The hallway was freezing, and my hand was making it worse.
Grey sparks kept jumping off my knuckles like static from a bad carpet.
It didn't even hurt anymore; it just felt like my battery was at 1%.
"Stop twitching," Alisa said.
She was still dragging me by the hand. Her grip was like a vice, cold and steady.
"My DNA is literally unraveling, Alisa. Give me a break," I muttered.
She stopped and looked at me.
She did that thing where she tilts her head like a curious cat. "You look like you're about to faint. It's pathetic."
"Glad my slow death is a vibe for you," I said, leaning against the wall.
"Death is boring," she said, stepping closer until I could see the faint red ring in her eyes. "But watching you struggle? That's cute."
I didn't have a comeback for that. We reached the Duke's room. No guards, no ceremony. Just a heavy door and a lot of bad energy.
Inside, the Duke looked like he'd aged ten years since breakfast. He was staring at a piece of paper that was glowing a gross, neon gold.
"Look at this trash," the Duke growled, shoving the paper toward me.
I squinted at it. The words were literally vibrating.
'To the Duke. We found a Hero. He has the Sun-Blade. He's coming to "save" your daughter. Get out of the way or get stepped on.'
"A Hero," I said, my heart sinking.
"Great. Just what we needed. A guy with a magic sword and a main-character complex."
The Duke looked at me, his eyes sharp. "You're a peasant, but you talk like you've seen the world end. What's the catch with this kid?"
"They're annoying," I said. I wasn't even trying to be formal anymore.
"They don't listen to reason. They think they're the 'good guys,' which means anyone they don't like is a monster.
He'll come here expecting a fight, and he won't stop until he breaks something."
I looked at the Duke. "Specifically, you."
Alisa let out a sharp, creepy little laugh.
She leaned her head on my shoulder, her hair tickling my neck. "He wants to 'save' me, Leo, Isn't that funny? He wants to take me away from my favorite toy aww so sad."
"He's not saving anyone,Ali sa~" I snapped.
"He's going to lock you up and call it a 'miracle.' He'll treat you like a curse that needs to be broken. Is that sounds fun?"
Duke finally spoke
"I am not letting some church-puppet touch my daughter," the Duke hissed.
The shadows in the corners of the room seemed to crawl toward him. "Kael! Get the scouts out. I want to know the second that brat breathes Northern air."
Then, he turned that icy, soul-crushing stare back onto me.
"You," he said, his voice like grinding gravestones. "You will stay by her side. Every second. Every breath."
He leaned forward, the aura in the room becoming so dense I felt like I was underwater.
"If you fail... if a single hair on her head is harmed by this 'Hero,' don't bother begging," he whispered. "You'll be dead before you hit the floor. Do I make myself clear, boy?"
"Crystal," I choked out.
"Get out."
We backed out of the room. The second the doors thudded shut, the pressure vanished, and my knees finally gave way. Grey sparks hissed off my knuckles, more violent than before.
Alisa caught my arm, her eyes dark.
"You're so fragile, Leo. But it's fine. If the Hero tries to take me, I'll just hide you behind me. He won't even see you."
"I'm the guard, remember?" I croaked, trying to stand straight.
"Sure you are," she smirked, her nose brushing mine. She didn't let go.
"You're a mess, you're cursed, and you're a village idiot... but you're the only one I want to look at."
"Oh, really?" I said with disbelieve "As long as you don't sound so creepy, is fine by me."
We walked ten paces. She stopped.
"Leo, my feet are killing me. Carry me." she said
"We've walked twenty feet, Alisa. You're just lazy."
"How dare you! I am a Lady. Pick me up or I'll tell Father you stole a grape from the kitchen."
"Not the grape. I'm shaking," I teased, holding up my sparking hand. "You want to get zapped by a peasant? It's dangerous."
She giggled, her finger hovering near the sparks. "It's cute. Like an angry lightning bug. Now, stop being difficult. I want to go to the pantry."
"The pantry? A Hero is coming to kill us and you're thinking about snacks?"
"Aww... but I want cake, Leo! The strawberry one with the fluffy cream~~"
"No."
"Leo..." She gave me the look. The lip quiver.
"Don't. It doesn't work," I said, looking away. "Okay, it works a bit. But no. We have a golden letter saying we're dead meat, remember?"
"Father can wait a little. The cake won't. It'll get lonely. Don't you feel bad for the cake?"
"I feel bad for me! I have to explain to the maids why we're raiding the ice-box at midnight." I replied
"You're my shadow," she corrected, her hand resting over my heart. "Now, march! If I don't get sugar, I might 'accidentally' set a tapestry on fire. My mood is getting... sparkly."
"You're a menace. A tiny, pink-haired terror."
"HEY!.... just move,Now, move! I want the big slice!"
I sighed and crouched down. She hopped on my back instantly.
"Fine.fine, But if we get caught, it was your idea. Anb i-"
"You wouldn't dare! That's treason!" she shrieked into my ear, kicking her legs.
"Watch me, Princess," I muttered, hoisting her up.
Despite her small frame, carrying her while my mana was short-circuiting felt like lifting a lead weight. Every step sent a jolt of grey static through my spine.
"You're heavier than you look," I wheezed. "Is it the ego? It's definitely the ego."
"It's the weight of my royal responsibilities," she whispered into my ear, her breath tickling.
"And if you drop me, I'll add 'attempted assassination' to your list of crimes. So, hold on tight, Leo."
I stopped walking. The hallway was dark, illuminated only by the faint flickering of my cursed hand.
"Oh... really? If I'm that much of a criminal, maybe I should just leave for good. If you don't want me here that badly, I'll just pack my bags and head back to the village."
I felt her entire body go rigid. Her arms wrapped around my neck in a frantic vice grip, her face burying into my shoulder.
"No!" she panicked, her voice cracking.
"No, no, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, alright? I was just joking! Don't leave. Please."
My heart gave a stupid little ache.
Right. I almost forgot—this "Calamity" spent her whole life isolated, feared, or hated.
The idea of being alone again was her greatest nightmare. I felt a bit bad, but... she was so easy to tease.
"Hey, hey, stop that," I choked out, tapping her arm. "My neck... you're literally killing me."
"I won't let go! I won't until you forgive me!" she said
"Fine, I forgive you," I lied, though in my head, I was grinning.
I decided to push it a bit further.
"But it really hurt, you know? Being treated like a dog. I thought we were friends, Alisa. I thought maybe I was special, but you just see me as a 'toy' or a 'pet.' It's exhausting."
"I don't—I mean, I didn't mean it like that!" She sounded like she was on the verge of tears, her grip tightening until I could barely swallow. "I just... I don't know how to... I've never had a friend before! alright?!"
"And then the 'crimes' list," I continued, sounding as wounded as a soap opera actor. "I risk my life for you, and you threaten me with the gallows? Maybe I'm just not cut out for this. Maybe I should just go find a nice farm and forget I ever met a scary princess."
"Leo, stop! Please, listen to me!"
I realized I might have gone too far.
The air in the hallway suddenly turned heavy—colder than the Duke's office. I felt a hum of dark mana vibrating from her skin.
"I'll be better! I'll give you all the cake! I'll—I'll let you be the boss!" Her voice began to distort. It wasn't just one Alisa anymore.
It sounded like five different versions of her were speaking at once, overlapping in a haunting.
"Please don't go," one voice whispered.
"I'm sorry, don't leave," another sobbed.
"Don't abandon me stupid," a third one begged.
The shadows on the walls began to writhe and stretch.
I felt her power—the unawakened Calamity—leaking out of her heart, fueled by the sheer terror of losing the one person who didn't look at her like a monster.
"Whoa, Alisa, wait! I was kidding!" I shouted, trying to turn around in her grip. "I'm not leaving! I was just teasing you, I swear!"
But the dark mana was already swirling, a vortex of black ink and desperation.
My "Entropic" hand flared in response, the two powers clashing and creating a vacuum of energy that blew out the nearby torches.
In the sudden pitch black, a new light appeared.
At the end of the hall, a blinding, golden sun began to rise. A man in silver armor stood there, his cape flowing in an artificial wind.
He drew a sword that looked like it was forged from pure starlight.
"Release the boy, monster," the Hero commanded, his voice booming with divine authority.
I looked at the Hero, then at the crying, shadow-wrapped girl on my back.
Well, I thought, my heart sinking into my boots. Now we're really in trouble.