Escapism

Hello everyone! I hope you haven't forgotten about me, because I definitely haven't forgotten about you...

OK, now that the introduction is done, it's time to get to the point.

You see... Do you remember when I went to sleep after giving little Flora a name? You know, when the scene was perfect. New life, the blooming garden, my "babies" rescuing me from death by crushing... Everything pointed to it being time for a happy rest!

... Buuut unfortunately... Do you remember when I mentioned I was forgetting something...?

Well, it turns out that after sleeping for only a few, a mere 3 days straight, I discovered upon waking up a small... tiny... Okay, correction... A BIG PROBLEM!!

What problem...?

Excellent question, dear reader!

Well, the thing is that when I woke up... Everything was in complete silence.

Is that all?!

Yes, that's all! But before you leave or call me dramatic, you have to understand that it wasn't a peaceful silence, but an oppressive and unnatural one.

And as the experienced person that I am, this could only mean that something was wrong!

A fact I unfortunately confirmed when I went downstairs and saw the good guide (Shija), the warrior (Boudica), and my reliable servants (slaves) prostrate in a coma, foaming at the mouth and completely motionless.

How did this happen?!

Excellent question, dear reader, and as always, I will give you the answer in a lengthy and very detailed way! (reality escapism)

To begin with, the unbearable pain I released as a "scream" was not just an energy explosion; it was a toxic and chaotic cocktail, an amalgamation of unrestrained power (analysis provided by Echidna) so that entire crazy mixture rode on a sonic wave of pure Madness!

In conclusion...?

The Scream was not just loud. It was a multidimensional attack, a toxic soup composed of:

Base Power: High-pressure sonic wave.

Primary Vector: Pure Madness (the agony suppressed for weeks).

Chaotic Amalgam: A volatile mixture of multiple forms of volatile energy.

Which resulted in an unexpected effect!!

In an example given by Echidna to help understand what the hell happened here, you first have to imagine that your nervous system is a gourmet dish that I (accidentally) flooded with all kinds of incompatible poisons, causing varying results in the process!

Here is the detailed damage report that Echidna and I managed to put together:

I. Common Living Creatures (Animals, Weak Humanoids)

These beings had neither magical defenses nor brute resistance. The impact was a devastating combination of physical trauma and mental short circuit.

Effects Victims

Instantaneous brain death, ocular and auditory hemorrhage, fleeting madness or nervous collapse, and dissolution of life energy. Hares and Deer (Minor Fauna), Bandits from a Nearby Camp, Bears and Wolves (Large Predators).

II. Creatures Sensitive to Energy Forms (Superior Monsters, Mages)

The scream hit their energy infrastructure, causing severe systemic damage.

Effects Victims

Short circuit (Catatonic Coma), Biological Distortion and Confusion, Internal Energy Implosion. Wandering Mages or Priests in the Area, Gryphons, Manticores (Large Monsters), and some ghosts or apparitions.

III. Beings Without an Organic Mind (Undead and Golems)

These beings represent a separate case! They don't have the complex mind to succumb to the Madness, but they do function using some form of energy!

But since there were no such beings nearby, except for my "babies," there were no actual casualties in that regard.

Though here comes the interesting part (according to Echidna), because if there had been beings of this category present, this is what would have happened to them!

Golems, Zombies, and Skeletons:

What Should Have Happened: The sonic pressure should have destroyed them!

But since only my babies were there:

What Really Happened: The deep connection they have with my soul granted them a brutal passive resistance against the most lethal effects. The wave only managed to temporarily knock them out. As soon as the main pulse passed, they recovered. A few hours of forced nap and they were back to kicking down doors!

In summary, dear reader: the 80-kilometer radius is now a zone of Total Silence, interrupted only by the celebration party for Flora's birth.

What...? What's wrong with celebrating the birth of a new life?!

Besides, it helps me calm down for the damage control I'm obviously going to have to carry out!

Do you want an example?

Well, the naked woman lying among my azaleas, clutching a disproportionately large club on the unconscious floor and foaming at the mouth, is a clear example of how bad things got.

Do you know what that means...?

That's right! Most likely, that poor woman went mad, stripped naked, and immediately tried to attack the source with her last strength before falling there impotent.

Which makes me feel very guilty...

And if that wasn't enough, upon returning to the inn, I find everyone prostrate in a coma in different positions, spasming and foaming at the mouth!

What would a responsible person do in this situation?

Obviously, blame someone else by pretending nothing happened!! (responsibility evasion)

But since unfortunately there's no one to blame and despite my first aid, no one has woken up, I can only do one thing... Celebrate the birth!! (escapism)

After all, if reality is a nightmare, then at least I'll make sure the party is a dream! (severe escapism)

Therefore, the atmosphere of what was previously an improvised morgue was transformed. From the corners came brightly colored banners reading "Welcome, Flora!", courtesy of the straw dolls who trained in crafts with the multifaceted perfect maid, Sara. Balloons of all colors floated everywhere, creating a magical scene (ignoring the unconscious bodies on the floor) and bubbles courtesy of Brownie, who adopted the form of a machine to produce them!

But the true center of the celebration, the total sensory escape, was the food. I didn't settle for a simple cake; I put on a culinary display designed to force us all to forget the magnitude of the surrounding slaughter.

Starting with a four-tier cake. The base was a fluffy sponge cake infused with single-origin vanilla, coated with a mirror glaze of fairy nectar (extracted by Flora). Each tier represented a color, starting with white meringue followed by a black, dark chocolate ganache.

Then there were the garden strawberries, the juiciest ones, filled with a whipped goat cheese cream mixed with moonflower honey and garnished with small edible pure gold sprinkles! The bittersweet and slightly sour combination of the strawberry exploded on the tongue, a perfect violent contrast for the occasion.

And finally, a good non-alcoholic punch, but with the impact of a shockwave. A base of fermented and highly carbonated wild berry juice, served with dry ice to create a low-lying mist spectacle. Every sip was like an electric shock, strong enough to make the straw dolls dance with intensity, even with the ridiculous party hats on.

Thus, while Flora fluttered among the (unconscious) guests, the straw dolls and I feasted. We laughed. We applauded. We sang "Happy Un-Birthday."

Everything was wonderful!! (ESCAPISM)

<"Well...?">

Until Echidna's words cut through the festive atmosphere like a whip...

<"Are you going to keep ignoring it?">

"Ignoring what, dear Echidna?"

Hearing my response, Echidna looked at me with deep pity.

<"You can't keep deceiving yourself.">

"...."

I fell silent. The rictus of my smile broke.

<"When Flora emerged, she brought out the power you had inside...">

"Don't say it!"

Desperately trying to ignore Echidna's words, I covered my ears with all my might!

<"When Flora was born... The Magical Girl Magic returned.">

"DON'T SAY IT!!"

But Echidna continued in a firm, compassionate voice, ignoring my plea.

<"In that moment, you transformed into the Magical Girl...">

At that moment, Echidna spoke the final truth, the one I had been burying under meringue and balloons.

<"Changing gender in the process.">

"DON'T SAY IT!!"

At which point I could only fall to the ground, trembling and shouting a silent plea to the sky.

"It's not true!!"

... But it was too late. The secret had exploded, not only in Echidna's voice but in my own stunned mind... Watching my life flash before my eyes...

"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

There I was.

I, who was once a man.

Now, with long silver hair that flowed down my back. I was wearing a black and white ruffled dress, as intricate as a porcelain doll, with detailed embroidery and rainbow ribbons that shrieked against the somber backdrop of the disaster.

"Ugh...! Uwaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!"

A Magical Girl. A crying Magical Girl.

There I was, amidst the scattered party hats and the comatose bodies, shedding tears, screaming desperately, asking the sky, this world, the damn author!!

"WHY ME?!"