Chapter 10:
Fantastical Rebirth
Nebula: "Brother, you should calm down. This isn't doing you any good."
Sun: "Of course it is! I love taking out my years-pent-up anger on someone who deserves it!"
Nebula: "Have you been repressing your anger for so long?"
Sun: "You wouldn't understand, because you're not like me! None of you are! You didn't go through the same boring life as I did! I couldn't feel anything, because nothing mattered!"
Nebula: "Sun... what happened to you?"
Sun: "But let's forget my past and focus on the present."
Slinger giggles.
Slinger: "See? You're a monster, just like me. The only difference is you think you're a hero."
Sun: "I saved a village. And you? You killed someone who did nothing to you!"
Slinger: "And? Just because you saved more people doesn't mean they're more important. Saving a million ants means nothing compared to saving a single human being."
Nebula: "Brother, please... don't listen to her."
Sun: "Do you want to leave alive or as a corpse?"
Slinger: "It's all the same."
Sun: "Answer my question! Do you want to live or not?!"
Slinger: "What makes you think I wouldn't kill you after I get out?"
Sun: "You wouldn't kill anyone without a bounty, would you? You would lose me as a potential client and people wanting my head."
Slinger: "What if it gets personal?"
Sun: "I have an offer for you. Nebula, you can make contracts, right?"
Nebula: "Um, yes! If either party violates the contract, only they will be punished."
Sun: "If you join our guild, we'll let you live. You must stay close to us at all times, and if you try to hurt us, you'll die."
Slinger: "There's no way I'm going to accept that! It's too unfair!"
Sun: "Is that so? Well, Burier won't let you die. You'll be tortured for the rest of your life if you refuse. I'll come back later, I have to rest."
Slinger: "Wait, don't go! Isn't there a better way? Hey, don't ignore me!"
I leave and pat Burier on the shoulder.
Sun: "Don't be merciful on her."
She grins sadistically.
Burier: "As you wish, young master."
I go to my room to rest.
None of this is real... I'm just doing what any normal person would do...
I fall asleep. I feel something tickling my face. Breathing, probably. I slowly open my eyes and see Burier on top of me, smiling and breathing heavily on my face.
Sun: "W-What the hell?!"
Burier: "Young master, you're awake!"
I look around. Nebula sleeps beside me. It's already night.
Sun: "What are you doing?!"
Burier: "I feel so lonely when you're not around, young master... I needed to feel your warmth..."
Sun: "B-But you're a bit too close..."
Burier: "I was wondering... you mentioned a certain spell when you were resurrected... and I wanted to check if your body and mind are already synchronized..."
Shit! I can't let her find out...
Sun: "D-Don't go checking my soul without my consent! About that spell, forget it, alright?"
Burier: "I'm sorry, young master..."
Sun: "At least you waited for me to wake up, right?"
Burier: "You've been going through a lot lately, so I wanted to soothe your feelings..."
Sun: "W-What...? Wait, you were supposed to be watching Slinger!"
Burier: "Don't worry about her. I asked D to take my place for a while."
Sun: "But he's injured and should be resting!"
Burier: "He can rest and observe a nearly dead specimen at the same time..."
Sun: "You really went hard on her... Well, take a rest you too. You deserve it."
Burier: "But I don't need to sleep, young master."
Sun: "I know you're not alive, but we humans are. So let Slinger rest a little bit. You've done enough."
Burier: "Understood. I will await further orders."
I smile at her and pat her head.
Sun: "Good girl."
She skips off like a little girl. I fall asleep again.
When I wake up, Nebula is not in bed.
Guess I overslept... but my body feels healthy again.
I stand up and move my limbs freely.
The curse, poison, or whatever Slinger inflicted on me is gone.
I go to the prison.
Sun: "Burier, can you call Nebula for me?"
Burier: "Sure thing."
She leaves. I see Slinger, covered in bruises and nearly dead. I feel something strange in my stomach. I never thought I'd feel so bad for someone.
I run to her and check her pulse. It's weak.
Sun: "Hey, this... is not what I expected it to feel like... I'm sorry."
She doesn't respond. I hug her, knowing it would hurt her physically. A few tears form in my eyes.
Sun: "I'm sorry... I went too far. I know you did something wrong, but it didn't have to be this way... I didn't create you individually, but you're like a child to me..."
Nebula arrives.
Sun: "Sister, please heal her to the brim."
Nebula: "It's gonna take a while."
She begins to heal Slinger.
Sun: "I'm really sorry, okay? I don't know how to repay for what I did..."
Slinger: "You're weak..."
Sun: "Huh?"
Slinger: "People get pleasure from seeing someone suffer... You can't even do that..."
Sun: "I'm not that kind of monster..."
Slinger: "Then kill me... end my suffering..."
Sun: "Do you hate me?"
Slinger: "I hate everyone..."
Sun: "Do you regret killing Shizuru?"
Slinger: "I regret nothing..."
Sun: "Please, tell me what you really feel."
Slinger: "I don't feel anything for anyone..."
Sun: "You said you hated everyone. You have emotions. You're human."
Slinger: "I don't care about anyone... If the world ended, nothing would change..."
Sun: "Everyone cares about someone. Please, give me a reason to release you. Do you want to live?"
Slinger: "There's nothing I've ever wanted... except..."
Sun: "Living? You've survived so far, but that could change. Please tell me you didn't enjoy killing Shizuru."
Slinger: "I take no pleasure in killing anyone..."
Sun: "Then we can fix you. You want someone to care for you, right? We can be your family, if you promise to become a better person."
Slinger: "A family...?"
Sun: "Yes. I know your life has been rough, but you don't have to stay like this forever. Will you be our friend?"
Slinger: "You just want to fill the hole I made..."
Sun: "Maybe. But I'm also giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Everyone wins."
Slinger: "You don't care about me... I don't need your pity..."
Sun: "I'm not pitying you. Tell me, does that sound great to you? Do you want to live and become our friend? Or would you rather die here and waste a better future for everyone?"
She falls silent, staring at the ground.
Sun: "Please, don't make me regret this. I really want to save you. What you did was wrong, but the cycle doesn't have to continue."
Slinger: "You know nothing about me... I'm not a damsel in distress..."
Sun: "Then start by telling us about yourself. As long as you don't try to kill us, I won't hate you. I want to trust you, but you need to trust me too."
She stays silent, staring at the ground. I hug her, knowing this time it won't hurt.
Slinger: "I won't replace your friend..."
Sun: "I'm not asking for a replacement."
Slinger: "Then why..."
Sun: "Destroying people is easier than saving them. If I wanted to destroy you, I wouldn't be wasting my time getting to know you."
Slinger: "But... you'll regret this..."
Sun: "Trusting you is my decision. Proving me wrong is your choice."
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