"Unto rocks so aged, crumbled untold, vestiges drained, no more than dust." - Me obviously, who else would right these footnotes... they're not quotes! Or at least I think they're not, hopefully I haven't been reciting some famous person's life's work for the last... six, seven months, oh the nightmares I have.
~~~
"Well, well, well, the front-runner isn't so strong after all, breaking after a few of my... special skeletons, what I'm known for really."
"Too bad I couldn't get their effects to work on mages too, it makes my special puppets boring when some wannabe heroes crash my tomb with an outrageous amount of those "prestigious geniuses"!" Grumbled Rin while attempting to do some tricks with a knife and failing miserably.
"You know, if my life was a story, this would be the perfect time for a side chapter... what do you think, Ya-ya?"
"My name is Yaina, understand!" Snarled Yaina as he grabbed Rin's left wrist and stared down at the tattered bandage that barely covered her eyes.
"Haha, I'm glad you agree, my life would make a wonderful story!" Smiled Rin while slipping her arm out of Yaina's grasp and throwing both her hands into the air celebratorily.
~~~
"This desert is so vast, I don't see an end in sight, my vision is getting blurry... I think this is the end for me." Coughed a young green haired teen with scars etched into her forehead.
"It wouldn't hurt to take a quick rest, this sand feels like the most comfortable bed in the world right now... why would I even want to get up." Smiled the young lady as her head dropped face first into the sand below.
Though, when the girl looked up to see the flickering world one last time, she saw a blurry figure walk up to her through the sand; seemingly unaffected by its presence.
"Hello... you may know me as the demigod of the sea." Spoke the man as he kneeled down by the abandoned teen.
"A fate worse than none to be used up and cast out by your own kind, maybe it's for that reason that I chose to show myself to you now; you pitiful girl."
"But the more I stare at you, kneeling here, the more I realize why I really came down here, to offer you a second chance; to help you defy your unlucky fate."
"All you have to do is say two words; I agree and I shall alter the course of your fate... but is your willpower strong enough, has your maltreatment shaped your determination enough to do whatever it takes to survive, I know not."
The young lady's lips touched together as if to try and form a word, but naught came out... her eyelids neared the bottom and it seemed as though all life had left her in an instant.
"Tsk', what a shame, I had such high hopes for you too, a servant with such determination would've been a great asset to my cause." Sighed the demigod while hopping up and turning to walk away, but then, at that moment, he heard a faint voice coming from behind him.
"I... accept." It sounded like the words were choked out, like a desperate plea for life.
"Oh, what a wonderful surprise." Muttered the man as he cocked an eyebrow.
"You've accepted my help and I shall grant it, in seconds this place will be a paradise and you, a creature of both water and land."
"Though you shalln't remember anything until five years from now, on your twentieth birthday a woman and two others will show and free you from this temporary prison... you will be deep underground when the memories finally resurface." Grinned the demigod of which the green haired girl now could see was finely clad in brilliant silks.
"Do me proud Emril, for at the very moment you regain your memories, you will become my champion." Promised the man as sand warped into grass and trees around them.
Emril could only remember falling after that, falling deeper and deeper into a blue abyss.
The next thing she could remember was hunger, an overwhelming desire to eat, to devour those around her. She consumed all those who drew near, whether they were annoying monkeys, or humans; it mattered not.
Sadly though, the wildlife soon learned to avoid her and drank from her lagoon whilst she slept. This led only to hunger consuming her as well as she turned the oasis red with blood, few animals have roosted there ever since.
~~~
"Emril, make sure you try extra hard in school today, I hear you've caught the young duke's eye." Swooned a lady Emril could only remember as being her mom.
"It seems our family's naturally green hair isn't a curse after all, you're only nine and the fourteen year old duke has eyes for you already, you must be soul mates!" Exaggerated Emril's mother while opening the door and softly nudging Emril out.
~~~
"Did you hear, the young duke's getting married at the age of seventeen." Gossiped a maid as she mopped the chestnut colored floor.
"Don't you think that's a bit young, he must be sure he found the right person then, oh how I envy the young girl who's his betrothed." laughed another maid while staring dreamily into the air.
"Want a man to lift you off your feet and carry you away to his mansion, I'm sure you'll find someone someday." Consoled the other maid while patting her on the shoulder and dragging her away.
"Yeah, he's really young, only one month shy of becoming a man... and let's not forget all the wonderful things he's accomplished in the short time he's served as the Duke's adviser, what an amazing man he must be." Spat Emril as she tried the door one last time, but alas, it was still locked.
"Open you damn piece of junk!" Snapped Emril while banging her fist against the wooden door.
"One might say I haven't the right to make judgment upon the righteous young duke as I've only seen him three, or times since we first met... what a load of crap, it's been three fucking years of hell caused by none other than the prestigious young duke himself."
"All I ever hear about him is praise, either the townsfolk are blind, or that bastard duke is just as smart as they say he is."
"He even had mages come here and cast reinforcement and noise canceling enchantments under the pretense that he was curious about how the mages cast their spells... how he got them to cast those specific spells and keep them there is bey-."
"Young miss, your presence is requested by the new Duke... he wishes to get married today to celebrate his new position as the old Duke... abruptly passed away this morning." Explained a timid maid as she poked her head through the door.
"Yes, then let's be off!"
'Passed away my ass.'
"Great!" "The Duke will be overjoyed to hear that you agree with his change of plans!" Gleamed the maid while a smile slowly blossomed on her face.
~~~
"Oh, it seems the Duke couldn't make it to the marriage, he was more shaken by his father's death than he thought he would be, but no matter; the marriage can continue with him in our hearts!"
"Poor boy, to lose your father at such a tender age, I couldn't imagine the same happening to me."
~~~
"The Duke sent you a letter to apologise for not making it to the marriage, he was so distraught when he handed it to me, I hope you know how sincere he's being and the pain he must be going through." Announced a maid as she walked in with a letter in hand.
"He told me specifically not to open it, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I read it to you, would that be okay?" Inquired the maid while holding the white and pink letter up like a bar of gold.
"Sure, I don't mind."
'What an idiot... Hopefully, in the next life, you'll remember that the Duke has eyes everywhere. He's behind you right now.'
"You've been a good girl lately, not causing me trouble behind my back I hope, sorry I missed out precious enjoining, apparently my mother saw me dispose of her husband's body... can't have that getting out n-now can we." Whined the maid, reading the letter and looking back just a second late to see a knife slice cleanly through her neck.
The Duke walks in, his face, charming as ever. He pulls out a pure white handkerchief and drowns it in that of a crimson abyss.
Whiping the knife clean. He pulls a welcoming and kind smile, all but true.
"Oh darling. I hope you liked my letter... it was made from my father's own skin after all." His voice chivalrous but deceiving.
"Now, where is that offsring you promised me? You wouldn't want me to use you for spare parts... Now would you?" Eyes cold as ice and mouth parted to form a devious smile, faint and thin.