Grims... They are strange creatures that inhabit the darkest plane of existence. Eternally, they suffer, forever is their demise. They may be the final evolution of consciousness, or perhaps just a tear in the fabric of reality that has cursed them. However, in the end, grims are simply beings of suffering who perpetuate more suffering. They must vanish from this world, or else everyone will be consumed by the darkness.

As the moon appeared, the sky opened. The portal to the upper floor materialized, and the queen eagerly awaited whoever would be drawn into it. She waited with anticipation, holding her breath in excitement, her eyes glittering endlessly.

Then, a three-headed shadow flew toward the portal, a beast so terrifying that its mere sight was petrifying. Her servants turned pale as they saw the beast, yet they couldn't find the words to describe what they had witnessed. But the queen was brimming with zeal, gazing up at the sky with clasped hands.

"Everything is according to his prophecy," she said with a smile.

...

"Goblin... wake up."

I wanted to sleep more; waking up was such a drag. There was no apparent reason for me to be awake. But someone familiar tried to rouse me, pulling me from the darkness. A voice so gentle that the more she tried, the more I yearned to continue dozing peacefully. A sharp point poked my cheek, prompting me to open my eyes slightly. As I took in the surroundings, my eyes shot open in confusion.

"Where... am I?"

It seemed like I was in a familiar cave, but it felt strangely alien.

"Home. Come on, sleepyhead, it's time for breakfast."

Irisia was there, cooking at her giant pot. Finally, she had been able to gather the ingredients to make soup. She stirred the soup, letting the vegetables spin around as the aroma filled the air, making my mouth water. My stomach rumbled, impatient for the taste of paradise.

Irisia seemed different today, radiant with happiness. She couldn't stop smiling, and I even heard her giggle. Well, if she was happy, then so was I.

I looked at her again and felt like my chest was going to burst. I clenched my hands into fists and couldn't tear my eyes away from her. She looked exceptionally beautiful today, and my eyes welled up with tears. I needed to wipe them away, but it was too late; she was looking at me now.

She was waiting for me to say something.

"Did I die?" I asked.

"Almost."

"So, am I just dreaming right now?"

Yes, this must be a dream. After a person dies, they are supposed to be reincarnated; that's how it works. So, I couldn't explain why I was seeing her now. I had made sure she died painlessly, and I had seen her vanish into the light. Maybe my subconscious regretted my decision, and that's why it was showing me this dream. It must be a way for me to cope with the emotions that was kept inside my chest.

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"Why do you look so gloomy?" she asked.

"Yeah... Why am I?"

My eyes started to burn. I should have been happy for succeeding, for doing what she had asked and ending her suffering, but all I felt was a sense of loss.

"I should have just turned... I shouldn't have killed you!"

I should have done nothing and waited for the parasite to consume me. In that way, we might have lost ourselves, but we could have been together and shared the same fate. In my head, I thought it was the right thing to do, but the manticore scolded me.

"Idiot! I would never wish for you to turn like me. Listen to me, I love you, and I want you to live."

Ah... I wondered why this dream was so vivid, feeling so real.

"Make me proud of you by surviving the infection and overcoming misery. Goblin, put a smile on your face and move forward, laugh if you have to so that I can rest easy, knowing that I raised someone with a strong heart."

Even if this was an illusion, I needed to cherish this moment with her. It might be the last time I would see her face. I needed to smile to make her proud; I didn't want to disappoint her. I wanted her to be proud of me and herself.

"Thank you, goblin. For doing this for me," she said. I smiled, and a brief awkward silence followed. My lips felt shaky, and I couldn't manage a genuine smile.

I could hear her taking a deep breath, preparing to say something.

"Happy birthday, my dear son."

I had a birthday...? Birthday... I felt like I was forgetting something important...

"Before I forget... I had to give you a name."

Huh? A name? Right, she had been calling me "goblin" all this time!

"What about... Aku?" she asked, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"HAHAHA! That's what I'd name my dog!"

"But, it's a good name, right? You always mutter it in your sleep."

After a moment of chuckling, I wiped my eyes. She continued to explain why she chose that name.

"It almost sounds like 'Makumadath' in the demon tongue, which can mean 'Pain or Strength.'"

I didn't really understand how that definition applied to me, but it seemed better than the name I had given myself.

"Fine, I'm Aku from now on... Thank you... Mom."

Sorry, Aku, but I need to borrow your name in this lifetime. Don't worry; no one will replace you as my best friend.

"Good boy," the manticore said as she patted the top of my head with her paw.

"Come on, I'm not a dog!"

Speaking of dogs... "Pwa!" some small manticores popped out from Irisia's head. There were three of them, and they were just half my height.

"Are they..."

"Your siblings," Irisia confirmed.

The small creatures flap their wings and fly around me, observing me curiously. I didn't know Irisia had real children, but as expected, their fur is as fluffy as her's. I couldn't resist trying to touch them; I patted the head of one of them, but a moment later, the cub bit my fingers.

"OUCH!!! You little!"

The little ones flew away as I shouted and hid behind their mother's back. Irisia tried her best to ease them down. They trembled as they cowered, even though they were the ones who had bitten me!

Observing them however, they seemed like a true family. Irisia appeared genuinely delighted around them.

I don't think I am needed here.

But I'm content. As long as she's happy...

Irisia spoke again. "It's time to go now. The living shouldn't stay here too long or you'll be haunted."

Right... I needed to move. There were still things I needed to do. How could I forget my goal? My eyes were fixed on the mouth leading out of the cave. Outside, I could see the snow continuously falling, covering the ground in a white blanket and the trees with their triangular shapes catching the snowflakes. I moved forward as though I were a magnet drawn to this scene.

"Aku, be careful out there. From here on, you'll meet a lot of people, foes and allies alike. You might not always know who to trust, but don't lose heart."

I didn't look back because I knew that if I did, I might forget why I was leaving in the first place. I might be tempted to stay there with them, enjoying this illusory paradise and forgetting the harsh reality. I couldn't afford to forget. The hero was still out there, and my sister was waiting for me to return. I couldn't forget that if the hero was still at large, he might harm my sister.

I walked forward, resisting the temptation to look back. As I left, Irisia left me with a parting message.

"Be strong."

~End of the Story~