《Support Group for the Tragically Departed》 Chapter 1: The Prince ¡°Whose turn is it?¡± the beautiful nymph called. Her skin was a pale blue and her hair was sparkling with pearls and curly from sea salt. She had just finished wrapping up the story of a girl who drowned to death, having been going around in a circle amongst the spirits gathered and swapping tales. ¡°What about you?¡± A forest guardian asked, a layer of moss sprouting from his skin and a deer skull perched pleasantly atop his head. He was pointing to a small teenage boy sitting on a rotting log across the circle who had yet to speak. The boy had a pair of sheep horns curling from his dark, wavy locks. But the most shocking thing about his appearance were the two empty sockets where his eyes should¡¯ve been. The spirits all simultaneously wondered to themselves what his story was. The boy spoke in a clear, light voice. ¡°Once upon a time,¡± he began, ¡°there was a boy born to a king and a queen.¡± ¡°A prince!¡± a nearby fairy squealed, wings fluttering in excitement. The boy nodded before continuing. ¡°His mother, the queen, was infamous in all the land for her outstanding beauty. Of course, her hair was soft and shiny, her skin was smooth and clear, her voice pleasant and enchanting. But there was one feature that made her more beautiful than any other: her eyes. They were an abnormal shade of blue, clearer than any body of water and bright and sparkling as sunlight on the waves. They were an unnatural but hypnotizing color that none had ever seen before. It was known far and wide, and had drawn many suitors before she married. But deep in her heart, she only loved one man. He was a prince from a neighboring kingdom, and the two had fallen in love as teenagers.¡± ¡°Ooh! This is just like a fairy tale!¡± the nymph exclaimed excitedly. ¡°They got happily married,¡± the boy went on, ¡°and had a son, the boy. The first prince. The king and queen loved him more than anything, and he had his mother¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°It must have been a blessing from the gods!¡± a fox spirit proclaimed. The priestess who had called the spirits together turned to the fox and raised a finger to her lips, signaling to be quiet and let the boy go on. ¡°Yeah, well, the blessing didn¡¯t last long,¡± the boy said somberly. ¡°The queen died shortly after childbirth. Some unexpected complications. Soon after that, the entire kingdom was overrun with a terrible plague that killed many.¡± The faces of the spirits began to fall one by one as the boy went on. The atmosphere grew colder and colder, the air around them even dropping a few degrees as he spoke. ¡°The kingdom, which had also seen the boy¡¯s birth as a blessing at first, began to think of him as a curse instead. As he grew older and more unfortunate circumstances befell the kingdom, his status as a gift from the gods changed and he became viewed as a punishment from them instead. Despite the prince never actually doing anything wrong, for he was just a boy, public opinion of him only grew worse and the king was forced to keep him locked in a room in the palace for his own safety.¡± ¡°That¡¯s awful!¡± the nymph cried with tears in her eyes. ¡°The boy did nothing wrong! How could they blame him?¡± The priestess again shook her head and hushed the nymph. ¡°Let him continue. We shouldn¡¯t keep interrupting.¡± Sadly, the nymph quieted down. Although they were silent, the other spirits agreed with her. They couldn¡¯t help but feel the prince¡¯s treatment was unfair. ¡°The people didn¡¯t think that way. They only saw a focus for their frustrations from the plague, the famine, and the conflict. A common object of hatred brought people together and allowed them to feel better about their own shitty lives, if even for a moment,¡± the boy explained without a trace of bitterness or discontent in his tone. He then continued once more. ¡°The only ones who came to see the prince were a maid who brought him food each day and his father, the king,¡± the boy started again, ¡°The prince and the king had grown apart, however. The boy was upset his father had locked him away, but that was not the only reason. The king had many affairs since his wife had died, feeling empty and trying to recreate the love he once felt. But he would quickly get bored with his mistresses and move on to the next, unable to successfully replicate the feeling his first love gave him. Not only that, but the many affairs led to many illegitimate offspring, all who were treated better than the prince locked away in his room. The boy didn¡¯t understand why his father kept coming to see him even as a teenager when he was clearly never happy to see the king. Besides, he had so many more well-liked children to spend time with, why visit the one who brought nothing but misery? Then one day, it occurred to the prince as his father sat across from him. The words that came out of his mouth made a chill run up the boy¡¯s spine. ¡®You know, you have your mother¡¯s eyes. So beautiful.¡¯¡± The spirits all looked uneasily between themselves. They didn¡¯t want to get scolded by the priestess again for interrupting, but the fairy couldn¡¯t help but groan wearily. Regardless, the boy carried on. ¡°From that day on, the king continued to visit his son more and more, his mental state deteriorating with each day. The people of the kingdom began to call him a mad king, as he began to neglect them and act irrationally. No one knew why he was so holed up in his castle. They didn¡¯t know of the prince, locked in his room and treated as an exhibit for his deranged father to stare at. Years before, the king had made an announcement of the prince¡¯s death to the world. He told them that a terrible illness had swept him away from the land of the living, and that he was gone forever. The boy, of course, had no idea of this. He thought the people still hated him and that they didn¡¯t want to see him. He thought that, as much as he hated his father, if he were to leave he would be stoned or stabbed or even kidnapped, but inevitably killed. He believed it all. Until one day, the maid who had been looking after him and feeding him all these years couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She had grown old and tired, and seeing the king¡¯s increasingly insane behavior, figured she had nothing to lose and told the boy everything. And so, they made a plan for the prince to escape.¡± ¡°Oh please tell me that he does!¡± a flower spirit pleaded, the flowers decorating her hair having wilted from listening to the boy¡¯s story. The other spirits once again chimed in their agreement. However, with a glare, the priestess silenced them yet again. ¡°He made it quite far,¡± the boy told them. ¡°He was outside the palace, having crept around using the maid¡¯s instructions after dark. He used mostly servant passageways and was constantly looking over his shoulder and holding his breath. After many long minutes that felt like hours, he made it outside. He was in the garden when it happened. Tiptoeing towards the edges, he could see the exit into the wilderness beyond. He had a small pouch of gold he was going to use to try and start a life in some village miles away. But once again, the gods were not on his side. A figure grabbed his shoulder from behind, and the boy whirled around in fear, expecting to see his father. Instead, he saw a boy he never met before. ¡®Who are you?¡¯ the other boy asked, appearing not much younger than the prince. ¡®I¡¯m no one. Who are you?¡¯ the prince replied. ¡®You don¡¯t know me? I¡¯m the fourth prince,¡± the second boy said. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡®The prince?¡¯ Looking closer, he could see that this boy had some features that vaguely resembled his father. ¡®Oh,¡¯ he said. His half-brother sighed. ¡®You must be lost, but a servant can¡¯t be wandering around at night like this.¡¯ Afraid to speak again, the boy just nodded his head and turned to leave. But that was a mistake. As he turned, he finally made eye contact with the other boy, who gasped in realization. ¡®Your eyes... you must be him.¡¯ ¡®Who? I¡¯m not anybody. Just a servant like you said,¡¯ the prince hastily replied. He grew nervous when the other boy¡¯s grip on his shoulder tightened. ¡®Let me go!¡¯ ¡®Brother, calm down,¡± his half-brother tried to say, but the boy was panicking. ¡®I¡¯m not your brother! I don¡¯t know you! Please, let me go,¡¯ he pleaded with tears in his eyes. The other boy opened his mouth to speak again when they heard the footsteps approaching. Not just any footsteps, armor-clad footsteps. Guards. ¡®Who¡¯s there?¡¯ a guard shouted, still some distance away. Luckily, the night was dark, and one couldn¡¯t see very far without a lantern. ¡®Quickly, get behind there!¡¯ the fourth prince whispered, shoving the boy in the direction of a hedge. He ducked behind it right as the first of the guards rounded the corner. ¡®My prince, what are you doing out here at this hour?¡¯ the guard in front asked. ¡®I couldn¡¯t sleep, so I was going for a stroll. Sorry to alarm you,¡¯ the fourth prince responded naturally. ¡®I thought I heard voices,¡¯ another guard said, not yet convinced. ¡®I was talking to myself,¡± the fourth prince explained sheepishly, ¡®saying some prayers to the gods and such.¡¯ Eventually, the guards¡¯ suspicions died down and they left the prince to his roaming. He was just the fourth prince, anyway, so they didn¡¯t need to be as strict with him. ¡®You can come out now,¡¯ the fourth prince whispered to the hedge. Hesitantly, the boy peeked his head out and peered at him. ¡®Why did you help me?¡¯ he asked. ¡®He may be my father, but the king has done nothing for me. He tossed my mother aside the second he realized she would never be your mother. Besides, your existence may be a secret to the outside world, but it¡¯s not a very well-kept one within the castle walls. We¡¯re still brothers, after all. I would never let something terrible happen to one of my siblings,¡¯ he explained. ¡®Why did you never try to help me before, then?¡¯ the prince couldn¡¯t help but ask. The fourth prince looked guilty. ¡®I don¡¯t exactly have much power in the palace. I¡¯m only fourth in line for the throne, not including you - no offense. Also, no offense again, but I had never met you. It¡¯s kind of hard to help someone you¡¯ve never even seen. Sorry if that sounds mean, but the king is super protective of you, and I¡¯m disposable. If I got caught, I have no doubt he could have easily gotten rid of me,¡± he said. The prince could understand that, and so he really couldn¡¯t blame him. If he were in his position, he¡¯d probably have done the same. ¡®Well, thank you for your help just now. I really can¡¯t repay you,¡¯ the prince replied. ¡®No need. Like I said, we¡¯re brothers. Now that I have met you, I promise to help you however I can,¡¯ the fourth prince said with a smile. The boy wanted to cry. He couldn¡¯t believe someone he just met would be so kind to him, even if they were related. ¡®I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m older. How are you supposed to protect me?¡¯ the boy asked mockingly. ¡®Yes, yes, you may be older. But I bet only one of us was trained with a sword,¡¯ the fourth prince laughed, tapping the sword hilt strapped to his waist. And so, the fourth prince escorted the boy out of the garden to the edge of the wilderness, where they went to say their goodbyes. ¡®I wish I could go with you further, but I do have a place here. As awful as our father is, the siblings get along quite well. I wish you could meet them, but I know father would never allow it, or let you go.¡¯ The boy also felt sad about this. He had always wanted siblings, and it was so lonely in his room with no one to keep him company apart from his maid day after day. But, he was also grateful. It may have been for a short while, but the boy was happy to have met his brother, and told him as much. ¡®I promise, we can meet again. When my older brother takes the throne, I will come and find you. I don¡¯t think it will be much longer now. The people are already turning against the king. You must survive until then,¡¯ the fourth prince pleaded. The boy steadfastly agreed with tears in his eyes. ¡®Before I go, tell me, what is your name?¡¯ he asked. Just as his half-brother was about to reply, he let out a choked noise that faded into a pained whimper. The boy looked down in time to see the glint of a sword poking through the fourth prince¡¯s chest before being pulled out of his back. A dark red patch had formed as blood poured out, and the boy dropped to the ground along with the fourth prince¡¯s body, desperately trying to press on the wound. But the blood wouldn¡¯t stop flowing, the fourth prince only spitting up more as he tried to cough out a breath.¡± ¡°No!¡± the nymph couldn¡¯t help but shout, salty tears pouring down her face. ¡°I hate this story!¡± Instead of shushing her like the previous times, the priestess patted the spot next to her, and when the nymph came to sit beside her she wrapped the nature spirit in her arms and stroked her hair gently. ¡°Please continue,¡± the priestess insisted, ignoring the sniffling of the other spirits around the circle who were also distraught. The boy nodded. ¡°¡®I went to visit you and you weren¡¯t there,¡¯ a voice came from above, and the boy froze instantly with fear because he recognized it immediately. He had been so preoccupied with his half-brother that he hadn¡¯t even bothered to check the identity of the one who stabbed him. ¡®Father, what have you done? How could you stab your own son!?¡¯ the boy cried. ¡®He was going to take you from me,¡¯ the king stated. ¡®No! It was me who was trying to leave, he had nothing to do with it!¡¯ the boy wailed, the fourth prince still in his arms. But he had stopped breathing, and it was clear to all that he had died. ¡®Why weren¡¯t you in your room?¡± the king asked as if he hadn¡¯t heard him. The boy was shocked. He knew his father was unstable, but he had never seen him like this before. It seemed like he had finally snapped. Suddenly, the king reached down and yanked the boy up by his shirt. ¡®Answer me!¡¯ he shouted. ¡®Why were you trying to visit so late?¡± the boy asked instead, although he wasn¡¯t sure if he wanted to hear the answer. It was the middle of the night, after all. The king paused for a moment. ¡®I was with a maiden, but I couldn¡¯t feel a thing. She wasn¡¯t nearly as pretty as you.¡¯ ¡®Father,¡¯ the boy wailed, gripping onto the man¡¯s wrist that was holding him up, ¡®do you even hear yourself?¡¯ At that, his father threw him back onto the ground harshly. ¡®What choice do I have?!¡¯ he shouted. ¡®She¡¯s gone. I thought I¡¯d never see those beautiful eyes again.¡¯ He turned back to his son, staring intensely at him. ¡®But you have her eyes...¡¯ he said as if in a trance, reaching down for the boy again. But the prince flinched away. This clearly upset the king. ¡®I¡¯ll never go back with you,¡± the boy proclaimed. The king seemed to have lost all restraint, then. ¡®You want to leave? You really are your mother¡¯s son. Fine. But first,¡¯ the man dropped his sword and pulled out a dagger, ¡®I¡¯m keeping these.¡¯ And the last thing the boy remembered was the pain of the dagger plunging into his eye. The end.¡± As the boy finished, still sitting on his withering log, the circle of spirits was filled with sobs. ¡°What an awful story,¡± the nymph complained again. ¡°You told a story about a girl drowning right before this,¡± the priestess reminded her. ¡°Yeah, but it wasn¡¯t THAT SAD!¡± the nymph wailed. The other spirits chorused agreements. ¡°What happened after that?¡± the flower spirit asked, albeit warily. The boy turned his gaping eye sockets towards her with a blank expression. ¡°He bled out onto the forest floor and died.¡± No one was happy with that answer, but it wasn¡¯t their story, and they couldn¡¯t change it. Only the priestess looked satisfied. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you all for sharing your stories today. It is important to embrace the past in order to move forward,¡± she said. The boy with the horns turned to her, looking as though he wanted to ask something, but quickly shut his mouth. ¡°You want to know where he is, right?¡± she asked him as though she had read his mind. The boy nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve spoken to him. He¡¯s waiting for you with the rest of your siblings. The two of you will be able to meet again soon,¡± she said with a smile. The boy looked relieved and, for the first time since they¡¯d gathered, happy. ¡°Oh, and he wanted me to tell you that his name is Lucien,¡± she added on. ¡°Thank you,¡± he replied softly. He was staring at the moss beneath his feet like he was contemplating something, but the slight smile on his face betrayed his true feelings. ¡°Priestess, I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you. What god do you serve?¡± the forest guardian asked out of curiosity. She turned to him. ¡°The God of Death, of course. See you next week.¡± Chapter 2: The Lover ¡°There was a girl,¡± the flower spirit began. ¡°Wait, wait, wait,¡± the forest guardian interrupted. ¡°Where¡¯s that boy from before? The one with the horns?¡± He pointed at the empty log where the boy had been sitting just last week. The priestess followed his gaze before turning back with a huff. ¡°He moved on,¡± she stated plainly. ¡°Moved on? But we¡¯re spirits, not ghosts¡­¡± the nymph said in bewilderment. ¡°The boy proved worthy of a second chance,¡± the priestess told them. The spirits began to mutter amongst themselves in amazement. ¡°That¡¯s really possible?¡± ¡°Wow, how lucky.¡± ¡°I want a second chance, too!¡± ¡°Yeah, what about us? Don¡¯t we deserve a second chance?¡± The priestess¡¯s eyes glinted dangerously, sweeping her icy gaze over the group. A strong breeze swept through the towering trees around them, rattling the leaves high above. It was enough to silence the chattering spirits, spooking them back into submission. The priestess reverted back to her usual passive demeanor, and she gestured to the flower spirit. ¡°Please continue.¡± ¡°There was a girl,¡± the flower spirit repeated. ¡°She wasn¡¯t especially beautiful, or talented, or even outgoing or personable.¡± ¡°What a downer,¡± the nymph mumbled. However, she immediately shut up once the priestess sent a glare her way. ¡°She lived in a remote village,¡± the flower spirit continued. ¡°There were few others who lived there, and hardly any that were her age. Still, her parents desperately wanted her to marry.¡± The flower spirit went on to describe the ordeal. As it turned out, there was only one boy of marrying age in the village, but there were two girls. The ¡®plain girl¡¯, as the flower spirit called her, would have to compete in order to win the boy¡¯s heart. But the girl she was competing against was of extraordinary beauty, so she was certain that she would lose. The girls began by showcasing their skills in sewing, but the plain girl was not gifted in this. Her stitches were sloppy and her embroidery was lackluster. On the other hand, the beautiful girl excelled in both, easily impressing the boy. That night, the plain girl returned home, secretly happy. She didn¡¯t love the boy. Even though he was of marrying age, he was still several years older than her, and she didn¡¯t care for his looks nor his personality. If she married, she wanted it to be with a true heart. Still, she felt guilt toward her parents for not fulfilling their wish. ¡°How sweet,¡± the fairy commented. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be. But the poor girl, her parents seemed really insistent.¡± The priestess just sighed at the interruption, giving up on scolding for the time being. It was always inevitable anyway. The story continued, the girl¡¯s parents becoming predictably angry with her for her lack of desirable traits. ¡°No one will ever want to marry you at this rate!¡± they said. ¡°Not even a beast.¡± The girl felt hurt by their words, and apologized. But secretly, deep down, she was satisfied. So what if even a beast can¡¯t love me?, she thought. As long as I love myself and am happy. The next day, the girl received a surprise visit. It was none other than the beautiful girl she was competing against. She offered to teach the plain girl sewing, and the plain girl accepted. Her parents were pleased. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°But why help me? Don¡¯t you want to win the boy¡¯s heart?¡± the plain girl asked as the two practiced stitches. ¡°No,¡± the beautiful girl answered. ¡°Don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No,¡± the plain girl said honestly. ¡°You are much better than he is.¡± She had spoken the words without realizing, but the beautiful girl seemed happy with the compliment. ¡°I prefer your company as well.¡± The days continued on like that for some time. They would compete for the boy¡¯s affection, and the beautiful girl would often come over to teach the plain girl various skills like cooking, cleaning, musical instruments, and reading and writing. But the plain girl¡¯s favorite thing to do was gardening. The two girls had started a small garden on a tiny patch of dry land behind the plain girl¡¯s house. Though it wasn¡¯t the most ideal for farming, by the early summer they had managed to grow a pretty patch of wildflowers. Of course, mother nature did most of the work, but the girls still had fun tending to the tiny garden. However, the plain girl¡¯s parents remained unsatisfied. Despite the fact that she had managed to improve her skills, she was still far behind the beautiful girl in terms of winning the boy¡¯s heart. Her parents grew desperate, insisting that she must be the one to marry the boy. She would apologize over and over, promising to do better, but in her heart she was not bothered. Until one day, the boy announced that he would make a decision by the end of summer, and the girl grew nervous. She was not nervous about the decision, but about her relationship with the beautiful girl. Would she still visit even though she would no longer have a reason? She decided to ask her. ¡°Will you still come find me after summer¡¯s end?¡± To her surprise and great worry, the beautiful girl looked sad. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± the plain girl asked, brimming with concern. ¡°Come to the garden with me,¡± the beautiful girl responded, taking her hand. They sat among the wildflowers and watched the sunset. Their hands never left each other¡¯s even as the sun sank below the horizon and the world faded to black. Eventually, the beautiful girl leaned in close and whispered into the plain girl¡¯s ear. ¡°One of us will not make it.¡± ¡°What?¡± The plain girl was confused. She grew increasingly afraid as the beautiful girl¡¯s grip tightened on her hand. ¡°I saw it,¡± the beautiful girl whispered. ¡°He¡¯s not a boy, but a monster. A few nights ago, he shed his skin and I saw his true self.¡± (¡°A shapeshifter?¡± the fox spirit guessed. ¡°Or maybe some kind of werewolf,¡± the forest guardian commented. ¡°Oh, oh, or what if it¡¯s some kind of mind control, and she only thinks he¡¯s a monster?¡± the nymph chimed in. ¡°Quiet,¡± the priestess warned, and the group of gathered spirits once again fell silent. The nymph pouted, but said nothing else.) ¡°Have you told anyone?¡± the plain girl asked. ¡°Everyone already knows, but they don¡¯t talk about it,¡± the beautiful girl told her somberly. ¡°They¡¯ve known the whole time.¡± The plain girl was stunned. How could that be? ¡°Then why do they want us to marry him?¡± ¡°He demands it. One bride, and one sacrifice.¡± A chill swept through the air at that moment, and the plain girl shivered, huddling closer. ¡°Then you will be the bride, and I¡­¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t die, and I won¡¯t marry a monster. We will find a way,¡± the beautiful girl said, sitting up straight. ¡°Maybe we can run away together or¡­ or¡­ something, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Run away?¡± ¡°Yes, maybe then we could be together because I¡­ I love you,¡± the beautiful girl confessed. Her cheeks were tinged red with embarrassment, but she wasn¡¯t backing down. She met the other¡¯s gaze with passion, and held both of the plain girl¡¯s hands tightly as she spoke, bringing them close to her chest. ¡°You love me?¡± the plain girl said, eyes sparkling with wonder and tears. ¡°Yes, I-¡± ¡°Then please, forgive me.¡± The beautiful girl flinched as she felt a sharp pain in her temple, like the prick of a needle. ¡°I¡¯ve enchanted it, I¡¯m sorry,¡± the plain girl told her as she cupped her cheek. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die either, but there¡¯s no escape. Like you said, everyone already knows.¡± Though the beautiful girl felt her consciousness fading, she still held on to every word. She tried to reach out a hand towards her love¡¯s face, but her arm fell limp at her side. ¡°Just sleep now, and have a sweet dream. I will join you soon,¡± the plain girl whispered, and then all faded to black. But in the end, the beautiful girl had a peaceful smile on her face. ¡°WHAT THE HELL!?¡± the nymph screeched. ¡°WHAT HAPPENED!? DID SHE JUST FUCKING DIE!?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the flower spirit confirmed. ¡°The plain girl buried her body under the bed of wildflowers, which blossomed into a large field.¡± ¡°What is with all these depressing-ass stories?¡± the nymph whined. ¡°Did you forget where we are?¡± a mushroom spirit snorted at her. ¡°Of course not, but still,¡± she huffed. The guardian spirit looked contemplative, while the fox spirit was eager for more details. ¡°What about the boy? Was he really a monster?¡± ¡°He was. The next day, after he learned what happened, he transformed into a great beast and destroyed the entire village, killing everyone,¡± the flower spirit explained. ¡°SO EVERYONE DIED!?¡± the nymph cried. ¡°THIS STORY SERIOUSLY SUCKS!¡± ¡°Yours wasn¡¯t any better,¡± the fairy shot back. ¡°Oh, shut it pixie dust.¡± ¡°What did you call me!?¡± ¡°Enough,¡± the booming voice of the priestess interrupted. Everyone fell silent once more. ¡°We are done for today. Come back next week if you wish to argue more.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± the nymph relented grumpily. The spirits stood up, one by one. All except the flower spirit, who remained rooted to the spot, staring at the ground with a faraway gaze. The priestess turned to her and addressed her quietly. ¡°Do you wish to see her?¡± she asked. ¡°I- ¡­ Yes, I do,¡± the flower spirit admitted, looking up to meet her eyes. ¡°Even though she killed you?¡± ¡°... Yes.¡± ¡°Have you remembered who you are?¡± The flower spirit nodded. ¡°Then come with me.¡± Chapter 3: The Fool ¡°Why do they get to move on and I don¡¯t!?¡± the nymph screeched. ¡°They were deemed worthy. You are not yet worthy,¡± the priestess explained simply. ¡°But why!? I shared a story, just like they did!¡± the nymph complained. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of that bad attitude of yours,¡± the fairy chimed in. ¡°What did you say!?¡± The priestess sighed. ¡°You cling too much to the past.¡± The nymph just mumbled bitterly to herself, crossing her arms with a huff. The fairy looked satisfied, turning back to the circle with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d like to tell a story today, if I may.¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± the priestess agreed. The other spirits ceased their idle chatter to listen as well. ¡°This story is about a ghost,¡± the fairy began. ¡°Oh great,¡± commented the nymph, ¡°this time we¡¯re starting with the protagonist already dead.¡± A few spirits around the circle stifled chuckles at the remark. ¡°Shut it,¡± the priestess warned. ¡°I will not tolerate interruptions today.¡± All the spirits fell silent as the fairy continued on with her story. Long ago, a young woman wandered the world as a ghost, but she couldn¡¯t remember anything about her past life. Her name, her family, how she died; it all remained a mystery to her. But strangely, the woman was not unsatisfied with that. Her heart never felt heavy, and she was content to drift from place to place. She figured that her past life must not have been so great if she couldn¡¯t even remember it. The days went by like that for a long time. Time meant little to the ghost, so she didn¡¯t know how many years had passed when she came upon someone who could see her. At first, she was startled. She had seen many creatures and humans alike, but they always looked through her. They could never see her face no matter how close she stood, and they could never hear her voice no matter how much she shouted. So when she was walking through a busy town square, she was quite surprised when a man approached her. ¡°Excuse me,¡± he called cheerfully. The woman wasn¡¯t sure that he was talking to her until he looked directly into her eyes. She felt her still heart jump in place. She had forgotten what that was like, to be seen. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± she asked softly. If she could blush, she was sure her cheeks would be tinted red from embarrassment. He was quite the handsome young man, after all. ¡°Yes, I am sorry to disturb you, but you don¡¯t look familiar. I thought you might not be from around here,¡± he said. ¡°I am not,¡± the ghost replied. ¡°Where are you from?¡± ¡°I have traveled so long, I cannot remember my home,¡± the ghost admitted sadly. ¡°Then where are you heading?¡± he asked. ¡°I have no destination in mind.¡± ¡°Are you lost?¡± The ghost thought about that for a moment. Was she lost? She had no origin and nowhere to return, so how could she be? And yet, the word ¡®lost¡¯ stung deeply in her heart, so she realized it must be true. ¡°I suppose I am,¡± she said. ¡°Then why don¡¯t you stay here a while?¡± And so, the ghost made herself a home in the small town. The man who saw her ran an inn, and that is where she stayed. But only the innkeeper could see the friendly ghost, though she tried to keep that fact a secret. She would only come to the man when he was alone, but the other guests began to take notice of the empty room that was never rented out. Soon, rumors spread that the inn was haunted. Though it was not technically wrong, the ghost felt sad. She was not malicious or troublesome, yet her very presence was disturbing even to those who couldn¡¯t see her. The innkeeper was confused. There was a very real guest staying in that room, after all. He didn¡¯t know why others thought it was empty. The inn began to suffer from the rumors. The number of guests that came to stay began to dwindle. More rumors surfaced, like footsteps in the empty room, objects moving on their own, or the owner talking out loud to no one in particular. After those rumors spread, very few people wanted to stay there anymore. The owner begged the ghost to show herself to the other guests, to prove that she was real and put an end to the nasty rumors. But every time, the ghost lied and said she was too shy and scared of people to go out. She knew that no one besides the innkeeper would be able to see her, and she didn¡¯t want to ruin his reputation any further. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. One night, she sat by the window in her empty room, staring up at the moon in longing. She felt selfish, and shame burned through her. There was an obvious solution, but it was one that she was reluctant about. She could simply leave, and the rumors would gradually disappear over time. But a large part of her didn¡¯t want that. She was tired of being alone. She was tired of wandering aimlessly. The weary ghost had finally found a home, and someone that she could talk to. It was too cruel to go back to how it was before. Being invisible was painful. But was this, too, not cruel? If only she were alive again, she could prove her existence and not have to leave. No one would think the innkeeper was mad, and she could have as many conversations as she wanted. As she was lamenting upon the windowsill, mind nearly made up, she heard a voice from just outside the window. ¡°Your wish can still come true,¡± a deep voice said. Startled, the ghost looked around, but did not see anyone. Suddenly, a pair of glowing green eyes blinked open from the darkness, surrounded by a void of inky black. ¡°What do you mean?¡± the ghost asked. Most beings would be frightened, but the ghost was not afraid. She had not known fear in many, many years. After all, she was already dead. What more could happen? ¡°I can help you regain new life,¡± the voice told her. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be selfish sometimes. I know you are tired.¡± ¡°How can you help me? And why do you want to?¡± The ghost was not afraid, but she was still cautious. She knew that if that voice belonged to a magical being, she needed to be careful. But still, her dead heart ached with the possibility of her dream being realized. ¡°I could tell that you are troubled. I ask for nothing in return. All I need is your name in order for the spell to work,¡± the being explained. ¡°My name? But I do not remember my name,¡± the ghost confessed. ¡°Ah, I see. That is why you have yet to move on. Luckily, I know a way to help you remember. If you allow me into your mind briefly, I can awaken your memories.¡± The ghost thought about it. It could very well be dangerous, but again, the ghost felt no fear. She had nothing to lose at that point. In her mind, no fate could be worse than returning to her silent roaming, forgotten and unseen by the world. ¡°Okay,¡± she finally agreed. A row of sharp, jagged teeth appeared from the dark, twisting into a sinister smile. ¡°Very good.¡± In the next moment, the ghost felt like she had been transported. Her body felt heavier, and she could feel the push and pull of air in and out of her lungs. Every sensation was overwhelming. A beam of sunshine through an open window splashed warmth across her skin. She had never felt anything like it. Was this what it was to be alive? She looked around and saw that she was sitting at a kitchen table in an old wooden house. It was almost cabin-like, but still quaint and nicely decorated. The window was cracked open and a soft breeze blew through the sheer curtains. The smell of spring hung in the air. Outside, a field of grassy hills as far as the eye could see greeted her. Suddenly, a cat hopped up onto the table. Its fur was shiny and black, and its eyes sparkled like emeralds. It looked at her knowingly, and despite its feline face it appeared intelligent. ¡°What is this place?¡± the woman asked. Yes, woman, because at that moment, she was no longer a ghost. ¡°It must have been your house,¡± the cat replied. Its voice was deep and gravelly, just like the being from before. The girl stood up and walked around, examining the various objects around the small house. Maybe there would be a clue about her past life, and she would finally be able to remember. On one of the counters sat a worn frame, and she leaned in closer to get a glimpse at the picture inside. It was her in the middle, surrounded by three others. One was a boy with short brown hair, smiling brightly. Another was a girl with long red hair. She was also smiling, but she appeared shy, lips pressed tightly in a firm line. The last was another girl, short chestnut hair chopped into a bob. She was playfully sticking out her tongue with a wink. As the woman looked at the picture in the frame, she felt overwhelmed with emotion. ¡°These were my¡­ friends,¡± she said. ¡°I remember. I had friends.¡± ¡°What happened to them?¡± she asked the cat. ¡°Why do you think I would know?¡± the cat replied, narrowing its eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I just¡­ have a feeling.¡± The cat sighed. ¡°They perished in a car accident.¡± ¡°Car?¡± the woman asked, confused. The word was new, and yet felt familiar on her tongue at the same time. ¡°You really don¡¯t remember a thing, do you?¡± the cat grumbled. ¡°You must have been wandering so long, that you even crossed times and dimensions without realizing. Maybe that¡¯s why you also can¡¯t remember anything.¡± The woman glanced around the house some more. ¡°Is that really possible?¡± ¡°It is, though I¡¯m not quite sure how you managed to do it,¡± the cat answered. Suddenly, there was an interruption. ¡°Does such a thing truly exist?¡± the fox spirit asked. ¡°Of course,¡± the priestess answered. ¡°How is it that you think we all gathered here?¡± ¡°Then that cat is also an interdimensional being?¡± the fox concluded. ¡°Most likely, now stay quiet,¡± the priestess scolded. She had said she would not tolerate interruptions, but she hadn¡¯t expected the story to be quite so complicated. Quickly, she gestured for the fairy to continue. Back in the story, the more the woman thought about it, the more it made sense. There were a lot of things in the house that she swore she never saw before, but she didn¡¯t think twice about them because some part of her brain recognized them as familiar. For example, she knew that the large metal box next to the sink was called a refrigerator. And the picture in the frame was too clear to have been a drawing. It must have been taken with a camera. She had no idea how she knew those things, but it was like her brain was beginning to fill in the gaps. As she continued to look around, she noticed a small piece of paper stuck to the fridge. She went up to examine it closer, and saw that it read, Meet me at the crossroads at sunset. She looked out the window and it appeared that the sun would be setting fairly soon. So, she took the piece of paper and turned to the cat. ¡°I think I am supposed to be meeting someone.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go,¡± the cat said, hopping off the table and leading the way out the door. There was just one long, dirt road that went in a single direction. The cat walked along with sure steps, so the woman followed behind without question. The cat seemed very knowledgeable, and hadn¡¯t shown any open hostility so far. Besides, they were in a memory now, so nothing could happen that hadn¡¯t happened already. Soon, they could see a crossroads in the distance. Another parallel road intersected their current one, and split off in four different directions. However, just before the crossroads was a railway track that ran over their current path. As the woman went to walk over it, her body froze in the middle, right between the rails. She tried with all her might, but she couldn¡¯t move. She was no longer in control. This was a memory, after all. No matter how much she screamed and cried, no matter how much power she tried to summon to her limbs, it was useless. The cat didn¡¯t help either, just staring at her from the other side of the tracks with a blank expression. The lights of the railway sign suddenly started to blink, and the bell began to ring. The woman could feel the tracks beneath her feet begin to shake, and she looked up to see a black train rattling towards her at high speed. Just before the train reached her, she heard the calm, eerie voice of the cat directly in her ears, clear even over the rumbling of the train. ¡°Even death cannot save you from a promise. You should have just met me instead.¡± With a jolt, the woman opened her eyes, and she was once again on that windowsill at the inn. The feeling of a frantic heart beating in her chest faded away back into that hollow emptiness she was so familiar with. Reliving the memory only made her crave life more. ¡°Do you remember now?¡± the deep voice asked. Only it was no longer disembodied in the blackness of the night. The ghost looked down to see a black cat sitting beside her. ¡°I do,¡± she answered with a wavering voice. ¡°Then tell me your name.¡± The ghost opened her mouth, name slipping past her lips quicker than she could catch it. And then it all faded to black once more. All the gathered spirits were quiet, even after the story ended. Many looked to be deep in thought. The fairy just stared at the ground in the center of the circle wistfully. Surprisingly, the nymph was not the first to speak. Instead, it was the priestess. ¡°Your soul is not your own,¡± she said darkly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m afraid so,¡± the fairy agreed. ¡°That will make it tough for you to move on,¡± the priestess added, looking displeased. It was the first time she seemed unhappy after someone had shared their story. ¡°I remember who I am,¡± the fairy said with determination. ¡°I believe I can do it.¡± The priestess nodded. ¡°I will do my best, as well.¡± Then, they stood, hand in hand, and disappeared into the depths of the enchanted forest. The other spirits began to get up as well, saying their goodbyes and going on their way. Only one made no effort to move. There, the nymph sat, eyes narrowed in the direction the fairy and the priestess had left, rooted to the spot in contemplation. Chapter 4: The Moon ¡°Do you really serve the God of Death?¡± the nymph suddenly asked the following week. Once more, the spirits had gathered at that sacred place. They sat in their familiar circle, awaiting the arrival of the priestess to start the usual routine. She had arrived a bit later that day, but it didn¡¯t bother any of the spirits. They had an eternity to wait, after all. However, the nymph seemed more agitated than usual, a restlessness permeating her entire being as she fidgeted in her seat. The priestess turned to her, expression unchanging. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Then why do you help us? Of what benefit is it to you?¡± ¡°It is the will of my god and so it appeases him. And what appeases him appeases me,¡± the priestess explained. The other spirits around the circle nodded their heads in subtle agreement. ¡°That makes sense,¡± the mushroom spirit mumbled. The fox beside it concurred, ¡°Absolutely.¡± No one saw any flaw in the priestess¡¯s response. ¡°But isn¡¯t giving us spirits second chances something more likely to be handled by another deity, like the Goddess of Life, perhaps?¡± the nymph pressed, not yet satisfied. The priestess remained unperturbed by the incessant questioning. ¡°The Goddess of Life does not concern herself with those no longer living.¡± ¡°Just because we died before doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t die again!¡± The nymph jumped to her feet, pointing wildly at the empty spot in the circle. ¡°Just look at what happened to the fairy!¡± The spirits grew wary, many of them becoming panicked. It was the first they were hearing of such a thing. They began to stir in their places. ¡°What is she talking about?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Is the fairy okay?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she get a second chance like the others?¡± ¡°You might have suspected that she moved on!¡± the nymph continued, shouting all the while. ¡°But she was murdered!¡± The spirit was practically hysterical as she yelled, sea-salted tear tracks running down her pale blue cheeks. Her hair appeared especially damp that day, and the pearls lacked their usual luster. She looked more like drowned seaweed than a dewy-sweet maiden of the sea. It was clear that she was distraught, and her disarrayed state only served to rile up the other spirits as well. ¡°What!?¡± ¡°Is that true!?¡± ¡°Then what about the others!?¡± ¡°Silence!¡± the priestess¡¯s voice boomed. It rattled the trees, shaking loose a few evergreen leaves that slowly drifted to the forest floor. High above, the bright sky turned gray, the little beams of sunlight that filtered through the trees dissipating like smoke. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. The spirits quickly fell silent again at the commanding display. Those who stood up in a panic hastily returned to their seats, though many of them still shook with fear. Only the nymph remained standing, glaring at the priestess in defiance, though her form trembled. She was not particularly brave, but she felt that she could not rest until she learned the truth. The fact was that one of their own had died, and she didn¡¯t know who was responsible, but she had an idea. ¡°I see now,¡± the priestess said slowly, eerily calm. ¡°You suspect me.¡± The nymph pointed a shaky finger at her. ¡°Y-you were the last one seen with her! And you didn¡¯t mention anything about it today!¡± ¡°How did you find this out?¡± the priestess questioned. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject!¡± the nymph demanded. She had sparkling tears in her eyes, threatening to spill over. ¡°D-did you kill her?¡± The priestess took a menacing step closer. ¡°Your suspicions are misguided.¡± ¡°Then tell us what happened!¡± the forest guardian said, standing up as well. It seemed the other spirits had slowly regained their courage. ¡°Yeah, we deserve to know!¡± ¡°Stop hiding things from us!¡± ¡°Tell us the truth!¡± The priestess sighed. ¡°Alright, alright. Calm down.¡± Once everyone had taken a seat again, she continued. ¡°I thought the fairy was ready for a new life but¡­ there was a problem. My god couldn¡¯t help her, so we parted ways soon after.¡± ¡°What problem?¡± the fox asked, incredibly curious. ¡°I can¡¯t say for certain but I believe it had to do with the master of her old life. We believe that is who killed her.¡± ¡°Master of¡­ what are you talking about?¡± The nymph was beyond confused, rubbing her temple in irritation. ¡°She traded away her soul. It no longer belonged to her. Whoever she gave it to must have wanted to reclaim it in this life as well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really possible?¡± the mushroom spirit asked in amazement. ¡°Unfortunately,¡± the priestess confirmed solemnly. ¡°What about the others?¡± the nymph asked, still skeptical. ¡°You are still wary of me?¡± The priestess smirked. ¡°They were all successfully reincarnated.¡± ¡°And we¡¯re just supposed to take your word for it? Don¡¯t you have any proof?¡± The priestess looked exasperated then. ¡°What would you have me do exactly?¡± The nymph thought about it for a moment before snapping her fingers as if she just had a brilliant idea. ¡°Call upon your god so that we can be sure you truly serve who you say and mean no harm.¡± ¡°You want me to summon a god to prove my innocence?¡± the priestess asked in disbelief. ¡°Yeah!¡± another spirit chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better after seeing the god for myself.¡± Once again, a chorus of agreements began to arise. The temperature in the forest suddenly dropped ten degrees, and when the priestess spoke again her voice was low and menacing. ¡°First of all, no you won¡¯t. You will only find the prospect of death all the more terrifying. Second of all, I cannot call upon the one I serve on a whim. Do you even understand what you¡¯re asking for, you fools!?¡± The priestess had never raised her voice in such a way before. She had shown them mild annoyance at most, but never true anger. Many of the spirits felt a shiver run up their spines, despite being unable to feel the cold. They all fell silent again as the priestess seethed. ¡°I am no more suspicious than any one of you!¡± she huffed, glaring pointedly at each of the spirits around the circle. They all began to cast wary glances at each other, as if just realizing the severity of the situation. If the priestess was guilty, then they were all in danger. But if she wasn¡¯t, that just meant the culprit was hiding amongst them. ¡°So,¡± the fox spirit began, looking at the nymph, ¡°how did you know that the fairy was killed?¡± She sniffed, crossing her arms and gazing off into the distance. ¡°We fought a lot but we were good friends. After she went to receive her second chance, I went to visit her a few days later just to see what had happened. But what I saw was the entire meadow where she often stayed burnt to ashes.¡± The fox smirked at her. ¡°Then how do we know it wasn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What!?¡± The nymph appeared genuinely offended and startled by the accusation. For what felt like the millionth time that day, the spirits broke out into a barrage of bickering. They threw accusations at one another without hesitation, eager to find the culprit behind the disturbing incident. Any one of them was a potential suspect, and they had no problem tossing blame if it meant saving themselves. ¡°You¡¯re all idiots,¡± the priestess suddenly said, voice cutting through the commotion like a knife. She seemed to have calmed down somewhat. ¡°Hey! You¡¯re not clear of suspicion yet, either!¡± the nymph argued. ¡°Look around,¡± the priestess told her. ¡°There was a newcomer today that you all have yet to even notice.¡± The spirits all paused, glancing around in confusion before suddenly, the nymph gasped in alarm, pointing with an unsteady hand. One by one the spirits turned to see. There, on a mossy rock on the outside of the circle, sat a black cat with glowing green eyes. Its small mouth split open into a grin, revealing a row of pointed teeth. It spoke just three words in a deep and gravelly voice, ¡°Give it back.¡± And then, it attacked, charging straight for the priestess.