What happened next only occurs to me in fragmented memories like tiles ripped out of a mosaic. Derek broke the door down. He faced off with the Thermock. First, the fought only in words. I remember Derek pointing at her. I remember seeing a wind whip up around him, picking up his cloak, and Thermock backing away in defiance. There was a fight then, an exchange of blows that destroyed furniture and books and whole shelves of enchanted artifacts. I remember Derek swinging a net on the end of a stick. Then, Thermock was gone. That is all I know. I later learned that she shapeshifted to the size of an insect and flew out the ventilator.

I awoke to Derek slapping me awake.

“Cao Nyut,” he shouted in my face, “Cao Nyut, wake up. Thermock is gone, and there is something wrong with Blueboy!”

I groaned and rubbed my head. The room was blurry. I felt like vomiting.

“Thermock,” I said.

“Gone,” said Derek, “into the city. Who knows how far. Listen. Cao Nyut. What has she taken from you.”

“What has she taken from me,” I repeated, hearing, for the first time in all my years, venom in my voice. I sat up and glared at him. “The real question is, what have you taken from me.”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

At first, Derek was taken aback by my sudden mood, but then he seemed to shift away from his surprise. For a while, he considered me.

“Do you trust me,” he said. I thought about it.

“Why should I trust you?” I said. “All these years, I didn’t even realize, the whole premise of our friendship is based on the fact that you created me. You created me: but why? What’s in it for me?”

“Existence is in it for you,” said Derek.

“I live to serve,” I said. For the first time in my life, I knew what bitterness was, and I relished it. Somehow, there seemed to be some sort of power in being bitter. It felt like I was taking back something that was rightfully mine, somehow. “My eyes are open, Derek. I am no longer your servant.”

Derek nodded solemnly. “Then she has taken something from you that was dear to me. Something about you which I loved. Thermock has taken your naivete. You are no longer innocent. It will be hard for you to be happy after this. I am sorry.”

Unexpected anger boiled up in the pit of my stomach. “You are sorry?” I said. “My eyes are open.” But inside, even then, I already knew there was something missing inside of me, and I knew what Derek said was true: after that day, things would never be the same. I would never be completely happy again.

Just then, with my anger rising up alongside this bitter revelation, an alarm bell started going off in the middle of town. My former master and I glanced at each other.

“Thermock,” we said in unison.