It was just a dream, Raer thought to himself.
He recalled the feeling of it, the feeling of...pain. He didn't like it, didn't like remembering it even.
He recalled the moments where he truly believed death was a better option than staying alive. He felt a slight shiver and used his hand to reach for his neck, wanting to rub it out of habit.
But then he realized two things, 1 he was now an animal with claws for hands and two, he couldn't move his hands for some odd reason.
" Hey, you're awake" A familiar voice said, causing Raer to turn to face it.
It was the voice of the boy he had been taking care of for the past few hours. Surprisingly, he looked very well compared how he last saw him.
" My saliva must have magic properties in it " Raer screeched at the boy, followed by a hectic half broken cackle that one could only presume was a laugh from him.
" Your Saliva?" The boy asked confused, he seemed to remember a particular feel on his skin and a certain stench that permeated off his body.
" Yeah, I licked you all over while you were out " Raer screeched in response but then he paused....was he in another dream?
Suddenly he got a slight shiver in his body, his bones seemed to scream at him that a scene like earlier was about to repeat.
Maybe he wasn't out of it yet, maybe he just got transferred to another one. He looked at the boy, scanning his features...they looked so...real.
" Ah, that explains the smell...something wrong?" Luthren asked as he stared at the creature before him.
It looked frozen, stiffen in fear. It stared at him with eyes that glistened with unsureity, Luthren wondered the cause of it but then had a good look at his situation.
Here he was, talking with an animal that screeches. Having a civilized conversation, of course the animal in question would be surprised especially since it was just born.
" Right, no need to be afraid you little beast. I believe only I can understand and it is perfectly normal. " Luthren said in an attempt to calm the beast down but also with a sense of pride.
" Are you real?" Raer screeched at him, still convinced this was another dream.
" Well real enough for now, we're about to get eaten " Luthren said, turning his head to look at the roof.
Raer followed it and also looked up, at first it looked like a normal roof. Until the movements began, slight shakes that broke the illusion of a straight surface.
You could make out the outlines of bodies in there, some slightly placed out of order to bring a crack in the perfect symmetry that should have been.
" Oh shit " Raer screeched in a low volume, he looked down quickly and realized he was trapped in some sort of glue like substance.
He struggled to move his body, the glue substance had made him completely immobile.
" I have a question for you " Luthren said suddenly, his voice low and calm.
Some part of Raer believed that it sounded dead, like a man whose lost his soul and only moves with a single damned purpose.
" Ask Away " Raer screeched.
" I had a dream...a dream that sees in years. Do I disgust you?" He said.
" No, I have no reason too " Raer replied.
" I have a wish, a wish to see them all pay " Luthren said, his empty gaze turning to face Raer.
Raer looked at him with great curiosity, intrigued by the way he looked. Intrigued by the cause that might have brought such a look.
" I want to die...I want it to all end " Luthren continued, he stared without blinking. Those eyes looking so tired and lost.
What was the point of this? What was the reason to suddenly ask such a question? Raer stared back, he remembered his death. The feel of the bullet entering his skull, it was brief but it feels like eternity.
" I'm tired, but I do not wish to rest till I have shown them...but I want to rest " Luthren spoke once more, his eyes slowly moving to the ground. Staring into nothingness or perhaps the maze of thought in his mind.
Raer did not follow his look, rather he chose to stay silent. Bringing his own head to look at the 'ceiling '.
" It hurts, the pain within me. I can't see a future where I die happy in peace" Luthren continued, he closed his eyes and remained still.
" So what do you want ?" Raer asked finally, this situation felt so weird. Why the sudden change in...everything.
Here he was, on the brink of dying in his new life but rather than trying to find a way to escape. He was...distracted by a boy who had accepted his death.
" When I summoned you...I wanted to have the power to prove to the others in my family that they were wrong about me. I wanted to kill them all, damn them to an eternity of pain " he said, releasing a laugh in a self deprecating smile.
" After they kicked me out, it all felt....worthless. I have soiled my family name, been blacklisted by its members and most likely will be hunted down by the inquisitorial faction " He continued.
" Even if i do somehow escape our current predicament, what next? What use is even getting revenge anymore when there's nothing after " He said once more, voice slowly morphing as his tone began shaking.
" I still love my family, loyal to them. I can't bring myself to devote my life to destroying them all " This time, breaks of tears and snot began to appear.
" What am I to do now if not succumb to the fate given to me, only ever hoping it is a quick death. I have nothing left....nothing " Luthren finally said it, the words that had bothered him for days.
The realisation of his situation and the utter hopelessness of his hands. He was weak, physically and in his manipulation of Vice.
Tried to learn swordmanship in hopes it would help but he hadn't had enough time, it took years and talent...none of which he had enough.
He never really thought it through, the summoning of the creature....the beast. Even now, he knew not what to do with it.
It wasn't slaved to him, that much he confirmed while they were tied up. The spell had failed, only allowing them to be able to communicate.
He lost his standing, reputation, family, gold, servants...he's lost it all and he wasn't so foolish as too damn his family in the name of revenge. All he wanted...all he ever sought was recognition.
" You have something left " Raer said, his eyes drifting to stare at the face of the boy.
" What ?" Luthren said in a dead voice.
" Duty...you have your duty " Raer said you him.
Luthren turned suddenly and looked at the beast. Duty to his family?, after all they had done to him.
" I have no duty to them, that much I am certain of " He replied with anger, recalling the faces of his siblings as they betrayed him.
" Duty to me " Raer corrected.
The words caused Luthren to pause and stare, his eyes seemingly lost in thought as he did not reply.
" Or will you abandon me as they did you....Human" Raer continued, his tongue slithered in his opened jaws.
" You've summoned me but lost your purpose, so make it me. I recognise you Luthren " Raer began, his screeches sounded oddly comforting to the ears of Luthren.
The meaning behind them only strengthened the impact it had on his mind.
" Help me survive as I shall help you grow stronger, I recognize your efforts because I am a product of that. I shall be your friend, partner and family "
" I shall be the path you will follow, the who will look after you in the times of madness. What say you Luthren. "
Ironic....I sought to have the beast devote itself to me yet here I was....given the choice to do the opposite.
I wonder what they will say when they hear that I Luthren the Second of house Marner has pledge himself to a beast only he understands.
I have nothing else to do anyways and it sure feel nice to hear those words even if not from the person I expected.
" I humbly accept "