Judgement's Heir

As ▯▯ ▯▯ looms

▯▯ scion sprouts

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Darkness. Everything in my vision was dim with nary a scant of light in sight. Even my own body was invisible to me. I tried to touch my face to check, to try and see or even just feel. Yet no sensation came to me. I tried to move my tongue, yet nothing filled my senses. I couldn't feel anything. As panic filled my mind, the jumbled voice — interlaced with static — echoed throughout. 

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Hid by ▯▯ ▯▯

▯▯ shall be their ▯▯

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What the hell is this?!

Yet the echo continued, uncaring of my internal confusion. A muted hum joined the echoes. Its cadence started off slow and low, gradually increasing.

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▯▯ exhibits its might

▯▯ against the ▯▯

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Shouts started filling my ear, starting up a cacophony of sounds, making it harder and harder to make out the voice. A multitude of trumpets joined in. Reverberations of string instruments of some kind filled the void. A soothing voice tried to assuage my rising panic. As my panic reached an all-time high, I realized that I couldn't feel any semblance of my heart beating.

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When ▯▯ ▯▯ and ▯▯

The ▯▯ given ▯▯

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The sounds of shouts were replaced by bone-chilling screams. Loud bangs rang out. Laughter could be heard. Moans could be heard. Snores could be heard. The sounds of chewing could be heard. The clink of coins could be heard. The unmistakable sound of a blade entering flesh accompanied by the clunk of a crown falling to the ground. Everything was going on a crescendo.

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As ▯▯ bears ▯▯ ▯▯

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Then it stopped. Everything stopped at the same time. It was as if the previous dissonance was merely an illusion. As if everything in existence held their breaths, in anticipation for what is to come. 

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Only then can salvation be claimed

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The once muddled voice, now clear as day. 

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Unmistakable. Unignorable. Unforgettable. 

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It was then, I could feel numerous hands reaching out to my legs from below. Gripping so tightly that nails drew blood from my skin, and dragged me under.

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"What the fuck!"

I woke up with a shout, startled and shivering. I palmed my face, tongued my cheek, and curled my toes. I can feel it. I can feel them again. It was just a dream. I slightly slapped both of my cheeks to ensure I was awake.

"What the hell was that?"

"Master! Are you alright?!"

The door opened as Vera rushed into my room to check on me. Worry evident in her lovely face. Her unbridled white locks flowed as she ran to my side dressed in a nightgown. Clearly, she woke up due to my shout.

"I'm fine Vera. It was just a dream."

I replied with my hands up high as I tried to ease her worry, knowing how protective she was of me. 

"Are you sure Master? Let me get you a cup of water."

She immediately went to my desk, took the pitcher, filled the cup, and handed it to me. Giving her my thanks, I drank it in one go and quenched my parched throat.

"Pardon me for asking Master. What did you dream about?" Her scarlet eyes gleamed with worry tinged with curiosity.

"It was weird. I was, I was…" I tried to recall it, but no memories came to mind. The emotions from the dream had also faded as though nothing happened.

"I, I — I don't remember." I was weirdly calm. Unnaturally so. 

I shook my head and changed the subject.

"Anyways, how many times do I need to tell you about calling me Master?" 

"Get some more rest, Master. We have a big day ahead of us later on." She blatantly ignored my complaint as she turned to return the cup. Though she pretended to ignore it, I was able to see the slight smile on her lips and the slight twitch of the tip of her pointed ears.

She's just too cute when she presents herself to be more mature than she really is even though we're just the same age.

"I'll take my leave now, Master. Sleep well."

"Okay, thanks for checking on me Vera. Goodnight."

As she was about to close the door, I heard her silent whisper.

"Happy birthday Dina."

She's just too much. Now my heart is pounding for a different reason. This girl will be the death of me I swear. Though my day started out badly, our small interaction wiped the slate clean. I had a feeling that today will be a good day.

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"Master, wake up." A sweet voice lured me out of Morpheus' domain, involuntarily bringing out a smile on my face. Still a bit groggy, I reached out both my hands towards the voice with my eyes closed.

"Do you need me to pull you up again?" She asked with a sigh, yet I could feel her smile through her voice. As soon as she grasped both my hands, I pulled her towards me into a hug.

"Master!" 

"You're complaining?" I could feel her hands snaking around me to engulf me in a hug. 

"No, not really." Her apparent cold demeanor cracked as she snuggled more into me. We spent a few more minutes embraced in a comfortable silence.

"Master…" Her hesitance in broaching the topic bled into her tone.

"Yeah, I know."

"It's your sixteenth birthday today Master…"

Turning sixteen meant that my mana circuits finally finished forming and I would be able to start manipulating mana. Learning to control mana would require me to attend a Mana Institute or learn from someone who can. Doing so, however, meant that Vera and I would have to leave our quaint little home in the dense forest northwest of Lumisade. Furthermore, I could also just try to learn on my own using books from the library.

"Vera…" I hesitated. Hearing me hesitate, she nuzzled her head against my chin as though to coax out the words stuck in my throat.

"What if… what if I just want to stay here? With you. I know I'm meant to learn to use mana, but I don't want to leave this place. Would it be so wrong if I just want to live here with you and continue as we have? I'm comfortable with what we have right now. The barrier's still holding strong. There's no danger. There's no risk. It's just us."

Clutching her tighter, my words flowed out like a torrent. The mounting uncertainty I had with setting off outside finally bubbled over. Sensing my anxiety, she held my cheek and turned my face to face hers. 

"But, Master. You've always said that you're meant to set out and learn to use your mana. I remember you being so enthused about it that you'd keep boasting about it. There was a period where you'd mention it everyday for weeks on end. You're probably just getting cold feet with the day of us leaving finally imminent."

Her words were soft and comforting as she tried to ease my worry while stroking my face. 

"That was nearly six years ago, Vera. Things have changed. I haven't spoken about setting in recent years, haven't I? I'm not placing the blame on you, but me being with you here just feels right. My ambition of using mana was nothing more than a child's dream. A flight of fancy. That feeling I had of needing to go has faded. What I want right now — what I've wanted for the past two, three years — is us staying here together. I'm content with just that. I'm happy."

"It might be a bit selfish of me to just suddenly decide this on my own. Especially since you'll be with me. What do you think Vera?"

I stared at her eyes as I spoke, conveying the bare truth of my feelings. Seeing her flushed face due to me was exhilarating. Noticing my stare, she covered my eyes with her hands as she replied.

"If that's what you want, Master, as your trusty maid I'll follow and trust in your decisions." I shook my head at my self-proclaimed maid's words and held her a bit more tightly.

Knowing my discontent with her words, she rephrased:

"If that's what you want Dina, I'll follow whatever it is you decide to do." She ended her words with a whisper. Still blinded by her hands, I could feel her coming closer. A slight sensation brushed against my lips.

Immediately running away, she briskly stood up and turned to leave the room.

"I'll prepare your breakfast, Master."

An unbidden smile graced my lips.

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God, I love her.