For the first time, Chiyu found peace eating at the table. He found it odd that Airi was not around, but he thanked himself. He felt none of his wife’s foreboding presence that night.

Tokino looked happier without her mother. Although, she got confused and even worried. “Mama… where are you?” Nevertheless, they had engaging conversations together. Sadness and despair were uninvited.

After dinner, he gave her a warm hug before bed. “I’ll read you more stories from now on, alright, kiddo? The day after that, we’ll finally be free. And if you want, your mom can visit us every month.”

Tokino’s tears welled up, and she smiled. “I love you so much, Papa!” She hugged him back. “Don’t ever leave me….”

He dried her eyes. “Of course not… Now, let’s go to your bed. I’ll read you a bedtime story.” He lent a hand.

Tokino nodded with her eyes closed and complied.

Taikō decided to read her a short tale inspired by historical events. He cleared his throat and deepened his voice again.

“Tightrope Duel” by Fangorn George.

It was a cloudless sunny day that noon. Fate gave the prince a taste of challenge upon seeing a daring commoner. The young man followed no one, not even the code. He found it amusing to paint the king an ugly troll. Guards stormed in and threw him back into the mud.

The prince’s curiosity peaked. He feared only Father, draconian he was. The king issued executions to anyone who helped the needy. He only loved Mother, kind forever she was. The queen formed an opposing army hellbent on overthrowing the current rule. Her blood always saved her from the ax.

He searched far and wide for the commoner. No one found a trace of him left. Even his downtrodden family could not remember his face. The widow bowed. “Spare me a request, my prince. Find my son, and I shall pay it with my life.”

“No need for blood, madame,” he said calmly. “You’ve grieved long enough for your missing rascal. In return, I owe you and every one the utmost protection.” The prince bowed goodbye.

He searched far and wide again, approaching the putrid orc hideouts. Luck struck him that day, and he saw the commoner’s victorious face. In the prince’s eyes, he saw a hero that fought until dawn. He kneeled. “Your mother and everyone grieve for you, signore. I shall accompany you home in haste.” Unfortunately, he felt a sting on his neck. Back on his feet, his belly got bruises.

The commoner laughed hard enough the crows scattered. “Your ears need care, your humbleness. I seek only freedom that my ill mother and kin never had. If you are to help me, bring me the king’s head in a basket. Father to you, I care not.”

Unbeknownst to him, the prince laughed back. His voice was even louder. “You seek freedom? Then my mother would ever so be proud. My love for kings faded for some time.” He drew his golden sword. “Show me one’s might. Then we’ll fight in arms. Under darkness, we shall live no longer.”

The commoner decided to laugh harder. “Striking me a fool means you’ve slept for millennium nights!” He raised a finger. “Show me sincerity! But I’d like to propose a location before that. Win my spirit, and I shall swap blood for our brotherhood.”

He led the prince to a peculiar sight: a tightrope between two fortresses lost through time. He left everyone’s luck showered above him. He practiced long before the prince tasted his mother’s milk. However, he failed to see his perseverance.

In one minute, the prince now had nimble feet. His gold sword swung left and right. The commoner gave all his might and magic to shield himself. In the end, he ran out of tricks.

The prince put down his lustrous sword. “Splendid, signore. You present to me a destiny to remember.” He drew a layman’s knife to his hand. “Show me freedom bound by our blood, dear brother. Bound we are not on anything else.”

The commoner laughed the loudest in the end. “If tragedy comes for us, we’ll still ride to arms. Forever till the end….”

And so, they showed the people a handshake for their salvation. Their blood continued till the birth of Lacus: the city that bore the sea of human kindness.

After the read, Tokino slept beside her father with a smile. Taikō patted her head and turned off the lights.

However, darkness loomed by the walls. Airi appeared out of it via Runic Art. She merged and hid inside before.

Tokino felt something cold on her cheeks. Yet, they were gentle strokes. She opened her eyes, and her body jerked in shock.

Airi moved her finger. “Shhhhh… Oh, Tokino. Even when you’re scared, your beauty never fades. Does my sweet little darling have anything to tell her mother so? I was worried sick.” She stroked her hair next.

She quivered. “U-Um… Papa and I were outside. A-And he told me stories—”

“Ah… stories? Say no more, my Tokino. It appears you were in good hands.” She continued stroking. “I hate to admit it. But you have a wonderful father who loves you dearly.”

She sweated bullets. “Wh-What do you mean… hate?”

She smiled calmly and neared herself to her ear. “Here’s a little story for you, darling. Once upon a time, a maiden fell in love with the slaughterhouse. One day, she found a new love for a royal who inspected the place. However, it never lasted.

“Years later, the wife found a better form of love—an ecstatic one. She no longer had love from the heart for her husband. And she lived happily in bed ever after. The end.” Airi kissed her daughter goodnight and opened the door. “If you ever love someone in the future, I suggest you express it differently. It feels better that way, darling.”

Tokino’s blood ran cold. “W-What do you mean ‘better’? H-How does it feel?” She held her blanket close.

She turned around and gave a long smirk. “Like Heaven… Sweet, sweet Heaven….” She licked her lips and closed the door.

Tokino could not sleep that night. No matter what angle, her body felt freezing. She hyperventilated under her thick blanket.

Thirty minutes in, her eyes refused to close. She moved to the bottom of the bed, but still no luck. She slept on both sides. Once again, her eyes refused. Eventually, she began fearing the dark and saw strange figures. Some appeared shadowy, while others looked like deformed people.

Tokino hyperventilated further. She saw the figures moving. From the corner of her eye, she saw heads twitching. Her stuffed animals began looking like they waved at her. At that moment, she turned the lights on.

She slowly moved back to bed. Her muscles ached beyond belief, yet her eyes still could not close. She moved from one spot time after time, and still no luck. As it went on, her mother’s words became louder in her head. She did not understand it, but it terrified her.

Eventually, insomnia disappeared. Demons took their place. Tokino felt like someone covered her mouth from breathing. The suffocation became worse by the second. All the while, she could not move. Her body refused her every command.

She saw the demons jumping around the place. She wanted to scream so badly. They looked horrid, down to their sharp-toothed grins. “Like Heaven! Sweet, sweet Heaven!” they exclaimed again and again.

At that point, Tokino got up five times. Every time she laid down again, she suffocated, and the demons returned. Her heart had now beat faster than a rabbit’s. Even with the lights turned on, the night was torturous.

Fortunately, she remembered one thing. She inhaled deeply in bed with her eyes open. “Breath, Tokino… Breath….” She continued the exercise for five minutes. Her heart slowed back to normal.

Tokino finally slept during the Witching Hour. Surprisingly, she had a pleasant experience.

She walked over a serene meadow and caught many butterflies. Like in real life, she managed to do it effortlessly. Moments later, it became more challenging—but fun. The butterflies flew faster from her hands. Even then, she caught hundreds and set each free.

Moments later, she heard a voice from behind. “Come over here, honey! It’s time for lunch,” it beckoned.

Tokino ran uphill and saw a picnic table. It was her parents, happier than usual. What caught her attention was her mother looking different. She wore a blue dress and white apron, and she smiled with her eyes closed every time.

Airi walked to her and held her shoulders. “I made you your favorite, honey. Currywurst with fries. Your father almost made the stove burst into flames.” She giggled and accompanied her daughter to the table.

At first, Tokino got weirded out. Her father beamed with happiness, and her mother expressed her love by teasing. They even hugged and laughed with each other.

She found it all strange. Yet, her mouth watered over her favorite. She scarfed it down in one minute and asked for seconds. As she asked for fifths, Taikō gave out a hearty laugh. “I’m glad you’re as greedy as ever for Currywurst, kiddo. I’d be worried if you didn’t.”

Airi joined in with the laughing. “She sure is… Our Tokino is growing fast.” She patted her head.

Suddenly, Tokino heard a thunderous roar in the distance. It startled her family as well. A firedrake queen flew toward them at blinding speeds. She only saw them once in picture books, but it scared her enough to hold her mother.

Fortunately, Taikō stepped in. “Stand back, everyone! I’ll handle this.” He pulled up his sleeves. A lone punch hurled the dragon onto a faraway forest. Still, it was resilient. It breathed fire directly at him, but he dodged with ease.

Back at the picnic, Tokino’s eyes widened. She loved every moment of her father fighting the firedrake. “Keep going, Papa!” she cheered, cupping her hands.

Airi giggled again and held her shoulder from behind. “He’s strong, isn’t he?”

Tokino still raised some eyebrows over the strangely happy scenario. “Why are you like this, Mama? Your hair changed, too,” she looked up.

She turned to her. “Oh… You don’t remember? You’re with your father now. I only visit once a month. So, what do you think?” she presented her casual, nonroyal attire.

Her eyes lowered. “Did you… change for the better?”

Airi sighed and kneeled. “Yes, Tokino. I really did.” She hugged her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you. I don’t deserve to call you my sweet little darling anymore….”

She let go and shook her head. “It’s okay, Mama. You can call me any way you want.”

She sniffled and dried her eyes. “Really…?”

Tokino nodded with a confident pout. Airi cried tears of joy and hugged her again. “Oh, my sweet, sweet, sweet little darling Tokino. I couldn’t even ask the Gods for forgiveness. But I’m so happy you gave it to me.” She sobbed. “I love you—a million deaths….”

Tokino’s heart rose over her last words. It gave her sudden chills. “W-What did you say?” she looked up.

She turned to her again. “What’s wrong? I said I love you a million deaths.”

Tokino could believe what she heard. Her mother usually told her that every time her “lessons” ended. She said such words after torturing a prisoner to death before her eyes.

At that moment, Tokino could not rationalize the scenario any longer. It was too good to be true. With that, time stopped within the dreamscape.

She noticed a shadowy, lanky figure from afar. It stood still, but its long few hairs swayed even with no wind. It clenched its teeth and began making a buzzing noise. She covered her ears. No matter what, the sound boomed louder and louder.

She took a peek—and saw the figure right in front of her screaming.

Tokino got up from bed with sweat all over her. As the lights were still on, she saw a maid from afar.

The young woman turned off the vacuum cleaner and bowed to her. “A thousand apologies, Lady Tokino. The butler ordered me to tidy up your room. Shall I go out? I prefer it that way.”

She shook her head. “No. It’s okay, miss. Carry on….”

The maid bowed again and continued her work.

Surprisingly, Tokino found it easy to sleep again despite the noise. “Mama… do you really love me…?”