ANALIA

THE SOUND of chattering around me as my fellow companions munch down on bread and milk causes my ears to tingle. Tomorrow is the day when we meet the demigods and everyone seems to be rather excited. I sip slowly from my cup of milk and rest my feeble hands on the wooden table where I'm seated.

After the meeting with the princess yesterday, I was taken to a room far grander than I have ever slept in my life and here I am sipping expensive milk and munching down on freshly baked bread. This feels like a calm before the storm. I try to enjoy myself though because this will probably be the last good food I'll eat for months.

According to Princess Kora whose name I learned from a fellow companion, journeying in Asha's realm takes about two months and that's because her realm is like a world on its own. It's crazy when I think about it. It simply means we'll have to survive in each terror for at least two weeks. The more I think about it, the more I realize how suicidal becoming a companion is. It makes me wonder what the rest of them who enlisted want so badly. Their resolve is just as unshakable as mine and that's dangerous.

"Ana right?"

I lift my eyes that are glued to the finely polished table to the person speaking.

My eyes meet those of green ones that belong to a lanky male with shaggy ginger hair. An arrogant smile tugs at his lips as he raises his head in a condescending manner

"Yes," I answer without breaking eye contact. Just because I look like a child doesn't mean I should get picked on. I won't allow him in any way to look down at me. "Is there something you need?" I ask, making sure my gaze doesn't waver. His lips curl up in annoyance at the fact that I'm not trembling in fear at him.

"Tch," He tosses his plate on my table in annoyance before leaving.

My brows knit together at the audacity but there's nothing I can do about it. I can't retaliate because of my size and I can't take off this necklace either. The realization of my weakness angers me to the point that I lose my appetite.

I stand up from the stool I've been sitting on with a loud screech and head to the kitchen with both plates. We were instructed not to leave our plates behind so I can't just leave them be, besides I would like to avoid any unnecessary conflict with the other companions.

The hallway is eerily quiet as I walk down its gravelly tiled floor to the kitchen. I heard from the companions chattering amongst themselves that the Demigods were in this same castle with us. I try to be as stealthy as I can as I pass by closed doors, the last thing I want is to come across a demigod. My heart skips a beat when I sight Princess Kora from a distance and I quickly hide behind a statue in the hallway hoping it's large enough to conceal my small stature.

It's just Princess Kora though and it makes no sense that I'm hiding from her but then again, there's something about her that makes me uncomfortable. I watch her as she draws closer and stops in front of one of the closed doors. It seems the companions were right, the demigods are right here in the castle with us.

Her platinum blonde hair is braided in two and her dress is an almost see-through white made from silk that flows down to the ground. She looks rather angelic enough to deceive people. She knocks softly on the door and in a matter of seconds the door is opened. I can't see who the person she's speaking to is but the softness of their voice almost makes me want to melt into a puddle.

"How is Iyan doing?" The voice which I assume belongs to a man asks. His voice sounds like melody in my ears, the depth of its softness entrances me.

Do all demigods sound this way? I wonder.

"He seems to be prepared for tomorrow. I've made necessary plans for his demise in Asha's land, so you don't have to worry about him anymore." Her voice comes out seductively, a contrast to the angelic one I was welcomed to.

The man chuckles and I catch a glimpse of his pale hands reaching out to Princess Kora's chin which he firmly holds, his grip on her is tight enough to bruise her spotless skin but she doesn't protest to it.

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"I do hope this plan of yours works, Kora. Can I be assured of his death?"

Well, it depends. If I end up being his companion then he's dead for sure.

"Of course Master Kun, such an abomination cannot be allowed to roam free forever"

"I see," He muses out loud. "Make sure to send him my regards as he leaves tomorrow." There's something sinister about his tone that makes me unconsciously walk back from the scene. They are too engrossed in their conversation so they don't notice me. I don't think I want to hear any more of this. I find It hard to believe they are plotting the death of a demigod.

Whoever that man is, I have to steer clear of him.

─━━━━━━⊱✿⊰━━━━━━─

"It's going to be just fine Analia. You're going to survive Asha's land and get your family back."

I repeat this to myself five more times as I change into the uniforms we've been ordered to wear as companions. Today is the day and my hands can't stop quivering. My violet eyes stare back at me from the mirror I'm standing in front of and I breathe out a shaky sigh.

The encounter with Princess Kora yesterday has left me shaken. Deep down, I feel like I'm the lamb chosen for the slaughter. Something tells me that I'm the companion who would be paired up with whichever demigod they are planning to kill.

I stroke my grandmother's necklace gently and breathe out one last shaky breath before I start to dress up. I can't afford to waste more time panicking, some of the other companions are already prepared.

I put on the uniform that oddly looks like something an assassin would wear. Mine looks funny though and I think it's because of how little I am. I guess I will have to keep this necklace on permanently. Hopefully, there are no side effects. The uniform is made from expensive leather, it also seems impenetrable with an additional back quiver on mine kept in place by shoulder straps. I like everything about the uniform except for the part where I look like a joke. If only I were back to my actual form. I can't risk taking the necklace off now though, I'd only be signing my death warrant.

I muster a smile at my reflection and head out of my room to meet the other companions. They are all gathered in the room I first met Princess Kora and everyone looks rather ravishing. I wave the insecurity that starts to build up in me away and join them as they are lined up. I recognize the lanky ginger from yesterday at the front of the line chatting incoherently with another companion. Most of them look excited but they are a few like me who are being eaten up by anxiety.

I stand quietly at the back of the line as I await Princess Kora's arrival or General Cara's. A soft tap on my shoulder causes me to turn and I furrow my brows at the person.

Why can't these companions mind their own business?

"I wish you luck." A brown-eyed brunette girl with freckles on her cheeks tells me. She seems overly nervous, I can tell from her eyes that she needs someone to calm her down.

"Thank you, I hope you're alright. You're sweating." I point out to which she chuckles nervously.

"I feel like throwing up but I think I can hold it in, I have to. No demigod wants a vomit-stained companion right?" she rambles, her voice is shaky and I unconsciously reach out to hold her hand.

"You'll do just fine. I mean, if a kid like me is doing this then you should have a little faith in yourself."

Her eyes widen slightly before they soften and a genuine smile graces her face. "Thank you, this feels embarrassing. I should be the one calming you down" She laughs, I chuckle at her statement, and right on cue, General Cara walks into the room in her usual attire. Her hair this time however is packed into a neat bun.

The room suddenly goes quiet at her arrival and behind her are knights dressed up in their shimmering armours. It's finally happening. I feel both excited and nervous at the same time.

She walks up to the center of the room where we are lined up and raises a finger in the air.

"You do not get to choose the demigods you're accompanying. You will have to accept and wholeheartedly devote yourselves to whoever you get paired with."

"And finally," she raises a second finger. "Your departure to Asha's land is solely dependent on the moment the individual demigods choose. Meaning some of you might stay here even while others have departed. Not to worry though, you all will depart today. I wish you success and may the gods be with you." She finishes with a bow and begins to walk out of the room.

A knight motions with his hands to follow him and we begin to march out one after the other. I can hear the intense beating of my heart as we follow the knight out of the room and down the hall. We pass through courtyards and corridors, some familiar and others foreign, after walking through a series of unfamiliar sections of the palace, we finally arrive at a ballroom.

The room is insanely large and to my surprise crowded. I didn't expect people to come out to watch this happening. They are all dressed extravagantly enough for me to know that they are nobles. The hall is designed with expensive materials that I've never seen before. The ground is covered in marble and the roof of the room is intricately designed in gold with chandeliers hanging down. There are also sculptures at each corner of the room and I assume that these are sculptures of some of the major gods and goddesses including Asha and Chrollo.

I gulp hard when my eyes fall on the slightly elevated stage large enough to accommodate twenty individuals. That's the same number of companions lined up here. Meaning those are the Demigods. From where I'm standing, they all seem to be shining and an overwhelming intensity oozes off from them.

"If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's best you keep your eyes down to avoid their stares." the girl behind me whispers and I turn to give her a quick smile. If I'm feeling this overwhelmed I can only imagine how she feels. We keep walking forward with the eyes of the entire room on us. The hall is suddenly quiet and only the shuffles of our feet can be heard. The knight we're following comes to a halt some distance from the Demigods and we all stop.

Two little girls dressed in Golden silk with flowers adorning their fiery red hairs walk up to us. They are both holding a bowl. I can't see them well due to the tall figures blocking my view and I can't tell what is happening around me. I hear whispers from the gathered crowd but I can't lift my head to see anything. I can't stand overcrowded spaces, especially a room filled with people like these.

A few moments of silence pass and a loud voice tears through the silence making me flinch slightly in shock.

"Begin," The voice reverberates causing my ears to tingle.

The two little girls suddenly begin leading my fellow companions to a demigod and as each person in front of me gets taken away, my heartbeat skyrockets. Just as the man in front of me is taken by one of the girls, the girl behind me whispers softly into my ear. "I hope to see you again, I didn't get to tell you but my name is Auriana. I wish you luck."