Chapter 8:

Two bottles and a song

Aidan slowly regained consciousness within a holding cell on top of a haystack.

The first thing Aidan noted was this numb, hollow feeling like a gaping hole was all that was left of his stomach. The second was a mind-splitting pain at the back of his head.

Aidan climbed back up to his feet, dragging himself up by the wall.

The cell bars were spinning around in circles before him. Aidan reached out his hands and tried several times to grasp the seemingly intangible bars before finally catching the correct ones.

He struggled pointlessly to break free until the exertion reached a critical point and forced him to give up. Aidan slumped back down. His sword, mandolin, and cloak were all missing.

“Ah, that’s right. I lost.”

Was this why his father told him not to form any bonds? Aidan always thought it was to stop demons from exploiting them in their songs. Now he understood it went past that.

Valerian knew I’d be willing to throw myself at wolves for anyone I grew attached to.

Aidan couldn’t help but remember all the times Valerian chastised him. Never risk yourself for others, he kept repeating.

And then, without fail, Valerian put his life in danger to save Aidan’s.

Just like the time Valerian perished.

Aidan’s eyes sank to the ground. Dread weighed down on him. He didn’t listen to him, and now he would share his fate.

A single thought passed through his clogged mind.

He always came back to me. Even when he breathed his last, he made sure to do it in my arms.

His breath quickened.

“I can’t die like this. Alaya’ll surely blame herself for it.”

Aidan rose back to his feet. The world was still spinning, but his concentration was good enough to allow him to think straight.

Aidan glanced up at the one window in his cell. The sun was setting soon.

A horrible thought crossed Aidan’s mind.

What if I’m already too late?

Aidan quickly shot that question down. They would have no reason to keep him alive if that was the case.

Aidan touched the walls of the cell. They were built using rocks as their base. Normally trying to rip one of them out would be total insanity, but with all those years of the demon weakening them, there was a chance.

“Ah.”

Just like he hoped, one of the rocks was loose. He ripped it out and then pulled on the next. Whenever one of the rocks was too stable to pull out, Aidan hummed his cursed voice, weakening until it cracked.

Aidan’s body quickly began to shake as he worked on creating an exit. The pain imprinted into his body by Marvin flared up. Aidan’s eyesight became cloudy, and sweat ran down his face as he breathed heavily.

His body begged him to stop and rest, but Aidan knew he couldn’t afford to.

While pulling out another rock, Aidan heard voices coming from outside. Aidan hid the rocks inside the hay and then leaned against the wall to block the view of the hole.

As he expected, four people entered the room, Gawan, Melissa, and two more fighters. They were all dressed in leather armor and equipped with their weapons.

“Aidan, are you alright?!? Melissa asked.

To Aidan’s surprise, there was genuine concern in her voice.

Was it because she was not present during the altercation?

“I’ve felt worse, but I admit, your Marvin would make a great soldier. He has both heart and might.”

Aidan spoke as cordially as he could.

“Let’s cut the small talk. Why are you siding with the plague child? Novarac claimed you were sent here to free us from her,” Gawan said.

“In a sense, that was always my goal. A monster indeed plagues you, but Alaya is not the culprit. If you give me a chance, I promise I can prove it to you.”

Gawan grit his teeth.

“You dare peddle that nonsense?!? We’ve been suffering at her hands for years!”

“And yet, the one person you claim was directly hurt by Alaya says she is innocent.”

Gawan narrowed his eyes. He looked like he wanted to respond, but he didn’t know what words to use.

“Marvin doesn’t have much patience left. You either give us information on how to defeat her or you…you won’t be alive much longer,” Said Melissa.

Aidan leaned back further against the wall.

“Tell him that I am always ready to assist him if he’s willing to tackle the true threat to Kulum. I refuse to help hurt an innocent girl.”

“Aidan, we-”

Gawan placed his hand on Melissa’s shoulder, interrupting her. He shook his head at her. There was no point in continuing the discussion.

The four left the room. From the outside, Aidan could hear Gawan instruct the other two fighters to guard the prison.

Aidan frowned.

Even if I find out the true identity of the demon, will any of them believe me?

Not long after Gawan and Melissa left, Aidan received another visitor. This time, a puppy squeezed through a crack at the bottom of the door.

Aidan expected it to be Tabby, but this puppy was of a different breed, with a white coat riddled with black spots. The look in its eyes was much different from Tabby’s. None of the joy or emotion Tabby carried when trying to cheer up Aidan was present.

This one was only here because Novarac ordered him to.

In its mouth, it carried a letter for Aidan.

I assume he intends me to read it, but there’s a problem with that….

The puppy insisted Aidan take the letter. Aidan hesitantly grabbed it out of its mouth and opened it. He scanned its content far faster than anyone could realistically read and then handed it back to the dog.

The puppy grabbed the letter and quickly retreated through the crack.

With all of the distractions gone, Aidan returned to opening an exit for himself. When a sliver of light shone through the hole he was working on, Aidan couldn’t help but smile.

No, I can’t be happy with just this. I need a plan for what I’ll do once I’m out. If any of Novarac’s dogs see me, I’ll be caught immediately. If only I had some way to disguise myself.

Aidan’s eyes flickered with inspiration. How lucky for him that Gawan left some people behind to guard him.

---

Novarac was sitting on his bed. Around him were several dogs, all worriedly watching him.

“How could he? How could he betray me after everything I’ve done to raise him!”

Novarac clutched his quaking hand. His crimson ring shone a red light as he struggled to contain his emotions.

A sudden banging on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Novarac! Marvin asked for you to meet him in the town square!” A voice sounded from outside.

Novarac was visibly shaken. He had not calmed down enough to speak to Marvin yet.

“Marvin said it’s extremely important for you to come as soon as possible! He wants to rediscuss the plans for dealing with the plague child!” The voice outside continued.

Novarac grit his teeth. He was not ready yet, but he didn’t have much choice.

Novarac exited with his dogs to find a man dressed in leather armor and armed with a spear waiting for them. A leather helmet obscured his face.

“My son is calling for me, you say?” Novarac said in the most gentle tone he could muster.

The man nodded.

The two walked past the guard with most of Novarac’s dogs in tow.

It took Novarac a while to arrive at the town center. There he found Marvin, along with all of his friends. They were all dressed in the same kind of armor as the guard that came for him.

In the darkness of the late evening, Marvin didn’t notice Novarac yet.

Novarac took a deep breath and calmed his heartbeat.

“Why did you call for me, Marvin?”

Everyone turned their attention to Novarac. Marvin, in particular, was completely stunned.

“I, I didn’t.”

Novarac remained speechless for a second.

“What do you mean you didn’t? One of your men came for me!”

Marvin looked increasingly concerned by Novarac.

“All of my men are here with me. The only two that aren’t I tasked with guarding Aidan.”

Novarac’s mouth opened with shock as the realization struck him.

“It can’t be!”

---

Groups composed of both dogs and villagers flooded the village, filling it up with torch lights. They were all tasked with looking for any man dressed in armor.

Novarac sent a squad of his fastest dogs running to check on his home. He had already left some dogs inside to guard the mandolin and black cloak they seized from Aidan.

They didn’t see the guard who tricked him try to sneak in, but he couldn’t help but feel that something was off. For some reason, the sightlines of his dogs had never once changed, like they were completely frozen in place.

His hounds arrived inside to find the items missing, and the dogs tasked with guarding them lying on the floor, immobile and with their eyes wide open.

At the same time, his hounds and a group of villagers arrived at the prison. They found one guard knocked out, slumped against the prison wall, and another locked up in a cell, his armor and clothes missing and replaced with Aidan’s old, torn clothing.

“He played us,” Novarac said in a low growl.

Novarac cursed Vaska under his breath. She had not mentioned anything about this, only that Aidan’s mandolin put demons to rest. What other things did she hide from him?

Marvin nodded and addressed all of his men.

“Hear that? Our little friend is more like his demon mistress than we thought!”

“What do you want us to do? Should we join the others in their search?” Asked Melissa.

“No. Not until we know how he does it.”

“Marvin…you want to use everyone else you sent out as scapegoats?” Asked Gawan, shocked.

Marvin’s expression was grim yet determined.

“We have no choice. Novarac needs to see what Aidan does through his dogs before we can move. If we fall, there will be nobody left to protect everyone.”

Everyone stayed silent and stepped away to discuss the situation amongst themselves.

Novarac huffed.

“None of this would have happened if you listened to me. Was it worth it, leader?” Novarac mocked.

“I don’t want to be a leader. That’s your job. All I want is to see Nova smile while she plays in the fields, knowing that she has nothing to fear ever again.”

Novarac remained silent. Marvin’s words had a heavy meaning to him. The crimson light around his ring dimmed.

“Under my watch, nobody will have anything to fear.”

Marvin stood by Novarac’s side as the old man kept his eyes on the town. While scanning the views presented by his dogs, Novarac realized that a few of the images weren’t moving anymore.

“South left corner around the cornfields! Aidan incapacitated some dogs there!”

---

Aidan clutched his chest as he rested with his back on the ground. He was running out of breath incredibly fast, and filling his lungs back up took what felt like an eternity to him.

Marvin’s strike had imposed a great burden on Aidan.

Stop complaining. I’ll have all the time in the world to rest after this.

Withered, sickly-looking corn stalks surrounded him. Above him, the sun had already set.

Covering his leather armor was his retrieved black cloak. To his side laid his trusty mandolin. Just like he had expected, Novarac knew the importance of those two items and retrieved them for himself. Marvin, meanwhile, confiscated the only threat he saw, Aidan’s sword.

I thought Vaska would have told Novarac about the sword too. Is she trying to sabotage him? But even then, my blade only works on demons….

Aidan rose to his knees. He could hear footsteps.

Yes, that’s it. I’m right here.

Aidan grabbed his mandolin. He positioned it to hold it with his injured hand and play with his other hand.

The footsteps were getting louder and faster.

Aidan played his song. The song this time was about a band of travelers heading into dangerous, uncharted parts of the country. They were united, strong, and prepared.

None of which mattered where the ground beneath them split open, swallowing them into a deep abyss.

All the footsteps around Aidan ceased, followed by the sounds of corn being pushed and bent by the weight of people and dogs falling upon it.

Aidan couldn’t help but feel a small sense of gleeful satisfaction at the thought of downing the dogs. Though they weren’t the ones that chased him as a child, it was easy to transfer the feeling of revenge upon them.

Alright, that’ll do. I wiped out enough groups for them to realize my general location.

Aidan pulled his cloak over his helmet and crawled out of the cornfield. In the distance, he could see torch lights gathering from all over, homing into his previous location.

In the darkness of the newly arrived night, Aidan’s cloak made him effectively disappear.

Aidan put a good distance between him and the amassing number of squads before collapsing to his knees. Aidan covered his mouth to stop himself from retching.

It felt like the hole Marvin punched into him was expanding, causing the rest of his body to fall apart the way a mirror falls apart from all sides when struck with a hammer.

Suddenly the earth started to shake. Aidan looked up to see massive crystal formations rise from the ground to the sky. Each black pillar towered over the village, three times wider than a building and ten times taller.

Aidan watched, horrified, as pillars kept rising from one end of the village to the other, effectively cutting Kulum in half. Even if he wasn’t in such a weak state, the structures were too tall and smooth to climb.

Aidan’s plan to draw everyone to one side of the village had backfired on him.

And it did not end there.

Ten dark lines expanded outwards from the crystal wall and into the half of the village Aidan was in.

Aidan’s eyes went wide with fear as he recognized what spell it was from Nova’s presentation.

Aidan pushed himself to his feet. He ran for the closest house he could and tackled its door open. Aidan tumbled across the wooden floor of the house, holding on to his sides as his body convulsed from the pain.

A few seconds later, the outside of the house turned bright red. An intense heat washed over Aidan’s back.

Aidan didn’t need to look to know what was going on. Nova had already shown him, though hers was hundreds of times smaller than what was occurring outside.

Is he trying to set fire to his village?!?

Giant flame walls burst out of the dark lines, reaching above even the crystal wall. The torrent of fire lit up Kulum, the valley, and even the forest at the base of the Carparam mountains like it was day.

The heatwave from the flames was so intense that Aidan couldn’t breathe. He had gone deaf momentarily from the excruciatingly loud crackling of the fire.

Novarac only needed to maintain the torrent for a minute at most for the heat to kill him.

“Hah…hah…”

The air became breathable again as the heat receded. Aidan looked out the window to see the flames weaken in intensity as more lines drew themselves across the village. The more flames spawned, the weaker the existing ones became.

By the time new lines stopped forming, all darkness had been completely vanquished from the half of Kulum Aidan was in.

Aidan’s cloak, instead of hiding him, now made him stand out.

Damn it…the only place where I can see Marvin taking my sword is his childhood home or the town center, and they are both on the other side of the crystals!

Aidan snuck a look at the top of the crystal wall. Thanks to the light of the flames, he saw shapes moving about at the top, clearly put there to see him from up above and report him.

Do you think that’s enough to catch me?

Aidan dropped to his knees. Making himself as small as possible, he snuck out of the house he hid in. He braced himself for the heat and approached the flame walls. Sticking to them as close as possible, he used them for cover.

Sweat was running down his face like a waterfall, and the heat was only making his pain worse. Regardless, Aidan made it to the base of the crystal wall. It was impossible to notice him unless they looked straight down, and his cloak did well to make him blend together with the dark crystals.

That did not change the fact that Aidan was stuck. In the distance, he could hear the faint barking of dogs. Novarac had them sweep the village to find Aidan regardless of where he may hide.

Fine. Come and take me, Novarac. I’ll shatter the minds of all your dogs before I die!

Aidan drew his mandolin. He plucked its strings when what had been tailing him finally came into view.

Aidan nearly dropped his mandolin in shock.

“Quite a bind you’ve found yourself in, haven’t you?”

Nova stood before Aidan with Tabby in her arms. Aidan froze out of pure instinct. Dogs were the greatest danger to him. A single glance, and it was over for him.

Aidan glanced at Tabby. The puppy was sitting with his head stuffed in her chest, unable to see anything. Tabby had helped her find Aidan by tracking his scent, but now that Aidan was before him, he did not give away his location to Novarac.

He didn’t know what to make of this. He stared her in the eyes, trying to discern her intentions.

Nova’s expression was quite solemn and regretful. She was panting heavily, clearly indicating that she had exerted herself to get to him.

“I heard what happened. You attacked Marvin. Almost died for it.”

“I did. I hope you aren’t expecting an apology for it.”

Nova chuckled.

“Hardly. It’s not my place to judge.”

Nova dropped all pretense of humor and gave Aidan the most serious look he’d ever seen out of her.

“If you are looking to escape, you won’t manage alone. Novarac’s magic is too powerful.”

Aidan got the gist of what she was saying.

“...Will you help me?”

Nova smiled weakly.

“I don’t mind.”

She walked up to the crystal wall and placed her hand on it. Inside her brain, several matrices formed, creating unique pathways corresponding to the magic used to create the crystals.

This magic Nova mastered long ago.

Aidan stared wide-eyed as the Nova melted a hole through the wall, giving the two passage to the other side.

“Come, we need to run! Unlike telekinesis, the crystals are a done-and-gone type of deal. Novarac isn’t tied to them once he finishes spawning them, so he won’t feel what I did, but we mustn't linger regardless.”

Aidan nervously followed Nova. There was something off about her he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Even in this part of the village, Novarac had left behind dogs to patrol it.

Nova was capable of sensing their rough positions, allowing the two to avoid them.

After avoiding another patrol, Aidan’s curiosity reached its boiling point.

“Why are you helping me?”

Nova sighed wistfully. She hugged Tabby for support the little puppy cuddled her back.

“I’ve had enough, Aidan. I’ve seen enough blood. I don’t want to see another person tortured and killed by my brother and his bastard friends, regardless of what fate they deserve.”

Aidan raised an eyebrow.

“Another person?”

Nova grit her teeth.

“Alaya. The person they call the plague child. She’s innocent. I knew she was innocent. And yet, none of them listened to me. No matter how hard I begged them to stop, they still struck the stake into her hand.”

Nova bit her lip. The puppy whimpered as her grip tightened.

“Her screams are seared into my mind. I hear them every night I go to sleep. Before I wake, I am greeted with Alaya’s crying face. Everyone thinks I have nightmares because of the monster, but in truth, they are the ones who created them.”

Aidan didn’t know what to say. His first instinct was to comfort her, but at that moment, she felt so far away from him, like a distant star in the sky.

Aidan looked down in shame. Trying to lie about his purpose in Kulum, pretending even for a moment he’d help them defeat Alaya, had only piled on her pain.

The two continued on in silence until, suddenly, Aidan collapsed in front of a house.

“What’s wrong?!?”

Aidan chuckled in between bouts of wheezing.

“Your brother has a mean right hook.”

Nova looked ready to burst with anger.

“Of course, breaking others is the only thing he’s good for!”

Aidan closed his eyes. Despite only just barely having gotten away from the fires, Aidan’s limbs were freezing.

Nova tried to help him to his feet, but it was pointless. He couldn’t move even an inch.

It hurts so much. It was far too soon to move. If I don’t get rest, my body will shut down.

Aidan glanced at Nova. She saw this and gave him a defiant look.

“Fear not. You will not die! I will find a way to save you!”

Aidan felt hot all of a sudden. Sweat ran down his face as the inside of his head flared up.

“Do you hate me, Nova?” Aidan spoke, half delirious.

Nova remained silent. She refused to answer.

She slowly worked to wrap her magic around Aidan’s legs. Full body telekinesis requires the target to be immobile before taking effect. Aidan fulfilled that condition. However, in his weakened state, the grip of her magic was likely to stop his breathing and crush his organs.

Aidan understood what her silence meant. After everything that happened, she was still torn on what she thought of him. Still, she was dead set on saving him.

I might as well tell her the truth in case I don’t make it.

“You know, Nova. I hated you at first.”

Nova raised an eyebrow and looked up at Aidan, surprised.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I saw you receive everyone’s love and thought you an entitled brat. What sane person would snub so much affection and support? If I received even a quarter of what you did, I’d be the happiest person in the world, is what I thought. I was…jealous.”

Aidan’s words angered Nova. For an instant, her flow of magic intensified, sending pain up his legs before she caught herself.

“I’m not interested in hearing that. I am not doing this because of who you are or what you did or didn’t do. Just let me focus.”

Aidan ignored her. He was already well aware of that. He just wanted her to know everything.

“But then, after everything, I realize what a fool I’ve been. Suffering can come in more than one way. I understand that now.”

Aidan took a deep breath. He placed his hand on her cheek and gently lifted her face to look him in the eyes.

“You were right, Nova. All along. Alaya is innocent. The real demon is framing her for everything it’s done to you.”

Nova stared wide-eyed at Aidan. His words sunk in deep. Her eye fluttered as she fought back the tears.

“I, I told you, I’m not interested in this! Let me save you!”

Despite saying this, Nova didn’t take her eye off of Aidan. Her magic had stopped flowing. Her words betrayed her true intentions.

She wanted to hear more.

“Alaya is the kindest person I’ve ever met. She risks her life to cleanse the food for the villagers and ensure they can survive the corruption of the demons. She’s scarred from head to toe, but her kind spirit’s unbroken. You are right in everything you believe about her, Nova.”

Nova’s eye swelled up. The dam finally burst. Nova cried tears she carried with her for nearly her entire life.

“I’ve, I’ve wanted to hear those words all my life! All everyone has ever said about her was about how to hurt her, this wonderful loving person, my best friend, and I, I-”

Aidan did his best to hold her as she let loose all her bottled emotions. Aidan did his best to hold Nova as she let loose all of her bottled emotions. Aidan let out a long, drawn-out sigh.

I hope I get to apologize to Alaya for treating her friend so wrong.

Tabby dropped down from Nova’s arms and did his best to comfort her.

Aidan waited for Nova to let out all she had held in before continuing.

“Alaya is still out there. I traveled with her to Kulum to defeat the demon. She’s waiting for me on the other side of the walls. And she still thinks about you, Nova. You were the first thing on her mind when we came here.”

”...Is she well? Has she been eating alright?” Nova asked between sobs.

Aidan couldn’t help but chuckle at the nature of her questions. It sounded more like something a mother would ask than a friend.

“You should ask that yourself.”

Nova raised her head from Aidan’s chest and looked at him with a mixture of confusion and hope.

“Alaya is in the forest, waiting for me. Go to her. With everyone’s attention drawn to me, you will be able to escape Kulum.”

Nova pushed herself away from Aidan. Her breathing was incredibly rapid.

“She is? We have to get to her as soon as possible!!”

Aidan shook his head.

“I still have something I need to do here. I know the true identity of the demon who hurt you, Nova. Once I get back my sword, I will go deal with it.”

Nova stared flabbergasted at Aidan. The young man pushed himself to his feet. His entire body was wracked with tremors, and saliva ran down his mouth.

“No, no, there’s no way I can let you go alone! Not in the state you are right now!”

Aidan chuckled.

“It doesn’t matter, Nova. The Novarac’s already coming for me.”

Nova’s jaw hung open as disbelief was plastered on her face.

“You don’t mean-”

She looked down at Tabby, only to find that the little dog’s eyes were shut.

“No, not him. He’s not opened his eyes once.”

Aidan pointed to another dog, looking at them from atop a building.

Regret twisted Nova’s face. It must have heard her crying!

“Aidan, I’m such a fool!”

“Don’t apologize. I made the decision to tell you.”

Nova grit her teeth. She wouldn’t let Alaya’s only other friend die like this. She wrapped Aidan in her magic and lifted him off the ground.

Aidan wanted to say something in protest, but her telekinesis had immobilized him completely, so completely that it was hard to breathe.

Tabby barked at Nova. She looked down at him and understood instantly what he meant. They had to separate here.

Nova ran with him as fast as she could.

“I’ll get you out alive, Aidan. I will-”

Nova stopped in her tracks as a crowd of dogs appeared in front of her from the darkness.

She turned around to see even more dogs circling her.

“Let…go!” Aidan barely managed to say.

Nova did as he asked. She placed him on the ground and readied herself to fight.

“Well, sir Aidan. How misfortunate to meet you again like this.” Novarac’s voice sounded eerily as he approached them.

Aidan wheezed for a bit as he fought to recover his breath.

“Hah…indeed, sir Novarac! Your son…Marvin certainly has an attitude!”

Nova’s eyes darted between the two men. Why were they speaking so cordially to each other?

“Nova,” Aidan whispered to her. “If you won’t escape, do me a favor and bring me my sword. Marvin hid it somewhere. Please find it.”

Nova looked to Aidan. He could tell she was too torn by contradictory thoughts to respond.

“I’ll be fine. Just go.”

It was a blatant lie. It took all he had just to stand.

“Do as he says, dear daughter. This is a discussion just between the two of us.”

Hearing Novarac’s voice, Nova snapped to attention. She readied her magic to fight him.

“And why should I trust you?!? You all want to hurt him!”

Novarac shook his head.

“No. I am the reason your dear Aidan is even alive. I weakened Marvin’s attack. If I hadn’t, Aidan would have been killed instantly by your brother.

Nova didn’t know what to make of that. She looked at Aidan for confirmation.

Aidan didn’t know the truth either, but with how much power Marvin seemed to be gathering in his fist, it sounded like a reasonable explanation.

“He’s speaking the truth.”

“...Are you sure you’ll be fine alone?” She finally asked.

Aidan gave her a reassuring smile and nodded.

Nova slowly walked backward, away from the two. She only turned around when she was out of their line of sight.

Aidan breathed a sigh of relief. He was glad that he chose not to reveal the demon's identity to her. If she knew, she wouldn’t have listened.

Novarac sighed.

“What a difficult girl.”

“It’s your fault she’s like this.” Aidan spat.

Novarac tilted his head, confused.

“Whatever flaws Nova has, it is either Rana or Alaya that is at fault.”

Aidan grit his teeth.

“And how about the monster that ate her parents and her eye? I’d think he carries part of the blame as well!”

“...I have no idea what you mean.”

Aidan bared his teeth. It took all he had to not yell. The last thing he wanted was to draw Nova’s attention back to him.

“Don’t play coy with me, Novarac. Vaska told me everything already. You’re the demon of Kulum!”

A bluff. Novarac’s dogs hated Rana. Vaska omitted facts to Novarac about Aidan’s abilities, and the two openly spoke less than cordially of each other.

Aidan hoped that there was enough bad blood between the two for his lie to work.

Novarac tried to remain calm, only for his red ring to shine a crimson light.

So I’m right….

Novarac let out a long sigh.

“It is an irrelevant detail. The only thing that matters is what you say to my letter.”

Oh…

“Yeah, the letter…what did it say again?”

Novarac scowled.

“Don’t play the fool. I saw you read it!”

Even before a demon, Aidan couldn’t help but feel ashamed.

“I…I can’t read.”

“You’re illiterate?!?” Novarac barked with legitimate shock. “But even the plague child can….”

“Alright, I get it!” Aidan’s shame turned to anger. ”It doesn’t matter what it read anyway. I refuse!”

Novarac clapped his hand. All of his dogs circled Aidan, growling at him with their teeth bared.

“I suggest you reconsider. I assure you, killing Alaya is for the good of us all.”

Aidan felt a sharp pain in his chest as he blurted out a laugh. And then another, and another.

Aidan roared with laughter.

“The good of us all?!? Coming from the sick bastard who mauled a child?!?”

Surprisingly enough, Novarac looked ashamed of himself.

“...I never had any intention to attack Nova, but the hunger...it got the better of me. It’s not a memory I relish.”

Aidan had none of it. His laughter died, replaced with a fierce glare.

“I am serious. It’s a condition I’ve been born with! Do you know what happens to newborn demons when they eat their first meals?”

Aidan raised an eyebrow.

“They define their palette. So?”

Novarac nodded.

“Good, good, you know. When I was freshly created, one of my first meals was a mage. The taste was divine. And, sadly, it also birthed an addiction in me.”

Aidan watched Novarac closely, analyzing his words. Seeing that the boy was listening, Novarac continued.

“I was assigned to guarding Kulum by my mother. What a tragic coincidence that the village I was placed in held two magically gifted children! I held it in for so long, Aidan! I fed off animals and long-buried corpses to keep my hunger at bay, but it wasn’t enough!”

Novarac held himself by the sides of his shoulders. His body was shaking as he recollected the memories he was describing. It was as if he was relieving that old hunger.

“It happened one random night. Alaya snuck into our village at the same time that Nova went missing. I went with her father and mother to look for her. We found Nova with Alaya’s scarf, and I just…lost it. I turned and attacked her.”

Novarac’s body was convulsing out of control. His dogs looked up to him, worried for him.

“Did you never wonder, Aidan, how come Nova and Marvin have recollections of my true form when we can put anyone to sleep with our songs? I was unable to sing! My emotions were out of control! I was little more than a ravenous beast! Her father and mother fought to save her, but I just killed and devoured them before moving on to her. Oh, what amazing taste she had!”

Novarac’s shaking stopped abruptly, like an animal running face-first into a wall.

Novarac continued to speak, but his voice was exhausted and gentle.

“After that, I chose to take the position of mayor from her late father to make up for my crime. I truly wish to lead everyone to a better future to atone for my crimes.”

“Not another word of you, you disgusting wretch!” Aidan roared. “Atone?!? If you want to make up for your crimes, reveal yourself to everyone and tell them Alaya is innocent! All you are doing is taking advantage of the pain and suffering you put them through!”

Aidan’s eyes were trembling in their sockets. Drool was leaking from his mouth like a ravenous animal. His body was so close to breaking, and he still let loose all of his rage upon Novarac.

Annoyed, Novarac ordered one of his dogs to bite Aidan as hard as possible on his leg. Despite the pain, Aidan managed to silence his screams.

Just a few seconds after biting, the dog pulled back. Its teeth were melting as a purple substance traveled up, threatening to spread to its entire face.

“No!” Novarac rushed to the dog’s side.

The dog was flailing around in pain. Novarac could feel neither magic nor demonic essence from the liquid. It was holy, heavenly. And he couldn’t stop it.

With no other alternative, Novarac ripped all the afflicted teeth out of its mouth with telekinesis before the liquid could spread any further.

“Hah…hah….Can you leave my legs be? I don’t have much use left out of them, to begin with.”

“What the hell did you do to my dog?!? What do you have hidden in your legs?!?”

“What…you don’t know? Vaska knew…the name. Haha, it melts demons…much faster than others.”

Aidan struggled to remain conscious under the pain he was in.

Novarac looked angry enough to rip Aidan to pieces with his magic.

“You….Let’s just get to the crux of the matter. I know what effects your mandolin has. My offer to you from earlier today still stands. Assist me in killing the plague child, and I will let you live. I even promise that I and all the other demons won’t plague the villages any longer once she’s dead.”

Aidan slowly started to laugh.

Follow the original plan. Pretend to accept.

“What kind...of a deal is that? You can...raze the villages...if you want. Their fate doesn’t concern me.”

“Then how about this? I will order my hounds to tear Nova apart if you don’t accept.”

Just say yes, and you’ll live.

“Haha...You won’t do that...You like her taste...too much. That’s why...you taught her magic...didn’t you? Not that Vaska would…let you live long enough…to savor it.”

Novarac growled in an inhuman tongue.

“You know a lot about us...But if all it does is result in your death, what was it good for?”

Novarac raised his hand. Aidan could feel Novarac’s magic channel around him.

“I extend my offer to you one last time.”

“You’re the reason...Alaya and Nova suffered...I’d rather die.”

Novarac’s hand trembled. Aidan didn’t understand what was taking him so long to kill him.

After a short while, the trembling stopped. Novarac’s deliberation came to a stop.

Novarac pointed his index and middle fingers towards Aidan. A mild telekinetic push hit Aidan’s head. In his state, that was enough to knock Aidan out.

The young man fell to the floor, unconscious.

Novarac’s dogs walked close to him. Novarac saw his own visage reflected through their eyes. He saw their pity, and worry.

“Don’t fret, little ones, I know. Human blood should only be spilled by humans.”

---

Aidan forcibly awoke as a cold, wet feeling washed over his body.

“Wake up already!” Yelled Gawan as he tossed another bucket of water onto Aidan’s face.

“I’m awake! I’m….”

Aidan’s words slurred as the world around him spun. It was still dark outside, and with how much pain he was feeling, he could guess that he had only slept a short while.

As his eyesight cleared, Aidan saw that he was tied up next to the monument they intended to stake Alaya on. The crystal wall had disappeared, and tragically-

“Hey, why’d you take my armor away? I felt so cool wearing it….”

“Haha, it’s Melissa’s handiwork. Not bad, right?”

Aidan looked up to see Marvin staring back at him. He was surrounded by his friends, including the ones Aidan had knocked out. There was no sign of Nova or Novarac.

Aidan’s cloak and mandolin were resting on the floor, away from him.

“What do you want? I’m guessing my death?”

Marvin drew his axe. Aidan closed his eyes, awaiting decapitation.

Only for Marvin to cut away the rope tying Aidan.

“Why did you do that?!?” Yelled Gawan.

“Calm down. He can’t do anything to me.”

Marvin sat down next to Aidan. He grabbed two bottles of cider and handed one to Aidan.

Aidan looked at the bottle suspiciously.

“You didn’t poison it? Or piss in it?”

Marvin chortled.

“Do I look like that kind of man to you?”

Aidan shrugged and took a swig. The taste was pretty good.

He looked back to Marvin, only to see his face crumpling up from the horrid taste.

“Damn it. I got a bad one again. The taste of these depends on how many of the apples used were cleansed by Nova. I never seem to get any good ones.”

“...Where’s Nova?”

Marvin didn’t answer. He looked off into the distance silently for a few seconds.

“Aidan, I’m going to be honest with you. If you don’t help us kill the plague child, we’ll kill you.”

Aidan sighed.

“We already went over that.”

“Come on. Don’t force us to do this. I’d rather this not be the first and last drink I share with you.”

Aidan looked offended by Marvin’s words. He took another swig from his bottle, and then, as if to prove a point, spat it back out right at Marvin’s feet.

“You say that like you don’t have a choice. Besides, could you share a drink with someone who hurt Nova.”

Marvin remained silent. The more he thought over Aidan’s words, the more he understood.

“...No.”

Aidan turned his bottle upside down and let the cider pour down on the ground before tossing it aside.

“Then why would I want to share one with the person who hurt Alaya?”

Marvin chugged his drink down in one go. He let the vile taste of the cider wash away the sour taste Aidan’s words left behind.

Once the bottle was empty, Marvin threw the bottle in frustration.

“Rubbish. We can’t see eye to eye on this, can we?”

“You’re the one who punched a hole in my stomach, mate.”

Marvin slapped his face and laughed.

“Guitar, I just got one question for you. Why does Nova like you and Alaya so much? Or Rana? She won’t ever look me in the eyes properly.”

Aidan stared at Marvin like he was an idiot.

“Probably cause we actually listen to her. Have you tried doing that?”

“...Aidan, let me tell you. I’m not really all there anymore in my noggin’. After what happened, I sometimes have episodes. Just sleepwalk and then wake up the next morning in somebody else’s pantry with no memories of eating their corrupted watermelon. I sometimes see things that aren’t there. From the corner of my eyes, I catch my parents waving at me. With Nova, sometimes I can’t even see her wound. Her face looks fine, and I get happy, and then a couple of seconds later, it returns, and I lose it.”

Everyone looked at Marvin with pity in their eyes. His voice and face were vulnerable, honest.

He’s serious….

“And you know what I saw that night? I just saw Nova’s mutilated face. I missed most of the attack. But Nova? She was there. She saw our ma and pa getting killed and eaten by that monster. And then it attacked her. And….”

Marvin took a deep breath. He felt a great shame for this one.

“She saw us stake the plague child’s hand. She screamed at everyone to stop, but we were too angry to listen. Nova…Nova is broken. She goes to sleep four hours early and wakes four hours late, and she still comes out looking like a mess cause she has nightmares every night. How can I listen to her? Her thinkin’ the dark star is innocent; that’s just her coping with the memories.”

Aidan looked down. He recalled the time Nova first came to him today, and how dishelved and drain she looked. Was she like that every day?

“Nova told me she can’t stand it here, with all of you. You’re all hurting her worse and worse. She wants out.”

Aidan expected his words to anger Marvin. Instead, he almost looked like he expected to hear that.

“...yeah, I can believe that.”

Marvin stood in silence with Aidan for a short while, as if trying to delay the horrible things he had to do.

Marvin groaned and rose to his feet.

“Alright, Aidan. That’s it. If you aren’t willing to help us, there’s nothing more to say.”

People came and grabbed Aidan. He was too powerless to resist at this point. They placed him with his back against the monument and spread out his arms.

Marvin grabbed a wooden stake and a hammer. Aidan clenched his hands instinctually upon realizing what they intended to do to him.

“Marv, are you sure you should be the one doing this?” Asked Melissa.

Marvin nodded.

“I started it. I gotta finish it.”

Marvin placed the stake against Aidan’s right hand.

I’ll never be able to play father’s mandolin ever again.

Aidan’s face was twisted by regret. At the last moment, however, he remembered Valerian’s expression when he died.

There was no hint of regret or sadness in it. He was satisfied and proud.

Aidan closed his eyes and smiled. He too would face his death with pride.

Before Marvin could drive the stake in, the sounds of distant howling interrupted him.

Everyone turned their attention to the forest. The howls got louder and louder as the dogs within the village joined in.

Something in the air had changed. It felt like all the air around him was being sucked away, leaving nothing but cold, empty space behind.

A sudden earthquake ran below their feet. Above their heads flew hundreds of birds fleeing from their nests.

Aidan stared with disbelief at the forest gates.

“No….”