——— Chapter Art (Click to view) ———
Vera was back at the foot of the long dining table. Food and silverware sitting right in front of her. An old lady on the opposite side. By now her words had become monotonous noise to Vera. This probably marked the twelfth time she heard it.
But this time was a bit different.
Her eyes shook as she stared down at her sailor uniform. The outfit she stole in order to blend in. To try to act like a normal girl.
Now, that same outfit was basking in blood...Naren's blood.
Her hands trembled as she rubbed tissues on it. Over and over again. Again and again. Rougher and rougher.
"Vera...Would you like a change of clothes."
The little girl looked up to glance at the old lady.
Every time she came back here, was another time seeing Naren dead. Another time seeing him torn to pieces, burned to a crisp, or bleeding out. Each and every time it was Naren who died before, trying to save her.
She was tired of it. Tired of it all. She couldn't bear to see it happen even once more so she decided she'd turn her back on him. That way, that other shaman could save him.
She would forget about him. About Naren.
Her eyes were solemn as they reflected the deep guttural scar of the old woman, trying so hard not to break first.
Swallowing all her tears and sorrow, she spoke.
"I...would appreciate that."
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Naren titled his head as his golden eyes shimmered a little. He wasn't sure if he heard it wrong, but he coulda sworn she called him "Number two."
Why was that number so confusing. It felt like it warranted his attention but something just didn't feel right. Just thinking about it made his head feel like it was splitting in two.
Like every time before, as if he was reaching for a fruit that was too far out of reach. He kept jumping, stretching...Then he finally grabbed. Pulled it with such animalistic force and shoved it down his drooling throat.
Number two.
A memory that shouldn't exist flashed through his mind: "Alright, you're number two from now on. I'll be..."
Naren's eyes glimmered as he opened his mouth.
"Number one."
Yuna turned to look up from her leather knapsack. A grin present on her face.
"There you are soldier."
Immediately Naren scowled, flailing forward, but falling to the wooden floors instead. He finally remembered. Not just the deaths. Not just the pain. But everything that had happened.
Over and over he had been waking up in this nightmare. And over and over, he was being tormented by this woman in front of him.
"You damn witch..."
"Woah there two. Is that any way to speak to your princess?"
Yuna pulled two small leather-skins from her bag, extending one over to Naren.
This damn woman had been running laps around him after every loop. Whether it be on purpose or not, she was definitely smart. There's no way she didn't know what was going on here...
With that being said he was also really thirsty.
Naren went to grasp the water-skin but Yuna pulled it away at the last second. Jiggling it just out of his reach. A coy grin on her face.
"You can drink, but only if you agree to follow my orders until we leave the Tomb of Atlas."
This again. He had enough of this every time. Not like it really mattered though. He waved two thumbs up on his hands. Who cares if he agreed, not like he couldn't lie...Wait...How did she know he was going to the Tomb of Atlas?
As the thought swam through his mind, Yuna stuck out her hand as well, wrapping her pinky around his own before meeting the tips of their thumbs together...
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Suddenly Naren was in a horizon devoid of light. An endless darkness that outreached over the edges of his view. Below him, ankle high water constantly splashed along his bare feet.
"Where...?"
He was there again. His soul.
Before him, the same shackles held down a creature hidden behind shadows. Held at their hands and feet by rusty chains that seemed like they'd snap at any moment. That was all he could see. Everything beyond the arms. The legs. Was nothing but shadows.
He was too caught off guard last time, but now he was sure. Behind the shadows...was his sister.
"Cend—"
Before he could let his words out another chain shot from the darkness, wrapping itself around his sister's left arm. This one a curious shade of purple.
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He blinked and was back in front of Yuna. A sly grin still written all over her face no matter how hard she tried to hide it.
He missed his chance to talk to his sister again.
"That was trippy."
"Should've been your second pact"
"My second pact?"
Naren blinked once more, his golden eyes caught in Yuna's pitch black. Second pact. Second pact. If his first pact was the one with Cendrine. The one that took away his presence...How exactly was this his second pact?
"What're you tryna sell me?"
Yuna let out a little chuckle handing the water skin over to Naren, letting him take several gulps.
"How many pacts are there?"
Naren stuck out one finger.
She turned away from Naren, taking in sips of her own water skin, before turning back again with three fingers hanging up.
"There are three...The first is one between a human and beast making them a shaman. The second is between human and beast making them companions...The third is between human and human. One that instills a vow that both parties must follow."
By the end of lecture, Yuna's face was trying it's best to hide her smile. On the other hand, Naren's eyes just continued narrowing as his face grew paler and paler.
With one meek and shaky finger he pointed at Yuna and then back at himself.
"Both...Parties?"
Yuna pointed at herself then at Naren, titled her head with a grin on her face.
"Both parties. My soldier."
'She's lying...'
But she couldn't. Naren remembered clear as day. Yuna could not lie.
He gulped a mouthful of water, his face towards Yuna. Before he could spurt it all out at her for forcing him into such an absurd relationship, she spoke.
"Spit the water all over yourself."
At the last second his mouth faced straight down, spraying everything all over his pants. He fell back, hitting the ground, sending a jolt of pain down his wound. It was over. He was this woman's slave now.
What could go right for him. Not only did Vera forget him...That's right. What was the point in going to Atlas now.
Naren yawned a deep yawn. His body shaking in exhaustion despite just waking up moments prior. He was back at square one...He had to find a witch again.
But to gain his freedom back he had to not only reach the Tomb of Atlas, but also leave from it...Alive.
He ruffled his hair understanding just the kind of predicament he was in. He was just so done with it all. It would've been easier just to give up.
Maybe he should just give up.
Yeah how bad would that be. Just rotting away. Not like anyone remembers his name anyways.
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Yuna watched as Naren sulked. Truth be told, she couldn't remember anything from previous loops. Every time she woke up, her eyes would shake, sending a message from her future self: Keep Naren and Vera alive.
And every time she tried. Every time, she jotted down everything about the nightmare in her mind. From where people were, to the exact words they said.
Everything was committed to memory. Only to be wiped away clean. Yet she found her own way to keep them...The boy before her who somehow always remembered pieces.
And now she had finally been able to achieve the final piece. Lure Naren into a pact.
But she had no idea how strong he was, or if he was even up for it. Even just moments ago he looked like he was completely done with it all. Not to mention the atrocious scent of a witch oozing out of him.
'What did you see in him Yuna?'
She sighed. Even if she had to force him, she would command him to break her out of this nightmare.
As long as a tool wasn't broken it still worked.
"Two..."
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"...get up."
Naren swiftly got up to a seat, before pushing off the floor and standing on his own. Yawning as his golden eyes fought the urge to clamp shut, he turned his gaze towards Yuna.
That's right. He didn't have a choice in what he wanted to do, did he. After all, he was this woman's slave now.
Talk about a shitty life.
"Princess let's do this fast...I don't wanna be cuffed for too long."