I was given two choices, and I chose not to choose. I miss those days when he was a friend, the very second he could have, the dummy would take all the time in the world to talk to me. I remember how he was at first, acted like no one mattered to him, but I didn’t let him go unnoticed.

Somewhere along the way, I… I really, really fell for him and his big know it all brain. But I couldn’t stop there, I had to go and be a girl and fall for someone else. It, it got to be so, so much hassle hanging out with one and wanting to be with the other that I just ignored them both like an idiot.

I hurt him so, so much…

When I realized it, I tried, but there was always some excuse for why we couldn’t talk. Losing him hurt, but it really was my own fault, not choosing and ignoring them both was a choice, a choice I should never have made…

At least my sister was helped by him… My sister is Ms. Dependable, a really great artist, and mentor. I wanted to be like her, when she knew, she told me, “I don’t want this for you, Illy.”

Since then, I noticed how unhappy she was, until the Doofus won her heart. He helped her cooked, babysit, and took away a lot of her responsibilities. I never saw my sister smile so much around somebody, and it bothered me so much…

Realizing now, I never noticed that Bona’s smile was scarce, he’d grin, but not really smile. He did when we hung out, and when he hung out with Aggie, and I’ve only seen him really smile once since we were brought here. Who was there for him after that last Christmas when Aggie changed? Did anyone make him smile?

Seeing her hurting inside, I wanted some way to bring the two back together. No one had Bona’s contact info, he changed numbers, and church. We couldn’t reach him. Then something happened, I heard a voice telling me to bring two people with me to save a world on the edge of collapse, or something. All I could think about was them, then… we were all together. But who was Bona?

…Warren scares me. Not him himself, but the idea of him, or it. What world are we in? A part of me was glad Bona acted casually, that I had him to hate for his callousness. Living in fear that the people in my life may really be monsters was worse than just dying. I hope he was being kind in his own twisted way because I need him now more than ever.

Excerpt from “The Writings of Iliana Amana”

Laying alone in an oversized room after passing out from what I expect to be blood loss isn’t a bad thing. It’s for the best that I remain distant, because I hurt them again, without a second thought in the moment.

Pushing my back off the bed to sit up was a mistake, an unbearable pain ceased my attempt, I laid back down. The conditions of my shoulders made it impossible to lift my arms to my chest or out stretch them. Didn’t Freya heal me? Can she?

It’s freaking quiet, I thought to myself as my breaths whistled through my nose. Why in the world did the architects of this world design buildings with windows so high up, and narrow? Some light in this dim room would lighten the atmosphere. No pun intended.

I wonder if they had pets here, it would be nice to get a pet. Maybe they’d wait for me to wake up after recovering. “Damn it, think about what’s important. You don’t need them.” I whispered to myself before closing my eyes and focusing. Mirth runs an orphanage, that should take care of Emily’s baby brother Virgil. Paul was in deep doo doo, maybe Freya healed him and left me to suffer, sounds like her. And Emily? Trying to bring a hand to my hand reminded me of my pain, but I am not sure what path lies ahead for her.

What purpose did I even have in her life? We had a memorable one on one chat, but Emily’s situation was partly my fault, Kato was the only person Warren cared about. If I had mirrored Maggie and Iliana, if Kato was just locked up in a cell with a bump on the head, Warren would not have lost his damn mind.

But it felt too cathartic, it couldn’t have been bad, his life was as worthless as anyone else’s.

I tried to sense someone, no one stood out, other than Victor in the room behind me. His room wasn’t empty, one of Freya’s knights kept him company.

“Why couldn’t I just have died.” The words were low, but echoed throughout the room.

I ended up thinking about the magic system, Freya says that strength is not set in stone, one can somehow be a match for her in strength, if only for a limited time. How exactly does one gain new skills, strength in magic, is learning severely limited to only what the user commits himself too. Only a craftsman can make good mana swords, an archer could control his arrows movements, only a smart-ass can make bones and use it as weapons.

What exactly was I doing when I used mana with my martial arts, I didn’t chant a spell, and didn’t make an obvious symbol? Could it be extended, used as a sword? What else is there?

“…der if Warrior Bona is awake?” There was a male voice muffled by the door.

“Was it really all right for all of us to go and leave him? I really hate to think he’ll wake up and see that he’s all alone.”

“I don’t think he would even care if he did, Aggie. Doofus likes being alone apparently.” There were some giggles and footsteps stopping in front of my door.

“Now, Warrior Iliana, I don’t think anybody wants to be left alone.” The door opened, Iliana holding onto the knob with a bag in the other hand, Maggie behind her, Mirth, Freya, then Viviana.

“See I told you!” Maggie yelled at everyone, tapping Iliana on the back. “Bona, sorry no one was here when you woke up, we all went to pick up things from Mirth’s favorite bakery. You’ve been out for a couple of days.”

“Calm yourself Maggie. I don’t care about you guys wasting your time waiting for me to wake up. And where’s my cap?”

“Told ya.” Iliana said smugly as everyone pushed their way in. She pulled the cap from a coat hanger that was somewhere along the wall behind me. I couldn’t turn my neck easily from my injuries to see. She waved it in front of my face before putting it back on the coat rack.

Freya and Mirth created some chairs with their mana connections, and they all sat in a semi-circle. “Now, Warren is not human. His goal was in eliminating our emotions to better our species. And…” Freya’s expression changed. “Emily suffered…, we all suffered a great loss of innocent lives. Her family will be honored with a funeral held by the church.”

“Where is she?” My voice sounded small but rumbled in my chest.

“Ms. Emily is currently in your room at the palace...” Mirth’s instant reply sounded incomplete.

“And?”

He cleared his throat, “Emily has loss her voice. Her cries were strained, yet she cried more till blood spewed from her mouth. I know she would wish to speak with you, but till you are healed, I will comfort her as best as the God of mana allows.”

“It was truly heartbreaking to see such a young and vibrant one reduced to such a state.” Viviana commented. “Her brothers will be fine; Virgil is in the care of the orphanage. Paul is in recovery at the medical district. I think your departure was untimely, it sealed her soul in darkness.” Her eyes narrowed and zoned onto mine.

I laid stiffly on the bed, now missing the silence the room once possessed. Before I could say anything about Viviana accusing me, Iliana jumped in. “Bona isn’t going to abandon Emily, Knight Viviana. Leave her to all three of us, okay?” Iliana replied with a sincere smile.

Fine, I’ll let it slide. “I think we need to move on. Warren?” I looked at Freya without moving my neck, she sat at the end of the semi-circle close to my feet.

“Bona, before we go on, how are you?” Maggie nervously asked.

“Huh? Why does that matter?” Her face turned sour.

“Because I need you to be okay now. Ugh.”

“Aggie, calm down. Uh, here, let’s pass out the cakes.” Iliana shuffled through a canvas bag.

“Ohh, yes, Warrior Bona, this treat is something Iliana shared with my favorite bakery and it has been rising in popularity, a cup cake. I couldn’t have offered this other worldly recipe to a better baker.” Mirth said through the drool escaping his mouth.

“Guys, I can’t move my arms much.”

“Oh, right, I’m sorry Warrior Bona, I used too much mana healing Erebus, once I exited the dungeon and sat, I was hit by how much mana I’ve borrowed. Then the situation with Emily’s brother was dire, Viviana rushed over here on a horse and had me tend to him. Then, as if my duty is as a nurse, I tended to you the best I could. I have closed your wounds, but please give me a day of recovery to mend your fractured bones and resuscitate your overburdened ligaments and tissue.”

In my peripheral, Viviana was taking in Freya’s every word. “High Mage Knight Freya, what is a ligament… and tissue.”

“Ah, the ligament is a part of the human body’s mus…”

“Oy, oy, somebody feed me a cupcake. That was all I was trying to say.” Iliana, Maggie, and Freya chuckled.

“Okay, Doofus, open up.” Iliana sat closes to me and pulled out a wooden box storing a dozen cupcakes. My mouth opened for a bite, but… she shoved the whole cupcake in at once.

“Mmm, hm huck whhh… yeek.” I mumbled trying to masticate the cupcake without choking.

Maggie broke out in a loud laughing spree, Iliana turned around and bowed to everybody. “You are all welcome. I shut the Doofus up.” I heard a manly chuckle, a resonating chuckle, and a stifled chuckle coming in with Maggie’s uncontrolled laughing.

“Okay, that was a good one sis. Now, Bona, how are you really?” Maggie looked at me with a smile. I couldn’t help but smile, then I remembered the last thing she said before I lost consciousness. She had blamed herself for me being the way I am, something about her being too much of a coward. We needed to talk soon; I want to find out what she meant. And if I can, I want to quench any pain she feels over my choices.

“I don’t usually unhinge my jaws like a snake to eat, you know…” I changed to a more serious tone. “Maggie, thanks for worrying about me. I’m fine really. It is hard to move, but other than that, I’m not passing out anytime soon.”

“Ah, really?” Iliana mocked. I tried turning to glare at her, but she sidestepped out of my range of motion.

“You bled way too much. First you walked in on our visit with Victor with a cut, then stabbed in the shoulder, and in the arm. You should’ve died. You spring chicken….” Maggie shook her head before lowering it into her palm with a chuckle. “But, seriously, I’m glad your okay.”

“Hehehe, Aggie you are too slow, I already told him I was glad he was okay first.”

“What, this is not a competition stupid.” They both stared each other down trying to hold back smiles.

I faked a cough to get everyone’s attention. “Now that we have had our cupcakes, Freya, about Warren?”

“I have been thinking about his species. This creature’s existence… it shouldn’t be made public. Contentions with Terrarum refugees are high as it is, and for our people to consider that any refugee could be disguised as a… I don’t know how to address them.”

“Skin crawlers. It’s a popular name in books and movies from our world for creatures that take on other forms.” Iliana said.

“Okay. Skin Crawlers. I want to avoid a catastrophe. Warren is being held in the dungeon, we had Erebus transferred to the iron gates facility. We need Warren to shed some light. His existence… frightens me.”

After a moment to digest everyone’s mutual feelings, I decided to deal with the issue. “Let me do it.”

“Are you sure Warrior Bona? As the man has spilt innocent blood, we knights can commandeer the case.”

Pressing my head against the pillow I wondered, why exactly did I jump at the opportunity to question Warren. He has nothing to do with me, Emily, or the girls anymore. “No, you’re right. I’ll leave it up to the military force. I don’t think I need to concern myself with him anymore, or Erebus. Once I’m healed up, my only concern is Emily’s wellbeing.”

“That is not true Warrior Bona. Living in the palace, are you not concerned that another creature may exist there. As master of the land, I cannot just unemploy all the servants. If you can please reconsider helping in this case.” Mirth stated.

Well, these skin crawlers have affected Emily’s life twice now. Both in drastic and horrible ways. “When I was able to sense Warren’s mana, it felt cold, not warm. Can that be a way to identify them.”

“Sadly no. What you felt was not a signifier. Mana feels cold when that person is trying to use mana in an incorrect manner. For example, I cannot inflict harm onto you with my mana connection, meaning I cannot dislocate a bone, if I tried, the mana would feel cold. Mana that is used on something that God has created is harder on a person, but it can only be successfully done if the outcome is a peaceful one. I believe you angered Warren enough that he was attempting to use mana to harm you without realizing how to actually use it.”

“Hmm, but he concealed his mana, I couldn’t sense him.”

“Training in mana hiding is not hard. Soldiers, guards, mercenaries, adventurers, anybody in a fighting position could learn the basics of hiding their mana in a matter of days.”

“I see, Emily said Warren was a soldier, or a city guard. Honestly, I don’t want to hassle myself in speaking to him, but Mirth, why do you need me to do it?”

“I have faith in you. Possibly too much, but God sent you here for a reason… And Bona, on the matter of sending you three home, can you visit me at the orphanage?”

“You two want to go home?”

“What? Of course, but we should wait.” Iliana said. “I want to help the people here.”

I nodded and looked at Maggie, she darted her eyes around. “Um…, I…, just let me think about it.”

“Okay, Mirth, I’ll visit when the time is right.”

“Yes, I understand Warrior Bona.”

“Knight Viviana, I’ll handle the interrogation.”

“Understood. As a future Warrior of the king, I will not interfere in your interrogation, unless Knight Freya advises otherwise.”

“Well, rest up Warrior Bona, I will be heading back to the Orphanage.”

“Yes, and I must take my leave as well, I have errands that need my attending.” Viviana said.

“I must rest myself, Bona, once I am able, I will return to speed up your recovery.” Freya waved and walked out.

“Hey, Maggie, Iliana…”

““Yeah?””

“You two should stand before the chairs disappear. Bed’s big enough, just sit down there.” I gestured to the bottom of the bed.

The two stood, chairs disappearing instantly, maybe the caster knew when someone occupied a chair and once they sensed the girls weren’t sitting they let go of the mana forming the chairs.

“Bona, I’m really sorry none us was here when you woke up.”

“Like I said, I don’t care. Now, Maggie, do you want to go home?”

She thought about her answer, “This world benefits you Bona. And, I’ve got to spend so much time with you. Yes, I learned something that scares me, then I learned more about this world that scares me even more. But I think being here, in this world is good for you, and I want you to be happy.”

“Okay, I’ll hold off from seeing Mirth at the orphanage.”

“Just so you know, Aggie wanted to stay behind, I told her not too, that we needed to get out and do something normal. This whole time we have been training, planning, or… fighting.”

“I know my opinion on the matter keeps swaying, but we should separate. I keep hurting you guys, even after our heartfelt talk awhile back.”

“Awhile back, it was only a few days ago you know…” Iliana bowed her head, biting her lower lip. “Truth is, Bona, you have failed miserably in keeping us happy, but still, things are better when you’re around.”

“Same for me. But it was hard to look at you because… I don’t feel like your bothered by killing. Bona, I really, really, really, really don’t want to lose you. This world is horrible, but I will never deny that being reunited with you has been the best thing that’s happened to me in the last 5 years.”

“Maggie…? I heard you cursing. I didn’t hallucinate that did I?”

Her face dropped; her lips rose to her nose. She brushed her curly hair aside then started scratching at her nose. “I…”

“Aggie, Bona will never hate you for that. Just say it.”

“Why do I have to be such a coward.” She said to herself under her breath.

“Don’t force yourself if you’re not ready.” I took a deep breath. “Guys, I’m really tired, think we can hang out later?”

“Oh, yeah. Come on Aggie.” Iliana pulled her older sister up, opening the door with a 180 turn to wave as they exited.

What would Maggie have to say that I could hate her for? It was quiet, and dim all of a sudden.

My interior wounds wouldn’t let me rest on my sides, though my back ached. After the night passed, the morning rose, a servant came in to bring me tea and breakfast, Freya visited a little later.

“Good morning.” Her voice was loud and exuberate, even though she spoke softly.

“Freya.”

“I wanted to continue our chat about mana, I realized somethings that may make it easier to understand.” There was a warm sensation as she used the mana to form a chair.

“Where did you study?”

“Legacy City Remidium.”

“Legacy City? You mentioned Scientia, science, before.”

“Yes, they are cities established by the first adventurer. Using his connection to the mana, he helped establish these cities to pursue a better life for all of us. But the church shunned them, stating that the cities of technology, of the body, of art, of politics, and of the soul are corrupt. Their influence has been diminished; their existence made into legacies of the past.”

“These cities still exist?”

“Indeed. But entrance, is near impossible.” Freya took a deep breath. “Listen, these cities will eliminate anyone. A man can be nearly a mile away, and an instant later his head shatters, the sound of thunder following the silence of death. Those cities are no longer a part of this world, the church of Astrum, the Military of Terrarum, and the Nobles of Mundus have alienated them.”

“Your mother?”

“Ah…, the purpose for my journey. Mana is of God, my mother’s disease was inflicted from God’s power. My studies were in vain. My powers can never defy God. Mana cannot be used on God’s creation, Wood, Stone, and some other things can be manipulated to a degree. But you can never hurt someone with mana. God only allows us to heal one another, and it is a difficult thing to do.”

“I see. Is it something I can learn? Even without much training.”

“Yes. You aren’t strictly limited in what you can do. In a sense, God has allowed all of us to use his power, and he can do anything. We must be willing to understand how something works. But you can chant a healing spell and perform the task, as you study the human body, and become more proficient in what you are doing while casting the spell, it becomes more potent.” As I shifted my position my eyes shut from the instant pain of my closed fractured shoulders, and shredded muscles. “I’m sorry Bona, I should’ve mentioned, I cannot heal you yet. By tomorrow my connection with the mana should be restarted, meaning the amount of mana I have used should restart.”

“Jeez, that’s still hard to understand. So, if we use mana, we get closer to God’s power, we rest, and what, the mana just forgets we used it?”

Freya chuckled. “The mana forgives us. Mana was never meant to be used in such arbitrary ways, resting calms the mana around us. As we use more, the mana grows more lenient, but the penalties more severe. You can utilize more, but when the mana begins to rampage, for most, their bodies will give out.”

“Okay. Was the first adventurer the strongest known magician?”

“His power could not be matched. It is said he could draw mana from anywhere in the world, if there was a distant crisis, he could form a body there and fight with this mana created body. It was only recorded to have happened once, soon after he went to Adventure’s Bride and changed the city. One can say, it’s the only city the church, nobles and military accepted that the Adventurer established, or revitalized.”

“Oh, what’s it known for.”

“Alcohol.”

“Ahh.”

“The first Adventurer could use mana for a whole day before being bedridden, and his fatigue only lasted two days or so. It is said, he needed to be rested on a stone platform, on top a stone mountain, as the heat from his body once burned a forest down. His skin was taught enough that the very cords of his muscles shown through.”

“Huh. How did he die?”

“Your theory is as good as mine.” She tilted her head and smiled at me. “I can only assume he disappeared into the mana. Used so much, that it just snatched him. But that’s a tale told to magicians to scare them. Become too much like God and he takes your power.”

“Okay, so if I were to fight you. How could I be a match for you? What would have to happen?”

“You asked about one’s strength, it’s something I ponder as well. It is true that it cannot be determined, but it can be judged theoretically. Using mana sense in a more advanced form, one can see the hand that envelops another soul. The hand of God, it’s size, it’s weight, it’s shape, it’s aura. If I had to judge your strength, it would be almost equal to a royal guard. But it is theoretical, you cannot hope to beat even a single royal guard, even if one was weaker than you in terms of the hand that envelops them. Training comes into play, God has given you a large vessel to use his power, but what good is a vessel with a lid that won’t open.

“You need to open yourself with training, with understanding the basics. My creation of bones is just a mixture of mana creation and mana element. Mana creation is a much more difficult thing to do, but master the six basic, easy to use mana spells, and it will help you in understanding God’s power and increase what you can do with them.”

I closed my eyes, taking in all that was said. “Okay, but fighting with mana is not common?”

“Correct, it’s limitations are too severe. Often used as a last resort, or in it’s most minimal.”

“Well, I look forward to training in it. If I could make mana the driving force in my arsenal, I think it would put me above most.”

“Incurring risk in the process.” Freya sounded as if she was speaking out of experience.

“Hmm.”

“The girls should be here by now for their training. Tomorrow me and Viviana will be by to speed up your recovery. She may never study how I was able to, but what she can achieve is incredulous. If there is something you want to achieve from using God’s power, if it is in a reasonable realm, I believe it can be done. Viviana is one proof of that claim.”

“Right. Good-bye Freya.”

“Till tomorrow.”

The sun faded, I felt comfortable in its absence, alone with my thoughts. Anything I want to do with God’s power was doable if it was reasonable. Can I regrow limbs? Make mountains? I know I cannot affect another person’s body, that eliminates mind control.

There was a knock at the door. “Who is it now?”

“Victor. Warrior Bona. Can I enter?”

“Fine.”

“Warrior Bona, thank you for saving my life. You have my utmost gratitude.” He ran in and knelt by the bed, grabbing my arm.

“I’m glad to see you’ve recovered. Seems we switched positions.” Victor chuckled and adjusted his makeshift eyepatch.

“Does your world have eyepatches?”

“Eyepatches?” He stood.

“When I’m healed, I’ll give Alvin a design, usually it’s leather with some string that covers your eye, and it isn’t so bulky. What you have now seems like a hassle.”

Victor responded with a gentle smile. “How has things been between you and Warrior Maggie?”

My eyes narrowed at his question, “Why does that concern you?”

He broke off his gaze, “I heard about Ms. Emily’s family, I feel if there is strife in your group it won’t be good for her… nearly broken soul.”

“Victor, do not ever treat Em like she is broken. You may be someone that she trusts, last thing that Em needs is the people she can mentally be around treating her like she’s a stone’s toss from the edge of a cliff.”

“Understood, Warrior Bona. I wish to see her and apologize for my weakness.”

“Apologize by doing better now. With your injury, you will be fighting with a handicap from now on. But Victor, it isn’t something that can stop you from fighting.”

“I am determined to still be a member of the squad that Knight Freya will assign to you three. The images I see out of this eye may be dark and blurry, but if I can help the people of this world, I will fight.” Victor gently moved his head, there was a slight twitch in his body as he did so.

“Victor, can you train me to use some of the basic mana spells.”

“Of course, once you learn the basics, I can teach you how to incorporate mana into most anything. Maybe even help you hone what mana spells you are best suited for. Knight Cassius visited me; he was at a loss over your archery skills.”

“Awesome. How are you Victor? You seem to be in pain.”

“Ahh, yes. My injuries have left some lasting head pains that Freya cannot heal. But I am fine.” A big smile came across his scared face. “Give me the treatment you want to give Ms. Emily; don’t act like I’m broken. Okay?”

I chuckled and grunted in agreement.

Victor took a step back. “Well, I must bid you farewell. I must head home and rest. Again, thank you for saving my life Warrior Bona.”

“See you, Victor.”

I was building strong relationships with the people of this world. Something was different here compared to back home. Here, death was confronted daily, people treated each other with the knowledge that their last breath could be at any second. Back home, people lived wishing for others to drive off the road, or to just disappear. I felt that if I were born and raised in this world, things would have been different. Maybe I wouldn’t have been abandoned.

I could have had a father that didn’t have a computer to pour hours of his life into, or a mother that didn’t have to work long hours day and night in order to keep up with the rent. In this world all people had were books for entertainment, or jobs that helped the city. Maybe if I had lived here, things would have been better for me.

I’m sure this world carried its own burdens. Warren and Erebus for example. But I would like to think that God would have given me an easier life here.

Freya and Viviana entered my room the next evening. Viviana stood over me, focusing on the mana around and inside me, trying to fix what was broken. Freya instructed her on what things should feel like, and that she can’t cause any real harm to me. After 18 minutes or so, she retreated and Freya finished the job, complimenting Viviana claiming she made good progress. I glared at the both of them the whole time feeling like a guinea pig but unwilling to interrupt Knight Viviana. They told me to rest before heading home.

“Welcome back, Doofus.” Iliana greeted me at the door with a hug. “Hey, psss, hug me back would ya?”

I grabbed her waist and pulled her off with an annoyed smile. “Stop that would you. You might break a barely healed man.”

“Hi Bona. You have been slacking your but off you know. Soon we are gonna be better than you at everything. Freya has been putting us through the wringer.” Maggie said with a smile while shaking her head.

“Oh, is that so? Will, first I want to visit Emily, I heard that Mirth and Victor has been tending to her. Have either of you told Alvin anything?”

“Hmm? No, why?” Iliana asked.

“What, I was wondering why my main man hadn’t visited.” I raised a corner of my mouth and dropped my brows.

“Sorry, I guess. We just haven’t been thinking about things clearly. Aggie and I were training hard, Freya says when you get back that she wants to try teaching us basic mana spells. Rather to get you started on learning some.” Iliana’s smile annoyed me.

“Oh ha, ha Ms. Smarty pants. Seriously, how are you guys so far ahead of me.”

“Maybe its because people actually like us.” Maggie said while looking at the ground.

“Ha, I’m pretty charming for a pile of doo doo. Well, any case, I’m heading out... Wait, why aren’t you guys training?”

“Oh, we were, but once we sensed you were heading home, we rushed here to greet you. Call it making up for not being there when you woke up. And I am sorry for that.”

“Ugh, gross, I’m gonna throw up…,” I chuckled with a smile, “Thank you, but you can no longer call me a slacker for such a lame excuse. Now get going you two.”

“Right. Please Bona, don’t fall too far behind us.” Maggie rushed past me and out the door, turning and waving before continuing.

“She seems to have calmed down a bit. I think the shock of what you did is starting to pass.”

“Why aren’t you scared of me?”

“What? I don’t think she’s scared of you, Doofus. But honestly, seeing Emily like how she was with Kato and Erebus made me so upset that I saw what you did as a… a good thing. Bye-bye, Bona. See you in a little bit.” She waved and followed Maggie.

I reached the plaza signifying the entrance to a grand city of merchants. A guard watching the entrance opened the gate letting me out. As I stepped out of City, the guard to my right called out to me.

“Warrior Bona! Wait.”

“This has better be important, I have a long walk ahead of me.”

“Sorry for the intrusion. I was asked to register you as a citizen of Astrum. If you would please follow me into the guard room. The magical item blessed by the church will only take a minute or two to imbue itself with your identity. We have a priest on the ready to assist.”

“Magical item?”

“Ah, items can be blessed by God, imbuing it with certain actions. Every recognized city is granted an item that registers citizens, and our helmets are connected, if your mana is not recognized by the magical items in any city, then our helmets inform us through that you are not registered.”

“I suppose magical items existed in the bible, alright, lead the way.” The guard led me through the gates, informing his colleagues of his absence. We entered a building a few feet to the left of the gate, there were more wooden lockers, some benches, and a hall. We walked into one of the doors in the hall leading into a chapel with a priest sitting at a desk reading.

“Ah, the Warrior our God as sent us. I am blessed to meet you. Reverend Mirth informed me you may come this way. I am…”

“Uh-huh. What you need me to do?”

“Oh, the blessed item is over here. Come. Come.” He gestured with his hand, heading toward a statue of a mountain with a man standing on top. “Place your hand at the base of the statue.”

I obeyed, annoyed that this felt like a ceremony. I expected to stick my hand in some machine, or something more governmental. The base of the statue was cold, almost icy.

“Father of mana, father of the sorrowed. Before you, a citizen stands, may your infinite blessing of power familiarize his power with yours. This child has found a home in this land you have given. This child has found in us a family of the Father of mana.”

The statue warmed my freezing hand. I felt that warmth enveloping my body.

“If he is found guilty by your appointed king, may he face your wrath as you forget his name. But in the days of his innocence, may he live on serving you, may you always welcome him to his home. Father of mana let this citizen enter your favor.”

The priest moved his arms in some symbol to finalize the process and the warmth left my body through my hand. Not sure of the whole process, I left my hand at the base of the statue.

The priest’s breaths slowly became labored, “Ah, all is well. You may go about your day Warrior Bona. It was truly a blessing to meet you.” He sat down at his desk and went back to reading.

As I reached the end of the pews, the priest rose and shouted. “I have almost forgotten. Reverend Mirth has asked of me to relay a message. ‘Emily needs strength, may the mana guide you and her…’ I apologize for my forgetfulness.” I waved at him and continued onwards.

Entering the palace extension made me recall the first steps we took in this uncertain world. The smooth walls, the high windows, the echo of footsteps on the tiled floor. I felt my face twisting from the pain remembering how it felt seeing Maggie and Iliana again after six long, silent years. They both have changed, Maggie seems more complex, Iliana more annoying than sweet, at least to me, but both seemed to regret pushing me away.

Iliana was chosen to summon the spell from our side, connecting our two worlds, and giving her the choice for who would come with her. If that was true, then why did she choose me and Maggie, why not her father, or brother? And is that how it works for the portals summoning these other creatures. Do they get chosen to connect their world with this one, and summon others like them?

All these thoughts jumbled my mind, I couldn’t help but expel all of my frustration with a sign.

“Hey Em?” I knocked on the last door in the hallway. “Is it all right for me to come in?”

“Y-yes.” A hoarse and croaky voice answered.

The room was dimly lit, a thin long window along the back wall reflected the sun’s rays leaving a whitewashed line across the top of the wall. Emily sat on the floor, back against the wall, her knees bent, head resting on top. Her hair was frayed and strewed over the floor.

I swallowed hard. “…Em, get up, sit down at the desk.” She didn’t budge, or respond, her face hidden away. “EM!” She fidgeted slightly but didn’t move.

“Bona.” She was determined to speak clearly, stopping to clear her throat. “I have to quit. I saw you stand there…, Paul fought, you stood… I heard him yell. You didn’t… move.” She started heaving her torso, breathing heavier. “If you didn’t kill him, Warren would not have… killed my family. Why did you kill him?”

My eyes were wide, the rhythm of my heart pounded in my ears. “Em…”

“St-op.” She raised her head, her lips were scared, chin caked with dried blood. “I didn’t want to believe it. I wanted it to be a dream.” She closed her eyes. “But they are really gone.”

“Em, Paul is still alive, Virgil, your baby brother. Live for them.”

“Li-ve? Bona…” Her eyes shut even tighter. “I want to live. And I can’t do that with you. I thought… I was gonna go crazy… But… Reverend Mirth’s words. I have to leave you, you… were right… You can’t make anyone happy.” She slammed her head back down, hiding her face. “Live… what does… that even mean to you?”

“I… understand.” It’s true, I lost Maggie, and Iliana in my old world for that very reason. I couldn’t keep Iliana happy by my company, and Maggie couldn’t be bothered to keep in touch. What would make things any different in this world?

“Thank you… for everything, Bona.” Emily said as she put a hand on the floor to push herself up.

“What are your plans, Em?”

“Live in the… orph-anage.”

“Hmm. Shower first okay. I’ll wait.” She shook her head, turned, and slowly pounded on the wall, resting her forehead.

“Just le-ave.”

“…You should work. For Victor. Don’t just live in the orphanage, if you can even manage it. With how… scared you can be. Work for Victor…” I looked at her leaning her head and fist against the wall. Her other hand grabbing and releasing the side of her skirt. “Good-bye, Em.”

“Good-bye.” Her voice croaked.

I wished I knew what happened. Bona changed when he came back from the palace after speaking to Emily. If only he would speak to Aggie or me, I really want to help but whenever I would ask, all he would do is smile and say he was fine. Really? Bona your miserable, talk to me please.

I miss the past. Why was I so stupid?

…I hope your all well, I miss you all so, so much.

Excerpt from “The Writings of Iliana Amana”

I knew Emily couldn’t handle leaving the house alone. But I couldn’t be the person to help her anymore. She reminded me that people are better off without me. Damn, why in the world did I even try?

I found another servant who was cleaning and forced them into bringing Emily to Capella and ask a guard at the entrance to bring Knight Victor. I told them about Emily’s condition and that they may have to guide her.

Damn it, why did I even try? Why? Why? Why didn’t Warren just kill me then toy with me? Why didn’t the God of this messed up world just send me back? Damn it.

Before I could realize it, I started running… Damn it all to hell, just strike me down, please.

“Whoa, whoa. Bona, control your strikes!” Victor held his sword high, putting his weight behind it.

My sword rose, it slammed against Victor’s. Our swords struggled to hold onto their shape. Victor stepped back, he followed the movement of my body and picking the perfect time, he rammed me with his shoulder. My balance was at a critical point in my swing, I fell. Rolling to land on my feet, I tossed my sword and tackled Victor.

“Bona?!” My fist raised overhead.

“I… win.” I said in between labored breaths.

“Yeah. Is… Umm.”

I got off him and went to pick up my sword, facing him, I took my stance. “Your weapon, raise it up!”

“Bona! Stand down!”

I relaxed and closed my eyes, wondering why I should. We need to get stronger; we need to fight off whatever creatures were coming through those portals. Why do we leisurely go about our lives?

“Victor, what is my purpose?”

“To, protect…”

“No! To kill, to put an end to your fucked up kingdom’s problems.”

“Now, Bona…, What happened between you and Ms. Emily? You are more vulgar than when we first met.”

I threw my sword down and walked out the walled training square. Iliana and Maggie were in their own private training sessions.

“Whoa, what is up with that guy’s mana?” I heard a knight asking.

“It’s as black as a royal guard’s armor.”

Victor’s hand grabbed my shoulder. “Warrior Bona let’s get something to eat. I’ll let Freya know we have to cut our training short.”

“I’m not hungry. Are you ready to get back at it?” I turned to see Victor’s brow lowered.

“Okay. But let us learn the basics of mana. I’m sure you can feel it, but Iliana and Maggie are getting pretty good at the symbols and chants. They are using mana rather quickly for having lost their thought control over the mana.”

“Sure.”

Victor explained how mana movement and mana shielding worked. In mana movement, the basics is getting in a prayer position, then you have to use mana sensing to maneuver your way to your destination. The chant was more of a mumbling of directions of where you wanted the mana to take you. Mana shielding was done by crossing your forearms, and chanting a spell, or yelling shield if you weren’t after a strong defense.

The more you use these simple mana techniques, the stronger and more useful they become. As you use them, you get a feel for what the mana is doing, and if you understand what it was doing, how it worked, the stronger the spell.

“SHIELD!” Victor’s sword punched through my shield, I heard the hissing as the shield broke and grunted as the wooden sword dug into my hip.

“AGAIN!” I got back into the position and yelled Shield as Victor’s sword whacked me in the biceps.

“AGAIN!”

“Enough Bona. Please can we talk.”

“I’m trying to get stronger, trying to help all of you with your problems. How can I help if…”

“How can you help if you are prepared to face your end at the edge of a wooden blade? Bona speak up.”

“You have helped Emily. No, you are helping her even now. BUT I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU KEEP ANNOYING ME!” He backed off, walked to the sword rack by the entrance and stored the sword.

“Emily is working hard. She still cooks a good meal. Took her 4 days to get used to everything, but she is doing well. But she refuses to pick up a kitchen knife.” Victor turned to me his smile whitening the scar on his face.

“Good. Better than mopping about, pulling her hair and piercing her lips.” I began walking towards the exit, Victor watched as I walked out.

Iliana and Maggie were in the middle of rushing over to our room as my yelling transcended the roofless walls.

“Hey, wh-what’s going on? Everything okay?” Iliana asked.

“Bona?” Maggie looked at me her cheeks raising to her eyes.

“I’m fine guys. I was just stressed.” I gave them a smile to calm them.

“Oh.” Iliana’s gaze went to the red mark on my arm. “Hey, you’re not bruised all over, are you? Victorrrr?” She glared at Victor standing by the entrance.

“My apologies Warrior Iliana. He was asking for it.”

“Wait, you did beat up my friend? Oh, you are asking for a beating yourself, aren’t you?” Maggie interjected with a fist aimed at Victor’s face.

“Guys, I’m gonna head home early. I want to practice my mana movement for a bit on my way.”

“Oh, well it’s really easy. But you know I’m making dinner today. Why don’t we head there together?”

“It’s fine Iliana. I… want some alone time.”

“Same as last night? You didn’t eat anything this morning either. Bona, is everything okay?”

“Of course it is, quit with the inquisition would ya?” I waved at her as I jogged off.

“Hey, wait up mister.” Maggie jogged up beside me. “We need to talk. There’s a lot I want to know about.” Her rosy smile complimented her emerald eyes.

I smiled back at her, before getting into a prayer position. I felt the path opening in my mind. I heard the directions and saw the front door of the house. Mumbling what I heard, I saw the destination and reached my head out to open the door. My face was heavy, a guiltiness ate away at me. I couldn’t even celebrate my successful first use of mana movement. But, why bother trying? I’d end up hurting them anyways.

Some way or another, those two will push me away. Or I may royally fuck up my relationship with them and have them hate me. It was better to have them pretend I don’t exist or hate me for abandoning them rather than hurting them. Yeah, this guilt is a worthwhile trade for their happiness. Something I can never give them.

“Hey… Dinner’s ready Bona.” Maggie’s voice cautiously shuffled its way through my door.

“Cool.”

“Are you coming down? Iliana put her heart into it.” I opened the door, Maggie stood there with her hands behind her back, standing on her tippy toes.

“Were you standing there smiling at my door the whole time?”

“Huh? No, of course not idiot. Now come on.” She grabbed my arm and dragged me out of my room.

“I’m not hungry Maggie.” She didn’t react as she pulled me along.

“Oh, good job sis. Bona, this plate is for you.”

“I… I can’t eat all of that.” Iliana stood in front of me glaring. Surrendering to her intimidation, I held both hands up. “Fine, fine.”

We sat down, and started digging in. Iliana’s cooking was second only to Maggie’s, but Emily’s cooking….

“Ahh, I missed cooking, just had to study a bit about all of the different things in this world. A good chunk of it is the same, just different names or looks.” Iliana held a roasted potato on a fork as she spoke, shoving it in once she finished. “Mmm, the seasonings of this world are spectacular.”

“Yeah, compliments to the chef.” I smiled at her. “I’m done, so I’m gonna head back to rest.”

“Uh-ah, Bona, it’s time for some small talk. You know I saw Julie reading a book and the way she described it sounded so interesting. Apparently, fiction books are not a thing here, but she’s reading a book about the saddest event to ever happen in recorded history. It’s about a boy who loved a girl so much that when she was dying from a disease, he promised to care for her when her parents didn’t want to.

“Everybody abandoned her but he stayed by her side, bringing her all these flowers she used to pick with him when they went for walks. I feel so bad for Julie, she’s been suffering from her withdrawal, last thing she needs to do is shed tears.”

“Yeah, I remember some of the shows and stories you used to show me at church Bona.”

“Oh, yeah, I remember making you cry a few times.” I said with a quick smile, trying to find a perfect excuse to escape. “Well, look at the time. It seems you two can’t speak right now, I guess I’ll leave you to it.”

“Leave us to what?” Iliana had a slight smile and furrowed brows.

“Kidding, I’ll do the dishes, chef.” Maggie stared at the table as I Stood to pile the plates.

“I-I wasn’t finished.”

“Too bad slow poke.”

“Bona, why are you trying to avoid us?” Maggie asked. Iliana broke into a shy smile as her attention dropped to the nearly empty table.

“What are you talking about? I ain’t avoiding anything.”

“Don’t…, Bona…, what happened between you and Emily?”

“Nothing…, if you want to talk, let’s talk.” Sitting down at the table felt wrong, I should just walk away.

“Look, if something is bothering you speak to us. Right now, the way your acting is breaking our hearts. It hurts.” Maggie hissed.

“I’m not trying to hurt you guys.”

“Just talk to us, Doofus.”

I signed, slid to a slouch and rested my head on the backrest of the chair staring at the ceiling. “You two worry too much. Just live your lives.”

“Our friend is trying to drive a wedge between him and us. I don’t think we have time to live our lives when we are about to lose a pretty important part of it.” Maggie said.

“Bona, you’re an original story. And I don’t mean that in a good way.”

“What?”

“Your ending, it’s something that no one wants. Most stories end… on a happy note, but yours?”

“Iliana, my story will end on a happy note.”

“It’s like you’re living in a story that isn’t already written, the choices you make have no pattern, no growth. It’s such a dark and decisive story that nobody would want to write it. I mean at the end of your story, who will be there?”

“The honest answer to that question gives my story a purpose.” Maggie cleared her throat before speaking, scratching at her sweater.

“You know, Bona when we came to this world, I was so happy to see you again for the first time. Of course, I had all the other stuff worrying me. But I’ve never been so happy to just be myself. I’ve felt like people hated me for being so bossy, but because of you, I know people won’t hate me. Because they’ll be too busy hating you.”

“Your sister proves my point. My story has a purpose. Doesn’t matter what the ending looks like to me. As long as the people I care about are happy.”

“If you’re writing your own story, it feels like you don’t want anyone to know that it exists. Maggie, Mirth, Freya, me, the people who do get to experience it, I feel like you are purposely making a story that no one wants to go back to. I hate you for that because I know you. You are someone who puts others before yourself. You loved people so much, you would give your only bottle of water to someone and claim you had a spare.

“I want that story to be known, to exist. Bona! I want your story to have a legacy, for people to want to come back to it, to seek it out when they are lost. I used to think about our past, about how I screwed it up. And it hurts to not know what you think about it. Sometimes you make me smile, and sometimes you break this life you call precious.”

Her eyes were like pleading messengers, delivering the tears of her heart to me. It amazes me that something as vibrant as those eyes could exist, like Maggie’s glowing emeralds, Iliana’s screaming topaz eyes broke my guard. I felt sickly looking into them, hearing their message.

Her doting words flew straight and true, caressing my heart like the brunette waterfall that crowned her. Her words destroyed my footing and set my world into a panic, those words striking the inner man of my being. Each consonant rippling her eyes as each word thundered.

“I’m-I’m not saying all dark, decisive endings aren’t good.” She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her black pajama. “Sometimes a lonely, melancholy ending is something people want to copy. But you aren’t in the same boat. Find happiness, for the people in your life by living for them. What I’m saying is, you love people. If you don’t start rewriting your story, or letting others write it with you, it’ll be a story that just ends.

“But now my story, Maggie’s, Victor’s, Emily’s and so on, our story is going to be missing so many chapters.”

I couldn’t look at her, no matter what she said, no matter the impact, I still felt I shouldn’t be a part of their lives. “What if… what if I told you that what brings me happiness is knowing that my death won’t bother anybody?” Taking a peek at her was a mistake.

Iliana’s face scrunched up, tears trailed down her dry cheek, dropping onto her half empty plate. Maggie let out a sniffle, and began biting her lower lip, closing her eyes.

“You’re a real idiot Bona. It’s too late for your death to have no im-pact.” Maggie said through her uneven breathing cadence.

“I swear, it’s like you have two different sides. Bona, you think you love yourself; you think you accept yourself, but which part of you do you love and accept?”

“I, I don’t know what you mean.”

“Just, listen to what I have been saying. It’s too late, too… late for your story to have a bad ending, a dark, lonely, stupid, ending. The part of you that we knew back then, it isn’t gone. Now talk to us. Tell us what in the world happened to you?”

“Nothing happened damn it. Just leave it be. I ain’t abandoning you guys.”

“Since we’ve been here, I’ve let you and Illy handle most everything. Bona, I… I don’t want people depending on me, because I don’t want that responsibility. I… I left the church because I couldn’t handle… the pressure. I’m a f-freaking coward.

I thought you’d hate me for leaving… I couldn’t ever bring myself to reach out to you. I woke up, looking at my phone, reading your last message over and over…. I was scared you’d reject me.”

“Aggie? That’s why you were so depressed?” Iliana bit her quivering lip as her heart opened in another parade of tears. “I thought it was… I thought you wanted to d…” She shook her head, eyes landing on me with a look of realization and relief.

“It took everything I had to tell my family I was leaving the church. It felt like I had to prepare for war, and I didn’t have the resources to prepare for another, even after six long years. And… I… I feel responsible, Bona, I’m sorry. Since we’ve been here, I haven’t tried to understand what you went through.

Instead I rejoiced, just happy to see you, to get to joke around with you. Jeez, I was so comfortable around you… But I didn’t know, not till that night. And I wanted to talk, but everytime I saw you, I wasn’t ready, I… I still don’t have the resources to prepare for… for the war.”

I sat up and started scratching my head. “If it seems I’ve been distant, I’m focusing on getting stronger. Freya will still train us at the palace, but not as consistently. There is nothing wrong between you, me, or your sister.”

“Fine. I’m done, you can clean up.” Iliana’s voice was low and steady as she stood and walked away. Maggie’s chair scratched the wooden floor, her exit left me in a somber room, relieved it was finally over.

“I’ll miss them.”

Three days remained of our training. Maggie, Iliana, and I have honed the basics of our sword skills, and our mana usage. It seems that the girls have surpassed me in much of our training. I’m happy in knowing that when these last days pass, and I separate from them, that they can handle their own problems in this world.

“Okay, you younglings have mastered the basics of sword fighting and mana usage, but all of this training can never prepare you for a real battle. Though your aptitude surprises me. I have spoken with the king; we will be integrating you three into a squad soon. An expedition to find a portal in Terrarum is underway, in 10 days we will hold a ceremony here in Capella for you three, giving you the rank of Warrior. And soon after, begins the expedition.” Freya explained to us at the end of our 27th day of training, including the days we didn’t train.

“I am happy to see the progress you all have achieved. Astrum is blessed to have you three. Thank you for fighting for us, despite all we have done and taken from you.” Victor joined in. Emily was with him, she had asked to leave the house, despite his itinerary.

“Hooray.” The word was plainly spoken. “Victor, next time, leave the maid at home, training grounds is no place for a house maid.”

Emily hid behind Victor, her back turned towards us.

Iliana was to my left, she side stepped closer to me and pinched my forearm. “Emily, just ignore him!” My head turned to the right, my thoughts abandoning what my heart wanted.

I could feel Maggie’s gaze on me. “Or he could’ve pretended like you didn’t exist entirely, like he does with us.” The words solemnly escaped her mouth.

I signed and started walking to the house, stopping after realizing I haven’t questioned Warren. It’s true I am forsaking Emily for her sake, but his existence bears too many questions. “Say, Freya?”

“Hmm?”

“Has anyone spoken to Warren yet?”

“Oh, I have healed him, but he seems to keep to himself, he did ask if the dungeon was secure. Other than that, he doesn’t speak to the workers caring for him.”

“Bona, me and Illy are gonna head home and get started on dinner.” They both waved at me and headed off.

“Emily? Would you like to head back?” Emily nodded at Victor. “Farewell, Knight Freya, Warrior Bona.” Freya waved them good-bye.

When it was only the two of us, and the other knights deep in their training, I continued trying to ease my curiosity. “Erebus?”

“The city guards at the prison are incarcerating him, they tend to not let prisoners speak. But I have visited, he worries for his son.”

“Tell him he’s dead, we don’t need Erebus’s cooperation anymore. In my opinion, he is useless.”

“Is Kato dead? We can’t find his body, or Remus’s.”

“Doesn’t matter. I want to talk to Warren, is that okay?” Freya nodded and started walking towards the storage room where the dungeon was built as an add on.

“What changed?” Her voice shaking the mana around me spurred even more curiosity, just how strong is Freya? Will I ever get to see her powers displayed in a real fight?

“I’ve reminded myself about life’s value.”

“Ah. Does seem that way. Don’t kill Warren or you take his place.”

“I know. Killing him isn’t high on my list, I want to know more about his species. Maybe about Terrarum.”

Freya signed and stopped to turn back looking at me. “Bona, I don’t know what to think about you, but I know you care more about those girls than anyone else in this world…” Freya started back towards the dungeon. “And that includes Ms. Emily. These last few days, our training sessions have seemed as if you are expecting any day to be your last. It frightens me. Not because of your health, but because of the loss those three will feel.”

“Don’t worry so much about it. They’ll survive, they are stronger than me.”

“…They are strong for you. Emily struggled her way here hoping…”

“Stop. Stop digging into my life. Not of it matters.”

“Hmm. You know the way?” I nodded. “I will leave you to it then.” She walked past me heading back towards the training square.

The familiar cold shiver of the room ran down my arm, there was the sound of soft leather being disrupted as Warren sat up to look at me.

“Warrior Bona, it’s been some time. Those two girls were relentless, my time as a soldier for Terrarum were less brutal.” A weary smile followed his statement.

“…” I said nothing, my feet digging into the gravel as I walked up to the iron bars.

“I have a proposal. Emily, I…, I meant it, I feel nothing but guilt in having Camilla kill her family. A part of me is glad I didn’t do it myself, that she heard my order and… followed it.” He looked down, lost in thought.

“Warren. Shut up.”

“How dare you?! I want humanity to be better. I have seen wars, corruption, and loneliness. I know what we need, and others have chosen to follow my cause!”

“Warren…”

“If you plan to kill me, do it! But first, Emily… I offer you the drugs given to me, if Emily takes them, she will be free from her sorrows. Do you care for her? Then save her from herself!” He was kneeling on the mattress, eyes full of determination. “Save Emily, I want nothing but forgiveness, and if it lies in my death, I accept it.”

“Warren…, what is it that you want?”

“I have met them, the Balance. They want to better this world, when I became Warren, all I wanted was my family, money, power, and women. But they were there when I woke, they shared their…” There was a sudden warm breeze blowing all around us. “I… I’ve said too much.” Warren’s eyes were squinted, looking around the room. “I thought this place was secure. Damn it.”

I didn’t know what that sudden change in temperature was, not knowing if it meant anything, I continued. “I should’ve worded that better. What do you want for the drugs?”

“Nothing… Warrior Bona, can you bring Freya here?”

“Nothing?”

“Listen! The drugs are in my office, hidden in a secret compartment within the stairs. It is in a white bottle listing its ingredients, the name of the drug, and other words I cannot understand. Inside the bottle are small red hard capsules that are digested orally. Give them to Emily, they will calm her. Now, please bring Freya here.”

“I will ask her to come, but tell me about Terrarum, about your species. How can I determine who is one of you? Is Terrarum a warzone?”

“Knight Freya can answer all your questions about Terrarum. My species, where I’m from we are called Tangatas, in the middle of a fierce battle against the Jinni, 300 of… my kind were sucked into… a gate. We awoke in a building crawling with other creatures, slaying some of us as we made our escape into the surrounding woods. Warren was guarding a noble’s caravan when my group caught them off guard.”

“Backstory? Really? How do I know if one of you bastards are around?”

Warren closed his eyes and signed. “Pain, most of us can’t stand pain and when our minds cannot focus entirely on our transformation, we revert back into our normal form. But even so, it is unreliable. Drugs perhaps, something to numb the mind.”

“Why are you being so open?”

“I don’t want humanity to disappear, I suppose it goes against what I am trying to achieve, but humanity is beautiful, even with our twisted emotions. And, I fear I don’t have long to live anyways.”

“Dude, no one is planning on killing you.” He gave me another weary smile, the mattress shifting again as he laid back.

“I’ll leave you be.” As I walked away from the iron gate, digging by heals into the gravel to sound intimidating, Warren asked for the last time.

“Pleas bring Freya?”

As I closed the door behind me, I wondered why Freya was so important to him.

I couldn’t help but feel that I should look for her. There were two knights heading towards the storage room as I made my way into the halls.

“If Knight Freya could just have this room built or moved closer to the training grounds it would help motivate me a little to train more.”

“That is absurd. If training bothers you now, walking a few less yards will not motivate you. You will find some way to compensate your laziness.”

“Oh ha, ha, ha… Warrior Bona? How are you?”

“Knight Freya, where is she?”

“I presume she is patrolling the city; the refugees have been rowdy. I appreciate her efforts to…”

I walked past the two knights. “Thanks.” I guess this must be destiny, oh well, Warren will just have to wait till I see her.

When I entered the home, Maggie blocked me from the stairs.

“Bona, if I let you go up there, you will not want to come down to eat. We cooked a lot today, I mean, just look at the table.” She gestured towards the door behind me to my right. I decided to oblige her.

“Why does it look like we are holding a party?” These two were tiring, couldn’t they just understand that I want them to be happy, and that if I stayed part of their life, they could never achieve that. Iliana continued carrying food over from the kitchen onto the dining table. “Look Maggie, I’ll just take a plate up, if you are having guests over, I don’t want to be around.”

“Jeez, I’m gonna bonk you on the head. Seriously Bona, just put on your good boy pants and deal with it. Besides, where inviting someone we know you like.”

I thought about it for a second. “Is it Alvin?” Maggie pursed her lips in to hide a smile. “Fine, Alvin I can deal with.” A part of me was happy to hear he was visiting, but an even bigger part told me it might be best if I just leave. The man Alvin reminded me of, David from my church, he saw right through my façade of a greeting, he knew how little I valued others. Yet he stood by me, was willing to help me achieve my goals of self-sufficiency and loved me like a brother. He was a light unto me, like Revel, like my pastor, and my family.

I sat around the table while Maggie and Iliana talked amongst themselves, brushing them off when they attempted to drag me in. A knock at the door made me spring up, and rush out into the main hall. Iliana and Maggie followed behind. Julie poked her head out of the living room but went back in as she saw us walking towards the door.

“Hey-Yo, Iliano, Maggio, Bono.”

“Hey-Yo Alvo, who’s that?” Iliana responded, pointing to a small figure hiding behind Alvin. Her hair twisted at the ends, each curl coiled like a snake.

“Hey-Yo?” I tilited my head, my face scrunching up.

“Ah, Ms. Amana taught me that greeting. And this little girl is my daughter, Metalli. Say hi, my little Hearth.”

Metalli’s curly covered head poked out from behind Alvin’s thick leg, a hand letting go of her father’s pants to wave at us. “H-He-Hello.”

“Ha, good job little Hearth. The misses could not come. She works closely with the city guards and they are having a hell of a time dealing with the civilians.”

“Daddy.” Metalli tugged on her father as her voice accused him.

“Opps. Don’t tell mommy okay.” Alvin turned and picked up Metalli.

“Ahh.” She hid her face in her father’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry, when she gets used to you all, she’ll start being a real fireball of a kid.” Metalli grumbled before pulling her leg back and kicking Alvin in the side. “Hgh, s-sorry, little Hearth.”

“Alrighty then. Dinners this way.” I walked past Iliana and Maggie and their childish grins heading towards the room with the dining table and kitchen.

“Can I hold her?” Maggie asked.

“No! I don’t want you!” Metalli’s small voice yelled loudly.

Once we all sat at the dinner table, Alvin and Metalli to my right, Iliana and Maggie in front, Iliana decided to stop everyone from eating with a question.

“So, who wants to pray?” Iliana asked. I put my fork down and looked at her with a shake of my head, I haven’t prayed before a meal in a while.

“You can do it, Illy. I completely forgot about that.”

“Really? How long have you been eating with the family? You remember, we did it every meal.”

“I know… but, you know?”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Pray before a meal? What purpose is there to that? No, offense.” Alvin said as he placed a hand on Metalli’s hand to stop her from eating. She looked up at him with her mouth open wide, her brows slightly lowered.

Iliana giggled and looked at Metalli with the warmest smile she could pull off, while responding, “It’s to give thanks to God for providing. For us to never forget that without him, we would have nothing.”

“I see. Well, Ms. Amana, let us pray.” He closed Metalli’s mouth, ran two fingers down her face to close her eyes and said, “Metalli, we are going to pray okay.” He guided her head down, but she forced her head back up scowling at him.

“But that takes so long, my food is gonna be cold daddy.”

“Oh, don’t worry Metalli, it’ll be super-fast.” Iliana responded.

“Supah-fast?”

“Yeah.”

“Umm. O-okay.” She bowed her head and clasped her hands, the rest of us followed, listening to Iliana’s voice as she nearly broke into laughter.

“Dear Heavenly Father, I pray you bless this meal you have granted us. May it nourish our tired bodies, bring energy in the time to come, and smiles in our times of need. Thank you for your grace on us all, amen.”

“Hmm, never heard a prayer quite like that.” Alvin commented as a ruckus began beside him. “Whoa, slow down my little Hearth, you are gonna have a battle in your belly if you keep eating like that.” Metalli’s eyes were wide, her hands quickly shoveling food into her mouth as she ooo-ed and ahh-ed.

Iliana and Maggie broke into laughter, I sat there thinking about how I killed someone people loved, like how the people here seemed to love that little kid. Yet, I felt no guilt, sure, it caused things I wish I could undo, I wish I could get Emily back, she deserved to be here with us. But could I kill Metalli and not feel any guilt? No, that answer has to be no.

“Ms-Ms.Amana, can I have more?” Metalli’s arms shook as she held the large plate, Alvin quickly shoving his full fork into his mouth to grab the plate from her.

“S-sure.” Iliana stood and scooped up more veggies, and meat unto her plate, fighting back her urge to laugh. Alvin placed it down in front of Metalli and went back to his plate.

“Your cooking is better than my mommy’s.” Alvin choked on his food, drinking water to control his coughing.

“No one. And I mean no one mention that. Now Metalli, you do not tell your mother about how good the food was. Or at least tell her, her cooking’s better.”

“Daddy… are you giving me permission to lie?”

“Yes, and don’t start your conversation with mommy telling her I gave you permission to lie.”

Metalli giggled. “I told you I was sorry.”

The answer has to be no. Why can’t I stop thinking about it?

“Hey guys, I’m gonna head up and catch some zzzs.” I pushed the chair back and stood.

“What?!” Maggie’s mouth with slightly open, her eyes narrowed, and the inner corners of her eyebrows nearly touched.

“Bona, your plate is pristine. You haven’t even taken a bite, Doofus.”

“Can I have it?”

“No, Metalli, finish your plate. And what’s the matter with you, jack…jack-but.”

“Jack-but?” I shook my head. “I’m just tired. I’ve been training in mana shielding, trying to get my body used to it, and getting a better understanding in it to strengthen it. My arms are sore from all the swinging, and my legs are tired from all the exercise.”

“And? We are tired too, but why aren’t you eating? Why do you keep avo…” Maggie’s attention turned to Metalli, she signed in relief, I looked over and saw Metalli happily shoving food into her face, gleeful sounds erupting with each bite.

“Okay, I’m sorry. I’ll eat.” I sat and started picking at my food. I stabbed a few of the fried veggies and stated munching on them.

Alvin chuckled. “You two sure know how to take care of a broken man.”

My attention turned to him.

“I remember when we lost people fighting to shut that portal down. People died to protect me. I suppose I put up a resilient front while I pushed people away. But Mr. Gallio, you are a lucky one, I only had one woman who wouldn’t accept losing me.” Alvin took a large bite off his plate.

“Alvin? Why do you keep calling us by our last names?” I asked.

“Ah, can I ask you what my last name is?”

“Ohh, I know.” Metalli said with a mouthful, before swallowing. “Daddy it’s…”

“Ah, yip, nope, Metalli…” Alvin said with a stern face as Metalli turned back to her nearly empty plate, giggling.

“It’s Oak, like the tree.”

“Oh, so you learned about the trees of this world.”

“Nope, it’s same as in our world.”

“I see, a Legacy city named the trees, maybe they got the names from your world. The first adventurer was said to be of multiple worlds. But father liked the strong sound of the name and changed our family name with the church. Now, my point is…, I haven’t informed their families, three, three families will never know about their sons’ deaths.”

“That’s a dull point.”

“Bona!” Iliana scolded me. “Alvin, I understand. You couldn’t find their families.”

Maggie gasped. “I-I get it now. But Alvin, please just call us by our first name. We have no family here. Honestly, my family here is only Illy, and Bona.”

My brows furrowed; cheeks raised. Before I could respond, Alvin’s deep voice took the stage.

“I know, but I feel as if there is a chance, I could inform your families. If this world takes you, I want to offer comfort for your families.” Alvin’s strong gaze landed on all three of us.

“Daddy, can I have more?” Metalli pulled on Alvin’s long-sleeved shirt. A smile came over him as he patted his daughter on the head, both of her hands shot up holding Alvin’s hand to her head as she kicked him. “I told you to stop that, Haa-ya.”

“Ow, ow, sorry my little Hearth. Iliana, do you mind if I fill her plate up.”

“No, please do. And thank you Alvin. Seriously.”

“Yeah, you, you are so cool.” Maggie said.

“I think it’s… ow.” Maggie’s foot dug into my shin; she was still smiling at Alvin.

“Bona, don’t. I know you were about to say something to ruin the mood.”

“Fine, I may have just solved the mystery of life, but now no one will ever know.”

“Daddy, more, more.” Metalli bounced in her seat.

“I am glad other cities of our little kingdom have come together to raise more livestock and increase their harvest for us to have such a surplus of food. Things were dicey for a few months before you guys were brought here. But the refugees outside the city have been harassing the merchants delivering the goods. Hollering about the unfairness, my wife and some of the guards dealt with it, last few weeks, it seems they have been leaving their camps outside the city walls.

I hope those guys find work, and a city with the ability to care for them.” Alvin handed Metalli a full plate of veggies and meat before continuing. “No man who was forcefully driven from their job deserves to suffer. But we can’t help them without destroying ourselves in the process. It is rough, but without the surrounding cities selling their goods to us, we’d have even more problems.”

Metalli began chowing down the instant the plate landed in front of her. Spoonful after spoonful. “My little Hearth… How-how much can you consume?”

“What does conesuu mean?”

“Eat, it means to eat.”

“Oh, I can eat lots.” Metalli flashed a huge smile at her dad, Alvin’s smile caught me off guard.

“She is just the cutest thing. But you really should slow down Metalli, you will get a stomachache, or get sick.”

“Mmm, thank you for worrying about me, Ms. Il…ana.” She smiled at Iliana and went back to finish her race.

“So, the refugees are packing up and leaving Capella’s outskirts?” Maggie asked.

Alvin mumbled with a mouthful of food. “Mm hmm. Food is really amazing, who cooked?”

“Aggie and me. We have been studying really hard to learn about ingredients here and what tastes familiar to stuff from our world.”

“I see. Thank you both for all the effort.” Alvin took another bite of his meal with a large smile.

“Hey, Alvin, where are the refugees headed?” Maggie looked lost in thought.

“Hmm, they seemed to be headed to the other cities, where the food and livestock are coming from.”

“Do merchants travel with guards?”

“Typically, they hire adventurers. One or two. Why?”

“I just have a bad feeling. But it’s probably nothing.” We all continued to eat as Maggie shrugged her shoulder and drank some water.

I figured a compliment wouldn’t hurt, especially since those two worked so hard to learn about cooking in this world. “Thank you for cooking Iliana, Maggie. You two make a great team.”

“Alright, that didn’t ruin the mood. You get one point. But thank you. Maybe you can help us next time. And Emily.”

Emily huh? Why did I just thank them? Why does it matter if I am considered part of her family here? Why did you have to fucking bring up Emily?

“Where is she?” Alvin said while raising a full fork to his mouth, emptying his plate with a pat of the belly.

“With Victor. I don’t know what happened, and Bona won’t tell us.” Iliana responded.

“I see. Bona? How is she?”

“Her family…” I looked over at Maggie and put my hands up. I felt the wind draft as her foot stopped before making contact. “She blames me for something bad happening to her, and wanted some time apart, so she quit. Something different from before.” I quickly finished my plate, my mind drifting back to that dreadful thought, why? I know the answer has to be no, I could never kill her, even if I had a reason, so why can’t I stop thinking about it? Metalli must have sensed me glaring at her before I could catch myself, she flinched in her seat, stopped eating, and just stared at her plate, eyes darting all over. I wanted to leave, I had to, but before I could give my excuse…

“Ah. Bona, come by the shop in the next 3 days. I should have your armor and weapons done. Maggie, Iliana, yours should be ready in 4 days.”

“Sure… Well…”

“Okie dookie arthichoki.” Iliana replied.

“Really?! Ahh, I can’t wait.” Maggie bounced like a child.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, dear?”

“I’m gonna throw up.” Her hand went up to her mouth.

“Ah snap, uh, bathroom?”

“Oh, ah, out the door, to the right, just before the stairs.” Iliana quickly guided him as he picked up his daughter and ran.

I stood grabbing my plate. “I guess your cooking can be a blessing and a curse.”

“Oh, ha, ha doofus. I hope she’s okay. I mean she’s the cutest thing ever. I love how curly her hair is. It reminds me of cinnamon buns.” The answer has to be no.

“Yeah, we match.” Maggie said twisting a finger in her curly hair as her gaze shifted from me to Iliana. The answer has to be no.

“Let’s pack up the leftovers, what little we have. Bona, can you help clean up before you head up to your room?”

“Yes ma’am.” I started gathering the other empty plates, eager to leave.

“I can’t believe that little girl ate 70% of the food here. And she is still so skinny.” Maggie’s voice echoed from the box with a magical item emitting cold air.

“I guess you can say its magic, and it’ll make sense.” Iliana grabbed some wooden containers from a cabinet.

As we packed and cleaned, Alvin walked into the room. “But nothing came out... You’re sure?”

“Yes Daddy. I’m fine now.” Alvin put Metalli down, she ran over to Iliana and Maggie by the table. “Thank you so, so much for all the yummy food. I got sick because the yummy food had a battle in my belly. Sorry.”

“Oh, don’t worry Metalli, you made our food look so good while you were eating it. Thank you for liking it so much.” Iliana squatted down to speak to Metalli face to face.

Maggie followed Iliana down to Metalli’s height. “And your hair is lovely.”

“Ugh, I hate my hair.” Metalli pouted. “I want hair like Mommy’s.”

“Hey, your curly hair is the cutest thing. I mean it.”

“Mommy, and Daddy says so too, but, but I really want to be like Mommy.” Maggie had a motherly smile, Iliana continued packing.

“You must love her very much, huh?” Metalli nodded as Alvin walked up to the girls.

“You guys need any help packing, or cleaning?”

“No, no. You and your daughter relax. Don’t be crazy Alvo, ha, thinking we’d make our guest help us.” Iliana said with a shake of the head as she tiptoed but still having to look up at Alvin.

“I see. Metalli, make sure you say good-bye to Bona.” She turned to her father with puppy eyes.

“Do-do I have too? I don’t think he likes me.”

“What? Um, you don’t have to if he scares you.”

“I didn’t say he scares me. Hmph.” Metalli started marching towards me. “My daddy says I don’t have to be nice to you. So, bye.” Her head was turned to the side, her hands shaking on her hips.

I shut the faucet and spun to face her. “Was the shy girl thing just an act?”

“I said, bye.” She waved and glared at me.

“Yeah, bye kid.” Metalli walked closer to me and kicked me in the shin.

“Jeez, what was that for.”

“Daddy said it would be funny.” Metalli looked up at me with her hands covering her mouth, eyes too bright to look at.

“Wow. Your dad is a real jerk.” Her face turned sour, she got into a boxing stance and fired a straight shot for my… well let’s just say I’m glad that I don’t ever want kids. But the pain costed me my focus. I didn’t care anymore as I keeled over from the pain shooting up to my stomach.

My hand reached behind me gripping the fork I laid down beside the sink. Gritting my teeth, I glared at her as her hands failed to cover up her laughing. Her neck was open, even if this was a spoon, its enough. Forget about who I’ll hurt, I’m done caring, done holding back. I lifted the fork off the countertop, struggling to stay still as the pain pulsated through my groin into my stomach. I moved my hand to feel for the prongs, which direction they faced. I’m done.

“Daddy was right…, it is kinda funny.” Metalli’s voice caught Alvin’s attention, he jogged over.

“Metalli did you…?” He looked me over, his voice snapping me out of my haze. “You can’t… hit him there. If Bona wanted kids, it’ll be hard for him if you hurt him there.” I placed the fork down, waving at him to signal that it was okay.

“Daddy, you said I could be mean to him.”

“Yeah, kick him in the shin, but… ooo. Let’s go.”

“Is it a weak spot. Could he die if I hit him hard enough there?”

“Yeah, let’s go with that, my little hearth. Come on. I’m sorry Bona, didn’t know she’d do that.” I waved again, trying to stand and lean against the counter.

“Daddy, he called you a jerk.”

“Yeah, you hurt him way more than enough for it.” He picked her up and started walking off, Iliana and Maggie had their backs turned to us, hands on each other’s shoulders, hunched over.

“Y-you’re not gonna ask if I’m okay.” I was hot in the head, heavy in the chest, but relieved my sin wasn’t noticed.

“Don’t have to buddy. I know you ain’t.” Alvin said with a shiver.

“Daddy, are you cold?”

“Nope. Now, Metalli, I’m gonna have to punish you. I’m sorry, but you can’t have a snack when we get home.”

“Whaaa?”

“Even though you didn’t know what you did was bad… and it was kinda my fault, I have to punish you for doing something really bad.”

“No. Daddy, I’m-I’m sorry.”

“I know, I know my little hearth. But you do need to learn to control your hungry belly.”

“Ahh, umm, I-.“ Metalli began to tear up.

“Okay, I’ll see you all later.” Alvin said as he headed for the exit.

The pain receded. Turning back to finish the dishes, sliding the fork I had gripped to the side, I kept an eye on the people I nearly hurt.

“Wait, Alvin!” Iliana sputtered. She ran to the food storage box as Maggie started packing up the leftovers.

“Oh, what’s going on?” Alvin turned surprising Metalli as her hands left her eyes to hold on to her dad.

“I, I have a good-bye gift. Wait one second.” Iliana opened magical item box. She pulled out a familiar wooden box. “Here you go. And thank you for being a great friend to us.”

“No! You can’t have my daddy!” Metalli’s arms wrapped around Alvin’s neck, he tried to pull his head back as her hair tickled his nose and tangled in his beard.

“Metalli. Move your head please.”

“Oh, sorry daddy.”

Alvin put the box down on the table and opened it, he looked confused as he observed the cupcakes. “What are these? Some sort of dessert?”

“Mmm, hmm.” Iliana hummed in confirmation as she saddled up beside Metalli. “I bet this little one would love it.”

“Ha, will she’ll have to wait till tomorrow, she’s being punished right now. Ain’t that right?” He shook Metalli up and down gently. Her mouth dropped as her eyes began dripping and blinking rapidly.

“But…” Her voice cracked as she hid her face in her father’s shoulder.

Iliana looked from Maggie, to Metalli, to Alvin before trying to help. “Uh, Alvin, they’re called cupcakes, I gave a recipe to a baker here in Capella. Now, they will go bad if you don’t eat them right away. So, you have to let her eat some… um, today.” Alvin looked at Iliana, emotionless.

“See daddy. I have to eat them, or they’ll go bad.” Metalli’s barely audible voice mumbled, her face still hidden.

“Ms. Amana…”

“Iliana, or Illy, Alvin. I won’t have you calling me by my last name anymore.” Ilana pointed a finger at him.

Alvin chuckled. “Iliana, are you lying to me on Metalli’s behalf?”

“Uh…, n-nooooo.” Iliana turned towards Maggie; Maggie ignored her.

“I see. Metalli will have to wait till tomorrow then.”

“Nooooo! Please daddy, I’m sorry!” Metalli screamed in Alvin’s ear. He put her down, she clung to his leg sobbing.

“Alright, alright, stop it my little Hearth. You hear me, you need to learn to deal with punishments or you’ll never grow. But I’ll make a deal with you this time.”

“Mmmm, mmm.” She backed off, hands clenched and at her side as she stared up at her father, waiting for her chance.

Iliana turned away to hide her face, Maggie packed the food with a big smile. Alvin and Metalli were completely focused on each other. “Okay, apologize to Bona.”

Metalli’s stern look switched into one of surprise. Her eyes met mine, she raised her shoulders and turned her head. “I don’t want to.”

“Oh, but…” Alvin took out a cupcake and waved it in front of his daughter as a bribe.

Metalli closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pumping herself up before she stomped over to me. “I’m sorry, Bona. I know now to not hit you there.” Her finger followed her eyes. “Please convince my daddy to let me have some cake.” She put both of her hands behind her and started rubbing her foot into the ground.

“Were you faking being sick?”

She flinched. “Not really.” After a second passed, Metalli turned and ran to Alvin, looking up at him. “Daddy, I apologized like you told me to.” Alvin looked at her questioningly while nodding.

“You did good my Little Hearth. Here you can have half of one.” Alvin took a bite, handing the other half to Metalli.

“Aww. Thank you, I guess.” She said as she took the half-eaten cupcake eagerly.

“Wow! A cupcake… this, wow!” Alvin eyed the other 11 in the box. “Um… say, you wouldn’t have the recipe now, would you?”

Iliana looked up from packing the food at the table to answer. “Yeah, we have it. I’ll write it down for you. Oh, that reminds me, art supplies.” She looked over at Maggie.

“Ahhh, that’s right. Alvin, I wanted to do some drawing, um, paintings. Do you know where they might sell some stuff like that?”

“Oh, those are special order items. Most art supplies used to come from a Legacy City, Creare, but since the church marked them as heathens, only a few people have the knowledge to make the paint and tools. There was someone in Terrarum, but Lord knows where she is, she ran a restaurant in Segola, and sold supplies from there as well.”

“Jeez, guess I can wait. I never made paint myself. Oh, Bona, can you do it?”

“Paint, yeah, I made some before while camping for fun.”

“Really?” Iliana said.

“Yeah…” But I just realized that I shouldn’t. “But I don’t remember how to now that I think about it. So maybe not.”

“Aww, that sucks.” Maggie went back to pack the last of the food.

“Don’t worry Aggie we’ll find something.”

It seems that Alvin and Metalli were eating all the cupcakes. “Now remember, don’t tell Mommy about these okay. They will be our little secret.”

Iliana gasped. “Alvin! You sly bugger.” Alvin turned to face Iliana, frosting stuck in his beard, an eviscerated cupcake in his hand.

“Ah, just give me the recipe later. Come on Metalli. Good-bye all.” Alvin closed the box and rushed out, Metalli not far behind, looking determined to finish the box of cupcakes.

“Wow, just… wow.” Maggie shook her head with a sly smile.

I was just about finish cleaning the last of the dishes. My attention returning to the fork. I picked it up and ran it under the water. My breaths felt hot and heavy as they crawled out my lungs. I rubbed at it, cleaning it vigorously. I rubbed it again, looked it over and stuck it back in the running water, watching the water bounce and pour off it.

“We’re all finish up on our end Bona. Is everything okay? You’ve been washing that fork like crazy.” Iliana’s voice snuck up on me, but I didn’t react for a second as I bathed the fork in the warmest water the faucet could manage.

“Oh, yeah. Fork got stained is all.”

“Stained? How?” Iliana peeked over from the side.

“Don’t know, it just got like that.”

“Oh…, um… I don’t see anything.”

“No? It looks like somebody used it in a campfire, I guess it’s well hidden, but I saw it.” My eyes never left the water, and the fork underneath it.

“Oh, okie dookie.” Iliana stared up at my face. I heard her as she walked back to Maggie, they spoke softly, I couldn’t hear them over the running water. After a few minutes, someone hugged me from behind.

She sniffled. “Bona, why does it feel like you’re floating away?” Maggie squeezed tighter.

I turned off the faucet and placed the fork back in the sink. “I promise you two that there is nothing wrong between us. I love you both dearly.”

Maggie let go, I turned to look back at them, Iliana stood beside Maggie to her right. Iliana’s head dropped as she said, “How can you be so honest… and, so scheming.” She took a deep breath. “We know about what you asked Freya for.”

“We’ve been thinking about it, when the time comes, you can choose to stay in the city with us or go back to the palace alone. If… if you go back, we promise to stop bothering you. But, if you stay, please try to talk to us. Like Illy said, let us write your story with you.”

My eyes focused on the ground, “You two should get some rest. We have a busy day tomorrow. I’ll take care of putting the dishes away. Julie can continue to rest up. I don’t want her withdrawal messing up any of the plates.”

They looked at each other. “Right. Good night, Bona.” Maggie started to walk off.

“Good night.” Iliana waved and followed Maggie. I stood there, looking at the fork in the sink. Time passed, I started drying and storing the plates, leaving the fork.

There was an intense heat coming from Freya’s house. Warren!

I ran out the room, Iliana and Maggie were sitting on the stairs talking, their gaze turned to me, they noticed too.

“You two stay!” They got up and ran after me.

Few seconds later, outside the knight’s home we heard a voice speaking through the mana. Rather a hundred voices speaking unevenly. “Your… goal… a… good… one. But… si… lence… need…ed.” It struggled at each consonant, some voices finishing earlier than others.

“We need to use mana movement!” Maggie shouted. That’s right, we have magic here.

“Right.” I felt two more intense heat as Maggie and Iliana zoomed past me, I followed popping up in the hall as they opened the door to the house.

“Dungeon, this way.”

“Good… we have… no clue where it is. Don’t use… mana movement, we can’t follow.”

“Should’ve stayed back home. Damn it.” We ran.

“I… un… der… stand… War… ren. For… the… good… of… our… world. Good… bye.”

The dungeon wasn’t too far from the entrance, we were there in a little under 3 minutes. The whole room was shrouded in a black mist, mana was being used heavily, constantly, the darkest concentration surrounded Warren.

“Ahhhhhhhh-screeeeeeee.” His screams turned into screeching, his hands reached out of the mist towards a figure wearing a dark trench coat, its hand stretched towards Warren. The figure’s out line shimmered like light through the surface of water. The iron bars in the room were strewed throughout the room. The figure turned to us, pulling his hand down, the mist surrounding Warren became more transparent. He was no longer human, it laid unconscious on the shredded mattress.

“Three… not… of… this… world. Fool… ish… star… king.” Figure’s mouth did not move, its face shrouded by a hood, a robe underneath the trench coat. Was he a member of the church?

“Wh-who are you?” Maggie walked up behind me to my right, I stuck my hand out as a warning to stay back. The mist solidified near the figure, like flat rectangles. I had to stop him, if I could focus on the mana’s path, I had a chance to stop him before he could strike. Crossing my arms, I yelled, “SHIELD!”

The mana surrounded me, my arms glowing bright blue in the dark mist coating the room.

“Ug.” “Ahh…” Maggie and Iliana yelled from behind me, the three flat rectangles were not there anymore. How? My eyes were watching them.

Maggie? Iliana?

They were underneath them, their hands on the ground, resisting the force pushing down on them. My shield crackled, above me was pure black, I was strong enough to resist. “In… cred… di… ble.”

Save them, save the girls! A voice screamed inside of me.

I aimed my right shoulder into the ground, rolled towards the figure, with my hands on the ground I unsprang my body and aimed for his face. Intense heat ran through my legs as they fell banging into the jagged iron bars still cemented into the ground.

The intense heat stayed on my thighs, looking up at the figure the mist began repairing his broken image. Kicking myself up from the ground, I phased through the figure, feeling that heat again. Turning back, their was no body, just solid black in the shape of a person floating around, the mist pulling the pieces together. Please, mana, help me, I aimed a kick for the piece resembling his back. Same results, no progress, wait, no mana. Why didn’t the mana activate?

As I cautiously watched, the body reunited, but instead of turning to face me, it morphed, the face pushing out from the back of its head. Behind it, the mana above Maggie and Iliana increased in mass. The heat above me intensified causing my shield to pop like fireworks.

Iliana and Maggie now laid inside an impression within the compacted dirt. “Gaaa.” I heard the two of them struggling to breath. Trouble breathing, they were wheezing... cracked ribs?

I got into my martial arts stance, shoulder width, hands at chest, elbows bent. More blue mana started circulating towards me through the black mist. “Too… strong… to… let… live.” Save them, damn it, save them.

Kicking its head from the right side, I felt a solid hit land. The head shattered and sizzled away. “My… time?”

Slamming my foot down, I elbowed its chest, a portion of it sizzled away. Through the cavity, Iliana and Maggie were clawing at the ground, eyes bulging, blood coloring their faces. I punched it over and over, punched where I could, it sizzled, faded, formed, I strike, moved to its head, its legs, its arms, its neck. My body was getting closer and closer to the God’s power as the heat and gravity hindered me. My shield was beginning to give way. But I had to save them.

“My… time. You. In… cred… di… ble. I… must… hurry.” Its hands grabbed my wrists, one of its arms extending to grab the arm farthest back. I stepped back trying to pull free, but its arms followed. An intense heat built up around where he grabbed, I felt my strength leaving my body, the shield was silent. I was on my knees, my arms held in place as his mana pushed me into the ground.

Its grasp felt as if it was welding its hands to mine, boiling my blood, taring my arms out. The gravity from using so much mana gave me a headache, the weight of the figure’s mana strained my neck as I tried to look up. I can’t see the girls, please God, give them mercy. Please, if I can offer my life for their safety, save them.

At the feet of the figure, I saw a blueish, purple light, mana movement. A strong force threw me back. Freya entered the room, in the span of a second or two she slashed at the figure’s arms, the blowback shot me back hard enough into the wall to shake the whole alcove. After her masterful swing, she moved behind the figure, stopped him before he flew back, turning him in the air, and slamming him in the ground sending pebbles, debris, and broken pieces of the iron bars, everywhere.

Freya was shrouded in a blue, purple, and green aura, a hand on the figures back, her head turned to look at him. Her eyes narrowed, “Adventurer?”

She stood, sword in her right hand, left hand ready to react. The figure morphed; it was sitting facing Freya. “No… On… ly… a… dis… ci… ple.” The hundred voices began chuckling. Some saying “In… cred… di… ble.”

With her mana creation, Freya pinned the figure to the ground with three spiked bones. A purple dome emanated from her, as it passed throughout the room, the mist was pushed away. “Damn… it…. How?”

Struggling to move, I leaned over to see the girls breathing, unconscious, blood splats near their mouths. I tried to crawl over, but my movements were nearly imperceivable, I used too much mana and my entire body faced the brute force of God’s power. But I didn’t care, I tried harder to crawl towards the girls.

Black mist rushed to the corner of the dungeon, towards Warren. The figure’s hand stretched out, its legs were disappearing, its body followed, flowing out of his outstretched hand, surrounding Warren.

There was silence at first as Warren was covered, then his screeching continued. “Damn… it… not… e… nough.” The figure vanished, the mist surrounding Warren followed once the last remnants of the figure’s hand disappeared.

Freya rushed over and began healing Warren, the moment her mana touched his other worldly appearance, I saw her body tense and reel back slightly before she continued her examination.

I didn’t care about Warren…, Iliana, Maggie, please be okay.

I barely moved a few inches, before Freya finished saving Warren. She picked me up and laid me to the left of Iliana. The warmth of Freya’s mana annoyed me; I moved a hand as best I could to push her away. “I understand. Wait just a little longer then. I don’t think… they can repeat that anytime soon. We should be safe.” She knelt beside Iliana and began healing her.

“Her injuries are not severe; it seems it was to focus on you to increase its mana mass. She has a few cracked ribs, they failed to puncture her lungs, or heart, there is some damage to her lungs from the force she was put under. Nothing I can’t handle.” Her hair seemed a darker shade of purple, her voice even more ambient as she calmly spoke to me.

“Maggie prognosis is similar. They will fully recover, Warrior Bona. Do not worry about them.”

“G…G…G.” She looked at me, her cheeks slightly risen.

“Just rest. You are burning up; your mana shield training really bought the girls a lot of time.” She stood over Warren. “Just what are you.” I tried to relax, I couldn’t feel the pebbles digging into my back, or my head, the gravity and heat of God’s power was all my body felt.

The crunch of Freya’s footsteps grew till she knelt beside me. Again, Freya began examining me. “It is eerie how similar he is to us.” Freya said shaking her head. She was beautiful, rivaling Iliana and Maggie, I couldn’t help but stare.

“This will take some time, but I need to rebuild your wrists. The heat from the mana it was using closed your wounds. And the gravity of God’s power is helping keep the blood from hemorrhaging. You should recover in a day or two.” Freya stood.

“I’ll have the three of you moved. Sleep here tonight. The city guards overestimated the refugee crisis, most of them are departing the city. Once you are in a more hospitable situation, I’ll begin the process of rebuilding your wrists.”

What about my neck, and my arms?

Though a part of me felt blissful, being so close to the power welded by God. I wonder if people have ever been addicted to this feeling?

I wanted to spend these last days with them. Training in the city was nearly over. Freya will give those two a place to stay, and I will return to the palace alone with the promise that they’ll cease any attempt to string me down.

Please, Reverend Mirth, please get them home. Please don’t stop looking into a way to give them back to their family so they can go on forgetting about me. Ever since I’ve been back in their life, all I’ve done is give them suffering. Please Mirth, please get them back home. I laid in the far-left bed, staring at Iliana. Maggie laid on the other side of her, out of sight.

Laying on her back, hair flowing around her, her hands folded across her chest. Her breathing normal. Slowly my hand reached for her, the pain of God’s power burning my muscles. I wanted to hold her… I… I almost lost her, almost lost… Maggie.

I suppose I am destined to lose them.

My arm dropped, gripping the sheets. I suppose, Emily is a strong reminder that I could never be the person to guard their happiness. If I want the people I love to be happy, I have to be forgotten, that is my role, to be the forgotten man. My eyes closed, my mind remembering the past.

A past where Iliana ignored me, Maggie ignored me, where they knew happiness. I need to keep diligence in giving these two the best life they could live. Maggie has had a chance to see me, it should be enough for her to know, I cannot bring her the relief she is seeking. But they can both find happiness in that world that had abandoned me.