Day: 1217

Days Left: 4263

Lives Saved: 6

Resolved, Queen Corinna swapped with her golem doppelganger and forced herself to talk to each candidate before the party ended. Prince Fiorenzo and Princess Natasa's duel was still ongoing, and they had somehow moved it to the royal gardens; only a few bothered to watch, especially as both duelists were exhausted yet too stubborn to call it a draw.

The queen looked around the ballroom, catching sight of any candidates that she had yet to speak to; Councillor Triggs advised not to bother with them as their alliance would benefit the country little and were only invited out of courtesy, but Queen Corinna spoke to them nonetheless, most of them too scared to utter their own name. Even after the queen told them to relax, they only repeatedly apologised.

Then it finally came to Prince Elis, who was in the far corner of the ballroom alone, his fingers tapping on his arm nervously.

"May I introduce Your Majesty to..." Councillor Triggs scoured through her notes. "To..."

"Prince Elis," said the prince, bowing.

"Ah yes, my apologies," said Councillor Triggs, finally finding him in her database of marriage candidates. "Prince Elis is the twentieth in line to the throne-"

"Soon to be twenty-second in line," corrected the prince. "My older sister is having twins soon."

"Oh, do twins run in the family!" asked Sophia, then said aside to Queen Corinna, "you could have all your children in one go! Very convenient!"

"Yes, there are quite many twins in our family, and a set of triplets too," said Prince Elis. "However, having twins or other multi-births relies on the mother's genetics. I would not be able to father twins myself."

"You are not exactly selling yourself much, darling," said Sophia, noting his ill-fitting clothes.

"Oh, my apologies; I was just being honest." He cleared his throat and turned to the queen. "Well, not to brag, Your Majesty, but I can hold my breath underwater for two minutes without the aid of magic. And I can do the most impressive cartwheel you have ever seen!"

"Your Majesty," Councillor Triggs hushed aside to the queen. "I suggest we move on."

"We wish to see this 'impressive' cartwheel," said the queen.

Councilor Triggs and Sophia looked at her, the former in confusion and the latter amused, believing that her cousin was attempting to ridicule the prince.

Prince Elis himself was quiet for a moment, dumbfounded, then chuckled. "As Your Majesty wishes." He found an open space in the ballroom nearby and, as he promised, did a cartwheel, flourishing his arms afterwards like a professional gymnast, though in mockery. The other marriage candidates looked on in confusion, laughing or pitying the prince if he had to resort to cartwheels to impress the queen, as he was skilled in nothing else.

"That was indeed a cartwheel," said the queen, though she would perhaps not call it 'impressive'. Perhaps this was his plan, as he knew his chances; he did not mind doing something stupid for fun.

"As you can see, Your Majesty," he said as he returned to face her. "I have the necessary skill set to rule the country with you."

"How strong is your magical bloodline?" asked Councilor Triggs. Queen Corinna knew that the councillor already knew the answer written on the clipboard, but perhaps it was another way Triggs was attempting to move on to the next candidate.

"About average," replied Prince Elis, shrugging. "We're more known for our study in magic rather than our practice-"

"What's the use in studying something you cannot do?" asked Sophia.

"Working hard and studying often gives better results than those born talented. Motivation is the key to success and-"

"And what exactly are you implying?" huffed Sophia, wafting her fan aggressively.

"I apologise, Your Highness; I did not imply any offence if any was taken."

"No, you are saying you are better than us, is that it?"

"Once again, I apologise; that was not what I meant." Prince Elis cleared his throat, his fingers tapping the side of his thigh. "I was merely saying that studying hard is the key to success, and with enough discipline, anyone can be a powerful mage-"

Sophia burst into laughter, catching everyone in the ballroom off guard. Councillor Triggs also chuckled, failing to compose herself out of politeness.

"Oh, sweetie, you cannot possibly believe that!" Sophia cooed with forced pity. "Do you really think you could ever reach the levels of those born with such gifts? No matter how much they study, I doubt anyone could ever be as powerful as my cousin. Our bloodline sets us above the rest from when we first develop magic. We were more powerful at the age of ten than most common mages, and now as adults, there is little competition. With a single wave of her hand, Her Majesty could control half of the room to do her bidding!"

Prince Elis let out a long heavy sigh, then turned to face Queen Corinna. "Your Majesty, am I right to assume that you will be looking to keep this strong magical bloodline?"

"Of course!" Sophia answered before the queen could respond. "Having an heir was the whole reason for all of this! How can our citizens ever respect or follow a ruler with such weak magic?"

"Then Your Majesty must know," said Prince Elis, still looking at the queen and ignoring Sophia. "That I have relatives that possess little to no magical powers."

"There are non-mages amongst the royal family!" gasped Couciler Triggs, despite already knowing this, and it was likely a forced shock response.

"Yes, and thus any heir of mine also has a chance of a weak connection to magic or even being born with no magic."

"Again, not selling yourself, darling," cooed Sophia. She looped her arm through her cousin's. "Let's move on to the next one." And then she dragged Queen Corinna away, with Councilor Triggs following behind, who crossed Prince Elis off the list without an order.

Queen Corinna glanced behind and saw the prince crouched on the floor, arms crossed, his fingers tapping quickly as he grumbled something to himself.

*

"Oh, Henry!" sang a voice from outside of the tent.

Henry Best recoiled from the sound, instantly retreating away, but it was impossible due to the ropes binding him by his wrists and ankles.

The flap to the tent lifted, and in walked Karina with a small bowl of food and a metal canister of water. "Oh, Henry, you don't seem that happy to see me," she cooed in feigned sadness. She placed the food and water on the ground, then grabbed Henry's face, her nails digging into his cheeks. "Come on, where's that lovely smile?"

Henry smiled as much as his pride could muster, but Karina continued to grip his jaw, turning it forcibly upwards.

"My, how interesting technology and magic have advanced," she said, her fingers scratching Henry's beard. "Isn't it weird how you can just have a beard now? And it feels so real too." She tilted Henry's face further up, squishing his cheeks and lips into an undignified image. "I wonder what else they can do now?" Karina glanced down, reached out her hand and-

The pixie in the glass lantern rattled inside, knocking her hands against the cage, her kaleidoscopic wings flapping frantically and making a sharp twinling noise.

"Shut it!" Karina thwacked the glass lantern, which swung violently on the rope it hung from. The pixie inside was thrown about, screaming in her high-pitched twinling shriek, numerous bruises forming on her tiny, frail body.

Karina's focus snapped back to Henry. "Time for your food and water." She picked up the bowl of food and a spoon. "Now, what do we say?"

Henry looked down; head bowed in silence.

"What do we say?" Karina repeated with underlying malice.

Swallowing, Henry mumbled, "please, can I have some food and water?"

"What was that? I can't hear you!" Karina forced Henry's face up to look directly at her.

"Please, can I have some food and water!" Henry pleaded through gritted teeth.

Karina proceeded to shovel food down Henry's throat; the meal had been cold for a while and was just a sickening sludge. Then she poured the water bottle in one go, resulting in Henry coughing and spluttering the majority of it up.

"Oi!" Karina slapped Henry across the face leaving his cheek a stinging red. "No wasting water!" After berating Henry further about how precious water was and how lucky he was to receive any, Karina did her usual reading of Henry's notebook, reading his memories in a mock children's presenter's voice. Once satisfied with the mortification she had dealt out, Karina gave Henry one final kick in the ribs and then left the tent.

So dehydrated and famished, just one kick was enough for Henry to keep over in pain, with no strength to keep himself up.

After a long sigh, regaining a small semblance of energy, Henry looked up to the glass lantern where the pixie, his fellow prisoner, was encaged.

"Thank you," he managed to mumble out. "Are you okay?"

The pixie smiled and nodded, though Henry could see her body shaking and bruised.

He heard laughter outside and music. Through a small gap in the tent, Herny saw his captors dancing and clapping as a few hit stones with sticks like makeshift drums, singing a song that Henry was unfamiliar with. In the centre of it all was Fern, the woman now known as Terra, upstaging everyone with her superior dance moves. Henry could not understand how she could have such a gleeful smile. The woman he had met and talked to, both Fern and Terra, seemed like such a caring person despite their brief interactions. How could she, or any of them in this group, just be okay with having two prisoners and torturing them? But perhaps this world could make anyone callous and cold to others' suffering as long as they survived.

If only he could talk to Terra, to tell her that she used to be Fern and managed to escape from here. Despite everything, Henry still felt like she should know. He would want to know who he used to be and his notebook of memories was more focused on his family than himself. All he knew about himself was his profession, resulting in his capture. What if he was the type of person to be okay with having prisoners? To kill people? He was here for murder, so why did he kill? What sort of person was he?

Attempting to focus on something else so he won't spiral into a self-identity crisis, Henry looked to the pixie in the glass lantern cage. "I just realised that I don't know your name. We've been fellow prisoners for... I don't know how long now. I'm Henry Best."

The pixie glanced away.

"What's wrong? Do you not know your name?"

The pixie bit her bottom lip and shook her head.

"Would you like a name?"

Perking up, the pixie smiled and gently nodded.

"What would you like me to call you?"

After a moment of deliberation, the pixie pointed at Henry.

"You want me to name you?"

The pixie nodded.

Henry proceeded to list some names, with the pixie giggling with a twinkling sound at the more silly ones, then finally settled on the name Nia.

The now-named pixie Nia clapped her tiny hands together in glee, swirling around in the lantern cage.

Henry's mood soured as he saw how little space she had in that lantern. For as long as he knew her, he had never seen her outside or been given food or water. "How long have you been imprisoned, Nia?"

Nia sat down and shook her head.

"Why do they have you imprisoned?"

Nia pointed at herself, then at the gap in the tent to their captors.

"Were you originally part of the group?"

The pixie nodded.

"And what happened?"

Nia hesitated, then pointed to the back of her neck.

"Because of your crime?"

She shook her head, repeated her previous action and then pointed up.

"Oh..." Henry paused. "You... you're supposed to be free right now..."

The pixie gazed up at the ceiling of the tent.

Henry swallowed, then hushed, "we'll try and get out of here, you and me."

Nia winced, forcing a smile but was obviously not hopeful. But, of course, she had been a prisoner for longer than Henry had.

"And then you'll be free, no longer in the Abyss."

The pixie shook her head, then cupped her face in her hands.

"Ah, your mask... you've been transformed for too long."

Nia nodded.

"Well, once you're able to turn back, then you'll be free, right? We just have to get out of here."

But if he escaped, he also had to retake his notebook from Karina. He needed those memories, especially to help him find his second cousin Corinna Warren, the name almost ruined by Karina, his cruel captor.

*

Later in the evening, Henry was dragged out of the tent; this happened on occasion when the leader of the Evil Eye, O'Sullivan, seemed counsel on his plans of conquering the Eternal Abyss. The Evil Eyes no longer had any problems with water and food, yet that still was not enough for O'Sullivan.

"We have complete control over this desert," said O'Sullivan pacing around and looking around his eager followers. "But it does not stop there! Enough of this flat wasteland! The endless sand and heat! It is time we move!"

His followers cheered, raising their weapons.

O'Sullivan glanced at Henry, sitting in the middle of the circle, his hands bound. "We will conquer the nearby grassland. Before, it was impossible, but with our little Henry here, that dream will become a reality. We will defeat the group inhabiting it, and it will become ours!"

Again, the followers cheered.

O'Sullivan leaning closer, hushed Henry, "you will help us, won't you?"

Henry swallowed. "They outnumber you, and their masks are-"

"Henry..." O'Sullivan smiled. "You're going to help us, aren't you?"

Hesitating, Henry nodded. Perhaps this was his chance to escape? With enough of their forces defeated after a failed attack, Henry and Nia could finally be free.

"And if it fails or you try to betray us..." O'Sullivan snapped his fingers, and Karina appeared carrying the glass lantern; inside Nia, the pixie banged on the glass, her screams drowned out by the cheering followers.

"Well," O'Sullivan continued. "It won't be you who pays the price. Is that understood, Henry?"

Henry nodded, his head bowed in defeat.

"Good boy."

Now motivated, Henry created a detailed map of the area that the enemy group inhabited, the knowledge coming out of nowhere. Henry himself had caught glimpses of the group as he had passed through the area and estimated their large forces, but this did not dissuade O'Sullivan.

"With the Land of the Lost and the drop-off so close together, this is the best place to settle," said O'Sullivan with a pleasing smile. "And the portal is nearby; we can gain new recruits."

After making the preparations, the Evil Eye group began to move out to their new base, ready for their conquest.

Day: 1226

Jules could not believe that almost a month had passed since he first infiltrated the group. Before the days would go by so slowly with nothing to do, the only exciting thing being a possible attack, but in this group, Jules had something to do each day, something to look forward to. Within this month, he saw the progress of the newly built house, the completion giving him an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. He had built that; he had accomplished that. And then there were all of the wooden nails he had carved and the rope he had plaited, such menial tasks and yet Jules somehow was not looking forward to returning to his old group-

Come on, Jules! They're just brainwashing you! Aren't they?

Annika said that this group was a danger to them all, but Jules saw and heard no signs of them being cannibals, rapists or plotting to attack their group. No, they were all kind and lovely people, almost like a family in how they acted and worked together. And in this family community, there were actual children. After a few days, Jules saw the imps in their true forms as young children. What were children doing in the Abyss? And how could a group that cared for children be evil?

Once he had made a believable excuse to leave, Jules left the campsite and headed to the usual meeting spot. Talon was already waiting for him in their raven form.

Upon his arrival, the raven puffed into a human, and Talon hopped off the tree branch.

"Here's your food," said Talon with a smirk, handing two pouches instead of the usual one and returning the goblin mask they had borrowed briefly.

Jules opened them; one contained the black hair of Kai, and the other was dry brown hair.

"That one's Kai's goblin form," explained Talon. "So you can transform for the blood moon."

"Ah, yeah, I forgot about that. Has it been that long?"

"Yep, about a month." Talon stretched their arms out. "But it'll come to an end soon."

Jules hesitated. "Why's that?"

Talon frowned in confusion. "Because you found out everything we need to know about them?"

"So, what's going to happen next?"

Talon shrugged. "That's for Annika to decide, I guess."

"Well, they're not a threat, so I think we just leave them be," said Jules. "But maybe I should stay a bit longer just in case. There's still some stuff I haven't learned how to do and-"

"You don't want to leave, do you?"

There was a moment of silence.

Jules opened and closed his mouth, unsure of how to reply. "No, I think there's much we can still learn before..."

Talon put their hands on their hips, tilting their head in disbelief.

"Okay, maybe... only because Calixte has been telling his story. I missed the first bit, but I want to hear the rest! He used to be the private piano tutor of a queen and- well, I don't know yet, but I reckon there's some sort of forbidden love and-"

Talon sighed. "I suppose I can try and persuade Annika to halt her plans, whatever they may be."

"Oh, thank you!"

"But not too long, you hear? That Kai will not shut up! We can't keep him prisoner forever!" Talon paused. "Do you want to stay here?"

"I..." Jules looked away. "I am not sure... at the very least, I want things to be different when I return. We may have everything, all the food and water and the Land of the Lost... but I still feel unfulfilled. What is the point in surviving here if we are not going to do anything with our lives?"

"I'll take it over starving." Talon shrugged.

"But these people eat less than us and yet do so much each day! They are working to make this place liveable, not just survivable! They have showers and a rounders pitch! They decorated their houses! They paint pictures and dress nicely! Their hair is always immaculate! They care about every little thing whilst all we do is laze around waiting for things to get better when we are free instead of making things better now!"

"So, you want us to do all that?"

Jules sighed. "We've got so many years left on our sentence. This is the time to do something with it when we have luxuries. We could learn new skills; we could build something here."

Talon bit their lip. "I don't know if everyone else will like this."

Jules scoffed. "That's because it requires effort. All they have to do is fight anyone who dares attack us in exchange for doing nothing all day." Jules smiled at Talon, pleading with his eyes. "Please, Talon, can you try to persuade Annika? We don't need to fight these people; we must learn from them."

Talon's face scrunched up. "I really hate being the messenger bird," they groaned. "But... I will try. I can't promise I'll succeed since Annika seems set on us wiping these guys out."

"Thank you," Jules sighed.