“Burn them!”

“Slay the heretics!”

I wake up with a start.

AhhhHH! I had that same dream again! I might go ballistic if all my nap times are like this.

Let me SLEEP!

"LET ME SLEEP!" I shout, my eyes bloodshot as a show of my mania. I can barely think, but I just want to sleep, yet I can't. It's a terrible feeling as waking up after that unholy dream each time only progressively deteriorates my mental state.

"Whoa, you nearly hit me there,"

I had been wondering the cause of these dreams for a while now, and now it suddenly clicks. The insanity that runs around here, the logical deficiencies and the absolute HERESY!

This place rots! It reeks! I think I’ve found a contender for that cesspit of a cave.

I can't bear to stay here any longer. I've found that I've been slowly accepting the hokum that strews here, like a frog being boiled, I've yet to realise the danger I'm in.

This place is madness! I was always sceptical about them. I’ve always lived by doubting, so why did I stop? Where did my doubt go?

These dreams… no, these propagandas are polluting my mind. Slowly diluting my crystalline thoughts and making them murky. It is a chore to think for myself and I find falling into the orders of the cult more gratifying, more compelling.

My mind, it's being moulded. And I don't like it. The proselytising only propels this process.

How did I even end up here?

Even if I was framed as a heretic, that doesn't mean I am one.

Yes, that's right. I'm not a heretic. I hate it here. Every bit of it. Well, not really, but I still don't like it here. However, it's not like I could return to society without being hunted down, actually, maybe I can. Although I was framed as a heretic, I can still change my identity and just start a new life.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

"Wow, look, Jeffrey, they already got wanted posters of you. It''ll be real tough for you to move around won't it?"

I see how it is.

Although these guys may not be the ones who framed me, they're certainly behind the brainwashing attempts.

"However, if you think that's enough to seize my mind then you're dead wrong," My will would never fall to such petty tricks.

"What are you spouting now?"

"Shut up heretic! I'll tie you to a stake and burn you!"

I peg a bolt at him, enchanted of course. And this time, it hits, lodging itself deep in his torso.

"Ouch, you actually got me,"

It's only to be expected that I could easily land a blow on this fiend. This bastard's cocky. Way too cocky for his own good. Just because he's a Steel rank doesn't make him invulnerable, not in the slightest. But I don't linger on those thoughts, instead, I put my focus on killing this infidel.

"Are you being legit?"

"Die heretic!" Taking a note from their book, I shout, slashing down with my machete.

"Sigh, are you infected with the crazies?"

I ignore his taunts, going through with my attack, but he makes an effortless display of evading all of them. It reminds me of that knight.

Of course, seeing my disadvantageous position, I call on some allies.

"Lily, Lazari, get this man!"

But wait! My heart stops beating for the split of a second as I recall the 'allies' I called.

A demon and a magical beast of some form.

No way could those be considered allies. The beast, maybe, but most certainly not the demon. Heretics were known as an enemy to the realm, but next up on the list are the demons. Invaders from another realm that deserve to die miserable deaths. In fact, in some places, demons are the most wanted above heretics.

Damnit! "I'm surrounded by enemies on all sides,"

At this point, all I see is red. My mind is a mess of thoughts, though most revolve around killing and burning, so I'm still able to form a somewhat cohesive plan of action centered on those actions.

I keep all the hostiles to one side of me, such that I can keep an eye on all of them, the first basic rule of any combat. It’s a habit ingrained into me. Especially for a three on one. It's best if I can take out one of them quickly and based on my knowledge the demon would probably go down with one well placed bolt. I take aim as I line up my shot while keeping my distance.

"Time to die, demon!"

However, my plan fails to consider extras in the field.

*Bonk!*

And I was just sleeping a moment ago. What did I miss?

"You good?"

An empire accent addresses me, as I groggily yawn and peel open my eyes. It's a bit of a strenuous activity, but my mind feels much clearer save for a slight pain near the back of my head.

"Mmm, yes," I just had a rather nice nap time just now, what a shame I had to wake up so abruptly.

"So, care to explain what happened," Lacer says with an accusatory tone.

What? "What happened?"

"Do you not remember?"

What is this man on about? I rack through my cranium, but nothing comes to mind. All I remember is taking a nap and waking up here. Wait, were we attacked? I scan the room and try to find some clue that could direct me to the situation.

And that’s when I realise the kind of situation I'm in. Bound to a crude wrought iron chair, I look at Lacer who sits across the table from me. This feels oddly like an interrogation…

His eyes narrow for a moment before he speaks again.

"I see, drink some comrade,"

He offers me some strange blue coloured liquid before unbinding me.

Yesn't, seriously, I'm confused as hell right now. "What happened?"

I pose the question as I take a sip of, what I presume is some kind of leaf water, judging by the dregs I see at the bottom of the cup.

Mmm, it's a bit bitter, but the taste is actually kind of nice.

"You like it?"

*Siiiip*

I take a big sip of the leaf water this time before placing the cup down. It has a fresh aroma, which quenches my thirst and refreshes my mind. Transitioning to a slight bitterness, before mellowing out to a sweet taste that lingers in my throat, relaxing my mental state. It allows me to quickly shrug off the grogginess that was layered on me moments before, whilst also letting my thoughts flow smoothly across my mindscape without getting congested or sidetracked.

"Yeah, this leaf water is the stuff,"

"Mm, that's good nonetheless, getting back to the point I believe that you are either insane or possessed, though, from my preliminary examinations. I would say that you are insane,"

"Psh, I'm not insane, you're insane,"

"That's what the insane say,"

*Siiiiiiip*

I drink some more leaf water. He-He has a point there.

So, reviewing the situation, it seems that I allegedly went on a rampage, where I shot — and hit — Laffer, before trying to shoot Lazari. Personally, shooting Laffer was nothing out of the ordinary, but I also allegedly tried to shoot my girl?

I'm getting a strange sense of déjà vu…

Of course, even if I want to try and deny it, Lazari, despite not wanting to admit that I tried to harm her, only showed her hand with her uncharacteristic behaviour and the bird. Well, the bastard wasn't even going to try and make me feel better, looking at me with betrayed eyes and acting all hurt. Really driving that point in. I raised you since you were an egg and this is how you repay me?

Sigh, this-this is too much for me.

*Siip*

"Heh, I knew I was right about you," Laffer nudges me with his elbow, "You psychotic nutjob,"

*Siiiip*

I'm not in the mood to indulge in his games, so I ignore him. Sipping the liquid, I let all those invading emotions exit my mind. To think that I'm the insane bastard. Perhaps, I really am the odd one and they're the normal ones?

Yeah, right. Though it does make me wonder about what other weird crap I've done without realising? This clearly wasn't a one off occurrence so now I'm super curious as to what my hate crime count is up to.

And I say hate crime, because whilst in my psychotic episode, I don't just go mad and attack everyone. Yesn't, apparently, I'm like a cold hunter, in full control of my actions with a keen acumen and prejudiced mien. Judging from these factors alone, it seems to be that my alter ego is a psychotic, sadistic, xenophobe with a greater skill set than mine. Like damn, thinking back, my alter ego managed to escape from a packed city square teeming with guards after killing a demi human then mutilating the corpse. All in broad daylight to boot! What a legend!

Sigh, I don't know whether to laugh or cry…

"Oh yes, before I forget comrade, remember to have at least a cup of leaf water a day to keep your madness away,"

Sigh, not only am I a schizo, but I'm also a druggo.

I slump my shoulders, as I take another sip.

*Siiiiiip*

Jolly good times I be havin' ol’ chap.