468. Radiant day, 8

(Rose)

In the distance, the so-called Snake began eating trees like a cow would eat grass, or a human cauliflower. That creature is gigantic.

And it also explains why Blume requested for us to find a place to meet our friends with forests around.

She knew this was coming. She knew the game was going to be played from the beginning.

Blume told me what the bet was really about after I slapped her good.

Was I ready to kill humans to save a daiûa?

Nightmare tricked Myls to put that distasteful situation into place.

Unexpectedly, Myls tried more to kill me than to go around me to get to Nightmare. I wasn’t put just as nicely in the position of saviour, but mostly defender of my own skin.

Myls harbours wide resentment against me too, judging me responsible for many of the hardship she has had to face. I have the feeling she doesn’t have much of that younger esteem left for me anymore, and blames me as much as Nightmare for that uncouth trick.

So it all was really weird and not really the best way to test me even on that hypothesis these demons disagreed upon. But nonetheless, I think Nightmare wanted to see our reaction anyway. The bet wasn’t all there was to it.

The other part of the bet was my tendency to condemn them for their killings.

I think had it been real, I wouldn’t have attempted to kill Nightmare.

I wouldn’t have stopped Myls attempting to enact her vengeance though.

Speaking of Myls...

If I was the test subject, she was the sacrificial pawn in all of it. She suffered the whole play. I was there only for the stupid finale.

The full thing really took a toll on her I think given how she acts now.

Thank goodness Zeslinry wasn’t really dead.

I slapped Blume.

Myls punched Nightmare repeatedly.

She now pounced on her, and using my knife she’s now stabbing her repeatedly like an insane maniac.

There’s ink spilled at each strike.

Myls really dove deep into Nightmare’s domain...

Nightmare isn’t dying from these wounds obviously. I’m a little puzzled however as to why she lets Myls treat her like that. I think she’s trying to say something but Myls keeps stabbing her chest and even her head repeatedly.

B - I think she’s saying something of the like: As you can see, this Myls is way funnier than gloomy Rose.

R - That sounds weird coming from Nightmare.

B - I think that’s the idea still. She’s trying to evolve as well. I can feel it and you will see it as well.

Myls is exhausted and covered head to toes with that ink. As she’s catching her breath back over a dead body turned to mush; Nightmare just recovers seamlessly and stands up, brushing Myls aside.

Myls is in obvious pain. It must be horribly frustrating to feel that your hatred doesn’t reach at all. Nightmare doesn’t give her a glance and walks closer to me and Blume, to greet me again.

Her voice is now closer to her old monotone self.

N - Thank you for playing along you two.

R - You’ve changed.

N - I evolved. I haven’t changed. I still enjoy playing with life as I always have. Now I’m trying different ways from before, and further away from where I lied.

R - You were kind enough not to torture psychically the animals you created. But us, it’s alright?

N - Yes. It is. Because you’re humans. And the young one has shown to be more funny than you are, don’t you see?

I can sort of understand her sadistic logic. Myl’s array of displayed emotions and reactions is a little more vivid than mine probably. They’re twisted demons.

R - It’s hard to blame you for having the playful mind of a daiûa I guess...

N - I haven’t killed them.

Right. Level zero of a daiûa’s mind. Humans are meat. Nightmare has more respect than that.

I discussed that with her. The spectrum of daiûas likeliness and amiability toward humans. She actually likely progressed on that scale in a few ways.

She’s more human than before. She also has a body, with a similar shape. Though it is essentially an exotic material, not flesh and tissues.

I still kind of want to hug her for her evolution, but I think it’s premature.

Furthermore, I think that it would be insensitive to do that in front of Myls. She would definitely kill me later for associating with that devil.

She’s still glaring at her and me as we talk, barely contained by Zeslinry holding her hand.

R - I just realised what you meant about you evolving...

N - Yes?

R - It’s rare for daiûas to leave their nest and travel by themselves I’ve noticed. I’m... quite proud of you my friend.

Nightmare’s dark face softly tilts, bugged by my words. I think she partially expected to hear something like that, but still doesn’t know what to do with the consequences they have inside her head.

Blume is giggling behind me.

B - You’re the one playing her now Rose. You’re pushing onto her concepts and emotions that are slightly unsettling for her still.

In the end, it’s the usual evolution for daiûas like her. Slowly, on their own terms, they try to become as humans like us.

~

I hug Zeslinry dearly.

Z - Your arm...

R - Don’t worry about that. I’m glad you’re well.

Since Nightmare faked her death to torment Myls, Zeslinry was released from the nightmares and allowed to rest. So she’s alright.

R - I’m sorry for that number Nightmare did to you.

Z - You have weird friends Rose.

There was another friend I would have liked her to meet. A much merrier one. I’ll tell her about Grape over dinner.

I apologise again for Nightmare’s behaviour to her, and to Myls especially, deeply.

Myls listens to my apology but is still blazing furious at me.

All that pain she went through is also my fault to her. And it doesn’t just fade.

I bring Nightmare’s head down into a bow of apologies as if she was a child to scold.

R - I’m really sorry Myls. Come on Nightmare. You had your fun at her expense. Now please apologise to your friend.

N - ...? I want an enemy of her, not a friend.

M - Fuck you bitch!

R - Hm... Be careful what you wish for Myls, as she might grant it, just to have more fun at your expense. Nightmare, why would you prefer hatred to friendship?

N - Her thoughts are sweeter to my taste than yours currently. So yes.

I think fast. Myls is actually as well. I think she just realised and understood the same thing as me.

If she wants to defeat Nightmare, she has to play against her plans, instead of following her lead.

I can see that it’s emotionally painful to Myls right now. But she got the idea.

For now she just punched Nightmare to the ground again. But next time she might be able to get the upper hand against that playful demon.

Myls walks away, sulking.

Nightmare is grinning I think. Blume certainly is.

R - Hm?

B - Nightmare is having a lot of fun since she met them. Many new experiences. Their emotions have a richness to it, very colourful in a way you don’t show.

R - I get it, I’m dull next to her.

B - Ah ah. You’re different that’s all. Now don’t be jealous of them.

R - Blume...

B - Yes?

R - I seriously hate you sometimes.

I smirk. She giggles merrily.

~