Chapter 3 – Understanding
This is so stressful! Some of my reincarnate friend’s memories and emotions have smeared over onto me. She’s still asleep and I can’t get any response from her even if I try hard. My diary helped remind me of some of my own memories I had lost. Even if I have something anchor myself to reality, it doesn’t fix the sensation of something, someone, inside your body.
It’s like being aware of a parasite but being forced to leave it inside. It makes me feel uneasy. At least we’re both female, that makes things easier to rationalize. I sigh and rub my temples slowly out of frustration. There is a knock from the door.
“Come in, I’m decent enough,” I speak out loud.
Lele the skeleton maid enters the room, followed by a small curtsey. “Good evening Princess Loria, I am pleased to find you awake. How do you feel?”
[https://i.imgur.com/tuEuuKw.png]
“I feel like an ogre slapped me. How long has it been?”
“Madam it has been about seven hours. Thavera guide your poor soul; you look absolutely paler than normal. Shall I fetch a doctor or your father –“
“NO!” I yell out, “Ahem, I mean, I do not wish to bother the King any more than I already have. I’m fine. No doctor is necessary.”
“Princess, your father is worried that you may have had a stroke of some sort or perhaps a curse. You had quite the violent seizure. I know you hate her, but the doctor will inevitably come.”
“I know I really shouldn’t avoid meat and blood as much as I do. It’s my own fault this happened, so please,” I smile weakly, “Just inform them, especially the doctor, that I’ll be doing as told from now on. I require nothing, especially not from that crazed woman. Alright? You are dismissed.”
Lele bows and turns to leave, “As you say, Princess. Do not be shocked to find the doctor appear anyways. She is persistent, as you know.”
With a heavy sigh, I check my status in the magic system by concentrating on my inner being. Bright magic circles appear in my vision to form a surface of sorts. Though the information I view is one of old days forgotten, and few save some specialists can read it. Thanks to Father’s education, I happen to be able to know what some of it means! “Who am I narrating to, I really should stop narrating in my head,” I groan out with an embarrassed feeling.
CLASS
NOBLE
LEVEL
2
XP
8/100
NAME Savella Loria Rall SPECIES
Vampire-Demon Hybrid
TITLES
Princess of Thavera
Princess of The Dark Realms
MANA
BLACK, RED, .̷,̶<̷`̸u̴'̷;̴'̴k̸`̵~̸
HP 44 / E̸'̸;̸l̷e̵^̷
STAMINA
43 / ş‴0ب
MANA 1 بعḖ 0 / şƧٖ WILL 0Ḩⅎ‴4/▄ꜫժ SPECIAL STATUS Special Reincarnate
ERROR RESOLVING SYSTEM CONFLICTS, FURTHER MENUS DISABLED
“What is going on here!? A lot of missing and much is... weird! I’ve never heard of someone being broken like this,” I languish with a swat at the floating screen, “Also, special reincarnate!? That was never there! Oh, but that… lends credence to my tenant. If the system sees them then they aren’t a hallucination. That’s a problem. A big problem. My old magic teacher would have a heart attack at this."
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A prolonged hum accents me as I pace about. “These memories of hers must be real then,” I declare while thinking back to magic and biology lessons. “Nothing like this to my knowledge, what about my tenant.” With a little effort I focus in on a clearing memory: a card game, an angry lagomorphic deity, and of course the talk of reincarnation.
“So, my tenant went and upset a god… what were you thinking? You’ve brought this upon me by your own poor choices, I’ll never forgive you! What did I do to deserve this?!” Great, just great, so now I have to find a way to explain my situation to my father. “I can see it now; Loria was locked in that room to long! She went mad with cabin fever. So now we need to make her do exercises outside in the sun! I hate the sun!”
There is noise in my room. I turn and bare my fangs at the unknown figure that has stepped out of the curtains. The doctor folds her wings and flashes a shark-like grin at me. “Doctor Setara,” I groan, “How long have you been there spying on me?”
[https://i.imgur.com/5zLALlU.png]
“Since the King left you here, hours before you woke up. You didn’t think we’d let an unconscious stroke victim be left unmonitored?”
“I take it Lele was part of that play? To judge my reaction.”
“As sharp of a wit as ever, my Princess,” the harpy says in a sing song reaction as she steps dangerously close to me. The woman begins taking notes about my current attitude… which isn’t new. I dislike her.
“Madam Setara, it would be a shame if a misunderstanding happened about your presence in my room… and your career were to be horrifically ruined,” I make threats in an attempt to drive her away. Setara smirks and starts to say something, likely inflammatory, but the door slamming silenced us both.
Another person was in the room, clearing their throat very loudly. My father was entering the room. His deep, gravelly voice speaking up, “Loria, I heard you were awake. I expected a frail daughter in her bed, one that I might comfort. Yet from the way I saw you two arguing like usual, I suppose my concerns were moot.”
“Additionally, please stop threatening the doctor. It is not becoming of a future queen to make up such slanderous lies.” The King declares. With a groan I hang my head low. I hate it when dad catches me doing something like this.
A sigh of resignation escaped my lungs as provide him a gentle nod, “Yes Father. The Doctor however has been in my room spying on me this entire time. Surely that is enough excuse to have her expelled. For the night? For the hour? A minute?”
“Loria,” he said in a stern voice, “I had her watch you for your own safety. Do not use such a grievous accusation for your own feuds. This is your last warning to cease this making light of a serious issue just to get your way.” He looks over to Setara, “Besides, if the good doctor did try anything, she would be executed very, very swiftly.”
Setara nodded thoroughly, looking very pleased that dad shut down my attempt to get her killed, exiled, mutilated, ruined, and/or all of the above with fire on top. “Yes Father,” I sigh, “You know I hate her though. She makes me eat meat. Imagine being made to eat anything! I can’t stand her for that! Meat and blood is disgusting. Sweets and even greens are far more a preference to me!”
“Princess, you would ruin my career just because I try to make you eat healthy? Reflect upon what you’re saying,” Setara adds with a bite in her tone, “also if you actually ate a proper diet then perhaps I would not be irritating you so much? It’s not like I enjoy your presence either.”
Father comes up and puts a heavy hand on my head. Patting me a few times he adds, “I’d never hire anyone who would hurt my precious Loria. So please behave… now about this seizure. What do you recall about it?”
“As I told Lele, I need to follow the doctor’s dietary orders better. Even if said doctor is a crazy, weird bird woman. I’m sorry I worried you dad.”
“This is likely not just dietary in nature,” the doctor chimes back into the conversation. The harpy pulls her notes off, “While I’ve monitored her. I’ve noted minor shifts in personality, vocal ques, and magical presence. Loria’s also been having some interesting discussions about another being inside her head,” she smiled to me with dozens of shark teeth.
Setara continues, “Loria, as you yourself have surmised, I believe you have not consumed enough meat and blood, as per your dietary requirements. This has led to a deficiency in components and mana your body needs. As you’re the first demon-vampire hybrid in modern records, so we’re still learning as you grow. Little faults like this are… to be expected.”
“Yes, so why am I suddenly being occupied by a strange woman?”
“I believe your magical presence has become weak enough for some form of possession to occur,” Setara continues as I wince, “I firmly believe your stroke – or something to that effect – has caused you to accidently absorb a passing spirit. In short, Loria, you’re sick and need help. A lobotomy might possibly fix it in most cases but –”
“SEE? SHE’S DANGEROUS!” I shout out as I go for the opening she just provided me.
Father stepped up with his shoulders square and teeth bared, “So, my girl has a mental crisis due to improper diets, and you immediately considered a lobotomy? Perhaps I should perform one on you first? See if it works?” He hissed with steam as the smell of sulfur escaped his mouth. Yes! So easily swayed to my side!
“N-no, I’m saying that it likely wouldn’t work! Traditionally, it is a solution for… this. Again, she is a special case given her hybridity,” she said as fast and matter of fact as possible. “It may go away in due time with distractions to focus her mind. If not, she may need some high magic intervention by a specialist. It should not impact her life significantly as long as we are all aware of the situation.”
Father’s intense gaze bores down on me, his eyes look like miniature furnaces, and I frankly can feel their heat on my face. “Loria,” he starts, “The Goblin King and his son are visiting soon, and we plan to have you, and the Prince, learn the core martial skills from an instructor. General Gravston personally will teach you both. He is an excellent instructor. You will also continue receive appropriate education for a ruler-to-be. I suppose this will count as a sufficient distraction?”
I light up with joy! This is exactly what I wanted for my birthday! Becoming a warrior queen would be the best accomplishment of my life. Putting down our foes and leading our people to victory in a glorious war! My excitement must have shown as my dad grins slightly.
“War is not something to be proud of, it is a necessity not a pleasure. Do not forget that fact while you learn. Nor should you forget to do as you are told by both the instructor and Setara. I know how you rail against authority figures, but you are not queen yet.” Father Helvair states everything as a matter of fact. I guess it is fact, he is King after all. “Setara, you are dismissed while I continue this conversation in private.”
Setara bows as dad waves her off, she quickly steps out of the room. After a few moments of silence, dad speaks up. “Loria, I’m just worried for you, please come back to your senses, okay? I know you are stubborn, and hate being told what to do. Don’t fight your recovery. I love you and I would die without my precious daughter’s smile,” he whispers as gentle as a giant cloud.
Standing here I realize that he is just like me, afraid of the world taking someone else precious from him. “Dad, I won’t let you down. I love and respect you more than you will ever know. I idolize you and want to help you continue your reign. The people need you father, I need you. So, I won’t lose myself or my way.”
The ceiling grew much closer as he hefted me up off the ground. His large, bulky arms wrapped around me in a firm but loving hug. “Loria, you’re a blessing,” he grins and ruffles my hair until it is an absolute mess. He chuckles and replies, “Tell the other you that I’m not a bad guy, despite how my look gets me stereotyped. If they’re really a part of you and not a ‘something’ that we can fix, then they are you Loria. I love all of you, remember that.”
Father sets me down, pats my head one last time, and then exits the room while closing my door. Now that I am alone, I retreat under the covers of my bed and proceed to imagine myself a great warrior queen. Soon! Soon Loria!
Slowly, the world fades and I fall to blissful sleep.
My head hurts like I stared at the sun for too long. “So, am I in control now? That’s interesting! Loria?” Loria says nothing in response to me. She feels distant, but asleep as if unwilling or unable to respond.
“Loria? Am I alone here?” I knock on our head, yet still no reply. “Well since I have control of the actual body… let’s take a look at what Sari has stuck me with.” I make my way out of the bed to look at ourselves in her full-length mirror.
[https://i.imgur.com/LoRuJMN.png]
As expected, I’m about two-thirds the size of an adult with pale skin – bordering gray. Huh, she has red slit eyes and an adorable button nose… that is currently sporting a massive nosebleed. Unfortunate. She looks a bit like the stereotypical child vampire you might find in a cheap horror movie, or some anime.
The clothes I’m currently wearing are a faded purple night gown and adorable white bloomers. I tug at them to look at my build briefly. Definitely a female still, although my body is not very muscular; typical of a pampered princess I guess. Even so, I feel like she could knock out an athlete from Earth.
Her hair is past her shoulders, not far past my shoulder blades. With a twirl around, I spot a pair of pointed ears! Just like a fantasy elf from role-playing games back home, though not quite as long. I pull my hair aside to look at them better in the mirror – and trace my fingers along their edge. Real!
“Well, this beats cheap costume ears I guess. Well, sorry for snooping Loria, but I wanted to know what I’m stuck in,” I whisper to myself. Without warning the world suddenly spins around me as if my blood pressure had just crashed. Darkness creeps in and we sleep once more.