Author's Notes: Hello once again! Here we are with yet another chapter of the Demon of Zero! This chapter is the longest one yet (I hope you've just come to expect that of me at this point!) and I loved every second of writing it. Feel free to let me know how you feel about it; the more you tell me the better I'll do! Please do enjoy.
Chapter 7
-What Yonder Demons Break?-
"The most beautiful thing in the world is simple to find; for it is simply a lie. The same can be said of the most fearful".
Before we begin our journey, my Master has a few preparations to make; primarily my clothes. Remember what I said before about how the battle was near where I washed the clothes? You see, during the battle with Fouquet, my usual ensemble – and the only clothes I own – were left out to dry while I wore that dress… which was also destroyed. So, as of now, I have no clothes to wear beyond this medical robe with no underwear, so she's trying to make some arrangements for at least a temporary replacement while we're away since I can't really borrow hers, not to mention how 'inappropriate' it would be for me to be wearing a noble's clothing; so we've come to a pretty interesting conclusion.
"Mr. Colbert", Louise says to the clumsy instructor. "I have a request".
"Yes…?", Mr. Colbert says cautiously. "Well you see, my familiar is in need of clothing…"
*scene*
"Fuwahahahaha", Kirche laughs at what she sees before her. "It looks like you're wearing a giant, purple king-size bed sheet!", she says as she grips her stomach giving the impression that her sides hurt. "Bahaha, I think you were better off with the medical gown!".
"That's enough, Kirche!", Louise says as she jumps to my defense. "Her clothes were destroyed and Mr. Colbert was kind enough to lend his… it's not Abigail's fault that he's such a big person!", she says as she stomps her feet and flails her arms.
"But just look at her!", Kirche says as she continues laughing and points at me. And there I pitifully stand, sleeves hanging down past my hand by almost a foot, the collar almost stretching from one shoulder to other, the bottom pinned up so I don't step on it as I walk and a cloth-bandage around my head and over my right eye to keep my ghost-white eye from being too distracting to would-be strangers.
"Fuuu… wahahahahaha", Louise begins to join Kirche in their choir of humor.
"Master!", I call out with a huff as I turn red in the face. "You've abandoned me!", I say as I fall dramatically to the ground as if defeated.
"No! I'm sorry Abigail!", Louise shouts as she runs up to me, to which I look up with an overly pitiful look with a small tear in my eye. "Fuuuu… wahahahahaha".
"Oh… she laughed again", Guiche says without the tiniest bit of emotion.
"Guiche, are you seriously going?", Kirche asks having seemingly recovered from her fit of laughter. "I mean, it's not like you'll be useful in any way at all", she says with a mild shrug and a smile.
"You… I'll have you know that I am a man. As such, I am entitled to watch over the warrior princess!", he says as he gracefully waves his rose-wand around.
"Ohhhh? How does Montmorency feel about this?", Kirche asks with a sinister grin.
"She's not very happy", the young, curly-haired blonde speaks on her own behalf. "But I can't be angry when he's so willing to go to battle. He's always been such a coward, maybe it'll toughen him up!", she says as she crosses her arms and turns her back.
"Mon-mon!", Guiche exclaims. "I am no coward, simply a fool led by the radiance of your beauty! I must prove myself worthy as a man".
"Oh Guiche…", she says with a blush.
"Oh wow", Kirche says with a sigh.
*scene*
After the humorous unveiling of my new attire and Guiche's display of his idiocy, we finally get to the task at hand. A rather plain-looking carriage and two average horses were supplied for our journey. Guiche, seeking some sort of usefulness, offered to take the reins and wouldn't allow me to no matter how much I insisted, which is probably for the best since I only have one hand. As it stands, our only lead is Tabitha's familiar; since despite all the things that went wrong, Tabitha had the state of mind to have her familiar pursue Fouquet. Her familiar is incredible really; it left various signs for us along the way to follow, primarily in the form of small etchings on trees and rocks with arrows pointing which way it was going.
"Bah!", Kirche says as she stretches. "This is so boring!".
"Would you be quiet!", Louise says in retort. "It's bad enough to be stuck in here with you, but you don't have to be so loud the entire way!".
"Loud?", Kirche almost screams. "THAT WAS THE FIRST THING I EVEN SAID!", she yells at an intentionally high volume as to spite Louise.
"Wah!", Louise covers her ears. "You're so disgusting!".
"How dare you!", Kirche attempts to stand up in the tiny carriage as she says that.
"Ew, ew, ew!", Louise calls out like a child. "Abigail, protect me from the Troll!", she says as she hides behind me in a playful manner.
"As you wish", I say as I pull out my Talisman of Beasts.
"Eh…?", Kirche makes a small noise. "Wha…".
My eyes begin to glow with the light of mana, you can even see it through my right eye which is covered in bandages; my fingertips begin to tingle with power. I pull forth the mana from deep within my core to release a fatal-flame! "Die! Fire-", I'm cut off mid-spell by Louise grabbing my arm.
"I was just playing, Abigail! Stop, please!", she says as she looks up to me with fear in her eyes.
I smile a sinister smile. "As was I, my Master".
Kirche drops back down and does nothing but make a nervous laugh to herself.
*scene*
We've been traveling just about all day now and the sun is beginning to set. Things have been pretty quiet since out little game earlier and Louise has fallen asleep on my shoulder.
"Here… Rest", Tabitha says her first words of the journey. Kirche and I look out the window of the carriage to discover a small village before us. "Refill… water… eat".
"This place is more like my home country than I'd have thought", I think out loud to myself.
"Oh? Did you have plebian villages that smell of urine, poverty and loneliness in your home as well? Or perhaps you were simply the Plebian Princess?", Kirche says in a disgusted tone.
"Are you implying that your urine smells of roses and rainbows?", I say in an official-sounding tone. "Does it smell of daisies? Lilies perhaps?", I say as I look to her and smile.
"Why you… that's disgusting!", she says with a biting tone.
"No, it's only rude. You're just as human as these 'plebian' folk; you should respect them for being able to live in conditions you deem unworthy of your goddess-self", I say without even looking at her, I hear no response.
The carriage comes approaches the village to have a young man probably in his mid twenties come to greet us, "hello, strangers!", he says with a cheerful smile. "We don't get many-", he cuts himself off as he looks closer, "- visitors, let alone nobles… that's for sure", he says as he scratches his head. "How may we help you?".
"We would like water, food and shelter for the night, please", Tabitha actually says a complete sentence for once.
"Ah, been traveling for awhile, eh? Unfortunately, you might be better off if you keep going. We'll be happy to supply you with whatever you need, however", he says having lost his rather friendly tone.
"What's wrong?", Louise speaks as she's finally waking up.
"Oh well… I don't want to trouble you guys", he scratches his head.
"At least tell us!", Kirche finally speaks. "I at least would like to know".
"Well… this village was much larger and more prosperous at one point, not too long ago either! You see… this young girl came to our village, and with her she brought a plague!", he says with grandeur.
"Plague?", Louise exclaims.
"Are you saying this village should be quarantined?", I speak at last; this could potentially harm my Master be that the case.
"Eh? No, it's not a disease… well not in the conventional sense", he says a confusing thing.
"Wait, then what kind of plague is it?", Kirche seems genuinely interested now.
"It's difficult to explain. See, this girl arrived holding nothing but a flower; she said it was really important to her. Thing is, she was all alone and really dirty as if she'd had no one to care for her for awhile. How she made it, I don't know. Hell, how she's still alive is a bigger mystery since no one here helps her… in fact, she's been accused of being a witch. I've not been involved, but I know without fail that some of the villagers here have had their hand in beating the girl. It's a wonder she's alive".
"That's horrible! Where is she now?", Louise pleads.
"I don't rightly know, to be honest. She's nothing more than a freeloader as things are; no doubt she's hopping around somewhere", he says as he looks around. "More on this plague thing though, it's not a sickness. Well, disease… I don't think. Every since that girl came, there have been many strange happenings and people have been outright disappearing! First it seems like things just start disappearing; which could be anything from ghosts to rats. Then it's like you misplace things, but other people remember you putting it there, it's just you who doesn't. Eventually, you stop acting like yourself completely, and one day just disappear", he says words that seem to confuse even himself.
"Are you serious? I've never heard of such a thing", Kirche says. "And this began when that little girl arrived?".
"Yes, but I should say that there's no way it's coincidence. I don't believe that girl is evil or a witch or anything, but something's up. When she first arrived, she seemed terrified and genuinely fearful of people saying absurd things like 'you aren't real, they told me!' and 'stay away, don't hurt me!'. Real wild things like that".
"Well, what do you guys say?", Kirche asks as she turns to us. "He said they're willing to resupply us; worst case scenario is we just sleep in the carriage. But we'd be leaving these people to their troubles", she says as she looks indecisive.
"Fouquet… came this way… her doing… perhaps?", Tabitha says.
"We have to help!", Louise makes her declaration. "These people are people too, and I can't sleep at night knowing they are suffering!".
"I see… what do you think, Abigail?", she asks for my opinion.
"I will do as my Master commands", I say firmly.
"Well, it seems it's decided then. Good sir, we'd like accommodations here, please, and any information on this plague or the girl", Kirche says as if she were the leader of our little group.
"Well, if you insist, certainly… There are more than enough empty houses now…", he says as he makes his way off. "Since you've decided to stay, I'll let you in one more bit of information. All of the people who seem to have contracted this 'plague'… have been rumored to be involved with abusing the child in some way", he says ominously as he turns and gestures to us. "Follow me".
*scene*
"Why didn't you ask my opinion!", Guiche whines. "Don't I matter?".
"No", they all three say in unison.
"Even Tabitha…", Guiche says as he slings his shoulders down. "Come on now, aren't we just giving Fouquet time to escape?".
"I hit her with my Northern Regailia; if her luck is good then she's badly injured, if her luck is bad then she's already dead somewhere. Add that to Tabitha's familiar tailing her, she will not escape", I declare.
"Sigh", Guiche lets out a sigh of resignation. "Very well, but what do you propose we even do? What CAN we do? We know nothing of this 'disease' that man spoke of".
"Well, not everyone is affected it seems. We should find out the differences as quick as possible, and clearly speak to the girl. The man mentioned something about rumored abusers being the ones affected, I think we should split up", Kirche says. "I'll go with Tabitha and ask the residents, Louise, take your familiar and look for the girl". We begin to go about our assigned asks when suddenly…
"Hey!", Guiche calls out. "Don't leave me behind!".
"Rats!", Louise calls out. "Looks like he decided to follow us…", she says as she snaps her fingers.
*scene*
"I still don't feel like we should be wasting our time here", Kirche says with a shrug. "I mean, what do we gain from this anyway?".
"…", Tabitha stops walking.
"What is it?", Kirche asks.
"Someone… watching… there", Tabitha says with a flick of her staff. Wind is released in the direction she pointed it, pushing trash and debris out of the way to reveal a slimy-looking fellow.
"What is THAT", Kirche says clearly with disgust. "And why are you walking to it?".
Tabitha makes her way to the man who appears completely terrified and speaks, "tell us… what do you know… of this plague?".
"Wha-wha-wha… you're nobles?", the man's terrified demeanor quickly turns to glee. "Ahem", he coughs. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Farquo Gamlen, an entrepreneur… or rather I was. Business has been quite stale since this whole 'plague' thing began".
"You? Are you certain you don't mean swindler?", Kirche says with a certain swagger. "You don't exactly have a respectable-businessman air about you… in fact, the only air around you is nothing but a terrible stench", she says as she pinches her nose and waves her hand in front of her face.
"I… apologize", he says with a nervous laugh. "As I said, things haven't exactly been going as planned. In any case, have you been sent to quell the sickness? You seem quite young but certainly able. Might I be of assistance in some way?", he says as he begins to rub his hands together.
"Information…", Tabitha speaks a solitary word to the man.
"Ah, how fortunate, for you see, my business just so happens to be in information!", he says as though another person has taken over his being. "For a modest price, I can certainly supply you with a service you deem satisfactory!".
"Ugh…", Kirche sighs to herself as she unbuttons another button on her shirt. "How much are you asking, brave sir?", she says as she slightly leans forward.
"Wha… I…", the man stutters as Kirche softly approaches him.
"Certainly… I am worthy of your business… right?", Kirche says with a seductive tone hot enough to melt iron.
"I… uh… yes, of course milady… but I-", the man is cut off by something surprising; a deathly scream.
*scene*
"Where do you think we should begin our search, Abigail?", Louise asks as she looks around.
"Well, it's actually a fairly large village but it seems to lack villagers, plus we didn't get even a proper hint as to where we should look. I would say our best bet is just to wonder aimlessly and ask any passerby we may find if they know where she is. Considering how they think she's some sort of plague-bearing monster, I'm sure someone is weary enough to know her location", I say rather monotonously as I scan the area with Louise.
"If I might speak", Guiche says timidly. "Would it not be wise to check around the village? If they've gotten to the point that they physically abuse the small child, she's not going to be as likely to run around within the village, I think".
Louise stops. "Guiche", she says with a commanding tone. "You actually said something useful, good job", she says with a somewhat-sinister smile.
"…Then why do you look so angry?", Guiche says even more timidly than before.
"Because I never asked for your opinion in the first place!", Louise says as she runs at Guiche prepared to attack.
"Wa… Waaaaaaah!", Guiche calls out as he runs frantically.
*scene*
"I can't believe we're actually doing this", Louise says with dismay.
"It's the most likely case, though", I say.
"Lady Abigail", Guiche says. "I believe I've spotted the young lady we seek", he says as he points to a small body of water.
"It appears you are correct. You two stay back while I go check, she may actually be sick", I say as I step in front of them.
"Wait!", Louise says as she grabs my flowing, purple robe. "What if she actually is? You could die! We should send Guiche instead!", Louise says with somewhat artificial tears in her eyes.
"Wha-wha-what?", Guiche stutters wildly. "I am too delicate for such things!".
"If that's your wish, Master", I say as I turn to Guiche. "However, I'm not human and it's not very likely any illness she has will affect me fatally".
"Oh… well if you're positive that you'll be okay!", Louise says with a smile.
"You really don't care if I die, do you?", Guiche yells.
"No", we both say in unison.
"You three seem very close", a very cute, small and sweet voice calls to us. "But you shouldn't be out here; they don't like people here".
"You… are you responsible for the condition the village is in?", I push Guiche and Louise behind me as I turn to the voice.
"No!", she yells. "I would never hurt anyone! But nobody believes me… they only hurt me and call me mean things like 'plague bearer' and 'witch'. I don't even know what those are!", the tiny girl says as she begins to weep.
"Calm down now", I say as I lean into her with more calmness than before, still signifying them to keep their distance. "We won't hurt you, just tell us what happened. What's your name?".
Her tears finally begin to subside long enough for her to speak, "Newt, daddy called me Newt".
"Hehe, that's a cute name for a cute girl", I say with a gentle laugh. "So how did this all begin, do you know? We might be able to help".
"It's hard… it all-", the girl can barely get past the first sentence when she is interrupted by a blood-curdling scream. It came from the others direction.
*scene*
"I think it came from this way!", Louise shouts.
"Stay behind me, Master!", I call out. "Guiche, you go first!", I shout as I grab him by the shirt collar and wield him masterfully as a shield.
"Wah!", he humorously calls out. "I'm too beautiful to be a shield!".
"Then rot like a dead tree in your precious Earth!", I shout as I slam him head-first into the ground.
"…What did you do that for, Abigail?", Louise says curiously.
"He'll just get hurt if it's dangerous", I say without looking at her.
"Heh", Louise lets out a tiny laugh befitting her petite frame. "And you still insist you're a demon".
Just as she says that, we arrive at the source of the scream, meeting the others in the process.
"You guys heard it too?", Kirche asks.
"Yeah, it must have come from this house!", Louise replies.
"I believe this is Mrs. Johansson's residence", the strange man with Tabitha and Kirche calls out.
"Who's this?", I ask.
"Just a bug, don't mind him. Let's go in", Kirche says as she makes her way into the house. She opens the door to find the first room completely destroyed; furniture is broken, their dog is slaughtered on the ground, flowers are laying spread out on the ground broken, all the pictures are destroyed and there are scratch marks all over the walls. "What in the world happened here?", she asks as she cautiously makes her way into the house.
"Get back!", I scream as I grab her by her collar and pull her back just before a portion of the roof collapses where she stood.
"I… thank you", she says with a scowl as she wipes the dust off her lap.
"Something is very strange about this", I say. "Please, if you will allow Master, I'd like to enter by myself. I must check on something".
"Abigail", she says as she has clear reservations about allowing me to go alone. "Will you be okay?".
"Certainly, Master", I say with a cocky smile. "If I'm right, then I'll be fine; if I'm wrong then I'll destroy the entire house and escape through a window!", I gloat as I stand with my arms crossed, a smile and my chest puffed out. "Besides, if I am right, then it's too dangerous for us all to go in at once".
"Very well, Familiar, I'll leave it to you", she says in an official tone as she prepares to give me orders. "You are permitted".
*scene*
The scene is brutal; like a portion of a war-story or sad portion of an epic poem. Even the faces are scribbled out of precious family portraits. I cautiously enter the building, completely aware of my surroundings. I don't know for sure what's happening, but my gut tells me to be ready. Besides, if my hunch is anywhere close, then this could be a tough one. Eventually I make it to the wall opposite of the door where the scratch marks are to discover something rather amazing, on top of the ones about the size of my hand, there are various, smaller scratches as well. "What on Earth…", I say as I begin to touch the scratch to be interrupted by another scream.
"Buwaahaaaaaaaaaa", the woman lets out in a maniacal fashion. "Leave me be!".
Disregarding my safety for speed, I quickly evade various traps similar to the roof falling when Kirche entered to rush up the stairs to look for the source. When I arrive again, it's returned to its previous quietness. I have to figure this out! As I slowly make my way through the hall way I hear a voice once again, this time it's different from before. "Who… are you…? Why… are you… here…?", the voice asks in a very deep, dark tone. "Can't… you tell…? You're… not… permitted here… They… don't want… visitors… They… don't… allow it", the voice continues. I can't locate it, it's almost as if it's literally coming through the walls.
"Where are you!", I shout. "Show yourself!".
"Show myself?", the voice speaks with almost a callous laughter. "There's nothing… left to show!", she shouts as suddenly a body leaps from the room right next to me. "DIE".
"Umph!", I grunt as I miraculously avoid the small blade she was holding, only to turn around and see no one there. "What… the hell?". Her body has completely vanished; even the door she swung open is no longer open. "What's going on!". What just happened is impossible… she literally disappeared!
"Heh… heh… hehehehe", a sinister, dark laughter comes from the walls once again. "You… are different… aren't you?", it says as if it means it. "You… are not… human?", it seems to be a legitimate question, I should oblige to give myself some time.
"I am not", I say firmly. "I'll tell you exactly what I am, if you tell me what you are".
"Heh…hehe", it laughs once again. "But I already know… what you are… Devourer of Souls… You and I are similar. No… the same", it says something strange.
"What… how do you know that? Just what are you? Can't you tell me? Maybe I can help", I attempt to reason with the strange existence.
"Yes… hehe", it answers while continuing its psychotic laughter. "Help… that is what you do… isn't it? But… is that really you… or your souls that… truly… speak", it attempts to get under my skin. "Are you truly… Abigail of Roland… anymore? You cannot deny… the influence of your souls".
"Wha…?", I stumble on my words. "How do you know so much about me?", I ask, to which I get no response. "Fine, I'll answer your question; I don't know who the hell I am anymore but it doesn't matter, I have purpose and that defines me".
"Purpose…", it repeats me as if contemplating my words. "Yes… Purpose… as I said; we are the same… hehe", it says as if talking to itself. "I have purpose… as well… Devourer of Souls… You should understand… my suffering… hehe… yes… I will show you… my suffering!", it screams in a horrifying voice as light overtakes me and I am thrown violently backwards through the window behind me.
*scene*
I wake shortly thereafter to Kirche standing over me, "you're finally awake, you worthless familiar!", she shouts at me.
"Wh… what happened?", I ask as I attempt to sit up to suddenly see the village engulfed in flames. "What…?".
"A little bit after you went in that house, you came flying out of the window following a bright flash of light! After that, something appeared and burning the village and all its people!", she says as her face contorts to a horrible look. "Tabitha is dead!", she says as she begins to cry uncontrollably. "I couldn't do anything! It was so sudden that neither of us could react! That beast just appeared… and thrust its weapon through… her chest…", she begins to lose the ability to speak through her tears.
"Tabitha… Kirche, where's my Master?", I say as the most important thought enters my head.
"I… don't know… she… ran off… as soon… as it appeared", she says as she continues to sob.
"Kirche, please, can you fight?", I ask as I go to put my hand on her shoulder only to have it smacked away.
"Fight? WHY SHOULD I FIGHT?", she begins to scream hysterically. "WHAT REASON DO I HAVE TO FIGHT?".
"I understand", I say as calmly as possibly. "Please, stay safe then", I say as I stand up and begin to run back to the building I flew out of.
*scene*
The village is a hellish scene; there are bodies everywhere of men, women and children. Before me right now, in fact, are the charred remains of what appears to be a young mother holding an infant. The buildings are burning or burnt, screams can be heard across the village of both humans and something inhuman. Devastating, blood-curdling screams. I begin looking for any trace of where my Master may have gone; I still have the runes on my hand so she must be alive. Normally I can 'feel' her location with it, though. Wait… Why can't I? It's almost as if-I am cut off from my inner thoughts by a voice, "it's you!", the slimy-man says to me. "The girl who went into that house! What in the world happened in there?".
"Huh…? Oh, the squirrely-man from before. I don't know, there was a voice that I talked to shortly before being blown through that window to wake up to this hellish scene. What happened after I went flying out?".
"Well, I don't really know the full details, but a woman in black appeared and killed your short-haired friend immediately… sorry about that. The redhead then went into a bit of a rage and unleashed an incredible attack on it, but she simply disappeared. She then ran to her friend and tried to help her. She seemed to be able to whisper something to her before she died, but all I saw was the redhead lay her friend down and drag you off… and then all this happened… and here you are", he says as he continuously scans his surroundings.
"What about the smaller girl with the long hair?", I inquire information as to the location of my Master.
"Oh, you know, I'm not sure. She was there when you went flying out of the window… but I don't remember seeing her after that", he says as he scratches his head. "That woman in black didn't get to her right then at least, I can tell you that much".
"Fair enough, can you give me more information on this woman in black? Did she seem to be missing a right arm?", I ask about the murderer.
"No… she had both of her arms. But the strange thing I noticed about her was the staff she used to kill your friend… had a candle on the end", he says something insane.
"What…?", I respond with almost shock. "What the hell did you just say? A candle… Are you sure?", I shout as I grab him by the collar and begin to shake him.
"Y-yes ma'am… I am quite sure", he struggled to get out as I choke and shake him.
"No… there's no way…", I utter as I drop him to the ground. "That can't be!".
"I'm not sure what you're worried about", he says as his words bring me back to reality. "But you might very well be the last person here who can end this… plus you might want to go look for your friend", he says as he reminds me of something important.
"Louise!", I shout as I turn to search for her. "Louiiiiiise!".
*scene*
I've been running for I don't know how long yelling out my Master's name. I can't find anybody; I don't even hear any human screams anymore. I can feel it though; the souls are beginning to stir. I need to hurry and find her!
"Louiiiiise!", I call out again. "Can you hear me!".
"Abigail!", I hear her voice! "I'm over here!",
"Master!", I run up to her. "I was so worried abou-", I'm cut off by something I can't believe. "…Master…?", I say with a moderately horrified tone.
"You know", she begins to speak as she reaches down to the body of Kirche lying before her. "I hate Kirche", she says blatantly.
"What…. Are you talking about?".
"Oh, don't pretend like you like her? I mean come on, she was so arrogant and foolish. Not to mention, she flaunted her body like she was the best looking girl in the world", she says as she gently rubs her hand put the corpse's stomach."But you know, I had an idea!", she says as she smiles and looks at me. "All of this confusion, I could use it! I could take advantage of the chaos and finally get rid of her!", she says something ridiculous.
"…What… do you mean…?", I ask, bewildered. "I always thought… you two… Master… what…?", I can't properly form my thoughts.
"Hahaha", she lets out a childish laugh as she stands up holding a bloody knife. "I'm sorry, Abigail", she says as she turns to me. "That was actually a lie; I didn't really come up with the idea".
"What…?", I reply.
"She told me how to be strong!", she says as she points the knife to the sky, splattering blood all over her. "She said that I could get rid of Kirche, and I could finally use magic! She said I could be like you!", she says with a joyful tone something dreadful. And just as she finishes her sentence, the world distorts for a moment and a woman appears behind her with her arms around her.
"Ah", the woman lets out a deep, relieving breath. "This brings back so many… memories", the familiar figure in black says. "Just like my sweet little Abigail when she took her first steps to becoming a murderous demon!", she says as she licks her lips. "It's beautiful".
"…You… it can't be… I…", I try to say what I'm thinking.
"You killed me? ", she finishes my sentence for me. "Come now, Abigail, who do you think I am? Do you really think a low-tier demon like yourself could actually absorb and control me? No way, I simply needed another vessel. This one had grown so… weary".
"No!", I shout. "You were going to put the Old One to rest! You were going to save everyone!".
"Bahahahaha!", she lets out a laugh as she still hangs around Louise who simply listens. "That is why I love you, my cute little Abigail! And that is why I chose you for my next vessel, and that is why I made your body strong!".
"I can't believe this!", I should as I feel a tear falling from my eye.
"That only means that it worked!", she shouts as she begins to laugh. "You see, I needed to form an incredible affection in you for me, then I needed for you to absorb me. That way, I could easily manifest in your subconscious thoughts, then slowly make my way to your conscious thoughts. You can't seriously have not noticed this; the scratching at the back of your head, your feelings changing, the way you think changing? That was all me! Hahahahahaha!", she lets out an evil laugh. "And now you're all mine!".
I begin to feel my body moving on its own. "What… what's happening! Why am I moving?", I shout as I try to stop. "Because that's my body, now! But before I have full control… there's one thing I need to do; break you. That'll be easy, though!", she says in a strangely cheerful tone. "All I'll need to do is have you do the same to this young lady as you did to me!".
"Wha… No! Stop!", I shout as I try to fight it, but to no avail. My body is no longer my own, and all I can do is slow it. "Please! Maiden! Stop this!".
"Bahahaha!", she cackles like a maniac. "This is why I love you, Abigail! You're just so cute!".
I take short-but-sure steps toward my Master, and there's nothing I can do about it. No matter how much I fought it, I finally stood before my Master.
"Hi, Abigail", she says with a smile.
"Louise…", I can barely speak at this point. "Run… please… I can't…".
"It's okay", she says something stupid. "We'll both be a part of something powerful; so it's okay".
"No… that's not what… this is… this is… an eternal… prison", I say to her as I feel tears pouring from my eyes without limits.
"But it's with you", she says with a smile. I can no longer fight it, my hand reaches to her throat with lightning fast speed and latches on with all the strength in my hand. I lift her off the ground by her throat.
"Louise…", I manage to utter one more word.
"Ehehehe", the Maiden says as she circles around behind me. "You're so beautiful, Abigail", she says as she reaches her hand onto my face. "But where's that look of bloodlust you had before? I feel it suited you much better", she says with a bit of a pout. "But no matter; your body will be making that face a lot when we're done here!".
"Where is your pride, Abigail?", a voice I haven't heard in a long time screams out. "Is this all we can expect from a Bonafide Knight!", says the iron-clad man as he charges at us with his great sword in the air; he brings it down. "Where is your resolve? Surely this nonsense is but a laugh for you!", his sword goes through my remaining arm, severing it from my body! I go flying back from the force of his iron shoulder slamming into me and sending me flying. I could do nothing to avoid it. "There are two things a Knight will never lose", he says as he's suddenly standing over top me. "His sword or his shield… bahaha, metaphorically of course!", he shouts with a belly laugh.
"What… Biorr… how?", I ask, perplexed.
"Same reason that you're here, I suppose. Went chasing after something foul again, eh?", he says as he turns around. "I would say leave this one to me, but as luck would have it, damn thing is going to expel me without fighting! Bloody coward…", Biorr says as his expression contorts.
"Biorr…", I call out to him, as if there's nothing else to do.
"Yes, child?", he says, knocked from his self-inflicted daze.
"What should I do?", I ask him, desperately.
"Bahaha, if I already told you, young one!", he says with yet another belly laugh. "Your sword and your shield, what are they for?", he asks something that strikes me at the very core.
"…Louise", I answer directly.
"Then what in the bloody hell are you doin' to the poor lass?", he says with a humorous anger.
"I don't know… I couldn't control-", he cuts me off.
"Hogwash!", he shouts. "You only believed you couldn't, just like you believed that lie out there is the Maiden!", he says something amazing. "Think had about it, girl!".
"Ah…", I utter, still taken aback by this revelation.
"But it looks like she's finally gotten to me, time to go!", he prepares one last line. "Just never forget; beware the limits of your own powers… or something! Hahahahaha", he laughs as his visage begins to fade.
"Wait! How are you here! Are you dead?", I finally snap back to myself for one last question. "Bahahaha, wrestled that bloody dragon to the death I did, with my bare hands! Bloody thing never stood a chance!", says as he fades away laughing.
"You're right…", I say to myself. "It really didn't".
*scene*
I manage to clear the rubble out of my way with some time to see the scenery the same as before with one difference; the looks of the Maiden. That certainly is no Maiden that I knew. She is slightly shorter than me with four, large insect wings; insect eyes and two large antennae on her head. She is completely naked covered only by a slight glow.
"…A fairy, huh? Haha", I say with a small laugh. "I knew it too! How did you trick me so easily? That was my first hunch!", I say, laughing only at myself.
"I think I should be the one asking questions…", she says. "How did you create that knight? You did that once you figured it out, right?", she asks a silly question.
"Bahaha, Biorr? Hell no!", I yell out. "He came to me!", I puff my chest out.
"Wait… how is that even…? Wait…? You mean you are SERIOUSLY a Devourer of Souls?", she asks, looking as astonished as a bug-like creature can look.
"Of course. You were looking through my memories to confuse me, right? That's how you knew of that and the Maiden. You then applied all the strongest memories in my heart; killing the Maiden my affection for Louse together to confuse my heart and make it easy to manipulate me. Basically, if I believed you, you won, right?", I say with a snarky tone.
"How do you…? You still didn't answer my question! Where did he come from!", she shouts like a little girl.
"I am *the* Devourer of Souls; I am a beacon of light to both lost and found souls of this world and the next. I noticed it before when these people were dying, I felt souls but it wasn't right. I quickly forgot about it though when you started up all this nonsense. Anyway, Biorr, an old friend from 'life', saw that I was about to do something that would utterly destroy me, being that this is essentially a dream, he had no problem making his heroic appearance!", I say as I gesture grandly in an effort to mock the fairy.
"You… you're incredible", she says as she begins to smile. "But I'll ask you something; do you remember the tales of the people going crazy in this village?", I freeze as she says that, suddenly terrified of what comes next. "That's because everything you did in this dream up to flying away… your body was doing in the waking world as well… hehe", the fairy says with a child-like giggle.
"Bullshit", I say outright. "You won't trick me again", I say as I cross my arms.
"…I only wanted you to know my suffering", she sounds sad for just a moment. "Very well, if you don't believe me… then you only need to wake from this lucid dream", she says as she snaps her fingers that explode with a brilliant light just as before.
*scene*
"Hnng", I moan as I open my eyes. "Where-", I'm cut off as I am slammed the ground by a few of Guiche's golems. "Wha…?", I speak with a cloudy mind.
"What is wrong with you, Abigail?", Guiche shouts in a frenzy. I turn my groggy head from him over to the scene unfolding beside me; Kirche callout out to Louise who lays motionless on the ground. My eyes widen with fear.
"L…. Lo….. LOUIIIIIIISE", I shout with the fury of every soul in my body. I feel the power flowing through me uncontrollably. "!", I scream. "GET OFF!", Guiche's golems go flying from me. "Louise!", I shout.
"Stay back!", Kirche shouts as she stands up with Tabitha in a defensive stance. "I knew it would happen! I knew you would show your true form sooner or later! Why don't you just go back to where you came from!", she shouts as she slams her hand through the air.
"Kirche…", I mutter. "So I… did this…?".
"YES, YOU DID IT YOU DAMNED DEMON!", she shouts with all of her strength.
I run at her quickly, closing the distance between us in less than a second, and before she can react, I place my hand on her rib cage and thrust her to the side, sending her flying about twenty feet. I then look to Tabitha and I say, "the culprit is a fairy", as she prepares an attack, to which she abruptly stops, makes a rather shocked face, and nods. "I believe I understand the situation enough for a solution, but for the time being I am taking my Master with me. Kirche won't have any real injuries; please try to explain to her the situation as best you can to her". She nods once again, and I take off, my young Master over my shoulder.
*scene*
"Suffering… huh?", I say to myself as I look over Louise's frail body. Fortunately, she seems to have no permanent damage, only unconscious. This situation… it's just so uncomfortable; a fairy playing on people's fears and dreams, and feeding on them. I do believe her mission was a success, though. I think I understand her suffering.
"Hnnng…", Louise begins to awaken. "Where am I…", she says as she looks around, then to me. "Oh… Abigail, hi", she says as she smiles. "Feel better now?", she asks with genuine concern… enough to make me want to kill myself to atone; I take the kneeling position before her and lower my head.
"My Master", I state in an official tone. "I am terribly sorry, I have failed you completely. With my own hand, I put your life in danger and it was only because of my own-", I'm cut off by something unexpected.
"FIREBALL!", Louise shouts as she aims her spell directly for me; the resulting explosion sends me flying. I'm still alive though, as I see the smoke beginning to clear revealing the morning sky. "You stupid familiar!", Louise shouts as she suddenly jumps on me and starts beating on my chest. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!", she says every time she hits me, she begins to cry. "How dare you!", she looks me directly in the face not more than three inches from me as we both lie on the ground.
"I'm sorry, Master. I hurt you-", she, surprisingly, punches me directly in the face.
"How dare you let someone trick you!", she says as tears fly from her eyes.
"Wha…?", I am perplexed at the situation; how could she know that?
"How dare you let someone play with your heart like that? How dare you let them hurt you like that!", she shouts as she continues to slam her fists on my chest. She's not concerned at all with the fact that I tried to kill her with my own hand at all… Is she only concerned with my feelings?
"Louise…?", I say to her. "Do you know what happened?", I need to know.
"Huh…?", she says as she takes a break in her beating. "No…", she says as she slightly slumps over and looks to the side. "All I know is that you let someone made you cry, because when you gripped me, I could see it… You've got me now, Abigail, so you aren't supposed to cry anymore unless you're happy! You aren't that weak!", she says as she punches the ground next to my head, then collapses on top of me and puts her arms around me. "You aren't supposed to be sad anymore! Stupid familiar…", she whispers in my ear as I return the hug and think out loud…
"Familiar…".
*scene*
After that little scene was over, Louise and I sat up and I explained to her the situation. She seems to understand it surprisingly well, and seems to believe that I'm correct in my assumptions.
"So, we only need to find Newt, right?", she asks.
"Yes, that's why I brought you here. I figured she may show up", I say as I turn to the little body of water.
"You're looking… for me?", the young Newt says as she peeks from behind a tree.
"Newt!", I shout out happily as I run to her with my arms open, only to have her shy away from me. "Oh… you saw it, didn't you?", I say as I turn to the side a bit.
"Mhm…", she says as she nods. "Gala hurt you too".
"Ah, so Gala is her name. It's really pretty", I say to her. "Did you name her that?".
"Mhm…", she nods. "She shined really brightly, I thought it suited her", she says as she smiles.
"And that flower you carry around? What is that for?", I ask as I peek around the tree.
"It was daddy's", she says as she sounds sad.
"I see. Daddy isn't here anymore, is he?", I ask as I crouch down.
"No… Daddy died when I summoned Gala", she says.
"But Gala didn't hurt her, right?", I ask her gently.
"No!", she shouts. "Gala isn't bad! She isn't a plague! She is only trying to protect me! Daddy taught me how to summon Gala when the people started coming; daddy was a forbidden mage".
"So he practiced magic that people were scared of, huh?", I say to her.
"Mhm… the people were coming to hurt us, but he showed me how to summon Gala and told me not to open the door no matter what, and to tell Gala 'hurt anyone who would hurt me', so I did. But she did that to people! I didn't want that! I just want daddy!", she begins to cry.
"Come here, honey", I say as I outstretch my arms to her. "Listen… daddy is gone, and he left you a precious keepsake and friend in Gala. But right now, Gala is just as alone and scared as you are… I know that now; I understand her suffering. She only wants to protect you, Newt. If you call her, she'll come. Just tell her that she doesn't need to hurt these people anymore and she will stop. She's doing it all for you", I whisper into her ear.
"For me…?", she says through her crying voice.
"Yes… because she loves you more than anything and just wants to protect you, but right now she's just confused because she feels like she's failing you… just call her here, we can talk to her together", I say to the kind young girl as I push her away from me gently. "You can do that, right?". The young girl nods.
*scene*
After a few minutes of wiping tears and Louise talking to Newt, we decide to call Gala here.
"Remember, with all your heart, just call out 'Gala, I need you!'. Just like that", I say as I put my hand on her shoulder to give her strength. She nods.
"Gala, I need you!", she shouts into the little body of water. After a second or two, a tiny, glowing head pops out.
"Y-yes… Master…?", the little voice calls out.
Newt looks to me for reassurance, and I nod. "It's okay now… You don't have to hurt anyone anymore!", she yells out to the tiny, lonesome fairy. "Because you have me, you don't have to be sad anymore!".
"Master!", the fairy flies out of the water directly to Newt. In the dream, she was almost as tall as me, but in reality she is just big enough to fit in the palm of my hand. "Master! You called for me!", she says excitedly.
"It's okay now, Gala… I'm sorry I made you sad", the young Newt says dejectedly.
"No!", the fairy exclaims. "You never made me sad, not for a minute, Master!".
"Hehe", I giggle at the fairy. "What a cute little bug!", I say as I lean in mockingly.
"Wh-what do you know?", she says as she crosses her arms and turns away. "Shoo, you second-class familiar, the grown-ups are talking!", she says as she waves her hand at me as if to shoo a fly.
"What?", I yell. "You stupid fairy!", I yell as Louise grabs hold of me and pulls me back.
"Haha, come on, Abigail", she giggles.
"Stupid buuuuuuuug!".
*scene*
"What an annoying familiar", the fairy says as she sticks her nose up.
"But she's really sweet", Newt says as she reaches out her up-turned palm to the tiny fairy. "She really does care, you know", she says as the tiny familiar shyly sits on her hand. "Just like I do. I'm really sorry for everything up until now, Gala".
"Me too, Master. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, so I just kept hurting people who could hurt you… I only want to protect you!", the fairy says with emotion as it looks up to Newt.
"I know… let's protect each other from now on, okay?", she says as she smiles. "Just like daddy wanted…".
"Mhm!", the fairy replies.
*scene*
It's been a long night, to say the least. Of course, many people lost their lives to the unfortunate sequence of events that took place since that group mobbed Newt's father. A desperate familiar and a scared little girl wreaked havoc on this little village; though I think that's a story best left untold.
"There you are!", Kirche comes running wildly at me and tackles me. "Tabitha explained everything, but that still hurt, you know?", she says as she looks down at me fiercely.
"Your words hurt pretty bad back there, too", I reply. "It's nice to know your true feelings though", I say as I look away, still lying on the ground.
"Oh…", she says as she suddenly remembers. "Yeah… I'm sorry about that, I was wrong, okay? It wasn't you, it was a fairy controlling you with a dream. I get it. That was probably pretty bad, especially since it just made you do that to Louise… so I'm really sorry, so just forget about it, okay?", she says with what seems to be a genuine air.
"Haha, it's fine, Kirche. I don't really care about what you think anyway", I say as I forgive her with a joke and throw her out of the way.
"Why you!", she shouts as she begins to stand up.
"It all… made sense", Tabitha says to me as I approach her.
"I had faith that the gallant Tabitha would understand me!", I say as I pat her head. You really saved me, I'm not sure what I would've done if you and Kirche had seriously attacked me. I mean… Master comes first…", I say as I turn my head.
"Yes", she says as she nods. "We both… understand".
*scene*
The village head was perfectly happy to let us sleep through the day, since we didn't get to last night. Well I did dream… kind of. And after a good day's sleep, we were ready to hit Fouquet's trail again.
"I feel so bad for these people…", Louise says.
"Well, considering the ones that died were beating a little girl, you don't have to feel too bad", Kirche replies.
"I guess… What do you think, Abigail?", Louise asks me.
"… Whatever you think", I reply with a complete copout.
"By the way, you stupid familiar", Kirche interjects. "We're taking the girl with us".
"Huh?", I turn around, perplexed by her sudden reappearance.
"She doesn't have a home and she is a noble by blood. She'll have a place in the academy; especially with such a powerful familiar. They'll want her to have a full understand of it and a good relationship with it".
"Fine… but why are you telling me this? Don't tell me… you actually respect me?", I say with an exaggerated gasp. Louise giggles a little bit when I say that.
"Sh-shut up! I just didn't want you to be surprised, that's all!", she says as she turns and walks away.
"Hehe", I can't help but giggle.
*scene*
As we're preparing to get on the carriage, I feel something tapping me on the shoulder, "only you can hear me right now, so no one will believe you if you try to tell them!". The familiar, tiny voice speaks directly to my mind, probably using the same magic to create the Lucid Dream.
"Oh, if it isn't Gala", I think to the little fairy. "How do you do?".
"Listen…", she speaks awkwardly. "Thank you… I really mean it… You really did understand me, and I see now that all I had to do was talk to you. For that, I apologize as well. You're a good person… or demon… or whatever… but above all of that; you're a good familiar! You really care for your Master… just like I do. So thank you once again… I guess we'll never see each other again, so I wanted to say this now", she says as she begins to fly away. "Goodbye, familiar", she says.
"Where do you think you're going, heh?", I shout out loud as I turn to grab the tiny familiar.
"Wh-wh-wh-what are you doing?", she stutters in disbelief that I reached out and grabbed her. "Unhand me!".
"But I'm simply taking you to your Master!", I say deviously.
"…What?", she says bluntly.
"Here, Newt, I'll help you in. It's a big step so be careful!", Louise says as she helps the little girl in.
"As if you're one to talk, you're the same size!", Kirche says with a laugh.
"Wait a second… What's happening?", the fairy asks.
"Oh, no one told you? How rude! Basically, Newt is coming with us. Kirche is going to give her a home and training", I say with a smug look. "After all, she is a noble!".
"Wha… You mean I'm going with you?", she yells.
"You? I don't think anyone ever mentioned you so you can just leave if you want", I say as I begin to giggle. "But… hehehe… Your Master is coming with us! Buahahaha!".
"No! Master! Waaaaait!", Gala says as she frees herself from my grip and rushes to the carriage, flailing both her arms and legs.
"Hahaha, this just got a lot funner!", I say as I rush to the cart right behind her. "I'm coming, Louise!".
And with that, our nightmare ends; a lonely fair feasting on the dark dreams of a village, and our carriage rides off into evening sun, loud with our friendly bickering, and two new friends. You know, I don't think I drove here… are we missing something?
*A few minutes later*
"Waaaaiiiiittt fooooorrrr meeeeeee!", Guiche shouts as he chases the carriage with all of his might.
*scene*
Unbeknownst to the group of young magi, however, an evil eye was upon them as they continued their journey.
"Hehehe…", the evil laugh echoes through the air from the back of his flying, beastly mount. "Interesting".