I screamed at the top of my lungs and landed with a loud thud on the hard ground with my back. I hissed at the pain. This is too much for me to handle. I painfully stood up and flinched at the throbbing pain.
"Your Highness!"
"Where are we?" I asked.
All I can see is a dimly lit place with gigantic dead trees and it's silently eerie. It's somewhat creepy.
"The Beyond, your Highness," the girl explained.
"So tell me, where is this Michaelis?" I asked as I looked around the place. There is no one in sight. The place is too silent for my comfort.
"We actually have no idea. It's been ten years since Master Michaelis returned."
"Ah, so he basically abandoned you and his post?" I asked.
"No. Master Michaelis is a familiar. He have just grown tired of waiting for his master, which is you, your Highness," the boy said.
Now it's my fault. How is this my fault? I'm just a homeless girl with a debt left by my deceased grandfather.
"Okay. We'll whoever he is, let's find him and cleanse that dark fog and I'm well off afterwards. Got it?"
"Your Highness, you are a god. It is your job," they both complained.
"Let's go." I urged.
I started walking, following the only road I see. As I walked around, the children hovered behind me—trailing me like a lost puppy. I noticed that there are also some dark fog or what they called as miasma that surrounds the place. And the air is bit strong for my nose to smell. As I follow the road, a brothel stand at the end. It's light became the beacon that caught my attention. Finally, I can see something other than that dimly lit roads. The pain in my back and the weariness is starting to worn me out. I stopped at the entrance of the brothel.
"How do I make this Michaelis to believe me and come to the shrine?" I asked, facing the other two.
"Your Highness, you are a god. You just have to seal the contract with him and he will do whatever you tell him to do."
Cool. It answers the whole question. I guess I don't have a problem anymore. I nodded and turned back to the entrance. Time to finish this so that I can find a place to stay. I pushed the door open and the whole crowd quiet down and stared at me. I shrugged it off and strode the place.
The strong smell of cigarettes and tabacco entered my nostrils. The whole place is crowded. As I observed the faces of the crowd, fear came across my features. The crowd is not just your normal crowd. There are faces of an ogre with two or one horn that stare at me intently. There are also a monkey-like creature that bounces off the couch. Girl with big breast but look like a racoon dog. There is also a kind of lizardman customer sticking on the ceiling above me. My whole mind screams scram. I wanted to just run away from this bunch of creatures. I regretted coming here. I'd rather just stay homeless for eternity than choosing to find a person among this overwhelming yet terrifying crowd.
I walked wearily towards the information desk. As I approach the counter, there stood a fine looking tiger woman with a tabacco on her hand.
"Excuse me," I started.
The woman turned her attention towards me as she suck her tabacco.
"Yes, what can I help you?" She asked.
"Do you know someone called Michaelis?" I asked.
"I do."
She breathed out the smoke in my face, overwhelming me with the hateful smell. I coughed and fan my palm to chase the smoke away. Great. Do I look like an astray? I would smell like cigarette for a long time.
"But what is your business with him, human?" She asked, and followed a by circle-shaped smoke that hug my face again. One more smoke and I'm out of this place. I'll bid farewell to the miasma on that shrine.
"I actually need him to cleanse a miasma," I said.
"Get lost human. Master Micahelis does not wish to involve himself on your conflict."
"How can you be so sure? You haven't even told him about it yet," I urged.
Her hand stopped mid-air and her eyes stared like daggers to me—like a slithering snake. Although it doesn't make sense since she looks like a tiger.
"Human, you do not belong here. Go back while you still can," she said and turned her back at me.
My brows furrowed at her actions. I guess I just have to do it my way. I don't even know why I'm doing this. Maybe I should go back and find for a home instead. Which part of this does help me find a place to stay? Which part of me is making sense right now? I guess there is none.
"Okay, I'm going home," I muttered.
I ran through the entrance and pulled it open.
"Your Highness, you can't!" They screamed.
I ignored there words and stepped out of the place. I'm so done with this. I'm definitely going home, despite being homeless. I'll definitely find a way around that problem. I was suddenly stopped from my tracks when a pair of hands pulled both of my leg to a hault.
"Let go of me! I'm so done with this nonsense!"
"No, you mustn't your Highness," they cried.
"Let go!"
"No!"
There gripped intensified almost pinning me down to my feet. I tried to pull them away from my leg but unto no avail. My screaming and their crying resonated like an out of tone melody under the darkness.
We were stopped from our brawl when the ground shook vehemently. My eyes widened and I instinctively dropped on the ground.
"My, look what we have here." A male voice boomed.
I look up and found a gigantic ogre with horns and canines, towering over me. Fear run through my blood, and I trembled.
"Your Highness, run!"
The children pulled me up off my feet and pushed me away. Instinctively, my feet started running as fast as the throbbing of my heart.
"Running away? It's okay. Feisty ones are much more tasteful," he bellowed.
I ran all my might without paying attention to my surroundings. My heavy panting is starting to reach my ear. My pursuer's laughing voice echoed through the place. The ground trembles as he run wild, chasing after me. What do I do? I tried to look for the children but they are nowhere to be seen. Where are they? They didn't leave me here to die, right?
I stopped at a dead end, with gigantic trees looming over me. I staggered back, as I felt the trembling movement caused by the ogre behind me. Tears started to form in the corner of my eye. What should I do? I'm too young to die. It's too early for me to go after my grandfather. Tears started to run down my cheeks as I trembled in fear.
"So this is the god of Regalia Shrine? A human?"
Eyes darted upwards as I heard a voice. There stand at the top is the most gorgeous man I've ever seen in my entire life. He is dressed in a pure white kimono with a hair as white as snow and tails that hug his frame. A truly beautiful specimen to behold.
"This is the god I will served? Blasphemy. I will not acknowledge her. Look at how filthy she is. Let alone the absence of an attractive face. Too skinny. And I sense no divine power from her at all."
Wow. He did it. He just broke something that stirred my blood hotter, that it reached the boiling point.
"Well, you're not attractive as well you big dog!" I snapped.
"What did you say? Ignorant fool, I am a nine-tailed fox. Not a lowly dog." He stated.
Who cares about your looks. Your attitude is a deadpan.
"You are a dog as your attitude says so," I barked.
I heard him clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Die, you insolent fool." He said as the gigantic ogre came in sight. Laughing as he approached me with his heavy strides.
"Master Michaelis!" The children screamed.
I staggered back as the ogre hovered in front of me. I can't seem to breath. My heart pumps wildly like running horses. The ogre suddenly reached out his hand towards me. I dodged and ran on the other side but his hand still reached me. He grabbed me and tossed me around like a toy.
"Help me!" I screammed.
"Master Michaelis!" The girl screamed.
Michaelis sighed.
"Just say you are sorry and I, Michaelis will save you from your misery, human."
"I will not!" I spat.
Never will I apologize to the likes of you. I screamed at the top of my lungs as the ogre continues to toy with me. I'm about to puke. This is getting my head dizzy.
"Your Highness, please say it," the children urged.
"I will not! Never!"
The ogre laughed and suddenly, he stopped throwing me around. I'm thankful for the consideration. Because if this continues, I might can't hold back. My stomach is churned. As I focus not to puke, I felt a warm air and a very smelly air fanning me. I looked down and saw the ogre opening his mouth, with me on the top. He's going to eat me. He's going to eat me! I struggled to break free from his grasped. I could hear the shouts and screams of the children. I guess this the last moment of my life. This is a bit of a tragic ending though. Being homeless and in debt, I will be eaten by a monster from another world. No one will come find me or save me.
I closed my eyes as I wait for my judgment.
"Just say it! Don't choose death just because of your pride!"
A shout echoed and followed by a loud crash. I opened my eyes and I saw Michaelis pinning the ogre down as I flew away from his direction. Rather, I was thrown away when he smacked the ogre. I had too much. I'm feeling dizzy already. I reached out my hand towards his direction.
"Michaelis," I muttered.
I fell on a cold and dark place. It's wet and I can't breathe. I must have fallen into the water. I need to resurface. As I tried to move, my breathing hitched. And I felt like my throat has been crushed. I can't breathe. I need air. Air. Please someone, save me. My consciousness is slowly fading away. I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Darkness devoured me.
Save me, Michaelis.
A pair of warm skin touches my lips. What is this tingling sensation? Am I still alive? I opened my eyes and saw Michaelis holding me close underwater, with his eyes closed, and lips sealing mine.
He lips left mine before I lost consciousness and surrendered to the darkness.