"Once in noble battle..."
A man's voice trembled, "I screamed against the deafening silence, I roared against the pouring rain, filled nothing but rage and regret at my own helplessness and arrogance."
His voice, raspy, was filled with a mix of regret, pain, anger, sadness, and frustration, "The rain..." the voice paused and breathed shakily, "...felt like a thousand needles piercing into my body, my tears blending with the rain, my blood mixing within the muck and mud of the earth. But to me? It did not matter, as the pain that I felt within my soul, felt greater than the pain I felt in my skin."
"It's not... your fault." A young girl weakly muttered, where he held her and saw her beautiful and unblemished face but her life quickly fleeting, the boy similar to her age, his left eye damaged severely and a drop of blood trickled down and landed on her cheek under his breath, he apologized over and over, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Cradling her, holding her tightly, despite dying, the young girl let out a warm smile amidst the cold landscape and held his right cheek, and the young boy held her hand, and comforted him, "It's ok, it's alright... I knew that it was beyond your control. I knew that you weren't yourself. So, please don't cry..." Once, she let out a weak chuckle, "It's really not your thing to cry you know? After all, you are and always will be, my... Doodoo... head..." Her hand fell after touching his face, and slowly, amidst the pouring rain, died in the boy's arms, "Freya...?" the boy asked, "Freya...?! No..." He shouted with all of his might, "No! FREYA!!!" While Freya is lying in his arms, he looked up and shouted against the dark sky, his voice screaming against the silence... "Please! Freya! Don't leave me! NOOOOOO!!!"
And the landscape turned black, "Like clay I will mold you and in the raging kiln of war I shall forge you. In my vast never-ending knowledge of combat shall I train you. And with the ancient teachings of Az'Nariah, I shall teach you. In my millennia-old wisdom, I shall bestow you."
"You, my boy, will give yourself unto the Dark, to be a safe keeper of our ideals, to protect the weak, to defend the vulnerable, to exact vengeance against those who wronged the innocent from the shadows" a voice boomed, "By this Eye will strengthen you further, providing you abilities that no human nor monster will receive, once mastered you will be unhindered by injury, sickness, and disease. May Darkness shelter thee against the searing Light and shade thine path to glory."
Siegfried woke up in shock, "No!" he looked around and saw that he was in his bedroom, and he was breathing shakily and immediately held his left eye, and looked below and saw that he fell asleep on his couch, he saw a book, he then remembered, "Ah..." he held his temples on his forehead, "...a dream..." he went to his nightstand, and looked at his alarm clock for the time: 7:34 PM. "It happened again... that memory... Master... Freya..."
He then remembered why he was reading in the first place, (After eating dinner, the girls said they were going to take a bath together, so I drew a bath for them.) Siegfried wonders how the girls are doing...
The scene then shifted to the Main Bathroom; there the girls were enjoying the hot bath prepared for them by their Host. "Hmm... Ahh...! Nya, this bath feeeels so gooood!" water splashed and her voice echoed in the massive bathroom, "You could say that again, Lily! I don't know why, but whenever Mister Siegfried prepares the bath it's always a guarantee that it feels good." Remarked by Ivanna, Lily looked to her right and saw Mina fidgeting at the entrance, "And why are you still standing there, Mina? We're all women here!" Ivanna encouraged her as well, "Jump on in, the water is marvelous!" She was still standing at the entrance and was hesitating to join them, "Ah, all right... be there in a sec, I have to shower first." She then went to shower first, she pressed the button and warm water sprinkled on her skin, and lead the showerhead around her body, as she was appropriately soaked, she went up to the tub then slowly dipped her body into the ginormous tub, closed her eyes, and moaned in pleasure as the warm water soaked her skin. "Moo..." when she opened them, she noticed that the two both peered into her body, "Nya, I must say, Mina, I know it's biology and genetics and evolution crap and all, but your body is really erotic. A really plump behind and your breasts though. How does your back not hurt?" she was taken aback from Lily's comment, "L-Lily!" Ivanna and Lily chuckled "I noticed that you garnered plenty of attention from the male populace back at the pool." Mina blushed and humbly denied it, "Oh, stop, you're making me blush, Ivanna!" she clasped her cheeks and went underwater in embarrassment but her tail was swishing happily underneath the tub, Lily raised her hand, "Oh, Lily knows! Back when we first met, she says that her kind especially the females have evolved to have stronger backs. Amirite?" she slowly showed her face and nodded, "Amazing that you still remember that, Lily." She complimented her, "Though it's something I was born with, the daily extraction of my milk. And tossing out the expired ones. These breasts are more of a curse than a blessing if you ask me. They get in the way more times than I could count." Then Mina finally got comfortable in the bathtub, but Lily had other ideas and she suddenly grabbed her and touched her breasts.
"Eek! Lily!? What are you doing!? Stop touching me, i-it tickles!" "Oh my, nya!" then Ivanna joined in the fun, "My, my, your breasts are gargantuan!" "They're so soft and squishy!" "Nya, ooh, I still feel a little bit of milk in as well." Mina shrieked in embarrassment, "Kya! No! Don't touch me there! Eek! Ooh!" she then "released" out of the touching, and a little bit of milk leaked out and streamed onto Ivanna's face, both Mina and Lily had an expression of shock, "Oh no! Ivanna I'm so sorry!" apologized by Mina, Ivanna then chuckled lightly and said, "It is all right, Mina. Our teasing may have gone a tad too overboard." She swiped where the milk landed with her finger and tasted it, and Ivanna's face lit up in pleasant surprise, "Oh my, that's quite delicious."
Then Lily asked in puzzlement, "Nya, really?" and she nodded in approval, "Indeed so."
Then Lily had an idea, "Wait nya, how come we never did this before?" "Like what?" Ivanna asked, "About what we like and dislike? Our opinions of our Host, where we wanna go someday, and whatnot?" Lily continued, "Ivanna you first! Why did you sign up for this program?"
Ivanna wasn't prepared for such an abrupt question, momentarily she fumbled before she semi-gracefully caught herself, "Why?" She coughed, "Why same as you two, t-to see the world! Yes, that's why."
And added, "Well, that's the primary reason as the secondary objective, to obviously find a mate! If possible, to run away with..." her voice trailed off at the last part and wasn't heard by the others, and had a darkened expression before changing her expression to a happy one.
"Wow, I wish a had the courage to declare something like that Ivanna." Envied by Mina who was finishing up her shower, "Nyahahaha! I can relate to that. My mom wants me to find a suitable mate as well. Though I'll say this, I already found him." And Ivanna was pleasantly surprised, "Oh? My word, color me curious, who is it then? Come now! I'm dying to know here!" she was blushing with a cute smile on her face, "Teehee! I'm not telling. ♥"
Mina thought of a question that would befit the atmosphere, "So, uh, what do you think of our Host?" then they both blushed severely, (Oh no. it's him, isn't he?)
Then Ivanna coughed to snap out of it, "Well, for a human he seems to be quite excellent in taking care of us. He's got the looks, he knows how to cook, how to clean, and all the traits of a responsible person and his body..." She was salivating a little bit when she said the last part and wiped it with her hand. "Well, I'll be honest nya, generally he'd be coming off as cold and uncaring but so far he's been the opposite with his soft-spoken voice."
Lily added, "He's been cleaning for us, cooking for us, and generally taking care of us. But he doesn't show any of his emotions, so thus his personality is like that of a brick and somewhat robotic as well, kinda boring to be honest nya..." Mina and Ivanna subconsciously agreed to what she said, "And also." Added by Mina, "His physical prowess is above of that an average human..." and she placed her hand on her chin and thought contemplatively, "I've seen him water the plants in my garden, has done multiple chores, and yet showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever..." Ivanna nodded her head in agreement, "I agree, I try not to think it about too much. But his overall abilities are far greater than that of a normal human. Maybe he's hiding something from us." Lily shook her head in disbelief, saying, "If so then what is it? Should we pry? But we shouldn't invade his privacy. Somethings are better left undisturbed." The other two nodded their heads in agreement, "Right. I think it's better that way. And who knows maybe he'll tell us someday. We're only here for a year, right? So, girls. Let's make it count." And said in unison, "YEAH!!!"
Back in Siegfried's room, he began meditating, as a way to calm himself down. Beside him was a pile of scattered metallic pieces, each in their unique shapes and sizes. Slowly he took deep breaths in and out. (Psionic Suppressors, release.) He closed his eyes, clasped his hands, and slowly an aura was emanating from him, he concentrated and the aura flared up like a flame going twice its original size and before slowly going back to normal in a more refined shape.
Slowly he opened his eyes and raised his left hand and the scattered metallic pieces floated in the air and hovered briefly around him little by little the pieces connected. Like a crescendo, its speed gradually increased, then it formed the shape of an orb with intricate designs, designs, and symbols that are not of human origin. The orb then floated onto his hand. He gazed at it wistfully, as if the orb belonged to someone. He sighed deeply and levitated the orb into his bookshelf.
(I should rest on the rooftop.) He suggested to himself as his left eye glowed an eerie red light, then slowly a dark mist manifested around his body and he disappeared, then the dark mist manifested at the rooftop and dissipated revealing Siegfried sitting, he scanned his surroundings and he saw houses with lights turned on in their respective rooms and places.
He abruptly lay down, then winced both in pain and annoyance. (Psionic Strain... That hurt...) After closing his eyes for a brief second, he gazed at the starless sky, the moon being the main spectacle, like a silent sentinel it watches over the Tokyo cityscape and neighborhoods. (Too much light pollution and the stars aren't visible...) he thought to himself. He looked to his left and saw a Cherry Blossom Tree with its leaf turning a pale pink and its buds already blooming.
Then muttered to himself, "Spring..." He chuckled weakly and looked at his circumstance, (How in the Void did I go from being the Org's assassin to playing house and caretaker for these girls?) He expressed frustration at his circumstance, then suddenly he heard a knock on his bedroom door below him, quickly he used his powers to reappear in his bedroom. The voice said, "Siegfried? I-It's me, Mina... The bath's all yours, we just finished bathing." He yelled out, "Ah, I see! Thanks for the notice, Mina!" her hooved footsteps trailed off, Siegfried sighed, and smelled his body, (I need a bath.)
Inside, the gentle splash of water was heard and he was peacefully relaxing in the steaming hot bathtub knowing he locked the door as to no one will disturb him, "Ahh, that feels good..." he looked up and through the roof window, saw the moon and gazed at it for a little while. (Am I tool ready to be thrown away once I served my purpose? Or a pawn ready to be sacrificed when the need arises?)
He grasped the top left of his forehead and like paper, slowly removed the two Synthe-Skin and revealed the deep scar across his left eye. He caressed it, and a painful memory flashed in his eyes. "Those last four years were such a blur... Back then... no even now I'm still hoping that I'll die in the line of duty to release myself from this suffering..." He gazed at his hands with disgust, then ripped off the Synthe-Skins covering his bodily scars, and looked at them contemplatively, (The things I do for the sake of both Man and Monsterkind. Such as thankless job.) He chuckled, "Maybe I'm a fool, sitting by myself and talking all about this to the moon..."
Then in his mind, he remembered a girl's voice, "When we look into the sky and gaze at the moon, no matter how far apart we are, I know you're watching it with me!" then unknowingly a tear slid down across his face, he noticed it a wiped it with his thumb, "How unusual."
Then in Mina's room, she has difficulty falling asleep, "Moo..." She looked at her cow-themed clock, it read: 1:30 AM. "I can't sleep..." she got up from her bed and it was revealed that she wears a very loose black tank top that exposed her midriff and white-and-black cotton shorts that exposes her thighs.
She went outside, and groggily she rubbed her eyes and saw the lights in the kitchen open. Curious, she went in to investigate, she peeked at the side of the wall, opposite of her and she saw Siegfried sitting at the dining table sipping from a mug.
Without looking back he beckoned to her, "Can't sleep?" Siegfried asked, and Mina wondered how he noticed her when he was behind her and she tried to be as quiet as possible.
Slowly she peeked out from a corner, answered, and said, "Y-Yes, I-I mean no, what I mean is that I came here to the kitchen to see why the lights were open." Siegfried grunted, then an awkward silence went by them for a second, before gesturing her to come sit with him, inviting the female Minotaur, then Mina thought to herself, (What!? Is he inviting me? Me and Siegfried alone? D-Do it Mina! Don't let this chance slip by, this is your chance to know more about him!) then she stepped forward away from the outer corner of the wall, then she thought, (Wait, what am I wearing?! I can't let him see me dressed like this!) she quickly and quietly sprinted to her room to get her blanket and obscured her body with it, returning at the point where Siegfried beckoned to her, Mina gathered herself and took a deep breath, yet despite her crippling shyness she bravely stepped forward and forced herself to slowly walk towards the dinner table and pulled herself a seat, there she saw Siegfried in his sleeping attire: a long-sleeved light grey shirt, and black pajamas, his hair disheveled, but despite his messy look he somehow managed to make it stylish with or without his knowledge.
"What are you doing at this hour...?" Siegfried asked with his soft voice and took a sip from his mug, Mina looked down in embarrassment, her ears red from shyness, and fidgeted along with her tail before answering, "N-Nothing, I just happened to have a bit of difficulty falling asleep." Siegfried grunted, "Why is that?" she glanced at Siegfried who was looking intently at her, and she shrugged, "I dunno..." after a few awkward seconds between them passed, (No good, she's too shy. She can't speak to me unless I speak to her first.) Siegfried decided to ask a few icebreaker questions, a tip he found from reading a book called: Socializing for Dummies. "What made you participate in this Program, Mina?" After pausing briefly, Mina finally answered, "U-Uh, t-to see the world. I came here to see what the outside world looks like." She smiled warmly at her answer, albeit still averting her gaze from Siegfried's eyes, and knowing her answer Siegfried nodded in approval, "I see... That reason is good enough. Now, your turn..." She glanced at him dumbfoundingly, "My turn to do what?" she wondered, Siegfried, tilted his head quizzically, "Ask questions about me if you wish."
This was her chance, she must seize the opportunity, and mentally prepare herself, as a million questions were bouncing inside Mina's noggin and a question that came out of her mouth is: "U-Um, why did you become a Host, Siegfried?"
Siegfried upon hearing that scoffed, and thought up a lie on the spot, "My 'parents' made me volunteer in the first place." he averted his eyes in slight annoyance, "I couldn't say no. I am not allowed to do so. They say it's to alleviate the loneliness." (The last part was partly true. Heinz said it to me about this involuntary volunteering.) Then Siegfried remembered a question that was bugging him ever since he met Mina, "Mina... Why are you so shy?" again she was taken aback by his abrupt question, then later shook his head in disapproval, "N-No, forgive me. I do not mean to pry." Her surprised look later melted into a melancholic expression, "It's ok, it must be a pain to deal with me all the time." Siegfried scoffed, "Hmph, nein, that's Lily you're referencing. You and Ivanna are a bit easier to deal with compared to her." Mina couldn't help but giggle at his answer and her dejected look changed into a look of gladness, gladness that she was not being a bother to her Host.
She sighed and had a dejected look once more, "I've always hated this shyness of mine, I want to make friends but I can't." Siegfried couldn't help but sympathize with her, (I understand that... The desire of wanting to have friends, that feeling of isolation and loneliness.)
"Then I'll help you." He declared, "I'll help you overcome that shyness of yours." Mina had looks of unsureness, "Y-You'd help me?" he nodded, "Why? I'll just hinder you." Siegfried just shrugged, for he himself does not know why. "Any doubts you have about me... I will not erase them through words, instead, I'll erase them through actions."
Mina couldn't help but smile, and tearing up a little, "If there's anything you need, I'll be there." He declared, and silently thought, (Same goes for those two. I was entrusted with this duty, might as well go all out for it. As I've always had. As I always will. Even with playing house nonsense.) He then noticed his mug was getting empty, so he went to the fridge to get some more, Mina curiously asked her Host what he was drinking, and he replied, "A mug of warm milk." She tilted her head in confusion, "Milk?" she repeated, "Yes, milk." He got one from the fridge, "They were stored in these neatly shaped bottles." and proceeded to pour some of it into his mug.
He thought, (I thought the store-bought milk ran out. Turns out there's more but I don't remember buying this type of milk... But this flavor seems familiar...) he proceeded to drink it, he glanced towards Mina whose face turned beet-red, "Siegfried... That's no ordinary milk..." she muttered, "Hm?" she forced herself to tell the truth, the truth of what Siegfried was really drinking... "Siegfried! That's...! That's...! That's Minotaur Milk!" Siegfried slowly stopped and looked at Mina for a brief second, his mouth still on the rim of the mug, he looked at her dead in the eyes then chugged down the entire thing, and shrugged, "That so?" He was unfazed that he was drinking Mina's milk, as he examined the milk on the bottle, "The taste was superior." Mina covered her face with her hands in pure embarrassment, "Why are you so embarrassed about it? Isn't Minotaur Milk a common food source in your homeland?" Mina in a panicked tone said, "It is! B-But...!" "It's delicious." She peeked through the gap in her fingers and asked, "Really? It's just that compared to other Minotaur Milk, my quality is below average..." Despite what she said, Siegfried didn't really think so, "Well, I think it's delicious. And besides..." he glanced the rest at the closed fridge, "Throwing these out seems to be a waste." With that revelation, she grew a little faith in herself, and inside she was ecstatic to hear that her milk is delicious, a compliment that holds weight in the Minotaur Species and their Culture.
Siegfried looked at the time, "Ah, it's just about to turn 2 AM. It was pleasant talking with you, Mina. Good night." Siegfried bid her a good night, and Mina replied with the same, "Good night, Siegfried. Sweet dreams." As she smiled warmly with a mix of gratitude and happiness. "Oh, and Mina?" Siegfried beckoned, she turned around and saw him about to enter his room, "About what happened at the water park earlier..." she replied, "Y-Yes...?" For the first time, he smiled genuinely at her, "Thank you. No, not just you, but Lily and Ivanna as well. I truly appreciate what you three did for me back then." Then bid her, "Well then, goodnight, Mina."
And Mina in a daze walked into her bedroom and inside, she couldn't sleep for she kept hugging her pillow tightly and began rolling in her bed out of pure bliss and elation with the chance encounter with her Host. She silently thought to herself, "He's so cool... and he's so nice and so kind, he said he'll help me overcome my shyness..." As she was lying restlessly in bed, she pouted as a lewd thought invaded her mind, "Maybe, I'll let him milk me..." Then covered her face with her pillows in jovial embarrassment and continued rolling on her bed, and shook off the idea, "No, I mustn't!" then the idea just kept coming back "Unless..." she giggled, "Well, if he doesn't mind. But... The only problem is: How do I ask him?"
In Siegfried's room, he sat by the windowsill and gazed at the moon, and did this for a while...
*End of Chapter*
Current information bestowed for the public, provided by the Knights of Nights.
Subject: Minotaur Milk pt.1 (1/2)
"Minotaur Milk is a common dairy product in Monster Society, it is produced by a type of Minotaur species called the Milk-Producing Type, which is consumed regularly by other Non-Humans, prolifically in the Nation of Adamas, Haven Island, and The Cities Above the Earth. However, since the re-introduction of Monsters four years ago, they are not allowed to be introduced into the Human Economy due to being unknown products, slowly but surely thanks to the influence of the Knights Organization, are they making their way into a few select countries, with proof, data and nutritional benefits of Minotaur Milk."