Lee
Thoughts once again spiraled across his head. He knew his silence was adding to the sullen bubble they had inadvertently created. What was he supposed to say? Good job? Nice going? He knew very well what the end result meant. It was the same look they had gave him when his inner demons came out to play. Confused, stunned, horrid filled, dread, whatever other synonym one could place. No matter what anyone had said, he knew the tremble in their voice, the instability behind their smiles. All a rouse until you barely scratch the surface of their façade.
All the while his thoughts continued, he felt the small tremble in his hand. Her entire being jittering.
Monique: I-I-I-I-I-I’m s-s-so-sorry.
Did he come off too angry? To vengeful? What warranted such a small unasked for apology? What could he have done that it could be misinterpreted as such? His nerves jolted. But of course she’d think he hates her. He hadn’t said much to her. Yet silence to her was cold and unnerving. Silence meant punishment. Punishment meant tears and begging and promises to do better. To be better. He should have known that. He did his upmost best to not let out a sigh and reminded himself who he needed to be. For her.
Lee: No need to apologize.
Monique: Bu-but ––––
Lee: Look, Connor had it coming to him. In my greatest opinion, that snot nosed entitled brat needed to get his teeth knocked in. Perhaps now hell think twice before asking his dad for any more handouts.
He lightly squeezed her hands in reassurance and gave a soft smile.
Lee: So, don’t sweat it.
He led her into the infirmary sat her down and began patching her up. She teared up. He had noticed the tears on her clothing. She tried so hard to ensure no one would ever notice the scars she had so carefully hidden away. However, now that was no longer the case. He looked at them in a mixture of worry, discomfort, and a tinge of fury.
Monique: Bu-but a-aren’t y-y-you s-sc-scared of m-me? O-o-o-or m-m-mad?
Perhaps control yourself?
He heard his demon advise him. How? How can I? I’m upset the way things went. And now, this?? She-
She came from a terrible life, a life she never chose.
I know that.
And what are you going to do when you find out whom inflicted those scars?
I-I don’t know.
She needs compassion. Not anger.
As he carefully cleaned the fresh wounds on her, he took a deep breath, relieving all of his stress and anger, shook his head and sympathetically grinned.
Lee: For the briefest of moments yeah. But that was because I thought you were gone. That you lost yourself in whatever was pulling you away. If anything, I think you’re brave.
Monique: How? H-how A-am I brave? I-I did the most idiotic thing.
Lee: According to who?
Monique: I-I-don…I-I-I-I could have j-ju-just not come.
Lee: Then, why did you?
Monique: B-Because!
Monique
She thought for a moment. Why did she come here? What was the real purpose behind it all? To prove a point? To prove she belonged? For what reason did she come in and stay for all of the abuse she had to take? Was it really because she wanted to make friends? Was this the only way? And though all these questions would beget more and more questions. And rather than answer the question on hand, she muttered instead…
Monique: Why…why is it so hard…?
Her whole body shook in grief and disbelief as Lee placed down the medicinal tapes. He tilted his head to the side, trying to figure out what she was trying to compile.
Monique: Is it so hard that I need to say it? Th-that I need to sp-spell it out? That I’m a troubled kid so don’t pick on me or I’ll start something I-I don’t know how to contain?? And-and I know I could have not come. I know I-I could have just st-tayed home. I-I could have just not put myself in that situation but if I j-just––j-just––then…I….I’ll….I….
Tears had never streamed faster than she’d like to remember. It felt like decades of hurt, of pain, of suffering, are all colliding and he just had to be the one she spilled everything on. She sniffled if only for the moment to catch her breath that was needed to exhale.
Monique: I’ll I-I…I don’t know how to be what I was at a time I can’t even remember.
Lee
She buried herself in her anguish. He pulled her in for a hug as he wasn’t aware of what else to do. She was breaking apart at the seams. This was all new to him, how could he go about consoling a friend? He was never there to see when Karin was in tears crying over their mother who was so constantly ill, he never knew when she would inhale her last breath to never exhale again. He wasn’t even present for the moments his own sister had to face the constant beratements of their step mother. He had always felt in these moments, these moments alone he would actually beckon to anyone, anyone at all who could give him advice. What could he say? What should he say?
Nothing the demon would reply.
But there has to be something. He thought back to those nights where he felt so useless.
Lee: Perhaps you don’t need to remember at all.
She sniffled.
Monique: Then what am I supposed to do?
Lee: Simply be. There’s no rush to recovery. No rush to making it to the state of being okay. You’ve spent all of your life fighting for people who wanted to use you for egotistical reasons to be placed into an environment that will probably never get their heads outta their asses. The original goal and mission of this academy is lost on these pious dumbasses because they can’t seem to be any more then a selfish bunch that wants to prove that their better than the rest.
Monique: H-how d-did y-you survive here?
He laughed
Lee: I didn’t. I only came here because of Karin. If Karin never walked through those doors, neither would I. Everything I had ever done was to ensure that she was never going to feel the way she felt when I left our family. I didn’t care about the academy or making friends.
Monique: But ev-everyone likes you.
Lee: The only reason is because I can offer them things that they’d have to beg their parents for. They like me because I am an orphaned rich kid. Heck, I even have access to my inheritance. All they see is a walking traumatic bank. They tip toe around the fact that I have become an enormously hairy fiend on the battlefield and thus they only want to be surface level idiots who think they can get what they want without doing much. But you’re different. You want to learn because everything fascinates you.
Monique: I also don’t want to be taken advantage of.
Lee: That’s more than what most people want though. Any other person would have just not even bothered to attempt to acclimate to a new environment, yet you wanted to. You tried your best and its okay if no one else appreciates it. I’m sure you’ll find the ones who will.
Before she could ask, a thunderous echo stormed in.
:IS SHE HERE!? WHY IS SHE CRYING!?!? LEE WHAT DID YOU TO DO HER?
Lee: Why is it automatically my fault?
Terra had urgently pushed Lee aside, prying his grasps from hers and proceeded to hug Monique. Monique furiously shook her head as to signal that Lee did nothing wrong.
Terra: Was it those dunderheads from class?
Monique nodded.
Terra: First they pick a fight with you in class and now this!? No. Don’t cry for them. Don’t shed a singular tear for them. Connor specifically. He needed a kick in the fucking ass for his heinous crimes
Monique: Y-you s-saw?
Terra: It’s the talk of the social world!
Terra proceeded to show Monique her smartphone. On it was what she described to Monique a news feed where most of the academy students where chattering away and commenting on the victorious Thorny Dame who not only single handedly took down numerous monsters at a time but also proceeded to shut the mouth of the school’s whiniest bunch. Monique stared in awe; her spirits sluggishly returning.
Lee: Please don’t get her into that crap.
Terra: It’s only crap if you follow the wrong people.
As she continued to stare at the device, watching as more and more people were commenting about today’s episode, she had all but forgotten the sorrows of five minutes ago. Curiosity and bewilderment surely took over.
Monique: Amazing. So, this device can actually do so much more than I originally thought.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Terra: You’ve never had one of these?
She glared at Lee who scowled back.
Monique: Not until recently. Lee gave one to me after the…Barkamsted incident…but I’ve only been reading books on it. No wonder people on Earth were so glued to them.
Terra: So, did he show you how to use it?
Monique shook her head.
Monique: Just messed around with it till I figured it out on my own. I just never knew how much information it contained.
Terra: Isn’t it neat!? If Ken hadn’t told me to check the news feed, I wouldn’t have seen any of it!! Who taught you all those cool moves? The incantations??
Lee: Don’t tell me you learned from that god awful place
Monique
She shook her head once again and pondered who taught her magic. She knew she couldn’t have done any of that on her own. She knew that the time she was spending with Lilith uncovering memories from her long-forgotten past had unearthed something. Memories that finally found themselves resurfacing after all this time shot out a long forgotten name, a name that just suddenly appeared in her mind.
Monique: Mama Nephtie…she…she taught me.
Both Lee and Terra looked at each other in confusion. As she started at the bandages, she found herself thinking of a place, a time where she could vaguely remember having a sense of home.
~~ Some time ago ~~
Mama Nephtie: Now, now, have you chosen anything to read my child?
A small younger Monique brought a book with a decorative cover. It had contained ancient texts and symbols perhaps describing a ritualistic right or steps to invoke something as it held pictures that would guide the reader on what may occur. Yet the only ones who were sure of what it was, was Nephtie. And although Mama Nephtie was but a shadowy figure, Monique remembered the kindness and warmth that emanated from her. The home she never wanted to part from, the place she regretted forgetting the most.
~~ Present ~~
Lee
As Monique was spacing out, Terra gave Lee a concerned look.
Terra: Do you think undoing the memory wipe would have any aftereffects?
Lee: Lilith says its unintentional and there’s not much that can be done. We just have to let it ride itself out and hope it won’t cause any damage. None of us have any clue how long this has been going on for. Even with the new information Lilith receives daily from Alexis, Danny and Karin, there’s still no records of how far back these memory wipes go.
Terra: Then, is it really a good idea for her to be here?
As Terra asked that question, Professor Layla rushed inside of the infirmary
Layla: Is she alright?
She walked up to Monique, placing her hands on top of hers.
Layla: Oh, I am so dreadfully sorry. I will be speaking to the headmaster to get Mr. Falloway expelled.
Terra: Tch. The most they’ll ever do is suspend him. You and I both know that.
Monique snapped out of her trance and shook her head.
Monique: Professor — when did you get here?
Layla looked at her with bewilderment. Though she wanted so much so to learn more about Monique, to learn how she was capable of such prowess, she had to look after her health first.
Layla: I believe we should postpone the visit till you recover.
Lee: Why not just come over to the castle? We have plenty of space.
Terra: Yeah, and I can help collaborate!!
Layla: Unfortunately, I would have to decline.
Terra + Lee: Why??
Layla: You both know as well as I do that it is forbidden for any academy instructor and even my kind to step foot on defiled sacred ground.
Monique: Defiled sacred ground?
Layla: You weren’t told of the misfortune that occurred millennia ago?
Terra: Oh. Right. Remember? The story about how the Demon Lord killed his wife??
Before Lee could chime in, Monique without hesitation nor even missing a single beat interjected.
Monique: That’s impossible. No one’s ever been murdered in that castle.
Dead silence surrounded the room in such an unnerving way that the drop of Lee’s heart could echo throughout. His face riddled itself with questions as he wasn’t quite sure what part of that sentence spoken caused him to feel this way. Silence soon broke in small awkward giggles from Professor Layla.
Layla: Though I do not know how you would know more than our textbooks, that is in fact what took place in that castle. It is why no one had dared to inhabit it till the von Solaris took residency.
Monique: But—
Terra quickly covered up Monique’s mouth.
Terra: Pay no mind!! She’s still reeling from today’s events.
Layla: Right. We will talk more when you are feeling better. In the mean time, take extra precaution when getting home.
Monique
As she left, Ken came inside the room. Before he could begin to question anything, Terra had checked the time and hurried both Lee and Ken out of the room. Monique gave a perplexed look as if it didn’t cross her mind that once again, her clothes had become ruined. Terra had given her clothes to replace the ones that were far from repair and Monique reluctantly received them but was at a loss.
Terra: So…
Terra had inspected her up, down, and all around. Monique kneaded her eyebrows.
Monique: Is there something wrong?
Terra: I’m just…concerned. That bit about…no one ever being murdered in that castle…did you happen to read anything on that?
Monique: Pardon?
Terra: You know…the stuff you said to Professor Layla when she said she wasn’t allowed to step foot onto Castle Faustus…
Monique still looked puzzled. Terra immediately changed the subject. She had insisted that Monique get well soon as her and Ken were looking forward to when they got to explore the castle. She went on about how noises can be found at every crevice. That there was something about those hushed tones that truly what gave a story. A story she full heartedly wanted to explore. As she went on and on, something couldn’t quite settle right with Monique. She let it pass, as if it were just a feeling that would one day just pass away as most things should. Yet only the ticking of time would compose how wrong she was.
~~ hours later ~~
The return home had now included an awkward deafening silence between her and Lee. They had parted ways with Ken and Terra, promising to see each other at home yet, it left Monique alone with Lee. Questions kept multiplying onto itself: how did she know the incident that took place millions of years ago? She had just arrived on this world weeks ago yet, this strange attachment she couldn’t quite follow to the source was proceeding to become the topic to which she wanted more answers to. But will those answers yield more questions? Will there be a satisfying ending? Or will this attachment loom onto her for years to come?
As she was lost in the multiplicative thoughts that kept on producing itself, she hadn’t noticed that Lee wasn’t directly going home nor was he going to Barkamsted. She didn’t know how to ask as they had road in on a motor bike. She had patiently waited till he had come to a complete stop.
Lee
Lee has always normally driven towards the beach that somehow was apart of Castle Faustus property without entirely being attached to the property whenever things were weighing on his mind. For starters, Monique had just went from having a mental breakdown to being completely, well, mental. He was not entirely sure if he should be concerned with the state of her wellbeing or if he should just leave things be as it was better than her being left a complete wreck. He did try to take to heart what his friends had said. He wasn’t trying to get too emotionally attached nor invested in her life. He wanted to make a clear line in the sand that he could not cross, but he couldn’t help it. Even with knowing the instability she had, he knew two things: 1) despite what had transpired, he still felt the way he had always felt about her and 2) though he knows he the path to healing needs only support, he wanted to be a part of it. As he knew that not only deep down inside, he was falling for her but also knew she would be the brightest light that ever walked through his life. He wasn’t trying to find someone else to rescue but rather someone whom he knew deep down deserved so much more than what the universe had to ever offer them.
The real issue he had now faced was, how was he going to tell her that he likes her? Should he tell her he likes her? Teenage thoughts clouded his adult mind as he couldn’t figure out what he really wanted to say or do. Should he keep them hidden? Perhaps talk about it another day? These thoughts he wanted to sort out on his own was exactly the reason why he came out here, he had felt something giving him a tight squeeze and had remembered he had given her a ride home.
Monique: um…Lee…where are we?
He tried to remain as composed and stoic as possible but deep down, he was out right panicking. Why did I take her here!? I’m fucking stupid. Do I say oops I forgot you were here, or do I play it off cool!?
Perhaps try to be honest?
But I don’t want to scare her away.
I highly doubt your teetering emotions is what would scare her away.
This day was a constant riddle of things that would just normally not happen as this has probably been the longest conversation he had ever held with his inner demon. He parked the motor bike, allowing her to hop off. Allowing the two to have a proper conversation. The conversation he should have had when he and her were alone in the infirmary.
Lee: Sorry, I normally drive out here when I have too many…thoughts to think about.
Monique: oh…if I’m t-too m-much of a bother, I-I can teleport home.
Lee: Nononnno you’re not a bother!! You’re more than welcome to enjoy the views with me. I just….I just feel like a poor host.
Monique: Hm?
Lee: I guess, more accurately, a poor friend. I didn’t know how bad it would be being at that academy and how everyone was going to treat you. I’m sorry.
Monique: Why should you be sorry? You’re not an oracle or anything. Despite what happened, I did get to meet the other people who live in the castle. Besides, if anyone is the poor friend it’s me. I should have declined Conrad’s invitation to duel but then what? I’d have to begrudgingly suffer under different circumstances and the nightmare would never end. Instead of everyone bullying me I’m now viewed as a monster.
Lee tried to stifle his laughter. He knew she was never going to learn that brat’s name. Who would ever think this embodiment of a cinnamon roll is a monster?
Lee: I still think what you did was the right thing. Despite what you may think of yourself or how others will perceive you.
Monique: What do you mean?
Lee: If I were in your shoes, half of the academy would have been destroyed already. I wouldn’t have had nearly as much patience as you do. In my honest opinion, Monique Obviously, you did what was best.
Monique laughed while shaking her head.
Monique: You’re never going to stop calling me that are you?
There it was. That smile, those dimples, the sudden sweet air that surrounded when she laughed. Even the sun just about setting onto the surface of the ocean burned a core memory inside his heart. It melted the internal torment he found himself in. He softly smiled in return, making her audibly confused.
Lee: You’re definitely a lot cuter when you are more expressive.
Flushing red couldn’t even begin to describe the embarrassment that reigned over Monique. She took a few steps back, almost flustering in her steps.
Monique: I-I-I’ll see you at home!!!!!
She then vanished, leaving him to watch the sun slowly dip into the sea all by himself.