Sunlight danced upon the interior of the Grieves' residence, its gentle touch illuminating the confines of a bedroom. Nestled amid soft sheets, Udo was a picture of turmoil. The tranquillity of his surroundings juxtaposed with his restless sleep. Nightmares and visions from a past deed held him captive.
Suddenly, his eyes sprung open. A gasp. A heart racing. Sweat beading on his forehead. He sat up abruptly, his breathing erratic. The weight of his actions, real or imagined, pressing heavily upon his chest.
"W-where am I? Was I sleeping? Was that all a dream? Please tell me it was a dream. Please tell me I didn't kill all those people. Please, someone, please-" His voice trembled, teetering on the brink of panic.
"You did."
That response brought Udo's frantic gaze to the doorway. Ren stood there, his silhouette stark against the light, his face impassive yet filled with undeniable anger.
"You killed them all, Udo. Stella, Calvin, Stirling... and Captain Barclay. The very core of the Britannus Kingdom," Ren's voice was cold, every word deliberate. "And the worst of them all? Kenny."
The weight of Ren's revelation felt like a tangible force, causing Udo's shoulders to slump, his face a canvas of horror. "W-what?"
Ren's declaration was interrupted as Alko and Kimberley entered the room. While Alko sought solace in a can of beer, leaning nonchalantly against the window, Kimberley positioned herself closer to Udo, her face revealing a storm of emotions.
Udo's voice, filled with desperation, cut through the palpable tension, "Ren, please... repeat what you said."
As Ren delved into his accusatory tirade once more, Kimberley tried to intervene, her voice echoing a mix of anger and defence. However, Ren's outburst seemed unstoppable, his every word a sharp dagger, each intended to wound its target.
But, just as the room seemed to be enveloped in a suffocating silence, a voice—familiar yet surprising—offered a contradictory narrative.
"No, you didn't."
All heads turned toward the door, where Kelly Grieves stood, her presence commanding immediate attention. She appeared a pillar of calm in the eye of the storm that had descended upon the room.
Within the quiet expanse of the room, the soft glint of tear-filled eyes became the only sound. It was Udo's. In a voice heavy with regret, his broken whispers permeated the space, "Ms. Kelly... I... I killed Kenny... Your son. I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to."
With a grace that contrasted the agony that Udo was consumed by, Kelly approached him. Her fingers gently enveloped his hand. Her smile, tender and forgiving, seemed out of place in the heavy atmosphere. "It's okay, Udo. It wasn't you. Please, don't torment yourself like this."
Confusion, guilt, and relief waged a war on Udo's face. He met her gaze, searching for answers, "But...I—"
"Listen to me," Kelly's voice was soft yet firm. "I know what it's like. I too am a Fiend host who did not complete the Fiendification process. he Fiend has made me do terrible things in the past too. The boy who killed my son was not you, but the Fiend's puppet. And I know the difference. I don't blame you, Udo. I never will."
Udo was overwhelmed, struggling to find words. The weight of Kelly's forgiveness was almost too much to bear. "Ms. Grieves..."
Kelly's voice grew more intense, "But promise me. Never summon the Fiend again. Each time, it takes more of your soul. I know your quest, your drive to save Bowen. But this path will only lead to more heartbreak. For you and for others."
Tears streamed down Udo's face, as he wrestled with the internal war between duty and the promise he felt bound to make to Kelly. With each silent thought, his agony grew.
Every fibre of his being screamed to save Bowen, yet the depth of Kelly's forgiveness and her plea weighed heavily on him. In her eyes, he saw the infinite sorrow of a mother who had lost her son and the compassion of someone who understood his plight all too well.
"What do I do?" The question echoed in his mind like a relentless drum, each beat growing louder and more intense. The cacophony of conflicting emotions threatened to drown out reason, as Udo grappled with the greatest decision he would ever have to make.
Amidst the hushed tones and intense glances, Kimberley stood still, her gaze pinned to the floor, her fist clenched in thought. Her energy was palpable, drawing Alko's keen senses towards her.
Taking a languid sip from his beer, Alko broke the silence, his words causing all heads to swivel towards him. "Aye, I got a wild idea. I don't know if it's possible though."
Eyes fixed on him, the anticipation in the room grew thick. Not usually one to be the center of attention, Alko's posture shifted uneasily. "Um, wow. What to do with all this attention, aye?"
Kimberley's voice, always sharp and commanding, cut through, "What's your idea, Alko?"
Rubbing the back of his neck, Alko hesitated before blurting out, "Right. Um, I was just thinking, since Udo obviously has his brother he wants to rescue and all but can't use his Fiend vibration anymore...what if he converted to Dovanity?"
The room's atmosphere shifted drastically. Faces filled with astonishment, with eyes almost comically wide, met Alko's proposition. Ren, ever the sceptic, retorted, "What? Surely that's impossible. A host moving from Fiend vibration to Dove vibration? That's unheard of. That would never work."
Kelly interjected, her calm demeanour cutting through the tension, "Except...it actually could."
The room seemed to hold its collective breath, with Ren looking aghast. "What?"
Kelly began her explanation, outlining Udo's unique condition. "Since Udo's fiendification process did not complete," she began, the weight of her words compelling Kimberley to hang on to each syllable, "he still has part of his soul to fill. Meaning it can either be filled by more Fiend vibration...or another vibration."
Kimberley, always quick to think on her feet, parsed out the implications of Kelly's statement. Her eyes narrowed, "Are you saying a Dove would actually be willing to coexist with a Fiend inside one soul?"
Kelly met Kimberley's gaze with unwavering steadiness. "Basically, yes." She took a moment to let her words sink in before continuing, "But that means if Udo does end up becoming a Dove host, his vibration level will be capped depending on how much of his soul the fiend vibration has taken over so far."
Kimberley's analytical mind raced. "How much do you think it has taken?"
"Judging from what I saw yesterday," Kelly replied, her voice tinged with concern, "I'm guessing he would be capped as a third-rate host."
From the corner of the room, Alko's voice pierced the tension-laden air, seeking clarity, "Third rate? So our level then, Kim?"
Kimberley's reply was swift, the realization evident in her tone, "Basically."
Kelly took a breath before adding another layer of depth to their understanding. "However," she began, her voice echoing the gravity of her next point, "Fiendification comes with an intrinsic expert knowledge of Vibration Temperature Control. Meaning, a second-rate Fiend host could be as strong as a fourth-rate Dove host if we eliminate the technique aspects of things." Her eyes darted towards Udo, a mixture of uncertainty and hope shining in them, "I don't know if that would apply to Udo when he converts, though."
Kimberley's gaze fixed on Udo, the weight of the room's tension pressing on her shoulders. "But first, we need an answer," she said, voice carrying an unmistakable air of authority.
Udo seemed to sense the gravity of what was being asked even before Kimberley completed her sentence. "Udo, would you-" she began, but he was swift to reply.
"Yes," he interrupted, his voice wrought with determination. The intensity of his reply took Kimberley aback, her eyes widening momentarily.
Udo continued, his words tumbling out, each fueled by conviction. "Whatever it takes. If it means I have a chance to right my wrongs. If it means I can put an end to Fiendity. If it means I can still save Bowen, then yes, I will convert to Dovanity."
For a moment, Kimberley seemed lost for words, her wide eyes absorbing the entirety of Udo's declaration. But as the seconds passed, a resolute expression moulded her features. Their eyes met a silent understanding passing between them. With a firm nod, she signalled her support.
Udo's eyes flitted across the room, meeting Alko's next. In his characteristically nonchalant style, Alko lifted his beer can in a casual salute and took a deep gulp. But when Udo tried to gauge Ren's thoughts, the latter chose to remain aloof, turning away with folded arms, the unreadable mask back in place.
Kelly, her voice laced with gratitude, broke the momentary silence. "Udo, although things didn't end the way we hoped, you still kept your end of the deal when you placed my son into my arms. And as the Eternal Pact said, I will tell you everything I know about the Herd."
"Oh yeah...that," Udo hesitated, regret clouding his features. "I'm sorry for practically forcing you into this, Ms. Grieves. Kim, is there a way to cancel it?"
Kimberley's exasperation was palpable. "Udo-" she began, but was cut off.
"It's okay, Udo," Kelly intervened, her gentle smile an antithesis to the room's gravity. "It might've just been an obligation before, but now I want to do this. It's about time the Herd gets dealt with, and if there's anything I can contribute, I will."
Rising gracefully, Kimberley extended a welcoming hand to Kelly. "Glad to have you on board, Ms. Grieves."
A shared smile and a handshake solidified their newfound partnership.
Alko jumped up with glee, breaking the tension, "Welp, happy ending, aye? Wait, no, her son's still dead, whoops."
A collective reprimand echoed through the room. "Alko!" the trio chorused, voices thick with reproach.