My brain couldn’t stop thinking about this information, why did I kill Ostel and that student? I always tried to figure out what happened with Ostel, but this new incident, it was a new piece for a bigger puzzle.

Viktor took my hand and held it in his palms “Boya, can you tell us some Slayer stories? me and Georji always thought you guys were so cool!”

*Tch* if he would’ve asked me earlier today, I wouldn’t have minded… Right now I’m really pissed off at the Slayers.

Something definitely happened because of Kiyoko, wait didn’t Jake say they’re old friends?

“Kid? are you alr-”

“Jake, can you tell me a bit about my master? anything you know about her will help.”

“Geroji… This cute boy completely ignored me!!!” Viktor snuggled into his brother’s chest and cried, oops, my bad there…

“By master you mean Kiyoko right? D’ya know, we go way way back, we grew up together actually.” Jake started, his expression conveying a sense of nostalgia.

“We both grew up in the slums of Silvermoon, the capital city of Rintiya. Was a half Wistian half Hadohian kid and she was from a forgotten, eradicated dynasty called Koshinjiro.

We were both outcasts so got ’long kinda good.” He laid down on his back, staring at the ceiling and invited me to do the same.

“This girl was always really uptight, very strict and punctual” No change there I guess.

“but that didn’t stop Yoko from also being one of the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.” Yoko?

“Yoko was strong, but not in the kind of strength that crashes people with brute force, had that too, don’t get me wrong.”

“I’ll say” I added, to which he let out a curt giggle.

“But Yoko’s real power was how beloved she was by everyone.

It was to the point where Yoko became the leader of the slums, and when say leader, mean Yoko basically became the mayor of the slums of the capital.

It is obvious in hindsight that this level of power couldn’t be ignored by the king, after all he wouldn’t let another autonomous zone be created right under his nose, in the kingdom of Rintiya.” Jake brought one of his hands up to his face and covered his eyes.

Viktor and George also listened in at this point.

“Don’t leave us on a cliff here Jakeoo, what happened next?”

“Vikky, patience now honey.”

Jake removed his hand and smiled slightly at the exchange “Sorry boys, this story brings back some really bad memories.” He looked at me with a sad smile before going on about the unfortunate end my master had come to meet.

Jake described how the king and his men kidnapped the young girl, she was 16 years old at the time.

“When we found her again, that girl was beaten and bruised, the gross royals and their soldiers had completely broken her down and then thrown her out in the middle of the street for all to see.” Jake’s eyes slowly closed as he just laid there.

I feel bad for making him remember all of that “Jake, you don’t have to continue right now, I just want to know if Kiyoko has anything to do with my current condition… Don’t force yourself to tell us everything.”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

The party leader curtly smiled again before opening his mouth “Good kid you are, aye, think this girl really does have something to do with how you’re feeling.

You see, the girl known wasn’t there anymore… Those bastards destroyed her.

They abused her in ways can’t even imagine but the worst part for her was, they took away her ability to bear children.” Jake bit his lip and put a forearm over his head.

“You see, kid, the girl’s Seal has the ability of suggestion. She can plant ideas in a person’s brain.” What?! I’ve never heard of it before!

“Yoko always used that power to gain control over the masses, of course all in good intentions. Never seen Yoko use her power to achieve something evil.

That is, until she came back.”

Jake looked at me again and murmured something inaudible, his lips read as ‘please don’t hate her’.

Does he know I can read lips?

“This girl had decided to exact her revenge and for that, she created the Slayer organization.

The kingdom never realized she was the girl who led the slums before and the king even uses Slayer’s services for his dirty work.”

“Wait, how come they didn’t recognize her?” I asked.

“Well for one, that girl was a shell of her former self, ’t was as if she was replaced by a creature out of a book.

Her eyes were gray, almost pure white instead of the usual brown, her hair was raven. Pitch black. It used to be brown, very bright brown.” Jake pulled one of his bangs upwards as if showing it to us and then released it with a sigh.

“What’s more, the girl changed her name. According to her, she lost her rights as a leader as well as the ability to bear children, so she named herself… - “

“Okajanai, right? Meaning ‘not a mother’ in her language.” I concluded his thoughts.

“Right you are, kid, so you understand the meaning of the names you children of Slayer receive.”

“As far as I know, those names were given to us for a few reasons.

So we don’t get caught by the kingdom’s special investigation forces and retain the ability to go undercover with our Wistian names.

To represent what the master thinks defines us as people and Slayers.

And I just thought of it after listening to your story, but maybe Kiyoko wanted to rebel against the Wistianic lineage by effectively erasing the Wistian names the children have.”

“Tell you what kid, don’t know any of her reasons nor do care to know, this has been too painful to think ’bout. Hopefully this girl finds some happiness.”

Jake flipped to his side and said that we need to go to sleep.

I honestly didn’t care to learn about my master to this level, but I did get the important information.

Kiyoko’s Seal. I honestly can’t believe that it’s a thought in my head right now but, is Kiyoko the one that’s to blame for those dreaded, way too forgettable moments that I’ve experienced?

Either way, I’ll have to confront her to figure it out.

***

“♪The sun has risen once again, it was so dark throughout the night, the sunshine light. It’s oh so bright. it brings the colors back to life and soon the darkness runs to hid-♪”

“SHUT UP! What is wrong with you, crazy old man, who even sings as soon as they wake up?! and there’s no sunlight here you fucking psycho!” I hate it when people wake me up!

“Huh? Pfft! Bahahahhahahah, someone’s showing us a new side here aye? Whatsamatter kid? you don’t like me singin’?” Jake’s smug face was staring at me as I struggled not to fall back asleep.

“Anyway, let’s not burn too much daylight guys, rise ’n shine you sleeping Frompsies.”

“*yawn* Frompsies can’t leave the sea Jakeoo, don’t be silly.” Viktor corrected him with his eyes still closed as he snuggled closer to his still slumbering twin brother.

“What is this dysfunctional party…?” I whispered to no-one in particular.

“Why, true it is that chaos comes at a price.

’Tis also a fact that a straight line sees no curve, and so I pose the following to you, my dear Squeldo. Is a road filled with chaotic entertainment not preferable to the monotone path?”

“Another book quote? This one’s from The Adventures of Night Garden, isn’t it?” I asked, to which Jake nodded in response.

“Well fellas, if everyone’s ready, let’s move out, our goal is to find the hidden room on the 7th floor before tomorrow comes!” He announced.

We started towards the 4th floor soon after and I couldn’t shake this feeling of inconvenience that kept brewing in my stomach.

Should I just run away if we run into another ambush?

***

Jake was wrapping a bandage around my arm to help stop the bleeding while announcing proudly.

“Boys, we found it! That’s the artifact from the book!”

He lifted up a broken sword from the marble tablet it was laying on top of.

“The key to the White Prism!”

“The way to the 7th floor was soooo boring Jakey, can we go to the 10th now? Pweeeease” George fluttered his eyebrows. I think I’m about to throw up…

“No. We have achieved our goals here, everything went smoothly thanks to Lifes’ scouting abilities, we can’t risk any more now that he got injured during this last fight. Behave yarselves, Vik Jo Jo.”

“Ay ay sir” they both responded in unison, looking glum.

“So, about this sword why did you ne-”

“Say kid, di’ya enjoy exploring this dungeon?” Jake looked at his feet, all of a sudden somewhat dejected.

“It was always a dream of mine to explore all of the big 4, so yes, this whole thing was… fun, I think?” Now that I think about it I didn’t really feel anything for a while.

Jake’s already somber expression turned even more grim as he handed me the old notebook.

“I see… say, Lifes would you mind carrying on my dream for me?”