KAISELLIN
My mornings were pretty much a mundane cycle after that…or not. Here, there weren't things like day and night—only the boundless expanse of a starless sky and the golden aurora shining through like veins. Or at least that was how I remember it a few days ago.
Servants no longer show themselves before me. Instead they leave food and clothes at the door, then knock a few times before their presence disappears completely.
I did not mind.
It was better that way.
But perhaps the biggest change I had to adapt to wasn't waking up to a sudden shift in environment. It was the fact that I had to live like I was blind since that incident—and navigate through everything without relying on my vision. To be more specific, I had been wearing an eye mask ever since. No one was bothering to explain to me what was going on at the slightest. Not what this place is, nor why I'm even here.
And I understood.
So at the very least, here are what I've learned so far:
One is that this strange place is a divine realm ruled by an absolute being among deities that they call a Sovereign. They address 'Her' so reverently as the Mother of Death. This could also mean that the servant wasn't likely human.
Two, is that this Sovereign claim to be my mother, and that this was my new home. But strangely enough, I had not even had as much as a glimpse of this so-called 'mother' throughout my entire stay here—almost as if 'She' had a wall so highly built around 'Her' that I must never dare to cross.
Three, is that I am currently in the Sovereign's divine palace they call the Obsidian Spire. Quite straightforward, because everything else here that isn't coated in gold was obsidian.
You might think that it's too little information to be gathered in a span of a week, but well...there was only so much I could do inside a room but to wait like a sitting duck with only my mind to venture.
I found out I was quite good at sitting still obediently, too.
With a new routine so mundane, often do I find myself spending time at the veranda with nothing else to do, just like now.
I used my hands as support as I climbed over the railings, slowly inching at the very edge. I leaned down, savoring the feeling of cool air caressing my skin.
The view from below was inviting. It makes me want to reach out to it more.
I leaned closer still. Closer. What was stopping me anyway?
This wasn't so bad.
This wasn't—
'Oh, are you quite sure about that?'
What?
I retracted my hand with a flinch. What was that? Why am I...
'Why are you surprised?'
I lightly brushed my nails against the railing. The sound friction helped me sense my surroundings better as I dulled every other sense to focus on my hearing. After a while, I tilted my head nervously.
It had been days since I last heard a voice. And just as I hoped they wouldn't return, here was another whispering back to me. But I don't recall it being this clear. Audible. And most of all, its voice mimicking mine. And it made me tense.
'Think you have what it takes to jump?'
Oh, what if I do?
'Want me to help, then?'
I flinched. I heard a light snicker. A sudden surge of headache plagued me, making me stumble.
My back crashed into the railing and I lost balance. I tried to grab onto something in haste but missed, because I couldn't see a thing. I inhaled sharply, feeling my heart drop. Wait a damn minute!
Good heavens. Why in the world did my instincts first relied on sight?
No.
I'm falling—!
'You just said you could do it. Coward.'
I gritted my teeth.
'You're afraid, aren't you?'
'That servant's end is eating you away more than you care to admit.'
'Are you afraid of her, or are you afraid of yourself?'
The more I listened, the more talkative it got.
'Frankly, it doesn't hurt to be honest.'
Please, what now?
'But unlike you...'
'...I have no plans on running away.'
The ravings grew more intense than ever, then suddenly subsided like a lie.
"—an't believe the Sovereign actually agreed to that." A foreign voice suddenly resounded as my mind grew quiet still.
Huh?
"Huh?"
For some strange reason, I wasn't falling anymore. In fact, my feet were planted firmly on the ground, and I suddenly found myself surrounded by several people...or perhaps entities.
To me, they looked like shaky outlines of humanoid figures with flickering gold mist swirling around their chest. It must be divinity.
But that was not the point.
What sorry joke is this?
I swear I was on the veranda just now. I couldn't have been dreaming. I definitely misstepped and fell. It was a sensation too real to be dismissed as a dream, and I had never once dreamt ever since waking up here.
"Did he just say 'huh'? Was he so surprised at himself after all that?" A female voice interjected my chaotic line of thoughts.
"I doubt so...he was too confident. Bold enough to request an audience and strike a bargain with the Sovereign." A male voice replied, this time carrying a colder and more monotone air.
"..."
...
...I did what?
Heavens, I don't even know what to say, just know I am beyond speechless.
"I doubt he even understands what heirship means to deities, but well...with the Sovereign very much willing to humor him, then why not?" One of them chuckled before turning away.
Who in the world are these people, even? I subconsciously took a few steps back and maintained considerable distance. One of them kneeled to my eye level and spoke.
"As per the orders of the Sovereign, you are therefore left in our care." They placed a hand in their chest and bowed slightly.
"I look forward to more pleasant surprises, Your Divine Highness." The rest followed the voice's cue and bowed in unison. I swallowed a hiccup and forced myself to remain still, trying to appear unperturbed.
And slowly, they started dispersing as their voices blurred in the background. Until only one presence remained. I hid my curiosity as I turned to them, wondering what else they were here for.
...on second thought, perhaps they'd be kind enough to return me to my quarters...? I don't even know where I am. I can't recall how many times I've said 'I don't know' this whole while, but it's definitely been a lot.
I'm not even questioning why I got here in the first place, so let's just accept it as it is. The mind is a wondrous thing, after all. A tad too wondrous it takes me to foreign places without my knowledge.
They tilted their head as if subtly inspecting me. Their hand reached out, slowly, as if to pat my head. I took a few more steps back to avoid it.
I mustn't let my cluelessness show.
'Compose yourself. Steady your breath.'
It's okay.
It'll be okay.
"...Strange. Your demeanor's changed. You were certainly..." He trailed off as if deeply contemplating. He shook his head slightly in dismissal.
"Anyhow, it's an honor to serve you from now on, Your Divine Highness, the sovereign's firstborn. I am the Saint of Souls, Vontravis. As you might've known, I am one of the Sovereign's direct retainers."
"In human terms, I've been appointed as your personal butler. I will attend to all your needs from this day forth."
"..." On second thought, let's organize things first.
First, I was at the veranda. I quite recall that my current quarters were at the farthest end of this Spire like some kind of contained virus.
Next, I found myself in what seems to be the Sovereign's throne room at the very heart of this abysmal Spire, spouting whatever nonsense to brand myself a lunatic who dared to provoke a god. Lastly, I found myself surrounded by seven unknown figures who've shown me considerable interest, one of which claims to be my personal servant henceforth.
I recalled the clear voice I've heard before this and made a vague connection.
Then, realizing I'd been silent for too long, I slowly responded.
"Please do not address me by that title." It's sickening. It's foreign. And it reminds me of that servant.
"Then what do you prefer me to address you as?"
It took me another moment to reply, stopping myself from fidgeting. This is driving me crazy. Everything feels so disjointing that I couldn't afford to relax.
It'll be okay.
"...Anything else would do."
"I understand." I could feel his stiffness melting and his voice seemed more cheerful than ever.
"Oh, and one more thing..."
"Please bring me writing tools." If my hypothesis was correct, then I needed to test something.
"Certainly. Oh, and I implore you, drop the please. Gods do not beg, little one."
I turned back without ado.
"Guide me to my quarters, then."
'I should've jumped faster when I had the chance...'