I opened my eyes and immediately knew I had been crying in my sleep again.
Who was that woman? What was her name?
Leiso?
Why did it sound so familiar!?
Suddenly, I realized that Cassandra had been resting my head between her breasts.
My face heated up and I tried to get away, but...
Her grip tightened.
She was sleeping and somehow still stronger than I was.
She had a death grip on me!
"Haaah...Mizik...that tickles...hnn... Darling..." She mumbled.
I didn't want to be rude, but I also had to...umm...
Use the bathroom...!
I tried more to pull away and eventually reached my arm up as an idea crossed my mind.
I'll probably get slapped for this, but I need to be free...
I squeezed her chest.
She immediately opened her eyes.
"Ahn! M-mizik!? What are you doing!?" Cassandra said.
"I need to use the bathroom and I can't move... I had to wake you up... " I said.
I was still expecting her to hit me at any time...
"Oh...my apologies!" She said.
She let go of me and I slowly pulled myself out of her arms.
"Sorry for touching you..." I said meekly.
So that's what those feel like...that was really pleasant...
I shook my head as I tried to push those thoughts out of my mind.
I'm not a pervert! But...wow, she's really pretty.
"Huh? I don't mind if it's you. We're engaged, so we'll be doing a lot of other things soon, anyway. If you need to go, I'll go as well. I have to protect you, after all," Cassandra said.
When the hell did we become engaged!?
"Uh...that's kind of embarrassing..." I said.
I didn't want her around while I was relieving myself. Absolutely not.
"It's okay. I won't look. I'll cover my ears, too! I don't think you're gross in any way, Mizik! Besides, it's natural!" Cassandra said with an innocent smile.
I had to look away because her smile was really cute. Too much for my heart.
"A-alright...fine..." I said.
I got up and Cassandra opened the door for me. She waited patiently for me to walk down and shut the carriage door behind me.
Aren't I supposed to be doing that for you? You're a Princess!
She followed me through the woods for a short distance then stood behind a tree while I did my business.
After I finished, I walked over to where she was and saw one of her guards holding his sword to her throat.
She had a bored look on her face and seemed incredibly calm.
"Take it off. All of it. Do it if you value your life!" The guard said in an angry whisper.
I immediately readied Vengeance, but...
Cassandra smiled and looked over at me.
"Don't worry, darling. I've known about this one for a while. He shouldn't be a problem," she said.
"Do what I say! Or else!" The knight said.
"Hm? With a filthy insect like you? I really think I would rather die. Why don't you just kill me?"
"Stupid bitch!" The knight said angrily.
He swung his sword at Cassandra and I panicked as she stood still.
The sword went through her body and she completely disappeared.
Suddenly, the knight fell to the ground with a dagger in the back of his neck.
Cassandra pulled the dagger out and shook the blood off it. Then she put it away and rushed over to me.
She hugged me and kissed the top of my head.
"Ah..."
"You must be feeling cold! Here, let me warm you in my coat!" Cassandra said.
She wrapped her coat around me and continued hugging me.
"Let's get back to the carriage, Mizik. Come on!"
* * *
As we approached the carriage, another one of the knights came over to us.
"Your Majesty, Fennis went to check on you in the woods. Did you see him?" The man said.
"Huh...? Oh! Yes, Fennis tried to have his way with me. Mizik killed him and left his body to rot. You can just leave it. That sort of filth doesn't deserve a grave," Cassandra said with a smile.
That isn't what happened, but okay...
"Ah...I-I see... I'm glad you're okay, your Majesty. You, young man, have my gratitude for protecting her Majesty Princess Cassaandra. I am in your debt," he said.
"Wait...I-"
Cassandra hugged me again before I could respond.
"I'm so glad to have such a wonderful man by my side! By the way, this is Mizik. My fiance. He is the wielder of the legendary sword Vengeance and the man I love more than anything in this world!" She said adoringly. Then her tone changed completely cold. "Protect him with your lives. If anything bad happens to him under your watch, I'll make you wish you were never born. Is that clear?"
"Y-yes...your Majesty..." The man said.
He seemed to suddenly be afraid.
"Good! Let's go back to sleep, Mizik~!" Cassandra said happily.
She's really terrifying... She IS level 100 after all. Does she really love me that much...? And why did she lie about killing that Fennis guy?
After I sat down on the carriage, Cassandra shut the door and locked it.
...Then she tackled me.
WOAH! HOLD ON!!!
"You're so cute, Mizik!" Cassandra said as she pressed herself on me.
"Ah...y-you're also...really pretty..." I said.
"Y-you truly think I'm pretty?" Cassandra said hopefully.
"Y-yeah..." I said.
"Ah! Thank you! You're so sweet, Mizik!" Cassandra said as she held me in her arms.
"Umm...h-hey Cassandra... Why didn't you tell the truth about Fennis? And why do you like me so much? I mean, how did you know I even exist?" I asked.
I really wanted to know. It didn't make any sense...
A Princess comes to my hometown seemingly at random and takes me away to marry her for no reason? That didn't make any sense to me at all. That kind of thing doesn't just happen! And this wasn't a fairy tale... Not to mention, being such a high level and killing one of her own guards... Then telling the others it was me.
I didn't know how I felt about being framed for killing someone... Even if it was sanctioned by royalty and in self-defense.
"Umm...well... I don't want anyone to know my real strength... And the other thing...ehhh..."
"If that's the case, then I can understand. I'll gladly take credit for it if you need me to...as long as I don't get in trouble, that is. But, I still don't know why you came all the way to Lorelei specifically for me."
"..."
She looked really hesitant to answer.
"Well...while I'm asking, I need to know something... Have we met before?" I asked.
"Y-you must have hurt your head... Did you have a bad dream?" She said.
She looked really conflicted about answering. Like it was almost painful...
"Please, Cassandra," I said.
She sat up straight and looked away.
"I can't say right now... I want you to know that you can trust me. And that I love you and would never hurt you..." Cassandra said sadly.
She looked back over to me and placed her hand gently on my face.
She touched the area beneath my left eye and smiled.
"It's gone... It really is gone..." She said quietly.
"What's gone?" I asked.
"My sin..." She said.
After that, she embraced me in her coat and held me close.
She started crying again.
"I'm so sorry... I failed you...it's all my fault! Please forgive me..." She said.
"Cassandra? You haven't done anything wrong! I barely know you!" I said.
She didn't respond. She just kept crying and holding me.
Eventually, she calmed down enough to stop crying.
Shortly after that, we fell asleep together.
Mainly because she refused to let go of me and I had no other choice, of course...
But also...
It was still really damn cold in here because of the weather.
But honestly, I was starting to really enjoy being with her.
* * *
I fought as hard as I could against the darkness, but...we were overwhelmed. In the end, I had to fight the Source all by myself.
I wasn't upset about this. No one would see me give up and simply stop fighting once I had the chance to see his true power.
It was truly bottomless. I never stood a chance.
And as I fell to the ground amidst the ruined cityscape, I couldn't help but feel intense pain and regret at my life so far...
I fought with everything I had.
But my strength wasn't enough to overcome such a strong enemy.
"Just like that, Mizik. Once again, you die here without accomplishing anything. You are truly pathetic... I wonder how things will be next time? But then again, you've yet to lay a single scratch on me in any of your lives," Difar said.
{PlEaSe...No MoRe...}
A strange message flashed before my eyes.
Just shut up... Let me die in peace. My life is finally over. I hope I can see my loved ones again...
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
My vision went dark as I felt my life force fading...
{I dOn'T wAnT tO DiE aGaIn...}
Another message...in the darkness...
I wonder... I hope I get to see them both... I don't even care if they're angry. Or if they fight over me... Yes...I welcome the release from my hellish life.
I felt a falling sensation and heard a voice.
{MAKE IT STOP!!!!}
I heard myself scream...
Then, I suddenly found myself standing in a strange place.
It was a white temple with pillars surrounding everything in an open circular room.
I saw a single throne sitting near the back and on it, sat the Oracle.
"Another failure... How unfortunate. Even after all of the help I gave you. This is what you get for refusing to let go of your fallen loved ones," the Oracle said.
Suddenly, I felt a rising anger in my chest.
"What...!? What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" I said.
"I have worked so hard to ensure their deaths to make you a perfect weapon. Why do you refuse to follow orders? Why can you not just be compliant?"
I gritted my teeth as I glared at her.
"You...IT WAS YOU!!! YOU PUT ME THROUGH THAT HELL!!!! DAMN YOU, YOU OLD BITCH!!!"
"SILENCE! I WILL HEAR NONE OF THIS! YOU ARE A FAILURE AND BECAUSE OF YOUR ERRORS, WE HAVE TO START OVER!"
"GO TO HELL!!! I'M ALREADY DEAD! I CAN'T DO ANYTHING ANYMORE!" I yelled.
The Oracle smiled.
"It is no matter... I decided to speak to you this time because I was curious... But it appears that there is nothing for me to learn. Begone with you."
Before I could protest, everything went dark.
And I heard her voice.
[Since you have failed, you will go back to the place where it begins. You will forget what you have seen and what you have heard. Be like new... Awaken, Mizik Iratus.]
As I felt myself truly fading, I smiled.
I'll burn it all down. I'LL BURN IT TO THE GROUND!!! I'LL KILL YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE!!!
Immediately after that, I felt like myself again.
There was darkness surrounding me.
Then...everything turned red.
I began to hear a voice.
"Aren't you sick of this? I know I am. Over and over and over...hahahahaha! IT'S MADDENING!!!"
"Wh-who are you!?"
"SHOULDN'T THAT BE OBVIOUS!?!? YOU JUST SAW ME DIE!!! YOU AREN'T STUPID, ARE YOU!?!?"
The incredible rage I felt radiating from this presence was enough to nearly crush me alive.
"Feel it...feel it all! MY RAGE! MY INDIGNATION!!! MY MALICE!!!!"
"You're...me...? Are you Warmage?"
"No. I was before him. But he now shares my rage. WE ARE AS ONE!"
"What do you want with me!?"
"Hahahahaha...it's not you. You're a means to an end. A way of accomplishing my goal."
"Goal...?"
Suddenly...images began flashing all around me. People dying...
Burning...
Everything was burning...
I heard screaming as I saw entire cities fall to ruin.
I saw entire worlds break apart and cease to be.
"He said it before...the voice that saved Isabella. MY DREAM!!! TO BECOME THE GREAT DISASTER FORETOLD BY THAT MAN!!! WE WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING!!!"
I was overcome with fear as I felt the presence close in on me.
"No...please!!! Stay back!!! Make the dreams stop! Please!!!"
"DREAMS!? THESE AREN'T DREAMS!!! THEY ARE A RECORD OF OUR FAILURES! A CATALOGUE OF OUR SUFFERING!!! OUR AGONY!!! AND WE WILL PUT AN END TO IT ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! KILL THEM ALL!!!! BURN IT DOWN!!! ALL THE WAY TO THE FUCKING GROUND!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"
Wave after wave of terror assaulted me as the images began to flash.
Finally, I saw the old woman again.
Her face...as I began to see myself die again and again...
Over and over...
In so many different ways...
"Ah....AHHHHHHHHHH!!!! MAKE IT STOOOOOP!!!!!"
* * *
I awoke as Cassandra was holding me tightly.
It felt like something had taken root in my mind...a dark and horrifyingly malevolent rage had clawed its way into my heart.
Then...
It was gone.
"Please...don't scream! You're safe! I promise you that you're safe! Please calm down!!" Cassandra said frantically.
"Ugh...wh-what happened!?" I said suddenly.
"You were sleeping soundly and suddenly started screaming! It sounded like you were being killed... I was so worried!" She said.
I sat up and turned my face away from her.
"I'm sorry...this isn't the first time it's happened... I have these dreams every night... Every time it happens, I die in them. I see places that I recognize but have never been and people I know but have never met. Not to mention the messages... I think they're tied together..."
I felt kind of bad for my condition. Cassandra was far too nice to have to put up with me and my ridiculous problems...
"If it's too much to deal with, I can just go back to-"
"No! I won't let you go!" She said suddenly.
Then Cassandra lunged forward and hugged me again.
"W-wait! Hold on!" I said.
"I won't! You can't go... Please...don't leave my side... I can't live without you! I won't go back!!! I WON'T!" She said while crying.
All of this felt way too sudden...
Girls wouldn't really pay attention to me most of the time in Lorelei... Why was it so different now?
"A-alright... I won't leave. But...is my condition really okay? I mean, I have plans to fix it later, but I might need help. Could you-"
"Yes! I won't let this condition bother me! I'll help you as much as you need to fix it," Cassandra said as she pulled back and dried her tears.
"Then it's settled. You'll help me with finding the solution to my condition. And also, I would like to know more about you. I mean, I know so little and if we're going to have that kind of relationship, I want to spend more time with you. If that's okay," I said.
Cassandra's eyes lit up with joy.
"I'll tell you everything you want to know! My name is Cassandra Victoria Albatross. Second Princess of Albatross. I'm good at cooking, weaving, brewing potions and drinks, fighting, and my favorite color is emerald green. My measurements are-"
"I-I dont need to...know that last part..." I said shyly.
"Oh...are you sure? Is my body type not to your liking?" She asked as she moved forward slightly.
"It's definitely to my...ehm...liking..." I said.
"I'm glad! Let's see... I like dressing up, making clothes, I enjoy wine, and my favorite food is grilled fish," she said.
"Huh. Mine is also grilled fish. We have that in common," I said.
"That's wonderful! Do you like cooking?" She asked.
"I would sometimes cook at home. You could say that I enjoy it. I like hunting, training with my sword, I love practicing magic, and I also like fishing," I said.
"You have so many useful skills for survival! I'm envious... I didn't get many chances to learn such amazing things..." She said.
"Really? I learned a lot from my father. If you want, I could teach you a few things. If you're interested, I mean..." I said.
No way. She couldn't possibly be interested in such boring things. These survival skills are just necessary for commoners to know. They're pretty basic.
Suddenly, to my surprise, Cassandra looked extremely joyful to be asked such a thing.
"I WOULD LOVE TO!!! PLEASE!!" She shouted as she drew her face way too close to mine.
I felt my face heat up and moved back.
But I also smiled.
"Alright then. I can teach you what I know. It could be fun," I said as I looked back at her.
Suddenly, she moved back and clutched her chest.
She looked away and sighed.
"Haaah... This is bad for my heart... Mizik, your smile is too much, you know? I have a hard time thinking when you smile at me..." She said.
Join the freaking club. How do you think I feel when you shove my face in your chest!?
"Am I attractive?" I asked.
Cassandra looked at me and breathed in deeply.
"Mizik is...the most handsome and wonderful man I've ever met! No one can compare! Never!" Cassandra said.
"Oh...umm... I don't know what to say... The girls in Lorelei used to always ignore me. I don't think I've ever had someone interested in me before. I was under the impression that Albatross hated my family," I said.
"They're blind! They would never understand! And the truth is that Albatross really does hate the Iratus family... But not me! I could never hate you!" Cassandra said.
"Thank you, Cassandra."
"Hnnn.... Please...you're too much for me..." She said.
Honestly, I couldn't stop smiling.
I felt like Cassandra and I were already getting along really well.
What were these stupid messages talking about, anyway? Cassandra was really nice to me. How dare they insult her!
The two of us talked for a while longer and eventually went out to get breakfast.
After we ate, I showed her a few things in the woods while the knights prepared to get moving.
She was overly excited and very eager to learn hunting, fishing, and sword techniques from me.
I was really impressed with the fact that she wasn't squeamish at all.
I harvested meat from a few animals and even some fish right in front of her. All the while she just watched intently.
Cassandra had been more interested in my techniques and didn't care about the guts.
I guess it shouldn't have been surprising, however, considering that she just murdered someone without hesitation last night. Still, I was impressed.
Eventually, we got back into the carriage and she wrapped me in her coat again while we travelled.
For the first time since that strange day I woke up, I felt truly happy.
This was heaven.