Day 8:
My head was ringing coupled with the bright and warm sunlight; it felt like it was going to burst.
I moved my hands to cover my eyes and curse silently under my breath.
I stayed like that for awhile, before moving my body left slowly until I could no longer feel the direct heat from the sun.
I moved my hands away from my eyes and blinked as my eyes got use to once again gaining vision.
I saw Kaiser sitting a short distance away from me, carrying a small bundle in his hands.
When I say sit and small bundle, I mean he is lying down holding something close to my size.
I gazed at Kaiser and attempted to make out what was in the bundle, but I was still tired and my mind still affected by fatigue.
Kaiser saw me wake up and offered me a slight smile, before lifting his humongous frame off of the ground very gently.
He stood their looking at the bundle, attempting to see if he had harmed whatever was in it in the slightest way.
After he made sure of whatever he was looking for, he moved towards me, his feet barely making contact with the ground as he moved silently.
He neared me and once again gently handled the bundle, bringing it near me, his hands which could have crushed the bundle, barely touching it.
He placed the bundle on the ground to the direct right of me allowing me to see what he was caring for so gently.
Now that I had seen it, I had gained a new found respect for Kaiser.
I glanced at Kaiser and smiled before once again settling down my gaze upon the bundle.
Wrapped inside the bundle was a small human girl, barely 7 years old.
My expression of peace soon turned to one of worry.
I recalled the events of yesterday. There was only one place this girl could have come from.
I turned my head slowly and looked at Kaiser, dreading his answer.
He simply smiled at me.
Kaiser: “My god, worry not. It is forbidden to mate with one who has not yet reached the age” the look on his face as he said this, one of relief “The shamans make sure that if you do mate before the age, you never mate again” and with that he went silent and glanced at the girl.
I turned back to her and watched the girl sleep peacefully, her breathing appeared relaxed.
Now that I was looking at her carefully, what I had thought was once golden brown hair was simply dirt.
Her hair was probably deep blonde, or maybe cherry blonde. Maybe even Platinum Blonde.
Her face which had been covered in dirt and grime gave her a tan look.
I moved my hand towards her and gently rubbed her cheek, clearing away some of the dirt, revealing a beautiful complexion, one the people from my world would have killed for (not literally).
The girl appeared to have been comforted at my touch and moved into nestles with my arm.
I wonder what she thought the warmth was, her father. Or maybe her Mother? I looked at her with eyes full of pity.
Kaiser: “She is her daughter, my god” Kaiser who had begun to talk so gently that I could barely hear it, stopped.
I recalled who he was talking about, the pain once again clutching at my heart. I grimaced at the thought. If only I had more power. Kaiser appeared to have noticed my pained expression.
Kaiser: “My god, I know you know, but allow me to state it to be clear. If not for you, but for myself” I wanted to turn towards Kaiser and tell him to stop, but I couldn’t make myself do so. I simply stared at the girl in front of me.
Kaiser: “She is the daughter of the one who pulled at your heart my lord” he stated it; the pain in his voice was obvious.
Kaiser who had stopped talking waited for me to reply but when he heard nothing from me, he took my silence as acceptance to continue.
Kaiser: “I freed them my lord” he stated this as I had pulled my gaze away from the girl towards him. His gaze was filled with pain “But some of them. The one’s who had been there the longest had no desire to walk free” when he said this I understood what he meant.
I moved my hand towards him, to silence him and tell him that I understood, but he gently put my arm back down and his eyes pleaded for me to let him finish.
I stared at him and he at me, our gazes locked. I didn’t want to make Kaiser feel pain, but what he had done was the right thing.
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Kaiser: “So I set them free in the way they desired my god” his voice had begun to quiet down even more as he said this “I set them free” and his voice was now barely audible.
I prayed for these women, I truly did. They had deserved their peace, and Kaiser had granted it to them.
I moved my hands which now for some reason had power behind them and placed them on Kaiser’s cheek. I looked in his eyes and mouthed the words to him.
‘Thank you’ was all I said.
We went silent for a long time, both of us contemplating many things.
I was planning the death of many people, and Kaiser was coming to terms with himself.
Kaiser: “My god, her mother, it was her final wish. That I take her to you. She said they had no home to return to. No family to accept them” Kaiser who had broken the silence was looking at the child “I couldn’t refuse her, my god. I just couldn’t do it”.
MC: “Do not blame yourself Kaiser, You saved many people, this Jewel one of them. So be proud” I stated. I couldn’t blame Kaiser for saving her, so I didn’t linger on it. He appeared to be at pain with himself over his decision somehow. So I simply thanked him for it. “What is her name?” I asked, trying to change our conversation.
My emotions would tear themselves to shreds if I lingered on this topic for too long. My heart was in pain, causing my headache to surface once again. I subdued it, but I wonder for how long.
Kaiser looked at me before glancing at the girl.
He used his giant hands to carefully pick the girl up and remove the bundle from around her.
Still carrying the girl he gently placed the bundle on the ground next to me before gently depositing the now free girl’s body onto the bundle and her head onto my lap.
Kaiser: “Ayanna” he stated simply.
Ayanna huh, her name simply rolled off of my tongue. A nice and pretty name.
I gazed at Ayanna with a gentle look, one I didn’t think I had within me. A sort of fatherly gaze.
I moved my left hand and gently comforted her, soothing her and patting her head.
Her body stiffened and she looked like she was about to curl up, before she visibly relaxed.
Her body than began to shake and I watched as tears poured out of her eyes.
She grabbed onto me and held on with all the strength her little body could muster like I was about to be ripped away from her.
I simply smiled at the poor girl, before continuing to soothe her.
I don’t know how long she cried for, nor do I care.
She had become relaxed as she slept, my hands still gently patting her.
I gazed at Kaiser and he still had that relaxed look on his face. The one he when the girl had relaxed whilst clutching me.
MC: “Kaiser, you saved her life and now I shall take responsibility for it” as I said this, Kaiser had a curious look on his face as he gazed at me “I will adopt her as my own daughter” and before Kaiser could talk I looked him in the eye, my hatred overflowing “and Black Tooth will fall Kaiser. I will make sure of it. For myself and for her” I said looking into the sky. Once I had finished saying it, I wondered how Kaiser would react, but he simply smiled at me.
Kaiser: “You are too kind my god, but I am glad you have done so” and with that he got up and moved to turn around, but not before I could catch him grinning broadly.
So he was happy huh. That’s good.
Once again my headache returned, pain overflowing, I heard a screech deep within my mind.
Clawing at me.
It hurt immensely, but I couldn’t fight it off. I glanced at Kaiser who was looking at me, I wanted to fight the pain and continue talking with Kaiser.
I had many questions about yesterday’s events, but I succumbed and my mind gave way.
I let the pleasures of the dream realm surround me.
I let myself fall.
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