Aetheria, the forgotten world, home of humans and souls alike. The world acclaimed to be nearest to the skies yet far from being called 'heaven'. Analogous to Earth it faced the insurmountable treachery of the mortals but with more terrifying outcom...
A dreamy past filled with hazy images. That's how Kesk remembers his younger years. He forgot most of it, even his parents and where he came from. It must be the grueling wars that has brought so many unexpected turns and events, one of which affected Kesk's childhood. He has struggled countless times trying to recall what happened long ago yet it all proved futile. An orphan who had no memory of his past.
Now, he wakes up in the same bed, same room. The albino recalled encountering a man named Ashven. How vivid it was that he thought it was true. No, it was true. Quickly checking himself, moving about materialized the aches in the injured parts though less painful. And he was finally wearing clothes, his own set of layered garb same as how he wore it before, like never been touched however, he soon noticed that it was all clean. No more bloody mess. Then it wasn't a dream. His pale gray eyes surveyed the room. It was bright. The wide window was open, letting the sunshine in. The air was not rotten nor spoiled, it's the smell of wood. Still, it's a wonder what exactly occurred last night. And the flashback came into his mind...
A horrifying night...
Ashven opened the door to the house. Kesk saw nothing but darkness. The unholy smell bothering him to no end. The brunet helped the older one take a seat on a chair as he lit up a lantern. When the light showed what is in the kitchen, it was only a matter of seconds until he passed out. What revealed to be Ashven's secret was a plate of bones, severed limbs of human beings in the floor and the most horrible of them all, a decapitated head of an adult man on the sink with a knife stabbed in the forehead. It was all too shocking for the farmer to handle that he blacked out. After remembering what happened, he suddenly felt anxious. "He'll kill me next... He will.... " He began to panic. Swift as he goes searching for his bag which remained under the pillow. All the contents were complete. Unfortunately, his bad ankle reminded him of his weakness. His boots were there as well, wearing them took a couple of minutes. Further, he forced himself to stand and hop, staggering towards the window. The same plan he hoped will work the second time. Upon heading out the open-wide window, a hand grabbed him by the left shoulder. Looking back, he recognized it was the dreadful brunet. He shook the hand away in such haste.
"Hey.. ", Ashven tried to stop the him from going out the house but the latter refused. Giving him a hard punch on the cheek, the brunet was pushed back.
"You.. STAY AWAY FROM ME!!" Kesk displayed a fierce look on his face, glaring at Ashven. If he's going to be killed, he'd fight for his life. This was not often the case for Kesk for he abides in peace.
"Look, if you're outside, the monsters will kill you." Ashven spoke in his persuasive voice.
"No! Stop lying. Don't act like you're trying to save people. If I know better, you will eat me like those corpses in the kitchen!", the blond exclaimed, hardly standing straight with only a foot, groping behind to lean on the wall. At the back of his mind, he was truly scared.
The brunet slowly moved his head left to right. He stood straight, crossed his arms on the chest. "You're right. I do eat humans. I was about to explain it to you hoping you're that kind of man, brave and understanding unlike the others, but you passed out. Yet you're wrong in one thing, if you do know better, if I had the plan to eat you, then I would have slaughtered you while you're asleep."
"Then why??"
He looked at the blond in his eyes and said. "Because you're simply special. I've never seen a male Snow White before.", smiling after.
"Me? Snow White? You're making fun of me like anyone else who thinks I'm a ghost because of my white skin. Excuse me, but I have no time for this. Just let me out already. I should be going back to my hometown."
"Your hometown? I'm sorry to say this but San Tima is in shambles."
"You're lying... ", Kesk felt his knees weaken upon hearing the grim news. Some part of of him believed in the words of the brunet. He fell down, kneeling. The murderous man saw the chance to close the distance between them, kneeling down as well to get even with the blond. "Kesk, I'm not -"
The blond rapidly grabbed Ashven in the neck with both hands, to strangle him. Surprisingly, the other did not resist. Kesk perceived he was holding on a hard object. It did not feel natural. He withdrawn his grip on the neck of the brunet. Stunned. "What...are..you??"
Ashven puts his gloved right hand at Kesk's eye level. He removed the glove and showed a burnt marking at the back of his hand.
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"Kesk, I'm one of the Blackheart clan members... "
"Y-you mean the a-a-ccursed man-eating clan?!", in a nervous tone. He flinched backwards, pushing himself to the wall but no further.
"Oh, you know us. No surprise. People fear the Blackheart Clan. But, you do seem like the intelligent man as I have imagined you to be. Fascinating. Usually, people don't last long in this bloody forest but you...you managed to keep yourself sane. You truly are special the moment I saw you.", the tips of his fingers under the poorly shaven chin of the albino, slightly raising it up. Now that Ashven mentioned that, Kesk remembered how the forest was dark and eerie in his first few hours starting with the unpleasant dream. He concluded that the forest worsened his nightmares to something more terrifying and bloodier.
The albino frowned. "So what are you planning to do with me?"
"I plan to propose a partnership with you if you don't mind. I've been alone all my life and I want to have a friend instead."
"No." A quick answer from the blond. "Whatever you say, you're the predator and I'm your prey."
"Exactly, you have no choice but to come with me." The man placed both of his hands on Kesk's shoulders.
"I do have a choice. I'd rather choose to die than be your prey. The way you put it, you've confused friend for a prey." Somehow, the longer their conversation goes, the more he mustered courage for his resolve to die with honor.
"Hmm, let's change how we look at each other, shall we? How about I become your assistant or maybe, a pet? I promise I won't kill you."
Kesk arched an eyebrow. This man was unbelievably bizarre. He can't read what's going on his mind at all.
"You're joking. A pet? That's silly. Besides, how can you prove your w-words?"
The brunet answered. "I just thought that the word 'pet' will convince a farmer like you who is fond of taking care of animals. And how can I prove my words? I've protected you from the sleipner and necromancer. And I also didn't slaughter you until now." He sighed. "Come on. Am I not trustworthy after letting you keep your things in your bag?"
The man has a point. Its a soft spot on the albino to give chances and to trust again even after knowing the truth that people betrayed him many times. Kesk inhaled deep and exhaled with a sound. The proposal sounded like a ticket to save his life anyway.
"Alright. You'll be my pet. And as a pet, go fetch me a crutch to help me stand up." The other nodded then smirked.
The strings between them began to form, a peculiar relationship that will either blossom or wither. Only time can tell...
