It has been 4 days since the "giant" attacked the House of Wallace Kim, making it my 5th day as a maid here. I was once again tasked to clean the halls and rooms under the supervision of senior maid Lila Ax. She was an older woman; old enough to be my grandparent, but her posture was firm that complimented the fire in her eyes. Her gray hair was the longest I've seen of the maids here; tied in a ponytail reaching past her waist. Her maid uniform was a traditional Victorian, black, and the long shirt that covered her ankles. She seemed to push me hard because she cared about the job, but unlike Lana did not share that care with me.
Practically breaking my bones sweeping under the furnisher, I thought back to the moment after the giant was slain and wondered why I stayed. The day after was when I was told that other worlds existed. Many are similar to the one I know, but different all the same. The maids knew this and some came from those worlds, but Wallace was 100 percent human like me. The giant was something else. Wallace, who explained all of the above, made it sound like a myth turned real. Its presence was described as the coming of the zombie apocalypse.
That's when I should have left. That was the point I should have packed my bags and never looked back lest I turn to salt. I sighed, looking down at my broom only to get scolded by Lila. Despite my current situation, the pay was still great, my name was still signed on the one-year deal, and now, as of 4 days ago, a mystery has surfaced. I know my life was endangered more so because I put myself there. But if I hadn't listened to that voice, lives would have been lost. But what was that voice? Was it the top/weapon/spear(whatever it was)?
Aside from some stray thoughts and curses towards Lila, I didn't have time to think about that.
My shift was over and I was lying on my back in my comfortable clothes. A knock came to my door and soon after the O'Conner sisters walked in. This was our routine since I wasn't working in the kitchen and I didn't see them much. The giant attack halted the plan of letting me alternate between jobs.
"I still can't believe Lila is pushing you this hard," Sallie said.
"I'm convinced she hates me," I responded blankly.
"It is strange," Sallie noted. "She seems to like everyone."
"Lila has always been a hard ass." Lana made it sound like she was finishing her sister's statement. "That said, Eve has only done well for the house."
Not sure how to proceed, I asked, "So, how's the 'dissection' going?"
"Great," Sallie answered. "The science team is learning a lot."
"I've never heard Trolly laugh so much… or hard," said Madison. The sisters all shivered at once.
Lana continued. "The problem is that it's one of many kinds of giant. Knowing this one head to toe doesn't guarantee us an advantage."
"So what now," I asked.
"Master Wallace plans on Seliana to tell him something about the giant. Her house is said to have sealed the giants, so her knowledge would be invaluable." Sallie puffed out her chest, proud to know all of what she said.
There was a pause before I spoke again. "Why do I feel like there's a complication in that plan?"
Madison said plainly, "Master Wallace and Seliana hate each other."
"Why?"
"Political differences?"
Lana rolled her eyes. "Master Wallace is leaving tomorrow. Right, Sallie?"
"Yep!" chirped Sallie. "Tina's going as well."
From there, we chatted through the night until we fell asleep.
The next day started badly, as expected. Lila stood in front of me with 4 other maids standing behind her. They were much younger than her, but they wore the same style of uniform as her. They all smirked at me maliciously and I'm sure Lila would be too if she wasn't so stoic.
"Today, Miss Young," Lila announced, practically looking down on me, "you will be moaning this side of the estate before days end."
We were on the backside of the mansion looking over the lake. Surely she didn't mean the whole thing! I was only given a push lawn mower as well. I couldn't deny her --per se--, so I tried to think optimistically. That said, did she believe I could go up and down the hill, around the lake, and everything in between in a day? With a push lawn mower!?
"Hurry up, Miss Young. You're wasting daylight. Maybe you should have woken up sooner." This somehow got a chuckle out of the other maids.
Doing my best to not visibly scowl, I bent down to try to start the lawnmower. As I questioned why such a rich place would have less advanced equipment, I heard my name roll through the field as an echo. It must have happened out loud since Lila and the band were looking around, too.
"Eve." Wallace was coming down the hill towards us with Tina right behind him. His hair was slicked back and he wore a suit. Once he was close to me, he said, "Eve, you're coming with me."
I straightened up and practically leaped on his back in the hope he would take me far and fast from Lila and her task.
"Master Wallace." I stopped dead in my tracks at the sound of Lila's voice. "Miss Young was in the middle of a task."
With an unphased, deadpan expression, Wallace replied, "And?"
"Is it not dishonorable for a maid to quit a task before it is done?"
"Would it not be dishonorable for that same maid to ignore an order from the master of the house?" Lila was silent. "Besides, you can manage with one less maid."
"Of course, Master Wallace," Lila said with a bow. After that, she left without a puff, but the same could not be said about her cohorts. Pushing the lawn mower past me, they each gave me nasty looks out of sight of Wallace. He must have noticed regardless.
Once they were gone, Wallace asked with a raised eyebrow, "What did you do?"
"Nothing!! I think." I didn't want Lila to hear me. "She's been like that ever since I've been put under her 'care'."
"...Weird. I'll have to talk to her later."
"So… where are we going?"
"What? Oh, yeah. I'm taking you to the Bronze City, Caporon."
I remember the conversation I had with the O'Conners. "You're going to see Seliana aren't you?"
"Yeah." I could feel the lack of enthusiasm in his voice.
He led me down to the lake where we stood on the pier. There, leaning on the edge of the peer with the lower half of her body underwater, Lilly was waiting. Lilly had smooth, pale skin with short red hair and yellow-green eyes. Her uniform was dark green, silky, and form-fitting so that it was water-resistant and good for swimming.
"Good morning, Master," she said in a quiet, slow tone. "Are you ready for your meeting?"
"Physically," Wallace pointed to his attire, "yes. But I don't want to go."
Lilly just smiled. "I'll open the portal." With that, Lilly slipped into the water.
Tina got my attention and said, "I won't be able to explain at this moment, but for now just jump into the light."
"What do you mean?" I asked. Soon after I did, a sparkling light shined from the end of the pier originating from the lake. "Wait. If I jump in, won't I get wet?"
Tina smiled wide and said, "Trust us." Wallace already jumped into the light. Tina walked me to the pier's edge and took my hand. I looked down at the light and it didn't blind me. I gripped Tina's hand tighter and stepped back unsure what to do.
Tina gently pulled towards the light and we fell in together.
Getting ejected out of the portal was like stepping off of an escalator. I and Tina rose from the exit and through some force were gently placed on the ground. I didn't realize how tightly my eyes were closed on how tightly I was holding Tina's arm.
A symphony of laughter came from Tina and when I opened my eyes I saw that she was laughing from a mouth on her shoulder and elbow as well as her original mouth. I nearly fell back into the water the portal was in but remembered what Tina was. At least, I had an idea of what she was. As part of the explanation of "hidden worlds", Tina was used as an example of what different creatures existed throughout. She was known as a Cipactli whose main trait that I could recall was she had a mouth at the end of each bend in her body. This was the first time I've seen it.
Wallace was smiling when he said, "Eve, welcome to the Bronze City, Caporon."
I looked around to see a city made of almost completely copper and bronze. While looking up at the skyscrapers, I saw a raging sandstorm being blocked by a clean bubble. If there was a sun out there, it could barely pierce through the sand to offer its light. In its place was a lamp in the center of the bubble. Small trees and bushes were sparsely placed around the water fountain we came from giving the area an exotic feel. The streets were alive with elves whose skin was as bronze as the city. Many glared at us as they passed, making me inch closer to Tina.
"Come on," Wallace gestured to follow him. "The worst part is yet to come."
As we walked down the street and as a way to distract me from my nerves, I asked Wallace, "So, why is the city encased in this dome?"
"Aside from the obvious sandstorm? No other reason. That said, something that I found interesting is that the storm outside is a never-ending one of rust and not sand."
"Really?! What's causing it?"
"I haven't figured that part out and I don't think anyone here has either. To this world, the Bronze City doesn't exist. A myth within a myth."
My eyes wandered across the city. The polished metal glinted in the light. The bronze skin of the elves was almost as radiant, but their dark stares drew my attention.
"Why are they staring at us?" I asked. "Is it because of me?"
"No," replied Tina. "It's me." Tina wasn't smiling anymore. She stared almost blankly forward trying to ignore the attention she was apparently attracting.
"I don't understand."
"I'm an abomination; the lowest of races."
"What does that mean?" Tina didn't seem to want to answer my question. Lucky for her, we arrived at our destination.
Seliana's keep. A set of large buildings connected by enclosed walkways on each level. The smaller building was in the center raised high above the others making it the best place to look over the city. Connecting the center to the ground was an elevator making it the most direct method of getting to Seliana. For this reason, the entrance to the elevators were guarded heavily with armed soldiers and their pack animals.
Wallace led Tina and Eve to the elevator and addressed one of the guards. "Bablon. Hanging in there?" Before Wallace could enter, the tall bronze elf known as Bablon stood in the way confusing Wallace.
Bablon replies to Wallace's question as if nothing had happened. "It's good to see you in good health, Master Wallace. How can I be of service?"
Looking between Bablon and the elevator, Wallace said, "You could let me and my maids in."
"I'm afraid I have been given strict orders to not let you in."
"On what grounds?"
"It was an order from her grace. I can't disobey her."
"So she knew I planned to come, but did not properly deny my visit? What sense does that make?"
Bablon was (metaphorically) being pushed up against a wall not knowing how to handle the situation. Seeing this, Wallace continued. "Just let me in so I can at least sort out these mishaps."
Bablon looked at his friend only to not get a proper answer. "I guess the best way to solve this problem at this point would be to do it in person. I can't promise you what you're looking for."
"Thank you, Bablon."
And with that, we all got on the elevator. As we went up, I took in the shining city slowly falling under my feet. It was an awe inspiring view, but there was a stiffness in the air. Neither Wallace nor Tina found enjoyment in the city as I did.
Now at the top floor, we made our way through a hall and eventually led up a flight of stairs. In a similar fashion to the Jones mansion, there were pictures on the walls of what I assumed were previous members that ruled the bronze city. The older looking picture had the ones posing dressed in armor and the newer ones having no armor.
We now stood in front of two big doors that Wallace did not hesitate to open. Inside was whom I assumed was Seliana lying on cushions wearing a thin robe. Around her were multiple young male bronze elves serving her food or making her more comfortable. She seemed so into the pampering that she didn't realize we had entered.
"I see where your priorities lie." Said Wallace.
This got Seliana's attention causing her to fluster. "Wallace?! You would dare enter my home unannounced!"
"On the contrary, I went through all the right channels to contact you and announce my arrival. You're the one who didn't respond in any way."
"You should have taken the hint and left it be. As you can see, I would rather not be desturbed any further."
"Seliana, I know you've read the letter I sent. I have to go through the same process. You should know that the contents in there cannot and should not be ignored."
Seliana straightens herself from where she was sitting. "That letter claims that giants are about in the worlds, and yet the gate to which I guard has not been tampered with in any way. You expect me to believe that one managed to slip out without me knowing?"
"I would expect your cooperation in at least helping me figure out what's going on. You're the only noble house I know that has first hand records of the giants."
"Well it seems you had too high expectations. "
Something began to boil inside Wallace. Did she not understand the clear problem that was presented to her and then claim that he was mad? Wallace's mouth began to tingle. Sparks of lightning danced around his face as his anger grew. Every elf in the room tried to move even further out of reach from the human noble as the air slowly became hollow. Only Seliana and Tina stood firm as they knew what was to come next.
Wallace began to walk forward ready to scream his defiance to this sloth of a noble, but something held him back.
Once again, something moved me to grab Wallace's sleeve. A dangerous move I would realize when he turned to look at me. His eyes pulsed with anger as well as electricity. I could see the fangs forming in his mouth as they created a gate for his nuclear blast attack he was preparing. And yet, I stood there.
Looking him in the eyes, I said, "We don't need to stay here. She won't help us." Both my voice and hands trembled. I could barely get my words out nor could I sit still.
I sighed with relief as I watched Wallace calm down. All of the power dissipated and he now had a look of realization to what he was doing. He gritted his teeth and backed down, turning his back to Seliana and out the door.
"Is that all it takes to subdue you? A pretty face and begging?" moked Seliana. Through some kind of determination, Wallace ignored her and we left the building soon after.
No one said anything for a long time. For a while, I thought I did something wrong. We were right in the middle of a sidewalk and a good distance away from where Seliana was staying where I began to speak again.
"Where are we going next?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, that was our best and only shot at finding information about the giants." Tina replied.
"Really? You would think something like those things would be in everyone's history books."
"They are in one form or another." Wallace stopped walking and turned to me. "But only Seliana has detailed descriptions of the many giant types that existed. There is no guarantee that we will be attacked again, but if we ever are there is a chance that the next giant will not be the same as the first."
"So… that was our last chance?" My heart sank with the thought of going through such an event again even less prepared as before.
"No. Not our last chance." At that moment, Wallace no longer seemed to be looking at anything in front of him. He was deep in a thought that troubled him.
Tina took notice and spoke with great concern. "Master, you can't be thinking about that place."
"Do you have a better idea?"
"Master, we have maids that could always 'tactically acquire' what we need."
"You mean steal." Wallace said bluntly.
"That's a really bad idea." I said. "It's bad enough that the ruler of this place seems to dislike you guys. Even without proof of who could have potentially taken her things, she'll put the blame on you."
"Besides, I'm not putting any more maids in harm's way." Wallace said sternly.
"But you can't be thinking of using the Eye of Truth! The last time you did…" Tina went silent as her words fell short.
"What's the Eye of Truth?" I asked.
"Our last chance for answers." And with that, Wallace took off to the fountain where Lilly was waiting. Tina followed him at the heel trying to convince her master to try other options.
Tina used everything from sweet words to stern comments. Nothing seemed to change Wallace's grim expression.
At the fountain, Tina grabs Wallace's arm, stopping him in place. "Wally, listen to me."
Wallace turned to her slowly. It was like he was trying to avoid eye contact with her.
"Eve." said Wallace while still looking at Tina, "Let Lilly know we're going to the Eye of Truth."
"No we are not!" Tina retorted. "Wally."
I was locked in place. Tina was sad and desperate while Wallace was determined yet defeated. Eventually, I made my way towards the fountain. Silently, I prayed that Tina would forgive me.
At the fountain, Lilly was nowhere in sight. I bent over to the crystal water and called out for her. From the pool, Lilly popped out splashing the water on me.
"Yes? Oh." Lilly covers her mouth realizing what she did. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's fine." I said with my clothes heavily dripping off of me. "I came to tell you we're going to the Eye of Truth. I think that's what it was called."
"I see. Well, I think I can assume that the meeting with Seliana didn't go well."
"No, and I don't think I made the situation better."
"Maybe not, but I had a feeling it would end like this."
Wallace and Tina finally made it to the fountain. Wallace looked towards Lilly and asked, "Are we ready to go?"
After Lilly gleathly confirmed that she was, we made our way through the portal.
We arrived at our next destination standing on a dock. It was just as empty as the waters surrounding it which panned endlessly on all sides. The water barley rippled even with the light winds skimming across it. The land the dock was attached to was mostly a cliff with a cave entrance.
Compared to the city of bronze, this place disappointed me. I guess it would be better to say that I was expecting something ominous based on how Tina reacted to it. Yet, from what I saw it was nothing but a giant rock sticking out of the water, Wallace must have seen something else. He was the definition of dread looking at a place that held bad memories for him.
From the waters, Lilly says to Wallace, "Come back safely." Wallace would only nod in response.
I couldn't wrap my head around the fear everyone had for this place, but figured I would get my answers eventually. We finally reached the entrance of the cave. It was bigger up close and it's plain exterior was contrasted by the white marble inside. I couldn't believe I missed what was essentially a hospital waiting room from the outside. Lantern lights reflected off the white interior so brightly that I wondered how it didn't show outside.
The residents of this place were small, brown skin goblins that wore professional and casual cloth.
We got to one of the desks occupied by a male goblin who looked up from his papers slowly.
He addressed Wallace saying, "I see you have another maid under your employ, Master Walace."
I whispered to Tina, "Is it that obvious?"
Tina whispered back, "No. They just have a unique connection with the Eye of Truth."
"I still don't know what that is."
Wallace says to the goblin, "I'm here to use the Eye."
"Very well." says the goblin bowing. He jumped off his seat motioning all of us to follow him.
While we walked, Tina explained, "It is what the name implies; a tunnel that shows you the truth."
"That doesn't seem that bad."
Tina's eyes darkened. She held her response when we stopped at a large opening in a wall. The light barely illuminated the edges of the entrance only to be unnaturally consumed by the darkness inside.
Wallace looked into the painfully familiar darkness.
"May you be enlightened." said the goblin sturred, but Wallace didn't address him nor did he look back before he took a step forward.
To those who go into the Eye of Truth, they would describe the experience as being wrapped in the darkness but always having a light glow from you. It was in the darkness you had to keep on a solid question for it was the loudest question in your mind that would get answered.
How do I defend against the giants? Such a simple question was hard to keep in his mind for Wallace knew before getting an answer he must pass the trial. Wallace took a deep breath as the scenery changed. He wasn't going to die.
The darkness gave way to a lightly forested area on uneven ground. Small hills rolled across the land until it began to sink. The sun was maybe 2 hours past noon directly shining over the depression illuminating a town in it's center. Past the town was a canyon that made the whole place look like it was once a body of water fed by a large river.
Wallace didn't recognize the area, but that was the case last time at the end of the trial where he was underground. He decided to make his way to the town only to be stopped by a familiar voice.
"Master? What are you doing here?"
With a sunken heart, Wallace turned to see who it was. His face became pure white, yet his eyes filled with a semblance of hope. Before him were many maids that were part of the Valkyrie corp. The front most one and the one that caught his eye was the one with short brown hair and almost pink skin. Two top fangs protruded from her mouth revealing her canine nature.
Wallace breathlessly says her name, "Rebeca..."
It was only after Wallace walked into the whole in the wall when Tina decided to continue.
"I don't know how long the Eye of Truth has existed, but it wasn't until the goblins colonized arounded it that people began to take more of an interest. Through their willingness to die and their fast increase in numbers, the goblins were able to master the Eye's trials and gained many truths making them recognized as an elder race."
"This place kills people, and Wallace just casually walked in there?!" I understood the air of dreed that even now clinged to Tina.
"Master took on the trial before and succeeded." Said Tina.
"But you don't sound confident this time." I said, commenting on the hint of quivering in her voice.
The goblin who brought us to the Eye spoke up. "All the trials are the same. One must experience a corresponding truth before receiving the answer to their question. Sometimes that corresponding truth is too much for some to handle."
"They can't move on." It was then I understood the potential problem Wallace could be dealing with. He must have considered what he might find there before he got his answer. Yet he did not hesitate to walk in. How desperate was this man to save his home?
"Go home Rebeca. Take your Valakaries and go." At some level, Wallace knew that this was just a dream. The past was in stone and nothing he did here would change his reality, but she was right here. If he could just save her here, then maybe he can be forgiven for failing them.
"I don't understand, Master."
Wallace didn't have time to explain. Unfortunately, it didn't matter. The ground began to shake and the air grew thin. The wind blew in the direction of the town causing Wallace to turn in its direction. Between the canyon down in the valley, a small light began to grow into a tear rising into the sky. When the tear reached a point where it couldn't go any higher, two sets of giant fingers came through to open the portal thruther. Frost erupted out of the portal freezing the immediate area completely covering the houses as well as most of the valley.
Wallace couldn't turn away as he watched the same giant that attacked his home come out shaking the ground as it walked.
Wallace ordered his valkyries, "Run! Get to a portal and leave."
One of the valkyrie pips up, "That town had the only portal in miles."
As soon as she mentioned that, time moved forward where the valkyries were fighting the giant. Nothing they did damaged the monster and many could barely douge its attacks.
But why still fight? Wallace thought to himself, but he didn't allow himself to fall into the darkness of his mind. He summoned Gungnir in his hand and took on his third form. Phantom ears grew on his head and he lined up the spear so that it would hit the giant's heart. This is not their fight. And with that, Gungnir was launched.
The darkness gave way to a lightly forested area on uneven ground. Small hills rolled across the land until…. wait.
Wallace recognized the area. He was here not too long ago.
"Master? What are you doing here?"
With a sunken heart, Wallace turned to see who it was. Rebeca stood where she was before looking at him as she did the first time. What was the Eye doing?
Tina had to sit down. She wouldn't talk to me as I could imagine it was taking everything she had to not think of the worse case scenario. I stared deeply into the dark tunnel hoping to see Wallace.
The goblin walked up to me and asked, "Is there a question you need answered?"
Still staring at the tunnel, I responded, "I do, but I don't think I'm brave enough to walk through."
"It's not alway bravery that pushes people to act. Curiosity, fear, greed…. The Eye only cares about one thing; acceptance."
"Do you believe Wallace can accept what he sees in there?"
"We have come to expect nothing from anyone. All go in, few come out. That is the truth we accept."
I looked over to Tina. I was sure she didn't want anything bad to happen to Wallace, but at that moment I thought about all the others who would worry just as much. An entire house of maids who have made it their lives work to make the life of Wallace happy and comfortable. I wondered if Tina offered herself to go into the Eye only to be turned down by Wallace.
If Wallace failed, the house would be lost long before any giant could make another attack.
I turned back to the tunnel and began to walk.
"May you be enlightened." said the goblin.
Tina was quick to grab my arm, squeezing it to the point where it was hurting. "What are you doing?" she asked frantically. Her eyes stared deep into mine as if to scare me into submission.
I was taken aback. I had never seen her so upset. Yet, I managed to reply. "I'm going to make sure that Wallace comes back."
"You can't go into the Eye. You won't find Wally let alone find your way back without completing the trial."
"....I have to go." I said timidly.
"But why? You have no obligation to him."
"Which also means I have no ties to him. If something happens to me, there is nothing he has to lose. It's why you won't go after him because he doesn't want to loose you."
"But you can't just throw away your life like this."
We stood there in silence for a while as she slowly let go of my arm. "When I came to your door, I had just finished many years of learning and not a lot of doing. Much of who I am came from watching and listening to others. I'm important to a good number of people, but Wallace is important in a different way. If he dies, much will change for the worse in comparison to my death."
"You barely know us."
"And based on the little time I've had with you, I think I can trust Wallace." Before she could object, I stormed into the Eye. I sent up one last prayer before the darkness took me.
"Rebeca!" Wallace tried to block the on coming attack from the giant's club as it was about to crush the last remaining valkyrie. As soon as the block connected, the loop started anew.
The loop would restart every time Wallace did something to try and save his maids or attempted to look away from their fate. They had to die in order for the loop to stop, but Wallace couldn't allow that. However, each loop cost him stamina to stand against the giant. At this point, he was in his normal state barely holding up Gunginre.
YOU MUST LET THIS PLAY OUT. Said the manifestation of the Eye of Truth.
"Why even show me this!?" Wallace breathlessly screamed at the sky. "How does this connect in any major way to the giants?!"
THIS IS THE TRUTH YOU FAIL TO ACCEPT.
"I have accepted their deaths. The reason I'm here is to prevent new ones."
YET YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO SEE THEIR BODIES. YOU DROWN IN THE MEMORIES OF THEIR LIVES AND CANNOT MOVE ON.
"I've chosen to be productive!" Lighting flared out of Wallace's mouth. "I am choosing to move forward while not forgetting them."
THEN THIS TEST IS SIMPLE. Once again, the scene replayed as one by one each maid fell to the giant. Wallace shouted as lightning left his mouth aimed at the club, but this time with no effect.
Wallace closed his eyes for what was to come and dropped to his knees when the club shook the earth.
Silence. Wallace could do nothing else but cry.
He spoke to himself, "I just want to save them."
THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE. YOU MUST ACCEPT THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT.
"....I can't." Wallace looked up with tears in his eyes as light shined off them. Rebeca stood in front of him, but Wallace couldn't stand to look at her.
"Master," Wallace didn't move, "you can't blame yourself for this."
Wallace's eyes snapped open. Rebeca still stood in front of him, but he could tell that she was looking at him sadly rather than in confusion. Confused himself, he responds, "You didn't have to die."
"I guess not. But we did. That's not your fault."
"I know. I can't change what has happened, but this is still the second time a death has happened to someone outside of my control. I can't wrap my head around it."
Rebeca kneeled down to her master and hugged him. "Even still, you can't stay here in the past. Save who is left. We aren't going anywhere."
Tears rolled down Wallace's face once again as he hugged Rebeca back. Another light shined through Wallace's closed eyes as a flood of information about the giant came to him. The next moment, Eve was helping him out of the Eye of Truth.