Reality

The Pit, afternoon:

Dutti woke up, but she kept her eyes closed. She could feel the warmth of a soft mattress beneath her. She wasn't in the desert anymore. What a relief.

Maybe, she had just a vivid dream. When she would open her eyes, she would have returned to her room, telling her family what a weird dream she had. They would laugh about it and that would be the end.

Then the desert and even Var's death would all be meaningless. Just a fantasy built in her mind.

-Wait, what did they look like again-, She furrowed her brow.

But no matter how long she waited with her eyes shut, Dutti couldn't hear the liberating sound of her alarm clock.

"You're pathetic." - She said to herself.

Why was she running away again?

"Yep, you are.", Vendetta's voice broke the silence.

"What.?!", Dutti snapped and furiously opened her eyes. She insulting herself was one thing, but other people badmouthing her? Who dared.

Right next to the bed Dutti was lying on, the Archmage sat with a grin, that felt disturbingly out of place. No matter how many times, Dutti had played her own game, Vendetta had never one smiled. Happiness, just wasn't part of her character setting.

"You must know something.", Dutti grabbed Vendetta's shoulders and shook them.

Unfazed the Archmage continued to regard Dutti, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Yep I know.", she pushed Dutti away and stood up, her nonchalant smile still resting on her lips.

"I know who you are... You are the Maker.", Vendetta spat out the last word and some saliva drops splattered on the wooden floor.

"You are the person who created all the suffering in this world.", sweat was starting to form on Dutti's forehead.

She was scared.

But not because, Vendetta could hurt or kill her. She just didn't want to be hated by her creation. She would rather die.

"You are the reason why Var had to die.", Dutti's eyes widened and she looked down. She didn't have the courage to face Vendetta anymore.

Tears welled up inside her. Not even in this world she could be happy.

Dutti pulled the blanket closer to her body, trying to cover every part of herself that felt miserable and wanted to disappear.

A hand patted her head. Dutti flinched.

Vendetta stroked her hair, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

"But you are also the one, who freed us from the same fate.", Vendetta laughed quietly and gently caressed Dutti's forehead.

"Shhh... it's alright now.", Vendetta continued.

-This girl is even more troublesome than the young Emperor-, she thought.

From one moment to the next, Dutti rushed forward to embrace Vendetta, burying herself in her chest.