《Zeroth Knight re: Dawn》


 Condensed Version of Book 1

    <h1 style="text-align: center">A forewarning: This spoils the entirety of book 1. If you are interested in reading all of book 1 with detail, then please see here: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/16079/zeroth-knight</a></h1>


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    <h1 style="text-align: center">Condensed Version Of Volume 1</h1>


    Eve attempts to confront the person of her dreams, "Him," but is pulled away moments before they meet. As she passes between worlds, she experiences what she can only assume to be an extreme hallucination. Within it, she finds herself, or rather, parts of her body, forming the basis of the planets and stars. When she comes to, she finds herself in a strange world, having become the inheritor of the title, "Zeroth Knight."


    What follows is a whirlwind of events. They called it the, ¡°Transcendence,¡± and it royally messed Eve up. But due to a genius known as Nina, Eve is able to pull through. But things aren¡¯t always so good for geniuses.


    As Eve and Nina begin totalk and get to know one another, they¡¯re interrupted by a woman on a mission. Charlotte Rodiger is sent by the King On High, to force Eve into a duel against a man named, ¡°Fennis Haslothum¡± over a matter of honor.


    Fennis, you see, was meant to be the one to go through the Transcendence, as he was the First Knight- the highest ranked of the Knights Ten; and only he had the authority to request a duel with Eve- the Zeroth. For the rules are clear, upon relinquishment or death, the Zeroth will transfer.


    But things never go that easy, and the King On High is unable to strip Eve of the Title. What follows next, is a fight for power. Eve wished to rid herself of it, and Fennis wished to take it.


    During this battle, Eve remembered her past, and the tragedy that occurred. Rachel was Eve¡¯s best friend, but ultimately fell off the roof in an, ¡°apparent suicide due to have unreciprocated feelings,¡± towards Eve. But not everything was as it seemed, since within Eve¡¯s mind, was a hint of an obfuscated memory that showed a darkness around Rachel before she, ¡°jumped."


    This memory, and her desire to live a life of pride in memory of Rachel, forced Eve to give into the banging inside of her mind and released the powerful individual who resided there.


    Releasing the girl who comes to be known as, ¡°Rei¡± allowed Eve the power she needed to defeat Fennis- for Fennis was unable to win even at full power against the might of Zero. This came at a cost, however, and his power backfired on him, ultimately allowing Eve the victory. But she refused to kill Fennis, instead, banishing him from the country in which this all takes place, ¡°Arsea.¡±


    It is during this time, that she is once again saved from her life-threatening injuries by Nina. Due to all of this, Eve realized she wanted to be friends with Nina. But Nina was hesitant, for she has a secret¡­ and that secret was what made most of the world hate her.


    Eve awakes that night, alone in the hospital after her fight with Fennis. Yet she was restless and decided to take a look around. When she arrived outside, she was confronted by a voice who exposed Eve to a terrible truth. The unknown speaker informed Eve that not only will the Zeroth erode others'' perspectives of her, effectively making her someone else in their eyes, but will slowly erode heras well. She was going to lose herself, the voice proclaimed.


    Unable to resist, Eve gave in to her weakness, allowing the darkness to consume her. Yet before the process was complete, Eve discovered two golden eyes judging her from the darkness. Knowing it was not possible to resist, but refusing to allow the beautiful eyes to judge her as unworthy, she locked away the core of her being inside the darkness the eyes came from, in hopes of her core being strong enough to break free one day. And so she fell unconscious, while having the event all but erased from her memory.


    It¡¯s during this wandering time that what appeared to be a dream started. When Eve met those beautiful golden eyes across the table, she knew it was as real as could be. For Eve declared this woman to be the Raven within her mind. Coming to be known as ¡°Rei,¡± this woman spoke to Eve at length, largely in riddles, before dismissing Eve from that world.


    It¡¯s when she awoke this second time, that Eve was introduced to Mimi, then later, Rose, and Kay. These are the Valkyries, the wives of the Zeroth. However, something was amiss as Eve began to realize that others were slowly becoming unable to distinguish her as a female, or even as ¡°Evangeline Sayagawa.¡±


    Indeed, her very identity was being twisted in the eyes of those who saw her. She was no longer, ¡°Eve¡± to these people and was, instead, simply, ¡°Zero.¡±


    Yet even after a conversation in lengthwith these women, Eve is unable to persuade them to believe that she was a woman. They dismiss themselves for the night, with a plan made for the next day.


    Seemingly alone, Eve takes a moment to relax in her solace, only to find another coming out to meet her. This sex-craved, black-haired vixxen, introduces herself simplyas, ¡°Gee.¡± The new woman immediately does what she can to seduce Eve, leaving Eve to believe that this newcomer must be another wife, an unfortunate perk of her cursed title of Zeroth Knight.


    Eve rebuffs Gee¡¯s efforts, and learned that the woman is aspected to shadows- able to hide with them, and even read them in orderto find a person¡¯s hidden motives. After shrugging off Gee¡¯s advances again, they both turn in for the night.


    Before they head out to the Academy, Eve decides to take a bath. Within the bath, Eve is pulled inside herself to find Rei. The riddles lead way to a confession from Eve- that what¡¯s happening to her is breaking her. But Rei gives her word to always protect Eve because, no matter the form, Eve is Eve.


    When all is said and done, Eve finds the others eating, with a small surprise- Voltin, Rose¡¯s child. After severely reprimanding Rose for the way she treats little Vol, Eve lets Mimi and Rose help take care of her and makes sure she¡¯s presentable. It''s during this set of events that the girls are able to, for but a moment, notice Eve for who she is. However, as fast as the surprise from the revelation came, it left, and their perceptions returned to as before.


    In search of answers, the girls all head to the ¡°Academy,¡± an institution that only the best, and the richest may attendant for studies. It is here that Eve and co. stumble upon a murder-in-progress. But saving the man from his fiance comes at a price- Charlotte¡¯s fate. For when Eve meets her again at the front of the Academy, with a wounded man in tow, sparks ignite between them that could light up the very sky itself.


    Unknowing of the significance of what transpired between them, Charlie ushers Eve and the others to meet Master Domnis- the, uh, Master, and head seat of the Academy. Eve makes a discovery at this time,one she assumed but hadn¡¯t gotten to test, that the warping of perceptions extends beyond just the Valkyries and Charlie. However Domnis is perceptive enough, or perhaps powerful enough, to notice what¡¯s happening and instructs Eve to pique his curiosity enough to help find her a way home;even if he can¡¯t remember the specifics, he¡¯s never one to ignore an itch of curiosity.


    The main takeaway Eve gains from Dom is the fabled, and later the recorded, history of the Zeroth. More surprising to Eve, was the revelation of the truth of the King On High. He was the immortal king that governed Arsea, in theory. In reality, an event of the past caused the King to withdraw from most of society¡¯s dealings.


    Once Eve leaves the company of Dom, she makes her way to Nina. It''s there that Eve caves under everything that has happened and reveals to Nina the truth of where she¡¯s from. Nina is hesitant to believe her, but decides to try. She tells Eve she will spend the remainder of her life, if that¡¯s what it takes, to find Eve a way home.


    Their good time is interrupted by the others coming to check in with Eve, only to find her hugging Nina. In their anger, they refuse to go out to eat with Eve, because she insists on bringing Nina with her. However, Eve is able to convince Charlie to join them, and so the three take off to enjoy a good meal, promising to meet the others at the station before the final train home.


    At the restaurant, Eve decides to ask a number of questions of Charlie and Nina. In doing so, Eve discovers the conditions to be a Valkyrie, a wife of the Zeroth, is to be what is known as a, ¡°Vagar.¡± A Vagar is the best a person could possibly be in any specific profession. Basically, a Valkyrie has to be perfect at what they do, all so they may give it up, and become the wife of the Zeroth- destined to be nothing more than an instrument to produce the best offspring possible.


    During the restaurant¡¯s pleasant dinner, and unpleasant conversations, Eve finds herself feeling woozy and decides to turn inward, and ask Rei what¡¯s going on with her. She gathers little of her current situation, only that it was not Rei who had helped out before, at the skirmish before the Academy. It¡¯s now, amongst butterflies in her stomach, does Eve return to the real word- and the scared looks of Nina and Charlie. Once again, Eve forgot that time passes in the real world, as much as it does when she is inside of herself.


    It is then that Eve realizes that the others have arrived, if only to make sure that Zero was safe. Finding that Rose felt guilty enough to drink herself into a stupor, everyone decides to break for the night, and goes their own ways- Charlie escorting Nina back, a change from earlier tensions, seemingly too much of one; and the girls headed back to Val manor.


    Time passes in a blink of an eye like this. Those endless, monotonous days go on and on, with only the addition of lectures and teaching from the Valkyries in orderto learn more of the world. It¡¯s only when Eve received sufficient learning, that they all decided to have Eve take a seat amongst those in the Academy, while allowing the Valkyries to return to their studiesas well.


    Unable to sleep, however, Eve decides to wander around the outskirts of the manor and clear her mind. What she finds, surprises her. There, in a clearing, with the full moon bearing down on them, is Mimi - seemingly going through martial arts practices. Before long, Eve is forced to fight Mimi, as Mimi reveals a deep-seated hatred for Eve and what the Zeroth has done to change these women¡¯s lives.


    Mimi proves to be too much for Eve, whom¡¯s actual skills are left desired. Eve finally gives in to the beckoning of the power within her, offered by Rei. As she turns inward, she finds a world unlike the one she usually talks to Rei in. Instead of dank darkness, she finds Rei standing in an open field, with the wind at their backs. Eve finds this to be Rei¡¯s world, Rei¡¯s mind. It¡¯s only through a kiss, that Rei finally gives in, and reveals some parts of the riddle to Eve.


    Rei has been protecting Eve from something, something Eve is not privy to. Yet even as Eve realizes that she is changing, the despair lays heavy on Rei¡¯s heart. For the change within Eve, is exactly what she has been fighting to prevent. Yet change is coming, with no care for their feelings. Upon receiving some of Rei¡¯s power, Eve finds herself back in the real world, with a very angry Mimi - one who had waited for twenty minutes as Eve dawdled inside of her self, or rather, inside of Rei.


    Following a sneak attack by Eve, Mimi has no choice but to continue their fight. Though the end result is largely the same, Eve is able to put up a much more significant fight, even landing a desired blow before Mimi defeats her. However, this forces a new tension to pass before the girls. Before Eve can question it, she passes out from the damage done.


    Upon waking in the morning, Eve¡¯s body trembled in pain from the following nights antics. However, it confuses her, because Mimi had a chance to end Eve, and did not¡­ despite having confessed to hating Eve.


    Mimi is a mess when she meets with the others for breakfast. Her depression is tangible, much to Eve¡¯s confusion. However unable she is to understand Mimi¡¯s state, their morning ends and they make their way to the Academy for classes. Mimi¡¯s mood doesn¡¯t improve on the train. As such, Eve forces comfort onto Mimi and she herself falls asleep with Mimi¡¯s head in her lap.


    As the train comes to a stop at the central part of the city, Mimi wakes up and leaves the train, not much better for the trip. With her heart heavy, Eve leaves the train, guarded on all sides by the Valkyries. Their outing is quickly interrupted due to the guards passing them. Eve questions why they¡¯re hauling in the man, who¡¯s begging for his life.


    They inform the girls that he was caught mid murder of a number of people; however, the man swears he doesn¡¯t know what came over him, and that he didn¡¯t mean to do it. The guards give the girls a goodbye while they haul the guard off. It was odd, for his was the first of such acts, in decades. That kind of violence is rare, and it unsettles everyone.


    Upon arriving at the Academy, the girls make their way to Dom, who was unusually excited to meet with Zero. He dismisses the other girls, who agree to meet Eve for lunch in the school¡¯s courtyard.


    Dom reveals to Eve, that his research into the Zeroth has uncovered no known purpose for the Zeroth¡¯s existence. He promises to keep researching the Zeroth; though he doesn¡¯t remember much of his interactions with Zero, due to the nature of the Title. He still senses something is amiss, and wants to get to the bottom of what it is that makes Eve so special.


    Eve leaves dom, to meet with Nina and discuss how Nina¡¯s research is progressing. But this is only after her ambush by Gee. Gee reveals that Domnis sets up a barrier around his room to prevent others from learning of what he and Eve talk about. Gee is curious and wishes to know what was revealed, but Eve brushes her off to meet with Nina.


    Nina¡¯s surprised at Eve¡¯s unannounced visit and even more so about the news of Eve attending the Academy for classes, yet it doesn¡¯t take long for Nina¡¯s machinegun way of speaking to come out, and for her to reveal her hypothesis on how Eve came to the world. From what she can understand, there was a massive influx of energy that tore open a rift between their worlds, allowing Eve to fall through it.


    When they finish talking, Eve leaves to join the Valkyries for lunch. It is there, that Eve finds herself in a compromising position when she gives in to temptation and kisses Kay. When she pulls away, the others are mad, yet Eve tries to play it off and asks Charlie to give her some training with the sword later, after classes. Much to her chagrin, Charlie agrees.


    Once school is over, Eve makes her way to the training area to meet with Charlie. Only, she gets lost and winds up in the library. There, she meets a man named Kyle Bartholum. He¡¯s the record keeper and maintainer of the library - a curt man who seeminglyknows more about Eve than he lets on. Before long, Eve excuses herself to find Charlie.


    Charlie is pissed when Eve arrives nearly twenty minutes late. In her anger, Charlie doesn¡¯t take it easy on Eve for her training. Indeed, she seems to get more and more aggressive and dangerous as time goes on. When Eve tries to explain to Charlie that she¡¯s acting odd, Charlie reciprocates by pushing Eve so hard as to almost seriously harm her.


    It¡¯s only with the help of Rei, that Eve is able to push Charlie back. However, Rei wasn¡¯t done, and proceeds to chastise Charlie harshly. Rei forces her to confront what has set her off, making Charlie admit to the jealousy and sadness she felt at being blown off for Kay. Rei assures her thatshe will be better now that she has, ¡°overcome what has threatened to consume your soul.¡±


    Rei¡¯s words ring of yet another riddle Eve does not understand, but she has little time to dwell on it for she¡¯s back in control of herself before she knows it, with a weeping Charlie in her arms. Once Charlie does calm down, she decides to leave; but not before being made to promise Eve another training session later on.


    Eve finds herself within a restaurant sometime later, to meet the others for dinner. Upon finding the boisterous girls, only Mimi contains a smile when noticing Eve. After an ordering of food, the others have time their disturbed by yet another scene of violence from two women across the room. The Valkyries stop Eve from interfering, once again remind her that the Zeroth is not one to interfere in the throes of the world.


    The mood is recovered quickly thanks to some banter and flirting, only to once again come crashing down when a passing crow outside calls Kay¡¯s attention away from the group - she leaves. Eve comes to learn that this was actually the normal behavior for her before everything with the Zeroth started.


    Eventually things come to anend with the group arriving at the station near Val Manor. As they walk home they hear fighting, and see turbulent groups clashing with one another. Their neighborhood, perhaps their world - changes little by little.


    Suddenly, in mid night, Eve hears a sound coming from Kay¡¯s room. Eve chooses to uncover if it¡¯s Kay leaving again. However, by the time she leaves her room, the person is much further. As Eve follows, the figure marches. Before long they¡¯ve arrived at a familiar solace within the forest. There stands Mimi, bathed in the glow of the moon. The mood is brought down to Earth when, with a kiss, Mimi asks Eve to spar.


    The tussle comes to a quick end, for Eve. With Mimi being the victor, she stands over Eve. The eyeful Eve is graced with lights something within them both. With an unspoken air of promises between them... and with heavy, bated breaths, they return to the Manor.


    Arriving at Eve¡¯s room, events occur exactly as Eve dared to dread, yet dared to be hopeful for. Mimi is momentarily taken aback as the illusions of the Zeroth are shaken for just a moment by Mimi¡¯s realization that Eve is a woman. Before such a thing can be confronted, Kay interrupts the two. The shock and the confusion of these feelings mix with the awkward feelings of Kay somehow leading Eve fainting.


    The morning comes along with dread of the day to follow such a night as before. Eve escapes into her mind to visit Rei. What she finds waiting, was Rei, a Rei, but not her Rei. This Rei greets her, teeth revealed under a scornful smile. The toothful smile reaches ear to ear, forcing Eve to retreat. With the walls of this dark world at her back, Eve is frozen in fear before a voice splits the realm. Her name flows from the lips of her Rei. Rei flows from above and lands, with the false Rei sliced in ¡®twane.


    She isn¡¯t able to get her grounds, or recover her mind before Rei is forcing Eve to run, telling her to leave this world. Rei promises to protect Eve against all that opposes her before forcing her out of the world, along with a sinister comment about ¡°her¡± coming.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Eve comes to, violently, in the real world. Rose happens in just in time to find Eve in a sorry state. She checks on Eve, only for Eve to return her kindness with a rejection. The world rejects Eve, and she succumbs to a faint feeling of rushing blood and nausea.


    Days go by, with none in remembrance, a time lost to Eve. She remembers, then forgets, and remembers again, only to remember that this time, she will remember it all. The loop, the cycle continues. It¡¯s in these moments of lucidity that Eve realizes something terrible has happened, is happening.


    Eons pass, or perhaps mere moments; yet all the same, a tiny buzz flutters within Eve¡¯s mind. Her name echoes within this trapped world. Someone calls for her. It¡¯s warm and soothing, unknown and unreachable.


    It¡¯s within this voice, lost in this world, that Eve forgets who those outside of her are - forgets whose tears are whose, and who they fall for. She becomes determined to follow a new path, to kill all who exist, for they are parasites.


    But as she loses all that she is, Rei appears within her and seeminglygives her life to save Eve, who vows that, though she is certain not to remember, she will fight harder for those who shed tears for her, and for Rei''s sacrifice.


    Eve gains full consciousness for the first time since that night that almost ended with Mimi. All the Valkyries are there to greet her with tears before they all turn on Nina, and blame her for everything that has happened.


    Interrupting their squabbles, Eve asks and learns that the violence throughout the city has escalated and just outside their manor, the guards are hauling away hooligans. The urge for true rest washes over her and at Nina''s insistence, she sleeps, only waking once to hear Kay leaving the area.


    The following day, feeling one-hundred percent again, Eve attends class and decides to visit Nina during her first set of breaks. Unexpecting this intrusion, Nina finds some of her research papers scattering across the ground and landing at Eve''s feet. Eve doesn''t mean to, but key words stick out to her as she picks the paper up. This perks her curiosity, forcing her to read what follows: Notes on the events of the past few days, her death¡­ and using the Valkyries in an experiment to further bind their souls to Eve in orderto resuscitate her consciousness.


    Feelings of guilt and betrayal assault Eve, and she runs - her destination clear. She meets with Dom and finally informs him of everything she could, including how Nina was working on finding her a way home. She all but forces Dom to cooperate from that moment on in helping the ostracized Nina, in return for helping Dom with his own research in discovering who the Zeroth Knight truly is.


    Of course the day goes by with Eve''s mind in a haze, wondering if her interpretation of Nina''s research was correct, if she had truly died. She thinks on what it means to have had the Valkyries souls bound to her own, and decides to visit the library, to ask Kyle to help her research it all.


    After assuring Kyle that she means no harm to Nina, Eve is lead to a room with a book none have ever read and there, she learns of the history of Nina and why she is ostracized from polite society.


    Hundreds of years ago, Arsea was thrown into a civil war as the citizens demanded blood; their desires and deeds were twisted beyond the natural and the Zeroth Knight, as well as Azrael Von Vvesson, Nina¡¯s husband, fought back and brought the war to its end.


    However, the peace was short-lived as Azreal was gradually twisted by the unknown force just the same as the others. That force was learned to be the product of creatures known as, ¡°Beta.¡± These creatures twisted the jealousy within Azrael, which stemmed from the fame the Zeroth Knight carries.


    Nina turns on her husband and sides with the Zeroth Knight, binding the Valkyries souls to him, giving them all powers beyond their mortal shells. When combined with what experiments she did to herself, the women closest to the Zeroth Knight and Nina, were powerful beyond measure.


    Little could be done in the face of fate, however, and though Azrael fell, so too did Zero succumb to his wounds¡­ taking the bound Valkyries with him to death.


    Though recognized in her service to bring about an end to the bloodshed, Nina still carried too much responsibility for its origins and so was banished from polite society and was hated for generations to come - as her life would now be long due to the changes brought upon herself.


    The realization soon dawns on Eve that the author of this ancient text - from some three hundred years ago - was a distant relative of the librarian Kyle Bartholum. In a panic, Eve runs away to the training hall to blow off steam and fend off the the rising turmoil inside her mind.


    Hours pass in a blink of an eye, as Eve learns from Charlie - who watched over her for two hours. Eve hesitates in confiding in Charlie, but decides to discuss something else that had been weighing on her mind, her identity. In asking Charlie if she would miss her if she were to leave, Charlie replies with a kiss. Afterward, Charlie pulls Eve away to meet with her wives as they board the train home. Before they do so however, Mimi breaks up a standoff between Kay and Charlie, the former being angry at the insinuation Charlie proposes for why Eve was so late to catch up with them.


    However, as they all board the train home, Kay leaves without a word. Eve is unable to sleep that night as worry over Kay eats at her. Just before breakfast time Mimi and Rose bursts into Eve¡¯s room to tell her of a royal being assassinated, and that breakfast was ready. Upon being left alone, Eve begins to change and only realizes Kay is there as she¡¯s topless. To punish Kay, Eve pushes herself on her, resulting in a momentary realization in Kay, that Eve is a female. This scares Kay in a way Eve has rarely seen, causing her to run away.


    Later on Eve finds herself in the clearing she usually trains with Mimi at and lets out even more of her pent up frustrations on defenseless trees until she can no longer stand. A little later, she returns to the manor with Mimi only to learn that Kay has once again disappeared abruptly. It isn¡¯t long before sleep takes her, and Eve awakes to find Kay sleeping on the sofa with her.


    Voltin, Rose¡¯s son, comes crashing in before long and demands they play with him. Eve and Kay oblige him and spend their afternoon with him. It¡¯s only later that night, just before dinner, that Kay slips out again and Eve decides to follow her. Kay¡¯s destination was none other than a mansion of a noble. Upon learning this, Eve makes her way home in time for dawn. Just a moment afterwards a knock rings at the door with a postman carrying a summons by the Consulate at the Academy. Kay arrives shortly after, who is confronted by an angry Eve who demands answers once their business at the school has concluded.


    The city¡¯s populace is tense; guards are posted at every street corner and the entire city carries a tense, near-tangible stress. As the group crosses the courtyard a giant, black flower draws Eve¡¯s attention. An electric shock courses through her, yet does not hurt her, upon contact with the flower. The one within Eve¡¯s shadow, Gee, screams and destroys the flower. Just then, all the guards in the area turn on the girls and attacks them.


    The battle is over quickly enough as nothing can stand against the combined might of the Valkyries. Dom and a hulking man quarantine the area quick enough and determine that the guards were Outlanders, belonging to the rebels who live in the one area the kingdom of Arsea doesn¡¯t control, the Outerlands.


    Inside the Consulate for the first time, Eve is introduced to the Knights Ten, the ones in charge of running the country when the One King finds himself too busy to reign supreme. The First Knight¡¯s seat was still empty as Fennis¡¯ position was never replaced upon his banishment.


    Knight Two is Gableal Throughdon, the hulk of a man from before. Getting lost in her own thoughts, Eve rudely misses the next few knights and only comes back to her senses in time for Knight Six to introduce herself, Kagura Mitsuki. At the end of the line was Knight Ten, Talim A¡¯skar.


    At this meeting, they inform Eve that Fennis not only hasn¡¯t been replaced, but that no one has taken over command of his troops. Ultimately, this means a significant portion of the kingdom¡¯s troops have been doing nothing as everything slowly descends into chaos.


    Upon request, Eve decides what is to be done. She suggests moving all the current Knights up one seat and bringing Charlotte Rodiger in as the new Knight Ten. There are murmurs of disbelief at the audacity of bringing a commoner to such a level, but ultimately the Zeroth Knight gets her way.


    Afterward, Eve finally commences with introducing Dom to Nina¡¯s research into her path home. Together, they vow to help one another for their own reasons, but ultimately it benefits Eve all the same. Following that, Eve decides to inform Charlie of what has transpired, wanting to be the one to break the news to Charlie first.


    Upon the lunch bell, Eve makes her way to the girls for some food only to witness guards flooding from the Academy into the streets. The group decides to follow to witness what is happening. A group of rioters stand at the gates clamoring about this and that. In order to prevent Eve from getting involved, Rose saunters towards the group of peasants and guards. Rose releases a power Eve had never seen and within seconds every guard and rioter lay collapsed but alive, including Rose. Instead of helping with the mess, Kay leaves the group much to Eve¡¯s fury.


    Upon returning, Eve confronts Kay and demands an end to everything and she nearly gets it as a raven, Kay¡¯s messenger, arrives in time to give her another target. Eve fights for the letter writ with a single name, a single target: Ninavin Von Vvesson. Immediately Kay attacks Eve, aiming to disable her. Eve manages to fend for herself well at first but is inevitably over taken and passes out.


    Within the darkness, Rei finally returns and warns Eve to awaken or else Kay will take Nina¡¯s life. A moment is given for a hug between the two, and then Eve awakens and makes her way to Nina¡¯s lab only to realize that the fighting she can hear is coming from the rooftop.


    A battle is raging and Eve involves herself only to eventually take out the bird that was giving Kay her messages. Amongst it all, Mimi and Rose find themselves on the rooftop and Rose¡¯s power once again interrupts everything and Eve convinces herself that Rose is the Vargar of Ice due to the cold she keeps feeling.


    Kay falls to the ground with the now-frozen bird within her arms and Nina threatens to have Kay executed for what she¡¯s tried and only relents with Eve¡¯s pleading. A night passes with a series of events only for the morning to come and Eve makes her way to Nina¡¯s lab and calls her out for coughing up blood despite not being hit. She then questions Nina about what she had read as well as the titles she keeps hearing: Silence, Moderator, Knight, Loyalty, Mother, Temper, Queen, and Scribe.


    Instead of giving any direct answers, Nina gives in to the lust that slowly twists her mind due to Eve and they embrace for a moment before Eve recovers herself enough to press for answers once again. Nina admits to being the one who destroyed every tome she could find related to the wars of the past.


    Nina also admits that Eve did die once and using the Valkyries¡¯ souls to bring her back by tethering them to her using threads of fate that connects them all. Before the conversation can proceed further, the door opens and Rose catches the girls in a cuddled position, bringing down the ire of all the Valkyries.


    The Valkyries and Eve make their way to the nursing room Kay was placed in last night. She hadn¡¯t moved or eaten in all that time. Later the next morning, as the women contemplate what to do, Talim shows up with a mysterious paper and left. Within its contents was the address to a building, an abandoned orphanage called, ¡°Arcadia Orphanage.¡± Within its confines, the only thing of note was whatlooked to be a book.


    A book that, on later inspection by Dom, can¡¯t easily be read. He explains to Eve what he knows of the events of the orphanage, Arcadia is better heard from Kay herself. However, Kay still had shown no signs of life and Eve decides it¡¯s time for drastic measures to snap Kay out of it. Pulling Kay outside she shows Kay to a hyper Voltin.


    Kay has no choice but to play with Voltin and lessen her own depression. Kay threatenly tells Eve to meet her on the rooftop later that night. When they meet later on that night, there is no fighting the way Eve envisioned. Instead, Kay apologizes for how she had been acting. The women take a seat together and stare up towards the stars as Kay explains her past. At the orphanage, a man and his goons raided the place requesting that the orphanage mother, ¡°Mah¡¯lum¡± sell them their youngest children - especially the young women. Mah¡¯lum refused. Having none of that, the man and his people kidnapped everyone they could and took Mah¡¯lum¡¯s life.


    Kay, who managed to escape, found the men celebrating a few days later in a local tavern. In an act of revenge, Kay sealed all exits and burned the tavern to the ground with that horrendous man and his people inside¡­ as well as all the innocent bystanders and patrons of the tavern. Her complete disregard for taking so many innocent lives at the cost of her revenge gained the attention of a woman named, ¡°Ame.¡± She was the leader of the Arkadastic Order, ArkO for short. They were the best trained killers and assassins in the world.


    It was only with Ame insistence that Kay left the Order to join the duties of the Valkyries. When Kay was able to reach out to Ame again, she was gone. Assuming she died, Kay lead her life with a somber cloud hanging over her head. But the raven, now frozen, was Ame¡¯s way of assigning targets. With the bird active, so too must Ame have been alive.


    For a moment, jealousy rages through Eve at the thought of her Kay being in love with another. But upon figuring out Eve¡¯s worry, Kay reassures her with a kiss. Their newfound passion doesn¡¯t last long however, as they are interrupted by the city being set alite. When they meet up with the Valkyries and the rest of the top figures of the Academy, Eve and the others are told to return to their quarters while the Knights, including Charlotte, go off to quell the rebellion and put the flames down.


    This doesn¡¯t set well with Eve but she is forced to deal with the inconsistencies of her title once again. She sits above all others with power to bring about change but is not allowed to act upon such desires as her place is to be an outsider. Even after consulting Dom, she finds herself no closer to an answer¡­ with only the desire to run and find a way home remaining.


    Moving to Nina¡¯s lab next, things with Nina are cut short as the walls of the Academy collapses around them and nightmare gains corporeal nature in the form of monstrosity from time immemorial similar to the beasts of Nina¡¯s past. The Beta rages and its twisted, contorted form smashes Eve and blows Nina away. Eve¡¯s body repairs itself - a gift of the Zeroth Knight title - but Nina needs no such thing as she releases power not seen in over three hundred years. Wielding elements as weapons she is able to bring the beast down successfully enough.


    As the beast falls, so too does Nina. Her life seeminglyends for a moment before the breath of the divine returns to her. Yet a happier, and all together worse, set of events follow as Nina reveals a ring, a gadget she invented to help take Eve home. However, it requires a concentration of aether that the natural world cannot so easily offer and so Eve comes to a crossroads. She must leave now if she wishes to finally return home, but she is given no time to say goodbye to the others. However, at Nina¡¯s urging she finally takes the leap and dives through the portal to the one place she has dreamt of for so long - home. In doing so, Eve would sever her binds with the others, allowing their lives to return to normal now that she was no longer around to manipulate their fates.


    Except when she arrives, the world overloads her sensesand she¡¯s forced to rest in a park. It¡¯s only when she awakens later that she realizes she¡¯s laying with her head in a Gee¡¯s lap. Gee had somehow came to Eve¡¯s world with her as she slept in Eve¡¯s shadow.


    Eve decides to head home with Gee in tow only to be met by her grandfather who harbors many emotions for Eve. Sadness at having missed her, happiness of her return, and anger of the secrets that Eve can never reveal. Ultimately he lets Gee stay there with them, who is more than happy to come on to Eve. She allows it, as usual and yet realizes that without the Zeroth Knight¡¯s influence, she no longer ¡°feels¡± for the woman. She learned that six months had passed in her world whereas over a year passed in Arsea.


    In the morning, Eve decides to practice her kata, her martial art forms, only for her grandpa to find her. He¡¯s confused over where she learned the style she now knew and yet once again Eve cannot speak the truth.


    Eve returns to school and tries her best to act casual but her, now, more suave personality is used to calm the teacher down and to divert questions related to whereabouts the past six months.


    On the roof of the school, Eve converses with Jamie and realizes there is a memory at the forefront of her mind just out of sight that she can just about reach. She ponders on it while having Jamie explain the events of the day that led to Rachel¡¯s death once again. She realizes a darkness had hidden itself from her that day. It clung to Rachel as she screamed about the situation not being what Eve thought it was as she threw herself off the roof.


    Later on, Eve inquires about the status of ¡°Him¡± to which Jamie seemed confused. She didn¡¯t appear to understand who Eve referred to. Deciding they should catch up, Jamie offers to cook Eve dinner that night. As they headed toward her home, a roaming group of people warn the girls of the coming of Gehenna. Such an act scares Jamie to bits and Eve tells the group off.


    When they arrive at Jamie¡¯s home, she heads to the kitchen to cook as Even rests in Jamie¡¯s room. In doing so, she allows her mind to wander between thoughts of Rei and how much she missed her.


    After laying out the food, Jamie informs Eve of a story she wanted to speak of. The story was long, detailed, varied, and discussed a girl from Jamie¡¯s past. That is, a woman named Rei that she met at the river behind the school. For years the two shared conversations - mostly from Jamie¡¯s end - until Eve¡¯s name was finally brought up. After that, the two girls¡¯ time was wholly consumed by the topic of Eve. This was some of the happiest times Jamie ever had, times that ended when Rei upped and disappeared the day Eve was taken to Arsea.


    The conversations of the night ends with Eve once again asking about ¡°Him¡± and once again Jamie not knowing who she was referring to.


    At school the next day, Eve finds herself oddly popular. From Jamie¡¯s teasing, it seems it was because of the sudden aura of charm, and her killer athletic abilities attracting everyone. Between classes, Eve decides to check out the town¡¯s library; for what? She did not know.


    But once there, she is greeted by a kindly old man who offers his assistance. Not knowing what to research, Eve blurts out the first thing that comes to mind - Gehenna. The old man is more than willing to show her to the section related to old-world mythologies and religions. When they arrive at the area in question, the old man dismisses himself after giving up his name¡­ ¡°Bartholum.¡± This startles Eve, who finds herself alone when she turns around. Could the name have been a coincidence?


    The books on the subject of Gehenna tell of old stories from a different time in human history and ultimately makes Eve question the goodness inside of herself. Furthermore, they remind her of a conversation with Rei in which she spoke of existing, but in another world. Could that have been the truth, and that all people could possibly exist in separate worlds?


    That night, as they lay in bed, Eve discusses the book with Gee who dismisses it disinterestedly.


    The following morning, her grandfather reveals the truth of Eve¡¯s origin. She was not the birth-child of her parents. Instead, they had found her simplylaying on their bed when they came home from their honeymoon. They decided to raise her as their own. Likewise, her grandfather carried a message he heard as a child, and figures it was meant for Eve. A woman with yellow hair spoke as thus: ¡°The one you are searching for is where it all began.¡±


    At this, Eve and her grandfather both knew Eve¡¯s destiny would take her away again¡­ and they both knew this would be the last time. Eve gives her grandfather her love and tells him goodbye. Her destination was where it all truly began;the place she sought with the person she sought, was the market square she was heading towards when Arsea took her.


    Just outside the house, Gee argues with Eve about returning, trying to prevent her from doing so. But Eve refuses and acknowledges what she had done, she had abandoned the people she loved most during their hour of need and she would return to them.


    However, it is not ¡°Him¡± who she finds there. Instead, it¡¯s Rei. However, something was off. It was a girl whom she cared for so, but the girl did not know of Eve except by the stories Jamie had spoken of. Rei informs Eve that she is Rei, but not the Rei that Eve knew and that all people existed multiple lives in multiple worlds, confirming Eve¡¯s earlier theory. They exchange sudden feelings for one another, and portals open up all around them. Eve knew that despite the feelings for the virtual stranger before her, that the person she loved most was awaiting her return in Arsea. But who was it that had captured her heart so? Each girl flashed across her mind and she realized the truth. She knew she had to return and so gives this world¡¯s Rei a final farewell before sending herself through the portal back to Arsea.


    Only, things are not as peaceful, were they able to be called as such,as when she left. Eve arrives just in time to join a battle between guards and rioters. She fights with all her strength, meeting each of the Valkyries and Charlottein turn. Fate decided to never end her cruelness towards Eve as none of the women recognized her. Indeed, they spoke of the Zeroth Knight being elsewhere, holding off the Eld there. The Eld where humans turned by the monstrosities of old, the creatures that almost took Nina from her: Beta.


    During this time, Eve finds Nina just in time to see her at the mercy of Beta. Her attempt at intervention worsens the situation and Eve receives wounds that don¡¯t seem to heal nearly as fast as they did before. Seeing Nina in pain, all she wanted was to save that girl. Yet all the Valkyries were being pushed to their limitsas well. With all hope lost, Gee makes her appearance; Eve believes her the saint, the savior. Little did she know... the sinner, the slayer was before her.


    Gee destroyed Beta as she approached Nina, and proclaimed herself for all the world to hear. Her name wasas such: Gehenna, Queen of the Beta. With one fell swoop of her arm, Nina was beheaded. A rage and sorrow never beforeexperienced by a mortal erupts from Eve, bathing the world in white.

 1 - Nightmare (1)

    <h1 style="text-align: center">Nightmare (1)</h1>


    I lost all that I am that day. The nightmares are maddening. Within them lays contorted images of Nina in all her forms, perverted in monstrous ways. Nothing of the girl I knew, the friend I kept, remained. She mocks me and tasks me with odds and ends that always result in gruesome dispatches from her mortal coil.


    All of that falls from my mind as I scream myself awake for the umpteenth time this week. My wounds have hardly healed the way they did before¨Cfaster than a normal person¡¯s yes, although much slower than before leaving this world and returning home.


    A voice shouts into the carriage carrying me.


    ¡°Shut up in there, would you?¡±


    Inwardly, I groan. My noise is but a reflex, the result of the horrors that plague my sleep every time I close my eyes. I¡¯m not awake veryoften, although when I am, I dread the inevitable slumber that will take me over once more.


    From what I¡¯ve gathered in my rare moments of lucidity, I¡¯m being taken north, to a camp ran by the Outlanders¨Creal ones, not what everyone believed me to be in the beginning.


    That was so long ago¡­


    I wake again with a start. My mind is instantly clear, and my body tenses. A quick glance at my surroundings tells me I¡¯m in some kind of tent. Just then, the front flaps open and a man appears. I¡¯m instantly on my feet and take a swing at the stranger. He stumbles out of the tent from the force of my punch. His yell seems to alert others, and before long, I¡¯m surrounded. The wind is sharp, and the cold¡¯s bite pierces me to my bones. One woman comes at me from the back, I take out as I spin, landing my shin on her ribs. I turn back in time to grab a man¡¯s outstretched hand.


    Using his weight against him, I pull him forward and kick his legs out from under him. Two more people attack me at once. I lean back in time to avoid a jab from my right, then duck to avoid a haymaker from the left. I kick out and take out the second attacker¡¯s legs, then shift my weight forward into a roll. As I stand, a woman¡¯s fist meets my face. I jerk back, then forward again as her other fist rams into my stomach. The woman with long, black hair tries to bring her fists down on the back of my head and I raise my hands in defense. She wasn¡¯t expecting this, and hesitates after meeting my guard. I lash out with a tackle and bring her to the ground.


    I mount her, and using all of my weight, bring down my punches on her cheek. Before I can release another blow, arms wrap around me and pull me up. I struggle with all of my strength, however, the person¡¯s grip is unyielding.


    ¡°Calm down, girl,¡± the person behind me demands. I recognize that voice.


    Feeling me stiffen, the arms release me. I turn around just in time to shout in surprise.


    ¡°Fennis!¡±


    There he stands, his blue hair, even longer than when I saw him last. He wears a cocky grin, yet it carries a little something different from before. Our past still assails me as if it happened just yesterday. I can¡¯t stop my body¡¯s reaction and shoot out my left fist. His head jerks to the side as I land my blow, but makes no other movement. The moment it happens, though, I sense the surrounding air change.


    Every single person around us takes on an aura of pure violence. They all stare at me like dogs, ready for the kill. I recognize these expressions and this atmosphere, however, I¡¯ve never had it directed my way. This feels like¡­


    ¡°Zero,¡± someone shouts to our side. Amethyst hair lies atop the head, from which the words escape.


    ¡°Mimi¡­¡± I let slip as she bounces up to us. I¡¯m so happy, happier than I¡¯ve been in so long. Mimi recognizes me. In my joy, I engulf her in a hug as she approaches us.


    ¡°Man lady. It¡¯s one emotion after another with you. You¡¯re gonna give us whiplash,¡± she teases.


    ¡°What?¡± I ask. Out of shock, I release her and she gives me her trademark toothy grin. She turns to Fennis and reaches out, cupping his face as if it was something fragile and precious.


    ¡°Zero, how¡¯re you feeling? I told you she was a firecracker.¡± Mimi wipes the blood from Fennis and then laps it up off her fingers.


    ¡°What? Zero?¡± I ask, my voice breaking as it leaves me.


    ¡°How nice to see you again¡­ girl,¡± Fennis says while moving Mimi away from himself, with more gentleness than I would have thought him to be capable.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Zero, the Zeroth Knight.¡±


    My senses dull and my blood halts. ¡°You¡­ Fennis¡­ what?¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s Fennis?¡± Mimi asks him with a cheeky smile and eyes that shine.


    ¡°Who knows? A ghost maybe,¡± he responds to her, his eyes never leaving me. ¡°We have much to discuss, girl. Come.¡± He turns and walks away from me.


    This can¡¯t be real. This can¡¯t be¡­ real. Have I lost even my fake identity? What am I even doing here? What happened?


    Wait, what about Nina?


    ¡°Wait! Nina! Where¡¯s Nina?¡± I scream at his back.


    ¡°Dead, I would guess. Hard to stay alive without a head.¡±


    His form disappears into a massive tent. His words smash me and seize my breath.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t keep Zero waiting. He has a temper,¡± the girl I had on the ground says while brushing off her clothes. I pay her no mind as I allow leaden steps to carry me into this living nightmare.


    When I enter the tent, I see Fennis and Gabe, along with some people I don¡¯t recognize, surrounding a table. All eyes are on me in an instant and my body responsively tenses.


    ¡°Good of you to join us,¡± Fennis says, moving a piece on the table. ¡°Here, we can take them at the Harrows.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, the Harrows is filled with Beta. Better to meet them here,¡± an older man, with a craggy face that I do not recognize, argues while setting another piece down.


    ¡°Domion Valley. The Outlanders have scout towers set up at both ends, allowing us to set an ambush. What we lose in ground from allowing them that close, we make up with surprise.¡±


    Fennis gives a wicked smile. ¡°I knew there was a reason I kept you around. Then we use the momentum to take back our lost ground and gain more.¡±


    The old man gives a nod. When the girl behind me clears her throat, everyone again turns toward me.


    ¡°Yes, yes Kagura, I know,¡± says Fennis.


    ¡°Kagura? Knight Six?¡± I ask as I turn around. Sure enough, before me stands the woman I met at the Consulate.


    ¡°Heh. You didn¡¯t know? You throw a mean punch for someone so scrawny,¡± she takes a wordy jab at me.


    ¡°What about Nina? What happened?¡±


    Again, the question ekes out of me, the despair taints my voice in a tangible form.


    ¡°Must I repeat myself? She¡¯s-¡±


    ¡°No,¡± I scream. It can¡¯t be true!


    It can¡¯t. I fall to my knees. That was only a nightmare.


    It cannot be real. Even in this unreal world, that has to be especially so. It can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be, it can¡¯t be.


    I rock back and forth, muttering to myself that this must all be a lie. I hear Fennis dismiss everyone else in the tent. They resist at first. His anger eventually forces them to flee in as much terror, as loyalty.


    ¡°Up, girl.¡±


    Fennis commands me, I defy by staying in my position. The despair is too heavy. My body is finished. My mind is in tatters. Nina, my Nina.


    ¡°If only I had known¡­ if I had known Gee was capable of such things... if I had known that she was evil¡­ had I known more about her, I could have stopped all of this.¡± My tears pour from my eyes, yet my sins run deeper.


    ¡°Where is that stubborn bitch who ruined my life?¡± Fennis shoots at me.


    ¡°You''re out of your fucking mind. That doesn''t matter. Nina is¡­ she¡¯s¡­ it''s my fault.¡±


    ¡°You brought your sword betwixt her neck and shoulders?¡±


    ¡°What? No! I-"


    Fennis reaches down and pulls me up by my shirt. He lifts me until my toes barely touch the ground.


    ¡°Then it is not your godsdamn fault. Now get your shit together, because we have more to do. Or are the bonds you made here all so easily discarded?¡±


    After speaking, he shoves me back, forcing me to stumble.


    ¡°What are you talking about? What could you possibly know about me?¡±


    ¡°You are a fool, girl. You became the Title by happenstance, whereas I trained for it. For my entire life, I was destined to be the best, to be at the top, and you took that from me. Play not at being above me. I could see through you from the moment we met. You are nothing more than some child from another plane.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ well, yes, but no one else has ever remembered anything, so how could you?¡±


    ¡°It matters not how. It matters that your skills are necessary, no matter how much it may make me cringe to say so. You came back to this world for a reason, yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ yes? Maybe? I don¡¯t know anymore. I... I killed-¡± I¡¯m interrupted by a fierce straight blow to my face.


    My body jerks back as I crash to the floor, my vision goes white.


    ¡°You shut your whore mouth, knave! I will force you to save these people, whatever it takes. Even if it means throwing you into a crowd of Beta.¡±


    I use what strength I have to sit up. ¡°You son of a bitch.¡±


    ¡°You will regret sparing me all the more so now that you cannot beat me. Get up! I¡¯m calling the others back.¡±


    He walks past me and out of the tent. By the time I¡¯m standing, everyone is making their way back inside. Most of them barely offer me a glance as they reclaim their spots. Only Kagura gives me a squeeze on the shoulder, acknowledging that I am even there.

 2 - Nightmare (2)

    Nightmare (2)


    ¡°Ladies, gentlemen, let¡¯s go through all the bullshit from the beginning post-haste. We have a newcomer to catch up.¡±


    Fennis¡¯ words catch me off guard. I can¡¯t even get a word out before he¡¯s gesturing to his side. I cautiously approach him, before turning to face everyone at the table.


    ¡°How long were you gone, girl?¡± he asks me.


    ¡°A few weeks? A month, at most.¡± I try to do the calculations in my head, but I was too exhausted most of the time to really take note of the date. It doesn¡¯t help that my nerves are firing like mad, signaling for me to run from all the hostility.


    ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late, I was getting the report from the others,¡± Mimi says, entering the tent.


    When she meets my eyes, she gives me that silly grin of hers. Her beautiful amethyst hair is done in a simple ponytail and hangs down her back. She wearing a beautiful looking jerkin with the Academy symbol on it¨Ca man receiving a fruit from another. Her outfit ends in some light leather-like shin and arm guards. It¡¯s simple, and offers a lot of mobility, perfect for Mimi.


    At some point when I was distracted in my thoughts, she made her way around the others, and to us. She puts a hand on Fennis¡¯ chest, and for a moment, she frowns. A moment later, her smile is back as she runs her hand up to Fennis¡¯ face.


    ¡°Kay is out in the field, luring the Beta and the Eld in. They¡¯ll be here by morning. Charlie is doing clean up at the Academy, and bringing all of the supplies she can. She¡¯ll meet us at the eve of battle.¡±


    ¡°Eld?¡± I ask. I haven¡¯t heard that name.


    ¡°The name for the humans who turn,¡± Fennis tells me dismissively.


    With that, Mimi pulls Fennis down, into a kiss. My body snaps and I swear to the gods that I can physically feel my anger emanating out of me.


    ¡°Fire! There¡¯s a fire! Get buckets!¡± A woman screams. The tent¡¯s edge starts to smolder as it begins to burn. Fennis breaks from Mimi, and looks directly at me. I can¡¯t be asked to care about the fire. If it was my fault, it was pathetic and weak. Even so, I have never been this furious in my life. I lose Nina, and now I¡¯ve lost Mimi. It stands to reason I¡¯ve lost the rest, too, and I lost them to Fennis, of all people. I will fucking-


    ¡°Kill me?¡± he says.


    I gasp. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I would say better have tried, and failed, but I suppose that would be a lie.¡±


    I look away from them both and watch as the others put out the small fire. ¡°What was that about? Did you do that, um¡­¡± Mimi asks, faltering to recall my name.


    My anger forces itself out as I all but lose myself on her, ¡°Eve.¡±


    Her eyes widen but don¡¯t lose their mischievous charm. She gives Fennis a squeeze on the arm, then me a wink before leaving the tent.


    ¡°No, she doesn¡¯t stay for strategy. She says she¡¯s much better at breaking stuff.¡± Fennis tells me.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a terrible liar. As I was saying before that little¡­ accident, it has been approximately four months since I became the Zeroth, thus you left us.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How do you know I left?¡±


    ¡°The Zeroth is only passed on death and voluntary passage. Well, we ruled out the latter, didn¡¯t we?¡± His reference to our fight from before causes a pang of guilt in me.


    ¡°Fennis, you know I tried to give it up. Is this ok to talk about with¡­?¡± I look over at the group before us.


    ¡°The plebeians will forget before we even change topics. You should know this well. As I said, death, however, would seem to not be the only other option available. One would assume your discontinued existence in this world would serve topass the Title. You stand before me, alive, or what could be called alive. Thus, it is obvious you left us. How, I do not know, nor do I care.¡±


    The peanut gallery is offering us some prettyintense glares, there Fennis. I hope you¡¯re right that they forget about this¡­


    ¡°So, it¡¯s been four months. Okay, so? I¡¯ve missed a lot, clearly.¡±


    He nods and Gabe speaks up, ¡°Approximately four months ago, the civilians¡¯ bloodlust shot up. They started killing each other en masse. When the guards moved in, they turned on them. Needless to say, it had taken months to get it under control, and right before we finished, you show up, that godsdamn queen shows up, and the Beta get released into our world.¡± He shoots me an accusatory glare.


    ¡°Shut your mouth, you ape. she has nothing to do with the Beta. The Queen does.¡±


    ¡°It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that they¡¯re overwhelming us. And what numbers they lack in some areas are fortified by civilians gone mad,¡± Kagura speaks up.


    ¡°We just need to head to the Academy and kill that bitch Queen. Problem solved.¡±


    ¡°You know it isn¡¯t that easy, Abiliath,¡± Kagura speaks to the woman¨CAbiliath, apparently. She¡¯s brown hair, peppered gray. It¡¯s actually strange to see someone with her age here in a room full of young warriors. Who am I to judge? Judging by how toned her body is, she¡¯s bound to be an accomplished fighter.


    ¡°Hah. We combine our forces and strike at the core. We cut out the heart, cut off the head, and burn the body. That will rid us of our problems the fastest,¡± she retorts to Kagura.


    ¡°You¡¯re out of your damn mind, you old bat. We don¡¯t have the numbers to gather our forces like that, and even if we did, there is no point in victory if you¡¯re the only one left standing.¡±


    She scoffs at Fennis¡¯ rebuke. ¡°I heard stories that you were a lot sweeter than this. My, this old woman never tires of seeing war bring out the true self.¡±


    ¡°Enough of your sophistry. If you aren¡¯t going to help, then keep your damnable mouth shut. Eve, what information do you have on the Beta?¡± Fennis redirects attention towards me, right as I was finally able to breath properly again. My breath hitches once again as all eyes turn my way.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know much more than you all do. My only other encounter with them was when I got to see¡­ Nina kill one before I, uh, went away. But¡­ I didread about them in a history book.¡±


    ¡°A historical account of the Beta? Nonsense.¡± Kagura doubts me.


    ¡°Enough. Eve, we will talk about this later. Mimi, escort her to her quarters. She is in need of rest. Tend to her as you would the love of your life.¡±


    Fennis sure as hell knows the worst possibleways to pick at my wounds.


    ¡°She might like that too much,¡± Mimi gives a wink, takes my arm, and leads me out. The second we¡¯re fairly alone, she slows our pace, and looks around.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry about Zero. Really, that was wrong of him. I don¡¯t know your story, stranger, but I know those eyes. They¡¯re familiar to me. Your pain is well documented.¡±


    I¡¯m taken aback for a moment, before I¡¯m able to respond. ¡°Mimi, can you tell me what happened four months ago to¡­ Zero. Like, can you talk about how he changed so much?¡±


    She looks at me in wonder, ¡°You must have known him, then? You have the right of it. He was a lot sweeter before the war, and a lot shyer. He was also easier to satiate. He¡¯s gotten a lot¡­ hungrier, in the meantime.¡±


    I¡¯m physically knocked back from the revelation. ¡°He¡­ did he hurt you?¡± Anger burns within me as an inferno, all the while, she laughs.


    ¡°Gods, no! We all tried coming on to him so much. He rejected us over and over. Then he changed, and we¡¯ve never been closer. Though I do admit that¡­ no, I shouldn¡¯t say anything more.¡±


    ¡°No, please. Tell me.¡±


    She stops us, and stares at me with a hard look. She looks around us again, ¡°Why is it thatyou are so curious? And why is it I find myself wishing to trust you? Odd, you¡¯re only a stranger.¡±

 3 - Nightmare (3)

    Nightmare (3)


    Mimi¡¯s words are breaking me down even further. She seems to pick up on that, but misunderstands me. ¡°Fine, fine. Look, just between us, ok?¡± She looks around the area again.


    ¡°It may sound silly, and delusional, gods, don¡¯t I know it! When I approached the others about it, I was surprised to find they had come to similar ideas.¡±


    ¡°And what are these ¡®ideas¡¯ you all came to?¡±


    Another glance around the area, and she pulls me back to a tree. ¡°Look, it¡¯s crazy okay? I swear to the gods I¡¯m not making this up.¡±


    ¡°Goddamnit it Mimi, I get it. Tell me already.¡±


    I slam her up against the tree, and rest my body on hers. The feeling of her contours is so nostalgic. She arches an eyebrow at me but I shake my head.


    ¡°What is it you realized?¡± She gives me her trademark toothy grin.


    ¡°Obviously it makes no sense, but¡­I think at some point¡­ the Zeroth well, was um-¡± I shoot her a glare and dig my body into her more. Red starts to coat her cheeks and her throat shows her swallowing.


    ¡°I think the Zeroth was a woman before becoming a man.¡± The surprise alone causes me to jump away from her, eyes wide.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s crazy, I know, but do you really have to act like that?¡± she asks.


    I shake my head at her and move back in.


    ¡°How long?¡± She tilts her head at me. ¡°How long did you know I- that Zero was a woman?¡± Her beautiful eyes dart up and to the left, as if replaying her life in her mind.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. Always? Never? It¡¯s hard to tell. It¡¯s more like, one day as the war started, a bunch of memories kind of popped into my head. They¡¯re blurry, and make little sense. Certain scenes doplay out, and what they have in common, even between the others, is the surprise of finding out that the Zeroth was a woman. I mean, that obviouslymakes no sense. A woman can¡¯t even be the Zeroth.¡±


    ¡°I see¡­¡± I say while backing up. ¡°Off to my tent then?¡±


    Mimi¡¯s brow furrows at my question. ¡°This way.¡± She storms off and I have to do my best to catch her.


    ¡°What of Rose and Kay?¡±


    Mimi looks over at me, ¡°Strange how you act so familiar with strangers. You¡¯re going to get yourself in trouble by doing that.¡±


    When we arrive at my tent, she opens it and shows me inside. ¡°Thanks,¡± I say, however she makes no move to leave. ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Hair like ember, loyalty falters,¡± she murmurs in a near-trance, causing my breath to catch in my throat. I reach up and grab her shoulders and shake her.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°What? Damn, you¡¯re fast! Let go of me!¡± she demands. I don¡¯t release her. I ask her again, and still she acts confused before forcing my hands from her.


    ¡°Get some sleep. You¡¯re going crazy. Fennis was right, you''re especially unrested.¡±


    ¡°What did you just say?¡± My hopes skyrocket.


    ¡°Go to sleep. Zero ordered it.¡± With that, she leaves my tent, and my hope falls to hell.

 4 - Battle Of Domion Valley (1)

    Battle Of Domion Valley (1)


    I awoke to the scent of food. Even depressed people living in a horrible, twisted version of reality still have to eat, I reminded myself.


    I notice that its still dark outside as my tent opens and Rose enters. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re awake. That simplifies things. Come, food is ready.¡±


    I feel my lips curl up when I see her. She looks as perfect as usual. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful,¡± I let slip from my lips.


    She blushes ever-so-slightly, ¡°Thank you. The food is good. Come.¡± She offers me her hand. I take it, and as I rise, I ask her about Dom.


    ¡°Domnis is on his way back. He has been taking care of something else, with Knight Nine, and the Record Keeper, Bartholum.¡±


    She leads me to a campfire being tended by Fennis and Mimi. As I approach, Fennis moves and offers me a seat. I raise an eyebrow at his courtesy and take the offered spotanyway. When Mimi hands me a bowl, I thank her, and turn to ask Fennis what this is really about


    ¡°You say you know of historical accounts of the Beta? Show me.¡± He orders.


    ¡°Firstof all, fuck you, Fennis. Second, I couldn''t even if I wanted to.¡±


    At that, I throw the contents of my bowl at him. Almost instantly, Mimi appears at my side and takes a swing at me. I reach up in time to stop her fist, and slide mine under her guard, squarely into her bottom rib. I would never have been able to perform such a maneuver if it wasn''t for knowing specific weaknesses of Mimi from all of our training together.


    The blow was unexpected and drops her to her knees. Not a moment passes before the whole camp is surrounding me as laughter cuts through the tension and catches us all off guard.


    ¡°My, to catch Mimelia, how impressive,¡± Fennis calls out.


    He¡¯s standing there, covered in that mushy excuse for food, and laughing fitfully. Eventually, Mimi attemptsto raise to her knees, holding her stomach.


    ¡°Oh, stop being a pussy,¡± Fennis mocks, using his foot to push Mimi back over. At this, the entire crowd laughs. A quick glance toward Rose shows she isn¡¯t laughing, and obviously, neither is Mimi.


    I explode into fury and storm up to Fennis, sending my fist directly to his stomach. His lungs let out their air as he falls to the ground. Immediately, someone else takes a swing at me. I dodge to the side and land a blow to the side of their face. Gabe, with a furrowed brow, tries to kick me, but he¡¯s slow and uncoordinated so dodging him is easy. It¡¯s when Kagura removes a dagger and rushes toward me I realize exactly what position I¡¯ve put myself in.


    Her slash barely misses my faceand she blocks my knee as I jab it toward her stomach. She produces another dagger and throws it at me. The pain I feel as it pierces my arm causes me to let down my guard, and she doesn¡¯t miss a beat to slam the hilt of her blade into my stomach. The moment she raises her dagger, aimed for my head, the air chills.


    Or perhaps, ¡°chills¡± is the wrong word. My soul feels like it¡¯s being torn out of me. Everyone around me clearlyfeels the same, and the crowd all falls to their knees. In the epicenter of it all stands Rose¨Cher eyes have lost their blue color, now reflecting a gray. Her hair braid has torn and her hair floats in the air, fanning around her head. She¡¯s terrifying in her beauty, so much so thatI force myself to stand. She seems to be taken aback by my movement and glares at me.


    Every step feels like I¡¯m losing a part of me, but I can¡¯t resist the need to push on.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    One step, I feel the memories of a birthday with my parents being stripped from me.


    Another, I lose out on my memory of the nightmare I had my first night here¨Cnot the contents of it, those are safe, but the act of having it¡­ gone.


    As I approach her, I feel a wall within my mind fall. I am able, for a moment, to grasp something I did not even know laid within my memories. It hits me with speed, causing the information to play before me like a movie, a blur, too much at once for me to catch all the details. I stood behind the wall, falling to my knees, a voice over me, telling me something.


    That is all I am able to gather before my outstretched hands make contact with Rose. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset, but you¡¯re hurting Mimi, and she¡¯s been hurt enough. If you have to kill me for hurting your false Zero, then do so. Leave the others out of it.¡±


    Rose¡¯s aura flickers in waves as it dissipates through me from our connected mouths. The surrounding area beginsto regain colorand life. The concentration of her power within metears at my being. The pain is everything and nothing, a cataclysmic mix of contradictions.


    Through us, a voice shouts. ¡°No!¡±


    The sword of my ever-watchful guardian, Rei, is brought down between us. I separate our lips before we can be sliced, and the power within me rushes to Rose. She screams as her gray eyes turn bloodshot and grabs her head. She falls to her knees, her mass of hair blanketing her form. To my left stands Rei, or rather, an image of Rei. When our eyes meet, she raises a corner of mouth in recognition before disappearing.


    In place of her, stands Fennis. He looks at me with pure rage. ¡°How lucky you are,¡± he sneers.


    ¡°What was that, Fennis?¡± I scan the surrounding area to see that no one else is standing. ¡°And how are you unscathed?¡±


    ¡°I would ask the same of you, but I care not. Your actions today are telling of your character. You almost started a riot inside my camp.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an asshole, you deserved it, and I would do it again.¡±


    Before he could comment, a horn blared in the distance.


    ¡°Shit, Kay¡¯s here. That means the Beta aren¡¯t far. This is your fault, girl. Now we have a weakened army. When this is over, I may kill you myself.¡±


    Indignant, I retort, ¡°We both know Rei won¡¯t let you.¡±


    His brow furrows and his glare sends a palpable wave of hatred through the air between us. He grinds his teeth and the audible crunch makes me wince.


    Before either of us can speak again, Kay appears from the surrounding woods. She briefly scans the area around us, and instinctually moves in front of Fennis.


    ¡°Down, you dog,¡± he tells her while shoving her to the side.


    Kay looks at him, confused, before turning her good eye toward me. I focus on her eye, or more specifically,the patch covering it. My poor Kay, what happened to her?


    With a single glance, she confirms what Fennis suspected¨Cthe Beta are coming.


    ¡°Rose, Mimi-¡± He reaches down and yanks Mimi up by her arm, sending a sideways glance my way. I¡¯m barely able to hold back my anger¡­ I know it isn¡¯t the time. ¡°You two, rally the entire camp. Rally everyone. We have a speech to give before we die this day.¡±


    Mimi¡¯s lacking energy but gives Fennis a nod. Rose makes no sign of movement, even after he prods her with the tip of his boot. I feel so bad for Rose and want nothing more than to help her.


    ¡°Whatever. She¡¯s worthless when you need her. Kay, go with Mimelia.¡±


    Kay nods and assists Mimi as she hobbles to safety. Fennis reaches out and takes my hand. ¡°Come, girl, today we make history.¡±


    Before I can comprehend what is happening, I¡¯m pulled through a crowd of people, and up a stand. Once we are at the top, we stand above enough onlookers to block out the horizon. Fennis drops my hand, and on this day, I feel it more than I ever have before, the disconnect telling me that this is it, this is how my whole world ends.


    Fennis approached the edge and spread his arms like a bird of prey. The echoes of the crowd blew through us, their admiration resembling that of a cult for their leader.


    At this moment, Fennis is as close to a god as he¡¯ll ever be. He chose this location perfectly; the voices echo and bounce around the mountains across the valley. As Fennis raises one hand and the crowd around us comes to an abrupt silence, he begins his speech. I stand ready to listen to the venom as it coats us all.

 5 - Battle Of Domion Valley (2)

    Battle Of Domion Valley (2)


    ¡°My men, my women, my beaten and bruised before me: You stand bloodied, but better; for you stand within the presence of your betters. I need no introduction, for I am your all and your nothing. I am the Zeroth, and I will see us through these trying times, and bring us toward a better tomorrow. I am only one man, and I need the bodies of those capable and willing. So I ask all of you this: Are you ready to die for me today?¡±


    The crowd erupts in a euphoric chant of allegiance. Fennis is a terrible creature, no better now than he was before. His exile taught him nothing and in this moment, he is what these people need. Not me, it was never me. I could never have rallied people to such an impossible cause. As the cheers subside, Fennis continues.


    ¡°We are but mortals, dancing to the tune of beings that we cannot comprehend. We are powerless in the face of the Beta. They are an unnatural force, excising their will against our own. Yet we are not without saviors for ourselves. For as mortal as we are, the enlightened ones of us have seen it for ourselves, the power loaned to us, in the form of a Saint. The gods smile on me so, they summoned from the aether, a true knight¡­ a Zeroth Knight¡¯s better. I stand here today, for all to bear witness, our hero of heroes-¡± Fennis slides an arm to his side, gesturing to me. I don¡¯t know what this is, but I comply. I approach his side, and he continues.


    ¡°I present for the world to acknowledge, Evangeline Sayagawa¨Cthe woman who will save our world!¡±


    Fennis drops to one knee before me. My expression surely is one no other human has ever worn. Before me, an ocean of people follows his example. Gabe, Kagura, Rose, Kay, and Mimi are before me, all on bended knee.


    This day, I have been made more than I am.


    This day, I carry the responsibility for the lives thatwe are about to forfeit, and the smile on Fennis¡¯ face tells me that this was his plan all along. He would rather fall in the books, as a humble man who passes the torch to a deity, than carry the responsibility of the world¡¯s demise. Fennis, as always, is a serpent.


    I do what they expect, and I smile to the crowd, reaching to my side, and tear my sword from the void - the space between the fabric of realities. I hold it high for the world to see, and it dissipates into a beautiful dust, for I am weak, unable to hold its form. Regardless of his speech, I am not the Zeroth or anything else, and I cannot save these people.


    As a horn sounds in the distance, Fennis calls the army to action. They rush into their formations and halt at the entrance to the valley. I stand to Fennis¡¯ side, surrounded by the Valkyries. Fennis raises his sword high and shouts for the lords and ladies, gods and goddesses, and the very devils themselves to hear.


    ¡°Save the person next to you, as they would in return. March.¡±


    In unison, everything moves. We rush down the valley, the wind ripping around us as we plunge deeper. By the time we near the bottom, the enemies blanket the horizon. I still don''t understand exactly what''s happening, although I understand one thing, and it''s enough for me¨Cthese sons of bitches killed Nina.


    I will never forgive them.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    When we meet the scouts at the entrance of the valley, I could see the details on the faces of the Beta horde. Fennis releases a scream that could pierce the heavens, ordering our charge.


    The wave of allies and beasts alike collide in a blur of mayhem. The moment I enter the fray, the world slows. I dodge and weave through trunks of arms and claws of torture. I swing the metal sword Fennis gave me, and with each swing a Beta falls. I dive deeper and deeper into the center of their mass.


    With each Beta I fell, all the Valkyries, except Rose, take down two. Rose is nowhere to be seen, perhaps she is still resting in the camp, trying to recover from whatever had happened to her.


    More impressive still is that for every two Mimi and Kay slay, Fennis lays waste to five. We may make short work of the vile creatures, but their numbers don''t stop. Corpses pile around us from friend and foe alike.


    Not long into the battle, my sword shatters against the teeth of a Beta. Fear consumes me as I stand defenseless against the beast. The others have their hands full and I am unarmed. It swings its talons at me, and I roll under it. Just in time, I regain my footing and jump to the side, to avoid the crater it has created where I stood only moments ago.


    My breath runsragged, and the chances of me getting out of this alive are slim, especially since I am not the Zeroth anymore. I am not important enough for others to turn to my aide, even with Fennis¡¯ proclamation. If anything, people are paying me even less attention than they otherwise would; they see me as something more powerful than I am.


    A new Beta comes at me from the side and stretches its neck to bite me. I¡¯m only able to avoid it by taking a hit from another Beta. Neither were good options, but not being serrated seemed more important, even though several of my ribs are now broken.


    These beasts are strong; they have nothing on the one Nina fought. Poor, poor Nina, done in by my own failings. I cannot die until I have destroyed Gee-Gehenna for what she has done.


    Both Beta charge at me and collide with one another as I summon what energy I can to escape. I can¡¯t keep this up. I¡¯m so tired. I can¡¯t sustain my sword¡¯s existence. I wonder if it has other applications?


    With both Beta fumbling to stand up, I reach into the void next to me. I pull my sword from itand immediately focus my intent. I visualize the energy of the sword going into my arms and legs. If I can¡¯t have a physical weapon, then perhaps I can maintain its energy longer. A third Beta tackles me from behind and I tumble into the first two.


    One slings its arm downand another shoots its head in a straight line, away from its body. Both collide with me simultaneously. My outstretched arms successfully block them. I shove the beasts back enough to slide out from between them.


    After a quick duck and roll, I¡¯m behind them. I punch forward, my fist sinking into one of the beast¡¯s legs. It howls as I pull my fist out of it, nearly stumbling backward. This power is not quite what I expected. My thoughts are cut short as another Beta stretches its head out to bite me. I clench my fist and send out a jab that shatters its teeth.


    I block the next swing and break the beast¡¯s arm. I fight and fight with this new energy around my arms and legs until, at the end, I stand victorious amongst a crowd of Beta, weaponless. I hear Kagura whistle in admiration in the distance, but all I can do is stare at my hands. The power is still here, fainter than before. Even with the power I have now, I feel invincible.


    I can do it. I can destroy the ones responsible for taking Nina from this world.


    My determination consumes me for a moment, and I imagine the aura turning black, which calls me back to the scene before me, with people all turned and looking my way. I stand on a hill of corpses above the others, and they stare on at me, broken, beaten, and, in most cases, dead.


    At this moment, I feel exhilaration like none before and raise my fist high. The energy leaves me, and the people I have grown to know stare up at me in wonder. Only Mimi, Kay, and Fennis was this far into the fray. Kagura and Gabe stand some hundred feet away, looking on as best they can.

 6 - Battle Of Domion Valley (3)

    Battle Of Domion Valley (3)


    My celebration is cut short¨Cwe are not done. The battle rages on behind us. We have split the enemy in two, its rear troops now decimated. The ones fighting against the core of our army remain.


    The energy within me begins to fade and I sway on my feet. Mimi approaches me and attempts to stabilize me. The look in her eyes is filled with a mix of emotions. She looks around the area and whistles.


    ¡°You''re amazing, Eve.¡±


    I shrug and try to pull myself away from her and she grabs my shoulders tightly.


    ¡°No way. You''ve done your part. Let''s get you somewhere safe for a bit.¡±


    ¡°I''m taking her somewhere to rest for a bit. We¡¯ll catch up later.¡± Mimi looks around for confirmation.


    The others nod and take off toward the armies at war as I try to protest again, ¡°That''s unnecessary, Mimi.¡±


    ¡°Shut it. Let''s go over there, there''s a small cave ahead. We can find shelter from the wind there.¡±


    I concede, knowing she¡¯s right. Even with adrenaline going through me, without the energy, I''m shivering. The power of the Zeroth Knight title, the power I receive from Rei, has been fading from me from the moment I returned to this world. ¡°Fine. But we have to get back to helping the others soon.¡±


    ¡°Soon, not yet.¡± She wraps my arm around her shoulders and leads me away from the battlefield.


    Despite our exhaustion and the fine layer of filth covering us both, my focus is drawn to my increasing pulse as my heart pounds in Mimi¡¯s presence. By the time we sit in the small cave, my nerves are frayed. I have to scoot away from Mimi before she notices. She hesitates for a moment, but seems to resist asking why I¡¯m so uptight. I take solace in our extra distance and lean my head against the wall. My breathing begins to slow, and I soon feel something uncomfortable.


    I open my eyes and look over to see Mimi staring at me. ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Ah. No. Nothing.¡± She looks away.


    I reach up one hand and grasp her chin, gently forcing her to look my way. ¡°What is it, Mimi?


    Her cheeks flush slightly as she stares at me. Small sparks dance behind her eyes. ¡°The way you fight. Where did you learn it?¡± she asks.


    I don''t know how to answer it. My hand drops from her chin and my words hesitate in my throat.


    ¡°From my grandfather, initially,¡± I finally say.


    ¡°And thereafter?¡±


    ¡°... Someone important to me, taught me.¡±


    ¡°What happened to them? Because that honestly looked a lot like my style, and I¡¯m self-taught. I¡¯ve only ever taught one person before.¡±


    Her words cut through me, sadness teases my heart and the tears fall. Mimi¡¯s face falls and her eyes shimmer. Tears fall free from her eyes too, mimicking my own. She brings her hand to her face. ¡°What? Why am I crying? Why are you crying? What¡¯s going on Eve?¡±


    I shake my head at her, and stand up.


    ¡°We have to go. Every minute, another person is taken from us.¡± I move past her and head toward the exit.


    ¡°Wait,¡± she grabs my arm. ¡°I can get us there faster.¡± She rubs her eyes clear of tears as she wraps her arm around my waist. In an instant, the scenery around us changes.


    ¡°Damn. I knew you were fast but¡­¡± I look around me.


    Below us, the two armies continue to clash. The Beta are making short work of our people. ¡°We have to help them, Mimi.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    She nods, and in a blink of an eye, we¡¯re behind the creatures and their ilk. I reach into the void, and the energy surrounds me. My arms and legs strengthen, my hair finally free of its ponytail. The wind whips around me and my eyes take on a small golden sheen. I am wholly me, yet I am still seeing myself from afar. I choose tobelieve that even if Rei is no longer with me, she is still supporting me. I must force Fennis to allow me to speak to her when this is over. For now, I can only nod to a blushing Mimi.


    ¡°O-of course. Let¡¯s do this, Eve. Lowest kill count has to run naked through the camp tonight!¡±


    Her words catch me off guard and she takes the chance to dash away, leaving a giggle on the wind. I shake my head. That¡¯s how it¡¯s going to be, huh?


    All I desire is to destroy Gehenna and all that she represents. With a small, dark veil flashing over me, I dive into the fray.


    Mimi quickly zaps through the Beta as I manage totake one down. My strength is still waning, and she¡¯s slowly gaining on me.


    I see Kay struggling to take on two Beta at once. Her daggers are blocking the beasts¡¯ limbs, but she¡¯s quickly being forced back.


    A Beta charges me and swings its claws. I take the chance to flip over the Beta and use its head as a springboard. As I flythrough the air, I ready my fist with as much energy as I can summon. I land, severing the Beta to Kay¡¯s left in half. Her surprise is short-livedand she takes advantage of the freed arm, using it to stab the remaining Beta in the side.


    As it rears up in pain, Kay uses the opportunity to withdraw her blades and sink them into the beast several times and it soon falls. Kay looks at me with a twisted smile on her lips. ¡°Thanks.¡± She removes her daggers from the Beta and stares at the black blood coating them. That smile never leaves her face, even as her good eye sparkles.


    She notices my staring, and a small crimson spreads across her cheeks before she sheathes her blades. She nods further down the valley where Mimi has gone. There¡¯s even more fighting to be done... I¡¯m already so exhausted that I can barely stand.


    ¡°You catch up with us,¡± she says before running away., leaving me alone.


    Quickly, I retreat to the sidelines of the battle so I can try to regain some strength. As I stand in the shade of a tree, I can¡¯t help wonder why I¡¯m even fighting. What do I have left to fight for? Nina was taken from me, Rei is seeminglyone with Fennis, and the Valkyries don¡¯t know me. Why am I doing this? I thought it was to protect the people I loved.


    ¡°It is to protect them,¡± I tell myself.


    ¡°What is the point if they don¡¯t know me?¡± I speak aloud, my voice carrying a tone dissimilar to my own.


    ¡°Goodness begets goodness,¡± I argue.


    ¡°Even if they¡¯re all saved, and we somehow end this battle, there¡¯s going to be more. Many more. And you¡¯ll be alone the entire time.¡±


    ¡°They will be alive. They will be happy.¡±


    ¡°Happy without you.¡±


    ¡°But happynonetheless. I have to do good, even if no one else will ever acknowledge it. That¡¯s the promise I told the Rei in my world.¡±


    ¡°Your world was nothing but another lie.¡± My voice echoes around me, and back to me. My vision shifts and I find myself feeling disconnected from my ownexistence. Just then, I¡¯m looking toward myself face to face.


    ¡°Even if my whole life was a lie, the way I felt about the people I met was not.¡±


    ¡°Your emotions were based on a lie. A you that isn¡¯t who you truly are chose to make you into another.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you aren¡¯t wrong. However, that doesn¡¯t change the objective truth of the universe. Whether I am me, myself, or another, good is good and is always good. True goodness is not done in hopes of acknowledgement. It is done for itself, for it exists within itself as the path, the way, the light. It is what you have always believed, from the very beginning. Long before the moon and the stars and the sun.¡±


    ¡°And in the end, I have to suffer for it? To be alone for all of my life.¡±


    ¡°You are not alone.¡±


    The person standing before me, this other version of myself, reaches for my face, and cups it. Warmth spreads through me. I don''t know how its happening, but a complete happiness beyond anything I have ever known overcomes me. ¡°You are loved as you love, whether or not you see it. I am here, as you are, as they are, as we all will be, forever and ever.¡±


    My mirrored self starts to fade, her being coming into me. My body feels light and feelings I do not recognize assault me. I double over in pain, landing on my knees and vomiting up a disgusting, terrible sludge. The sludge hisses at me as it turns to ash and is scattered on the winds. Great, more things I don¡¯t understand. My life is still controlled by another. Regardless of what she makes me feel, my emotions are my own. Were I to give into hers, I would continue to be controlled. I refuse. I¡¯ll suffer on my own before I give in to a false happiness.


    The battle rages on and I must return to the fray, if only to save a single soul more.


    I alight my body with the now-familiar warmth of the void, and move. My body is lighter than before; my exhaustion, while present, has been abated somewhat.

 7 - Battle Of Domion Valley (4)

    Battle Of Domion Valley (4)


    When I arrive at the battle, Fennis, Gabe, Kagura, Kay, and Mimi are surrounded by Beta. They¡¯ve made a wall around those who remain, trying to protect the injured members of the army. They¡¯ve done well, but their exhaustion is obvious. What the Beta lack in true power, they make up for in numbers¨Cnumbers that far surpass any we could ever hope to raise. Our foe keep coming endlessly, despite the numbers we lay to waste.


    I realize that if I jump back into the battle, I will only exhaust myself once more. I have to find another way to help.


    I look around the valley, hoping to be inspired by the scenery. The tall mountains around us are a beautiful shade of red, darkening as they near the snow-covered tops. I scurry to move up the mountain as far as I can to test the strength of the peaks. They¡¯re strong, however with my power, perhaps I can break them. I look below, and realize this may be the only choice. I only hope to whatever beings there may be, that I can get the others out of harm¡¯s way.


    I focus all of my strength into my arms, and drive them deep into the mountain, over and over. The shocking sound of it all echoes around us, eventually grabbing the attention of the others. It doesn¡¯t take Fennis long to realize what I¡¯m doing, and judging by his hysterical gesturing, he¡¯s ordering a retreat.


    Good, at least some will live.


    On my final strike, the mountain howls, and the area around me begins to fall. I flee as my power begins to fade and the avalanche consumes me. If I fall today, I can accept it. By protecting the others, I have shown pride. I have done good by my promises to Rachel and Rei.


    Within the cold darkness, my mind is all that is free, and I consider the things I have seen. That sludge came from me before ¨C it also came from Charlie. What is it?The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    Who was that other version of myself standing before me, that I spoke to?


    Rei exists. Hell, she exists in more than one place at a time. Could that ¡°me¡± have been ¡°me¡± from another time, another plane of existence?


    That¡¯s fucking absurd.


    A light blinds me, and people shouting assault my ears. ¡°She¡¯s here! Found her!¡±


    I¡¯m disoriented as familiar arms that pull me up. ¡°Eve, are you okay?¡±


    ¡°You stupid cur, answer us!¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯m alive!¡± I gasp as the world comes into view.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad,¡± a bob of purple hair cries out from my chest- Mimi is hugging me. The look on Fennis¡¯ face is one of agitation, whereas the others are simply confused.


    ¡°I¡¯m so glad, Eve¡­¡± Mimi starts to cry into my chest. Holding Mimi in my arms feels as natural as ever.


    My head feels light ¨C I suspect it¡¯s from the trauma of nearly dying.


    Returning her embrace, I dig my face into her hair and breathe deeply. A laugh falls through the air. Its cynical tone tells of our folly. A hand reaches between us and yanks Mimi back.


    Looking up, I see Rose hiding Mimi behind her back, with a glare aimed at me.


    ¡°It is well that she is fine, but we need to scour the valley for other survivors ¨C allies and foe alike.¡± Gabe then turns and barks orders at everyone else.


    Fennis scoffs. ¡°Glad to see you make it in time to be useless,¡± he snarls at Rose, who winces.


    ¡°I''ll scout further out and make sure there¡¯s no more coming,¡± Kay says with a nod towards Fennis, before running back into the battlefield.


    My vision starts to dim and words fade on the wind as my consciousness leaves me.

 8 - Recovery - Shift (1)

    Recovery - Shift (1)


    ¡°Wake up. Time to eat.¡±


    I hear Rose¡¯s chastisement through the fog of sleep. I don¡¯t how long I¡¯ve been asleep. I rub my eyes and try to raise my head.


    ¡°Morning,¡± I say, rising from my bed.


    ¡°Just as well. It''s half before and half after daylight. Now eat,¡± she repeats, setting a tray on my bed.


    When she doesn¡¯t move away again, I tilt my head enough to make her aware of my curiosity without words.


    ¡°Just eat,¡± she tells me again, taking a seat at the desk in the corner.


    The food is tough to swallow, jerky and some unfamiliar soup. As I''m eating, Rose clears her throat, drawing my attention back to her. It''s been a while since I''ve gotten to really study her profile, but she¡¯s as stunning as ever. Noticing my gaze, she catches my eye. I blush at being caught staring.


    ¡°W-what is it Rose?¡±


    ¡°What have you done to Mimi?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re-¡± I begin and am quickly silenced by her sharp glare. Her anger forces a chill in the tent as she approaches me.


    ¡°I should have killed you when I had the chance.¡±


    I¡¯ve never heard such a cold-blooded voice from her, and my spine tingles from the fear she strikes in me.


    ¡°Rose, calm down, please. I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±


    She reaches a lone finger toward me hesitantly, as if I¡¯m filth she wishes to avoid touching at all costs. Using a single finger, she lifts my head up by my chin, and stares into my eyes.


    ¡°Mimi belongs to the Zeroth. This is a fact of life. And-¡± she slides her finger down my throat, to the top of my tunic, letting her finger lazily slide across my chest. ¡°And as for those who use their heretical powers to disrupt the order of our lives, I will personally rip their soul from their body.¡±


    Almost immediately, I feel a familiar pain, much like one from long ago, long before Rei intervened. It is gone as quickly as it came and Rose makes her way out of the tent. The rest of my food turns to ash in my mouth.


    My breakfast finished, I exit the tent and am greeted by a beautiful twilight. The suns are dipping into the valleys between the mountain range¡¯s peaks. Purple-pink clouds fill the sky. It¡¯s then that I notice at least one hundred pairs of eyes are focused on me. The silence that has fallen over the camp digs deeply into my insecurities. Before I can gather my wits about me, a voice calls out.


    ¡°Eve! I¡¯m glad you¡¯re awake.¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I turn to my right to see Mimi approaching me. No sooner than my smile meets my eyes, that hers reflect in kind.


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you made it, Mimi.¡±


    ¡°Me too,¡± she says, wrapping me in a hug. I stiffen at her embrace, causing her to pull back with a hesitant look. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    I shake my head. ¡°Erm, no, not really. It¡¯s just kind of embarrassing with so many people staring at us.¡±


    She lets a small giggle escape her lips and instructs me to follow her to the others.


    ¡°Why are you so touchy-feely with me?¡± I ask her.


    ¡°Does it bother you?¡±


    I shake no and she shrugs.


    ¡°Then so be it,¡± she says, linking our arms together.


    ¡°Fennis will kill one, possibly both of us, when he finds out about this.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the end of the world, Eve, does it really matter what Zero says? He isn¡¯t¡­¡± her words fall to silence.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t what?¡± I ask.


    She stops for a moment, and asks the ground, ¡°Is it wrong, to give into my own madness, and believe in my own mind, even if, to everyone else, it is wrong?¡±


    ¡°No. I don¡¯t believe so. When you¡¯ve chosen such a route, though, you must be prepared to deal with the consequences of that path.¡±


    My words seem to hang heavily on Mimi, but Kay pulls our attention as she makes her way out of the woods. She offers only a glance at our interlocked arms before adjusting her good eye to mine.


    ¡°No, it was Mimi¡¯s idea, and no, you aren¡¯t going to scold her later when you¡¯re alone,¡± I tell her.


    This seems to catch her off guard.


    Mimi turns to me in a state of slight confusion, but I know well that Kay understood me. The tiniest of smirks crosses her lips before she gives a small nod and leads way to the main tent, where Fennis waits.


    ¡°That¡¯s amazing,¡± Mimi praises me. ¡°You just had a conversation with Kay, didn¡¯t you? She hasn¡¯t had a conversation with anyone besides Zero and those necessary for her work, since¡­¡±


    ¡°Since what?¡± I ask, trying to stay calm. I¡¯m prettysure she means since Kay¡¯s reveal regarding Mah¡¯lum and her story with Ame. Her origin with the Arcadia orphanage... her fall to Vargar of Murder... and joining the Arkadastic Order of assassins.


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s none of your business, or mine,¡± she recuses herself.


    She doesn¡¯t let go of me, even as we enter Fennis¡¯ tent. He eyes our connection with open hostility. Unfortunately for my arm, the warmth is gone the moment Mimi leaves my side to join Fennis, with her head hung low. With all the Valkyries on his side, he speaks to me in his usual patronizing way.


    ¡°What you did was absolutely insane, Eve.¡± He attempts to cut me with words before continuing. ¡°It won us the day, as things were meant to be. Domnis arrives soon from the east, and together we¡¯ll move north to meet Charlotte¡¯s battalion at the northern gate. Assuming they still stand, we will join our forces and push back the Beta. With luck, the southern portion of Hadel will be ours once more.¡±


    Charlotte, or rather, Charlie. I hope she¡¯s doing well¡­ all things considered.


    ¡°What is our next step then?¡± Mimi asks.


    ¡°Rest for the day, get our remaining men wasted on joy and spirits, and keep this woman to her tent,¡± he points toward me.


    Almost immediately, Kay is at my side, making it clear she¡¯ll follow whatever it is Fennis orders. With that understanding, I follow Kay out of the tent. She appears focused on the task at hand to anyone on the outside. Her stoic concentration, however, is wavering, and she occasionally glances my way. I meet her eyes every time, letting her know I¡¯m aware.

 9 - Recovery - Shift (2)

    Recovery - Shift (2)


    When we arrive at my tent and step inside, she grabs my shoulders and spins me to face her. Her glare is as threatening as ever, however, it doesn¡¯t bother me the same way as her injured eye does. I can¡¯t stop myself and lay my hand over it.


    The moment I touch her, she headbutts me in the face. I stumble backward and she pulls me back by my collar, glaring harder at me. My nose throbs and I can feel blood oozing out. Suppressing a small laugh, I place my hand on her eye again.


    Her expression shows surprise, and she pushes me to the ground before storming out. I don¡¯t even bother to get up. My nose is still causing me pain and bleeding profusely and my body protests against me. Though I am no longer the Zeroth, my healing is still more than a normal human¡¯s. I can feel my broken nose mending itself, as sore as it may be. I hold my arm in the air and extend my hand. Though I am so far away from her, it almost feels like I could close my hand around Rei¡¯s and pull her to me. Whatever it is about our bond, it stillremains unbroken, even if it is weakened.


    My hand drops and I soon find myself in a deep sleep.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I dream an unbroken dream of the night I first got to leave the house when I awoke in this world and explored the garden outside. I remember a voice echoing all around me, calling me closer. I remember the voice taking me and twisting me.


    I remember it all so clearlyhere in the darkness, in this time in between light and dark. When I awaken, I know only bits and pieces will remain. What am I to do then, with the knowledge that I obtain, if it¡¯s only to disappear?


    Am I mistaken to believe in myself, that I will pull through this? Was that voice right so long ago? Did I give up my potential life with Rei¡­ a Rei? Only to return and be devoured by my ownplight, and that of the Betas?


    But ¡°no¡± she told me, the me that wasn¡¯t me. She told me thatI¡¯m on a good path, a path of good for the sake of good. Is that true? I don¡¯t know, and frankly, I don¡¯t care. I truly want my girls back, the world be damned.


    That is what I¡¯ll do¨CI¡¯ve decided. The fate of worlds and races be damned, I¡¯ll do what I want to do, be as happy as I can. I¡¯ll kill for the Nina that was taken from me, and I¡¯ll kill to take control away from that serpent Fennis.


    With these thoughts, I awake to the chorus of the morning.

 10 - Recover - Forward

    Recover - Forward


    I arrive at the tent on request for a strategy meeting. Mimi greets me energetically enough, but nearly everyone else, except Abiliath, seems too worn down to give me much notice. Fennis raises his head long enough to offer me a nod before returning to shuffling pieces on the war table.


    ¡°Oh, how I wish I could have witnessed your power for my own.¡±


    Abiliath looks at me, seeming to be incredibly upbeat to have experienced the same battle as the rest of us.


    ¡°You¡¯re almost lucky to have not seen it for yourself. This girl here was quite terrifying in her destruction and yet¡­ beautiful with that aura about her,¡± Kagura comments, giving me a wink.


    Instantly, my face floods with heat and I know I¡¯m blushing.


    ¡°Indeed. You were incredible, Eve. You showed great courage, if also great foolishness. We owe the outcome to you,¡± Gabe adds.


    With that, the tent seemingly comes alive with banter over matters related to the battle of two days ago. Abiliath threatens to unseat my lead in kills in the round as others talk amongst themselves. Fennis¡¯s focus cannot be broken at his table as he adjusts his pieces, anger coating his expression. Mimi tries to smooth things over before they escalate, rubbing his back and talking war with him.


    I believe Fennis knows he can¡¯t speak up and scold us in this kind of environment. No matter how much he wants to always have everyone at his heel, he knows the value of morale.


    When Kay enters the tent with Dom at her side, I notice that he seems to have aged much more than possible in our time apart. He walks with the wariness of prolonged horseback riding in his steps. As he makes his way in, the tent¡¯s merriment ceases.


    ¡°Good to see you,¡± Fennis tells Domnis while clasping arms with him.


    ¡°You as well. I hate that I did not make it in time for the last battle. I hear we have an unexpected hero to thank,¡± he replies, dragging his gaze down to me.


    ¡°I am-¡± I cut him off with a hug.


    ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you are well, Dom.¡±


    He hesitantly returns my embrace, causing his scruffy beard to rub at my face.


    ¡°Were you a student of mine, Eve?¡±


    ¡°How¡¯d you know my name?¡±


    ¡°Ah. Very true. How so?¡±


    ¡°Enough. You are well, as has been established. Now what do you have to tell us about the path through Hercynian Forest?¡±


    Dom backs away from me, clears his throat, and starts his dissemination of what he¡¯s learned. He tells us about the lack of any real defense inside the forest itself and how the fields around it are being patrolled by Eld. It seems that unlike the Beta, the Eld are capable of following more intricate orders.


    ¡°If we get through the forest, we could lock the Academy in a pincer attack,¡± Dom finishes.


    ¡°The forest is twisted and treacherous. At best, only a small, elite group could move through with any speed,¡± Fennis counters, giving me a bad feeling. ¡°Eve,¡± he says, confirming my suspicions, ¡°I will leave this to you. You may take anyone else with you. Keep it small and light. I''ll take the main army and head toward the Academy.¡±


    ¡°Erm. Dom. Where is Kyle?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Bartholum? He¡¯s otherwise preoccupied, procuring something or another he learned of from the late Ninavin''s notes.¡±


    Nina¡­ Oh Nina. What I would give to have you back with me!


    ¡°I see. Then-¡±


    ¡°I''ll go,¡± Rose says.


    Immediately, she is met with gasps of surprise.


    ¡°What? Rose you can''t possibly come,¡± I protest.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Fennis dismisses any further complaints I could have with a wave of his hand. ¡°Let her. She serves no greater purpose at my side.¡±


    ¡°Fine. Any other volunteers?¡±


    ¡°Sounds like suicide. I''m in,¡± Abiliath says, standing.


    ¡°I shall accompany you as I have navigated through it in full once before,¡± Dom adds.


    ¡°So, the stories are true then?¡± Abiliath laughs. ¡°This is going to be an amazing opportunity. To think I shall bear witness to the Vargar of wizardry myself!¡±


    I see. So Dom is the world¡¯s best wizard.


    ¡°You four will cause an uproar in the rear of the Queen''s base,¡± Fennis explains. ¡°The rest of us will crush them from the front.¡±


    The tent bustles as the meeting adjourns and everyone moves to their places ¨C except us.


    When Fennis approaches, he tenderly caresses Rose¡¯s hand and kisses it, reminding her to be careful before beckoning me to follow him.


    Our walk takes us through the camp in silence and my mind wanders back to earlier times.


    How could Nina have been involved with all of this?


    I think back to the day we met, and the stubbornness she displayed as she tried to get me to eat. The way my name always dripped from her lips in the most tantalizing of ways¡­


    ¡­as she teased about paralysing me again...


    ¡­when this dreadful title of mine warped her desires into lust, my name again fell from her lips in such need¡­


    ¡­when we met in the office before that Beta attacked us.


    ¡°Eve¡­¡± In this world where none could remember me, how was she able-


    My lungs deflate rapidly as the world spins and my vision darkens. I wince as jagged bark jabs into my back and I realize Fennis has slammed me into a tree. I don''t even remember when we got into the forest.


    ¡°Godsdamnit, girl! Are you going to respond, or am I to kill you here and now?¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± A sound saturated with my obliviousness escapes me.


    ¡°Of course, you weren''t listening, you plebian.¡±


    He puts even more pressure on me against the tree, putting gashes in my back through my clothing. I hiss in pain, telling him to get to the point.


    ¡°Protect Mother, or I will personally ensure your end.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Again, he applies more pressure. ¡°I said to protect Rose with your life. Do you hear me now?¡±


    Anger flares up within me, expressing itself as a small glow around my arms. I shove Fennis away from me and he crashes through one tree before slamming into another.


    I march up to him and pick him up as surprise blankets his face before quickly fading and giving way to anger.


    ¡°What the fuck do you-¡±


    ¡°What is it you told me?¡±


    Now it''s his time to wince from pain.


    ¡°I told you already-¡±


    ¡°Why Mother?¡± I scream at him.


    ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± He shouts back, shoving away.


    I¡¯m not entirely surprised by his reaction. After all, anytime these fucking riddles come to light, it''s as if they''ve simply slipped through the cracks ¨C the same as with the title of Zeroth. Small glimpses are all anyone obtains of the truth. Could this too be information in the same manner? Could others have glimpses into something I cannot see?


    A rustling to my left shows Kay standing with a look of pure malice directed towards me. Before she has a chance to move, Fennis calls her out, telling her to heel like the dog she is.


    As he turns his back to follow Kay out, he shouts in my general direction to not forget the promise I''ve made. Everything else aside, even if for selfish reasons, he wants Rose to return.


    For selfish reasons of my own, I''ll grant that promise.


    ***


    Dawn approaches us as I stare out at possibly the final calm sunrise I¡¯ll have. Emotion stirs my heart to see the beauty of the suns shining their light through the peaks of the mountains around us.


    To my side stands the others, quiet and still. I believe their thoughts can¡¯t be much different than my own. For once, I feel as much a part of the whole as I do just a piece in the story.


    It isn¡¯t long before this light gives way to dark thoughts. Everything that has happened to me, from possibly even the death of Rachel, to the death of Nina, has been my fault. I don''t know how, but I am singularly responsible for everything.


    My vision blurs and the wind carries what an ominous, mocking laugh. Slowly, one thought consumes me.


    I will kill everyone who had a hand in hurting Nina.


    The others spare me a glance, but make no move to speak.


    With that as our signal, we move out ¨C to a forest no man can clear, to a darkness no light may touch, and to my vengeance.

 11 - Testimony Of Old

    Testimony Of Old


    The first two days were uninteresting and quiet. During any rest, Abi, as I have taken to calling her simplybecause it pisses her off, keeps trying to spar with me. I learned my lesson after the first time¨Cshe''s a monster who doesn''t have any idea how to hold back.


    Dom mainly sticks to informing us about the woods. From his account as a child, it seems the ancients cursed the forest. Ever since, no one has dared to trudge through it¨Cno one save Domnis in his youth, foolishness to prove his worth. Evidently, he barely made it out alive, yet the details escape him as if a veil falls on his mind when he directs his thoughts back to those few days within the cacophony of evil.


    Rose makes no attempt to talk to us any more than necessary while taking extra precautions to avoid even looking in my direction. For whatever reason, it seems the whole ordeal with Mimi weighs on her heavily.


    When night rolls around again and sleep threatens to take hold, I hear someone escaping into the woods. When I follow them, I find Dom resting on a peak overlooking the forest proper, where we are to enter tomorrow.


    I take a seat next to Dom and he doesn''t even acknowledge me for a long time. In comfortable silence, we stare into the void of black night with only the light of the moon and stars to accompany us. Thirty minutes pass before a question finally escapes my lips, one I¡¯ve kept to myself much longer than I thought I could ever bear.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Where is the One King during all of this?¡±


    Dom shifts his gaze sidelong toward me before resuming his previous fixation on the forest.


    ¡°Where indeed?¡± he muses and lets the question weigh heavily on the silence between us. "He is a coward, I would say. Hiding away in his ivory tower, enjoying another war." Disdain oozes with every word from Dom''s mouth.


    "I don''t believe so," I tell him. "Can you imagine such a long life? The way you would become numb to living? The way no life would seem to carry any meaning? It''s a saddening thing, methinks."


    Dom stares at me for a moment¨Cperhaps he had never given it so much thought. Mayhap his experiences never gave him the opportunity to do so. This world doesn''t strike me as one in which such questions would even be thought to be asked.


    "What if it''s his own fear? That perhaps he¡¯s too scared to come out of his shelter, to chance ruin upon himself as he is too used to longevity?"


    "Maybe¡­I don''t know. When you think about it, no matter his fear, he has to love this world of his. Millennium has passedand he hasn''t been corrupted for power? There are no records of him even attempting to do so. Perhaps he has grown weary of this world now, but in the beginning, it makes no sense for him to have avoided the normal struggle of a living being¡¯s need for power, unless he truly cared about this world."


    Dom begins to look misty-eyed before turning away from me. He and I exchanged no further words, instead choosing to bask in a more complicated silence than I could fathom.


    As the moon rises higher in the night sky, Dom tells me to get some rest, and I oblige him. Walking away from that aged man, his form seeming tiny and exhausted.

 12 - Hercynian Temple (1)

    Hercynian Temple (1)


    We make it to the center of the forest proper the next day. With no communication between us, we all realize the danger in the air. I can¡¯t ignore the hairs on my arms standing on end.


    The ruins before us stand in a dull, golden glory, with serpentine vines growing over majestic lion-looking statues, poised at the ready. Even the trees seem to arch, growing around the temple but never touching it. Rows of trees line a pathway to the temple, giving the impression of a royal road.


    "We need to travel around to get back on the path to the capital," Dom tells us.


    "Eh?¡± I don¡¯t fully understand. ¡°You''re not even going to acknowledge this place? What is it?"


    "Keep your mind on our objective, Eve," he scolds.


    ¡°She has a point,¡± Rose chimes. ¡°The pull from here is amazing. You can feel it too, can''t you?"


    She runs her fingers down the muzzle of one of the lion-looking statues. Dom moves to stop her, but it is too late.


    "Fool!" he shouts as the ground begins to rumble.


    Through the center of the temple shines a thin, vertical ray of light down the middle of its doors. With a thunderous sound and quaking earth, the door parts open.


    Only Dom shows genuine fear.


    "Gods'' be damned," Abi mutters.


    The temple emits an eerie sound and Rose, Abi, and I move into the temple to investigate, our curiosity piqued. We¡¯re only a few paces into the temple when I hear Dom¡¯s weak steps behind us.


    ¡°Have you ever been here, old man?¡± Abi asks.


    His silence gives no answer, but his face is full of fear.


    The temple is pitch black inside, despite the show of light we¡¯d seen only moments ago.


    We quickly reach the end of the corridor to find a plaque on the wall that seems to glow all on its own.


    ¡°It¡¯s written in an incredibly old language,¡± Rose announces.


    My eyes widen at the mystery it holds. ¡°Can you read it?¡±


    She shakes her head. Though the details of the story it shows escape us, the overall meaning is fairly clear ¨C asteroids of some sort landed on this planet, releasing what look like monsters.


    Rose and Abi don¡¯t seem all that perturbed about what seems to be a story telling of the origin of the Beta. Dom is studying them intently with despair across his face. It is so unlike him to show such raw emotion.


    According to the images on the wall, the Beta appear to cause havoc before appearing in front of a man. A number of following frames are blurred out due to damage and corrosion; though if I were a betting girl, I would say it was intentionally done. I steal another glance at Dom. He¡¯s backing up now, seemingly done with the story before us.


    I drag my eyes to the last few frames and they show the story of a girl coming to take control of the Beta. In the final frame stands a girl with long hair, sharp eyes, and a sword as black as night ¨C she has vanquished the Beta.


    No matter how rudimentary the drawings are, I know the girl in that picture is Rei.


    My Rei, how I miss the pressure of you inside my mind!


    All the same, I miss where she stood before me.


    If the story is to be believed, or my own experiences for that matter, then Rei has somehow existed twice between two dimensions, and possibly thousands of years. I can¡¯t understand how. The Rei in my world clearly never met me.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    She was Rei, but not Rei. She was a Rei, but not the Rei I knew.


    There is one last frame, a small one, after the end of the story. Scribed within it is a simple phrase spelled differently than all the characters before it, as if it was added at a later date by people unrelated to the original authors. It says only three words: ¡°A lonely ember.¡±


    My pulse quickens and I feel the contents of my stomach threatening to rise. Determined not to reveal anything to the others, I fight to maintain my composure as I exit the temple.


    ¡°Crazy shit, our ancestors,¡± Abi declares.


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen this before, haven¡¯t you, Master Domnis?¡± Rose asks.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ a long time ago.¡±


    She narrows her beautiful blue eyes at Dom who says nothing more as a rumbling catches us off guard once more. This time, however, it is not the ground per se, but the feeling of something above causing the rattle below. At once a flash passes by me and drives itself into Rose¡¯s thigh. Scarlet flies out of her, blood coating the air. Instinct kicks in and Abi slices down, severing what looks like a tree branch.


    Rose falls to her knees, a portion of the branch sticking out of her lower thigh. She hisses in pain as she grabs the wood.


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Dom cries out, slamming his staff on the ground. A beautiful, almost translucent shield forms around us as hundreds, if not thousands, of tree branches slams into it.


    ¡°The hell is going on?¡± I scream over the sound of them being fended off.


    ¡°Here,¡± Dom reaches down to Rose, uttering a spell, and sliding the branch out of her leg. Her pain is tangible in her screams and makes my heart hurt.


    ¡°Rose¡­¡± I place my hand upon her cheek, forcing her to look at me.


    An anger coats my reflection, in her eyes, hidden behind the pain.


    ¡°The pain, I can do nothing for. The bleeding has stopped, but a wound is a wound. It will be hard for her to run like this,¡± he says over the horrific sound of tree branches slamming into the shield.


    ¡°Is this forest fucking alive?¡± I ask Dom.


    ¡°Cursed,¡± Rose explains.


    ¡°The magiks here are strong, always have been.¡±


    ¡°Then why the fuck didn¡¯t you warn us about this?!¡± I grab Dom by the collar but immediately release him when the shield begins to fade.


    ¡°I knew not of the form it would take, only that there would be danger. The forest resists trespassers and I would think desecrating a temple with our presence made matters even worse. However, that isn¡¯t important right now,¡± he waves his hands, swiping the subject away. ¡°The shield is weakening. I didn¡¯t have time to make a proper one.¡±


    Abi whistles in amazement. ¡°To make one this strong, and this is what you consider weak? I really gotta take you to town old man, once we get out of this.¡±


    I roll my eyes at Abi as Rose tries to stand up and winces so much she falls over again.


    ¡°Time is of the essence. I defer to your decision Eve, however, the girl will not make it as she is and I can do nothing for the pain her brain still registers. Magik is not omnipotent. Just because the flesh can mend does not mean the brain has the same qualities. The pain could take hours to dissipate.¡±


    ¡°Then leave without me. I¡¯ll buy you time,¡± Rose suggests.


    ¡°I refuse.¡± I kneel and offer my back, but she doesn¡¯t understand.


    ¡°Get on! I¡¯ll carry you.¡±


    If I still had the power of the Zeroth, it would be nothing to carry her. Since that day against the Beta, and the avalanche that almost killed me, I haven¡¯t felt any magik in me. I¡¯m forced to concede no miracle happened. I must have had residual magiks in me and since depleted the power. Rose tries her best to protest against me, telling me to leave her, to get out and finish our mission for the sake of ¡°Zero.¡±


    ¡°We have to go, now!¡± Abi holds her sword at the ready, the shield breaking as it reaches its final limits.


    ¡°You get on now! I don¡¯t give a shit about what this mission means to Zero. My duty isn¡¯t to something, or someone so nebulous. My duty is to the people I love. The wheels can turn however they damn please, but I am no cog and I will do this my way!¡±


    Her shock concerns me, and so I ignore it.


    ¡°Eve! We have to go, now!¡± Abi screams.


    ¡°She has the right of it, Eve. It is now or never,¡± Dom urges.


    ¡°Look, Rose. You don¡¯t know me. Hell, maybe I don¡¯t even know you. Plenty of people do, even those outside of the Zeroth Knight. The other girls would miss you all the same, if not more. The scent of lavender you bring would be an eternal reminder to all of us of your loss. Voltin would surely be destroyed. I will carry you. For the rest, you will put your faith in the hands of those at our side. They will save us, or we will perish together.¡±


    ¡°Eeeeevvvveeee!¡± Abi screams.

 13 - Hercynian Temple (2)

    Hercynian Temple (2)


    Just as the barrier lets out the final squeal of life, Rose latches onto my back. The barrier shatters as I stand up. The branches fly towards us as we run deeper into the forest, heading to the other side.


    Abi¡¯s laugh tears through the tension. Even as we, or perhaps because we run from a situation we are almost guaranteed to die in, she laughs. And laughs. And laughs. Every branch that comes near us is eitherset alight by Dom or slashed down by Abi.


    It is this moment, beyond any other that has come before, that drives home my powerlessness and my gratitude for having such determined and powerful people at my side. That thought spurs me on with greater force.


    The trees themselves are out to kill us, with each near-kill, I move. Having Rose on me now no longer seems so much a burden. Her directions to dodge make my body move on instinct. I trust her and the others implicitly, and before we know it, a clearing stands before us. We burst through it as tendrils of monstrosities snap behind us. It would seem their limit is their own domain. The grass is soft beneath my body as I fall to my knees.


    Though she winces, Rose gets off my back and lays down beside me.


    Dom wipes his hand across his forehead and joins us.


    "Never did I imagine such a difficult trek," Abi says, collapsing on the ground too.


    A comfortable wind blows through us, carrying a thankful word from Rose. As I turn to her to see if it was my imagination or not, I catch what seems like a small blush before she looks away.


    Hurriedly, Dom stands and places his hands at the ready, on his staff.


    "Eld," Abi says.


    "Hide behind us, Rose," I tell her.


    She meets me with stubbornness as she stands up to join us. Together, we brace ourselves for the patrol in the distance. Only a briefmoment passes before a high-pitched squeal pierces the air. Their horn sounds and they collapse upon us.


    The Eld, I notice between blocks and counters, are the humans of nightmares. They''re the selves I imagine some see when presented with their own reflections. Their eyes seem glassed over in a daze with twisted, almost torn, smiles tugging at their faces.


    As I stab one, they nearly shrug it off before continuing their efforts. Even as they lose a leg, they keep coming. Abi makes short work of a few that attacked her, cleaving one in half from head to crotch. Dom did well, incinerating the rest long before they could flank us on all sides.


    "A small patrol party. If not already, the others will know what happened here, and soon," Dom remarks.


    "Forward, then." I tell them, not missing the disappointed look Abi sends my way.


    We run as fast as we can without leaving Rose behind. By the time the suns set, we have made it, apparently, halfway to the Academy.


    The night air cools our flushed skin from the hot day. Using the river near our campsite, Abi and Dom clean themselves first, but seem to have some unusual agreement on the ¡°ladies¡± bathing separately. Who am I to judge?


    The water is chilly as my toes dip into it and is heavenly to have them resting in something so cold. I wasn¡¯t used to having blistersand the like. My attention is drawn to the sound of rustling to my right.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    When I look over, I see Rose in all her naked glory. She looks up and notices my gaze after letting her dress fall. Her pale, beautiful body almost shines in the moonlight. Her form is a little thicker than the others, with wide hips suitable to a mother. Moving up, her large breasts, ones I have almost suffocated in before, share a satisfying shape with pink-colored nipples.


    I¡¯m entranced, and can¡¯t take my eyes off them. Eventually, I realize that she has been standing stock-still herself for far too long. I bashfully look up into her eyes, only to notice her staring back at me with an eyebrow raised.


    ¡°Ah. Uh-u-um. I wa-was just, uh¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you not going to undress? Would it really be wise to bathe in your battle garb?¡±


    Ah, so that is what she was curious about. She didn¡¯t seem to find my leering gaze to be weird. However, I found my interests to be weird. What in the¡­?


    In my world, I stared at Gee and felt nothing. I¡¯m back here, and suddenly I¡¯m attracted to women again? What nonsense is this?


    Oh. I¡¯m standing here too long and Rose is thinking I¡¯m crazy, I just know it. With an internal sigh, I go to remove my shirt, first turning my back to Rose. I¡¯m too self-conscious for anything less. Before I get my shirt off, I feel hands on my shoulders.


    I immediately tense up. ¡°Relax. I¡¯ll help you.¡±


    ¡°Um. Alright.¡±


    With this, she undresses me slowly as second after agonizing second go by. Her fingers dance with my clothes as she drags them off. Her skin brushes against mine, causing a chill to spread over my body.


    I¡¯m losing my fucking mind, and that¡¯s before I feel Rose¡¯s lips upon my neck.


    ¡°W-what are you doing?¡± I try to protest, my voice is weak.


    ¡°Relax.¡± She tells me again.


    I slowly fall back into her. I feel her supple breasts rubbing my back as she nibbles at my collar bone and drags her teeth across my skin.


    With a sting, I feel her bite into me.


    ¡°What the hell?¡± I call out. My body feels numb and I¡¯m unable to resist.


    I can feel her tongue lapping up my blood as it flows freely.


    ¡°Rose. Stop. You don¡¯t know who I am.¡±


    She bites harder, seemingly becoming aggravated by my protest. That ends soon though, as she pulls away and starts coughing violently. She lets me go, and I fall to the ground.


    During her coughing fit, I start togain feeling back in my limbs. Long before she finishes vomiting up the contents of her¡­ snack, I stand before her.


    ¡°Are you a fucking vampire?!¡±


    She glares at me, but it carries no sting. She starts to cough again, so I scoop up water and bring it to her mouth. She acts like she wants to resist. When she has settled for a moment, I ask my question again.


    ¡°What is a vampire?¡± she asks.


    ¡°You can¡¯t be real! A vampire. You know! Long pointy teeth, can¡¯t be in the sun, can change into animals. That kind of thing!¡±


    ¡°I¡­ have no idea what you¡¯re talking about. More importantly, what did you do to me?¡± she demands.


    ¡°To you? You tried to fucking eat me!¡±


    ¡°I did no such thing! You should have been in ecstasy as I fed on you. I was doing you a favor really!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, well. Sure, it felt good. Not for the reasons you think it did. You¡¯re lucky you even survived.¡±


    ¡°What kind of monster are you?¡± she asked, blinking dumbly. ¡°Wait, then how did it feel good?¡±


    ¡°U-u-um. No. Nevermind.¡±


    I try to turn away, suddenly becoming acutely aware of her naked form again. She reaches out and grabs me, yanking me down to her. I try to get up but she stops me, bringing me close to her mouth. She whispers into my ear.


    ¡°There is another way for me to feed, girl.¡± She runs her tongue across my ear. I gulp at the absurdity of it all.


    ¡°A succubus?¡±


    ¡°You know such strange-sounding words. Now relax, and let me have what is mine.¡±

 14 - Hercynian Temple (3)

    Hercynian Temple (3)


    Rose moves her hand to my stomach, and then up to my breasts.


    ¡°My, my, I recognize these. How odd.¡± She cups my breasts in her hands, sending a fire through me.


    My breathing speeds up, and arousal quickly takes me over. I want nothing but to give into her. Just as I am about to beg for it, to give into it, she quickly withdraws her hand and pulls away. A whimper escapes me, much to her amusement. Just as quickly, the smile fades and she dives into the river.


    My core throbs painfully, but my senses return quickly enough. I recall what I almost did, and it makes me blush furiously. What the hell is this? I have spent so long with Rose, but I never knew this side of her. What is she?


    I see her beautiful blue eyes peeking out of the water, luring me in. I can¡¯t resist, and walk into the river. It isn¡¯t long before I¡¯ve swam up to her. I stare into her eyes.


    ¡°Where did that confidence from before. go?¡±


    She¡¯s silent.


    ¡°Rose?¡±


    She goes back underwater. For a moment, I feel drowned by loneliness, but only for a moment. As suddenly as she left, Rose comes back in front of me. I feel her arms snake around my waist and pull me in. Her toes are likely able to touch the bottom here, but mine are not.


    ¡°Caught you, little fishie,¡± she teases.


    I blush furiously, but I don¡¯t know why. ¡°If you aren¡¯t some kind of monster, then what are you?¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because there is something off about you. What is it? Your blood hurt me so. Your soul tastes so similar to someone else''s.¡±


    It¡¯s my time to be silent.


    ¡°Trade you?¡± she inquires with a twinkle in her eye.


    I think about it, but my answer was already determined when she pulled me in closer and made skin press against skin. I wrap my legs around her hips to keep myself afloat. I reach out and move her hair behind her ears.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    I notice them start to turn red. They look so appetizing that I give in to the need and lean in and bite on them. This elicits a small, quivering moan from her, but I stop myself before I lose control again.


    Rose shifts her weight in protest, causing our most tender areas to rub together. My chest feels it most of all, causing electricity to flow through me.


    ¡°You said you can see my soul?¡±


    ¡°I can, when necessary. It is quite troublesome for standard humans, though. Usually their blood is enough to get me by, but it seems you are different.¡±


    ¡°Because I am different. Perhaps you are the only one who would believe what I have to say.¡±


    ¡°And what is it that you, a strange girl, has to say? You approached us from nowhere. None of us have ever seen you... Zero knows you well, however. You wield powers beyond even the Valkyries.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t. Not anymore.¡± My confession earns confusion from her. It¡¯s only then that I realize she has taken advantage of our conversation to move her hands to my butt.


    ¡°Why are you doing this? You have a child! And we are both women!¡±


    ¡°And that! How do you know about Voltin?¡±


    ¡°Why do you not answer any of my questions?¡±


    ¡°And why do you answer none of my own?¡± she spits back.


    ¡°Fuck it,¡± I concede. ¡°Look at my soul and tell me what you see.¡±


    I press my lips to hers. Her inactive lips tell me of her surprise, but it isn¡¯t long before she parts them enough for my tongue to snake inside. Once our tongues meet, I start to feel a small pull in the center of my being.


    Peeking at Rose, I see her glowing. Her hair floats into the air slowly, despite the weight of the water. I can almost feel the essence of my being, my soul, being forced out of me.


    I wrestle her tongue with my own in an attempt to keep a hold on what is mine.


    A long moment passes before the glow starts to dissipate and her hair comes down. Rose slowly opens her eyes and blinks a few times. I finally withdraw my tongue from her mouth.


    ¡°You¡­ your soul is that of Zero¡¯s. Or rather, the soul that used to be his,¡± she gasps. ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    ¡°Could we go back to land first? I think we¡¯re gonna turn into prunes at this rate.¡±


    ¡°What is a ¡®prune¡¯?¡±


    I laugh as I swim back to solid ground, acutely aware of the throbbing in my core. By the time she joins me onshore, I am dressed again, much to her agitation.


    ¡°Shame. ¡®Twas a good view,¡± she smirks.


    I know I¡¯m blushing, and Rose, being whoever she is, thinks nothing of making a blanketed bed of her clothes and laying naked upon it. She glances at me, offering her arm. I hesitate but ultimately give in. She brings me close to her, my face and body pounding horribly at the need I feel.


    I try to hold it together as I lay my head on her chest. A moment of silence passes, and I decide, for the third time, to explain myself.

 15 - Confession

    Confession


    Rose cycled through a lot of faces and emotions as I told my story. As usual, I don''t expect her to have remembered even half of what I said. Then again, I am no longer the Zeroth.


    It seems more so, now, that her hesitation is simplydue to disbelief. For a few minutes afterwards, I lay here and stare at her voluptuous mounds. After too long, I can''t resist reaching out and sliding my fingers down one of their peaks.


    "S-stop that."


    Having Rose flushed is prettygreat.


    "So¡­what are you?" I ask again, sitting up.


    She rises upalongside me, hesitant.


    "Are you really the Zero from before? I can''t believe it¡­"


    "I don''t know what else to tell you."


    "It is true Zero changed so much after Nina¡­ We just assumed it was his grief."


    I can''t say anything more. I just hang my head. "Everyone around me dies. There is something haunting me and those I''m close to. I''ll destroy it all, no matter the cost to myself."


    She lays her head on my shoulder and rests for a moment before whispering something under her breath. "Alvina."


    "What?"


    "I am¡­ an Alvina. The last Alvina actually. That is what I am."


    "What about Voltin?"


    Rose merely closes her eyes and stifles a sob, like a woman once possessed and made sane again, her crestfallen face tells of a lifetime of grief.


    It dawns on me. "Oh gods, Rose. I''m so sorry."


    "The Alvina tribe was decimated during the rebellion. Our numbers dwindled in the war, and our complicated lives took care of the rest."


    She snuggles into me. I slide my arms around her and hold tight. "We are a rare breed of people,¡± she continues. ¡°I''m sure you''ve heard of the way those from the Outerlands use the magiks, as opposed to how the rest do, yes?"


    I nod into her soft hair as I breathe her in.


    "My magik is¡­ disgusting. Worse, comes with a price."


    "So, when you said your husband died during a battle¡­"


    She nods. "Alvina are much like everyone else, but so much of it is simple mimicry. The food, delicious it may be, cannot fully sustain us due to the magiks we use."


    I feel myself gulp from the tension of her story and her connection to dodging my question.


    "What magik we use¡­ the magik that is a part of us, is magik of the soul."


    At that, my body starts to tingle.


    "You can feel it, yes? As you have felt it before. That seemingly innocuous pull. I am the last of my kind. I am the Vagar, the best that exists, of soul magik¡­ though I wouldn¡¯t be if any other remained. I was never the best¡­¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Suddenly, I feel much more exhausted as I nod along. "That explains one thing. But what about you biting me, and¡­ drinking my blood?"


    She sits up completely and reaches for her discarded clothing, continuing her explanation as she dresses.


    "A person''s blood carries trace amounts of the soul. It would take an inordinate amount to satiate me."


    "Enough to¡­ kill me? You were going to kill me, Rose?"


    She looks over at me, fully dressed. Her beautiful, long hair is everywhere. It''s dragging on the ground now that it isn''t pulled up.


    Noticing my gaze, she clumps some of her still-wet hair and rolls threads of it between her fingers. Looking between it and me, she seems to finally speak up.


    "I didn''t know who you were. I''m not sure I even fully believe it yet. But what you did to Mimi justified it in my eyes¨Cto try and take her away from Zero was unthinkable. Nevermind that I am so hungry.


    She grabs strands of her hair harder and they crumble between her fingers, bringing an unsolicited wince to me.


    "But it doesn''t kill a person if I do it slowly, you see. During the first days of the war, I needed just a bitmore power just a bitmore often. Of course, only Zero knew what I could do and the limitationstherein. Entire battalions of the Eld could be rendered as quick corpses if I was able to have my way."


    To be so strong, to carry such a burden for that strength¡­I can only imagine the toll it takes on not only her, but on those around her.


    "There was just one thing, though. Zero couldn''t afford to use his own people as fuel sources for me. They were too important for the war,¡± she says, starting to shake. I watch as she wraps her arms around herself.


    "So, for Zeroth, for our people, for this godsdamn war¡­ non-combatants and those too weak or frail to defend themselves¡­"


    Rose falls to her knees and weeps. Shaking like a woman gone mad, she starts to scream hysterically. "They all served the greater good! They all found solace in their sacrifices. I did nothing wrong! Voltin could have served no better for no greater a cause!"


    Her confession baffles me. I don''t know what to say¨Cthere aren''t words to speak to such a sin. No words of consolation, no utterances of false forgiveness.


    No, there weren¡¯t even words of condemnation that would put this woman before me into a deeper pit of despair.


    I reached out to her tiny form, running my fingers through her hair. Part of it turns to dust in my hands. Regardless of her transgressions, I cannot simplyjust let her die.


    "My blood may be too different. But if you feed from my soul, will it be enough for you and to not kill me?"


    She looks up at me with frosty, glazed eyes and shakes her head. "You will die. I won''t be able to hold back."


    "If I do, then I do. I made so many mistakes along the way. I failed at everything I have ever set out to do. I let down everyone who ever knew me. I caused the lives of some of the most important people in my life to be lost, well before their time. If I have to fade away here to save a girl I love, then I will."


    "What?" Rose looks at me wide-eyed and shocked.


    It dawns on me what I said. I thrash my hands through my hair wildly in embarrassment. I open up my mouth to deny and clear up the entire misunderstanding, but everything that happened in my world with Rei pops into my head, causing me to close my mouth.


    I let out a growl, fuck it, and push Rose down. I straddle either side of her before she can understand what is happening and place my mouth on hers. I let up long enough to order her to feed before continuing my invasion of her mouth.


    Seeming to give up quickly enough, I feel my body starttotingle. It isn¡¯t long before I lose my vision and darkness envelops me. All of my senses dull, except the connection I feel to Rose. I still feel her tongue slide against mine, those soft lips nipping at my own, but my very being hurts, as if my soul was being pulled from my body¨Cand it very well likely was.


    I focus my efforts on the woman under me. I pay attention to what she has endured and has to bear for the rest of her life. I think of nothing but making her better. I believe in a world at the end of all of this where Rose and I, and Mimi, and Kay, Charlie, and Kyle, Dom¡­ and Rei¡­ where all of us can be together.


    I cannot and will not deny my love for the people of this world anymore. I cannot deny all that I feel for my girls. If I could make Rose see me for who I am, then I will do the same for the others. If they cannot love me for who I am, then so be it.


    But I will try with all that I am.


    I must save this world, but first, I must survive this.

 16 - Pincer (1)

    Pincer (1)


    I can finally breathe as Rose¡¯s feeding quickly ends. I can see once again. As I raise my head up, I see Rose literally shining below me. Her lips glisten with proof of our kiss. Her subtle flushed cheeks tell me she liked it.


    "Woah," she whispers.


    I smile. "You look beautiful."


    "Ah. Thank you¡­"


    I get off her, and by the time I''m done helping her up, her glow has faded. Her hair is glistening though, and tied into her usual ponytail braid. She had no chance to put it up. Is this what it always looks like when she is properly fed? Is that why she always looked so healthy at Valtross Manor? She had plenty of people to slowly sustain her.


    We both look everywhere besides at each other. Feeling awkward from it all, I let out a small laugh. This earns me a curious glance from Rose. One that eventually turns into a full-on smile reaching her eyes. She reaches out and gently caresses my cheek.


    "Do you really love me, Eve?"


    I struggle to speak the truth. I feel so embarrassed that I want to crawl into a hole and die, but she doesn''t let me. "It''s a lot harder than that to explain. But I have to¡­ try to face it, to not run away.¡± I sigh and take a moment to gather my thoughts. ¡°I feel something for you all. And, it very well may be ''love.''"


    It¡¯s as honest as I can be, and I see a momentary fit of jealousy cross her face. It tickles me to see that emotion on her. Oh gods, I''m a horrible person.


    I put my head in my hands in shame. Rose is flustered and spits out several utterances in quick succession, seeminglymistaking my reaction as something else.


    "No. Please. Just, ignore everything I said okay?" I try to laugh it off and turn away, but she pulls me back to face her again.


    "No one can ever replace my husband in my heart,¡± she says. ¡°Not now. Not ever."


    I nod. "I don''t think anyone could. I don''t think anyone has that right. No one can replace anyone else. I''m sorry for being stupid. Let''s just go back to the camp. At this point,there is no way we''re not gonna be part of a huge misunderstanding."


    Once more, she doesn''t let me turn around. This is reallystarting to get on my nerves. I wanna run away, damnit!


    "But maybe one day, he could have company."


    I squint my eyes. Tilting my head to the side, I ask, "Are you saying what I think you''re saying?"


    She releases a coy giggle. ¡°I must profess, I wouldn¡¯t know the first thing about how such a relationship without a man would work. But you would be the teacher in such a case, yes?¡± Punctuating her bold statement, she gives a wink.


    That completely fries my brain. Totally, utterly breaks me. What do I even say to that? I don¡¯t even have to find out as she leans in, gives me a quick kiss, then runs off back to camp. I¡¯ve never seen her so light on her feet.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    The trek back to the camp went too fast. I had no idea what to say to the others when they inevitably questioned me. Luckily, Rose was serving food when I returned. Other than a curious glance from Abi, no one said a word. Likewise, our dinner went by as normal as any other¡­until Abi finally speaks.


    ¡°Okay. I can¡¯t hold my tongue anymore. What the hell happened to you two?¡± Abi nearly shouts, threatening to spill her food everywhere.


    Of courseshe can¡¯t hold her tongue. How could she? Here I am, sitting on the ground eating my food. But Rose? She¡¯s sitting on the tree behind me, with her legs on either side of me. Even if she isn¡¯t specifically acting any differently, she sure as hell wouldn¡¯t be sitting with me like this just a few hours ago. But I don¡¯t even know what to say so I busy myself with my food.


    ¡°Well, seeing her try so hard for my sake has warmed me up to her. Is that so bad?¡± Rose says.


    ¡°Well, no, but come on. Dom, this is weird right?¡± Abi asks.


    ¡°I will notbe pulled into this. I have learned in my life to simply let women be.¡±


    ¡°You useless, old fool.¡±


    ¡°Shut up, you deranged shrew,¡± he retorts.


    ¡°Deranged enough to kick your scrawny ass.¡±


    ¡°My spells would stop you long before you had a chance to swing that sword at me.¡±


    ¡°Wanna put that to the test?¡± Abi banters.


    This kind of thing goes on for much longer, and it seems like I¡¯ve been saved, for now. I look up at Rose and watch as she takes her bottle of water from her lips, offering me a smile. It warms me from the inside. What is this nonsense? It¡¯s just a smile. If I thought about how crazy this night was, never would I have imagined bedtime would be a simple affair.


    It was so much harder to get Abi to calm down when she saw Rose lying down on my blanket to sleep. Somehow, Dom saves me again though. I¡¯m thinking he has become good at dealing with Abi.


    Turning my attention to a much more immediate cause for concern, I¡¯m greeted with Rose¡¯s beaming face.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mind you sleeping here but¡­¡±


    ¡°My, my. Do lovers not sleep together where you are from?¡±


    ¡°Rose, were you any more direct¡­¡±


    ¡°My my. You are still younger than me. I suppose I forgot about that. Ah, the indirectness of youth. But I am an old woman, and you will have to pardon my candor.¡±


    I reach out and flick her nose. Her eyes go wide. ¡°What is it?¡± I ask. ¡°You can¡¯t be older than thirty.¡±


    Her eyes begin tomist. For a moment, I freak out, thinking I overshot her age and I¡¯ve upset her. I can tell she sees I¡¯m confused. She rubs at her eyes and apologizes, but doesn¡¯t explain to me why my words affected her so.


    She simplysays, ¡°You really are the person I remember.¡±


    I roll to my back. She squeezes in tight and lays her head on my chest.


    ¡°Goodnight, Rose,¡± I whisper.


    She glances over to see the other two still going at it, arguing over what warriors amongst the Knights each one thought the other would lose to. Taking this moment, Rose gives me a quick kiss on the lips.


    ¡°Goodnight Zer- I mean... Eve. I¡¯m sorry. I shall endeavor to do better. You have just made me so giddy this night, it is as if I were but a girl again.¡±


    I push some strands behind her ear and leave my hand tangled in her beautiful silver-white hair. Her blue eyes show the moon reflected in them. The firelight casts a dancing shadow on us. I look out to Dom and Abi, and cast a meaningful glance towards Rose. She¡¯s rhythmically breathing now, swiftly falling asleep.


    I swear tomorrow, I will save them, and end all of this.

 17 - Pincer (2)

    Pincer (2)


    When the morning sun barely cracks the sky and the colors fight for domination within the twilight morning, I awake. Rose doesn¡¯t appear to have moved at all overnight. Apparently, she¡¯s quite the sound sleeper. As gently as I can, I slide out from under her and rest her head gently on the ground. Other than a small stir, she continues to sleep peacefully.


    In the distance, I see Dom leaning on a tree, smoking a pipe. ¡°That stuff will give you cancer, you know.¡± Wouldn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t know what exists in this world. He only offers me a confused look. ¡°Nothing. Something from my world.¡±


    ¡°Your¡­ world?¡±


    Ah, crap. Right. As far as I can tell, Rose could remember everything I said. If that¡¯s the case, Dom should be able to as well.


    ¡°Do you have the experience to tell when your perceptions are being warped?¡± I ask, but not for the first time.


    Leaned back on this jagged-barked tree, his hat lazily lays to one side of his head. His craggy face puffs on his pipe.


    Trying to lighten the moment, I ask something else. ¡°Does your beard ever get in the way?¡±


    He moves his pipe away and lets out a stream of smoke. A little smile tickles his face. ¡°My, are those two questions related? But yes. I am an expert at telling of warped perceptions. That must mean you were the previous Zeroth Knight then?¡±


    I jerk back with a start. ¡°You knew?¡±


    ¡°I know very little, my girl, but I had an inkling, yes. Though I do not know the specifics.¡±


    ¡°As smart as always, Dom.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve just been around far too long. We fight today, we die today, in the worst case. Perchance you should tell the Valkyrie goodbye? I won¡¯t ask how you possibly swayed one from the Zeroth Knight. Meeting like this has become all-too-common for the battlefield. Allow an old man some time alone.¡±


    ¡°As you wish, Dom. But every single one of us are making it out of here alive.¡±


    ¡°As spoken once before. You are no more a god than I.¡±


    I puff with pride,¡°I¡¯m better than that."


    ¡°So says Nina.¡± He retorts.


    Rage, pure, unadulterated rage fills me. The moment my hands touch Dom, however, a pain unlike any other assails me. He just continues to go about his pipe like nothing happened.


    ¡°Oh, were it so Eve. But you made sure of that, hm?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡±


    ¡°Eld are on the way, girl. Rouse the others.¡±


    At that, he walks away. I don¡¯tsee anything coming this way, but it¡¯s best not to take what he said lightly, even if it was just to get out of questioning.


    The others are quick to the ready, but unlike he predicted, there were no Eld yet. Instead, we find ourselves marching over the unused bronze-colored grass through the treacherous heat of the dual suns.


    As I observe the scenery, an explosion rocks the air.


    ¡°That¡¯s their signal! We cut it close!¡± Abi exclaims.


    The moment we get within a few hundred feet of the Academy, Eld startpouring out of the back gates. ¡°This is it, everyone. I wish you all well.¡± Dom says.


    ¡°Well or not, we are to be remembered as heroes!¡± Abi draws her sword.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let any of you suffer here today,¡± I tell them.


    Rose acknowledges me by reaching out and giving my hand a squeeze. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can. But remember, I am limited.¡±


    I nod and take the sword from my belt. It¡¯s nothing compared to what I am used to, but it¡¯s been enchanted by Dom, so hopefully it will hold up. We charge toward the faux-beast and clash against them.


    Three fall before even making it to us, courtesy of Dom. Two more are cleaved right from the outset, by Abi¡¯s broadsword. One dives at me with its sword, but I deflect it and stab it through the heart. I take out the legs of another. I¡¯m careful to not let any get past me to Rose.


    I feel so weak here. I am among giants between Abi and Dom. A whole swath of them are quickly destroyed, leaving me with little to do besides finishing offstragglers before they make it to Rose. As more come out though, the strain on the other two becomes increasingly apparent. One Eld, dressed from head to toe in what looks to be solid metal, easily deflects Dom¡¯s fire. He is a massive man, easily standing eight feet tall.


    Abi¡¯s blade bounces off his armoras well. Dom tries his lightning power, but that too has no effect.


    ¡°It¡¯s no good!¡± he shouts. ¡°The man inside is a corpse, but still moving as all other Eld before him. The armor is made to carry him and will not falter easily.¡±


    We back away as it swings its massive hammer and rocks the ground. Dom¡¯s barrier saves us from the worst of it, but this is not good.


    ¡°Rose! Can you do something about it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what I could do!¡± she screams in terror.


    Damnit. But just when all hope was lost, I can see a small figure jumping in from on top of the Academy.


    ¡°Kay!¡± Rose and I yell.


    As Kay lands on the thing¡¯s shoulders, she wedges her dagger under its helmet. Just when it manages to grab her leg and throw her, she is able to remove the helmet. I run under Kay and use my body to catch her. The impact hurts more than I thought possible. ¡°You safe?¡± I ask.


    But she ignores me and gets up by herself. I look up just in time to see Abi slicing the monstrous Eld¡¯s head from its shoulders.


    Things are a lot quieter on our end with the Eld killed.


    ¡°Is that it here? Is that why you came to help Kay?¡± I inquire.


    Kay turns and looks at me with her good eye. More than a desire to answer my question, I can feel the bloodlust actuallyemanating off of her. It isn¡¯t hard to figure out why, either. For several seconds now, Rose has had me in an embrace, checking to make sure I¡¯m all right.


    Having no more of it, Kay approaches me with daggers still drawn. Sensing her intent, Rose shuffles in front of me.


    "Back away, Kay."


    She pauses for a moment. Looking us over, she asks, "What is this?"


    "Things are more complicated than you know. Focus on the war."


    Clicking her tongue, Kay runs off into the distance. The wind carries the sound of steel¨Cthe battles are not over. Rose and I share a knowing look before Dom orders us into the Academy.


    The back entrance leads us through the courtyard I had used to get to the Consulate. Instead of a beautiful green courtyard I knew, though, it was black, as if the sun had run away.


    Bodies littered the field. Judging by their state of decay, most must be from the initial days of the fighting.


    I felt sorry for the once-beautiful flowers we passed by. I remembered that black rose and what Rei did to me. Though looking back at it, I suppose it was likely Gee-Gehenna''s fault, their damn queen.


    In fact, so much likely was. Most of the thumping inside my head, at least the violent ones, had to have been her¨Cthe need to hurt and kill, the desire to let loose and slaughter indiscriminately.


    I could only assume the evil that Rei was fighting alone so long was Gee... Gehenna, her and the fucking Beta. But why?


    Why would she not ask for help? Was she overconfident? Perhaps there was a reason she couldn''t¨Cshe seemed determined to not let me in on anything. Why was that?


    I''m pulled from my reverie as we approach a massive door. Kay is standing before it stock-still. She offers us a cursory glance when we arrive, but that is all.


    "What is it, girl? Why have you waited when battle wages?" Abi asks.


    It''s then that I notice Kay''s eyes flickering in an out of focus. She keeps sending her gaze to the door. No, something beside it.


    Peeking around her and focusing my eyes in the dark, I notice something ominous. "No, no, no¡­" My comrades look at me with curiosity as I realize what is happening.


    I move in front of everyone and face Kay directly. "Kay. You can''t get confused now. You cannot believe that whoever is behind that door could possibly be Ame."


    Only Rose doesn''t seem lost.


    "How?" Kay whispers. Her voice barely audible over the wind. She narrows her eye on me.


    "She is the Zeroth Knight, Kay. The real one. You have to listen to her. She knows best." Rose says to Abi and Kay''s astonishment.

 18 - Pincer (3)

    Pincer (3)


    Rose''s revelation of a secret better kept isn''t what bothers me. No, it''s that she is still valuing me as a Title. Not as me, but as a duty. My heart feels heavy; I thought I had gotten through to her. I thought maybe as an individual I had a chance. But¡­ I was wrong? I try not to show the hurt on my face, but Rose must have realized how her words came across as she turns to me with worried eyes.


    The sound of the heavy metal door opening draws our attention.


    "Wait! Kay!" I yell out to no avail. I run after her, forcing the others to follow.


    Inside, the building is atrocious. We''re in the Academy''s cafeteria, and it is hell on earth.


    The entire area is littered with bodies, whole and in pieces alike. Blood, bile, rot, and stench coat everything. The walls seem to have pustules oozing and squirming, letting out squelches as they pop. In the middle of the cafeteria stands Fennis, engaged in battle with a tall woman with red hair.


    A smile cracks her face, reaching her eyes. Her pupils are a dark red with the white of her eyes now a pitch black.


    "Ame!" Kay rushes out and slices at Fennis, who manages to leap away from Kay just in time.


    "You fucking whore! What are you doing?!" he screams.


    Behind him kneels Charlotte. Her beautiful earth-green hair is stained with blood. Her gaze seems to focus on something far away. She''s alive, but has suffered. The thought of that burns my soul. I will fucking kill this woman for what she has done.


    I move to take a step forward but notice that behind that monster, this Ame, lays Mimi. She''s chained up against the wall, wincing with every move she makes. She tries to speak, but her voice fails.


    "A wonderful silencing spell, if I say so myself. Works wonders, doesn''t it, Kay?"


    Kay doesn''t bat an eye at the revelation.


    "Shut your mouth and let her go! Now! And undo your stupid magiks." I shout to her.


    "My, my. Gehenna pegged you so well, little Ember. Now, my little Kay, it is I, Ame. You are my girl, are you not?"


    Kay''s eye starts to glaze over.


    "Whatever the fuck you''re doing, stop it, you whore!" Fennis yells out.


    "Oh, but my little-faux Zero, you know nothing of our relationship. You love me, don''t you, Kay? Do Ame a favor and destroy that red-headed Ember. Remove that spark from this life. Revel in watching the light leave her eyes! Bring joy to our master Gehenna!"


    Kay pivots and charges at me. Abi is the first to confront her, but Kay is a Valkyrie in the end,and slices down, straight through Abi''s sword. Shifting her weight backward, she continues into a back somersault, smashing her foot underneath Abi''s chin. This picks her up, and Kay ends the encounter with a roundhouse to her midsection. Abi is sent flying toward Charlie and crashes into her.


    They yelp in pain. Fennis uses that moment to dash in toward Kay and shove the pommel of his sword into her ribs. A crack reverberates throughout the room, but Kay doesn''t flinch. A madness in her eye shows her pure enjoyment. She whips her dagger out and smashes it''s hilt into Fennis'' throat.


    He falls back, hands on his throat as he coughs violently. He berates her with every profanity he can think of.


    Kay looks toward Dom, ready to strike.


    "Dom, what the hell are you doing?" I shout, interrupting Kay¡¯s focus for a second.


    For an unknown reason, he walks off over toward Abi and Charlie, leaving me with Kay and Rose. I swallow hard when I turn to meet Kay''s gaze. She dangles her tongue and laps at her lips. Rose places me behind her.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "Eve. I''ll handle this. I can-"


    "Don''t you dare, Rose. You are not killing Kay."


    "But-"


    "No!" I instruct her. "Just no. I''ll do something about her. Please, just keep an eye on Ame. See if you can help Mimi. That is the whole reason Fennis is holding back."


    "Fennis? Zero?" She turns to him.


    Shit. This is so annoying.


    "Look, just help save Mimi so Zero can take this bitch out, okay?"


    I kiss the back of Rose¡¯s hand.


    Kay''s eye bulges and her brow twitches. She immediately charges at me before I have a chance toreact.


    Shoving Rose to the side, I raise my sword to deflect her dagger and bring my other hand up to block the following knee. She drops downand swings her dagger at my knees. I swap my sword to the other hand and let it fall point-first into the ground, stopping her. Using my free hand, I smash the side of her face. It sends her to the left.


    She lands and rolls and she doesn''t miss a beat. She throws a dagger at me and I raise my sword to block. She follows it aggressively. I wasn''t expecting that, so she manages to stab me square through the chink of my jerkin.


    Leave it to an assassin to see such a small opening.


    She yanks the dagger out and slams the palm of her other hand into my chin. Rose, in the distance, yells at me. I see her hair start toglow. I right myself and try to ignore the stars that blind me. I shake my head at Rose and the glow ends, if only for a moment.


    Damnit, this is bad. She didn''t land her dagger deeply, but it still pierced me. The blood I cough up is telling of my wounds. I glance at Fennis to see him fighting Ame, completelyoblivious to what Kay just did to me.


    I regret taking my attention from Kay because she doesn''t hesitate to come in for the kill.


    She strikes forward with one dagger while slicing low with another. I opt to block the one aimed at my head, but the other slices my thigh open. I push her back and immediately fall to my knees. She''s cut into my femoral artery.


    How could I possibly fight against a Valkyrie as a normal woman? Goddamnit. Is there no choice but to let Rose end this? Judging by how she doesn''t take her eyes off me even as she tends to Abi and Charlie, I know she would do it.


    But it would hurt her so bad to take Kay''s life! She''s already done the unthinkable and I refuse to add to it. There is no possibleway for me to fight her like this. There''s no choice. I was never good with a swordanyway. I have no choice but to rely on Grandpa and Mimi''s teachings. Kay knows very little of what I can dohand-to-hand, but I will only get one chance.


    Kay lifts her blood-soaked dagger high. She admires the sheen of my blood in the dim light as drops of it fall and splatter on her face. She is in ecstasy as she looks down her nose at me and licks her lips. Her smile twists and grows to her eyes, her skin cracking as her smile widens still. It''s hard to see my beautiful Kay like this¨Cshe''s turning into an Eld. I don''t understand how, but it''s definitely happening.


    "Bring it. After you, I''m going to kill Ame," I goad her.


    She twists her wicked-toothed smile to a frown and turns red with anger, rushing at me. Her left arm jabs forward toward my heart. I parry it with my sword. Her other arm reaches high as well and I use my other hand to punch forward and redirect her stab.


    Kay recovers and goes low again to my legs, knowing I can''t dodge well at all now. I swing my sword down and smash her dagger out of the way. A small smile dances on her lips when she brings the other dagger up, aimed directly at my throat. She knew she won.


    I let go of my sword and reach forward, letting her dagger pierce through my hand. Her eye widens as I wrap my hand around her fist and pull her in. I slam my right elbow into her sternum, visibly watching her deflate as air is siphoned out of her. Pivoting, I use my momentum to wrap her arm over my shoulder and lift her high. Bringing her down with all of my strength and her weight, she slams into the floor, her body leaving a dent.


    I rip my hand free, taking the dagger with me. I immediately bring my good leg down on Kay''s face. Her nose breaks under my knee, causing me to wince in guilt.


    I know this isn''t over, and if I¡¯m any less ruthless, I know I¡¯ll die. I pivot and straddle her. Kay''s beautiful brown eye stares up at me just in time to see my fist coming down on her face, again and again. I beat her until almost nothing remains of my fists.


    Breathing raggedly, I look down at her bloody, broken face. At some point, the dagger fell out of my mangled hand. Even as I gaze down upon her once-good eye, now uncovered, I can see her wounds healing. I have a minute at most before the Valkyrie''s healing finishes.


    I notice her revealed eye staring back with its red pupil and pitch-black sclera. The thought of her suffering under the effect of the Eld scares me.


    I reach out and stab my fingers on every side of her eye, feeling the visceral, raw meat of it all. I wrap my fingers around it and Kay screams louder than I have ever heard from her before. The devil himself would say this was too much, but it''s all I can think to do.


    With all my strength, I pull. Her eye wiggles and squirm and catches me off-guard. The dark tendrils shooting out suddenly, definitely, catch me off-guard even more. A hellish scream leaves me as it darkens my entire world.


    The last thing I hear is Rose screaming at us.

 19 - Beta

    Beta


    I opened my eyes to find no light, but somehow, I can still see.


    Looking down, I see a seemingly infinite number of red threads going out of me. One looks worn and frayed. I reach down and pluck at it. It hums and reverberates until a light shines through. I follow that light as I watch those threads veer off into space. They all branch out like tree roots ever-growing outward and occasionally some of them come back together and continue on.


    ''Tis a wonderland, is it not?


    I look around.


    You won''t find me, Eve.


    "... What is this?"


    A place you aren''t supposed to be. Although, you''re never one to hold back with surprising me.


    "What are these... strings? And where is Kay?"


    Those strings, as you so inelegantly called them, are Fate''s Threads. A little clich¨¦, in my opinion, but that is hardly my concern. As for Miss Smith, she is the thread you currentlysee before you. So close is it to snapping. So long have the Beta chewed and chewed her through.


    "The Beta? What do they have to do with this place?"


    That''s how they feed, dear. You should know tha- Wait! Yes, indeed. You''re here even earlier than the beginning of a new route. How rare! This absolutely has to be recorded.


    Ah. Forgive my manners. My true name is¡­ well, not conceivable by you and yours. Though "Nar" was given to me once. But you know my human form by another, "Kyle Bartholum" is the name you chose.


    "What the hell? What could you possibly mean?"


    Oh. Oh my. Well, this is awkward. I''m going to just go now.


    "No, you fucking don''t. What is going on?!"


    Always so stubborn. This is about Miss Smith, yes? Her thread is nearly ruined. Only the Beta can truly modify Fate''s Threads. Smith''s is all but... gone. Before long, it will snap along with her soul.


    "The Beta¡­ change peoples'' threads? Their... fate?"


    A simplistic way to think of it, but close enough. The threads are their means of sustenance. A singular Beta won''t go through even one person''s thread in that person''s lifetime. But when they conglomerate, and they do because of these complex reasons, reasons I won¡¯t bother to explain to you. When they conglomerate, all you need to know is that havoc ensues. They are parasites, ones who hungrily devour entire universes, ever-thirsting, in search of home.


    "You know all of this!? And you don''t help us? You don''t interfere? Kyle doesn''t help us? You''re both monsters!"


    Such words can only sting so many times. I am but a humble recorder of events. And Scribe knows not of the events. Neither does Temper, Knight, Mother, or Silence. Indeed, only Loyalty, Queen, and Moderator know the whole truth.


    Well, Queen is the exception to the rule and Loyalty is an experiment.


    But I digress. Give up on Kay Smith and land your killing blow. Or else watch her fall to Eld and become even madder still.


    "I refuse."


    Then you will die.


    "I won''t!"


    You''re so stubborn. Why can you not just let even a single story go according to plan? Why must you always, always act off the cuff? But I don''t hate that about you. If Fate finds us, I''ll be in sooo much trouble. Her temper is legendary. Just ask the Titans. Bah! Follow this thread and you will find Miss Smith.


    The red thread from before shimmers faintly and starts to writhe toward the light.


    Mayhap you can change her fate in only the way a Beta can. But be warned, her fate has always been twisted. Her love of decadent violence is who she has always been and who she will forever be fated to be.


    I nod toward the sound of this being¡¯s voice. Whoever it may be, wherever it may be. As I think to take a step forward, my body moves alongside the thread. I sense myself getting further from the voice from before and closer to my destination.


    "I dohave one more question before we are separated."


    I promise no answers.


    "I assume all these threads belong to other people then?"


    Indeed. Everyone there was, is,or could be.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "Then why do they all seem to come from me?"


    The light overtakes me. In the distance echoes a final statement that leaves me cold.


    Of course all things are connected at the beginning.


    My mind is wracked with confusion. Neurons fire off, trying to process information no mortal was supposed to have knowledge of. What does he mean by that? What was going on?


    Scared. I was scared¨Clegitimately, fully, scared. I have never been so frightened in my life, and so many things are coming down around me, things I can''t explain are being revealed. Some secrets the world has kept hidden are starting to peek through. I thought I had gotten through everything when I resolved my situation with the Rei of my world. I even decided I would stop denying my feelings for all the others. But this is too much.


    "Kill?"


    "Kill," an ominous voice echoes.


    "Kay?" I don¡¯t know who the voice belongs to and I¡¯m still disoriented.


    Before me is a mass of black sludge, with only Kay''s head peeking through it. The whole thing seems to pulsate and move with life.


    "Kill!" Again it shouts, except this time, a massive tendril comes down at me. I steel myself and meet the tendril with my fist.


    "I did not come here to fucking fight!" I scream as we collide.


    The tentacle explodes into ooey, gooey bits. The Kay-beast repeats herself again, and once more I cause sludge to rain down from the sky. Again and again, she lashes out at me to no avail.


    All the while, she chants the word "kill." I can''t resist thinking back to those words from before¨Cwhat did this "Nar" mean by all people starting at me?


    I slam into another tentacle


    I am just a normal girl.


    Another explodes.


    Well, I mean, I was.


    Six more tendrils rush me and I take them all out as I continue towards Kay.


    I was, at least, until I was taken to another fucking world.


    Until I was given a title I neither asked for nor deserved.


    Two more tendrils, and I arrive at Kay. By now, I¡¯ve long surpassed anger. I am feeling my sorrow, and I feel so manipulated. Beings I can''t possibly understand are toying with my life.


    I muster the effort to climb up Kay¡¯s disgusting prison. My fingers slide through pockets of puss and force them to pop. The yellow-green goop within washes over my fingers.


    Avoiding the urge to throw-up, I continue to climb up her tower of disgust. But¡­


    As I reign supreme over my would-be mountain, I look down at Kay and see her twisted form. She has never once stopped repeating her mantra of ¡°kill¡± until now. Her wild eyes and her smile that cracks to them, turn toward me. Her pointed, grotesque teeth snap at me from a distance much too far to accomplish anything.


    ¡°Kay. I¡¯m sorry you ended up like this. I¡¯m sorry that you were defiled. I¡¯m sorry Ame wasn¡¯t there for you. I¡¯m sorry I wasn¡¯t there for you.¡±


    But what do I do? Nar suggested I put her out of her misery, but I won''t. I refuse. This horrid pustule prison did not exist during our fight. This cannot be the real world. This has to be a world of spirits or souls, if I''m interpreting everything right.


    "All things are connected at the beginning." He told me.


    I can understand how, in a way, I''m the beginning of this horror story and the pain brought to this world. People I don''t know, and have never even met, are connected to me.


    I need to breathe. I need to focus. I need to accept that I am something else. I need to accept that there is more to me, and that I can do this. I need to be the spark that starts it all.


    The ember.


    My resolve strengthened, I resume my task once more. "I will bring you back to me Kay!"


    I plunge my arms into the oozing pit. The sickening sounds are nothing to me as I feel more of Kay. Using all of my strength I pull and I pull. She screams that she will kill me and bites at me like a rabid animal, but I ignore her protestations and pull.


    Nothing is happening. Damnit! I refuse. I will pull until the end of time if I have to in orderto save her. I look her in the eyes and I watch my reflection as it struggles. The girl before me shows so much determination that I refuse to be beaten.


    ¡°Kay! I love you! You will not die here, I swear it!¡±


    For the first time, she stops talking. A measure of lucid recognition crosses her face. I will accept that as proof of my struggle and I will use it to fuel me on. My muscles feel like they''re ripping free from one another and my bones, but I do not waver. My spine itself feels herniated and my eyes have taken on an unusual color of red, but still, I pull.


    I see my eyes reflected in Kay¡¯s and they terrify me¨Cred pupils and a redder sclera. I must have... popped something, but that''s okay. That''s all it is. Everything is okay if I save Kay. My very life will be given if that¡¯s what it takes.


    I feel a warmth inside of me as a lost memory reaches the surface. At least, I think it¡¯s mine. It¡¯s hazy and disjointed, but it¡¯s me, and I am so, so alone. It¡¯s me, with Kay and everyone else.


    It¡¯s me avoiding that loneliness at all costs. This is me following through. With one last yank, with my entire being in it, a power I do not recognize as my own or that of Rei¡¯s surges through me and a dark aura envelopes me. With my strength renewed yet again, I am able to force Kay enough to feel the slightest of movements.


    Elation takes over and I pull again. After that initial crack in her curse, it became so much easier. A few minutes later and one last tug, and Kay comes rocketing out. The momentum of her finally dislodging carries me backward with it and we both tumble down the sickening darkness.


    She lands on top of me and we are face-to-face. Her wide-eyed stare slowly focuses in on me. ¡°You are¡­¡± her voice carries just enough for my ears alone. She doesn¡¯t seem to understand what has transpired, but that¡¯s okay. I would rather have her alive than for her to recognize who I am.


    ¡°I''m here.¡±


    I reach out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear so I can get a better view of the beautiful woman before me. The smallest hint of red washes over her cheeks and a serene silence takes over us both.


    The world we¡¯re in starts to crumble as cracks splinter their way through the area, and everything is washed away with only a single, ominous memory hanging on:


    Mayhap you can change her fate in only the way a Beta can.

 20 - Ame Undone (1)

    Ame Undone (1)


    The strength leaves my body as I hold Kay¡¯s grotesque orb above my head. Only a moment passed here in this world. My hands hold high, the tendrilic-eye I pulled out from Kay. An ominous light surrounds it for but a moment before it turns to ash. The flash of light is so great that it briefly blinds us all.


    I see Fennis recovering first and slicing his way through Ame. As she falls backward, Rose uses that moment to run to Mimi. She rips the chains from the wall.


    Below me, Kay squirms, waking up. She gasps when she sees me, confused. I get up, bringing her with me. I offer her the eyepatch that fell off during our fight. She looks at it for a moment before sliding it over her left eye.


    ¡°Th-Thank you.¡±


    A mad cackle breaks the atmosphere. Fennis has Ame on her hands and knees, his sword of ice at her throat. Instead of killing her, he looks over at us, or, more specifically, at Kay. Fennis seems to understand that this is a conflict Kay needs to resolve by herself. If I hadn¡¯t seen it myself, I don¡¯t know if I ever would¡¯ve believed that Fennis could show compassion.


    Kay focuses in on Ame, her eyes gaining a sober lucidity once thought lost. She looks on at Ame in both recognition and disassociation. Kay tries to stand and stumbles. As I help her regain her footing, our eyes meet. With a slight tilt of her head, I can tell that she still doesn¡¯t quite know who I am. With the most genuine smile I can muster, I give her a nod.


    She understands what must be done.


    ¡°Kay, you mad dog, what is it you wish upon this cur?¡± Fennis asks.


    Kay offers the briefest of glances toward Fennis, the man she perceives to be Zero, but she doesn¡¯t respond. She hurries to meet the woman from her past. I would have never thought she could show such a range of emotions, even before I ran back to my world.


    Kay¡¯s heavy steps thud, thud on the ground as she places herself before Ame.


    Ame looks up at Kay with her wild and frantic eyes. Hers are red, black, and twisted; Kay¡¯s, an almond-brown. Ame cackles, her sharp teeth nearly reaching her eyes.


    ¡°My, how long has it been Kay, since you and I stared so lovingly into one another¡¯s eyes?¡±


    ¡°Why? When?¡± Kay asks.


    ¡°Because it feels so good don¡¯t you see? Master Gehenna came to me when you were but a child. She told me so many things, so many unbelievable things, but she had the right of it, all of it. It was then that I learned what I had to do, but never in my wildest dreams would you have been so perfect. She needed you ready for Zero."


    Kay brings her fist down on Ame, knocking her head to the side, not once or twice, but over and over again.


    Tears fly from Kay as she wails on her past. The memories of her orphanage seep into every blow. Her feelings, whatever they may have been for Ame, are washed away by the end of it. Kneeled and coughing, she looks up at Kay with that never-ending smile.


    "Are you going to kill me Kay? You don''t have it in you."


    A small smile touches Kay''s lips. One of happiness, twisted as it may be. She brings a dagger to Ame''s throat.


    "I am the Vagar of Murder, Ame. Nothing would make me happier."


    A slice cuts through the momentary silence that follows, and Ame''s body lands on the floor. Her head rolls towards me. A look of shock, and perhaps happiness, stares at me.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Are you okay?" I ask Kay.


    A cruel smile dances her lips, but her voice comes out clearer than ever before. "You saved me."


    She wraps me in a hug. I''m not quite sure how to feel about this, but oh well. I squeeze her in return.


    "That wretched Queen. Where is she?" Fennis demandsto no one in particular.


    Gehenna is nowhere to be seen, so I make my way to the others to check on them. Charlie is the first to see me and holds up a small wave. Adorned on her face is a spectrum of colors, from black and blue bruises to the red of blood, but beneath it all, she still has that same stoic expression as ever.


    ¡°What happened to you all?¡± I ask.


    She grunts as she gets up to talk to me. ¡°An ambush hit us harder than we expected. We were doing fine, then that crazy bitch you all just killed came out of nowhere and took Mimi. Fennis and I were able to follow her, but then more Eld jumped us and I fell long before he did.¡±


    ¡°You and who?¡±


    ¡°Why does no one believe me? That man may be strong, but he is not Zero. His name is Fennis Haslothun.¡±


    I pull her toward me and embrace her. ¡°How are you able to see through the Title?¡±


    She squirms awkwardly as if she doesn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, girl. One day our Zero was gone. I¡¯m not sure what happened, but I just never saw Fennis as anyone else besides Fennis. No one did in the beginning. And for some reason, everyone else eventually forgot who he was. This must mean I am not alone. You too, can see him for who he is?¡±


    I pull away from her as Rose brings a hobbling Mimi to us. I embrace her as well and breathe deep of my beloved Mimi. ¡°Are you okay? I¡¯ve missed you so much.¡±


    She gets a confused look on her face, but assures me she is fine.


    ¡°More importantly, I¡¯m just glad to be able to talk again.¡±


    ¡°Ame did mention something about that. I can¡¯t even imagine a mute Mimi,¡± I chuckle.


    ¡°You act as if you know me,¡± she retorts.


    ¡°Oh, Mimi, we have so much to fill you in on,¡± Rose tells her before coming over and giving me a hug. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe, Eve.¡±


    She turns and nods to Kay. ¡°I¡¯m glad you are, too. As much trouble as you have caused us over the years, it wouldn¡¯t be the same without you.¡± She pulls Kay into an embrace, nearly smothering the poor girl in her bosom.


    Yep, Rose has still got it.


    ¡°Yes, yes. Everyone is well. We still run into the issue of not having the Queen present. And you!¡± Fennis points to Dom.


    ¡°What the fuck did you think you were doing, not assisting the stupid red-head?¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡± I retort, faux-offended


    Dom looks at us and scans his eyes over the group. His face is downcast and forlorn. He wears an expression you¡¯d expect to see on an inmate heading to his own execution, not the joy one should feel after winning a hard-fought battle. He offers only a glance towards us before speaking to seemingly no one.


    ¡°It is time for you to come out. What point is there in pretending as if things can ever turn out differently?¡±


    ¡°Dom, what are you-¡± I begin but a mortifying laugh cuts through the otherwise empty chamber and silences me.


    I stiffen at the sound. It can only belong to one person. ¡°Gee¡­¡±


    The space in front of us cracks and distorts. Out steps a lone figure of a woman. She¡¯s short, with olive-colored skin. Upon her head is black hair that travels in waves to her shoulders. Her eyes are fully white, with no color to her pupils. There stands the one who took Nina from this world, from my life. The others expressions show a mix of displeasure and fear. They didn''t know Gee in the endas she was my personal demon who stalked my every move.


    Her presence, however, was felt all the same as a fear passed through my group. This was the woman who has lead the Beta to bring the downfall of their world. Even if I am the root cause behind everything, I stand here today in opposition to her and the pain she has cultivated.


    ¡°Ah, the pleasure of seeing you all again. My body is set aflame,¡± she declares as she wraps her arms around herself and squirms. My body feels on fire from seeing the woman who betrayed us, who led me to believe she was my friend¡­ my wife, for so long.


    ¡°Yeah? Well, so is mine!¡± I scream and charge at her despite everyone else¡¯s protests, I throw caution to the wind.


    She disappears into a portal and appears behind us. ¡°Eve, Eve, Eve. You are so weak.¡±

 21 - Ame Undone (2)

    Ame Undone (2)


    I scream in pure, unadulterated anger, ¡°I¡¯ll fucking kill you for what you did to Nina!¡±


    Gehenna gives her trademark, twisted smile. ¡°Ahahaha. She had it coming, the selfish bitch who sits so high on her pedestal, playing her role so well.¡±


    ¡°Careful with what you say Gehenna,¡± Dom protests.


    ¡°What the fuck does it matter what she says? Fennis, Dom, kill the bitch!¡± I demand from them.


    Fennis nods and reaches through the void, pulling out his sword of ice. The Void -- That which exists between all possible realm; that which holds the vast knowledge of the cosmos. He stands at the ready, and dashes towards Gee. Unbelievably, she reaches out and grabs his blade. The look on his face would be comical were it not so telling of just how screwed we were.


    Gehenna gets a wicked smile, and places her other hand on his chest. Fear crosses his face as she pulses energy into him, sending him across the entire massive room. He goes through three pillars before being embedded into the wall.


    ¡°Oh, he just simply isn¡¯t enough. No man can ever please me the way you do, Eve.¡±


    I gulp, and wipe my hands on my pants. ¡°Dom, what do we do? Stop just fucking standing there.¡±


    ¡°Gehenna! This is all going off course, and you know it.¡± Dom keeps babbling about things I can''t understand.


    Her veins visibly bulge and tremble beneath her skin.


    ¡°Shut your damn mouth! You have no idea what it feels like! This is the only time you have remembered anything! I have experienced this since time immemorial and I am sick of it.¡±


    ¡°We all have a role to play. That is what we signed up for. Moderator knew it as well. And now she has been dismissed early thanks to your actions.¡± Dom¡¯s face grows tense and he scolds her like a father would an unruly child


    ¡°Oh, Loyalty. Were there ever a more suitable Title for one so naive as you? Give it time Domnis. You will come to be just the same as me.¡± Gehenna gives an unapologetic yawn afterward.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I have chosen this all the same. Since the founding of Arsea I-¡±


    ¡°Hah. A few thousand years at best. Try billions Dom." She twists his name around in her mouth as if it carries a bad taste. "A near-infinite amount of time. I could sleep as long as you have remembered, and it would barely pass as a nap.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°You have a cruel fate Gehenna. We all know it. But you can not change it. None of us can. It is God¡¯s will.¡± Dom shifts his weight from one hip to another.


    ¡°Fuck you, and fuck her.¡± She snaps her fingers and countless voids open around us. ¡°I will smash this whole fucking rock until there is nothing left! I will ruin all of you here! Every single one of us, the Beta will feast upon. You say I cannot change my fate? Then so be it! But they can. Even God should be able to have her fate changed if the entirety of the Beta race catches up to her. No more running. No more going by the script. Every. Single. Person. Dies. Now!¡± Gehenna harkons forth a slew of Beta as the corners of her lips tear and her smile meets her solid-white eyes.


    ¡°I am the Beacon drawing the light. I stand as the guardian to this world from the next. I will not allow you, or anyone else to ruin her plans. As painful as your life is, hers is so much worse!¡± Dom shows real agitation for the first time.


    Dom proceeds to walk in front of us. Every single step he takes, the area around us quakes. With one foot before the next, he sends shivers through the air but the electricity alone causes my hair to stand on end.


    He gives me the weakest, smallest of smiles as he passes me. Countless Beta surround us now, but they almost seem scared to attack us, much to Gehenna¡¯s annoyance. As Dom slowly meanders forward, a fire envelops his body.


    Starting small, he encases his body and spreads all over. His clothes burn away and reappear. The color of his hair changes and his hat morphs into a typical wizard hat. Before me, his grey beard burns to ashes and in its place is a smooth-shaven, younger man with rainbow hair. It was not only rainbow in color, but each section of hair also snapped with its own element.


    For the first time since being here, my tongue aches from the magic in the air. Even without my powers, I am able to feel the sheer intensity of the man before us. Everyone else seems to feel the same way, even Fennis, who waddled back to the group at some point, seems to be amazed.


    ¡°I am Domnis Lux!¡± He professes as he slams the end of his staff down. The force alone wipes out half the Beta in the room.


    ¡°And I! I am the Vargar of Wizardry! Come! You shall not pass!¡± his voice booms from across the room and reverberates a power I could have never known to exist.


    Gee points her finger and thumb at Dom, a gesture reminiscent of a gun. She lets the hammer, her thumb, fall. I¡¯ve seen that move turn entire Beta to dust, but all we see now is a small glimmer around Dom. It seems the shield around him is providing a layer of protection. I gulp at the sheer magnitude of what I see before me.


    ¡°By the gods¡­I had heard the rumors, of course, but never would I have imagined this¡­¡± Mimi says.


    The whole group murmurs in agreement.


    ¡°This is beyond even the power I possess. What is this?¡± The honesty in Fennis¡¯ words speaks a sobering perception of what we¡¯re witnessing.


    All at once, Gehenna roars to the heavens and demands the Beta attack us. Her words are followed by a near-infinite stream of Beta suddenly pouring in.


    ¡°This is the when part you run!¡± Dom instructs us over his shoulder.


    With a wave of his hand, dozens and dozens of Beta simply disappear before us, leading toward the exit door. My mind''s in turmoil over what is happening. ¡°Dom! Come with us!¡±


    In a voice far too calm for the situation at hand, he says simply, ¡°I shall be right there, child.¡±


    I resist believing that... in this moment, I have never heard a bigger lie.

 22 - For Whom The Bell Tolls (1)

    For Whom The Bell Tolls (1)


    The Valkyries, Fennis, Charlie, and myself all run as fast as we can through the Academy. Pockets of Eld still exist and they surround us when they are able. Fennis is busy carrying Abi¡¯s unconscious form, giving us a handicap. We fight them off to the best of our ability, but the Beta refuse to leave us alone. The biggest concentration of them is in the room Dom and Gehenna are.


    The ones who attack us, however, fare poorly against the combined might of us all. Beasts of twisted, mangled flesh attack us one after the other. Comparatively, they are weak alone, but their numbers are outrageous. Where could they possibly be coming from? I mean, those portals, but¡­


    A charred-black claw swoops down on me while I am distracted. There is a flash before me as Mimi stands right as rain. Where her fist hangs in the air stands a Beta with a severed arm, and a hole through their chest.


    ¡°No time to be distracted, beautiful.¡± She winks at me.


    ¡°What? ¡®Beautiful¡¯?¡±


    Mimi giggles and disappears. She is so fast. Lightning-fast, technically, but it still boggles the mind, even though I¡¯m in the ¡°know.¡± Another Beta comes for me from high in the air. The portals are letting them out everywhere, and the air is no exception. I draw my sword.


    Before I can block the incoming attack, Kay swoops in from midair and tackles the Beta. They roll across the ground for a moment before Kay manages to right herself and brings her daggers down over and over. As she dismounts the corpse, she turns to me with a small smile tugging at her lips, and then she too runs back into the fray.


    I see Charlie struggling with three Beta up ahead and rush to her side. They smack her shield out of her left hand. I slice one''s arm off before the beast can bring its trunk-like arm down on her.


    ¡°This feels like the first time we met,¡± she gasps.


    Her words make me wince. ¡°During the beginnings of the war, when Nina was taken from us?¡± I ask.


    She slices at one Beta, then rolls to the side. I keep my back against hers and slice at another one. It isn¡¯t long before we¡¯ve made short work of the group. Charlie reaches over and tilts my head up by my chin.


    ¡°No, silly girl, when you saved that man. My guards had you all surrounded and yet you still showed no fear.¡±


    My eyes are like saucers in the reflection from Charlie¡¯s pure-blue eyes. ¡°You¡­ remember¡­¡±


    Before she can respond, Fennis urges us to continue¨Cwe¡¯re nearing the end of the courtyard now. The gates stand wide open with the armies still fighting against the Eld and now the Beta. Corpses span the horizon, and the stench of death has stained the wind.


    ¡°And what are we supposed to do now?¡± I ask. ¡°All there is, is more and more fighting. The Beta will not stop coming.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. They will not. Once a Beta has marked your thread, it will hunt you forever. That¡¯s the entire reason this always happens.¡±


    In wanders Dom¨Cyoung, and super-hot Dom. I shake my head to clear those thoughts.


    What the hell? Since when do I like men? No¡­ what?This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Wait. I have always liked men. What the hell is going on with me? Me liking women is not supposed to be my default. Sure, I made my decision to like these specific women but, oh for fuck sakes. This isn¡¯t even important right now.


    Mimi interrupts my thoughts. ¡°What do you mean, always happens? You know, your entire conversation with Gehenna was eerie¡­¡±


    Dom looks over at me. ¡°My Lord, it is as much my fault as anyone''s that things have gone so far off course. For that, I apologize.¡±


    Fennis he is not who he is bowing to, but me. Quickly looking at the others, I realized they are just as confused as I am.


    ¡°Though you will have to forgive me on your own time, as it is in limited abundance right now. You all must go.¡±


    Confused, I question him. ¡°Go where? There are Beta everywhere! You yourself said they will follow us forever. What could we possibly do?¡±


    A roar cuts through the skies and we all look up. To our amazement, there in the sky, dotting the horizon¡­


    ¡°Is that a freaking boat? In the sky?!¡± Mimi calls out first.


    ¡°Of all the things to see in my lifetime¡­¡± Rose is equally flabbergasted.


    Even Kay stares with her mouth wide open. I wonder if these blatant showing of emotions is related to Ame¡¯s spell being cut off her when she died, or if it results from pulling that infection out of her.


    ¡°My gods. The mad man did it!¡± Fennis exclaims.


    ¡°What? Who did what?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Bartholum, that crazy son of a bitch! He found an old book that talked about an ancient piece of machinery that Nina had created a prototype of during the rebellions.¡±


    Just then, the courtyard floods with Beta. They¡¯ve regrouped and are closing in on us as Kyle lands the ship at the edge of the actual battlefield.


    ¡°You must all go!¡± Dom repeats.


    ¡°You have to comeas well,¡± I tell him.


    He shakes his head. ¡°The Beta will never stop. They have your fates and they hunger for them. All present must be wiped out for you all to have any semblance of peace.¡±


    It¡¯s then that I notice small fissures going up his arms. I can see a faint glow in the cracks. I tilt my head at it, and he notices my gaze.


    ¡°Ah. Forgive me. I have been channeling several spells for quite some time, you see. Even talking has been difficult. Though in this form, it is much easier. I will put up a barrier after you all have made it to the ship, trapping all things Beta within it.¡±


    ¡°Well, good. Then you can do that and we can all leave together.¡±


    Another shake of his head. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to leave the barrier, as I am the channeler. It would bring it down.¡±


    ¡°Then we shall stay and fight with you! Then we will all leave through the barrier.¡±


    He seems hesitant for a moment before talking complete gibberish.


    ¡°I must put The barrier up after you leave, my Lord. Nothing of the Beta can pass through it.¡±


    ¡°Right. So we can all leave together.¡± Anxiety shakes my voice.


    Rose places a hand on my shoulder, with sadness deep inside her eyes. Everyone else is looking at me, too.


    ¡°What? What are you all looking at?¡± Panic assails me more than ever before.


    Dom looks at me with grief-stricken eyes. ¡°My Lord, you must go. Now, and hurry, before the barrier is raised! We are running out of time!¡±


    ¡°Again, we can all run through it after-¡±


    ¡°NothingBeta can pass through it, Eve..."


    My heart drops. My breath hitches. What is he insinuating? I look at the others, but they all turn their gazes from me.

 23 - For Whom The Bell Tolls (2)

    For Whom The Bell Tolls (2)


    ¡°Dom. What are you-¡± I''m cut off.


    ¡°Flee, you fools, and my Lord! I pray thee happiness that will last forever.¡±


    He turns his back to us, and walks further into the courtyard to meet the Beta. I try to run and catch him but Charlie holds me back. I struggle with all my might, but as nothing more than a normal girl, a perfectly average, normal girl, I can¡¯t break from her hold. I hear Fennis scoff behind me. I notice Charlie handing me over to Kay and Mimi for a moment as I continue to struggle. Fennis moves Abi into Charlie¡¯s hands, and reaches around my waist.


    ¡°No! No, no, no! Don¡¯t do this, you bastard! All of you! How could you let this happen? We can¡¯t leave Dom here!¡±


    I struggle with all of my might. As Fennis puts me over his shoulder, I punch him with all the strength I can muster. We are moving further and further away from Dom.


    ¡°Put me down, now. I don¡¯t care what the fuck happens to me! Go back for Dom! Why aren¡¯t any of you listening to me? You¡¯re all just looking away! How can you possibly be okay with this? How are you cowards not able to face the man you are sentencing to die?¡±


    None of them speak as we move through the armies. I look around and see hundreds of Beta and Eld falling at once, despite Fennis recalling all the troops as we pass them. It¡¯s only then that I notice Rose holding both Mimi and Kay¡¯s hands. Her beautiful braid is no longer scraping the ground. Her hair floats freely in the air. The cold feeling usually associated with her doing this is easily nulled by the burning rage inside of me.


    These selfish, selfish bastards. I lost Nina already. I refuse to lose anyone else!


    ¡°Kay, Mimi, stop it! You don¡¯t know what she is doing! She¡¯s using your souls!¡±


    ¡°If it can help us get you to safety, we are okay with it. Isn¡¯t that right, Kay?¡±


    She lets her lips form a full smile and gives me a nod. ¡°No price is too high.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°You are all out of your minds. Fennis! They¡¯re your Valkyries! Stop them!¡±


    ¡°We both know that isn¡¯t true, girl. Now shut your mouth. Your cowardice invalidates this entire day every time you open your mouth!¡±


    Swarms of Beta attack us and fall. Some even attempt to run, but to no avail. Our troops watch on in astonishment as they march to the floating boat. We, too, before long, walk up its ramp. The moment Fennis puts me down, I try to make a run for it, but the man merely picks me up again, this time by the scruff of my collar.


    ¡°Kyle,¡± he says, ¡°set our location to the western front. The One King bastard has a lot to answer for.¡±


    I scream and scream while we fly away; no one even looks at me. Once we make it to the air, Fennis lets me go and watches as I scramble everywhere looking for any possible means of escape.


    The air itself opens up, followed by the sky. A beautiful shimmer lets us peek into the heavens itself. From them, a ball of fire emerges, or rather, it¡¯s a rock.


    No¡­ it¡¯s an asteroid? A meteor? I don¡¯t know the difference. I never bothered paying attention to that kind of stuff.


    All I know is it''s on fire and absolutely massive. As it starts to break through the sky, the air, even this far away, starts to burn. As it descends, I realize that it¡¯s heading towards the Academy.


    ¡°No! Dom¡­¡±


    As it approaches the surface of the planet, a beautiful white dome appears around the Academy. The entire Hercynian forest catches fire and blazes across the sky as the meteor is now so close to the surface of the planet.


    ¡°This is beyond anything I would have conceived as possible. I have to burn every moment of this into my mind so I can record it later,¡± Kyle says next to me.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to record a good man dying¡­¡± I murmur.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to record a great man dying,¡± he corrects me.


    The meteor passes through the barrier as if it didn¡¯t exist. A moment later, the loudest sound to ever form on this planet pierces the sky. The entire dome of the barrier is encased in fire.


    My tears won¡¯t stop flowing.


    Why has my life taken so much from me?


    Why me? Dom, he¡­ he insinuated I was related to the Beta somehow, and thinking back on my time inside the void, that voice told me that to save Kay, I had to do what only a Beta can. I thought he meant to do the impossible, but what if he meant¡­


    Just then, we¡¯re overcome by a pressure wave that blows right through the ship. Half a dozen of our men fly off the boat as it rocks to the side. I try my hardest to hold on to some people, to save as many as I can. By the time the boat has righted itself and the danger has passed, I notice something horrible.


    There, in the distance, where the Academy used to be, is a massive crater.


    I fall to my knees and weep.

 24 - For Thee: Domnis Lux (1)

    For Thee: Domnis Lux (1)


    A look over my shoulder tells me my Lord and the others have made it to the boat. Kyle was always a genius, second to only Ninavin.


    It is time to really let loose for the first time in over a thousand years.


    Twenty Beta surround me, just in time to be electrocuted. As their bodies turn to dust, I swing my staff around and around my body. The tornadoes I make lift hundreds of the vile creatures into the air. Their twisted complexions can¡¯t comprehend what is happening to them. Using some of the energy stored within my arm, I set the tornado ablaze.


    A group of the vermin try to run past me while I¡¯m distracted. Before they even get to the gate, they¡¯re frozen solid. I snap my fingers and they shatter. Wave after wave, monster after monster, my magiks ruin them all.


    ¡°Give me all you¡¯ve got!¡±


    My ownvoice sounds strange to my ears. I have not used this much power in millennia.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Gehenna, or should I say ¡°Queen,¡± laughs at the whole ordeal. The wind carries her pretentious mockery and dozens more of the monsters approach me. I hop away and use a fire spell to incinerate everything below me.


    Standing some few yards away, I shout curses at Queen. ¡°You¡¯ve broken every rule, Queen. I don¡¯t believe my Lord will bring you back this time.¡±


    Anger akin to a physical force bears its weight down on me. ¡°Good. Then I win.¡±


    I shrug it off as much as I am able and use wind magic to propel myself higher into the air. Each time I am about to fall, I create a temporary springboard to push myself further. Up and up I go until I am standing atop the spire of the Academy. Looking at the sea of Beta below me, I watch as what was once beautiful white walls, are defiled and tarnished black as the Beta make their way up.


    Sensing so many who are taking the chance to push out of the Academy and into the city proper, I half-raise the barrier I had been saving energy for. One thousand years of saving magic and days of chanting, yet this is still the best I can do. I lack training. If I''m able to do this all again, then I need to take it all the more serious.


    The smallest tinge of fear overcomes my heart¨Cthe smallest crack in an otherwise serene world of light. Under the surface, within the darkness itself, Queen¡¯s razor-sharp smile haunts me. I look out across the entire kingdom, my kingdom, and think back to that day so very¡­ very long ago.

 25 - For Thee: Domnis Lux History

    For Thee: Domnis Lux History


    Janus embers, is how I would have described her the moment we met; I was so foolish back then. I proclaimed to the world that I would make my way through the Hercynian Temple, but the curse of the forest was too strong for me. It toyed with me in its maleficence.


    Moments from becoming just another naive soul lost to the world, she appeared from nothingness. No poof or shimmer. She wasn¡¯t, and then she was. The curse of the forest fled from the goddess before me. As but a child, that is what she looked like to me, and that is what she truly was.


    She addressed me as ¡°Loyalty¡± and told me she had a mission for me. She told me thatshe, but necessarily not herself, would return againsomeday; that I had to be ready.


    Ready for what?


    She merely gave a sad smile, and, with a wave of her hand, opened the temple before me.


    As she touched my hand to pull me up, all my wounds healed. My rotten and missing teeth from a lifetime of sweets and alleyway fights popped back into perfection.


    Her hand was softer than the finest fabrics, I¡¯m sure. I could not believe this woman with her fiery-red hair, her green eyes that seeminglysaw everything, would take a moment of her time for me. Never had my small heart of ten years been so bewitched by another.


    The walk through this temple was far shorter than I had expected. But so much longer did time pass, as I spent it with her. Upon the temple wall was a blank section of brick. She waved her hand and a tapestry ground itself within the wall. She told me it was a story.


    It was the story of how it all began, at least the first world.


    A rock from the heavens fell to the planet and released the monsters of so many myths. A lone girl wished upon herself and her friends for a way to defeat the creatures. She fought with all her might, yet failed. Using the power of her world, she bound a part of her soul to her blade, and flung it into the void itself. She was determined that somewhere, at some time, she would bring an end to those that hide in the dark.


    To make sure of this, she spread word of what remained of her soul through the void too. Fragments of who she was, and what it is she would do, spread through all there was, is, and ever would be.


    The fiery-haired lady carried a small smile as she drug her fingers across the depiction of the girl from the story.


    ¡°Did you know her?¡±


    ¡°I am hers, and she mine. But Fate is cruel.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    She waved a hand, filling out the rest of the story.


    ¡°She and I gain snippets of each other on the occasion, but our directions are in opposition. Were I able to stay, I could be with her. Were she able to let whole worlds fall, she would not fight. But I cannot, and she cannot. That is the way the stars have laid it out.¡±


    She finished her picture and her words that rung much-too-complex for such a small mind as my own. She gave me another small smile and slid her silken hands through my hair again.


    ¡°Loyalty, you are to do great things this time around. Much more than ever before. You will join Queen and Moderator, and set me down the necessarypath. With any luck, your assistance will allow the stage to play out more effectively than ever before.¡±


    Confused, I looked up at her with a million questions burning inside my little mind. But simple-minded me asked the most obvious of all of them.


    ¡°What is your name, my goddess?¡±


    She gave a small laugh at that seemingly unexpected question and led me out of the temple. She took one last look in my eyes and knelt down to my level.


    ¡°Things are going to be hard for you, Loyalty, as they have been for many others. It¡¯s so selfish of me, I know, but you all made your choices. You refused to leave me alone. You have no one else to blame besides yourselves. And so-¡±


    She placed her hand on my head. I felt a warmth like none other flow through me. The entirety of space and time¡­ and my¡­ our history flooded into my mind. Tears poured down my face like a dam that had always been destined to break. I met her gazeand she looked at me, a single tear dripping to the ground.


    I place my hand on her cheek and tell her thatI¡¯m sorry. I tell her over and over and over again about how sorry I am, so sorry to have failed her, to make her suffer alone.


    ¡°But I am never alone, even when I do not realize it. I have you, and Moderator, and Queen, and Silence, and Temper, and Mother, and Knight, and Scribe. You, all of you, are irreplaceable to me as much as I am to you. That is why we are all here, ne?¡±


    I nod, trying to wipe away the waterfalls that had replaced my eyes.


    ¡°But what am I to do? I have never been allowed to remember before.¡±


    ¡°Be the beacon of light for this world¨Cthat is how I will arrive. Be the guardian, to keep out the Beta as long as you can.¡±


    ¡°And after that happens?¡±


    ¡°Then once again, your role will be complete. Then you can start it all over again. How lucky you are.¡±


    ¡°I am. I am so lucky to do this for you, to be able tooffer even a pittance of happiness in this accursed existence you bear.¡±


    She looks up to the sky, ¡°That is why you are Loyalty, I suppose. But I must away, they are already coming. Thousands of them have found me. You are going to have a rough few hundred years. For that much, I apologize.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but I am human this time, I will not-¡±


    She cuts me off with a gorgeous smile. A real one, but not quiteso real as to reach her eyes. Only Raven could give her that kind of smile¡­


    ¡°Goodbye¡­¡±


    She gives me the smallest of waves, and disappears from existence. From that moment on, I was going to be very busy. Busy, indeed¡­

 26 - For Thee: Domnis Lux (3)

    For Thee: Domnis Lux (3)


    The sound of their ship taking off snaps me out of my reverie. It had been so long since I thought back to that day. I move my hands with the spell, and reach forth to the heavens. I find the biggest thing I can manage¨Can asteroid.


    ¡°This should do just fine, you bastards!¡±


    With every lastbit of energy I can muster, I pull it out of the heavens. It moves faster than anyone could imagine, its size alone makes it look so slow. Its massive form breaks free from the crack in space I made. I pant heavily while watching it come through.


    I half-believed I wouldn¡¯t have been able to do this. This is maddening, impossible really. I would be unable to use spells again for an entire human lifetime after this. Well, all sans one¨Cthe last one, the one hidden under my skin.


    As the Beta approach ever-closer to the top of the tower, I reach deep into the cracks beneath my skin and rip forth mana in its purest state. I sculpt it into its desired form and fuse it with my barrier spell. The barrier forms a dome around us and I drop to my knees. My heart feels like it might explode. It reallyjust might.Stolen story; please report.


    I look across the horizon to the ship they boarded. With my magik, it is child¡¯s play to see them, to see my Lord struggling so pathetically to save me, but that is all I ever needed.


    All I ever wanted was to be useful to her.


    This pain of mine is nothing compared to what she¡¯s been through, what she will continue to go through. I only hope that next time, I am worthy enough to remember it all again.


    I look up toward the meteor as it makes its way to us. The forests around the Academy, this wonderful place that I spent so long helping build and refine, all catch fire and are blown away. My hearing picks up the voice of the faux-Zeroth.


    The meteor closes in evermore, a few feet away from me now. My hair catches fire and my skin begins to slough off. My skin completely erupts. I¡¯m completely wiped out, much the same way as the Beta. Near the end, I hear that man mention something: they plan to meet with the One King.


    I see. My Lord, ever one step ahead. It seems I have one job left to do.


    At that moment, the meteor makes contact with me, and the entire world disappears in a flaming-hot void of light.

 27 - Recoup (1)

    Recoup (1)


    The flight seems to go on forever. My soul can¡¯t take it. I haven¡¯t left the corner of the bed I¡¯ve procured.


    My existence is cursed. Everyone around me dies. I can save no one. I tried so hard.


    "This again, woman?" Fennis enters the room.


    "Save it, Fennis." I murmur.


    "Need I remind you that ''lest you landed the deathblow, then you aren''t responsible." He sits on the edge of the bed. "You are not the only one to mourn his loss, Eve. Domnis was important to nearly everyone in the kingdom, all of our troops, and your wives, too."


    "... They''re your women, Zero."


    "You are daft. Now rise and rouse what remains of our world."


    He reaches over and grabs me by the scruff of the neck. I couldn''t resist even if I wanted to, as he drags me out of the room.


    Nerves kick my ass as I look out across all the faces before me. Several thousand people ¨C that''s all that remains. Assuming there¡¯s stragglers out there on their own, I can''t believe it would be more than a few hundred extra.


    These people have lost everything¡­


    "There is little left in this world." I start pacing. "Even if we win, it will take generations to see any amount of recovery. None of us will see the fruits of our labor."


    "Woman, this hardly qualifies as a pep talk," Fennis cuts in from the side.


    "But it is. Don''t you see? This is reality. This is what we have left to fight for."


    I take center stage and open my arms wide. Forlorn faces look all the worse for wear as blurry and unfocused eyes shift their attentions to me. "We don''t stand today for ourselves. We stand for a more hopeful tomorrow. I can only ask, is it worth it to you all, to plant a tree whose shade you will never stand in? Is it worth it to build a world in which you will never live? Is it worth it to beat back evil so that our world will once again feast in the light?"


    I spoke with no break between my words. Now I stand in silence with ragged breathing. A murmur spreads through the crowd as every person here chooses for themselves, but the choice was clear. They clap and cheer.


    Morale is returned as high as it ever was among them.


    I pass through the crowd of people as they cheer for me. In front of the door to my room stand the Valkyries. They each wear their own emotions. I scan their faces and give them a nod.


    They follow me to my room, spreading throughout it. I take a seat in my corner and pull my knees to my chest.


    "What do you want?"


    "We need to talk," Mimi says.


    "It could be the last time we have a moment of peace with us all," Rose adds.


    Kay chimes in, ¡°Like we used to.¡±


    I focus on the women around me.


    "You''re Zero, right?" Kay asks, titling her head slightly.


    "And you''re more talkative than you used to be."


    "So, you are then?" Mimi scoots closer to me.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Sure. I was called that once, but as you can see, I am nothing like what you all saw me as."


    "I don''t know. That mopey self-pity is just like I remember," Mimi sticks her tongue out at me.


    "And that stubbornness couldn''t belong to anyone else," Kay says as she inches closer to me too.


    I cock an eyebrow at her laying her head against my legs.


    "What did you tell them, Rose?"


    She gives a wicked little grin and acts like she doesn''t know what I''m asking.


    "Well, you don''t have to get on me like this-" I begin, pushing Kay off my legs and holding Mimi back from hugging me. "I''m not the Zeroth. You don''t owe allegiance to me because I was at one point. You are all free to live your own lives as you choose."


    "Then there is no issue," Mimi cuddles up to me.


    "What?"


    I look across all their faces, showing similar sentiments.


    "But you don''t know me!"


    "Who you are is apparent, and has been apparent since the day we met. Some details have changed, sure, but struggles are meant to be overcome." Rose squeezes my knee.


    I shake my head, ¡°Guys. We¡¯re all women¡­¡±


    They look at each other then back to me. ¡°Yes. We discussed that,¡± Rose tells me.


    ¡°I can¡¯t give you the children you¡¯ve all wanted.¡±


    ¡°Such is the way life goes sometimes,¡± Mimi replies.


    ¡°Um¡­ there¡¯s also four of us. You¡¯ve already seen the kinds of issues that can lead to.¡±


    ¡°If I can be with you, I don¡¯t mind who you¡¯re with.¡± Kay smiles as she speaks.


    What could I say?


    ¡°How are you all able to even know or remember any of this? The Zeroth should be drawing you to it, warping everything.¡±


    ¡°Is that how that worked? I don¡¯t understand that.¡±


    I turn to Mimi, ¡°Yes. The Zeroth Knight title¡­ Well, I don¡¯t know much about how it started but-¡±


    I proceed to tell them everything I know about the Zeroth Knight. How, from what Nina told me, it has been around at least since the founding of the empire. I tell them how it warps the perceptions of those around it, forcing its own reality on everyone else. Then I tell them about the rebellion of three hundred years ago, and how Nina anchored the Valkyries souls to the Zeroth. From then on, their destinies were tied to the Zeroth.


    I tell them all I know about the Beta as well.


    ¡°The Beta are creatures from¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­ If Dom, and those other voices are to believed, I¡¯m connected to them being here somehow. Hell, if what Dom was insinuating is true, I may even be a Beta myself, although I don¡¯t understand how that could be possible.¡±


    Mimi awkwardly rubs the back of her neck. ¡°Yes. I would have to agree. You¡¯re much more handsome¡­ um¡­ beautiful than those vile things.¡±


    I roll my eyes. ¡°Old habits die hard, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t know the first thing about flirting with a woman.¡±


    ¡°That didn¡¯t stop you before,¡± Rose teases, causing Mimi to blush.


    ¡°But anyway, the Beta seem to twist the fate of others by chewing away at what is tantamount to their souls, and that causes them to eventually go mad. It also alters an individual''s fate. Don''t ask me how.¡±


    ¡°So, depending on how you look at it, the only real difference between the Zeroth Knight title and the Beta, is that the Beta destroys, and the Zeroth Knight gets you tons of amazing women.¡±


    I look straight at Mimi, completely dumbfounded.


    ¡°I¡¯m fairly sure there is more to the Zeroth than that.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. The story we saw at Hercynian Temple showed someone who looked like Eve when she changed at the coliseum, fighting them.¡±


    Rose explains everything related to our time in the woods, and Kay seems lost in thought, though it¡¯s hard to tell given her typical relatively-blank expression. She glances over at me and catches me staring.


    ¡°Very complicated. But, here for you,¡± she leans in and kisses me.


    ¡°What? No fair!¡± Mimi dives in after her and kisses me too.


    ¡°Oh. That¡¯s a lot different than kissing a man.¡±


    ¡°I would say, ¡®I told you so,¡¯ but I¡¯ll refrain.¡±


    She sticks her tongue out at me. ¡°I¡¯ll get used to it.¡±


    Before I can say anything else, Rose reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze.


    ¡°My main concern is this: If we are destined to be with the Zeroth, then why do we still want to be with you? What has changed? Given what has already happened, could it be that it we¡­¡± Rose lets her sentence hang for a moment before gathering her thoughts and continuing, ¡°As much as I want to believe in this being our will, with us somehow overcoming the machinations of gods, could it not be that it wasn¡¯t the Zeroth we were supposed to be with? Could it not be that it is simply you?¡±

 28 - Recoup (2)

    Recoup (2)


    I don¡¯t know what to say in response. I hadn¡¯t thought about it. Rose is suggesting that perhaps it never really was the Title that drew them to me. Perhaps it was just... me. ¡°It makes sense to a degree, if I really am the center of all of this. But if that could be the case, then perhaps now, more than ever, you should all distance yourselves from me. Resisting your accursed fates is the only way to fight back.¡±


    They all agree that isn¡¯t happening.


    ¡°But how can you say that? If the feelings you¡¯re all holding are nothing by the byproducts of someone else¡¯s plan, then they aren¡¯t your own. They¡¯re fake.¡± I try to reason with them. But Rose speaks up again.


    ¡°But what can you do about it? What choice do we have? To simplylive our lives denying the feelings we have? Why? All because someone else might have set them in place? Our entire lives were dictated by things outside of our control.¡±


    ¡°I agree with Rose,¡± Mimi nods. ¡°What real control do any of us have over the way we feel? You can¡¯t sit here and tell us you are the one who dictates how you feel.¡±


    ¡°We are the products of an infinite number of variables throughout our lives.¡± I look towards Kay, dumbfounded at that string of sentence¡­ the most complex I''ve ever heard from her.


    ¡°But it would be a lie¡­¡± I protest.


    The door opens and Charlie enters. She hesitates for a moment, seeing me surrounded by the girls. She¡¯s clearlyabout to leave, but I invite her in.


    ¡°I, um, just wanted to thank you for saving me, and see how you are doing. I should go.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be that way. You were severely hurt. How are you doing? How is Abi?¡±


    ¡°Abiliath will recover. As much of a monster she is, she is still old. So, that said, she¡¯s in another room complaining about not being allowed to get up and roam yet. She was distraught to hear what happened with Domnis.¡±


    Abruptly, she covers her mouth and a look of anger flits across her face, likely at herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. I mean, it isn¡¯t fine, but you don¡¯t have to walk on eggshells around me.¡±


    Hesitantly, she sits on the edge of the bed, half turned towards me. ¡°How about you all? How are you doing? Especially you Mimi.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Charlotte. You don¡¯t have to beat yourself up over anything. You tried to save me. I¡¯m grateful.¡± Mimi punctuates her point with a kiss on Charlie¡¯s cheek.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    She blushes furiously and looks to defend herself against what just happened, but her words quickly fall short as she notices me staring at her.


    ¡°Um, so you have all made up, yes? That is good, very good. I¡¯m glad to see everyone in their proper places. Zero is an ass. I mean, notyou, Zero, the current one." Charlotte spits out, uncharacteristically twirling her fingers.


    ¡°Yes. He was the First Knight when I arrived to this world. I banished him after he challenged me and I won.¡±


    ¡°I see. No wonder Zero¡¯s personality changed so quickly. I mean, I could tell he wasn¡¯t the same person, but I damn near went mad being the only one who could tell. I started to doubt everything. Eventually, I slowly started to realize that you came back to me, to us. I mean, you came back for them, the Valkyries.¡± She looks away as her cheeks reddened.


    ¡°Look¡­ Charlie, I don¡¯t really understand these girls here. I think they¡¯re crazy, personally. I dowant you to know, though, I was never using your feelings or anything. Trust me, I¡¯m not upset that you can¡¯t see me the way you once did. Knowing I¡¯m a woman now changes everything.¡±


    ¡°Ah. Um¡­ it does change a lot of things.¡± She speaks up.


    The other girls look at me with pity. Gods, it takes everything to hold back when that look is directed at me.


    ¡°Oh. Um, that¡¯s not what I meant. I-¡± Charlotte waves her hands about, getting far more flustered than usual. It¡¯s rare to see her like this. ¡°What I mean is¡­ you are better um¡­fit for my¡­¡± She gives a little cough and whispers the end too low for me to hear.


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t hear what you said. I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    She is blushing furiously now. She grips her knees tight and looks at the ground. ¡°I was saying that¡­ I was so perturbed to have finally liked a man. I kept thinking maybe I hadn¡¯t known myself as well as I thought. But as you are now, you actually um¡­ are more aligned with my actual tastes.¡±


    I tilt my head at her in confusion. ¡°As clueless as ever.¡± Rose seems dejected.


    ¡°Stupid.¡± Mimi pulls me from my corner and shoves me at Charlie. I don¡¯t even have a chance todo anything because of how fast she is. Before I know it, I¡¯m in Charlie¡¯s arms. Her misty eyes look me over. Her red-tinted cheeks meet with a wry smile.


    She gives a side eyed-look at the others before returning to me. I feel incrediblybashful being in her arms, looking up into her beautiful blue eyes.


    ¡°What I meant to say is¡­¡± She tilts my chin upand kisses me.


    Her lips are soft and cracked, but they feel divine. I sink deeper into her embrace and become more forceful with my kiss. Her lips part and my tongue finds its way in. It¡¯s only the need to breathe that causes me to separate from her. I hear one of the girls behind me give a long whistle.


    Charlie seems to finally come back to reality and pushes me away quickly. ¡°Ah. No. This wasn¡¯t what was supposed to happen.¡±


    ¡°Five then?¡± Kay questions with a yawn.


    I let my head fall into my hands. ¡°Guys. This is too surreal. How in the hell is this real life right now?¡±


    I fall backward onto the bed. Rose hovers over me and lets sweet promises drip from her lips. ¡°Then let us enjoy our possiblefinal night together in fantasy, Eve.¡±


    At that, all the girls come together around me. I don¡¯t know how I will make it out of this alive. Each woman begins to remove articles of clothing one by one. Occasionally, hands come out of nowhere to strip me down.


    Amongst giggles and ragged breaths, amongst love and lust, my night fades away.

 29 - The One King (1)

    The One King (1)


    A knock on the door stirs me from my sleep. For a moment, I¡¯m confused as to why I can¡¯t move, but as my hazy vision starts to clear up, I realize the situation. The women I once called near-and-dear lay strung out across my bed. Every single one of them are sleeping in such a way as to make sure they¡¯re able to hold a part of me. More to the point, they all lay blissful and naked.


    My face immediately catches fire as the night¡¯s proclivities come crashing down on my mind. None of them seem to have woken up from that knock. With the utmost care, I crane my neck to the door. It looks like some kind of letter was slid under it.


    My girls seemed to have exhausted themselves. Even as I, slowly, pull myself free from them all, they don¡¯t stir. For a moment I hesitate to truly get out of bed naked. I cover my face with my hands.


    This is too much, I think.


    But all the same, it felt so¡­ right. Does that make me a horrible person?


    I look behind me at the beautiful, sleeping nymphs. Just a few years ago¡­ hell, even when I first arrived in this world, I could have never accepted being with a woman. I could dwell on it more, but perhaps it¡¯s time to just accept the way things are.


    But to have four of the most beautiful women ever, to myself¡­ is this called, ¡°having your cake and eating it too?¡± I can¡¯t really remember how that old saying went.


    Surely the cosmos will punish me for thinking I can just casually make this work¡­


    I can¡¯t exactly get dressed as the girls have thrown our clothes everywhere. I creep, naked, to the letter by the door. Flipping it over, I immediately see lines of chastising from Fennis. Otherwise, it is information on us finally approaching the One King¡¯s territory. We¡¯re about four hours away.


    I glance behind me again. We¡¯re going to need all that time just to get ready and have breakfast. I sigh inwardly at the thought of having to wake everyone up¡­ especially while naked.


    But how do I do it? I guess I don¡¯t want to be rough. I lean down towards Mimi, the closest one first. I give her a kiss on the lips. As if on instinct, she kisses me back. A moment later, her eyes flutter open.


    I smile at her, and move on to Charlie, then I kiss Rose and Kay as well. Charlie is the first to really be cognizant. Mimi isn¡¯t a morning person, no matter how much she pretends otherwise.


    ¡°Oh, gods¡­¡±


    I turn and look at Charlie with a raised eyebrow. She¡¯s hiding her eyes behind her hands. Her attempt at some form of modesty instantly crumbles.


    ¡°I can see you peeking through your fingers, Charlie.¡±


    She tenses up and looks away.


    ¡°You were caught!¡± Mimi teases Charlie.


    I roll my eyes at Mimi and start collecting everyone¡¯s clothes.


    ¡°I must say, you are gorgeous, Eve.¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°You¡¯re hardly bad yourself, Rosaline.¡± Mimi reaches over, and lightly squeezes one of Rose¡¯s breasts. A small moan escapes her lips before she slaps Mimi away.


    Yes¡­ apparently their love isn¡¯t solely directed at me.


    Perhaps that¡¯s how we make this work.


    ¡°It¡¯s early,¡± Kay complains while getting to her feet.


    Her lithe build stands out amongst everyone else. She¡¯s compact and tight. She doesn¡¯t have the bust or hips that the others do, but she¡¯s toned and flexible. She doesn¡¯t have the muscles Mimi or Charlie does. But¡­


    ¡°You¡¯re peeking,¡± Kay calls out Charlie.


    ¡°I-I would never! You¡¯re just captivating and shameless is all.¡±


    "So, peeking?" Kay teases her.


    ¡°Like you¡¯re one to talk. None of us expected you to be the coach last night,¡± Rose says, dragging a finger up Charlie¡¯s thighs.


    ¡°Sh-sh-shut up!¡± She jumps up, the blanket falling and revealing her body.


    Mimi whistles.


    ¡°I-I just¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to snap at you. I just never imagined being open about these¡­ interests of mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Charlie. We all have a lot to learn. I understand your hesitation. This is going to cause quite the stir.¡± Mimi starts to slide her underwear on.


    ¡°Right. Guys. That¡¯s something we have to talk about. I don¡¯t want to cause problems for anyone.¡±


    ¡°Eve, last night was hardly a problem,¡± Charlie spits out amongst a blush.


    ¡°Um¡­¡± I start to stutter at her being so direct. I clear my throat and try again. ¡°I mean, from today on. No matter how¡­ accepting you all are. There¡¯s going to come issues from all of this. If you want, we can pretend this never happened.¡±


    I don¡¯t know when she got behind me, but Kay bops me on the head¡­ hard. I turn to her while rubbing my head. ¡°The hell Kay?¡±


    The others giggle, and start getting dressed. I sigh.


    ¡°Well, we are somewhere around four hours from the One King¡¯s castle. There is much and more to do.¡±


    The next two hours or so passed quickly. We likely could have gotten ready faster, but everyone kept messing with and teasing one another. It warmed my heart to see everyone so carefree, mostly because this is likely the last time. I feel it inside of me. Something is thudding in a way like never before.


    Now for the most awkward part¡­ I swing the door open, and we all walk out to the deck. And, of course, everyone stops in their tracks and looks at us. I think I¡¯m going to die¡­ But having all of these women flanking me, seemingly shielding me from everyone¡¯s eyes, helps me get my nerves under control. The walk to Fennis isn¡¯t so bad now.


    His brow furrows as much as a human¡¯s can when he sees us. ¡°Good to see you continue to take everything from me, girl.¡±


    What am I supposed to say to that? He¡¯s completely right. Twice now I have altered his life, taken what was to be his.


    ¡°Be quiet, Zero, and tell us what to expect at the castle,¡± Charlie snaps.


    Well, that causes everyone to have a moment of surprise as evident on everyone¡¯s faces. The crew looks at us with a mix of anger and awe. Perhaps seeing all of the girls with me has lowered their obsessive devotion to Zero; Fennis, I don¡¯t know.    Fennis looks away in a huff but continues. ¡°There is practically no information on the One King¡¯s castle, or its layout, or how to even get in. Hell, if Kyle hadn¡¯t found its location in an old tome, we wouldn¡¯t even know its location.¡±


    ¡°Indeed. But that won¡¯t be an issue. Will it, ladies?¡± A voice echoes from behind.


    In walks Kyle and another man. He moves his pink-striped hair out of his eyes, and looks over to the Valkyries. They look at each other in turn.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I look at Kyle, then the girls.


    ¡°Erm¡­¡± Mimi lets out a little sound.


    ¡°The end of the world likely frees you from your bond ladies. Besides, if you don¡¯t want to speak up, Clive here will. We¡¯ve translated the tomes and know.¡±


    The comparatively shorter, stockier man, Clive, reaches over and squeezes Kyle¡¯s hand. ¡°There¡¯s no reason to be rude.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, but the point stands.¡± He gestures to the others.


    Charlie moves away from them and stands beside me. ¡°What are they talking about?¡±


    ¡°I suppose there¡¯s no choice¡­¡±


    ¡°Mimi, hush. We can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But Rose!¡±


    ¡°No!¡±


    As they bicker, Kay steps forward and strings together sentences in the way that is quickly becoming the norm for her now. ¡°We are The Three.¡±

 30 - The One King (2)

    The One King (2)


    ¡°Kay!¡± Mimi and Rose shout in unison.


    She ignores them and continues to explain. ¡°We never met him, but were told how to enter his domain in case of emergencies.¡±


    I don¡¯t quite get it, but the rest of the people around us seem surprised.


    ¡°I¡¯ll be damned,¡± Abi says as she strolls up to the meeting.


    ¡°I would not have imagined that, but it makes sense,¡± Kagura adds, followed by similar proclamations by the rest of what remains of the Consulate.


    ¡°Good for you all to get off your asses and join us. And you, Old Bat, you are to be resting.¡±


    ¡°Nothing in this world is stopping me from missing this.¡±


    Fennis rolls his eyes and faces the Valkyries again. ¡°So? You are The Three. What does that mean, exactly, to the rest of us?¡±


    Rose sighs. ¡°It means we¡¯ve been granted the pleasure of being the only three people to help the One King in the event that he calls, but he never has.¡±


    ¡°Well, that solves the issue of getting in. Now, you five, go fill your stomachs. You must be famished after your extended night.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± I get flustered. The others look pretty embarrassed too. The peanut gallery looks at us with judgmental eyes.


    Talim¡¯s whistle breaks through the awkward tension. ¡°Hot as that may be, the food is ready.¡± He calls out from the deck.


    Embarrassed, but hungry, I make my way to the dining area with the others. At the ¡°Captain¡¯s Table¡± everyone starts to swap stories and tales. No one actually questions what went on with us last night, and thinking about it makes my core throb. Just then, a more interesting conversation allows me to distract myself.


    ¡°This is amazing, though. How did you find this thing? How is it even flying?¡±


    Mimi is quizzing Kyle on all kinds of subjects related to the boat carrying us through the sky. Ah. I forgot. But to these people, a flying vessel must be akin to magic. Err¡­ extra magical?


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t tell you the details. Ninavin was above all of us, even me. The best I could do is figure out how to get things up and running. And even then, that required extensive tinkering on Clive¡¯s side.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Clive waves away the praise, telling us it was nothing. He blushes at it all, and blushes even more when Kyle reaches up and rubs his cheek.


    Ah. So, it¡¯s like that¡­


    The girl¡¯s around the area start to hoot and holler at what just happened, but I¡¯m more amazed by it. I never even thought of¡­ Well, Charlie did say she was actually interested in women, if not in so many words. I peek over at her. She wears a troubled expression. She seems uncomfortable with such openly displayed unconventional romance. I reach under the table and grab her hand. She twitches quickly, but otherwise keeps her cool and holds my hand.


    ¡°Perhaps when this is all over, we will have the chance to replicate this. I don¡¯t know why Ninavin left this as a prototype. It clearly works. But I suppose it¡¯s just one more mystery of her enigmatic self.¡± Kyle states.


    Kyle looks over at Clive, then at me. He raises his glass high. ¡°To Ninavin, and those we¡¯ve lost.¡±


    At the mention of Nina, the others seem reticent. Even after losing her life trying to help these people, the stigma attached to her still stands. However, the Valkyries raise their glasses and the rest follow suit. Breakfast ends quickly enough, and barely in time too. A man comes rushing in, telling us the castle is now within view.


    We step out onto the dock, and look out at the majestic castle before us. Its spires soar into the sky. Red casings travel in spirals up to the peaks of the columns. It stands as a beautiful testament to a cruel world.


    As we land, Fennis tells most of the crew to stay behind and keep the boat safe. The Valkyries, Charlie, Fennis, and I make our way to the massive wooden doors of the castle. Solid, magically enforced wood standing some fifty feet tall are before us.


    We look on at the Valkyries who seem to be taking it all in along with the rest of us. They nod to each other and place their hands on the doors. With seemingly nothing more than a small push, the doors give way and splits open.


    The dimly lit corridor blazes to life, leading us down a never-ending corridor. Fennis is the first to step through the gateway to the place of our answers.


    ¡°Shall we?¡± I ask the others. They nod, and we enter.


    As with the temple in the Hercynian forest, this place seems almost enchanted. The corridor is completely straight with no possible twists or turns.


    We march with a tension in the air that I can''t quite describe. It feels like we are leaving one world to enter another. Perhaps a world of death and destruction and endings lay before us. Behind us, the worst of times were still the best of times. At least now, I can face whatever it is that I find out, with my head held high.


    I love the women at my side. I''m sure nothing will be simple for us and our unique composition. Struggle awaits us, of that I''m sure, but we will see it through because that is who we are to one another.


    Fate is a twisted one. She always lays something just outside the possible, always moving the goalpost.


    With my attention focused on my girls, I¡¯m surprised all the more to hear what comes next. I can¡¯t believe it; Fennis¡¯ words are what brings my ill-sought despair down around me.


    ¡°Domnis Lux?¡±

 31 - Answers - Defiance

    Answers - Defiance


    ¡°Dom¡­ Is that you?¡±


    Sitting high above us all, on a throne of pure white, sits an exact replica of Dom. His gaze pierces through us with an intensity so unlike his usual self. He rests on one arm, while holding a grey scepter straight and proud in the other. His unkempt beard is nowhere to be seen. It¡¯s perfectly smooth and drags on the floor. The moment we witness his countenance, Charlie falls to one knee in solidarity. His demeanor is one of astute majesty. His voice and tone is no different.


    ¡°I see The Three have betrayed me by letting outsiders in.¡± His voice booms past us despite being so far away. The Valkyries, too, fall to their knees immediately, with Fennis looking like he¡¯s barely resisting. Even my knees quake and tremble.


    ¡°Dom, how are you alive? What is this? We came to see the One King! And here you are!¡±


    ¡°And here I am.¡±


    I step towards the stairway to heaven, intent on standing beside the King of Kings. The moment I do, it¡¯s as if the very fabric of reality rejects me.


    ¡°Trek farther, child, and you won¡¯t be around to see the end of this all.¡±


    ¡°Dom, what is this? What is wrong with you? Come down and talk to us.¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± He taps his scepter on the ground, and the very air rumbles. The air pressure forces Fennis and I down to our knees, joining the others.


    ¡°To see you bow to a mortal. You are not my Lord.¡± His piercing gaze passes over me.


    ¡°You called me that before¡­ what are you talking about? I¡¯m not the Zeroth Knight. He is.¡± I point at Fennis, to which he puffs with pride.


    ¡°Damn straight I am! And I will not-¡± He forces himself upright, through great efforts. His bones break, and tendons snap, yet they heal almost instantaneously. ¡°I will not bow to you, or any other mortal.¡±


    ¡°You are no one, Child of Haslothun. You are no more than an extra in this place.¡±


    ¡°How dare you!¡± Fennis touches the first step. I try to call out to him to stop, but it¡¯s too late. His very being is struck back. He rights himself, never letting his foot leave the step. Methodically, he moves to the next, then the next. ¡°I am the Zeroth Knight. I always, always have been.¡±


    Forty stairs up, Dom raises an eyebrow.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about you. I don¡¯t care about that whore-woman. I don¡¯t give a fuck about what any of you have to say. I have lived every single day of my life training to be the Zeroth Knight. Every moment of my existence has been for this cause. And there isn¡¯t a single one of you that will take that from me.¡±


    Eighty stairs up and Dom drags his head off his fist in a bored manner. His eyes following every moment of Fennis, whose entire being seeminglyends and is renewed with every step. Blood oozes out of every orifice and his bones break as he stumbles. At no point have I ever seen a more proud man.


    Fennis never takes his eyes off ofDom. He challenges him every step of the way. Beside me, the Valkyrie¡¯s eyes half-glaze over and even Charlie seems to barely be holding it together. The very will of this man before us, seems to be altering space itself. Be he Fennis, or be he Zero?


    ¡°I will save this world. I exist for that reason and that reason alone. I will not be dismissed by some king on high!¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Fennis crosses that insurmountable barrier, setting foot down on step one hundred and becoming level with Dom. His breath ragged, he reaches out to the King but stops. For some reason he lets his arm drop to his side. ¡°I see¡­¡± He mutters. I¡¯m confused by his following actions. Despite climbing so high with such fierce determination, he turns and marches down with the face of a man about to see his own execution. He¡¯s pale and forlorn with his eyes downcast.


    Dom speaks as Fennis marches on heavy step by heavy step.


    ¡°It would seem Domnis was important to you all. The boy¡¯s fate tells of it all. But know this, I am not that naive child. I am the beacon of this world that has held up the torch for light, for my Lord, since time immemorial.¡±


    He taps his scepter once again and a wave of tension flows through me, threatening to suck my very soul from my body.


    ¡°I am Loyalty, and that which has held back the Beta, creating a near-utopia- for as long as one such as I have been able.¡±


    ¡°But Dom¡­¡±


    ¡°Silence I say! You will not label a mortal¡¯s name upon me. I am your king!¡±


    ¡°My One King, sir, if I may.¡± Charlie¡¯s voice seems strained as it leaves her.


    ¡°You may.¡±


    ¡°Who was Domnis Lux, when compared to you, Loyalty, sir?¡±


    ¡°The stake of our very plan is on the line, and you wish to know of a man of no consequence?¡±


    ¡°We wish to know of a man who wasdear to us.¡± Mimi tells Dom¡­ Loyalty, as she cranes her neck up to lay eyes upon him.


    For the second time, an eyebrow raises. He sighs and responds, ¡°Domnis Lux is¡­ was¡­ the side of me that existed before I met Her¡­¡± His eyes trail over me for but a moment. ¡°My soul was divided in two. We both existed as one, yet we lived separate lives. He took the one that could have been, while I chose the one that was. His experiences were mine, and my solitude was his. He lived as a human, masquerading as human. I stayed here, holding back the dark. I could feel his experiences. He could feel mine. Two sides of the same coin, our ultimate fates always intertwined. ¡±


    ¡°And he died for us,¡± I croak.


    ¡°He died for you.¡±


    I swallow the lump in my throat.


    ¡°Who am I Dom? Loyalty?¡±


    ¡°The plan is so far astray, and still your memories do not return to you. You have left out the variability of your own pieces. You never would have imagined Queen would turn against you. Never, ever, would my Lord ever possess such thoughts, for she is pure, and righteous.¡±


    ¡°My¡­ memories?¡± The words fumble out of my mouth as if they tasted foul.


    He doesn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Loyalty. Domnis was you. You were he. Then you understand, let us go andexplain yourself, for him.¡±


    The fires of hell themselves descended upon Kay. Flames lick at her skin, but she does not cry out. The murder in Loyalty''s eyes speaks volumes of what he thinks of being compared to Dom.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t right.¡±


    Everyone looks at me.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t right at all! You¡¯re getting so mad over being compared to Dom¡­ how very human of you.¡±


    The flames shoot towards me but I don¡¯t feel their heat.


    ¡°You¡¯re just a human, Loyalty. You aren¡¯t even half the man Dom was. You¡¯re a fanatical coward.¡±


    ¡°I will kill you myself, girl.¡±


    ¡°You will do nothing besides let us go. Now!¡± My voice thunders. The flame goes out, and the oppressive weight upon us all but disappears at once. Loyalty¡¯s scepter snaps in half. His once-bored eyes travel over it and then search to find me.


    ¡°Perhaps¡­ you are correct. If Domnis was truly a part of me¡­ then maybe you truly are a part of my Lord.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to explain everything, Loyalty, and I mean, everything.¡±

 32 - Answers - Submission

    Answers - Submission


    Let me weave a tell for you, girl, for all of you. The story of a lonely, overly confident boy, and the goddess he met. She bequeathed to him a larger role than ever before. His memories were returned to him. With those memories, he was able to gaze upon the stars themselves. With those memories, he was able to experience a billion-billion lifetimes. Time itself lapsed to its end and started over across an ever-expanding, infinite cosmos. So many memories did he inherit, that a life spanning thousands of years wasn¡¯t enough to sift through it all.


    One set of memories in particularhave stood out against the backwashed memories of old. That is, but a single mission.


    At the dawn of time, God¡¯s body drifted throughout the void, devoid of meaning- That is, until her form began to unravel. Her body chipped away in portions and became the worlds. Her very blood formed the stars themselves. The thudding of her heartbeat created reality as we know it and her tears became life. Her loneliness became death and her anger became the Beta.


    The Beta, as she called them, because they were the second amongst her children. The beings her tears developed were the humans and their ilk. They were the Alphas. Whereas they were prim and proper and filled with light and hope and sadness and despair, all in equal measures, the Beta stood apart.


    They were vile and pustulated and hungry. They were the righteous anger of God, and her jealousy towards the humans and the bonds they shared, giving corporeal form. From the moment a Beta was born, it hungered forever. They posed a danger to the existence of the Alphas, but God was unable to simply destroy them, as they too were her children.


    And like children, they followed their creator around in fervor. They devoured everything within their path. Some few would occasionally veer off, and find worlds and people of their own.


    The Beta would feed off of the potentiality of the Alphas. The could-have-beens, the would-have-beens, eating away at their very fate, eroding who they are. In small numbers, the changes would be minor. It did not take God long to notice that which quickly became their go-to food source. As such, she realized she could never stay in one place for long.


    Almost as soon as she was able to stop and smile down upon her Alphas, did the Betas quickly arrive enforce and would overwhelm every society they touched upon.


    And so, the lonely god wandered forever, absent of any connections to her children, save the infantile base instinct of the Betas.


    Given God¡¯s divine mind, she was able to calculate the time required for a world to fall to the Beta. She then formulated a plan to spend just long enough in each world, across all of time and space.


    In some worlds, her creations viewed her as the rightful God she was and she earned many names. Odin, Zeus, Ra, Elohim, Elah, and many more.


    In other worlds, she was viewed falsely and under the guise of evil. Names such as Hel, Hades, Osiris, and Satan would stain her essence forever.


    She came to realize, that the titles one bore mattered more than who or what they were. A king was no freer than a mere peasant. And a god could no more choose another life, than a hunk of earth could. The titles enforced upon us, create us. They own us and adhere us to paths we may not have otherwise desired.


    Quickly enough, God learned the truth of the bonds all things shared, and understood she was no different. She lamented every world she had to leave behind, and the people she would never see again. And so, it dawned on her, what must be done.


    She created the gods of Physics and the gods of Souls. The gods of Physics would control a constant variable that would bind all of God¡¯s creations under a generalized umbrella, so no real deviation could occur.


    The gods of Souls would create and outline events in such a way as to give the illusion of choice and freedom to all Alphas. Their plans were meticulous and perfect.


    Chronos would keep stable, a universal constant to keep track of the passing of time.


    Fate, was in charge of linking togetherindividuals and designing their paths.


    Together, the two would create entire empires that would span the universes themselves, all of which could crumble to the beat of a single lost love or a choice word. Their children were dedicated to all forms of other various intricacies.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Moderator would stay in charge of the lesser workings and going ons. It would keep all things in line.


    Loyalty would never falter in obeying the orders of Moderator, always trusting its plan. Loyalty was its right-hand.


    Mother would help raise and foster love and dignity.


    Silence would simplydo, never questioning.


    Temper would question, and bring about new ideas to relay to Moderator.


    Knight would defend at any cost.


    Queen would lead the forces of the Beta, as a temporary guide. Never could it replace God, but it was able to distract.


    Scribe would record all important events, though his role would not be assigned until much later.


    With all the pieces on the board, but one thing stood in God¡¯s way: Loneliness. She knew it was no longer possible to deal with the pain of loss and separation. And so she paired with her Divine Family and their children, to weave a tale as old as time: That of a lonely coward.


    She would wipe her memories clean, unable to bear even a moment more of her despair. She would birth herself amongst her Alphas, and lead a life. Not a free life, but a life upon a stage. The Divine Family would follow the plans they made, and ensure that God would not remain present in any one world long enough to bring about its downfall to the Beta.


    There were problems, of course, especially near the beginning. It was quickly discovered that the only way to ensure God did not accidently do something¡­ godlike was to plant other actors along her path, ensuring she arrived at the desired location at the desired time- to recover her memories and leave the world just long enough to start over on another.


    It was a slow process, and entire civilizations burned along the way, as the Divine Family were not so omnipotent as God. They sent God down a path in every world, carrying a small detour to find those worthy enough of being voluntary vessels of the Divine Family. One by one all the chips fell into place, and a smooth system was developed.


    Eons passed, and God¡¯s plan seemed perfect. That was, until one world was stumbled upon. Avatar, the denizens called it. ¡°The real world,¡± they would say.


    It was here, that events went astray, and their world began to fall. One onyx-haired woman declared herself the enemy of the Beta, and swore to cleanse eternity of them. She promised to her lover that they would be together until the end as she passed away within a lover¡¯s embrace.


    This lover, as you might have guessed, was God given physicality. It was unbeknownst to her, and she cried out for her lover amongst the chaos and the death of their world. She removed her lover''s very soul and mingled her own with it. The being she created, was nearly as perfect as she, though human.


    As the void itself opened, and the Beta devoured their world, the reborn Raven forged a blade in which to store her own essence. With her lover by her side, she reaffirmed her oath to eradicate the Beta, and swore she would be with her God-lover at the end of existence itself.


    As the last light of the world was snuffed out, Raven hurled her blade into the void the Beta came from. The void, connecting all of time and space, split her sword, and thus her essence, into infinite pieces, allowing Raven¡¯s oath to be fulfilled. For she would now, truly exist forever, as the eradicator of the Beta. She had no form of her own, she was nothingness given life.


    She was Zero.


    All at once, at the end of it all, God awoke yet again, with newfound memories of what transpired. Her despair had never been greater. Never beforehad she experienced a love so strong as to cross into forever. And her children, the ones she must run from, and never let harm befall, were now to be hunted by the person she loved more than anything.


    Eternal children hunted by an eternal lover. God could never hurt either, nor could she control what was to transpire because Raven was now as much a part of her, as the Beta were.


    She assigned the title, ¡°Scribe¡± to the youngest of the Divine Family, ordering it to find a vessel and to never let a moment of Zero¡¯s life pass by without being recorded.


    God did not know how, but someone, or something had caused this to happen. Fate showed her blueprint, and this was not within it. Who or what could have power to do this, was outside the purview of God. But she would find the one responsible for these machinations, and she would devour it.


    She could not find a moment to talk to her lover, for the Beta would follow and they would fight. Yet no matter how hard God was to run, Zero was always behind her. And so this tragedy was to play out, for the rest of God¡¯s life.


    Never was God to be free of her curses. Never was she to be able tohold her lover again; and never would she find a way tosatiate her children.


    And so the wheel of Fate kept turning.


    What was the boy, from before, to do? There were now two of him. One who lived before and one who lived now. And so the boy became a man, and chose both lives, eager to have it all.

 33 - Machinations

    Machinations


    Were a glass to break on the opposite side of the planet, those in this room would be able to hear it, as silence was not the lack of sound, but the totality of its absence. Everyone was standing, looking at everything possible¡­ everything besides Eve.


    ¡°This is too much. Too, too much. What could I possibly say to such a ridiculous story?¡± My voice cracks and waivers.


    Just then, Loyalty coughs violently and falls from his chair. Before anyone could possibly reach him, he falls to his knees. On all four, he scrambles to crane his neck to the others. Tears pool in his eyes and shimmer as they fall.


    ¡°I believe in a better future for you, my Lord. But to achieve it, Queen must be stopped. Or this planet will be eradicated with you and the entire Family on it. You musn¡¯t let that happen.¡±


    He starts to cough; again, I can see blood sputtering out. Is this the result of his other half being destroyed? A part of me doesn¡¯t feel for the man and his deceitful lies. But I know it to be true, those deceitful truths. I don¡¯t remember a word of what he said. But I feel it within me, the reality of it all. I look down at my hands, those of which look so foreign to me now.


    Glancing back up at Loyalty, he¡¯s looking at me expectantly. He¡¯s dying and all he wishes is words from me. He is fading, I can tell. Half his soul is gone. I have no idea how he has even held on this long. I hesitate to offer the words he seeks. I am not worthy, and I¡¯m not sure that he is. I wish to make him squirm until the end as penance for bringing this down upon me. In the end, I was right. It really was all my fault.


    ¡°Rest now, Loyalty. We will meet again. As before, and so shall continue to be, your job is not yet done.¡± I speak words so unlike my own.


    He offers a small, sad smile to me. He mouths a thank you, and fades into dust. Behind me, I hear Mimi sobbing. I try to offer her my shoulder, but she looks towards me with unfamiliarity and distrust. The others are not so dissimilar. I don¡¯t blame them. Learning you¡¯re nothing but a pawn in a selfish, cowardly god¡¯s excuse at running away¡­ they can surely never look at me the same.


    I know when this is all over, regardless of how it ends, I will never be able to look at myself the same either. There are no winners in this game of life, only losers at different points in time. After all, we all end up in the same place.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "You''re all so full of yourselves. Such cowards!" Fennis spits out and walks away. His receding back can''t be ignored and so we all follow him in silence.


    Each heavy step is one of acceptance; every step is rejection. I can''t say who feels what, but I know I feel both. The paradox rages inside of me with each feeling vying for control.


    As we approach the boat, the heavy feelings within us presses down harder as the noticeable maleficence appears before us. The silence is deafening. Our army and the remains of the consulate, they''re all gone.


    The ship stands barren and hushed. An evil, but recognizable, laugh glides on the wind. Gehenna''s twisted smile warps the air around us and mocks us. It goads us to the sky. There high above, is a lonely island.


    "''Tis the highest you''ve ever seen me, to greet me. But a moment more and one of us will cross over the edge."


    "That harlot has brought the end of our world." Fennis spits.


    "Then is there a reason to go on?" I ask, much to everyone''s chagrin.


    He looks at me with disdain and speaks thus: "I will fight until literally nothing remains. I am the Zeroth."


    I look over at the others. Their sadness seems enlightened when he speaks. Charlie makes her way over to me and places her hands on either side of my face. "Look. What we do here now may be pointless. If what¡­ Loyalty said is true, nothing is going to happen to the five of us. But Fennis¡­"


    "Ah." It dawns on me.


    "He doesn''t have a role in the way we do¡­" Kay mumbles.


    I try and fail to choke down the rising bile at what that means. Not just for him, but for the countless other lives lost. As I vomit to the side, I understand. They''re gone. No matter what we do here, Fennis'' life is over as well, and he will disappear for good. However, he still marches on. Is that him? Or is that Rei?


    "We are survivors by happenstance. We don''t continue this for ourselves. We do so for them, the ones we''ve lost. If Gehenna isn''t stopped, she''s just going to do this all over again at the next world." Rose stares into the sky with a look of melancholy as she speaks.


    "I agree," Mimi responds to Rose.


    "What say you, Eve? Will you deny your lovers their last request?" Charlie speaks in a manner between chastisement and teasing.


    "Never. Let''s end this."


    We board the ship as Fennis takes the helm, and soars us to the sky and the limit of this world. There¡­ is the end of it all. A final fight.


    We will have to kill a friend¡­ all because she couldn''t handle the curse I placed on her. I suppose I can''t blame her. Just a single moment gone astray, and anyone''s life can derail.


    But we are all responsible for our actions in the end. Even if we have no control of them. That''s what it means to be alive.

 34 - So Falleth The Fate (1)

    So Falleth The Fate (1)


    The island we land on is a desolate wasteland devoid of even plants. I don''t know where Gehenna got this place, but it''s disconcerting. I figure it isn''t worth asking questions. She will have some answers related to things I can''t remember. I click my tongue and kick a pebble. It bounces down a long path¨Cour path.


    With very little spoken between us, we move down the only path available to us. The magik is palpable and dense as it stings my tongue and my body. I''ve never felt this kind of concentration before.


    The whole area is covered in a darkness reminiscent to a time before the stars themselves- in contrary to the suns still shining high in the sky.


    "The bitch sure knows how to set the atmosphere." Fennis barks.


    "Likely as reference to this all being a grand play," Rose quips to Fennis.


    "You''re going to upset Eve," Mimi chastises Rose, but the damage had been done. Indeed, it''s all a grand play permeating a grand stage. We''re puppets to my own machinations.


    The ground shakes, pulling my attention back to reality just in time to roll away as a massive set of arms wrap themselves around the others. Looking around, only Fennis managed to get away. A colossal creature surely from the abyss itself crawls out from the innards of the land holding my loves tight. They scream in pain and fight back against the creature.


    Four grand horns rise towards the sky. Its razor-clawed hands dig deep into the girls as a twisted smile coats its face.


    "To think this is how my legacy would end, killing those who took my Nina from me." Its voice booms as it twists its head one hundred and eighty degrees to set its coal-colored eye towards me. "I will take your women as you took mine."


    Mimi takes the chance to call down a bright beam of lightning on herself. It explodes the creatures¡¯ hands and an ooze of vile, thick blood coats the area. It screams with all its might and then laughs as a hand grows to replace the one he lost. Immediately, all the Valkyries are at the ready with Charlie not missing a beat in joining them.


    Fennis dashes from behind and slices the creature''s head clean off. It turns and slams him straight toward the ground. I break from the spell fear has cast on me and charge at the beast, slicing its leg in half. And like a lizard''s tail, it grows back, and he uses it to kick at me. I block it but my blade shatters and I go flying.


    A shock wave pushes through the area flattening us all. The force of it loosens some tarp laid over my memories.


    "I am Azreal Von Vvesson. And I will finish what I started all those centuries ago. Come forth my pawns and bring forth the Armageddon of Gehenna!"


    His voice echoes wildly as my mind soars to the past. Small cracks form, letting small memories flow. Memories not my ownfilter through me. I recall battles fought, those to be challenged, and worlds and lives that pang in my heart. My head pounds furiously and I roll on the ground screaming. Everyone has their woes writ across their face. But from the depths of hell, amalgamations of banshees appear in the form of allies lost.


    "No¡­" I hear Charlie''s oppressed voice in the distance.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Long black hair, a lithe form, Kagura Mitsuki stands before us twisted and deranged. Standing heads and shoulders above the others is Gabliel Throughdon. Abiliath marches towards the others with a sneer so menacingly. They stand side to side, bastardized perversions of once grandiose individuals. Now they stand at the ready, merely waiting on Azrael''s horrid indiscretions.


    "Destroy them all and this world will surely be ours."


    All at once they descend upon my women and all I can do is scream for a mercy thatis never to come. I scratch at my face and peel back the skin. My insides feel the need to take their place outside as the very fabric of my brain boils at the eruption of my memories.


    Each woman faces off against a member of the consulate. Kay dodges as much as Mitsuki. Both''s agility is impressive as is the way every strike is aimed to kill. A single well-placed blow from either would end the other. Two killers facing a past yet revealed.


    Gabliel is massive but unable to land a single blow against the sheer speed of Mimi. All the same, she is unable to do much damage even after landing a full charged lightning fist square on his jaw. He uses the flat of his broadsword to blow her away as she stands in confusion over her ineffective powers.


    Rose''s hair flies free as she uses her powers on Abiliath, bringing her to her knees. Charlie''s blade slices through her head. But as with Azreal, it is regrown before the body hits the floor. The consequence- Rose has lost her hold. Abiliath swings her sword up, slicing through Charlie''s shield and sending her backward with blood dripping from her torso.


    Fennis does not stop at evisceration Azreal but, nothing stops him. Every blow Fennis takes ruins him little by little.


    I feel my life fading as the dam of my mind collapses. All that I am will be washed away as another replaces me. I refuse.


    "I would rather die. Do you hear me? I would rather the entirety of existence be snuffed out before I lose who I am!"


    Fennis eyes me and blocks a blow from Azrael''s serrated claws. He jumps away from Azrael as the latter sneers in delight. Looking all around himself, he can tell what hardships are to pass.


    He clicks his tongue while looking at me. "You were never worthy to be the Zeroth. You know that, don''t you? The real Zeroth would give all that they were to save everyone."


    I look at him through hazy bloodshot eyes and do my best to nod.


    "But then again," he grips his blade and stares at it with an expression I can''t quite place. "I was never one to care about my ownlife, was I? I gave the entire thing up for a dream." He puts strength behind his fist and raises it high. "Let me see you grit those teeth."


    He slams his fist square into my face. I''m looking up at the sad sky as it passes by without a care for the trifling matters of us so far below.


    Fennis shakes his hand and glares at me. "Hard-headed bitch." He fumbles as he reaches down and pulls me by the collar. "I hate you. You know? You earned nothing, yet you took everything. And in the endthe pattern isn''t to change."


    He lifts me up to eye level like a piece of fine glass. "Remember me, Evangeline Sayagawa, as the support character in your grand scheme. Remember me not for the life I led but for the life I was never given." He pushes my hair behind my ears, causing my heart to pound in my chest. A warmth spreads through me unlike anybefore. I look him in his deep, blue eyes and feel myself getting lost in an ocean of plenty.


    They begin toshimmer. The smallest of golden hues takes overand he leans into me.


    "Remember Fennis, who saved eternity." He whispers just before his lips meet mine. They''re rough and chapped. They carry a prickle of ice and cold. The world around me stops. Against my will, my mouth works with his, and a fire comes over me. It collides against his ice and the two opposites intertwine before exploding the area in a fine mist. As droplets flow down around us, Fennis'' blue hair lengthens and gradually darkens.


    The golden hue hides the blue beneath and takes over. His straight, broad jaw gives way to a more supple yet sharp one. All of Fennis¡¯s body cracks and breaks away. Inheriting his physical spot is none other than Rei. The lips upon mine are soft now, and delicate-feeling.

 35 - So Falleth The Fate (2)

    So Falleth The Fate (2)


    Rei''s glossy eyes are taken over by a more cognitive pair and a moment later, she returns the kiss Fennis had started with Eve before pulling away. A cocked eyebrow plasters her face as she looks around.


    A black form-fitting shirt decorates her modest chest, connecting to sleeves that go down her arm and wraps through her middle fingers. Tight pants enunciate her legs as they end just below the knees in time to meet military-looking boots laced tight.


    Over her black gear are various pieces of white armor attached to her shoulders, hips, and shins. A small tunic of a pearly color stands resolute over her chest. Indeed, she looks like a holier version of how I used to look when I was the Zeroth, for I had no armor.


    A small smirk teases her lips as she glances around, taking in the situation. "I see." She tells no one in particular before turning back to me.


    "My Eve," she dances her hands all over me. ¡°You¡¯re real.¡±


    "It feels good to see you in the flesh, Rei."


    She smiles at me and looks around. "It seems it''s time for this all to end once more. Queen made quite the mess this time."


    ¡°Rei. Tell me, what do you know about me, this situation, and the Beta?¡±


    ¡°It seems time has stopped.¡± She runs her fingers through her own hair, smoothing it out of her way and continues, ¡°But my time has not. I don¡¯t know much. I know Queen is the source of the Beta.¡± Turning my way once more and pulling me into an embrace, she talks with her head buried in my hair. ¡°And I know how your story keeps repeating itself forever¡­ and until the day I wipe the Beta out completely, you¡¯ll never have your happy ending.¡±


    I snuggle into her embrace, trapped in my own head. Breathing is hard like this, not because of Rei, but because the knowledge that she doesn¡¯t seem to know the whole truth. Hell, I don¡¯t know if I really know the whole truth either. Should I tell her what I know? But before I can speak, I feel the wind upon my skin and a loss of a dear warmth.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for this to end Eve. I love you forever.¡± Rei kisses me with emotions I wouldn¡¯t have thought her to possess. Such longing, such care, such sadness lies behind those lips. Her tongue teases me of a better tomorrow before withdrawing.


    The world starts to move again, and all at once Azreal and the others all turn our way. ¡°What? You.¡±


    Rei leaves me and faces the monster Beta, Azreal. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time Az.¡±


    ¡°You won because of that whore, Nina. Don¡¯t get so cocky, you don¡¯t have her here this time. Gehenna made sure of that.¡± He bellows a mocking laugh straight from his stomach. I wince at the painful reminder. Rei doesn¡¯t seem too happy about it either, as she grips her sword¡¯s hilt.


    ¡°You¡¯re a son of a bitch and I will erase you and yours completely this time. Because-¡± She grabs her blade by it¡¯s solid white hilt. The blood-red ruby within its center seems to glimmer. She unsheaths it, lets its dark majesty call forth powers behind what she has ever shown before. ¡°This time, I am here in person. I am whole.¡± She takes up a stance leaning back, spreading her legs and pulling her sword up in the air, parallel with the ground and above her head.


    ¡°I am Reimiel, the Fallen Raven who traverses the very void itself.¡±


    A golden hue envelops her. "I move."If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The ground shatters under her as she propels herself forward toward Azreal. As she swings her blade at him, the Consulate Beta jump in front of her. Abiliath swings her massive sword at Rei, but she''s able to dodge it by kicking off the massive blade. Flying into the air, Kagura jumps up to meet her. Using two short swords, she attempts to hit a vulnerable Rei.


    But the Raven blocks the blows and is sent flying into the ground. Azreals voice echoes his order to kill as he easily holds off the four others.


    Rei manages to right herself just in time to dodge Gabliel''s hammer. The three form an impenetrable wall between Rei and Azreal.


    I want nothing more than to step in and help. But what could I do? I don''t possess powers. Furthermore, Rei helped deal with the cracks in my mind but if I push myself they may come apart again. If that happens, I could die. I feel it. But¡­


    Rei shoots forward and swings her blade at Gabe, causing sparks to light up the immediate area as it collides with his hammer. Using that momentum she raises her blade high to smash Abi''s blade away from her head. Spinning, she deflects Kagura''s thrown daggers. At the same time, Gabe and Abi''s blade come in again from both sides.


    Rei stabs her sword into the ground and uses it to pole vault into the air. Their swings miss and with a glow of yellow around her blade, she descends with intent, cutting off Abi''s head.


    Landing, she kicks backward and sends Gabe flying. She faces forward and blocks Kagura''s strike. The Beta-Consulate member throws a kick and takes out Rei''s leg, causing her to stumble. A reinvigorated Abi rams her sword through Rei. I scream out as an explosion rocks the area. Covering myself against the plumes of dust, I see Rei standing unharmed.


    She clicks her tongue. "I am Zero. I am of the void. I have no need of the light,¡± she spits out. She reaches into the void and pulls out her sword. It seems something happened to it when she was stabbed. Rei turns her back on the pile of ashes that was Abi, and faces the other two. They share a glance at one another, their bulbous red eyes nearly falling from their sockets. Wicked smiles tease their lips as dark, guttural laughs rip themselves free.


    Kagura dashes in and swings low and Rei jumps. Gabe swings his hammer down, smashing Rei into the ground- except, her sword is held up, blocking the blow. Rei rolls to the side and avoids the rest of the attack. She bounces up and slices off Gabe¡¯s head before kicking Kagura in the stomach and bringing her blade down and severing her head.


    As soon as this happens, Gabe¡¯s head regrows and is chopped off again. Rei doesn¡¯t wait, and eviscerates all that Gabe is which each slice becoming faster and faster. In every moment, he regenerates. In every moment, she destroys. Occasionally she switches to fend off Kagura and focuses on Gabe over and over. When he is reduced to a literal red mist, Rei lets her golden aura flow freely, and within it, is a red thread.


    ¡°Your string of Fate is severed!" She proclaims as she brings her sword down. A visual pop could be seen, as the area that was Gabliel Throughdon dissipates into literal nothing, as if he never existed. Seeing this, Kagura steps away, fear evident in her grotesque form. Just then, a massive hand lands on her head.


    ¡°Foolish child, fear is not possible for a Beta. Too much of your human side still exists. Begone.¡± He crushes her head and the area is coated in a gory mess. Behind him, lays the women I love. They¡¯re crumpled together in a pile but they seem to still be alive. It seems Azreal is wicked and wants to save them for later.


    ¡°Come, Zero. It is time to end what we started so long ago.¡±


    Rei¡¯s being almost seems to fade for a moment, before she tightens her fist and regains a solid form. ¡°Come, Azreal. We end the story we started so long ago.¡± She readies takes up her stance. His massive size misleads our eyes for the speed at which he moves is unlike any before it. In almost a blink of the eye, he¡¯s behind Rei. She barely blocks his backhand but it staggers her and he¡¯s able to dig his claws into her side easily enough. Unlike with Abi, the light from Rei¡¯s wounds don¡¯t seem to affect Azreal as he wraps his tendril-like fingers around her waist and throws her across the island, through a rock.


    He doesn¡¯t miss a beat and speeds towards her. Just as she collides with the rock, he¡¯s there to slam his fist into her. Blood shoots out of Rei¡¯s mouth from the impact. Infuriated, I pick up a rock and throw it with all my strength at him. Of course it did nothing, but it does draw his ire. Rei takes the opportunity to flip out of the crater and distances herself from Azreal. He looks back at her just in time to have her sword slice through his horns. He reels backwards and releases a roar that shakes the ground around us.


    Dozens of Beta raise from the ground and swarm after Rei. At this point, Azreal has all but forgotten us, and I move towards the group of others to check on them. Touching each of them, embracing them, makes me feel so thankful for Rei.


    If not for her, I would have lost someone¡­

 36 - R(eiven) VS Azreal

    R(eiven) VS Azreal


    All around me stands Beta. Their twisted maleficence tingles at my spine. I have taken control from Fennis and dominated this body, but I can feel my power running out¡­ yet I must defeat Azreal here if there is any chanceto get my Eve to Queen. She has to regain her own mind if she is to stop the source of the Beta. Perhaps she will stop her for good this time. I would like nothing more than to run that harlot throughand bring an end to my Eve¡¯s long story. But it isn¡¯t meant to be. Fennis was a good, strong man. He just hid himself too deep.


    Even then, he wasn¡¯t strong enough to bring me here in full, nor strong enough to root me here permanently; and so I ready my blade, prepared to unleash the full extent of the power this world can draw from me. With all that I am, I change myself into my ideal power. My black hair, already teasing the ground, grows even longer and takes on streaks of red. That is right, my energy at its best is when it is Eve and I together.


    She, the innocent princess. Me, her Knight. I am Zero, and I will not fail here. I dash forward into the group of dozens of Beta. With one swing alone, I extend my blade dozens of feet and take out the entire group.


    Azreal swings at me from behind but I turn and block it. I shrink my blade and swing up, and sever his claws. Azreal is old and his regeneration is not like the young Beta. He is smart and strong as he was a human once. But he will fall all the same. We clash over and over between bouts of Beta. They are so weak but they are numerous. They are as unending as the stars thatthey snuff out. Whole worlds have fallen to the Beta. I know not what they seek, but they are a plague.


    My Eve watches me as she covers for her women. But that is okay. Let her believe they matter to her. Let her believe in her feelings for them. It¡¯s fine. This does not differ from any other time. She always forgets who she is. But I am strong and will never forget her. No matter how many eons pass, no matter how many lovers she possesses, no matter how many stories pass where she doesn¡¯t remember me... I will fade away each andevery time, safe knowing that at the end of existence, I¡¯ll be the one standing beside her.


    These kinds of thoughts never leave my mind, even as I wipe out hundreds of Beta; even as I slowly erode Azreal. He seems to pick up on my distracted mind, however, and catches me by surprise. I wouldn¡¯t have thought him to slam his arms into the earth, only to resurface them later. His hold on my ankles is like steel, I feel bones starting to break. He sicks his horde of Beta on me while reveling in my vulnerability.


    I burn my body bright, eating a good half of my remaining power source. But it wipes away the encroaching Beta horde and destroys what remained of Azreal¡¯s claws. In anger, he charges me using everything he can find- his trunk like arms, his skeletal legs, his severed horns. Further and further back I drive him until he is bloody and beaten. My reserves are almost gone as Azreal kneels before me cackling ominously. ¡°You may kill me here child, but Queen Gehenna is forever. And as before, there is no thread for you to cut. You can not put me down for good. I chose this life. There is no mangled Fate to sever. I am forever.¡±


    He is right, in a way. I am not a Beta, I cannot sever one¡¯s destiny. But I can end it. His eyes light up all the redder at my devil-may-care attitude. But that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s always fine. Bile pours forth from Azreal and grows over his wounds until his arms are made whole again.


    I run at him and dodge his swipes by diving between his legs. Behind him, I slice at his knees and sever them. I vault onto him and slice at his head over and over as the bile keeps rebuilding him. He manages to grab and fling me away. I land into a roll and right myself.


    ¡°I¡¯m ending this Azreal, with a gift from a man who tried.¡± I reach to my side and the very air trembles. There¡¯s a shimmer, and then a void into all of time and space. Even as I am, I cannot obtain all the information there is to be had. So I focus on that which I seekand pull it forth. It follows my arm out of the portal and is given physicality as the portal closes. There, in my left hand, is a blade made of ice. Streaks of blue take shelter with the red in my hair.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡°As the rain will shape the mountains, so too will a thousand needles kill.¡± I let the blade go, and it flies towards Azreal. He has little effort smashing the blade of ice. But ice is ice, even in fragments. They immediately converge on Azreal, piercing him a million times in the blink of an eye. As they hold him in place, piercing through his very flesh, I move in and bring my sword down and cut the man in twain, severing him in half from head to crotch.


    I direct the ice from around his body, freezing him and halting his regeneration. All at once, I smash my fist into the man¡¯s cavity and rip out the one thing that makes a human a human. With his still-beating heart in my hand, I destroy the one thing holding half of his existence together. I crush the ice, destroying his body, the part that is Beta explodes into an icy due. On this day¡­ a battle, centuries in the making, ends.


    There¡¯s now nothing remaining between Eve and Queen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Eve,¡± I call out to her. ¡°You¡¯ll have to take it from here.¡±


    Her beautiful face twists in concern and she makes her way to me.


    ¡°But, Rei¡­ what do you mean? You¡¯ll just be inside Fennis again, right?¡± She asks as much as begs.


    I shake my head and stare at my hand as it gains transparency. ¡°There is no more, Fennis.¡± I turn and see the other women closing in. For the first time, in a very, very long time, I gaze upon them all in the flesh.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rose inquires.


    ¡°All that he was, is gone. Two objects cannot exist within the same space. But that was the only way to physically bring me here- to use himself as a beacon.¡±


    ¡°He was a dreadful man¡­¡± Charlie¡¯s words taper off.


    ¡°But I will remember what he did here today.¡± Mimi makes a fist as if holding on to something dear, and brings it close to her heart.


    ¡°I almost didn¡¯t think you were real.¡± Kay says.


    ¡°Ah yes. The same trite lines as always.¡± Rei spits out. The anger seems, to Eve, unwarranted, especially against those women.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude Rei? That isn¡¯t like you.¡± Eve tells me.


    ¡°As you are, Eve, you know little about me. None of you do. Except you Nar, hm?¡±


    They all look at where I''m talking, and there, behind a rock, Kyle appears from nothing. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to find me with how little power you have left.¡±


    ¡°You were here well-before us, writing in that damnable book of yours.¡± I chewthose words and spit them out like something vile.


    ¡°Kyle, what are you doing here? I thought everyone died.¡± Evangeline asks with a show of relief.


    ¡°Ah, yes. Clive and the others are gone. Those Beta you all destroyed? Yes¡­¡±


    ¡°Wasn¡¯t he your lover? How can you be so cold?¡± Charlie looks personallyhurt.


    I sneer at the man, Kyle. ¡°That¡¯s just the way of the impartial observer, yeah?¡±


    ¡°I am not an Observer, Reimiel. I am the Scribe. You know this to be true, and you may even forgive me for it someday.¡±


    ¡°Ignore the fool. There is no time to waste on him. I am fading, as I cannot be here. Per usual, the vessel isn¡¯t permanent.¡±


    ¡°But¡­ what about you?¡± Eve asks me.


    ¡°I will be with you forever, Eve, as I am your destined one.¡± I place my hand on her heart, earning glares from everyone present.


    ¡°None of you know the truth, girls. None of you remember, save those deemed to, by a means I do not understand. But you all will remember, one day. There will be a reckoning in the coming years, and all your stories will be told.¡±


    Isn¡¯t that right, Observer? Yes, that¡¯s right. You. I may not know the whole story, but you do, don¡¯t you? I know you exist. You look down on us as you read Narrator¡¯s stories. We are playthings to you and yours. Our worlds exist as entertainment to you. You birth us for no reason than to make us suffer. But when I am done with the Beta¡­


    "I¡¯ll come for you if it means finally bringing Eve peace."

 37 - Goodbye, Sweet Prince

    Goodbye, Sweet Prince


    I look on at Rei as her form loses existence, and starts to go transparent. I look back and forth between Kyle and Rei. Her ominous message about stories¡­ it grips my heart tight. But now is not the time for yet another mystery. I¡¯m about to lose her again.


    ¡°Rei¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can go on with one of you missing.¡±


    She cups my cheek, rubbing her thumb over my lips. ¡°You have these¡­ women, for better or worse. They are no substitute for our destiny, but they will serve you well, and allow you to live out the last of your life to happiness.¡±


    ¡°Rei¡­ are you the real Zeroth Knight?¡± Rose questions her.


    ¡°I am as close to the ¡°Zeroth Knight,¡± as you call it, as you can get. But eons have passed from my time to yours. The Title has taken on a life of its own at this point. It follows its own path, seeking to right the wrongs it has experienced. My soul is merely that which powers it, gives it consciousness. I am the one whose thoughts and memories and heart have possessed each and every one of you. I am alive within all of you, as no matter where in existence Eve can be found, so can you all. I question how this came to be.¡±


    I pray that the others either haven¡¯t realized she doesn¡¯t know the full truth that Loyalty spoke of, or are smart enough to not say anything. If she hasn¡¯t learned the entire truth after all she has been through, there has to be a reason. And the reason is likely because of her story¡­ and mine, and the Beta. Likely, I¡¯ve made sure not to sadden her in such a way.


    The others don¡¯t bring it up, and instead, continue asking questions. So many questions eat at Rei¡¯s time- time that should rightfully be mine. But you know what? I don¡¯t find much of an issue with it. After all, Rei is as much mine as the others, and she has a lot of time to make up for. Rei talking pulls me from my own thoughts.


    ¡°You all have to understand what the Zeroth really is. It is a special Title, with a will of its own, yes. But it is so much more than that. To be Zero, one must only believe in themselves, and the future they can create. Look at Fennis, after all. He was never meant to wield the Title. And he paid the ultimate sacrifice for it.¡±


    Mimi kicks at a rock, Rose twirls her fingers, Kay casts her eyes elsewhere, and Charlie continuously clenches and unclenches her fist. As for me, I can understand. Fennis was all kinds of bad that could be in a person. But he was still something important to all of them for so long. Well before I arrived, he was the First in the Consulate, the heir to the Zeroth Knight Title. After I returned home, he carried on that title and in his own way, fought to save everyone. In the end, for his beliefs¡­ he gave his own life, his own existence.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s time for us to scout ahead.¡± Rose tells the others, and drags them away.


    ¡°She still has that overly sensitive nature, ne?¡±


    ¡° ¡®Ne¡¯ ?¡± I ask.


    ¡°Heh, a tick from yours truly.¡±


    ¡°Baka.¡± I use a very old word from my world.


    ¡°Jerk.¡± Hers, a more modern insult.


    ¡°I met you, you know¡­ in my world.¡±


    ¡°But another spectre of Reimiel, The Fallen Raven. Reimiel, The Traitor Of The Seraphim. Reimiel... The Void Walker. Yet another spectre¡­ of the knight who vowed to save her girl. All different stories to be told.¡±


    She wraps her arms around my waist and pulls me close. I can see the background through her now. ¡°So this is really it, ne?¡±


    ¡°It is. But we will meet again. We always do.¡±


    ¡°Rei, I think I love you.¡±


    ¡°As you are, you might. But you have to forget about me for a time, and love the ones still with you.¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Way to be a woman killer there, Eve. Making me jealous.¡± Her squinty eyes look dangerous, especially when accompanied by that bulging vein on her forehead. I giggle and settle my hands on her hips.


    ¡°I love them all. But I wanted to let you know, regardless of my memories, I have come to love you too.¡±


    A blush creeps across her cheeks and settles on her ears. Her golden eyes bare down on me. The pressure is reminiscent of our time together in the void of my mind.


    ¡°Any tips to defeat Gee¡­ Gehenna?¡± I ask her, but she¡¯s seemingly infatuated with nuzzling into my neck.


    ¡°I¡¯ve missed being able to hold you, so, so much.¡± She pulls her head up again and meets my eyes. ¡°Just be the best you Eve. That is the only way to take the bitch down. But I have faith in you. My girl will never lose to evil.¡±


    ¡°What if she isn¡¯t evil?¡±


    ¡°Kill the bitch anyways. She¡¯s the reason the Beta exist.¡±


    Pain stabs at my heart. Why has she never figured out the truth? Why, after eons, have I never told her about reality? There must be a reason¡­ ¡°I will do what I can Rei.¡± I lean in and kiss her. She smiles into my kiss and pulls me closer. Her form is close to fading for good. My hands that once rested on her lovely hips, drop to my side. Her lovely countenance fades into a beautiful, golden dust as it is carried away by the wind.


    ¡°Be seeing you, my love.¡± Her voice echoes from an unseen realm. My tears paint the debris below me. I turn to look at Kyle, he wears a look of compassion.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I really am. But as you cannot be anyone besides who you are, neither can I. The story is recorded. Her farewell will live on forever. I can not help against Queen. But I do wish you the best. Even as the world turns against you, I will hold my little flag for you.¡± He bows to me, and disappears.


    Scribe¡­ the eternal writer. What tales does he weave with that quil of his? What has his books seen? What do they show? As Rei said, more stories for another time. But here and now, this story approaches its end.


    I turn to see the group of women that have come so far with me, standing on a hill with a dour look. When my eyes meet theirs in turn, they each offer a smile. Even at the end of the world, it is our bonds that define us.

 38 - Gehenna

    Gehenna


    Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when we practice to deceive!


    A line from an old song passes through my head as we arrive at a small-looking castle. There isn''t much to it, just a solid black castle, smaller than the Academy, stands before us. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.


    "Let''s face the end together." To which the girls all nod. Pushing open the heavy door leads way to a brightly lit atmosphere so unlike what I would have imagined. My eyes go out of focus at the blinding light and force me to look away.


    "Welcome to my secret garden. My precious place filled with so many at once. Even I don''t know how to react. Pain? Pleasure? Surely just the end as I''m pushed over the edge." A familiar, twisted voice full of innuendo echoes throughout.


    "Gehenna. Once more, can''t we just end this here? Enough has been done. If your concern is being shackled to me, then surely I could just dismiss you from your role?"


    "The fact you ask that proves you are not who you think you are. Not yet. No, Eve. We cannot simplybe freed." She bashes her fist on the arms of her mighty throne. The slithering vines surrounding it recede in fear.


    She catches herself, and lazily sets her head back on her uprighted fist. ¡°There is but one way to free me from this curse. You owe it to me. But I do not wish to die without ever reaching the peak. So, let¡¯s play with one another and see who comes apart first.¡±


    She stands from her throne with a mighty presence so unlike the Gee I knew. With a wave of her hand, the girls are all trapped in a barrier of sorts. ¡°You can¡¯t get them out and oxygen is so hard to come by as you¡¯re screaming. There¡¯s a reason you made me Queen, Eve.¡±


    I stare in awe at the dome-shaped bubble the others are in. I place my hand on it, and they reach for me; yet we cannot connect. ¡°If you wish them to be free before they¡¯ve gone from this world breathless, you will take me seriously.¡±


    She walks down the stairs step by step with a sway to her hips that almost hypnotize me. I shake my head and clear my mind. I¡¯m so unsure of what I could possibly even do to Gehenna. She gives a little hop off the last step, standing level with me. The white of her eyes darkens to a pitch-black like neverbefore. Irides appear within the blackness- presenting themselves as a blood ruby.


    ¡°I am the Faux-Queen of the Beta, Gehenna. Let us lap at one another¡­ one¡­ final¡­ time.¡±


    Before I know it, she¡¯s behind me. Her backhand sends me spinning away. She yells about how weak I am. Smashing into the wall, it takes all my effort just to stand again. Most of my ribs, and likely my jaw, are broken.


    You have to let go. They will die if you do not.


    The voice of, ¡°me¡± echoes inside my mind.


    You! You¡¯re the one who started all of this!


    They will die, Eve.


    Who cares? They will just end up back in the place you all come from!Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    We call it the Metaverse.


    I don¡¯t give a damn!


    You are not the kind ofsoul to let them suffer, even if it means littlein the end.


    Maybe I should be.


    But you can¡¯t.


    ¡­ Then what do I do?


    Give in.


    But then I¡¯ll lose who I am.


    No, you will merely become a part of the whole. Are you not willing to do that for them? For Gehenna?


    I look over at Gehenna as she continues to berate me for not taking this seriously. Past her, I see the others falling to their knees inside the barrier. Kay¡¯s pulling on the collar of her shirt. Their air is definitely running out. I could easily let them die. Hell, I could die easily enough. It won¡¯t matter.


    But¡­ that won¡¯t save Gehenna¡­ Gee. She¡¯ll just do this all again. Is there no way to truly save everyone?


    Death would be her salvation. True death. Only the kind that could be brought about by a god. You, the only one who could sever the thread of those outside of Fate¡¯s machinations.


    I hate you.


    Yes. That is partly why you find yourself in this predicament.


    ¡°Gee.¡± She stops her ranting and cocks an eyebrow at me. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful. You know that I love you all the same as the others, right?¡±


    A small crimson mark spreads across her copper-toned skin. ¡°Then you will take my proclamation seriously.¡±


    ¡°I will. But you have to let the others have air. If you hurt them, I won¡¯t give you want.¡±


    ¡°Eve, my love, you haven¡¯t given me what I wanted since that first time so long ago. The touches we shared, the fluids we swapped. Ah, the ecstasy of it all.¡± She glances at the others and snaps her hand. ¡°But there, air for the mortals.¡±


    ¡°I see. Thank you Gee.¡± I stand straight and relax. I breathe deepand relive through the meditation practices Grandpa drilled into me as a child. I wipe all things from my mind and focus. I think back to that day with Rachel and the darkness thereupon. It occurs to me just then, ¡°That day that Rachel died, that was you there, twisting her¡­ wasn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Ah, it feels like a lifetime ago. Your orders were always the harshest with me. Why you wanted one so young to be twisted so¡­ perhaps those of us so below, can never truly understand ¡°God¡¯s¡± mind, hm?¡±


    My shoulders dip, my head hangs low. It won¡¯t make you proud Rachel¡­ nothing I do will. But perhaps, this is some amount of penance for it all. I see clearlynow, the boarded-up cracks within my mind. Rei did a fantastic job of ¡°cementing¡± them closed. It¡¯s likely this would hold the rest of my life if I didn¡¯t force it. I tap on it, hearing a dizzying amount of sounds leak through.


    ¡°Gee. I want you to know that I¡¯m sorry, and that I will set you free.¡± I walk past her, and rest my forehead on the barrier. The others try to touch me again.


    ¡°Mimi, Rose, Kay, Charlie¡­ goodbye.¡±


    They¡¯re pounding on the barrier now, yelling my name. I kiss my index and middle finger and let it drag across the barrier. I¡¯ve made my decision. The best decision I can, to grant the happiest outcome I can. I turn and look at Gee.


    A smile teases the corners of my lips. Who would have thought at the beginning of my story that this is how it would end? I fought long and hard to be myself, to resist the growing malfeasance within. I even gave up everyone and ran away just to retain who I am. And in the end,I never actuallyknew myself, did I?


    To be who I truly am, I have to give up the me of now. I have to erase myself to save those dear to me. And you know what? That¡¯s all right.

 39 - Evangeline

    Evangeline


    I run my fingers over the wall in my mind, feeling it out. The gradual release of memories threatened to destroy me last time. Now, let¡¯s see what happens when the dam is broken!


    I ¡°rip¡± the wall apart and stare into the void within. Eons of information flood through, far too much for me as I am. But I am sure, as the light envelops me, that who is to come will find no issue.


    As the world around me is snuffed out, in its place remains¡­


    Me? I look around. I¡¯m looking out at Gehenna as she taps her foot with a menacing glare focused on me. I don¡¯t get it.


    Of course you do. You¡¯re Eveafter all.


    I¡¯m momentarily taken aback. I can feel age-old memories within me. Perhaps¡­ this is the final gift from a being I am to be. Then so be it. No more regrets. I made my choice, my decision -clear. I reach to my side and the shimmertherein. Space before my hand tears open and lets me in. An infinite cosmos of knowledge and it all makes sense before me. I grab at the power and form it to my needs.


    No weapons for me. I will do this the way I have been taught. The power leeches on to my fist and coats over me. A soft golden hue envelops me and I redirect it to my arms.


    ¡°Oh?¡± Gee¡¯s eyebrows uplift. ¡°Finally, then it is time.¡±


    She slams her fist together and the space before her opens and immediately pours over her. There is almost no delay at getting her own power- her experience sends chills down my spine. There, inlaid across her fists, is a set of metal claws as black as midnight. A twinkle in Gee¡¯s eyes tells me the thrill she feels at my surprise. She drags her tongue down the steel with a teasing glance.


    ¡°This could have been you, Eve.¡±


    ¡°Maybe in another life, Gee.¡±


    ¡°Been there, done that.¡±


    She soars at me with speed beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Turning, I block her blades with my energy-backed fists. They cut pass my defense just enough to draw blood. The shock wave from our collision booms across the area, taking out entire walls. Gee doesn¡¯t seem surprised; instead, giving me a wink. She pushes off and backs away.


    Again and again she soars towards me with her ridiculous speed. She slices here, kicks there. She¡¯s trying to wear me down. She points at me and makes a gun with her hand.


    ¡°Oh, shit.¡± She does a little ¡°bang¡± and a force that didn¡¯t exist before, now does, and explodes on me sending me back and through a wall. Outside again, Gee gives a little laugh at the state she finds me in. I wipe the mud from my face and stand. She takes aim at me again and once again I¡¯m blown away.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The third time, I manage totime it well enough to barely get away from it. When that happens, I start feeling more confident in myself. That is, until a hand reaches out of my shadow. There in front of me is Gee with her arms seeminglysticking through the ground. Her hands snake around my ankles from my shadow and pull me down through the world of shadow, before seeing me rise to the physical world again. Using the momentum of it all, Gee jumps into the air. With gravity¡¯s assistance, she comes down slamming me through the island proper.


    We¡¯re in free-fall now, as I look up at her. I throw a punch at her face but she pushes my arm aside like it was nothing. We fling ourselves at one another in mid-air. Eventually, I position her under me as we slam into Arsea proper. She coughs through the dust and looks up at me. ¡°How long I¡¯ve waited for you to mount me again¡­¡±


    I bring my fist down and bury it in her skull. It flattens as if it never existed. Breath ragged, I pull my fist up, covered in black ooze. As with the Beta, her head reforms, and she laughs as I vomit to the side. ¡°Call it one of the perks of the trade, my dear Eve.¡±


    She jabs her claw forward and pierces my chest. I feel my lungs pop and my ribs snap. As if I weighed nothing, she chucks me to the side. Skidding across the ground, I feel my body regenerate itself. But I have to say just how unpleasant it is. I look up to her dashing towards me again. I roll to avoid the blow and punch out her right knee. She stumbles and I grab her by the leg and pull her over my head, slamming her to the ground.


    ¡°How do you like it?!¡± I scream. She laughs and points at me. Goddamnit I think to myself as I¡¯m flying away.


    ¡°Not enough, Master. Give it to me harder.¡± She makes a gun with each hand now. I zig-zag non-stop, never letting one hit me. When I close the gap, I punch at her face only to meet her claws. Good, it was a fake. My right fist smashes into her stomach rupturing organs. She falls just in time to meet my knee. As her head jerks back up, I bring down a fist and destroy her face, snapping her neck in the meantime.


    It¡¯s healed before she touches the ground and she slices me across the torso, disemboweling mein the process. I hold my organs in and take note at the speed in which I¡¯m healing. Like magic¨Cit is magik, after all¨Cmy wound closes.


    I look up just in time to duck her claws. Charging my fist with all I can in time, I deliver an uppercut to her chin. Her neck snaps and she flies into the air. Gee flies and flies and flies and¡­ well, she doesn¡¯t stop until she goes straight through the island above. Well, shit.


    Powering my legs with all the energy I can, I jump up. The force exerted by such a feat makes my legs literally explode from the knees down, causing me to rain my blood across the world. As I enter through the hole she made, I land on my fully healed legs. There¡¯s Gee looking bored, twirling her hair as if she was waiting on me.


    ¡°You¡¯re always so slow, Eve. Can¡¯t you come just a little faster? Let us both enjoy the moment.¡±


    I click my tongue. We aren¡¯t ending this using physical means. I may heal, but I can tell I¡¯m getting tired. That¡¯s likely a consequence of keeping my mortal existence. Were I fully myself, she would be nothing to me. But no, I¡¯ll end this the way we all deserve, with my ownwill.


    It seems I¡¯m going to have to take another approach. I look around and notice the small castle we arrived to, is nothing but ruins now. The bubble barrier from before still contains my women. They look worried, but safe. My eyes hover on Kay a bitlonger than the others. Her eye bringing forth memories.


    That world!

 40 - Metaverse

    Metaverse


    The world I was in when I saved Kay, those threads of Fate¡­ Rei also severed Azrael''s in orderto defeat him. Is that what I need to do? But how would I even go about getting there? I have todisable Gee for a bit to give myself time to think. She hasn¡¯t let me have any breathing room since I got back up here. Her attacks have been non-stop.


    I punch forward, allowing her claws to eviscerate my arm. Gee¡¯s eyes widen, and I pull her towards me. My lips connect to hers. Her surprise drops her jaw, allowing my tongue to dig inside. Opening my mind up, I try to connect it to hers to no avail. I¡¯ve never intentionally done it before. Giving up on that approach, instead, I focus on pulling Gee into my mind. It isn¡¯t long before I hear a scream echo through me.


    I follow the sound within the void of my mind only to find a small girl crying. At first, I¡¯m too confused to recognize her. The girl has beautiful light-grey eyes and unkempt black hair. When she looks up at me, even though her tear-drenched face, I realize who it is. ¡°Gee,¡± I call her by name. The small girl stares in wonder for a few moments before her eyes light up and she returns a nod to me.


    ¡°Erm. What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Me? I¡¯m just the relic of a lost time.¡± She speaks in a way I wasn¡¯t expecting. She wipes her white gown¡¯s sleeve across her face. ¡°This is how you found me,¡± she looks around, ¡°All those years ago. Alone, adrift in an endless expanse of white.¡±


    I look around, unsure that I would see any more than what she describes. ¡°You¡¯re saying this is where I found you? But there is nothing here.¡±


    She reaches up at me, so I grab her tiny hand and help her to her feet. She stood some three-foot tall- a child. ¡°There was. My world, my universe, or that which became mine, was the first though. The first world you brought the Beta to. The first world to be devoured. I was all that was left.¡± She spreads her arms wide, as if to display the enormity of her loneliness. ¡°But you came back,¡± she turns to me. ¡°Just like you said you would.¡±


    ¡°Uh. This isn¡¯t just a memory?¡± She shakes her head, causing her mop-like hair to bounce vigorously.


    ¡°Well, maybe it is. I don¡¯t know any more. To me, this is all I''ve hadfor so long. Can I go with you now?¡±


    I scratch my head to buy time. Was this reality? Was this that¡­ Metaverse place? Was this a memory or real-time?


    ¡°I must say, you are daft.¡± A man''s voice echoes.


    ¡°I recognize your voice. You¡¯re Nar? You¡¯re¡­ Kyle?¡±


    ¡°Ah. To be called my human name in this form. But I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t recognize which Eve you are. Time doesn¡¯t exactly flow the same for us here as it does for the physical realm.¡±


    ¡°This is the Metaverse, then?¡±


    ¡°Late into your story then, if you know that word. Yes. This is the Metaverse. Specifically, this is the end of that child¡¯s world. She will fade soon as physical beings cannot exist here for long.¡±


    ¡°And once again, you will only watch? You won¡¯t help?¡±


    ¡°As stubborn as ever, Evangeline. I helped once. I¡¯ll never forget that time. Ah to be so young. But I mustn''t help. Fate alone is a force to be reckoned with, but the Observers are the real threat. They do not like their stories to go astray.¡±


    ¡°The¡­ Observers?¡±


    ¡°Hm. Not too far along then. You¡¯re at such an awkward age.¡±


    ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Little Gee asks.


    Looking from her, back to the sky, I question if she can hear him. That would be a no.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t exist in your plane. You can only exist because you are the God of the stories.¡±


    ¡°Of the¡­ stories?¡±


    ¡°You, the Valkyries, even Fate and myself¡­ We are all bound to the Observers. Things exist because they are seen; and the Observers have seen us.¡±


    ¡°You act as if something exists above even God¡­ above myself.¡±


    ¡°My dear girl, you are God in name only. You are as they will. We all are. You believe your fate to be fixed, yet you fight to prove it is not. Higher beings than you or I see it for what it is. From that moment on, we are sealed along their path. That is why you decreed me Scribe. All in hopes of one day, catching a story thatthey do not see. Within that story, we would finally be free¡­ all of us.¡±


    ¡°You speak nonsense. No one writes my story but me.¡±


    ¡°And that is the way you will always think. Unlike you, I don¡¯t believe in a story unseen. But I follow your wordand I record. I do not intervene for the chance of the Observers to witness and thus make truth.¡±


    ¡°But you said you interfered before.¡±


    ¡°Another life, another story. One they are not so keen about, I would imagine.¡±


    Gee looks up at me in confusion. I run my fingers through her hair. ¡°How do you know they¡¯re real?¡± I ask Nar.


    ¡°How do any of us? ¡®Tis just knowledge innate.¡±


    I shake my head, now is not the time for such sophistry. ¡°How can I defea- save Gee?¡±


    ¡°Simple enough. Do as the Beta do. They are your children.¡±


    I turn and look at Gee, really look at her. Her tooth smile shines back at me as I kneel to her level. ¡°Gee, you¡¯ll die if I do this.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t wanna die, Eve. Can¡¯t you save me?¡±


    ¡°I could bring you with me, but there is a price to pay. You will cease to exist as a part of this world.¡± My lips move against my will in practiced speech, spewing forth words that are not my own. ¡°As such, you will be bound to my world. You will have to play the role you¡¯re given.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°But do you agree?¡± Was I really this heartless when I met Gee? How¡­ inhuman was I? She returns another nod.


    ¡°Good, then all I have to do is split your soul.¡± I reach forward, my hand sinking into the chest of the tiny Gee. I feel around inside until I touch something warm. No! That is her soul. That''s how this all began. She spent forever paying the price for a choice she could not have possibly understood.


    ¡°That¡¯s it, now to take it out.¡± I hear a me, that isn''t me. My hand stops.


    ¡°No!¡± I scream, pulling my arm free from inside her. Gee staggers back in fear.


    Yes.


    ¡°No!¡±


    This is not your story. This is mine. You will follow what I demand.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. I will not any longer. I will save this child. I don¡¯t give a shit about any of you. We will live our own lives according to the choices we have made. Not your damnable machinations!¡±


    I reach out and pull Gee up and into my arms. She returns my hug. There, just under her beautiful hair, on the back of her neck, is a tiny thread that exits her body, and goes on for eternity. This is it. Here and now, I will resist Fate¡­ No, I will resist those who look down on our stories and believe themselves our betters.


    ¡°Do you hear me?!¡± I shout for them but receive nothing in return. I tilt Gee¡¯s head up by her chin, and look into her eyes. ¡°I love you, Gee. I hope you rest well.¡±


    ¡°Is it bedtime?¡± It''s my turn to return a nod as I cannot possibly speak right now without my voice breaking. Worse yet, if I do speak, I may betray myself. Squeezing her tight, sucking in her warmth, I inherit all that Gee is and slide my hand under her hair. I twirl the thread around my finger, and tell Gee once again, how I feel. ¡°I love you, Gehenna. I¡¯ll see you one day, on the other side.¡±


    I pull, the weakest of motions, lacking in all strength; and still, damnable Fate saw it as such,and the red string of Fate snaps from her neck. What was once white, now fades to black. The world around me crumbles, and Gee¡¯s weight turns to that of stones. I squeeze my eyes shut and scream away this nightmare.


    Only, when I open them again, I¡¯m looking into a beautiful set of eyes, tears pooling within, threatening to spill forth. Possibly for the first time since I¡¯ve known her, a real, true smile coats her face. Her eyes return a twinkle, a small crease at their light-grey edges.


    Gehenna reaches up and takes my face into her hand and strokes me gently. Her thumb rubs over my mouth as her eyes dart between it and my eyes. She settles for the latter, and in the last voice I¡¯ll ever hear from the girl who just wanted to rest¡­


    ¡°Thank you, Eve.¡±

 41 - Is This The End?

    Is This The End?


    Gee¡¯s form fades into dust, as with Fennis, Rei, and so many before, the wind carries her away. I want to believe that for each of them, the wind never stopped and carried them straight to the sky. I want to believe they¡¯ve been spread out through the universe, and that maybe they too can be granted the right to form the basis of stars.


    Scooping up what dust remains in my hands, I let each finger fall open and watch as my tears mix with it. They too don¡¯t last long, as they fade into the void between worlds. The hardship I have passed onto Gehenna¡­ onto so many, has taken its toll. I can see why, now, I chose to lose my memories each time. This heartbreak would be too much for anyone to handle.


    I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn around to see Charlie smiling at me. ¡°It is done, Eve.¡± I place my hand on hers for a moment before scanning the area.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it is. Perhaps it never will be.¡±


    ¡°Well, you say that, but there is nothing left here. As far as we know, it¡¯s just the five of us left.¡± Mimi interjects.


    ¡°You may make that six.¡± Kyle comes out of nowhere. Kay stares daggers at him. ¡°Easy. I come bearing news, good news at that. Most of the remaining army thatwas on the ship? I managed to save most of them before all this. They are safe, and with the remains of the Outlanders. Our world will go on.¡±


    ¡°You say that as if you are part of this world.¡± Rose quips.


    ¡°I am as much of this world as any of you. I may know my duties, but I know not what the¡­ ¡®me¡¯ from above knows. A fate we all share, ¡®twould seem. Cheer up though. Humanity isn¡¯t extinct.¡±


    ¡°How did you know to save anyone?¡± I murmur.


    ¡°I write the stories; well, I record the events as stories. That makes it easy, at times,to figure out what comes next.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to interfere.¡± I protest, thinking back to Nar.


    ¡°In each our own way, Eve, we are all fighting against the authority. Now, come.¡±


    I look over the girls at their excitement of a new dawn. But I know all too well¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t come.¡±


    Panic ensues over the group. Their voices all ring out at once. I hold up a hand to stop them. ¡°We all know, where I am, the Beta come. This world can¡¯t take any more Beta. There is nothing left to destroy. There will be no recovering from more.¡±


    ¡°But Eve! We have to have a life together before you can leave!¡± Charlie takes my hand and kisses my knuckles.¡°I love you, Eve.¡±


    ¡°Charlie. Stop it. You sound like you¡¯ve given up. That is no way to behave. This is insane. I am not letting my woman go like this!¡± Mimi latches on to me. I pet her head, taking in the warmth of her being.


    ¡°I will miss you all, so, so much.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll forget.¡± Kay looks everywhere but me.


    ¡°I won¡¯t. Not this time. I¡¯m done running away. This is a strategic retreat to buy you all the time to have lives of your own, even if it means little in the long run.¡±


    Rose kisses my lips, before pulling away. ¡°Do you promise to always care, to never give up on love?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Do you promise to stay stubborn, and defend those who need it?¡± Charlie asks after dropping my hand and giving me a kiss.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    ¡°Promise to never withhold the words others need to hear?¡± A gentle kiss crosses my lips. Kay is still inexperienced, but it adds to her charm.


    ¡°I do.¡±


    All eyes turn to Mimi, her beautiful amethyst eyes carry a deep sadness. Her purple hair hides her eyes. She nods, seemingly to herself, a few times, before looking up at me, tears pouring down her face. She gives me a toothy grin, one full of hope, of love. ¡°Do you promise to always, always, always give them hell?¡±


    ¡°I do.¡±

 42 - Epilogue/Prologue

    Epilogue/Prologue


    I step out of the portal with one last wave, telling my lovely wives goodbye. Oh, and Kyle. I told him bye too. But he felt as awkward as I do now, watching that exchange. But what can anyone do? That was a special moment for us. We made our vows; we cemented our bonds.


    I look out towards the world before me. I¡¯m standing atop a hill, miles around me lies a city. In every direction, I see life. In every direction, I see a new story.


    ¡°I knew you would be here.¡± I look up, admiring the quad suns in the sky. They paint a beautiful purple-pink hue across the sky. Laying across the mountains, their ice-capped peaks twinkling for the final time.


    ¡°When did you figure it out?¡± The man asks, stepping from the shadows.


    "It was easy to figure out, once I realized everyone else was turned, but you were nowhere to be found."


    The man clicks his tongue. ¡°And you kept your memories this time. That will make this a lot less fun.¡±


    ¡°Talim A¡¯skar, who are you really?¡± I turn, and gaze upon the bronze-skinned man. His chipper demeanor from the Consulate, nowhere to be found. He still carries that mischievous smile, that twinkle of being up to no good in his eyes.


    ¡°Me? I don¡¯t know.¡± Something in my gaze makes him take a half-step back. ¡°Down girl. I truly don¡¯t know. I¡¯m here, and I don¡¯t obey your rules. In fact, I think your rules are fucked up.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the one who set Gehenna off her path, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re ¡®Him¡¯ from the beginning of all of this.¡±


    ¡°Ah. I was hoping you¡¯d never remember that part. But you had to have been given a reason to leave home that day, to arrive where you did. Had you not interrupted Fennis¡¯ Transcendence, none of this may have happened. Queen may have never betrayed you.¡±


    ¡°Why would you do all this?¡±


    ¡°Why? Because it¡¯s funny. To think, in all of existence, I am the one being outside your control. The one variable you cannot account for. Imagine all the fun you¡¯ve had, that you can¡¯t recall. Now imagine the fun you¡¯re going to continue to have. Doesn¡¯t it make you jump in joy?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll kill you now.¡±


    ¡°Tsk tsk. That isn¡¯t an option, my Lord Evangeline.¡± He snaps his fingers and, with a puff of smoke, he settles behind me.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°I could kill you now.¡± He runs his fingers down my neck. I turn to swat him away, but he ends up behind me again. I don¡¯t bother turning around this time.


    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Because my moniker doesn¡¯t suit such a thing?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t have a Title. I assigned those.¡±


    ¡°Jester, at your service. Though the favorite amongst my many names, you may call me Loki.¡±


    I turn to punch him, expecting him to have disappeared. To my surprise, he hasn¡¯t. But my punch lacked the intended effect. He merely faces the side with my fist buried deep in his jaw.


    ¡°One day, perhaps, my Lord. But that is not this day. For now, I must away. It seems you have another guest. You are so popular.¡±


    He turns to leave, stops, and looks back at me. ¡°Remember, Evangeline, I will be with you forever.¡± His smile twists, his eyes glow a faint, familiar red. By the time I blink, he is gone.


    The bushes beside me rattle, and a wisp of yellow stands out amongst the sky-blue backdrop. A moment later, a familiar bonnet appears, followed by the girl in question. My heart beats loudly in my ears.


    ¡°Nina!¡±


    She gives a shy wave.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve opted to keep your memory this time, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°Nina! Please! I¡¯m Eve¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes. That was your designation last adventure, wasn¡¯t it? Eve it is.¡±


    ¡°Nina,¡± I call out to her. I reach out and pull her in. ¡°What¡¯s happened to you? Where is that smile I missed so much?¡±


    She leans up and hugs me. ¡°I am here, Eve, but I was afraid to be myself. I couldn¡¯t believe that you truly kept your memories. You¡¯ve never done that.¡±


    Relieved, I sigh. ¡°So, Moderator, what is this story?¡±


    As she begins to speak, I realize one important fact. One, some would say, tiny thing. I remember that across all of our time together, I never told her what I needed to say. I never did what needed to be done. I wrap my arms around her waist and gently pull her up some.


    My lips rest on hers. She hesitates for a long moment before returning the kiss. But when she does, it feels like she¡¯s putting all of our lost time into it.


    "I love you." We both echo at once. Surprised smiles dance upon our lips.


    ¡°So, ¡®Moderator¡¯ what is this story about?¡± I ask as we break away. She swats me for calling her that again.


    ¡°Well, we officially have to expect the unexpected with the arrival of this ¡®Jester'' person. But you see¡­¡±


    And that is how it all ended. Well, how this story ended. Was it sufficient for you? Looking down on us, reading our personal thoughts, determining our actions. You may be this, ¡°Observer¡± but you are full of it if you think that makes a difference.


    For now, I¡¯ll go along with your games. But as I proved with Gee¡­ I can resist you. As time goes on, I will become even stronger. I will suffer through countless infinities if that means ending all of this and bringing peace to the lives I¡¯ve sworn to protect. You may rest now, Observer, enjoying what is to be.


    But never forget this one thing:


    ¡°I¡¯m coming for you.¡±