I awoke in Coh.

I awoke in our home and this time the thumping noise felt a little more frantic.

I opened my eyes to find myself drenched in blood.

I sat up as the sanguinean storm above raged on only this time it was accompanied by harsh, cold winds that rustled all of Coh’s trees.

I crawled onto my feet and made my way to the heart, my hooves sinking deep into the inch deep layer of blood that seemingly crawled into the forest.

I eventually arrived at the heart where I bit my teeth in anticipation for the pain that once met me there, but nothing happened.

I looked at the crater within which a certain gigantic pregnant woman sat. She rested her head on the egg and it seemed as though the blood that fell into the crater was at the same level, just around her thighs.

I stood by the edge of the crater and gasped lightly as the faceless woman raised her head.

I looked into the chasm in her head and peered into an endless darkness, but before I could sink any further into that darkness, she sat up and spread her arms as the sound of distant thunder filled the air.

Two large, dark arms then appeared by my sides and they gently picked me up before carrying me to the woman.

I was far too afraid to look at her face and so I looked at her belly. It, unlike the rest of her hard, dark coal-like skin, was made of soft looking yet equally dark skin.

The woman reached out and held me just as the dark hands disappeared and she gently wiped the blood that had spilt onto my face with her large, yet soft thumb.

My heart raced as my gaze rose to meet her.

She lowered her head to shield me from the pouring rain, but just as any sense of comfort surfaced in my mind, she raised me high before lowering me into the void in her face.

I tried screaming out in panic, but my voice was drowned out by the thunder which filled the air constantly.

The woman the let go of me, prompting my sudden fall into the abyss.

I fell for what felt like a second before suddenly coming to a stop.

Surrounding my floating self was an infinite darkness but something else was in front of me.

I couldn’t see it but I knew, without a doubt, that he was there.

I tried floating towards it and this attempt brought me closer to the thing in the distance.

I then nearly bit my tongue off as a wave of pain washed over my body causing me to twist and convulse with so much force that I nearly broke my own joints.

All my thoughts seized as the thumping grew louder, seemingly getting closer and closer.

It, whatever it was, eventually arrived so close that I could almost feel it.

As though it was reaching out to me.

Unfortunately, I was I far too much pain to focus on anything.

But just as my vision darkened, the thing seeped into me, making me spit out a torrent of darkness, but as I choked something covered my mouth, preventing any more darkness from spewing out.

My mind was then torn to its limits as I heard within myself, the thumping of two hearts.

Although they weren’t quite in sync.

.

..

“AHHH!” I screamed as the pain followed me into consciousness.

I opened my eyes to find myself in Ower’s arm only half of his face looked like it had been burnt.

Wisps of green light were seeping into it from a frightened Ncil’s hands.

“Mmm?” I whimpered before looking down to find that I was extremely skinny and-

“Ah!” I screamed upon seeing my legs were back to their old humanoid selves-

My panic shifted to the dark hole where my bellow button was.

It was throbbing repeatedly and it felt as though something was pouring into me.

“Sir… are you alright?” Ower asked. His burnt face clear beneath the many bright orbs of light above.

“What happened?” I wheezed painfully.

“You nearly tore a hole into my house, asshole.” Ev said from behind me. She was still wearing her dress only she also wore a pointy, pale grey hat which had an unreasonably big rim. It’s point was also a fading black.

I smelled something delicious in the air but any sense of pleasure was immediately drowned out by my aching head.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“S-sorry.” I whimpered before looking down at what closely resembled my body before Katsíki and I merged.

“Such powerful dark magic. Ha, now I’m curious about exactly what you have planned for this kingdom. Oh, well. Here.” Ev said as she approached.

She offered us a plate with several rolls of bread and a bowl of stew.

Ower and I locked gazes.

I gave him a weak nod and he placed me down.

We then joined Ev in eating and I periodically looked at the roof which also had a burn mark.

I returned my gaze to Ower who silently ate a piece of bread.

“I’m sorry.” I said but the Kommáti shook his head. Gesturing that I focus on eating.

I did as instructed and after finishing eating, we thanked Ev before standing up to leave.

My legs were weak, unlike the rest of my body which had undergone rigorous training and so simply standing was rather strenuous.

I raised a brow upon seeing that Ev getting up as well.

“I’ll accompany you up to Perdis, a small town not too far north of here. You made a pretty large dent in my supplies, so I might as well restock.” Ev said, but I was curious about something.

“A-aren't you one of the leaders of the Hellish Horde?” I asked while slipping into my armour only to fall to my knees shortly after.

I removed it and placed it in the dark realm.

I’d need to get these legs up to speed before wearing anything that heavy.

“Ah, bandits are surprisingly autonomous. Pillage, plunder, murder and avoid getting killed by knights who actually care about this forsaken kingdom.” Ev explained.

I had slipped into some old silky pants which she had given me. They were a little bit too long, but it was better than walking around naked. She also gave me a cardigan which I promptly wore before leading Ower and Ncil in following her out of the cabin.

We made our way to the top of the bridge with Ower’s help and we were met with gasps and even screams as distant villagers caught sight of us.

We then followed Ev across the bridge as the sun rose.

Many of the people in the town on the other side of the bridge had run into their homes.

“Why… why aren’t there any bandits here?” I asked while walking with my hand in Ower’s.

“This region is under my protection. I’m not the biggest fan of wanton chaos, destruction and death, so I make sure everything around here is orderly.” Ev said as we walked.

“And you do it by yourself?”

“I was a Primair knight, Katsíki. I get shit done.” Ev said with a haughty chuckle.

“Kenos.” I muttered.

“Mmm?”

“I am currently Kenos. Katsíki is… sleeping.”

“Oh? And when will he wake up?” Ev asked.

“No idea. He has never been this quiet.” I said so softly that my voice was almost swallowed by the whistling morning winds.

.

..

My eyes narrowed as, after hours of walking, we entered a region of land covered in rather healthy fields of corn only… the road we walk was paved with poles from which burnt corpses hung.

Ev must have noticed my cautious expression because she walked up to my side.

“This may all be my territory, but this particular patch is taken care of by a priest named Mántis. He is a believer in Summus if there ever was one. These corpses belong to those who chose to stray from Summus’s light. It’s a little extreme but I think that a form of a law is necessary in order for a society to function and for Mántis, that law is the absolute order of Summus.” She explained.

I remained silent and eventually, a town came into view.

I winced again upon seeing that all of the buildings were white but before I could take in any more of the rather beautiful scenery, several silver knights appeared around us and leading them was a tall man who wore a pure white robe which was dirtied near its legs. He was a bald man with rather dark skin and bright golden eyes which glared at me.

My gaze fell to his hands which were seemingly made of gold.

“Why, Ms. Evílios, are you traveling with such vile creatures?” He asked. His voice loud and clear.

“Hey, old man! This here is Katsíki, leader of the Expanse and he is to be granted audience with the Golden Prince himself.” Ev said rather casually even as the knights pointed their weapons at us.

“Is that so? Mmm…” Mántis droned while continuing to glare at me.

“Perhaps this is fate. Go ahead. Take him-“

“Oh, I’m not taking him anywhere. I just wanted to get some more stuff.”

“But you were here yesterday!”

“I know! But my guests ended up eating all my snacks! Anyway, move aside. Unless you actually want to fight me.” Ev said with crossed arms.

Mántis clicked his tongue before suddenly disappearing along with several of his knights.

Two remained and they walked alongside us as we made our way into town.

Children could be seen playing all around all while their parents worked away, but one thing that bothered me was the fact that everyone was wearing white.

It's like they didn’t care whether their clothes would get stained.

The roads within the town were paved with pale flat rocks and the air was rather pleasant.

Ev led us to a stall where a man roasted cobs of corn.

Several children ran up to Ev and they all swarmed around her. Some of them even tried climbing her.

“Aunty Ev, you’re back already!”

“Are you gonna stay?”

“Why does she like corn so much? I’m sick of it.”

The children all said.

I noticed that some of them shot Ower, Ncil and I apprehensive looks but it seemed as though they felt safe around Ev who brought four cobs of corn which were placed in a small bag.

“Listen up brats, because I’m only going to say this once.” Ev said with a rather serious expression.

“Corn is a Manifestation of Summus’s will! Gold and bright and full of life, cherish it will all your taste buds- hearts! Cherish it with your hearts!” Ev yelled while drooling.

“Yeah, but it gets pretty boring after the thousandth time.” One child groaned, but Ev dramatically feigned being heartbroken.

“Say it isn’t so… are you saying that you have turned your hearts against Summus?” She asked.

“No, ma’am.” The children all groaned in unison.

“Good. Now, behave and maybe you’ll grow up to be corn farmers.” She said but the children all let out disgruntled groans as they walked away.

Part of me wanted to ask why Ev liked corn so much, but a larger part of me didn’t care.

She led us to the northern exit of the rather peaceful town all while knights glared at us from various corners and even roofs.

We gazed upon the land beyond Perdis.

The vast stretches of corn and a few other plants, were lit brilliantly by the afternoon sun.

“This is where I stop. If I show my face in Gordias casually, I’ll get my head taken, hehe.” Ev said.

I nodded before remembering something.

“Umm… Mántis said something about fate. Any idea of what he was talking about?”

“Mántis is a big fan the faction called the Black Moons. They are believed to be a group of time magicians who have seen Summus himself. Unfortunately no one has ever seen a Black Moon, so those claims are hard to confirm. Anyway, he must have meant that you, a being of darkness, clashing with the Prince is fate since its written that Summus will one day battle the dark chaos from beyond and emerge victorious.”

I nodded before offering Ev my hand.

“What?” She asked.

“Thank you-“

“BFFT HAHAHAHAHA! Don’t thank me. You’re going to Gordias of all fucking places. The den of the scarred hound. You’ll wish I’d killed you soon enough.” Ev laughed while wiping a non existent tear beneath her left eye.

“I enjoyed your company even though you made a mess of my home. Now go. Shake things up.” She said as she turned to leave.

“I thought you hated chaos.”

“I do, but I hate Lanceberg a little more.” Ev said as she walked away.

I frowned in confusion before turning north.

I then faced Ower and Ncil who were looking more weary than ever.

“Go back home… please.” I begged but Ower adjusted his armour and bag all while Ncil’s eyes flashed green.

“We’re not leaving your side, Kenos.” She said.

My face twisted but, choosing not to waste any time, I nodded before continuing northward.