“…” The figure on the throne doesn’t respond, as if sleeping. I take a step closer, keeping my hand on the cleaver in my coat. As I get closer, the thin red mist parts and I get a better look.

It’s a…girl?

I pad closer, quietly.

She remains there, for all the world seeming to be asleep. Though how one can sleep on a throne of bone surrounded by hordes of undead is beyond me. The memory of a woman in the mist returns to me.

“Could you be her?” I wonder. Everything was too red, my eyes were burning back then, but this certainly seems like it could be the figure in the mist. I died soon after meeting her, so I’m on full alert. Looking closely, her red dress also seems familiar. It really is her. But who is she? Why was it that while everything boiled away in the acid mist, she was fine?

“Mmm?” Suddenly the sleeping figure stirs, her dress fluttering ever so lightly. She lifts her head and I see that she’s gorgeous, a more developed beauty than Yin. However, unlike the girl I left behind, this strange woman’s eyes are not filled with the curiosity and fire of life. Instead, a great sadness draws at their corners and she looks like she’s about to cry. Even haggard and worn down by sorrow, she’s still easily one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen. When she sees me, those sad eyes blink wide in disbelief. Her small mouth opens and perfectly even little white teeth gleam at me as she gasps. “How did you…you’re not dead!”

Oh my god. She knows! She remembers me!

At first these kinds of silly thoughts float through my head. I almost believe that she knows my secret, that she might understand the power of reincarnation I have been cursed with.

“You remember?” I’m shocked. However, her head tilts curiously. She brings a slender finger to her lips and taps on them curiously.

“Remember what? Have we met before? It’s been so long since I’ve seen another person. Well…another living person that is.” She smiles sadly and stretches a pale hand out into the mist. I see tattoos running all along her skin, intricate and mesmerizing patterns that are not from any earthly design. Now I’m beginning to understand. I misunderstood. She doesn’t know my secret. But it seems I’ve stumbled onto one of hers.

“How long have you been alone?” I whisper to her. Maybe it’s because of the sadness in her eyes, or maybe I remember the way she comforted me in my last life as I laid there dying, but I feel like I’ve known her for a long time already. She’s younger than I thought. Just weighed down by pain. “What’s wrong with this place?”

“My barrier.” Her expression is so wistful it’s like she’ll never see the sun again. “I’m cursed. They call me the Poison Empress. All who come near me will perish beneath the blood mist. It consumes all and follows me wherever I go. To be honest I had given up on ever seeing another living soul. I planned on just staying here rather than furthering someone else’s goals. It’d be better then killing more people. My blood mist can dissolve the flesh of the undead. Not even skeletons can survive being this close to me. And yet…somehow, you’re not dead yet. Who are you?”

“Blood Mist Barrier…” I repeat the words. A memory tickles the back of my head, just out of reach. Old rumours from the beginning of the calamity, strange happenings. But I can’t quite recall what I’m thinking of. “They call me Black Butcher Hei. Well, they will at least. A barrier large enough to cover this whole area, and it can’t be turned off. That would imply it’s as strong as a Domain, but Domains can’t be unlocked until Lvl. 80. The better question would be, who are you?”

“You know about Domains?” Her eyes grow wide like a surprised cat. “That’s impossible! The Calamity has only just begun, I can see you’re not even a Hunter yet! How can you know about Domains already!” Suddenly, the atmosphere turns hostile. “If you’re one of them, I won’t forgive you! This world is off limits!”

“You’re related to the System aren’t you.” I sigh as I look more deeply at her. To the naked eye, she seems just like a gorgeous girl with crimson hair in a red dress. But there’s no way she’s so simple. “Let’s just say I heard about such things from a friend. Someone who is no longer with us. He’s dead.”

“A friend…?” She squints at me dangerously. It’s kind of unnerving to be stared at so intensely by a beautiful woman. However, after a moment, she shrugs. “Whatever you know, it seems you really are just a native. Honestly, I’m just happy to see someone else. Since you’re here, why don’t we talk a little? I’m so lonely!” The Poison Empress stretches in her throne lithely and sits upright. While she still looks suspicious, she doesn’t seem to think of me as a threat.

“A Domain this strong that’s been forcibly activated by the System.” I’m still musing on her unique circumstances. “I suppose, not even a Lvl. 99 could solve that problem. Hence if this barrier of yours really kills anyone else who enters, you won’t have any company until someone breaks the limit.” She’s so friendly and so powerful I don’t mind talking about secrets I shouldn’t know. Anyone that possesses a Domain at this point in the Calamity might as well be a Goddess.

Now I understand why the undead outside wouldn’t enter. They simply can’t. The connection binding their bones would fall apart.

“Yep. I’m stuck here, all alone. At this rate, it’ll be impossible. The people in this place are too weak. All I can do is watch them struggle with my mirror.” She sighs deeply, as if unburdening her troubles on me. Except her troubles sound like something out of a fairy tale. A small hand-mirror glints on the side of her throne and I see figures of people running in it. I suppose that must be how she sees the outside world. Shifting on her throne of bone, the girl glances at me out of the corner of her eye. I can tell she’s pretending to not be interested.

She definitely wants me to talk to her!

“So um, Poison Empress isn’t really your name, right?” I cast my mind about for any sort of small talk. “I gave you my name, so you should really give me yours as well, right?”

“Pfft…” A girlish giggle escapes her lips at that one. “I suppose you’re right. My real name is Suzy. Okay, my turn to ask a question. Why are you traveling by yourself? Aren’t you lonely? As someone who can’t have friends, I feel like you’re wasting your privilege!” She glares at me sternly, like a schoolteacher. Looking up at her on her throne, I can only bow my head.

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“To be honest, I had friends once. But I can’t see them anymore. They don’t know, but I…I did something horrible. I can’t face them after that.” I sigh, walking closer to her throne. Suzy watches me eagerly, sitting up straight against a human spine which makes up the back of her “chair”.

“Hah! That’s it?” She grins at me, and for a second the world-ending beauty is just another girl, clapping eagerly in joy. “If it was me, I’d definitely apologize! I mean how bad could it be. Imagine you were in my situation; how lonely it would be. Yet you have the ability to make up for it and you’re squandering it moping around! Just be a man and apologize!”

“…” At this, I have to give her an evil look. She puts both her hands to her mouth and covers it as if she’s said too much. I can’t stay mad at someone like her. Though her words bite, she reminds me a little of Yin in that she seems innocent. Terribly sad, but innocent out here in her empty sepulchre. “It’s not so easy. There’s more to the story.”

“It’s that thing…isn’t it?” She says grimly. For the first time, she seems serious. Pointing at me, she stands up and walks off her throne, staring deep into my eyes as if she can see what’s inside. “You know it’s there, don’t you? I can see it gnawing at your fate. It’s just waiting for a chance to take over.”

“You know what it is?” This time it’s my turn to be shocked. Suzy shakes her head sadly. I sit down in the leaves by her throne and she sits beside me. Now that she’s down here, she doesn’t seem as imposing.

“No.” She says after a while. “I don’t know what it is. But I know when you die, it will consume you.” Her gaze has changed. Now when she looks at me there’s something else in it. Pity.

“What should I do?” I ask. Suzy sighs, her eyes going somewhere far away as she thinks. Absentmindedly, her head drifts closer and closer to my shoulder. The majestic and inhumanely sleek crimson hair floats in the mist as she opens her eyes and looks at me as if seeking permission. When I nod, slowly, she leans her head against my shoulder.

“If I wander the world and go near people, they’ll die.” She breathes heavily, and I feel the weight on my shoulder increase. “But I take back what I said. You’re not wasting your privilege. It is very honorable to suffer so that others may be protected. You’ve been honest with me, so I suppose it’s time to be honest with you. You can’t leave this place. Keep in mind…I’m not just saying this to keep you here with me. There are undead all around the sepulchre. And as a Lvl. 0, you won’t stand a chance.”

“I know.” I sigh as well. Suzy looks surprised to see how calm I am. “I suspected as much when I entered. It’s okay. I don’t mind. I’ve already given up on this world. Perhaps it would be nice to just stay here with you.”

“You’re a strange person, Hei.” Suzy glances up at me from my shoulder. Her eyes are a vibrant shade of emerald. “Though I am sad. You can’t keep me company forever. Eventually you’ll starve since you’re not a high-level Hunter. Then I’ll be alone again. And you won’t have gotten a chance to make up with your friends. If I had friends, I would never let go. Or better yet, a lover. Someone to hold hands with and share stories. I’m sorry, it’s my fault you won’t get to experience that. If I wasn’t here, there wouldn’t be so many undead around my domain.”

“No, it’s not your fault.” I gaze into Suzy’s bright eyes. The sadness in her as she imagines what it will be like when I’m dead and gone is heartbreaking. “You’re right, I have been selfish. So many things have gone wrong, but if I have the chance to make them right, I should. That’s my privilege. A second chance.” My words confuse her. Her cute mouth gapes slightly as she sees my conviction.

“Hei, I’m sorry, but I meant it when I said you shouldn’t leave. You’ll just die. And then that thing inside you will have a chance to take over. It’d be irresponsible to let it out. At least if you stay here with me, when you’re ready to go, I can help you cross over and destroy your body.” She says it kindly, as if afraid I will think she’s threatening me. If it was anyone else, the thought of spending the rest of my days here until I starved would probably make me go mad. But to me, it sounds almost peaceful.

Still, I know what I need to do now. My old companions are strong enough to find their own way, but Yin? How could I leave her in the hands of those bastards pretending to be her friends? I was really going to run away for a minute. All because I couldn’t handle dying and messing up a few times. How sad is that?

“Thank you.” I whisper to her. “I’m glad I found you here.”

“What? I’m glad you came too, but I wish you didn’t have to die for it!” Suzy’s head nearly pops off her shoulder as she stares at me. “Um, are you okay? You’re awfully calm.”

“Hehehe…HAHAHA!” I start laughing at her bewildered expression. It’s too funny really. This random stranger, stuck all alone in the woods has somehow taught me more about myself than I could ever find out on my own. All in a few minutes of talking. I really do feel like I’ve known her for a long time.

“Hey, cut it out! What’s so funny?” She pushes at my shoulder gently, probably afraid to hurt me. I don’t know what level she is but it’s definitely high. Even still, her touch feels just like an actual girl’s would. “Just cuz I’m lonely doesn’t mean I won’t get angry if you tease me you know!”

“Haha…I’m sorry.” Finally, I stop. Putting my hands up in surrender, I look around at Suzy’s sepulchre. There’s nothing here, just an empty throne of bone and red mist all around. Not even some toys. I can only imagine what it must be like for her, stuck here, afraid to go near anyone else because she’ll kill them. I thought I had it bad, but compared to her, I’m living the dream. “Listen, want to be friends?”

“Friends?” She asks me as if she doesn’t know the meaning of the word. Her tongue comes out as she licks her lips. “I…we just met!”

“Yea, so?” I grin, patting her on top of the head. “Who cares? I feel like I’ve known you my whole life!” At first, her face goes red, so red it almost rivals her hair. The mist grows a bit thicker before she realizes what she’s doing and hastily closes her eyes. After a second, the air becomes clear again.

“I mean…I suppose…yea. YEA!” Wild joy lights up her eyes at the thought. It seems almost out of place as her face changes 180 degrees. Suddenly, the sadness and gloom goes away and there’s a brilliant, vibrant, girl in front of me. “Friends! FRIENDS! We’re friends, Hei!”

“Awesome.” I tussle her hair up. It’s sleeker and smoother than any normal humans. Almost like she’s a different species. Suddenly, the excitement drains away.

“But…you can’t stay here forever. You’re too low level. You’ll die in a few days.” All the happiness leaves her as she becomes despondent again. Even when I try to catch her eye, she just stares down at the ground. “I hate being me.”

“Who? You hate being my friend?” I get right up in her face. When she finally can’t help but look up, I flick her good in the forehead.

“OW!” She screeches, hopping backwards. “What was that for?”

“To remind you. That we have a responsibility. Even when things are bad, we need to keep it together. Or else others will be hurt. You taught me that. Keep your barrier under control for a second. I’m trying to savor this moment.” At this, I fix the image in my mind. This lonely sepulchre, the dark red mist, and the sad girl in front of me. She forgives me quickly, perhaps scared that I will be mad at her.

“Savor the moment?” She asks. I sigh, holding out my arms.

“Can I be honest with you one more time?” My voice trembles slightly. I’ve never told anyone my secret before. It’s so new to me, and I’m not sure what will happen if I do. Not to mention no one would believe me. But for this lonely girl stuck here by the gods, I’ll make an exception. “When I die…I come back-”

“Hei?” Suddenly Suzy’s face becomes worried. I’m not sure why, but it feels like my words aren’t coming out of my mouth anymore. The red mist looks different…almost gray…

Then the voice comes. The one I dread. The other me.

Hahaha! You let me out! You actually let me out!

“HEI, WHAT’S WRONG!”