WINIFRED
"Nathan?"
There was no reply. Even though I took my time to avoid everyone to come search for him, he wasn't there. What an annoying man.
But it felt like someone else was in the room. They were staring back at me with a strange curious, no sense of danger detected.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Samuel. You must be the girl my master is always talking about."
"Oh. A familiar. How convenient."
"Quite."
"How does one get a familiar?"
"Do you want to continue speaking with the door wide open?"
"You're right."
I closed the door behind me and entered. I used my cane to navigate my way to somewhere I could sit.
"I'm seated. How does one get a familiar?"
"Familiars are spirits bound to a person that accompany them for several lifetimes. It is usually the spirit of the human they treasured the most in their first life. However, that is not all one needs to get a familiar. You need to achieve a certain level of proficiency in magic to make such a powerful spirit bend to your will or else, it will consume you."
"Makes sense. So, do you know where your master went?"
"I am clueless as you are."
"I'll just wait until he comes back."
"Actually, I'd prefer you left."
"Why? Are you that uncomfortable with my presence? You haven't moved closer since we started talking."
"It's because I don't like or trust you. In fact, I cannot begin to understand what you are."
"We normally use Who for human beings."
"You aren't human."
"…fair enough. But, I'm not leaving. I'm not planning to hurt Nathan since he's the only one I trust as of now. I'm not going to ruin our relationship just because you said so."
"Just as obstinate as he said."
"He talks about me a lot. That must drive you mad, doesn't it?"
"I don't care if you wait. But if your actions put my master in danger, I will be forced to tear you two apart."
"How amusing."
We both waited until the windows opened and I heard his feet drop. I was fighting to keep my eyes open not just because I wanted to wait for him, but because I was afraid of falling asleep.
"Would you look at that? My two favorite people in the world in the same room."
"Where have you been, Nathan?"
"Hmm, I thought I told you. I went to fetch my stool."
"Is that…blood, master?"
"Oh, yes. I had some run ins with some knights who wanted to stop me from 'stealing' their cathedral's artifact. Never mind the fact that they stole it from me. Anyway, it's not my blood."
"Did you get it?"
"Of course that's all you would care about," Samuel seemed to protest. Nathan chuckled and knelt before me, kissing my hand.
"Yes, my lady."
I felt something touch the soles of my feet and my leg came to rest on them. It felt smooth, like wood but not entirely.
"I carved it from the bones of a menacing Hobgoblin. They were very rare, even in the past. The effects are different from the purpose you want but I think it'll do for now before I find the other artifacts."
"What exactly is it supposed to d…"
Before I could complete my statement, I lost consciousness. Then, I could see the light again. This time, I wasn't on the water. I was in a huge metal cage, hugging my legs while my body shook. My legs and hands were bound by thick chains that led outside the cage. Surrounding the cage was a thick darkness I couldn't see through.
At least I wasn't drowning.
But there was nothing to see or hear. I didn't know how long I was going to be there or even if I was coming out at all. I didn't know if this was something that had happened before. All I knew was that it had happened before. But it wasn't to Winifred. It happened to one of the women in the Hero's Harem.
Natalia. She was a mysterious figure they met in a dungeon they were exploring. It was a forgotten graveyard of former kings and chiefs. It was unclear what she was but she was the figure to always rescue them with her unexpected powers when they were in a pinch. She hated Winifred and was almost never in the same room with her peacefully. But she didn't use her powers when they were fighting against Winifred in the end. In fact, it was like she completely disappeared.
"What was it she loved to say? Hmmm…the religious are pitiful creatures bound to a god that cares more about her pearls than them? I always thought she was very self righteous. But, why didn't she help Kill Winifred?"
Such a problem kept me sane in that place. If analyzing the question would've drove me crazy, the situation around as even crazier. So, I chose to dwell on it. But I couldn't get an another answer. The one I had in my head made even less sense.
This memory I was in belonged to Natalia. It wasn't possible that Natalia was…Nathan?
NATHAN
"Yon said I wasn't supposed to be free yet. The one I saw in her head said we had met before. Reversing the timeline was something that was bound to happen, no matter what changed. But how does she have the ability to reverse time? Exactly what is she?"
I paced around my room, wrecking my brains for answer. This was the most confused I had been in centuries. I thought I knew things. I thought I was sure in my assumption of things. Now…
"Do you think she's a god?"
"Perhaps. It's hard to tell. Reversing time is hard, even for a god…butt not for an Origin god."
"That's ridiculous and you know it, master."
"Yes, it is ridiculous. I'll keep looking for answers. But I'm relieved for now. She isn't tearing at her skin anymore," I smiled.
"It's like she's cast some sort of spell over you."
"Isn't it amusing? I never knew I had this kind of ability to care for someone and be so gentle. The stool will work only for a month and by then, I should've found a way. I'll take her back to her room."
"What will you do about the Bishop?"
"He shouldn't be a threat. Like I said, if anything happened to us, we could just…leave."
I should've at least considered Samuel's words. Bishop Matthew did turn out to be a bit more troublesome than I thought he would be. The next morning, there were priests at our house, all preparing for an exorcism.
However, I was not going to be the one to stop them. I didn't want to involve myself in that situation. But I was curious what Winifred would say about this situation.
"Lady Winifred, you're finally awake!" Lady Freya exclaimed happily as she came down the stairs.
"We didn't hear anything last night. Have they finally gone away?" Darryl asked. I too was curious if they had gone away.
"I did not have the same dream, if that's what you're asking. So, maybe they have gone," she replied, taking a seat beside Lady Freya.
"Why can I hear a lot of people? Can someone explain what is happening?"
"Lady Winifred, I have brought priests here to prepare for your exorcism."
"I thought I was clear that I don't need one. Are you the type to ignore the needs of others, Bishop Matthew?"
"No, I am not. But I need to do this for your sake, Lady Winifred. I could not just deny the possibility that you were being manipulated."
"I thought you were different. That you would understand. But I see now that you're just as bad, if not worse than the pope. Perhaps it's best that you return to him."
I looked at him and saw him panic. What did she know that we didn't? I wanted so badly to ask her that. But I held my tongue.
"Fine. You can go ahead with the exorcism. But, whatever happens to me, you will forever bear the responsibility, Bishop Matthew."
"I promise nothing will happen to me."
"Lady Freya, could you stay with me?"
"I plan to never leave your side, my lady."
"Excellent. Darryl, you're with Lord Silver."
"No. I'm going with you too."
"This is something…I would rather you didn't see. Don't worry, it won't kill me. It will hurt a lot but it won't kill me."
How could she resign herself so freely? It would hurt? Something like that didn't just hurt. It would be ten times worse than the dreams she was having.
This was just like the time she resigned herself to suffer at our hands. She could recover that time but could she recover from this?
"I won't allow the exorcism to happen."
"Stay out of this, Lord Silver. You have caused a lot of damage as is."
"I would eat my own foot before listening to what a religious fanatic has to say."
I turn to Winifred and try to convince her. However, her face was contorted but it was not in anger. She raised her hand to point at me.
"You! It was you all along."