Chapter 133: Incursion

- ??? - Rose's POV -

When I came to, I was in a familiar room with a pounding headache. My old apartment, game consoles and barely used workout equipment under the TV stand. Somehow, I felt like I’d been here fairly recently despite having been Rose for nearly 7 years, what would have been nearly 13-14 years back on Earth. The thought was… unpleasant.

[Ugh… My head? This is…? Wait this feels familiar?] – Rose

[Big Sis! Breakfast is ready!] – Familiar Voice

Still reeling from confusion, I almost didn’t register a subtle shifting of the room around me into a more feminine one. The brain fog nearly overpowered me, but I managed to see some of the items around the room shifting into plushie’s and the TV turning into a vanity table. Despite this I couldn’t for the life of me think of why this wasn’t a normal thing, everything seemed so… ordinary. All the while I felt like I’d gone through this before.

Luckily, or unluckily, my train of thought was interrupted by a familiar voice. A sweet, singsong voice that urged my protective instincts forward as I found myself reaching for the door to the hall without thinking about it.

[Don’t tell me you’re still in bed?!?] – Familiar Voice

Stumbling as I made my way down the hall I barely registered that I had legs to stumble on in the first place, catching myself on the wall as I heard a familiar hum echoing down the too long hallway. Something was wrong.

[Oh? Big sis is that you? Go ahead and wash up first, breakfast is about done.] – Familiar Voice

Feeling for all the world that I should listen to the instructions coming from the lighted kitchen in front of me I still persevered onwards. Forcing myself towards the kitchen where a pretty red head covered in freckles head to toe was busily humming while chopping up something. Something was wrong.

Still feeling like all of this should be familiar to me I hesitated before finally steeling myself to take the plunge and turn the girl I recognized as my sister to face me.

Pain. Blinding pain. Assaulting my body starting from my ears the shooting pain racking my body nonetheless wasn’t able to distract me from what I was seeing. Somehow, I’d “known” what I would see but even then, I was shocked by the thing before me. Skin stretched taut over it’s “face” the creature seemed to be innocently confused at my pained expression. But somehow, I knew that this too was a lie.

[What’s wrong Big Sis? You look sick.] – Faceless Monster

[Ahhhhhh! W-Why do you sound l-like her?!?] – Rose

[W̵̘̻̾͆̒͒͋̃͆̌̎͘͠͝ḩ̸̞̻̬͍̥͂̊̐̈́̐̚͝͠͝ą̷̨̧̲͍̦̤̹́̄́̈́̚͠t̵̝͎͍̹̖̤͍̰̅̾̾̂͗͛̓́͘ ̴̢̝̦̝̜͔̈̏̏̑͌̐̆̈́̊͐͑̕̕̚͜d̵̢̡̡͚͖͓̮̼̳̥͕̲͎̺̀͜ớ̶̲̣̜̪͍̮̼͓̈́͠ ̵̡̛͍̙̹̤̺̯̩͛̊̂̀͛̾̕͝ͅͅy̴̛̦̪͕̮͚͖͙͈͊͒̇͛̐͑͒̓͋̀̽͑͜͝͠ơ̶̺̈̿̀́̅̆́́͆́͘͜͠͝ů̴̜̮̭̅̅̆̏̆̄͆͗͐͠͠͝ ̷̧̡̛̠̞̠͙͓̩̫̲͓̘̜̈m̵̧̖̠̬̱̖̤͚̼̗̼͂̑͜e̷̪̻̻̩̤̙̞̳̗̩͈͑͂̔͜a̴̧̧͇̥̼̙̙͍̺̱̞̪̅͋ṅ̴̥̖̠̙͍̯͎ ̷̛̹̥̟͉͎̤͚̤̮̺̿́͒͒̈́̓̀̇̾B̶̹͖̠̺͚̺̜̥̣͍̈́̉ï̵͉̝͍̽̍̈́̅͒̃ͅĝ̴̮̲͚͚̘͓̬̼̺̪̫̦͕̺͙́ ̷̨̨͇͓͇̥͙̈́̃̂̆̃̂̑̕̚̚͘͠͝Ş̸̨̡̤̖̙̳̰̤̺͈̘̮̲̓̅͂͆̍̈́̔͆̌̈́͑̚͜͝ḯ̴̛͔͙̩͈͚̫̝̦̹̜͗̑̊̚s̵͙̈́̂́͐̽̆̿̔?̸̗̣͈͍͇̖͕̻̼̳̮̭̌̊͆̂̅̽̊͛̋̕͝͝] – Faceless Monster

Trying in vain to block out the pain that was assaulting me I quickly turned to run away only to find my escape vanished in a spreading inky blackness. A void that sucked the color out of everything it touched.

[W̸̧̹̳̥͓͕̹͈̭̻̓̀͆̌̍̕͝h̵̟̖̭͍̳̝͛ę̷̖̺̲̙̳̟̟̘̙͕̠͚̖́̓́̇̎͗̿́̌̊ͅŗ̶̛̛̘͍̻̰̱͒́̈̇̓̄̔̒̚ȩ̷̧̡̧̧̹̳͚̬̬͕̗͍̗͙̐̇̂͊̇̂͝ ̸̭̺̽͒̆͌̌͗̎̔̏w̸̡̛̯̳̙͉̲͓͓̟̲͈̪̹̐͒̉̇̈́̌̈́͗̚̕ͅȩ̶̇r̴̢̫̥̝̤̂̋͐̋̈̈̐͆̋̇̈́ḛ̴͉̙͔̥̜͓̠̓͑͑͗ ̶̡̡̡̰̦͍͕̜̳̥̃͊̅̋̈͋̒̆͜y̵̢̙̥̫͙̲͚̠̯̟̱͔͙͚͗̀͐̔̈̆̍͛̀̔͑̈́͒̑ơ̶̫̗̻͙̦̰̐͋͑̋͑͌̕͝ͅu̵̺̘̲̤̽͜͝ ̴̨̢̜̙̺͈͍̖̱͍̩̼̦͉̑̿̋̊͂͐͆̏̄̏̇̊͠a̸̧̛̮̩̼̬͖̘̤̺͉̱̮̱͉͊̈̎̍́̏̏̂̒̈̚k̵͚̈̌̎̌̀̊̈́͂̑̈̑̓̄̚̕d̸̢̟̳͓̰͓͇͓͈̙̰̫̩͋̿͜j̷̢̣͈̳̖̦̠̝̪͖̟͕̦̀͜f̷̧̝̪̙̻̳̯͙̹͔̤̟͍̃̽́̐́̓̋̏̄̚͜͝a̴͚͉͑͒̿͑̋̈͒͒͠l̶̡̹̣̗͕̬͈̼̊̀ḑ̵͔͉͇̪̬̺̪̳͂͛̈́̄̊̏̀̎̚͘̕͜f̷̬̜͉̘͈̠̦̮̖͉̳̠͋̒̒͊̀̕ą̶̻̮͍͔̳̞̐̿́̆͐͋́̿̚ ̴̛̱͗̎̆͗̇̇̚͝d̵̡̡͖̲̠̓̈́̃̈́̈̅͘͜ḁ̵̛̺̲̀̒̒͆̀́̐̀̍͛̕̕͜ͅf̴̢̗͖̙̥̬̟͓͙̮͕̦̫̼͗͋͛̚k̴̨͙̤͎̖͍͊͂̐͘l̵̬̺͕͚̭̏͒̿͝r̵̰̼͔̗͔̳̤̝̖̃̅̈̍̋͋͜͜d̵̯̞̩̩̼͔̓̀̑͊͊̽͗̎̂̈́͂̅̒͠s̶̢̻͍̘͉̗͖͍̲͓̤͕̈́̉́͌̈̐̾̎?̴̨̢̟̯̹̘̣̩̅̄̈̔̐͆] – Faceless Monster

The words, clear at first, began to distort as the monster became more and more menacing as I whipped my head around looking for an escape, any escape. The growing void was the only thing that greeted me. Realizing that I couldn’t escape I resigned myself to my fate and closed my eyes to wait for the end to come. It didn’t.

It was quiet. The sound that had been assaulting me and the pain that had racked my body was gone, but I wasn’t dead. Opening my eyes in spite of every instinct telling my not to I immediately regretted not listening as a eyeless void stared into my own.

[T̷̢̟̖̱͉̹̪͈̍̋͌͜h̴̡̨̛̠͙͈̩̲̍̅̐̈̍̇͜͠͝e̸̡̲̭̫͖̖̖͉͕̬̩̭̳̭̜̐͆̉̇̄͒̓̐̈̍̚͘ ̵̰͙̩̦͖͎̎̍̿̂͌̄̈́͘͝p̶̢̨̢̛̭͙̲̣̜͓̲̲͓̍r̸̨̛̤͓͕͙̘̠͓̯̥͈͇͍̼̐̇̓́̓̽̓̎̓̀͂̏͜͠o̴̢̼̟̳̫̤̠̻̱̫̒p̶̺̱̎̿̇̔̿̿̑̎́̕̕ḧ̸̞̙̣̹͔̜̙͕́ȩ̶̝͉̬̖̰̱̯̺̪͎̙͈̲͂́̆̒͆̽̈͌̾s̶̬̾͆̒͐̄̉̀̇͛̕͘ï̴̭̣̪͔͎̰̝͔͕͙̎ę̸̻̦̟̥̣̪̭͖̩͖̠̩̈̂̎͋́́̉͛̄͊̊͐͝ͅd̸̡͙̩̳͈͔͉̪̞̰͚̖̥̲͈̃̓̂̑͑̌̐̌͑̇̇̉ ̸̨͇͚͓͉̦̲͌̿t̷̹̖̮̦͗̆̅͝ͅï̵̮͎̖̅͆͒̆̀̅̂̽͒̉̆̈́͠m̴̛͈̯̬̼͎̤̰̥̻̞͓͕̌̋̀͒̊̍̐̚͘ȩ̸̙̳͖̳̝̦̪̱̦̬̒ ̶̳̘͔͆̂̋̽̈́͂̐͗͑̈i̴̢̪͇̘̞͇͖̳̗̪̫̊̄̐̍̔̑̓̆̏͛̇́ͅͅͅs̴̨̖͉͓̘̙̋̓̅͑̀̃̕̚̕͝ ̶̧̢̢̭̙̺̮̬̥̈͐̋̒̽̍̈̀͌̋̇̕͜ͅű̷̲̟̼̺p̵̛͕̟̺͕̠̏͊̽̕̚͝o̴͎̣̰̹̠͈̦̹̜̞̊̏͝ǹ̸̛̻͉͓̳̰̆͊̓̈́̈̂̄̇̏̚͘͜ ̶̧̖̳̤̥̻̬̹̱̝̮̯͛̐͒̓͛̓͒̅̑̋̉̓̇͝͠ů̶̧̜ş̴̛͉̩̻͈͇̣̪͈͓̗͎̑̈̈́͗̑̐̋̔́͛̾̊͗̕ͅͅ,̶̺̝͇̦͔͓͙̙̥̮͉̪̈́͐͐̉̽̕ ̵̭̺̪͈̬̦̹̦̞̱̰̲̓̎̏͆̈̊̑̈́̃́̄̔̚ͅy̸͔͕͈̝̼̫͉̫̞͆̆̐̈́̄̌̚͜ơ̶̞̜͕̥͋̔̌͛͌͒͌͑͝ú̸͕́̕͜ṛ̷͛̔̀̊͆͒̋́̌̑͘̕͝ ̵̢̛̭͙̯̥̥̘͕̦͉̱̙̼̞͚̄͑̍͛̍̀̈̅̒̀̚͝͝ȑ̶̩̻̻̱̦̦̠̜̞̙̯̭͗͒͋͗̽̾̇̈́͌̎̿̏͜͝ơ̴͉̇̈́̀͋͘͜͝l̵͉̂̇̀̅͝ͅë̷̢͇̝̟͈͙̪̩͎̜̭̰́̃̂͠ ̵̡̺̘̼̟͋̇͂ẅ̵̨̯͔̲̝̹̠̲̬́̀̅i̷̧̢͔̳̦̤̩̻̘̽̀͂̉̒̃̔̅l̶̢̩͇̰̬͚̬̭͍̒̈́̀̅̕l̴̯̦͕͓̜̣̿̽̀̿̎̇̓͂̂̐͠͝͠ ̶͙̝̣̜̦̥̮͖̻̜̣͙̺̈́̐̾̀̋̈̈́̂͜͝͠b̷̛̛̯̤̲͙̝͇̠͎̓̔̀͋͊́̈́̂̂̓̌͝͝ͅͅe̴͕͎̦̙̎̑̇̀̓͛̑̊̚ ̸̲͖̮͈̿͒̅̍͂̊̽͘t̶̢̢̡̞̝̠̱͍̳͓̼̳͙̤̓͛͊͆͐͝h̵͕̠̺̗̥̥̞͇̱͖̼͕̊̑͛̎̍̈́͋̆̅͝ê̴̛͍̟͕̗̻̥̖͉̓̓̓͑̽͘͝ ̸̱̟̳̱̙̗̩̂̋̉̈́̄̆̍͐̔̑̚͝͝͝m̷̛͚͙̥̼̽͋̍̐̇̎̎͑̎͝o̷̜̬͉̰̹͇͙̼̥̯͈̜̠͐͋̒̐̋̽͝͝͠͝s̸̡̡̛̗̦̤̱̳̲̠͍͊͌̍́̍̂̾̓͒̌͆̈̕ͅt̷̨̢̘̫̯̙̖͖̜́̆̀ͅ ̶̨͕͉̲̥̍̈́͌̓̈́͗́̚͝͠i̸͕̝͉͓̩̒͜m̴̨̡̡͕̝͉̻̼̩̞͚̰̘̭̄̎̈͐̄̎͐͛̽̌́̋̏͝p̶̛̩̤̲̊͆̾̆̄͋͌̓͛̐͂̂̽̚ǒ̵̯̰̪̣̘́͂̎̀͜r̶̡͈͚̳͕͖̣͎̜̜͓͋̃̅̈́̐̉̕ṫ̵͉͓͓̮͔͓͕ͅa̷̟͙͕̱̤̭͓͙̯̯͈̻͊̽̀̏̂͛̓ņ̸͙͙̜̯͚̮̮̺̤̤͒͜t̵̡̥̥͕̙͐͗̈͐͠.̴̮̆ ̴̨̗̱̣̩̹̗̹͇̫̹̍̔̄̿͌B̷̜̗̘̯̣͂̊̏͑̂ư̷̗͎̖͉̞̖̙̦̕t̷̛̟̩͙̪̮̪͙̜͔̩̅̐͆̀͛͛̈͜͜ ̸̧̥̜̮͎͚̩̯̐̉̾̊̇̆͌̽̈́̋̃̎̔͘n̵̢̫̬̠̦̗͈͔̪͎̺͓͇͋̌̉͑̆ȏ̷̡̜͔̭͔̲͎̗͕̙̳̝̿͂̉͊̌́͒͗͑̈́̒͜͝t̴͈̭̺̭͍̦͎̝̉͐͗͂͜͝ ̵̡̼̗̜̩̰̠̄͌̽͜a̸̡̧̡͎̮̣͕͎̠͔̗̣͔̲̓̅ŝ̸͖̯͖̼̯̦̟̀̈ ̶̡͚̤̫͙̱̳̝̲̿͒̀̌̾͒́̓̚͝ÿ̸̡̘̰̦̫͍̪͓͜ō̴̤u̴̡͕̥̹̠̺̙͖̟̹̝̥̝̮͊̓̈́̄ ̸̰̘͓͎̱̲̘̭͓̲͚̽̿̓̈̃͊̂à̷̧͙̲̩̼̒͜r̸̛̳̠̠̖̭̻͔̝̞̜̙̲̹̓̅̀̊̃̎ͅę̵̨̧̠̼̮̤̙̻̱͉̪̄̐.̴̛̻̺͍͍̺̯̯̯͕͊͗́̒̄͋̃̄̈́͛͘] – Faceless Monster

Then, despite feeling my consciousness fading, a sharp crack resounded through the blackness. Starting from void what looked like cracks in reality quickly spread through the dreamlike darkness.

[YOU DARE IMPUNE ON MY CHARGE FACELESS?!?] – Love

[H-Huh?] – Rose

[Ẁ̷̧̗̟̝̟̹̇e̵̱̮̗͉̳̺̲̙̰̥͕͖̟̠͖͗͂̂̋͆͐̔͛̕͝ ̶̼̂̆g̶̲̖͔̭͚̔̀̐͒͜͝o̶͕͉͒̔͛̿̚͘͝͝ ̶̢̱̱̪̺͈̘͇́̇̂̋͝w̴̨̱̙͍̮͉͈̓͗͒̆͌͛̈̋̚͝ͅh̵̢̹̜̜̮͓̝͙̺͕̩̙̳̀͒̉͂͛̂͛̉̿̆́͋͂̍͠e̸̡̙̖̹̯̞͍̝͉̰͆͑̂̋̈́͑̓̃͒̈̾̐́̕r̴̛͕̳̜̞̣͓̾̄̌̓͒͋̀͗͠e̶̡̢̱͚̦̝̖̘̞̫̙̪̰̥̋̈̄͌͂̒͒̈́͛̕͜ ̸̧̛̩͚̳̳̗͇̠̺͇͈͈͔̈̀̿͂͌̋̉͛͜͝͝w̴̧̢̞͙̠̲̪̤̟̤̯̼̻̠̔̿̉̃͗̀͛̆̃͗́͜è̵͇̬̩̰͓̮̠͔͔̺̞̂͐͌̇͘̚͜͝ ̷̪̣̦͕̗̠̐̈̔́̽̈́̃̓̂͛͊̕͘w̶̨̢̨͇̖̤̲̰̱͎̗̱͚̗͗i̴̢̘͙̗̠̘̩͂́̇̇̅̿͗̐̀͝͝͝s̴̢̨̩̭͍̜̳̭͙̗͙̱̆͊̃͆̌̓͠͝h̶̨̢̢̫̗̜̃̈́̐̍̃̃̉͌̅ ̴̼͍͈̫̬̏̍́̾̑̇͆͑̓͛̿̅̾̚"̴̢̢̹̩͕̰̬̋̄̒̎̒͜͝F̵̘͗̒̌͊̐̈́͊̈́̑͂̑̎̓̚r̸͍͓̥͎͚̮̄̑́͂͑̄̈́̅̊a̷̡̛̗̫̝̍͛͋̓̽̀͊̿͋͝ͅg̸͔̝̳̲̍̈́͌̐̒̓̏̀̔̃̕͘͘m̸̢͓̠͋̇͗̔̆̈́̒̎é̶̡̙̟̪̼͇͎̻̩͂͌̐̐̌̓̈́̌̓̐̄͆́̕n̵̙̙̘̠̝͐̎̍̆̏͊̕t̴̛̛̺̳͓̯̬̩̜͈̯̮̲͕̮̞͆͂̍̅̄̍̀̄"̴̭̭̰̳̟̹͎͎̬̠͉̘̩̓̌̈́͋̈́̽̓̿͘̚͜,̶͍̥̈́̐̾̀͜ ̶̣͎͚̜̰̰͈͚̽́̀̏̈́̊͌̈́͝y̴͈̝̭͇͚̘̗̼̱͍͔͓͆͛̅̍͌͋̆̈́̂̾͘͠ǫ̸̙̹͔͗̌́̀̀̀̓̔͊͘ữ̷̧̨̛͕͙͎͉̤͙͈̏͌͒̒̎̒̂̋̆̿͝ͅ ̷̢̢̜̗̠̭̯̰̞͖̘̥̥̙̫̑́̈s̸̯̿̾̊̓́͋̇̈́͆̍̀͠ḧ̶̟̭̟̳͓͖̠̬́̍̋͋̈́͂̏̅͊̈́̃͝͝a̷̱̙̥̥͛͗͑̿͝l̸̜̮̹̼̜͔̱̮̾̅́̀͑͂̇͘l̷̢͍̥̜͈͆̈̒̎̓̇́͗̇̀͝ ̸͓̖̫̞̓͌̓ͅn̷̗̦̖̻͇̝̜̼̲̩̩̗̹͖͎͛̄͆̂̈̏̐̂͑̕͝͠ô̸͔̬͉̻̠̦̣̘̩̒̈́̃͐̓̏̈́̚t̶̟̻̪̟̼̳̙̜̠̺͋̏̋̀̐̃̕͠ ̸̢̝̟̻͇̲̝̣̞͒͌̑͊͛̈̽́̓ỉ̴̢̡̞̪͇̥̤̼̤͚̤͈̪̲͆̌͌͆̋̐̿́m̸̝̮̍͂ṕ̶̖̳͋̏͐͂̄͒́ę̷̪̭̼̼̠͓̝̀̾̇̃̋̉̑͘͝͠ḓ̷̢̱̽̔̉̓̑̅͋̆͂͗͂̕ę̶̛͚̣̹̖̜͎̳͎̮̞̬͂̈́̅̇͆̽̓͛̆͘͘͜͝ͅ ̸͔͎͈̝͋̆̿͆̈́͌̅́̍̐́̈́̑̕ơ̶̢̨̘̭̠͐͌̅͆͐͌͛͋̉͘̕u̶̡̧̜͉̭̟̟͕̯̹̻̦̍̀̊͑́͐̃͒́̌̆̕͝ṛ̶̦̗̃͗̚ ̸̛̛̞͍͙̗͛̉̓̿̌́̑̀̌g̶̗̪̻͔̖̥̩̈́͛̿͗̋͛͌͜͠͝ͅȯ̴̢̰̘̠͔̠̦̺͖̖̞̯͕̒̌͛̅̓̋̈́̋̓̅̋̏̕͝á̶͈̹̱̖͔̔̏́̾̀́̐͘͠͠l̴̡̼̹͖͔̤̣̠̝̪̹̱͙̀̾̋̉̂́̂͘͜͝s̸̢̋͋͘̕.̸̜̼͑̄̌̔͛͆͗̾̑͆̈́͐] – Faceless Monster

[A mere Faceless believes they can insult me by calling me that and I won’t retaliate?!? DIE!!!] – Love

[H̶͉̣̯͕̥̝̝̠̓̑̒̆̈́̀͌́̓̚͝ą̶̦̲̼̱̗̘̱͕͓̙͆̾̐͂̊̓̊̓̑̒̉̎͜͝͠h̶̢͙͇̥͚̳̯̗̹̝̠̝͇̋̉̊̏ͅa̵̝̭̗̻͚̟͖̞̙͊̈́͆̔h̴̡͉̫̻̣͖͕̫̝̣̀͌͐̀̉̽͋͑̈́̓͠ǎ̷̡̛̳͇̮͚͔̦͈͔͉̤̟͉͋͒̔̓̓͑̓͛̑̕͘̚͜͠ͅh̵̢̼̲̮̺̗̬̖̖͚̿̅͌̈ȃ̵̡̧̪̲͇̪̤͍̻̙̣̓̓̀͒̊́̊.̶͕̣̊́̃͒̐͐̀̋͝.̴̢̪̜̿̆̈́̌͗̋̄̕͠.̵̭͕̖͇͚͈̣͇̀̾͆́̕ ̷̘̘̦̪̮͔̹̻͗̃͛̌̌ͅY̴͎̼̟̌̀̌̌̍o̸̻̰̗͙̫̭̪͓̥̠̘͗̄̽ǘ̸̧͚͔̣̳͖ ̷̰̱͓̖͋̀͛̇̉͐̒͆̍s̵̻̲͓͕̹̙̯̹̓̄̑̒̑̄͒̓͗͌̉͐̐̚͜͝h̷͔͍̓̔̇̓̂̈̍̊̓̉̍́̕͘͠â̴̩̫͎̘̲͛̈̃͛̊̊̊̓͊̽͠l̴̢̗̫͓̺͈̂̅̊̇̐l̴̲̭̜̬͊͝ ̸̡̠̹͈͈̫̱͙̐͂̐͊̾͂̈̍͘̚n̶̞̜̪̝̫̜̼̦͇͎͈̰͌̅͆͒̏̑͝͠ở̶̘̼̍́͑̒̀͑t̸̢̧͉̹̣̯̬̟̳͝ ̵̼̠̩͊̈́s̸̨͙̦͓̟̟̻͔̬̤̘̤̟̍͛̀̀͑͂̃̓̈́͑͘͠͠ͅţ̸͕̹̻̠̞͖͓̹͉̖̼͌͂͂̏͆̀̀̊̈́̍͘͜͝ͅo̵̢͔͙̪̎͐̈́́̀p̵̻̫̟̃ ̵̮͉̱͔̣̞̓̈́̓̈̐̂̆͋͛̓́̌̀ͅṳ̴̭̟̝̪͎͖̣͓͓̞̞́͋͑̈́̐̎̒s̴̝̮̈́͂̄͌̏͊́͒̄̀̉̈̕͘ ̷̧̨͉̰͉̙̟̲͈͕͉̗̫͋͐̏͘͜n̷̲̗̺̻͌͒̽̇͆̊̅͠͝͝ę̵͈͈̼̺͎͖͈̯̞͓͉͂͐̅̊̿̈́͊̓͛̀ͅx̴͇̹̻̪̎t̷͎̤̖̣̮̾̆̊̂͊̀͊ͅ ̸̹̫̑͜t̶̜̱͕͓͎̯͔̖̱͙̆̉̀ͅi̸̦͇̾̾̽̕m̷̨͚̤̭̭͔̹̯̥̽͗̈́̃̓͐̌̏̔͠͝ë̴̦́͒̓̑́͠ ̵̻͍͚͚̭̯̮̝̅̉͐̒̈̓̇̇͐̇̿͛͠͝͝ͅF̴̧̙̩̹͕̲͈͖͇̖̪̟̏̈́́͋̀̋̂̕͠͝r̶̢̛̳̺͔͎͇̹͚̱à̵̡͍̲̼́͂͗g̷̡̛͈̪͍̟͙̝̬͋̎̊͒͗̀̊ͅm̵̧̭̘̞͕̣͇̟͈̪͎̾̃̀͜e̷͔͓̋͌͑̋͒̍͌̋̋̚͠ṇ̸͍̩̯͔̳̦̯͕̰̙̇t̵͍͕̠͕̘̪̫̖̀̚.̵̢͕̰̪̪͙̯̟̤̗̙̼͚̌̽̕ ̸̡̦̟̳̩̩̯̭̬͍̣̪̪̌W̵̡͔̖̘̩̗̺̤͒̀̋͗̋͂́͋͐̈̅̓͝͠è̷̡̨̹̹̫̜̥́̈́̔̽̋̀̉̅̈́̐͛̀̕ ̷̹̅́̀͠a̴͎͍̫͕̬͎̙͚̽̐̈́̆͌͋̐̉͛͌̉̎̚͝͝ͅͅr̸̨̡̧̢̤̫͕̘̼̖̼̣̬͍̊͌̽̓͛͋̇̅͝ę̶̻̦̱̖̝̫͇͉̠̫̌̄̑͊̎̔ ̶̘̤̺̪̣̞̝̮͝Ę̵̢̢͉̘̪̣͍̗̮͋͜n̵̫̲̂̌̆̋͛̑̚d̸̡̬̪̱̹͎̙̗̙̦̈́͋̾̐̂̊̑͘͜͝͝l̶̛̮̤͒ḙ̷̭̬̈͐͜s̸͓̩̞̞̗̙̻̭̥̠͙͙̀́̒̑̌̐̅̀͐̇̊͠s̸̥͈̫̤̘͙͌̇̊͝ ̵̨̝̳̠̳̝̩̳̤͇̮̫̭̗͕̓̓̀͛̾͝͝͝a̶̳̅́̕͝ṇ̸̻̩̿̂́̀̍d̴̫̣̝͕̀̈́̇̈͊̋̇̈́̏̓́̀ ̸̨̠͕̮͇̪̙̈́́̾͗̃͆̿̈̇̿͝ͅU̸̝̲͉̲̙̲͕͎̼̓͘n̷̺̟̞̻͙̜͈̫̥̹͇̻͇̎̐́́̔̋̀͒̀ͅb̵̢̳̥͙̯̥̯̻̈́̿͗̿͛̌̋̚l̸̡̨̜͓̝͙͎̹͇̞̞̻̬͊͂̔͐̍͒̀̈́͜i̷̡̘̹̬̟̩̘͓̮̫̘̾͘͜n̷̨̡̼̰̣͔̥̝̻̋̓̈̉͒̓̋͛̏̊̀͜k̷͔̤͐͛̑́͘i̸̢̞͇͉̻̘̗̣͍̰̓̓ǹ̶̗̖̯͜ĝ̶̨͚͈̲͈͉̣͋̍̀̈ͅ.̷̻̜̞̯͍͕͓̖̫̞͎̀̔̆̑̈́̍] – Faceless Monster

[Tch! Got away… Hmm? Ah you’re still conscious huh? Color me surprised, figured you’d check out immedia- ahh and there she goes. What the hell am I supposed to tell---] – Love

Fighting against the growing urge to sleep I watched as reality shattered around me and a familiar demon stepped in between me and the monster. I was saved.

Relief filled me but despite that I managed to hold on as Love spoke with the “thing” as if it knew what it was, grabbing it by the throat as he ripped it head away from its body. Unfortunately, like some kind of cosmic horror that was unable to be killed, the head merely laughed before fading away, it’s distorted, mocking laughter nearly ending my already faltering consciousness.

Despite this perseverance however I only lasted a few more seconds before succumbing, Love’s surprised face the last thing I saw.

- Abelis Academy City, Abelis Academy Dorms, 1 Day Later - Rose's POV –

[Ugh… everything hurts…] – Rose

I awoke with a start after what felt like no time at all. Last night, after kicking an overly amorous slime out of my bed I’d fallen asleep in nearly record time. Despite this I felt like both a large amount of time had passed and at the same time, none. Shaking my head to clear out the lingering feeling I found that, other than myself, everyone else was awake.

[Oh? Rose, about time you woke up. Even Shade has been up for nearly an hour. Any later and I’d have sent in Karen to give you a morning kiss.] – Veronica

[I need no sending for such a task! I’m willing and able at all times foul temptress! Heeheeheehee!] – Karen

[Ignore the two horny idiots, both of them are just trying to cover up the fact that they overheard you talking in your sleep and nearly had a heart attack. Something about the cuteness being too much. I-It was adorable though…] – Malaise

[…Rose cute.] – Shade

[Sleep talking? What was I saying?] – Rose

[Oh, something about a little sister. You have a new one on the way, right?!? I’m sure you were so excited that you had a dream about her! I know how you feel about siblings afterall!] - Karen

Despite the seemingly mundane nature of our early-morning talks I felt a unmistakable feeling of dread and foreboding sweep over me. Something about the mere idea of sleep talking seemed… unnerving. Even though such a thing would not have disturbed me any other time the thought of doing so last night made every instinct I had cry out in alarm. Luckily though it seemed as though I hadn’t said much, and the feeling passed quickly in spite of the thought that their reasoning seemed flawed for some unspecified reason.

- Abelis Academy City, Sherwall’s Muse, 2 Hours Later - Rose's POV –

So, I found myself in the same place as the day before, once more shopping for clothes. Although this had been our first stop of many so realistically, we couldn’t spend as long here today. Not that I was concerned that I may have to weather another session of a certain slime nearly drooling over me for several hours. Definitely not.

[Hah… I never thought I’d be here again literally a day after the last time. At least that crazy stalker lady isn’t-] – Rose

[Is that who I think it is?!? My muse has returned? My prayers have been answered by the Gods!] – Sherwall

[Oh god why?!? I thought you were away on business for a few weeks?!?] – Rose

[I was. There I was in a meeting with prominent Elven cargo ships negotiating new prices for silks and other goods and suddenly I was struck with a feeling like I’d somehow missed out on something revolutionary! So without further ado I ran out of that bor-] – Sherwall

Unfortunately for me however, the salesclerk that had told us of the Owner’s absence yesterday had been woefully incorrect as an overly enthusiastic clothier rushed to greet me, only stopping just short of picking me up and twirling me around her. And only then because of the harsh glare that a certain maid/bodyguard sent her way. Argent too was about to step in to “save” me. Although she would’ve been late considering she reacted after Sherwall was already a step away from me. A fact that I’m sure Annabelle would lord over her later as she smirked at the less experienced bodyguard.

[Ah… So “this” is where you were hiding. Did you seriously think you could get away from my lecture after leaving our contacts high and dry in the Twin Cities?!?] – Typical Office Lady?

[Geh! B-But I felt the fabrics calling me! You know how much I hate those boring meetings! P-Plus look who I found!] – Sherwall

[If you think you can distract me with some- Oh hello there Young Miss, I don’t believe we’ve met. And all of you little cuties too.] – Typical Office Lady and Possible Pervert?

Luckily, we were interrupted by another voice before the self-described “artist” could gush over her “muse” any further.

Storming out of one of the side doors like a tornado a tall, breathtaking blonde haired woman with glasses that pulled off the sexy office lady look to a T nearly throttled the eccentric tailor before finally taking notice of our group. The look on her face however was a bit concerning as I noticed a bit of a blush cross her face.

[Ahem! You’re in the presence of Lady Rose de la Amchier. Mind your tongue.] – Annabelle

[My apologies Lady Rose, I had no knowledge that you would be gracing us with your presence otherwise I would have prepared our humble shop for such cute customers.] – Definite Pervert

[Cuties? Ahh! You’re one of “those”. Hey hey, are you one of “those”?] – Veronica

[Ohohohohoho…. W-Whatever do you mean? Anyway, how may our humble store help you today?] – Evasive Pervert

Attempting to change the subject as her eyes swum around in her head I decided to at least through her a bone, afterall despite her likely status as a Loli aficionado/Lolicon she was still the likeliest of options to actually be useful. Sherwall herself would have ended up taking far too long if past experience was any indication.

[We’re actually here for her. Mostly.] – Rose

[Hmm?] – Sherwall and Female Pervert

[N-Nice to meet you I’m U-Urz.] – Urz

[Oh, how rude of me, my name is Verdant Sky. So how may I help you young… miss?] – Verdant Sky

The pointed look the woman in front of us gave to the obvious assets that Urz was sporting told us that she was second-guessing her age estimates for the rest of us too. Or at least wondering what such a well-endowed woman was doing spending time with such young ladies. It wasn’t the first time that someone had questioned themselves when Urz was involved to be honest.

[Verdant Sky? Such a… unique name, maybe we can talk about it in private? OW! I didn’t even do anything!] – Veronica 1 Damn girl, Veronica has the moves! Working every angle for some OL action! Lol

[Quiet you! She’s a Forest Elf. Of course, she has a name like that, it’s the one she’s chosen.] – Malaise

[Chosen? So, it’s a fake name?] – Argent

[Phew. Nothing quite so crass young lady. You see, as Forest Elves, we have 3 names. One which is given to us by our parents, one that is given by our God and the last is one that we chose to represent what we feel defines us the most. Your little friend is right in saying that my name is one I have chosen, it represents my life’s calling at its most fundamental. But we’re getting off track. You came for this cutie correct? What will we be providing for you this visit?] – Verdant Sky

[A bra.] – Our Whole Group