Dawn- An Age Of Darkness

A maid came by at night with my food. Lianne came with her. I could guess what they brought me. 

Pure vegetable soup.

"I have to apologize for the lack of taste but you probably know why."

I kind of did. "More or less."

I tried the soup. It wasn't bad. It was probably the best vegetable soup I'd ever had: fit for royalty. But I did miss the meat though. 

Dinner was over and the maid left. Biteria stared at me with trembling eyes. I still had some bread left in the bag, so I gave them to her. She started to devour them nonchalantly. 

To think you didn't even go near bread a month ago…

My bunny's preferences evolved without me. She grew up too fast.

Lianne had stayed behind. She stared at the city through the window. "You really look like her you know. I know you're not her but I can't seem to not get comfortable around you."

"Well, I wouldn't blame you. I wouldn't." I stared at the ceiling. The crystal chandelier glittered. "But this is only temporary. And I'm just a human."

I looked at Lianne. A smile surfaced. She looked back. Her eyes glittered like the blazing sun. "Thank you." I guess she didn't care if I was a human.

I didn't know why but Elves thought of humans as lowly creatures. Maybe it was because humans possessed less mana or maybe because we lived short lives? I didn't know but the root of this silly war between the two nations wasn't the lack of food, rather it was to prove their superiority. Just plain stupidity, if you asked me.

"You're welcome."

We didn't talk much. There wasn't much to say. I felt responsible for coming here. If I hadn't then this might not have happened. But it was only a matter of time. Maybe that was why no one blamed me. 

"Are you sad because of your siblings?" It probably wasn't the best thing to ask, but at this point, why should I have cared?

"It would be a lie if I said no. but I don't hold you responsible. I think it was fate. And holding you responsible would be unfair to you. After all, you never had any evil intentions and only acted in a way to help us." Her smile stayed. "I found out that Araan was planning it…"

"You did?" I didn't act too surprised. I needed to know more.

"Yes. That's why he cast a curse on me. I could see everything, feel everything but couldn't do anything. Only at the last moment did the curse broke and…." Streams of tears rolled down her face but she was still smiling. "So it was my fault…. Too."

I got back up and went closer to her. "It wasn't your fault." I hugged her. She was warm. She hugged me back. 

"Thank you…for everything."

I didn't say anything. We stayed like that for a few minutes.

***

Lianne left and I was all alone. 

Or I would have been if Biteria wasn't here. The whole day, she made so little noise that I sometimes even forgot about her. I patted her head and she settled down next to me. 

I was fully conscious and didn't want to let my guard down. I kept both of the swords and my knife close. 

Even if someone tried to sneak up on me, I should at least be able to counter. Should I keep this bangle on? 

I was in a dilemma about my bangle. But in the end, I kept it on. 

The things Lianne said kind of bothered me. 

If she knew everything and still couldn't do anything, how hard might it have been for her? Jowy went through something similar as well….

It was tragic but I didn't want to concern myself with the past. I had a future to look up to. And a present to confront with. I had to move forward. 

Time went on and it was more or less midnight. I was too weak, so it wasn't really feasible to stay awake for long. So although my mind was still cautious I had to sleep. I fell asleep rather quickly too.

***

The next morning I woke up with terrible hair. I didn't know what to do with the hair. 

Is this what they call bed hair? 

I never had to worry about it before.

I took a shower. Cleaned my body. Surprisingly my nude body didn't stimulate me as I feared it would. It was like looking at my normal self: but it was my own body to begin with. 

Does this bangle have some sort of mind-changing properties?

I tried wearing the armor but it didn't fit. And I needed to be disguised while I was in Alfeim, so I couldn't take off the bangle either. The dress was fancy and made me stand out more than necessary. But in the end, I still needed to wear it.

Strangely from this morning maids were flooding my room. Of course, I never gave them permission to get close to me but I still kind of felt like a piece of art being showcased on an art gallery or something. 

Do I have to wear this all the time?

It wasn't uncomfortable but made me feel weird. I don't think it's possible to describe this feeling.  I did manage to wear it alone this time though.

I picked up things and a maid led me to the throne room. About a dozen or so maids followed me, even some guards followed me. And when I passed by the guards on duty, they even gave me salutes.

I felt weird, very weird. 

But on the way, I stopped by a monument erected in respect to the fallen princes in a small garden-like terrace. I was the main reason behind their disintegration so I felt kind of bad. But that was all the emotion I had. 

I was surprised to see Araan's name on the monument along with the other princes. 

Guess the emperor might have really liked that brat.

I sighed. "Farewell Jowy lookalikes. Hope you can rest in peace." For a second there I actually forgot that I had nearly a dozen or so followers.

"How rude!" Someone yelled nearby. I knew I was rude but I didn't care. There was a young girl down the hallway and she looked at me with menacing eyes. "You-you're not her!"  But once my eyes met hers she ran away, pale as paper. 

She looked kind of like Lianne but I guess elves were just similar in appearance so I couldn't really tell if she was Lianne's sister or not.

I ignored all that and went to the throne room with the maid.

The rest of my followers just stayed behind the throne door.

***

Yet again I was faced with more surprises. 

Everything just keeps on getting better and better.

"Wh-who is this lovely lady!" Dick and his demon companion were here. Dick came rushing at my side held my hands and gasped. "It-it is an honor meeting a lovely lady like you! I'm Dick Miggins. Call me Mig!"

They already let you out, huh?

"Hey. Long time no see. I think I'll call you Dick instead. Seems to fit your persona better." I spoke nonchalantly.

His smile disappeared. 

It just had to be you.

"Daarc." His face twitched and his smile warped. Poor guy.. Well, at least he recognized me.