💫MMGJ-2.3🪞

💫12th Encounter🪼

Acedia dipped down onto the ground, as though they were riding an invisible elevator. I just stared at the stains of green ink beneath the trolley after I stood up and stepped away with caution. Which and whose life did I accidentally took now? My body count really is ridiculous with counts of several lives. I don't know what I should do. I would have two pennies for doing the same thing that I had done before. Accidentally flatten someone.

"Interesting! Oh so interesting," Acedia commented curiously, landing on the ground and going over to inspect the green splatters. "Let's see how the blood tastes."

They confidently took a bit of the substance and thoughtfully tasted it with a look.

As I stood by Acedia and stared at this, I was concerned on why they would do that. My employer sure is eccentric. That liquid's likely infected with whatever lingers in the grass. What if there was a thousand types of terrifyingly grotesque insects?! All the creepy ideas of eating insects.. Just the eerie thought would make me freeze in horror.

"Bitter, gross, salty and hot," Acedia noted. "This must be the taste of an mad Dahlian."

I questioned,"Is it normal to taste blood...?"

With no hesitation, Acedia stated dryly,"Remember that time where Lethargy ended up losing his main personality to a lumber terror? That whole fiasco was recorded down, due to how dangerous it was and how it almost exposed the thin veil between Earth and something magical." I was surprised that this was brought up.

"This is related?!" I exclaimed, backing away from the sheer idea of personality being something physical. "In what way or how?"

"All related to Dahlia, would have a really common link. Personality happens to be the little thing what links each and every being of Dahlia," Acedia explained, trying not to roll their eyes with a good-natured smile. "I find that blood would be each a unique colour and taste completely different. When it comes to absorbing personality, you get more benefits. You're stronger and fitter. It's why the lumber terror exists to be like that."

A loud noise of hurried footsteps reverberated and there Duke Acedia was off. We ran through the thickets of white trees, trying not to trip over the tree roots. A hum of crickets made the rushing quiet feel dull as I kept memory of how to get back to my trolley. It was rude to leave behind the others. In fact, I find it appalling to do so and not remember how to get back.

"So what's the point of this?" I inquired.

"Well, the point is the more good-natured your blood tastes, the more likely you live longer," Acedia responded as they grinned. "It's all luck based. You're unlucky when you are bad. You're lucky when you are good."

Hearing the stampede of those who wanted the ancient photo, I sighed at these antics. I then questioned,"I do have to wonder. Do you know where I could continue my book selling business? It seems that I can't find customers that easily ever since a certain fellow started a book fight with me." As we both ran about aimlessly in a single direction, Acedia rolled their eyes amiably.

"Typical you. Books and all that," Acedia answered easily before they leapt off into a river and dragged me along. "I always think you're likely to start trouble somewhere. Unintentionally or dramatically so."

"Wow!" I screamed, not in excitement but as a dead reply to Acedia's honesty. Once we landed in the river, we were both soaked. In the chaos, Acedia and I had to hold our breaths under the river for a few minutes.

Thankfully it wasn't too long.

As I dried up and squeezed water out of my hair intensely, the weather turned windy. Chilly. I almost expected rain to arrive there.

Acedia spun about brightly and took their white hair off? I couldn't believe that at all. It was all a wig? Their real hair was pale green all this time. I can't fathom this idea. Acedia then merrily wore the large white wig as a fluffy cape for their shoulders. I just stared in disbelief. Why did they hide their real hair colour and length?

"I should've been more thoughtful! Aw boo," they sighed expressively, leaping up and down to dry their long white wig. "Oh right. You're here, Mirror. Don't tell anyone, alright? It's a special secret between us. No one should know." They paused their leaps.

"Okay? Why are you hiding this though?"

"Listen. Cool moves. It's a tactic," Acedia cheerfully stated. "An very important tactic."

We then walked on, this time: I led the way; heading back; retrieving the essential trolley; even getting something to an easy ride back to the society's underground base. I was glad that everything resolved itself. The air up in the clouds sure is chilling though. At least everything's going to be fine. I am confident that everything will be perfect in its ending. Especially this story.