The Five Kings: First Step

Hopian 76 - Music Box

Last chapter, Karia's flashback taking place two years ago concluded after Aora stalled the criminal out long enough for Prósopsi to arrive and force the monster to retreat, as a giant hand somehow seemed to save the criminal. Now, Karia has woken up from the dream in the present, to where she can't help but cry after vividly reliving an event that's traumatized her for years...

Seric's P.O.V.

"Wha- I've seen tears like that from our measly Seric before but not you! Well except for that one night you got E.X.T.R.A. drunk but anywho- there there!" King Metallica tries to calm Karia down by using me as an example of course as he wraps his arms around her and pulls her into his chest. But like hell if I care about being weak anymore- I didn't sign up for this crap.

Anyways I look up to Amandeath with a confused look on my face to see her slowly taking out a piece of gum from her "Infi-Gum" case, doing it all with one hand.

She gets ready to throw it up into her mouth until-

"G-get off me!! You think just giving me a stupid hug is gonna fix all of this?! Yo- you- you're fucking insane, why the hell would you throw a huge ass book at me like that!" Karia cries out though her screams right as the gum lands in Amandeath's mouth.

"Well, you know a nice ol' hug is just meant to show someone that you love them, and I thought that you need to know that ALL of us love you! And well you were disgracing my prayers and this sacred place by shouting so I had no choice but to punish you! Though yes I apologize for putting ya' down under for that long, that was certainly not a part of my plans- YASHASHASHA! Now then, let's just calm down, we can talk about the dream if you want-"

"...Who's "us" that loves me? Sariel- I killed him. Jessie- she hates me. Anyone else I knew- I killed them, got them killed or they hate me..." Karia whimpers to herself as she keeps on crying... Sariel, Jessie? Were those her old friends maybe...?

"Ahhhh. I see. So that stuff is still bothering ya' hm? Don't worry! Like you told me in private before you may have made some B.I.G. boy mistakes in the past, and perhaps even bigger mistakes up to now- however! That doesn't mean that you can't start to fix up the pitiful state you're in at the moment, just look up to me as an idol, and ask our Lords for guidance!" King Metallica tries to be reassuring as he bends down to her face and stops hugging her to put his hand on her shoulder.

"Ehhhhhh that was NOT the way to say that. Holy shit..." I think to myself as I take out my phone so I have something else to focus on, and my stomach fills up with guilt as well for Karia...

"......Y-you think yo-you're so... perfect, so loved by everyone?" Karia says as I can't help but glance up to see that she's slowly looking back up, with tears still filling her red cheeks.

"Well, they do say that the more you love the more you're loved so- yes! And that's exactly why you should start loving your pals more!" King Metallica exclaims.

"...We're your 100th "pals", r-right? You've told me a bunch of the stupid tales of your past, a lot your "friends" never died- they left you. And why do you think they left you, hm? N-no, better yet why were YOU forced to make that "entertaining fighting tournament" system for them to be able to leave you in the first place?! Tell me!" Karia starts to shout out with a small smirk on her face... dick.

I put my phone back in my pocket, as I have a feeling this could get ugly...

"...Well, I implemented that system M.A.N.Y. years ago, I can barely remember!... They looked miserab... no, they didn't like... no I remember now. I wanted to ensure that in case they found my strength inadequate, that they would be able to respectfully- and entertainingly find another guard who would be stronger than I! Yes, of course that-"