"Young April, is there a problem?"
Rose ask me as she stopped in her tracks and watched me from down the hallway, this, of course, made me slightly snap out of my malice and hate for this annoying pervert violating my right to basic privacy.
Honestly, it didn't take a genius to realize that this thing is picking a serious fight with me.
And to be honest, I found it strange seeing that I never met or interact with this monster up close.
But strangely enough, it was a mutual feeling of disgust.
It was as if something deep within me, just make me hate this thing with a passion, especially since it has been interfering with me to such a degree, without a doubt it was hostile to me, just as I am hostile to it.
I could already tell just by our first introduction that this thing and I will eventually throw hands with each other may that be abstractly, metaphorically, conceptually, mentally, or physically, it definitely going down in the future for sure.
However, I knew I can't stay here any longer as I look rather suspicious if not threatening to the other party viewing me from afar, I could see it the maid was giving me a rather loss and weary look.
I didn't want to lose her trust she did nothing wrong to me, or more like she hasn't done anything to me as yet, so far to understand emotions better, or to very least simplify them, I decided to treat those I meet into five categories all based on the five relationships between animals.
That being "Competition, Predation, Symbiosis, Mutualism, and Commensalism"
So far I am in Competition and Predation relationship with this complex monster, I don't know why but I feel as if this thing doesn't want me to meet my mate, to me, she is the most important thing right now; and a valuable resource I can't give up on.
As a result, I am willing to bring discord and destruction upon its existence utilizing everything I have at my disposal to exterminate it, however, I also feel that this monster also sees her as a valuable resource, this might just be a hunch but my instinct as a higher organism is telling me that this is the case, however, I am also in a Predation relationship with this thing, because mark my words I will find a way to devour this thing whole.
Meanwhile Rose, well so far I concluded that she is an idiot, not in a bad way, but an idiot nonetheless, too trusting, too friendly, and easy to use, in this jungle call life she is the type that embodies "the perfect prey that cats like to play with before devouring", as a result, she is a pawn worthy, however, my cuteness is my greatest weapon on her from what I have seen so far.
Then and again, I am only talking potential wise for her use to me, that was just the pros, now for the cons.
Firstly her loyalty stands to her mysterious master I know nothing about.
Secondly, her true intentions are currently unknown to me, why rescue a stranger in the first place, maybe this is what is called kindness, but seeing that the master of this house has an intense curiosity and slight obsession towards me, then I can only conclude that I am mistaking kindness for greed, yes the desire of want, I have something that is of use to them, as a result, my position is that of a unique tool in this household, in short, the relation they want with me is parasitism, honestly I don't like a relationship where one benefits and other is harm our use in some way because in the end I'm just being used.
For these two reasons, my trust and overall evaluation of the situation through basic observation and listing I have decided that I would respond the same as well.
So as of right now I consider my relationship with Rose to be that of parasitism as well, with the potential of predation, of course, I am the parasite, and she is my host, but she still has use and can help me get my answers, even now she is being useful.
For that very reason, as a parasite, I will do my best to shape the host to my liking, I meant all of this in a symbolic way of course, although this would be a new experience for me as well, studying the mind of others.
So with this thought in mind.
I turned around to meet Rose's gaze, and I smiled at her and answer as such.
"Ahg bis sister this place has a beautiful moon."
She seem to understand why I was staring at the sky, although a little confused about my previous expression, nevertheless, she decide to brush it off and smile back at me while saying.
"Is that so, well you know, here at Black Wood Village, the moon is kind of symbolic, as it represents the Scarlet wonder."
"The Scarlet Wonder, what is that big sis?"
"In this village, there is only one God that these villagers worship here and that is the Scarlet Wonder, he is the God of cure and order, he is known by many other names such as Lord Panacea, the Good Doctor, the destroyer plagues, slayer of the devil, and Conquer of The... the Stygian plague!"
Rose said with both awe when the topic of the Scarlet Wonder comes about, and malice when she mentions the name of some Stygian plague.
"Stygian plague, what is that sister, I never heard of such sickness before."
Rose remains silent, it seems that the topic of the Stygian plague is a rather sensitive topic for her, however, I wanted answers, even if it was small and trivial, so I listen to her heartbeat and analyse every detail of her body to see even the slightest change, I need to know her emotions, I need to know what she is thinking, to act accordingly.
ba-dump
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'Calm, too calm her reading is abnormally calm.'
'Then let us move on to her expression.'
'Her eyes seem dead, however, I can see they tell a story, one of sorrow, one of pain, and one of great trauma, but I also sense regret, hate, and weirdly enough self-acceptance... interesting, very interesting, tell me more, show me more, I want to understand, I need to understand.'
So I look at her shoulders, her legs, her breathing.
'Slouchiness, you are afraid, you are scared, that's what your body is telling me, you want to forget but you can't, interesting, very interesting, your body is honest and it speaks louder than anything else, but mentally you are blocking out your self-hate and bad memories of the past, your relationship with this Stygian plague must have been a weight on your shoulder for sure, however, you remain strong and firm, is this what is called making peace with yourself.'
I continue to study more, I watch her body, and all in all, I have concluded.
'She is a victim of this plague, sighs maybe I should use Minerva to see her memories when she falls asleep, I need more answers.'
My analysis only took about five seconds, my thought process is vastly faster than most living beings after all. Right after, I could see Rose smile once again as she grab my hand and said.
"The Stygian plague is something my master will tell you about soon enough young April, it's one of the reasons he wants to talk to you seeing you came from the outside, and before you ask what the outside is then please refrain from that as well, seeing it is too much of complex topic even for me to fully explain hahaha... I was never good with history nor biology either, I can't say any more than that young April, my knowledge and explanation don't give justice to the terror that is Stygian plague, I am a mere servant after all, but let me give you some advice, people from the outside, people like you, their fates in this place can be both a blessing and a curse, your lucky my master was the one to find you and hide you before the hunter's orders did."
"Now then let us go, the master is waiting."
'Blessing and a curse, hunters order, great even more questions arise without any meaningful answer, sigh I guess the only way I'm getting any answers is by meeting the master.'
'Find then let us not waste any more time.'
With that said, Rose began to walk me to the master this manor was far bigger than I give it credit for why you ask well apart from the fact that I have already taken five hundred steps away from my room, and there seems to be no end, stairs, or corridor in sight, then yes this place was large, upstairs-downstairs even I don't know where I am.
However, after ten minutes of walking a long ass hallway with many stops and turns which introduce even more hallways, we finally stop in front of a rather old vintage-looking door with a weird symbol of an ominous goat head having the lower body of an octopus-like creature all adorned in black ink of course.
Rose then Knocks on the door.
Knock!... Knock!.... Knock!... and moments later, the voice of a man could be heard.
"Who is it?"
"It's me, master Regulus, I have brought the young miss like requested."
"Awww... I see, come in, come in."
With that said, the door just mysteriously open up before our eyes, of course, Rose walk in as she still hold my hand, and upon coming in, I was greeted with quite the sight of a rather well-decorated study, there were two giant shelves filled with books that look as old as Cassandra's journal, along with a lot of old artifacts and collectible, the gothic design gives one the feeling of transporting into a victorian world of an ancient scholar.
While in front of me was a large desk, and in front of that large desk, I was introduced to the sight of an elderly man, clad in full yellow robes, that hides his entire body, except his head, his face was wrinkled and his skin was pale almost like a zombie, on his face, or particularly so on his right eye, a rather stylish monocle could be seen.
Meanwhile on his head was a black top hat, that had a working clock at the center; the numbers were roman numerals, and he had bright yellow eyes, just looking at them one could tell he harbored wisdom gained from a long life.
But what made him stand out was the fact that he was in a wheelchair, he smile at me ever so gently, as he said.
"Ah yes. As red as blood drawn by a thorn, I can see it, the beauty and chaos coming from you, such an inspiring color indeed, miss Valentine an honor and a pleasure to meet you, my name is Desedoma Van Regulus the IIV."