Me and those dirty bats
Listening to him ramble about all the "nasty things" he wanted to do to me was like hearing a kid brag about his favorite toy. Bro was out here planning to mess with me in ways that should've been horrifying, but the way he spoke? Like he was offering me some damn ice cream. As if his entire villainous monologue was supposed to make me feel cozy and happy, instead of, you know, wildly uncomfortable.
He gave me food, by the way. And damn, it was delicious. I didn't expect that—maybe this guy had a sliver of decency buried deep inside. But nope, turns out I was wrong. Dead wrong. After I finished the meal, he stood up with a sinister grin plastered on his face.
"So, 0981, meet you later," he said all casually, like we were old friends about to meet for a coffee. Then, without warning, the psycho *shoved* me into a portal.
And BOOM. Next thing I knew, I was in a completely different place.
I blinked a few times, disoriented, trying to get a grip on my surroundings. There wasn't a single sign of life. Just cold, empty silence. A cave. A freaking cave! Great. Exactly what I needed—a nice, cozy cave that screamed *you're gonna die here, buddy*.
It took me a minute to wrap my head around what just happened. What was this? Some sort of mental torture designed to bore me to death? They clearly didn't know I had Orpheus in my corner. I chuckled to myself, imagining I'd breeze through this.
But, of course, life loves to humble you when you least expect it.
As I was feeling all smug and invincible, I heard a noise that wiped the grin off my face instantly. *ALSHARA BATS.* The *sky predators* of the north. Oh, yeah, these nasty creatures are no joke. Large, cave-dwelling bloodsuckers that live in the underground caverns of the northern desert. They use echolocation to find their prey, and once they do? A single bite drains your blood faster than you can say, "Oh shit."
I stood there, staring at them in absolute disbelief. "Wow," I muttered, "time to unsheath my sword."
I instinctively reached down, feeling for the hilt of my trusty sword, ready for action.
But there was nothing. No sword. Nada.
"Ahhhh!" I groaned, "Are you freaking kidding me?"
For a second, I just stood there, mentally agonizing over the fact that I was unarmed. But then it hit me—I didn't need a sword. I had powers. And not just any powers. I had Orpheus' worth-showing, awe-inspiring, badass powers.
I straightened up, cracked my neck, and smiled. "Who cares if I don't have a sword? I'm about to show these bats exactly who they're messing with."
And with that, I readied myself for the fight, knowing full well I had some seriously *cool* tricks up my sleeve. Bring it on, Alshara Bats.
First things first, I tapped into Orpheus' plant power from his first life. The bats were already closing in from both sides, their screeching filling the cave like some horror movie soundtrack. I didn't have time to mess around. I slammed my hands to the ground, summoning thick vines that shot up from the earth, wrapping around the bats like nature's version of a death grip.
The vines twisted and tightened, crushing them mercilessly. Yeah, it was brutal. But let's be real, if you want to survive in this messed-up world, you gotta leave your "nice guy" act at the door. I wasn't about to let some oversized bats turn me into their dinner.
Then, because I didn't feel like dragging this fight out, I started mixing in a few other powers from Orpheus' second and third lives. Don't worry, I won't bore you with the specifics—it'd take forever to explain all that magic and, let's be honest, you'd probably zone out halfway through.
Let's just say, I made quick work of those screeching bloodsuckers. I wasn't playing nice anymore. If they wanted a fight, they were gonna get one.
But those damn bats just kept coming, like they had a personal vendetta against me. I was tired—exhausted, really. I had already lost count of how many I'd killed, and my tiny four-year-old body wasn't built to handle this kind of shit. Bruises started forming all over me, my energy drained.
"No," I muttered to myself, "this shit's enough now."
I was reluctant, but I didn't have much choice left. There was one spell I'd been holding back on. It took a *lot* of Noor, and I was already running low. Noor exhaustion is no joke, but damn it, I just wanted this nightmare to end. I needed sleep. I needed rest so I could go and chat with Orphie—yes, Orpheus. You must be thinking, *Weren't you just trapped inside his body?* Yeah, that *was* the case, but not in his fourth life. I can actually talk to him now, but I'll explain that later. First, let's deal with the blood-sucking bastards in front of me.
I took a deep breath, ready to cast the spell. It's usually just a super blast of spiky vines that shoot out over a wide area. Oh, and the vines are poisonous too. So, you know, *total annihilation*—just the kind of overkill I needed right now.
With a wave of my hand, the spell exploded out. Vines ripped through the cave, spiked and toxic, tearing through every last bat.
Boom. They all dropped.
*Finally.*
A grin of satisfaction crept on my face as the bats hit the ground, lifeless. "Yay, they're all dead," I whispered weakly.
But before I could celebrate too much, Noor exhaustion hit me like a brick. I barely had enough strength left to cast a small barrier spell around myself before I passed out. The last thing I remember was the sweet sensation of sleep pulling me under.
My dear orpheus
So, yeah, you know by now that I'm in the *fourth* life of Orpheus, right? Let me give you a little rundown of the first one, though. Picture this: a gloomy, cold-hearted dude that everyone pretty much hated. Like, *textbook* male lead straight out of a shojo manhwa—dark, brooding, and all that jazz. The kind of guy who'd stand on a cliff in the rain and not flinch, y'know? Except, in his case, there was no romance waiting to unfold.
Nah, instead of love triangles and awkward hand-holding, Orpheus' first life was full of brutal backstabbing and straight-up murders. And by backstabbing, I mean *literally*. Dude killed his own siblings for the throne. Yeah, you heard that right—this guy wasn't here to make friends; he was here to win. And win, he did. He became king, ruling with this badass power over plants.
Don't let the word "plants" fool you—he was no gardener. He could summon lethal vines, conjure poisonous flowers, and pretty much bend the entire forest to his will. He was damn strong, and no one dared mess with him. But, like all good things, his reign came to a tragic end.
Yeah, he died. Shocker, right?
His second life was a bit more... *interesting* than the first one, mainly because I had more involvement this time around. So, let's set the stage: in this timeline, all his brothers pretended to be these upstanding, good-hearted people, but they were actually using Orphie as their personal assassin and spy. Yup, my man was throwing daggers with deadly precision, sneaking around in disguises like it was some sort of medieval spy movie.
Oh, and his powers? He had the ability to control ice. Pretty cool, right? (Pun *completely* intended.) But despite having these sick ice powers, his personality was... let's just say, not as cool. He wasn't as gloomy as in the first life, but damn, he wasn't exactly the life of the party either. Obedient and cowardly, to be honest. So much so that he followed his conniving brother's every word, even though it was obvious the guy was up to no good.
Now, here's where things get spicy. Orphie was on a mission to investigate some shady slave organization's headquarters. He runs into this mage with mental powers, and boom—he loses consciousness. And who wakes up in control? *Me*. Finally! I'd been waiting *forever* to take over, and watching him act like a dumbass was driving me insane.
These people were total scumbags, so I used some of the plant powers from Orphie's first life and absolutely wrecked them. I didn't hold back—I defeated them pretty badly. The chief? Yeah, I cut off his head, threw it in a bag like it was trash day, and fed myself some sleep medicine to keep Orphie knocked out. I had *plans*—lots of work to do.
So, with the chief's head in a bag, I strutted my way to his brother's palace. Perfect timing, too, since his brother was about to be crowned king. Talk about walking in at just the right moment. I walked proudly—hell, I practically *swaggered*—toward the throne.
I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Hey, my shit of a brother! Won't you welcome your cute little brother?"
The entire hall went dead silent. Every eye was glued to me, and I was having the time of my life. Oh, the *drama*. I wasn't done yet, though. I swaggered closer, not caring one bit that this was supposed to be some kind of grand coronation ceremony.
His brother's face twitched as he spoke, clearly irritated, "Where are your manners? Is this how you interrupt such an important ceremony?"
I smirked. "My manners? Oh, they're exactly where our father is… *dead*." And with that, I tossed the bag at his feet, letting it land with a satisfying thud. The severed head of the slave-trader chief rolled out, and the gasps from the crowd filled the room. It was priceless.
His brother's face went pale. "W-what is this?"
I crossed my arms, grinning like the cat that got the cream. "Your *deeds*."
He blinked, confused and trying to regain composure. "What are you talking about?"
Ignoring him, I turned to the crowd. "Do you all think your future king should be someone who *owns* slave traders, someone who's the *head* of a damn thief guild, or someone who's been using the country's money for his own benefit? Answer me, my people!"
The murmurs started immediately. I could practically see the doubt seeping into their minds as they whispered to one another.
With a flick of my wrist, I activated a display magic tool I had hidden away for just the right moment. A giant screen appeared in the air, shimmering above the throne room, and the damning evidence started playing for all to see.
It was like watching a greatest hits compilation of *my dear brother's* black-hearted deeds—corrupt deals, secret meetings with the thieves' guild, slave auctions. All of it, laid bare. The crowd gasped as the footage of my brother's worst moments unfolded, one after another. He tried to keep his composure, but the sweat dripping down his face told me everything.
"Oh, look at that," I said, pointing at the screen. "Here's our future king, having a lovely chat with some *slave traders*. How charming."
The crowd started to murmur louder, whispers turning into angry shouts.
My brother's face twisted in rage. "This is slander! Lies!"
"Lies?" I laughed, leaning in closer. "The only thing bigger than your lies is your stupidity. Did you really think you could hide all of this forever?"
The people were already getting riled up, their faith in him crumbling. I had him exactly where I wanted him.
I grinned, turning back to the crowd, who were now buzzing with fury. "So, people… what do you think we should do with *his majesty* here? How about a good old-fashioned *public execution*?"
The crowd erupted into cheers and shouts of agreement. It was a beautiful symphony of chaos. My brother's face went from pale to completely drained of color. He looked like he was about to faint. Serves him right.
He stammered, "Y-you can't do this! I am your king! I'm—"
"King?" I interrupted, laughing. "The only thing you're the king of is bullshit." I looked back at the crowd and shouted, "What say you? Shall we put an end to his reign of filth?"
The shouts of "Yes!" and "Kill him!" grew louder, echoing off the walls of the throne room. I couldn't help but smirk. The tables had turned, and my pathetic excuse for a brother was finally getting what he deserved.
As the crowd roared in agreement, one voice finally cut through the chaos: "But who will be the next king?"
I paused, my mind racing. Honestly, I didn't want Orphie stuck on that damn throne all day, scribbling signatures and making speeches. Sounds boring as hell, right? But, hey, it's his life. He's the one who'd have to deal with all that kingly crap, not me. Still, a little mystery never hurt anyone, and I sure as hell wasn't about to give them all the answers just yet.
I cleared my throat, trying to keep a straight face while holding back my grin. "Alright, arrest this scumbag," I said, gesturing to my brother, who was now being dragged away by the guards. "As for who's going to be the next ruler, well…"
I paused for dramatic effect, watching the crowd lean in, hanging on my every word.
"It's a surprise for tomorrow!" I announced. "No need to spoil all the fun in one day, right?"
The crowd groaned, some laughed, and a few even rolled their eyes, but the excitement was still buzzing in the air. I gave a mock bow and added, "Don't worry, folks. You'll find out soon enough. See you tomorrow for the grand reveal!"
I strutted into Orphie's room, glancing around at all the fancy furniture and rich decor. I knew Orphie was probably losing his mind inside, watching everything unfold. So, I made sure to speak loud enough for him to hear. After all, he could see and hear me from inside his own body. Yeah, it's weird, but hey, that's our life now.
"Hey, Orphie!" I called out, my voice echoing through the room. "I know you're freaking surprised right now, but listen up, okay? Hear me out calmly."
I paused, as if waiting for a response, even though I knew damn well he couldn't answer me directly. Not yet, anyway.
"You're probably thinking, 'How the hell am I supposed to respond?' Well, I got a solution for you. I'm gonna head back inside—no worries—but only if you agree to take this medicine I've got here." I pulled out the little vial and waved it in front of the mirror like I was giving a TED talk.
"Now, if you don't take it, no biggie. But, let me warn you, the next time I pop out, I'll ruin you." I grinned at my reflection, knowing Orphie was watching every move.
"And I know, I know," I continued, "You're not a fan of public appearances, right? So why don't you just let me handle all that for you? I mean, come on, do you really wanna sit on that damn throne, doing boring kingly shit all day?"
I waited for a beat, letting the silence hang in the air before adding with a smirk, "You think about it, bro. But just remember, if you leave this to me, I promise—I'll make it entertaining."
A few seconds passed, and just like that, I felt myself slipping back inside. Orphie came out, stretching his limbs like he'd been cooped up for years—which, I guess, he kinda had. He stood there for a moment, looking around like he was trying to get his bearings, and then finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke.
"Okay," he said, his voice quiet but firm.
There was a long pause, and I could feel him mulling over his next words. Then he added, "But I don't ever want you out again, causing trouble."
Of course, I rolled my metaphorical eyes from within. Like I hadn't just saved his ass a dozen times over. But before I could give him a piece of my mind, Orphie took the medicine, and just like that—I was back in control.
I cursed him under my breath, something along the lines of, "Damn elf, acting like he's doing me a favor," and started piecing together a plan for tomorrow. After all, public executions and big political speeches weren't going to handle themselves. If Orphie wasn't gonna do it, well, I sure as hell would.
"Let the fun begin," I muttered to myself, smirking as I went to work. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.
The next day came, and there I was, standing on the stage in front of a massive crowd. Every single one of them was looking at me with wide eyes, curious and expectant. The chants started, "Orpheus! Be our king! Orpheus! Be our king!"
I raised a hand to quiet them down and addressed the sea of faces, "Hey, my dear people! So, you're all wondering who's going to be your next ruler, huh?"
They nodded, leaning forward as if I was about to drop some life-changing news. Well, technically, I was.
"For starters," I smirked, "I'm *not* that person."
A ripple of confusion spread through the crowd. Some gasps, some murmurs—classic drama.
"But don't worry!" I continued, "The person who *will* be your ruler—more accurately, your queen—is my good older sister, Asterin."
The crowd looked even more confused, as if I'd just told them the sun was going to rise in the west tomorrow.
"Listen, I'm not exactly king material," I said, shrugging. "But my sister? She'll make a damn fine queen. And don't worry, I'll be helping her out along the way."
There was a brief pause, then the cheers erupted as Asterin came onto the stage, looking regal as ever in her coronation gown. We went through the whole ceremony, and when it came time for the royal wave, Asterin leaned in, looking me dead in the eye.
"You're not my brother, are you?" she whispered.
I blinked. "What gave it away?"
She smirked. "He's a coward."
I chuckled. "Yeah, well, you got me. I'm his best friend, Lior. Maybe one day, when we meet properly, I'll ask you out."
Asterin made a face. "It's a bit weird being asked out by someone who's in my brother's body, don't you think? And for the record, I already have a fiancé."
I put a hand to my chest, faking a dramatic sigh. "Ah, well, that just shattered my heart, young lady."
She shook her head, amused. "Weirdo."
And just like that, Asterin became queen, while I continued enjoying the absolute chaos that is my life as the *not* Orpheus inside Orpheus.
This Orpheus life, man... I swear, it was like living with the world's biggest drama queen. The guy spent his *entire* life sulking on his bed, staring at the ceiling like some moody, ancient philosopher. And guess what? He never gave me a chance to come out unless it was for some public appearance or royal duty. Such a meanie! He dumped all the difficult work on me and then just lazed around, probably contemplating the meaning of life or whatever.
Years passed like that—me stuck inside while he kept doing absolutely nothing. And then, of course, came the time for battle. Oh yeah, it was time for his big showdown… which basically meant *his death*.
Who were the attackers, you ask? Well, it was the same group of scumbags from his first life. You know, the ones who put him six feet under the first time. Talk about grudges, right? They came back for round two, all pissed off for reasons that probably made sense in their twisted minds.
And so, here we were, preparing for a fight that he *still* didn't want to deal with. Because, you know, Orphie would rather be sulking in bed, thinking about how unfair life is, while I'm the one doing all the hard work. Typical.
There was a blast, shaking the ground beneath us, but to my surprise, Orphie—*my* gloomy, sulking Orphie—decided to fight himself. For the first time in years, he got off that damn bed and actually did something! Turns out, as much as he hated the limelight, he loved his country more. But the villain? This guy was on another level. Hard as hell to defeat. It wasn't long before Orphie, worn down and desperate, begged me to take over and finish the fight—*even if it cost him his life*.
I didn't want him to die. Hell, I didn't want to lose him after everything we'd been through. But the stubborn bastard didn't listen to me. He made up his mind. He was ready to sacrifice himself if it meant saving his people. So, finally, I took over. I mean, I had some revenge to dish out too, right? After everything, it was time for this villain to pay.
Even then, I still couldn't see the villain's face—just that damned glowing blur. But no matter, I fought with everything I had. *Everything.* I used all the tricks I learned from Orphie's lives, throwing everything at the guy. But it wasn't enough.
And then Orphie, in his infinite wisdom, suggested it—the spell. The one that would cost him his life. I refused at first, of course. I didn't want it to end like this, not after everything. But Orphie, stubborn to the very end, didn't care. He kept pushing me, telling me to use it, that it was the only way.
And so, against my better judgment, I did it. The spell was an instant kill, freezing the villain to death with no chance of survival. But it also meant the end of Orphie.
In that moment, I didn't even know if I'd ever meet him again. If our time together was truly over. But I used the spell, and with one final act, we won the battle. The villain was dead... but so was Orphie.
And just like that, my time with him was gone.
It was like last time. As Orphie took his last breaths, my soul particles separated from his body, forming outside of him. There he was, lying on the ground, fighting for every breath. He looked at me, his eyes soft despite the pain, and said, "So this is how you look… kinda handsome."
I snorted through the tears already welling up. "Thanks, lazy-ass elf."
His laugh was weak, but it was still there. "It was nice having you around, you know."
I tried to play it off, my throat tightening. "Stop making me emotional, man. I was really trying not to cry this time."
Still smiling, he teased, "I'd like to see you cry for once."
And that's when I couldn't hold it back anymore. Tears started filling my eyes. "Do you think it's easy to say goodbye? You'll be gone, and I'll be left alone. Yet again."
He chuckled, though his voice was barely a whisper now. "So, will you miss me?"
I wiped at my eyes, but the tears kept coming. "Of course, dumbass."
Orphie smiled one last time, that warm, familiar smile that made everything feel a little less heavy, even at the end. And just like that... he was gone.
He died in my embrace, and for a moment, the world stopped. The tears that had threatened to fall finally did, slow at first, but steady. It wasn't just the end of him—it was the end of us, of all the lives we shared.
Yet again he left me