Skylar grit her teeth as she felt herself being pushed backward by Midus’s raw strength, “Damn it all!” Skylar moved to the side leaping away as Midus attempted to slash at her narrowly missing.

  He noted how Skylar moved with more confidence, no longer committing to every blow she dealt.

  Her eyes also showed signs of wariness, and upon seeing this Midus felt… Disappointment, “What is this? Where is your beast stance? Bring it out already.”

  “Pass.” Skylar replied instantly, “I’m not fond of doing what my opponent wants.”

  Midus growled at that, “In that case, I’ll force it out as I did before.” he then shot forward once more, closing the distance instantly. And swung wide at Skylar, Skylar, however, slashed through the air with a gust of wind.

  Her blade slammed against Midus’s with enough force to send sparks through the air, in the same motion Skylar darted forward parrying Midus’s blade and slamming her fist into the man’s chest, knocking him skyward.

  Skylar watched with careful eyes as Midus flew through the air before he hit the ground.

  Midus landed upon his feet, looking to the side to see his blade was chipped, he then let out a huff standing tall.

  He stared down Skylar for a moment, “That you’ve grown this much in such a short amount of time I can hardly believe…” he muttered reaching up he grabbing his helmet tossing it to the side letting it tumble worthlessly onto the ground, “But it matters not, should you wish to get past me. I shall oppose you with my all.” he declared, pointing his blade forward, his eyes shining pink, “Even should it cost me my all, even should I become I monster, I will not falter. I will pay that price!!!” He declared this by thrusting his sword skyward.

  Skylar’s eyes widened as the ground around her began to rumble, she had to do everything just to keep her footing, “Oh what now?!” She growled.

  The clouds above began to close in and grow dark, Midus chuckled bitterly as lighting fired down from on high striking his blade with electricity.

  The rumbling ceased as he lowered his blade slowly, “BEAT WITNESS TO THE MIGHT OF MIDUS VAN HELSING!!” with those words he slashed forward and engulfed the entire area around him in a white light.

  Causing Skylar to throw her arms up in an X shape and close her eyes, when her eyes reopened they widened as she looked around, “What…?”

  Blue flames coated the area, and she stood in a grassland surrounded by burning buildings.

  “Eve’s Burrow as it was ten years ago…” Midus declared as he held his blade out to his side, he was wearing a fresh seat of armor and glared at Skylar, “It was here at my peak when my name became known to the lands.” He then pointed his blade forward, “and it is here, where I shall be known once more. Come Skylar Shadewalker! Fairy Of Blood! …The Blue Wolf awaits.”

  Skylar said nothing at first looking at the man before her, she slowly started to walk forward.

  The field had changed.

  As had the battle.

  She wasn’t the best at this sort of thing.

  But she knew this fact and took it to heart if things continued like this.

  She was going to lose.

  “Running out of time.” She muttered to herself before firing forward.

  Midus smiled at the sight and he tilted his head slightly moving his lips to speak, “Ah. At last, I can see you.”

  With those words he reached out his left hand and grabbed Skylar by the face, smiling wickedly as he threw her aside effortlessly through two sets of burning buildings.

  Skylar’s eyes widened as blood flew from her mouth as she tumbled through the rubble of those buildings, she grit her teeth, her body covered in bruises as she started to get up.

  Midus let out a hum at the sight, “You're more durable than before… perhaps a side effect of all the mana you’ve absorbed…”

  Skylar looked to Midus, her gaze fell right behind him.

  Her sword was there.

  She had dropped it.

  “So what will you do now?” Midus questioned pointing his blade forward, his eyes alight with confidence.

  Yes, that was how he worked, no matter how strong he became he wouldn’t be satisfied until he broke Skylar completely.

  Skylar narrowed her gaze harshly before responding, “...The best I can.” she shot forward the ground breaking beneath her feet.

  In one swift movement, she plucked her sword and slashed through the air with enough speed to break the sound barrier.

  Midus’s eyes widened in surprise as Skylar closed the distance he ducked to the side, raising his blade and clashing against Skylar’s sword.

  He frowned as he felt little strength in the blow, he moved to the right letting Skylar slip past him before he slammed his boot firmly into her back sending her to the ground, “The best you can? And you think that’d be enough!?!” Midus declared, raising his sword and stabbing down.

  Only for his eyes to widen as his blade stabbed into Skylar’s back, only for her form to drip and fade into a shadow.

  “Wha-” Midus quickly spun around only to be met with Skylar’s left fist slamming into his face.

  “You're damn right I do!” Skylar roared, pushing Midus back, he gritted his teeth pulling back his left fist and slamming it into Skylar’s gut sending her into the air before she swiftly fell onto her back.

  Causing Skylar’s eyes to bulge and she gasped for air as the wind was knocked out of her, Midus stared forward at the sight his eyes narrowed.

  “You’re a fool. A child who doesn't know her place in the world… And yet your strength has always been impossible. Why? What causes you to reach higher than any other mortal in this world…?” Midus questioned as he raised his blade once more.

  Skylar lifted her right hand calling her weapon to her hand, she clashed on the ground with Midus barely pushing back against his blade.

  Midus stared at the sight annoyance in his gaze, “You can barely move, you can’t even get to your feet anymore… just give up already!” he shouted pushing down against Skylar, “If not that then let it out! That beast form of yours!”

  Skylar’s breath hitched and she pushed back against the blade, “I don’t need to… Not for you.” she growled.

  She then lifted her legs and slammed them into Midus’s gut with enough force to shatter his armor and send him flying into the air.

  Skylar then shot up leaping backward as Midus landed on the ground, he hissed slowly standing up.

  “Again, you grow before my very eyes… a beast unlike any other.” Midus stared forward with anger in his gaze.

  Skylar held her blade out before her and let out a small breath, “That nickname you love so much… Shall I show you how I got it?”

  She asked as the wind began to blow around her, “Fairies are known for trickery and elegance, they dance upon the wind like it’s nothing. So let’s dance shall we?”

  The wind began to blow around the duo once more, and Skylar kept a calm expression on her face.

  Midus kept a grip on his blade rushing forward, the ground beneath his feet tore away as she slashed forward.

  Skylar leaped into the air, using Midus’s own approaching blade as a platform to leap into the air.

  Midus craned his neck upwards as Skylar entered the skies, her left hand was outstretched, and the ground below Midus began to crack apart.

  He blinked realizing what the girl before him was doing, he grunted quickly darting away as the land was plucked from the ground.

  Midus was not quick enough to get away, he turned to the right just in time to see Skylar’s fist make contact with his face.

  His helmet shattered as her fist made contact, the ground below them cracked and started to fall apart.

  Midus grit his teeth grabbing Skylar by the arm, even as he lurched back.

  He used his raw strength to lift Skylar and throw her into the ground, it shattered and she was sent plummeting into one of the burning buildings below.

  She let out a cry of course as she was sent plummeting.

  Midus hit the ground panting, his breathing was erratic and he growled as he saw Skylar stand up, putting her hand on the burning rubble and pushing herself out of the building.

  “That's all you’ve got?” She spat though her expression was tired.

  Midus stared forward before taking in a breath and raising his sword once more, holding it just before him, “...I will defeat you, even if it costs me everything. I will not lose this fight! Not again!” a red glow began to surround Midus.

  And Skylar raised her blade, watching as Midus let out a roar.

  His red glow exploded into a symphony of rage pushing the rain backwards as he screamed.

  Skylar winced at the sight, “Such strength… what have you become?”

  Midus held his blade that was now bathed in that red glow, and he looked to Skylar with nothing but hatred, yet he gave her the answer she desired regardless, “God.”

  Instantly he shot forward grabbing Skylar by the neck and throwing her into the air, she flipped through the air, spinning around to face the havens just in time to raise her blade, protecting herself from Midus who came crashing down from above red lighting trailing behind him.

  Skylar’s defense didn’t help her much as her blade shattered instantly, so instead she dropped her blade ducking to the side, watching as Midus moved forward with impossible speeds.

  He hit the ground and watched as Skylar fell, flipping through the air reaching up and pulling out her second blade, coating it in shadows she slammed it down against Midus’s sword once more.

  He stood there unfaltering, “This strength…” he frowned, “so you trained with a Knight Of Darkness? Utterly meaningless, your strength is borrowed and it will not save you.”

  Skylar remained there in the air, her blade causing sparks to fly against Midus, “Maybe so.” She responded, “But you're mistaken if you think your own borrowed strength will be enough to beat me.”

  Midus stared up, frowning as he saw his blade chip once more, so he quickly ducked to the side losing the power struggle and he allowed Skylar to hit the ground.

  She instantly crouched down ready to spring up and slash at the man before her, only for Midus to slam his foot down on the ground, causing the ground below Skylar to lift, launching her into the air once more.

  “I am Midus Van Helsing, the captain of Lust’s guard, and I shall not be beaten by some writhing beast!” He declared running a hand over his sword coating it in blue flames.

  Before leaping up into the skies ready to strike down Skylar.

  Skylar flew through the air, flipping in the sky and staring down at Midus.

  She watched as the man approached at blinding speeds, and she held her blade to the side, her eyes flashing crimson as she responded, “I’m Skylar Shadewalker, and I won’t be taken down by a child throwing a tantrum.”

  She slashed down with her blade, shattering Midus’s sword in a single strike, she then sheathed her blade flipping through the air and bringing her boot down upon Midus’s head.

  His eyes bulged in his skull as he was sent spiraling into the ground.

  Skylar fell, landing just in front of the man frowning as she watched Midus slowly start to stand up.

  He growled, stumbling to his feet and raising his fists, “It’s… not over. I haven’t lost yet!” his eyes remained wide as he started to lose himself, “I will not yield! I will strike you down! I- I-” he trembled at his might before taking a step forward, “I can’t. I can’t lose again!!!”

  He shot forward, throwing a fist forward and Skylar stepped to the side letting the man stumble past her, pity on her face.

  Midus spun around throwing his left fist at Skylar’s face, she reached up pushed the fist away, and slammed her right fist into Midus’s gut.

  Causing the man to stumble backward in pain, “...Why…?”

  He hissed and held his right fist at his side, “Why can’t I win? What matter of strength guides you…?”

  Skylar stared forward and closed her eyes feeling the wind flowing through her hair, “I just can’t afford to lose. Not while I still have people to protect.” She responded.

  “That’s all?” Midus blinked looking down at his trembling fist and chuckled bitterly, “...I give up, there is no way for me to defeat you.”

  “So quick to throw in the towel.”

  Midus’s eyes widened, and he recognized that voice. Lust’s voice.

  A pain surged through his skull and he reached up gripping the sides of his head howling in pain.

  Much to Skylar’s dismay.

  He stumbled backward and Skylar held out her right hand, “H-Hey! What’s going on?”

  “You wished for strength did you not? And you still have more to give, let go of your sense of self and let it overcome you.”

  Midus’s breath hitched as his eyes bulged, he screamed falling to his knees, and wings tore out from his back, fangs grew in his mouth as he sat there breathing.

  He slowly lifted his head staring at Skylar with empty eyes

  Midus took in a breath and stepped forward throwing a hand to the side and spreading his wings he let out a roar blasting forward and grabbing Skylar’s face taking her to the skies.

  He threw her upwards causing Skylar to shout, “For fucks sake! Can’t anything be easy!?!” She slashed down with her blade as Midus flapped his wings ascending past Skylar and into the sky, Skylar quickly turned around staring up at the ascending beast.

  When she did, she noticed a glow coming from Midus; it was blue.

  “Oh… Oh hell.” Skylar muttered in realization.

  Midus’s spread his wings and let out a mighty roar, sending a beam of blue flames downwards.

  Skylar stared up at the light and gritted her teeth, her own eyes trembled and turned reptilian before she sheathed her blade, quickly she threw her palms together feeling fire and electricity flowing between her hands, she gathered the energy.

  And send it flying upwards clashing with Midus’s strike and in that single moment.

  The two were interlocked in a battle of wills, and sparks flew.

  Fire hurled to the ground, but it was Skylar who won the day.

  Her beam fired upwards, higher and higher quickly overpowering Midus’s own, it hit the man dead on.

  Causing him to cry out in pain and lurch backward.

  He grasped at the air, tried desperately to move away, to do anything.

  But it was too late, he was dying, and he sacrificed everything.

  And this was his reward.

  As he felt his body tearing away, a single tear dropped down his cheek, “In the end… What was I trying to achieve?”

  Those were the last words he spoke. Before Fading away in the blast.

  Skylar lowered her hands and frowned, the air cracked around her.

  And the space that she once resided in now broke, once more she was standing in front of the castle.

  Once more her eyes shone emerald.

  And once more, she saw an opponent standing before her very eyes.

  Byakko stood there just beyond the barrier with a smile on his face, “You are victorious, good I figured you would be.”

  Skylar lowered her blade to the side staring forward with a frown, “And you are?”

  Byakko chuckled, lifting his hand and knocking on the barrier, “The last crack you need on this thing.”

  Chapter 19: Onward March.

  Striga stared forward, the lights dancing upon her fingers kept her from being completely in the dark, she knew it was just ahead.

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  Was it waiting for her?

  She couldn’t see it in her view just yet, so she continued to move forward, she moved her free hand to her backside, reaching under her jacket, there was a small sheath there with a knife inside of it.

  Just in case.

  As the rumbling of the cave increased Striga saw the beast just ahead of her, it was a worm, covered in a white plating, and it was currently tunneling into the wall.

  It was massive in size, but not large enough to reach the roof of this place.

  Striga watched the creature as it tunneled, and took a few steps forward reaching up to her sword and drawing it.

  She could hear the walls rumbling and the beast was now closing in on her location much to her dismay, Striga took in a breath closing her eyes as she held her blade, “Alright. I can do this…” and her eyes snapped open as she darted forward, the walls around her broke and the Titan slashed through the earth tunneling right towards her.

  She grits her teeth keeping up her pace to outrun the creature, watching the shaky reflection of her blade as the creature got closer.

  It opened its maw, and the moment it did Striga spun around on her heel, throwing her free hand forward, “I think you need some spice in your life.” she then hurled a fireball forward into the beast’s mouth causing it to cry out and dart to the left tunneling through the walls once more.

  Striga stared forward a beat of sweat on the side of her face, “Suddenly very glad that Skylar wasn’t here to listen to that…” she muttered realizing how lame she sounded just a moment ago, she then turned her gaze to the tunnel in question, “Still a worm Titan… That’s a new one.”

  She quickly checked her blade’s reflection. The walls were still shaking so the beast hadn’t gone far.

  “...At the very least it doesn’t seem too bright. It’s got an advantage in territory though. And I can’t break its armor.” Striga mused as she peered into the tunnel, “So how am I going to beat it?”

  She then furrowed her brow, “Even better… Why is it here? Instead of going to the center of the island…” This was odd, Titan’s came to feed upon the mana of lands.

  But this creature seemed more interested in Striga, “I’ll have to ask around when I get back.” She muttered pulling away from the tunnel as a rumbling sound came closer.

  The creature was swinging back around for another attack, and it seemed to be moving faster than before, “Must have pissed it off.” Striga uttered this with a smile, though the nervous sweat on the back of her neck betrayed her true mood.

  So she took a step into the center of the tunnel once more, “Fire magic won’t work, not unless I can lob another fireball into its mouth… but I can’t swap out to another of Skylar’s magics, not unless I want to go blind in here.”

  She furrowed her brow as her left ear twitched, “Gotta be another way.”

  She started running forward once more, and the wall to her left exploded with the beast lunging towards Striga, she growled slamming her open palm to the ground, and a geyser of flames fired out sending her up and barely over the worm’s reach, it roared and immediately began to double back.

  Striga narrowed her gaze, gripping her blade as she landed on the worm’s back running along its thick skin, she ran her blade across it.

  Watching as sparks kicked up.

  The worm roared approaching Striga once more, and Striga clicked her tongue leaping into the air coating her blade in flames, and slashing down at the worm’s mouth.

  It ducked to the side, letting Striga’s blade bounce off its hide.

  And in that moment Striga saw a faint red glow where she struck before it faded.

  Striga let out a gasp as she landed, she leaped off the worm instantly just in time to avoid its snapping jaws.

  She hit the ground in a roll, only to feel her feet stumble.

  To her surprise, the ground below her broke and she started to fall into a tunnel, “WHAT!?!” her eyes shifted looking upwards seeing the worm approaching her rapidly, “Shit! It hid a tunnel below me?” She grits her teeth, and shifts her weight, looking to the nearby wall, “Five meters away… I can make it.” Her eyes flashed emerald and the flames dissipated, instantly she shot forward crashing into the wall, but she stabbed her blade into it.

  She reached up clutching her nose in pain, “Ow… Skylar makes this look easy…”

  Already Striga was feeling overwhelmed by the magic surging within her, she got to stable ground but that wasn’t going to last, “...Two minutes, I need to wait another two minutes for a swap.” She mumbled to herself, her ears strained to hear any sound.

  But the beast had gone silent, she couldn’t see even her own hand in front of her.

  -Did it go away?

  But why?

  No, it’s better to assume it returned to its tunnel, it’s probably hunting for me even now.

  Striga kept a tight grip on her blade taking in slow and shallow breaths, suddenly the wall she was attached to broke off and Striga’s eyes widened as she entered the air once more.

  She could hear the beast roar in front of her and sparks kicked up.

  She saw the beast’s open maw right in front of her, of course.

  It came from the wall she was attached to, “Son of a-!”

  She then threw a hand downwards launching herself up with a gust of wind and out of the hole, her eyes widened in realization, “The tunnels, they're all connected. A single tunnel system… it doesn't have to use a new tunnel to reach me.” She frowned, hitting the ground, “I can work with this… Yeah, easily.”

  She stood tall turning to the darkness, in it she could hear movement so she closed her eyes, “Come beast, the earth you thrive in shall be your tomb.”

  She slashed her blade on the ground kicking up sparks, in the faint light however brief it was, Striga saw the worm barreling towards her once more.

  -1 more minute.

  She rolled to the side once more moving away from the beast, she could hear it turning around there wasn’t much room left and Striga took in a single breath standing up.

  This time she kept her eyes closed and held her blade out in front of her, “Keep calm. You’ve got this…”

  The worm turned around fully moving at full speed towards Striga and it let out a roar opening its maw wide.

  Striga’s eyes snapped open and she leaped forward letting out a cry, and the beast’s maw snapped shut.

  Silence came after that, the beast remained there triumphing in its victory.

  Only for its eyes to bulge and it opened its maw lurching upwards as it cried, if one were to get a look inside its maw, they’d see Striga.

  With her eyes glowing emerald stabbing her blade into the beast’s tongue, “Bet it fucking hurts doesn’t it! Well, I’ve got a lot more coming for you!”

  She stabbed down once more and the beast cried out, instantly lowering itself into the dirt and started to borrow, shoveling dirt into its mouth in an attempt to push Striga down.

  Her eyes glowed brighter still and she gritted her teeth roaring as she pushed down on her blade, the beast wretched in pain and slammed its head against the tunnel, before entering one of its many entrances to its domain.

  Striga pulled her blade out and leaped out of the creature’s maw, her eyes swapping to crimson flames dancing around her fingers.

  And she took in a breath turning around to face the creature once more, “Got you.”

  The creature growled, moving slightly only for its eyes to widen as Striga stood there a red glow surrounding her, “My magic allows me to borrow from those whom I call my friends.” Striga stated a smile dancing on her lips, “And I happen to be friends with one of the best mages of this era, someone capable of rivaling gods and demons alike. A tier 7 spell like this should be easy for her!”

  The beast quickly turned around and started to dart off, “Heart of fire beat louder, flames of desire rush past our lips.” Striga held out her left hand holding it to her side before clenching it into a fist, “Prominence.”

  Fire burst out from her form, flying outwards in all directions through the tunnels. The worm rushed faster and faster, but the flames were quicker.

  They shot forward breaking through its shell and melting away, it screamed in agony.

  Trying to escape, but soon enough… it crawled to a halt.

  Melting in its flesh.

  Striga stood there with her hand outstretched and slowly stumbled forward barely catching herself, her breathing was heavy and a small smile was on her face, “H-Heh, see? Nothing to it… Though.”

  She stumbled forward clearly woozy, “That might have been a bit much in terms of mana…” She put a hand on the wall trying to keep herself steady and her mind drifted back to Skylar, “to be able to use something like that and still keep walking forward, she’s incredible.”

  She stayed like that for a while, inching her way along the wall, she wasn’t done just yet after all.

  ***

  Byakko kept behind the barrier just outside of Skylar’s reach, “You’ll forgive me if I don’t take another step forward, I’m not fond of the idea of dying you see.”

  Skylar stared forward keeping a grip on her blade, “You're a shard of Lust aren’t you?”

  “I am.” Byakko replied with a small smile running his hand along the barrier, “And in your eyes that makes me your enemy, doesn't it? But therein lies the problem. So long as I remain behind this barrier, you can’t reach me. And if you can’t reach me, you can’t break the barrier.”

  Skylar said nothing to that simply keeping her gaze on Byakko, he lowered his hand chuckling.

  “It’s called a stalemate, but I’ve never been fond of such a way to end games, nobody likes a tie. Not unless you were the one losing.” He then tilted his head, “So I enlisted the aid of every soldier within that building.

  Right about now they’ve all gathered up in the throne room, and they should be moving to butcher Lust.” Byakko proclaimed proudly, throwing his hands to the side.

  Skylar frowned at the man before her, “And? You want me to let you go after she dies?”

  Byakko lowered his hands, dropping his smile, “Is that not enough for you? I am taking out your greatest enemy as we speak, I am on your side.”

  “You sent others to do your dirty work and came out here to greet me yourself. That doesn't leave the best impression.” Skylar responded flatly.

  Byakko put his hands in his pockets, “Heh, fair enough I suppose. In truth, I came here with the intent to announce myself to you, but I got lost in the spectacle of your clash with Midus. It was Lust who reached out to him first you know.”

  Skylar arched a brow at that, “She lived in a village here, at least for a time. Just beside this castle. It started where you are, but extended far out to the left.” He explained pointing with his thumb, “She lived off in a little subsection of that village, near the great pond and cliffside that way.”

  Skylar paused to remember the memories she saw, “But she left the village, all because she killed her family right?”

  Byakko paused at that smirking, “Saw the memories of my siblings, did you? Heh, yeah she did leave. Couldn’t tell you why. But… she came back. Thought she could simply push the past behind her, especially since nobody knew it was her. But…”

  Before he could continue a pink string suddenly wrapped around his neck and pulled him into the castle gates, “Wha-” his eyes bulged as his hands snatched up.

  Skylar’s eyes widened and she ran forward, “Hey! What the hell’s going on over there!?”

  Byakko grabbed at the strings, another for another set to fly out of the cracks in the large door grabbing on his arms and pulling them to the side, he wore a panicked smile, “I see. So you survived all that then…” he muttered in realization looking over to Skylar as two more strings grabbed onto his legs and started to pull, he could feel the strings around his neck tightening, “Do be careful Shadewalker, Lust is far more dangerous then you could imagine…”

  Skylar raised her fists slamming them into the barrier, her eyes wide as she stared forward, “The hell are you talking about? Don’t you dare give up so easily!”

  “In the end, it was my hubris that was my undoing, a mere man such as myself could never stand to the might of a goddess…” Byakko proclaimed closing his eyes, as he heard the sounds of his bones breaking apart, first his arm ripped off.

  Then his leg.

  And then…

  Skylar threw her fist forward, and the barrier shattered.

  At the same instant, Byakko’s head was cut off.

  His body faded and turned into a green light flying into Skylar.

  ***

  “And that’ll do it.” Eros declared standing up with a small smile, she was in a small outcrop.

  And before her eyes was a kitten, it had a bandage around its left leg. It let out a cute little meow as it stared up at Eros with big eyes.

  She chuckled while petting the kitten, “You have to be more careful, you know, not everyone is going to look out for you like this.”

  “So it was you then?” A voice called out from behind and Eros blinked, standing up and turning around, there she saw a man clad in black armor walking forward, “I had heard there was a young woman who had taken residence up here.”

  “Get out of here.” Eros immediately hissed, “I don’t want anything to do with the knights of the castle.”

  The man tilted his head taking note of the kitten, “...your bandaging is well done.” he commented, “but it would speed up its recovery if it at least had some medicine.”

  Eros blinked at that, glancing at the kitten, “I don’t have that kind of cash.”

  The man smiled softly beneath his helmet, “I’m Midus, and if you’d allow me to… I’d be happy to obtain that medicine for you.”

  Eros blinked looking at the man, she paused and glanced to the side, “Thank’s but no thanks. I don’t need your help. I’ll earn the money myself.” She huffed walking forward and past the man.

  He blinked looking over to the girl, as she walked past.

  Midus couldn’t help but utter the word, “Beautiful.”

  Eros continued to walk forward right back into the city she came to love so dearly, she waved as others passed her by.

  “Ah, Eros honey there you are!” A man called out causing Eros to flinch, she looked to her left to see a sleazy man walking up to her.

  He had a bottle in his left hand, “What’s the matter baby? Stunned by my beauty?”

  “...More like repulsed by the fact that you're even approaching me.” She muttered glaring at the man, “What is it you want from me, Lance?”

  Lance walked up to her wrapping an arm around her shoulder, “Oh come on now sugertit’s you know what I want…” he leaned in close, plucking his lips together.

  Only for Eros to duck under Lance’s arm, letting him stumble forward, “And how many times do I have to repeat myself? I’m not interested in you.”

  Lance stared forward at that, and smirked, “You should reconsider… I think you’ll end up regretting it if you turn me down.”

  Eros folded her arms and scoffed, “Unlikely, I’d sooner be dead in the gutter before I’d ever consider being with you. Now if you excuse me, I have better things to do.”

  Lance stared forward watching as Eros walked away, his eyes slightly glazed over and he gritted his teeth.

  Soon enough time passed and Eros walked into a small cafe, the walls were made out of dark wood and the floor was a lighter shade, in total, there were about 8 tables in this small building, and an older-looking man was standing behind the front counter, “Ah Eros, clocking in early today?” He asked with a small smile, and Eros returned it with a bright one.

  “Sure am boss, gotta make the big bucks!” She declared pumping her arm as she walked into the back the old man chuckled,

  “Really now? You certainly work harder than the rest of the staff why is that?”

  “I want to help people, but I can’t do that without cash…” Eros explained as she put her work outfit on and glanced at the mirror beside her.

  She was pretty, far prettier than anyone else in the world, and she knew it.

  But she shook her head and started to get to work.

  The day came and went pretty fast, and she dealt with all sorts of customers, most of them harassing her.

  Others complained about how long their order was taking.

  And some tried to get handsy of course.

  -Your order will be ready when it’s ready.

  -be patient.

  -Stop shouting at me.

  -Stop touching me.

  She wanted to shout all those things and more, but she had to maintain the image of being a good employee.

  So she bit her lip every time and held in her thoughts.

  Soon the day came to an end and Eros put her outfit back in her locker, she only came here twice a week.

  So she’d take the outfit to the wash after her next shift, she leaned forward pressing her head against the locker door, and took in a shaky breath.

  The boss walked into a room with a soft smile, “Rough day today huh?”

  Eros flinched and stood up straight in the small break room as she turned to face her boss, “W-What? No everything’s fine! I’m in tip-top condition.” She chirped in a forced tone.

  Her boss kept that smile on his face he walked forward and set a small envelope down on the counter, it had Eros’s name on it.

  She blinked looking at it with some confusion, “What’s this?”

  “A bonus, you’ve been working hard lately, figured you deserved something extra.” The boss declared as he turned around and started to walk off, “Have a nice night Eros.”

  Eros paused looking at the envelope she reached down picked it up stared at it with some hesitation and opened it.

  To her surprise she saw a few grand there, more than enough to afford some medicine for that kitten, her eyes lit up in delight.

  And she bolted out of that place with a small smile on her face as she made her way to a shop nearby, she knew where best to buy medicine even the stuff for animals the question being… what would work best for that poor thing's injuries?

  She came into the store, it was convenient that so many medicines could be purchased, though you needed a written notice for a doctor in most cases… perhaps it would be best to speak with the clerk.

  So she walked up to the counter with a nervous smile there was a man who seemed to be in his late 30s standing there with a book in his hand, he looked up from it as Eros approached she spoke up, “U-Um, sorry but do you happen to have any medicine? One for a kitten? I saw one that got a pretty bad injury as of late, and I was hoping for something to ease the pain.”

  The man paused locking eyes with Eros and he set his book down, “Eros right?”

  Eros blinked confusion taking over her face for a second, “Huh? How did…”

  “Midus stopped by recently and asked the same question, put the order in for you.” The man explained as he reached down pulling out a small vial of medicine, “It’s already paid for, take care.”

  Eros stared forward her face was one of shock but she reached out all the same taking the vial, “But why would he…?” she asked in confusion before shaking her head and turning to leave.

  She had a small smile as she walked up the street, she blinked as she felt something on her head.

  A drop of rain, “Aw come on…” she started to run, “If nothing else that little kitten should be glad of its home now.”

  She walked up the grassy hill and moved into the cave, “Kitten? Hey, where are you?”

  “Oh, it’s not around anymore.”

  A voice spoke up from beside Eros her eyes widened and she turned to her left only to find a metal bat making contact with her head.

  She tumbled to the ground, and the vial of medicine crashed into the stone.

  Her vision blurred in and out and she saw droplets of blood on the ground, she recognized that some of it was coming from her.

  Even as her vision swirled her gaze fell upon something else.

  A corpse.

  Not a human corpse.

  The kitten she had cared for was there beaten and torn on the ground.

  She stared at its eyes, and they stared back in pain.

  She didn’t even flinch as Lance straddled her and began to rip apart her clothes, “I’ve been waiting for this moment… You can’t just walk around like this and expect me not to stare you know…” he tossed his bat to the side not needing it anymore.

  Eros opened her mouth and responded, “Why…?”

  She was met with a swift slap to the face, “SHUT YOUR TRAP BITCH! I didn’t do all this to hear you back sass me! I’m the most powerful person in this village! And I am sick of being mocked by you…” He then grabbed her by the chin forcing her to look him in the eye, “Look at me… I’m going to break you, and take your purity… as a symbol of my might.”

  Lust stared into the man’s eyes, and in that moment something in her head… snapped.

  She held out her hand to the side and strings shot out, wrapping around the handle of the bat that Lance had tossed to the side, the strings pulled back giving Eros the bat, and in one swing she hit Lance’s head.

  Forcing him off her body, “Agh!” he shouted as he gripped his head and his back hit the nearby wall, slowly Eros started to get up.

  A dark expression on her face, “I tried you know, tried to live amongst you all… tried to be nicer. To let it all wash over me…” Eros explained as she started to approach Lance, her outfit was torn and parts of her face were covered in blood, but she didn’t care anymore.

  “But everywhere I go, there’s always someone like you. Some greedy fuck who can’t keep their hands away.” She lifted the bat and slammed it into Lance’s head once more his head hit the ground and he tried to lift his right hand.

  “W-Wait please, I-”

  Eros slammed the bat down once more, shattering the man’s fingers and letting blood spatter onto both her face and his.

  “Why?” She asked simply, no emotion shined on her face, “You wouldn’t stop when a poor defenseless creature was here. It simply wanted to live, just as you do now. A life for a life seems fair.”

  Lance felt a bead of sweat appeared on his face, “Y-You’ve got to be kidding me, Eros, it was just an animal come on… be reasonable.”

  Eros slammed the bat into the man’s side, she swore she could hear his ribs break.

  And he screamed in agony writing on the ground, “REASONABLE!?” she hissed, “You murdered an innocent animal.” She raised the bat slamming it into Lance’s head.

  “You make constant demeaning remarks, day after day, treating me as though I’m nothing more than an object!” Once more her bat hit.

  “And then you not only take away my ONE act of kindness! But you try to rape me afterward!?” Once more her bat made contact with what remained of the fleshy mess that was Lance’s head.

  She breathed heavily, staring at the man’s corpse, “...heh.” she dropped the bat and slowly took a few steps back looking at the blood on her hands, “It always ends up like this, yeah… why do I even bother? No one listens to me, no one cares… it’s because I lack power.” She ran her hands over her face, staining it with blood, a frown appeared on her face, “You're still there right Origin?”

  Thunder boomed in the night, and Origin appeared at the entrance to the cave, saying nothing.

  Eros turned around, a crooked smile on her face, “I think I’m ready to take you up on your offer.” Eros declared with a halfhearted smirk.

  Origin smirked as he extended out his right hand, a pink swirl of light came from his body and flowed into Eros, “From this day forth, you are no longer human. You are Eternal, your soul melded forth with one of my kin… from here on you shall be known as… Lust.”