The room was alive with a symphony of voices— a soothing voice, a gentle voice, and loving voice, together weaving a soft melody. Amidst these tender murmurs, a sorrowful cry echoed, its melancholy wrapping around me like a cold shroud. Then came a mocking cadence, its derision thinly veiled, the underlying spite palpable. Light, ethereal footsteps danced around me, their rhythm shifting unpredictably, each step a faint whisper on the edge of perception. The chorus of voices flowed and ebbed, their melodic dance a haunting serenade. As their harmonies faded into silence, a chilling, unfeeling voice cut through the stillness, sharp and intrusive: "Why aren't you waking up?"
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"Wake up! Hurry, wake up, damn it! Mirai, this isn't enough!" A distant voice echoed with urgency.
"I'm awake, I'm awake, put me down," I murmured weakly.
"Finally! I was worried sick. Don't faint now—the saint will heal you. Just hold on a bit longer," the voice pleaded, desperation evident in its tone. Who was this person?
"I'm awake, I'm awake, please put me down," I insisted, my voice a strained whisper.
"Keep your eyes closed. The fever is extreme. We're almost to the camp," the voice urged, trying to soothe me.
"I TOLD YOU TO PUT ME DOWN! I'M AWAKE!" I shouted. The hands holding me tightened, their grip firm despite their surprise.
"CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND? I'M AWAKE!"
Focusing all concentration on the crown above my head, I drew in the mana around me, enveloping myself and coating every inch of my body. In an instant, I transformed into a swarm of spiders and butterflies, slipping from the stranger's grasp.
The swarm of insects was an extension of my will, sharing my consciousness. I glanced back at the man, whose blue hair and piercing blue eyes were strikingly familiar, though I couldn't recognise him. He looked bewildered as he called after me, "Bro, where are you going?"
He tried to pursue, but I enhanced the insects and used Poppy's darkness affinity to blend into the night. "GRACEFELL, COME BACK NOW!" His voice echoed, but I ignored it, pushing westward.
The effort of controlling so many insects was draining, so I shifted forms again. The mana coated me, and I quickly transformed, my vision narrowing as I sprinted through the forest. My paws moved rhythmically as I raced west, hoping to find Mirai.
"Pathetic," a mocking voice sneered, dripping with disdain. "I wouldn't expect less from you. Poor Alex tried to help, just for you to run away. Gracefell, what a joke. You can change your name or appearance, but you'll never change who you are."
I ran desperately, trying to escape the taunting voice. The moonlight was my only guide as I flattened my ears, trying to distance myself from the cruel words, but it was a futile effort.
I lost track of time as I stumbled through the trees, but at last, I emerged into a serene landscape. Before me lay a clear lake, its surface undisturbed except for a road of vibrant white lilies that led to the shore. Around the lake, red spider lilies flourished.
My limbs felt heavy, barely responding to my will, yet I pressed on, guided by the path of lilies. At its end, I discovered a small building that resembled a temple. The moment I crossed its threshold, the voices disappeared.
I let out a tired sight"meow" — damn it this was supposed to be a sigh
With little energy left, I wandered through the building in search of rest. The interior was decorated like a bedroom, but I continued until I found an empty hall. White lilies grew abundantly here, and moonlight bathed the space in a soft, ethereal glow.
In the center of the hall knelt a woman in a white robe, her long golden hair flowing down her back. She was absorbed in prayer, her gaze lifted to the stars above. The serene atmosphere enveloped her, creating a sense of calm that drew me closer. She wore a white blindfold, obscuring her eyes, yet she seemed completely aware of my presence.
I settled down before her and closed my eyes, finding a deep sense of peace in her presence. Though sleep eluded me, I lay still, comforted by the calm.
Without warning, I felt myself being lifted gently. I opened my eyes to find the beautiful woman gazing at me with a warm, benevolent smile. "You can rest now, gentle soul," she said softly.
My heart, my very heart, felt an overwhelming feeling of peace in her embrace. Why did it feel so peaceful to be held by her? Did I even deserve this?
I questioned myself, but no answers where found. All I knew was that if I surrendered to sleep now, I wouldn't be haunted in my dreams. So, with that thought, I closed my eyes.
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Under the ethereal moonlight, a woman cradled a cat with sleek silver fur that shimmered in the moon's glow. The cat, with its large tufted ears and bushy tail, rested peacefully as she gently stroked its soft, long fur.
But this tranquility was soon interrupted. A shadowy figure emerged from the moonlit darkness, observing the scene with keen interest.
"You know, it's impolite to enter without knocking," the figure remarked.
"Well, I'm not a vampire, so I don't need to ask permission to enter," the man replied, pausing briefly before continuing. "Ah, I see now, though I have my reasons. He went on a rampage after waking up, and Alex was quite worried."
"Mirai, can't you go easy on him, or are you petty about being punched in the face?"
"Me? Petty? That's Ed's job," Mirai said with a dismissive wave of his hand, then his eyes sharpened. "How did you know about the punch?"
"Let's just say a saint has her ways. But it's largely your fault for leaving a weak shadow behind."
"Fair enough. I'll leave him in your care. I need to inform Alex that he's okay—he seemed quite distressed," Mirai said, and with those words, he vanished.
The Saint Of Dawn simply smiled softly as she looked down at the being in her arms.
Meanwhile, at the edge of what seemed an endless forest, a grim scene unfolded. Dark flames consumed the landscape, reducing everything to ash. On top of a colossal dead giant, a man soaked in blood sat, smoking a kiseru and gazing up at the moon.
"So she noticed, huh?" Mirai mused, surveying the corpses that littered the ground. "I took Gracefell's words to heart that night. He was right; if I hadn't joined Ed and the inquisitors, they'd have died."
He inhaled deeply and exhaled a plume of smoke, then raised his hand to flip a middle finger towards the figure watching him from a distance.
"It would be disappointing if such devoted worshipers cowered away. I'll be waiting here for our final dance," he declared.
The distant figure turned its back on Mirai flipping its middle finger as flames engulfed its form, vanishing into the inferno.
Mirai's smile widened as he listened to the haunting melody of the wraiths, the song of the dead reverberating through the night.