"Sis, what are we gonna play today?"
"You know, I actually got a book that I really like, so I guess it'll be a guessing game. I'll read the story, and you're going to guess the hero's actions. It's a win-win."
"Yay!"
"Ahem!
Somewhere, anywhere at all - lived a young prince, imprisoned within his gilded cage that he calls home. Everywhere he went there were servants patrolling every corridor and every room. For you see, he had an illness that rendered him weak."
"Ow... How weak?"
"Weak physically, he tires out pretty easily, any grave injury is fatal - and his legs are trembling constantly, requiring assistance."
In spite of understanding his weakness, he loathed the situation he was put in. With utter and burning envy did he watch peasant children play outdoors. For him, it wasn't fair that he was born with such a weak body. Why must his soul be imprisoned inside of him?
Can you guess something that has sparked light into his life?"
"Hmm... A cure?"
"Not quite.
One day, a peasant girl visits his castle to sell her wares and learns about his perilous condition - so out of the kindness of her heart, she offers pastries for free to him as he lays limp on his bed, awaiting his doom that would break his monotony.
That act alone convinces him to continue yearning for life."
...
"However, unable to see that peasant girl once more and his health being in a much dire straits: can you guess what he did next?"
"He, as you say, kicked the bucket?"
"Pfft, no.
He was searching far and wide within the archives lying deep within his castle - and in the depths he found a solution.
He made a deal with the daemon."
"!!!"
"In exchange for his mind, he was finally able to move far and wide.
Or well, he thought he did.
In reality, the moment he made that deal, the daemon ate the prince - making him mad so he wouldn't struggle. Alas, he never saw that peasant girl ever again.
And thus, two lovers couldn't be reunited.
The end."
"That was awful! All those moments spent together just for them to abruptly crash and burn! It's not fair."
"Such is life - unfortunately. One day you may not suspect a thing... And then everything turns into one big nightmare."
"Sis! Sis! Can I suggest an alternative ending to the story?"
"Sure"
"He---■■■...!"
"■■■■■...■■■■■■■■and...■■■..■■■■■■!"
"■■■■■■■...■■■...■■■■■...■■■■...■■■■■■■!... ■■■■■■■..."
"■■■■■■■■?"
"■■■"
"..."
"■■■■■■!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...
And hand in hand, they reach the end of the fantasy
..."
!!!
"Gwah!!!" I wake up with a start and see that everyone else is still sleeping...
"... Forbun?..." Or not, Aden woke up. He turns his head towards me and asks me what's wrong with a sleepy murmur.
"... I'm fine. Just an odd dream."
"... Are you sure, though?" Aden now fully turns towards me. His concerned gaze is irresistible, so I spilled the beans about what happened in that dream.
"... Odd thing is, we never had that book. And then everything was just noise before I had heard a certain phrase... But I can't recall which."
"Eh, happens to the best of us. And well, I've heard somewhere dreams are just massive compilation of thoughts or something. It seems you really do miss her though."
"Yeah... The worst part is that I'm trying to move on. I'm trying to forget her. Yet I can never let go..."
"...
Well, moving on isn't about forgetting you know? It's more about not letting your thoughts of them cloud your vision."
"?"
"Imagine it like this:
Would your sister be happy if one day you pretended she didn't exist?"
"No... She would be quite angry and beat me up."
"Ah-oh, er... Yes, she would be very upset. But now, think of it this way: would she be annoyed if you kept bringing her up in every conversation? Even when things don't involve her?"
"Yeah..."
"That's the trick. It's okay to grieve; but to move on is to stop thinking about them, yet at the same time... Honouring their memory."
"..."
"Look, I've seen some of our crew die. It's never easy. But their memories don't lead us astray from our journeys. We move forward, carrying their flames."
"Those are... Surprisingly nice words."
Aden puffs his cheeks and runs his hand through his hair, averting his russet eyes "Eh, that's how I jive, you know? You don't have to take my words close to heart."
"..."
"You know, if you're having trouble sleeping, I can give you a good old embrace. You know, when my sisters had bad dreams, I would hold them close to protect them from nightmares." He looks so proud saying that...
"..."
"I-I mean, if you don't want that - it's okay! Just you know, trying to keep you company."
"..."
It's been a while since someone actively reached out to me.
Looking at the hairpin on my hat, it reminds me of them...
How are they currently doing?...
"Nice accessory, bud."
"Gwah! Don't scare me like that!"
"Hey, I was just complimenting!"
"..."
It is pretty.
In those times of isolation, I would look at it and cry.
If Sol met me now, would she be ashamed of me?
A murderer?
Perhaps she moved on with her life. She probably regrets giving this luxurious pin to a stranger.
"Hey, you alright?"
"..."
I can't muster anything. I can't even look at him. I can only stare at this pin.
A memento.
A wasted memento.
Towards a loathsome criminal.
"There-there, let it all out. I have some water in my flask."
His hand stroked my head and I broke down. Of course, I tried to be as silent as possible. I didn't want anyone being bothered with my issues. And Virgilia would've hated me for it. Yet I can't stop. I can't stop crying.
"Shh-shh; it's alright. Here, drink up."
I gulped down the liquid, trying not to take much, yet that stupid greediness emptied the flask. After gulping down the entire flask, my breathing stabilized and reluctantly I looked Aden in the eye.
"S-Sorry... I drank it all..."
"Eh, we'll refill it. Here's a cloth as well. I'm acutely aware of how messy it gets."
"T-Thank you..."
I wipe my face with it, and when it gets difficult to breathe, I sneeze into it.
"Ah... Huh... Ah..."
"Yeesh. Yup. That's getting thrown away. I'll incinerate it. Once you're over of course."
Once I made sure I had nothing left inside, Aden grabs the cloth and in an instant the cloth is burned away, leaving sparkles behind which fade away.
"Woah... S-So cool..."
"Really?! I mean, duh! Of course it was cool! Now, come here."
Aden hugs me and presses tightly against me. His presence is... Comforting.
"There... A lot of things really just came out at you, huh?"
"Y-Yeah..."
"I know it's a cruel thing for me to say it - but you'll get used to it. It's really not that uncommon."
"Yeah but... You know how the opposite can be true? You know how common it is - and at times it genuinely feels like misery keeps chasing me no matter where I go."
"... So that's how it is, huh?..."
His hand begins to stroke the back of my head as he holds me.
"I'm sorry, Fortune."
His soothing presence lulls me back to sleep. It's... Nice...
---
"Bo-bo-bo-bo-bo-bo!!!"
"Nngh..."
"Come on, wake up princess: we've already arrived."
"Hweh???"
"Hwup!"
I'm being lifted awake by Aden and we arrive at a different village. Through drowsiness I can see that Virgilia and Bijou are discussing something about those odd assailants while Émile stands beside them.
"Yo! We're up!"
"Ah, there you are. How did you guys sleep?" Virgilia turns towards us and I gulp.
"Hey, stop hiding behind me!" Aden objects, but doesn't push me away.
"... Am I that intimidating?"
"Hey, Fortune, come on, don't be shy - just tell her about your night!" Aden groans and I sigh, saying that I slept fine.
And none of them buy that.
Damn it.
At least they don't question further...
"... Anyway, Aden? How did you sleep?"
"Slept like a baby!... Though the bedding could've been a taaaaaaaad more comfy!" Aden jokes and stretches around. Virgilia sighs out of exasperation and tells Bijou that they'll talk later about "those bastards"
"Alright, you three: come with me. We'll be visiting a local haemomancy specialist - Fortune, she will be rather unsettling, so brace yourself!"
Great, more blood. Just what I needed from the last time.
"Alright, bud, just deep breaths. I've... Known this person a little bit, but she's just a little cranky lady... N-Nothing too scary..."
"Yaaaay! Blood!"
"Urk..."
"Good luck, you guys!" Bijou waves as I'm dragged along the way.
"... Eremita. The master of blood.
Out of many, she's a lucky few...
Hopefully it stays like that...
Forever..."
...
[Carmine's Faraway Butchery♡
✤Only high quality meat!]
[Currently restocking!〜★
Please don't bother!✕]
Everything is written in blood.
And the stench is abhorrent.
Beside the supposed butchery there's a farm... And no one is here. Not a single animal.
*Knock-knock-knock*
"Oi! It's me Virgilia! Open up... Er... Carmine!"
Silence...
And then, shuffling noises can be heard. Something approaches at high speeds, tumbling down. They get louder and louder...
The door opens...
And then...
"Oh, Virgie! I've read your letter! And I thought you forgot about me - your indomitable adversary!"
In front of us is a heavily dishevelled woman. Her eyes are red, as if she didn't sleep for days. And she was bleeding, a lot - wearing an unhinged smile on her face.
"..."
"Gwuh..." I hide behind Aden once more, but he doesn't object this time. He himself is also rather disturbed, but...
"... Have you been neglecting yourself, Eremita? Or Carmine, or whatever...." Virgilia asks and the woman stumbles.
"L-Look, everybody could not stop freaking out over my condition, alright?! So what's even the point of going to the public bathhouse, huh?! Besides, I don't need anyone! I can manage myself just alright!"
"...
Perhaps the lesson will wait. For now let's get... Er... How do you even call yourself nowadays?"
"Carmine! The crimtane master of life!"
"Sure. And I wondered why the stench is so bad..."
Huh???
Coming inside, the interior is a mess, not too dissimilar to the scenery at the hunters' shack. The heads of various animals are hung up on the walls and blood is spilled everywhere - with a lonely fireplace crackling, dimly illuminating the scenery. For a moment, Virgilia looks concerned, before her expression sharpens.
"Let us go outside. You all grab the buckets and the carrying poles."
All of us exit the house, glad to not stare at the chaos on the inside any longer. Upon touching the soil, a ring of mushrooms appears around Virgilia's feet and she begins to meditate. A trail of mushrooms begins to rapidly sprout out and she tells us to follow it.
"The river's... Surprisingly nearby. Let's go."
Virgilia is dragging Carmine along the way, Carmine begrudgingly following her. Just... Who is this person...?
"Go grab the water and return to the shack. Make it squeaky clean when we arrive."
"What about you?" I ask and she looks at the Carmine
"... We'll be having some “personal” lady time. You all are kids, shoo!”
We begrudgingly walk away from whatever "lady business" they have and head back to the shack. God the stench is awful.
"Guess we gotta clean all this mess... Émile, be careful, alright?"
"Aye-aye"
"... Uh... Why are you saying this to Émile?... We're just cleaning out the house..."
"Well, first of all - you never know: and second of all... Yeah if they are exposed to water for too long their skin will explode."
"Ew."
Opening the door, we're exposed to rancid stench once more and I begin to heave from it.
"Uh... How do we start... Let me lit up the place."
He shoots up flames at the lamps, and looking around the house... Just how can someone live like this?!
"Uh-huh! There's a mop! Émile, go sweep em nice and clean! Fortune, let's go upstairs: grab the buckets, yeah?"
"I'm... Surprised that you're so calm and collected about this..."
"Oh please, I just want to be over and done with this crap."
...
"And we're back! Hm, not bad." Virgilia opens the door, with still soaked Carmine in tow, looking unamused. I'm sorry, but I gotta let my complaints go
"My arms are dying~! My legs are throbbing~! And my brain's a mush~! I'm so tired~!"
"Tch. Consider this part of your training." Virgilia simply brushes me off as she oversees us lying on the couch, all exhausted from that "cleaning" session - even Émile is taking a nap!
"Hmm... The place definitely looks better now... Hmm..."
"Now Carmine, as you're now a butcher, would you be so kind to serve us a nice meal before we start our training?"
"Fine!"
...
"That...
Is actually pretty good." I compliment and Carmine puffs her chest in pride.
"Of course! I'm a proud cook now!"
"That's nice to hear." Virgilia comments as she eats her fill... Table manners?... I've only seen my dad eat like this. "Please eat your fill everyone, especially you, you need to be full and healthy for this." Don’t point at me with a fork, that’s weird
“Well, I wouldn’t recommend to overeat yourself; not only would it be hard to be nimble, but the blood would be rather discordant.” Carmine explains “I’m no doctor of course to not let you eat; but I have noticed a small trend.”
“Hmm… Well, I suppose you learn something new every day…” WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY???
“Ah; Fortune, you alright?” Aden asks and I reach for the cup… I think I choked on food…
“Get~ We-e-e-ell~” Emile begins to strike me on the back and I try to shoo them off “Don’t… knock me!”
“… What kind of circus act I’m witnessing…” I KNOW RIGHT LADY??????
“Oi, Emile, stop.” Aden gets up to stop Emile, leaving his food half-eaten.
“Please seat them, Aden; I’ll take care of them later – it seems they’re losing their mind again.”
I want to go back to my normalcy.
…
“Now that we’re all fed and rested, Fergus, was it?”
“Fortune.”
“Fortune, give me your wrist; it’ll sting – but it’s the price of such magic.”
Bracing myself, I reach my hand towards Carmine and she takes out a clean dagger and in a blink of an eye blood starts seeping through that thin red line.
"!!!
It's quite viscous; really good...
And that glint...
Hmm..."
She glances at Virgilia for a moment before returning back to me.
"I suppose you have it in you to learn haemomancy.
Now, magic is fueled by imagination. The greater it is, the more potent it is. To think that the world is your oyster. The personalised reality...
Your body is your weapon.
And that soul is your ignition.
Close your eyes, open your mouth and accept my gift. The gift that will propel your imagination."
Opening my mouth, I can taste the blood being trickled down on my tongue. For some reason I feel invigorated, as if I meant to taste something so... Good... Yet forbidden.
And then, the blood on my wrist had sprouted out.
"... Yes, perhaps that bloodlust had resonated with you.
That inner beast.
Open your eyes and witness your creation!"
Opening my eyes, I saw a thorned construct appearing from my wrist. It's... Mesmerising in a way.
"Beautiful, isn't it? This is one of many possibilities that have sprouted from you. Now, perhaps you are in need of a knife for sacrifice, hm?"
Feeling in my pockets, I take out the silver knife Oswald gave to me. This is it huh?
"Perhaps not. Now, let's move the tables and chairs out of the way, for we shall dance!"
All of us move the "obstructions" away, clearing up the hall to give it more room. The Witch's Troupe sit down on the couch as we assume our stances.
She throws her knife away and with sharp nails she slashes her skin "En garde!!!"
From those self-inflicted wounds, the numerous sharp needles begin to shoot out.
This is beyond what I've seen so far. All those patterns seem impossible to dodge. And worst of all they're targeted towards me specifically with great precision.
"Parry!! Parry!!! Turn your wounds into thorns!!!"
Yet my imagination seems to be lacking.
I can't seem to shoot out my own blood so frivolously as Carmine does it, her swipes of her hands are wild yet methodical, as if it was truly just a dance for her - yet my blood just comes out as small splashes. When I use my temporal powers, not only do they barely manage to even slow down the needles, but also...
"No cheating!"
In a blink of an eye, before I could even comprehend what's going on, Carmine appeared underneath me and gave me an uppercut that sent me flying.
"Oof!..."
Barely landing on my feet, I wipe the blood from my mouth with a back of my hand and I try to approach her, dodging through the barrage of blood needles.
"Hm-hm-hm! Decided to go on front guard?"
Her barrages became more narrow and concentrated. Guess I have to be more sneaky about my "cheating" in order to approach her...
My steps become lighter and I begin to duck and weave through the barrage of projectiles. Sensing my determination to win, she finally unleashes her first ACT.
=ACT 1: PRICKLETHORN=
"All it wanted was to bloom beautifully and shine brightly - yet it was constantly trampled and sullied by the beasts. As a punishment, it turned its scars into weapons. So it could bloom beautifully once more."
She mutilated herself once more and the orbs of blood began to form, before shape shifting into roses, which shoot out thorns. She herself surrounds herself with barbed vines made of her own blood... Which also spread out thorns.
Goddamn it. What even is this?
Left... right... Duck... Weave...
All those endless barrages of blood...
"Oi!... Your blood!..."
Wha?... No, can't be distracted...
Please... Just form already...
I... I can fight...
"Fortune, look out!..."
Huh?...
"That won't do."
I end up crashing into one of those roses and they explode on me. The explosion sends me flying on the floor and in that instant Carmine's blood dissipates.
Carmine expected me to get up and continue the battle, but I find myself unable to get up with how strong that explosion was and how I feel like my brain is frying itself, with fatigue now setting in... That heart of mine... Why does it ache now?...
"Hmm... Perhaps you lack in the concentration and endurance. You get overwhelmed and panic way too much, not to mention wasting your blood in vain as a result. Not expecting you to master it right away of course, but frankly I expected better - no offence."
"Ah... Ahh..."
"When fighting, you need to calm down and flow. Thinking way too much will leave you overwhelmed; acting too rashly will surely be your doom. Just accept the battles as your natural part of life, and you'll be set for higher horizons. And that price... You must understand that your blood is finite; you should be very frugal with your resources.
Now, I suppose I can let you rest for now."
The crew then comes closer to me, and in that rare instance, Virgilia looks genuinely concerned, checking every wound.
"Are you alright? Let me check for any serious wounds."
"Hnn..."
Her rough hands grab my face and she begins to inspect me. Come to think of it... It didn't seem like she expected that outcome at all...
"Aden, Émile, lay him down on the couch. He needs an absolute lack of disturbance."
The duo immediately obey her order and they gently pick me up. Aden seems particularly distraught by all of this, while Émile lacks their usual... Crazed state.
Looking at Carmine once more, Virgilia departs from the house, possibly to get the medical supplies.
Aden, looking over me and Carmine, who has retreated upstairs, turns over to Émile.
"... Émile, just this once try not to do anything funny with Fortune: I'll go... Talk to her."
And now I'm left alone with Émile.
"... She got you real roughed up, huh?"
"Yeah..."
"What you were trying to achieve, cutting yourself like that so mindlessly?"
"? To cast that cool haemomancy thing?"
"You could've easily dodged that strike. She may dislike cheating, but you were still at high advantage and you blew it."
"Could I? She moved as if she had the speed of light."
"..."
"AYE! AYE! Geez, when did you become so annoying, you damn pipsqueak!"
Me and Émile turn back towards Carmine approaching me as she gets away from Aden and she sighs.
"I'm sorry for being too harsh on you."
"Eh?... I wouldn't really call it harsh - I've felt wo--"
"Don't vindicate her!" Aden interrupts and nudges Carmine once more.
"Hey, what do you want me to do? I apologised already!"
"Say it like you mean it!"
"Urgh, fine...
Okay, your performance was pretty shoddy: couldn't get a single projectile out."
"Y--"
"Aden, please shut up." Émile snaps and he backs off, allowing Carmine to continue.
"What was I saying?... Ah yeah. Still, I'm more inclined to teach you.
Well, for one - Virgilia told me to. But for second... I suppose I had some fun with our fight. I can tell it wasn't exactly your first fight, right?"
~
"Do your worst!"
"We'll see about that!"
~
"Y-Yeah..."
"That's why I see your potential. It's been a while since I had a journey with someone; so for this time being I'll be your--"
But just as she finishes speaking, the door is swung open and Carmine jumps like a cat. Thankfully it was just Virgilia bringing a basket of goods with her.
"You!... Don't go swinging my door like that!" She hisses
"Oi! Don't go swarming over him." Virgilia objects and shoves everyone out of her way.
"Tch, unfortunately they only have ordinary apothecaries, but I managed to get my hands on this. Drink up." She gives me a green potion and I take it, opening the cork.
It tastes kinda herbal, kinda medicinal, but there's still some sweetness in it. With it, my heartbeat seems to stabilise itself, with ache dulling out.
"You need to drink it all up. You might have a light headache afterwards, so here's analgesic for you."
After finishing the potion, I take the analgesic and Virgilia begins to wipe the blood...
I don't enjoy this extensive care.
"Alright. Should be around 3 hours until you're fully recovered."
"... Thanks."
"Anyhoo, since this boy has a long way to go - ALL of you are going to stay at my place for the time being. I mean the hut's pretty spacious: I'm sure all... One, two, three... FOUR of will be able to get nice and comfy."