“We won’t. Promise.” Taryn says and gives me a pat on the back. They walk back to the other three and they depart, only Cornelius looks back my way and motions for me to come with them. I attempted to comply but a glare from his elder brother made me decline unwillingly.

He’s an asshole. What did I ever do to him? Is he still offended by swamp head? But he does have one.

I follow them out regardless. The sudden silence made my steps and breathing the loudest things to be heard again. I was stopped midway by Edriane who was standing by the entry way with Uma behind her holding a box and scrolls. Was she standing there the whole time? She was right beside me then she disappeared and now she has reappeared. How did they do that? Please don’t do that. It’s quite scary and the place is eerie enough. I should say that.

“Hello.” That’s not what I wanted to say but a greeting is polite.

“All of you may depart, I must speak to the hero first.” About what? 

“Is there something wrong?” Obviously there must be. Because I already fucked up a couple times unknowingly, what else have I done wrong?

“No. No. Don’t worry, Hero Taryn has discussed with you the matter of…” she intentionally trails off and I just nod.

“Wonderful. I will quickly orient you on the Classes and make a few adjustments to your appearance.” Adjustments? “To put it frankly, hero, your hair is reminiscent of the images and likeness of the Nefarious Crow. He is noted to have dark hair and dark eyes which are qualities you have, additionally the incident of a call for desolation just hours prior aroused worry… that you may be…” May be who? “That… I approached you at this moment to lend you a stain stone. It will alter the pigment of your hair and eyes. We cannot allow fear into the hearts of people, most minds are closed off to the idea of you not looking as we are so we need to meticulously craft your image for your safety and our reassurance. You understand, right hero?” Oh. So that’s why Cornelius first asked me about my hair. If it’s just eye and hair colour there won’t be any problem. Get some contacts into these babies.

“Yes. It’s alright. I get the association but just so you’re reassured, I am not the crow. I just got here. Never knew birds were evil until I got here. Except for seagulls, they always steal my food on Earth. And the vultures! They’re creepy.”

She sighs and smiles, Uma comes near and opens the chest box. Inside sat very beautiful jewels. They glimmered under the brightness of the room. They beat Edriane’s locks in terms of shine.

“These are stain stones. You may choose any stone you like.”

I picked the most enticing, which was the gold one. I finally get to be blonde like Aunt Amettie. I never got to have a rebellious teen phase. Colouring it with different colours because I like what I have on my head, soft and luscious locks with a midline between 2c and 3a curls that Aunt Amettie had to learn how to braid and care for because she got criticised for not taking care of me. In their words I looked like I had rats nest on my head. I did get to experience a bald phase because a kid put a mix of craft glue, wood glue and gum in my hair. I was dumb and didn’t wash or remove it. I just let it dry on me like an utter fool. I don’t know what his problem is and how he got wood glue out of all the glues. All I know is Aunt Amettie was pissed because I kept crying for a span of 3 weeks. The worst part is I was the one kicked out of that school not the other kid because apparently Aunt Amettie defaced the kid’s family property. Following that, she slashed 3 of my former prinicipal’s tires. And she did that with a broken prosthetic on, smudged glasses and a dead batt hearing aid.

She was never charged. And I don’t know if I love and respect her for that or be absolutely mortified that she can do those things in her condition. Aunt Amettie is crazy. I’m surprised she hasn’t followed my mom to an asylum yet. Dear god, our genes are crazy.

“Swallow it, bring it back up every few hours as it is notably dangerous to consume a stain stone.” So should I swallow it or not?

She waits patiently for something and I assume it is for me to consume the poisonous stone. And I do just that because the air is ceasing existence and refusing to let me breathe as intended.

It doesn’t taste good.

Well… It doesn’t really taste like anything but the fact that this is a stone doesn’t make the experience very pleasant.

“Good?” I don’t know if she’s joking but my answer is still absofuckingnot. This is the most rancid stone I have ever eaten and I have never eaten stones before. This is setting a bad precedent. I am too much of a picky eater for this.

I felt it scratch my throat as it went down halfway through my oesophagus. “Yeah.” 

“Excellent.” Oh she was serious. “Now, I must make a hasty discussion of the types of Classes. The most common classes are the Scholar, Warrior, Creation, Blacksmith, Mages, Healer and Messenger. Your class is most likely the rare Hero class which has only started appearing when my younger sister turned 7 years old. The Waywards and Claymore manifested and had a class change right after, which is unheard of, mind you.” So I am going to be special! Aunt Amettie always said I was a special boy.

…

She never said that but I felt it.

“Do be noted that once you get registered into Lustrous Julias, your Hero Class will allow you access to everybody else’s profile. Meaning you can see and find out most everything about anyone. Your class is immediately hidden.” Wouldn’t that be an invasion of privacy? “It’ll be odd for quite a time but you’ll get used to it and find it most helpful.” It’s still an invasion of privacy. Is this what the FBI feels like? “And… one last thing. You will see many classes, and I do mean many. One of the classes you may encounter as you embark on your journey is the Ruined class.” Ruined class? How ominous. “Changes in classes actually started with them. From simple scholars to sudden ruins. This happens when they get influenced by the generals collecting lackeys or if they fall into the generals’ nest for far too long. They lose humanity and simply become… beast. They’re terrible. You may think them to be your friend but when they let the Crow best them or if the Crow takes them it is just…”

She pauses, and her clear sky eyes glisten from the threat of tears. “P…pardon me.”

“It… It is just, my mother the queen was killed by a Ruined one. That ruined one was once… a friend of mine. My mother wanted to show him kindness but he killed her in turn. I watched as she bled and breathed her last breath.” Oh.

…

“Sir Hero… please save Gemmas. I do not want anyone else to suffer as I did. To lose their family. Please.”

War is really fucking ugly.

“I’ll try my best.”

My mind has gone blank with pity. The princess was off her high horse. It’s strange that she warmed up so quickly but I find it comforting that she confided in me.

“I lost my mother young too… My aunt who was no older than I was, ended up raising me. She loves me. I know she does, but it is different to have a mom by your side.”

“Oh… you must miss her.”

I don’t. I don’t even remember her much aside from the recurring nightmare of my attempted murder that resulted in her being in a straitjacket in a guarded asylum. I barely know her. 

“Yeah.”

A quiet stream has gone down her cheeks, she wiped again and again but they kept coming.

“Do you remember your mother? I honestly… do not recall mine very well.”

“I do. I’ll tell you on the way.” She breathed, “Saint Rubaine guide us, and thank you for the comfort of this man right here.”

You’re welcome and thank you too.