-...are you sure you stopped crying?

I just had to be certain.

-No, I'm not crying!!

-Ok, ok, you don't have to shout.

I dispelled the barrier and she really did look better than I expected - I was ready to close my eyes at any time if it was too much for me to take but it turned out to be fine. What a relief.

...but why's she still sitting in the same place and position as before I used my magic? Was she talking to me while sitting on the floor? Isn't that weird?

~~As weird as a conversation through a 'Mystic Cover', sir Mage. It's rude to conjure a wall between you and the person you're speaking to at the moment.~~

-Oh, you're still awake Mist Sprinkled Rose?

~~Yes, I don't always sleep after all. My essence in your body can't exist without lots of rest but I don't nap all the time. Who would teach you common sense if I only slept?~~

-I guess you're correct. I'll remember not to talk to people with a 'Mystic Cover' between us. I still wouldn't be able to look at her tears even without the barrier though so I don't think there's a big difference if it's there or not.

~~Trust me on this. Did I ever advise you incorrectly?~~

-Well, most often not. But there was that time you made me say 'hello' to a hydra with an impressive fire breath and it ran away completely terrified!

~~Maybe because your fiery spell made a 20 meters hole in a rocky hill 50 meters away?~~

-You said it should be 'impressive'. It was.

~~Have you ever seen any creature greet another with a gesture that would kill it in a second?~~

-Can't say I have.

-...who exactly are you talking to right now? Is there a ghost here?

Oh. I totally forgot about the midget still sitting there in the same position. She didn't hear my companion since her voice could only be heard in my head and got a strange idea.

-I'm talking to Mist Sprinkled Rose. She's my friend. You won't be able to speak with her, not with her energy levels after leaving me with only her essence. Don't worry about it.

-Don't worry about it?! I knew you were insane but didn't know that it was as severe as to have imaginary friends to talk to!

-What are you talking about? Mist Sprinkled Rose has left me with a part of her essence, that's why we can speak when her real body isn't here. She's quite weak in her current state though and is mostly sleeping. Now tell me why aren't you moving? Did you get paralyzed after leaving Devil's Rage? Is there any part of you that wants to slaughter me right here and now and drink my hot, red blood?

-W-what are you talking about? Why would I ever do something like that?!!

-Good. Seems like you're completely back to normal, it would be bothersome if you stayed enraged any longer.

-Wait, what is this about? Enraged? Did I try to hurt you yesterday? I admit I got mad that you killed Anaga and I still am but that's no reason to give it weird names like Devil's Rage!

-I see you're unfamiliar with this term. That means it's really your first time, huh...

-M-my first time? MY first time?! What did you do to me, you bastard?! - she shouted while covering her body and scowling. Oh, she can suddenly move. and what's her problem?

-I did nothing?

-What do you mean nothing?! Admit it, you used me while I was asleep! You pervert!

...I'm lost here. No clue what she's talking about. First, she thinks I'm an assassin, now a pervert... What's next, a hidden slime turned into a human? Cause that's about as possible as her other ideas about me.

~~Haaah... So clueless. You should explain it to her properly. She thinks you took advantage of her body.~~

-Whaaat? Why the heck would she think that?!! I'm not a rapist and I would never do it with a young girl! Who do you think I am?!!! It wasn't me who turned into a Berserker all of a sudden. That surprised me!

~~Tell her that, not me. She can't hear me after all.~~

-B-b-ber-berserker? Who?

Quiliana's POV:

I really should get away from here. This guy's insanity might be contagious, I already feel like I'm not myself, like I could go crazy too. Now he has some imaginary friend who is a female stuck inside his head and conveniently can't be heard by anyone else? Who would believe that?

...

...did my aunt really die without purpose? If what he said is true, he wasn't trying to kill us and now that I think about it he didn't even once attack us - it was our mistake to assume he was one of the assassins. It just so happened that some crazy, strong guy started to follow us and all people like him would always turn out to be murderers after us so why, just why did it have to turn out different this time?!! Why did Anaga have to die, when there was no need to? She only tried to protect me!! Like she always did!

...

Right after I thought something bad happened to me when I was asleep, I heard the weirdo say a word that was dreaded by all people no matter where you went:

-B-b-ber-berserker? Who? - I looked around at all the blood and suddenly understood something: - Did... did my aunt turn into a Berserker?!!!!

-What? No! She's already dead, she can't use Devil's Rage in that state.

-Then who was it?! Your imaginary friend?

-Mist Sprinkled Rose isn't imaginary and we really are friends. And you went berserk shortly after we finished our talk yesterday, toy. Your eyes were glowing red and you got those nice red claws that you repeatedly used trying to scratch me. That never happened though, so no worries. You seem fine now, so I say we safely took care of your first awakening as a Berserker. Oy, are you listening? Why'd you turn pale? What's with the opened wide mouth and looking straight ahead without moving? Well, you didn't move your body even before that but at least you were looking in my direction. Hello? You look more like a sculpture than a human being now, you know that?

The guy kept on talking but I tuned it down. Where is this weird ringing sound coming from and why is the world spinning? Me, a Berserker? ME?! A BERSERKER?!! That can't be true! Those things are hunted by everybody because of the danger that comes with being enraged - you turn Demon-like and slaughter everyone in the vicinity! You eat your children, bite through your spouse's neck end spill the guts out of your neighbours. You kill all that you see, even animals and the killing spree can last even half a day! Any such creature spotted will be ruthlessly exterminated! They aren't even considered human anymore but mindless beasts. Sometimes they turn back to normal but that doesn't change anything - a Berserker once, a Berserker all your life! You turn into a ticking bomb, ready to erupt and murder and consume even more than before with no control over your own body. And what might be the worse - you wake up after the deed is done covered in the blood of your family, friends and strangers and you don't remember anything! You would just assume you're a sole survivor of some sort of calamity if not for the fact that you have a half-eaten finger in your mouth. With a wedding ring on it... matching the one on your finger.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that most of such people commit suicide right after that traumatizing experience, the rest is hunted and brutally killed for their sins and the danger they represent if left alive.

...

...

...

I still have a dagger in my pocket, don't I? Since this guy isn't a killer then someone else should do it. I can't live with the knowledge that I could suddenly start killing others, even young children.

It's about time I come to your side, my dear aunty. You didn't wait long, did you?