Prologue - Foreplay

Fantasy versus reality. Those two things, what alone separates them? Are fantasies just dreams? Delusions? …And what of reality? Is it an inescapable set of facts? Something predetermined?

I’d like to think…that what really separates the two is one’s own will. The ability to face the harshness and bitter cold of reality. To be able to stand again and again, no matter the hardship. …And to always walk, ever forward…toward that fantasy….

I’ve been riding around on my twin wheels for what seems like forever. It’s probably only been less than an hour, though. I’ve never actually been to Libertas’ capital city before, so I’m unfamiliar with my left and right. Saturnalia…

Not that I’m actually in Saturnalia to begin with. No, this is a recreation inside the twisted ocean of humanity’s collective heart, The Disarray. If I was on the other side, I’d just use GPS instead of bitching to myself.

“Hm? Hoho!! Nice!” Delighted, I see my destination finally come into sight.

The looming group of buildings just ahead are sometimes called “The Ruling Pillars of Libertas” and the smaller one in the center is home to the ruling king. It has a symmetrical design overall, almost resembling a hunk of greyish-black crystal ore.

“Pride and joy to the people of Saturn…ugh.” I've never been one for this nation's self-righteous allegiance…

After a couple more minutes of riding, I reached the front steps to the plaza.

I take a moment to stare up at the building before taking my helmet off and letting my hair down. Slowly, I started ascending the large staircase.

Click, clack, click, clack. The sound of my heels against the marble stairs echo loudly through the quiet venue.

“You came… Not that I’m surprised.” The voice of the one whom I’m meeting here says.

The young man, dressed in white leather and chains, leans against a large rectangular case of sorts.

Luka Eosphorus, grandson to the Duke of Vesta. …His piercing tango eyes always made me slightly uncomfortable.

“I have my own reasons for being here.”

“That so?”

“...”

“Well…whatever…”

Luka had invited me to a coffee shop earlier in the day to discuss a job. Apparently, the Duke’s private research and development team detected a major spike in astral activity. But no strangers would take on the job due to the potential risks, even with the generous completion bonus. So he decided to ask for my help. He was aware I took on unofficial jobs like this, as long as the payment was dealt under the table.

“Isn’t this the ruling king’s–”

“Yeah. It is.”

“How come? Does this have something to do with Malik?”

“I doubt it. We’re in a very deep level of the disarray. Since Its layout depends on the initial perceiver…”

“Oh? So this has to do with you–”

“No. I thought about it, but no. Delilah…”

Great, he only says my name properly when he’s serious. Guess I can’t slack today.

“Someone else is already here then. Right?”

“Yeah…probably…” He mumbles, he kneels down and opens the case he’s been using for back support.

“What’s with the toy?”

Inside the case is a shining black RPG. Normally something like that wouldn’t work here, but based on the reflective graphite-like color, it's probably created from astral blacks material.

“Door.”

“Have you tried knocking?”

“Jokes aside, I have. It won’t budge and our scanners can’t see inside there. So I went back and got this.”

“What the hell? You came in here alone?”

“Yeah, no worries though. Despite being this deep, the hysteria aren’t around. Not a single one shows up on the scanner.”

He exhales on the last part, getting into position and aiming the explosive at the doors.

“Stand back, this packs way more kick than a traditional—”

“Shut up.” I rudely quiet him.

“What...?”

“Quiet!”

Something’s wrong… I don’t like this anxiety, It’s like something is pulling at my bios.

“Fire.”

“Wait, now!?”

Before either of us can react, the doors burst open and black smog fills the plaza.

“What the—?!”

The doors were flung open from the impact of someone being thrown at them. With the amount of force needed for that…

“Who the hell is that?!

“Forget that! How the hell are they still standing!?”

A person, dressed head-to-toe in black, bandages hiding their face, and armed with a vein, rises to their feet. They're preparing for something.

“Hey! You a stranger?! The hell are you doing this deep?!” Luka shouts at them.

But he just ignores us.

Quickly and without thought, I slice the front of my forearm, creating an astral wound, and bleed out my Vein.

As I take a defensive stance, an armorclad figure appears in the large doorway. Slowly, they rest their hand on the hilt of their sheathed weapon.

That’s a vein… No way, it isn’t a hysteria?

Panic takes over. A kind I've never felt before. My body reacts before my mind can even process what's happening.

I try to dash toward them and attack, swinging my bastard vein downward.

A loud metallic sound is emitted as they block my attack with their own vein. The collision created a force that dissipated the smog.

When did they even draw!?

With incredible strength, they repel me and follow-up with a kick to my abdomen that sends me back to in front of the stairs.

Winded and coughing blood, I try to stand back up.

“–ire…! Fire it, Luka! Now!” I shout while gasping for air.

Snapping Luka out of his hesitation, he fires the weapon.

“Hgh!?” Luka makes a sound of shock and amazement.

The armored figure caught the propelled grenade and stared at it, before crushing it in their fist.

A huge explosion shakes all my senses. When I opened my eyes back up the armored figure was lunging at the man who was thrown through the doors.

Before he can land what would probably be the finishing blow, Luka guards the weakend stranger with his scythe vein, Lily Killer.

To my suprise, he holds his ground.

“Hey…nice armor! You’re the guy I’ve been looking for, aren’t you!?” Luka says, almost viciously.

What’s gotten into him? …Whatever. I can’t think about what has this idiot suddenly aroused. It's time to do my job.

I use an astrals red injection, and in almost no time, I feel my vitality return.

“Luka! Can you hold off the metalhead for five more minutes?!”

“I can do more than hold them off!”

“Don’t overdo it! Just hold them off. If it gets dangerous, fall back!”

“Wha–? Since when were you barking the orders!?”

“Just do it! Luka!” I shout at him.

He looks at me, slightly shaken, and nods.

He darts ahead at the armored figure and begins to distract them.

Still just a kid… Don’t get killed, dumbass.

Click.

I hear the sound of a gun being aimed.

“Who the fuck, are you?” The bandaged man asks.

I make any movements.

“I could ask you the same”

“No…no, you couldn’t. I know every person that could possibly make it down this deep in the disarray. You are not one of them.”

“Well! You better get a good look then.” I say, tuning to face them. “Name’s Delilah. Delilah Null. Add it to your list of deep divers.”

“Wha!? Did you say Null…?” He lowers his weapon. Confused by something I said.

Now’s my chance.

I lunge forward with my fist and try to land a direct hit. But he notices quickly, barely dodging. I catch my footing and try to slash at him with my vein, but he darts off and begins firing at me.

Clink clink clank!

I block the bullets with my vein and try to close the distance between us. Once I’m close enough he stops running and throws a kick my way. He manages to land a hit to my shoulder, but I quickly grab his leg and hurl him toward the large twin doors.

He catches his breath and comes right back at me fist first. I guard myself from his attack, but he just throws another my way and I counter it. At that point we break into a flurry of close quarters combat maneuvers. I manage to knock him of balance for a split second. I quickly pull out my combat knife and try to graze him. But he recovers and quickly rivals my movements with his gun.

We both fall silent, my knife to his throat and his gun to my forehead.

“You’re pretty good…”

“You too… you’re definitely his…”

His? Before I can ask what this stranger means. A sudden rumbling in the distance catches the attention of us both.

In the distance, we see one of the Saturnalia’s larger building’s comes crashing down. I immediately become concerned for Luka, but I need to focus on my own fight right now.

I manage to snap back to my senses first, so I quickly take a slash at the man’s bandaged face with my knife while disarming him of his gun. We both leap back and create new distance.

“This firearm… it’s not an astral-type” I quickly check the chamber while examining the gun. “This is lead ammunition. What the hell are you doing with this?”.

Traditional firearms are ineffective against hysteria. The only reason this guy would have something like this is…

“Yeah...haha… Not bad at all…” He chuckles. Hiding his face with his hand, since I cut the bandages just moments ago.

I hear fast approaching footsteps behind me before they stop at my side.

“Hey! Still dealing with bandages here?” Luka asks.

“...was that shotty destruction job you just now?”

“Huh? Oh yeah. I got real into fighting that guy… thought he was someone my family had an interest in…”

“Was he?”

“Nah. Real deal wouldn’t have gone down so easy.”

“Where is he?”

“Where do you think? Buried under what’s left of Bellum Bank…”

“I guarantee you. A brat like you did not defeat him…” The stranger speaks up.

“Huh? Hey, buddy. Trust me. He is not getting up from that one-”

Without warning, we hear more footsteps approaching from the bottom of the stairs.

“What!? No way… he can’t possibly be moving! No human-” Luka looks almost frightnend.

“No human could survive that? You’re right… a human couldn’t” The man finally lowers his hand from his face, but turns around. His back now facing us. “Whatever, this whole thing was just reconnaissance anyway… I didn’t expect to achieve anything today. I’ll let the him make quick work of you both.”

With a quick slash of his razor-type vein. He opens astral tear that allows one to leave the disarray.

“Hey! Where the hell do you thing your going!?” Luka shouts. Ready to bolt after him, but he stops and turns to me. “What the hell! Come on, let’s go after him!”

“We both know we’re not done here…but you’re right, one of us need to go after him.”

“...fine. I’ll go and grab him. Just don’t die before I can pay you”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Once Luka enters the astral tear to chase after the stranger, I watch the gate close. Once it closes completely I stare out at the fake city of Saturn.

“Ahhh man… This really sucks. I kept my perfect streak of completing jobs, and for what? An early death? I really didn’t think this one through…” I mumble, wrapped in chains.

Turning my head, I look behind me and at the armored figure who summoned the dark chains.

“Hey, Mister. I’m really sorry about playing in your yard. It won’t happen again, so let me go ‘kay?”

The armored figure points their sword at me. Barely an inch from my face.

“Why come here? Surely, your shepherds warned you of the danger.”

Ignoring their question, I lick the tip of their sword.

“That’s definitely a vein… you’re not hysteria, are you?”

“...you’re ignorant?”

“...” I don’t respond.

The chains begin to loosen and fall to my feet.

“You don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation. Your friend surely did. How is it you do not?”

“That guy wasn’t my friend. I was hired to keep an eye on him and get him the hell out of here if he got himself in any serious danger” I explain, while stretching.

That’s actually the real reason I came here. Luka’s grandfather, Richard, who’s also the Duke of Vesta, knew thathis idiot grandson was up to something dangerous and hired me to keep an eye on him.

“Is that so?” He lowers his weapon.

“Yeeep! Oh, and that other guy wasn’t with us. Don’t know what his story was either.”

As I speak, I calmly walk past him and casually to the doorway where the large doors were.

“I’m aware, he was…an anomaly. A walking sin in search of fruit.”

“Really? I’m not sure I get it...” I say, peering in, beyond the door.

“Excuse me, but if that is all…I'll permit you to leave…”

“Actually, I kinda want to know. What's beyond this point?”

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

“Hmm. What’s your name?”

He stares back at me. Gripping his vein tighter.

“Do you really want such knowledge? Girl?”

I shrug.

He chuckles before responding.

“...I am the ocean. I am the abyss. I am the Black King! I…am…Diluvial!!!” As he speaks, hundreds of knights clad in the royal armor of Saturn come marching up the plaza stairs, surrounding the man and aiming their guns at me.

“And now that you know that…I cannot let you leave. I am sorry.”

A smile cracks across my face.

“Leave? But your highness… The night is young, and we’ve only just started this dance!”

I still have one more job. Find the source of the astral spike for Luka and if possible, recover it.

I dash in front of the knights chopping through as many as I can.

There’s blood, a lot of it. However, they’re not human. Once the blood hits the ground it turns black.

Hysteria.

Imitations.

Despite still being ranked Stranger among surrogates. This killing is second nature to me.

Stranger of Disarray.

Surrogate Killers.

No matter how many I kill, I have to remember it’s just a job. Even if they seem human, they’re just puppets.

My vein, a bastard-type named Morning Pain, allows me to complete these jobs.

Vein.

The pain and joy given form.

I’m about half-way through the amount there originally was barely three minutes ago. Yet, the so-called “king” has yet to make his move.

“Hey, come on! Don’t tell me I’m not your type!”

“Enough of this. I see now, you’re just insane.”

Finally, he takes a battle stance.

“Alight!”

I grab the arm of a hysteria holding a grenade launcher and begin guiding its aim by force to fire at the set of black armor.

“Thanks for that! Such a big help!” I say, before kicking it down the stairs into a group of incoming knights.

‘Diluvial’ bursts through the smoke though, unscathed.

He grabs me by my throat and lifts me off my feet.

“You’re unlike any I have faced before…you enjoy this, don’t you?”

“Enjoy...? I love it!”

I attempt to stab at his helm, but he dodges my attack and flings me toward the fountain in the plaza. I brace for a horizontal landing with enough force that I break the statue off the fountain. Using it to my advantage, I hurl it at my enemy.

He easily breaks through it, though. Smashing it to pieces.

“Is that all?” He taunts.

He realizes quickly that he lost track of me.

“Woohoo.” I taunt, leaning against the side of the king’s residence.

Once he looks at me, I point behind him.

“Hm–? Argh!?”

I remotely called my bike and set it to maximum acceleration. Lucky for me, he actually got knocked off guard by it. But…

“Hey, where the hell are you going!?”

He maneuvered himself from being pinned in front of the bike, and into a riding position. He drifts to a stop, staring at me for a moment.

“...” We both remain silent.

I turn my head slightly, hearing hysteria reinforcements approaching.

“They will only get in the way. Follow, if you wish to continue this.”

He roars the engine of my bike, re-entering maximum acceleration and lunging himself onto the side of the building. Riding upward.

A couple of the reinforcements came in on their own twin wheels. So I run at the one closest to me and dive kick them off, taking control of the bike.

Imitating ‘Diluvial’, I manage to ride along the side of the building. Unfortunately, with company.

“Oh jus– ‘Ef off already!”

I manage to swing Morning Pain at the rider on my right. The one on my left, I ram into, knocking them off the bike and back down to their friends.

“Oh man, this job is a racket…even for me. Almost at the top at least–”

Having spoken too soon, I choke on my words. A large hysteria wielding a mini-gun smashed through one of the top floor windows and began firing endlessly at me.

I do my best to dodge all of the astral-lead, but my current vehicle gets hit.

Shit! I have to get off this thing!

I make it go as fast as I can. Before applying force against the side of the building and launching off it.

Time slowed in my mind, I pushed my body to its limits to aim the bike toward the mini-gunner and jump off of it. I manage to smash through the windows, and onto the highest floor just below the roof.

I give myself some time to just lie there and catch my breath. Before being startled by the explosion I sent at the minigunner.

Calming down again, I look up at the translucent ceiling, which is also the floor of the roof.

Above me sparkled a large, translucent, stain-glass pattern.

“...pretty…” I whisper, genuinely.

I try rising to my feet and let out a pained whine. I must have jacked-up my ankle on that jump. I remove my second and last vial of astrals red from my coat pocket, and quickly inject it.

Astrals Red is a type of “healing agent” made from astral and a bunch of other shit. It helps us surrogates recover quickly from some wounds but…It takes a toll on the body in the long run…

Once I finish healing up. I check my astral arm's ammunition and look at my reflection in my vein.

“...you look like hell…”

After finding the stairs up to the roof, I stood in front of the door. Wondering if I was ready for what was on the other end.

“...”

I already knew I wasn’t, but something was keeping me here. I don’t believe in fate or destiny either, so…maybe my own heart was telling me to stay a bit longer. Love for the battle and all…

I turn the handle and open the door.

The lavender and azure glass is even more dazzling up here. For a moment, I almost forget that I’m here to fight.

“You could have left…why continue to chase me?” The armored person asks me, back turned as he looks out as the fake city.

“I mean, you kind of stole my bike.”

“Ah. …take it and leave then.”

Some seconds pass but neither of us makes a move.

“Who are you exactly? A resident? A crown?”

“Hm? I believe…I answered that question already…”

“I want a real answer.”

“It is the truth. Whether or not you accept it, it does not matter to me.”

“Diluvial is a fairy tale, a myth, a legend. One told to keep kids scared of the astral, or for fools to delude themselves with visions of godhood. If you’re Diluvial, then I guess I’m Saint Nicole.”

He takes a bowing stance.

“A saint? Forgive my rudeness, I did not realize-”

“It was a joke, dumbass. My name is Delilah.”

“...my apologies. I’ve lost my sense of jest.”

I let out a loud groan and rub my right shoulder's muscles.

“Man… I don’t know what your deal is, but if you’re this nuts and controlling hysteria…” I raise my vein. “Sorry, nothing personal.”

“It seems your ignorance will be your downfall…common of fools…” He says, aiming his blade at me.

“...tell me about it…”

Neither of us hesitate. We dash at each other like bullets, colliding our veins.

I repel his weight. But he just brings it back down on me. Using both my astral arm and vein, I try to guard myself from the attack.

“Agghhh, ugh!” I can’t keep this stance, he’s too strong and my wrists are about to–

“Agh!” He breaks my guard and slashes my shoulder.

Gripping my wound, I rise back to my feet.

“Alright, got it…fine. Let’s do this.” I say with bated breath.

I dash back at him. I don’t have a plan. At this point it's just fight or flight.

“Raahhhhh!” I swing Morning Pain like a crazed maniac, but I’m not landing even a chip on his armor.

The second he lowers his vein -almost as if pitying me- I attempt to attack his empty hand. Though, he just swats my vein aside with his hand as if it was a fly looking to land.

Haha. Unbelievable. I’m still just a wretch playing at being tough, aren’t I? Papa?

I fire three pointless shots from my astral arm. He dodges all of them at incredible speed.

Closing the distance he knees my stomach, knocking me into the air. Then grabs me by my head and flings me across the roof. Smashing me into a large statue of Somnius, God of the Dream After.

Most statues of Somnius depict him with his arms spread wide. Having landed in those very arms, it's as if he was accepting me into his dream after.

I grit my teeth and clench my fist at the thought.

“B-bullshit! God- God doesn’t exist…” I mutter.

The one calling himself Diluvial just stares at me as I roll out of the statue’s arm and hit the ground. Leaving a splatter of blood where I land.

I slowly get back on my feet, gripping my vein in my non-dominant hand.

“What is it you are…?”

“Rarrrrghhhhh!” I slice my own right arm off to bring out something I had learned to keep hidden.

Blood and darkness gush out where my arm once was, as one of pure astral and black as night, takes its place.

“Diluuuuviaaaal!” I roar his name.

“Agh! That arm!?”

I lunge at him, striking relentlessly. Strong or not, he can’t keep up with me.

“Rahhhh!” I strike one last time with Morning Pain, before it breaks into two pieces.

“I see now, yes… Of course! Only one other besides her, outside of fate, would be tied to me!”

“Shut up!!!”

“You truly believe in no gods!?” He says, creating some distance.

“The only names I shout and kneel for, are the names of my lovers!” I grin, aiming Daybreak at his head.

I fire multiple rounds at him, while once again getting closer.

“Ha! Truly a splendid response! I am no God! There are no Gods! We can only find praise and worship in one another! Yes! You are right!”

I grab his sword with my Astrals Blacks Arm, my self hate, and grip it until I tear it away from him, tossing it aside. I then repeatedly smash my fist into his helm, until cracks form. I continue my assault by pinning him against the glass below our feet.

Endlessly, I smash my fists into his chest plate as the lavender and azure below begins to creak and cry. I don’t give it any mind though. Instead, I raise my fist into the air one last time, and smash it into him.

The battle was too much for our surroundings, our ground finally shatters into a million shimmering pieces.

I feel the air racing through my hair and against my coat as I start to lose consciousness.

At least…I won’t be awake when I hit the ground. I hope he is though. I want him to know I won. There’s no way he can survive this fall…

This counts as a job finished, right? Luka? Dad?

“...”

“......”

It’s disturbing.

Thinking you died and then…still thinking…still…moving…

I weakly open my eyes and am greeted with an overcast sky.

“Ah…egh…!” I try standing, but my whole body is in pain. Moving just makes the pain worse.

“Good Morning” A deep and metallic voice speaks.

My eyes go wide with shock.

“You seem surprised to be breathing. I didn’t finish you off because I owe it to the King Red.”

I slowly turn to face the owner of the frightening voice.

“However, if you return here, You will die. I will kill you.”

Once I turn to face them. I can’t help but shake…

In front of me is a gigantic and surreal tree. It looks like a black magnolia…but it’s size… it can’t be a magnolia, can it?

Shedding from its ebony branches are white flowers that once fallen, float on the surface of this shallow water. Already, there are thousands of flowers floating on the water. While more gently float down, hiding the water beneath them.

“Young lady… Do you understand me?” Diluvial says, standing in front of the tree.

Other than the tree and flowers, nothing else is here. Just endless clear waters and a grey sky… I notice above though, in the sky, is a… Hole? It looks almost like the kind of hollow crack you’d see in a porcelain teapot. I’m not sure, but I think I can see the night sky through that crack… is that where we fell from?

“You are very much at death’s door. Killing you would be easy, but I’m choosing not to. This is my mercy.”

I look at Diluvial. His armor is shining, not a nick or scratch on it. It’s as if I hadn’t fought him at all…

“Who are you?” I ask.

“...” He just stares, as if to say that I already know the answer.

I grit my teeth, out of either fear or anger, maybe both…

“Cut the bullshit! Diluvial is a myth! A legend! H…he was a fairytale in the story books I read as a child!” I scream at him.

“...” He continues to be silent.

“...c-come on…be real…” I relaxed a little. Trying to accept the impossible answer.

“I think the reason your friend and that other stranger were called here…was because of this child…” Diluvial steps aside to reveal a large throne behind him.

Laid on the throne, is a young and slender girl wrapped in a black cloak.

“Wha-!? Hey! Who the hell is that!? A Stranger?! What the hell did you do to her!?”

“Nothing. They are simply sleeping. I don't know why they showed up in this place either…”

Looking more closely at the fragile figure, I can see their chest slowly rising and falling with small breaths. I look back at Diluvial, feeling concerned for this person.

“Why show this to me?”

“You were looking for some sort of reason or thing that was calling you here, were you not? I’m giving you a glimpse at that very thing.”

“What the hell are you talking about? That girl can’t possibly be the source of the astral my employer was searching for…”

“I had thought the same… but something was leading you all here. Normally trying to find this place would drive strangers to insanity.”

“...who are they then?”

“I have no idea. They appeared suddenly one night, drifting along these waters carelessly…”

He pauses, before continuing.

“I was intrigued by them. Who was this dreamer, unwaking? Something about them felt familiar. I thought them harmless… I can see now, though, my mercy was foolish.”

He stared at his dark blade before approaching the sleeping person.

Is he…?!

“Hey stop–!” I tried rising to my feet despite the pain. “You said it yourself! They’re harmless!” I plead, not wanting to see the slaughter of this girl.

“Thought. I thought. But no one who leads fools like yourself to this place, risking the order I’ve fought so hard to maintain, so that you selfish beings could have some semblance of peace–! No…they cannot continue to exist…”

“Stop!” I cry out.

Order? Peace? If those things come at the cost of even one innocent…then…

“I don’t want it!!!” I scream and lounge for the black armor.

“You–!?”

Even without a weapon, I can’t stand by.

“Why do you persist!? Do you truly wish to die!?” He says, swinging his vein in a defensive manner.

I manage to limbo under his blade and smash my side into his. I managed to knock him off balance, but I made my injured arm even worse now.

Just as I close the distance between me and the sleeper. Diluvial has already, unsurprisingly, regained his footing, slashing my back with his sword.

“Ugh!” The extreme burning sensation I feel as blood pours from my back causes me to nearly faint.

I fall just in front of the delicate feet dangling off the large throne. For whatever reason, Diluvial lets me weakly rise and shield them with my body.

“I don’t understand you.” He mumbles.

The tone of his confused voice is enough to know how pathetic he thinks I am.

“Haha – ha…” I laugh, even though it’s hard to breathe now.

“Nothing to understand. I’m just not letting you kill a cute girl… wouldn’t be able to sleep at night…”

“...” I feel him looming over us.

“And I don't want your pity either. You want to off this bird? You’re gonna have to kill me too…”

“...as you wish…”

I pull the body of this mysterious person closer so neither of us have to die alone.

“...”

But as I expect the burning feeling to renew itself and endure even worse…

“E-egh! W-why!?” I hear Diluvial struggle.

I turn to see a figure in-between me and death.

“After everything! Why are you getting in my way now!? Answer me!”

The figure just stands there, holding back Diluvial’s blade effortlessly with one hand. That hand is now bleeding, blood flowing down the eerily chalk-white arm.

“Have you gone deaf?! If you can still hear me, then please! Answer-!

“I don’t know why I’m– Di. Aren’t you tired too? Even if it’s reckless, I want to see what this person can accomplish…” The woman says, with a smile and tears falling at her feet.

“Are you insane!? I- I can’t let this be!” Diluvial increases the strength behind his force.

Silent with disbelief, I try finding my voice again.

“Hey! Stop it! You don’t have to–!” I’m immediately frozen into place with fear once my eyes meet theirs.

This skinny figure, pale, and with hair so white that it glows, stares at me with piercing blue eyes of disgust. As if she hates my very presence…

She takes a moment and looks at the dreaming body in my arms.

“...fine…” She sharply mutters.

“What?”

“If you see yourself fit to watch over this miracle of a fool…”

She fully represses Diluvial’s attack before forcing him to his knees with… the magnolia’s roots?

“How did you–!?” I try to question her, but I’m ignored.

She walks closer, our noses almost touching. She runs her finger down the length of my neck, causing me to quiver.

“...then protect this fool until your dying breath.” She says as she turns to kneel down beside Diluvial.

Suddenly, I feel a tightening grip around my neck.

“...Egh…eghh…ghh…” I try to breathe, but can’t.

The last thing I see as my vision begins to fade is the pale figure removing Diluvial’s helmet.

…but I pass out before I can see his face.

“...” I wake up to the sound of crashing ocean waves.

I’m completely soaked in sea water and blood, laying in sand.

“...ah…” I try to speak just to see if I can. Unsurprisingly I can’t.

I can still feel the squeezing sensation around my neck, though it's not as terrible as it was before.

“It feels like something was placed on me…like a collar…” I think to myself.

Based on the constellations above me and the familiar scent, I must be back home and out of the disarray…

“...” I just lay still. Motionless. My body completely shut down.

Despite every inch of my body feeling ice-cold and wet, one single section feels dry and warm.

My right hand.

I turn my head to the side and stare blankly at the body of the person that I nearly died saving.

“...” We both just lay there on our backs.

I stare back up at the night sky and listen to the sound of ocean waves until I lose consciousness again.

I just want to get some sleep right now.