On the eastern edge of the Order controlled City of Rime, the Deltora family manor sat upon the highest hill afforded by their land. The home, owned and passed down through the noble household for decades, watched over both their twenty acres of farm land and the walls that protected the city from assault. Workers walked the fields with bundles of seeds in their arms, stopping every now and then to plant them in the light green fertile ground. The sun beat down upon the lightly dressed workers, the heat causing sweat to trickle down their bodies. Every now and then one of their number would look up at the opulent estate where their employers lived. They day dreamed of the wonderful lives being enjoyed beyond those white doors and glistening windows. They thought of how amazing it would be to become a scion of such a noble lineage.
If they saw Myles Deltora, they would immediately begin to rethink those dreams.
The young scion of the Deltora family was currently hold up in his room...like he had been ever since he returned with his mother and father. For the past few days he had done little more than lay up in his room without moving. His once handsome face had become gaunt and pale. He wore a simple white night shirt with matching trousers, clothes he hadn't changed out of since he'd been home. His brown hair was a mess, and had grown into long locks that reached the nape of his neck. The lights in his eyes had dimmed while bags had grown around his irises from numerous sleepless nights. He laid back in a polished satin chair within his room, large enough to fit five people back to back. He sat in front of an empty fireplace with his back to the door.
He had hardly moved from that spot since the death of his wife more than a week ago. Since then the only thing he could bring himself to do was eat the meals the servants brought to him in the morning, afternoon, and evening. He hadn't bathed, he hadn't spoken to anyone else, hadn't seen the sun save through his windows, and while he had slept during the night he wouldn't call any of those sleeps restful. They were either dreams of happier times ruined by waking up to his cruel life, or nightmares of a blood-covered sellsword tearing him away from his late wife.
"Sara," he quietly whispered to the empty room, agony laced along every syllable.
For an hour he sat within his room alone. Then came a knock at the door, followed by a familiar voice, "Son? I'm opening the door, alright?"
Myles didn't answer. He stayed seated even as the door creaked open and his father, Harold Deltora, stepped into the room. In contrast to his unkempt son, the Patriarch of the family looked much better than the week before. He had lost some weight since the day he recovered his son, and his muscles had become more defined along his arms and legs. His hair was pushed back to keep it out of his sad but much livelier eyes. He had replaced his pressed suit with a leather jerkin with chainmail beneath it. His trousers were the same brown as his jerkin, while a broadsword hung off his hip.
Harold walked towards his son and took a seat across from him in one of the two empty satin chairs around him. The two were silent for a minute, until Harold spoke up, "Hello, son. How have you been?"
Myles didn't respond. His eyes were focused on the ceiling and his mind was in a different place.
"I've heard you've been eating but not much else. You know that's not good for you, right? You need to balance eating with activity else you'll...," his father trailed off as he realized his son still wasn't paying him any attention. He cleared his throat and let the silence drag on for another hour.
Then Harold sighed, "Alright, son. I'm going to be honest with you here. You don't have to respond, but, please, at least give me a chance and listen to what I'm about to say."
Myles didn't respond, but he did turn his eyes from the ceiling to his father's face. With a deep breath Harold Deltora spoke with as much honesty as he could muster, "I am sorry. For everything."
"...What?" Myles' voice was slightly hoarse, a side-effect from not being used for a week.
"I said I was sorry," Harold continued, placing his hands together, "I...I was a fool. I didn't see how we were stifling you. How much we were hurting you. Your mother treated you like an object. Something to use as she saw fit to advance herself. She didn't care about you, never once thought about what you wanted, or what she could do to make you happy. Just what she could make you do to make her happy."
He shook his head with a sad chuckle, "And I'm no better. I didn't bother being there for you when she boxed you in. Didn't try to be in your corner when you needed me. I was too focused on...nothing really. I was born on the battlefield, Myles. I've held a sword in my hands since the day I could walk. I've fought alone, with an army at my back, in mud littered with the dead, on the walls of countless castles. You name a type of battle and I've got a story about it for you. But...but this...all of this..."
He waved his arms at the lavish quarters around them, "For others it's a paradise. But for men like me, it's a prison. And I'm my own jailor. When I realized I couldn't fight anymore, that I couldn't go out on the field lest I 'put our bloodline at risk'...I shut myself off. I have no stomach for the games of Court that other Nobles play. Your mother, Clara, is...she isn't the woman I used to know. I can't remember the last time we laid together nor when she gave me a genuine smile."
Harold shook his head and let out a sad sigh, "What I'm trying to say, son, is that we are horrible parents. I realized that three days after we...we took you away from your real family."
Myles, bones cracking as he began moving once more, leaned forward in his chair and focused his attention on his father, "Are you...do you mean that you would've let me stay?"
Harold was silent for a moment, then he looked up at Myles with a serious grimace on his face, "Son, be honest with me. Did you love her? Sara, I mean. Before she became a Mamono. Did you love her or was that just the corruption talking?"
"How could you even ask that?" Myles hands gripped the armrest of his chair tight, "She was...everything to me. Even before she turned. Why else would I run away from home with her? Why do you think I let myself be taken by the pack?"
Harold nodded, "Hmm, I thought as much. Just needed to be sure. Because if your love was true, then even those Mamono were a better family to you than your mother and I. At least they didn't let apathy stop them from letting you be with who you wanted, or let greed push them to make you marry for status."
His head fell as he bent over in his seat, "And they didn't need a sellsword to hold their wife at sword point to realize their mistakes."
The two were silent for five minutes. Myles to digest what he was hearing from his father, and Harold to lament over his mistakes. Myles leaned back in his seat as he tried to sort through his emotions. Anger, relief, resentment, pity, disgust, and more all raged within his heart as he struggled to determine how he should react.
"If..," Myles began, turning his gaze back to his father, "If I sent a letter after Sara was turned, letting you and mother know what happened to me, what would you have done?"
Harold leaned up and looked his son in the eye, "If it were the me of a week ago? I'd have told Clara, and left the rest to her. She wouldn't want the other Nobles to discover her son had joined the Mamono, so she'd keep the matter hidden from the Order. She'd hire some sellswords or adventurers to take you back by any means necessary."
"And now? If you had the revelations you say you've had?"
Harold smiled, "Well, I would've hidden it from your mother. Then I would send you a reply letter, likely by Harpy. I would've told you to not reply to the letter. Because from that point on, we would be enemies. And if we ever met again, we'd be forced to fight each other."
"But you said-"
"I would've also said," Harold interrupted, "To go farther into the lands of the Demon Lord. A place where no one, Hero or not, would dare to tread. Then, live. Live a good life with your family. Enjoy everything that you have. And say hello to my grand-kids for me."
Myles went silent at his father's words. Harold sighed sadly, "Son, while I will no longer deny you the freedom to love who you wish to love, I cannot say that joining the Mamono is the correct choice. I wouldn't want to fight you. But if it came down to it...I would. Because just like how you would've had things you needed to protect, I would've had things I needed to protect."
"Like mother? Or your position?" Myles growled at his father.
Harold, undeterred, shook his head, "No. Not those things. As I am now, I could care less what the Order and its Nobility think of me. And, while I still love your mother, I would not place special consideration for her. I would fight you for others. For the people of the world who don't wish to become a Mamono nor to join the Demon Lord's forces. The ones who simply wish to live their lives in peace. They are who I would stand against you for."
Myles felt his anger grow cold. It wasn't gone, but he couldn't bring himself to deny his father's choice. Not only because he could understand why he would do so, but because he would be denying the very reason he and Sara joined the Order in the first place.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
The two men were silent. Myles placed his head in his hands and began to shake it. He didn't know what to think. His father was clearly trying to show that he was sincere. That he was honestly remorseful over what happened a week ago. At the same time, he couldn't bring himself to forgive the man. Not only did he still do nothing to stop his mother from hiring the sellswords, but he only changed because someone threatened their lives a week ago. It took that to get him to think that maybe what he was doing was wrong.
Harold, as if sensing his son's turmoil, stood up and walked over to him. He lifted a hand, hesitated, then placed it on his son's shoulder. Myles froze up as his father's large, calloused hand made soft with lack of hard work landed on his shoulder. Harold took a moment then spoke, "I am not going to pretend that this makes things better between us, my son. I am one of the causes of the loss of the love of your life. You'd be well within your right to loathe me with every fiber of your being for the rest of time. I will not begrudge you if you choose to do so."
Myles father took a shaky breath. He remained silent as he tried to find the right words. He finally said, "However...if at any point you...never mind."
Harold shook his head and removed his hand. He started to walk towards the exit door, but stopped when he felt something grab his arm.
He looked towards Myles. The younger man still had one hand on his face, but the other was on his father's arm. He spoke with a shaky, unsure voice, "Can...can you stay? We don't have to...to...talk. Just...just stay. Please."
Harold felt stunned. He looked at his son with shock.
Then he smiled.
"As you wish, my Brave Hero."
Myles stiffened at the name his father called him as a child. He kept his head bowed even when his father sat back down in the seat across from him. But, though he didn't voice it, just knowing his father was there gave him a little bit of peace.
----------------------------------------
Selina threw another dry branch into the fire-pit before her. Its bark crackled in the middle of the alcove she took shelter in. She had already checked to ensure no harmful plants grew within the opening underneath a slightly upturned tree. Those that did she cut down and ripped them from the earth...then crushed whatever insects lived under those.
It wasn't for her own benefit. She had to get used to sleeping with the bare minimum in terms of shelter before. Sometimes with creatures worse than mere maggots or worms that would crawl along her arms and legs. Better that than the freezing rain or the hands of someone with less than pure intentions.
No, her meticulous cleansing of the area had been in service to the two others she currently traveled with.
A shifting of clothing drew her attention to the couple laying a feet away from her. Felix and Tina were both laying down on a soft bed of leaves Selina had gathered for them. The two had their arms around each other both for warmth and companionship.
The sight made Selina nod and then sigh. They had stopped at this alcove about half a day's ride from Vinvers. While Selina could keep going for days on end, Felix was still human. A human who was forced to run away from people that wished him dead, had not eaten or drunk anything until after she had gotten them away from the Church, had to deal with life-threatening situations for the better part of a day, and carried his wife through the majority of those events. It was a miracle the man hadn't passed out by the time they got the wagon.
'Speaking of which,' Selina thought as she crouch walked her way to the entrance of the alcove. Pushing the cover of leaves and bushes she made out of the way, she spotted the two horses sleeping nearby with the wagon sitting empty next to them. She scanned the area, the darkness of the night already being pierced by the first rays of the morning sun. Once she was certain nothing was amiss she covered the entrance back up, then made her way to the fire once again.
She sat down in front of the fire, her eyes locked on the sleeping couple nearby. Briefly she thought of when Felix told her how he met Tina. It wasn't anything particularly special. After his sixteenth birthday he was ordered to go to Vinvers to be one of that Branch's Scribes. Sometime during his third month, he met Tina when the two of them were doing their morning prayer to the Gods. The two started talking, found they enjoyed each other's company, and it just escalated from there. Soon they started finding excuses to spend time together. Even outside of their jobs. These eventually turned from meetings to dates. They had their first kiss when they both turned seventeen, and a year later they promised to marry each other.
That was it really. Other than that, Felix had a lot of flattering things to say about Tina. A quiet personality that bellied a fervent belief in the Gods. A want to help all living things tempered with the understanding that nature itself can be cruel at times. The ability to know when to say "No" to people and when to give her all to helping them. At times, Selina thought the man had endless praise for the woman.
She hummed before turning her gaze back to the crackling fire before her. Her thoughts drifted to a related yet distant topic. At another time, could she had met someone like that? A man who would speak endless flattery into her ears? One who would warm her bed, hold her close, and love everything about her? Even her flaws?
She thought of the possibility...then dismissed it with a chuckle.
Maybe...in another life. Another time, where she hadn't become a Hunter.
But here and now...well, she saw what happened to Gascoigne and his wife.
Heck, she was apart of it.
She shook her head. No, life like that isn't for her. She knows how it will end.
At least...not with a husband. But at least she had her children.
And a different kind of companion.
The thought of the Doll gave the Huntress some pause. She hadn't been to the Workshop since she had met Koge...Koga. She certainly had many more stories to tell her friend. And, after everything that had happened, she could use some time to relax.
Double checking to be sure their location was safe, Selina leaned her back against the wall of the tree that the alcove was under. She slowed her breathing, focused her thoughts on the Dream, then felt her consciousness leave her.
----------------------------------------
For once, the first thing Selina discovered as she awoke in the Dream wasn't Eve cleaning a grave or sitting down somewhere.
Instead, it was a man she didn't recognize.
He stood a head taller than her, turning to her while standing near the steps to the Workshop. His skin had a purple tinge to it, while his eyes seemed to burn with a bluish fire. At his hip a blade was in its sheathe, its style reminding her of the Chikage used by the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst. His clothes seemed to be mixture between some eastern style and the typical Hunter Garb. Dyed complete black, his attire would blend into the background if it were ever night in this realm. On his right arm was a bone white arm guard and reached all the way to his shoulder. It seemed to glow a dull blue in the artificial light of the Dream.
The Huntress took but a moment to realize who she was looking at. She tentatively said, "Koga?"
The man smiled, revealing that the right side of his mouth was still missing skin. You could clearly see his off-white teeth and red gums through his cheek. He bowed in a manner that Selina recognized as a "Hunter's Salutation". The Huntress, surprised that he knew the gesture and managed to perform it correctly, took a step back as Koga began to speak, "Welcome back, Good Hunter. I was looking forward to showing you my progress."
His voice was deep yet carried a hint of playfulness to it. It reminded her of an old uncle who always smiled and had gifts for you when he came home from work. Selina narrowed her eyes and took a step forward, "Progress? Do you mean...your transformation?"
Koga straightened himself and shook his head, "No, I meant my progress in controlling my emotions. I'm afraid I do not know the reason behind my...current appearance. However, I do find it useful for wielding my blade. Much easier to temper the force I put behind each swing when I have the nerves to feel it."
He shakes the blade at his hip for emphasis. Selina tilts her head in half-understanding, half-confusion, "I see. Have you seen Eve anywhere?"
Koga nods, steps to the side, then points towards the Workshop, "She was in the Workshop last I saw. I believe she was tidying up your workspace for you."
"Thank you, Koga," the Huntress began walking past the Ochimusha. When she was half-way up the path to the Workshop, she heard Koga call out for her. She stopped and turned to regard him, "Yes? What is it?"
Koga hesitated for a moment. He spoke without looking at the Huntress, "Good Hunter...time within this realm is...strange. Sometimes I can hardly tell the difference between minutes and days. While I can't be certain how long I contemplated your words, I do know that it was for long enough to see the wisdom in them. I see now that, had you brought me back to the world of the living, I would be no more than a bloodthirsty beast seeking anything to sate its bloodlust."
"And now...?" Selina ventured, guessing where the conversation was going.
Koga was silent for a few moments. Then he got down onto both knees and prostrated himself before the Huntress. With conviction he spoke, "I, Ochimusha Koga, swear on what little honor I have left that I will not stain my blade with the blood of the innocent. Only those who you deem to be your enemies. This oath shall stand until my third dying day. All I ask in return is that I be allowed to return with you to the land of the living. Please, Good Hunter."
----------------------------------------
Seriously, Hel, how could you fuck that up?! How did you not notice that her Soul didn't go to you when she died?
Excuse me, Ares, for not assuming that a creature not from our world operated on the same rules as ours. I thought that when she died her Soul would merely...disappear into the ether. Or maybe return from whence it came. Not return to our world completely unharmed, with a body that was no worse for wear.
Really? Some God of Death you are if you can't even tell that.
Oh? Need I remind someone here how their Avatar was beaten in a straight, one-on-one fight? Something that is meant to be their own domain? That she completely lost at? To the point that she had to try for a mutual kill at the end?
Now listen-
Girls! Stop fighting! We need to stand together! If we don't, then that horrible woman is going to drag us all kicking and screaming into the horrible wars of the past.
...Fuck. You're right, Eros. Sorry, Hel. I didn't mean what I said. I'm just feeling so frustrated. Urgh, what's she doing now?
...She's still inside the Alcove with the human couple. I still can't believe she managed to demonsterize the girl.
At least we don't have to worry about the Order or that Intern weaponizing it. I doubt even she could fix this schism that monster made. And it means the Order will be too busy dealing with their own shit to form a united front against Druella.
But, still, I'm worried about what could happen in the future. What if she manages to get her hands on someone powerful? Like Druella or one of the Maidens?
We all are, Eros. And we're gonna make sure that doesn't happen.
Yes, which is why we...wait...the couple just came out of the Alcove.
Well it's morning so I figured. Where's the monster?
Hold on...there she is. She's...wait...someone's with her and...no way. That's...that's impossible.
What? Let me see...oh no.
...Is...is that an Ochimusha? From...from the Past Wars? And it's MALE?!
I...I recognize that Soul...that's Kogero.
The Ochimusha she drained!?
Yes...oh no...it can't be...
...
Hel, see if you can speak to the Ochi...to Kogero while the monsters not looking. See if you find out what the heck is going on. Eros, contact the Fallen God. I'm gonna get Poseidon. We'll need all hands on deck for this.
What exactly do you plan to do, Ares?
Once we get everyone together? I've got three ideas. One diplomatic, one violent, and one last resort. Lets hope the diplomatic one works.
----------------------------------------