It's morning, and I am officially about to die.
"KAEL! WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ALREADY—YOU ARE NOT GETTING MORE RUNE INK!" Mom's voice echoed through the house, loud enough to shake the walls.
"But why? It's not like it's super expensive or anything!" I shouted back, leaning against the doorframe with as much frustration as I could muster. Which was a lot.
"Excuse me?" Mom turned from the kitchen, hands on her hips, her piercing stare enough to make grown men tremble. "What do you even know about prices, Mr. I-Spend-All-Day-In-The-Library? Do you even understand how hard it is to manage finances in this house?"
Technically, I do, Mom. Back then, I had to live off scraps and pocket change. Funny how things feel so different now, and yet some struggles never really go away.
But I couldn't exactly tell her that.
"You already don't leave the house much. The only time you're out of that damn library is for training. I swear, if it weren't for Fara dragging you out, you'd still be all alone, turning into a caterpillar in that stuffy room."
You do realize this is your library I'm talking about, right? Plus, if I don't get the rune ink, I won't be able to finish my essence amplifier. It would've been such a big help with training, and I'm so close too. Argh, why won't you listen? Is it that wrong to not want to bake in the blazing hot sun all day?
Mom's voice grew softer but no less cutting. "Look at her," she said, gesturing toward Fara, who sat perched at the dining table like a smug little kitten. "She's such a kind soul. I'm not even sure you deserve this angel as a friend."
"Fara? Kind?" I shot a side-eye at my so-called angel, who was currently basking in the glory of Mom's praise. Her tail swished in delight, merrily swirling as if she'd just won Best Kitten of the Century. I swear, the furball was eating this up.
"You don't know her enough, Mom," I muttered, glaring at Fara. She didn't even notice.
"AHH, YOU ARE NOT GETTING ANY MONEY—END OF DISCUSSION!" Mom shouted, punctuating her words with a dramatic turn and a march back into the kitchen. Her hands clenched on her hips like she was sentencing me to eternal exile.
The door to my plans slammed shut—figuratively and, soon, probably literally. My last lifeline stood right beside me, still basking in her moment of glory. Time to reel her in.
"Ms. Fara, I believe you were supposed to help me?" I whispered, grabbing her tail.
She yelped in surprise, her ears twitching as she snapped back to reality. "Wha—what happened? Where is Aunty?" she asked, blinking at me with wide, confused eyes. Completely oblivious to the mess she'd just left me in.
I titled my head toward the kitchen, forcing a deep breath. "Thanks for nothing, kitty," I muttered, biting back the urge to strangle her tail for good measure.
Her tail stiffened as she caught on. "Wait, was I supposed to…?" Her words trailed off as realization dawned on her. She turned toward me, her cheeks puffed in an exaggerated pout. "Relax, Kael. I've got this. Watch and learn."
"Oh, do you?" I deadpanned, crossing my arms. "This better not involve you throwing me under the bus again."
She gave me a confident grin, brushing invisible dust off her clothes like she was about to step into a gladiator arena. "Relax. This is why I'm the problem solver of the group."
"Problem solver? You mean, instigator," I muttered under my breath.
"Insti—what? Ahh whatever"
With a dramatic flip of her tail, Fara marched toward the kitchen, where Mom was furiously scrubbing a pot. Her energy was almost terrifying—like watching someone step into a lion's den armed with nothing but charm and overconfidence.
"Mrs. Alethia!" Fara chirped, her voice sugar-sweet.
Mom didn't even glance her way. "If you're here to ask about that rune ink again, the answer is still no," she snapped, her tone sharp enough to cut steel.
"Of course, of course," Fara said, waving her hands in mock surrender. "I totally understand where you're coming from! Budgets are tight, priorities need to be set—you're such a responsible and amazing mom."
Mom paused, clearly caught off guard by the compliment. "Well… it's not easy managing everything," she admitted, though her tone softened ever so slightly.
"Exactly! Kael's lucky to have you," Fara continued, her tail swishing as she leaned against the counter. "But I was thinking… wouldn't it be great if Kael's training could go smoother? That way, he'd have more time to, you know, actually leave the house and maybe help you out with things?"
Mom raised an eyebrow, her hands still on the pot. "And how does wasting money on rune ink accomplish that?"
Fara clapped her hands together like she'd been waiting for this question. "Simple! He's working on an essence amplifier. It allows you to store and efficiently use essence for a long period of time. Imagine how much faster his training would be with that! Less time wasted, more time helping you, and, bonus, he'll finally stop bugging you about getting more rune ink."
"Hey!" I shouted from the doorway. "I'm right here, you know."
Fara shot me a look over her shoulder that said, Let me handle this.
Mom frowned, but I could tell Fara's words were sinking in. "An essence amplifier, huh?" she said, more to herself than anyone else. "That could be useful… if he actually manages to finish it."
"And he's super close!" Fara said, seizing the moment. "He just needs a little more ink, and I promise I'll make sure he doesn't waste it. I swear to the beast goddess Loressa."
She glanced back at me eyes filled with a mixture of reluctance and pride. "You have come a long way from when I started teaching you. Guess I need to buckle up too or you might just surpass me." She chuckled.
I bit back a smirk. Fara might be an annoying furball most of the time, but when it came to talking her way out of things, she was practically a professional.
Mom sighed, setting the pot down. "Fine. But just this once," she said, pointing a finger at me. "And if I find out you've wasted even a drop of that ink, you're grounded. No runes, no library, no anything. Got it?"
I nodded so fast I almost gave myself a sprain in my neck. "Got it. Thanks, Mom!"
"Thank Fara," Mom said, turning back to her cleaning.
I glanced at Fara, who was beaming like she'd just won a medal. "Don't think this means you're off the hook," I muttered. "You're still on tail-grabbing probation."
She stuck her tongue out at me. "Oh, please. Admit it—you couldn't survive without me."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, rolling my eyes. But deep down, I knew she was right. Sort of.
As we left the kitchen, rune ink victory secured, Fara bumped me with her shoulder. "See? Told you I've got this diplomat thing down."
"More like professional suck-up," I muttered, but I couldn't hide the small smile creeping onto my face.
"Hey, whatever works," she said, her tail wagging again. "Now let's get that ink before your mom changes her mind."
And just like that, Fara had managed to turn a disaster into a win. Typical Fara.
—————————————————————————
The sun was shining bright overhead, the pleasant, sweet smell of the fields followed by the faint sound of birds chirping filled my core. Fara was walking beside me, hopping as usual.
It was a nice day… well at least till I realised we didn't set a meeting point.
"Dear Fara" I called with a small awkward smile, she turned around weirded out.
"Do you know where Selene or Varal live? Cuz I can assure you that I don't and we definitely did not forget to set a meeting spot." She turned back around with a slight grin saying,
"Don't worry Mr half ass noble I know where Selene lives and I am sure she knows where Varals house is."
My expression eased a bit but still grumpy from her rude remarks. I mean am neither half assed nor an official noble. When is she even gonna let go of this? Although seeing her wide grin was enough to tell me that it won't be soon.
Around half an hour later we finally reached the town centre, it was darted with flowers, bustling with people, ground made of stone along with a nice little fountain of who I presume to be 'Intrussy the goddess of life' was sitting in the middle of a cross road. I had read about her in a picture book. It said that she was one of the 7 creators of the land and was the one who created the concept of life and essence. It might be a stretch calling this super town like place a 'village' heck it's more of a town than a village. Guess the standards here are quite different.
"It's this way Kael." Fara said pointing at an alleyway. It lead down into stairs that opened up into even more houses, children our age were running around playing among themselves. That's when I heard a call from above, barely audible drowned by the laughter of the kids.
"KAEL, FARA WAIT I AM COMING" Selene shouted from a balcony.
A few minutes passed by and she finally exited the house, followed by a bit of nagging from a man, who I presume to be her father. "Don't be late or no dinner got it?" He shouted but Selene shut the door on him before he could add more.
Guess everyone has there set of 'parent issues'.
"Did I make you two wait?" She said panting. Her pink hair tied in a neat bun, wearing a red dress with a floral pattern. At a glance she looked like she was going for party rather than a casual market visit.
"Nah it's fine, you do know where Varal lives right?" Fara commented as she started walking.
"Mhm, he lives right at the outskirts kinda near uncle Neryx."
It took another half an hour but we finally stopped in front of an old run down wooden house. I was visibly surprised at the condition of the house. It was small, smaller than our chickens coup. The small lawn outside was darted with weeds and overgrown grass, along with a few broken training dummies.
Don't tell me Varal lives here.
"Varal come out we are waiting." Selene shouted.
There was no reply for a while but then a woman shouted from inside.
"Varal answer them! They are your friends right?"
"Too much pain." Said Varal as he opened the door.
Inside the house was just as run down, lined by broken wooden boards, broken furniture windows rattling from the smallest gust of wind. I could barely make out the figure of a female elf inside waving us goodbye. Till Varal shut the door darting out.
"Geez, you call this a house?" Fara muttered, but her grin faltered for a second. Just a second. If I hadn't been looking, I wouldn't have noticed it at all.
"Let's go." Varal frowned, he looked a little embarrassed. Quite the contrast to his usual stiff demeanour.
——————————————
The sun blazed down overhead, and the packed market street felt like it was pulsing with life. Merchants shouted prices over the constant chatter of buyers, their voices competing with the clanging of metal pots, the whirring of wooden fans, and the occasional rattle of carts as vendors pushed their goods through the crowded road. The air was heavy, thick with the mingled scents of spices, ripe fruits, and freshly baked bread, but even that couldn't mask the heat.
We navigated the bustling market, squeezing past tightly packed bodies. Fara clung close to Selene and me, her tail swishing angrily every time someone bumped into her. "Pardon you!" she shouted as a large man accidentally knocked her sideways.
"Just stick with me, or we'll lose you again," I said, grumbling as I pulled her arm to keep her from lagging behind.
"I'm not a child!" she shot back, though her ears twitched with irritation. "It's just this stupid crowd! I swear half of them have no clue what personal space is."
Selene chuckled as she wiped a bead of sweat off her forehead. "Phew! The market really is packed today," she said, fanning herself with her hand. "And it's so hot, I feel like I'm melting."
I groaned in agreement, rolling my shoulders to stretch out the soreness from being jostled around. "If the sun gets any hotter, I'm going to turn into a puddle right here."
Fara's grin returned, though it had a hint of smugness this time. "Aw, is Mr. Crybaby Noble having a hard time in the market? Should I carry you, Kael?"
"Shut up, kitty," I muttered, shooting her a glare. "Come on, the runeary is close. Let's finish up here before you start whining about your tail getting stepped on again."
It took another half hour of pushing, shoving, and a lot of apologizing, but we finally arrived at RuneRS, the best shop for anything related to runes. The smell of ink and parchment hit me as soon as we stepped inside, and I immediately got to work scanning the shelves for the rune ink I needed.
"Found it," I said, holding up a small bottle with a triumphant grin.
"Great. Can we leave now?" Fara groaned, already leaning against the counter like she was about to collapse from exhaustion.
I ignored her and haggled with the shopkeeper for the next ten minutes, determined to get the best price. When I finally handed over the coins and walked out with my prized purchase, I spotted Selene standing at a nearby stall, her gaze fixed on a display of jewelry.
"Like something?" Fara asked, sneaking up behind Selene and draping an arm over her shoulder.
Selene jolted, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Uh, maybe…" she mumbled, her eyes darting back to a necklace on display. It had a striking red gem in the center, surrounded by smaller green stones that sparkled in the sunlight.
"It's pretty," Fara said, leaning in closer to inspect it. "Why not get it?"
Selene sighed, brushing her hair out of her face. "It's expensive," she admitted, biting her lip. "Besides, it's not like I really need it."
I glanced at the necklace, then at Selene. She was trying to act nonchalant, but the way her gaze kept drifting back to it told me all I needed to know.
"You know, Selene," Fara said with a mischievous grin, "Kael's a rich nobleman. I'm sure he wouldn't mind buying it for you."
"What?!" I snapped, spinning toward her. "Don't just volunteer me for—"
Fara cut me off, shoving me closer to the stall. "Come on, Kael. Look at her. She's practically in love with it. Don't you want to be a good friend?"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You're impossible," I muttered, pulling out my coin pouch. The stall owner perked up immediately, sensing an easy sale.
Selene's eyes widened as I handed over the coins, and she started to protest. "Kael, you don't have to—"
"Just take it," I said, cutting her off as the merchant handed her the necklace. "Consider it an early birthday gift or something."
Selene hesitated, then accepted the necklace with a shy smile. "Thank you," she said softly, her cheeks turning pink.
I shrugged, trying to ignore the way Fara was smirking at me like she'd just pulled off the greatest prank of her life. "Don't mention it," I muttered, already regretting my decision.
-—————————
As we left the jewelry stall and made our way toward the quieter part of the market, a sudden commotion caught our attention.
"Stop it! Give it back!" a young boy's voice cried out, high-pitched and desperate.
We turned toward the source of the noise and saw a small boy—probably no older than three—standing in front of a group of older kids around the age of 10. He was clutching a small bag to his chest, his wide eyes filled with tears. Behind him, a small, cat-like creature with fluffy white fur cowered in fear.
One of the older kids held a stick, swinging it lazily as he sneered down at the boy. "What's the big deal? It's just some dumb animal. Go cry somewhere else."
The boy took a shaky step back, shielding the creature with his body. "It's not dumb! It's my friend!"
Before I could react, Varal stepped forward, his blue eyes as cold and sharp as a blade.
"Leave him alone," Varal said, his voice low and dangerous.
The older kids froze, their laughter dying in their throats as they turned to face him. Varal wasn't taller than them nor was he bigger, but there was something about the way he stood—calm, unflinching, and completely unafraid—that made them hesitate.
"Who's gonna make us?" one of them sneered, though his voice wavered.
Varal didn't answer. Instead, he stepped between the boy and the bullies, his gaze locked on the leader.
The bully raised his stick, as if to challenge him, but Varal moved faster than I thought possible. He grabbed the stick mid-swing and snapped it in half with a single motion, his eyes never leaving the older kid's face.
"Leave. Now," Varal said, his voice like ice.
The bullies didn't need to be told twice. They dropped what they were holding and scattered, disappearing into the crowd.
Varal turned to the boy, his expression softening as he crouched down to pick up the trembling cat-like creature. He handed it back to the boy, who hugged it tightly, tears streaming down his face.
"Th-thank you," the boy stammered, looking up at Varal like he was a hero straight out of a storybook.
Varal didn't say anything, just gave the boy a small nod before standing up and walking back to us.
"That was… pretty cool," Selene said, breaking the silence.
Varal shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It was nothing."
Fara grinned, her tail wagging slightly. "Look at you, Varal. A real knight in shining armor."
Varal shot her a glare, but I noticed the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
As we continued down the street, I couldn't help but glance at Varal. For someone who rarely spoke, he had a way of leaving an impression.
On our way back the market had settled down quite a lot, guess everyone was off to work or lunch. We passed by a tavern, bustling with people. Scary people. Muscles brimming from every part of their bodies, filled with scars and tattoos as if they had fought countless battles.
A group of four drunk people suddenly came out from the gate falling onto each other, ready to barf at any point. The stench from their mouths was unbearable.
"Ugh… About *heek* the wrought dungeon… when are we *eek* going to. Go brake that place down. Huh? WHEN?" One of them spoke out angrily.
The other three were too drunk to even stand and fell down, falling asleep right in front of the tavern.
The fourth guy turned around trying to find his buddies till he too fell on top of them.
I was just about to explode with cringe when—
"What's a wrought dungeon?" Fara spoke out.
"You seriously don't know?" I turned around in confusion.
"Ho? You say that as if you do…"
"Well for your kind information I do" I snarled back.
Fara was about to add another sarcastic remark but Selene interrupted her saying
"Well a wrought dungeon is basically a temporary dungeon of sorts. They say that the 'God of Amusement, Ikrith' likes to summon these around randomly for fun."
"Sounds like a terrible God" Fara frowned, kicking a pebble next to her feet.
"Well not really… I mean it does help us get more materials and stuff so it's kinda useful in some senses."
"Wanna go?" Said Varal.
Mine and Selene eyes lit up. Although I am pretty sure it was excitement in her case while I was simply confused. Since when did Varal actively take part in conversations much rather suggest something.
"Sure let's go. I mean if it's alright with you two" Selene said looking at me and Fara, eyes gleaming brighter than a puppy.
There was no way we could say no.
"Well then, let's run it by uncle Neryx first. If he gives us the go then it's ok." I frowned.
Why do we need to go to such a dangerous place though…
———————————
After the dungeon expedition was finalised we all went our separate ways, by the time me and Fara reached home it was almost evening, the sun was starting to settle down and the climate was getting cooler. Once we reached the front porch me and Fara entered the house.
I sat down on the floor to take of my shoes but for some reason felt a lingering presence behind me. Cold, as if I were being watched. Like someone was peering into my soul. Shrivels. Cold sweat, my eyes were pounding from one side to the other. Who was watching me? Why me? What did they want? I jolted back. No one. Just an empty hallway, not a single soul.
"Guess it was my imagina— WHAT?" I turned panting, what was going on? The cold atmosphere pressed. Dividing my soul into two. Time started to slow down.
Fara. Where was she? She was supposed to be right behind me. I turned around. Full circle. No one.
What is this?
Suddenly I heard a giggle. Small but noticeable. Then another. From the other side of the hallway, it was moving, but how? I didn't see anyone. Another one, this time louder.
"Hehehehe" followed by footsteps as if someone was running. I turned, still no one.
What the fuck is this? What is going on?
The giggles continued turning into laughter, growing more maniacal, sinister by the second.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU? COME OUT"
No response. Just a faint hum.
"Na na na. Na na na. Come and play. We are friends. Laugh merrily. To the worlds end. Nana na"
It grew louder by the second. My body started to become stiffer, I could feel something crawl within me. As if there was something inside me.
Just then from the corner of my, I saw someone run.
"BOO"
I jolted, shrieked, ran.
"What are you doing idiot?" A known voice cut through me. It was Fara. I turned around. Relieved. Air started to fill my lungs again. The time went back to normal—
"F-Fara? Wh—" I stuttered. She was not… normal. Her amber eyes sparkled, her white ears twitched, tail swaying from side to side like usual, but her smile? It was different. Wide, wider than humanly possible. Extending beyond her face. It was familiar. I had seen it before, but where?
The bridge. The void. It all came crashing down along with the cold atmosphere.
The runes in the house started to flicker, followed by the creaking of the floor wood. The crackles continued. Transforming from maniacal to something worse something—demonic.
That's when I heard the same melody. That same hum. The same lyrics.
"Na na na. Na na na. Come and play. We are friends. Laugh merrily. To the worlds end. Na na na"
The only difference? This time it was in the voice of someone I knew. Someone I held so close to my heart that I am not even sure if I valued her more than myself.
It was Lilith. Her voice croaking. Breaking. Demonic…
My heart fell, shattered. Before my brain could think my body sprang towards the end of the hall, into the living. I stubbed my toe on the doorway, knocked a flower vase, but none of that mattered. M—my sister was in danger.
I burst into the living room, panic flooding every nerve in my body. "Lilith?" My voice cracked, trembling under the weight of my fear. The rhyme had stopped, the flickering runes on the walls now steady, as though mocking me for overreacting.
She was there. Standing in the centre of the room, her small, fragile frame illuminated by the faint glow of the runes. Her back was turned to me, her tiny hands clenching her favourite stuffed animal—a worn-out bunny she never let go of.
A flood of relief washed over me. "Lilith!" I called out, my voice breathless but filled with relief. "Are you okay? What are you doing just standing there?"
She didn't respond.
"Lilith?" I stepped closer, my heart still pounding. Her head tilted slightly, as though she had heard me, but she didn't turn around. Something was wrong. My stomach churned.
"Lilith…" My voice wavered as I reached out, my fingers trembling.
Then I noticed it—her bunny's ears. They were soaked. Dark red liquid dripped onto the floorboards in tiny splatters. My heart plummeted. That wasn't right. That couldn't be right. My breath hitched as I froze in place.
The air grew colder. Heavier. The runes on the walls dimmed again, casting shifting shadows across the room.
"Lilith," I whispered, my voice shaking. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
Her small shoulders began to twitch. The trembling grew violent, unnatural, as though something was twisting her from the inside. I stumbled back, my instincts screaming for me to run, but my feet refused to move.
She began to hum. Soft, broken, like a nursery rhyme sung off-key.
"Na na na… na na na… come and play…"
My knees buckled. That voice—it was Lilith's, but wrong. Warped. Broken. Like it had been fed through a grinder and stitched back together.
"Lilith?" My voice cracked, now a desperate plea.
She slowly turned her head. Too slowly. Inch by inch, her neck creaked unnaturally, and the motion sent a shiver down my spine. The shadows shifted across her face as it came into view. My stomach twisted violently, bile rising in my throat.
Her eyes were gone.
In their place were swirling black voids, endless and empty, oozing faint tendrils of purple fog. Her mouth stretched unnaturally wide, splitting her lips at the edges. The smile wasn't hers—it was his. That same grotesque, soul-piercing grin I had seen on the bridge. The grin that haunted my dreams.
"L-Lilith…" I choked out, stumbling backward and falling to the floor. My arms shook as I scrambled back, my nails digging into the wood. "W-what's happening?"
She tilted her head, her body stiff and jerky like a puppet on strings. Her bunny dropped to the floor with a wet plop, staining the floorboards red.
"Brother," she croaked, her voice fractured and wrong. "Why are you scared of me?"
"Stay back!" I screamed, my heart pounding as I crawled away. "Stay away from her! Whoever you are, get out of her!"
She froze mid-step, her limbs contorted in unnatural angles. The purple fog pouring from her eyes thickened, twisting into vague shapes that writhed and slithered like snakes. Then, with a sickening crack, her body twisted in on itself, folding backward. Her head snapped into place unnaturally, facing me while her body faced the other way.
I gagged, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. "This isn't real… This isn't real…"
Her voice distorted further, deeper now, layered like a chorus of whispers. "Oh, Kael… why do you look so frightened? I thought you loved your little sister."
"LET HER GO!" I screamed, my throat raw. "I-I'll do anything, just—just let her go!"
She laughed. Or rather, it laughed. The sound came from deep within her, a grating, mocking echo that rattled in my skull.
I shut my eyes trying to forget everything. I punched myself thinking I would wake up, but no. That's when she spoke. Her voice distorted beyond recognition. Cold, heavy. As if it were a man speaking.
"Hi there… Kael? Did I s—scare you? Hehehe" it said twisting in my sisters body, convulsion, shaking. Movements stiff like a puppet.
I was too scared to answer.
"W—who a—are you?" I squeaked. Barely forcing myself to speak."
"We, we have meeeeetttt before." It said choking on its own spit.
"O—on the bridge? Kehehehe re—remember?"
It jumped from one side to the other, breaking more and more of my sisters bones, each crack turning her soft, gentle body into something monstrous.
"What are you talki—" that's when it all came crashing down, the man on the bridge, the one who was picking a fight with me. "YOU ARE THAT MAN FROM THE BRIDGE RIGHT?" I shouted, my voice cracking.
"Ye—hehehehe yes. That's me"
"WHAT IS YOUR NAME? WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME"
"Me? I—I go by many names my dear, 'the maniacal laughter', 'clown', 'the fool'. Although I personally like the name 'The God of Amusement' keheheh"
I fell back down to my knees.
A God? What does a god even want from me?
"Hehehehe I have had many toys in the past my child, although all of them broke with just a small nudge, but you. You are the only one that didn't break. You Kazuki Ren are my f—fa—favourite. Hehahahhehaeh"
It's laugh started to die down, my ears started to muffle up and my vision started to get blurry.
What does he mean toy?
"Don't worry my boy w—we will play a Whole Lot Hehehehe"