Chapter 11 - A mischievous nun

The moonlight reflected of the extravagant room, reflecting off the purple hues of the curtains of bed sheets.

I stood, dumbfounded as Discordia comforted the withered Goddess’s hand.

I’m... Dead?

My itch was not needed, but it would not give me a moment to think. As I tried to wrap my head around the idea, Discordia stood, walking back to the small table towards the center of the room.

“Toshiro... He... He can’t be...” The Goddess let out little wailed, Discordia paying it no mind.

Digging inside, she pulled an empty vial. With it was a syringe, medical in nature and made my bones chill over.

“What happened...? Was my healing no good...?” She wandered back over to the goddess, exposing her forearm.

The Goddess’s obvious veins made it easy for Discordia to find her mark. The needle pierced through without issue and what I expected to be red blood was blue.

“I’m sorry Goddess. Your blood helped ease his pain but... Sadly, his wounds were too severe. You should be proud of Toshiro. Fighting a demon king’s general is no small feat.”

I fought who now?

I wasn’t aware there even were demon king generals. Is Discordia mixing up Gideon as the enemy’s forces? I’m so lost but my insight is getting interested.

“Were... Were his final moments in peace?” The Goddess asked.

Discordia’s smile sent chills down my spine.

“Yes Goddess... He requested that I take you somewhere safe before the demon king’s army advances on this town tomorrow.” Discordia filled the syringe. Taking the empty vial, she poked the needle through the top, transferring the blue blood.

That's... That’s the healing potion...

The vial was different, but the blue was unmistakable with its faint golden glow, I even had my unused potion to compare.

My itch was mind numbing.

“What about the towns people...?” The Goddess asked. “They all have been brought here because of me... Can they be taken somewhere safe?”

In her current state the last thing she should be thinking about is others. I internally critiqued.

“The towns people are already safe and sound. I am the only one who remained so I can grant Toshiro’s final wish.” Discordia packed away the vial and syringe.

Rather than immediately help the Goddess up, she walked towards the wall I was hiding at. I fear I had been spotted but instead found something curious.

There’s a concentration of magic on her fingertip.

She formed an outline on the wall, and the window plane was cut across by her finger. Forming a familiar box like shape, she pushed gently within the shape, and it opened.

It swung open with ease, perfectly cutting the shape of the wall and glass. It neither scrapped nor got stuck, as if the wall was made to open like such.

I was amazed, Discordia unknowingly exposed her power to me, and made the itch appease ever so slightly. I knew what I had to do.

I have to get the Goddess out of here without being spotted.

Think! With Discordia distracted with whatever she was preparing to do with the now open space. I could sneak and grab the Goddess and bolt. But I know that Discordia has showed her cunning nature. Deceiving the Goddess and extracting her blood there must be bigger plans I can’t foresee. I can’t allow myself to be spotted.

Lost in train of thought I brought my attention back to the matter at hand, Discordia’s eyes were staring at me, we stood in silence.

“Ah.” We both stuttered.

I’ve been spotted.

Both of our eyes were widened. I was barely hidden by the curtain as she was mere inches away from me, I felt foolish.

“H... Hi...” I awkwardly waved to those eyes of confusion.

“Hmm...” Discordia’s eyes shifted, they terrified me. “Naughty, naughty.”

“Woah.” I backed out of the curtain hiding spot, cautious to her current nature. My subconscious took over. “It seems we have a bit of a situation here.”

“Toshiro...” The Goddess uttered, still bed bound.

“To think you found a way inside. Did Lard allow this?” Discordia asked, her tone was seductive.

“Y- Yes. He had a change of heart for his cruelty. He said it was all for the Goddess.” I lied. Discordia’s eyes sharpened.

“T- Toshiro!” The Goddess let out a soft but emotional cry, letting another tear roll.

“Hm... Well, I can’t really let you leave now that you-”

“Wait!” I cut into Discordia's statement. “I know you’re the alchemist.”

Her eyes shifted. “And?”

“And... How about a deal?” I prompted. Her eyes told me I had her attention. “I wish to protect the Goddess from the coming attack. If you would like I would certainly love your assistance in finding a New Haven for us.”

“Hm.” Discordia gave thought.

Either way we’re not staying here. With Discordia’s help we could find a new life and ultimately ditch her too, her personality is unnerving, but she also has a similar goal to get the Goddess out of here. My itch was stabbing, I didn’t know what was wrong.

“I agree. Working together would be best.” She found the proposal intriguing. “Alright Toshiro, we’ll do it your way.”

The softening of her eyes put me at ease. “Alright, then let’s-”

I turned around facing the Goddess, my itch told me I have made a grave mistake.

“TOSH!” The Goddess let out a bigger cry. I could feel Discordia’s finger penetrate the side of my skull.

“Naughty indeed.” Discordia’s smirk spanned from ear to ear, her eyes lusting with delight. “To think the man who tricked Gideon and help ruin a paradise in one week would be so trusting.”

“Ah-Ha.” I could feel her finger wiggle inside my brain.

“Let’s see who you are.”

With a jab of her finger my vision went white.

“What...” I muttered.

I was sitting at a familiar coffee table. A warm meal sat in front of me. I could tell there was passion in the craft but no real love behind it as usual.

My bed was a mess, mine and a woman’s clothes were scattered on the floor after a fun night, I sat in my boxers and a t-shirt. Dread filled my heart as I looked to the woman who had cooked my meal, sitting in my usual apartment.

“Who is she?” Discordia’s voice echoed in my head.

“My old girlfriend...” I muttered.

“Hm. You don’t seem to fond of her.” She observed.

“This was the night my plans were in motion. The night I made her believe we were conceiving a child together.” I admitted, unable to control my words.

“You lied to her?” Discordia’s voice was not of judgement.

“Yes.” With a thought, the room shifted. My Ex was standing in horror, another man appeared, holding me by the collar.

“Who is he?” Discordia asked. Drifting with me through my memories

“Onizuka.” I stated.

“He is really upset with you. Why is that?”

I stared at his bloodlust eyes, remembering them clear as day. “I revealed my intentions to use the child as a means to control Onizuka. My ex had been cheating on me on the regular. I could tell by Onizuka’s sudden shift of tone towards me that he was aware or at least suspicious of her being pregnant before me and her actually did the act.”

“Rather than breaking things off with her you choose to manipulate their naivety... How interesting...” Her tone was more mischievous as she learned more. “Who is that girl with the bangs?”

The room shifted once more, I was now in a room full of young faces. A banner spanning an office wall had in bold letters Welcome to Orientation!

My ex and Onizuka were talking with me in fun conversation, a black-haired girl with covered eyes watched from a distance.

“Imani... I never even realized how early her stalker nature was present.” I stated. I could see her eyes peeking. “This was the first time I ever saw those eyes of hers.”

“And the last?” Her question shifted me to a bathroom. The walls covered in blood. I watched her eyes drain of life in front of me for another time.

“She killed herself in front of me. I had used her as a backup to live the societal norm of a relationship with the fallout of my old one. I heavily miscalculated her infatuation with Onizuka as my own.”

“Hmm... You are naughty indeed. But why are these the only strong memories you hold, why is there nothing else to look at?” She pondered, confusing me.

“There was nothing interesting in this life. It was as boring as the rest.”

“The rest?” With her words I could feel a digging sensation in my brain, nether painful nor pleasant. “I see no other lives, what are you talking about?”

No other lives? What was I talking about?

I have memories of when I met the Goddess to the hillside of reincarnation, but none of the lives I actually lived, only mere glimpses. Each one was boring, I think I zoned them out of my mind over time, I never really gave thought to how bored I have been.

“Hillside of reincarnation? What are you talking about?”

Ah shit, Discordia can hear my thoughts.

Wait, she doesn’t know about the hillside? Does she not remember the reincarnation process by the Goddess? Wait, I could use that against her but she’s in my head. I can’t strategize with her in my head! Get out of my head! Subconscious, take over!!!

In a moment my conscious went blank, I felt pure nothingness as I let my subconscious take control against Discordia.

This is nice. I never been so vivid in my cross over to the back parts of my brain, it’s interesting.

Before I could really relax and take it in, I felt Discordia’s finger exit my head, kicking me back to reality.

“Damn, I was really enjoying that.” I cursed the truth. Maybe I could get her to do that again.

“You are really interesting.” I flinched, Discordia’s words were cold, but the stabbing pain in my back was colder. Discordia pulled a blade from my pierced skin, blood staining my shirt.

“TOSHIRO!” The Goddess screamed in bloody murder, I fell to my knees, feeling paralyzed.

“Toshiro! Toshiro! Toshiro!” She screamed on repeat.

“Quiet.” With her cold demand, Discordia drove the knife through the side of the Goddess’s head.

“G... Goddess...?” I was in shock. Blue blood dripped from the blade’s handle and her weakened body went limp.

“Ah....” Discordia took a calming breath. “That feels so much better.”

I stared in disbelief. “You... You killed her...”

“Hm?” Discordia stared down at me. I could see no sense of pity behind those eyes no longer. “You are actually feeling this moment? The man who was willing to use a bastard's child to get an easy life. Don’t tell me you care about the Goddess?”

Her question tripped me. I have my memories of the hillside with her but we had no real connection. It was always a repeat of me lying to her over and over. So why? Why do I feel conflicted.

As I pondered, I felt my body pushed down against the bedframe. The Goddess’s head hovered over my shoulder, her blood dripping onto me. Her deep blue eyes greyed from her week of being drained, scarred in her final moments.

Discordia straddled me, rubbing her hands down my chest and cupping my chin. Her smile stuck pure fear into my very soul.

“You know Toshiro...” She moved her hips, letting our lower regions grind. “I didn’t think much the first time I saw you. I assumed you were another fool underestimating Lard and his abilities.”

She's not wrong, but it's nice knowing others did the same.

“In your fight I expected you to at least show why you had confidence. Abilities or not, your very being screamed uncaring.”

That is very true.

“But you lost, so, so easily.” Her grin grew. Her eyes stared with such emotion. “But in your final moments in the fight. You did not care for your lost, nor the present enemy. You looked so sure of your defeat, realizing your mistake.”

She jumped her hips up and down with ferocity, her face went into a deep blush.

“Rather than taking the moment to apologize or make a stand. You said those words... One that entertained me so much. “You really believe in that smile, huh?” OH!” I could feel the heat off our lower regions burn, passion in her movements had me afraid.

“I- If you really like those words, I could always say them at your request.” I humored, coping with the current situation.

“No. No, no, no. It’s not the words themselves! It was the passion! You had seen through that smile! The Goddess’s own deception, turning those here into mindless fools! You play with their very souls to get what you want...” She took a deep breath. “I really, really like that...”

I could feel us both sweat below, her hands getting adventurous with my paralyzed body.

“W- Wait!” I pleaded, Discordia stopped her motions, her eyes hinted at displeasure. “Why would you like that? Why would you purposefully harm the Goddess. You said it yourself, “I wish for peace of the lands. I truly believe the Goddess would grant such a wish.” How can she do that dead!?”

“Hm?” She was confused. “She is making my dream a reality. I have no need for her blessing to do so.”

My eyes widen in shock. Even in her twisted state her nature was no different from when she had first made her wish know. An idea crossed my mind. One my brain had figured out but purposefully withheld had made itself know.

Discordia can’t lie to herself. The very indecent acts she is indulging in over my body shows that. The pity, the intrigue, and lust that has reflected time and time again in those eyes made sense. That dangerous smile, drooling in delight as fear etched into my eyes and the Goddess’s blood dripped from the bade dug into her head. I know now why she found interest in my words spoken before my utter defeat by Lard.

She isn’t a mischievous nun. She is a full-blown sadist.