Chapter Text
It was inevitable. One cannot possibly avoid fate without paying a price.
A man has departed from the world due to an incident while hunting. To your relief it wasn’t your aunt’s husband. Unfortunately for the man’s family… You couldn’t say the same.
A few days later you stood behind your aunt as she tried to console her friend who was crying and screaming her husband’s name. Your uncle and his friends were slowly lowering the man’s remains to the grave. Fortunately for everyone he was put in a coffin so none could see the horror of what was once a living human turned into a mangled corpse.
You surely wouldn’t be telling your sister about it. You couldn’t imagine what her reaction would be to finding out what had happened. No she’s not ready yet. She’s still far too young to carry the burden. At the very least you want her to have a carefree childhood before introducing her to her inevitable fate unlike how your mother had taught you.
You looked down at your lap and played with your gloved hand as you sat alone. Everyone else was talking to the wife of the dead hunter. You were never really close with her or the others so you felt that anything you say wouldn’t have comforted her anyway since it came from a stranger.
You saw someone sit down next to you from the corner of your eyes. You continue to play with your fingers thinking that they’re just taking a seat and didn’t plant on talking to you. Though you were surprised when you heard them talk in your direction..
“Hey. I’ve never seen you before. Are you a relative of the deceased?”
You slowly raise your head to look at the person from under your hat. You see a young man with brown hair staring at you. This is… Ah he’s one of your aunt’s friends’ son right? You don’t know which one he is.
“No. My aunt is the wife’s friend”
“Who’s your aunt?”
“Mrs. Noret”
He looked confused before you turned and pointed at your aunt. He seemed to recognize her and his mouth opened in realization.
“Oooh.. you mean her.. I didn’t know she had other relatives”
You nodded at him when he turned back to look at you.
“Well she’s not.. actually my aunt. My mother was friends with her”
“Then why are you here?”
Why indeed…
You didn’t answer and instead looked down at your lap again to end the conversation. He seemed to understand and got up to leave you alone. Soon enough you also got up to leave the place. Your sister surely would appreciate some sweets. Hopefully it’ll distract her from your sour mood. .
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Maybe you’ve bought more than just sweets. But there was a big sale and you actually needed to stock up on groceries anyway so… Yeah. You’re going to regret bringing all of this without your big shopping bag.
“You seem to be struggling there witchy~”
You look up almost startled to hear the unexpected voice. You turn to the right and find yourself in front of the unusually empty Dream Shop. Eclipse was leaning on the door as he grinned at you.
“What are you doing out here?”
He moved one of his many hands to his chest and let out an exaggerated gasp.
“What so I’m not allowed to be outside of my shop? Just because I’m mostly busy inside doesn’t mean that I never got out! I quite like taking strolls around the city”
You only blink at his answer. You then turn back to continue walking home but immediately Eclipse calls you again. You hear him walking closer towards you.
“Don’t you need help with those? Surely you aren’t going to walk to the city gate and outside carrying all those by yourself?”
“I am capable of doing this myself thank you-”
“Oh just let me”
Before you could protest more Eclipse already took your stuff and carried them with his two lower arms. You crane your head up to glare at him.
“Give them back”
“No~ I’ll carry them for you. Just lead the way”
“I’m not showing you the way to my house”
“Oh sure it’s not like practically everyone in this city knows who lived in that tower just outside the walls”
You feel a strong urge to strangle this giant robot. Though you doubt he’d feel it and it’s not like you want to attempt climbing this thing today and be a spectacle to the onlookers. No that would be embarrassing and you’re sure it would never live down.
“Fine. But I’m not going to invite you in”
“That’s alright. After all we haven’t even gone on a first date yet”
“You- What first date-!?”
You hit his waist (that’s the highest you could reach on him) before turning and storming off in the direction of the gate nearest to your tower. You hear Eclipse’s chuckle as he follows you like a butler to his lord.
As the two of you walk he fills the air with questions about you and whatever your tastes and preferences are for different topics. You only answered curtly but it never deterred him in the slightest. Whenever he asks something a bit personal you would ignore him for a while before he changed the question to another one. When the two of you reach a certain distance from the gate and closer to your tower he asks you to stop.
“What?”
“May I ask you something dear?”
“You’ve been doing so the whole trip but sure”
He suddenly leaned down to get his face as close to yours as possible. You were surprised and wanted to step back to put some distance but one of Eclipse’s arms circled around you to prevent it. He stared at you straight in the eyes with his blazing red-orange pupils that felt like it’s burning through you.
“Is your sister gifted?”
You froze in place.
“What”
Your voice came out weak. Eclipse didn’t wait for you to continue asking.
“Gifted, blessed or whatever it is- She has visions doesn’t she?”
How did he find out? You never told anyone else. Your aunt and uncle never told anyone. Your sister rarely spoke to anyone outside the tower. It couldn’t be that the dream revealed your family’s secret could it?
“How did you even come to that conclusion?”
You narrowed your eyes in suspicion.
“How else if not for that dream she had? I heard about a hunter dying due to wild animals in the woods. Everyone has been talking about how horrifying the state of his body was”
Eclipse spared a glance down at your attire before looking back up at you with his permanent grin- though this time it felt like he’s actually grinning.
“And from your clothes I’m assuming you attended the burial didn’t you? Whyever would you do that? Were you close to him? No you aren’t. You rarely come down from your tower unless necessary. You don’t even have any friends around the city”
How did he even know that? Is he going around asking about you or something? Is he stalking you? Eclipse continued to talk as if not caring about your expression changing significantly more worried.
“So ‘Witchy’... Have any particular reason to attend? Feeling guilty perhaps?”
You finally found some strength and pushed yourself out of his grasp. You quickly ran past a few trees and straight to your towers. Screw the groceries. You just don’t want to see his face any longer. Your eyes sting from staring at his glowing ones for too long (and maybe from something else as well).
Your sister definitely heard you slamming the door and barricading it from the sound of it echoing up. You didn’t care right now. You feel exhausted as you finish taking all the steps up towards the highest point of the tower- your room. Sometimes you wonder why you continue to live in the tower with how much it makes you go up and down on a daily basis but then remind yourself that this is the price for self-isolation.
You didn’t come out until it was morning and your sister knocked on your door asking if you bought the dream bottles on the dining table. You were confused on what she meant but when you saw your kitchen you were even more so.
Your groceries that you left with Eclipse were there. On the dining table were two dream bottles- adult size you assume from the significant difference from the smaller ones you got for your sister a few days ago. And then the letter next to them.
You quickly snatched it and ripped the envelope open. The penmanship was good in your opinion (definitely better than your own writing). It had no opening or anything. It was just a simple message with a signature on the bottom but you knew who the sender was. Who else is a “Dream Lender” if not him?
“I hope you and your sister enjoy some beautiful dreams instead of nightmares this time.
Also please lock your windows. You might not be so lucky to have me be the one entering your tower next time.
-Your Friendly Neighborhood Dream Lender”
You were horrified as you stared at the kitchen’s window. It was closed but the curtains were drawn and you could see the latch not being locked in its place. You’re going to check all the windows and lock them tightly before sleeping from now on.