Chapter Text
Bright sunlight filtered through the thin, purple curtains covering my window, casting a shadow across the fluffy fox carpet and wooden floorboards, which signaled the fairy lights in my room to switch off automatically. It was a typical morning, just like any other, with my alarm clock blaring loudly at seven, waking me up and urging me to get ready for another routine day at Hexside. I expected to get through today without any unnecessary incidents which was my only motivation as I raised myself from my loft bed after shaking off feathers from, at least, one of my roommates. Beyond my bedroom door, King was crying - a short demon with dog-like attributes of dark gray fur and a fluffy, white-tipped tail. His most distinctive feature is a skull for a head and two horns, one of which is broken by an unknown source. He was upset about his missing stuffed toy which he misplaced the night before while we were building a pillow castle in the living room.
I descended the staircase, my messy pastel pink hair sweeping across my eyes, and knelt to help the small demon where I dug through the couch cushions and pulled out a toy with triangular ears, a single-button eye, and a slightly torn tail. An enthusiastic exclaim followed before he commanded the inanimate toy to apologize for getting lost so easily. I gently patted his head before entering the kitchen to greet Eda, who handed me a plate of gooey gelatin with eyeballs for breakfast once she finished cooking. Her large, grey hair was frizzed out with her movements as she wore her lazy day sweater and long skirt - she must've just woken up less than an hour ago. As I silently consumed my meal and scrolled through my Penstagram feed in search of any updates, I finished my breakfast promptly and hurried back upstairs to complete my morning routine.
After hastening through a shower and brushing my wavy pink hair that reached to the middle of my back, I carefully arranged a few strips around the two black demon horns protruding from the top of my head. While I didn't particularly like the demonic antennas emerging from my skull, I couldn't remove them due to my unique anatomy that connected a pair of veins directly to my heart. Upon completing my routine and dressing in my Hexside uniform, I drew a dark blue spell circle above my head and modified the colors of my sleeves and leggings to a dark red, representing the Bard Track for today's classes.
"Bye, Eda! Bye, King!" I cried out to my housemates lounging about the living room, receiving a similar farewell, but a pout from Hooty when I didn't say it to him, as well. "Bye, Hooty."
"Have a great day!"
As he bid me farewell, I set off into a sprint toward the large school building with my backpack slung over one shoulder, a yawn escaping my lips as I failed to sleep well the night before. Alongside my ever-growing pile of homework I kept postponing, I spent the some of my time at the Night Market, hunting for items to restock at the house. To be honest, I wasn't paying much attention to what I was doing; I was mainly trying to keep a low profile for my own reasons. I eventually found myself sitting idly in a full classroom, my cheek resting on my palm as I listened to the bard teacher illustrating the connection between music and magic and how it pertained to everyday life. It was just another day at Hexside where I was studying a form of magic I wanted to pursue since I was young. In reality, I was enrolled in every available track due to special conditions set six years ago, so I never knew the meaning of limited possibilities.
The day's classes concluded promptly, and I soon located my two friends, Willow and Augustus, engaged in a conversation near a line of demon lockers. "Cyprus, hey!" greeted the shorter boy as soon as I turned the corner. "I just finished another H.A.S. meeting. Either of you have any plans?"
"I don't get how you could appreciate humans so much," I blurted out in an awkward mumble, my features briefly grimacing at the idea of studying that species. "They're.. scary, don't you think?" Although I maintained the view that humans are unnatural and somewhat disturbing, I occasionally drew comparisons to the demons and witches inhabiting this realm, noting their abnormalities.
"You don't understand the sort of fantastical relics they have, yet," he countered with a knowing smile.
I deadpanned at his argument. "Sure.. Anyway, I wish I didn't have plans, but I'm heading to the Market with Eda after school. Apparently, she found this strange basket thing and asked for my help in setting up her shop for the afternoon."
"Don't get too worn out, then," advised Willow, her chubby cheeks stretched in a kind smile. "Oh, yeah. Are you still working at the library?"
"Yeah, but not until tomorrow. Amity won't be there, so I might actually get some peace and quiet without a bunch of children running around in the kids' section screaming."
Our trio broke out into a small laugh. "Well, you've got our Penstagrams if you wanna hang out later."
"Got it. See you two later!" As I waved goodbye to my friends at Hexside and approached the grand entrance of the academy, I adjusted the strap of my backpack and proceeded to my destination: the bustling market in BonesBorough. It was likely lively at this time with numerous others shopping during this convenient period.
Although I envisioned a peaceful future standing proudly at the head of the Emperor's Coven after graduation, and while biding my time with the Owl Lady, there was something.. unnerving I hadn't realized back when I was a much younger witchling.
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ℱ𝑜𝓊𝓇-𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈-𝒪𝓁𝒹
Tiny footsteps echoed against the vast, silent corridor walls as I clutched a book tightly with my small fingers. The faint sound of my bare feet tapping on the porcelain tiles was accompanied by an equally short demon causing a commotion in the castle. My shadow moved smoothly beneath numerous paintings aligned along the walls, revealing important events from possibly thousands of years ago - events I never fully understood until my caretaker eventually explained their significance.
The demon chasing me through the long hallway exclaimed with a weary breath, "Ma'am! The Emperor requests your presence immediately in the Throne Room! I must escort you there, myself!"
"Where do you think I'm going, Kikimora?" I retorted to her plea with a playful giggle escaping my pink lips as I continued to sprint down the grand corridor toward the mentioned room.
I brushed my pink hair out of my eyes to avoid tripping, my dark blue irises scanning the hallway swiftly passing by in a blur, searching for the right path. The castle I grew up in - familiar white walls and large double doors - was all I knew as my small body hurried through the hall, finding the room Kikimora was supposed to escort me to. I was unaware of what lay beyond my enclosure as I was strictly forbidden to leave; the only reason I believed I might someday was the excuse of wild magic running rampant on the Boiling Isles, and Belos' vague promise that I'd be the one to restrain it.
I hastened to the massive double doors of the Throne Room, nearly colliding with groups of scouts returning from their destinations. Each time I passed guards waiting for orders, they jokingly warned me to run faster to avoid being caught by Kikimora. My feet carried me deeper into the castle, past more artwork on the walls. While many relics were displayed throughout, the most prominent near the entrance are two tapestries I recognized from my bedroom window - one depicting the Savage Ages and the other showing Belos introducing unity and the coven system. Further down the halls, I sprinted past several statues of the Emperor holding a glowing orb and staff, each facing the palace entrance.
I eventually stopped in front of a stained-glass window portraying Belos, the man dressed in his usual outfit with an outstretched hand. His striking golden mask featured two long, upward-facing horns and hollow eyeholes, giving the impression of no actual eyes, except for rare glimpses of light blue pupils shining through the darkness. His large, white and brown cape with gold trims draped gracefully over his tall frame, complemented by the fading image of the Titan's skull in the background. The tips of my fangs peeked out below my upper lip as I slowly raised my hand to gently feel the craftsmanship of the portrait.
"You are not to touch that!" Kikimora scolded as she finally reached me, her head bowed forward and breath uneven from the intense effort to catch me.
"Belos lets me do whatever I want," I countered, sticking my tongue out defiantly at the short woman. "He assigned you as my protector, but you're so slow for one of his elite members, aren't you?"
She responded with a tired growl at my insult, dusted off her clothes after the strenuous run, approached my side, and firmly grasped my arm to pull me away from the portrait. "Enough of your rebellious behavior, Ma’am. You are soon to visit Emperor Belos, and you are to act properly in front of him."
My dark blue eyes rolled in boredom as Kikimora led me to the massive doors and into the room where Belos patiently waited. Every few days, the man summoned me for various reasons and ordered Kikimora to bring me here, whether she liked it or not, warning of terrible consequences otherwise. Once we got close enough to announce our presence, the demon bowed respectfully to her leader. My gaze swept the background which was lined with metallic pipes that appeared more decorative or realistic than functional in addition to how the room was illuminated by two enormous torches behind the golden throne, their flames lapping hungrily at the air. Though the artwork on the walls was barely discernible, I caught a glimpse of the massive, pulsating heart hanging hundreds of meters above, visible long before I stepped inside; the heart now beat steadily, but its rhythm could change abruptly in seconds. Guarding the Emperor of his coven were numerous guards forming a tight protective circle with a few scattered abominations inside.
"I requested Cyprus twenty minutes ago, didn't I, Kikimora?" My head turned sharply at Belos's voice as he acknowledged the woman bowing to my left, her muscles tense beneath her uniform upon realizing our belated arrival.
"I apologize, my liege!" she quickly responded. "I intended on bringing her straight away, but she refused to come along and-"
"You blame her for your mistake?" Belos snappily cut off her apology, causing Kikimora to fall silent. "I see you still aren't very fond of children and their behavior. How unfortunate."
I stole a quick glance at Kikimora and observed her evident fear of being reprimanded by the man she held in high regard. Sorrow and guilt emanated from her small form as she remained silent. 'Why's Belos scolding her so badly?' I internally reflected. 'It wasn't her fault we're late. After Belos requested me, I just ran around the castle to grab a book he could read to me tonight, so I ran away on purpose.'
"Regardless," continued Belos, dismissing the previous reprimand and refocusing his attention on me, "how have you been, Cyprus?"
"Great!" I enthusiastically answered, another wide grin twisting my features and exposing more of my sharp canines on my upper row of teeth. "Kikimora and I made a bunch of drawings together in my room, then a few guards helped me bake a fairy pie. Oh, and I found this book about the Human Realm! Can you pleaaaase read me this story?" I lifted the book slid under my arm and presented it to the man, the title reading "Wonders of the World" in cursive black font. "I peeked through it a bit, but couldn't find anything about the Boiling Isles. So, it must be about the Human Realm!"
Belos took a moment to analyze the cover I cheerfully presented to him, uncertain whether he was genuinely contemplating the innocent suggestion of a bedtime story or something unrelated to my plea. The most distinctive aspect of Belos wearing his golden mask was that I couldn’t interpret his facial expression; his tone remained the sole gauge of his mood. After a period of prolonged silence, he responded with a pragmatic smile concealed beneath the accessory, “I'd be happy to, but you must be patient. I'm quite busy."
"Oh.." Slowly letting my arms drop to my sides, I agreed to his condition. "..of course."
"Now, now," Belos softly reassured as he rose from his grand throne and knelt before me, reaching out to gently pat the top of my head. He made sure not to brush against the tiny demon horns nestled among my pink hair, aware they were sensitive. "You should understand that I have a lot of responsibilities as Emperor, and I.. u-urg.."
My dark blue irises peeked curiously at Belos while the uncomfortable gurgling of sudden pain echoed through the vast Throne Room, causing the heart above us to thump faster. He recoiled his arm and clutched his fancy white cape with both hands, his stressed noises turning into loud cries. I instinctively reached out to help, but a flash of bright blue from his mask startled me, causing me to hesitate. "Belos?!" I exclaimed in a panic, releasing the book I'd been holding that thudded to the floor, and sprinted to the man. "Are you oka-ah!"
He forcefully swatted my delicate body into contact with one of the coven members who was standing idly around the throne room, their arms firmly securing me to ensure my safety. I struggled to quickly reach Belos's side, but ultimately found it futile as one of the man's arms, initially shimmering with silk cloth and golden armor, unexpectedly transformed into an unseemly green substance. I tightly grasped the guard's arm in a state of terror and reluctantly observed from a distance as terror and anxiety surged within my chest, causing my muscles to tighten. Belos reached for a Palisman staff held by one of the guards and broke the creature's body from the base of the pole, absorbing a strange, neon-green substance into the three holes of his mask after fracturing the wood. The Palisman, which once rested comfortably on the staff, gradually disintegrated in his hands with black dust melting away and reconstituting Belos into his original form - armor and all.
"Apologizes for having you see that," he calmly announced to me, breathing out a deep sigh of relief once the intense stress eased away. "I consume the energy from Palismen to avoid looking like that. You understand, right?"
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I clenched the guard's uniform tighter, my whole body trembling with horror after witnessing a scene too terrible for my young mind to grasp. "Y-You.. just killed that Palisman."
"I assumed you already heard my explanation." Belos emitted another sigh and resumed his position on the throne, dismissively gesturing to the coven guards. "Kikimora, return Cyprus to her room. I'm busy with my plans for the Day of Unity."
Kikimora inwardly sneered at the instructions, tired from dealing with me after I already escaped her earlier today. Despite her frustration with my actions, the short woman nodded with a forced smile, then grabbed my forearm and pulled me out of the guard's grasp and the Throne Room. "Wait! You.. You said you'd read me a story tonight!" I called out, struggling against Kikimora's strength as I attempted to reach the book I dropped.
"Goodnight, Cyprus." Belos offered his farewell, resting his chin on his hand as he sat on his throne. "What I told you is that I'm busy."
SLAM!
"Right this way, Ma’am."
Staring at the towering double doors shutting abruptly in my face, my other hand involuntarily hung limply at my side, once more. "Yes. Kikimora." I complied with her instructions, the initial eagerness dissipating instantly as I accompanied the short woman to my bedroom located higher up which was adorned with personal possessions and an array of valuable gifts.
Replacing my pristine white shirt and gold-colored skirt with comfortable pajamas, she tucked me into bed after my energy was depleted from the upsetting refusal to be read a story. I could sense her surprise at how deeply I appeared to be affected by the simple denial. It wasn't that Belos refused to read to me or that he absorbed a Palisman, but primarily because I've never been able to spend more than ten minutes with that man at a time anymore.
As the demon reached to switch off the light, the uneasy silence was wearyingly broken by my voice. "I'm sorry.." I murmured to Kikimora.
Her hand paused just inches from the small switch of my bedside lamp, and her uncovered eye widened instantly in shock at my sincere apology. "What for?" she questioned.
"I got you in trouble when it was my fault.. and Belos yelled at you instead of me." Sliding myself under the covers and rolling to my side where my back faced the demon, I shut my eyes and clutched my bed sheets tightly. "Maybe that's why he won't read me a story tonight. I don't deserve it."
Kikimora hesitated momentarily before responding; however, no words came out as she switched off the lamp and walked out. "Goodnight, Ma’am. Rest well."
"Goodnight.."
The door slid shut with a sharp click that echoed inside my sleek white room while swallowed their color, casting them into the blackness of night. I pulled my blankets over my face and gradually drifted into a deep sleep that tonight demanded.
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𝒮𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃-𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈-𝒪𝓁𝒹
Although I wasn't a stranger to time and often counted down the moments until I could explore all the forms of magic my heart desired, the days passed swiftly, and I soon found myself at the age of seven. My hands were clasped tightly around a wooden sword with my dark blue eyes fixed intently on a handmade dummy standing before me. I frowned at the large red circle painted on its abdomen, tightening my grip on the weapon to ensure I could deliver a perfect strike. Just before I charged forward, I cast a glance at Belos, who stood nearby with the mask removed from his face, revealing his true appearance of a seemingly elderly man with pale skin, ash-blond hair, cornflower-blue eyes, wrinkled lips, and a notch on his left ear. Most notably, there was a large, greenish scar running across his face and down his neck with holes that seemed to be eroding it - an indication of an unknown illness afflicting his body.
I quietly looked at the dummy for a second time, pulling my hand back to push aside a lock of fluffy pink hair behind my pointed ear decorated with a few piercings. "Using a sword feels weird," I complained to the man supervising my training. "I wanna use magic-"
"Cyprus, there will come a day when your magic will not benefit you, and you'll need to use a staff," Belos corrected, a firm tone woven in his argument. "Now, practice your form, or you'll never use magic."
I inwardly flinched at the command and went silent, not offering a counterargument as I aimed my wooden sword at the dummy. A strange, unsettling thought of stabbing its abdomen flashed through my mind, reminiscent of Belos clutching his torso when desperately needing to refill on Palisman energy. I quickly pushed that aside to focus again. "Okay."
My foot slowly slid back on the dirt before I charged forward, thrusting my arm to strike the dummy square in the abdomen where the target was marked. I raised my hands to tag the makeshift object's head, then dragged them down in a slicing motion to press the wooden sword's edge against the mannequin's throat. Belos remained silent as he watched my quick movements subdue the dummy, the faintest smile etched on his scarred face as I resumed my training. Several hours passed until my hands trembled slightly; small scratches covered my skin, and I was gasping for breath. Just as I was about to strike, again, I tripped over my own feet and fell to the dirt, scraping my left arm. I sat up and carefully held my injury, feeling the sharp pains spread across my unusually pale flesh.
"What was that, Cyprus?"
"I-I just slipped, that's all," I muttered dismissively, cringing as my fingers brushed the wound. "It really hurts, though."
He paused to examine the cuts before helping me to my feet, then sat beside me on a wooden oak bench at the edge of the training area. His hand reached forward and rested gently on my back while his voice remained calm and composed. "Practice your healing magic. The leader of the Healing Coven taught you yesterday, correct?"
"Barely," I admitted with a soft grumble. "I tried, but I just made the wounds worse when I practiced on someone else."
"That's why there's repetition."
"I dunno.."
"Just try."
I wavered briefly at his persistent urging and finally consented to try again, my free hand softly tracing the tiny blemishes on my skin and circling each wound. A light, green glow outlined the small cuts where each of them was slowly sewn together, my skin gradually looking brand new, which even took me by surprise. My dark blue eyes lit up with excitement after I successfully used my healing magic, feeling proud that I had executed it correctly this time.
“I.. I did it!" I gleamed, leaping to my feet and cheering for the favorable outcome. "I used healing magic!"
"It wasn't supposed to be too hard, but I suppose it's good enough," Belos said as he rose to his feet, his towering height immediately overshadowing mine as he gazed across the expansive training area. "I believe we've had enough physical exercise for today. Would you care to practice abomination magic with Darius? I don't believe he's busy today."
"Yes!"
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ℱ𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃-𝒴𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈-𝒪𝓁𝒹
Weeks shifted into years after I celebrated my fourteenth birthday until I found myself revisiting the scene, standing amidst a large group gathered for the latest inauguration of the Golden Guard. My hands were pressed together at my chest as my dark blue eyes carefully observed the proceedings around me. I discerned a warm, accepting smile on Belos' face as he presented the staff to Hunter, formally announcing him as the new Golden Guard. I joined the applause of others, including the eight coven leaders, some of whom exhibited questionable expressions. Darius, amongst them all, appeared strangely discontented with the boy's induction. I would've shared his sentiment if I knew what happened with the previous Golden Guard, who met a tragic end beyond the walls of the castle, resulting in death. Nevertheless, I found it difficult to accept that such an incident was real.
After the inauguration and during the small after-party for the young boy, I strolled down a desolate corridor, finding a place to lean against the wall in waiting for someone. When he turned the corner, admiring the new staff his "uncle" had given him, I drew a dark blue circle in the air and released a wave of wind magic that lightly tousled his new uniform. "Huh?!" the boy gasped as he brandished his artificial staff, which emitted a ruby glow from the gem at its top. "Who's there?!"
A giggle slipped from my mouth as I revealed myself to Hunter, watching his face twist into annoyance. "So jumpy today," I teased. "Were you that nervous about your inauguration?"
"Of course, I wasn't!" argued Hunter, his arms folded over his chest and replacing his previous surprise with visible frustration at my prank. "Even if I was nervous, it's normal to feel like that. Weren't you the same after receiving your staff?"
"Yeah. I was more embarrassed when I nearly dropped it in front of Belos." A fond laugh rumbled in my chest as I reminded the blond of that awkward moment, a bead of sweat rolling down my temple. "It's stored.. elsewhere for safekeeping. You know?"
"Oh, right." Averting his magenta gaze elsewhere, Hunter nodded. "And what about your sigil?"
"Got it a long time ago, but Belos was rather adamant about having me hide whenever I left the palace. Regardless, I'm able to practice whatever magic I'd like. Oh! I'm currently learning more about healing magic."
"Heh.. that must be great."
I paused for a moment at his uncertainty, but I reflexively waved off his awkwardness with a small giggle and reached out to gesture my hand forward for him to follow. "Enough about that. How about we sneak some of the fairy pies while no one's looking? They're super busy enjoying the party and whatever."
Hunter's head flicked anxiously aside at the daring proposal, his attention drifting elsewhere in the hallway. "I don't know if we should. Emperor Belos might get frustrated with us if we were to ditch the party."
"Come on, you're way too worried about him." I examined the contents of the small backpack I frequently carried and fished out a blackish-gold deer mask inspired by a fusion of Hunter's and Belos's mask designs. I placed it over my face where it fitting securely around my head with my horns entering the sewn-on paper deer antlers, completely concealing them from the public.
Although Hunter and I used to spend a lot of time together as young witches, I've noticed he's matured much earlier than I have. While he served Belos as his loyal right-hand, I was focused on studying and practicing various kinds of magic. Having snuck out one time when I was ten, I unexpectedly met the infamous Owl Lady, Eda Clawthorn, the most acclaimed powerful witch on the Boiling Isles after Belos. When I returned home to share the encounter, I thought Belos would be frustrated with my actions, but he wasn't; instead, he asked me to join the Owl Lady's side and report to him, at least, once a month with any intel I gathered, especially since she's considered a wild witch. It's been only four years since I last spent a night in the Emperor's Palacr, but it felt much longer since I've seen Hunter. Today's special because of his inauguration, and Belos would be furious if I missed it over something insignificant.
Eventually, Hunter and I reached the pantry doors, but I paused, prompting a puzzled look from my friend. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I've been practicing my magic, and I swore I learned this skill, but I'm a little nervous to try it out."
"I thought Belos disapproved of witches learning multiple spells?"
"He does," I confirmed, "but he's allowing me to practice all types of magic.. for now. Honestly, I'm more interested in bard and plant magic, but I still wanna use all I can!"
"That's.. really cool."
"Mhm!" With an eager nod of my head, I lifted a finger to my lips. "I sought out a coven leader when they were visiting Belos, and they taught me a little spell the other day. Granted, it's not of the nine main covens, but.. oh well! Stand back, 'kay?"
A mixture of concern and curiosity appeared on the blond's face before he took a few steps back from where I stood. He watched from a short distance as I extended my hand forward and focused intently on the spell I intended to cast. The memory of what the coven leader demonstrated to me resounded in my mind, and I slowly drew a dark blue circle with utmost concentration. However, halfway through, my arm began to tremble, causing the circle to wobble inaccurately and sparks of accumulated magic bounced off until the entire circle disintegrated, flying directly toward the pantry doors. I let out a yelp as the magic forcefully collided with the doors, ripping them off their hinges and causing them to crash to the floor, accompanied by a shower of debris and including wasted food scattering through the air. Slowly, Hunter and I peeked our eyes open, analyzing the aftermath of the failed spell and taking note of the edges of the brightly colored corridor now stained with charred ash.
"O-Oops.." I bashfully muttered, an awkward smile spreading across my face.
"C-Cyprus, I can't believe you did that!" cried Hunter, who stared wide-eyed at the explosion. "What if Belos finds out about this?! He'll take away my staff immediately!"
I could sense the genuine panic in his eyes when he yelled at me, more concerned about his lost privileges rather than my failed spell. "No, he won't," I reassured. "We'll just sneak back into the party and pretend we don't know a thing about the pantry. He doesn't need to know a thing."
It was unclear if he agreed with my reassurance as both of our bodies flinched at the sound of a familiar voice. "Captain, have you been able to find those brats or the source of that sound?" Kikimora questioned with a tone tinged with familiar annoyance.
"No, Ma'am," the captain answered. "It's strange. I expected them to be enjoying the party."
It was nearly instinctive for me to secure the strap of my backpack and immediately flee when I believed neither Kikimora nor the Captain was observing us in the adjacent corridor, my movements swiftly prompting Hunter to do the same. However, the sound of my backpack lightly hitting the wall captured the attention of both Kikimora and the Captain at that moment. "There you two are!" the former shouted.
"Come on!" I urged, navigating the corridor with Kikimora and the Captain in pursuit.
I guided Hunter back into the main room where hundreds of witches and demons congregated for his ceremony, steering us through the attendees and out of sight, keeping us distant from our pursuers. Believing we successfully evaded them, I slumped against a wall and exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful for our escape. Residing with Eda for four years gifted me with considerable escapology skills, which I anticipated would be useful in the future. It's no wonder a single guard was unable to apprehend her; she was far too slippery for their efforts.
"That was way too reckless! What if they caught us?!" Hunter shouted at me, scolding me for nearly getting us into major trouble by sneaking away from the ceremony and damaging the pantry.
I slightly flinched at his loud voice, but I promptly overlooked his unease with a wave of my hand. "You're worrying way too much about that. They lost us during the chase, so we're fine to cool off an-!"
"Hunter and Cyprus." My body froze instantly upon hearing the familiar sound of Belos' deep voice, and our heads turned to locate him staring down at us with bright blue eyes visible through the eyeholes of his mask. "A word with both of you, now."
"Y-Yes, sir!" Hunter promptly consented and took the lead in the direction of the Throne Room, the heart suspended above our heads thumping with a slight increase. Upon our arrival, the blond knelt before the Emperor with his head bowed. "What do you need, Emperor Belos?"
I remained beside the kneeling boy for a brief period before assuming the same posture, hands folded over one knee and eyes silently fixed on the carpet beneath us. Belos approached his throne and stood before it, his back turned to us for the moment. "You both don’t seem very fond of such an important event, hmm?"
"N-No, we do!" Hunter countered. "It's just.. uhm.."
Noticing the boy's restless fidgeting to my left, I piped up before he could. "It was my idea."
"Oh?"Belos reverted his attention to me as did Hunter, who finally quieted his rambling.
"Yeah. After Hunter was given his staff, I kinda.. begged him to steal snacks from the pantry and to lie to you about both stealing and now about the damage caused. Please, don't blame him."
Following a brief period of silence, the Emperor's voice bore through the tense room. "Hunter, if you would be so kind as to step outside for a moment. I'd like to have a word with Cyprus, alone."
"Of course." He decided not to dispute with the man as he stood up, casting a brief glance at me before exiting the room to leave Belos and me alone as requested.
"I'm glad seeing how the two of you are bonding despite having been away from the palace for so long," the man spoke as his footsteps lightly tapped atop the polished flooring, generating a tense echo that reverberated throughout the room, "but maybe that wild witch has been affecting your judgment. Shall I permanently return you to the castle?"
My body reacted instantly to his threat, my body lurching upward and lips parting to respond. “She's not influencing any sort of behavior!" I quickly retorted, albeit unconvincingly. "I just.. wanted to have some fun with Hunter before I had to go back. I barely see him anymore, not that I should complain, but it was just this one time. I'm sorry." Belos paused momentarily in silence as he contemplated my words, seemingly devoid of sincere emotion. However, it wasn't until he dropped his staff to the floor that a menacing light blue glow emanated from the two eyeholes of his mask for the second time today. The intense pressure he exerted compelled me to kneel, and a look of terror replaced my natural expression as his arm abruptly transformed into a large, green talon. "B-Belos.." I muttered quietly with a tone regrettably trembling as I endured his slow approach. "I-I didn't mean to.. to speak with you in that tone. I swear I'm sorry."
"Your apologies will only be forgiven in one way, Cyprus."
My dark blue eyes snapped open wide as I immediately understood what he meant. The scars from previous punishments, mostly healed and concealed under my long sleeves and shirt, were a clear reminder. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs, and my breathing grew shorter as he moved closer with a masked expression. Instinctively, having learned from Eda over the course of four years, I scrambled to my feet and rushed toward the entrance doors, hoping to escape the Emperor and his terror. However, the only exit was blocked when a splash of green goo from his arm splattered on the doors, some landing on my cheek.
"Each time we go through this, your attitude never seems to change." As he moved closer, my muscles tensed, and my dark blue eyes frantically darted about for another escape. I pounded on the double doors, hoping someone would hear me with tears trickling down my face. "And you act as if this never happens because you feel so protected by that wild witch. You may have been able to outrun Kikimora whenever you were playing around all those years ago, but now you're dealing with me."
'I'm not scared.. I'm not scared..!' My mind raced as I tried to reassure myself with these false hopes, but even the constant repetition of that comfort couldn't help me escape this nightmare. I spun on my heels and leaned my back against the doors that refused to open up, trying to widen the gap, but there was little I could do when he was this frustrated. All reason to use my magic vanished, and I hurriedly raised my arms to shield my face from his fierce anger. 'I just wanted to hang out with Hunter one more time..'
"I-I'm.. sorry!" I uttered a faint cry as his monstrous arm was raised higher above his head, desperately pleading with him to refrain from inflicting harm. "Belos, please, I'm sorry!!"
THUD!
"Wailing like a child will not lighten the consequences of your actions. I don't wish to end your short life, so think more carefully next time."
I collapsed to the floor, bearing a long scar that extended from the edge of my left eye down to the corresponding side of my neck. Light blood splatters oozed from the deep wound, rendering me immobile on the red velvet floor of the Throne Room, thickened with crimson. My fingers subtly twitched, and my dark blue eyes fell shut as I took a final breath in that room.
"You truly never learn, Cyprus. You act like a savior, but those don't exist."