I. Blood Debt

There In front of them stood a trio of ominous mutts that could only be attributed to demonic entities having ascended from the depths of hell. They stared down the duo, obsidian black ooze dripping out of every orifice , bloodlust emanating from their auras.

"Don't let these creatures come in contact with your blood!" Diana ordered as she tore a piece off the sleeve of her snowy white shirt , quickly using it to cover the wound on her wrist

Realising that there was a tangible threat in play, Adrian switched gears, terrified into alertness as one of the monsters lunged forward with the intent to kill. Diana jumped away with magnificent athleticism while Adrian teleported to a safer area of the lair just in the nick of time, splitting up the duo which divided the attention of the invading forces.

"Just subdue them using your ability!" Adrian shouted out as one of the hounds ran to tackle him. Diana clicked her tongue in response

"Sorry to disappoint you but our abilities don't work on them! They are an expression of the fabric that created this universal illusion. Watch out!!" Diana warned as one of the hell hounds charged towards Adrian's blind spot, causing him to teleport once again but this time to Diana's side.

"What even are those things and why are they here?! This is crazy!" Adrian panicked

"Didn't I just explain this to you?! Rejecting the rule of sacrifice causes this world to turn it's fangs on you! Those things are out for my blood because I refused to shed the blood of others centuries ago! In a way, I owe this realm a blood debt!"

Diana explained as she juggled a dagger in Adrian's direction. Adrian barely caught it as it flew mid air. He studied the daggers tiny stature in comparison to the massive size of the mutts in front of him, battling to maintain his edge.

"What am I supposed to do with this? Those things don't seem like they'll go down so easily! It's like you're giving me a spoon to dig a hole in the ground!"

"What kind of analogy is that?! You really are a weirdo!" Diana laughed as the hell hounds charged all at once towards the duo

"Watch and learn!" The vixen declared as she pushed Adrian to the side, causing him to fall on his back on the ground. He looked up at her perplexed as she took in a deep and guided breath.

In the next instant , all three hell hounds jumped at her simultaneously, planning to encircle and subdue her. Diana superimposed their attack formation in her mind and then closed her eyes, moving on pure intuition from the countless battles she had faced in the past. Guided by her expertly sharpened instincts, she initiated her offense.

She squatted down as the hell hounds descended on her location, lunging forward and appearing between the beasts in a flash, making it seem like they were moving in slow motion.

Adrian thought she was a goner but couldn't move a muscle to aid her. He stared on as she retrieved a set of Kunai from her armour, flinging them with expert precision in each monster's direction, piercing their eyes and blinding them.

The monsters recoiled in pain giving Diana the opening to launch her fatal maneuver. She stood there in the center, menacingly, as the mutts flailed around her, raising both of her arms and forming a T-pose. On opposite sides of the lair were a set of katana, sheathed and hanging on the walls. Diana opened her hands causing the katana to be yanked from the hilts and fly off the walls right into her grasp.

Adrian looked on mesmerised as he stared at her back, prominent and fearless. In one swift motion, Diana swirled like a tornado, tearing through the perpetrators with ease, splicing the mutts into hunks of flesh as bits and pieces flew like bloody fireworks around her. Before Adrian even had a chance to swallow his spit, the vicious beasts had been defeated.

Diana's incredible prowess was simply awe-inspiring. She stood there motionless, steam rising from her body as black ooze coated her blades, dripping down the sharp edges and onto the floor. She turned around and looked at Adrian who couldn't believe what his eyes had just perceived.

"I know you have questions but can you at least stand up? It's embarrassing watching you sit there like a coward while a woman does all the heavy lifting!" The fierce warrior berated the young lad, putting out a hand to help him up.

Adrian swatted her hand away in embarrassment, lifting himself off the ground and dapping his clothes, dusting off his shame in the process

"So that's the consequence of not committing the sacrifices?" He asked 

"Indeed, one of many actually. But that's a conversation for another time. You almost died back there if I hadn't protected you. What was your plan? Sit and watch like a child? Pathetic." Diana jokingly mocked him but Adrian couldn't see the funny side of it.

" They were here for you, you crazy woman, I was just pulled in for no reason! And what was all of that anyways? I thought you said this world was an illusion!! That didn't seem like an illusion to me! I really thought we were about to die!"

"Yes I did say that. However, even if this realm has an illusionary nature in its make up our mortality doesn't just vanish! Even if our bodies do not age, we are not immortal, boy. We exist as a spiritual version of ourselves. In reality our bodies still exist in the world we left behind! "

Diana replied, breathing a sigh of relief as she walked away from Adrian to put her weapons back.

"What are you saying?? I'm here and there both at once?" Adrian asked confused

"Not exactly. Whether you're here or there depends on your spirit. Right now you're here. But this body you have, the laws of physics you break, it's all because this isn't the true reality, which is where your original body is! But the actual you is your spirit, which I'm talking to right now."

Adrian was confused but pulled into the explanation, trying to understand the true secrets of this reality.

" If you died here, what would go back to your real body? Nothing. You could live here for centuries like I did, but breaking the laws of this reality will result in the kinds of battles you just witnessed. The pleasure of this illusionary realm comes with a steep price so don't expect fairness."

Diana finished her explanation causing Adrian to grimace

"And? Are you going to explain what exactly those monsters were ?! " Adrian fumed, completely lost at this point

"They are known as blood hounds." Diana responded

"The reason I warned you not let any blood near them is because once they come in contact with even a drop of it they can instantly paralyse you. That's their ability. Yes, they are easy to defeat, but it's a tight rope to walk because one mustn't let a single attack land! Even an accidental injury such as a papercut is enough to give them an opening!"

"Easy to defeat?? For you maybe! You're crazy!!" Adrian cried out, shocked at how nonchalantly Diana treated the ordeal.

"That's what 300 years of consistent strength and agility training does for you, I guess. I watched as others like ourselves fell victim to these monstrosities, simply because they relied on their supernatural abilities when engaging them. Call it luck or my unfortunate fate, but I saw firsthand as my allies fell to these demons before I ever had the misfortune of facing the beasts alone. Thanks to the sacrifices of my comrades, I was able to gain knowledge on how to counter and subdue the hell hounds, which is why I lived for so long without committing the sacrifices."

Diana stared at the sheathed katana in her hands, recalling the memories of her slain allies. She gently caressed the blade with her right hand as a subtle smile appeared on her face.

"So? What now? I told my servants I'd be back before night fall. They must be wondering where I am and I don't want to raise suspicions!" Adrian stated arrogantly. His tone seemed to rile up Diana. Her blood boiled as she turned around, clenching her fists. She stared daggers at Adrian, his expression fearful and apologetic.  

"Are you still worried about going back?! You buffoon! You just saw the reality of this realm with your own eyes! Your attitude is a mockery to all those who chose the path of righteousness! Do you intend to continue the sacrifices?! If so, I will cut you down, right here and now!"

Diana was full of rage, her sharp tone cutting through Adrian like a hot knife through butter. Her eyes were full of disgust.

Adrian did not know whether to feel ashamed or fearful. He lamented wanting to go back and relish in the desires of the realm.

"I'm sorry..." Adrian mumbled, causing Diana to click her tongue and turn away.

"Were you really such a lowlife in your previous life as well ?! Whatever. Do what you want, see if I care! I thought you could be saved, but your eyes tell me you're hopeless." Diana lamented as she stormed away, vanishing into a different part of the lair.

Adrian was now alone with his thoughts. He let out a sigh of relief having avoided death at Diana's hand as his emotions conflicted internally.

He realised Diana was right. He had always been a coward and this incident only proved it further. Even whilst everything had changed, his body, his fortune, his status, even still, his heart and soul remained timid. Lost within himself, Adrian stared at the bloody mess of carcasses scattered about the floor.

" I'll clean this up for her..." he thought, wanting to wash away his guilt along with the mess. He teleported each carcass into a pile at one corner of the lair before wiping the floor clean of the black ooze, clearing the mess with a single minded focus. This was the only way for him to avoid his guilty conscious, beckoning him to measure the depth of his integrity. 

After taking care of everything, he thought to talk with Diana once more. However, he froze as soon as he took a step towards where she had gone. He was too ashamed to face her, teleporting out of the hideout as he resolved to return later and apologise.

Once outside, Adrian realised more time had passed than he had imagined. Dawn approached as the first rays of sunlight began to peer over the horizon. He hastened to return back to his kingdom.

I hope she's not mad I'm late... I told her I'd be back by nightfall 

He shuddered, his pace quickening at the thought of being with her. 

Teleporting over large distances easily, Adrian arrived back within the hour, entering the city through a giant wooden draw bridge on the eastern side. The soldiers posted there straightened upon sight of their king, breaking into a salute as he weaved past them.

Diana's revelations played on his psyche. They meant nothing to him before and even less now that he knew they were merely illusions. Their reverence was meaningless. 

However, even within this illusionary world, the company of that woman, her touch, everything about her felt real. She made him feel seen.

He rushed through his kingdom towards the castle, teleporting hastily to his chambers and bursting in with excitement. But it was short lived, a nightmare greeting him with open arms.

He had expected to find his mistress sitting on his bed, waiting for him with a pleasant smile.

Instead, he found her hanging from the ceiling, dangling from a noose tightening around her neck. 

Adrian walked up to her slowly, staring up at her in utter disbelief. His emotions were turbulent as he raised his hands to pull her down, her body chilling to the touch 

Overflowing with sorrow and confusion, he wanted to let out a loud and guttural howl. Instead, he wept quietly as he cradled her in his arms, staring blankly at her corpse. 

"Is this really an illusion?"  he asked himself as tears streamed down his face without measure.