Henry’s little nose tickled my ear as it sniffed the air. We had entered the church, the Cathedral, and there was a certain… stink to it.

“What is that?” he asked with his tiny voice, made smaller even with his whisper.

“Incense… something that’s supposed to make the place smell better. At least, so I’ve been told,” I said.

“It smells,” he said.

I nodded, but did so lightly. Henry was tucked away in my hood. Between my neck and shoulder, under my ear. I didn’t want to dislodge him or bother him too badly by any kind of brisk movement.

The hood wasn’t strange. It was currently storming, and had been for awhile… but I was looking forward to being able to abandon it soon.

As long as this went the way I was hoping it would.

Looking around for someone, I realized I didn’t actually know many people here. Other than Celine, Lilly… and those few I had met before leaving… I hadn’t actually spent any time here. I had left before learning more about any of them.

On purpose.

Which was why I was now awkwardly standing in the main hallway, staring at everyone who was staring at me… and didn’t know what to say or do.

“Are we in danger…?” Henry asked worriedly.

“No. I’m just… lost,” I said honestly.

“Oh no…!” Henry squeaked a tiny sound of worry, but I ignored it as I stepped forward… and headed deeper into the Cathedral.

I had hoped to find someone I recognized quickly… and hand him off to them, and be away… before anyone else saw me.

If that crazy Saint saw me now…

“Oh my gosh!”

I flinched, which made Henry squeak out in worry, and then bury himself deeper into my hood and jacket. To hide himself.

Turning, I sighed as I watched Celine run down a stairwell. She had seen me from a balcony, and she nearly tripped and fell on her face as she skidded off the stairs and bumped into someone. The man was a larger one, and he worriedly waved his hands everywhere as if he was going to have to catch Celine… but she instead regained her footing and darted away from him. Towards me.

Going stiff, I watched as Celine ran straight at me. She ignored the concerned looks and curious glances, and ran straight up to me. At least she didn’t run into me, as she had that man earlier.

“Vim! Welcome back!” she shouted happily.

“Uh… yeah…” I hesitated, and felt oddly un-confident. Why was I so bothered? So what if she was acting weird, and everyone was staring at me…

Celine stepped closer, her eyes weren’t just glowing… they were practically beaming. “I can’t believe you actually came back! On your own accord! What happened? What’s wrong? Are you okay? Where’d you go? Did you find the north Monarchs?” she bombarded me with questions, and I couldn’t help but smile at her.

Damn. As terrifying as she was… she was also adorable. Maybe the name Celine was fates way of deciding if they were adorable or not. She even had that same weird smirk that human librarian had, which had drawn my eyes and…

“Vim! Vim! What is that! Who is that! Is she scary? Is she mean? Dangerous?” little Henry also went to questioning me, squeaking in my ear… and then Celine went wide-eyed and squealed herself.

She reached up, and I almost slapped her hands away… but I kept myself in control as I bent a little to let the short woman grab the hedgehog. He squeaked at first, in worry, but she picked him up very carefully, and went to holding him to her chest as if precious beyond measure.

“Oh my goodness! What a blessed moment! My name is Celine, what is yours?” Celine spoke quickly, but not loudly. She lifted Henry a little, as to speak with him face to face.

Henry sniffed at the air wildly in front of her, and then slightly stood up, which only made Celine squeal in glee at the sight. As she did, others began to approach. I noticed the large man behind her peer around her shoulder, staring with wide eyes.

Was it wise to let that thing talk in front of all these people…? Some were humans…

“Another predator…? And a warm one! I am Henry, the spiny hedgehog!” Henry introduced himself as he smelled Celine.

Celine’s bright eyes became brighter, and a tiny glimmer of a jewel slid from her eye. It glowed brightly as it rolled down the side of her face. “Oh little Henry, welcome. Welcome to the Society!” she then turned… and without another word, hurried away.

Dumbfounded… I watched as Celine quite literally ran away. Running off, going between the onlookers and crowd as quickly as she had ran over to me.

And it seemed they were as shocked and confused as I was.

Or at least, to a point…

The man who had been nearest, the one she had bumped into earlier, coughed and stepped forward. “Don’t mind her. That’s… just how she is. She gets like that when she meets new members. I’ve heard of you, Mr. Vim,” the man said as he held out a hand.

I shifted, and wondered if I should ignore him and just leave… I mean…

Maybe my job was done?

Right?

That’s what I had wanted to do? Wasn’t it? To drop Henry off and…

Absentmindedly… I reached out and took the man’s hand.

It was soft. And pudgy. Yet the grip was firm. Strong. “They call me Eyes. I’m a raccoon,” he said.

Blinking, I returned my focus to the man whose hand I was shaking. “Eyes…?” I asked. He did have weird black circles around his eyes. Likely a part of his bloodline.

He nodded, and grinned. “Just something that stuck. Would you uh… like to get warm? Or a fresh set of clothes? You look soaked,” he asked worriedly as our hands separated.

I glared at the strangely friendly man, and then shook my head. “No… I’ll be leaving shortly, so it’s fine. Thank you though,” I said.

He frowned but nodded, and didn’t seem offended.

“Where’d she take him?” I asked him.

“Hm… had it been a rodent? A sentient one?” he asked.

“Uh… basically, yeah.”

“Then she likely took him to the center of the Cathedral. There’s a small garden there. A greenhouse. There’re a few others like that one, so she likely took him there to join the rest,” he said with a point down the hallway she had ran down.

Others…

There were more…? Like Henry?

Sentient animals?

Gulping, I shifted and wondered if I should not just leave… but run. Run as fast as I could.

“Would… would you like me to take you there? It’s not far,” Eyes offered, once again speaking in a soft but gentle way. Why’d he seem so friendly?

“No. I’ll… find it myself,” I said, and stepped away… then around him, as I went to follow after her.

Eyes said nothing as I walked away… and I pretended to not notice the way most of the hallway was now rather busy… and everyone was staring at me. I kept my eyes forward, so as to not accidentally allow any of them to introduce themselves to me again. Nor allow those I had met before speak up, either. It was hard not to notice that giant man. The one with…

Where was she? His pregnant wife…

I looked around for the woman. I’d been gone for many months. By now she surely had to have given birth… right?

Yet I didn’t find her before I stepped out of the main hallway, and into the smaller one that Celine had ran down.

Somewhat glad to have missed her, I did my best to not think something bad had happened. Hopefully she and the child were fine.

Heading down the hallway… I slowly increased my pace. Out of sudden concern. And not just for Henry.

As I headed down the hallway… I realized I knew where I was. This was near Celine’s room. Or her office, or whatever that had been. The place she and I had spoken together in. The one full of books and a mess.

Rounding a corner… I came to a slow stop, as I found her.

Or well, saw her.

Huge windows ran along this new hallway, similar to the many others in this Cathedral… but these were more plain. Less designed. More simple. They were easy to see through, and they revealed a small garden. One pretty and not being buffeted by the rainstorm just outside. A true greenhouse… with not just bushes and flowers, but grass and trees.

And inside that garden, here hidden in a church… was Celine. She was kneeling in the garden, and around her were others. Other animals. Other people.

Lilly was with her. Also kneeling down. She had a beautiful smile on her face, and her wings were firmly folded. She was also wearing a pretty brown dress. It suited her.

Next to Lilly was another younger girl. Though I didn’t recognize her, I’d recognize those colors anywhere. Her hair had stripes. Black and white.

And before them all… was Henry. He stood up, and was smelling around. Smelling Celine. Lilly. The other girl…

And the other animals.

The squirrel. The tortoise. And even a snake. One with white scales, as white as Celine’s eyes.

The sight was mesmerizing. Confusing. Shocking.

The way the animals all circled around Henry, and the way they were all… moving, and acting, made it clear they were like him. Able to talk. Able to reason. Sentient.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Celine was crying her glowing tears, and even Lilly looked emotional. The other girl bent down, to lower her face to the ground as to talk closer with Henry. Maybe even to smell him.

Very unsure of myself… I stood in wonder as I watched them. I couldn’t hear them. Oddly. Although there was thick glass separating us, and a small distance… and a heavy storm outside, I should still be able to. Maybe I was just… unsettled.

A good amount of time passed… as Celine slowly stopped crying, and eventually she stood away. To let the children, and the animals play together. They began to run around the garden, laughing and messing around. Lilly was even carrying the tortoise around, even when she went to fly.

Just… what was this place?

What was she doing?

And why wasn’t I a part of it?

“Thank you, Vim.”

I didn’t let my eyes leave the scene in the greenhouse, even as Celine walked over to me. She had left the greenhouse not too long ago, and had found me quickly. She must have seen me standing here before she had left.

Yet before she had come to me, she had seemed to have found the kitchen first. Celine had a cup of something steaming. Maybe the tea she seemed to like.

“I… remember them. Inhuman creatures. I…” I hesitated to say it, but knew I had to. I’d not be able to get the answer I wanted, without first telling her. “I fought them. Killed them. They had been the servants of the gods,” I said to her.

Celine said nothing, but I saw her eyes reflected in the glass window. She was glaring at me.

“They had no sentience. They were beasts. They were not able to talk, or reason. So…” I whispered.

“So how do they exist?” she asked me.

“They’re not Monarchs,” I said as I finally looked away from the beautiful sight.

“No. They’re not. Of course they aren’t,” she said.

“Then what are they…?” I asked her.

Celine frowned at me, as if my question was as unbelievable as what I was seeing.

“How interesting. So you know so much, and were around from the beginning… yet you don’t know,” she said.

“Know what?” I asked.

Celine took a tiny sip from her cup, and then nodded. “They’re our ancestors, Vim.”

My eyes narrowed at her, and I wondered if she had just lied to me.

“I’m serious. Yes. I know. The gods made us. They crafted us, to be their servants… just… just like those you spoke of. The beasts you spoke of. But where do you think they got the source from? Where do you think they got the idea from? They’re rare today, Vim. So rare and precious that… I’m honestly shocked you found one. A true blessing. An honest to the gods miracle. But… that’s the truth. They are what we used to be. Before the gods reshaped us, into what we are now. Before they corrupted us. Turned us into these abominations,” she explained with a point past the window.

“Abominations,” I repeated the word she had said, and glared at her.

She nodded. “We are. We’re not human… yet not animal either. We’re out of place. Out of design. We are flawed. Yes, so are the humans… in their own ways, but our flaws are not by design. Not like theirs. Our flaws came after, because the gods didn’t care. They didn’t care we were imperfections… thus our…” She seemed to hesitate as she went quiet.

At first I thought she was simply thinking of how to explain it, but then she flinched and glanced at me.

Oh. This was one of those things she didn’t want to speak about. Because it might piss me off.

“How are we supposed to talk, if we both keep secrets from each other?” I asked her.

Celine broke out into a huge smile. “Isn’t it wonderful? But if you’d like to vow and change it, then I’d be willing to accept… but regrettably you’ll never agree… so this is simply what we must be. Two people who trust one another, but never indulge in it,” she said.

“Vow?”

She grinned at me. “See? A normal man would have understood my meaning immediately. Yet to you it wasn’t even something that could be considered… so you’re unsure of my meaning of the word. Regrettable. You and I would have been a match peculiar, I think,” she said as she sipped her tea.

Ah… she meant it that way. In a literal sense.

Stepping away from the window, so I could focus entirely on her… and not the children and animals, I frowned at her.

Me and her?

She was comely enough. I could see myself feeling attraction enough for her. Enough to carry her to not just a bed… but maybe even an altar…

But…

Well…

“Yes. I know. My devoutness turns you off. Please don’t say it aloud… I might just break and cry if you do,” she said stiffly. Seriously.

“Although I don’t subscribe to your religion, I’d not use that as the excuse to push you away,” I said plainly.

She turned to smirk at me. Her fingernails tapped her cup happily, in a rhythm I somehow recognized. “Vim, I meant my devotion to the Society. To my cause. Not my gods.”

I blinked… and couldn’t help but cover my mouth as I realized it. “Really…? That’s what bothers me?” I asked both myself and her.

“It is weird…!” Celine said with a laugh… and then stepped away. At first I thought she was going to just… leave me. Again. But instead she simply stepped away across the hallway, to a bench.

I’d not even noticed it was there.

Walking over, I slowly sat down next to her. It felt… a little odd to sit so close to her. She was dressed in that same gray robes she had been last time, but it was thicker this time. Likely because it was cold and damp.

“If a day comes you actually somehow get over it, and can overlook it… please give me a chance, will you? I promise there’s enough room in my heart for you and the Society. I can love you both, equally,” she said as she went to sipping her tea again.

Gods that was it wasn’t it?

I’d be annoyed over the fact that she’d dedicate time to her Society. Her cause. I’d grow upset, hell even the mere thought of it was making my blood start to boil! To think she’d choose them over me!

Was… was I really that selfish? Was I honestly the type to be jealous in such a way? To be so possessive?

I hadn’t taken myself to be such a man… but… well…

Celine started to giggle, and I felt it. Through our touching arms and shoulders, and the bench.

This wasn't good. not at all.

For a long few moments... I sat on the bench and ran from my own thoughts. My own desires. My own fears.

All those years on those islands had definitely changed me. And likely not for the better. Just how many women have I nearly fallen for? In just as many months? Something was wrong with me.

And the worst part was I was simply using that as an excuse to ignore the reality in front of me.

I blamed my strange attraction towards her as the reason I felt so uncomfortable... so out of sorts... instead of the truth.

I was terrified of being responsible for them. I was terrified of failing. Of being asked to be the better man, and instead being a monster.

Last time I had tried to save everyone... all I had accomplished was the opposite. My actions hadn't saved a soul. It had just condemned everyone to a worse fate.

This would be the same... if I let it.

“Vim… will you join the Society?” Celine then asked with a whisper.

Her glowing eyes became a tad brighter… but I noticed they were only glowing, not gleaming. She wasn’t teary eyed right now.

“Please. We need your strength. You who can face any enemy unfazed no matter their greatness… yet also you who has a heart gentle enough to care for even the tiniest of creatures, which others would ignore. We need you. They need you. I need you,” Celine begged.

Staring into her glowing eyes… I realized she was very likely a Monarch. Or at least, a close relative of one. A daughter of one, likely.

Monarchs weren't supposed to be able to take human form, but I was starting to learn there were things I didn't know. But of all the things I knew, the gods and their soldiers were things I were rather confident in my knowledge of.

I'd be able to confirm it by touching her, but right now doing that would likely just get in me trouble. In many ways.

Still... How had I not noticed before? Maybe it was because we were now close. Yet even though I had just realized it, I felt no need or desire to do anything about it.

Maybe I was attracted to her. Or maybe I didn't want to hurt someone who might be able to prove to me that they could be more than what they are. Just as she was saying I could be.

“I’ve paid my dues, already,” I whispered.

“I’m sure you have. I have no doubt you’ve already accomplished great feats. Worthy of all the fame in the world. And I know as such, asking you to once again dedicate yourself to another cause is… well… cruel… But I beg it of you all the same. For that is how great our need is.”

I could see how she could convert so many to her religion so easily. It was almost frightening how much I wanted to say yes.

“What enemy do you face to need me, Celine? Fallen trees?” I asked as I pointed to the window, and thus to the hedgehog beyond it. “Family disputes?” I added, thinking of Lilly. “Building a church?” I waved around us, listing her current struggles. “Hardly a need for a soldier,” I finished.

She shook her head. “We don’t need a soldier, Vim… we need a protector.”

“A protector,” I scoffed.

Shaking my head at her, before she could say more I stood up. I had to, since I had almost broken. I had almost gave in. Hell I had almost even went to kiss her.

The worst part is she likely hadn’t even noticed. She had been smiling and holding her little cup so innocently.

If she had known how close she had just come to winning me over... she'd probably cry. Or maybe jump in joy, since it meant I only needed a little more of a push.

Stepping away from the bench, I took in a small breath as I glanced out the window. Lilly was now sitting with the animals alone. Where had the other girl gone?

“Think about it. Please.”

Celine’s words sounded distant… but full of emotion.

“I’m not a protector. I was trained to slay that which you worship… not to shield it,” I said.

I heard her gulp, and not because she had taken a drink. “I figured. But men can be more than their birth. Men can become more than what they had been raised for, Vim,” she said.

I turned away from the window, and my reflection upon it. To look at the glowing eyes, and their desperate pleading.

There was desperation in those eyes. Uncertainty. Fear, even.

Yet… there was more.

There was a surety. A confidence.

She knew more than she was saying. I could only imagine how much more, though. For all I knew she knew my whole story. And not just the past either.

But she’d never say it. Not until I gave her what she wanted. Not until she was sure I was hers… or rather, her Society’s.

So it was so strange. So odd. So confusing.

She knew so much… yet…

She knew if she said too much, I’d flee. I’d run away, or worse… become her enemy. But at the same time, if she said too little… the same could happen.

She knows she has to convince me. To get me on her side. Whatever future she’s seen. Whatever terrors that bothered her so much that she had gone through such lengths to create this place…

She needed me to face them. For not just her, but all of them.

And that scared me. In ways I couldn’t explain.

I had already faced the terrifying and incomprehensible. I had already faced them on the battlefield… and won.

So… why did she not say it?

“Do I agree here?” I asked her.

Celine blinked… and I noticed her eyes grew a little darker. A little softer.

“No. You don’t agree until it’s too late… That’s why I’m begging you now,” she whispered.

Too late.

Her warning made my heart miss a beat… but it quickly regained its purpose and went back to its steady rhythm. Unbothered. Unstoppable. Unending.

Stepping away, I turned as to head back down the hallway. To go back to the main hallway… as to find the exit, and leave. Once again.

“Goodbye Vim. I’ll see you next time. Make sure you bring her back in warm clothes, when you return,” Celine said.

Hesitating, I almost turned back around to ask her what she meant… but knew better. Especially since I had heard her smirk in her voice.

Leaving the Society… I did my best to not believe her. I did my best to believe I’d be strong enough to never return. To push her and those people out of my mind, for good. To abandon them. To not fall in love with them.

But I knew the truth.

She could see the future, after all.

And I wasn’t cruel enough to pluck her eyes out, as I had done to her gods.

Stepping out of the Society and into the rain, I sighed as I once again returned to my path. To head north. For the third time. Hopefully this time I made it.

Hopefully next time I was here, likely with whoever she spoke of… I’d not be so weak as to accept her inevitable invitation.

Something told me she’d invite me every time I came back… and knowing my luck, it’d be often. And each time she offered that invitation, it’d be twice as deadly as the last. She’d become more seductive. More desperate. More appealing. More serious. More alluring.

Fate hated me after all. She was cruel, and loved to torment me.

Couldn’t blame her. I had killed her family. All of her friends too. Even her enemies.

Making a decision, I nodded as the rain picked up. It rain downed onto me as I headed through the empty town, thanks to the storm.

“At least ten,” I told myself. At least ten times. I had to resist at least that many times.

I just needed to turn her down ten times. That’s all. Ten. An easy number.

Surely if I could resist that many times… and if I did… then I’d be able to resist forever.

Right…?

But no.

I only lasted four.