I sat frozen in shock, eyes wide open and mouth hanging slightly ajar. Fear swelled up from within as I wondered,

What in the world does he mean by that?

Master?

I, someone's master?

Feeling a wave of discomfort wash over me, I couldn't help but cringe at the thought of being referred to in such a way, as if I was someone important or deserving of such a title. In my mind, I'm not worthy of being called "master," and the thought of it made me feel awkward and self-conscious.

I shook my head, feeling embarrassed.

"I don't think I'm suited to be called that. I'm nothing but a useless Malem, not someone deserving of such—"

"Enough with this talk of being a Malem!"

Erasmus's expression grew stern, and his voice carried a hint of anger and annoyance.

"You cannot deny your own abilities, child. You must learn to embrace them and use them for the greater good. You have a responsibility to use your powers wisely and help—"

"—Help who?" I said, cutting him off.

"You think it's that easy?"

At this point my whole body was shaking, my muscles all tensed up as if stopping me from doing someone out of my will. I felt my eyes grew wide, hyper-focused on the young man who claimed I named Erasmus in front of me.

"I can't even help myself and now I'm suppose to help others?! With a magic I only recently just discovered I had?!"

He was take aback by the sudden rise of my voice, looking away in frustration as he stared into the nothingness on the corner of the room; it took him a while before answering in a rather stern voice.

"No." he answered.

"But it's something you must accept child. The sooner you get to terms with it the better your condition will—"

"How can you keep saying that?!" I could feel the anger boiling up inside me.

My voice raised in frustration as I yelled, "How can you just dismiss everything I've been through?!"

And just like that, tears started clouding my vision and I started crying in frustration. As I stood there, my frustration boiling over, I could see that Erasmus's expression had changed. He looked remorseful, and I could see the guilt in his eyes. I could feel that he felt bad for not considering my feelings before saying all those things.

Erasmus looked at me with concern in his eyes. "I understand that it's difficult, child, but you must accept the truth. You may not think it's a big deal now, but you possess powerful magic, powers that must be wielded responsibly."

I shook my head, my hands clenching into fists. "But that's just it! It's not that easy to accept the fact that I can wield magic, especially when I've been told otherwise my whole life!"

My breathing was fast and heavy, and my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. I couldn't even bear to look at him, but I could feel his presence there, just waiting for me to explode. And that's exactly what I did.

I gathered all my courage as I turned to face him and started yelling, my voice loud and shaky with emotion,

"I was beaten, tortured, punished just for my hair color and eyes and the fact that I was a malem! And now you're saying that I'm not actually a malem?! The thought of it just angers me!"

It wasn't until I stopped yelling that I realized how much my throat hurt, how much energy I had spent on that outburst.

Shaking my head stubbornly, "I just want to be a regular girl, that's all." I whimpered.

But even then, I didn't feel any better. The hurt and anger were still there, simmering just beneath the surface. I turned away from Erasmus once again, not even wanting to see the pity from his eyes which I always get from Addie.

I sat in silence, the atmosphere grew thicker by the second as my heart beat with a mix of anger and frustration. By that point, I had hoped that Erasmus would take the hint and leave her alone, but he didn't seem to get the message; Or rather, he ignored the message on purpose.

Instead, to my surprise and annoyance, he awkwardly sat down next to me and began to speak.

"Child, do you know what a tenebraene is?" he asked, his voice low and hesitant.

I didn't respond and kept my gaze fixed firmly away from him. But Erasmus continued anyway.

"It's a creature that sprouted from the lands corrupted by the demon lord Vedasto," he said, his voice taking on a dramatic tone. "It's sole purpose is to wreak havoc on Xenopha, to destroy everything in its path.

Honestly, hearing such a thing sent chills down my spine just imagining it; but I shook my head, rolling my eyes as I did, still not looking at him.

"That's why they were hunted down, killed, and never interacted with," he continued.

Then came a short pause, I could tell he hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"But do you know why they were hunted down and killed?" Erasmus asked, and at the corner of my eye I see him looking looking at me expectantly.

I remained silent, though of course, I couldn't help but listen.

"The reason Tenebraenes were hunted was because their scales are like sturdy wood, almost metallic, and very useful in making armor and weapons. Their skins were turned into strong leather and were known as the finest leather that ever existed."

Hearing that, I felt a pang of guilt, realizing that these creatures had been killed for something as trivial as their scales and skin. And as Erasmus revealed more information about the Tenebraenes, my eyes couldn't help but widen in shock and horror as I slowly but surely learned the truth.

"Tenebraenes, though sprouted from the corrupted lands of the Demon Lord, were actually pretty harmless creatures. They were huge, but other than that, there was not really much they could do since they didn't even have strong enough mana."

As I listened to Erasmus's stories about the Tenebraenes, I felt a newfound understanding and empathy towards them. The way they were treated by others was unfair and cruel, and it made me feel sad to think about it. They were seen as dark and scary, when in reality they were just like us, with their own thoughts and feelings.

Then a thought popped into my head,

Aren't they....

In a way....

Kind of like me?

"Sounds familiar, doesn't it?" he teased.

That was the moment I caved in, turning around with this look of confusion on my face.

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"You," I said, wanting to sound tough. "Why are you telling me this?"

Erasmus sat beside me with a look of uncertainty etched onto his face. His brows were furrowed, and his lips moved slightly as if he were about to speak, but no words came out. I watched him intently, waiting for him to say something, anything.

His eyes darted around the room, taking in the surroundings as if he were searching for inspiration. He finally took a deep breath, and his chest rose and fell as he exhaled slowly.

"I'll ask again," I uttered, in an unexpectedly stern voice this time.

"Why are you telling me this....Erasmus?"

His mouth opened, but then closed shut, and for a moment, he remained silent, lost in thought. That was the first time I ever actually called him by his...name....or so he said his name was, the name I apparently gave him. I wondered, what could be holding him back from speaking his mind.

As I waited, Erasmus's eyes met mine, and I could see the hesitation in his gaze. He seemed to be weighing his words carefully, choosing them with caution, as if aware of the importance of what he was about to say.

"Th-The reason why I'm tell-telling you this..." he stuttered, voice shaking anxiously.

It was as if he knew that his words would change everything, and he was unsure of whether he was ready for that kind of responsibility. And so, he hesitated, his mouth opening and closing shut before he could even let out another sound.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, he finally blurted out the words he clearly dreaded to say.

"I'm a Tenebraene." he confessed.

My eyes widened in surprise, and I felt a knot form in my stomach. "A Tenebraene?" I repeated, not even quite sure what that meant.

I sat there in stunned silence, staring at Erasmus. My mind was racing, trying to process what he had just said. Erasmus, this young man right beside me who had just moments ago been telling me a story about the tenebraenes, was one of them?

It was indeed a lot to take in.

Erasmus nodded solemnly. "Yes, I'm one of them. And I told you the story about the tenebraenes because I wanted you to know the truth about yourself."

I looked at Erasmus with suspicion. He had just revealed to me that he was a tenebraene, but his explanation is clearly incomplete. His story about the tenebraenes seemed to be missing something, and I couldn't put my finger on what it was.

I leaned over to him, which took him by surprise, but he seemed to understand the reason why I studied him closely. I searched for any hints such as whether or not he is trying to trick me or if he's working for the Brotillon family.

I could see the hesitation in his eyes, and it only made me more suspicious.

Why was he struggling to tell me the truth?

What is he hiding?

As the silence between us lingered, I felt a knot form in my stomach. I needed to know the real reason why he was telling me all of this. I couldn't trust him until I understood his true intentions.

Determined to get to the bottom of things, I spoke up. "That story you told me... it doesn't feel like the whole truth. Why are you really telling me all of this?"

"That is the truth!" Erasmus stood up, looking at me with sad and weary eyes.

"I am telling you the truth, child"

But I wasn't convinced. "There has to be more to it than that. Why would you care so much about my situation?— And don't you dare give me that 'because you're my protector' stuff on me!" I shouted, demanding an answer.

"But I AM your protector so why don't you just—!!" he sighed heavily and rubbed his temples.

"I understand your skepticism, child. But believe me when I say that I only have your best interests at heart." he continued.

"That's not good enough," I replied firmly. "I need to know the real reason why you're here and why you're telling me all of this. I won't just take your word for it."

As Erasmus looked at me, I could see a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. It was as if he was proud of me for seeing through his story and questioning him. At the same time, there was a hint of frustration in his expression, as if he was annoyed that I wasn't simply accepting his words at face value.

Thus, with a faint smile, he surrendered with the words "You're a smart girl, you know that?"

I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at this recognition, earning him a smile in return.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "The truth is, I find you and I to be alike, too alike even, to the point where it frustrates me how naive you are of your own situation; because that's only thing that separates you from me."

I listened intently, my eyes locked onto his. "What do you mean?" I asked, my heart racing with anticipation.

Erasmus took a deep breath, before uttering the phrase;

"The curse of naivety is not the blissful ignorance, but the bitter suffering it breeds in the wake of shattered illusions."

Erasmus took a step forward, his eyes fixed on mine, and I found myself unable to look away. Slowly, he reached out and placed a gentle hand on my cheek, his touch tender and reassuring. And with a gentle touch, he tilted my head up, so that I was looking directly into his eyes. His gaze was intense, filled with a mix of emotion that I couldn't quite decipher.

"I've seen how the Brotillon family treats you; and after they witnessing for themselves what you're capable of doing, they'll use you as a pawn. I know how it feels to be used like that, without any control over your own life." he uttered firmly.

I felt myself getting lost in those dark, mysterious eyes, as if they held some kind of ancient wisdom that only he knew.

"Child," he called out to me in a soft whisper,

"Perception is not a matter of familiarity, but of acceptance. Denying the truth merely because it's unfamiliar is a futile attempt to shape reality into our own limited vision."

In that moment, I realized that Erasmus is indeed no stranger to these things. He was someone who had suffered just like me, someone who had experienced the same pain and loneliness that I had felt. And as he stood there, looking down at me with a mixture of sadness and understanding, I knew that he was the only one who could help me find my way out of the darkness.

"I want to help you. I want to show you that there's more to life than just being a pawn in someone else's game. But to do that, you have to accept the truth. You have to accept what you are in order make peace with who you are." he continued to say.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I faced Erasmus. There is still one question that's been gnawing at me ever since he revealed the truth about himself and the Tenebraenes. I looked up at him with pleading eyes, silently begging for answers.

"But..." I started, my voice shaking almost in tears. "What...even am I?"

Erasmus' expression softened as he looked back at me, and I could sense the weight of his words before he even spoke. "Don't you already know the answer to that question?" he said, his voice gentle but firm.

I could feel the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders as I sat there in silence. The room suddenly seemed smaller, suffocating even, as the reality of my situation sunk in. I had been living a lie, an illusion that had been shattered before my very eyes.

"Sometimes, we must let go of who we think we are in order to become who we are truly meant to be," he said, his words echoing in my mind like a bell tolling in the distance.

I tried to avoid Erasmus' gaze, not wanting to see the disappointment or pity that I was sure to find there. My mind was reeling, trying to make sense of it all, but the pieces just wouldn't fit together. And yet, despite the confusion and the fear, there was a sense of clarity that emerged from the chaos. I knew that I couldn't deny the truth any longer.

This is something I have to face head-on, no matter how painful it may be.

I finally mustered the courage to gaze back at Erasmus, the weight of his words still heavy on my heart. As I stood up from the edge of the bed, he instinctively let go of me, and I took a deep breath. Slowly but surely, I let every piece of information that had been thrown at me in a single night sink deep into my consciousness.

I closed my eyes and let out a long exhale, feeling the emotions swirling inside me like a storm. Fear, confusion, disbelief, and even a glimmer of hope - they all tugged at my heartstrings, and I struggled to make sense of it all.

And then, a thought occurred to me,

In order to let go of all my troubles, I must first accept them.

I couldn't just push them away or ignore them.

I had to face them head-on and take ownership of my life, no matter how unfamiliar or uncomfortable it might feel.

With this realization, I planted the new knowledge deep within myself like a seed, and vowed to nurture it with an open mind and heart. I pictured it growing inside me, like a tree with roots that run deep, strong and resilient, anchoring me to the ground even in the face of the strongest winds.

And with this image in my mind, I felt a sense of peace wash over me as it tingled my body like sparks all over. The weight on my heart lifted, and I knew that I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with the knowledge of who I truly am. It was time to face the truth and let it transform me.

As I opened my eyes, I saw Erasmus kneeling before me, his eyes filled with such pride and determination that I'd never seen before.

"You are my master," he began, his hand reaching out to take mine in a reassuring grip,

"Not a malem, but a mage who possesses a significant amount of dark magic. As your protector, it is my duty to get you out of this miserable place that has caused you too much pain, but in order to do so..."

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I must first have your permission."

"So I would like to know," he whispered under his breath, soft enough that I can still hear as he locked his eyes with mine.

"What do YOU want to do?" he asked.

His words hung heavy in the air, the weight of his request pressing down on my chest. I looked at him, feeling the enormity of the decision before me. Erasmus was offering me a way out, a chance to escape the pain and suffering I had endured for so long.

Without further thinking I answered,

"To get out of here as soon as possible Ras,"

With a determined look I uttered, "Where do we start?"

Erasmus looked at me with a relieved smile that was soon replaced by a serious expression.

"Unfortunately,"

He said, his voice low and urgent. "With that maid of yours."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, but as the realization of who Erasmus was talking about sinked in; my heart could not help but tremble. Glancing away at the young man and out into to window where the grey luminescent moon stood before us;

It's colour clearly reminding me of her,

"Addie..." I whispered.

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To Be Continued.