She writes down 4-12-1704. Seriously, you got Sir Ujan to get you these writing supplies so you can keep a diary. I thought you wanted a ledger for transactions.
“That’s the other book Sara, seriously are you going to critique everything I do every fucking moment.”
Sorry Lea, being a ghost is kinda boring.
“Why don't you pay attention to your body. Figure you want to spend your time there in case they actually succeed in killing you.”
That's not much better. My body is in a cell right now. Also isn't it like the year six seventy eight. She rolls her eyes. Gah.
“Every country wants to have their calendars start at the year of their founding. My previous diary was in the Elf Empire dating and I don't feel like getting confused.”
I grow sullen, which just irritates Lea further. Sorry, you never got to bring your personal effects here.
“I very well couldn't be found carrying my old diary. I burned them the day you gave me eight legs…actually your mother burned them in front of me.”
Sorry. She rolls her eyes again. You know that is very disorienting.
“Deal with it, you want to play as a riding passenger in my body, you get to live with the eye rolls.”
Wait, if the old diary was burned, why do you need to date it the same? I only get a feeling of irritation from Lea on the question as she ignores me and starts writing.
-----
The door creeks open. Lea looks up. How do I have rusty hinges on a recently manifested store? Sir Ujan steps in.
“Looking to purchase a potion, Sir Ujan.”
“Ah no Lea, actually I am here to ensure you don't go on a rampage.”
She gives the Drakenoid marshall a rather annoyed look.
“Here I thought the two guards at the entrance were there to keep an eye on me. We already showed you I can't walk past a certain point past the entrance.”
He looks awkward, “Yes well, not that I don't believe you or your demonstration but today is her execution. We aren't sure what will happen to you.”
She rolls her eyes again. I wish she wouldn't.
“I'm sure the dungeon will remain, the best you guys are going to be able to do is send her back to her core.”
He coughs, “Yes well, if the worse happens and she does die. A dungeon that had its core destroyed will spill out any real monsters it has.”
Now I want to roll my eyes. The Queendom is only executing half of me. But I guess that's not really known.
“I'm not a real monster [Acting Knight Commander]. Just a bit of dungeon fluff with a soul attached to it.” Lea says with a bit of venom.
“Even so, nothing wrong with taking precautions.”
I've started my walk. Lea just rolls her eyes.
-----
The dungeon filled with laughter, my laughter. Lea is cackling.
“Why are you laughing? What's going on?” Sir Ujan gives a worried look at Lea.
She answered him with laughter. My body is locked. But laughing.
Pariah Title [Voiceless] becomes [Laughing Demon]
The notification window closes. The laughing stops. My mind blanks for a moment. Oh systems that's too much bliss. When I gain lucidity a moment later Lea is on the ground with Sir Ujan over her asking what's wrong.
I can't bring up my [Status Screen] to see that new title. Why? What the hell does my title do now? Lea looks behind herself. Why does she have fox tails…actually they are core tails. But still, why? I can feel Lea grow more agitated.
“Lea…you have horns…” Sir Ujan interrupts both our thoughts.
Lea grasps her horns which makes me start to laugh again. She lets go immediately. She wills herself to my couture.
“Are you fucking ignoring me Sara, I swear to the system, I'll bleeding kill myself if you don't answer.”
What no, I … when did you try to speak to me. There was a moment of pause. The only thing that changes is Lea agitation.
“So are you not hearing my thoughts or just ignoring them.”
I hadn't heard anything. I lost my [Status Screen] too.
“Is it because of the execution?”
Nooooo, I thought I would feel like Violet when Zindinhar got her but I kinda have no connection to my body at all after the blade severed my head. My body was freezing before that.
“Stasis. So they aren't letting your body actually die. Guess that gets around you popping up back here.”
Or me growing a new head.
“You sure you wouldn't grow a new body instead…nevermind, make a mirror.”
I do so, Lea skin is my dark blood red now. She is sporting two rather sharp looking horns on her forehead. Seems whatever happened caused me to bleed into her a bit. Her eye’s sclera is also my blood red…is her blood a slime now? As if asking, her blood pushes out a bit.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“You did ask you, nit. I got [Blood Kinesis] now. They are going to think I am you.”
You can always pull it back. She does so and she becomes pale again. The horns remain.
“Not like this body is alive anyway, think the horns are because of you.”
I got a notification saying [Voiceless] became [Laughing Demon].
“What the hell is a Demon?”
Wait, how does [Common] have a word for Hell but not demon. Fine, whatever, in my previous Lark, demons were evil denizens of hell that would torture and devour souls of the wicked in hell.
“So a devourer then.”
Wait, you were calling me a denizen of hell this whole time?
“If the shoe fits.”
Damn it, how does this world have that saying? That was totalling a saying in my previous Lark. Its the fucking oak trees all over again. Half the people here don't even bother with shoes.
“Fuck Sara, focus. Your mental breakdown can wait. So you gave me horns and your fox tails…can you change my form.”
I feel like I could but…I don't want to risk merging our memories. Either one of two things would happen. I take over your body, or we would merge. Giving your body back is easy enough but merging doesn't come back clean. I always have to take a moment to figure out who I am. I can feel her pouting at that. Seriously, you want to risk not being you anymore?
“Nooooo, it is just the forms seemed so cool. Other than the mental aspects. That shit could go fuck itself. Whatever, why do you go into hysterics whenever I touch my new murder implements.”
I do? She grabs on again. I start laughing which causes her to start laughing. She lets go. Okay…I don't know. I never got to see the description of [Laughing Demon].
“Right, ‘cause your [Status Screen] is locked. Probably because of stasis.”
No, it was still writing the notification when my head was severed. It was as if the notification was closed, Violet could have done it.
“Is she keeping you out of [Status Screen] as well then?”
I think so. If I can't hear your directed thoughts, I probably can't hear anyone else's either. I lost my connections to them…
“Ooo boo hoo, write some letters.”
But I can't—
“Fine, dictate some letters then, systems. Better to be your scribe than for you to mope in my head.”
Sorry. I feel her agitation grow. Sorrrrrry. She rolls her eyes. Gah.
“So your sister locked you out, any idea why?”
No…like it wasn't something we could do. Is it something Cea could do?
Lea winces, “Please, don't even think her name, please. Perhaps a geas?”
I would have felt it on my soul.
“What about that contract thing you were thinking of offering to Sir Ujan before the [Countess] yelled at you for being a fool.”
I guess, if it was part of the contract, but seems rather bland to be a contract to turn off my [Status Screen] and thought communications. There was that moment of bliss.
“Knowing her, she would have demanded absolute obedience.”
I thought she was going to try to give birth to me, not enslave me.
“Same difference, probably realized she couldn't seize your Tapestry. Would your sister really agree to a contract?”
I mean, if she was thirsty enough. You felt the bliss to.
“Shit. Will she know about me then?”
Does she have a reason to ask?
“No, but damn it. Why did you let yourself be taken away?”
Sorry…it's just the guilt was too much. Most of them were awful but some? At least two were just trying to survive. I had done what I needed to do.
“Sara, slaying two thieves shouldn't mean enslavement for the rest of your Larks.”
I didn't just send them to their next Lark, Lea… I ate them, body and soul…besides having Violet sent to the Elf Empire was not part of the plan.
“No, just being beheaded was.”
And apparently fertilizer for a new town.
“What?”
They are making me into a fountain.
“How is that not going to destroy this dungeon?”
I dunno. Lea starts clawing at her scalp.
-----
Lea pens in 5-12-1704. I watch as she writes. Her calligraphy is quite nice. Seriously, the day wasn't that bad.
“I grew horns, and am now a [Junior Sanguine Priestess].”
Maybe the horns will leave after I do. My soul warms…I haven't felt that in two years.
“Felt what.”
I think it's my soul day.
“You're not sure?”
Well I missed the last one and I don't have my [Status Screen]. Violet said it was soon.
“Well I'd get you something but…you're a bit intangible at the moment.”
I still feel the things you do.
“Soooo you're saying when you were in [Baron] you felt all that? O I touched a nerve there.”
Let's not talk about him. Pity we drank all the blood wine.
“Could always dip into the [Marques] store.”
Prefer not to mentally check out. If I am under contract I should be receiving a daily allotment. We will know … it's too much. My mind blanks, the bliss consumes me. When I regain awareness Lea is breathing hard…you don't have to breathe you know.
“Shut up, it's a habit. That's going to happen every day?”
No. That is going to happen everyday but gets worse.
“So it won't be as intense, that's heartening.”
No, I meant it will grow in intensity.
“...”
Sorry.
“You sure you don't want to see if you can float in the dungeon.”
I can feel the pull of my body. If I leave you I'm going to be pulled to be near it instead of being here.
“So any who, how bout that blood?”
Not after that. If anything I hope it's not too much to ask for you to abstain until I leave your body. I don't want to be sending signals back that I am still aware.
“...Sara you are literally saying you want your sister to think you're dead. That's rather cruel.”
I mentally sigh. It wouldn't be the first time someone said that about me.
-----
“Hey, could you go get Sir Ujan for me?”
The guard knight looks annoyed at Lea as she pokes her head out the door. His companion simply shrugs and heads off towards the acting knight commander office. What's this about?
She heads back in before answering, “Well, I can't have blood but it doesn't stop me from eating something you would enjoy. So what will it be?”
I mean bread is always good.
She laughs and the dungeon shudders. Uh maybe not do that.
“That is spooky, how do you put up with this…Also are you a fucking peasent, bread?”
What, it's good…you asked. Nothing wrong with being born in a village.
“‘Cept for the desire for bread.”
Sir Ujan steps into the store.
“Ah, the man I wanted to see. Going to be honest with ya, that girl you executed the other day, well her ghost is inside my body and feels everything I do. Wave a hand, Sara.”
Seriously.
“Wave a fucking hand, don't make him think I'm crazy.” She says rather fast and shrilly.
Fine, I poke my left hand out and wave. My hand pulls off my wrist and flies towards the direction of Macknor. Seriously, why? Sir Ujan is rather pale. He sits on the ground cradling his head.
“Systems, why would you tell me this? What if her Majesty demands her ghost be executed. How does one even execute a ghost?”
“Nevermind her escape from justice, she is being made into a fountain anyways right? No, I brought it up because it's her soul day today.”
He just grows paler, an impressive feat for one with scales, “We executed her the day before her soul day…”
“Arrrgh enough, look I want you to bring me a cake. She can feel what I feel with her ghost being inside me. So go buy me a cake…and some bread.”
Thank you.
“Why is she inside your body?”
Lea rolls her eyes, “She left her ghost in me to run the dungeon in her absence. If it leaves me apparently she is just going to end up hovering around her headless body and the dungeon will become static. You’re leasing for twenty keys right, I doubt you want seven instances of absolutely nothing in them.”
“I just assumed the deal was off.”
“Oh fuck no, dungeon still here ain't it. I expect those casks of wine. I only just felt intoxicated for the first time a few nights ago and I ain't giving that shit up. There better be a tun here come the end of the month. Now go buy a sugary ass cake and some bread.”
Sir Ujan scrambled out of the shop.
-----
O my systems, cake is delicious.
“The best part is Sara, this body doesn't give a damn about what I put in it.”
Going by what the gnome said it didn't seem to matter before either. She chokes on her latest bite.
“Thought we weren't trying to make me laugh.”
The dungeon giggles. Sir Ujan smiles, even though he hadn't heard the joke. It is a little sad. You should at least give him a slice, he did go get it for us.
“I suppose, Sir Ujan, care for a slice?”
“I'm actually not much for sweets, the bread though.”
Absolutely not.
What genre tags should Sara of Sacrifice have?
