X.

Madoka woke to an unfamiliar feeling brushing between her toes. Carpet? The softness bristled against her step as she moved her foot. Was she dead?

Panic jerked her out of her head. She felt her ears and did not feel any blood, but as she withdrew her hand she realized she was wearing a familiar frilled sleeve. A maid's dress? She has not worn a maid uniform since she left the palace and yet, she was wearing one right here and now. She felt like she was dreaming, or perhaps she was waking from a dream. The moonlight poured through some grand windows, but something seemed familiar about the hallway she was in.

She tentatively raised her hand again and pinched her cheek. Madoka regretted it instantly as the pain stung her. In her confusion, she bumped into a tray that was near her. One thing at a time, she scolded herself for making a ruckus when it was so obviously late at night. She felt a swirling dizziness pound inside of her, but it was subsiding quickly.

There was another thing on her mind: The soft image of Princess Elise's lips within the sunny and empty ballroom. Madoka clasped a hand over her own lips. She felt heat flush against her cheeks as she looked back at such a fond moment. She realized in the memory, Elise's lips were telling her something.

"Come to my chambers tonight," she told Madoka. "I will tell you everything."

On my way, Your Highness, Madoka snapped out of it. If this was a dream, so be it. She remembered she was escaping from a battle, but the finer details were also fading quickly. She took the tray of tea and quickly made her way down the hallway. She stopped before the ornate doors of Elise's room, and knocked.

"Come in," that sweet voice called quickly from behind it.

"Excuse me, Your Highness," Madoka entered with her head bowed. It felt like she had not greeted her princess properly in such a long time and joy filled her. The doors opened before her and she found herself in a familiar scene. The princess was standing in front of the open window, looking up at the twin moons. Her face was heavenly in their light.

"Ah, there you are," Princess Elise looked at her. "Woman of my dreams."

It was difficult not to crack under the pressure from her gaze, especially with tears staining her cheeks. Madoka folded her arms.

"You'll catch a cold if you keep that window open," she scolded the princess. Elise looked at the window and silently closed it, much to her surprise.

Something was wrong.

Golden light sparkled in the air, like small specks or star dust, and eventually linked together like chains. Madoka kept her eyes at this strange Princess, as the magic links fell upon Elise's head like a caparison. She always hated horses, the thought almost distracted her.

"What's wrong?" Princess Elise spoke in Royal, with a suspicious and commanding tone woven within her order. "I have a lot to say to you, now sit, sit!"

"As you command, Your Highness," Madoka moved the cart over, but stopped. "But first, I have a question."

The Princess looked at her with a hint of impatience. Madoka knew in her heart that she was under some kind of spell, or in a dream. A dream that Elise did not possess or tell her about. She also realized that Elise was long gone and her name was Audrey now.

"Just what are you? How dare you wear my princess's face!" Madoka chided the being before her. "Answer me!"

Princess Elise looked hurt, but suddenly began to transform before the maid. The Knotting magic that netted itself around the imposter shattered as her face burst into a beast's beak. Madoka screamed and turned to flee through the doors. Behind her, she cringed as she heard more flesh rip apart as it transformed, but to her abject horror the door she was fleeing towards turned into a view of the heavens, full of stars and faraway worlds.

"O, child, do not be afraid," the being behind her attempted to soothe her with an alien and warbled voice. "You are not ready to face Me yet, I am sorry."

She dared not turn around to face whatever kind god was speaking to her.

"I am no kind god," the creature told her. Madoka's throat was too swollen from screaming to groan at her situation. Of course, this thing can read her thoughts. "I am merely a servant of Him."

"I do not appreciate you wearing my precious friend's face," she told it. "She was all I had left in life!"

"You are alive and safe for now, Child of the Stars," The voice said behind her, almost in an attempt to console her. "They have ordained it."

The voice wrapped itself around her ears, with a soothing breath that filled her with comfort, but Madoka refused to give into it. The vastness of the stars threatened to disorient her. She could not afford to be distracted by its beguiling call. What can I do? She peered at the edge of the floor, which was once a doorway to her beloved Palace hallway.

"Who's 'they?'" Madoka asked the creature. She once again surrendered to the absurdity of her situation. If it wanted to kill her, it would have done so already. Strange, shifting noises writhed as it spoke, like a deep warbled chirp curling in a rooster's throat. It was moving to answer her.

"They, Madoka, are your parents," the creature's voice changed to a more alien tone, but she did not dare to look back at it. "The Stars who watch over you. The Ones in Tomorrow with your God-patron."

"My... parents?" Madoka tried to remember her parents. She recalled the dead villagers in the first town they came across escaping Fiara. Were those her parents? "They're... alive?"

"Hear me, O Child of the Stars, for Tomorrow is watching you with favor," the creature declared. Knotting magic danced along in the empty subspace into dusted clouds of eternal nebulae lights as it spoke. Madoka had never felt so small and lonely. "Divinity is your birthright. May your Stars shine brightly as they foretold."

"What does any of this mean?" Madoka begged it. She turned around finally, but instead of a fake Audrey or a strange being only a massive ball of light floated behind her. There was a metallic core residing within its luminous center, gleaming with ancient carvings and patterns. "Please, tell me!"

"Your parents are Stars, Child," the voice was soft, and the light's heat warmed her as if to comfort her like a hug.

"Watching over you. When you hear Her call for your eyes, look to the night sky and know that you are loved."

"I already have love!" Madoka pictured Audrey in her mind. "Now bring me back!"

The light twisted in color and shape, forming a new being before her. She realized she was floating, but the weightlessness did not seem to trouble her. The new being looked like a woman, but flickered again in and out of reality into different forms, all the while smiling softly. The void of stars seemed to be converging into it, until it was just the two of them.

"There, there, Madoka," the being soothed her. "You can never have enough love."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Will I ever see my parents?" Madoka whispered.

"Soon," the being sighed. It took the form of a young boy, kicking his legs in his new body. Why did it bother misleading her in the first place? Was it testing her? He looked at her with a strangely saddened expression, as if he waited for a long time to see her. The boy looked familiar, but she assumed it was another one of this being's tricks. "I don't have enough time here with you, but I'm glad I finally met the real you."

"Who are you?" Madoka asked, but knew the being would not answer her.

"Someone who admires you a lot, Kate," the boy told her. "Now wake up!"

Who is Kate? Madoka's mind craved for answers, or a way out from thinking. Anything to get out of this hellish place. She felt like the void was constricting her throat.

"Madoka?" A voice called out to her. "Her vitals are healed, but she's not responding. At least her ears are fixed. What are you saying, you little freak? God, if only I knew more about medical aid..."

Green strands tangled over her darkened vision, but receded as quickly as she blinked. She was underground, judging by the thin tendrils of grass poking through the dirt above her.

"Mad?"

Something made a strange growling noise next to her, yet Madoka could understand it.

"Great Lord?"

"N-No nicknames," she wheezed. She was alive! She felt warm hands embrace her and more enthusiastic howling next to her. "Please, anything but that."

"You're alive!" Audrey sobbed into her shoulder. She pulled away. "My apologies, are you feeling hurt anywhere? Can you hear me?"

"I can hear you," Madoka let her eyes fall upon the woman she loved. "You are dirty."

"C-Come on man," Audrey groaned. "You're really heavy! If it weren't for this guy we would be dead!"

A little, ugly hairless creature peered from behind Audrey. It was the goblin!

"Grob?" She spoke to it. The little creature bowed before her. "You're alive!"

"Great Lord!" It spoke in awe. "You and you, me, alive! In Grob's for-now home!"

"We were running from that Fiara soldier," Madoka remembered. "What happened?"

Audrey looked nervous, but simply shrugged.

"Well," she sighed. "You busted your ears out, remember? You chopped most of the evil roots away for us, but ran out of magic strand thingies."

Madoka eyed her with suspicion. She was leaving details out. Or she did not know what transpired during the chaos.

"You're hiding something from me," Madoka pouted.

"Okay, okay! I'm not hiding things! I just don't even know where to begin..." Audrey had confusion in her eyes. It was as if she herself could not describe what happened.

"My own magic did not penetrate those black roots blocking the way and I did not want to explode the place with more firepower, but something intervened."

"Great Lord and Lord was saved by God!" Grob declared. "Praise the God of Tomorrows!"

"A Kind god?" Madoka breathed.

She focused her attention into Grob's thoughts. It was wrong of her to use her magic like this, but the goblin did not seem to mind or sense her magic. Madoka's mind became filled with images of disgusting black roots lashing towards her like long and slimy tongues. Then suddenly, they turned into shattering ashy shreds and burst apart. Floating, lambent purple strands ensorcelled the air and took shape into large needles as they pierced the soldier. The soldier was split into two by the needle's consecration, its "face" gnarled like wooden bark and twisted to the point where its features were gone, before bursting apart into white powder. The awestruck thoughts and worship resounded over the calamity from the eyes of the goblin, as it witnessed the god's power.

She began to laugh hysterically. Of course, that kind god saved her and its worshiper was a lowly goblin. She hated how laughably weak she felt, being the object of an all powerful being's attention without asking for its help. Or perhaps it was the first to answer any or all the prayers she had sent to the kind gods. Madoka broke down into a sobbing giggle at the realization that she finally reached one with her own lowly worship. Of course, she choked. It had to be the one who invaded her dreams. Her laughter caused her to cough, and she felt lightheaded.

"Madoka?" Audrey reached in her bag for another talisman, but Madoka stopped her. "We're underground still where Henry-- er, Glob's. Grob? We're in his hideout, so maybe oxygen is low, I guess. If we're breathing that stuff, that is."

"Praise to that God," Madoka breathed and sat back. Grob nodded enthusiastically. Audrey still looked confused, but the maid heard herself speaking Commoner. She turned to Audrey. "So what now?"

"Well," Audrey stared up at the grass roots and dirt in the cramped space they were in. "No doubt the Truth Guild girl is going to come back. We're going to have to bust out of this place. B-But only if this guy doesn't mind. He and I don't understand each other, but he's been friendly so..."

"Is there a way out of here?" Madoka asked Grob. Grob scratched its head and pounded the ground. It eventually shook its head. Despite this, Madoka could hear the thoughts of animals nearby and the wind. "Can we break out of here?"

Grob contemplated for a moment but nodded and hollered.

"Great Lord and you, go, go!" Grob pounded its chest with its tiny fists. "Grob will be leaving soon. Must find a way back in there."

"Back where?" Madoka asked it. Grob pointed to a small hole in the wall. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she realized that the wall used to be a small entrance. Shattered white powder covered the grounds, similar to the calcified goblins in the tunnel. Grob pounded its chest once more, and made howling noises at Madoka.

She realized the goblin was showing her utmost reverence.

"What is it doing?" Audrey whispered to it.

"Grob must get back to labyrinth," it bowed. "Behind evil disturbance wall, lies my kin. I am... chosen."

"Chosen?"

"Yes, Great Lord's chosen," it boasted. "I gather my comrades, rebuild for Tomorrow."

Madoka had just met that God during their escape from the evil roots, but she still did not know what the God of Tomorrow truly was. At this point, she was too afraid to ask. That God seemed like a dangerous entity, far more sinister than the likes of Ceghinort.

For a supposed False God, it terrified Madoka instead of merely making her nervous. She was not sure why it decided to save her, but she sent a small prayer of gratitude to it anyways.

Remember, child, its voice boomed in her head as a reminder. Look up to the night sky and know that you are loved.

"Grob says he was chosen by... me," Madoka reported to Audrey. The princess looked shocked and her cheeks reddened. Was that jealousy? Of what? "It says there is a labyrinth entrance beyond that cracked wall in the temple."

"No way," Audrey muttered. "You're gonna get a goblin army? No fair, I want one!"

"Focus, Audrey," Madoka sighed. The goblin cooed and stamped the ground, a sign that it was going on a journey. "Be safe."

It nodded its slimy head and disappeared into the darkness beyond the hole in the wall.

"It worships a kind God of Tomorrow. It was the being that destroyed those roots. It spoke to me when we retreated from the soldier," she scanned the dirt above their heads. Knotting magic gathered in a weakened point with a soft, faint glow. It seemed perfect to break through. "Have you read about it?"

"Hmm... I don't think I've heard of it," Audrey contemplated for a moment, then shook her head. "Chosen by a god, huh? You are truly special, Madoka."

The princess's compliment embarrassed Madoka as she drew near her, but the maid pouted silently and crossed her arms.

"I mean it, Madoka. S-Sorry for embarrassing you," Audrey drew away. "Perhaps those Truth Guild people will know more on how this god operates. O-Only if you want that! Something tells me we're going to find out whether we want it or not."

Something was thumping on top of the dirt above them.

"Do you hear that?" Madoka interrupted her. The sounds of soft footprints were drawing closer from above ground. "They know where we are. Prepare yourself!"

"Madoka?" Audrey barely had time to respond before Madoka smashed through the dirt above them.

With aid from the golden tracery of magic chains, the ground shattered before her and allowed fresh air to flow down upon them. The muddy clumps splattered against the fallen trees, when Madoka noticed that the ashen remains of roots seemed to corrupt the land. Audrey spat out dirt and wiped herself off with wind magic, which Madoka began to assist her by patting off her backside.

"You're alive!" A voice spoke behind her in reverent Noble. It was the Truth Guild member, Arudite. "Both of you!"

"'Ello, poppet," Audrey spoke in an odd accent at the researcher. She was correct in sensing who they were.

Madoka turned around and dusted herself off. Arudite and her servant, Ilalune, were standing there with them in the devestated crater. This place used to be the entrance that those rude adventurers discovered, but now was left for nature to reclaim.

"You knew we were here?" Audrey asked the researcher, taken aback. Arudite abruptly blinked as if she struggled to comprehend what Madoka did, and shook dust off of her. "At least someone could."

"I could smell you," Ilalune scrunched her nose and glared at the maid. "Even beneath the ground you cannot hide your stench."

Madoka returned fire with a silent but fierce look back at Ilalune, though the Cherish servant was correct. They smelled awful and were dreadfully dirty. The two were locked in a duel of determination, despite not knowing how it even happened. The maid knew she could defeat Ilalune easily, however, she conceded the fact that the servant's dutiful nature and her scowls upon Arudite were on par with Madoka's own skills as a maid. The researcher cleared her throat, interrupting the silent glaring contest with noise of her own.

"We were afraid you two got buried after all that commotion," Arudite broke the silence. "But it looks like I was wrong."

"Well, we have finished our business here," Audrey peeked back and forth at the two rivaling servants. "Let's get back to the Guild Master, shall we?"

"Y-Yes, let's," Arudite looked confused but pointed in a direction. "The Guild Master sent us to search for you both. Let's not keep him waiting!"

At the mention of the Guild Master, both Audrey and Madoka gulped.