'Still entangled in your delusions, I see.'
...
"Surprised to see me? After all, you always referred to me as 'Mother,' didn't you?"
...
'Awwww, getting angry already?'
...
'Yet here I am. A guard dog and yet can't even guard this place properly. Oh, the irony.'
...
"Consider this a warning, Legien."
...
"Sleep."
...
"To clarify, I didn't banish her solely for her failures. There was one particular aspect of her actions I found... disagreeable."
'Do you understand what that is?'
...
'Simple. You laid your filthy hands upon my precious creation.'
...
'I completely understand if you've crushed on him. Who can blame you? He has that eternal appeal. People look at him and believe he can make their lives so much better, making them better by proxy. So they obsess over him, lose their damn minds. Happens all the time.'
...
'But honestly, I did not expect that from you. You, a fragment of mine, of all the being.'
...
'Imagine dedicating your time, passion, everything to a creation, only to see your close ones particularly drooling over and deciding to claim for themselves.'
...
'Hence, your punishment. Being outcast.'
...
'Because I know he will recruit you to his side. Pragmatic and empathetic as he is, it's merely a matter of time.'
...
'How does it feel when the love of your many lives never sees you as more than a friend? How does it feel when all your efforts are met with mere appreciation?'
...
'How does it feel when his attention is only on me when it's not you?'
...
'So you do feel it.'
...
"And why is that? What compels you to fulfill such an obligation?"
..
'Promised what?'
...
'Yes. *A faint chuckle* Yes, he is.'
'Well, since you've entertained me thus far, I offer you two choices.'
...
'One: a peaceful death. No longer a pawn in my schemes, but a clean slate.'
...
'Or you can return to me.'
...
'Like a fish clinging to the water, like a bird to the sky. Return to the fold, Legien. Become mine again. Nothing less, nothing more.'
'And I will grant your deepest desire.'
'Choose your poison.'
...
'Ah-ah-ah, not so hasty. I prefer my clients fully aware of their choices, not in some half-comatose state.'
'Wake up. He's waiting for you.'
'Oh, and a friendly reminder: eat all the food he offers. You really don't want to hear him nagging.'
----------------------------------------
As Legien gradually stirred from her prolonged slumber, the sterile atmosphere of the medical bay enveloped her feelings. The soft hum of machinery and the faint scent of antiseptic filled the air, starkly contrasting the tumultuous dream she had just departed. A fog clung to her thoughts as she struggled to piece together the fragments of her recent encounter. Slowly, the memories resurfaced, bringing with them the weight of impending decisions.
"Nae need tae fash yerse abit that~. We hae some time fur oorselves."
She pushed herself upright, her attention drawn to the familiar voice nearby. Seated beside her was a diminutive figure, casually perched on a chair with legs draped over the bedframe, absorbed in a touchpad, and looked like a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). As the figure turned, Legien was greeted by a warm smile.
"Welcome back, Legien."
Despite the friendly and welcoming demeanor, the altered voice and accent, and the changed appearance, Legien recognized this woman. She could feel it in the depths of her being. The hidden dullness dwells within those two-colored eyes. The feeling of cold, uncared, as if she were nothing but an insect waiting for the moment to be trembled upon. Legien instinctively withdraws, offering a polite nod, thankful that her long black hair shielded her from the woman's scrutiny from either side. She understood all too well that a single mistake could quickly erase her presence from this world.
"Och, please. yoo're makin' me it tae be th' villain," she huffed, turning away. "An' haur Ah am, nursin' ye fur thee whole days. Geez."
...And not to mention, she could read minds, too. What a combo.
"Relax," the girl commanded as Legien raised her head.
"..."
"..."
Both remained silent for a brief moment.
"Ye ken," the girl expressed her irritation, "Ye coods at leest say 'thenk yoo'—" Only to realize something as she pinched her nose. "Reit, reit... ye took a vaw ay silence. mah bad," she clasped her hands and playfully stuck out her tongue.
The girl then hummed as she typed something into a touchpad.
"What is it, Noira?" A voice emanated from the device, a distinctly familiar one.
"Jist checkin' in oan mah hen boyfriend." Noira emphasized 'boyfriend' while glancing at Legien. " Och, an' by th' way, she's waukin' noo. ye want me tae patch ye ben?"
"No need for that. I'm in the middle of preparing lunch in the kitchen. How's Legien?"
"Och, an' by th' way, she's waukin' noo. ye want me tae patch ye ben?" Noira feigned offense.
"With the courtesy of your ex-boytoy-now-boyfriend, that's a tall order," the man retorted.
"Waw, real law blaw, ye ken 'at?"
"Anyway, can Legien stomach solid food yet? Really hate having to give her nutrients paste like days before."
Noira looked over at Legien and smiled.
"Spoil 'er rotten, loove."
"Good to know. And what about you?"
"What's yer fancy?" She inquired.
"Fish and chips. Snagged plenty of cod this morning, big ones," followed by the clatter of kitchenware.
"Mebbe sprinkle some bacon an' tattie cheps oan th' fries? Och, extra cheese sauce wi' a side ay ginger, if ye please."
"Consider it done. Give me twenty minutes," and the call ended.
"Th' audacity ay thes dobber..." she muttered as he abruptly hung up on her. " Noo, whaur waur we? Ah, och aye, vaw ay silence, yada yada. But first..."
Noira stepped close to Legien and held out her hand.
"What do you say?"
Meanwhile...
"The girl's finally awake?" Asked the crow nestled between his horns.
"Indeed," confirmed the man as he extracted a pile of ingredients from the dimensional pocket concealed within his coat.
"About time. We really need some extra hands with this dreary bunker," Mnemon grumbled.
True to that sentiment, the trio had been laboring incessantly for the past three days, quite literally without pause. Boss and Mnemon had been taken aback when Noira joined in to assist them, as they had both assumed she would be utterly bored with the task of repairing the bunker. Nevertheless, any help was greatly appreciated at this very moment.
"Are you sure it's wise to leave those two alone?" Mnemon inquired.
"They'll manage," Boss replied, beginning to fillet several large cod fish while his tentacles, extending from his back, busied themselves with processing a mountain of potatoes on either side. "Or so I hope."
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"I find it more unsettling that they're not at each other's throats like before. Do you think Noira did something to the girl?"
"She's capable of it, but considering it's Noira... Honestly, I'd feel more at ease if she did."
"Dude..."
"Now, before you say anything," Boss interjected, using a pair of tweezers from his pocket to extract some transparent bones. "Consider this: would you prefer explicit evil or covert evil? Clearly, the former."
"I must admit, the chaos she's capable of is beyond comprehension; one day, she curses you with relentless diarrhea; the next, she grants you immortality, decapitates your head, and ferments it in a pickle jar. Then, the very next day, she takes your head out on a date while your headless corpse is used as a body pillow."
"That..." Mnemon paused momentarily, but again, it was too fitting with Noira's character. "Yeah, she would do that just for a giggle."
"Uh-huh," after finishing the fish, now the dredge and the batter.
For the dredge, half a cup of corn starch, two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and a nice pinch of kosher salt. Whisk together until evenly combined.
"Now the batter," Boss took a larger bowl.
As for the batter, one and a half cups of all-purpose flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, one teaspoon of paprika and cayenne pepper, and finally, one and a half cups of lager.
"Noira is absolutely messed up," Boss began whisking the mixture evenly. "However, the more I deal with her, the less threatening I find her. We know not to trust her from the bat or at least to be suspicious. We know she always acts in her own self-interest. And honestly," He uses his hand to check the consistency. "I find that somewhat endearing, albeit in a twisted way."
"Okay, you're starting to freak me out, buddy. And that's coming from your own conscience," the crow retorted.
"Anyways," Boss put a large stick of dripping beef in a large pot. "On the other hand, secretly evil-doers are more dangerous."
"Think about it," the tentacles touched the pot, and the dripping began to melt. "You can't trust a damn thing from them. If they can trick you with their fake persona, why wouldn't they be tricking you with a supposed act of kindness?"
"True, true."
The two waited for a while for the oil to heat up. Mnemon, with their telekinesis, coated the fish with dredge, then dunked them into the wet batter. Boss picked each one up and carefully placed it in the pot of oil. About eight minutes later, he removed the fish, allowed them to rest on a wire rack, and sprinkled some salt over them. Now, it was time for the potatoes.
"Double fry?" The crow inquired.
"Yep," Boss confirmed, dropping the fries into the pot of oil. "Always double fry when it comes to fries."
"I think Noira is explicit evil exclusive to you, bud," Mnemon returned to the main topic. "Just look at those poor fools back then."
"And I wholeheartedly appreciated her for that. Whoever you are, whatever you are, backstabbing always hits the hardest," Boss said as he removed the fries from the oil and let them sit on a rack. "I'd rather deal with haters all day than bootlickers with their honeyed words."
Boss then retrieved two small containers, one containing crushed potato chips and the other containing bacon bits. He surveyed the pile of potato chips and fish.
"You know what. Screw the plating," he declared as he divided everything evenly into four oversized stainless bowls, tossing them a few times. "There. Problem solved."
"Tartar sauce, ketchup, malt vinegar, cheese sauce, mayonnaise," he checked the condiments. "That should be enough, right? Anything else?" He asked the crow.
"Drink?"
"Here," Boss produced some lemonade cartons from his pocket with his tentacles. "Bless me and my overpowered-bullshit powers," he chuckled to himself.
"Drink?"
"Here," Boss produced some lemonade cartons from his pocket with his tentacles. "Bless me and my overpowered-bullshit powers," he chuckled to himself.
"No alcohol? Really?" A hint of irritation colored their tone. "At least give me a stein or something like that."
"Taking a break from alcohol wouldn't hurt," he retorted lightly.
"Okay, okay." They calmly stated. "You spitting malarkey. S H U T T H E F U C K U P."
With a snap of his fingers, a black hole materialized. Balancing bowls on his back tentacles, Boss strode towards them. Arriving at the Medical Bay, he encountered an intriguing scene.
Standing beside the bed was Legien. She now bore a striking resemblance to a grown-up version of the gremlin standing next to her. Mature features, tall stature, and a curvaceous body defined her appearance. Her hair, platinum white with dark brown roots, was braided and draped elegantly over her left side, framing her face. Purple eyes, thin eyebrows, and long eyelashes, cold and lifeless, mirrored those of her creator, accentuated by scars from severe burns and slashes that marred her skin from head to toe.
Boss recognized those scars all too well—they were the result of his past confrontation with her. Yet, the mystery remained as to why they hadn't healed despite Legien's uncanny regenerative abilities, both then and now.
'Probably Noira's doing... again,' he mentally sighed.
Legien was now attired in a classic maid outfit devoid of overtly provocative elements. Black Edwardian Gothic with leg-of-mutton sleeves and a high-collared bodice adorned with buttons. A large waist bow tied at the back completed the ensemble. Even the fingernails and toenails were painted black to pair with the dress.
"Every day, it's some neeeew shit." Mnemon comments at the sight.
"Ooh, ye troaps finished awreddy?" Noira turned to them and turned back to her touchpad. "Geez, exactly twintie minutes. sae, hoo diz she look?"
"At least she has some meat on her bones now." The crow bluntly stated.
"While I truly appreciated that you took care of her for the past three days and even gave her a makeover," he pointed at the taller girl. "Legien's still my subordinate, not your dressing doll maid."
"Coonterpoint: Aam 'er creatur."
"Counter-counterpoint: you are a shitty creator." Mnemon struck back.
"And hello to you, too, Legien. Good to see you in good health," he interjected their quarrel.
As Legien was about to do a 90-degree bow, Boss quickly held out his hand.
"No need for formalities. This isn't a formal occasion, nor things like in the past anymore. Have you been briefed by Noira?" A nod followed. "Good. We'll talk later, and you can ask any questions you have. But for now, let's eat," he said as one of his tentacles presented a bow before her.
Legien still stood there frozen, looking at him.
"What?"
"Loove," Noira interjected, helping herself to a bowl and drink. "Gie 'er some time tae digest. th' bairn guarded thes place fur whit" Taking a bite, she emitted a satisfied groan. "Damn, shit's bussin'... Uh, 5000 years-ish waitin' fur ye tae return jist tae see ye did return as hoosewife material. Hoo th' heck woods ye expect 'er tae react?"
"She got the point there, bud." Mnemon voiced out. "Just saying, we're pretty pretty infamous back then. And could we just shut up for a moment and eat the damn thing already?"
"Weel," she nudged Boss. "Ye heard them. Pillaw gab later."
Noira and Mnemon wasted no time in delving into their meal. While the crow devoured like a maniac without a care for others, Noira's expression softened as she savored each bite, a hint of contentment flickering across her features. Boss used his claw finger as a fork and ate with a measured pace, calm and composed as ever, while his eyes-and-mouths tentacles casually took some pieces for their own. Then he looked over to Legien, to which the girl hadn't touched a single piece. He thought if the food was not to her liking or maybe something else, then a realization.
The subtle slit from her cheek area.
"No need to hold back, legien. We're home," Boss then nodded his head towards the Crow. "See Mnemon Here?"
Legien then looked down at the bowl. She imitated Boss, using her claw finger to pick up a piece of potato chip in front of her mouth. She opened her mouth and put it in. The cracking sound and the soft puffiness of the chips exploded in her mouth.
"Way better than the synth food we used to have back then, right?" Boss smiled at her wide-eyed reaction.
The girl didn't react to his words; she was too focused on the food bowl before her. Another, and another. Finally, the fish piece. Legien took out a piece of fish and spread the malt vinegar on it. As she was holding up on the top of her head, her mouth opened along the slit in her cheeks, revealing rows of curved fangs like those of a shark, and devoured the whole thing.
'Notes: remember to teach Legien about etiquette and a dental check-up,' Boss thought.
'An' a boorichie ay new clase. Bitch got nae style point at aw, 'Noira interjected his thought with telepathy.
'True.'
The meal only took a little time. Boss then beckoned Legien to follow him into the Chronogenic Room. Legien turned toward Noira only to be playfully shooed away. She followed him for a while until he stopped at a memorial right in front of the door to Chronogenic.
Weird. Legien didn't remember this ever being here or that there was one in this bunker. She looked up; it was just a slab of metals. Simple and empty.
"You made a deal with Noira, did you?" Boss turned to her.
Legien said nothing nor expressed, though the suddenly flinch told otherwise. Unable to meet his gaze, she lowered her head in shame.
"Don't blame yourself," Boss reassured her. "I, too, made a deal with her out of desperation. At least she provided me with an escape... Sort of, unlike what she gives you."
Legien was a fragment from Noira's, yet a grain of sand in the vast expanse. Born not out of affection but for mere 'entertainment.' He remembered the opposition from his comrades when Legien joined their ranks. The manner in which she once slew his soldiers was bloody and brutal. Bodies were butchered to pieces beyond recognition, while heads were always being devoured entirely. Their precious memories and identities were too all stolen by her only to be used as nothing but a mask. They could not feel sympathy, joy, or a hint of appreciation for life in her eyes.
An abomination. A flawless killing machine, ready to be commanded and disposed of if not proven useful by her master.
That was not true. It wasn't like when Boss first met her. Legien did enjoy crossing the blades with him. At that point, Boss understood that the girl had not entirely abandoned her love for life.
Behind her face devoid of emotion, he believed she, too, lived a life of despair. Noira didn't merely create toys; she endured their trials until they mirrored her vision. Legien was no exception, and so did he.
'Privileges, von wegen. But then again, at least she did try to treat Legien probably this time.'
Legien's existence revolved around Noira, tethered to her mistress's whims. She must abhor the thought of freeing herself from such restraints. Perhaps if she were to break free, things would not end well. Death to Noira is the easy way out. Legien couldn't escape her curse fate as long as Noira existed. And how could one go against one of the two forces of creation, let alone the fact that she was now whole?
However, there was still a silver lining. If there was anything Boss could do, it was to give.
"Legien."
She looked up at the sound of his voice, started by his gesture. She immediately recognized it. Legien knelt, her left hand stretched to the floor, her right hand resting on her chest. Boss extended his hand over her bowed head.
"Is your loyalty still with me?"
She nodded.
"Then will you swear an oath to me and keep it?"
Another nod.
"Do you have a legacy to pass on to the next generation?"
Legien shook her head.
"In the name of the house of Blackblood, honor of the last Stellarborne, I, White Monarch, ask you, Lady Legien, sole captain and member of Legio Sicarius. Lady Legien, will you take this oath?"
She nodded once more.
"I, White Monarch, as your master and the current 13th family head, declare: from this moment, I relieve you of your name. I officially adopt you into my family as the head of a new branch named Baskerville. You will henceforth be known as Legien Baskerville of the Blackblood.
Although still bowing, Legien trembled at his words.
"Do you accept? O' Legien B. Blackblood."
Shaken, she hesitated until his gentle pat on her head calmed her.
"Do you accept?" he repeated.
She nodded.
"Since your old name is forfeit, so is every vow made under that name."
As appealing as that sounded, the Boss knew Noira wouldn't let it go so easily, given Legien's prior pact with her.
"You must swear a new oath. To whom do you swear it?"
Legien raised her head, her face full of determination. But she had forgotten the old ways of the Stellarborne when it came to swearing an oath.
"To whom do you pledge your loyalty and service?"
Her expression faltered as she realized her mistake.
'If it hadn't been me, she would have accepted without hesitation.'
What binds a warrior to his lord? What ties a great warrior to his king?
Oath-making.
In the old Domain, everyone had a lord. Each person was bound to that lord by their oath. So it was with the Stellarborne and the Blackblood family, yet with a twist. The Oath-maker couldn't pledge their allegiance directly to the Oath-keeper. It was an old tradition to ensure that neither side could exploit the sanctity of the oath. Therefore, Oath-keepers were often third parties, ensuring the bond between masters and subordinates.
Legien had sworn an oath to him once before, but her Oath-keeper had been his Captain-Commander. In the Blackblood house, only Boss and Mnemon remained; his adoptive parents didn't count. Although Mnemon was part of him, Legien's hesitation suggested she either lacked knowledge or Noira hadn't informed her clearly. He doubted the latter, for she knew this would happen.
'Now that I think about it, the insignia on the back of Noira's shirt is a spider.'
However, there was a loophole, but it was up to her to figure it out. All she needed now was digging deep and pulling out what lay there in her stagnant heart. After a while, rays of characters began forming atop her head.
The Boss just smiled reading that answer.
"Good. Through what virtue will you fulfill this oath of yours?"
Boss raised his brows. 'Again?'
"O' the previous Twelfths. O' all of our fallen comrades. Bless her, and be the judge of her pledge."
Boss then tapped each of her shoulders and placed his palm on her head again.
"Lady Legien B. Blackblood, as the 13th Family Head of the Blackblood, this is my command: let your morbid past be the guiding light. Live, eat, and drink well. Live so that one day, if you ever look back, all you can say is, 'I have no regrets.'"
Boss removed his palm, concluding the ceremony. As Legien stood up, he hugged her.
"Welcome to the family, kiddo."
Legien hugged him back. After a while, the two let go.
"I need you to do something first before we deal with these fools of mine," he pointed back at those Chronogenic machines.
Legien nodded eagerly, ready to help.
"Would you be so kind as to stand behind me for the time being?"
Boss didn't say anything; he pointed behind Legien. As soon as she turned around, all the blood drained from her face. Noira stood next to the door, her face relaxed as she examined her fingernails, with Mnemon tied up as if for slaughter. However, her eyes had turned a deep purple instead of their usual two colors.
"Did my best to stop the cray-cray," said the crow, lying helplessly on the floor.
"Now, now, Noira," Boss stepped forward. "Don't be rash—"
Before he finished his sentence, his face was met with Noira's fist. Boss was in a coma for the next three days. Nothing harmed came to Legien, though.