The Mook Maker

Patience was a virtue.

 

Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of mine.  

 

I felt increasingly impatient with each passing minute since the human scribe - a Sage, as I painfully reminded myself of the appropriate title - went to deliver the message, and the offer of peace, to the local lord. 

 

The rational part of me knew that the message would be merely a first step in a lengthy negotiation in which the human authorities would try to find a wiggle around the terms of the agreement, assuming they would consider them in the first place. 

 

I was also perfectly aware they were very likely to stall, refusing to negotiate, waiting for an allied force to come to their rescue, and failing that, for the changing seasons to wreak havoc on us instead, whichever came first. 

 

Yet, in spite of everything that the more logical, more rational part of me knew, I still couldn’t wait for the answer merely after a few hours had passed. 

 

I may have called it a peace agreement, but they were, in fact, terms of surrender under which I would leave them alone, which would allow us to focus on the other things that didn’t involve fighting. 

 

At least, fighting each other, anyway, considering how the local kingdom whose name I couldn’t possibly pronounce was at war with their neighbours and their opponents unbound by any deals would attack us either way. 

 

Perhaps, it was rather a truce, than a peace treaty. I wasn’t quite sure about the proper diplomatic terms, since it technically demanded a partial disarmament and ceding to us the portion of the land. Thinking of it more, the term unconditional surrender wouldn’t be that unfitting, but I didn’t see any other way considering how belligerent the humans were.

 

Our sudden, albeit relatively limited, ability to communicate still wasn’t a miraculous solution to all issues, even if - or rather exactly because - it involved literal magic. 

 

Nonetheless, it was better than nothing, and I was glad to have the opportunity to succeed at something I had repeatedly failed in the past five days, and now felt eager for an immediate payoff now the largest obstacle of all - the language barrier - was overcome, even if the rational part of me said that it wouldn’t be so easy.

 

As I reined in my temper, I thought I rather should be satisfied with the fact that the enemy’s archers manning the castle walls didn’t shoot the messenger. 

 

Humans are unpredictable like that. 

 

I was still submerged in thoughts after this brief introspection, while we all ate the evening meal together in relative silence, gathered around the campfire.

 

The skies darkened as the day came to its end, yet the vigour never left the grounds of our main camp, as my monsters, my girls didn’t need much incentive to keep themselves both busy and entertained. 

 

The rest of the horde feasted as well, but I was growing used to the organised chaos as my ever-restless monsters worked together towards the mostly unspoken goal, even when they should be resting, nevertheless did so in near complete silence interrupted only by the occasional hushed ‘Purifier’ giggling and occasional repetitive chant as only forms of expression. 

 

Their telepathic connection, now an inkling somewhere just beyond my notice, was busy with activity, strange, indescribable, like the roar of the crowd as seen in a silent film, unmistakably there, yet unable to reach one’s ears.

 

I knew how their network sounded even if I didn’t hear them right now, a thousand voices joined into a single cacophony, not lost in the hum, but instead happier with every participant.

 

My girls supposedly heard that all the time, every passing second, and I never understood how they dealt with that without feeling distracted or overwhelmed. 

 

There were other things to worry about. 

 

While I waited for a response that might never come, I had my inner circle gathered to discuss our plans for the future I never considered, even if I didn’t bring it up before them and merely mulled it over in my head. 

 

There were decisions to be made for the sake of our shared future. 

 

The dinner was relatively tasty, with a lot of meat, and quite salty, which was a pleasant change after the past several days of tasteless grub. It seems they enjoyed it as well. 

 

My girls probably ransacked someone’s kitchen, figured out the campfire cooking, or likely did both, and probably started stomping the new hunting grounds opened around the southern village. 

 

It also served as a reminder we should actively start stockpiling for the winter. 

 

I didn’t know if there were winters, after all this certainly wasn’t Earth and the seasons as I knew them didn’t necessarily apply.

 

Despite this, it was still fair to assume they could be relatively similar in that regard. The first snow could be many months away, but I assumed it would come eventually. 

 

We weren’t in the tropics, that was a certainty at least, and at very best we were looking at a temperate climate with very mild winters considering the way the houses were built, but it doesn’t mean I could underestimate the preparations. The modern world was quite unused to the perils of cold and starvation, I realized, but there was a good reason why human ancestors feared the winters.  

 

Now when it was apparent we were here to stay, we have to think of it as well. 

 

I never imagined any of this would ever happen, in my wildest dreams, yet I sat here with a group of anthropomorphic beast women struggling to maintain a grasp over my own memories. Not that I had forgotten anything, it just felt foreign, since there were memories of the human and I didn’t feel like one any more.

 

This was one of the reasons why I postponed the task of finding the supposedly magical scrolls explaining our existence, finding the way home didn’t seem that appealing anymore

 

I didn’t like it here - a violent and brutal land I never sought - but I hated the thought of going back as well. There wasn’t anything to return to, only other forms of wrong. I suddenly felt sad. 

 

Miwah’s embrace was warm and fluffy, never letting me doubt my sense of belonging. I leaned into her as she took place behind me, as my protector and shield against the world.

 

“Our scouts made a camp on the other side of the river, Master.” Helmy suddenly spoke. “I don’t think they can hit us even with their ballista.” 

 

I turned my head, returning my thoughts back to the present, to the issues less philosophical in nature.  

 

Arke had two ‘Eviscertators’’ feeding her, even if she had grasping hands as part of her wings. 

 

They apparently didn’t mind and were just social, even entertained, as they playfully slid small pieces of meat into her maw and along her tongue, while she licked the claws, equally amused by the entire affair, with occasional glances in my direction. 

 

I turned my attention to Helmy.

 

“Why? Did the humans do anything? A response? A flag of truce?” The red vixen was looking quite dignified sitting in her armour. She grew quite a lot when I thought of it, even if nothing could erase that glow of slightly unhinged devotion behind her yellow eyes, and the sadistic grin on her vulpine maw when she looked at the horizon, her claws scratching marks into the eponymous trophy helmet she clutched in her lap. 

 

Otherwise, she looked quite similar to a past Tama, with her yellow and red anthropomorphic fox vibe. 

 

Tama, now almost magically silver, sitting next to ‘Alpha’ toying with the flames jumping between her fingers, had more mystical appeal to her, along with the exotic charm perhaps only I had seen. 

 

“We see no reaction. We should have an entire night of rest, or better, more pleasant distractions, before we have to worry about the response from humans, Master.” She glossed in, my silver fox, and mate, simply couldn’t pass up the chance for a quip, and did so with a foxy smirk on her lips. She, however, didn’t elaborate.

 

Her slightly glowing eyes darted between me and Narita for some reason. The two ‘Purifiers’ obtained a comb somewhere and were grooming Tama’s tails.

 

Helmy’s eyes darted to the horizon, her shifting focus implied the changes of perspective, making me wonder how the ‘Alphas’ perceived the world in such a case. 

 

“We can place fifty here, then fifty more there. Then burn anyone trying to send a letter, or fetch supplies, Master. They are going to burn. All of them! Burn.” Helmy continued, grinning, imagining something or perhaps just pushing her smaller kin around through her mental link: “They will never leave that castle alive to hurt my Master.”

 

She was creepy like that. Still, Helmy was my ‘Purifier’ and we couldn’t really exist without one other, they were all my cute foxies. Besides she had a point, it was always an intention to encircle the castle for any siege, even if the particularly strong water current worked in our favour 

 

“We need Mai’s help with better hideouts, Master.” The slightly unhinged ‘Purifier’ collected herself and looked back at me. 

 

“Just a few Corruptors. If you encounter any humans, try to capture them first…” I said carefully. “We need this negotiation to work out, and try to not get in range of the city’s wall.” 

 

For the first time in the series of rather futile efforts to set up any line of dialogue, we could talk with the natives, which made the whole affair with the prisoners more viable aside from the humanitarian reasons. The prisoners' exchanges could be attempted even if the lord refused to cede the fortress and the land. 

 

“Living soldiers can be exchanged for our people. Even if the lord disregards the lives of the peasantry, we should care more for soldiers, wardens or guards, or others who kept the order.” 

 

I theorised, however, still didn’t have a plan besides that, especially considering that the wandering men-at-arms were already recalled back to the city, or the castle, to aid in defence.

 

“Yes, Master!” Helmy replied happily, her attention switching back from the unseen horizons to me, showing no hint of unhappiness with the decision.

 

I was aware the bat girls’ powers made taking humans alive extremely easy, but the puppeteering mechanic opened a way towards a slaver raid economy, making me hesitate to expand the numbers of ‘Fleshspeakers’ and send them to capture humans across the land.

 

At the same time I realized I didn’t put enough effort into mapping the city defences even if the ‘Displacers’ could teleport behind its walls. Sora lay on the one bedroll she appropriated, dozing for the first time.  

 

She might have done this already, with the amazing orientation the ‘Displacer’ had and with paper available, at least some map-making has to be considered. 

 

I would leave it for later. 

 

“Brave…” I directed my attention towards the other ‘Alpha’ - I had her brought from the mining town rather than ordering her through Miwah, “Could you send a couple of your sisters to run around the city to know the lay of the land, and find out from where the human city gets the food…” 

 

The city was, of course, provided by the surrounding villages, it was rather a question of finding their largest suppliers. The bridge we destroyed may be a vital trade route, but by the fact we were sitting on the hilly shores, their food didn’t come through the territory we claimed.

 

It was useful to know. There was an easier way to do this too. 

 

Pausing, and nodding towards Arke. The anthropomorphic bat had enough dexterity in foot talons to use them as hands as she could hold the bowl up, she apparently liked having ‘attendants’ and luckily two ‘Eviscerators’ played along. It wasn’t surprising, considering her powers and the fact I ordered her to send the ‘zombified’ villagers away. The chiropteran girl returned the gaze with a pleasant smile, expecting my command. 

 

“One or two Fleshspeakers to do a fly-by too. I want to make sure they don’t have these barriers around the city. Or if there are shrines outside the city limits, or monasteries, or so on.” 

 

Considering the fact that human’s most dangerous spellcasters were, in fact, roughly equal to their clergy, I dreaded the thought of having an entire monastic order of these close by. 

 

I should focus on more mundane threats too - my head started to ache a little bit. 

 

“Yes, Master.” They both answered in unison and nodded and my attention towards Kuma, then Brave again. The ursine girl seems unbothered, her focus absorbed in her reshaping on metal, mastering her ability to coat herself in armour on demand.

 

“Brave, how well does the mining go?” I asked, realizing that Brave had been made the de facto mayor of the mountainside settlement - or garrison commander - and it was she who supplied the material for Kuma’s ‘Ravagers’. My ursine girls were equipment-dependent, even if they created it themselves. 

 

“We couldn’t get the humans to mine, Master.” Brave admitted, “Even after that reasonable one taught them the proper manners, many human miners have been killed in the battle.”

 

The attack on that town was a disaster, even if it was one that ended on the less violent end thanks to Ari. It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the already hostile population wasn’t going to cooperate with the occupation force represented by Brave and other ‘Eviscerators’, I thought.

 

Uprisings were going to be an issue eventually.

 

The crazy human girl - or the most reasonable one, depending on perspective - had her hands full elsewhere. I didn’t even invite her here. 

 

“But the Ravagers were able to gather enough metal for their equipment.” I objected, aware that their power apparently worked on the metallic ore just as well as the smelted metal, and were bypassing the fact that the copper was relatively soft metal. 

 

“Sorry, Master.” Kuma finally spoke, yawning, presumably as a tic rather than an actual sign of exhaustion, “We don’t know where the metal veins are.”  

 

I paused and was forced to agree - their power absorbed and reshaped metal, but didn’t necessarily translate to being able to sense the ore through layers of dirt and rock or other obstacles. 

 

The time they would spend digging, and getting stuck in the claustrophobic tunnels, would be time spent they couldn’t fight or shape the metal. 

 

There was a gnawing conscience regarding the fate of the humans in the village too, but I pushed it away, aware that their status is rather temporary considering I was willing to let all of them resettle rather than exploit their workforce. 

 

However, there was neither reason to send the farmers to mines, nor for my girls to suffer the hard labour. 

 

“The Fleshspeakers for the area can take all the zombified humans and make them do the digging… all, except one needed as a translator, would be transferred there” I ordered, convinced it would be a more workable solution that didn’t require an effort from the unaffected villagers, and put the irreversibly enthralled to the better use. 

 

“Arke, have your girls modify the puppeteered humans to be miners … if they can be controlled from the surface. We need to find an alternative to the metal, or just make the mine run. ” I said, realizing all too late that horrible mutations the ‘Fleshspeakers’ inflict will grow rampantly to facilitate this. I should still reduce the acquisition of new puppets though. 

 

“Master. I have the ideas!” Arke said, playfully, though her sight wandered off to the things she could only see. 

 

“We will need the Defilers' healing magic for emergencies here too.” I blurted out before Arke eagerly agreed with a manic glee twinkling in her eyes. 

 

Narita looked at me silently, yet attentively. My anthropomorphic rodent girl was always the most professional, not to mention helpful.

 

“I will have to name a few of your sisters to accommodate this, but it would work. I want to keep you near me, so your named sisters would take the positions in the villages under our control for basic healing.” I quickly formulated the very basic idea, even though I hesitated to summon the ‘Overview’ to count how many ‘Defilers’ there were. 

 

It would, however, require me to abuse the naming mechanic, which I started to dislike. 

 

“Yes-yes, Master, we will help!” Narita agreed and positioned herself even closer to me. I didn’t mind at all. 

 

“Kuma’s sisters would help with woodcutting temporarily, at least a little. We will fortify the eastern pass should the humans try to clear the blockade from the outside. We will need a lookout post, and sturdier shelters and…” 

 

I stopped. 

 

Not only was it far too much construction to be done without a major engineering proficiency in such efforts, but it also required me to divert far too many of my people away from the fighting when the siege itself was far from being won, or decided. 

 

The woodcutting and construction were also hard labour which would make use of my ursine’s extraordinary strength, just as quarrying, mining and digging would, which would completely ruin the idea of the ‘specialized’ workforce before it even began.

 

While ‘Purifiers’ started some deforestation on their own, using my muscled humanoid bear would make their work at least slightly bearable. 

 

I was disappointed I wasn’t able to find a better solution - at least, one that didn’t rely on human slave force. 

 

“Master,” Kuma interjected. Her tired expression made me question whether she was comfortable with my sudden outburst, or merely being quirky in her usual lazy-looking demeanour. 

 

“Don’t rush with that.” I corrected myself, ”I don’t want to exhaust you.”  

 

“We are here for you, Master,” Kuma said in an honest-sounding tone, even if still slow and worn out, “We look forward to some peace and quiet away from the humans.” 

 

I paused once again, reminding myself I failed to consider how much most of my girls despised the humans, and my big, fluffy charming, ursine wasn’t any more accepting in that regard. 

 

Perhaps the whole coexistence idea was harder than previously anticipated, no matter what Ari was telling the natives. 

 

I hoped this was a temporary issue as the idea of simply releasing the humans from any bondage after the war ended was an option, if only as a symbolic gesture. 

 

The guilt from the loss of life caused in this pointless scuffle over the past days came back, however, a firm embrace of my ever-supportive Miwah made me feel better, and even surprisingly affectionate Narita pushed herself closer. 

 

“Leave the humans mostly alone, Ari would talk some sense into them later, unless they cause trouble.” I decided, there was no point in further antagonising them should they be simply allowed to leave once their leadership sensed some reasons. 

 

There was enough farmland left in the valley for all of them, even if resettlement wasn’t the kindest solution, it was a practical one, far better than suppressing future rebellions. 

 

There was no need for the unnecessary killing of humans, or for my girls to suffer more in this never-ending struggle.

 

The little portion of the valley we controlled at the moment had to be enough, somehow.

 

However, this also meant there was even a greater push for us to utilize the area we had for food, which was something that wouldn’t be normally possible within a lifetime, let alone in preparation for the coming winter. 

 

I, however, have a cheat to give us the emergency supplies we needed without resulting in raiding the human settlements, since the ‘Corruptor’ power considered the traits of a tree as the subject of a whimsy, rather than an inviolable biological law.

 

Mai was quite tricked out for the occasion, I noticed, almost like she wanted to show that nature was a subject of her reign. The unearthly, colourful flowers woven in her feathers doubled as hair, along with the woven wreath, with many more additional feathers decorating her clothes.  Together it was the natural decorations of a Lu’au mixed with the ostentatious colours of Mardi Gras. It seemed to be a style that most ‘Corruptors’ embraced, and their ‘Alpha’ didn’t break the mould - she just did enough to imply rank over the less gaudy common kin.

 

The reptilian girl however seemed unfocused at the moment, her mind wandering somewhere else, likely the telepathic network shared by my girl, distraught. 

 

“Mai…” I said, and she looked at me, blinking in surprise. The fact that ‘Corruptors’ had three eyelids still fascinated me, and it was always noticeable when they blinked. 

 

“My Master?” 

 

“Do you know what the humans in the south were growing? We need to expand the food production of anything that can be stored.” I asked, and then, reconsidered the question, “Are there even a lot of fields to our side of the river?” 

 

Our interaction with the village to the south has been mostly triggered by the fact that the ‘Displacers’ were able to cross larger distances in the blink of an eye, making the travel times much shorter, but also robbing me of the idea of how far apart things were. 

 

We came, and went, through those portals, leaving much of our recently expanded numbers behind.

 

“Yes, my Master. They are larger fields as the land largely flattens to the south.” Mai said, her gaze once again spaced out as they interrogated her sisters through the telepathic link: “The vegetables? Lots of soy and beans? Corn? Flax?” 

 

This was an unusual variety of crops. 

 

“I see.” I nodded, then briefly paused at the thought of the corn - this plant originated from the American continent, while this land mostly resembled Eastern Asia at least in its aesthetics. It was unusual. 

 

“My Master?” Mai asked, blinking again. 

 

I shook my head - this place, whether and wherever it was, wasn’t Earth, that much was certain, There wasn’t much of a reason to think about the origin of crops in such detail, for now.

 

“Never mind, Mai. Let’s call that village Maiville South. I need you and your sisters to start converting the forests in the area to trees that produce only edible fruit, or anything that can be pickled, dried, or otherwise stored for a long time.” I decided quickly, bringing my brain back on course, and realizing that I might have overloaded the poor reptiles with an insurmountable amount of labour. 

 

“Yes, my Master!” She beamed, probably flattered I called the area after her. 

 

“So many improvements. Can we evict the smelly humans, Master?” Mai offered, blinking again, excited, proving that the drastic changes in the area were likely a product of the ‘Corruptors’ enthusiasm about their abilities. 

 

“No, sorry. We will need humans for later.” I said, “The Corruptors have a lot of areas to cover so don’t overwork yourself, and the villagers shouldn’t protest against harvesting the fields since they need to eat as well.” 

 

“Yes, my Master!” The lizard girl confirmed. If she was displeased about the humans infesting her soon-to-be fiefdom, she didn’t show it a single bit, and instead offered: “My Master! We were making this area we wanted to show to you!” 

 

I looked up, into the dimming skies, and the slowly fleeing daylight made me reject the offer.

 

“I would love to. Tomorrow, night is coming, and we need to make plans for tomorrow…” 

 

“Yes, my Master!” The reptilian beamed, showing that even the scaly face of the anthropomorphic lizard could show some emotion. 

 

“Thank you!” I said, looking at Sora. The feline was the only one seemingly asleep, almost paradoxically considering the ordinary cats were usually very active at dusk hours, but I couldn’t blame her. Bending space itself to her must have been tiring, and we couldn’t feed them the life energy through the ‘Defilers’ constantly, reserving the transfer for emergencies. 

 

There was a smaller, kitten ‘Displacer’ next to Sora, like one she employed as her adjutant - I assumed Kitty or Kat by my terrible naming convention recognizable thanks to the beaming red eyes - but I didn’t try to order them around. They didn’t like it when I confused them, though this one tried to put on some trinkets to stand out.

 

I gestured for her to calm down - if Sora, or other ‘Displacers’, needed the rest, they would get it. 

 

“Would you name a town after Brave too, Master? Or better, after me?” Tama, who mostly opted to stay silent so far, teased. 

 

“I am not sure,” I said, completely truthfully, as the whole idea of the naming places we were going to settle wasn’t originally intended more than tags for easier orientation. 

 

“Brave, Protector of Eastern Mark.” Tama pressed, though her grin was rather playful, “You said it yourself earlier, Master.” 

 

I sighed and leaned more into Miwah - my ever-faithful werewolf didn’t protest - then I yawned. 

 

“I need to think about a naming scheme. How many girls are named Valerie?” I asked, absentmindedly, realizing the pitfall of the naming system which brought more chaos into the order than vice versa. 

 

“Three, Master,” Miwah softly whispered into my ear. I cringed internally, the consequences of my laxness in naming coming home to roost and was now bound to create more confusion and chaos, not to mention embarrassment should I call my girls the wrong name again.

 

“We need a census and write the names down.” I said, another yawn breaking into my speech, “Then mapping with naming. Until that, no naming.” 

 

“Yes, Master.”  

 

The answer was in tandem, soft, yet hopeful, while I gladly procrastinated solving the whole issue until I had a dedicated scribe to write this all down. 

 

I was getting so, so tired. 

 

“You need a life-force infusion, Master?” Narita suggested, pressing herself close, in reaction to my apparent sign of exhaustion.

 

“Nah,” I said, “We can retire to bed if there isn’t anything to plan, and humans didn’t cause a problem.” 

 

“Yes-yes, Master!” Narita said, sudden excitement in her voice, positioning herself practically on my lap. My anthropomorphic rat girl was quite warm and soft, although I didn’t put much effort into enjoying it, as my brain was preoccupied with finding out if there was anything requiring my attention. 

 

There wasn’t, I convinced myself, and then I remembered the artefact. The stave, one that once belonged to the priestess from the south.

 

“Kuma. Could you…” I explained between yawns, “...the bring the staff.” 

 

“Yes, Master,” Kuma answered, and her lazy tone made me yawn almost instinctively. I enjoyed the closeness of Miwah and Narita, interrupted by the brief quips of Tama who to her credit didn’t show a single bit of jealousy and handled this with amused approval. 

 

I paid no attention to her comments about taking turns. 

 

One of the ordinary ‘Ravagers’ brought the staff in question, even though they were forced to handle the obviously magical item with the pair of blacksmith tongs. Our link, staying dormant until now, flared in disgust. 

 

The wooden stave with the golden head shaped in the form of the coiled, Asian-styled dragon, with the golden rings loosely attached to it, to jingle whenever the wearer walked. 

 

It was wrong. The stave. 

 

It was an artistically beautiful piece of craftsmanship with an undoubtedly hefty price tag thanks to the precious metal it was shaped from, not to mention the magic imbued within it through the process I couldn’t comprehend. 

 

There was something indescribably, unimaginably wrong about the object, enough to make me recoil in disgust. 

 

The feeling, as a thousand imaginary prickly needles just itching to stab me into my own brain, woke me up from the stupor.

 

The item had this … aura, enchantment of magic of its own, and it rejected us.

 

“We will destroy it…” I decided almost immediately, “Tomorrow.” 

 

The immediate call was simple: it would not return to human hands. 

 

My girls didn’t dispute the idea, however the moment the item was dragged away, my sight landed on Kuma, and her armour shone in the dim light, the realization struck me. The enchanted item would make Ravagers stronger and ‘Alpha’ control more precise. 

It was what happened when we killed that impossible ‘elite’ - and considering how well it worked for the ‘Alpha’ it may reduce the requirement for the metal, and people pushed in the mines and … 

 

Unsure if we can destroy the item, I was tempted to consider whether we could use it. 

 

“Is there a volunteer Ravager to try to absorb it?” I asked, and immediately realizing it was the equivalent of demanding someone’s hand to be scorched off in the blazing furnace, I corrected myself and blurted out in recognition of the cruel command: “Only volunteer. If you are absolutely sure. You would experience great pain! You can reject!” 

 

Refusal, however, didn’t prove to be an issue. An acceptance was. There was an ordinary ‘Ravager’ - a beautiful bear lady, like all of them - who reached for the staff with her bare hands, despite the fact she had previously dragged the object away using long-handle tongs only to keep the distance from the radiant energy. 

 

She knew contact with the item would hurt - the ursine monster looked at me briefly, her black eyes filled with complete devotion.

 

“You don’t have to…” I said, aware it would injure her, at the very least.

 

A last glance towards me spoke volumes, the ursine girl grabbed it anyway. 

 

Her large, plumpy body collapsed into the ground in a seizure and she screamed out in pain, as she forced her power to consume the magical stave into itself, along with its enchantment, into itself. 

 

Unlike Kuma’s reshaping of the sword earlier, it wasn’t smooth at all, but the agonizing process I come to regret the seconds after it began. I didn’t want my girls to suffer. 

 

Then… 

 

It travelled down the link she all shared, threatening to harm us all, my monsters, my girls, my family. 

 

The agony was unimaginable as it shot through my brain as a magic-induced stroke, a punishment for a grave, deadly misstep. 

 

The briefly appearing overlay message taunted my rapidly fleeing consciousness as everything went dark.

 

Unit absorbed an artefact. The incompatible element! 1 unit sealed until the compatible element is obtained.

 

I came back to my senses and lay down on one of the sleeping pallets, with Narita leaning over me, her red eyes filled with care and concern, her clawed fingers gently touching my face. 

 

The influx of energy was as potent as the flash of the lighting, filling me with an equal measure of anxiety as it did vitality.

 

“Master?”

 

“Is everyone all right?” I asked, scanning my surroundings, Tama and Miwah immediately came closer, locking us in a tight embrace, along with Narita. Then Kuma hugged us too, towering over us with her bulk and size.

 

“You were hit exclusively, Master. It took Ekaterina, and then you.” Kuma said, without a trace of blame in her voice, instead filled with worry, her large hand caressing us. She might not condemn me for what I’ve done, but it didn’t matter - I had self-blame to spare. 

 

“Sorry. I doomed her…” I said, holding Narita close, feeling her warmth. 

 

“Ekaterina will be back, Master” Kuma said, “In you, we are forever, once the human magic is no more” 

 

I recalled the message - it was ‘sealing’ once again, the very magic we fought against, just without the user to blame it against. At least, other than myself, and my ill-thought-through attempt to cheat the misunderstood mechanic. 

 

A stupid act that would damn myself as well as my girls. 

 

“I will get all our sealed people back, for any cost.” I whispered, “We shall never be apart.” 

 

I slid back to the pallet holding Narita close, refusing to hold her go - she saved my life, after all, after yet another dubious decision. 

 

Yet, there was an entire storm of emotion to experience other than the guilt over the next disappointment, guilt, and fear - there was acceptance, forgiveness, and unity, a gnawing sensation that burned the pattern in my brain along with the pain it caused.

 

I pulled Narita closer, caressing her soft, silky fur. 

 

That nagging sensation linkering within my mind insisted - we shall never be apart.