(“Experiment? Are you saying I'm only here as an experiment!?”)

“Get some sleep, experiment, you leave in the dead of morning.”

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

Tibaut soon woke in the darkness and looked around with caution. He touched his skin but it no longer burned. He had free movement and he quickly fell from the tree as he looked around himself.

Thankfully he landed on his feet, though it stung his ankles.

(“What the fuck was that!?”) He thought to himself.

(“It was a dream. It had to be a dream. It had to be a dream.”)

He leaned against a tree and caught his breath. It seemed he worked up quite the sweat as he felt drenched.

(“Maybe it's time for a change of clothing.

Hmm, no that'd raise too much suspicion. You'll leave as you are now.”)

He quickly looked around but no one was there.

(“Did you forget I said I would communicate with you if I found you useful? Chop, chop, move along now human.”)

The voice spoke again, but it had no source.

“What the hell is going on? Have I finally gone insane? Damn, I have heard prolonged periods by yourself are dangerous but why'd it have to happen when something this important is taking place!”

The voice sighed and Tibaut felt a blow to his back.

He wanted to scream out in pain but something covered his mouth (Or at least felt like it.)

(“Hmm, have you forgotten our interaction earlier?”)

“Interacti-”

He fell silent for a few moments.

(“Ah, you've remembered human. Good, now let's go.”)

“You bitch! You expect me to follow your whim? Where the hell were you when I got brought into this world? Huh? You expect to follow-”

He soon began kneeling and the voice sighed.

(“Human, I'm quite experienced in torturing your kind so I'd prefer if we could quit the prattle and move on already. I'm not sure with my current capabilities you would be able to survive my torture.”)

“Please, I'm still alive after that thing you did in my dream, do your worst.”

(“Hoh, do you think that was an accomplishment?”)

“Wha-”

Compared to the things I can do to you, hell would seem like a tropical vacation.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

The voice giggled. (“But if you want, I can let you experience it.”)

“...”

(“Now then, let's move along human.”)

Tibaut gritted his teeth.

(“Damnit, are you shitting me? The moment I can get some revenge this stupid-

Consider your words carefully. ”)

Tibaut had never needed to ponder this but hiding your thoughts from someone in your head was pretty much impossible.

(“You can say or do all the useless things you'd like after you go where I tell you, human.”)

Tibaut gritted his teeth and thought about it for a moment. (“Alright two days to reach, four days total.”)

And he came to a conclusion. He'd have to finish this before the assault. It wasn't an option or choice. He had to do this.

Now that he had decided on what to do, he broke into a sprint. (“Alright, tell me what to do, uh,

For the time being call me the red drake. And before you get any silly thoughts, no I am not one of those boring beasts referred to as dragons. For now, follow the path you have been travelling along.”)

He took off, following the red drake’s words to the letter. In his mind, being as cooperative as possible was the only way he'd have any chance to finish quickly enough to return.

But his departure did not go unnoticed.

“Heh, I can't believe that kid of yours is deserting, Elizabeth.”

“I was wondering if you were blind not to recognise my presence here but it seems you were just being ignorant. I never took you for a stalker. Furor.”

Both were hiding in the darkness of the forest observing.

“Don't get so uppity you bitch, I saw him acting strange after taking a piss is all.”

“Really? But you've been here for much longer.”

“! (What? But I saw her walk there… Tch, she was just letting her presence be known. What an annoying, overachieving bitch.)”

As Tibaut was making his escape, Elizabeth quickly decided on something.

“You're in charge until I come back. Make sure you don't do anything rash without me present if you encounter the cultists.”

“Wow, just gonna leave us for that little shit?”

“Quiet, I should be back within an hour.”

She took off like a bullet train and left Furor in her dust.

Furor spat on the ground and walked off.

“Huh? W-what do you m-mean she's following me? (Like I said, I can feel her coming) How?” Tibaut said, stuttering in disbelief.

“(That's irrelevant, for the time being… hmm, yes, that's right I suppose that would be the easiest thing to do in terms of reliability. Stop human, I'll deal with her.) Alright Mrs. Voice in my head, how are you going to do that?”

“Please stop referring to me with a human title or I'll leave her to you.”

“Wait a minute you wouldn't do that, would you? That'd fuck over both of us! (...if you fail, just know your life is forfeit.)”

A layer of sweat started forming over Tibaut’s forehead. He decided to take a detour in the forest, in a vain hope that it would slow her down.

He made his way up a tree and jumped from tree branch to branch.

He soon heard footsteps behind him.

(“Shit, already!?”)

He positioned a fireball behind him praying it would at least take away her footing but as he turned around he saw her.

He fired it anyway and she quickly slashed it.

While her attention was focused on it, he decided this method of traversal wasn’t worth the hassle and fell to the forest floor. Thankfully he rolled this time and saved his ankles. Unfortunately, Elizabeth was in front of him when he looked up.