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. "Yeah, Tama didn't like that game very much. Maybe next time, you will be the empress and Tama can be your royal advisor!"

  "Yeah, 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. It sounded like I was underwater.

  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! Now." My voice was far more panicked than I meant it to be, but I hoped I got the point across to her.

  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 decrees 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 prevent 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 on 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.

  "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?"

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  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 David. 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 concern 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 David and her weren't even really a couple despite her claims and David's feigned interest.

  If anything, she had shown more love towards David than David 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 David 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 than 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 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.

  David spoke up as he also started to walk. "Are we 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, David. A new party never works perfectly together. It takes time for everyone to adjust," Tera responded distractedly as 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," David 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."