It wasn’t long before I felt the temperature start to drop, which only caused my nerves to build.
She’s there.
She’s right there.
Slowly marching forward, each step filled with anticipation, I moved further into the darkness until a familiar room ca into view, and my heart stopped.
It’s…
It was as if all my nerves had vanished just by laying eyes on it. It was definitely the sa room made from black stone bricks, but it looked a little different. The chains that had hung from the ceiling were gone, the room was noticeably brighter, and there were two couches just off to the side that weren’t there before.
…
Go!
Just… Go!
Imdiately, I started running. It probably didn’t take more than a few seconds before I was standing in front of the throne, but once I got there, it was like ti had frozen. All the anticipation was bottled up inside of , but there was no relief.
…
Where…?
I looked around the room but couldn’t find Ovia anywhere.
Why?…
What?…
Am I still-
My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of rustling paper coming from behind the throne. I instantly turned towards the throne and saw just the tip of a deep black tail poking out.
Is that her?…
My feet started moving by themselves, taking towards the throne.
“H-hello K-Kierra… W-welco back to m-my domain.”
As soon as her voice reached my ears, I stopped moving.
…
It’s… her.
She… She let back in.
…
But… why is she hiding from ?
“D-did I miss a step? W-why isn’t she saying anything?” Ovia said in a faint voice, followed by the sound of turning pages, “Um… H-how are you?”
…
“I… I’m… not sure…”
I wanted to tell her that I was fine, that I was happy just being here, but I couldn’t bring myself to lie to her, not after everything she’s done for .
“Oh… um… c-can I help?”
“…”
What’s… the right answer?…
…
What am I… even supposed to say?…
…
Neither of us said anything to each other, just waiting in silence. Until I sohow built up the courage to ask the one question that was gnawing away at in this silence.
“Why… are you hiding from ?…” I felt a tear start to form, “Did I-”
“NO!” She suddenly shouted, interrupting , “I-It’s… it’s… I…… I can just…”
The sound of hurried shuffling could be heard coming from behind the throne, with the occasional tail poking out. After a few seconds, Ovia stepped out from behind the throne, her face noticeably pink.
“S-See, I-I’m right here.”
…
Is that?…
Instead of the form-fitting dress she had worn before, this ti, she was wearing a black dress that was only slightly frilled along the bottom, with a small white layer sticking out beneath it. Down the chest were two rows of decorative buttons, and around the collar was a ribbon tied into a bow.
That’s…
I looked down at my own dress to make sure that I wasn’t imagining things.
It’s the sa…
…
I was right…
She does look better in it than …
Much better…
Seeing Ovia wearing the dress so much better than I ever could should have been disheartening, but instead, there was so other feeling or maybe a desire forming. However, before I could put any more thought into it, she spoke up.
“Um… W-why aren’t you saying anything? W-was this wrong?” She pulled out a small notebook and started flipping through it, “I-I thought you would like to wear m-matching dresses.”
…
While I didn’t know what exactly I was feeling, it definitely wasn’t a bad feeling.
“I… do… I think…”
Ovia abruptly stopped flipping through the notebook and looked directly at .
“…Oh… T-that’s good!”
“…”
Once again, the room fell silent. She eventually turned back to her notebook, rapidly skimming over the pages until she found one in particular that made her face brighten up. After a short mont, she looked at again.
“Y-your na!”
“…Kierra?”
Just saying that na out loud again made feel a little embarrassed.
“Yes, K-Kierra,” She took another brief glance at the notebook, “W-why haven’t you t-told anyone your n-na?”
…
Why should I tell anyone?
…
It’s…
“It’s… special…” My face continued to heat up.
“It’s special… That ans…” She turned a page, “W-wait, what do you an it’s s-special?”
Why wouldn’t it be?
…
“You… gave it to … that… makes it special…… to ”
Ovia looked back at the notebook, flipping through a few pages, but this ti her expression didn’t change. Instead, she closed the notebook before letting out a brief sigh and pointing over at the couches beside the throne.
“F-first, let’s sit down.”
I didn’t say anything and just walked over to the couches with Ovia walking close behind . As soon as I was standing in front of one of the couches, Ovia picked up before carefully placing on top of it.
You didn’t need to do that…
But… thank you.
“Y-you can lie down if it’s m-more comfortable,” She said as she sat down on the other couch directly in front of .
I stared at her, not sure of what to say next.
…
“I-if your n-na is special to you… you s-should tell other people.”
…
“But I… I don’t want other people to know…” For so reason, I couldn’t make eye contact with Ovia.
…
You gave it to …
I…
…
“…Y-you should let other people know… Y-your na is… important,” She leaned forward, “It’s… who you are… I-It’s proof you were here.”
…
I don’t want to give it to anyone else.
…
I…
“…like it when… you… say my na…”
Wait…
As soon as I registered what I just said, my face started to heat up, and my shadow spread to cover my whole body, letting blend into the surrounding darkness.
What am I saying?
That’s…
…
Ovia wrapped her hair around her hand before clenching it into a fist.
“W-what do I say here?…” She mumbled.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a faint glimr of light, but when I tried to look directly at it, it imdiately disappeared.
“Um… Okay… I-I’ll try,” Ovia’s eyes then focused on , “Y-you should tell people your n-na because I-I gave it to you.”
…
“…Why?…”
“B-because y-you should show it off… I-I gave it to you… that’s sothing to be p-proud of… Y-your na ca directly from the G-Goddess of Darkness,” She puffed her chest out, “N-nobody else can say that.”
…
Show off…
But… why would you want… … to show it off…
I’m…
…
There are better people out there…
There must be.
…
My thoughts were interrupted by another glimr of light, but just like the last one, it disappeared almost as soon as it showed itself.
“A-are you sure?” She mumbled under her breath before once again looking in the eye, “I… w-want you to tell people your n-na.”
…
I…
…
Can I say no?…
…
She… wants to…
Ovia wants to…
…
She has… always helped …
…
There must be a reason…
…
I don’t know what… but…
…
If I want to stay here with her…
I have to listen to her…
…
After much thought, I nodded while also reigning my shadow back in to only cover my hair and tail.
“Yes?! T-that’s a yes?!” Ovia stood up, releasing her hair.
I nodded again, this ti looking up at her as I did.
“I-I did it… I d-didn’t ss it up.” She looked off to the side, but when I looked the sa way, all I saw was a wall.
She then pulled the notebook back out and started flipping through the pages again while muttering to herself, “W-what’s next?…”
…
Is it my turn now…
Is this where I show what I can do for her…
…
I need to show her… that there’s a reason to keep around.
“O-Ovia…”
She instantly looked directly at , seemingly forgetting about the book as it fell out of her hand and onto the floor.
“Can you… sit next to ?” I slide myself over to the side of the couch.
“…”
Was I not supposed to do that?…
…
What have I done?!
I-I can’t just talk to a Goddess like that!
…
“A-alright… I-I can do t-that.” She walked up next to and sat down.
One of her tails accidentally brushed against my own, the unexpected coolness of her fur sent a shiver through my tail and up my spine. I looked over at Ovia to see if she noticed, but she didn’t say anything.
…
Okay Kierra.
You’ve got this… You’ve prepared for this.
…
Just… follow the plan.
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