The passing pastures were simple blurs of green and yellow as we trailed past. I leaned closer to the window, staring into my deadpanned eyes as we passed through a dense forest.

The carriage we sat in continued to rumble and bump along the gravel road. The inside walls were glossy oak, while the floor and ceiling are sown with red carpeting.

“Are you going to pout the entire way there?” Evonika said, sitting on the adjacent facing bench.

I wanted to silence her, but I didn't have the energy.

「Just leave me alone,」 I murmured.

Evonika shrugged, took a small pink leather book from her pocket, and began reading.

Not like you could understand. My world is a lot more complex than yours. Letting you in would be a nuisance.

Agnelov, nervously shifting in her seat in front of me, served me glances with her head bent down.

「What the hell is it, Agnelov?」 I grumbled.

「Don’t talk to her that way just because you’re angry,」 Evonika responded.

「I’m. Not. Angry.」

「Please. Don’t. Lie to me. You completely lost it when we were with Father.」

「That piece of shit is not my-」

「So,」 Evonika closed her book, sitting it in her lap. 「He is the reason you’re acting like this.」

My eyes widened with fury.

Does she seriously think she can read me or something? And why does she care? She doesn’t even know me! Why… Why am I even contemplating this?

I glanced at Agnelov and Evonika, then slammed my palm on the ceiling.

「Stop the damn carriage!」 I exclaimed.

The ride came to an immediate halt with an awkward jolt of the wagon. I kicked the door open and jumped outside. The dirt and gravel crackled under my heels as I stumbled down a low grassy hill. The forest was damp and covered in bluish ferns that bloomed twinkling spores as I stormed past. I ended up standing in a large clearing with lush green grass and twirling lavender roses sprinkled around me.

This… this has to be illegal, right? They can’t just keep us hostage in this game forever. I want to leave this place and never see those two imbeciles again.

I sprawled onto the ground, gripping the dirt beneath my fingers.

Or maybe I’ll just sit here.

「Lady Yokalen!」 Agnelov’s voice yelled from behind.

The sound of heels crunching dirt moved closer as I groaned beneath my breath.

「I want to be left alone.」

Agnelov padded her skirt and sat in front of me. 「I can see that, but... I don’t think you truly want to be left alone.」

「That idea literally contradicts my previous statement…」 I muttered.

「Oh, okay.」 Agnelov said, then closed her eyes. 「When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here, Lady Yokalen.」

She then began to hum a tranquil tune, as the surrounding trees’ leaves rustled from a passing wind.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, taking in the sweet, floral fragrance from the swaying roses in the clearing. The tension in my shoulders and neck loosened, and I tugged my hands from the dirt, sitting them in my lap.

「«Melodiya»」 Agnelov whispered, holding my hands and sweeping the dirt from atop of them. 「It can help calm nerves. I think I used it before with you… maybe when you were younger?」

「Is that a… uh, a «Skill»?」

Agnelov nodded. 「Yes. I don’t remember when I obtained it. My mother used it though, perhaps it’s hereditary.」

She then stood up and offered me her hand. With her help, I lifted off the ground, then turned around with a sigh.

「I… didn’t mean what I said to you back there… when we were with my father, I mean.」

「Yes, I know,」 Agnelov responded.

「It’s just that… he reminded me so much of someone and… it put me in a bad mood. I lashed out at you and that was uncalled for. I’m sorry.」

I felt a nudge on my back and looked behind to Agnelov resting her head on my shoulder. Her eyes were closed, partly covered by her blonde bangs, as I felt her heartbeat and the warmth of her chest.

「I’m sorry you were distressed. I had no idea you were going through such emotions… but that’s only because you didn’t talk to me,」 Agnelov said.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The intimacy was a bit much to bear. I felt my knees wanting to give out a few times and held a gasp that rallied deep in my chest. But besides that, it felt… good.

Agnelov then opened her eyes, her radiant orange pupils gleaming in the overhead sun. 「I’m yours, Lady Yokalen. It’s a maid’s duty to serve their master. It’s all that I ever want. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. Promise me you’ll do that.」

My chest and stomach felt like they were burning from the inside out. She’s so… genuine, so loving… it felt like she really wanted to get to know me. And maybe… I could get to know her.

「Yes, I promise.」

Agnelov smiled, then took a deep breath. 「I’m glad. That makes me happy…」

Okay… I’m at my limit!

「W-we should get back… to the carriage!」

「Oh, yes. Evonika’s waiting patiently for us to return. Let us be-」

The wind stopped blowing, and an eerie silence took the air. I could almost hear my heartbeat until a low growl echoed around us.

Agnelov jumped to my side, shielding me with her arm and a determined glare. She then took the «Bokhita» case from her dress pocket.

The shadows grew darker between the trees. A pair of crimson eyes peered through the foliage. Then, a black-furred wolf with a crooked jaw jumped into the clearing. Its hind leg and back hairs stood up like dark-purple stalagmites, melting the grass with dripping acidic ooze.

「Lady Yokalen. You must activate your «Bokhita» immediately.」 She whispered.

I looked at her, then the case as she handed it over to me. 「B-but I don’t know how…」

The wolf began circling around us, despite its eyes being completely blind and white. It made up for it with constant sniffs from its long snout. The wolf then stopped shuffling and pivoted around, lowering its stance with a deep growl.

Agnelov looked back at me, then at the «Bokhita» box still resting in my hands. 「Please Lady Yokalen! You must put it on!」

The wolf lunged forward, dashing from side to side as it made its way toward us. I swallowed away the dryness in my throat and opened the box. On a bed of white fabric laid a single squarish double-knuckle ring. I grazed the gold exterior and looked up at Agnelov.

「What do I do? Do I put it on?—Ah!」

Agnelov shoved me to the side as the wolf soared between us and landed a few feet away. Its lower jaw dripped with a red fluid, and I followed the specs leading to its last position.

「Agnelov!」 I yelled.

She winced while holding onto her lower arm, a deep laceration oozing with pink meat and blood. I attempted to get up, but she held up her hand and pointed to the forest.

「The carriage is that way! Please, run!」 Agnelov pleaded.

「N-no! I can’t! W-wait, the «Bokhita»!」 I yelled back, then dropped to the floor.

I scrambled, using my hands to search for any trace of the box or the knuckle ring. A glint caught my eye, and I gasped while pointing to the grass patch in front of Agnelov. But before I could yell, the wolf howled and dashed toward me. The diaphanous gleam in its eye twinkled, becoming redder as it closed the gap between us.

I instinctively threw my hands up and shielded myself, holding my breath with squinted eyes. A brush of air hit my front, along with a brief whine. I opened my eyes and looked up to Agnelov standing in front of me, with a defensive fighting stance. The blood from her wound was dripping down her elbow as she huffed from exhaustion.

The wolf jumped up from its backside and growled, sniffing the air as it began circling us once more. Agnelov relaxed her arms and took a deep breath, jumping back and forth on her toes while stretching her arms. She then slammed down on her heels and raised her hand, now glistening with the «Bokhita» on her knuckles.

「«Rage Incarnate»」 She whispered, then slammed her fists together.

The «Bokhita» disappeared, and her body began growing red veins that popped on her arms and legs. Her muscles became more defined as she gripped her hands down to her sides.

The wolf charged in a straight line, not wasting any time with its past evasive maneuvers as a warrior’s howl retched from its throat. Agnelov balled her fists in front of her chest and spread her legs apart, lowering her stance. The wolf lunged into the air, its pointed teeth and sharp white claws at the ready. However, in a swift maneuver, Agnelov raised her hand for a straight jab, punching the wolf directly in the snout and sending it backward.

I could hear the crunch of its broken teeth and jawbone as it tumbled across the dirt. It squirmed on the ground, whining and growling as black blood oozed from its snout and mouth. The wolf then shook its head and limped forward before going into a full sprint. Agnelov lunged, meeting him halfway, and drove a fist into its neck, causing it to howl in immense pain. In its feeble attempts to break free from her grasp, Agnelov grabbed it by the scruff, then wrapped her fingers around its neck, holding it in the air.

A few more growls echoed through the clearing, as three more wolves appeared from all our angles. Agnelov tightened her grip until a crack resonated from the wolf’s throat and its entire body went limp. She threw the deceased beast onto the ground and walked back over to me, shielding me with her arms. Her eyes were different, cold, and hazed with a red tint.

She stared directly at the wolves as they all charged at once, a grin curling across her lips. The first wolf jumped into the air. She quickly grabbed it by the leg mid-air and swung it back down to the ground head-first, causing blood and tooth to paint the once lavender flowers. Agnelov then stomped its head, her heel piercing its bulging white eyes as it whined and yelped, clawing the ground, attempting to escape as its movements slowed. She threw the wolf’s body at the second, who yelped in surprise as it tumbled across the ground with its lifeless comrade.

The third wolf slid across the grass behind her, opening its mouth with a low growl.

「Agnelov, look out!」 I exclaimed.

Agnelov pivoted to the side, however the wolf’s teeth grazed her leg as she stumbled back. The wolf then circled around for another assault, dashing to the side, once again angling for her legs. Without attempting to dodge, Agnelov stood still, allowing the wolf it clamp onto her leg as blood gushed from within the razors of its mouth.

She then stuck her hands on both sides of the wolf’s jaw, releasing it from her leg, and holding it in the air. The wolf attempted to clamp down, squirming with kicking legs as Agnelov began spreading its mouth open. Its aggravated growls soon became fearful whimpers as specks of blood began forming at the white and pink tears of flesh from within its mouth. Agnelov then straightened out its entire mouth like a closed drawbridge with a chilling crack. Its long tongue bulged from the side of its gouged mouth as bloody drool escaped from his now torn throat.

The second wolf stared at Agnelov for a brief second and raised its paw. She took a step forward, and the wolf yelped before running back into the forest. Agnelov coughed and fell to the ground, holding her arm and leg with a shiver. I ran over to her and looked down at her injuries with watery eyes.

「W-we’ve got to go get help. I’ll help you walk!」

Agnelov shook her head, covering her mouth with a hoarse cough. Blood peaked through her fingers as her eyes fluttered and fell back into my arms.

「No! Don’t—H-help! Evonika! Anyone!」 I screamed.

My vision became blurry, and I winced. I looked down at a piece of the wolf’s stalagmite-lavender-fur prodding my leg; the skin blackening around it.

I attempted to get up, but my limbs were numbing as my eyelids became heavier. I wrapped my arms around Agnelov and fell to the ground, her heavy breaths and pained face being the last thing I saw.