One's Own Decision

With nothing much to do than wait, Frein spent his time inside his Mind Palace to look for clues. He tried to pull every piece of information he had regarding the Nightmare Lands, Void Encounters, Nightmare Invasions, and Nightmare Incursions.

Too many terms, too many names.

While Void Encounters and Nightmare Invasion were one and the same, history recorded them using both terms interchangeably. Clearly, none of these people had agreed to a single naming scheme. The countries of this world were far from united, compared to Earth, when agreeing on a single title.

Not that united, but still…

Immediately, he was absorbed in his work, completely forgetting about something else that was just as important. An array of paintings presented themselves in front of him, depicting historical records that he had read and seen over the last few weeks. The only account that gave him direct information was when Elizzel told him about Sylvanus, the Tree of Stars.

It was a vivid account. For all the memories the faunel had forgotten, this—and her memories of Evangeline—were all that remained, making for a solid recording of history. But Frein didn’t think it would be worth reliving the faunel’s trauma through a Recollection.

Maybe when we really have no choice. Frein left it as a last resort and studied other historical accounts in the meantime.

“This feels so weird and so amazing at the same time,” Katherine said as she browsed the paintings around the foyer. Her Dream manifestation was beautiful, as if the meiyal was overjoyed by her visit. Frein wasn’t sure if that was because of how much he was willing to accept her inside his Mind Palace.

“Want to see where he keeps all his lewd memories about you?” Elizzel asked, smiling like a kid out for mischief.

“Eh?”

“They’re super detailed. Recollections on Recollections.”

Frein turned, finally addressing the fact that Katherine could exist inside his Dream Realm. “How exactly does it work? I know we can enter other people’s Mind Palace, but I didn’t think you could do it the other way around?”

“True, we can do that by ourselves just like with Kristel’s case, as long as they’re not strong enough to push us out. But it usually wouldn’t work the other way around. If anything else, this is unique to Katherine.”

“So, how exactly?”

“Temporary Tether, plus—” Elizzel gestured towards a sleeping dream wolf. “The Tether allows Katherine to smoothly transition into the Dream Realm, while Norazzel ushers her to your Mind Palace. Technically, we don’t need the Tether, but I was just curious if it would work, since we’re in this weird relationship now. It’s actually Norazzel who can connect Dream manifestations to other Dream Realms. Deitars like Su’karix could do it, too.”

“Didn’t we manifest on the Physical Realm in the Keeper’s Isolation?” Frein asked while dismissing one of the records he was studying.

“We did, but that’s because of her meiyal-charged material. It’s a completely nonrelated similarity.” Elizzel pulled a canvas depicting Sylvanus and presented it to Frein. “I agree, if there’s no other choice, we can use this Recollection.”

“Thanks.” Frein nodded and took the canvas, putting it on the side separate from the massive pile of painting he was going through. “We’ll do it for last, just in case.”

“Thanks.”

“You need to form a relationship to tie a Tether?” Katherine asked, recalling a point Elizzel had mentioned earlier. She was blushing while looking at the images of her naked body. “That didn’t seem to be the case for Frein when you tied one after you just met him. Also, Frein, why?”

“Why not?” he shrugged. “You didn’t need to look at those.”

“They’re memories of me! Naked!”

“I have a collection of wholesome ones over on the other side.” Frein made a gesture and a collection of large canvases waited in line behind Katherine. They were exactly the amount of dates they had gone through both on Earth and Brymeia. Not that he had a lot of those from Brymeia, yet.

Elizzel just giggled. “No, we don’t need to form a relationship. I was just curious if I could tie multiple Tethers at once. Didn’t need to do that before, you know? Or I forgot, I’m not sure. But since it’s working, I can basically transport your thoughts and intentions even more instantaneously through this method. I don’t think you two need it, but I can do it if you want.”

With a flex of thought, Elizzel transferred Katherine’s current musings towards Frein.

—and I look weird from this angle. Why are there so many with my scars on it?

The Lady of the Void blinked and looked at the both of them.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

What in the world? You’re right! I can hear my thoughts!

“That’s so weird!” she said audibly. “It’s like using my Heart’s Will on myself.”

“It’s because you’re using it on me,” Elizzel said. “Of course there’ll be feedback.”

“Hmm?” Katherine mused. “It doesn’t work on you anymore either, Eli. It’s your Tether doing a feedback loop, since you’re pushing on it towards both me and Frein.”

“I was going to tell you about it,” Frein said, scratching the back of his head. He spared a quick glance to check on the faunel, who was in utter shock.

“Since when?” Elizzel asked.

“Hmm… when was it?” Katherine followed, crossing her arms. She tilted her head, frowning. “It was recent, if I remember correctly.”

“Before we boarded Atlas Sid,” Frein answered. He flipped to another canvas. So far, none of the recordings had been enlightening. He already knew most of them. “You were distracted by the Letterman, Eli.”

I should really get my hands on Alphazzel’s records. It was a conundrum. Those records were in the High Palace, and with the Nightmare Incursion hitting them without a definite schedule, it would be too risky to make a visit.

“Oh… right.” Elizzel looked up, grabbing Frein’s attention. She turned from him to Katherine and back. “But if that’s the case, then…”

The Visitor found it amusing. “It means she trusts you as much as she trusts me, Eli.” The faunel turned to him with a face of disappointment. Frein couldn’t help but smile.

“It also means, I love you just as much, Eli,” Katherine said before turning to Frein. “Don’t bully her too much.”

“It’s how I show my affection.”

“Sure.” Katherine rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The two of them looked at Elizzel to comfort her, but the faunel was hiding behind her hands, blushing and crying. She fell to her knees, sobbing. Both of them were immediately beside her.

“What’s wrong?” Frein asked. “I didn’t mean to bully you, alright? That was my bad.”

“I thought… I thought I was going to get rejected,” she said, sniffling. “I couldn’t control myself yesterday, there was too much Nightmare influence, and I didn’t want to bring it up, but I thought it was over. I didn’t mean to get in between you two.”

“Well, you did,” Katherine said.

“But that’s fine,” Frein followed immediately.

“It was sort of fun.”

“Yeah.”

Elizzel continued to cry, sniffling and sobbing uncontrollably. She could barely speak. “But—”

“It’s completely fine if it’s you, Eli,” both of them said at the same time, embracing the faunel together. They stayed that way until Elizzel finally calmed down.

“You know, I noticed you feel really anxious every time this relationship gets brought up,” Frein began. “Evanclad even told you about it, remember?”

“I didn’t really know then,” Elizzel said, her tears finally stopping. “I think, I became more worried because he mentioned it. I’m not really good at this sort of thing. Back then, Evangeline and I fought hard for our relationship. Evan wasn’t exactly approving of it right away.”

“Because both of you were women?” Katherine asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Because I’m a faunel.”

“Everyone,” Norazzel called, stirring rather quickly from her slumber. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we have a situation. I must ask that you return to the Physical Realm.”

Right away, as they were pushed by Norazzel, Frein found himself waking up from his slumber to find Frill and Xiv carrying an unconscious Kristel. He Drew Siffera right away to stir his alertness and awareness even faster than normal. Before he could get up on his feet, however, he felt something snap. He turned towards Elizzel, who was clutching her head.

“I can’t maintain the Tether with Katherine if you’re emphasizing an Art,” she explained. “I’m not sure why.”

“We can deal with that later,” Frein said, quickly assessing their Tether. There was no damage. He returned his attention to Kristel. “What happened?”

Katherine was quick to assess the Princess’s condition with Samesia. She became immediately worried. “There’s nothing wrong with her.”

“She said, she’ll talk to Brymeia,” Frill explained. “I think she wanted advice on what to do with the Nightmare Incursion.”

That’s no good.

“She relied on a higher power?” Frein asked. “That’s never a good thing.”

“We didn’t think to stop her,” Xiv admitted. “We don’t know what to do.”

“You pulled her out before, right, Frein?” Frill almost begged. She was close to tears, and was using her all to stop herself from breaking down. The Visitor’s Mesiffera even showed him how the Aria was using her Siffera to bolster her courage. It wasn’t as well practiced as his, but she was desperate enough as it was.

“I’ll try and see if I can pull her out.”

“No.” Norazzel’s worried voice echoed before she even manifested out of Kristel. “Do not enter the Princess’s Dream Realm.”

“Why not?” Frein, Katherine, and Elizzel asked at the same time. The unified question forced the Faunel of Dreams and Memories to take a step back. Her breathing was ragged and her fur was a mess. She was scared. This was a different Norazzel, not the one inside his Mind Palace. He had never seen this one before, so meek and fragile, and yet, still trying hard to perform her duty.

“Sorry,” Frein followed up to calm Norazzel down. “Please explain.”

The faunel stared at him, studying his intentions. She breathed a sigh of relief before beginning her explanation, addressing everyone.

“Much like each of you have a purpose to fulfill, this one belongs only to Princess Kristel Irista. She made this decision on her own, without any influence from Evanclad or myself, or even this Letterman you speak of. If—or when—she asks for any of our help, will be the only time we should step into her Destiny. This is as much for your safety as it is for hers.”

Frein churned out Norazzel’s words and ultimately decided to sit down. The faunel was correct. The Princess’s decision was meant to help them. Intervening to drag her out of that decision would be an insult to her determination. He just wished she could’ve talked to them about it.

He couldn’t stop himself from shaking his head. He’d punch himself if he could. We didn’t ask for her opinion before we made our decision either…

He glanced towards Katherine and Elizzel, and immediately, they were in unison, agreeing with him. They gave him a nod at the same time.

Frein turned towards Frill and Xiv next. “Norazzel’s right. You two have to stay strong. Sorry, but this is her fight until she asks us for help.”

With that, the Aria in Red slumped on her knees and began to cry. “Why? Why can’t I help her whenever it matters the most?”

Xiv knelt beside her, placing a caring hand on her shoulder. Frill caved and leaned on him, finding solace inside his embrace.

Frein had no other choice but to sit down beside the Princess. He Drew Mesiffera and maintained it directly at her small body. He addressed Norazzel without looking.

“You’ll tell me when she’s in danger, correct?”

“Yes, Visitor.”

“If this doesn’t go well, you know what I’ll do, right?”

The dream wolf’s tail tucked between her hind legs, and her ears folded down while she bowed out of instinct, trying not to look at him. “I apologize, Visitor. Yes, we’re prepared for our deaths.”

Frein turned to her and frowned. “I’m not going to kill you, Nora, don’t be silly.”

He smiled.

“I’m going to stop playing all your riddles and make you spill everything. I promise you that.”

----------------------------------------