a/n 2020: Life is where I least expected it to be. I never thought I'd be able to write again because things have changed since ten years ago. I've written and abandoned many stories - unable to find it in me to complete them because I never gave enough of my heart to those creations. I love writing for an audience. I love the reviews I get when you sinners put thought into the material that's posted. However, I've slowly come to realize that the core of writing isn't for attention. The greatest writers out there wrote for themselves. They bared their soul and heart to their ultimate creations. Writing is a painstaking cycle of doing things over and over - draft after draft - research adding depth to their stories. That's the true art of writing. I don't know about seriously pursuing a writing career - as writing fanfiction has always been something that was just fun to do.
There's something about being able to put out your imagination and share it with everyone. I don't need money or fame. I just write to express my imagination. Simple but true. It's the closest thing I can call my passion. I hope you all find something you love doing, too. Whatever you're doing right now, for yourself or for others - just know that it's important. You're integral to a big picture.
Oranssi-Rin is the angel who made this story happen. Check out her art on twitter! She's amazing. Cheers to a lifelong camaraderie, my dearest friend.
Unravel
.
.
.
Chapter One
Friend
.
.
.
Rin's POV
01:22 PM
Megaton - City Outskirts
.
.
.
Colorful.
It was becoming a work of art.
Spools of thread… winding… entwining…creating something beautiful. Would it become a dress? A scarf? Or maybe a blouse?
Then it changed. The piece of work became frayed before it could truly be born, ultimately ripping at the seams.
A loud noise roused me awake from that strange dream. Sitting up, I looked around as I slowly stirred to full consciousness. For a moment, I was confused. This wasn't the musty bedroom my relatives so kindly presented me when I was arranged to live with them. Everything was moving around me, and there were windows everywhere. Sunlight peeked around the corner, lighting up red seats and dusty windows.
It took me a moment to remember where I was and why.
Ah, yes. That's right.
This bus was taking me to Megaton. Two days ago, I received a letter from the Chevalerie Operations Centre. I haven't heard from them for many years, so imagine my surprise when they ordered me to come live with my aunt Lola. I would receive my first posting, along with the list of assignments once I met her. Arrangements were made for my transfer, and they expected me to arrive within the week. A roll of bills and a bus ticket were also enclosed in the envelope to ensure my safe trip. My caretakers, distant relatives, were all too happy to cast me out when they heard the news. In contrary to their usual treatment towards me, they acted warm and loving as though they never breathed an ill word about my existence after all these years. On the night before my departure, they baked me a feast. Pot roast, peach cobbler pie, strained beans: everything a typical good family would give their children before sending them off to a weekend trip.
Up until that night, they acted like I polluted their home and kept their children far away from me. They even went out their way to ignore me as though I never existed. During the years I stayed with them, my relatives never showed me anything like affection. In retrospect, I was an unwanted burden, an omen; I suppose they hardly had any reason to welcome me before after I was expelled from boarding school. But even so, it was a form of cruelty that still affected me. I was used to it, but it didn't lessen the hurt.
That night, they called me by my name for the first time in years instead of using that girl or monster. They actually touched me, and they spoke gently, asking me if I would be alright moving to new place on my own. They took it upon themselves to pack everything for me, insisting I had a big day tomorrow and I would need all the rest.
"I suppose I'll never see them again." Recalling my dream, I gazed out the window with bleary eyes. The sunlight moved behind the clouds as the weather took on more a grim outlook.
I'll always remember their eyes. It was obvious at a glance that they wanted me gone. Their feigned kindness, their falsified acts of goodwill - it was their way of saying good riddance. They never wanted to see me again. I knew it, they knew it, and everyone else knew it.
I never said a word.
Deep down, I felt alienated and maybe a little indignant. How could they act like they never treated me with casual disdain after all those years? Yet I didn't have it in me to destroy the fragile picture of happiness they fabricated, even if it was a lie. My life in their house never felt particularly painful, only empty. Despite everything, they still fed me and put a roof under my head. Having grown used to mistreatment, I decided not to take it too personally. They never had the intention to watch me grow under good conditions, but they were far from the worse.
Fishing a fine comb from my bag, I ran the teeth through my shoulder-length hair and refastened the bow behind my hair. I took care in avoiding the sectioned braids without messing up my appearance.
I enjoyed brushing my hair. My mother used to do it for me when I was a child, and I never let anyone touch my hair save for several exceptions. I hadn't been particularly been trying to grow it out, but once I understood that haircuts cost money, I'd simply allowed things to take their own course. Not to imply that my relatives were keeping me in rags: they were far too vain for that. I always took necessary approach to maintain my appearance, but I opted for the clothes I designed myself to wear around the house.
I've taken a shine to the Gothic subculture with a Lolita twist. I love all things medieval. From chokers to stiletto boots, I lived to alter my expression with fashion statements. Reapplying my poison-berry lipstick, I made a clean coat before popping my lips. I brushed my hair to a shine before putting the comb away. I examined the outfit I picked this morning, wondering if Auntie Lola would recognize me after all these years. Today I was wearing a shoulderless dress from my usual dark wardrobe with frothy cake-like layers of black and white lace skirts. A silver crucifix rested over my black bodice with mesh sleeves meeting at my fingers in triangle-like formations. Kneesocks attached to garters ensnared my legs - it was my favorite ones with the ribbons weaving through lace embroidering. I took the liberty of wearing platform boots that zipped up at the sides. Bouncing against my hip was a jingling purse.
"Foo..." I closed my eyes, carefully applying liquid eyeliner to mimic cat eyes.
Staring down at my sewing kit, I ran my eyes over the spools aligned together in neat pattern. I've yet to use them. They were brand new. There were different shades of many colors: pink, red, blue, green, yellow, and purple. These spools must be like humans, consistently weaving together and forming bonds. That must be love. That love creates a beautiful fabric. On the other hand, it was possible to be ripped apart at the seams before anything began. People come undone. Broken bonds were torn apart by intolerance, hatred, and violence. Poisoned passion became jealousy, and how easily love became hate. Before anyone knew it, their bonds left them nothing broken hearts.
That was humanity. We created, but then we unraveled. Over and over. And over.
Humans were born utterly impotent. We weren't omnipotent; if anything, we're largely powerless. And so, we must be resourceful. No matter how much we learned or how long we lived, our weaknesses remained jarring as our strengths. Our resourcefulness, then, was a tool to work around our weaknesses.
I wondered if that was the significance behind my dream. Then again, I tended to look into things more than necessary. It's a trait of mine, being detail-oriented to a fault. I would spend hours memorizing a pattern or observing the way a person presented themselves. When that happens, many tend to believe I'm dimwitted. At first I resented the way they reacted, but I digress: if I were them, I would probably think the same of a person standing in place and gaping at an object for hours. It's only fair, right?
"Being human is a troublesome thing." I sighed aloud, earning a strange look from a woman in front of me. I flashed her my best smile, but it affected her the opposite of what I intended. She paled and looked away.
A sharp noise startled me out of my thoughts. I would've slammed headfirst into the seat in front of me if not for my seatbelt. The bus jumped, nearly hurling me out of my seat. I braced myself against the inertia that pulled me forward until everything ground to a sudden halt. My things clattered to the floor, much to my dismay. Since we stopped, I unbuckled my seatbelt and knelt to the floor to collect the runaway spools. Reaching under my seat, I felt something cold and wet. I couldn't help but shiver as I realized it was soda. Someone had dropped their drink. Retreating away, I looked over my fingers which were now sticky and saturated.
"Disgusting!" I exclaimed. "I'm amazed at the absence of consideration Mundies have nowadays. What a complete lack of decency." With a mirthless titter, I retrieved a handkerchief from my bag and wiped it away. "Doesn't anyone clean up after themselves here?" I looked to Ossa, who now occupied my window seat. I imagined his doleful eyes were casting sympathy on my plight. I felt my face soften the instant we locked gazes. "I'm sorry, Ossa. It was poor decision-making on my part to settle for the least expensive transportation."
Ossa, my dearest and most treasured friend, was in fact the bunny plush sitting lopsidedly in front of me. He has been my companion for years. I never had to fear of telling him my most darkest secrets. His obsidian fur kept his stuffing intact, and the red rose poking out of the pocket of his striped vest suited his formal appearance. His droopy ears hung over his button eyes. His most endearing trait was his monocle. He looked so intelligent and refined, just like my Ryuto.
Picturing his smiling face, my heart contracted wildly in my chest as a swooning sigh passed my lips.
Oh no. Thinking about him would only make me lovelorn and desolate. Think of blissful things… yes...
"I overspent on cherry tarts again." I closed my eyes at the wonderful memory of eating those delicate pastries, feeling my mouth water. "Ahh, I want to eat them again. But wait, no. I'm already running out of money. Aw…" Clearing my head, I forced myself to think at the important task at hand.
Standing up with a huff, I gathered Ossa in my arms and headed straight for the doors. Grabbing the lace of my stockings, I slid them up higher up my legs. Burying my lips into Ossa's soft head, I kept my gaze fixed on the aisle. There were a few passengers onboard besides myself, consisting of an elderly couple and travelling salesmen working for different companies. They were completely immersed in their own world, either by arguing on their phones or revisiting happy memories from their youth.
The doors opened as I stepped out onto the dusty road, looking around. The driver came out from behind the bus, muttering and grumbling as he rubbed his soot-covered hands on a towel. When he caught sight of me, his expression lightened considerably.
"How are you feeling, miss? You okay?"
"Hello, sir. I feel fine." Shuffling away from him, I took a look around. "Why are we stopping?"
"Oh… well, we're having trouble with the engine. It's completely cooked," he gestured to the steam emanating from the open hood of the bus, "From the looks of it, the bearings that allow the crankshaft to turn freely have worn out. I can call maintenance to fix it, but I'm afraid our arrival is going to be delayed." Taking off his hat, he bowed his head in shame, "I'll apologize to everyone for this minor inconvenience."
Hugging Ossa to my chest, I buried my mouth into his fur to hide my frown. "How long will it take for it to get fixed?"
"Between calling and waiting for one of those guys to get out here… probably around at three hours at best."
Three hours? I felt a stab of irritation hearing this news. Looking towards the horizon, I could see it was going to rain. I'm not usually one who notices the weather, but I couldn't help but notice how dreary the weather grew all of a sudden. It looked like a storm was coming. My eyes landed on a nearby signpost that listed Megaton within four miles. So close, yet so far away. What a timely intervention to be delayed just shy of my destination.
Could it be an ominous warning?
As I mulled over such thoughts, the driver diverted my attention with the intent to lure me inside the bus, "Why don't you go on inside? It's warmer in there than it is out here."
As tempting the offer was, I couldn't help but sense an ominous, foreboding aura that stretched across the expanse of the road. It was powerful enough to inspire a momentary surge of concern. It was as though I was sensing a presence. But suddenly, it didn't feel safe for me to stay. As illogical as it was, I just couldn't help feeling like I shouldn't endanger these Mundies by staying with them. I never felt like a curse more than I did right there.
After thinking things over, I shook my head, "No, absolutely not."
"Say what?"
"Gather my luggage, please," I handed him the rest of my fare, not bothering to elaborate. "I think I'll walk the rest of the way." Despite his initial protests, I managed to convince him by staring him down until he caved. Pausing under the weathered eaves, I waited until he retrieved my luggage. I didn't bother to offer a farewell and took off alone. Using one arm to hold Ossa and the other to pull my luggage along, I started up the hill.
There are times when you have to be alone.
Like a storybook hero, there are times when you may be required to leave the life you knew behind for a greater purpose. The stakes can be high, to your heart, soul, and reputation.
Memories are like a mirror. They reflect the true likeness of your soul. The path you will take isn't always clear. Sometimes, it's just as obscure as the fog settling all around me. Right now, I feel as though I'm moving forward from my past, but I can't help but look back.
Whether or not what you gain will ultimately outweigh what you gave - it's impossible to know until later in life. All you can do is live in the moment. The only comfort that can truly put your mind at ease is if you remind yourself that there are some things are worth sacrificing for: your purpose.
But sometimes, Mundies will never know what you do for them - they're not meant to know the truth. They won't even know you exist. Not all wars take place out it the open. Some Mundies might disagree on keeping the truth from the general public, but how would those ordinary people react if they found out there were tears in the sky leading to an interminable realm infested with monsters? Certainly there would be a wide-scale uproar. The Empire already has their hands full with the debt they're trying to settle in the capitol, not to mention the debates on who should be the next figurehead of the Rorrim Empire. It's not as though they could do much to quell Mundies' fears in the first place. Clearly the current king has no idea what he's doing.
But enough about politics.
Going by the Centres' standards, I'm the last person they want working in Megaton. I've never even heard of that place before.
In my life as a chevalier, I've never experienced the grandeur or glory I often heard from the stories seasoned veterans loved to tell. The things they did to keep loved ones safe, the endless acts of heroism they committed to, the risks they tok… it's alien to me. I never even expected to be sent out here like this.
"Ahh… I'm getting tired." It's only been an hour since I started, but I knew I'd have to stop. I never was athletic to begin with, and my current physique would put any girl to shame. By the time I reached the top of another hill, I was already huffing and puffing. I slowed to a stop and placed Ossa on top of my luggage. I took another look around. The strange feeling I felt earlier had disappeared, but I didn't feel comfortable letting my guard down. Kneeling in front of Ossa, I knelt close enough to whisper in his ear, "I thought I felt something earlier, but no one has tried to attack us." As though to confirm my suspicions, my eyes shifted across the nearby pumpkin field surrounded by a white picket fence, "I don't think we're alone."
As soon as I said those words, something shifted in the atmosphere. The feeling I spoke of earlier returned once more. Then I realized someone was watching us.
I stood erect as I quickly gathered Ossa in my arms to protect him. I looked around and about, trying to pinpoint the location of our stalker. My body tensed as I slowly unzipped the back of my friend and delved through his stuffing to draw my weapon until-
I heard a series of deep chortling, followed by the rustling of leaves.
Spinning around, I turned to witness a very strange sight indeed.
Jack-o'-lanterns.
They were alive. Their orange skin glowed like lanterns. As if it were Oktoberjagd, they paraded from the field as the amber lights inside them slowly flickered to life. They were floating aimlessly around the farm. They didn't even seem to notice me despite my close proximity. If they did, they didn't appear to care. Apart from floating around and being adorably creepy, they seemed harmless. It was as though I walked in on a strange ritual these pumpkins performed away from prying eyes. The rundown farm appeared abandoned, and the barn looked weathered for years. There was no sign of life to be seen until now.
I was enthralled. Their deep laughter and strange dance enchanted me, and I couldn't help but stand there in awe. They drifted about without a care in the world, paying no mind to the dreary weather around them. The abandoned farm became their own playground, and only I was fortunate enough to discover them in all their haunting splendor. This spooky communion made my heart race.
Out of nowhere, someone jumped out to greet me.
The thing, well, it was a boy, to be precise- he sprang out of the field with a carved pumpkin on his head. He took it off and breathed life into it before sending it off to join the rest. As he came towards me, I got a better look at him. Given by the lesions and stitches on his skin, it was clear to see he was actually a scarecrow hanging from his pole. Like the jack-o'-lanterns, he was alive. The way he pounced out reminded me of a viper hiding in the grass. Perhaps that's what he really was.
For a moment, I envisioned him as such and found myself suppressing a smile. Hee hee… what an entertaining thought.
What first caught my attention was the color of his hair. Teal, to be precise. His eyes were a matching set of a similar shade as well. Of all the colors in the world, it happened to be the color I deemed most unnatural in my book. And I know if there's a color exceeds pink on my list then there's obviously going to be a problem. My smile faded into a frown. As much as I'd like to give him the benefit of doubt, I just didn't trust sentient beings jarred with unnatural pigmentation. It's happened before during my childhood and the outcome was awkward.
The second thing I noticed about him was his clothes. They were brown, rough-hewn and full of discolored patches. It looked like a novice attempted to sew a project together for the first time. I almost felt sorry for him. Was he so poor that he had to resort to having a child dress him, or did he just not care?
Well, in any case.
This feeling I felt earlier… was it because of him? I couldn't sense monsters like my fellow higher-ranking units could, but I felt as though I were being watched. Indeed the source of my unease was emanating directly from him, but even I was still struggling to believe it. He looked human, but it was clear he wasn't.
"It's you!" I blinked. The thing greeted me as though there was nothing unusual about a scarecrow coming to life and garnering attention from a stranger, and in broad daylight, no less.
Was this a friendly monster in the middle of nowhere?
What a strange place...
"What's this?" I murmured to Ossa as the thing approached, tilting my head in a faux-naive manner, "I thought there might have been a terrorist attack in the making… but it looks as though it's just a monster gawking around like an idiot." I might have been a bit on edge since I just managed to move past the appalling discovery of indecency of a certain soda incident. Either way, I moved on to divert the threat away from the bus full of civilians for safety's sake, only to encounter an individual appearing more troublesome than your usual garden-variety terrorist. I even had a passing thought that I might be confronted by a strange monster, but this far exceeded my expectations.
For a moment, I tried to picture myself as an ordinary teenage girl narrating from a trashy romance novel. My next words would've been along the lines of falling in love with this monster at first sight or something equally asinine. The very thought amused me. He certainly was handsome in a macabre way, depending on the way you look at it - but that was aside the point.
A shadow fell over me as the scarecrow greeted me from atop his perch. Stitches on his face threatened to come apart as his pale face broke into a wide grin.
"It's me, Mikuo. Mikuo the friendly scarecrow!" He called to me in an amiable manner. With a scintillating smile, he extended a gloved hand towards me. "It's strange we've met up in a place like this." Bits of straw poked out from his ripped sleeves. It fell out of his hair and into his eyes. I stared distrustfully at his hand as though it were a snake head, choosing not to reciprocate his salutations. Appearing unbothered, he retracted his hand and laughed. With a thoughtful hum, he circled me as though I were an interesting spectacle. He examined me from head to toe. "Looks like you're heading towards the city. You're new to Megaton, aren't you? Me and my friends were just talking about you," he gestured to the drifting jack-o'-lanterns, whose yellow eyes flashed in my direction. Their carved mouths formed into grins, which was charming albeit in a creepy way. I loved it. The scarecrow cleared his throat again, "Goodness, you must be lost. Someone ought to show you around here…" He suddenly stopped, leaning down towards me from his perch. "Well, I'd be more than happy to-!"
He talked too much.
"Time to go, Ossa. It's getting cold. Let's have some brioche when we set up our tea party." I walked right past him without so much as batting an eye. Hugging Ossa close to my chest, I continued to murmur against his fur, "We're running late enough as it is."
"...Ah." Stunned, the scarecrow's smile remained frozen. Something in the air shifted, but I didn't care. Any more distractions I would never make it to the city.
That's right. It wasn't possible for a friendly monster could exist out here. Seeing as we're the ones here, it wouldn't be hard to kill and eat me without anyone stumbling on my corpse. It would be too easy for him to do just that. I wasn't about to let myself die in such a stupid way.
Just as I was leaving the premises, the scarecrow took the audacity to chase after me. He didn't sound too happy.
"Now, wait just a moment! There's no reason to take off and leave without so much as a hello!" He hopped after me from his perch, reminding me of a clown on a pogostick.
"Hello," Not turning around, I let out a disinterested mutter, "And now that I've said it, you may leave us alone now."
"Us?" He repeated, pausing momentarily before making an 'aaah' sound. "Oh, I see the lady is being accompanied by a gentleman indeed. Truly worthy to be her escort, I must say." Moving in front of me, he purposely prevented me from going further. He bent low with his irritating smile. "I promise to leave you alone once if you just hear me out. I recommend you do just that, okay?"
I stared at him, then I lowered my gaze. Whatever he just said went right through my ear and out the other. I felt a headache coming on, and if I didn't get something to eat within the next few minutes, my mood would certainly landslide. Whatever he had to say could wait until the next decade. I didn't care. My stomach was growling.
I moved to the left, trying to move around him. He blocked me. I tried maneuvering past him by going to the right, but he still wouldn't let me through. It went on like this for the next ten minutes. No matter what I tried, I couldn't even manage to get a foot past him. He was too fast. Another five minutes passed, and still nothing. Finally, my slow-burning candle of patience finally melted at the wick.
My stomach grumbled again.
"..."
"..."
Looks that can kill, and those who would cringe and run away in terror. If this were during the golden era of the Kingdom of Rorrim, you might suppose someone challenged me to a duel where only one of us would walk out alive; but this is the twenty-first century and that right there is a poorly-dressed scarecrow intent on ruining my day.
All the warm and fuzzy feelings I had about eating my next slice of cake shriveled up and died. I gave him the most searing judgmental glare I'd ever made in my life. I felt tired, hungry - it's been way past three hours since my departure and I haven't even had my morning sugar yet. When my blood sugar gets this low, I can be really mean. This was not the time for me to be humoring agents of evil bent on annoying the hell out of ordinary people.
Well - okay, maybe your typical Mundy wouldn't describe someone like me as "ordinary", but I still had the right to enjoy my mornings.
"Mikuo, was it?" I finally spoke, making him blink at hearing my voice for the first time, "Is it customary for you to delay girls from eating with your incessant chatter?" He opened his mouth to reply, but I didn't give him a chance to answer. "Then allow me to clear the air. I don't want to talk to you, I don't want to be your friend, and I'm really not in the mood to play games with anyone other than Ossa. I'm late, my Auntie is waiting for me, and my relatives forced me to skip breakfast so I wouldn't miss the bus. So, as you can see, I'm in a hurry right now," I told him in a low whisper, feeling my head throb. My mood spiraling down a deep void. The crankiness was kicking in full-effect. "Unless you know anything about the nearest crepe place which I doubt you do, I recommend you stay out of my way and stop following me."
At that moment, I never felt the urge to shove someone off a pole until now. It was hard to think right now. My mind was swarming with thoughts colliding altogether.
The glare I gave him must've had a more profound effect than expected because he actually had to take a step back. I would've been amazed to discover I was truly capable of projecting such an openly hostile aura if not for the fact I just wanted to be somewhere warm and stuffing my face.
"...Aha," His face broke into a cheery grin, "You're right. I haven't realized how rude of a host I've been until now. I'm afraid have to excuse my poor manners. It's been so long since I've talked to a human." As though he were gathering his bearings, he tipped his hat in a solicitous manner. "Please pardon me."
I blinked, not expecting that. I was so wrapped up in my surprise I couldn't help but replay the situation. Then I narrowed my eyes, looking at Ossa to see what he was thinking. I held him up to my ear in case he wanted to say something.
But nothing. As always.
I dropped him to my waist with a sigh.
Perhaps it was just me, but there was something rather insincere about his apology. It's not as though he didn't look remorseful. He did, but there was something off about it. I couldn't explain how, but I'm surprised I haven't stormed away at this point. Why was I still talking to him?
Deciding to let things go, I made sure to smooth out every ruffled feather I felt at this point. It doesn't happen very often if not at all, but I tend to get caught up in my irritation when it hits me faster than expected. I lost a little control...hoisted over my own petard. How embarrassing.
"... Okay," I equivocated with a brittle smile, feeling cold as ice, "I acted very rude, too, monster. I'm not feeling like myself at the moment."
There was no need to openly antagonize him further. At this point, I knew I would have to be civil if I wanted him to leave me alone. I wasn't interested in fighting him. Being who I was, there was no merit to it. My irritation simmered down to a low murmur, but it didn't change the fact my mouth was watering for anything sweet - a crepe, even. I had to stop myself from thinking about food so I wouldn't go insane.
"That's right… you're not feeling well, are you? I think I know why." There was a faint glimmer in his eyes. He was smiling as though he knew a secret. "I have to blame my thoughtlessness for being such a bad friend. You see, I was just so excited to see you again. I've been by myself for a very long time. I was waiting to hear from you, but you never called," he paused, appearing happier than before, "Well, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm just glad we were finally able to meet again."
I looked at him, confused. Unless my memory deceived me, this was our first time meeting. The October wind rustled through the trees, picking up the caramel-colored leaves.
"Um, I'm afraid I don't understand. Have we met before?"
"But of course we have!" His stitched mouth pulled into a wide smile. He rose a brow at me, looking just as bemused, "You're so forgetful. Don't you remember the gift I gave you on the happiest day of your life? You were practically blushing with pride. I suppose that's what wearing white on a day like that does do women. They completely transform into the most blissful creatures imaginable." he chuckled, crossing his arms over his pole as he dangled, "I'll never understand human women."
I continued staring at him, completely confused at this point. Just what was he talking about?
"So, do you still have it? The mirror, I mean." he leaned towards me in an expectant manner, his smile broadening, "Come now, I know you can be absent-minded, but I'm confident even you wouldn't misplace something as special is that. You are the one who asked for it, after all." He cocked his head at me innocently, "You're not saying anything. Why are you so quiet?" Then he blinked in realization before laughing, "Oh. You must be mad about what happened to your village. Well, I did warn you about what might happen if you didn't use it properly."
This. What is…
"Mirror...? Village?" I repeated, staring at him.
Suddenly, the memories of fire and blood came rushing back to me in a cacophony of screams. I felt the blood drain from my face as I shakily inhaled. An image of mother sitting at her vanity for hours ranting at her own reflection, her eyes wide and her hands trembling violently. I still remember the times I would hide to watch her. Sometimes, she talked to her own reflection as if it were alive. I would find her screaming and arguing with it, all but falling to her knees in frantic prayer.
"Burn them all, burn them all, burn them alive with their sins!"
No…
The fire… spreading… our village.
Mother, what have you done?
A cold sweat broke out at the back of my neck, clinging to my skin. Fear flooded through my veins as I remembered things I wanted to forget. I was clinging to Ossa tighter than before, but I couldn't stop thinking about what happened.
"I like your clothes, by the way." My eyes snapped up to the scarecrow, "Isn't it a drastic change to how you used to dress? Humans and their ever-changing whims. It amuses me. I am a bit disappointed, though. I always thought white was your color..." He remarked with a thoughtful hum, "But the blood is harder to wash off, so I think I understand. Change can be necessary." He continued to smile indulgently, endearingly as though tolerating a friend's antics, "I realize we're probably not on the best terms right now, but giving me the cold shoulder is childish even for you, don't you think?"
My breath hitched in my throat as a wave of realization hit me. I thought it was strange the way he came out to meet me. It was as though he were greeting a long-lost friend. But now, everything fell into place. None of this was right.
I took a slow step back.
"Hmm?" His smile cracked. This time, he looked actually looked a little more than hurt, "What's wrong?"
"You're a monster…" I said, stepping away. "You haven't even tried to kill me. Monsters aren't like this." I shook my head, trying to understand, "Why are you..."
"Why am I being nice to you?" As though reading my mind, he shook his head in understanding, drawing closer to me even as I moved away, "Why are you acting like we're meeting for the first time? You really are acting strange. It's because we're friends, Miriam." he enunciated the word with an ever-widening smile, "F-r-i-e-n-d-s~! Til death do us part! Ahaha, oh wait… sorry, wrong phrase."
I froze, feeling my eyes widen. I felt my mouth run dry. I stared up at him, feeling the blood drain from my face. My composure completely fell away to a mind-numbing shock.
Did he just… say...
A chill settled in.
Somehow, I managed to summon my voice, "How do you know my mother?"
It was his turn to be bewildered. His hand shot out of nowhere and latched onto my arm, nearly causing my bones to jump out of my skin. He jerked me forward with a yank, pulling me up slightly so he could get a good look at me. His cool, scarred fingers were wrapped around my wrist with crushing force. I winced but didn't cry out. I was still too shocked to pull away.
"You…" He locked eyes with me, his gaze searching, before faltering. "Oh... it seems I made a mistake. You're not Miriam." All friendliness in his tone disappeared. His face twisted into a sneer. "I thought it was odd when you were acting so cold to me, but now I realize it's because you're not her..." He let go of me, staggering away, "How strange. I could've sworn you were… haha. Hahahaha. That's funny. You look so much like her, but you're clearly not her. Why haven't I noticed it sooner? It should've been obvious from the very beginning."
I felt my veins run cold.
"You know, fräulein…" He leaped down from his pole, landing terra firma to the earth before standing upright. A shadow fell over his face. "I'm not really fond of tricks like that."
I hadn't noticed the jack-o-lanterns surrounding me in a circle until now. They no longer appeared friendly. In fact, they were downright ominous. Their laughter died down to a hush.
I breathed in slight intake of air, feeling claustrophobic as they started closing in around me…
Go away.
They came closer.
I gritted my teeth. Please. Just go away.
Closer…
Unknown to them, I reached into my bag and felt around for my knitting needles. Once I felt the sharp prick of the cool metal, I closed my fingers around them and took a deep breath, readying myself to lash out if worst came to worst.
A laugh broke the silence.
"But i must admit it was a treat to finally have company. Crows and squash plants can only carry on a conversation for so long," As quickly as his clouded expression appeared, it disappeared. "I did so want to meet Miriam again, but I'll overlook this disappointment." He was smiling again. "Come now, that's no way to treat our guest." With a clap of his hands, his pumpkin minions stopped and scattered in all directions, leaving me with him.
A forced calm washed over me when I finally regained my composure. I released the needles from my iron grasp and pulled my hand out of my bag.
"To answer your question from earlier, I met your mother a long time ago. Considering the last time we met, she looked a little older than you." He paused, turning around to cup a swelling apple from a nearby tree, "... How is mommy dearest doing, anyway?"
Dread overwhelmed my senses, leaving me unable to answer. I didn't realize my hands were shaking until I looked down. My knees grew clammy all of a sudden.
At my perturbing silence, he chuckled. "Oh, I see. Not very well then. I can't say I'm surprised."
But why?
Before I could ask questions, he cut to the chase.
"I realize… humans are made of water. Poke a hole in them and it gushes out like a waterfall, and then they die." Mikuo picked the apple he was touching, rolling it around in his palm. His eyes were downcast. "Isn't that so interesting?"
"I'm surprised a monster would find something like that so intriguing." I answered. Hugging Ossa close to my chest, I looked at my feet.
"Hmm. Though, it's even more intriguing that someone like you would be headed towards Megaton. It's not a very popular place for touring." Using a silver knife, the scarecrow began peeling thin layers off the red apple. "You see, fräulein…" he paused before continuing, "Megaton is like an orchard, with fruits ripe for the picking… except they're the worst kind. Some of the Mundies aren't like you. Some are rotten to the core." As though to emphasize his words, he cut the apple in half to reveal the worms festering off its rotten flesh. "And you know what they say. A single bad apple spoils the bunch."
Undeterred, I looked up at him again. For all I knew, he could be exaggerating. He seemed like a trickster. But something told me he wasn't lying outright. Was this is way of warning me? Has he even been to Megaton? The notion seemed ridiculous, seeing as he lived all the way out here in the middle of nowhere.
"Not for your kind. You thrive on devouring bad apples." I told him, eying him with distrust, "Pitting us humans against monsters… watching us fall like mosquitos… you consider it a sport, do you not?"
With a hum, he wagged a finger in my direction, "We all must find our amusements." Drawing away, he stopped in his peeling to tilt his hat downwards so I wouldn't see his eyes. "Take my friend, IO… he's an interesting fellow. He finds his amusements in planning out schemes, and I find my amusements by thwarting them." Then he resumed. "But what may be amusing for me might prove to be extremely dangerous for a child like you."
"I'm not a child."
"And I'm not a scarecrow, but we've hardly any reason to take each other seriously now, do we?" The peelings fell to the ground as he continued, watching my reaction, "Well. Whatever your business may be in Megaton, I certainly hope it's worth the trouble you're bound to come across. You will meet plenty of folks. Mundies and monsters alike… perhaps a playmate, even. It's up to you to decide whether they're going to be your friend or enemy. So, choose carefully…"
He allowed the rotten apple to fall to the ground. I watched the maggots crawl all over the flesh before worming inside.
"You're disgusting." I told him, watching as he bent low to play with the maggots. He even called them cute. Ugh.
"What a strange turn of events… it seems you're not the besotted, blue-eyed little mortal I expected to run into… hm?" He approached before stopping all of a sudden. His eyes widened, and he inclined his head towards the left as though he heard someone calling. Then he smiled and shook his head, turning back towards me, "...Interesting. Perhaps you might be the one… or maybe not. We'll see..." He chuckled, tipping his hat before pointing in the direction towards the grim horizon, daring me to continue on. "You'll reach the city limits in a mile. Keep going if you have the courage. You might become a legend, or not. I don't care either way. One thing is certain, however." He turned on me with a dark look. There was murder in his smile. "You will meet your end in that city. This is your only chance to walk away. If you continue on, who knows what might happen." Looking me over, he sidled to the side before bowing, gesturing me to continue my walk. "Well? I won't keep you."
I took a minute of silence to reflect on his words. Was there a meaning to all this? Why go through all the trouble to tell me this when he simply could've had me eliminated? But perhaps that wasn't what he wanted. If he wanted to have me killed, I wouldn't even be here questioning all this. He was letting me leave.
Finally.
So, without so much as looking at him, I grabbed my luggage and continued on my way. I never once looked his way.
This monster certainly know how to get under people's skin. Rather than killing humans, he seemed to derive much more pleasure from toying with them and using mind games. Psychological warfare, I'd say.
"Beware, fräulein," He called after me one more time, "I hope you're still alive by the time we meet again."
As if I hadn't heard him, I continued on my way. I didn't stop to turn around or acknowledge him even as the farmhouse disappeared from view.
Finally, I began to laugh to myself, hugging Ossa closer to my ample chest. I replayed his parting words over and over again in my head. His mocking voice echoed inside the recesses of my mind like a broken record, haunting me.
This warning of his- well, it sounded more like a threat, really…
It was no more than a bad joke.
Yes. Many have been trying to have me killed since the day I was born. I wouldn't be surprised if the order saw my arrival as an opportunity to eliminate me for good. In fact… they must be hoping to hear of my end brought about in an untimely demise. Any time now.
It's no secret I'm such a hindrance to their rapport: me, the weakest link. This mission was no more than a farce.
I've been sentenced here to die.
As chevaliers, we are truly no different than the monsters we eliminate. We kill them and then we feed their souls to our enchanted weapons so they might consume their power to bolster our own. There was no moral compass to this method. That is how it's always been.
It is this sense of ruthless piety that strikes fear into the cold, black hearts of even the most debaucherous monsters. When they draw attention from the Chevalerie Order, they send units to cities under their protection. There is no reasoning with monsters. And if the chevaliers are prepared and hard-driven by battle scars, even a monster's magic can be deemed useless. Driven by a Lord-Commander's strict disciplining and ruled by the iron fist of the Rorrim Empire, the Chevalerie Order is one of the most feared and respected forces in Chesteros.
The rule of the ranking is simple.
The more monster souls you collect, the more powerful your weapon becomes. The more powerful your weapon becomes, the higher your ranking will be.
But I am the only one who can't harvest a single monster soul. That is why I'm known to the rest of the order as the only E-ranked chevalier who can't level up. It's been that way for five years.
Before I knew it, I reached the top of another hill. But this time, I made a surprising discovery. I found myself looking down on the city itself from where I stood.
"Megaton." I breathed out, my feet shifting in the rustling grass. A city. Right before my very eyes. I could scarcely believe I was actually standing before one.
It was the very definition of a capital wasteland. It was grisly, grey, and barmy with pollution. The clouds overhead plagued it like desert mirage. I could see the bridge - the neon signs flashing. I could see the traffic below. The distinct, sharp odor from the river reached my nostrils. From what I heard from the report the Operations Centre sent me, this city was by far one of the most dangerous communities recorded in our system.
My eyes wandered across the length of the city, stopping at the heart of it all: a grey tower.
Monsters lived here?
It was… incredible.
Far from a picture of beauty, yes, but… it was alive. Even from a great of a distance, I could still see it.
Perhaps there was some truth in Mikuo's words.
Perhaps I would meet my end in Megaton, just like those boys before me.
But at least I could say I found something worth marveling in this short life of mine. From that moment on, the life I knew disappeared in a blink of an eye.
It already nighttime by the time I arrived at Auntie Lola's place. I never owned a phone up until today, so I was forced to contact her through a payphone. Luckily, I still had some money from the last time I ate at the coffeehouse in my previous town. She kept scolding me on the other line, however, asking me why I hadn't bothered to mention something like needing a cellphone sooner. If I had spoken up sooner, the Resources Center would've taken the liberty to give me one.
Imagine a country girl like me, walking around with no idea where to go - so lost and out of place. I learned how much I lacked in street smarts, considering the numerous times I kept wandering in and out of alleyways. I couldn't keep track of all the signs and numbers. It was so confusing.
It wasn't until I finally managed to learn how to summon a taxi that I finally arrived at her place. Or so I thought.
"...Are you sure this is right address?"
If not for her own personal inscription on the iron gate surrounding the perimeter, I would've turned around and left at this point. The last time I remembered, Auntie Lola never had this much money, let alone a manor lying around. She owned an entire plot of land! And is that a maid over there I see?
Well. This day has just been full of surprises.
She, by no means, couldn't have possibly inherited by my late grandparents! Did she earn this through her own salary?
A lightbulb went off in my head.
Of course. Last I heard, it wasn't that long ago that she was promoted from Captain to Major of the Operations Centre. Not to mention she was a Second Plight veteran of the first caliber. Of course the Empire would lavish her with the best luxuries they could offer. I haven't spoken to her in years, but that didn't mean I didn't look up the rankings from time to time. It was always good to know who was controlling the chess pieces.
"This is the place. That'll be thirty dollars."
I cringed at the amount.
Thirty?
"Well, we did just drive to the other side of the city, lady. That took around two hours. The Bay is no pushover, either." The grumpy cabbie informed upon seeing the look at my face. "Not to mention all the stops you made at every coffeehouse… and I hate to mention my seats are ruined after you accidentally spilled your latte. Are you going to pay up or what?"
"Amazing. Is that your idea of customer service?" I narrowed my eyes at him but reached into my wallet for the due. I'm never taking a taxi ever again. When he reached for the money, I purposely dropped it near his feet so he had to pick it up himself. "Oops. I'm so sorry. Clumsy me." I hid my smirk behind my hand.
He glared at me, which didn't affect me in the slightest. He drove off once my things were out of the trunk. A cluster of maids appeared to take my luggage, both my trunk and my carry-on. It was gratifying, to say in the least. My arms were already sore from hauling them around for so long. When they tried to take Ossa from me, however, I batted them away with a malevolent glare.
"Keep your hands off Ossa." I warned them, emphasizing my words in such a way that made sure they knew never to touch him again.
The maids opened the doors for me as I stepped inside, taking a look around the entry hall. Everywhere I looked, there were maids either cleaning or waiting on me. It made me feel a little alienated, but I had to appreciate their attention. They were trained and highly disciplined. None of them did so much as look at one another or create idle conversation. Their smiles were genuine, and their touches were professional.
My eyes scanned the area.
Not a single male servant in sight.
"She has the makings of creating a successful lineage…" I commented to myself, drawing my gaze upwards towards the chandelier.
Well, it seems Auntie Lola has remained straitlaced as ever. Gathering from what I knew from the faint memories I had of her, I remembered she was the sort of person who didn't allow a man to obscure her path to success. Having men around the house would be distracting in her line of work. She struck me as the type of person who walked with her head held high. She was a woman who valued her capabilities as well as her independence.
She vaguely reminds me of Lily.
"I've been expecting you, Rin."
I heard the sound of high heels tapping against the wooden flooring, announcing the arrival of my aunt as she sauntered down the stairs in a way that commanded attention. The maids stilled from their activities and bowed. Unsurprising, I suppose. She was the lady of the house, after all.
"I understand why the bus was delayed, but would you care to explain why you didn't arrive sooner?" She ran her french-manicured hand down the banister, inclining her head towards me.
"I decided to walk the rest of the way." I answered, hugging Ossa in my arms. I rocked back and forth on my heels, "I thought I might enjoy the scenery." Then I smiled, "It's good to see you, too, Auntie Lola."
"...Really now." The look she gave me screamed, are you crazy. Her irritation at my fickle actions wasn't very well-masked. I gave her an innocent, helpless look with my eyes rounded. Her eyebrow twitched as she sighed, rubbing her temple as though struggling to retain patience. Well, I thought with a inward giggle, I wonder if she's as patient as she's trying to make herself out to be. I could be a difficult person when I wanted to be.
"What is it, Auntie?" I tilted my head, taking advantage of the situation. "Have I done something wrong?"
"Yes, you did something wrong, Rin. You should've contacted me about needing a ride. You kept the escort I sent you waiting for hours. I had to apologize on your behalf. That was very irresponsible." She studied me, trying to figure out what I was thinking. My face wore its usual expressionless state, however. It wasn't long until she finally gave up. "You took the harder way, so I'll let this go just this once." She massaged her temples with a sigh, "But I expect you to use your common sense next time."
I nodded in understanding. Satisfied, her stern demeanor fell away as a warm expression engulfed her face.
"It's good to see you after all these years. You've… certainly grown up. I never knew you were part of the Gothic subculture." Auntie acknowledged my outfit over with a breathless laugh. "You must be exhausted. Come, join me for tea. We still have some things to discuss." All tension left her body as she gathered me in her arms, guiding me into another room. Turning to another maid, she gave her instructions.
"Dina, take her stuff upstairs. When I call for you again, please escort her to her room."
"As you say, madam. Will you be needing anything else from me?"
"No, that will be all."
Auntie led me through the dining room, asking me how my trip went and if I was hungry. Since I ate around the Bay no more than an hour ago, I answered no but asked if I could have an orange parfait. I politely refused the tea she offered.
"Eating sugar so late at night isn't good for you. It makes it harder to sleep." She informed but had one of the maids grant my request anyhow. We went up the grand stairs before she guided me into her personal study.
I took a seat, which happened to be a red velvet chair facing her study. I looked around, examining the room from head to toe. Standing in the corner of the room was a suit of armor, similar to the ones I saw outside in the corridor. There were several swords displayed in cases, and some of them were even hanging on the wall. Scarlet curtains draped over the windows, and there was dark-red furniture scattered around.
I took a bite out of my parfait, humming in delight as the whipped cream melted in my mouth.
"Do you remember the history behind our order, Rin?" I blinked at hearing her voice. Seeing me shake my head, her face brightened into a smile, "Is that so? Well, I'd be more than happy to orientate you. It seems appropriate considering this is your first posting."
"Um…" Feeling a wave of alert coming for a long-winded lecture, I shook my head, "No, Auntie. It's fine. I don't need you to do that for me."
"Oh, but I insist," Undeterred, she wheeled out a chalkboard. She retrieved a pointer for teaching, which she pressed against her palm very much like a strict governess would. "Trust me, my dear niece. You can never refuse an opportunity to be educated while you're still young."
Ugh.
"For thousands of years, the Chevalerie Order is an off-the-book category in in the Rorrim Empire. We are a secret military organization who hunts down monsters and protects society from supernatural abominations." With the chalk in her hand, she began writing important information about our little book club, going so far as to even draw our official signet: a crossed formation between holy and divine weapons, the sword and the staff. She tapped the signet with her pointer. "Tell me, Rin. What does our signet represent?"
I sighed, rolling my head all the way back, "...It represents our strength allied with magical connections. The ring of flames represents our fire-forged bond that will never be snuffed out."
"Yes, but do you know why?"
"Well..." I shifted my gaze to my feet, shrugging. "Few humans are gifted with the ability to cast magic. In order to combat monsters, we've established a partnership with other races whose magic is beneficiary to us. These alliances consist of mainly fairies and trolls. They infuse their magic into their ancient technology - which we harness as weapons. In return, we protect them from malevolent threats."
"Correct. Our sacred alliances has lasted for thousands of years. It would be foolish to severe them, especially now," Lola applauded. "Power exists to serve mankind, never to rule over them." Her expression grew serious all of a sudden. "Thousands of years ago, many humans were once able to use magic, but it eventually brought the downfall of many lives and angered our Gods. As punishment, they abandoned us to suffer the monsters' wrath. We called that the First Plight." She looked to the side, her voice lowering. "It was the corruption of magic that wiped them all out. Demonic possession, forbidden pacts… all of it culminated into a series of uncontrollable problems which eventually led to ruin. When Hush Wolf invaded our lands, it brought an end to the Le Luc dynasty, including the death of their final princess… the first of royalty to ever become a chevalier as well as the last."
I kept nodding. I only pretended to keep listening as I spooned the parfait in my cup, shoveling down another bite. Mm~ I love it these tangerines. I wonder if the maids will give me more if I asked. I could get used to this.
"Our existence has been long forgotten for centuries. Most Mundies don't remember the Chevalerie Order as it once was. In the days when it was first established, the chevaliers were known to comb through the land in search of all dangers to humanity— whether they came in the form of necromancers, monstrous abominations, cultists or heretics. It was a dark and terrifying time for Chesteros in the aftermath of that First Plight. One that only ended when our fifteenth Lord-Commander convinced convinced the lesser races to unite under the banner of their common faith. This divine agreement, the Sword and Staff Alliance, reinvented our Order with the purpose of guardian and warden rather than hunter."
When she turned around, I finally let out a yawn I've been holding in this entire time throughout the duration of her lecture. Not that I didn't respect the passion of this history lesson, but I was starting to get bored. Not to mention tired from sitting up for this long.
"Our order has become something to be feared by monsters for many generations. Remember, Rin. Despite what others might say, we have never stood alone to achieve those victories." Well-spoken from a veteran, I suppose. "Our gods have created the world as we know it, the Lord-Commanders have led us through many wards despite the odds, the trolls and fairies gave us their fire and crafting, and all these things are fire-forged bonds borne from camaraderie. Despite many differences, we have braved through obstacles because of these things." She walked towards the window to speculate the view before turning her head to regard me, "Given the choices you will make in the course of duty, you must remain loyal to our Order and maintain an emotional distance from the plight of earthly temptations. Now, what our higher-ups say is obedience is far more important than your moral center. Here's a cheat, never turn a blind eye unquestioningly if it takes away your humanity." Her voice seemed to falter for a moment before she clutched her stomach, "... Some of us learned this the hard way."
I nodded, trying to not let my lack attention give itself away.
After this I get cake, after this I get cake...
"Moving on," she cleared her throat. "There is one matter I was hoping to discuss with you personally, Rin… one that I doubt many chevaliers are even aware of, but could very well become a serious concern." With a clap, she dismissed her servants, who took away the snack tray as well as the drawing board. She approached me, holding my gaze in a way that finally commanded my full attention.
I tilted my head, crossing my legs, "A concern that has escaped the rest of my lovely brethren? Like that has ever shaken the foundations of constant, ever-looming threats." I said in with a faintly amused smile, already closing my mouth around my next spoonful of sugary goodness.
"Well this one might do that quite literally. It involves Hush Wolf."
The spoon I'd been holding clattered to the ground. I almost spilled the rest of my half-a-cup of fruit onto the fine rug. The mention of the legendary Wolfskin God forced me to sober up more. I didn't usually concern myself with the history of long-standing violence our order had with our many enemies, but this was one even I wasn't foolish enough to wave over my head.
"Hush Wolf?" Just saying sent shivers down my spine, and not in a pleasant way, "But… he's been gone for thousands of years. The Last Chevaliers from the Magical Branch, they… lured him into a trap and sealed him away in the Veil itself. That seal cannot be unbroken, not even by the most powerful magical creatures on Earth."
"A Veil that is fraying apart, unfortunately. We're assessing the widespread tears all over the globe, one that's yet to solved." she said, "It's been bad, but never like this. The members of the Operations Branch, including the Lord-Commander, have reason to worry. The Old Seeress has spoken of his return, and she has declared he will return in this century."
I begrudgingly sat up straight in my chair and forced myself to contemplate the situation that Auntie described. Assuming the old men weren't being paranoid and were actually right, which was rarely a safe assumption, the release of an entity like Hush Wolf could spell doom for more than just the chevaliers. As miserable as I was under their thumb, I still remembered the vivid imagery of the vengeful wolf depicted in our own history books. I still remembered the pages describing the ongoing war the chevaliers fought with Hush Wolf. So much bloodshed, an entire kingdom left in ruin for hundreds of years…
Hush Wolf tore apart civilizations to reclaim the lands he declared belonged to the wolf skin. Long before the first humans appeared, it was the wolfskin who watched over the lands. The godlike wolf ruled over his kin like a great protector. During his reign, he observed the first humans from afar, watching them for many years.
When Hush Wolf witnessed them destroying sacred forests and disrupting the natural balance of life, he was immensely dissatisfied. He decided that humanity needed to come to an end before they brought destruction on every other living being besides themselves.
And so began the First Plight.
A war in which hundreds of thousands died.
He killed many in silence.
Rumor has it that the Hush Wolf was a lover of silence, and that he has his special way of hushing his prey before rushing in for the kill. A fitting description considering his rather… disquieting role during the First Plight.
That saying, even I knew it would be much worse if a being like Hush Wolf would be allowed to reign free once more. No monster or human would be spared from his wrath, but us humans would especially suffer. I would rather not endure that, even if it meant being a chevalier for the rest of my life.
"Exactly how bad are the tears?" I asked Lola, now taking this matter more seriously. "How close are we from the tipping point?"
"Not terribly close. The Operations Centre has taken great measures to get things under control, but the chevalier unit is severely undermanned. That is why you are here." She told me, clapping her pointer against the board. "Megaton is the place with the least amount of tears, but it also happens to be one of the cities largely populated with feral monsters." She smoothed out the ridges on her tight pants. "I'm going to foresee your orientation myself until you get the hang of handling rounds on your own. Having you on the front lines wouldn't solve the problem, but it certainly helps even the odds."
"And possibly create many new problems in the process," I retorted with a self-depreciative smile. I am an E-ranking chevalier, after all. This was reaching high above my capability level. They must've been truly desperate if they had to send me, of all people, here.
Lola raised a brow, "Problems worse than Hush Wolf being freed?"
"Point taken," I sighed, playing with Ossa's long ear.
"Good. If we've reached an understanding, then I think we're done here," she paused after a moment before adding, "Actually, one more thing. Starting tomorrow, I'm sending you Megaton Public High School."
"Eh…?" I blinked in surprise. Frowning, I clutched Ossa closer to my chest, "School? But how can you expect me to go to school and safeguard this city at the same time?"
Auntie chuckled, "Plenty of chevaliers balance their active lifestyles with their duties just fine. I understand you have other… engagements requiring your attention," She cast a glance at the stack of occult books amongst the pile of my designs for my next dress. I brought them with me in case I got bored during her lecture. "So, I don't expect you to join club activities if it conflicts with your schedule that greatly, though I would recommend you try joining at least one club in your lifetime. That said, I have no reason to doubt you." Lola answered with a smile. "At the very least, I encourage you to make some friends. You'll certainly need them where you're going."
Staring up at her through my lashes, I softened my voice to sound meek and uneasy, "But I want to do my job properly… otherwise, I won't be able to prove myself."
Meanwhile, my inner self cackled.
Not really. I just want to be able to work on my latest projects without distraction. After all, I promised my most loyal customers to post the designs on my website.
Those plans flew out the window hearing her next retort.
She smoothed out the strands of her angled bun before replying, "School is one of the places most likely for monsters to easily infiltrate. You won't have a problem being on the lookout and educating yourself. It's important to be able to blend into your surroundings while picking apart the ones who stand out. It's an important skill you need to develop."
I can't argue with that.
Feeling displeased, I hugged my knees to my chest and curled up into a ball.
"But I don't want to." I all but whined.
She frowned, "Is there a problem, Rin?"
Puffing my cheeks, I began playing with Ossa's paws. "There's no reason to pretend that my education actually matters. It's not like I'll ever have a future or a career, not with this line of work." With a thin smile, I looked down at my feet, "After all, I won't live long enough to make it to graduation. I'd rather receive my assignment and be done with it."
All gentle disposition fell away from her face, and her expression hardened. "I'm surprised you would rather bow and submit instead of taking this as an opportunity to advance your stationing. Interacting with others is vital to how we learn to communicate. It's critical thinking, Rin. Regardless, I've heard enough." She stood up from her study, the shadows from the blinds falling over her face. "Do you honestly think I can't see what you're trying to do? Frankly, I'm disappointed." She slapped down the stack of assignments, fixing me with a stern glare. "I may be your aunt, but I am also your commanding officer and therefore, your superior. If I order you to do something, you'll do it without complaints." Her violet eyes flashed with unbending authority, "Do I make myself clear?"
Peeking at her through my knees, I met her gaze with a silent stare of my own, openly defying her.
She narrowed her eyes at me, "You are a chevalier, not a child. I expect you to act like one."
I still didn't reply.
"Alright," She let out a sigh, "What is it about school you dislike so much? Is it the Mundies? I understand you haven't been in a populated area for some time, but now is the time to change. There will always be different kinds of people out there, Rin. You can't hide from them forever. You must assert yourself to them so that they'll have no reason to believe you're weak."
I dropped my gaze to Ossa, who stared back at me with soulless button eyes.
Auntie was missing the point. She just couldn't understand, like everyone else.
None of them understand what it's like to be me.
I couldn't care less about proving myself to anyone. With my online boutique, I already had my sales to maintain. The commissions were enough to keep me busy during the day. It's nothing like Rosette Radiance, but it's consistent, and this business has been my source of income for years now. I don't need school. I just want to be left alone. I wouldn't bother anyone that way. Did she think I didn't know how things operated? There were plenty of chevaliers far above my grade level who gave up their education to dedicate themselves to their duty. I could just receive my assignments and track down the monsters in the city limits. What use was there to going to school and idly passing time in a classroom?
"I still think it's meaningless. I would be more useful out on the streets instead of trapped in class." I spoke, closing my eyes,
"You don't have to agree with me, Rin. You just have to follow my orders. You are going, and that's final."
It didn't sound any more productive than staying in my room all day working on my projects. Call it retail therapy, but it was all I needed in my life to keep me from flinging myself from the edge of the world.
I expected to be put to work right away, but not like this.
"...Then I really have no say in this?"
"No." At this point she was being blunt.
As much as I hated my life being dictated like this, I had no authority to refuse.
"Ahh…" Reluctantly, I finally looked up at her, "I'll go. Fine. If that's what you really want." I had to force the words out of my mouth.
"Good," Her expression lightened considerably, but she never lost her seriousness for a second. "I have something to give you." She reached into her drawer to pull out an intricate white skull smaller than the size of my palm. She placed it in my open hand. "Here you are then. This is Hollow Yves. Because you're not able to sense the presence at monsters at this time, you're going to use it as an assistive device. Whenever it laughs, it means there is a monster close by. The more it laughs, the closer you are to it."
Hollow Yves. I've heard of it. It was a special device invented by trolls infused with magic in order to whiff out monsters, basically a monster detector. Mainly it was used by the most defective of chevaliers, mainly E-ranking. I haven't seen one of these in so long. I shifted it through my fingers: it was smooth and light to the touch. Right now it was just like any other ordinary skull, but once it started laughing…
Heehee… how creepy. It's so cute. I inwardly cooed as I poked its sunken cheeks. I think I will sew this onto my bow later on. I can't wait to see how it looks.
"Well, that's all I wanted to talk to you about, Rin. You have a big day tomorrow, so get some rest." Lola rang the bell on the wall, and immediately, the maid named Dina appeared. "You may show my niece her quarters now."
"Yes, miss Lola. Right away."
Dina stepped to the side, gesturing me to go first. I stood up to leave, but just before I walked out the door, Auntie called out to me.
"And Rin?" I turned to look at her, waiting. She took a sip from the cup of tea one of her maids offered her before putting it back on the tray, "You're only defective if you let yourself believe that."
Shifting Ossa in my arms, I stared at her. Our gazes met, seemingly neutral but the indication spoke volumes. I said nothing, but I felt my expression change.
"Also, you'll find all your school books and supplies sitting on the desk in your room. I provided you with a student handbook from your school. I suggest you read it before you go to sleep."
Grudgingly, I peeked at her from behind the door, "Is that another order?"
Lola smiled indulgently, leaning forward on her desk to rest her chin in her palms, "If I have to make it one, I will."
"I don't like you, Auntie." I declared with a huff, turning my heel and walking away. "You're a bad person."
"Aww, thanks. I try to be."
Later that evening, I changed into my night clothes. I noticed the vanity in the corner from earlier and took the liberty of covering the full-length mirror with a scarf before putting my things away.
Seeing the contents of my room surprised me. Auntie Lola was generous enough to provide me with a circular canopy with black satin coverings and a multitude of pillows. The French windows were tall and grand, overlooking a veranda. I even had my own personal bathroom, and it was the size of my previous bedroom. I especially loved my walk-in closet, though. I could see several shoe racks just begging to be occupied, which greatly pleased me.
How fancy. I could get used to this.
The only thing I didn't like about the room was the mirror. But it wasn't a problem anymore.
On my study desk was the assortment of school supplies she'd been referring to earlier. I snatched the manual off the table and leafed through the contents briefly before abandoning it on the floor.
"What a nice bath…" I let out a satisfied sigh. I came out of the bathroom to find a white Victorian nightgown waiting for me on my silk beddings. I tilted my head. How funny. That wasn't there before. One of the maids must've delivered it here while I was washing up. It had a note attached to it, elegantly written with Auntie's cursive.
Rin,
I hope you like your present. Allow us to accommodate to your needs as fit.
Work starts early tomorrow, so get plenty of sleep!
- Lola
Turning to the dress, I looked it over for a moment. My face remained expressionless. I ran my eyes over the silk dressing. It looked expensive, appearing around my size. I saw the brand name in the interior side. Rosette Radiance, of course. I thought I recognized the Victorian chic style.
My shoulders tensed in discomfort, and my mouth tightened into a thin line. This intolerable feeling, I couldn't stand it. It was bubbling under my skin. I closed my eyes so I didn't have to keep looking at the dress.
White. All of it. Completely stark and blinding to my eyes. It was my mother's favorite color.
But I've always hated it.
The blood never washes out.
Without so much as aforethought, I knocked the dress to the floor. Stepping over it, I climbed onto my bed with Ossa waiting for me.
Laying under the covers, I stared up at the ceiling. With a sigh, I curled up to my side and took out a heart-framed picture. It showed the only boy I ever loved: my first love. Even though we were far apart, I would always remember him the way he was. Kind, gentle, accommodating but also firm: he had the makings of a real man. I closed my eyes, sighing blissfully as I clutched his picture against my breast.
How long has it been since I've last seen him? Probably years. Too many long years.
I can't even keep track of time anymore. Not that it mattered. I could daydream as much as I liked, but I knew the chances of meeting again were little to none. He was always travelling the world in search of the things he loved, just like a gypsy.
That's just the kind of man he was.
But the dull throbbing pain in my chest continued to be a reminder of the fact that he, too, left me behind and forgot about me. In a sense, I both adored and resented him. But deep down in my heart, I knew I could never bring myself to truly hate him.
I drew back the picture so I could look at him again. As I stared at his face, I felt my nerves gradually calm to a pleasant state of mind. I couldn't help smiling. See? I could never stay mad at him for very long. Our relationship was a very unusual thing, even to me. Even I had a hard time understanding it at times.
"Goodnight." I whispered to him. Planting a kiss where his head was, I tucked it back inside my dress and hugged Ossa. I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep.
From this point on, everything - including the bad things from my past - I've completely cut it loose. That's right. I have nothing now, because I was thrown away with no home to go back to. Because I have nothing, I don't need to fear losing anything. I could even die without complaining.
This was my life now.
Starting tomorrow, my first day at Megaton High School would officially begin. After what happened with that scarecrow earlier on the road, I thought nothing else could surprise me.
I was wrong.
.
.
My future creation, my injury tomorrow - shake it all away
to fill the gaps between the seams
.
.
- Tokyo Teddy Bear, Neru
a/n: eyyyy! You reached the end. So. I've run into a slight problem. It's nothing big, but it's been weighing on my mind. This chapter kickstarted with Rin's narration. Now, some of you may have read Project: VOCALOID. You know that the narration style consisted of multiple perspectives, or POVs, as you might know them. I want to know your guys' thoughts. Tell me anything that's on your mind. What do you think of Rin? Is she everything you hoped to be and more? XD
Ossa*: The name of Rin's bunny-boo and derived from the latin term, "bones".
There are some drawbacks between using multiple perspectives vs. single perspective. Now, Rin is obviously the main protagonist in unravel, so she's always going to have spotlight. But I'm aware that some people don't enjoy reading a story when I use multiple perspectives to tell a story. I know it can depend on things like: characterizations, non-/linear plots, or even the style itself.
Thanks for following the development of Unravel!
So, readers. And this might change later on, but your input is really helpful. It will determine the path of unravel. Do you prefer a single narration solely from Rin's perspective? Or would you be more interested if the story was narrated from different angles by a few other selected main characters? Please let me know in your reviews, or emails, or PMs. It would really help me a lot!