Chapter 15: Semi-Serif
Once they had drawn closer to the castle, they approached a small village. There were several humans standing in the back of what looked like venues with barrels of fruits and vegetables. Sans assumed they were selling food to the citizens.
Upon arriving Sans spotted a skeleton donning a brown cloak running from one of the vendors.
"Come back here with that bread," shouted the man in pursuit.
It had gone pretty far until he saw it run into another human. Sans saw that the human had short reddish hair that reached up to it's neck and it wore long red robes.
"I've finally got you, you little brat," they said grabbing the skeleton's cloak from the back.
"Let go of me, you buffoon."
"Carlyle, tell the skeleton he has to pay for that bread."
Carlyle glared at the skeleton.
"Semi, did you forget to pay again? You know that human is trying to make enough money to feed his kids. He can barely afford it and swindlers like you don't help."
The skeleton frowned, his cheeks puffed up.
"I was hungry alright."
Carlyle sighed before digging into a satchel on the black sash on their waist and pulling out several gold coins.
"Alright, I'll pay for it but I can't keep doing this for you."
Carlyle gave the man their coins.
Semi chuckled.
"Why thank you, Carl."
"Don't call me that. Now I got to go. Try to stay out of trouble, Semi-Serif."
Semi chuckled.
"Can't promise that."
When the human had gone, Aster walked up to the skeleton.
"Hello," he said.
Semi ignored him and instead seemed pinned on the skeleton next to him.
"Hey who's the skeleton with ya, Gaster? He a part of your lil' experiments?"
"I beg your pardon. We've never met before and my name is Aster."
"Yeah and I'm Sans Serif. You may be missing a letter in your name but I know it's you. I've seen you working with Unwin in the back of the castle."
Aster was puzzled.
"Unwin?"
"THE KING'S ADVISOR. DON'T PLAY DUMB. It doesn't suit you."
Any second longer and Sans was certain the two would be at each other throats so he provided a little assistance.
"You said this skeleton works for the king's advisor, right? What does he do?" Sans asked.
"Unwin has been working on creating super soldiers to combat the monsters. If it were up to him they wouldn't be around anymore. He thinks Asgore might try to kill the king."
"How do you know he isn't?"
"Unwin isn't worried about the king. He only cares about getting the position himself. I heard him talking with the king. He told him all these lies about what happens when a monster gets ahold of a human soul."
"Have you told the human? That human you were talking to seemed to like you," Sans said.
"Of course he likes me. He created me."
Aster's eyes widened.
"How?"
"Magic," he said as though it was most simplest of things. "I was created as a vessel for extra magic."
Sans' pupils shrunk.
"You mean-"
"All monsters are created with magic. I think that's obvious. Magic can't create anything unless there's an intent to create it. So you can trash the idea that you were human, are some convoluted experiment created by a madman or merely housing a fragment of a soul of another monster. That Gaster seemed to love spreading those ideas around and nearly everyone believes them."
"That would mean every monster was made by someone with magic and intent."
Semi chuckled for a moment before he let out a snort.
"Someone with a lot of magic and intent. Only wizards can muster the magic. We were all created by the Circle of Wizards. There are eight wizards that are apart of that group and they work under the king."
"Is Carlyle apart of that circle?" Sans asked.
"Of course not. Now I really must be going I have a child to feed."
Once he had walked away, Aster turned to Sans.
"I know you won't believe it but I think we just got finished talking to your grandfather," he said.
"Hold it right there!"
Sans and Aster quickly turned towards the voice.
An old woman with brown robes stood next to a young woman with long brown hair and blue robes.
"Who're you?" the younger woman asked. "I haven't seen you around here before. Were you sent be King Osmond to spy on us?"
"King Osmond?"
"Don't play dumb," she snarled as she reached out to grab his arm.
"Wait," Sans called out "We're not spies. We're just dropping by."
"Typical response. Name a reason why I shouldn't send you in the dungeon."
Sans smiled.
"Well, I can skeleton puns."
"I know my way around the ladies," Aster said.
Sans snorted.
"Really? You've only been with two women and the first one doesn't count."
Aster brought a hand to his face and he groaned.
"Sans, you're not helping."
The old woman next to them chuckled.
"Spry kid isn't he? You're Semi-Serif aren't you? Never thought I'd see you with Gaster."
Sans' pupils dilated.
"Wait just a minute. You're-," Sans started to say.
Aster coughed.
"Ahem. I'm not Gaster. My name is Wing Ding Aster."
"Ahuh," the old woman said narrowing her eyes suspiciously at Aster before turning to Sans. "Hey Semi-Serif is this a friend of yours?"
"Of course," Sans said before chuckling nervously.
The young woman snorted before releasing Aster but not before she spoke. "You were lucky Semi decided to spare you. Come on Semi, Carlyle will be waiting for you at the meeting."
She dragged Sans along until they headed to the castle. Aster was left with no choice other than to follow.
Once the four had arrived in the castle, the young woman walked Sans to a room at the end of a long hall. Aster followed him inside. As they stepped inside Sans spotted Carlyle sitting next to four other people at a long table.
One was a brown skinned man with a crooked mustache who wore green robes and a lot of jewelry next to him was a young woman with short brown hair wearing light blue robes. She stared at Sans with a hard gaze.
Next to her were two men. One of them had long blond hair and a long beard reaching to the bottom of their neck tied in yellow cloth. The other man was balding though his grey hair still could be seen on the left and right sides of his head. He had tied his brownish grey beard in two places with purple cloth. If beards could have pigtails he would have mastered it.
The man wore glass spectacles that hung on his nose. He peered shrewdly at Sans.
"Who's that with you, Corliss?"
The young brown haired woman smiled, looking very smug.
"It's Semi-Serif."
He scoffed.
"Semi-Serif? That isn't Semi-Serif."
"What? It sure looks like him to me."
"Semi-Serif wouldn't ever be caught in clothing like that."
Sans glanced down at his clothing. He thought that his sweater was rather nice.
"Well," Carlyle spoke. "He does look an awful lot like Semi-Serif at any rate."
The man with the glasses glanced at Carlyle.
"It's up to you whether this skeleton sticks around," he said.
Carlyle glanced at Sans. Their scrutiny so intense that Sans felt chills traveling up his spine.
"Do you have to stare at me like that? It's freaky."
The woman with the short brown hair slammed her fist on the table.
"What about Semi-Serif?" she asked.
"It's alright Sigourney. Carlyle can tell him everything."
Finally Carlyle made his decision
"Fine, you can listen."
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Aldwyn?" The brown skinned man asked.
"I'm sticking by my word," the old man said shoving the spectacles back up the bridge of his nose.
"Any information on that vampire we captured last week?" the man with the blond hair asked. "He said he was working with a man named Richter."
"That's the werewolf hiding in those caves on the mountain right?" the old woman asked. "He's a nice man though. He wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Well we got no other leads. The queen will be captured at this rate," the blond said.
"Is someone threatening her?" Sans asked.
"We received a letter a week ago," Corliss said. "They said that they would capture her in the cloak of night. The king thinks it's his brother declaring war so we've been on the lookout for spies."
"I think the vampire and werewolf probably answer to someone else," said the brown skinned man.
"What could they possibly gain by doing this?" Corliss inquired angrily.
"Acceptance," Aldwyn said. "Humans don't like things that are different."
"You know we could try to scout his place. The werewolf's I mean. We might find more information there," Carlyle suggested.
"If that creature is anything like the vampire, he probably has an army of undead guards. We'll need all the help we could get."
Sans cracked his knuckles smugly.
"I can help."
"Sans, it could be dangerous," Aster said. "No humans will be around to reset the timeline."
"You don't think I'm strong enough?" Sans asked with hollow eyes.
Aldwyn coughed.
Aster sighed.
"Alright Sans. You've proved your point but please be careful. I don't wanna have to go rescue you."
"Well that'll be some good news to tell the king," Aldwyn said. "Sykes, can you inform him of the newcomers?"
The brown skinned man nodded. It was when he had left that Sans had caught sight of the icy look he had received from Sigourney.
"Is something wrong? You're staring at me."
Sigourney's blue eyes hardened.
"I don't trust you. Get in my way, skeleton and I'll end you."
Sykes returned just as Sans had a retort on the tip of his tongue.
"The king wishes to see you two. So be polite," Sykes said.
The two skeletons followed Aldwyn to the throne room. Sans saw a human with brown hair and a bushy beard next to a young woman with short brown hair and green eyes. On the far corner standing on the right side of the king was a bald man with a curly mustache and stiffly arched eyebrows. Sharp grey eyes narrowed staring at him shrewdly.
"Ah how cute," the woman next to the king squealed. "You look just like Semi."
"He kind of does, doesn't he?" the king said. "Say Unwin are you going to just stand there or are you going to say hello?"
Unwin smirked his mustache twitching upward.
"Hello," he said before making a brief bow. "Your majesty please excuse me. I have things to do."
"That's a pity."
"Well it can't be helped," Unwin said.
"Hey Semi can you c'mere please?" the queen asked after he left.
Sans felt his face heat up.
"Er my name's Sans not Semi."
"Well whoever you are."
She motioned with her pointer finger for the skeleton to come closer.
He walked closer to the queen until he was directly in front of her close enough to touch.
"Can I hug you?" She asked. "You're just so adorable and Semi won't let me touch him."
He was certain now that his face had grown even hotter.
"Eh...sure."
All of a sudden Sans felt the queen's arms around him.
"You're so sweet. Anyone would be lucky to be your friend."
Sans felt her slip a piece of paper in his pocket before she pulled away.
"Sorry I ran a little late," a voice rung out. Sans and Aster turned and saw Semi-Serif at the door panting nearly out of breath.
"What's going on? What are these two idiots doing here?" Semi asked.
He was accompanied by Aldwyn and Carlyle.
"They offered to help us," Carlyle said. "We want to investigate the werewolf's cave."
"Why? You're going to get us all killed," The skeleton uttered.
"Have a better idea?"
"You know my idea."
"Knock it off you two," Aldwyn said. "I think we have better odds with these two skeletons than be ourselves. You should be lucky they decided to help. We'll leave in the evening I suggest you four prepare."
With that, everyone left the throne room. Most of the wizards had gone to prepare leaving Carlyle with the three skeletons. The wizard looked at Semi-Serif then he turned to Sans.
"It's almost astounding how much you two look alike. You're almost like brothers."
"We look nothing alike," Semi snapped. "That skeleton smiles too much."
"I can't help it that I like tibia punny."
"Ugh, that was awful," Aster groaned.
Semi sighed.
"Can you two do magic?"
"Of course," Sans said.
Semi snorted.
"I wasn't asking you. You realise these two probably won't stand a chance. The tall one is too scrawny and the short one is too fat."
"I like to think I'm big boned."
"Whatever you call it."
Carlyle handed them some robes and armor.
"Try these on."
"Semi, you should head home or Velvenda will worry about you," said Carlyle.
"What about these two?" Semi asked referring to Sans and Aster.
Carlyle chuckled sheepishly.
"It would be kind of awkward to have two skeletons stay at my house. It would be much better if they stayed with you. Don't you live with another skeleton."
"You just don't want to feed the extra mouths," Semi said.
"You know me too well."
"You two keep up. I won't slow down if you get lost."
Semi lead them to a gritty part of town. The smell of dank sewage permeated through the air and Sans saw people dumping buckets on the side of their homes. In one of the alleyways, Semi turned.
"Semi why are you out so late and who are those two skeletons with you?"
"This is Sans and Aster."
A tall skeleton with brown matty hair, shabby clothes and hollow eyes peered out from the other side of a pile of trash.
"Nice to meet you."
Some monster kids were playing nearby.
"You used to be the highest leveled player weren't you? Now you don't even have enough HP to play."
"It's from nearly dying too much," Semi said. "You can lose levels from losing too much HP."
"Still to lose to those rocks. It's ridiculous."
"Why do your eyes glow like that?" Sans asked.
Velvenda chuckled.
"Because I'm a revenant. You know we look like skeletons but when we die, our eyes glow and we never forget the thing that killed us. We have 2 lives before we die, permanently. I see you already have lights but you are also part skeleton aren't you?"
"What?"
"Look these skeletons need sleep so if you can take them to the other side of this dump. I'd really appreciate it."
"So impatient. Semi, you'd do well not to rush me."
As they were walking, Sans spoke.
"What do you mean I'm part skeleton?"
"I have an eye for these kind of things. You have the same skeletal makeup as a skeleton but a skeleton's eyes never glow. They are hollow. Someone killed you didn't they?"
Sans sighed.
"Yes."
"There's the lingering hatred that makes you feel empty too. That's the power of a revenant. They'll never forget their enemy until they have vanished from this world."
The next morning Semi lead the two skeletons to the castle.
"You two should get ready before we leave. Everyone's eating in the mess hall so you should get your fill."
"Guess we'll see each other later," Sans said.
Once they left, Semi met up with Carlyle.
"Oh Semi there you are. I needed to talk to you."
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Semi, do you know who those two skeletons are?"
"Of course not," Semi snapped.
"Then I guess you haven't noticed one of them is radiating the same magic you are."
"That's impossible."
"You are a magical being. You may be made of magic but you are still alive. It's not exactly impossible to say that you can procreate."
"Impossible."
Carlyle smiled.
Semi blushed.
"Don't look at me like that."
After they finished eating, Sans fished the note from that he had received from the queen from inside his sweater pocket.
"Meet me in the King's chambers before the day breaks. The door will be opened just hand this letter to the guards."
"When did you receive that?" Aster asked as he looked over Sans' shoulder.
"I don't know."
He folded the letter and placed it in his robes.
"I'm going out I need to take a breath of fresh air."
"Be careful, Sans."
As he headed to the king's chambers following the directions in the letter, he spotted the room and saw two guards standing protectively around the door.
"Excuse me. Are these the king's chambers?"
The guard standing left of the door snarled.
"State your business, monster."
They held their spear so it was pointed at the skeleton. Sans thought that might have been a thinly veiled threat. He took the letter out from his robes and showed it to the guards. Upon glancing at the letter the guard on the left had retracted his spear and both guards stepped aside.
The moment Sans walked inside he spotted her sitting on her bed. She looked up upon hearing Sans enter.
"Oh you're here," she spoke.
"Where's the king?" he asked.
"He's in the room next to us writing a letter to his brother. I can't believe for one second that his brother has declared war on this kingdom."
"Why?"
"The two have always looked out for each other even since they were children."
"You don't think they've changed?"
She sighed.
"King Osmond has never been interested in inheriting this kingdom. He prefers ruling his kingdom of monsters. I suppose Carlyle didn't tell you about that though. Relations between humans and monsters have always been strained. Monsters at their core aren't evil, their actions however are often misunderstood. Since monsters have no sense of distinguishing right and wrong they are often influenced by the humans that they see. Their core purpose is to serve at humanity's side because they were create by humans. My husband wanted to help mend the strain between the two. Not everyone in this kingdom agrees with his ideology though. I'm afraid these efforts will be for naught when I'm gone."
Just then the king came inside.
"Oh you must be that skeleton Fayre was talking about."
The queen frowned.
"How rude. You never did tell him your name, honey."
The king blushed.
"Uh my name is Ulfred the third."
"Say I don't remember seeing you around town," Fayre said. "I've suspected this since the first time I've seen you but you're not from around here are you? Those clothes you were wearing earlier look like clothes some foreigner might wear."
"Well it technically is from a time that is foreign. I'm from the future. I traveled here through a time machine."
"Really?" Fayre asked, her eyes widening from the revelation.
"Where's your time machine now?" Ulfred asked.
"It's outside this village at the corner of the forest."
"You'll have to show us this 'machine'."
"It was nice meeting you, Sans."
Sans took this as his cue to leave. Before he left he felt something wrapped around his neck.
"I want you to have this locket so you think of us wherever you go."
As he was heading back to the guest room, a scream wrung through the air. Quickly Sans ran back to the king's quarters. The room was open ajar and the guards knocked out cold.
Carlyle and Semi arrived just as they spotted the queen being carried off by a flying shadow.
"What happened?"
"The queen happened. Someone's captured her."