My Doll Confidant

by Fuentalator

Everything I ever did was for her. She, who meant more to me than all the jewels in the world. She, who was my life. Who I brought out of the darkness of being a whipping child who kept me out of my own darkness. Who I loved and lived for. Answering to her, both silent and gesturing demands. My gorgeous Doll and my confidant. The one who became real and left me to follow another.

SINBAD'S POV

I remember when I first met her. The girl who had haunted my dreams for most of my life since I was fourteen. The girl who no matter how much I've accomplished, she was never impressed with me nor my actions. She approved of what I've done successfully, she smiled, and we've shared our adventures together. She was with me through it all, even at my worst. She forgave me… I think, when I was at my worst. She was always there though. Always loyal to me and only me and my dreams. She wasn't one to follow my orders though. She always danced to the beat of her own drum, but was never one to take credit when credit was due.

Yeah, I remember when I first met her. It is really hard not to. I was going to town to go to the docks to help with cargo when I was grabbed by my arm and thrown on my stomach to the ground before I could even react. A body jumped on top of mine to pin mine to the ground. My arm was pulled and twisted in an uncomfortable position while another arm pressed against the back of my neck.

I was about to ask whoever what they were doing, only to hear, "You're the draft dodger. Sinbad of Tison Village, aren't you not?" I flinched at the voice. It wasn't the person on top of me, but another voice nearby. I turned my head as much as I could to see a young man around my age glaring down at me. He had dark green hair and had the accusing golden eyes pointed at me. He was a Partevian Soldier, but… not just any solider, he was of a higher position. That meant a soldier was on my back and I can fight back. I turned my head to yell at WHOEVER was holding me down, when I just froze. On top of me, pinning me down while twisting my arm, was a girl, also around my age. She had shoulder blade length white hair that was so greasy and covered with dirty and was that blood frayed in the mix? Her skin was pale, but I could notice bruises on her face, around her neck, and along her arms. She had on a mask that was wrapped around her head and I could only her face from the cheekbones up. Her eyes look liked they would shine a lighter shade of my hair, but they were so dull and lifeless.

I didn't realize I was staring because I was interrupted by the voice of the general asking, "I asked you a question. Mutt." She began to twist and pull my arm in a harder fashion as her eyes remained dull and lifeless. I yelled in pain from the action and after a moment it stopped. Was that a warning or was she sparing me from the pain?

I looked at the girl and thought that I could ease the tension, so I commented in a flirty manner trying to mask my pain, "That's quite a grip you got there, Angel. I wouldn't mind it as much as you held on to me just a little lower." She didn't seem to enjoy that because she pressed onto my neck just a little harder and pulled my arm just a smidge tighter. I cringed at the pain but smiled at her while I gave a little wink.

She just seemed so unfazed by me and I heard the man order, "Don't even try. It won't release you until I give the word. It's bound to the Dragul Family and only will know acknowledge me and my words. Now, are you Sinbad of Tison or are you not?" I growled up to him as my answer and the girl's grip tightened once more as a lone and silent threat. What was with her? The general came forward and announced, "I am Dragul. The Commander of the Western Region Military Unit. Drafts papers have been sent to you many times by the military. Present yourself in three days." How dare this idiot tell me to do something I've been intentionally ignoring? I've no intentions of going that army.

I asked him what would happen if I refused and with the nod of his head the girl's grip tightened as she began to pull my arm and push my neck down. I cringed and tensed up from the pain, but I didn't yell. I wouldn't give the asshole the satisfaction. I still didn't answer and that pissed me off and only stated a lone insult and the girl began to pull and push even harder than before. This time I released a low groan and one of the kids I was playing with the day prior ran up to try to stop her, but a soldier stopped him and kicked him away. With that… the girl's grip finally loosened. Did she stop because… of the kid? Did she not want to do this? After Dragul talked about the boy using that energy for the future military, I tried to rise, but the girl's position kept me where I was. Damn… she was so strong even though she looked so tiny? She pulled a little more to tell me to stay down silently. I saw how Dragul… narrowed his eyes. But… the gaze wasn't at me. Why was he glaring at her? I felt how she flinched and slightly her grip loosened. I screamed about who we were and how we weren't dogs for the military. I just wanted to get that off my chest since he kept calling me a mutt. Dragul just turned to face me and commented how it was normal for people to want to serve their country and told me to that the girl above me, or how he addressed her as his 'pet,' was the primary example. I wanted to yell how she wasn't a pet, but Dragul just continued his speech about it was normal for Partevian Citizens being weapons of war.

I just countered that, but before I could talk about my father, and he commented back quickly, "It wasn't either, but it was made to be one. From the time it was young, it was forged in the fire and made in a perfect weapon for the war against Reim. It will be joining the expedition for the dungeon in two days and our sorcerers have foretold that it will help us harness the dungeon's power." I questioned what 'it' was, and he just gestured… to the girl above me. He was calling her an 'it.' That was how little her life meant? I turned my head back to the girl, but she didn't look hurt. She was still blank, like she knew what her life was meant to be, and she just accepted it by this point.

I clenched my jaw in frustration and stated my speech about my father, the rest of the men, and how I refused to join the military. I noticed how the girl's grip loosened like she was barely holding me. Then my village spoke on my behalf and when Dragul threatened my mother, I heard the girl above me gasp so softly that apparently only I heard. So, she didn't have a choice. Dragul continued his speech about the dungeon and how it was our duty to obtain it and my life should have been used just like my father's. I only noticed though at the end, the girl softly rubbed my forearm with her thumb. Was she apologizing to me in a way that she could? Once Dragul finished, he told me to think about what I said and used that insult once again and the girl released me, got off of me, and followed after Dragul with her head down. She didn't even look back at me. She just followed like what she had been ordered to do.

I thought about her for the rest of the evening. Even as I talked to Yunan. He even hinted about her, but we never truly talked about her. She was a mystery to both of us. I went and I even talked to my mother about her. She explained that sometimes when someone is placed in an impossible position, just like my father was, that they do what they have to, to protect what they have. For my father, it was us and for her, we didn't know. I can't imagine what would make her act the way she does. Like she was some subject that was meant to be owned and ordered around. My mother gave me her blessing to go, and I went with my mission to obtain the dungeon's power all for myself.

When I arrived, that was when I saw her. She was on her knees on the ground behind Dragul with her head pointed to the ground in front of her. I saw now how she basically had on a sack meant to carry goods. With her bowed head, her hair fell over her shoulders, and I saw how her exposed upper back was blue and purple with bruises as her arms were stained even more than before. I yelled out when Dragul commented that I was a kid. I noticed how the girl flinched, but she kept her head and body exactly where it was. I told them that I was capturing the dungeon's power and emphasized how I wasn't going to let them have it due to how they treat their own people.

I stared at the girl who just sat still and then I yelled, "Hey, Angel! You stay out of here! Do something for yourself for the first time in your life!" The girl didn't move, but the Commander just looked at me quizzically. I was addressing HER and she knew, but she refused to acknowledge me. I turned and ran into the Drago to see Yunan, but his eyes were set on the girl. I turned and saw how Dragul grabbed her by the base of her hair and began to yell at her to get up and get ready. She didn't yell and she didn't even react. She just let it happen. After she rose, I noticed that she had two swords, one strapped to each of her sides and she grabbed a bow and quiver sat next to her and strapped it on her back. It looked like it hurt significantly if her back was covered in bruises like the top of it was. She turned and I saw how she had on that mask just like before, but now she had a giant black eye marring her pale skin. She never did lift her head. She kept it down and out of eye lines. Like she was meant to only keep her eyes down. I turned to Yunan and ran inside, not before saying a goodbye to Yunan, and sparing a glance at the girl as she followed behind her Commander, and then I finally ran in before the soldiers could.

When I came to, I ran out and noticed how exotic and beautiful the place was. It was unlike anything I have ever seen before. The land was so luscious and green and had even enough strength to hold buildings. I was taking in all the scenery when I heard the shrill yells and cries coming from the distance. I ran to the area and saw how it was the Partevian soldiers getting slaughtered by dragons. The only ones who were able to defend themselves were the girl and the Commander, who the girl was risking herself for to defend. She was talented with twin blades, I will admit to that, but I saw the cuts, scrapes, and tears all over her and her clothing. She was bleeding, but her only focus was to defend her master. The Commander was slowing her down tremendously and was backing them into a corner. When the beasts opened its mouth to roar, but the girl threw her sword like a spear into its mouth while I threw an actual spear. I saw how she looked at me and she actually reacted. Her eyes opened wide from realization as she blinked to try to figure out what was happening. I jumped from my spot and told them both to follow me. I noticed that she wouldn't, but rather, she glanced back to the Commander for permission or to follow him. Why wasn't she looking out for herself?! Dragul followed and she followed after him while she made sure to watch his back. I also noticed while she ran, she grabbed another blade left behind.

When we reached a safe spot in the cliffs, Dragul fell on his butt and the girl only lowered to kneel down to him and made sure to analyze him to make sure that he was okay and wasn't hurt. Dragul seemed infuriated by her actions, because he swept her hands away while he ordered her not to patronize him. The girl did what she was told and went on her knees with her head bowed awaiting her orders once again. I couldn't take it. I kneeled down to her to help her myself, but when I reached out to her, she closed her eyes and it looked like she thought that I was going to hit her. She didn't shake, she didn't scrunch her face, she just sat there waiting for the pain. It was honestly painful to see someone like that. I froze at the realization, but then I gently grabbed her wrist from hand that was bleeding from the sword that she threw earlier. She was still, so I thought that she was okay, that was until I noticed how her hand, wrist, and arm erupted in goosebumps. Her fingers kept twitching frantically as she kept her stoic expression as stone cold as she could. She hated to be touched. With the bruises that I saw on her, I wasn't surprised. It was painful in all honesty.

I grabbed a part of belt that was wrapped around my body, took it in my teeth and tore it to create a bandage. Once I did that, I began to wrap the poor appendage as gently as I could while I quietly begged for the girl to bear with the uncomfortable situation she was in. She was still, and once I finished, she didn't tear her hand away like I thought that she would, but she kept it there. Probably waiting for the okay to let her know that she could pull away. I let her go and her hand went back to her lap while she went on waiting. I wanted to talk to her, but she probably wouldn't until I got comfortable with the Commander. I began a little conversation with him, just trying to get a feel of how he was doing and where his head was. He was still a pretentious brat. After we talked about his name, I glanced over to the girl and noticed how her head was still pointed down while her eyes were bulged open, probably from how insolent I've seemed.

The expression almost made me smile, but then Drakon pulled away and reached for his sword, so I followed suit, only for the girl to rise and grab both of our blade's sheaths. Then she grabbed Drakon by his arm and shoved him into a cave near us, then she grabbed me and pushed us both in the cave without ANY type of warning. I recovered from my fall only to realize… SHE WAS ON TOP OF ME AGAIN! This time though, her front forms were pressed to one another and she was straddling me. I was about to stutter to ask what she was doing, but she only pressed a finger to my lips, and then she did it to herself to signal for us to be quiet. That was when I heard the roar. A giant roar unlike anything that I heard already. The girl glanced over her shoulder and I looked from in between our forms to see that there was a shadow overfilling the valley. So, she was only protecting us?

I smiled at the realization and spoke out, "Hey." She turned her blank eyes back towards me, and I gave her my dazzling smile once again and finished, "Thanks for helping us, Sweetheart." She blinked in confusion and FINALLY realized our position, but she reacted by hopping off me, going into that kneeling position with her head down and eyes shut. Ready to receive the pain once more.

I was confused by the action and I was about to ask her, but Drakon stated aloud, "Mutt." I flinched at the nickname and growled that my name was SINBAD, but then he finished, "I wasn't addressing you." I blinked in confusion until I realized… there was ONE OTHER PERSON who he could address. The same person who was with him when he came to get me in Tison. The same person he was glaring at during his intimidation time. I turned to the girl, but she pivoted her body towards him and awaited for her orders. He was calling HER 'Mutt.' No, she shouldn't be called that.

I blinked at her, but then I went to my knees in front of her and asked, "What's your name? Not the name THEY gave you, but your real birth name." She didn't react. She didn't look at me, she didn't acknowledge me, she was silent and still. Like a doll.

Drakon approached her and stated in his commanding voice, "Mutt, go find us some previsions. We need to get our strength up to defeat whatever was outside. Be back quickly." She nodded her head and rose. SHE DIDN'T EVEN WEAR SHOES! She rose to her bare feet, and walked out of the cave without looking back. I tried to stop her, but she evaded my attempts and went out to find the food and water that she was ordered to obtain. I growled in annoyance, turned to Drakon and demanded to know what her real name was.

He sat by and glanced at me as he wasn't impressed by my threat and he answered, "When it was given to me, I was told to call it 'Mutt.' That was what it was programmed with. That was how it knew that it was being addressed. It has no name. When it was placed with the program its name, its history, all of its memories, and everything that it possessed was stripped and it was made into the obedient pet it is today. It is loyal only to Parthevia and the royal family, such as the member who gave it to me." I flinched at the info and felt my soul catch on fire. How the hell could they just strip someone of everything like that?! Even my father had his own IDENTITY when he went to war, she didn't even get that luxury! I growled out if anyone knew who she was, but Drakon replied that he didn't know, and probably no one cares. I had to resist the urge to hit him so much, but I kept myself silent and clenched my fist in anger.

We sat in silence until I heard footsteps approaching us. I turned to see that the girl, I WASN'T CALLING HER 'MUTT,' came in with prime cuts of meat, someone bagged in leaves, and pouches of water with some wood. I ran over and BEGGED for me to help her, but she kept everything out of my grasp while shaking her head. She never DID look me in the eye. She always kept her head down, but she went past me, set up the fire, ignited it by using her sword and another rock, and then stationed the meat to be cooked properly. After she did that, she went over to Drakon, went down on one knee and presented him the food like it was offering to the gods.

He took it while he asked, "Did you make sure to test all these for poison by eating some yourself?" WHAT KIND OF THING WAS HE ASKING HER?! She went to GET the food, she shouldn't have to be the test subject too! I was about to yell, but she nodded her head in confirmation. She tasted all this to make sure we wouldn't die from poisoning? Drakon smiled and told her good like she was a dog. He waved his hand to dismiss her, and she walked back to me, went to do the kneeling thing, and presented me with one of the water pouches along with the leaf bag just like she did him. I asked her if she got me some in disbelief, but she just nodded her head without raising it to my eyelevel. I blinked in confusion, and then I took the bag while I thanked her. After the items were gone from her hands, she went back to the fire and began to spin it so that the meat could cook evenly. She watched it with such heavy concentration, and I just watched her. We all sat in silence, and I refused to eat or drink without her since she's done so much already. It seemed rude not to.

She finished cooking the meet and split it in half. She present Drakon's to him as she did before on a stick, and then she did the same to me. Instead of accepting it this time though, I only pushed the meat towards her while I told her to eat it. She shook her head and pushed it forward to me and I kept telling her no. Why wasn't she thinking of herself?! It got to the point where she stopped moving with the meat extended forward. SHE wasn't going to budge!

I went down on one knee next to her and stated, "How about this, you and I eat it together? This way you're still being courteous and you get your strength up with us, alright?" I thought the deal was BEYOND reasonable, but she only shook her head and presented the meat to my face once again. WHAT THE HELL?! Why was she being so damn stubborn?! I was about to yell at her once more, but I was stopped.

Drakon might have had enough by this point because he yelled out, "MUTT!" I saw how her eyes flinched even with her head bowed, and Drakon continued, "Did you eat while you retrieved the food? You are allowed to be honest." I noticed how she looked guilty, but she nodded her head at Drakon. He turned to me and stated, "It's not hungry. Eat and get your strength up. It'll be fine." I felt conflicted because with the time she was gone mixed with the meat not being cooked, there was no way she had time to eat a lot. She must have eaten the bare minimum and that was what sustained her. I took the meat reluctantly, and then she went back to sitting on her knees once again while she waited for us to gain our strength. I tried to pass her some, but she only shook her head each and every time. After we finished eating, we sat in silence and I stared at the girl for a moment.

"Hey," I called out to her. She kept her head where it was until Drakon ALLOWED her to talk to me by stating that it was okay. She pivoted her body to face mine as her way of acknowledging me. She didn't raise her head, but this was a start. I looked at her, smiled and asked, "Sweetheart, won't you grace me by looking into my eyes?" I noticed how she blinked in what seemed to have been confusion. I wanted to LEAD her to look at me, but that would cause her fear of being touched to be activated. I waited silently and patiently, until she finally looked up with a very unsure look in her eyes. Huh, so her eyes were a beautiful color. A lighter shade than mine, but they seemed so dull do her blank expression. However, I couldn't completely enjoy it due to the black eye surrounding her left eye and the other bruises along her face. I felt sad by the wounds, and I wanted to comfort her, but I bet she didn't want that. And it might have made things worse for her later.

I smiled at her and stated, "There, that wasn't so hard, now was it? Now, sweetheart, I have a serious question for you. I want you to truly think about it and I want you to answer me. I refuse to call you that insult. I told you before, we are not dogs for the military and I refuse to call you that title that Parthevia has given you. So… I need to call you something, so what do you want to be called?" The girl blinked at me in confusion while she processed my words. I waited and asked her well, but she didn't answer me. She kept blinking, but she never answered. Was this really a tough question? I thought that it would have been easy since anything would have been better than 'Mutt.' She kept opening and closing her mouth, but she also kept looking so conflicted.

I waited until I heard Drakon say, "It can't answer you." I told him that she was allowed to do whatever she wanted, but then she gently touched my hand and I stopped talking. She shook her head at me, stating that she wasn't allowed, but once I tried to tell her that it was okay, Drakon announced, "It's not from disobedience. It genuinely cannot tell you, because it is mute. It cannot speak." I looked at him and she nodded her head in acknowledgement. She was mute? She genuinely couldn't speak?

I tried to process everything, and I asked her, "So… you can't talk?" She shook her head no, and so I continued, "And you have no idea what your real name is?" Again, another head shake. "Do you have any idea of what you want to be called?" She shook her again, and so… I was left with a new dilemma. What was I going to call her? She stared at me with a blank expression, and I kept thinking of various things. What could you say to describe this girl? A clean slate, but… then… it hit me. I gave her ONE NAME when I first met her. Yes, I was flirting to make her let go of me, but now I can't imagine a less perfect name.

I smiled at her and stated proudly, "Angel… that's your name now. You are going to be called 'Angel' from now on." She blinked in confusion, then she glanced over to Drakon for some type of permission, but he gave no indication. She turned to me and looked so conflicted. I asked her if she hated it, but she just shook her head at if I was going to be offended if she stated that she hated it. I smiled and said her name again in a light tone and I noticed how emotional she was getting with just her eyes. Her face stayed its stone figure, but her eyes, they were the key to knowing her. She REALLY loved it, or maybe she loved the idea of being a person. I smiled at her and her eyes smiled at me. We stood that way for a moment until Drakon stated that we needed to head out. Without warning, the happiness in her eyes dispersed from her eyes and her blankness that was her face melded into her eyes and she was the Parthevian Doll all over again. She rose to her feet, kept her head down and followed after Drakon as she was trained to do. I followed suit, just trying to get a feel of her mind, but she was blank as the doll she was.

We walked until we reached to where the giant king of dragon was lying. I noticed how Angel was looking at everything with a focused look in her eyes and how she was determined to see everything and analyze the entirety of her situation. She seemed to have been making more than just a regular plan. She was making several depending on how everything went. We all watched as the King Dragon ate two small and I made the comment how the dragon king was like the human king and I noticed how Angel's eyes opened significantly at my words and how her eyes screamed that she was shocked. I wanted to tease her more about how this was a test for survival, but Dragul rose and imposed on me like the ass he was. Stating that I've EARNED my way to be subordinate and how I should work at the decoy. I asked him OBVIOUSLY why HE couldn't go, and he told me that it would be good for me to do because it would be as a commoner's gift for his country. I was just flabbergasted by this man and how his pretentious ass believed that he is some greatness worth dying for.

He didn't seem like he wanted to continue his persuasion, but then he noticed Angel, and ordered, "Mutt. Go distract the dragons. Make yourself useful and lay down your life for Parthevia." She rose from her spot, and drew her swords to prepare for battle, but before she could jump across the pillar, I grabbed her wrist to stop her from going. I was NOT going to allow her to go out there just to DIE for this godforsaken country. She stopped moving instantly and glanced down to my hand on her wrist and then glanced at me. Her face was blank, but her eyes screamed confusion. I glared at her and growled out a 'no.' She looked conflicted in her eyes, but I just held onto her wrist and asked how many more people had to die before he completely understood how people were not objects for the Parthevia. He did flinch, which meant that he was thinking about what all was happening here in the dungeon. I felt Angel tug a little in my grip, but I just gave her a light squeeze to tell her no. I wasn't going to let her die for this. Not this stupid reason. He gave his speech about what it meant to be a Parthevian soldier, and Angel began to tug more in an attempt to follow her orders. With the insult of her title, I felt how she tensed up, and tugged her wrist completely free and she ran to the beasts without any regard her herself and her own safety.

I was surprised though. She was a very impressive fighter and held onto her own. When she wasn't focused on protection, she was one of the most impressive sword fighters that I have ever seen. The dragons couldn't even keep up with her and the Dragon King just watched her. Analyzing her every step and slight movement. When Drakon reached the door though, that was when all hell broke loose. She got distracted because she was focused on him and one of the baby dragons got close and dug one of it's claws into her side. Angel disposed of the creature quickly and dashed for her master while she grabbed his abandoned shield. Once she got in front of him, she grabbed him and threw him back to the ditch. Once he was gone, she ran forward, and made herself to the perfect decoy, slaying the beasts every which way. I had to act fast, but first I needed to wake up the ass. I told him how he was normal and how he was human. He was shocked by my words, and then the roaring of the dungeon disrupted my thoughts. I knew how to win, but I needed Angel's shield. I yelled out my name for her, and I saw how she did a side glance towards me, and then I yelled shield, and she spun and sent to flying towards us. The dragons noticed the motion and directed their attention to us only for her to whistle loudly and all the dragons turned to her. She then sparked her sword, and it caused an explosive reaction? She was distracting them from us by any means necessary. The dragons hated her, but she kept moving. She wasn't going to slow, even with the fire burning her legs and feet. She kept scrapping her sword over the dragon remains which caused the explosions to occur along with more fire. The geysers came though, putting out all of her flames. The King Dragon had his eyes FINALLY on me as I rode the waves and when I noticed its head tilted up to me, Angel spun, and threw her sword like a spear to its neck while I went for its head. The dragon roared its pain but then it changed into some weird dark purple material and then disappeared like a cloud of dark purple dust.

I fell through the air, but I was caught before I hit the ground. I looked back and saw Angel was the one who caught me. I yelled her name in worry, but as soon as she put me down, she fussed over how I looked and how I was faring by moving extensively and glancing at my body. I smiled at her concern and TRIED to assure her that I was okay, but she just kept examining me. Once she finished, she went down on one knee and bowed her head while she presented me one of the green orbs on the ground. She thought… that she was owned by me as well. I told her to get up, but she just kept her position. I took the orb and turned to Drakon and presented it to him by raising it in the air. He grabbed the other orb that Angel presented to him. She was still a pet after all that? How could she even think that? After that, I wanted to examine her feet and legs AND address that wound that was bleeding in her side, but she wouldn't let me. She just kept squirming out of my grasp. She was too stubborn! I decided that IF I conquer the dungeon first THEN she would FINALLY accept my help since her mission was done.

Drakon and I unlocked the door together, and when I went to walk forward, I froze. Angel was past hurt, and I was not letting her continue to do so with walking on wounded feet. I turned and walked towards her. She blinked at me in confusion and didn't realize what I was doing until I scooped her up in my arms and proceeded to carry her. She blinked in confusion more as she clenched her arms closer to her chest. I walked with her to the gate when I heard Drakon ask who I was. When I answered him in my cocky manner, Angel just stared at me with this… astonished look. We got to the other side only to see a tunnel was the next part of our journey. I couldn't fight with her in my arms, so I had to treat her first. I sat her down on the ground and then I picked up her foot to examine all the burns on scrapes on her feet and her legs. She began to touch my hands as she tried to push them away, probably telling me in her silent way that she was okay. I just kept pushing them away as I put some water from the pouch she gave me on her feet. She hissed, indicating that she DID feel pain. She squirmed a little more as I proceeded to use my belt as a bandages for both of her feet and legs. I scolded her about taking care of herself but she only kept looking down.

I finished and then as soon as I did, I looked at the hole in her dress where she was cut. She was still bleeding and it needed to be managed. I went to lift her dress, when she just grabbed my hand. I looked and saw she was blushing? She kept blinking at me in what seemed to be confusion. I pointed down to her side and her eyes followed my finger and she stared at the wound. She began to wave her arms back and forth like she was silently telling me that she was okay. I gave her the bandage and told either she did it or I did. She blinked in confusion and glanced back and forth from me to the bandage a couple of times until she finally sighed, and took the bandage from my hands. After she did that, she looked at me for a moment. I asked her what and she gestured for me to turn around. Aw, she was shy. I wrapped my arm around Drakon's shoulder, and had our backs facing her while I talked about the next battle plan. Drakon was confused about my intentions and kept questioning me. I didn't want to let him know, but in a minute, I felt a poke on my back. I turned to see Angel bowing to me.

Was she… "Are you thanking me?" I asked her inquisitively. She glanced up and nodded at me without a second thought. Huh? Maybe she wasn't that hard to understand. I told them to follow me, and when I said follow, Angel did so without hesitation. She stood behind me as I led the way, but whenever trouble came, she would sprint to the front and wipe out whatever she could. I was afraid for her, but she was more than stubborn. If I grabbed her arm, she would only swing with her unconfined arm. She made sure to get us food whenever we stopped and rested. I tried to go forage for food with her, but she would only push me down by my shoulders and gesture a stop and what I assume is 'stay.' She never ATE with us though. Apparently that was a big no-no for her. I tried to offer her food, but she would only sit on her legs and shake her head. When we made it to the church, I saw how Angel just STARED at it while she blinked. Did she know it? I decided to have fun with Drakon as I did most of the trip when in all honesty, Angel was looking pale, well paler than usual. She wasn't panting, but she was clearly exhausted. I wanted to tell her rest out here, but I was worried that something would attack her, so it was probably better for her to stay with us. I nodded my head at her and then proceeded to go forward and she waited for Drakon to walk and she followed after us with her head STILL DOWN!

We walked into the building and Angel was so focused on all of the items in the room. All of the plates, vases, and cups seemed to have her total undivided attention. I could tell that she REALLY wanted to look at the closer, but she kept her spot as the doll she was. I wanted to tell her that it was okay, but she kept her eyes down. It wasn't until she looked up and I saw how she was staring at the pedestal in the middle of the staircases. I turned, smiled at her, nodded my head, and walked up to the pedestal while Drakon talked about how nothing special was there. At the pedestal sat a lone stone lamp with a weird symbol etched on the side. So her intuition was spot on too. She really was too valuable as a person. I tapped the side and instantly it was encased in a blue metal and blue lightning shot out. OF COURSE, Angel blocked any of it from hitting Drakon, but THANKFULLY none of it hit either of them. When Baal appeared, Angel pulled out her sword ready to fight and defend if need be. When Baal introduced himself and asked his question of becoming king, Angel just went down to her knees with her head bowed. Drakon and I both announced our desire to become king, but once we did, Baal's eyes went to Angel's bowing form. He stared at her for a moment until an eyebrow raised.

"You. Young girl. Do you not wish to become a king? You have proved your heroism with unsheathing your sword to me, yet you don't wish to possess my power. Is there nothing that you truly wish for?" Baal asked Angel. I stared down to her as I wondered the same question. Why WASN'T she applying for the vessel. Didn't the sorcerers of Parthevia predict that SHE was going to be the one to achieve it? I noticed how her fists clenched, but then she glanced up to the giant blue beast and did some silent gesture to signal her flying?

I stared at her for a moment, but Baal asked, "You wish for freedom? Is that all you truly desire?" She nodded her head while she had this wishful and sad look in her eyes. That was all she wanted? She just wanted to be free from her chains? That was an easy wish to fulfill! I would grant her the freedom she deserved once we got out of here!

He stared at her for a moment and asked, "And why don't you have it? Why not use me and make yourself a king?" THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION! There was no doubt that she could survive on her own and all she needed to do was run. So, why didn't she? The girl looked sad, but then she gestured to have… rings around her wrist? OH! She was signaling that she was a slave. And then she did a crown placement, shake of her head, and then just touched her throat lightly. She was telling him that she couldn't be a king just because she was mute.

Baal seemed to have understood and then he asked, "I ask you then. Will you serve the one who wins my power? If the one who can obtain it can set you free, will you be loyal to them? Will you be venging to the ones who made you as this?" She looked up at him and blinked her eyes in confusion for a moment. She looked like she thought about it, and then she gestured, a fist to the chest right over her right. What the hell was THAT supposed to mean?!

Baal smirked at the reaction and commented, "So you want to remain loyal to your own heart. I respect that. And vengeance?" She only shook her head and did a weird gesture to the ring of her wrist into a finger fluttering action. Baal just cackled at her and replied, "So you would hold no malice for those who've bound you? Quite a rare find, you are. Very well… I will respect your wish to not seize my power, but I would like you to know that I like that you have a more heroic personality and I find it a bit of tragedy that you don't wish to possess me." She nodded at him just slightly, I think as her thanks, and Baal smiled at her. She was a hero, so I wasn't surprised about Baal wanting her to participate as well. She went back to bowing her head and keeping her eyes to the ground.

That left Drakon and I to fight for the djinns power. We both stated our reasonings and I couldn't fathom his. It made no sense to me. We decided to fight and I watch at how Angel flinched when she heard the clash of our blades. She must be conflicted about how she was going to support. When my sword was pushed away, I saw how Angel looked so conflicted on whether or not to retrieve it and toss it back to me. She was too considerate for her own good and I took her example about earlier and grabbed the blade with my own two hands. I saw how her eyes blasted open at what I did, and it caused me to smirk. She wasn't the ONLY ONE who was daring enough to do that! I continued the fight as a fist fight and I KNEW I was going to beat him. The guy wasn't like me and had to fight bare fist bandits for food and work, so I knew that I had this in the bag. He wasn't going down though! He was way more resilient than I gave him credit for.

When he was down, I began to walk away and I heard how he was going to protect someone. A girl. I knew it wasn't ANGEL because he only addressed her as an 'it' the ENTIRE TIME I've seen them interact and he probably didn't recognize her as a girl but rather an object. I told him that I understood, and I stared at Angel and stated that I had someone to protect as well. Angel looked at me completely confused. She looked back behind her as if SOMEONE was behind her, and when she REALIZED I was staring at HER, she pointed to herself questioningly. I just gave a curt nod and she blinked in shock and confusion. I had to make her see that she is worth something. And for THAT, I must protect her and get her out of Parthevia's clutches. Drakon and I butted heads one last time and I knocked him out with my fist. Angel rose from her spot, and she began to move her hands back and forth as she tried to think of how to help. She realized that she couldn't and then she went over to me. I asked her what she was doing, but she just grabbed my hand and stared at my bloody knuckles. So, she was concerned about me? She looked so sad and conflicted until she crouched down and ripped the bottom of her skirt and then she made some bandages, and she began to wrap my hands. She was so focused on bandaging me properly. Once she finished, she brought man hand up to her masked face and kiss it softly.

"Are you kissing my booboos away?" I asked teasingly. She glanced at me and with a tilt of her head, I knew she didn't understand what I was asking. She probably never even HEARD of that expression. I just smiled softly and thanked her in my kind voice. I saw the happiness and gentleness appear in her eyes. It made me genuinely smile and then Baal interrupted us by talking about bestowing me with his metal vessel. After that, the black abyss finally consumed me.