Sayaka glanced around as she stood in a room that appeared to be made of a kaleidoscope. Each wall, the floors and even the ceilings were made of panes of glass, each showing moving images and shapes that were darkened enough that she just couldn't make out what they were.
Normally she would panic or assume that she was in a witch's labyrinth, but she didn't.
After all, she could remember falling through darkness and being fought over, as well as falling to despair before everything had gone black.
"I guess this is . . . hell? Purgatory maybe?" She muttered in a neutral and unemotional voice.
'Hah! As if!' came a voice that was so similar it scared her. After all, it was her voice but darker.
Sayaka turned to the voice to see a dark version of herself, with a mermaid tail instead of legs and a faceless helmet, sitting on a couch. Somehow, with the knowledge of what happened to her, and with the recollection of falling through the darkness, she knew what was before her. "You're . . my witch, aren't you?"
The witch grinned. 'That I am,'
" . . . . . . . so I'm a witch then," Sayaka said with a heavy sigh.
Much to her surprise, the witch began laughing. 'Oh no no no! We are something much different now! Don't you recall? While I tried to claim the energy of your soul for myself when I was born, your remaining will, and another thing intervened! We both have become more than what we should be!"
"That, tendril?"
'Yes! It did something to us both! We are one and the same, yet still our own, yet not. If one dies, so too will the other!'
"I, don't think I quiet get it," Sayaka deadpanned.
'You will soon enough! Just remember that we both, Sayaka Miki, and Oktavia Von Seckendorff, are one in the same. I am more than a witch and less, just as you are. If one dies, the other shall as well. Now wake up and see the irrefutable truth yourself!'
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sayaka awoke to a wall of white tile and the smell of disinfectant. A table full of instruments, hopefully medical, sat against the wall, and after a couple seconds it fully dawned on her.
She was alive, and in some kind of hospital. She was alive!
She recalled the short talk with her witch who had called herself Oktavia, and she could even remember when her soul had fallen and, temporarily, forgotten itself. It made her heart rate soar for a few seconds before she forcibly calmed herself down. She had made a mistake, she had made several. But if she was alive, she could work to fix her mistakes. She could make amends.
She tried to sit up, finding that something was partly under her, but before she could find out what it was, a loud scraping of blinds being moved caught her attention and made her look up. She was not just in a hospital, but in a single cell like room with a curtain to cover the one side. The curtain, now drawn to the side was a dirty tan in color, and standing in the opening was a man she did not recognize.
Looking in his thirties, with a simple mustache and the shadow of a beard, his eyes were brilliant orbs of yellow and white, while his old style brown suit looked like it would be at home in a historical drama show. Behind him was a woman with grey hair who was dressed not dissimilarly from a nurse, but her eyes seemed to be perfectly closed.
"Ah good, you are awake!" the man said as he grabbed a nearby chair, placed it just in the beds area and sat down on it, all without making even a squeak of noise. "So, lady Alret, how is the girls health?"
"Physically her human body is fine. I cannot yet say the same about her mind without further tests," The nurse said professionally and without her eyes even twitching.
"I see, well we can leave those tests for later I think," the man said with a soft smile towards Sayaka, before tilting head slightly to the nurse behind him. "And, what of her non-human parts?"
The nurse seemed to hesitate for a second before speaking, but her tone was no different. "They appear to be healthy and not ill affected by the lack of ambient moisture. I was not able to confirm if they are natural growths, magical, or a corrupt mutation, but they appear to be healthy."
"Well that is good then yes?" The man asked to Sayaka. "How do you feel?"
"Um, fine. Was she, talking about me?" Sayaka asked as edge tried to sit up again, and again felt something beneath her waist and legs. Before it had been odd, now it was worrying.
"Why yes she was. Specifically she was meaning your ears and, tail," the man said as he pointed down at Sayaka's waist.
Sayaka immediately propped herself up with her arms and looked down, noticing two things. She was wearing a classic backless hospital gown, and seeming coming out of it and lying on the bed beside her almost down to her feet, was a dark blue and green scaled fish tail like what a mermaid might have. "I, I have a mermaid tail."
"Indeed you do. With legs no less."
"Why?" Sayaka asked hopefully.
"That scratches off a natural growth then," the nurse muttered as she pulled out a clipboard and began scribbling something on it, still with her eyes closed.
"That was how you were found," the man said simply as he turned to the nurse. "Please go fetch her clothes and a full length mirror."
The nurse nodded and walked off, leaving Sayaka alone with the man. Memories of her talk with her witch repeating themselves and making some things painfully clear. One and the same. Human, and witch.
"Uhm, where am I? Who are you?" Sayaka asked after shaking her head, hoping that maybe finding out other information would help her push the ramifications of the knowledge and her tail out of her mind for a time.
"Hmm, I was about to ask you that same question. The latter one of course. So why don't we exchange questions back and forth?" The man suggested with a grin. "To answer your latter question, my name is Theodore Amalkris Darkest, though most around here simply call me the Heir. May I know your name?"
"S-sayaka,"'sayaka answered, unsure if giving her full name was smart. Then, she felt something fill up within her and come rushing out, words forming from her mouth against her will, before all the energy that caused it fell apart. "Seckendorff."
"So, Sayaka Seckendorff then yes?" the Heir asked curiously.
"Err yeah. I guess," Sayaka replied, almost mumbling the last two words as she mentally reminded herself to have a serious talk with her witch once she figured out how to!
"I see. Interesting name," the Heir said with a nod. "So, what would you like to ask then?"
Sayaka looked at him for a few seconds before getting his meaning. "Where are we?"
"In the small scale we are in the Sanitarium of the Darkest hamlet, once a thriving village below my ancestral manor and estate, now a shadow of its former past due to the actions of my ancestor," the Heir said solemnly. After a few seconds he shook his head. "Well then, my next question. May I ask where you are from perhaps Miss Seckendorff?"
Sayaka felt a chill pass over her at being called that, visibly shivering. "Um, please just call me Sayaka."
"Very well then. May I know where you hail from Miss Sayaka?"
"Um, I'm from Mitakihara city," Sayaka said, happy that the cold feeling had gone away.
"I see. I am not familiar with that name, but I assume it is upon the sunward isles, yes?"
Sayaka looked at the man in confusion. "The what?"
"The sunward isles. A chain of islands about a weeks travel to the east of here across the sea that, up until recently, was rather isolationist. I figure it will still be a few years until the rest of the continent hears of their recent trade with us. The people there have names very like your own personal name. Was I incorrect in assuming that is where you hail from?"
"Uh, well I think so. Mitakihara is part of the country of Japan. What country are we in?" Sayaka asked, suddenly feeling very nervous about the answer she would get.
"I see. I have never heard of a land called 'Japan'. As for our placement, the darkest Estate and hamlet reside in the far east of the nation of Thruun."
Sayaka felt herself get cold, not from another effect, but from the fact that she knew that there was no country called that in earth. "What year is it?"
"The year 3173 of the almighty lights calendar. Or the year 791 of the Hokori dynasty, if going by the Sunward isles calendar," the Heir replied intelligently. Sayaka simply stared agape at him. "Do, you not recognize those?"
"Uh, you could say that," Sayaka admitted as the realization began to hit her. "Um, does America, the united nations, China, Korea, India or the pacific ocean ring any bells?"
"They do not, no," the Heir admitted, making Sayaka pale.
She wasn't on earth, was she?
"You seem a bit distraught, perhaps a break then. As soon as the nurse returns with your cleaned garments-"
"Apologies, I had to find an appropriate mirror for her," the nurse suddenly said as she came around the corner, dragging a full length mirror in one hand, and a basket of clothing in the other. The mirror was easily as tall as the Heir, and surrounded by what looked like a bronze casing, while the basket appeared to be made of wicker.
"Ah, that simplifies things," The Heir said as he took the basket from the nurse and placed it on the foot of the bed, allowing her to drag the mirror in and set it up. "We shall give you privacy to clothe yourself. When you are done you may come out on your own and we can continue out discussion in a more appropriate place," the Heir stated before bowing and walking out off sight.
"If you need aid, simply call," the nurse then said as she drew the curtain closed, leaving Sayaka to herself.
After a few seconds of complete silence she let out a sigh and climbed out of the bed, awkwardly moving to compensate for her, tail. Standing there for as second she let out a low growl at her own fear and unceremoniously undid the hospital gown and tossed it aside. Turning to the mirror Sayaka saw herself as naked as the day she was born, but was surprised by what she saw. Her body, and it was clearly hers, looked different. She was a bit taller, her hips slightly wider, her hair longer, and her breasts ever so slightly larger. It was like she had grown a year or two older, perhaps even a bit more than that!
And then there were the additions to her body. The large mermaid like tail was the most prominent, coming down from above her rear and going down to almost her ankles, in fact it likely would if it went straight down, but instead it curved down to hang. Its scales were a combination of dark blue, light blue, teal and green, and was quiet honestly beautiful to look at. Her ears were like a mermaids as well, more akin to fins in their looks, and much longer than a persons ears regularly should have been. They even seemed to twitch a bit, which was completely weird.
Lastly, what gave her the most pause, was the black and blue jewel seemingly in set in her skin just below her collarbone and above her breasts in the middle of her chest. If it had gold surrounding it she'd call it her Soul Gem but it was just the stone, somehow stuck in her skin. And the longer she looked at it in the mirror, the darker the room seemed to appear, and the more the black and blue colors seemed to swirl together.
She turned away and closed her eyes, finding her heart beating rapidly for no reason she could immediately fathom. When her heart calmed down and she opened her eyes everything was the color it should have been.
"This must all be getting to me," Sayaka muttered as she touched the gem in her skin, and strangely found that she could feel it from both the gem, and her finger. It was both cold and warm in waves, and she could swear that the longer she touched it the more she could hear distant whispers.
She instantly stopped touching it and turned around, reaching for the basket of clothing. "I, I'll think about that later. Clothes, clothing is more important than . . . .these, are mine?"
The clothing was not as she had expected at all. The design seemed like that of her magical girl outfit, both altered for her bodies growth , but also altered in a variety of other ways. Instead of being bright blue, all of it was dark blue with light blue trim. Her skirt was now knee length with weighted edges, and her top now covered her whole stomach, still leaving her upper collar and shoulders uncovered. Her socks still came up to her thighs, and her arm covers were still the same. The differences in design were minor aside from the color, but somehow the clothing felt smoother yet tougher as she donned it. Even stranger, the clothing seemed designed for her tail, and neither got in its way, or caused it to get in the way either.
Fully clothed Sayaka turned to the mirror once again and felt a shiver. She looked like a dark version of her magical girl self, covered in dark blues and with the gem showing from her skin. In fact, with her ears, and her tail so blatantly visible, she had a nagging feeling this was what her witch had meant by them being one. Had her witch looked like a mermaid perhaps? Was she truly some sort of human and witch hybrid now?
"Miss, are you alright? Do you require assistance with your clothes?" suddenly came the voice of the nurse from the other side of the curtain.
"Ah, y-yes, I am fine. Don't worry. I'll be out soon!" Sayaka called back more than slightly surprised by her sudden words as she reached back to the basket and instead of finding simple, shoes found heavy boots made of dark black leather. Seeing no other footwear she put them on and felt more than slightly worried that, just like the clothing, the boots fit her perfectly. "These clothes, was I wearing them when I was found?" Sayaka asked as she moved the curtain open and stepped out, finding the nurse right in front of her against the opposite wall.
"Why yes, they were sent for cleaning as they were not damaged, just waterlogged of salt and smelling of the coves. Is something wrong with them?" the nurse asked simply.
"No. I was just, curious," Sayaka said as she looked around and noticed two very important things. The room she had been in was like others like that she could see, stone walled rooms closed by curtains that looked like they had not been cleaned in some time. The other thing was that the lighting in the building appeared to be from lamps that were lit with fire, not gasoline or propane lamps like she had seen when camping in the past. Just seeing one or two was one thing, but every source of light appeared to be a lamp that was not gas or electric. "Though, if this is a different world, maybe they don't have electricity," Sayaka mumbled as she considered what that could mean.
"Is something amiss?" the nurse asked as she took a, clearly cautious, step forward.
"Ah, no, I'm sorry I was just, uh, thinking," Sayaka said as she took another look around. "Were did Mr, Darkest was it?
"The Heir?" The nurse prompted.
"Yes, where did he go?"
"He dislikes being within the sanitarium for prolonged periods of time, so he is waiting outside for you. Simply go down this hall and you will find the door to the entry chamber. Leave through the large door on the opposite wall and he should be outside awaiting your arrival," the nurse explained as she pointed towards a door that looked like it belonged in a prison instead of a hospital.
"Oh, uh, thank you,"
"No need to thank me, I am simply doing my job. Have a good day, and with luck, I shall not see you here again soon," the nurse said as she began busying herself with cleaning and organizing tools, suddenly oblivious to Sayaka's presence.
"Um, Alright then," Sayaka murmured as she quickly went for the door the nurse had pointed to. Finding the door lighter than she expected from it being metal, and quieter despite the amount of rust on the hinges, she pushed it open and came into want looked reminiscent of a hospitals main entry hall. If made of stone, barely lit, and with a strange feeling of dread she could not understand permeating it.
Suddenly feeling the need for clean air Sayaka crossed the room and left through the large wooden doors that were, to her surprise, ,not heavy at all despite how big they were and came out into the open air of the Darkest Hamlet that the Heir had mentioned.
It was the perfect image of a village from the European Renaissance. No, it was somehow worse than that. Buildings of heavy dreary grey stone with roofs of planks or overlapping tiled stone. The streets were perhaps once made of cobblestone, but now dirt and gravel covered what little remained of them. A seabreeze blew over the whole place, making the air humid and smell off in a way Sayaka did not want to understand, while the smells of the forest that looked like it surrounded the place wafted in, also smelling not quiet right either. People, both dressed like common peasants from a history film, and those in clothing more suited to a medieval fantasy game, walked around the village in droves. Some seemed like they had purpose while others, mostly those in the more varied clothing, seemed to be just wandering for no purpose.
"Ah, you join us in the land of the clothed!" came the Heirs voice from Sayaka's left making her turn to the voice. She regretted the act in an instant.
The Heir stood there against the outer wall of the sanitarium, while to the right was a woman who wore a tan and white outfit that reminded Sayaka of a Buddhist or catholic priest. She had dirty blonde hair, possibly actually dirty, and her eyes were a dull grey that looked both lively and tired all at once. Behind them, far in the distance was the silhouette of a ruined structure of some sort, and just looking at it made a pit of cold disgust form in her stomach.
"Hmm, are you alright?"
"Of course she isn't, the dungeon is behind us," the blonde said with a shake of her ad before she simply began staring at Sayaka.
"Aha yes, that is true. It's an eyesore isn't it?" the Heir said as he smirked and walked around so that he was not directly in front of the thing. "My family's legacy, and the reason why this little hamlet has become such a draw for thrill seeking adventurers or those who hope to gain a fortune!"
"You, mean that ruin in the distance? That's what made me suddenly feel sick?" Sayaka asked as she almost looked at it again, but stopped herself.
"Yes the 'Darkest Dungeon'! What is left of my families legacy, and the resting place of some form of evil that is what is responsible for the suffering and corruption of the lands surrounding the Hamlet. You'll get used to it I'd wager," the Heir said with a chuckle.
"Get on with it Heir. Is she safe or not?" the blonde suddenly spoke up, sounding very impatient as she glared at Sayaka with caution filled eyes.
"Can you not tell from her demeanor and words?" the Heir said with a smirk. "I can also add that she is not familiar with our lands, or our calendar. I believe she may be from another far off land!"
"So are half the monsters we fight on a regular basis, so that doesn't mean anything!"
"Ah, but many of yours and mine allies are altered by such things as well."
"All the more reason to check her!" the blonde snapped, raising voice as she did.
The Heirs smile fell apart and turned into a frown. "I have no issue with people voicing their concerns or arguing with me if their reasons are intelligent. But yours are emotional, and I will not be spoken to in such a tone again. Is that clear?" The Heir asked darkly, making the girl lean away from him seemingly in fear.
"Y-yes sir. Sorry."
"Good!" the Heir stated as he went back to his seemingly usual demeanor and turned to Sayaka with a smile. "We do need to determine a few things though for the safety of the hamlet. We can do so while we continue to talk if that is fine with you? It seems you have many questions after all!"
"I guess?" Sayaka asked as she tried too think of what to ask first as the Heir began descending the steps that led up to the Sanitarium. As she caught up, sayaka realized her first question. "What exactly do you need to find out?"
"Well, to put it simply we need to ascertain the state of the magic that permeates you and your gear," The Heir said simply, making Sayaka stop in her tracks.
"Wait, you . . Know I have magic?"
The Heir stopped and looked back at her. "Well yes, it's not that hard to feel really, especially with all that is going on around the hamlet. Not like magic is unheard of either. Yours however feels, dissimilar to most, so we need to find out whether it is holy, unholy, natural, arcane or occultic."
"You, are you saying that magic is normal here!?" Sayaka nearly yelled in shock, making the Heir raise an eyebrow.
"It is not common, no. But it is well documented and heard of. Is it not the same where you come from?"
"Um, not exactly," Sayaka admitted, uncertain of how to really explain it when she wasn't even sure if she still had her magic. "Magic is . . . . kind of unheard of where I come from."
"Truly? How interesting! You know how your own magic works, yes?" The Heir asked they both began walking again. Sayaka using it as a chance to catch up.
"Well, I think so?"
"You don't?"
"Well, I might. I, didn't use to look like this so, some things may have changed, maybe," Sayaka explained, still not fully sure if she anted to believe what Oktavia had claimed.
"Well, we can maybe find out then!" The Heir declared as they turned a corner and went down a street toward a large building of stone and wood that had odd symbols scrawled on its windows both scientific and otherwise. The sound of faint chanting could even be heard from it as well, though from where exactly Sayaka could not tell.
"Uh, what is this place?"
"The Athenaeum, a place for those learned in the ways of biology, history, and the occult can rest and ply their wisdom. The Occultists here should be able to discern the form of magic in you, and if not, can likely give a lead," the Heir said as he walked straight toward the door and into the building.
Sayaka followed a couple seconds later.
The inside had a main hall that was surprisingly normal. Large double doors to the left, right, and straight ahead were the only things of note, with the door straight ahead being coveted in odd symbols and runes. And of course that was the door the Heir went for. As soon as he pushed the door open Sayaka could feel a pit form in the depths of her soul, a cold hatred that screamed at her about something past the doorway. Something that was so similar, yet so wrong to something she knew.
Despite the feeling she slowly followed the Heir in, and gasped at what she found within. The room was circular and made of stone, columns of stone circling the room covered in odd carvings and symbols that pulled Sayaka's stomach in knots. In the center of the room, around what looked to be a human sized incense burner and very large bonfire atop it, were five men wearing, to Sayaka, Arabian style robes and clothing. In front of each of them sat a polished human skill with candles fastened to their tops with purple flames flickering off them menacingly.
The Heir stood there for a few seconds before tapping his foot against the stone floor, making one of the men look up from his skull, smile, then stand up and walk over. "Ah, the Heir arrives. And what can we humble Practitioners of the occult do for you today?"
"Mortenau should have given you the specifics, yes?" The Heir asked as the man before him glanced at Sayaka for half a second before smiling
"Why yes he did, would this perhaps be the potential ally or fishstick then?" the man asked, making Sayaka flinch a bit at being referred to as a food.
"She is yes. And until such a time that she is an enemy of the hamlet, or an ally, she is being treated as a guest. And should be treated as such," the Heir stated cooly.
The man seemed unaffected by the Heirs words and simply smiled at Sayaka. "Well then, allow me to apologize for my earlier comment. I am Albumolrn, one of many Occultists who stay here in this hamlet to combat the corruption deep below. May I ask you name?"
"It's Sayaka," Sayaka replied quickly, not daring to look away from the man, and then realizing that she was not having to look up as much as she was used to. Being taller was going to take some getting used to.
"Well then Miss Sayaka, if you come to the side here and take a seat, I can see if I can feel your magic and gauge its origins, yes?" Albumolrn said as he gestured to an area between two columns that had some cushions on the ground.
Sayaka nodded and very cautiously walked over and sat down, finding the cushion nice, but not so comfortable that it made her lower her guard. Strange to say the least.
"Good, now then," Albumolrn began as he knelt down across from Sayaka. " I need you to tap into your magic, form a bit of it between us, but not anything specific. I just need to feel it and see it. Understand?"
"Uh, I guess?" Sayaka said as she closed her eyes. Her magic always just came to her, but that was to form her blades, music notes and healing magic. Could she make it be without making it any of those? Mami had once said that magic was the materialization of ones wish and soul, but did that still apply when she wasn't even sure if she still was a magical girl? Her soul gem was gone after all. At least, she figured it was as she couldn't find it…. Unless the gem stuck in her skin was it, and then its color brought on a whole other group of questions.
'Stop wasting time and use our gift already! Show them our power!'
Sayaka's eyes shot open as she felt her heart rate soar from Oktavia's voice suddenly echoing out in her mind. What surprised her further though, was a ball of dark blue and black roiling energy, like water and mist rolled into one, swirling and pulsing in front of her, level with the jewel in her chest.
"Yes, very good!" Albumolrn said excitedly as he stared at the mass of power, making Sayaka feel suddenly very self conscious. Both be cause it was her power, and because it sort of felt like the older man was staring at her chest. "So very vibrant, so strong and powerful, it is truly fascinating!"
"What?" Sayaka asked, a little creeped out by the say he was leaning forward.
"I take it you have discovered something?" The Heir asked loudly, making Albumolrn shift slightly before leaning back with a light cough.
"Ah, yes I, ahem. Yes, I believe I have discerned the origin of her magic. This will take some simple explaining," Albumolrn said as he composed himself for a few seconds before continuing. "Magic is either Holy, Unholy, Natural, Arcane, or Occultic, sometimes called Eldritch. Do you understand the differences between them? " He then asked Sayaka.
"Um, holy is from, churches? And unholy from hell?"
"Yes, but I can tell you are unsure of the others. Natural magic is what forms from nature, while arcane magic is the manipulation of magic through research and carefully planned ritual. Occultic or Eldritch magic is gained through other beings far from our world, being that are beyond mortal understanding and morals. Your magic appears to be a strange combination of both natural and Eldritch magic!"
"You mean her magic was corrupted by Eldritch magic? " The Heir asked, sounding sad for her.
"Oh no, not at all! From what I can tell her magic was once both woven together, like two lengths of role tied together to form one thing, but still separate. However, something happened and one of the lengths of rope, magic sorry, came undone and tangled around the other before the two seemed to fuse together in a way that I have not seen Eldritch magic allow before! It's absolutely fascinating as her magic is stable and appears powered by her own very being!"
"I was under the impression that Eldritch magic could not come from oneself unless one had contracted with or been inflicted by a being of that power?" The Heir asked curiously as he glanced at Sayaka in worry.
"That is the case, yes, and I could tell that at one point she had come into contact with such a being, a rather benign or passive one I believe. However, whatever twisted her magic and fused it together created a font of power within her that is itself the power she wields. That font is part or her but . . . . . it may actually be conscious as well, it is hard to say."
"You mean to say that, she may have another entity born of the fusion of her powers within her body?" The heir asked, making Sayaka instantly think of Oktavia.
'Of course it is me! We are one and the same, yet still separate, otherwise you would have been consumed by my primal, unintelligent prior self and I would have been a raving uncontrolled monster!' Came Oktavia's echoing voice, sounding both annoyed and calm all at once.
"Ah! Did it speak to you?!" Albumolrn suddenly spoke up, seeming frenzied. "I saw that ball of energy pulse and could feel something ring out through your soul!"
"Err, um-"
'Allow me to the front and do not resist Sayaka, it is something we must learn anyway if we are to live!'
'But, you're, I mean that-' Sayaka began to think, hoping Oktavia would hear it.
'I'm not a witch, Sayaka, I am YOUR witch! Without the other, neither of us can live now, and I can give power different from what you normally would access, just allow me to speak so they do not experiment on us!'
'But, how would I even-'
'Just let me speak and don't try to hold me back! Push me to the front!'
Sayaka was silent for a second before nodding. "I swear if I lose control because of you-" Sayaka muttered as she did as Oktavia said and tried to imagine herself falling backwards and pushing Oktavia forward.
"Pardon?" The heir asked, having heard Sayaka mutter, but little else.
Then, without any warning, the air around Sayaka grew cold, the brighter areas of her hair began to glow faintly blue, and a dark aura covered her body. She raised her head up, the ball of magic disappearing as she opened her eyes, her iris's glowing nearly black. "You wished to speak to me?"
Both Albumolrn and the Heir were silent for a moment before the Heir smirked. "You were the one who had given your family name earlier. I thought something sounded off back then."
"How observant of you. Yes, I am the one that forced out the name we now shall share regardless of who is in control. Does this quell your worries human?"
"Fascinating! I have heard from some of the abominations that their other form has a consciousness of its own, but from their tales it is nothing so profoundly sentient or intelligent!" Albumolrn stated happily as he leaned forward as if to reach out and touch her.
Oktavia leaned back, bit when he continued she partly stood up, and smack him off his cushion with her tail. "Do you mind?!"
'What are you doing! Don't hit them!' Sayaka screamed in disbelief from inside her mind.
"Ah, please ignore him," the Heir said with a sigh as he noticed that Albumolrn was a bit dazed. "I have two questions for you if I may. Your name, and your intentions."
"Smart. I am Oktavia Seckendorff, The witch of Sayaka's soul. As for my intentions . . . . My existence changed when our magic did. I have no desire to kill or harm out of worthless spite or randomness, but if one of us dies so to will the other. We are a pair, and I will protect Sayaka, both from those that harm her, or herself if need be!"
'whaaaaaaa?!' Sayaka mentally screamed in surprise at Oktavia's statement.
"I see. So you have no intention of harming this place, its people, or the lands around it then?" the Heir pressed.
"Such a thing would endanger us both, and with how far we are from home, that is not smart. I will stand by the decision we make together, but I will not be an enemy to those that do not wish to be! Only those who aim to bar or harm us!"
'Oh my God what are you saying! We don't even know what we could do here! We don't even know where here is!' Sayaka bemoaned in her mind.
Oktavia stood up and visibly stumbled a bit, then smirked. "It seems Sayaka wishes to be back in control. Just remember what I have said!" Oktavia suddenly said before she hung her head down. The aura and glows disapated, and a second later Sayaka lifted her head up, her eyes normal, but scandalized. "I am so sorry about that! I didn't think she would I mean, I didn't even realize she could and, uh, sorry I just-"
"Calm down, I understand," The Heir said with a soft chuckle. "With everything this village and I have been through, there is little that truly surprise's me. I am just happy your other half has no ill will towards us."
"Err, considering what she is that might not be true," Sayaka muttered under her breath, still not sure how much of what Oktavia said to him could be actually true.
"Pardon?"
"Ah,n-nothing, its nothing important!"
'Sure its not,'
"Very well. I will admit though, from hearing what both of you have said, I somehow doubt that I could find your home on the maps I have available. If I am to be honest, it sounds like your situation is similar to a man I met years ago who claimed to be from an entirely different world, and if that is the case, retuning would be . . . . . difficult,"
'As if that wasn't obvious,'
'Quiet!' Sayaka mentally hissed before sighing. "I, kind of have figured as much. . . .. Considering I think I might have died before coming here."
"That is fair, it is not as if the dead coming back is unheard of as of late," The Heir said as he gestured for Sayaka to follow him, and led her out or the Athenaeum and back into the hamlets streets. Sayaka couldn't tell what time of day it was, as an omnipresent blanket of ugly clouds covered the sky, dimming everything just enough to make things feel grim. The Heir seemed to not notice however as he led Sayaka down a street to what appeared to be a central town square type of area. A large smithy, a very large Tavern and some sort of church were the most prominent buildings a around the square, though a very large warehouse like structure sat nearby as well. He led her to the center of the square where a large statue of a man stood, a statue that the Heir bore a striking resemblance to. After a few seconds of staring at it he sighed. "In time, you will understand the extent of my failings," he said as he took a step forward and dusted off a plaque that said those very words on it. "My grandfather caused all of this, is responsible for all the horrors that plague these lands and its people. I like to think that he didn't just die, but that his soul is stuck in this statue, so he can see how we are fixing his mistakes, even at such a slow pace!"
'Someone has family issues,' Oktavia muttered in Sayaka's head.
"yeah," Sayaka's couldn't help but mutter in agreement.
"Knowing that your power does not endanger anyone by your presence, I can now tell you what your options are. You can leave, or stay. If you leave I can pay your caravan fee and give you a small amount of funds, but I fear it would not last long and your looks may invite trouble. If you wish to stay, no one lives for free. You would need to either find work in the town, or join the adventures plumbing the depths of the ruins and corrupted lands surrounding us, looking for treasure and artifacts and fighting the monsters that endanger us. I am sorry, but I simply do not have the resources for other options."
"Uh, what about returning to where I come from? Is that not possible?" Sayaka asked, earning a giggle from Oktavia.
'You're part witch now, you really think that's a smart idea?'
Sayaka said nothing as she waited for the Heir to answer.
" . . . . .Nothing is impossible, but it would take a large amount of research and a vast amount of time to even begin to discover such a thing. Some here perhaps would be curious about it, maybe even willing to help, but nothing comes for free as I said. One cannot stay here without giving something in return."
"Where could I get such information?" Sayaka asked hopefully.
"In many places information can be found, but due to the hamlets situation many leaders of their crafts are here, and the closest city of learning is nearly a months carriage ride away."
'Something tells me he wants us to stay. Not like the other option is that great.'
'Well, no, but-'
'Just stay here. We can fight, get stronger and make money, while we figure out what to do!" Oktavia pushed, sounding very sensible.
'I guess. They do need help it sounds like,' Sayaka admitted to Oktavia.
'See, I'm not out to drag you to hell, so stop worrying if I'm on your side. I am!'
'You admitted you were the witch I would have turned into as well. Considering what witches are I think worrying is fine!' Sayaka responded with a little snap to her tone.
'Yes, because I'm going to try to get you killed when we have been both allowed to coexist together as one being,' Oktavia replied sarcastically. 'Look, if you're going to accept staying here, maybe ask what it would entail, okay?'
'Fair' Sayaka grudgingly admitted as she let out an audible sigh that piqued The Heirs attention. "If, and only if, I choose to stay here to looking returning home. What would I need to do to earn my keep?"
"That would depend on what you choose to do. If you worked with the villagers it'd be simple work, but would not pay well. Of you chose to join the adventurers in defending the hamlet and delving against corruption it would mean endangering yourself constantly, but the pay is often far better with what adventurers can find. We do admittedly lose at least a few adventurers per month from overconfidence, bad choices, and just plain bad luck. So it is very dangerous."
"I see." 'What do you think?'
'I think we would both grow bored of simple work. And that you wouldn't be able to stand by as others are endangering themselves.' Oktavia answered honestly.
Sayaka took in a deep breath and slowly let it out before looking at the Heir. "Alright, I'll become an adventurer and help protect this place!"