Several guild members were currently living at this Inn and we would be no different.
The well-known and veteran members were allowed to live at the guild itself.
Our ranks were a secret for now, and soon we would get some jobs.
I couldn't help but feel like we were just trying to keep busy to prevent ourselves from realizing the severity of the situation.
Everyone we knew and loved could very well have died back there.
I heard Iris appear, but I had no way of knowing if Johann, Iris, Leiso, Carlos, Jallah, and Rune managed to escape.
As far as we knew, we were the only survivors.
Michael and Gavin were unfortunately devoured by Valtheim and Cassandra was destroyed when she touched Isabella.
That also left Tyranus and Arvild...
As well as the bastard himself.
Cain Difar.
Who could have known that he would show up again? He killed my father, evicted me from my home, and tried to kill my family in Lorelei!
Actually...
He did kill my family in Lorelei! He destroyed Avernia and Ignitus!
The more I thought about these things, the more I felt a rising panic.
We were stranded!
We needed a way to contact Iris...or Johann... Anyone! We had to get in touch with Excelsis, but unfortunately...
Isabella's prayers had no way of reaching across the Firmament.
They were merely ways of connecting herself to the divine reservoir of power that nearby gods possessed.
In other words, she could only pray to gods if they were nearby.
It was frustrating and confusing...
Additionally, for the past few nights we slept at the Inn, Isabella insisted upon sleeping on the floor away from me.
I kept having nightmares about the things that happened on Ignitus as well.
Finally, after a few days...
Something else came up.
Something deadly serious had arisen.
* * *
On a regular night, we planned to sleep with our normal arrangement.
I was still bothered by the fact that Isabella refused to sleep next to me at this point... It genuinely hurt, actually.
But I wouldn't force her. Even if it caused me more distress.
I laid in bed and drifted off into sleep.
As I slept...my dreams were quite strange.
I felt like I was being restricted. Bound by an unseen force from behind.
At the same time I heard someone whispering.
"Don't worry...you're safe, now! I'll protect you!" The voice said.
I couldn't respond... I could only listen as the voice continued speaking to me in such a way.
Then I heard heavy breathing...like it was close to my ear.
The voice continued speaking as well...
"You're so amazing! So wonderful! So...adorable!!! My sweet darling Mizik!"
I didn't know if it was the tone in the voice or the voice itself...
But it sent shivers down my spine.
I immediately opened my eyes and thrashed around violently.
I accidentally hit Isabella and kicked her out of the bed.
"KYA!!" She cried out as she fell onto the floor.
"What the...Isabella!? What's going on!?" I demanded as I got out of bed as well.
"I...s-sorry! I was just...umm...sleep walking! I must have not been paying attention to myself and grabbed onto you! Haha..." She said with a nervous smile.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
She had been acting VERY strangely, lately...
The incident with strangling someone hadn't been the only one.
Another time, someone bumped into me and tried to start a fight. Isabella snapped his neck while claiming she was protecting me.
There was even an occasion where someone tried to mug me.
She grabbed him by the arm and slammed him into the ground. She screamed obscenities at him and then cried on my chest.
Luckily, the guards could recognise self-defense here. Or at least, they didn't care enough to get involved.
Regardless, I assumed Isabella was just having issues coping with everything.
Still...
This was starting to get out of hand. I had my own declining sanity to deal with right now and I didn't want her to add fuel to the fire.
"Stop lying to me, Isabella. I'm not stupid. Something is really weird with you lately. Something unnatural. Tell me the truth, dammit! What's going on!? Am I boring you now? Am I not enough anymore? We have to communicate! Weren't you the one who told me long ago not to bottle things up!?" I said angrily.
I could feel my rage boiling as I glared at Isabella.
If she couldn't trust me...if she was going to just sit there, lie to my face, and reject me...
I might as well be alone!
I saw tears well up in Isabella's eyes as she looked at my expression.
"Please...don't look at me like that... I feel terrible enough as it is... I don't need any more stress..." She whimpered.
"Then what is it!? What are you hiding from me!?" I asked angrily.
Isabella sighed.
"Can you promise...to calm down first? I want to tell you because I miss being close. I miss being near you...holding you in my arms and even being in your party. Please...trust me!"
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
I forced my anger to cool and looked at Isabella.
"Fine then. Now please tell me what's going on," I said neutrally.
Isabella looked somewhat relieved and smiled weakly.
"I'm glad we can have this talk, Mizik... But perhaps...it's best if she tells you herself..." Isabella said.
"What...? 'She'?"
I could hardly believe what I saw next.
Isabella closed her eyes. A second later, she opened them. They were dark purple.
"W-WAIT! PLEASE DON'T! I-I DON'T KNOW HOW HE'LL REACT!!! PLEASE ISABELLA!!"
'Isabella' looked at me with fearful eyes as she sat on the floor.
She covered her head and cowered in fear as I stood up and walked over to her.
"What is going on here?" I asked calmly.
She looked up at me.
"P-please...don't be mad... I-I meant well...I honestly did! I'm so sorry! Please don't be mad!!!" She said as tears streamed down her face.
She was absolutely terrified. Completely overtaken by the thought that I was just going to lose it and do her harm.
This is Isabella, right...? How could I hurt her...? What is this...?
"Isabella?" I said.
She shook her head.
"C-cassandra..." She said fearfully.
Fuck! Here we go... This should be good...
I took a step back and sat down on the bed.
"Start talking. What did you do to Isabella?" I said.
"Y-you're...not going to hurt me...?" Cassandra said.
I shook my head.
"I won't do anything to you before I know the full story. I want to know what's going on here."
Cassandra perked up greatly upon hearing this.
Her eyes filled with desire and she stood up.
She tackled me onto the bed and leaned her face close to mine.
"Oh! My darling Mizik is so merciful and kind! I love you so much!!!" She said as she pressed herself on me.
"Get off of me, dammit!" I said angrily.
"Yes!"
Cassandra spoke happily and immediately rolled off of me. She sat straight up on the bed and smiled.
"See...Difar is insane and evil, even though he's also very smart. But even he can't plan for every possible scenario. He's not as intelligent as he thinks he is!"
"Okay...how the hell are you here? What happened to Isabella? And before we go any further...are you still working for him?" I said as I narrowed my eyes at her.
I also prepared myself to unsheathe Vengeance but she shook her head.
"I am no longer bound to him. But the cost of such a thing was my own body... Now I share Isabella's with her."
"How is that even possible!?"
"She has parts of her soul missing because of Difar. There was room...so I just sort of...took my chance... I used an illusion to trick everyone back on Ignitus while I transferred myself to her body. If not for me, you'd be all alone here!" Cassandra said with a smile.
I guess...I should thank her...?
"So you...delivered her to me?" I asked.
Cassandra nodded.
"Did I do good? Are you pleased with me?" She said as she leaned close.
"Yeah...good job. You did really well...I guess..."
Cassandra's face was filled with incredible joy. She started breathing heavily and shaking with happiness.
By the gods...what is happening right now...?
"Can I...ask a question...?" I said.
"Are you wanting to reward me!? I'll do anything you ask! This is Isabella's body, so it's okay if we-"
I held up a hand of stop her as she began undressing. Thankfully, she stopped.
"Cassandra. If memory serves correctly, you don't love me at all. You made that very clear at the Iratus estate. You also locked me in a dungeon and nearly tortured me to death. What the HELL makes you think I'm going to return your strange feelings for me? And also...why are you so obsessed with me to begin with!?" I said.
She covered her ears and whimpered to herself.
"I...I didn't... I never meant to hurt you... My precious Mizik...my darling beloved Mizik! I love you...but I hated myself so much... I'm so sorry... Please forgive...ahhhh... I can't bear it!" She said.
She buried her face in a pillow and started wailing in sorrow...
"Just calm down. Please. What happened to you?" I asked.
Where is your pride!? You said you didn't like me at all! Why are you acting like one of those crazy stalkers from the movies Michael would watch!?
Cassandra looked up at me fearfully.
"I'm sorry, my darling Mizik. That's a really long story. I don't mind telling you, but...if possible, I want you to know my true feelings as well," Cassandra said as she hugged the pillow tightly.
I'm pretty sure I already do...but...
"What am I to you, exactly?" I asked.
Her face turned into one of extreme love and admiration.
"You're...my everything! All I can think about! Mizik Iratus...my new Master! My permanent Master! My darling beloved! You're my adorable Mizik and I love you so much! I want to hold you in my arms and shower you with my love! I just want to stand by you and protect you from all the bad things! Like that horrible side of me...that despicable evil bitch who hurt you... She's gone now...but I still hate her. Ahhh...my Mizik!!!" Cassandra said.
She lunged forward and hugged me tightly while rubbing her face lovingly on my chest.
"Eh..."
"Darling smells so good! Mizik is so warm and comforting! I'm melting!" Cassandra said.
To say that I was uncomfortable was an understatement.
Cassandra did horrible things to me and now she expected me to just love her?
IS SHE INSANE!? No...of course she is. Whatever Difar did to her must have been the cause...
For some reason, Vengeance was also being quiet.
Vengeance, what do you think? Don't you want her dead?
[I did want her dead. But I will no longer desire it because of your refusal to end her miserable life on Avernia. You walked away. To me, that is forgiveness. I will not pester you about her any longer. Additionally, she is currently confined to Isabella's body. Harming her would mean harming Isabella and that is unacceptable. Isabella is a treasured ally and my vanguard. The wielder of Bravery. The Overseer does not attack his subordinates without just cause. Besides, this one has done me a service. The dagger she wields is still in her possession. My adjudant, Intelligence, has been delivered to me.]
Damn it all...
[But, it would still please me if you gave her some form of punishment. Such is my philosophy. Punish those who wrong you.]
We'll see. But first, I need to talk with her.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her away.
She let go immediately and stared into my eyes.
"Are you going to push me down and reward me for bringing Isabella? I'm also the one who brought your sword! Does that please you? I'll do anything you ask! Just name it! You can be as rough as you want! No...please treat me roughly! As roughly as possible! Please...ravage me!" Cassandra said.
You have issues.
"I am not going to betray Isabella like that.
Also...thank you for bringing me my sword. Good job," I said.
She started...shaking again with happiness and squealing.
By Iris, this is too much for me right now! You're so...weird!
"Ah...I'm so glad you keep praising me! It's too much for my heart! But...you wouldn't be betraying her! This body is hers!" Cassandra said hopefully.
"The answer is no. Only when Isabella is...in control? I don't know..." I said.
"Yes, of course! But if you ever feel like rewarding me, please don't hesitate to ask! I'll also accept a hug! The first one you gave was so warm and comforting! I want lots of loving hugs from Mizik!"
"Umm...right... So tell me, how did you end up as a slave to Difar?" I asked.
Cassandra pushed herself against me and smiled.
"I'll tell you everything! Anything at all that you want to know! I can actually show you through Illusions. I'm pretty good at those, you know!"
YEAH, I KNOW! I HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE WITH IT AND I DON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED!
"Why do you keep pressing yourself on me!?"
"Because...Mizik is so warm and comforting and pleasing to the touch! When I touch you, it makes me so happy that I could melt! It's like electricity!" Cassandra said.
She was breathing heavily again and staring at me with intense desire in her eyes.
This is a far cry from how you were in the past. Regardless, let's see what's going on here...
"I'll show you everything that happened! I won't spare a single detail. I want my darling Mizik to understand that I truly mean him no harm! As well as the reasons...the true reasons behind my horrible actions..." Cassandra said.
She drew back from me and pulled out her dagger.
It was still in its dark form. The Corrupted dagger, Deception.
She pointed it to her throat and pressed the very tip against it.
"I...I can't live with myself... I have to atone...for hurting my precious beloved Mizik... My darling... I did such terrible things...I'm so sorry...it hurts... The guilt is killing me! It's eating me alive!!!" Cassandra spoke as tears streamed down her face again.
"Umm...look. It's okay. Just calm down, alright? And stop pointing that dagger at Isabella's throat. Now show me what happened," I said uncomfortably.
"Y-yes! I'll start right away!" Cassandra said as she pulled Deception away from her throat. She wiped her tears and smiled at me.
Then she raised Deception up and the world around us began to change.