You need a collar

In opposition to how it started, the ending was weak. The moment I pressed the door handle I was back in the real world, holding an empty piece of paper in my outstretched arm.

“Is it over?”

Asked Aura, standing in the same place as before, still holding her hand on my back. I could swear that I spent at least few hours inside, but it looked like only a minute or two had passed here.

“Yeah, it’s over.”

“Good, how was it?”

She moved to stand in front of me. There was a hint of curiosity in her voice.

“Horrible.”

“I see.”

I felt incredibly tired and conflicted over the matter of my reward. It wasn’t a straightforward power like throwing fireballs or super-strength, its usage was dependant on the situation and luck, but all I wanted for now was to go home and sleep.

“Sorry, I’m going back to my flat.”

“You don’t want me to explain?”

“Not now, I need to take a breather.”

“Was it that bad?”

“Yeah.”

“I see.”

There was no trace left of her earlier kind words and concern. Aura returned to her slightly aloof and indifferent behavior. Was she disappointed?

“Let’s meet tomorrow or something.”

Votroadan's words were still ringing in my ears, not the ones about the challenge, but the ones he had greeted me with.

“Not needed. Rora will visit you tonight.”

“Is that so? I will be going then.”

Without further ado, I started walking. The inside of my head was a mess. On one hand, I wanted Aura to stop me and talk more. On the other, I didn’t want to deal with those guys anymore. Both thoughts were created with me in the center, and both made me feel even worse.

The Me from before, that tried to act all playful and close, seemed like a bizarre, distant thing to the Me of now.

It’s all that damn Votr’s fault. Is it really a sin to put yourself as the priority and try to tailor the world to your needs? Maybe I should have thought more about others, but it’s not as if I’m the only one who just tries to have fun in life. Other people aren’t much better, but I’m at least-

‘Oh~ so it’s the world’s fault again?’

Once again his words invaded my mind and stopped me from making more pointless excuses. As if they were a curse he placed upon me.

“Fuck it. Seriously fuck it.”

Turning my frustration and anger into energy, I was back in record time. I also bought some beers on the way, as they were the best solution in helping me to fall asleep.

Still, there was nothing worse than drinking in silence - all alone with your thoughts. So I turned on the laptop and was planning to play some MOBA while cursing at others and helping my team lose.

‘You’re just going to waste the second chance you were given?’

“No, I’m just going to relax and have some fun, nothing wrong with that.”

In opposition to the words I was mumbling under my nose, I started pondering over the line I’ve just remembered.

Is this really a second chance? I have to carry all the baggage and mistakes made by Victor. Why I couldn’t be reborn from zero, as an infant or something, or maybe not even as a human. Some other cool race would be nice in a fantasy world. Instead of walking on thin ice without any knowledge, I could take it slowly step by step, while being protected by others. So it’s not my fault that-

‘Oh~ so it’s the world’s fault again?’

“ARGH! FUCK IT! That damn line again! Over and over and over and over again!”

Tears were forming in the corners of my eyes, making it hard to play.

So I stopped. And stared blankly at the screen. Only my mouth moved. Drinking and talking, or more like warped self-reflection. The things that Votr had said and how I felt about them and things I hated about myself. Bits and pieces spilled out from me in a form of a pitiful cry.
I had a lot of similar experiences back in my old life. It was a vicious cycle that chains you down, slowly builds a prison inside your own head. It was almost impossible to stop by yourself and… again I was making excuses.

“Shit… somebody, please help me …”

Drinking only made it worse.

To speed up the process of knocking myself out, I started emptying beer cans one after another.

It didn’t take long before I had to barf, at least I made it to the toilet. Soon after it, I was deep asleep.

It was already dark when I woke up. I was hoping that this body would be more resistant to a hangover, but it wasn’t.

Which of the three was the strongest?

My bladder’s calling

My parched throat.

My hatred against any sudden moves.

I could easily get rid of two, so of course the headache was the worst.

On my way to the kitchen, I realized that someone else was in the flat. There were two pairs of boots left in the corridor, one big and one small. What’s more, I could hear noises and see light coming from the living room.

The time right before falling asleep was uncertain, but Aura had mentioned something about Rora coming tonight, which helped to lower my alarm level.

I soon realized that I knew the identities of both of my quests. Adam was reading at the table and Aura was playing on the laptop.

“Hey there, hope you don’t mind we made ourselves comfortable?”

Started Adam and looked at me from top to bottom.

“You look like shit mate.”

“Rora’s coming out.”

Before I could answer, Aura cut in with an announcement. When I turned to look at her I realized that something strange was happening. Red smoke was coming out from her open mouth, nostrils, ears, eyes, skin and even from under her nails. The overall process lasted for about twenty seconds. I was expecting the smoke to cover the entire room, but instead it was condensing next to Aura.

First, it formed a human silhouette and started shaping the details. Asexual smoke waist became thinner. The composition of its arms and legs changed into a smoother and more pleasing to the eye version. Its face features turned both cute and charming. Next, its chest swelled and grew to form a pair of really modest breasts. All this while still in the form of red smoke and yet it was already obvious that the teenage girl it was forming was going to be a real eyecatcher.

When the preparations were over, it flashed brightly. However, the naked girl I was looking forward to, never appeared. She had her clothes on.

In comparison to Aura she was a head taller, but still not even close to my or Adam’s height. Maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. Black and white lace bows were adorning her long, ginger twin-tails. Her slightly pointed face was sprinkled with freckles, that together with wild, marble grey eyes made her look feisty and capricious.

The girl wore red and black gothic lolita dress with corset. Its complex design, with numerous bows, knots and laces, would make any man wonder 'just how long it takes to put that thing on?', if not for the fact that she was already wearing it after materialization.

She was nibbling on her pinky’s nail and looking at me with great interest.

“You will become mine.”

Her words snapped me out of my daze and I realized that mesmerized by the process of her entrance, I had been watching her every move.

“You wanted someone to help you. Needed someone to help you. Cried for help. Cry of help.”

“How…?”

She patted the nearby laptop.

“Saaaaaaw it all. Pathetic, reaaaaalllyyyy pathetic, but cute. Cute? Chihuahua kind of cute. Ugly and unsightly, but lovely. Become mine. Hey… hey… hey?”

Seeing my bewilderment, she came closer and squinted her eyes.

“It hurts? Asking for help hurts. Wearing masks hurts. Working hurts. Expectations hurts. Family hurts. Dreams hurts. Living hurts. Thinking hurts. Everything hurts. Adam!”

“Yes?”

“It hurts right? Do you still suffer?”

“Not so much.”

“Aura!”

“Yes.”

“You were hurt, deeply hurt. Is it better now?”

“Yes.”

“See?”

She turned her attention back to me and smiled. Words like gentle or concerned had nothing to do with it. It bore the opposite meaning of innocence, but it was genuine. The first truly genuine smile I saw through Victor's eyes.

“What do you mean become yours?”

All I needed was one, last push and I would agree to anything she wants. A chance to ease the pain and make my life easier? Say no more. Left alone, I would just roll back to the pathetic state I hated the most.

“You’re lucky! You see, Aura’s my little sister. Adam’s my boyfriend. But I always wanted a pet. A pet is all you need. A cute, lovable, lonely one that will die without my care. Chance for you~. A great one indeed. Become my pet and think no more. At first, I thought you may work as a defender, a knight, a shiny sword-wielder. Add to it a good power and you could be one of us, fight and laugh, but you’re not a knight. Aaaaaall the preparations, all the careful steps. Useless. What’s the point of vigilance against a pathetic doggie? Still, you’re unbearably cute. Scream, cry, lie, wish for death and let me love you dearly. Let me pat your head and say that you’re a good boy.”

“A pet? I would agree right away if only you’ve asked me to become your follower or team member… but to become your literal dog?”

“Pet life is easier. Less stress and less pain. Why all the questions? You want help or not? Changed your mind? That's bad, rather bad, bad for you and bad for me. I already gave you my tasty mana spot, one perfect for training a new person... or animal? Like training your dog to do tricks. Sit, watch me, down, paw, leave it aaaaaannndddd... that's all? I want a smarter pet, but it has to be cute! I will ask you one. ONE, last time. Will you become mineee?”

It was a perfect chance. Of course not to become her dog, but to use my newly acquired power. As it was born from my challenge ‘Three choices’ it bore a striking resemblance to it.

Once a day I could use it to give me ‘Three answers’, or in other words, use it to predict three different ways that current situation could change due to my actions.

It was only a simple simulation, but if I were to win more challenges and add power to its development it would change drastically. Anyway, all I had to do was to think that I want to use it and three predictions would appear in my head. Like now:

One - Action: Answering the question with ‘No’.

Reaction: Rora becomes angry → Orders Adam and Aura to erase George.

Two - Action: Answering the question with ‘Maybe you will become my pet instead?’.

Reaction: Rora laughs → Aura erases George.

Three - Action: Answering the question with ‘Yes’.

Reaction: Rora becomes happy → Brands George as hers.

That was everything it did. It was rather vague and only simulated two steps ahead. But in this case, even my faint survival instinct screamed that ‘erase George’ part was something ominous, especially that it had used my true name.

My head hurts, I feel terrible, and my great power is telling me to accept Rora’s offer or die.

“I agree.”

“Great! Superb! Great! Fantastic! Great!”

The girl started twirling and orbiting around me. Patted on the back and watched from up close, the same way one was curious about their new toy. She pinched my cheek, measured both biceps, ruffled hair while tiptoeing and even made me open mouth to check the teeth.

In comparison to Rora’s overblown reaction, Adam only sighted slightly, while Aura clicked her tongue and was clearly upset.

“Good, really good. My own pet. Always wanted one. Oh~ but you need a collar. Just in case you get lost or try to run away. A smart pet won’t run away, so it’s just if you’re lost or someone tries to take you. Keep your mouth opeeeennn~, yup that’s it. Now stay like that for a moment. I promise it won’t hurt and I always keep my promises. Can’t break them you know? Breaking promises is a death sentence in my book. Oh, sorry, sorry, you stand here all cute, disoriented and confused, and I’m just talking and talking. Now. Say ‘aaaaaa’.”

The moment I did as she asked, she turned into red smoke and started to pour down my throat. I panicked and tried to back away, only to realize that Adam had moved to stand right behind me and was blocking the escape route.

“Don’t move. It won’t hurt, but it may get ugly if we stop in the middle. Just don’t move, got it? Nod if you do.”

It was just as he said, I really didn’t feel anything, but watching as a girl’s worth of red smoke enters your body wasn’t pleasant.

After about thirty seconds it was over. Adam patted my shoulder to cheer me up.

“What’s going on?”

“You just became Rora’s pet and trust me, it’s not something that you can back off from easily.”

Suddenly, our attention was grabbed by loud falling noise. It was Aura. She put so much energy into standing up that the chair she was sitting on toppled over.

“I’m going home.”

She angrily went out of the room.

“I know that I’m repeating myself, but what’s going on?”

“Jealousy I guess? Don’t worry about it, she will need to get used to you being Rora’s new plaything. Let’s sit down, there’s a lot I should tell you mate.”

“Somehow I find it hard to rely on you.”

“Ehh~. Even I can be serious from time to time, and poking fun at roadside carcass ain’t one of my hobbies.”

“Roadside carcass? You mean me?”

“Yeah mate, guess you still didn’t look in the mirror today.”