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Oh my Titan. What have I done…
My hands tremble as I see the bodies of the witches now lifeless. I hold their palismen in my hands.
They didn't deserve this. They didn't even fight back! They were receptive to Lord Belos' teachings.
I remember seeing how scared some of them looked too. Now they're all gone.
I want to run away, far far away, and save these poor palismen from the same fate as their witches. They didn't do anything either, they shouldn't have to die! Titan's sake, Lord Belos ought to try another way to handle his curse by now….
I start to wander off mindlessly, trying to not destroy myself with anxiety. Lord Belos will be here any moment. I know trying to escape is too risky but I can't help but imagine it working. I'd be free of doing Lord Belos' dirty work for once and for all and I wouldn't have to worry about my soul breaking apart from doing so many heinous things.
"Ah, Matthew. There you are."
Shit.
"L-Lord Belos! My apologies for my idleness!" I quickly fall to a knee, keeping the palismen close to me.
"Come inside now. We should get started on supper." His voice is smooth yet cold as it always is, lacking both malice and care.
"Yes sir," I say quickly as I follow him back to the caravan.
I place the palismen on a side table, still keeping the thought of somehow hiding them away in the back of my mind, before I start preparing supper for Lord Belos.
I hate to admit how tired I've grown of Lord Belos ordering me to do things for him. Especially small things like cooking meals. He claims it's so he has more time for important matters, but sometimes he just sits deep in thought.
"Here's your dinner, my Lord." I say as I head him a plate.
"Thank you, Matthew. Would you perhaps also bring over what you found for me today?"
I nod and bring over the palismen.
"Only three?"
"Many of the witches didn't have one, sir."
"I find that hard to believe, Matthew. Why don't you go check one more time?"
His voice has grown slightly bitter. I nod nervously as I go back over and grab the other two palismen.
"Thank you, Matthew. We sure make quite the team…"
"Yes, Lord Belos." My throat tightens as I watch him break open and consume the palismen.
It hurts to watch.