Chapter 38: Omens

Ruby woke up with a heavy heart. Tears instantly fell from the corners of her eyes when she saw the peaceful sleeping face of Geneva who cuddled close to her. She whispered thousands of apologies to the sleeping maiden as she caressed her hair. Ruby soon decided to leave the bed and freshen up. After grooming herself she immediately went downstairs to prepare breakfast and maybe even collect a few berries from the forest.

Ruby decided to make a few waffles, toasts, bacon, and eggs while humming a soft tune from a song she heard before from a cartoon. She stirred the waffle mix and poured the substance into the waffle maker, swaying a little as she does so.

"Bacon pancakes making bacon pancakes. Bacon pancakes that's what I'm gonna make. Take some bacon and you put it in a pancake. Bacoooon pancakes." she sang.

"Meoooow meow meow."(Translation: Mom you're making waffles not pancakes) Manticat argued. Ruby giggled at her familiar's antics.

"I know but the song is really catchy plus waffles are basically pancakes they just have square dents. Do you want maple syrup on your waffles or honey?" she asked while transferring a few waffles on a new plate and placing it down in front of the cat monster.

"Meow meow meow meow meow. Mreeew mreew mew." (Translation: Maple syrup will be fine. But add a few berries as well tho.)

"I don't think I have any more berries." Ruby informed as she wiped her hand with a white cloth. The toaster pinged and lifted the two slices of bread it has been heating. Ruby took the bread and immediately placed it on a plate with eggs and bacon, covering it for Geneva.

"Caaaw, caaaw." Her attention was suddenly diverted to the white bird that landed on her open window. It was looking at her with a keen eye as if trying to tell her something. The bird was also a rare thing, not that its species was uncommon but its color is wrong for its kind. The bird was a white raven which alarmed her more than a black one and one look made her aware of who its owner was.

She heard Manticat hissing threateningly to the crow while pointing his spoon dangerously to the bird as if challenging him to do anything against his master or his waffles.

"I appreciate your concern but can you please put away the spoon. You might gut someone with that thing." Ruby joked before turning back to the bird.

"Caaaw!" it squawked.

"I understand."

"Meow meow meow meow meow meow!" (Translation: Why are you entertaining him? I swear he's evil. He wants to steal my waffles I can see the greed in his eyes and if I find my waffles gone, your cheesecake will be jeopardized!)

"Sure, I'll protect your waffles. Just eat your waffles and take a nap or whatever. I'm just going to deal with something."

"Meoow meow meeeeooow." (Translation: I'm going to Aleister's room. Do whatever you want, mom. At least my brother understands what a controlling evil woman you are.) Manticat said before flying away with his waffles towards the demon's room.

"Okay. I swear my cat is insane. He thinks that the demon I summoned is his little brother because I conjured him first and that I'm their mommy." Ruby babbled to the crow.

"Caaaww!" it answered back.

"I think I look crazy. I'm talking to a bird and I can understand a cat monster. Fine, Uncle Venrir I'm coming." Ruby put on her shoes and followed the bird as he flew to the forest.

The crow went off the track so she had to trail her way on the uneven and jagged ground. The bird led her deeper into the forest where the trees are thicker and the foliage is bigger allowing almost no light to pass at all to light her way. Several times she lost sight of the bird so she just paused and waited for Venrir to find her, which he always does and brought her further and further into the unknown. The forest soon lost the sound of the chirping birds besides Venrir's occasional squawks indicating that this part of the forest is dangerous and most likely inhibited by vicious predators. One time Ruby paused to catch her breath and immediately noticed a large black wolf staring at her hungrily. It was bigger than a normal wolf and much more mean looking so she instantly figured that it must be a beowolf, a sentient wolf monster with the tenacity that far exceeds a demon. The beowolf seems to be smart and aware of which fights to pick as it bowed its head and turned away.

Finally, Venrir stopped and perched himself on top of a tree when Ruby reached a clearing in the woods. The clearing was filled with colorful blooming flowers all lavender in color while the horizon stretched into small hills. The setting was so serene and the atmosphere was very calming while the sunlight is still gentle and warm. She went over to a fallen log where a tall enchanting woman sat drinking tea from a nice purple butterfly styled cup. The woman wore a black dress with a long overlay decorated with golden accents combined with a few bright pink fabrics. She wore a blindfold as well as a pointy hat giving away that's she's a witch.

"It's been a long time Aunt Phantasia." Ruby greeted taking a seat beside the woman.

"It has been, dear child." The woman replied in a gentle tone. A steaming teacup similar to the older witch's suddenly appeared floating in front of the maiden.

"What is the purpose of your visit? You should have come to my cottage, I could've served you a nice tower of waffle." Ruby smiled as she grasped the handle of the teacup.

"I won't linger. I just need to warn you about the impending danger you are about to face." The older witch started. A melancholic look crossed the maiden's features at her words.

"Your past has come to haunt back your present. And maybe endanger your future." Phantasia continued taking a sip of her tea. There was silence from the silver-haired maiden as she contemplates the words of her predecessor. Previously repressed emotions started bubbling back up her chest and touching parts of her heart that had long been locked away, like reopening long-closed scars with a sharp cold blade.

"So he will return and come for me, huh? After such a long time, I still don't think that I can meet him eye to eye without wanting to kill him or kiss him. I wonder what he'll do when he sees me."

"You are facing more danger than just Rel. I've had a vision."

"A vision? What kind and what omen does it bring?" asked the younger witch.

"A bad one. Neherra is returning and once she does she will bring death and destruction to everything. Of course, she will first take her anger out on you who have once destroyed her plans."

"This is quite unbelievable. I killed her! I watch her be decimated along with her army when I blasted them into oblivion. But if you saw it then it must be true. Do you know when and how?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"I believe the gods have been quite ungenerous with details but a disaster is surely coming and you must prepare for it. It isn't too far but you still have time and you still have hope. However, if you fail you might lose one of the most crucial moments of your life." Ruby scoffed at her last statement.

"Haven't I already lost the most crucial moments of my life hundreds of years ago? During my time with Rel? Or the moments I lost with my mother? During the war? Or the time I could've spent seeing the world like she wanted? Like I wanted." Ruby replied as tears started building up on the corners of her eyes.

"You cannot bring back time. You shouldn't mourn for the things you've lost, you should instead celebrate the things you still have and protect them."

"But I don't have anything else left but hate and rage. All I have are my mortal pleasures with no love and no family. And sooner or later I'm going to lose my friend." Ruby said in despondency.

"You and I are very much the same. Self-loathing, regret, and vengeance is a poison that kills you more than it does to your enemy. Don't make the same mistakes that I did. Don't let anger blind you, you are always better than yourself." A strong wind blew making the maiden squint to avoid getting dust and particles in her eyes. The petals of the flowers were lifted by the wind and carried across the sky making them rain down around the girl. Ruby looked back to where her companion was sitting but found her spot empty. The teacups they were drinking from also faded making her wonder if the events that just unfolded were actually true or just figments of her imagination. She took one last look at the scenery and was astounded to find red roses blooming among the purple flowers.

She found a single blue rose sat on her lap. A smile graced her lips. Roses have always been her favorite and it was the flower that omened her victory during the war. Maybe there's still hope.

Ruby slowly faded into purple butterflies and soon reformed in front of her doorstep. She released a sigh and went back inside her house. She reached the kitchen and started fixing her utensils until she heard a familiar voice scream from behind her.

"You traitorous bitch!!" she heard Geneva scream before seeing the tip of a sword pass through her stomach. The blade was trusted deeper inside her making her gasp in pain and shock. The blade was pulled out allowing blood to spill out from her guts and recolor her white dress into crimson.