Loathe - 2

An ever verdant green, seemingly glowing with each and every step she took. Paw against ground, a noise that barely echoed through my ears. One that I smiled through either way. For she trusted me with her body.

Placing her fur against my hand, practically begging to be pet. I obliged. I had no such reason to decline. Only the aching of my body drove me from them, from those souls who raged through the sadness of this isolation.

Bringing harm to themselves and others around them in a reckless assault against the barriers of this realm. To escape.

Yet despite the declarations, oh so prideful, they had never obtained that so desired freedom. For the next day, the next hour they would arrive in front of my hand. A hand that would bear the pain of their wounds.

Grunting and mangling sentences in excruciating pain. But not once had I ever complained, nor had I ever shown dissatisfaction. It was my purpose in this life. I was to be the saint to their hero. An act to bring them back to the living.

Where they could perform their duties without fear of death. As I would be there. And when they catered to my needs, thinking me a simple minded man, I beared with it. Letting their delusions run.

It was not the worst I had felt nor the last time someone would treat me with such contempt. No, I was to be their servant, so in their minds it was only natural that I attend to other duties.

I did, never once did I complain about such a thing. It was merely in my nature.

But when another came. Placing the sword she had on her side next to me. Scaring Titania to my shoulder. I merely glared at her.

"You should be in the tent." She spoke. Her gruff voice made even worse from the battlecries she had shouted among her enemies.

I turned my head, rubbing Titania with my chin. Hiding my distaste within the soft fur.

"As you wish." I spoke, bothering just enough to brush my hand against hers, letting those fingers grasp onto mine.

I focused, healing her of her ailments. Only a stumble in my steps to show. And when I returned I found the tent cleared of supplies. The food she had stashed for herself gone and eaten, the simple bed I had made for her destroyed in what I must assume to be a fit of rage.

Why was this?

"Follow." Galarna spoke and trailing behind her was Atalanta, a sheepish smile on her face as she fiddled with the same cube.

I tried not to frown, keeping my expression level.

"That was not a request, come" I followed, wondering in the depths of my heart, what the purpose of coming here was.

To mock the effort I had placed into maintaining her wellbeing. To show me that she could do whatever she wanted with no ill effects.

It felt completely pointless. I had seen within the depths of her soul, and judged her there. I had no further need. No matter how clean her soul was, that echoing of red that rippled within her soul told me all I needed to.

…

"Is that your cat?" I followed along, holding Atalanta's hand so as to not exhaust my strength so early.

I had shut my vision off, seeing only the glowing souls of all the tainted and pure souls in my vision.

"Yes, her name's Titania." I spoke for her. She seemed hesitant to show her nature to all but me. But who was I to disregard her wants? She had her wants and I was not one to change them for some petty reason.

Neither was it true that she was able to even speak. Maybe a few yes or no's with her ability to meow, but other than that there was no way for me, or anyone for that matter, to interpret her speech.

"I see, and do you know why we have come this far?"

I shook my head, feeling like I was missing some crucial information.

"We found the objective, the real one. No more suffering, no more saltless dinners and burnt flesh." 

There was an inflection of excitement within her voice. And I couldn't say the news did not give me joy.

But there was an inner part of me that enjoyed the nature of this place. The quiet that I was able to work into my routine. Interacting and helping patients everyday.

Just…

Just feeling wanted.

It was enough for me and therein lies the contradiction. I wanted to see my fiance hopefully and my roommate that had so helped me. But I wanted to stay and help everyone I could.

"And do you know why we brought you with us?"

"For healing?" I guessed.

She took my hand tighter in her grip.

"Yes that and…" She trailed off, her soul wavering in the wind of the void. Some sort of sacred emotion crossing that soul of hers.

Leaving the rest to the wrath of the void.

"Is that…" Galarna whispered. Yet I could barely comprehend what I was seeing. It had… no it didn't… but it did…

A soul. One both grand and imperious yet it wasn't so clear. It had some sort of… some sort of cap on it that seemed to veil my vision from it.

Separating itself from that plain of reality. And when I thought of my trauma, the way that she… that she…

And when my vision turned back to that monotone gray I found myself looking at an aged figure. Her form seemingly frail, a contrast to the majestic soul that I had seen so clearly.

"It seems that a group has made it. I congratulate you, but there needs be more trial before I can declare this lesson over."

"YO-" Atalanta placed a hand over Galarna's mouth. Stopping her from saying anything that she would regret later.

For even Atalanta seemed to be able to perceive the strength that she seemed to hide so well.

She brushed her hand against the side of her hair, "Oh, two of three… not so bad."