The four stumbled out of the burning forest, coughing and choking on the thick plumes of smoke that still rose into the air.
"D... Damn it," Sasha growled. "She got away... What was she even here for? She didn't hurt Salem..."
None of them had the answer to Sasha's question. In silence they walked back to Faralda, their heads hung low. It was only after a while that Yin broke the silence.
"Could it have been espionage?" He suggested.
"Why would the First Vao send Mono for espionage?" Vao pointed out. "We'd recognize her right away. Wouldn't he'd send someone we don't know? That's wot I would do, and he's me. I-in a weird, messed up way, not in an 'I eat people' way..."
He brought up a good argument. There was no way the First Vao would send Mono when she was much higher than petty spying. It wasn't until a voice called out to them from the broken gate that they looked up.
Salem was jogging towards them, the rest of their friends following behind. They all looked at each other before running towards the princess and the others, slowing to a stop.
"Salem! What was she here for? She came from where you went," Yin asked.
"She... She asked a couple questions," Salem replied. "The First Vao... The Blood is taking effect on him... She didn't do anything to me."
Relief washed over them. They had been lucky again. If Mono had wanted, Salem would have been dead - all of them would have died.
But just how much longer would they be lucky? From Salem's answer about why Mono had risked starting a war by coming to Faralda, their luck was about to run out. "Wait, wait... I thought the Blood was already affecting him. Since like, the First Timeline," Sasha said quietly. Salem nodded.
"Yeah, it has. It's the reason he needs to eat people; normal food can sustain him, but it'll never satiate his appetite. The Blood corrodes his stomach to the point the only thing that fills him is the flesh of others. If he doesn't eat people, he'll be driven to complete insanity. If it's worrying Mono now, it's a lot worse than we thought... And I know it's getting worse; I saw it."
They stopped, their hearts beginning to race. "Saw... Wot?" Violet nearly stammered.
"His face," Salem said quietly. "Didn't you see his face? Those black veins?"
There was silence. And finally Yin spoke up. "I... I did," he admitted. "I thought I was going crazy..."
Vao furrowed his eyebrows, looking down in thought. "Wait... You had that stuff, too... Then that means..."
He didn't finish his sentence. As they walked back to Faralda's gate, a dreadful silence fell over them. "What... What are we supposed to do if that happens?" Jasper whispered. "Even now we can't go man-to-man with the First Vao..."
Salem shook her head. "We still have time to think about it. The First Vao has feelings for Mono; that attachment is enough to keep the Blood from stealing his humanity. You remember the Blood's weakness, right? How to temporarily stop its effect on people? You figured it out way back in the First Timeline."
"A strong emotional shock," Yin answered distantly. "But... If it's getting this bad, then... We're going to eventually have to deal with the First Vao. He was still under the Blood's control even when he kidnapped my mom. If the Blood grows used to Mono being around, he won't just be a threat to us - the whole world'll be in danger."
"You say that as if he wasn't already a threat to Twist," Verde pointed out. "The five of us know full well what the First Vao is capable of."
Salem nodded. "Correct, Verde. Put it this way - I was hands-off with the First Vao back then. The only times I intervened was his training, or to punish him. Vale, he orchestrated that on his own. Vale had advanced weapons, like the Cult, and he still levelled the city. And he's stronger than he was in the First Timeline; he's a master at using his magic, and he's lived long enough to read our movements before we can even land a blow. It's inevitable; sooner or later, we'll need to stop him."
"But... There's still the Church," Hekue said quietly.
"They wouldn't wait for us to be ready," Tourmaline agreed darkly. "And even if they did, we can't go against the Cult - Twist still isn't unified, much less the kingdom. Trust me when I say this, we don't have the manpower to fight Lord Vao. There's no chance we'll save him-"
"Wot makes you think we're saving him?" Vao interrupted. Tourmaline glared at him.
"That's why I'm here with you. Lord Vao isn't bad. If we can just manage to rid his Reality of the Blood-"
"He's better off dead. He's a killer, and he enjoys every second of it," the dullahan growled. "I thought you weren't a spy. Got something you want to confess, midget?"
A vein popped out from Tourmaline's forehead. "And isn't he you? Are you saying you like to kill people?"
Vao opened his mouth to say something witty, but stopped. "I... Oh, fuck you. Fuck you, fairy. The difference is there isn't a scrap of good in him left-"
"I was there before he got sick!" Tourmaline snapped. "I've seen what he's really like, and so has Jasper and Sapphire! None of you have in this Timeline!"
All eyes turned to the fairy and the doll. Sapphire was oddly quiet, her smile having disappeared. Jasper crossed her arms, nodding her head slowly. She wasn't looking up at them.
"... Yeah, he was nice to us," she admitted. "But... He's a professional at manipulating people. He's said it himself. Couldn't it have been one whole manipulation tactic to keep us loyal?"
Tourmaline stared at her sister, an almost bewildered look in her eyes. "I don't fucking believe this... Do you even realize what he told us when you ran away like a little bitch? He said he wanted you to be brought back alive! Mono wanted to kill you, but he wanted to give you another chance!"
"But... He gave me the Blood-"
"We all begged him to do that until he caved, and you know it!" Tourmaline snarled. "We were all willing to sacrifice ourselves to reach a perfect world, and that included him! He was ready to die trying!"
Vao stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Alright cunt, I've had enough of your bloody mou-"
Grab.
Vao turned when a hand pulled on his shoulder, stopping him just short of hitting her. Yin stared at Tourmaline, his eyebrows knitted together in thought.
"... Perfect world?"
Tourmaline nodded. "Yeah. His dream. Didn't you guys know?"
"Isn't his dream to return to the day he was born?" Verde asked. Tourmaline shook her head.
"No, that changed when he met us. It's why he takes our Souls when we die," she grumbled. "His dream - the Cult's dream - is to build a new Timeline. Lord Vao always talked about how we were the only ones who gave him a chance. He wanted to repay us by building a new Timeline where we could all live happily, free from the Church."
The adventurers stared at her, their hearts beginning to sink. "His... His own Timeline...?" Salem mumbled aloud. "But wouldn't the Blood... Oh... O-oh, no..."
Tourmaline nodded. With the way things were going, the Blood would corrupt that dream. Sasha finally spoke up. "... Then... Killing him would be the safer bet... Yin tried to kill the Blood in the First Timeline, but the First Vao's still got it, somehow... We can't be sure it'll work on him."
Tourmaline looked furious, flabbergasted, and hurt. "We can't kill him! Haven't you been listening to a word I've said!?"
"No matter how you look at it, he's done too much to just... Get away with it," Yin pointed out. "I know you don't want that, but we have to look at the bigger picture. He needs to die. If it makes you feel better, it's a mercy-"
"Then shouldn't you kill Salem?"
The adventurers stopped. Tourmaline had never opened her mouth. Their eyes turned to the children, Midori pointing her finger. Sapphire had finally spoken up. The doll stared up at them through her marble eyes, looking straight at Yin.
"Salem... Lord Vao told us about the things she did when she had the Blood. She killed a lot more people than him; she just couldn't take their Souls. She did it twice. But you saved her in the Second Timeydink. If he needs to die, then shouldn't Salem die too?"
Yin was shaken. Sapphire had a dangerous point. If they killed the First Vao based on his crimes, they would be nothing short of a bunch of hypocrites. Salem had done worse - she had millennia longer to kill countless people. But Yin had given her a second chance because he saw the Blood corrupting her Soul.
Given that the Blood was affecting his physical appearance, it was highly likely the First Vao was going through the same thing Salem had gone through, or at least just beginning to. Once again, his morals were being put to the test.
Was the First Vao worth saving? Was he really innocent, like Salem was? It wasn't his fault he had the Blood, either - it was Salem's. He looked to his friends for help, hoping they'd know what to say.
But not even his brother could reply, awkwardly looking at the ground. Despite Vao's anger about Pip, Alice, Tim, and Chuck, he still couldn't disagree with Sapphire's logic. The doll had pointed out a fact, and none of them could disagree with her.
"... We'll... Talk about this after we deal with the Church," Yin said finally. "If Mono's slowing down the effects, we should have enough time. We're storming the Capital in a month, after all. After we finally destroy the Church, we'll talk about the First Vao and what to do with him."
Tourmaline looked at him hopefully. "Th-then does that mean...?"
Yin begrudgingly nodded his head. "... Yeah. If we can get into his Reality, that'll help us decide, too... Saving him... Would be the right choice in the end, just like it was for Salem. Just be aware we might not get to make that choice."
He walked past her, Jasper following after him. The broken gate was in view as the fairy sat down on his shoulder, tugging his earlobe.
"Hey... Are you okay?"
Yin shook his head. "... Dunno. Just need some time to think."
Salem was walking on his other side, Jasper shooting the princess a glare. The fairy waved her hand to tell the princess to shoo. Salem felt insulted. It wasn't until Jasper spoke again that she realized what the fairy was doing.
"We can think about it together," she said.
Yin sighed, his lips curling into a small smirk. A shadow of its former glory. "Yeah... I'd like that."
Salem wondered if this was how Verde used to feel at the beginning of the Third Timeline. Jasper laughed, her ego beginning to flare again.
"I knew you couldn't turn me down. Who could?"
"Not me," Yin chuckled.
Further back, Vao and Verde were holding hands, Violet and Midori walking in front of them. The dullahan looked like someone had pissed in his cereal. "... I can't believe I'm actually thinking about this," he muttered. "I hate it when other people are right... Bloody 'ell, I hate it..."
Verde sighed, running her thumb along the back of his hand. "... I understand. But there is an important matter I wish to discuss."
Vao raised an eyebrow. "Oh, wot is it Lo- OW OW OW OW!"
Yin turned around the moment Vao cried out in pain. Verde was twisting his fingers, her face stoic as usual. But her eyes expressed how she felt perfectly. She was pissed.
"You slept with a giant flying lizard before even me? How many other children do you have with other women? If I do not approve of your answer, the pinky gets it."
"Mummy's going to kill Dad!" Violet bawled.
"I WAS DRUNK, I WAS DRUNK! I SWEAR IT! I'M SORRY!"
"That wasn't the question. How many more children do you have with other women?"
Vao didn't answer that. He counted his fingers on his free hand, struggling to count so high. "If the possibility is... Seven hundred women... Four hundred in the Secret City and Goblin City put together, one fifty in Ragna, the rest in Faralda... I just learned wot a condom is... Could be over six hundred-"
"FATHER COUNT IN YOUR HEAD!" Midori screamed.
Yin winced when Verde tackled Vao to the ground, beating the shit out of him with her staff. He was beginning to understand why Vao was scared of his wife. The witch stood up, breathing heavily. The end of her staff was bloody, Vao cowering beneath her.
"Damn it," she muttered. "So many before we... I lost... Even in marriage, I lost... Damn it!"
She stomped off, and Yin could have sworn he saw steam billowing from her ears. The healer tapped his staff into the ground, healing his brother. Vao shakily stood to his feet, wiping the tears from his eyes. "Y-Yin... Can I sleep at your house tonight?"
Yin didn't know what Vao was talking about. "Why? Wouldn't Yang and Uncle Qrow be ecstatic to let you and your family stay?"
"You don't know wot happens in bed!" Vao cried. "I made her angry! She'll tie me up and choke me again, a-and she might bring the toys! A-and I like it sometimes, but it starts to really hurt when she's angry!"
"Vao, that is fucking GROSS!"
Midori looked sick, Violet choosing not to listen. Sapphire looked confused. "Why would you like being choked?"
"Vao, don't you dare ruin my sister's innocence!" Jasper screamed angrily. Vao immediately tried to fix it, patting the doll on the head.
"Nothing, sweetie. Just stay a virgin, okay?"
"... What's a... 'Vergin'?"
Jasper and Tourmaline looked like they were about to kill the dullahan. Of course he would make it worse for himself. He sighed, ignoring Sapphire's question. "A-anyway, please let me stay at your house! Just for tonight!"
"Hell no! Where would you even sleep!?"
"Your bed, of course! We did it all the time when we were kids!"
"We're grown men now! No!"
"PLEASE! I TOOK YOU TO NECROFANTASY TO GET LAID, SO YOU OWE ME ONE!"
Yin and Sasha's jaws dropped open, their eyes moving down to his hand. He was wearing his wedding ring - he was always wearing his wedding ring. It was his most prized possession, and it was about to get him murdered. "V-Vao, stop talking, please!"
But Vao didn't listen, as usual. "Do you even know how guilty I feel that I went to Necrofantasy again!? I did it to help you out, bruv! At least have my back this time!"
"VAO, TAKE YOUR RING OFF!"
Vao flinched. "My ring? Why?"
The sound of a twig snapping made Yin and Sasha freeze, the pair turning to see Verde standing in front of them. She was staring straight at Vao, her staff clutched in her right hand, and left hand to her ear, her ring on her finger.
"Necrofantasy?" She said quietly. "The brothel in the Secret City? V-Vao... D-did you... Ch-cheat on me while I was h-hurt?"
Vao was paralyzed to the spot, the blood draining from his face. "N-no... I didn't... I-I didn't mean..."
Verde looked destroyed, her eyes beginning to water, her magic beginning to flare. "I... I'm going to kill you, Vao..."
Vao spun around and ran for his life, Verde's magic tearing through the ground behind him, the witch following him back to Faralda on her broom. Violet glared at Yin, her face filled with fury.
"Wait... You tricked Dad into cheating on Mummy?"
Sasha was of similar mind. "Yeah. Vao ain't no cheater unless he's playing poker. Did you seriously just ruin his fucking marriage?"
Yin shook his head. "No... He only took me to help me out with something... He wouldn't even look at the other women, and he kept telling me how much he cared about Verde."
"The hell did you need at a brothel?" Tourmaline asked. Jasper blinked, the pieces clicking together.
"Oh... Because you were a virgin, right?"
"Can someone tell me what a vergin is?" Sapphire asked. "Is it like verginiddy? Tourmaline told me about that!"
Everyone chose to avoid telling her. Yin sighed, rubbing his forehead. He felt horrible. "Did... Did I really just cause a divorce...?"
Midori shook her head. "No, Mother knows when he's lying. After she beats him, she'll yell at him. All he needs to do is tell her the truth, and she'll forgive him. They care about each other too much; they'd never even think about a divorce."
Yin breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Twist..."
They turned back to Faralda, starting to walk towards the gate. They needed to help Vao survive Verde's wrath. As it turned out, the joke was true; short people were terrifying when they were angry.
Clop, clop, clop, clop.
"Stop."
Horse hooves halted behind them, Yin turning around in confusion. And when his eyes stopped on the rider, so did his heart. The Knight Commander glared down at the adventurers, Jasper and Tourmaline immediately hiding behind Yin. Glenroy let out a small scoff, dismounting his horse. The animal trotted away, Glenroy's eyes never leaving Yin. The healer was reaching for his katana, the others doing the same. But Glenroy didn't flinch. He glared at Yin, jerking his head back.
"... You. Come with me," he growled. Yin narrowed his eyes.
"... Where's the rest of your men, Glenroy? Where are the Knights?"
Glenroy jabbed his thumb eastward. "The Royal Capital. I came alone. I came for you. You and I have unfinished business."
The Knight Commander had already turned around, his back to the adventurers. But it was still highly likely he was very aware of his backside; ready for an ambush. Salem gave Yin's shoulder a worried squeeze. "We... We should get back to Faralda and gather am army-"
"No."
"H-huh? Are you crazy?" Jasper stammered. "You saw it in my Reality. He's nuts!"
Yin had begun to follow Glenroy. "He's still a Knight," the healer muttered. "If he was here to put an end to Faralda, he'd have attacked the city by now. This is... Something else."
Glenroy led him into the fields, the white-haired Knight stopping in the open, his hand resting on the handle of his sword. His blue eye glowered at the healer when he turned half-way, his lip pulling back in a scowl.
"... This is between us, Yin. Keep your monsters out of this," he growled. "I want a duel. You, and me."
Shing...
Glenroy's sword gleamed in the sun, the Knight Commander holding his shield up in a stance. Yin drew his katana, his right foot shifting back. "... It was bound to happen, sooner or later," he muttered. "But what is this about, Glenroy? You made a week-long trip just for a duel? Leaving behind your legion?"
Glenroy nodded. "... Since I was taken in by the Church as an infant, I have worked every day since my earliest memories scratching and clawing my way to the rank of Knight Commander," he hissed. "For years I trained relentlessly for the blessing of the God of Light, until my body was broken. But that day in Ragna, I discovered the truth with my own eyes. You wield Light; you, a traitor to the God of Light, a sinner. I can't allow that - I won't allow that. The power of Light can only be granted to a hero from birth, one with a pure heart. That can't be you. That can't be. You are an enemy to humanity, to the Good God. We'll settle this, once and for all."
Yin narrowed his eyes, raising his katana. Glenroy stepped forward, the dirt kicking up as he charged at Yin, his sword glowing with the power of his miracles. The healer lifted his weapon, blocking the blow with his magic.
Bang!
In an instant Glenroy's shield punched Yin in the side of the head, stars flickering in front of him.
Clang, clang!
Yin's feet slid back under Glenroy's assault, sweat beginning to build up on his brow. His katana was blocked effortlessly, never once touching the Knight Commander's body. Glenroy was fighting defensively, watching and reading Yin's every move. He was fully aware Yin was strong enough to kill him if he got careless - that wasn't good. Glenroy drove his shoulder into the healer and dropped him to the ground, his sword mid-swing.
Sparks rained down when Yin blocked the weapon from splitting his head in half, his foot kicking out at Glenroy's shin, giving him time to roll back to his feet. They stared each other down, Glenroy's eye burning with anger.
Glenroy charged again, Yin's mind turning. The Knight Commander was far from the worst he had fought. After battling real monsters like the abominations, the Cult, Mono, and the First Vao, Glenroy didn't scare him anymore. There was no point wasting energy on him.
SLASH!
Glenroy skidded to a full stop when Yin dropped low and darted past him, the pain burning in his chest. The Knight Commander looked down, a thin line of red trickling from his lip.
Yin had cut through his armor with his Light, and struck the skin underneath. His hand clutched the bleeding wound, his teeth gritting together in pain. He was faster than Glenroy had thought. Yin stood up straight, heaving a sigh.
"... I've fought so much worse," he muttered. "Monsters capable of driving me mad, time-stopping maids, and a crazy madman with more power than he knows what to do with... People I can't beat; they're faster, smarter, more experienced... You just aren't a threat to me. To any of us. It's time that we finish this, Glenroy..."
"Heh... Heh heh..."
Yin turned, raising an eyebrow. Glenroy was wearing a smirk, giggling to himself. The healer began to brace himself. From experience, it was never good when an opponent was confident to laugh. The Knight Commander looked at him, his grip tightening on his sword.
"Yin... I was holding back for your sake," he growled. "But now I see. There's no point in holding back. That swing was intended to kill. If I hadn't moved, I would be dying."
Yin took another stance, readying himself for Glenroy's next move. Jasper and Tourmaline flew to the healer, clinging to his shoulders. "I knew something was up," the ginger whispered. "Yin... Get ready. You've seen it in my Reality; Glenroy is batshit crazy..."
The Knight Commander swung his sword, taking a deep, controlled breath. "Long ago, when I first joined the ranks of the Knights... The God of Light sent a message to His Holiness, Pope Iris... A prophecy of a hero who wielded Light... The Hero of Light. Only a true hero would ever wield that power, a hero with a true and righteous heart... I've trained night and day, earning my title. What have you done? Blasphemy, heresy. You don't deserve Light; I do! I am a hero, not you! And that's why..."
Glenroy reached for the eye patch he always wore, Yin's heart beginning to pound. He was aware of the Church's brand on its highest ranking members; they had seen it on Rojo and Leaf's corpses. As the black cloth was pulled away, he finally saw where Glenroy had been branded.
His right eye was burned out, the slim blackened and the eyeball opaque. Yet it radiated with power, of miracles that made Yin hesitate.
"I want you to show me what gives you the right to wield Light. I want to see what makes you a hero," he shouted. "I am a living legend. I am Sir Glenroy Diamant, Knight Commander of the Church; Twist's greatest hero!"
Yin had already gotten the picture. Glenroy had a hero complex; he was full of himself. Obsessed with becoming the world's greatest hero in the name of an evil God, he had killed thousands. And if Yin failed here, Glenroy would do it again.
Light was imbued into his katana, the blade glowing gold. If Glenroy wasn't going to hold back, then neither was he. He stepped forward, breaking into a run. He was going to take the Knight Commander's head.
"YIN! GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Tourmaline's scream came too late. Glenroy's body radiated with sheer power, and before Yin could even comprehend what was going on, the insignia of the Church spread through the air.
"[Ultimate Miracle: Death by a Thousand Blades]."
It came like a hailstorm. From the insignia, the golden swords speared through the air, racing for Yin. The healer deflected two before resorting to dodging, the razor-sharp edges shearing through his armor. He wasn't given any time to recover, Glenroy already moving towards him.
Their weapons met again, Yin's arms trembling under Glenroy's true strength. From the corner of his eye he could see Salem and the others rushing to his aid, Glenroy following his gaze. He pulled away from the healer and swung his sword through the empty air.
"[Ultimate Miracle: Holy Wall]."
Holy power burst from ground, blowing the adventurers away. It spread around the two dueling adversaries, creating a barrier. Glenroy glared back at Yin, shaking his head.
"This is between us, Yin. No one will interfere."
Their swords clashed again, locked in a heated, deadly dance. With each strike Yin made, it was blocked by Glenroy's shield, and with each strike Glenroy made, it met Yin's katana. The Knight Commander delivered a swift kick to the healer's shin, bringing him to the ground. But he jumped away soon after, catching Yin off guard.
The tail of the dragon stretched from Glenroy's lower back, making Yin's heart stop. With one spin, the thick scales smashed into the healer's side, disarming him and tossing him to the ground. Golden flames burned from Glenroy, radiating with holy power, bolstered by his unwaivering faith in the evil God.
"Yin! MOVE!"
The healer dove out of the way the moment Jasper told him to, flames torching the grass where he had been moments ago. Glenroy's mouth smoked and smoldered, the flames crackling in the air.
Yin was beginning to realize just what type of opponent he was going against. Glenroy wasn't someone to underestimate; he had become Knight Commander at such a young age for a reason. He was a master of holy miracles, surpassing Leaf and Rojo. With them, he had the strength of the dragons, and the experience of a Knight.
He grabbed his katana again, funnelling his magic into the blade. With a swing he launched a beam of Light at Twist's greatest hero, the magic absorbed within Glenroy's shield.
Was it the same as Rojo's shields? If that were the case, then all Yin needed to do was overload the strange gemstones. Light blazed around him, the healer charging forward. He swung his katana, smashing it into the golden shield with everything he had.
CLANG CLANG CLANG!
Outside the barrier, Salem and the others tried to forcefully break the miracle. But even Hekue's flute failed. Midori turned at the sound of footsteps, Verde and Vao hauling towards them.
"W-wot the 'ell did I miss!?"
"It's Glenroy!" Sasha shouted. "He's fighting Yin!"
Vao immediately rushed to help in trying to tear down the unbreakable barrier, but Verde remained where she stood. The witch squinted through the wall, watching the fight closely.
Sweat rolled off Yin's chin, his attacks beginning to land blindly. Glenroy was fully focused on blocking each strike, the Knight narrowing his eyes. It was only then that Verde noted his shield, just as she did nine years ago when she first encountered Glenroy with Vao.
The strange gemstones engraved in the gold; they radiated with an aura different from the ones in Rojo's tower shields. It wasn't just absorbing magic; it was being powered up.
"Do you know how I started my career, Yin?" Glenroy growled. The healer slammed his katana against the shield again, gritting his teeth.
"Let me guess; killing people who didn't want to fight back?"
But Glenroy's lips began to curl into a smirk. "No. I started by hunting witches; much like your worthless sister-in-law. They called me Glenroy the Witch Hunter, and this is how I earned that name."
"YIN! GET AWAY FROM HIS SHIELD!"
But just as before, Yin was too late. He had fallen for Glenroy's trap. The gemstones in the shield blasted with energy, sending the built-up magic back at Yin. The Light burned at his skin, manipulated by the Knight Commander's shield, tearing the leather from his armor and exposing the chainmail underneath.
It was the first time Yin had been struck by Light. It wasn't as bad as it could've been - he had been born with it, after all - but it still ached and burned enough for him to nearly drop to his knees. Glenroy dashed forward, his sword meeting Yin's katana again. This time, weakened, Yin was pushed back, nearly toppling over. With each strike, he moved back, trying to balance himself.
Glenroy's swordplay was better; he was trained. Yin only had the experience of an adventurer. He wasn't enough to fight back. He was about to die; Glenroy would kill them one by one before retreating to the Royal Capital, where his army would wipe Faralda from history. With his shield, none of them stood a chance. With another strike, Glenroy finally knocked him off his feet, the Knight Commander standing over him with that narcissistic, sociopathic glare.
"As I thought," he snarled. "You never deserved Light. You are no hero; you're a sinning puke, one who supports those monsters. Worry not; I am not as cruel as His Excellency, Archbishop Leaf. You're still human at the end of the day; I'll make it quick if you allow it. But for those vermin you granted refuge, I will not do the same. Your little rebellion ends here, Yin, at the bite of my sword."
Yin felt the last of his hope beginning to leave him. He couldn't fight Glenroy alone. He wouldn't have been able to fight any of the enemies he had met alone. And when he had been separated, left with a stronger opponent, he looked in the face of death with fear. Not fear for himself; after everything he witnessed, he could care less about that. It was everyone else who was going to pay for his failure.
That was how Yin had always been since the First Timeline, when he shouldered the burden of saving the world so everyone else could live on. Perhaps that was why someone reached out to him - the very last person he would ever expect to lend him his aid.
(("... Raise your weapon. Hold it in front of you, and use your magic."))
Instinctively Yin obeyed, his sword blocking Glenroy's deathblow. His magic flared, the Knight Commander shielding his eyes and stepping back. He looked back at Yin with a sigh of pity.
"I offered you the chance," he muttered. "But I have no qualms doing this the hard way. Commendable, that you would fight to your last breath."
(("He's coming. Block again, put distance between him and yourself."))
CLANG!
Yin's arms almost moved on their own, his mind spinning. He could feel it; the residual Darkness burning deep inside him. The voice that spoke to him was unexpected. It was the whispery, raspy voice of the First Vao. But at the same time, it didn't sound like the First Vao was talking to Yin directly.
(("An opening, at his shin... Exploit it. Strike between his armor plates. But he'll see it coming... Fake an attack from above, and he'll move his shield..."))
Yin raised his katana, and just as the First Vao predicted Glenroy made an attempt to block it and absorb his magic. With his Light enhancing his speed, he redirected around the shield and plunged his blade into Glenroy's knee - and stabbed straight through it. The Knight Commander let out a pained scream, slamming his shield against Yin and limping back.
(("Get up... Never stay still... He's injured, but that doesn't matter... Never underestimate your opponent, even if they're on their deathbed... I need to stay alive... I can't die, not yet."))
He wasn't talking to Yin. He was talking to himself. The Darkness the First Vao had used in Yin's Reality had become active when he used his magic; it was fading away, but it was still just enough to hear his voice. It was similar to how he manipulated Pip.
Yin needed to end this fight as quick as possible, before the last of the Darkness disappeared, and he was left without a guide.
(("Sprint towards him. Catch him by surprise. Kill him, kill him before he kills me. Fast, strong, I have to win. That shield... If I can land a direct hit on those gems... Don't use magic when I hit it..."))
Yin raced forward, opening his mouth in a shrill shriek. Glenroy flinched at the sudden sound, his shield blocking Yin's katana. But the healer gave him no leeway; steel clashed against the metal, his magic absent. Yin knew he didn't have the physical strength of the First Vao. With his katana, he couldn't break the gems, and didn't have the time to pry them out.
(("Dust, pull it from his bloody hands! Fight like you have nothing to lose!"))
Yin reached forward, grabbing the edge of the golden shield, his knuckles turning white. "Jasper, Tourmaline! His hand!"
The fairies flew from his shoulder, their tiny bodies able to dodge his sword as his swung at them. With their magic of fire and electricity, Jasper and Tourmaline attacked. The heat cooked the Knight Commander's hand in his gauntlet, the electricity travelling down his armor and electrocuting him. His fingers uncurled from the shield's handle, and Yin tore it away and threw it over the holy barrier.
Glenroy kicked the healer out of the way, his breath heavy. "You're... You're fighting differently," he gasped. "You're fighting like... Like a beast- no, like... Like a monster..."
Yin panted heavily, the First Vao's voice whispering into his ear. (("... Can you hear me, Yin? You've been listening to my orders, but... I need to be absolutely certain, before my Darkness wears off and fades from your Reality."))
Yin felt his spine tingling. The First Vao was using his magic to talk to him. That was how he had manipulated Pip; by using his magic to communicate with him. Shakily, he nodded his head.
(("Good... Then listen to wot I say... You've already done good so far,")) the murderer whispered. (("... He's going to try and use his miracles again now that he doesn't have his shield. You've always been something of an acrobat; make sure you don't get hit by that tail, or that fire. Watch for other attacks."))
Yin charged forward again, watching the Knight Commander closely. Glenroy was beginning to spin. Bracing his knees and dropping low, Yin pressed his hand against the dragon tail just as it was within arms reach, using the momentum to flip himself into the air.
His katana, gripped in two hands, slammed down on Glenroy, the Light burning bright.
(("He's panicking. Attack. Attack him, now! Before he collects himself and uses a miracle!"))
CLANG, CLINK! CLANG!
Yin could see it. Glenroy's sword was beginning to crack. It was just a normal sword. With one final strike, the steel splintered into pieces, leaving Glenroy with a shattered blade. Yin huffed breathlessly, exhaustion creeping into his body. Fighting like the First Vao was tiring; he hadn't been trained to move like this. Dropping his katana, he raised his fist, his knuckles glowing with Light. His lips curled into a soft, victorious grin, his blue eyes meeting Glenroy's.
"Yeah... I offered you a chance, too. Commendable, that you'd fight to the last breath," he mocked.
CRAAACK!
His knuckles buried deep into the bridge of Glenroy's nose, his magic blasting out. The Knight Commander was thrown to the ground, his head slamming against the dirt. The white-haired man blinked once, twice, his mouth quivering open to spew an insult, and then fell silent. His body went limp, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. With the last of his strength, the katana was plunged into the Knight Commander's neck, the white-haired man's body twitching for the last time. Yin panted heavily, staring down at him.
He was dead. Yin felt relief flood his chest. He had done more damage than Rojo or Leaf did; where they had harmed nonhumans, Glenroy committed genocide on entire villages, driven to push every last nonhuman to extinction. His blue eyes moved to the holy barrier, his back beginning to arch with exhaustion. Glenroy had died, just as he deserved. It was shimmering, about to fade. And yet, there was a figure standing in front of him. Someone the others didn't see. Only Yin.
The shape of the First Vao. But it was far different from the last time they had met. He had grown thinner, his long hair a greasy and tangled mess. The black veins had stretched much further along his snow-white skin, even down his arms - which Yin could only tell because the poked out from underneath his sleeves. He looked sick, like he was about to die. And yet, he still gave a small, shaky smile.
(("N-n... N-nyaha... H-haha... I... F-finally did o-one good thing in m-my sodding life, b-before I,")) he breathed. It looked like even talking was a struggle. (("... I... C-can't remember... I-is it over...? W-where... Where am I...? W-wot am I doing here...? My magic... Why... Am I using it?"))
Yin could feel the Darkness beginning to fade, the shape beginning to dissipate. The First Vao looked back up at Yin, his smile faltering and disappearing.
(("Y-Yin... W-when we meet again..."))
But the First Vao never finished his sentence. He was gone, leaving Yin with an insurmountable amount of questions.
There was no doubt about it. The First Vao had gone out of his way to help his enemy. Yin couldn't see why; if he died, that would be nothing but beneficial for the murderous madman. Yet, he still did it, using what was left of the Darkness he had left behind in Yin to aid him. But even still, he could feel very few scraps left behind. Was the First Vao still trying to r
Then there was his unfinished statement. What was he about to say? Was he about to tell Yin that he wanted to kill the blonde himself? Or just that they'd be enemies again? Or was it something deeper? It certainly didn't look like he was about to threaten him.
With all these questions, Yin almost didn't notice his friends running towards him. His legs wobbled, his vision beginning to darken before he lost consciousness, collapsing to the ground, until everything went black.
...
When Yin woke up, he stared at the familiar ceiling. Blinking dazedly, he sat up. Almost immediately a thin, feminine hand pushed him back down on the bed, the girly voice of his older brother speaking into his ear.
"Oi. Don't get up yet, bruv. You're still hurt."
Yin's eyes shifted to the source of the voice. Vao was sitting in a chair next to his bed, the others standing behind him, with the more than welcome addition of Yang and Qrow, the few remaining family members he had left. They were in his room - his old bedroom, in his family home that now stood empty and neglected. Cobwebs had begun to grow at the corners of the room, a thick layer of dust having settled on the furniture, unclean since Tai's departure. The healer looked up at his brother, his mouth opening.
"W... What... Happened...?"
"You killed Glenroy, then fell unconscious," Verde explained. "Vao has already taken care of his corpse with Jasper and Tourmaline's help."
Tourmaline snickered. "Yeah, he's in a ditch right now. Rotting away. Vao dug the hole; we couldn't use the shovel right."
Glenroy really was dead. But there was still so much going through his mind. His worry was clear. So clear that even in his drunken state, Qrow took notice. "Hey... Everything alright, kiddo?"
No. That was the answer; no, everything was not alright. The healer tried to sit up in bed again, pushing Vao's hand away when the dullahan tried to push him back down. "Can... Can you guys just leave? Only for a moment?"
The adventurers looked at each other worriedly, and then back at Yin. "That... Doesn't seem like a good idea," Sasha tried to say. "You're still hurt-"
"Please get out of my room."
He wasn't asking anymore. One by one, the adventurers hesitantly filed out of his room, Vao looking back with his hand resting on the door handle. "... We'll be downstairs, if you need anything... Midori made tea earlier..."
"... Thanks."
Vao was reluctant to close the door, and when it clicked shut and he was certain he was alone, Yin touched his face.
It had dwindled into almost nothing by now. The Darkness the First Vao had used; it was nearly gone. Yin doubted the murderer could talk to him like he did with Glenroy. But maybe with his own magic...
... Just maybe he could see the First Vao, just a glimpse.
Mono had come to Faralda and didn't kill Salem when she had more than enough chances to do just that. It was obvious she wanted the princess dead, and yet she came looking for a cure for Blood. The Cult worshipped the Blood - the First Vao's Blood, specifically. For her to search for a cure... It contradicted everything they knew about the obsessive psychos.
Then there was the First Vao. Yin distinctly remembered seeing the shadow that clung to the madman's left shoulder, whispering quietly to him. Something that looked familiar, and didn't at the same time. Then there was the hallucination he had seen just a few hours ago, after he defeated Glenroy. The sick, unhealthy appearance of his strongest enemy.
What did he mean by 'finally did one good thing'? From all their previous encounters, the First Vao thought he was in the right. But his voice, in his most recent encounter with Yin, betrayed doubt.
The blonde closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and focusing his Light within himself. He could feel the Darkness trying to escape, but it had nowhere to go. He could feel its strength; even at the cusp of fading, it was still stronger than Yin's Light. But destroying it wasn't in his mind. It was fading on its own.
As the Dark mingled with his Light, his head began to spin. He laid back down on the bed, keeping his eyes closed. And very faintly, he could hear it. The voice of the First Vao.
(("M... M-Mono...? Where... W-where are...? W-were you right...? D-did she... A-abandon me...?"))
He was talking to someone. Was this happening right now? It had to; he had acknowledged that Mono was absent when she had always been at his side. But that was good; hearing the First Vao's voice in the present would give him more insight about his current situation. He strained his ears harder, trying to hear the person the First Vao had spoken to.
Only, he ended up really wishing he hadn't.
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̴̧̘̜͌̿̀͋̾̂̿̀̈̿͂͐̾̉͂́̎̏͒̓̂̈́̚̚̚͝ḑ̶̢͚̖͉̜͚̟̰͉̭̦͉͕̥̭͕̳̝͈̟̠͔̣̝̣̩̺̲̤̭̰̳̤̞͈͎̥̖̮̘̾̊̋̔͒̂̽͐͋̏̒̎͑́̀̓̐͒͆͋̋̔̎̈͌̊̈́̌̿̕̕̚̕͜͝͝͠ͅͅį̶̡̨̛̗̥̳͎̬͉͍̲̗̝̹̻͍͔̭̲͖͙̟͔͖̦͗̅̏̏̒̽̐́̀͐̃̍͊̿̅̏͗̂̈̽͌̔̌̅̓̔̏͐͊͂͒̊̔̈́̎̒̋̀̐̚̚͘͜͠͠ḓ̶̨̨̡̜̘̜͇̭̖̼̮̲͔̟͙̗͔̜̖̝̣̤̩͔͖̺̼̯͈̖̭̼̝̙̟̳͚̾̐͊͂͂͒̇͒͂͆̋̾́̔̇̈̾̐͋͛́͝͝͝͠ͅ.̶̨̧̡̧̡̩̗̦̬̫̰̝͇͎͉̈̌͐̆̅̌̉̌͒́̅̽̎̽͆͛̾̀̑̎̊̑̍͘̕̕̕̕̕̚͠͠.̴̧̡̨̡̡̢͓̯͓̭͙̥̱̬̩̮̙͙͙͎̯͖̲̬͔͈̱̜̟̹̹̞̙̯͚̬̣̟͉̬̜͒͜ͅͅͅ.̶̣̠̭̦̮͍̫̻͓̬̝͓͉̰̝̪̬̥̖̳̘̜͚̙̘̲̓̑̍̈̌̏̀̇͛͐̃͆̅̍͒̾̏̆͑̅͊̃͐͋̿̚̕͘͘ ̸̡̟͍͓̳̖̰͍̹̹̩̹̝͖̪͔̤̯̼͕͔̜̳̫̲̋́͛̔͆̇̿͒͒̆̇̽̀̓̒͑̄͒̉̑͜͝͝͝ͅW̴̡̤̭͈̦͚̮̫̥̫͙̙̯̙̦̜̟͇͉̘̥̥͗̃̅̀̈́̈̀̓̚͘̕͠ḩ̴̞̣̗̪̳̲̬͉͚̠̯̙̠̝̮̠̒̄̉́̑̅̆̑͆̏̿͂̒̌̈̒͂͂̌͒̓̀̍̏̈̉̌̚͜͝͝ẏ̴̢̛̛͉͙͎̳͎̤͍̙̟̘̮̹̙͕͇̼̥̞̯̰̤̫͌́̃͒̉̋̀͆̋̑̍̽̋̋̀̄͋͛̒͗͒̅̒̕͘͝͝͝ ̷̡̢̛͚͔̗̳͉͈͎̩̬͍͔̗̻̼̲̩̘̦̪̮̰̣͖̭͔̩͋̓̽͐̈́̃͒͗̆͆̈́͆̊̋̔̂̃͋͘ͅw̵̧̧̧͉̣̘̩̳͕͔̟͍̞̟͖̞̥̜͉̼̙͍̦̮̆͌̔̓̀͊̓͗͌̃̍̀͐͆̅̆̽̆̎̀̕̕͝ǫ̵͇̪̙̩̟̮̭͍̗̬̜͍̪̱̪̮̜͕͖͆̽̔̆́̅̈́͋̈́̏̌͋̍̊̕͠͝ͅư̷̢̢̢̭̩͇̥̱̲̙̭͚̜͍̱͈̜̥̱̲̲͚͉͍͈̤̤̱͚̳͉̳͉͍̟͚̈́̌̈́̐̈̀̂̅͒͌́̂̃͌̂̓͆̿́̏͗͘̚͜ͅl̵̢̖͍͇̍d̸̢͍̘͍̯̪̤̟̗̺̰̠̟͉͕̩̩͈͎̥͈̘̬͉̗̲̝̳͓̬̯̭̃̋́̌͂̉̆́̇̈́̀̉͆̊̅̆̀͋̏͊̃̃̇̓̊̀́̅̀́̒̃́̽̈̍̅̕͠͝ͅͅn̸̡̡̛̛̤̟̳͖̳͍͊͑͒́̃͛̒̓͊͐̽̀̋̋̀́͗̒̂͆́͋̍̂̐̈̈́́̓̓̽̒̒̓͐̌̈́̕̚̕̕͠͠͠'̶̡̧̢͇̻͖͖̮̙̖̬̬̥̝̳͇͈̱̙͖̲͚̥̯̰̝̲͔̠̥͉̙̝͖̞̝͖͓̰͊͊̎̀͜͜ͅţ̸̛̝̗̟̫̜̔̾̉͌̉̑̋͗͊͗̀̈́̔́̈̃́̂̽͛̽͂̂̽̌̀͑̃̂̈́̐̂̔̆̿́͋̾̂́͘͠ ̸̡̡̢̨̢̨̢̛̛̰̞̬̥̬̰̹̲̙̥̬̖̩͇̪̤͍͙͖͕̰̤̲̰͇̫̠͚͔͎̙̖̲̺̞͈̗̣̫͎̑̽͛̽͒̑͐̿͛̔̀̍̀̀̒̈́͂̒̓͐̅͑͑́̎̾̓̿͛̅́̅̽̉͒͂͋͘̕̚͜ͅş̸̭̝̣̩͍̤̲̭͉̩̹͕̲̺̒́̂́͝͠ḩ̴̡̨̡̧͔̘̗̗̫̝̪̲̻͓̠͎̞͙͓̼͉̬̰̖͔͙̺̲̘͕͙̣͚̥͈̙̪̗̒̉̌̃̏̔̈̂͗̈́̅͆̋͋̄̿̅̇͒͌̓́̂͑̾̈́̀̆̓̈́̾̔̉͐̏́͂̔̽͐͗͒̍̕͜͠͠ȩ̷̙̼̟͍̦̼̘͚̯̘̟̟̹͕͚̾͜͝ͅ?̶̢̨̧̧̨̧̢̛̛̲̘͙̮̲̰͓̝͇̩̠̻͙͉͉̙̭̻̲̖̪͈̥̘̖̻͕̖̭͕̠͇͚͚̤͖̪͂̏͛͒́̐́̈́͒̀̓̈̽̇̑̑͐͌̄͐̓́̑̽̆͊̒͘͘̕͝͝ͅ ̵̨̧̢̥͓͇̤̈́̎̂̒͘͜Ẏ̷̡̢̢̢̛͓̤̲̰͉͉̥͚̭͍̳͓̘̲̳̯̥̞̿̏͛̓̇̈̏̅̃̊̈́͛͝͝ͅơ̸̧͚̗̭̻͎̲̬̜̻̼̩̪̏̈́͂̃̈́͒̈̅̑̉̆͂̈́͛̀̑͆̒̀̀̓͐́͂̔̄͒͐̀͗͐̏̂́̋̆̎̎͘̚̚̕͠͝ͅų̴̡̦̩̣̩̩̩̹͎̳͉̣̲̘͇̝̫̣̖̪̙͍̠̙̩̱͓̬͈̞̼̦̍̅̃͊͂̽͗̕ͅͅ ̸͎̭͙̭̱̣͈̫̘̣̬̦̭̹̖̜̘̠͇͕̼̟͍̼͍̳̫̺͙̲̝͕̱̮̪̤̯̘̻̏̓̎̓̀͂͋̈́͊̚̚͜͝ơ̶̛̛̙̩̬͕̰̱̱̞͎̻̒̾́̇͌̈́̇́̈́̓̓͌̈́́͌͆͗̃̔̊͗͗̌̿̏͂̓̃̌͗͐͊͐̅̀̊̎͘̕͘͘͝͝n̵̡̧̨̥̣̠͔͔̩͖̤͈̘̖͓̥̳̟̖̱̠̯͚̗͉̗͖̭̹̖̻̲̙̖̅͋͊̄͛̎̂̊̃̐̈̓̆̓̍̊̓́̒̓͗̈́̕͠l̶̢̨̛̛̛̗͎̗̠̬̖̣͓̝͇̤̙̠͇̬̖̹͍̫͚̩̙̝̙͈͍̱̦̫̺͖̘̞̘̳͕̞̘̠̳̣͋̀̍̅̃́̌̆̇̉̋̂̈̃͗̓͗́̈́̆̔̍̉̅̄͗͑̈́̅̌̊̆̈́̉̆͋̽͐̓̎͜͝͝͝͝y̷̢̡̡͉̰̳̟͇̥̲͕̲̬̩̲̲̮̣͔̺̙̘̳̮͇̫͙͓̣͇̅̓́̈́̆͜͝ͅͅ ̵̡̡̨̨̨̫̺̲͓̰̟̼̰̻̲͚̼̬͕̤̲̠͔͕͕̱̤̤̝̭̳̅͆̊̀̏͗̿̔̾̀͑͛̇̈̈́̄̒̾̄̌̆̏̉̀̆̀̎̿̂͗̾̂́̈́̓̍͑̅̕̕͝͝ͅh̶̨̧̧̧̡̢̪̮̰̗̘̱̜͍̱͕̥̼̩̦̰̤͖̘͎̬̰̩̫͔̀͜ͅä̴̢̨̢̝̠̪̤̻̠̳̖̜̱͈̻͙͕̝̳̪̘͖͕̩̙̗̟͈̹͈͇͉̖̝͔̜̫̗̬̣̠̤̖̍͒̾̉̅͗̀̔̈́̾̏̌̍̌́̽̈́̍͂̿̌͒͋͌̇̊̚̕̚̚͜͜͜͜͝v̶̡̛̬̤͎̪̫̪̠̩̰̂̓̆̓̍́̔̌̐̎̍̒͂̓̂̒̋̕͜ę̵̤̞̲͕͕̗͍̪̪͚̺̫̏̋̇̉͑̍̏͂̀͘̕͜͝͠ ̷̧̧̧̨̘̱̩̫̠̞͈̟̬̳̜̞̫̹̲̭̤̭̱̜̺͇͈̳̪̥̟̭̫̗̖̞̺͙̹̝͈͋͊́̍̌̒̈́͋̈̍̐̌̅͋́̕͜͜͝ͅm̴̧̧̨̜̪͍͕͓̪̱̹̟̯̲͚̳͎̪̗͕̖̭̗͖̮̤̜̪̻̰̞̳̘͕̘͎̳͓̃͛̀͂̽͊͆̑̌̉͂̄̒̓̿͋͌̇̿̎̓͗̋̎̄̈͘͜͜͝͝͝͝ͅe̸̡̛͙̭̟̻̗̪̳͎͈̙̞̯̘̝͍̞͇͇̞̥̭͆̄̈́̏̃̀̄̅͊̉̔̍̓͊́́͊̄̽͒̄͑̽̑̓́͗̐̍̕̕̕͜͝͠͠͠͝͠,̴̛̬̱͓͈̬̮̰̞͙̜̭͓̠̫̯́́̆̎͌̿̐̊̋̌͋͐̒̋͊̑̇͊̾͑́̿̓̓̓̂̊̿͆́̂̈́̈́̕̕̕̚͠͝ ̶̨̛̼̖̞̺͕̜̳̤̖̻̹̻̪̪̭̖̙̭̰̝̣̺͓͈̃̽̂̀̄́͆̅͗̒̆̐͑̊̿͐͋̏͒̿̐̈́̚͘̕̕V̵͍̼̪̊̾̃̏̏̽͒̆̈̉͊̀̓̔̽̅͊̐̀̉̉̿̌̍͘̚͝͠͠ą̸̡̨̛̛̛͉̰̤̩͓̮̜̘̖̩̩͓͔͉͇̥͖̫̖̭̹̪̬̻͕̯̣̱̩̝̿̿̊̄͊̇̂̌͌̽̈́̌͑̾͊͒͂̓̋͊̄̂͗̑̾̉͛̐̓̏͘̚̕͠͠ͅͅơ̴̧̡̨̧̨̧̡̨̛͉̫͖̝̲̦̮̭̻̩̭̤̮̝͇̤͈̞̟͖͕̺̤͓̞̯̲̝͖̟̖̩̞͕̱̱̄̔͛̈͑̃̒̀̋̈́͒̂̃̅͐̃̔͒͆͜͜͜ͅ.̸̧͍͎̤̤͔̘͎̼̼̖̰̞̯̹̩͙͙̙̫̬͊̈́̉̏̾̓̈́͑͂̉̒̑̃̋̄̈́̅̈́̄́͆̈́͑͑͗̋̓́͗̂̍̆͆̅̎̏̍̚̕͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͝͝ͅ.̷̢̨̧̥̳̭̘̰͇͍͔͈̹͙͓̬̠͈̰̰̬̭̬̖̘̞̮̭͙̱͈̳̝̤̳̳̹̲̟̥̳͔̖͍̦͛̂͋̇͌̃̈́͌̂̈́̆̎̉͌͛̔̈́͛̒͋̈̈́͆̑̆̔͂͋͗̌̀̈́̿̈́̈́͆́̕͜ͅͅͅͅ.̵̧̢̛̣̘͖̦̥̬̪̘̘̣̭̭̥̙̞͍̣̝̳̬̩̲̘̗̭̤̖͉̥͓̜͇͎͍̪͓͍͙̪͖͍̪̦̙̱́̇̌͒͆͋̀̔̀͂͌̚͜͜͝ ̸̢̳̙̹̮̠̻͓̰̬̅͂̈́͐̎͋̈́͛̔̎̀̍̀̌͒͠ͅỌ̴̢̢̧̦͓̲̥̰̼͓̦̞̙̭̳̩̰͈̪̞̜͔̠̩̖̝̥͚̟͖̱̣͉̝̹͚͙͇͙̟͇̈́͌̎̉͜͜͠ͅņ̷̦̖̪̹͖͉̫͉̤͉̗̤̪͍̹̪̂́͑̍̈́̂͜ḷ̶͕̠̜͖͕̍̾́͌̌͗̑͋͒̌̏͊́̔̀̔̾͌̋̉͛͗͊̔̀͑̈͠͝͝y̵̖̻̞̻̜͒̆̎̋̍͗̍̍̓̎͝ ̶̢̢̢̺̺̗̗̮̹̬͈̣̟̝̗̣͖͓͈͙̜̘̙̻͎̩͓͖͉͔͙͓̫̫͑́͑͋͘͜͠y̵̧̛̳̯̳̜͈͖̝̱̥͈̥̭̙͔͆́̈́͊̋̂͛͊̂͂̄́͆̌̑̈́͆̋̓̐͛̽́̆̋̾͒͋̓̄́͑͐͘͜͠͝͝o̴̢̡̡̢͚̞͇̳̣̜̩̰̘̞͓͎̻͎̖̳̼͍̓̋̐̌̓̀̔̂̓͐̑̇̈́̏̒̓͒͊́͋͋́̄͗̃̆̋͒̄̈́͘͘͜͝ȗ̵̢̨̡̧̫̩̠̭̰̺̤̥̗̣͎̥̤̲̣̮͓͈͔̦̩̲̹͇̜̘̗̳̘̬̱̫̥̱̙̞̜̟͍͕̣̇̅̈́̍̍̽̒̎͌͌̂̆͒̄͊̊̚͜͝ͅͅr̵̨̛͚̝̥̤͓̝͎͇̙̖̱̝͙͔̹̜̤͎̱̣̮̝̙͈̺͈̦͕̹̫̹͇̪͖̰͖̱͔̜͊́̃̎́͌͒̾͂̉̌̄͆͆͋̀͊̇̄͒͆̍̂͋͂͑̌̿͗̎̍͜͠͝͠͝͠͠ ̶̢̢̧̢̧̡̢̡̛̛̛̛̬̥̞͙̣͔̜̩̗̠̼̳̲̠̫̦͍̪͖̪͕͕͖̹̟̼̱̠͇͔̥̪̤̘̯̫̓͂̄̉̓̔̃̃̒̈̄̍̔͛̊̓̀͛͗͑̒̄̂̈́͗̇̑̇̅͗̉̎͐́̐̈́̚̕͘͜͝͝͝ͅp̷̡̛̛̭̺̜̪̤͓͚̬̳̭̘̪͕̣̭͇̰̟̞̜͙̝̗̄̌̄̈́̓͑̏̑̇̈́̍̽͌͂̑̓̔̀̍͐̈́̏̋̃͋͛̇͂̆́̀͆̊̈́͘̕͘͝͝͝͠͝ǫ̸̡̛̛̫̝̲̥͚̘̣̱̥̫̘̭̱͕̝̞̝̹͇̹̞̞̤̝͙̩̞̇̌̐̾̓̒͛̿̐͌̽̅̋͒́̓̅̈́̈́̊̀̿͛̉̄͋̓͋̃̾͘͘͘̕ͅo̶̧̢͖̣̠͓̱̳̙̤̯̺̣̻̮͈̥͍͎̱̩̻̖̹̼̘͖̿̆̌͊̌̓͛͒͂̈̎̀̀̈́̑̾̽̓̃͗̕̕͘̕͠͝͠ͅr̴͚̥̗̤̫̟̰̜̱͈͖͙̱̯̪̰͚̝̃̉̈́̂̿̊̔̌͒͐̒̉̈̒̐͒́̒̈́̍̐̔͗̈̐̾̅͋̔͐̋͒̐͆͋̾͆̿̚̕͠͝͝͝,̷̢̛̛̦͉̭̙̯͔̄́̿̋͌͌̀̏͐̃̊͛̏̋̂̄͋́̽͗̀̅͌̑̿̀̒̌̍͌̀̃̈́̆̒̑̋͌̚͘͘̕̚͜͠ ̵̨͈̯̣̺̙͙̩̞̺̮̯̬̬͇͇͇̹͇̪̫̠͚͕̳͉͙̤̩͍̖̞̅̿̿̍̈́̄̃͊́̇̀̓͜d̴̡̢͓̗̺̯͙̲̟̣̱͙̙̖̦̩̭̞̙͚̳̪̮͇̟͈̪̪̹̹̳̗̞̬̖̲̯͔̖̟̗̦͒̈́̉̊̓͛͆͌̎̆̍̽̓͗̒̔̐̃̀̇͊̋̿́̃͂̍͆̐̇͑̋̀̑̊̾̆̀̈́̍̋̎̕̕͘̕͘̕͜͜͝ͅȩ̵̢̧͔̬̼̩̬̘̤͖̭̘̯̗͊̀̊̃̉̒̊̈́͐͜͝͝a̴̡̠̤̪̳̝̟͕̘̟̝̹̲̘̲̣̥̫͈̯̥̝̙͓̱̙͇̘̰̥̯̼̜̬̖̳̦͇͍͍͓͛͌̅͐́̊͊̔͐̃́̔͒͆̈́͋̀̄́̀̽́̓͘͠͠͝͠ͅͅͅr̴̨̨̧̢̛̛̛͇̦̥̠̱̞͙̻͍̬̭̝̯͙̽̈́̿̓̈́̃͆̈́̾̾̿̍́̇́̓͗̓̈́͗̈́͂̋̔͐́̈͛̿̔̄͒͊̕̚̚̚͝͝ ̵̧̧̡̡̢̛̛̬̲̹̟̮̹͍̤͕̪̭͙͍͖͈̰̥͕̰̠͔͙̼̰̗̟͈̣̖͙̤̯̣̥̱̘̟̳͉͈̱͉̎̽̇̄̈́͐͋̔̅̓̓͂̈́̿̌̀́̽̂̅̊͐̕̕͜͝͝͝ͅͅÅ̵̧̧̫̟͚̼͍̺̩͈̱̰̋̍̾̍̆̾͆͊͗͑̎̌́̒̇͑̈́͆̉̃̈́̆̾̔͑́̀̎̃͑̈́̏͋̄̑̈̌͘̚͠͝͝͝͠ŭ̵̢̺̭̝͔͖̳̲̻͋̍̊̊̒̋̋̓̔͌̏͐̾̓̚̕̚͠ͅn̶̡̛͈̜̠̬͕̫̮͈̜͇̲̱̩͇͚̝̥͙̭̭͙̦̬̭̞̳̂̇̈̈́̓͑̓̎͒̓͑̐̔̑͂̒̓̊̍̓̈́͘̕͝ͅṭ̵̨̡̨̢͔͖̤̯̗̯̯̳̼̣̝̰͙̫̝͎̝͇̦̼͍̖̹͚̤̗͚̼̖̞͚̿̍͜i̸̧̡͎̖̟͓̭͓̳͌͊̒́̾̋́͂͒͗̊̇̏̃͐̋̉̓̀̋̈̽̊̎͛̊́̌͗͒͊̍͐̃̽͘͘̕̕͝͠͝͝ȅ̴̢̨̛͈̖̞̝̳̠̯͇͓̜̻̤̗̩͓̩̼̣̜͎̳̤͖͙̩̋͌̾̂̀͌͛͐̀͑̅̎̂͌̇͌̾̀͑͒͛̔͗̃͛͘̚͝͠ͅ.̴̧̨̨̢̹͍͕̲͙̼͕̠̗̳͎̘̜̮͓̬̙̭͎͓͎͙̠̱̣̖̫̠̥̙̹̫͎̤̈̃́́̿́͒̑͒̓́̆͌̽̾͗̀̑̌̍͜͜͝͝͠.̸̧̧̡̯̠͙̤̝̖̭̞̻̤͎̦̥̰͚̻͍̬̂̊̅͗͆̍̄̆̍͑̚͝.̸̢̧̛̛͎̺̭̩̘̗̫̱̝̟̠̝̥̳̮͆̓̏͒̈̓̆͐͊͑̃̎̈́̓̒̊͌̊͑͊̈́̑̒͋̊͗́͐͆̍̉̈͛͐̾́̋̓͊́͊͗̾̓̿̕̚͜"̷͈̼̮̝͈̫͍͎͕̗͓̺̖̫̙̗̼̱͕̼̟̺̗̫̫̖̮̦͔̳̝̪͉̫̫̜͚͚͚̟̙͎͐́͒̇̏̏̔̈́̇̽̓͛͆͂͂̏̆̎̈̿̆̊̽̓́̋̊͛͋̓͌̌͜͠͝͝ͅ
The voice was incomprehensible to him. Yin flinched, his hand clamping over his ears and his eyes shooting open. When he looked back down at his fingers, he saw blood at the tips. He could feel his nose beginning to bleed, his heart pounding in his chest, a primal fear building up within him.
It was the voice of an abomination. A very strong one, at that. Yin reached for the dusty tissues on his nightstand, giving it a swat with the back of his hand to flick the dust off before wiping the blood from his nose and his ears. There was still a measly shred of Darkness within him. Should he continue looking? Or would it be his gruesome end, driving him to madness? He could already feel the scratching of insects in his head. No doubt he had already begun to go insane.
... He hated his desire to learn the truth. He hated that he had begun to question whether the First Vao truly deserved to die, or if he was just like Salem. He focused his magic again, prying into forbidden secrets. And this time, he could feel a shift in the air. When he opened his eyes, his blood ran cold.
The wooden walls of a ramshackle shack surrounded him, the floors dirty and unclean. The halls were unnaturally dark, and the air reeked of Blood. He knew exactly where he was.
He was sitting in the home of the First Vao, in Grimmore. The healer looked down at himself, staring through his ghostly hands.
He wasn't physically there. His real body was doubtlessly unconscious in his room. But could he still be seen? He'd soon find his answer, unable to hide when he heard the voices approaching. The healer jumped to his feet, staring down the halls. Two Cultists were slowly shifting down the hall, two he recognized from the celebration in Grimmore. A troll and a banshee - Tanjin and Muriel. Yin remembered them after so long only because Grimmore still scared him. The troll walked, but Muriel floated in the air. The banshee was clutching her head, tears running down her cheeks.
She had said before that banshees were known for crying a lot. But this was different; Muriel looked distressed. Tanjin looked at her worriedly, his grip tightening on the plate of raw meat. "Sweetheart...?"
Muriel's reply was a raspy breath that slowly formed her response. "I... I can't... I c-can't...!"
Tanjin rested his big hand on her back, giving her a supportive pat. "Lord Vao is chained up... He made us do it so we wouldn't get hurt... There's nothing to be scared of-"
"I-it's not that," Muriel stammered. "E-everyone time it's our t-turn to feed him, I... I feel like I'm g-going to s-scream..."
They couldn't see Yin as they walked past, the healer quietly following them. The gears in his head turned. If Muriel felt like screaming when she saw the First Vao, didn't that mean she was scared of him?
No. Muriel was a banshee. If she screamed, it meant someone was going to die. Was the First Vao dying? From the noises further down the hall, Yin highly doubted he was.
The incessant, horrible shrieks of insanity came from a locked door, followed by the rattling of chains. Muriel shakily fumbled for her key, sliding the metal piece into the lock.
Click...
Creeeaaaak...
Yin took a deep breath, following them inside. Tanjin and Muriel were standing with their backs pressed against the wall, staring at the two figures in the center of the room. The First Vao was curled into a ball, his fingers scratching at the floor and leaving deep, bloody gouges, his fingernails cracked and ruined. It was the second person that had made them stop, and sent Yin into paralysis.
That smile. The one scarred into his memory, and the two yellow eyes that accompanied them. "... Bonjour... Mon ami..."
Tanjin slowly inched forward, his lips opening in a confused reply. "M... Mr. Gulden...? How did you get in? The door... It was locked... There aren't any windows here, either..."
Jack remained calm, standing up from where he had crouched. "I entered when Mon Seigneur was last fed... I've only been keeping him company."
Tanjin and Muriel seemed to buy it, but Yin saw right through Jack's lie. He could tell because the Ripper's smile had grown. Jack was doing something behind their backs. Tanjin stepped closer, holding the plate in front of him.
"I... I see. I brought his mea-"
GRRROOOOOOOWWWWWLLLLL...
BANG!
The plate shattered on the ground when Tanjin fell backwards, his eyes wide with terror. The First Vao had lunged for him, his chains pulled so tight it looked like they'd snap. Even Jack had backed away, but his smile grew, his yellow eyes flickering with joy.
"Eat... E-eat," the First Vao hissed. "Something alive... A-alive... Who are you? I'll kill you... Every last one of you... I'll kill you, and devour your Soul..."
Muriel looked like she was about to have a mental breakdown. "L-Lord Vao, it's us... M-Muriel and Tanjin... Y-you i-invited us to the C-Cult-"
BANG, BANG!
Yin flinched, instinctively backing away when the First Vao fought against his restraints again.
"C-Cult," he rasped. "S-Salem... She's here... You're here to torture me again and again, l-like last time...!"
"N-no, we're not that Cult! We're your Cul-"
"I don't have a Cult! Liars! I'll kill you, I'll KILL YOU! Your Souls, I'll take them! I need to grow stronger! I HAVE to grow stronger! So I can finally kill that time-looping slag... I'll reach my dream, before I forget... I'll kill anyone who stands in my way! I'll FUCKING WIPE YOU OUT!"
Yin had never heard such anger before. It was inhuman. He remembered the First Vao's love for his Cult; he had cherished them once, loved them like his family. For that's what they had been to him. But not anymore. He had forgotten them, his memory deteriorating and rotting away. He had forgotten people very dear to him, and that scared Yin far more than anything. As Tanjin and Muriel ran from the room, the First Vao staggered back, his dazed eye swivelling around the room dizzily.
"M... M-Mono... Sh-she still I-isn't here...?"
Jack chuckled, his eyes locking on the Blood-ridden murderer. "Mon Seigneur... Who is Mono?"
Yin's heart sank. Jack knew who Mono was. So why was he asking the First Vao such an obvious question?
"M-Mono is... M-Mono is... M-my friend," he whispered hoarsely. "Sh-she... I-is always a-at my side... I-isn't she?"
He didn't sound sure of himself. He was close to forgetting who Mono was. Yin slowly backed away, his hand covering his mouth. Jack was doing something, pulling strings behind scenes that Yin didn't even know existed.
But the real horror dawned on him when Jack did something that was impossible. The Ripper's head turned, his yellow eyes locking onto Yin's. He wasn't staring through Yin - he was staring at him. He shouldn't have been able to see the adventurer, and yet he stared, his smile twitching ever so slightly, stretching larger.
"... It's too late, monsieur..."
The words shook Yin to his very core. The First Vao tiredly looked around the room, the Blood trickling from his lips, nose, and eye socket. "W... Who are you... T-talking to...?"
The First Vao couldn't see him. That meant that Jack definitely shouldn't have. The Ripper shook his head, turning his attention away from Yin.
"Nothing, Mon Seigneur... Just myself..."
Yin backed out of the room, quickly encountering Tanjin and Muriel in the halls again. The banshee was on her knees, her back heaving in and out while her boyfriend tried to help her. "M-Muriel, what's wrong?"
Muriel couldn't answer right away. She lifted her head from the floor, her eyes wide with delirium. "A-ah... I-I... I f-feel it... S-soon... S-someone's g-going to die... B-but not yet..."
Something pulled on the back of Yin's shoulders, his breath catching in his throat. The last of the Darkness in his body had disappeared, and he was returning to Faralda.
He was left with even more questions as his Soul was slammed back into his body, his eyes shooting open. The healer rolled out of bed, his legs nearly useless as he collapsed to the floor. He could hear a voice in his head, echoing in an incomprehensible cacophony.
(̷̧̧̡̢̧̡̛̛̜̯͔̤̦̱̗̯̫͓͙̭̹͚̜̻͕̘͕̹̺̈́̈̃̓̉̒͊͗͌͆̑͂̓͐͋̅̑̒̀͑̀̓̎̋̄̏͊̑̍͒̍͗͒̒̈̅̂̓͐̕͘̕͝͝ͅ(̷̛̛̛͖̟̱̙̟͔͗̈́̍͑̇͐͋͋̈́̽͊͋͗̆͗̓̅̆̉̃̀̓̓̒̏͘͘̚̕͝͠"̷̨̧̢̡̨͕̰̣̜͕̦̝̙̫̙̞̦̘̦̤̯̻͓̙̘͓̫̞̳̯͎͇̲̲̹̰̬̻̥̓̈́̄̐͋̈̌̈́̃̾̐̂͐̀̊͊̂̂̄̔̓͋͂͛͌͒͆̑͛͐̓͑̑͊̀̌̃́̅̎͑̂̋̕͘͜͜͝͝D̸̡̜͕̤̳͔̗̦̙̰̦̜̼͐͋͆͛̈́̓͗̉̊̾̍̄̀͑̈́͗̀̕̚ì̶̠̗͇̥͖͕̟̭̖͎̤̒̽͜d̴̢̨̛̫͓̖͔̖̗͇̝̜̙͔̪̾͑̒̐̉̒̋͂̄̒̎͋̐̔̏̆̅̚͜͠͝͝ ̸̢̧̨̧̨̡̣̜̗͎̥̞̰̣̙͍̬͔̞̹̜̼͇̮͚̩͉̟̹̭̠͎̮̞̙̥̙̘̯̳̼͙̗̮͎̬̀̎͌̄̽̆̀̍̆̿̋͐́̈́͛̃̃̐̄̅̋̈́͊̄̽̈́͊̐͗̀̉̉̒̚̕͜͠͝͝͝͝ŷ̴̛͖̦͎̬̼͔̆͂̈́̀̓͐̊́͑͊͂͒̎͐̈́̀̒͛͌̒̏̿̀͘͝ͅo̵̡̧͍̦̜͕͚̜̞̣͚̭̥̙͒̈́͗̊̎̒̆͑̀͑̐̔̽̇̑̈́̓̇́͛̔̉̍̏́̀̉͐̐̓̽͆̓̃̕͝͝ͅú̵̢̡̨̗͍͈̟͚̬̗̲͓͙̮͈̳̲̲͔̜͕͚̬͈̟͓͚͈̹͎̏̾͋̄̆͛͋̾̊̇͂͆͛̃̇̓̑͋̄̔̄͘̚͜͠͝ͅ ̵̬̞̜͙̳̻̤̻̹̩̊͛̀̔̃̾̂̂͘t̷̡̮̤͉͙͉͇͖͚̼̥̻̥̜̯͇͉̔̇͌͛̆͌͆̀̈́̒͐̍͆̃̀̋̑̎̿̽̕͠ͅḩ̴̨̻̦͇͓͖̲̟͍̩̂͋̈́͌͗̈̂̒ĭ̶̢̧̛̥̞̖̤̩͇͓̰̥͕͉̯̼̭̝̱͙͓͔͕̂͊̇̅̇̈̈́͘̚ͅn̵̨̛̫͇̙̰͍̫͈͇̝̳͖̠͇̏̑̉̒̇͒̄͆͑̿͌̊̇͂̅̒̐̎̑̈́̓̎̀̊̌̃̔̓̀͂́͘̚͘͘͘͝͠͠͝ͅk̶̡̡̭̘̩͇̫͇̰̰̦̼̝̖̣̩̫͇̺͔͍̩͙̤̩͎̐̓ ̵͈͉̞͈͉̗̈́͂̾͗̄̓̀̄͋̀̀̍̾́͌̌̈́͗̒̓̊̐̒̅͒̐͗̒̋̂̐̕̕͠I̵̡̧̲̹̩̣̰͔͇͇̞͓͍̬̭̻̤̳̙͑́̇̓̍̏͊͛͐̈́͆̂̈́͐̐͊̀͆̋̓͆̈̿̓̉̀̇̍͊̌̽̀̕̚͘̕̕͜ ̶̢̛̛̛͙͍͖̜̻̮̭̿̋͌̀͒̓̅̉̉͛͗́̀͋̑̄͂́͐̉͆͒̒̒̽͌͐̇̑̂̋̕͘̕͘̕͠͠͝͝͠w̵̨͙̻̲̾́̅͌̾͋͊̽̊̇̈́̈́̑̉̒̃̆͑̀́̍̓̕̚̕͠͝͝ò̴̧̡̡͕̻̘̘͚̯̣̤͖͚͎̣̭̘͇̣̤͓͓͇̳͎̱̼̞͈̣̭̞͚͉͌͒̾͋͂̍͆̆̓̎͆́̾̎͑̏̒̆̊͆̈́̈́́͋̕͘̚̕͜͜͝͝ͅͅư̸̡̮̠̻͙͈̪̼̯͓̮̖̺͍̻͎̥̍͌̊̈̋̂̽̈͆̋̃͐͋̈͐̈́͋̑̋̅̊̌̋̉͝͝l̸̡̨̢̢̡̧̨̨̦̲͙̻͎̟̲̖̣̦̺̝̺̝̺̪͖̻͙̪͓̱̰̥̥̇̽̅͒͊̄͛̄͗̋͋̒͒̿̚̚͘̕͝ḑ̷̨̢̧̛̯̫̺͕͚͉͚̼̬͕̝̺͉̖͔̤̺̣̬̱̩̪̻͕̻͈̱̺̂̎̀͑̀͐̈́͂͌͆̊̿̈́̕̕͘͝͠͝͝ņ̴̢̮̳̘͈̜̟̫͍͉̤̘̳̗̥̲̠͕̋̑͜'̴͙̳͈͍͎̜͇̣͉̗̼̗̹̝̂̏̑̾͑̔̀̈́̂̏̏̌̎͘͝͝t̸̡͎͎̩̳̗̥̱̲̦̜̯͍̻͌͐̿̆͌̈́͌̽̆̔̔͊̈́̊͐̀͗͒̋̈̐̀̔̚͜͝ ̴̧̧̢̻̜̰̩͍͈͖̖̱̲͕̮͖̲̱̥̼̫̳͚̩̣̪͓̫͇̪͔̃͆͐͗̈́͆͑̀̽̚͘ñ̵̡̡̰̗̣͖̪̮̮̝̪̘̼̹̝̝̹͙̺̖̬͙͉͉̣̬̭͕̮͉̘͈̫͔̯̣̂̾̽̀̄̏̃͊̈́̅̌̐̒̏͒̊͒̊̄̋̓̌̈́͂̄͒͘ö̵̧̟̣̻̜̳̭̖̠̜̫̜́̓͊̑̑͊̿̒̆́̊̔̒͒͑̍̾̒͂̍̾̔̈͛̓̽͒̈̉͐̀͌̒͒͂͒̈̕̚̕͝͝͝ţ̶͚͙͍̫̞̻͈̼̲͈̰̪͔̪̳̪̺̠̼̰̩̹̟͔͙̼̾̋̑͂͐̍͂͊̈́̃͆̀͛̉͌̍͘̚͜͜͝͝ï̵̧̡̛̺̪͎̼͈̜̫̪̭͚͈̺͍̭͓̗̱̘̳̹̱̹̭̥̘̯̝̪̻̯̝̦̠̰͐̽͛̉̾̄͂̃͆́̄́́͛͒̑̎̒̅̓̈̿̆͑̉́̏͋͂̂̽̈́̆̽̈͐̂̕͘̕̚̕͝͝͝͠͠c̵̨̢̨̪̭̙̺̩̪̖̣̟͓̟̝̹̺̙͖͚̦͓͖̪͈̳̣̰̳̭̮͖̺̻̤͖͚̖̹̗̩̩̭̅͑̌̑͌͌̍̈̽͒̏̋͌̌͗́̍͛̀̒̿̽̾̑͊͐̅͗̏͆̓͂́̓͛̂͗̽͐͗̕͜͜͝͝͠͠ͅͅe̵̢̛̛͔̞̜̗̳͚̣̩͉̟̻̤̣̲̿̈́̌͂͌̉̾̋̓̅̿̀̃̋͆̾͐̿̒͐́͊̉́̈̇̇̂͆̔̈̀̐̒̏̏̽̀̕̚̚̚̕͝͝͝ͅ?̸̡̻̟̪̩̞̻̙̱͈̜́͗̈͐̏̅̑̋̌̈́̒̄͌̈́̽̽̈́̀͛͋̿́̑̇͘̕͜͠͠͝͠ͅ"̶̡̡̢̗͉̻͉̯̠͖̫̤̪͔̹̰͉̩͇̯̦͓̦̆̆͂̆̏͝)̴͉͓̭̯̽̌̏̐̈́́̋̈̎̆̅̀̈̓ͅ)̵̙̰̫̼̏͊́̈͛̉̐̾̀̀̏̎̽̈́͗͂̅̐̊͊̐̏̌̈͝͝
His head spun, the scratching noise growing louder. He could hear the buzzing of insects, a pool of red growing on his floor as he bled from his ears.
(̶̧̧̧̨̨̢̛̣̫̲̤̟̪̺͖̦͎͎̻̜̩͍̦͈͈͈͔̺̣͖̭̀́͊̇̆̃̈́͒̈́͒̂̆̈́̔͂̐͗͌͋̂͛̏͂́̋̃̾̿̈́̿̒͗̃͂̔͆̉̕͝ͅͅ(̵̛̛̭̜̣̙͗͑̒̐̾̄͒̓̍̈́̍̃́̀͌͐̓͒͋͛̃̉́͗̓̿̊̀̓̄̈̍̏̅͛̚͘̕̚̕͠͝"̷̙͕͓̳̹͍̓̈́̔̿̈́́̈͋̇̌̅̀̐̇̌̄̐́̑͐̐̄͑͛͛͘̕͝İ̴̧̡̨̳͕̤̮͙͙͙̜̮̝̲̠̱̙̫̿̒͐̇͋̈́͜t̴̻͛́̈́̑͋̈͐̓͋͂̾̀̀̄̓͗̾̇͒̇̈́̋̇̃̈́̉͒͋͂̆̐̚'̴̧̛̜̟͓̤̞͇̗̰̪͈͕̱͈̳̙̭͍̈́͒̒̒͋͋̂̓̅̍̎̅̌̀̊̅͊͆̏̕̚̚̕͝͝͠ͅs̸̡̧̡̻͍͖͇͙̳̟̬͉̫̲̺͈̠͎͔̺̬͈̲͉͈̱͈̙̱̪̗̮̖̗͙̜̰̹̱̭͈̏̓̽ͅͅͅ ̵̡̡̛̞̖̭̤̜̭͓̺͚̰̫̩̗̟̪̟̻̘̻̠̩̲̻̲̠̟͉̋̊͊͒͛̐̊̐͑͐̔̓̄̎͆̊͛͛͘͜͝ͅt̵̢̖̲̰̻̫͓͔̘̼͇̘͈̞̜͔̭̣͇̭͎͕̯̟̜̠̫̾͒̓̊̂̐̔͋͜͝͝ͅỡ̴̧̢̡̧̡̦͇͔̤̘̟͙͈̲̤͍͇͙̲͓͈̩̜̟̘̟̭͓͊̂̍̂͗̋̏͐̇̾͗̑̒͌̂̈́̀̈́̎̍́͌͗͊̅͒̎́̈́͗͘͝͠͝͝o̵̡̖̰̮̼͒̄̈́͆̄̅̐̔̈́̈́̂͐͛͒͂̐̔͒͛̽͆͐̎̆̽̓̏̅͆͘͘͘̕͝͝͝͝ ̴̢̛̗̘͙͇͉͉̜̯̝͍̺̖̭͖̥̞̜̩̜̻͙̩͙̲̻̯̲͈̙͓̄̊̒̈́͒̈́͋̉͐́̒̉̊̈́̋̊̇̌̏̏̐̇̓́͆̃̃̚̕͠͝l̶̡̧̛̘̠̝̼̤̼̙̯̺͈̲̘͎̬̖̮͓̮̦̘̳̙̮͙̖͕͇̬͇̗͎̻̤͇̻̟͚̪͎͛̔̀͊͗̋͊͗́̀̀̔̊̊̎͌̐͆̇̾͗̂̽́̓̔̓̅͋͛͐̕͜͜͜͠ͅͅá̷̧̧̢̢̡̨̛̗͖̳͎͉̠̦̞̖͎͈͚̰̭̤̰̺̯̰͇͉͉̞̘̟̩̳͉̬͓̗̗̮̲̯͕̾̂͗̈́͗̍̄͗̈́͋̈́̉̿̆͋̄̎͒̽̓̄̎̈́̍͗͊͆͗͊̔̋̃͌̔̎̕̚̚͝͠͝͝͝ţ̴̧̨̛͔͙̪̹̯̩̬̭̰͎̞̫̟̜͚̯̱̩̟̞̞̲̝̳̼̫͔͇͙̗͔͙̥̟̺̞̹̲̱̀͆͋͛̓̂̎͒̄̀̊͌̓͗̾̃̿̂̋̈̀̐̌͘̕ę̴̢̙̪̫͈͚̲͔͙͎̱̮̼̺̖̘̱̬̰̓̑̓̀͋̈́̀̔͆͝.̴̡̛̛̺̩̜̫͉̙͙̺͗̎́̓̇̋͛̒͊͌̆̎͒̃̂̓̅͂̔́́͂͑̓̋̓́̇̐̆̀̓̌͆̑̆͛̇͛͘̕͘͠͝͠ͅ ̶̧̫̠̟̪̤̭̱̜̩̑͂̒̃̅H̸̡̧̡̡̧̛̥̙̫͉̣̭͍̹̗̳̥̬̠̫̞̝̮̠̯̖̘͇̮̟̳̝̤͕̪̩̣͚̜̗͈̄̒͊̀̓̀̈͊̆́̎̑́̉͠͝͝ͅͅͅi̵̡̧̡̭͕̩̙̞̯͈̰̜̤̦̩̱̹͍̩͍͍͚̯͎̟̹̱̣̹̜̗̰̙̣̪̓̋̏̿̂̉͛̓͊́̈́͗͑͒́͌̏̍̉̑̑̔̇̔̽̎̈́͑̎̂̅̽̆͆͂̈́́̅͆͐̚͘͜͝͝͝ͅͅs̵̡̨̧̡̢̡̼͚̙̱͚̺̝̘̦̬̜̺͚͍͇̫̜͇̮͍̻̮̹̮͚̮̫͕͉̦̜̟̲͈͉̣̻̺̱̩̼͍̔̒̏͋̇̀̇͐̈̽̇̒̊̄̕̚̕͜ ̸̨̧̢̡̛̛͔̮̞̭̮̪̦̳͔̗͚̯̺̳̪̩̙̭̙̲̖͉̼̬̯̬͚̺͙̖̝͙̟̣̤̱͎͋̊̀̋̏̇̽͑̋̇̀̅͗́̉̇̌͐̃̾͐̾͐͗́̚͝S̴̛̛̛̳̪̲̩̯̱̥̔̈́͑̿͐͑̐̓͋͐̐̀͐͒̌͊̅̑̀̈̓͝ǫ̶̢̢̨̨̨̺͓͈͇̖͙̺̲͈̪̟͚̮͈̙̱͕͖̖̘͍̯̜͍̬͉̗̮̎̀̏̉͐͑̅́̓͛͒̉̄̈́̈́́̽͗̈́͒͂̄͆͒̈͐͒̓̉͂̉̄̕͜͜͝͝͝u̸̧̟̫̞͚̜̣̬͇̭̰̹͕̙̪̬̖̲͍̖͈̟͚̪͍̟̹͓̝̹͚͒̎̆͋̿̇̈͐̈́͗̿̈̐̃̓̈́̍̐́̐̈́̿͒̽͆̒͊̽̃̋̑͗͋̈́͗̎̀̕͘͜͠͝͠l̵̢̡̛̬͎̜͉͎͕̻̥̬͙̺̼̬̳̦̫̻̲̜̖͑̐́̓̅̎̓̃̈́͑̃̊̿̿̄͑̊͗̓͘͘̚͘͝ ̵̧̧͎̻͇̥͙̰̬̜̜̖̭͍͍̮͔̼͎̠̮̫̠̫̦̖̭̣̖͚̗̾̋̃͐̀̇̅̋̽̂̈͋̎̎̊̔̔̕̕͝ͅb̶̡̧̟̙͎͓͙͇̥̤̱͉̤̥͖̯̩̗̱̰̰̪͇͉̙͙̹̲͇̖̫͈͑̅̈́́̒͂̿͛́͆́̈́͑̽̄͒̑̌͆͆̉̈́̈́́̃̊̾̉͆͂̅̀͊͘͝ͅe̸̡̧̢̧̧̧͉̙̬̭̖̮̹͈̙͔͉̞̗͔̻̖̳͚̗͚͉̘̺̲̹̠̭̗͉̐͊̒̅̅̂̔̊̌̀͌̏̔͊͝͠l̸̨̢̛̛̰̜̲̖̬̙̬̼̫͇̭̼̰̘̗̙͖̲͖̜͍͚̫̮̼̳̱̪̯͙͈̙̟̰̯͉̝̹̺̣̽̆̀͗͛̊́͒̄͛̊̊̈́̈́̑̍̑̅̄͌̈́̋̇̚͜͝͝ͅǫ̸̢̢̧̧̢̛̛̛̙̰̠̺̰̫͉̫̱͕̹̼͇̠͇͖͙̱͓͓̺̰͖͓̣̙͕̼̳̺̱̜̞͕̘̞̤̠͕͋̂͂̈͊̊͐̾̅͑͑̓͆̉̍̈̄̍̅̊̑̈́̊̃̈́͘͘̚͜͜͝ͅṇ̸͇̻͚̪̗̟̪͈̦̳̳̙̲͔̞͉͇̱͎̜̔͝ͅģ̷̨̧̧̨̡̢̺̯̪̹̙̬̪̻̩̣̙͙̼͍͉̤̩̝͕̪͈͇͔̖̗͕͕̣̯̞̩̰̦̞̜͙̙̗̮̱̘̬͍̃͐̃̊̇͐̓͌͝͝͝s̵̫͍͚͕͈̥̯̹͖̓́̅͊͆̎̆̈́͌̊̉̋̐̓̑̈̇̂̉̀̀̿͛͆̊̆͊̎̂͊͐̐̅̕͘͜͠͝ ̶̧̨̨͕̲̜̝͎͍̗̤̖͍͚͕̼̤̫͕̬̱̤̫͙̙̮͇̳́̏̽̐͂̆͌͛̓͋͒̓̅̀̈̃͛͑̿̀̐̀̕̕̕͘ͅẗ̵̨̫̭͖̯̦̻͚̙͇͖̺͖̻̮̼̪̻͍̲̞̝͚͖̤̺̗́̂̇̃̇̀̎̐͑͋͊̇̅̀͆͛͋̕̕͜͜͜͠ơ̸̡̧̧͖̘̣̩̗̺̘̑͂̑̽̈́͋͜͝͝͝ ̵̧̜͉̠̣͔͖͉͖̯̟̩̓͛́̋̕̕͠m̵̙͉̔̅̔͆̊͋͑̃̃̊̾̏́̊̉̐͌́̉̈́̌̄̃́̌̏͂̔̂͌̋̚͘͘̕͠ę̵̧̨̧̢̛͉̭̖͈͍̦̙̖̜̝̰͑̀͌̅̋̓́̈̈́͆͑̀́̀̑̄̈́̃̍̽̆̂̐̆͋͘͘͝͝ͅ,̷̛̳̜̯̲͔̙͈͍̙̖͉̙̰̲͕̣̞͕̫͌̀́́̇̾̾̅̽́̓̏̓̉̿͌̈̋̅̎̿̐̏̃̋͑̌̂͆͆̓̂̽͒̾̉͂̊́̊͘͝͠͝ͅ ̷̛̞̈́͂̅̑̈͒͊͊̓̇͗̊̄̄̉̈́̆̔̌͊͋͘͘͘̚͜͜͝ą̸̢͎̘̖͖̣̯͖̥͖̹̪̮̹̫̙͍͉͖͓̱̜͙͚̠̰͕̲̦̟̫̰̫̗͍̞͖̪̯̞̩̼̜͎̜͐͜n̷̨̡̧̛͔̲͔͈̟͙̙̔̄̃̐̈͋̈́̂̍̍̈̄̆͜d̸̢̳͓͍̼̫͖̼̼̬̙̣̦̖̬̰̩͍̀̀̀͌̄̍͐̽̀͊̓͒̂̓̈́̂̎̚̚̕͜͝͠͝͠͠ ̷̨͚̮͍̓͋͂͒̈̾̓͘̚͜͝n̴̡̧̢̧̛̛͖͓͎͙̥̻̻͙̮͉͕͖͙͖̪̯͓͓͈̒͐͒̓̅͋̋̐͗̈́͑͂̀̿͊̌̈̑̓̽̌̕͘͝ͅò̶̞̱̼͙̯̮͚̲̹̬̖͔̲̱̼̰̺̼͙̺͂͐̅̄͑̀̐ ̸̨̛̛͙̪̙͇̦̹̯̣̲͍̲̩̟̤͓͎̯̼͉̩̪̤͙̭͔̣̬̰͚͓̤̠̫̟͙̺̂͑̀̈̿̍̅͌͋̀͗͐͋̀̓͂͋́̍͗̉̔́̕͘͜͜͝͠ͅͅͅͅö̵̢̭̜̬͙͉͔͈̯̹̹͖̠̬̯̮̝̥̪̩̹̠̺̼͖̬̦̙͓̪͚͔͇́͂͊̀̑̋͋̒̓̋̍̕͜͜͝ͅń̵̢̨̛̟̙̖̟̙̠̑̾͛̓̇̄̓͗͒͛̀̈̓̇̄̈́̔̀̋̕͜͜͝͝ȩ̸̢̛̛͕͈̹̻̭̩̤̬̠̟̞̰̖̳̣̻̜̯̱̳̦̠͚̱̺̺̤̐̇̓̽̽̒̀̏̈́́̆̽̊́̾̔̆͋̃͑̒͛̎̂͋̔̍̀̀͆̇̈́̇̿̓͐͑́̐͐́̚͘̚͠͝͝ ̷̢̢̖͙͚̘̫̀͛͌̌͗̓́̀͂̋͌̈̈́̇̆̈́͊̌̓̐͂͌͜͝͠ë̸͇̣l̷̨̻̤̹͔̣̗̱͍͎̩̝͉͈͙̞͔̼̝̤̞̖̖͇͎̝̰̲͖͖̯̔͛̔͌͑͂̒̾̊͒̓̈̂͛̂͒̇͋̈́̔̌̓̆̎̒͆͑̈́̆̌̏̈́̐͘̚͜͝͝͠͠͝ͅͅs̶̨̢̡̧̛̛͕̞̪͚̹͔̺̟͔̩̺̼̟͚̱̮̰̻̫̣̻̯̦͕̺̯͚͓̗͙͍̘͕̥̯̋̈͒̆͂̉͛̒́̓̿̒́͑̈́̄̃͌̐̈́́͋͊̊̂̕͠͠ͅę̵̢̡̛̛̹͎̰̦͓̳̼̮͇̗͔̻̗̖̜̼͈͉̼͎̠̗̪̩͌͊̆̍̈́̊̆̍̐͆͋͊̑͋̏̂͌͑̀̓̀͐̓̈́͌̽̃͐̀͒̾̿̀͒͐̚͝͝͝ͅ.̸̳̻̙̜̜̘̻͇̙͇͕͔̖̝͈̱̝̬̖̑́̀͛͆̋́̏́͜͠ͅ ̸̨̢̢͔̭̣͙͚̋̃̍͑̒̽̐̋̑͜͜͜͝ͅN̵̛̛̛̛͓̲̺͔̝̬̮̪̯̳̥̝̽̈̑̒͐̓̏̊̌̍̌̐͂̀̉̃̂̇͛͐̈́̃̎̃̈́͂͌̈́̋͌̍̅̕͠͠͝͠ǫ̸̢͖̗̙̮̪̣̠͈̼̲̞̪̥͖̖̲͉̺͎͖͙̩̩̱̻̙̓͛̓͑̋͜͝ͅt̶̨̧̧̨̠͍̰̮̥̳̹̲̼̻̫̻̺̳̹̝̻̳̣̻͙̖̥̞̺̣̠̥̲̗̺̤̗̣͑̇͂̆̇̆̂̓́̌͐̆̈́̿̏͌͋̚͘ ̴̨̧͔̖̪̯͖̱͕͓̻͕̮̼̭̟̹̬̤͈͙͇̣̼͔͈̪̞͛͗͊͑͆͐̓̈́͐̚̕ę̷̛͍͙̖̙̮̼͉̞̜̜̪͚͍̱̻̥̣̮̞̼̗̪͙͉̦̻̦̼̙̋̄̋̋̅̀̽̀͐̚̚͝͠v̶̢̧̧̛͍͙̥̪̳̝̔̿̅̇̏̄̈̆̊͊͂̔̈̌̋̿̉̄̔̃̉̂̃̓̓̋̄̌̚͝͝͝͠ȩ̷̝͔̮̜̩͓͍̻̖̭̝̜̯̗͍̬̽̽̔̐̒̄̎̽̿̈́̚͜ń̷̢̡̡̧̧̛̛̥̻̦̭̫͖̝̝̥̤̟̠͔̥͇̖̱̮͎̙͕̭̪̦̺̖̥͖̝͎̣͖̺̻͕̦̗̜̳͉̖̅̓͌͛̌͆͆̍̏̽̀̐̎̕̚͘͘͜͜͝͠ ̸̧̧̩͖̦̯̯̙̻͔̫̰̤̲̠̮̗̝̞̬̳̟͍͙̘͔̭̦̥̘̱͍͙͎̹̜͑̈́͊̈̆̈́̇̒̑́́͆̈́̌͋͒̽̌̈̋́̿͋̄̚͜͜͝͝ͅy̶̧̧̛̯̼̘̤̠̯̬͎͎͓̰͍͙̱̩̺̰͙̬̳̭̮̖͓͈̩̻̭̽͑̈͐̀͋͝ǫ̵̢̧̜̝̻͉͔̜̦̥̪̙̜͉͎̘̼̩͍̫̏̽̈́̈́͒̄̒̔̍͊̿͌̍̒͂͗̊͑̉̎́͐̍͊̊̄̂͛̾̂͂͗̏̚͠͝͝͝͝͝͝ư̵͈̎͑͗̔̈̓̇̏͂͛̌̓̂̂̈́̑̐̓͂̋̈́̐͋͂́̍̈́͊̔͒̉́̀̋̈́̑̌͘̕̚̚͠ ̷̡̨̢̨̻̟̝̪̻͈̝̯͓̹͕͓̥̩̽̅̾̒̔͛̄̏̍͝͝ͅc̶̨̧̨̧̢̰͓̘̬͉̤̺̠̥̬̬͕̩̫̭̖͙̘̙̼͉͉̰̞̬̝͈͚̐͒̑̐̊̍̀͛̆̅̏̓̔̌̑͌͐̃̎̆̇̄̎̇͛̇͐̏͒͂̚̚̕͝͠͠͝ͅa̸̢̢̯̪͔̞̪̯̦̹̺̲̱͚̜͓͎͖̞̺̦̲̭̦̰̦̾̀̈́̅̂͒̍̈́͐̊̈̀́̀̀ñ̶̛̮͚͖̖͖̲͉̳͖͉͔͚̹͎̝̪̬̱̘͙͎̙̘͔̈́̾͒̃͋̃̔̐̊̈̍͊̌̀̆̍͛̃̾̓́́̃̀͐͒̆̈́̚͘̕̕̕͝͝͝͝ ̵̡̨̨̡̧̧̢͍̼͎͚̥̝̗̟̺̤̙͙̬̹̝͔͇͙͉̗̦̼̙̥͎̟̬͍͔̯͚̮͍͑͒̏̓͆̋͋̏͛̊̒̆̊̎̓̊̈́̊̅͆͊̇̃́̃̓̅́̈͒̿̈́̀͌̽͌̏̚̚͝͠͠͠͝ͅs̶̡͈̩̱̘̻̞͚̣̰̤̙͈̹̭̙͌̀͋̐̈́̈́̍̑̂̅̔̽̂ã̴̧̢̛͔̤̰̣͈̭̪̪̜͇͖̣̖̻̫̲̣̼̫͉͔͍͚̹̮̦͉̱͙͇̙̖͉̜̬̌̓͑́̂̆̌͆̆̇̆̅̑͒͒̑̂̈́͛̋̓̇̏̊̿̐͋̄̌̓̐̔̓̂͌̀̅͑̇͘͘͘͜͠͝͝͠͝͝ͅv̵̨̧̢̢͇̻̥̹̹̺͎̺̼̺̠͈̭̪͙͙̰͓̝͈͓̘̩̘̺̜͚͎̦̩̳̜̝̯̾̎̏́̌͑̈́̌̈́͌͐̌́͋̃̀̇̑̊̀͑͗̽͛͘̕͘͘̕͜͝͝e̶̢̨̡̱̥͕̫̻̬͕͎̦̣̟̩̩̠͔̼̪̮̠̰̪̦̳̩̭̪̝̔̾͆̍͒̽̓̕͜͝ ̵̢̧̢̪̯͍̭̯̹̳̺̞̙̰͇̞͙̖̟̲̰̠̠̠͉͚̫̞̔̀̈́͂͑̈̀̃͑͌̀̔͋̂̂̅́̂̅͒̉͂̓̃̅̉̓̎̈̉̽̇͑̊͋͑̍͌̾͘͜͝ẖ̶̺̞̺̙̱̗̬̒̋̉̇̌͐̍̄̎́̋̀͝͝͠ȋ̴̢̲͓̪̜̣̬̫̮̲̰͇͔͍̭̮͉̘̳̦̺̣̜̞͖͈̼̖̑̈̽̽̑͗͛̈́̍͂͌͋̎̎͌̅͗̄̈́͆̅̋̓͗̀̍̍̀̾͋̄̄̿̏̽̍̇̈̉͌̋̏̐̉̕͠͝m̴̧̲̥̭̗̖̞͖̘̀̀̏͗̌́̊̒̊̆́̉͒͑̀̆́̍͐͆̍̾́̂̇̀͋͛̀̋̕̚̚̚͠ ̸̡̡̨̧̧̢̛̛̮͖̘̠̘͓̫̯̳̫̗̞̞̝̪̪͓̟̣̖͉̙̥̲̜̫͉̩̣͎͎͖͚͖̹̠̬̼͙͎̊͑̒̉̎́̇̂͂ͅͅf̵̲̖̳̼̝͙̞̣̖̃̇̊̊̍̽́͑̀͘͜͜͝ͅͅr̵̮̝̹̥̰̯͕̙͍̫̻̹̪̥̣̱͈̥̯̝͓͖͍̤͕̹̥̘̻̼̱̰̲̦̼̥̝̰̓̉̃̿̈́͗͜͝ͅͅͅǫ̸̡̛͇͕͎̩̭̖̯̞̘̞̖͈̫͍̜̯͔̻͈̠͎́͒̌̇̈́̾̄̀͌̇͗́͋̃̽̀͂͂͛̾̅̕̕͜͜͠͝͝m̶̲͕̜̺͙̘͔̣͉̳̰̀̑͊̿́̎͒̔̍͌̑͂̃̄̏̂̉̽̿͐͒̉̍̀̉̕̕͠ ̷̡̘͕͉̮̲̰̪̯̲̥͕̲͎͓̟͍͉̰̱͔̫͈̫̤̥͎͔̤̙͚̟̱̩̒̆́͜ͅm̶̢̨̧̢̡̧̙̫̳̹̟̣͇̙̰͔͉͈̠̘̻̬̩̤̭̫̱̖̠̘̻̮̝̥͍̞̻̫͉̩̼̬̳̮͈̅̅́̑̓̈́̍̏̂͒͒̾͊̿̔̇͆́̾̄͘̚͜͜͝è̷̛̜̳̳̜̲͊̊̌̔̅̿̿̾̈́͊̂̃͒̀̉̑̌̉͒̌̾̚̕̚̚͜͠ͅͅͅ.̵̧̨̛̙͉̗͍̠̪̮̣̠̦̖̈́̋̑͐̆̊̌̎̇͂̎͂͊͆͆̐͑̆͑̐̄̿̆̂̔̉͑̌̋͋͑͋̀̚̕̚͘͝͠͠͠͠͠"̷̛͔̬͕̣͋͋̓͂͑͊̉̅̃̀̋̾͝ͅ)̶̡̢͉̖͔̪̳͎̘̣̾̐͂͋̆͝)̵̢̨̨̮̠̖̬̼̟̬̖͙̯͓̗̝̠͕̩͔̤͓̜̫̼̯̔̏́̈̇͐̃̍̂́̌̊̽̍̈́͑̑͗̀̍̾͘̕
Slowly, the sound of insects began to fade into silence. Yin jumped to his feet, his breath raggedy. Without hesitation, he burst from his bedroom, sprinting down the stairs.
The adventurers jumped when he ran into the archway of the kitchen, looking up at him with startled, worried looks. "O-oi, don't just do that," Vao mumbled. "You nearly gave us a 'eart atta- a-are you bleedin'!?"
Yin hadn't wiped the blood from his ears. He didn't answer his brother, striding towards the table and slamming his hands against the table in front of Tourmaline. The fairy jumped, spilling her milk.
"Tourmaline," Yin hissed. "I need you to tell me something. And don't lie to me."
Tourmaline stood to her feet, crossing her arms. She was the only one who hadn't flinched; given the things she had already seen and done, that wasn't surprising. "... Okay..."
"The First Vao... Your Lord," Yin growled. "Has he... Has he ever threatened to kill a Cultist?"
Tourmaline stared at him for a long while, almost as if she didn't know what to think. "... No, he'd never... Why would you even ask that?"
"Yeah! Lord Vao was always really nice!" Sapphire added. "A few times when he didn't eat, he'd get scary... But he'd always apologize, and do something fun to make up for it!"
It was the answer Yin expected to hear, and partially hoped he wouldn't. He stood up straight, his hand pressing against his forehead. "Fuck... Fuck..."
Salem set her tea down and stood up, her hand resting against his shoulder. "Yin, what happened upstair-"
"I saw him!"
His sudden shout caught them off guard. Hekue took a nervous sip of her tea, almost trying to hide behind her cup. "S-saw him...?"
Yin nodded. "While I was fighting Glenroy, he talked to me... Some of his Darkness was left in my Reality... I used it to try and see him, so I could figure this mess out... He's chained himself up, and he's threatening anyone who gets close... He doesn't even remember the Cult, and he's beginning to forget Mono, too..."
Silence. Not a single person took a sip from their tea. The Blood, in Mono's absence, was flourishing.
"But... But was she there?" Verde asked. Yin shook his head.
"No, she wouldn't be there by now. It's only been a day," Yin muttered. "If she doesn't make it in time... We need to do something..."
"And what will we do?" Midori pointed out calmly. "Mono can travel faster than us even with horses. She can stop time, we can't. And there's still the Royal Capital in one month, which we need to prepare for. There's nothing we can do but hope she makes it to give us just a little more time to deal with him after we destroy the Church."
She was right. There really was nothing they could do. With that terrible feeling of dread in their chests, they began their planning. Inviting James, Hazel, and the goblins to the home, they began to discuss their plans for taking the Royal Capital.
They could only hope it wasn't too late.
As the month began to end, Mono pushed her way through the swamp, jumping from tree branch to tree branch, never allowing the poisonous bog to slow her down. She was nearing Grimmore, and sweat fell from her chin, mixed with her tears.
Her chest was weighed down with terror, with worry. If she was a second too late...
... She feared the worst. She needed to save him, before he lost himself entirely.
True hell was only beginning.