Two years later As Xialdre lay in bed, Isayao, now eleven, jumped on him, waking him with a jolt. He groggily took a glimpse at the window, realizing it was still dark outside.
"Huh? It's the middle of the night. Why are you jumping on me right now?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.
"Well, since you're still asleep during such a wonderful event in our family, I guess I'll just have to wake you in a rude manner," Isayao replied with a mischievous grin.
"Big talk for an eleven-year-old. So, what's happening?" he inquired, still half-asleep.
"We have a new brother!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"I see. Can you get off me now?" he requested.
"I SEE!?" she mocked. "I should have gotten a more 'REALLY, AMAZING, THAT'S WONDERFUL, FINALLY' reaction."
"Get off me," he repeated, sounding more insistent.
"No!" she insisted, giggling.
Xialdre looked at Isayao's waist and started tickling her until she cried, begging him to stop. Ayane came to the door, watching their antics with a sigh of disbelief. She pulled out her sword and hit them both on the head with the handle. They grabbed their heads in pain.
"Xialdre, wake up already! And you, Isayao, stop being so arrogant!" she scolded.
"But he was the one that tickled me!" Isayao protested.
"Whatever," Xialdre muttered.
"Now, now, both of you, let's go to our mother and father's room," Ayane ordered.
As the three walked down the stairs, Xialdre couldn't help but notice how much Ayane had matured. Her body had become more seductive than he had expected.
"What am I thinking? She's my sister," he thought, trying to push the thoughts away. "But still, even though she is, she really isn't my sister in my past life, so it might be... No, never mind. I shouldn't bother anyways."
When they reached their parents' room, two maids were waiting there silently. One was a mother, the other her daughter, both in maid outfits. Isayao ran ahead and looked at her new brother happily, her face lighting up.
"Now, now, Isayao, you really shouldn't get too touchy with him yet. His body is still sensitive," Maika, their mother, cautioned.
"Are you happy about this?" Ayane asked.
"Wow, they've really been going at it," Xialdre replied, smirking.
"Ha ha, eh, what did you just say!?" Ayane exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter, but yes, I'm glad to have a new family member," he reassured.
"I know, right? Things might get a little bit difficult but also a little bit beautiful," Ayane agreed.
"Ehh, I should name him now, since I haven't named one of my children before. It has always been you, honey," Ishizaki, their father, interjected.
"Ara ara, okay, I'll let you name him now," Maika responded with a playful tone.
"Kirito! Name him Kirito," Xialdre suggested.
"Hey, you, Xialdre! I should be the one to name him!" Ishizaki retorted.
"Why? Is there something wrong with my naming? If you ask me, the name Kirito is actually a very boyish name, better than Xialdre," he argued.
"Why did I name you something stupid, Xialdre?" Maika teased.
"That's not my point, Mom. I'm saying Xialdre is a great name, but you also need to understand the name Kirito is also a name that shouldn't be disliked," he explained.
"Let father decide the name. It should be the parents that name their child, not you," Ayane chided.
"Sorry," Xialdre muttered.
"Ehh, I guess big brother can still get a little selfish," Isayao teased.
"I guess," Xialdre replied nonchalantly.
"What!? That was supposed to make you angry," Isayao complained.
"Too bad," he said with a shrug.
"Now, now, the three of you, stop fighting," Maika interjected.
"But mooom!" Isayao whined.
"I'll name him Lavender!" Ishizaki announced.
As the four watched Ishizaki, the baby smiled significantly, indicating he didn't dislike his name.
"Hon, I never knew you had good naming sense," Maika complimented.
"That's actually quite an accurate name. I'm glad my suggestion wasn't taken seriously," Xialdre admitted.
"You see, Xialdre, your dad will always be superior to you. Hahaha, get on my level!" Ishizaki boasted.
"Is he bragging about his naming?" Xialdre thought.
Two years passed since the village tax began, and it still hadn't stopped. Their village had grown into a town and now had its own ruler, though the prince remained superior. The next day, as the three walked to school, Ayane and Isayao chatted while Xialdre remained silent between them, his eyes still dead.
Upon arriving at school, Xialdre noticed how much things had changed. Furina Shatter had left the country of Satra a long time ago. As a noble, her family had the rights to leave Satra's country. Krystine appeared, holding Isayao tightly.
"The Natori's!" Krystine called out.
As the students' attention turned to them, they walked along with Krystine. The Natori family was the most popular in town. Over the past year, their father had worked hard to elevate their status to that of nobles. They now lived in a mansion in the town of Meyane. Xialdre went to his classroom and took his seat as his friend Kritail walked over.
"So, what do you want?" Xialdre asked.
"Good morning, Natori," Kritail greeted.
"Good morning," Xialdre replied.
"Why are you always so quiet but still so popular?" Kritail wondered.
"Family doing, I guess?" Xialdre shrugged.
"No, no. Your family might be popular, but you still have to understand that you, as a student, are still popular for your looks and personality. Why do you have to be so perfect anyways?" Kritail questioned.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Xialdre teased.
"Wrong words, Xialdre. Anyways, me along with Hatsuro and Clay are going to Jessica's house later. Wanna come?" Kritail invited.
"I'd rather not," Xialdre declined.
"Why not?" Kritail pressed.
"Well, you see, Ayane, my older sister, might get a bit angry if I come home late," Xialdre explained.
"You mean by 'a bit,' you mean 'a lot,' right?" Kritail chuckled.
"I guess you just know me too well," Xialdre admitted.
"I see. It should've been obvious," Kritail said.
"Thanks anyway," Xialdre replied.
"No problem, dude. Glad we could both respect our own decisions," Kritail said with a smile.
The teacher then entered the classroom, and all the students made their way to their respective seats.
As school ended, Xialdre immediately made his way home. He saw Isayao happily talking to her friends, heading home with them. Ayane then purposely bumped into him.
"Ehh? You jealous you don't have friends like hers?" she teased.
Krystine appeared beside Ayane, smiling at him.
"Big talk for someone who was literally abandoned by her own friend," Xialdre replied coolly.
"Hey, that's rude," Ayane snapped.
"You think bumping into me on purpose isn't rude?" he retorted.
"That was an accident," she lied.
"Accident, my ass. Stop lying to yourself. Anyways, I'll be heading home quickly," he declared.
Xialdre ran home, passing Isayao and her friends. Their attention turned to him as he sprinted by.
"Eh? Wasn't that your brother just now?" one of Isayao's friends asked.
"Yeah, wasn't he?" another friend added.
"I really do not care about him," Isayao dismissed.
When Xialdre arrived home, the maids greeted him and helped him dress up. He then entered the room of his new younger sibling, watching him sleep.
"What does it mean to be all-knowing like me?" Xialdre pondered. "I already know what's about to happen, but I can't ignore the fact that I need to break the curse within me to save my family. I was cursed by none other than Lord God Azathoth himself, known as the Blind Idiot God, Daemon Sultan, Creator of All Things, and Nuclear Chaos. I once held the same level of power as him, but I can't identify why and how I lost to him, along with Adonai. The three of us are supposed to be equal in power. I need to meet Adonai again, and we will attempt to defeat Lord God Azathoth once more."
A young maid then entered the room. Xialdre looked at her as she bowed.
"What do you want?" he asked.
The maid, a blonde around ten years old, lived in the mansion with her mother as maids or possibly slaves. The young maid was named Clementine, and her mother was Mirael.
"My mother said to serve you, Master, as she will take care of Master Maika, and Hechalutz will handle the mansion work," Clementine explained.
"I see. Is Father home yet?" he inquired.
"Not yet, Master," she replied.
"How is Mother?" he continued.
"She is still asleep. I think there is still no sign of her waking up yet," Clementine reported.
"Mom just gave birth yesterday. I doubt she will be able to stand up," Xialdre thought. "I see. Anyways, come with me to my room alone right now."
"Ehh!? Umm, what do you want me to do there exactly?" she asked, nervous.
"Just do what I want you to do. Now come," he instructed.
Clementine thought this must have been obvious that eventually, she would become a sex slave to her master. As they entered Xialdre's room, he locked the door and went to his closet, looking for something. Clementine began to tear up, fearing the worst.
"I never really understand why boys are after girls' bodies as they grow up. What could Xialdre be looking for in his closet? Maybe a sex toy or a potion to make someone horny and lewd, or a potion to stop pregnancy," she thought, fear mounting.
Xialdre then pulled out a chessboard from his closet.
"Huh? What are you crying about? Did you really think I'd sexually assault you and take your virginity?" he asked, incredulous.
"Eh!? I mean, that's not the case, Master," she stammered, wiping her tears, embarrassed by her assumptions.
"Really? I doubt that," he responded, skeptical.
"What was I even thinking? Master Xialdre would never do that. Ugh, maybe I am really actually a lewd girl deep inside, and I just didn't notice," Clementine thought, mortified.
"Anyways, do you know how to play chess?" he asked.
"Umm, what is that?" she replied.
"It's a board game. Wanna play?" he offered.
"Umm, but I don't know how to play. I might disappoint you," she worried.
"Don't worry, I'll teach you as we play," he reassured.
"Really!" she exclaimed, relieved.
"Of course. I'll set up the board. Let's play on the bed," he suggested.
"Umm, sure," she agreed.
The two played as the sky darkened. As they continued to play, Clementine kept losing again and again, but she and Xialdre had fun. Someone then knocked on the door. Xialdre opened it, and it was Isayao. She entered Xialdre's room without permission and saw Clementine in the bed along with the chessboard.
"Ehhh!! What is this game you're both playing? Is this chess?" Isayao exclaimed.
"I bet if you had eyes, you would've noticed it the moment you saw it," Xialdre responded.
"Eh, rude. Anyways, I'll be taking Clementine. I want her to come and play with me, and you do not follow us or come with us," Isayao commanded.
"Aren't those two the same thing?" Xialdre questioned.
"Shut up!!!" Isayao snapped.
Isayao then grabbed Clementine's hand and left the room with her. Xialdre put back his chessboard in the closet and then left the room to head downstairs to eat.
The next day was Saturday, and Xialdre lay in his bed asleep. Ayane knocked at his door, but when he didn't answer, she broke down the door and pulled him out of the room. Hechalutz, the butler, fixed the door as Ayane threw Xialdre down the stairs, waking him up.
"Eh!? Ouch," Xialdre groaned.
Ayane came down the stairs slowly as Isayao and Clementine heard the commotion. They looked down the stairs and saw Ayane beating Xialdre.
"I'm awake! I'm sorry, geez, that hurt, Sis!" Xialdre protested.
"I bet it did. How many times do I have to wake you up!?" Ayane scolded.
"Why? What do you need?" he asked.
Ayane looked up the stairs and saw Clementine with Isayao, then turned back to Xialdre. "I need you to adventure out of town and get this specific flower."
"Why don't you do it?" Xialdre questioned.
"Listen to me, you little rat! I will protect the mansion along with Hechalutz, and you, along with Clementine, will get this flower," Ayane ordered.
Isayao interjected, "Ayane, I will need Clementine for my entertainment."
"Too bad. She's our maid, not yours. So unless you want me to smash another chair over your head, I suggest you give it up and be a good girl," Ayane shot back.
"What? Nooo!" Isayao whined.
Clementine held Isayao's hands and smiled at her. "Don't worry, Isayao. I'll make sure to come home safe, okay?"
"Fine, but Xialdre, you better protect her unless you want me to kill you!" Isayao warned.
"Why should I take your orders anyway? Besides, shouldn't she be the one to protect me since she is the slave?" Xialdre countered.
"She's not a slave; she's my best friend," Isayao corrected.
"Whatever you say," Xialdre shrugged.
As the two prepared for their adventure, Xialdre asked Ayane about the flower.
"Sis, why is this flower important anyway?" he inquired.
"That flower could heal our mother instantly. Right now, she's struggling to survive. Father is comforting her, encouraging her to hold on," Ayane explained.
"I guess your actions do have deeper meanings," Xialdre acknowledged.
Xialdre and Clementine then set off on their journey to find the flower. As they walked out of town, Clementine looked at Xialdre. They hadn't talked much, and Xialdre had always been a quiet child. She didn't want to be the one to open up first. Noticing her gaze, he pointed to a giant tree with massive roots, surrounded by yellow flowers.
"Wanna head to that tree?" he suggested.
"Where?" she asked.
He pointed again. "There, the giant tree with the yellow flowers around it."
"Wait, we actually made it to the flower already?" she asked, surprised.
"Not really, but it's still a beautiful flower garden," Xialdre replied.
"Umm, why go there?" Clementine asked.
"Well, we've been walking for about ten hours now in this thick forest. Why not take a break and stay here for the night? It's getting late, and traveling through the night will be twice as hard. Since you're already tired, why don't we just rest and continue our journey tomorrow?" he suggested.
Clementine was taken aback. "Ehh!? He's worried about me, despite me being a slave?"
Noticing her spacing out, Xialdre snapped his fingers in front of her face, bringing her back to her senses.
"Don't worry, it's not a big deal," Xialdre reassured.
"Umm, sorry anyway," she apologized.
"Can you help me set up the tent?" he asked.
"Umm, right!" she agreed.
Xialdre found the tent that Ayane had given them. It was 75 to 80 square feet, large enough for five people, and it was the only tent they had.
"Looks like we're sharing a tent," he noted.
Clementine blushed again, agreeing to share. Xialdre noticed her red face but focused on setting up a fire.
As night fell, the yellow flowers around them transformed into a mesmerizing blue under the moonlight. The sky, filled with stars, was illuminated by the light of the three moons above. The gentle night breeze extinguished their fire, but the brilliance of the stars provided enough light to see clearly.
As they sipped their soup and admired the beautiful night sky, Xialdre broke the silence. "Clementine, what has been the best day of your life?"
"Umm, well, probably right now," Clementine responded, a soft smile on her face.
"I see," Xialdre said. In his mind, he reflected, "I never once saw the beauty of the world. To me, it has always been the same. Honestly, I've never felt love or cared about anyone. Words like love, beauty, and trust are just terms for concepts I don't understand. I'm cold-hearted; I've never seen the real beauty of the world, like this sky above us. It's supposed to have meaning, but I just don't see it."
Clementine smiled, and the two eventually headed to their tent to sleep. The night was serene, with the sky above filled with countless stars, casting a gentle glow over the landscape. They fell asleep to the sounds of the forest, the beauty of the night providing a peaceful end to their long day.
Xialdre wakes up in a void of nothingness, eyes and mouths appearing everywhere. He couldn't move as one of the mouths slowly consumed him. He then wakes up, realizing it was day already, and saw Clementine beside him. Shaking off the remnants of the nightmare, he got out of the tent and began preparing breakfast.
Despite being the maid, Clementine was surprised and touched to see that Xialdre had made food for her. For the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of hope and appreciation for the beauty in her life. After eating together, they set off on their journey to find the flower.
When they finally found the garden, it was clear it hadn't been cared for in a long time. Among the deserted flora, there was only one flower left. Carefully, they took it and began their journey back home, enjoying the beautiful daylight and the refreshing breeze as they walked through the woods.
They chatted as they navigated the forest, but their sense of ease was short-lived. Xialdre soon realized they were being followed. He discreetly reached for a dagger hidden in his ankle pocket, while Clementine pulled out an assassin's needle from her clothes. Suddenly, a group of bandits surrounded them.
Xialdre tightened his grip on the dagger. "Stay close to me," he whispered to Clementine.
The leader of the bandits stepped forward, a menacing grin on his face. "Hand over the flower and whatever valuables you have, and we might let you go."
Xialdre's eyes narrowed. "You picked the wrong targets."
Without warning, the first bandit lunged at Xialdre. He sidestepped, slashing the bandit's arm with his dagger. Clementine moved swiftly, her needle striking a bandit who got too close. The bandits, realizing their opponents were not easy prey, hesitated.
The leader snarled. "You'll regret this!"
Xialdre and Clementine stood back to back, ready to defend themselves. The tension in the air was palpable as they prepared for the next wave of attacks. The forest, which had seemed so peaceful moments ago, now felt like a battleground.
"Let's finish this quickly," Xialdre said, his voice steely with determination. "We have a flower to deliver."
"I see this boy has a cute little girl with him. This is quite a big catch, after all," the bandit leader replied.
"But boss! We want some fun with the girl too!" the bandit protested.
"I'm the leader. I do what I want," asserted the Bandit Leader.
As the bandit leader looked around, he realized all of his men were already dead. Some had needles in their necks, while others had their necks sliced off. He fell to the ground, trembling. Suddenly, Xialdre appeared in thin air. immediately thrusting his dagger into the leader of the bandits' leg. The bandit leader screamed in pain as Clementine threw two needles into his eyes. Xialdre then sliced his head off his body.
"I never knew you could fight," Xialdre remarked.
"It's for self-defense," Clementine explained.
"I see. Anyways, we'd better head home before the sky gets dark," Xialdre suggested.
The two ran back home, the sky darkening as they neared their town. In the distance, smoke billowed from their once peaceful community. They hastened their pace, their hearts pounding with dread, anticipating the horrors that awaited. Men were being killed, women raped, and buildings set ablaze. The town was engulfed in chaos.
They sprinted through the streets, cutting down anyone who dared to impede their path—royal guards, civilians, and others who had succumbed to madness. Finally, they reached their house, where a gruesome sight awaited them. Xialdre's younger brother's head lay on the doorstep, a chilling omen of the horrors within.
Clementine covered her mouth in shock, fearing Xialdre's reaction. But instead of rage, he remained silent as he entered the house. He checked his mother's room and found her lifeless body, violated and slain, a sword thrust into her heart.
The sounds of fighting drew them to Ayane's room, where Mirael and Hechalutz struggled against their assailants. Among them was the golden knight of Satra Country, a formidable adversary who easily dispatched Hechalutz. Satra, a prince of the Satalias, stood nearby, violating/Raping Ayane while Isayao watched in silent terror.
As the golden knight prepared to strike down Mirael, Xialdre's father burst through the window, tears streaming down his face, ready to confront the enemy.
"Xialdre, Clementine, take Isayao and leave us!" Ishizaki commanded, his voice filled with urgency and determination.
"The hell! Mitsarao, don't let them escape," Satra shouted, his frustration evident.
"I can't, my prince. This man is formidable," Mitsarao replied, acknowledging Ishizaki's strength.
Xialdre nodded in agreement, his heart heavy with the weight of the situation. Clementine's tears flowed freely as she struggled against the inevitable separation from her mother. Ayane and Mirael, though in pain, urged them to flee.
"Clementine, Xialdre, leave us and live! Don't worry about us, just go!" Ayane and Mirael pleaded, their voices filled with desperation.
Xialdre sprang into action, forcefully guiding Clementine away from the chaos. With Isayao in tow, he leaped out of the window, narrowly escaping Satra's grasp. A dagger, aimed with deadly accuracy, struck Satra's left eye, eliciting a cry of agony.
"Mirael, it's been an honor serving you," Ayane said, her voice tinged with resignation.
"And you, Ayane, have been a wonderful master," Mirael replied, a sad smile gracing her lips.
"Can you believe we're going to die like this?" Ayane mused, a hint of irony in her tone.
"I suppose we are," Mirael chuckled softly.
"At least we know the three of them are safe," Ayane said, finding solace in their sacrifice.
"Indeed. They will seek revenge for us," Mirael agreed, her resolve unshaken.
"Let them," Ayane said, her voice fading as she succumbed to exhaustion of too much sex and blood loss.
As Ishizaki carried Mirael to safety, the golden knight and Satra faced the consequences of their defeat. Royal guards rushed to tend to Satra's wounded eye, while the golden knight grappled with the realization of his failure.
Meanwhile, Xialdre raced through the forest, pursued by the relentless guards. His flight came to an abrupt halt when he fell into a deep hole, crashing into the cave below. Injured and weakened, he summoned the last of his strength to protect the girls from harm. As Clementine regained consciousness, her gaze met Xialdre's, her expression a mix of anger and betrayal.
Clementine's voice quivered with emotion as she confronted Xialdre. "Why did you knock me out? Why won't you help them? They're facing such horrible deaths because of you, Xialdre!"
"Don't call me by my name!" Xialdre snapped, his tone sharp with frustration.
"No! You're not even my master anymore! I don't live at the mansion anymore, damn it!" Clementine retorted, her anger palpable.
Isayao remained silent, her heart heavy with confusion and sorrow at the unfolding scene. "Please, guys, stop fighting," she pleaded softly.
But Clementine persisted. "No, Xialdre! Why didn't you let me fight? Because you know why! Despite a lifetime of servitude, I still clung to hope, believing in the beauty of the unknown, the promises of tomorrow, and all that lay beyond our sight. But as time passed, that hope faded, replaced by the harsh realities of our world. In this selfish realm we inhabit, it seemed that every glimmer of optimism was met with disappointment. Maybe it's time to let go, to stop waiting for hope that may never come. Without Mother, I feel lost, adrift in a sea of despair. Perhaps it would be easier to join her in death than to face a life without her. Or in other words! despite me being a slave in my entire life, I still believed in hope and that there's beauty in the unknown and beauty in what may be, beauty in the promises of tomorrow, and beauty in all we cannot yet see, as I believe in that in that in the longest time in my life it never happened, or in short It only got worse and worse In this selfish world we live in, I should just probably just give it up, and stop waiting for hope. Without mother im nothing so ill rather die with her than live on as she is dead.
In the depths of her despair, Clementine reflected on the fleeting hope she once held onto. Despite a lifetime of servitude, she clung to the belief that there was beauty in the unknown, in the promises of tomorrow. But now, faced with the harsh reality of loss and betrayal, she questioned whether that hope had ever been real.
Xialdre attempted to console her, his own emotions a turbulent storm within him. "Clementine, this is what Mirael wants. She wants you to live. As you continue to live without her, you will slowly find beauty, just as Mirael found her beauty in living with you under a roof. She died so you could find your own beauty because you never left her side in her life. Now it's your time to do so. Do you really want to waste the life that she wanted you to continue and preserve?"
Overwhelmed by Xialdre's words, Clementine's tears flowed freely as she buried her face in his chest. "It's okay to cry," he murmured softly, his own heart heavy with remorse.
"No," Clementine whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. "You are my master, and that is the beauty in my life—to serve you until the end."
Moved by her loyalty, Xialdre struggled to find the words to express his newfound emotions. "I see... This is the first time I've ever felt anything like this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Isayao, unable to bear the pain of their shared grief any longer, ran to them, her tears mingling with theirs. As Xialdre embraced both girls, he realized the enormity of their suffering and his own inadequacy in comforting them.
"I don't know how to heal your wounds," he confessed quietly, his heart heavy with the weight of their pain.
"Even if it was only for a second, I felt a tingle of emotions within me. It's like a flood of emotions coursing through me, trying to understand the true beauty that this world might hold for me to see."
"Though I don't see that same tingle of emotion flooding to me ever again, or in other words, I can't predict that it will ever return in the future." Xialdre quoted in his thoughts