Are you stupid?

Tall, so very very tall, and thin. It's eyes were large, staring at me. I couldn't tell It's facial expression, or anything, all it had were It's eyes. No eyebrows. Almost like a mask. But I knew it wasn't human. Or at least it had also lost It's humanity... The face was a green color, one that would be associated with the feeling "disgust". Or maybe "jealousy".

"Can... I help you?" I asked, unsure how I'd even do that if it said yes. Did the voice even come from it? Nonetheless, it was there, and I had nothing to defend myself with but my words. 

"Look... at... me..." It didn't have a mouth. Or at least, I didn't see one move. What the hell kind of demented is this??? "You... such... pretty... flesh." It's eyelids narrowed, as though it considered taking my skin and wearing it.

"U-uhm... no, no I don't, not as pretty and smooth as yours... I have all this gross acne, cause I'm just a teenage girl..." It felt weird, having to point out my own insecurities, as I gestured to the red marks that decorated my face in the worst way possible.

Its eyes widened when I had called it pretty, as though shocked I'd think that of it. "Me?... pretty?..." It looked down at It's slender, tall frame. I could tell in it's eyes, it liked the compliment. "What else?..."

What else!? Think Selena! Think! "Uhm... well, you're super tall! Like a model! And thin, too! I'm super jealous, I'm so chubby compared to you! Not to mention those beautiful, large eyes you have... all I have are these boring, uninteresting brown eyes. Your blue ones put the sky and oceans to shame..." I rubbed the back of my neck, scrambling for compliments. Truly? This thing gave me the creeps. But it was better to feed it's ego than be the meal myself instead.

It seemed rather pleased, a blush befalling it's lack of a face. "Hehe... I'm the prettiest, aren't I?..."

"Absolutely the fairest I've ever seen." I confirmed, trying to think of a way out, since I was running out of things to say to please it... 

I was somewhat silently panicking while it admired itself narcissistically. That was until the smell of cinnamon filled the air... Before I knew it, the creature was struck with something, and let out a terrifying screech... It scurried off in fear. The smell of cinnamon lingered, and frankly I'm more scared of whatever scared that thing off than that thing! I got up, two steps into running- before I slipped in the mud from the puddle of tears of the first demented I helped.

"Are you stupid!?" A female voice called out to me. Far too clear to be a demented. I looked back, not having the time to get up and keep running. I didn't know what to say, as I met with a stern looking face of a young woman. Probably my age, honestly... she definitely was bonded to something, by the look of her. But she didn't look demented, which was good enough for me.

"Don't you speak, stupid girl? Or can you not hear? Hmph. What is something like you doing here in the demented forest? It's a death wish for someone like you. What even is your bond, hm? A koala?" She scolded me, and I could feel my face heat up from embarrassment.

"N-no- I-I can hear you just fine- and I'm not stupid!... I-I'm here because I was sent on a mission by-" I didn't get to finish my sentence as she growled at me.

"That foolish 'Head Wizard' sent ya, didn't he? Is he going senile? Is he unable to observe that all you possess is weakness?" She shook her head.

"I'm not weak! I was sent here cause the prophesy says-" again, I was caught off. It was really starting to get annoying, but this time, her eyes were wide and she almost went pale.

"You? You're prophesy girl master spoke of?... I would've expected you to be... well, more impressive. After all, you're supposed to be her successor, for the good of Zanzuria... but even master looks stronger than you, even with her age." She pouted at me, but seemed a lot less aggressive. Slowly, I got up... sighing. She raised an eyebrow.

"Can I talk now and explain myself?" I asked, grossed out somewhat since I was covered in slimy mud now...

"No. Not with me. I have to take you back to master. She'll chew you out even more!!! Haha!" She laughed at me, and started walking. She paused when she didn't hear me coming with. "Oh? Would you rather get eaten by that thing when it comes back? It will, by the way. I totally made it mad. But master prohibits killing them things. So this special spice at least deters them for a while."

"Cinnamon???" I asked, weighing my choices. I really, really didn't want to meet that thing again when it's angry, after it was disturbing the first time when it was happy. "Fine, I'll go with you."

She gave me a smug smile, amused that she could just order me around... what have I gotten myself into? "Good choice, loser. Hey stupid? What's your name by the way, eh? Mine's Harmony. Or at least that's my given name by my master. And it's the only one I'll be accepting, ya hear!?"

"Mine name is Sel-... Claire, I mean." I corrected myself, before saying Selena. Technically, both are accurate, right? But one is more true than the other at the moment... damn this is all so confusing. 

"Sel Claire? That's a weird name. Or if it's just Claire, how do you start with Sel? That's not even close! Tch, you really are stupid, Sel Claire." Every word out of this girl's mouth was a taunt, a mocking tone seemed the most natural to her. I didn't respond, but I did follow. We walked past a couple other dementeds... they got more abstract from humans as we went deeper. I couldn't bring myself to look at them. But Harmony had no problem glaring them down for even being in the vicinity...

Since when have I been so naive to follow random people like this? Or have I always been this way?... Peer pressure is hard to recognize sometimes. But even subconsciously, it can change you. I learnt that rather early on as soon as I became friends with Sarah Miller... I felt more like an accessory beside her, and honestly, I was to everything she did. Everyone she bullied. Why did I become such a cruel girl? Is this world a kind of punishment for my cruelty?...