“What if I told you that there is another way out of the Underworld? A gate that isn’t recorded on any of the official records? Would you be interested in such a thing?” The Nephilim’s voice becomes persuasive and I instinctively swallow. My throat is paper dry. Why do I want to go back so badly, anyway? Is there anything even waiting up there?

However, I can’t lie to myself. As lost as I am, the Underworld is not my home. The taste of the sun, the kiss of a certain someone. Even my old friends which I never met in this life. My promise with Suzy. There are so many things which I cannot fulfill down here. Thus, when Eli tells me of a way out of this dark place, I’m hooked.

“Tell me.”

“Hehe, I can see it in your eye. You are like me…” He lets go of my hand and sits on the side of the koi pond. Leaning in, he whispers secrets for my ears alone, “What I am about to tell you is to stay strictly between us. You can’t tell anyone, not even Delphie or Sophie, okay? This is a family secret. Since you’re human too, I trust you. But this is too important to entrust to the others. Do I have your word for secrecy?”

“Naturally.”

“Very well. Then listen close. My mother, as you know, was human. It’s common knowledge that my father met her in the Underworld and brought her to the Court and had me. What’s not common knowledge is that that particular fairy tale is just a cover story. In reality, my mother never wanted to come down here. My father, the Overlord, is not a gentle man. She told me the truth on her deathbed. He kidnapped her. The freaking brute whose blood flows through my veins dragged her from the light and imprisoned in this place. And then he forced himself on her and had me.” A vein in the Exiled Prince’s temple throbs as he struggles to control himself. “Anyways, the old bastard will get his due soon enough in the Succession. But you see it, don’t you?”

“In order to kidnap your mother, he must have a way to get to the surface.” I read between the lines. “Do you know where this gate is?”

“No. I wouldn’t be here if I did. The truth is, I’ve been looking for most of my time in exile. Old books, scrolls, even the diaries of my father’s concubines. I need to see it, Hei. The light she spoke of. I don’t want to die down here with the stink of these mongrels! I refuse to become like him!” A hint of desperation enters the Exiled Prince’s voice before he can hide it. I feel a hint of sympathy for his predicament. I can understand not wanting to turn into something you despise.

“Thank you for telling me this. But even still, I just don’t know enough about the Underworld. It’ll be difficult to find the gate with just this much. I’ll try though!” I promise and Eli nods slowly.

“Well, my search was not entirely in vain. It told me where the answer cannot be. Which is to say that my father clearly never trusted anyone. The answer probably lies in one place and one place only…his head. You and I…we have a common goal. Do you understand what I’m getting at?”

“Yea. I see it.” My eyes narrow, and my patch begins to itch as I hold out my hand this time. “Delphie told you what I did back there, didn’t she?”

“She did.” He admits. “It makes me think that you’re more than you seem. I need allies, Hei. Despite what I tell the girls, the battle for the throne will not be easy. I don’t even want to fight this battle, but the only way to get back at my father is to play his game. It costs me little to relay an old tale to you. But I hope that my investment has gained me a friend. After so many years away, I’m a stranger to this city, just like you. I feel like I’m being washed away to some far shore somewhere. Will you help me hold on to something real?”

He holds up his hand and we shake.

“Your dream…to see the light. Let’s find it together!”

#

“What have you done? WHAT have you done?!” Sophie seems close to losing it when she learns that Delphie has signed on to join Eli’s camp.

“B-But you said you didn’t mind! I mean Hei is doing it and you are too so I thought I should do my duty and…” Delphie stammers as the sultry daughter of assassins grips her shoulders. “You’re hurting me!”

“Damnit, Delphie! Do you ever think that maybe I just wanted you to think for yourself for once?” Sophie huffs and stomps her foot. The tile beneath cracks and I raise an eyebrow. The hell is that Strength Stat? “If you really wanted to join his banner, I wouldn’t have minded, but you’re just doing it because Hei said yes! You…YOU’RE UGH!”

“I thought you’d be happy!” Delphie’s confusion only serves to infuriate the other Nephilim more. Stalking away, she turns on me as she goes to her room. “S-Soph? What’s wrong?”

“You!” Ignoring her friend’s cries, Sophie gets in my face. “This is your fault! I told you to feed the Nethergulpers! Not trick Delphie into joining the Succession. I thought we understood each other, but you’re just like the rest. Saying one thing and plotting something else in the shadows!”

*Slap*

I’m too slow to dodge her hand, though I get the feeling she held back because my jaw isn’t broken. Stalking away, Sophie shakes her head furiously and slams her door. Delphie runs over-

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t think she’d get so mad. I knew she didn’t want me to join up, but I really think it’s the right thing to do. Are you okay?” She peers at my bruised cheek. I think she was wearing a ring, because I have a cut on my face now, but it’s just a flesh wound. “Jeez, Soph. That’s going too far!”

“I’m alright.” Rubbing my face, and I sit with my back against the fountain and listen to the water trickling down. The Forgotten Empress stares down at me mercifully, as if judging our mortal squabbles. Would a god even understand human conflict? What concerns would trouble someone all powerful? “She’s right though. I said I’d join Eli’s side for my own benefit. It has nothing to do with my debt to you. So, you really don’t need to do this.”

“Mmm…really?”

“Really.”

“Oh. I thought maybe it was because of that. But still, I should join if you all are willing to risk your lives. Even my brother is willing to sacrifice things for this. What would that make me if I wasn’t willing to put something on the line for once?” Delphie says some valiant words, but I can see her heart’s flame flickering inside as she speaks. “What do you think is the right thing to do, Hei?”

“Whatever you want. I owe you a debt, anyways, so don’t worry about what is right or wrong. Just do what you need to do. Don’t worry about us.” My reply causes her to furrow her brow.

“Hmm, whatever I want?” She shakes her head frantically. “N-No it’s the duty of a noble to serve the greater good of the Underworld! It’s always been like that! Even if…even if…”

“Even if you don’t want to? That’s stupid.” I close my eyes, trying to shut out the Forgotten Empress’s violet eyes. They seem too all-knowing, like they’re judging me. “Want to hear a story?”

“What story?”

“A simple one. It’s actually a lot longer, but not many people remember it. As a matter of fact, even I don’t know if I remember it right anymore. But maybe it can help you make some decisions here. See it’s one of those stories that people might call a true story. Or close enough to it.” My sigh causes her to look at me strangely.

“Sure, I’ll listen.”

“Okay, here goes.” I take a deep breath, staring up at the sky. A web of dark blue crystals forms a river on the ceiling of Sophie’s lair. “Once, there was a man who fought the System. He was obsessed with becoming the strongest, fastest Hunter in the world.”

“Hunters, that’s what you call the Awakened on the surface, right?” She says one of the terms I remember that the denizens of the System refer to Hunters as and I nod.

“Yes. Exactly. Now this Hunter did his best to follow the rules of morality. To only kill those who hurt him. And to save as many people as he could. He considered it his duty as one of the strong. Sound familiar?”

“You make it sound like this is all in the past. Did he change?”

“Eventually…see, something terrible happened. Regardless, it became apparent that he couldn’t save everyone. Even with all his power, and his speed, he was never strong or fast enough to stop the System.” My voice trembles a bit at this one. Never was fast enough. No matter how many points I put in Agility.

“Okay, that sounds bad. What happened?” Sophie looks at me worriedly, her kaleidoscope eyes flashing. I shrug, trying to hide the pain from my face. A trickle of blood from the cut on my cheek overflows. I wipe it away with the back of a hand.

“He realized the truth. You can’t save everyone. The System exists. It is all-powerful. Unstoppable. No matter how you fight against it, it will win every time. People will die, and when they do, they will instinctively cry out for help in their last moments. Their screams will haunt your ears until you wake up with their pleas on your own lips. But you can’t save them. It is already too late. No matter how you many you save trying to uphold duty and honor, they will always blame you when you fail. People love to see you fail, Delphie. It’s something twisted in our nature. When you die, you instinctively don’t want to be alone. So you’ll even drag down the people who come to save you. That’s how we are.”

“Umm…I don’t know, Hei…” Her gaze changes as she watches me. I expect to see discomfort, unease, maybe even fear. But instead, I think I find pity. “I hope that story has a happy ending.”

“It doesn’t.” I deny it point blank. “But it does have a point. Duty, honor, these concepts are just things which other people create to try to influence you. Don’t follow them blindly to your death. Trust me…the world won’t thank you for it.”

“Thank you for the story, Hei. I’ll keep that in mind.” Delphie gets up, stretching. “You’ve given me a lot to think about. I’m glad you told me it, even if it was…dark.”

“You’re welcome then-“ Suddenly I freeze. Something’s wrong. Really wrong. However, Delphie doesn’t notice. She just bids me goodnight because she can’t hear it. Only I can hear the whisper which echoes through my soul.

“Good night, Hei. Tell me a happy story about the surface, next time, okay? I’d like to know more about your people!”

“Y-Yea…” I mutter, turning away. Staring into the Forgotten Empress’s eyes, I wait for Delphie’s footsteps to fade and her door to close. Then I let out the breath I’ve been holding. The words bouncing around my head after I finished my story finally can come out. I can stop hiding my unease. Clenching my fists, I feel sweat beading down the side of my neck as I remember the other voice which doesn’t belong to me. It whispered to me and now I don’t know who to trust. It…or me…

Do you really think you were that innocent?