"I suggest you leave Eimira for now."
For a moment…
I thought I'd misheard him.
"...Leave Eimira?"
The words echoed in my mind.
"Why?"
"Just because of Yunok?"
Nor'ran nudged me.
"I'm not saying you should leave her forever." He said. "But at least until you're strong enough to protect her from that bastard."
"Even though..."
I paused.
Then turned to Nor'ran
"I just can't leave her..."
Nor'ran sighed.
"I didn't see him slash at me."
He paused.
"I can't explain it." He said. "His movement felt heavy which is unlike him, but..."
He turned to me.
"His slashes were still the same. Even fas-"
He stopped, and thought for a moment.
"Yes... Yes... I remember now."
He moved closer.
"He had a sword with him. One I had never seen. He called it... "Morvethis"."
I stared at Nor'ran.
"Was that why I felt uneasy when he approached us?" I thought.
Nor'ran tapped me.
"Zandren, am I right?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"I know this sounds hard. But for Eimira's happiness, please. Stay away fro-"
Yyuita returned with a Writer beside him.
"Alright, this was the only available Healer Writer." He said.
I turned to Nor'ran. "I'm sorry, Captain Nor'ran. But I don't think I can."
"Don't be stubborn!" He snapped.
Then immediately calm down, after two deep breaths.
He turned his face away.
"Whatever you say." He muttered.
I turned around and walked away slowly.
Yyuita ran up to me.
"What was that all about?" He asked.
"No... Uh... It's nothing." I replied.
"But for Nor'ran to lose his cool like that, it has to be some-"
"Look Yyuita." I cut in.
"I'm tired. Had a really long day of training today. I need to sleep."
"Oh. Yeah. Goodnight." He said, voice low.
"Hmm." I nodded.
My door closed with a soft click. My items landed on the floor with a soft thud. I slowly made my way to my bed, the foot garment I had on, muffling my steps.
I crashed on the bed, face first.
Slowly turned my head to the side and stared at my hand.
Some of Nor'ran's blood had gotten on me.
"You told me to leave her. Why?" I murmured.
"I promised to protect her... I just can't leave her that way."
"Why am I so weak?"
"Why!"
Tears rolled down my eyes.
"Eimira. Will you be happy if I left you, or will you be happy if I fought for you and..."
"...died."
"This sucks."
"Just why?"
"Will I even get stronger like you told me?"
The sound of my sobs filled the room.
----
The soft thump of a wooden cup on a table filled the room.
Then a heavy sigh.
"Why?" Yunok asked.
He groaned.
"Why did I attack Nor?"
He sobbed.
"Do I—"
"...Was he right?"
"Do I still even love Eimira?" He asked, touching his chest.
Two heart beats.
"It was you!" Yunok snapped.
"You took the love I had for her away from me."
"Arrrrgghh." He groaned.
Yunok rushed over to a drawer and brought out a dagger.
"Give her back to me, you bastard!"
He aimed the dagger at his chest.
Then—
He thrusts the dagger towards his chest.
Whoosh.
Clang.
"I am only here because you took me in."
Morvethis blocked the dagger. A slow cold mist falling off it's blade, the eyes of the snake on the hilt of the longsword glowing as he speaks.
"You were warned, but you went with it."
The room grew colder.
He continued.
"I took your speed and gave you strength. I took your empty self, and filled it with the seas of my void."
A pause.
"I took your love, and gave you will."
"Yet..."
"You raise a blade against me."
Yunok's hand trembled.
"Let go. Let me end this." He yelled.
"If you end me..." Morvethis spoke. "You die with me."
Yunok froze.
"What?"
Morvethis laughed.
"Stupid mortal. Did you forget?" He said. "We are one!"
He laughed.
"And I am not ready to die for the second time."
Thud!
The dagger fell from Yunok's hand
Bouncing a couple of times before settling.
"Good."
Morvethis flew away and settled in front of Yunok.
"You lost your love for her."He said.
"Yes." Yunok replied.
"But, she is making you lose your mind now."
"Y-yes."
"That's a problem, don't you think?"
"Yes... It is." Yunok answered. "I don't love her but I just can't get her out of my mind."
"Then. Why not get rid of the problem itself?"
Yunok blinked. "W-what do you mean?"
"She's only a problem because she still exists despite her not existing for you." Morvethis said.
"I don't understand."
Morvethis chuckled.
"You really do not know the consequences of the decision you made."
Yunok adjusted.
Morvethis continued.
"You losing your love for her simply means…"
"...She's dead to you."
Morvethis floated around Yunok, circling him.
"But she's still alive. So that causes confusion within you."
"Hence."
He swiftly floated before Yunok.
"She has to be non-existent, for your mind to remain at peace."
Yunok lowered his head.
"What you're telling me now is that…"
"...I have to kill Eimira?"
Morvethis chuckled. "You come to conclusions so quick."
Yunok whimpered. "B-But I can't..."
"Then."
Morvethis spoke.
"Why not make it seem like an accident?"
Yunok raised his head.
"Huh?"
"You will challenge her to a friendly duel and then you, "accidentally stabbed her". Or something. They'd think of it as just some random wound"
He paused.
The continued.
"Not until my venom kicks in and kills her without her even realising she's dead."
Yunok exhaled.
"B-Bu-"
"No excuses, Yunok. You wanted to be strong. You asked for it. But to be strong... You have to let go of your earthly desires and embrace Higher Authority."
"Higher Authority?" Yunok asked.
Morvethis continued. "Far above the bearers, greater than those puny dragon blessings."
"Far above all..." Yunok muttered.
"Yes. Far above all." Morvethis replied.
"You've been looked down upon for too long. It's time we make it right."
"Make. It. R-right." Yunok murmured.
"Yes, Yunok."
He rose slowly, stretching his hands toward Morvethis.
Suddenly.
A knock.
"Hmm? Who could that be at this hour?" Yunok asked, grabbing Morvethis and placing him in his special corner.
He walked over to the door.
"Who's there?"
No response.
Just another knock.
Yunok sighed, then opened the door.
Zeth.
She waved. "H-hello..."
"Zeth?" Yunok blinked. "What are you doing here? More importantly how did you even get here?"
She giggled. "It's a secret."
Yunok exhaled. "Duke..."
Zeth walked in.
"Uhm." Yunok turned. "I didn't say you could come in."
She giggled. "You would eventually, so why wait?"
The door clicked shut.
"So." Yunok stopped her. "What do you want?"
"The mansion got boring after you left, and I don't really get along well with the rest of the Children." She answered.
Yunok walked past her. "What's that gotta do with me?"
"I asked mother if it was okay for me to venture into Tarrion. For scouting purposes, hehe." She replied.
"So you lied?" Yunok asked.
She rolled her eyes. "If you put it that way, it'd sound like I actually lied."
"But you did though."
She giggled. "Maybe. Maybe not. Who knows? All that matters is that I'm here now."
She walked around.
"A nice room you have here." She said. "A bit too dark and..."
She hugged herself.
"...Cold."
Zeth scanned the room, then suddenly whipped out webs that took and struck a match, lighting all lamps in the room."
She sighed. "Much better."
"I was just about to sleep though." Yunok muttered.
"Don't worry. You will." She said. "Woah, lots of shiny things in here. You are a prince of course."
She turned, and waved.
"Hi Morvethis."
"Greetings, Madame Zeth."
Zeth giggled.
"Arrrgh, screw this. I'm going to bed." Yunok stormed to his bed. "Go find where you'd sleep."
"Yunok." She shot a web at him. " I let you sleep in my room, remember?"
"So?"
She pulled him closer.
"So, it's only right you let me sleep in yours."
Yunok sighed. "Fine, no point arguing, you were not planning on leaving anyways."
Zeth smiled. "Exactly."
"Whatever." Yunok pulled the webs off him. "Do what you want, just don't disturb me."
"Got food?" Zeth asked.
Yunok already collapsed on his bed.
"Ask Morvethis."
She turned. "Yo, Morvethis, is there food?"
"Yeah. The door by your right is filled with them. Help yourself." Morvethis answered.
"Thanks, hehe."
She walked over to the door and opened it.
Her face brightened.
"Wr'the!!!" She screamed. "We never even see this much in the mansion."
She turned to Yunok.
"Can I really have them?"
"Yess." Yunok groaned. "Remember, don't disturb me."
"Yay!! There's wine too."
Zeth ate and drank to her fill. She stumbled over to Yunok's bed.
"Y-yunok! Erk!" She tapped him.
No response.
"Erk! I know you aren't asleep." She said. "I saw you looking at me."
She rolled him over, and Yunok instantly turned away.
Zeth giggled. "I'm. Right-"
She rolled him over again.
"Here."
"Zeth." Yunok said. "You're drunk."
Zeth laughed. "I'm not drunk. You are. Hehe, Erk!"
"Ok all you need is sleep." Yunok stood. "You can have the bed."
Whip
Webs wrapped around Yunok.
"Well, I'm going to excuse myself now." Morvethis said, floating out the window.
"traitor" Yunok yelled. "Come ba-"
Zeth pulled him closer.
"Shhh."
"If you didn't want this." She said. "You should have never looked at me that way."
Yunok exhaled, closing his eyes.
Accepting his defeat.