-Callen-

  I can’t say the chief's house was anything special, but it was interesting finding the chief's copy of the training regime that shaped such a strange village. Mainly the idea revolved around someone’s attempt to document what kind of exercises were required to naturally acquire more stats. The weight limit for each stat point of strength with alterations to account for differences in body. The general idea was to optimize the strength gain from natural growth before unlocking stats, and the imbalance from the pursuit of strength manifested as a trait upon full maturation. the trait was listed on a small note next to the notebook.

  Spiritual/Mental Imbalance effect :

  Minor loss of complex thought/emotion

  Moderate boost to Strength Efficiency

  Minor loss of Mana and Will Efficiency

  It was hard for me to wrap my head around willingly pursuing that trait, but then again anything mentioning "moderate" in the status is usually far more potent than expected. Though I suspect that the children follow the example of the adults who live for strength gains, so it's become a part of their culture. The people seemed happy enough, so I wasn’t going to make it my issue to fix. Still, the document contained useful training routines that might be useful if balanced with routines for other stats. Therefore, I made a copy for later reference.

  After the fight Lexia disappeared, as is usual for her, while we took breaks in town. Though this time we weren’t staying long. As the day began, we set out from the gates to the enthusiastic cheers of the village. Soon the familiar terrain of forest paths and massive looming trees greeted us.

  A long, quiet trip greeted our journey as we continued to move through the dimly lit days and shelter through the dark nights. Three days in, and it was clear that the road for this leg of the journey was longer than any we had dealt with previously. Lexia was also getting irritated again. The wildlife was also proportionally aggressive. On more than one occasion I summoned the bunker to protect the weaker members of our group while we fought off all kinds of wolves and even a tiger. One of the guards also passed away when a thorn from a porcupine shot through his neck and exploded. For the night, we also had to go through a shift of Lexia, Callia, and me because the guards couldn’t handle night predators.

  A day out from the City of Meccas, in the night, pain jolted me up from my sleep. Agony rippled out from my arm as I looked up and couldn’t understand what had happened. I clutched the stump from which my arm had been ripped, and in front of me was Lexia. With bloodshot eyes she stared at the arm like it was some kind of delicacy. Callia, feeling my terror, dropped down from the night watch, and together we saw Lexia sink her teeth in and take a bite from my arm.

  Callia immediately opened fire while I struggled to understand. Numbly I healed my stump, backing away while Lexia and Callia fought bitterly in the dark. The close quarters immediately set Callia at a disadvantage as Lexia's claws force Callia to flicker around desperately evading. Just as Lexia knocked Callia down, I finally snapped back from my shock. A hastily formed runic lightning bolt blasted at Lexia, but she was already jumping back. Seeing me and Callia up and ready to fight, she jumped to the side, grabbing Freema. We tried to stop her but couldn’t without risking Freema as she ran off into the night with Freema and my arm.

  I stumbled over to Callia, who grabbed me and helped keep me upright. My mind was spinning. What had just happened? I try to focus on the here and now as I heal the scratches Callia had.

  “Lia, what the heck just happened?” I clutched my stump and looked off futilely towards the trail of blood my severed arm left behind. All I could feel from my bond with Callia was frustration and anger.

  “Something was messing with her head when she was around you. Her emotions would occasionally go erratic, but I didn’t think something like this would happen. Should I try to get your arm back?” I really wanted to say yes, but that would mean leaving Sis to chase down that monster solo. The fight earlier had already been too close, and I didn’t dare say yes. It was a struggle, but I could barely bring myself to accept the loss of the arm. However, staying in these woods with a psycho Lexia in the dark wasn’t an option.

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  “We can’t stay out here with her. Everyone pack up; we are pushing the last leg of the journey to Meccas now.” With that, I focused my vision to activate my mana sight and stored the shelter. As a group we rushed through the night. Callia is taking point, pelting any animal in our way with prejudice. We saw no signs of Lexia as we finally arrived at the gates of Meccas panting, exhausted but relieved to be out of the woods.

  Looking back into the dark of the forest, I can't help but feel a deep concern for Freema. I didn't want to leave her out there with Lexia alone, but abandoning the guards in pursuit would be a death sentence for them as well. I resolved myself; we'll settle the others in the city, and then Callia and I will do everything we can to find Freema. With luck it won't be too late, but in the pit of my gut something felt dangerously wrong.

  -Lexia-

  I ran out in the dark of the night as rationality finally returned to me. The close proximity travelling through the woods day after day, I thought I finally had myself under control, but something must’ve snapped. The bolt of energy that blocked me from finishing off Callia woke me up. With Callen’s arm in my mouth, I immediately knew that any connection I shared with the twins was as good as dead.

  With no other option, I grabbed Freema and fled. Consciously I wanted to drop his arm and return it. But my jaw refused. Something about him was irresistible, and I refused to let it go. Thoughts that I thought I had suppressed mixed with memories of staring at him all through the night that I was only now recalling trickled back. Freema seemed confused, but her trust in me superseded her resistance. After putting some distance between me and the camp, I finally settled down.

  I set Freema down and tried to remove the arm from my mouth, but couldn’t. I needed it. On impulse I bit down, and an indescribable flavor poured into me. I could feel something nestled in my heart take control as I was irreparably changed. All these sensations poured through me while I noticed Freema finally beginning to realize something was wrong with me.

  “Freema,” My voice was deeper and cracked in an unnatural manner. “You will not leave. Follow me, and I promise you will accomplish everything.” The offer was the one I always made, but for some reason it didn’t feel like it was me saying it. The girl still looked hesitant between the arm and my blood-stained face. She wanted to leave. I could smell it, but her fear and ambition bound her.

  “Callen held something special I required, but I do not need your flesh. Follow me, or you will suffer regret and failure. The twins can’t save your people.” My accent twisted even further as the unnatural sounds coming from my mouth spoke words about Freema’s purpose, which I had never learned about prior. Finally the thought that something else was within me drifted up from the haze overtaking me.

  In my head a voice whispered. “Worry not, sweet vessel. Who we were does not matter, and so long as you remain among us, we shall be known as Lilia.” My vision faded away as my body resumed its meal. Fear, confusion, and existential dread are my only companions as darkness surrounds my soul. Only a strand of light is left as information passes through my mind.

  “How?” I called out towards the light, but no answer came. Against the darkness, my consciousness became hazy. My body was de-aging rapidly as my spirit reverted to a younger self. Soon it wasn’t Lexia the predator standing in the dark but Lexia the girl abandoned in the dark forest. Alone and scared, she cried in the dark.

  Duke Harlanou

  The brute that he raised was an utter failure. This thing was beyond recovery and an insult to the name of his purpose. While the abomination had strength, it was unqualified as an heir by every other measure. Again the Duke regretted sending Lexia away. Had he known there would be another Hive Worm outbreak, he never would’ve risked her seeking companionship.

  The whole idea had been a spur-of-the-moment decision when he heard from his own companion about the potential of some girl in Port Town. In general he looked down on the efforts of his father, but the success of his own companion had made him overlook the wasteful risks the whole process involved. Now that it was certain the next best candidate was completely worthless, he would have to hire a number of prostitutes to have another batch of children to start the whole project from scratch.

  Still, he had many years, and a small setback wouldn’t be enough to give up on his ambition. This whole civilization that sought to protect children was worthless and needed to be toppled. Eventually it will, but whether by his plan or by being overrun by monsters that regularly wiped out multiple towns is the more important issue. As he sat back into his chair, a letter appeared on his desk. An emergency letter. However, the moment he opened it, he froze. His agents sent to find Lexia confirmed his daughter returning from Port Town with a full party in tow, but most importantly, at least one companion outstanding enough to function as her companion! He broke into deep laughter as his ambition resurged.