Years Ago, in the Human Realm…
Veterinarian, Camila Noceda was rushing home as the rain was coming down.
It was a long day of treating animals and helping out the owners fill out the forms, but it was worth it to do some good in the world. She was hoping to head back home where her best friend Manny and her could watch a movie, maybe the final installment of Cosmic Frontier. Manny, he was the only one who made her feel less of an outsider, from school to the present time. He was a good man and always there when she needed him.
Maybe…
CRASH!
Camila jumped as something knocked over the trash, something big and with… horns?
A deer?
A moose?
Nope. It was none of those things, it was something horrifying.
Some sort of slimy, deer-like, thin, leaves-caped, wooden creature with eyes all over its body! Camila gasped as she tumbled to the floor! It growled as it was ready to attack, Camila too scared to move! Then she noticed something. The way it was behaving, the way it was trying to protect its shoulder, it was hurt. There is nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal and if anyone else saw it… it would lash out.
"Hey, are you… okay?" Camila asked it, not sure why or if it could understand her.
"SNARL!"
"It-it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you." She told it, but she could tell the creature didn't believe her.
She then remembered the leftovers she had for lunch, then presented them to the creature.
"Are you hungry? Maybe some food will help."
She slid the container to the beast. It hesitated but ate the food she provided. It took a lot of time, but she was able to, inch by inch, get close to it, even going as far as touching it. It was less slimy than it looked, felt muddy, had thin fur, and smelled of pumpkin spice.
"Can I... can I see if I can help you?" She asked it while it was eating.
It looked at her, staring at her like it was looking into her soul. Then it relaxed and nodded.
It did understand her.
But she'll think about it later and began patching up the wound, it hissed and flinched but did nothing else as it drifted off the sleep. She could leave it alone, not with a wound like that and it would lash out at passersby. Camila didn't know why she decided to do it, but she wanted to bring the creature home.
She dialed up her phone.
"Manny, it's me. I need your help."
At Camila's and Manny's home…
Where… was he…?
He was… attacked, right?
Assassins, loyal to her…
"Woah, this thing looks awesome… Do you think it's a magical creature from another world?"
He was not alone…
"Careful, we don't what it is, but it's hurts. It could lash out."
The Woman… she healed him, even when he scared her…
"But still. Look at this thing. It looks like King Abideer's Hind Form he uses during the Blades of Magic War."
If he changes back… he needs to… solidify…
"I don't think an Azura book can apply with what this- it-it's shrinking!"
Okay, okay, he's himself again. Good.
"Woah."
He then heard footsteps then came a light and a gasp.
"It's not a monster, it's a man!"
Days Later…
He woke up in a daze, covered in thick blankets on a couch in a bazaar and strange home.
He knew right then and there that this wasn't in the Boiling Isles. The energy was wrong, he couldn't hear the titan. This place… the human realm and he's still alive? But don't humans kill witches when given the chance?
"Oh, you're awake!"
He didn't turn his head as he looked at the woman. It was her, the one who saved him, bringing him food and something to drink.
"Hi, you really surprised me a few days ago. I thought you weren't going to make it for a minute there." She smiled; it was cute.
"…I have been hurt worse than this. You shouldn't worry so much. I thank you though." He uttered then looked at his bandages.
"Well, I do. No one should have been harmed like this and you looked like you needed some help." She giggled then gave a sweet grin, "My name is Camila Noceda. Who are you?"
That question was one that plagued his mind since the incident all those years ago.
"I do not know who I was before, but I do go by one name. I am called-."
"Emperor Belos, it's time to get up, sir."
Belos awoke from his dream, the memory of when he met his beloved. The servant left the tea and briskets at his side, him grabbing one to put in his hair for the occupants to eat. That day, when he met Camila, it was pure magic of the heart. He was so happy, the years were wonderful, Camila and him, they were in love. Manny always helped him court her, even when he had feelings for her too. Those were happier times as their family grew with the birth of their daughter, Luzura Crescent Wittebane-Noceda (he discovered his ancestor and took his last name during the war).
Everything was perfect.
Then… she ruined it.
She ruined their marriage, and almost killed their daughter. After that, everything fell apart and it was all her fault. He lost Camila because of her.
But… he needed to shake those thoughts away and get ready for the day.
Besides, if he were stronger, maybe… they would have still been together. Maybe he would still have Camila.