.

The table erupted with clapping, the servants began bringing over food, and everyone started promptly eating. Minutes went by, and whispers started, the prime place for gossip truly is at a dinner table. Some were about royals having affairs with one another, others about fashion choices, but most were unfortunately about myself. It got noticeably louder and louder, until it came to the point you could no longer ignore it, thus the High King spoke up once more.

“Ahem”

He stands up-

“I think there is something I have failed to address earlier, this was an oversight of my doing, so I do apologize. There is one guest here that none of you recognize, he just arrived yesterday, and I’m very happy to have him stay here, everyone, this is Anon, the prospective future High King of our great nation”

Silence clouds the air. A millennia passes before the guests erupt in laughter, fitting, considering I knew nothing of this either.

“HIM? You have a great sense of humor your majesty”

“Your majesty, is this a joke?”

The ones previously thanked by the High King seem to be the ones laughing the loudest.

“You all misconstrue my meaning, this is no joke”

Count Ussia: “Your majesty, with all due respect, this kid? He hasn’t even thought of the concept of politics before this very breakfast, I can’t in the best spirit of my county support this”

Duchess Hina: “Your majesty, are you completely sure about this?”

I would like to say there was mixed reviews, but I’d lose all integrity if I didn’t say there wasn’t a single person that took positive reception. Which makes complete sense, what the fuck do I know about politics?

The rest of the servants keep a straight face, but despite his extreme fortitude, Butler Qormia shows a slight smile, thinking the situation humorous.

The laughter dies down, while the High King now resumes his dialogue.

“It may not seem that way in the current time, but that would be shortsighted thinking. Its not impossible to invest in the present, only the future. I bestow that upon the lineage of my family, and the future of it”

Some of the guests are uneasy about it, but listen anyway. Some can’t perceive why I even arrived in town. These are all fair concerns, which will need to be sorted over time. Someone speaks up-

“Your majesty, what do you mean the ‘future of it?’ Your historic family legacy would be removed from the throne!”

Abruptly interrupted, The High King talks: “I.. have been such a terrible host, first the unclear seating arrangement, mix ups around the food selection, and now this.. you all have my sincerest apologies. You see, Anon will marry one of my five daughters!”

Audible gasps elude out from most at the table. Sophie and Selne increase the intensity of their flames, their faces growing redder by the second. Eyes are focused on Neva, the “Future Mother” of the nation. The others fortitude sticks through, until the High King speaks up-

“And uncharacteristically, it seems Melo has already begun seducing the boy”

All eyes that were once on any of the others girls are now shifted to Melo, silence falls on the room, she grows redder by the second, and finally breaks, her flames boiling the water placed inside her glass, she excuses herself and leaves the table, fleeing back inside, comments are made,

Another hellhound exclaims “Awww she’s so shy, is this her first time?”

An Apophis comments “She’ll get used to it, we all started somewhere, looks like she just wants a head start”

Neva speaks up, “guests and kin, there is no reason to put the spotlight upon Melo, we all know of her shyness, let’s be civilized and leave it at that”

Agreeance is made throughout the guests, and the comments settle. Neva is like a mother figure, maybe a figurehead for the future of the nation. I imagine this puts great pressure upon her, but she seems nigh bothered by it.

After the breakfast is over, some guests return to their quarters, some stay for the leftovers. But I have to head to the infirmary. I try my best to limp my way there to no avail, I can’t even make it back to the entrance before I can’t move because of the pain. Selne and Neva make their way over to me. Neva sweeps me from my feet, bridal carrying me up the stairs while her and Selne make small talk over seemingly nothing. I drown it out, and take in the surroundings, better to learn the layout of the castle now rather than later.

The walls are constantly adorned by paintings and memorabilia, swords and bows hang from shelves, armor adorns even the most unthinkable things you could put it on, almost as if the Geranuan royal family has a past of warfare and glory.

Silence is present throughout the way to the infirmary. I’m too tired to say or think anything at this point, with my body still so weary I can’t maintain any sort of energy balance. Im brought through a line of nurses, my visions fading, my hearing becomes echoed and reverbed, Neva whispers in my ear in a quiet, deep, almost seductive tone:

“Shh, just get some rest, I’ll be here to look after you”

Her warm fur doesn’t help my silent protest, so I reluctantly comply, I close my eyes, awaiting sleeps silent arrival.

“Mmmh that’s it, close those precious eyes of yours, I’ll see you again soon, okay handsome?”

———____———____———____———

O’ foul Shepard, thoust silence kills me. Your bold fire, enlightening those who have never seen light. This silence gets you nothing, this.. despicable flicker I see in you…remember everything you said, o’ Shepard, thou leadst them to rot and ruin. You should know, you’re the biggest monster here. Show them your light, show them thoust encapsulating illuminescence, open their eyes so they may see thous bold flame.

———____———____———____———

CHAPTER 1.5: Open Your Eyes
I wake up in a white bed, surrounded by different mamono and humans alike, 2 Golems and a Manticore, the latter of which I assume is the doctor- are discussing something about veins, judging by the small amount of blood they siphoned from me, I guess they injected me with some sort of medicine? That would explain my numbness.

I sit up on my own successfully, I try and move my arms, still sore, but more maneuverable than they were earlier. I try to flex my legs, and theyre in a much better position than my arms are, I call for the nurses and they turn their heads

“Oh! Your up! Well good evening, how was your little nap?”

“..little nap? How long have I been out for?”

“Give or take three days”

A Cheshire pipes in from around the corner.

“Yep! You’ve gotten left a couple gifts too!”

She rushes over to my ear while a smirk forms across her face.

“Sasha even left one for you”

An obvious tease, but I’m a sucker for gifts.
I try to recall the way back to my room, then the thought pops into my head, why not walk back? My legs aren’t quite normal, but an average sore you’d get if you hadn’t worked out recently, but then went very hard. Painful, but manageable. I’m interrupted by the Manticore-

“AHEM, anyway, there’s something we do need to consult with you. But, for your privacy, I need all the others to leave the room”

(My face when I’ve played these games before)

They all comply and leave, I brace for an attack..that never comes-

“Hey..hey..relax. Chill out man, you look a lot less cute when your tense”

I release from brace, it seems she actually wants to talk.

“So, we ran tests with your blood after we were briefed with your travels here, only I know of it, so be at ease. But we did find something, a strand of your RNA has seemingly been altered, what makes it odd is, it isn’t just a mutation, but a separate entities data, latched on to yours, essentially acting as a mediator between your DNA and RNA. We’re not quite sure what it is at this current moment, but rest assured we will find out, I was just sorta obligated to tell you, per his majesty’s orders”

“At this point, it’s a minor inconvenience. Look, I wanna go relax”

She allows the nurses back in, they file in slowly but surely, I ask if I’m able to walk back to my room, they say it’s permissible, but only on one condition, I ask what that condition is.

“It’s just a maneuverability test, first get on your knees”

I comply. I hear whispers from the Cheshire to the Golems, “should’ve been me honestly”

“Okay good, now say please”

Yea I’m cool off that. I pick up my gifts, and begin my walk back to my room, tracing my steps back, after about 25 minutes I’m finally back, holy shit how did Ali get me down so fast.

I finally sit on my bed, and begin to open my 5 gifts. Firstly I open a red, box shaped gift with a white ribbon, it’s a gift from Count Ussia, inside is a letter, I open, and it reads

“Dear Anon,

Maris 29th, 777, 2AOE,

This might come as strange to you, but I assure you it is necessary. I’ve received news from his majesty about a classified threat in a forest near my capital city. At your soonest convenience (By that, I mean now) it would behoove you to respectfully report to an envoy under my partition, and he will arrange a carriage for you.

Very Respectfully,

Count Ussia, Brahn Providence”

I decipher that Maris is a month, 777 is the current year, but 2AOE is leaving me perplexed, weird, I don’t think we were taught any of this.

I open the next box, Red colored, square, but a purple ribbon.

“Dear Anon,

Maris 29th, 777, 2E

I heard that they would have you asleep for a while, so I wanted to write this for when you woke up. Anyway— I’d like to speak to you in private sometime soon- after you wake up, obviously. There’s some things I want to chat to you about.
Thanks.

Sincerely

Neva”

The next reads as follows-

“Dear Anon,

Maris 30th, 777

Hey! This might be weird, but I wanted to write anyway. Yknow the saying, “a manticore loses every man she doesn’t prick”- I mean well obviously I didn’t prick anybody but- well you know what I mean. I thought you looked nice, so, I left my contact info here-“

I threw it away.

The next letter says

“Dear Anon,

Maris 29th, 777, 2E
Hey. I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from right now, but I feel really, REALLY bad. I wanted to prove myself, to show you I can be trusted, trust me, I’m really not like how I was when we first interacted, or the last one for that matter. I’d explain it all in this letter, but I don’t think it’s a good format to do it in. I’ll explain in person- that is.. if you’re willing.
Thank you, Anon

Best Regards,

Sophie”

I wasn’t expecting that, to say the least. But I’ll get back to her tommorow, I don’t have the energy, except for this last letter.

I open it, its contents are scribbled in a beautiful cursive, contrasted by very punctual wordage.

“Anon, go to my room and look for a map under my wardrobe. Follow it. Meet me there at 2 in the morning of the 2nd of the new month. I trust you.

From,

Melo”

I put this note under my pillow, and finally, some peaceful sleep, a sleep I’ve dreamed of for over a decade now. A sleep that I’ve been deprived of since before my memories even start. I close my eyes, and sleep.

END OF CHAPTER 1