In the end, Tama won that argument. It was, in my opinion, the most ridiculous fight I had ever had with someone and I had still lost. I glared over at the Nekojin, irritation clear on my face.

  Tama ignored me and continued trying to impress Rylan by bringing him random items she found. I knew she saw me, She probably had some kind of magic vision with the insanity that she had shown so far.

  In the end, Tama finally gave up trying to impress Rylan, who had just started grunting at her whenever she came back with something. Although, a living mimic was impressive, especially since it hadn’t even realized it had been taken until Tama appeared in front of Rylan. Causing it, and everyone else in the party to panic.

  Tama watched in puzzlement as from her perspective, we attacked a wooden chest while it opened and closed itself repeatedly. In the end, Rylan made a fist of metal with fire veins around his whole arm and smashed the mimic into pieces.

  After that, Tama was no longer allowed to bring stuff back to the party without permission. She whined nonstop about how boring travel with us was until Tera picked her up and started rubbing her head and playing with her ears.

  She went silent and stayed silent at that point. And for the remainder of the day, it was oddly peaceful. True, we were attacked a few times by different lesser monsters. A large slug thing tried to eat me, only to spit me out a moment later as it disintegrated.

  Tera and Rylan looked uneasy at me after that, But Tama didn’t seem to mind and just stayed attached to Tera. I was actually grateful, I couldn’t imagine a full trip of her antics.

  There were also a few wolves, Tama actually looked at them, and went to climb down but Tera held her and said “Let Saki and Rylan handle this. They need the practice my emp…” She cut herself off at the last part, but I knew what she was about to say. , She didn’t seem to be saying it willingly, it was almost like she was being forced to do it. Like it was a compulsion…

  I froze as horror crossed my features. The memory from the guild played again, but this time, a very specific part rose above the others.

  My eyes widened even further as the memory replayed. I stopped walking and a sense of dread filled me. Praying to Earth that I was wrong I turned to Tama. “Hey Tama, do you remember the whole thing in the guild, the one where we played royalty?”

  Tama, ignoring me at first as Tera scratched behind her ear, then tapped on Tera to be put down. She appeared in front of me instantly and nodded. “Yea, Tama didn’t like that game very much. Maybe next time, you will be the empress and Tama can be your royal advisor!”

  “Yea, maybe” I said halfheartedly before continuing “Do you remember what you said to Tera specifically? When she picked you up?” I asked, my tone a mask of neutrality as my emotions roiled underneath.

  “Oh Nya! Tama remembers! She told Tera she was a slave girl and that she had to obey and serve Empress Tama!” Tama nodded along to her own words, lost in thought as she spoke.

  I went to answer but Tama continued. “Nya, it was weird too! Whenever Tama used that voice, It made her sound like Tama was underwater and everything was odd sounding.”

  I actually paused at that. She had said the same thing about my charm.

  The last puzzle piece snapped into place and I grabbed Tama by the shoulders “Tama, you need to use that tone and tell Tera she is free!

  Tama looked confused and worried for a moment but nodded and opened her mouth to speak. Before she could however and to my shock. A hand covered her mouth, preventing her from speaking. I looked at the owner of the hand to see Tera standing there, her hand over Tama’s mouth in an almost desperate attempt to stop Tama.

  “That isn’t really necessary is it?” Tera said in a calm tone with a smile. “After all, that was just a game, and the game ended right? We don’t need to go making more decree’s if they aren’t needed right Tama?”

  Tama had paused in utter confusion at Tera’s sudden reaction but after a moment she pushed Tera’s hand away. Tera made an attempt to stop her as she did.

  Then Tama spoke “Nya, Tama doesn’t understand either, but Saki knows best!”

  I tried to speak but Tera spoke over me “I am sure Saki wants your best interest at heart, but like you said, it’s a bit.. extreme don’t you think? She seems to be demanding you say something for no good reason, at least you should ask her to explain herself my Emp… Tama.”

  I was at a loss for words, Tera, a woman literally under royal magical compulsory slavery was attempting to her own freedom?! I wasn’t sure if Tera was acting of her own free will or not. For all I knew, this was the compulsion forcing her to protect her servitude to Tama.

  On the other hand, Tera already really liked Tama before all this, the compulsion didn’t happen until after we had gotten our badges. Meaning, there was already desire there. Could that desire have been manipulated and twisted into the stance Tera now had?

  The truth was I didn’t have the answers, and that upset me greatly. Royal lineages and royalty based powers were purposefully kept extremely well hidden. I couldn’t even ask Tama, she hated her royalty and didn’t even know she was one.

  Finally, after a mental debate I decided to try something. Depending how Tera responded would be how I moved forward. I turned and looked at Tera, making it clear I was going to talk to her and not Tama. She looked back at me and we made eye contact.

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  “Tera, I am assuming by your actions, you know what happened. I made a point to notice every detail of her face as I continued “So I am only going to ask this once, Are you defending what happened, or are you happy as things are?”

  At this point, Tama was very puzzled and uncomfortable, she took a few steps back looking between us. Her tail wrapped around her leg and her ears flattened.

  I glanced over at Rylan, he had stopped walking as well, but he just stood there silently, eating a sandwich for some reason. He clearly seemed uninterested in the issue.

  I looked back into Tera’s eyes, waiting for her response. A long moment passed where no one moved. Then Tera spoke, her voice quiet and subdued. “Both, I am defending what happened, but I also am happy the way things are. I have never been truly happy since… what happened that day.”

  I winced at her words but said nothing as she continued “The truth is, at first I was horrified, I tried to fight it, but after a while, I found I loved this version of me. I have a purpose, a reason to live. Even if that reason doesn’t care for me very much.” She sighed and tears filled her eyes. “Please don’t take the one thing that has finally given me happiness away, Saki. Not again, Not ever.”

  I considered her words carefully, Watching her face and body language as she spoke. I saw no lie, no manipulation, I didn't even see an eye twitch.

  For all intents and purposes, as far as I could tell. Tera was being honest.

  For some reason, that scared me more than anything else. Tera had literally been brainwashed, but it was because of the atrocity I myself had committed.

  I wasn't foolish enough to believe if Tera still had her family she would've fallen for this. It might have been possible. But the longing and pleading in her voice made it clear.

  She had no one, not really. It was clear Rylan and her weren't even really a couple despite her claims and Rylan’s feigned interest.

  If anything, she had shown more love towards Rylan then Rylan had towards her.

  My heart sank at the realization. She was right, Tera needed this. She needed this so bad it wasn't even funny. To be devoted to someone like Tama was perfect for her. Tama was a loving, caring, playful ally, and friend.

  I swallowed heavily before nodding quietly. “I understand Tera, but just know if you ever change your mind, Tama can put you back.”

  I looked over to Tama, she had wandered over to Rylan and was trying to convince him to pick her up. He was not having it.

  “Come here Tama, I'm more than happy to carry you and give you lots of head pats!” Tera said, relief had entered her voice and I turned to look at her, she had a smile on her face.

  Tama paused for a moment before looking back at her. Her face turned unreadable for a moment before she nodded excitedly and rushed over.

  That moment gave me pause. I knew Tama was extremely observant, but I was beginning to wonder if she was as socially naive as she appeared.

  It was true she did strange things and her actions seemed believable at first glance. It wasn't like I didn't trust it, if anything my trust for her was higher then it had any right to be.

  No, it was something else. Like she let on far less than she actually knew. I considered it for a long moment before deciding to ignore it. We all had our secrets, and dragging hers out would make her hate me.

  For some reason, that thought For some reason, that thought alone was enough to make me drop the idea entirely… Her words echoed again in my mind from last night and I smiled.

  . I thought to myself before I started walking again. Tera had picked up Tama and was petting her again. She followed behind me.

  Rylan spoke up as he also started to walk “We are all done with the drama now? Or do we need to stop and have another heart to heart five feet from now?” His voice was full of irritation and sarcasm.

  “Oh calm down Rylan, a new party never works perfectly together, it takes time for everyone to adjust.” Tera responded distractedly and she scratched behind Tama's ear, causing Tama to start purring.

  I had never heard her purr before but I had figured she would be able to since she was a Nekojin. It caused me to laugh at how ridiculous the whole scene was.

  “There is a difference between minor party issues and whatever the void you're doing with her.” Rylan commented, pointing at Tama “not to mention that you have been acting extremely weird since we left the guild hall. This last conversation, if anything further proved my point. So much damn secrecy.”

  I winced at his words. He was right, but it was for Tama's sake I didn't say it out loud. Which brought back the idea she let on less then she knew.

  The rest of the trip was made in silence until we climbed over a ridge and saw the smoke rising in the distance of the setting sun.

  There were hundreds of smoke trails. They went as far as the eye could see. I turned to Tera, her face had drained of color and she had paused petting Tama who had fallen asleep in her arms.

  I looked to Rylan, hoping to see some confidence, but even he looked distraught. “What the actual…” He cut off his own words, unable to finish his sentence at the number of trails in front of us.

  My tail wrapped around my leg and squeezed, I closed and opened my eyes to make sure I wasn’t seeing things before I subtly began stepping backwards. This wasn’t a quest, this was a suicide mission.

  I turned and jumped over the ridge, landing flawlessly. I only made it a few steps before I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks. A large contingent of goblins, all on what appeared to be wargs, were standing in front of me. Some holding spears, others polearms, all of them rusted or old.

  I swallowed, taking a step back. The sun was almost set and their shadows could almost reach me, distorting their figures in the night.

  All rational thoughts left my mind. I summoned a ball of foxfire, uncaring if I revealed my kitsune heritage, and lobbed it at the nearest goblin, hoping to make them dodge.

  Instead the goblin batted the flame with his spear causing it to burst. Killing the goblin in an instant. I went to move only to see another goblin had already replaced the first. My tail stiffened and my ears flew back. We were going to die.

  I summoned earth armor all over my body and removed wind resistance from my body as best I could. If I could just get…

  Before I could finish my thought the goblin riders charged me. I panicked and lobbed another foxfire bolt at them. The ball of fae fire exploded, this time killing two of them. They were replaced before the ball had even finished dissipating. Fear began to consume me even further and my eyes began to shift purple. . Tears fell from my cheeks as I tried and failed to resist the void. I felt control of my body slipping and knew it was all over.

  “Nya! Don’t touch Saki, She is Tama’s friend!” Came a familiar voice, flying over the ridge at an unimaginable speed as a purple blur. She almost seemed to vanish as she hit the ground. What happened next I couldn’t see. One moment the goblins were about to impale me, the next they were all dead, wargs included. More began to take their place, only to fall to the ground dead before steps could be taken.

  A few of the goblins tried stabbing their weapons forward in a fearful attempt to hit her but to no avail. A few moments was all it took and over 50 wargs and their riders lay dead on the ground. It wasn't enough though, they were endless. Wave after wave came over the ridge.

  I heard Tera’s shout as she landed behind me “Get in formation, protect the newbies!” A fireball shot past me, exploding and incinerating a few goblins. Before I could react, someone yanked me away.

  I heard a loud crashing sound, I looked over to see Rylan, His whole body covered in molten earth. Every swing killed at least ten or fifteen goblins. Yet still they came, their bodies almost creating a blockade in the now almost pitch dark.

  How many have we already killed? I thought as I tried to regain control of my senses. After Tama had appeared the void had receded. But I was still panicking. The odds were heavily against us and I didn’t see a way out.

  I summoned more foxfire balls and launched them at any enemy I could see. At first, I held my own, but as the minutes dragged on, my mana drained. Desperate, I resorted to firing earth spikes—less powerful, barely enough to wound. If aimed right, I could disable body parts or outright remove them.

  I fell to my knees as I panted, my stamina and mana both entirely gone, my vision blurred. I regained some energy and looked at the state of the battle.

  Tera had multiple wound’s and they had her backed up against the ridge wall. Rylan’s defenses were formidable, but they had mostly broken down and he was now pausing between swings.

  The only person seemingly unaffected was Tama who was a whirlwind of goblin death. Every second, dozens of goblins died. She didn’t even seem tired, but I wouldn’t know since she hadn’t slowed down even once.

  Whenever the goblins got close to me, Tama would kill them. She seemed to be trying for Tera and Rylan as well, but after a while the numbers became too great for even her to keep up.

  I closed my eyes as a spear was pointed inches from my face. “No, Saki!” Tama screamed, I awaited my death… but it didn’t come. After a moment, I opened my eyes. The spear was still pointed at me, but it wasn’t coming any closer. Instead, A blur of movement—then blinding pain. The world tilted sideways, my body no longer mine. Voices faded. Darkness swallowed me whole.