It’s 8:35 am.

  The sunlight goes through the curtains of the windows with some ease, gently hitting her pale face, indicating with it that it's time to wake up. Since it’s Sunday, the alarm didn’t do its job as it never was supposed to do so, allowing the girl to sleep for an extra hour and half. Nothing important can be said about this process and one does not understand why the Hero likes to express what is happening in a rather detailed form. Does he feel lonely? The opposite to this little fiend, he has me whenever he so desires and or feels lonely… Just as she was having breakfast, the voice once again spoke to her, interrupting her meal with it.

  The voice in her head- For how long are you going to take? You can eat faster than this, can’t you?

  The question makes no sense whatsoever, leaving her speechless and unable to come up with an answer for it at the same time. She’s having breakfast, this time around she decided to indulge her sweet desires, eating a bowl of fruits with sugar and cream on top of them. While her breakfast itself is not the usual one she has, the preparation for such was normal. She cut a few fruits into small pieces, put them in a bowl and then added the sugar, mixed everything afterwards. Once that was done, she added on top of the fruits a flavoured cream she bought a few days ago. It’s a normal routine for her and yet, said question came out of nowhere. Or is that the case? She has intentions on going to the guild to accept a quest or if possible, more. Maybe the question is related to such? The voice is eager to see her in action, and the fact that she’s taking her time enjoying the unusual breakfast of hers, it has made it impatient, allowing for such a question to be asked. Though, the girl decides to ignore it, going on with her normal routine at her time, finishing it at around 10 am.

  ……..

  ……

  …

  At the guild.

  Kiana- Good morning Katarina!

  With a smile on her face, the girl greets the receptionist of the guild. One that also seems to be in a great mood, greeting back at the girl in the very instant.

  Katarina- Hello there Miss Kiana! How are you today? You seem energetic, ready to complete more quests?

  “Yes-”

  The voice in her head- There is a B rank quest over there, accept that one. None of the rest are worth our time.

  She stops abruptly as the voice tells her something rather interesting but also something that “conflicts” with her current situation. Next to Katarina there is a simple paper but one what it’s written on it is a quest, said B rank quest that the voice mentioned. It’s an exterminate type of quest, a quest where the adventurer will eliminate a rather large number of enemies. Her golden eyes quickly switch their gaze to the B rank quest and with it, Katarina quickly notices this simple action of hers as she was not discreet at all.

  Katarina- Hmm, this quest got your interest? I understand that you want to do higher rank quests but, unfortunately, I cannot let you accept them as your current rank is nowhere near it. Even if I wanted to, the guild won’t allow me, even though they know you have reached A rank previously. That’s such a shame, you could probably breeze through this one…

  There’s sadness behind her voice, regret behind her words while her face shows lament for what happened. In a sense, it’s her fault for this-

  The voice in her head- Ah! So, this is the one that stripped away all of your hard work like it was nothing. I do wonder, why is she still breathing?

  The despicable thought that just crossed her mind, one that made her eyes widen with horror beyond comprehension.

  “No wait…”

  Katarina- Uhm, Miss Kiana, is there something wrong? You seem a little pale. I mean, more than normal that is. Ah, don’t take this the wrong way, I don’t think there is something wrong with that... Right?

  “I’m sorry, I was lost in thought that’s all…”

  Her voice is quiet and soft but at the same time, she also avoids looking directly at the receptionist almost as if she’s feeling guilty of some sorts. However, this is nothing more than a mere pathetic attempt of shrugging it off into the void what just happened in the depths of her heart. An attempt that failed miserably but that is the opinion of herself as Katarina on the other hand, although a little suspicious, she quickly changes the subject thanks to it. The girl then asks Katarina what quests are available even though the majority of them are within sight. Is this another further attempt of hers to forget what she just thought? As it can be expected, the quests are never changing as her circumstances are the exact same from yesterday. Only gather quests and a single find quest are available to her. Without many options to choose from, the girl takes three gather quests at once, another attempt of trying to forget what went through her pitiful mind. Once they have officially been accepted, she goes to the forest to complete them.

  The walk there was just like always is, even though her sour mood was disturbing the fantastic scenery of the city and its inhabitants. The city is packed with people even though it’s Sunday and past 10 am, although that might be the very reason. The cluster of clouds that a few hours ago were swallowing the sky above the city, they have scattered through the immense sky, allowing it not only to be visible but also giving the sun a perfect opportunity to illuminate the city and all of its glory. Children are playing around in the parks, laughter, shouting and in general children’s noises are consuming the parks and even their surroundings but with them, their parents are also present, either playing with their children or simply talking to other parents while playing a close look at their children. However, parents are not the only present as a few elderly people, seemingly grandparents, are also present creating a scene that should be loved by everyone that witnesses it.

  At least someone that is not as despicable as the girl. Someone like him, my Hero for example, he would love to see something like this.

  Her eyes are stuck on her feet as she ignores everything, as she mindlessly walks towards her goal. However, each street she crosses the scenery changes with it. In one of them, the street is much calmer, everything is less chaotic and quieter. Here, the people are enjoying a nice breakfast as the street is packed with coffee shops and of the liking. Everything surrounding this street is focused in such, the sidewalk is much wider than normally, allowing for the shops to have esplanade and consequently, giving the customers the ability to enjoy their meals outside. Walking past this street and the scenery changes again, this time, she’s crossing a bridge, not the one at the end of the city, but one close to the middle. This bridge however, was what one calls the epitome of human engineering as it’s perfectly made. The supporting beans are made of steel, ones capable of withstanding several tons of weight at once however, cables made of steel increase even further the maximum weight supported while also giving more strength to the structure itself. Two massive “pillars”, towers in correct terms, are present in the beginning of the bridge, the middle and the end while of course, being perfectly symmetrical to the other side. These towers have the steel cables that one mentioned before, going all the way from the top of the tower down towards the “road” of the bridge, being “connected” with it by other steel cables that extend from the main cable. Creating an arch as the steel rope is connected with each tower.

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  However, it’s more correct to say that this area is the middle of the city itself, even though it’s divided in at least two parts, the residential area and the commercial area, they do not have the same dimensions being that the commercial area is twice as big as the residential. The river that caresses the border of the city also separates it from the forest but while doing so, its path is split up, “walking” up towards the residential area only to then be captivated by the ocean charms, splitting yet again. But the bridge that the residents need to cross to effectively leave the city is on a less scale than this bridge and much smaller than the one at the residential area. From where she is, by simply turning her eyes towards her right she will be able to gaze at the ocean, an ocean that consumes the entirety of the horizon as this area is slightly elevated. A beautiful sight to be seen, a sight that will calm the heart down but, that only happens to those that are not as despicable as the girl.

  ……..

  ……

  …

  Forty-five minutes go by and the girl has arrived at the forest.

  She will need to collect a total of 30 Cecelia’s, 15 Lavender and 20 Calendula. Not a small amount but the quests she accepted are for three different stores and that’s why she needs to collect so many. Her mind is still elsewhere as she casually forages the forest however, as she was doing so, a few uninvited guests decide to appear.

  Boing! Boing! Boing!

  Nothing that the girl cannot deal with, just a couple of slimes that roam towards her as they look for food. Since the girl has the tendency to hide her magic energy, these poor slimes are oblivious to the monster that is right in front of them, making them commit this awful error, one that will end their lives.

  The voice in her head- It’s only mere slimes however, burn them to ashes and everything on your path! Do not let a single one live, let alone escape from your grasp.

  “Argh! What are you on about? They are mere slimes, there is no need for that…”

  The girl screams in pain as her heart speaks to her once again, followed by a mad rumbling afterwards as her mind tries to understand the violence behind her thoughts. It seems the girl's headache is still present as in this moment, it got so intense that she unconsciously and involuntarily brought her right hand towards it, in an attempt of holding it and its massive weight that gained in a span of brief moments, something that happened after she first shouted in frustration. But, while she’s doing so, the oblivious slimes bounce towards her, in an attempt to consume her. After all, to them she is something akin to the best food they can and will ever get in their entire short lives, completely unaware of the poison they would consume instead. Thanks to her current low magic energy output, they are fatally mistaking her as prey and not as the hunter that can destroy their home in a blink of an eye, the entire forest in fact.

  The voice in her head- What’s the problem in that? You have to show the forest and its inhabitants just how strong you are. How great your powers truly are. Don’t you think?

  “And why would I want to do that?”

  The voice in her head- Why are you asking that? It’s so that no one is foolish enough to defy you when you take over this forest of course. How can they cower in fear and despair if they are ignorant of your strength? After all, you cannot conquer a land without first destroying it and for you to do so, you need power. Something that you have, correct?

  “What are you even saying…I won’t nor I want to do such a thing!”

  Yet again the girl screams but this time towards the approaching slimes. Her furry is not aimed at them but at herself as her mind wavers to territories that she does not want it to be on. But of course, none of the slimes answered her nor the one that she was shouting towards. In fact, silence somehow consumes the area around her, a mere and brief serenity but one that somehow allowed for the headache she was having to be gone in that moment, almost as if said headache the moment it was gone it took with it everything, the sound included. Her golden eyes are wide open filled with confusion; her mouth follows the same movement but not to the same extreme, unable to comprehend what is happening. But while she stands still, carefully watching the slimes as they get closer and closer to her, once they get close enough, she comes back to this precise moment, quickly defeating the five slimes that were far too unfortunate, unlucky and ignorant to mistake her as potential prey. She’s now all by herself and in this moment, the silence is gone as a gentle breeze makes the tree leaves dance around, causing a characteristic sound with it. The sound of rustling leaves.

  However, as the slimes are gone, so it’s the voice, leaving the girl all alone in the middle of the forest.

  She then proceeds to pick up the remaining herbs she was tasked for, taking roughly 45 minutes to do so. She took this long not because it was hard to find them as these types of plants are common in this area of the forest. Indeed, her mind was yet again elsewhere, thinking about the conversation she had with herself, with her ugly heart. Once that was done, she left the forest, mindlessly walking towards the guild so that she could deliver the plants, completing the quest with it. The trip to the guild took even longer than the trip to the forest, all thanks to her absent mind, taking her an hour instead. Once at the guild, she directs all of her attention towards Katarina so that she can get this over with quickly. With a normal tone of voice and with a normal look on her face, the girl tries her hardest to not show a single hint of her discomfort and sour mood towards Katarina or anyone that sees her. Doing her best to hide whatever is on her mind, whatever is bothering her and concerning her. It’s understandable that she would feel in such a way as having those types of despicable thoughts is not normal at all but, for someone as cruel as her, it’s expected for that to happen. She’s trying to deny who she is, causing an internal conflict as the fa?ade she always has, is fighting head on against her heart. She gives Katarina what she has gathered, completing the quests with it and of course, claiming the rewards from such.

  It’s 12:34 pm.

  The girl goes home and prepares lunch once there. While her culinary skills are for the good side, her mind is still not where it should be, still thinking about what happened, thinking about those thoughts she had and who might have been speaking to her. Said voice is quiet now and as much as she tries to get a response from it, all of her efforts are futile and worthless, as she gets no response whatsoever.

  Maybe, I’m hearing things. Maybe I imagined it?

  A logical conclusion and an appropriate way of understanding the situation at hand. Thanks to the previous headache she had, one that disappeared in an instant, it can further help out explain the incompressible phenomenon into nothing more than a symptom from said headache. However, reality couldn’t be much different and the truth the same way. It’s her heart speaking out loud, allowing for said thoughts to be comprehended and heard by her mind. But thanks to the fa?ade she created, one that has fooled everyone who she meets, including my Hero, she also has fooled herself in the process. Ah, a fa?ade that is a consequence from her running away from her past, the cruelty of her personality and the atrocities she committed. She knows well what she has done but decided to forget them instead of facing them head on and repel for her sins. Years went by and the fa?ade was fully assimilated, making her ignorant to what’s happening, where the voice is from and of course, making her unable to see the correlation from her past sins to what it’s currently happening to her.

  Indeed, the consequences of her actions are slowly catching up to her.

  One does wonder though, how will my Hero feel once he sees the girl in her real form? Will he still feel the illogical need to save her?

  Hmm, it still is too soon

  Don’t worry, I will force her to see and accept what she did

  And I will make her mine in the process

  ……..

  ……

  …