I took a deep breath. I don’t know why, but I had to laugh at that. I didn’t know what else to do. I knew Hero was popular with the other residents, but I didn’t know it had gotten this bad. Since when was Ruby.. like that? Also, why were they trying to force themselves on him? None of it made sense.

  “We need to find Sapphire, this is weird but not as important as stopping her before she respawns.” Hero said as he walked past me. He ignored the naked maids, but I noticed his eyes lingered on Ruby. I was so glad that witch was dead! Hero was mine! I may not fully understand what that meant. But it made me feel good to say it, so I did.

  We walked down the hall until we reached Sapphire's room. “Okay, are you ready? She might have already respawned and be like them.” Hero said as he looked at me. I cocked my bubble rifle and pointed it at the door.

  Hero grabbed my arm gently and tapped the door. We immediately appeared on the other side and I looked around with my gun up and ready to fire. Sapphire was sitting on her bed sobbing into her hands quietly. She had apparently respawned. I put my finger on the trigger,but Hero stopped me with a gentle squeeze.

  “Sapphire, talk to me. Are you okay?” His voice sounded slightly strained and he looked at me and mouthed “wait”

  Sapphire paused and looked up, seeing us both at the door. I tensed for her reaction. To my surprise, she looked fearful, not angry or upset. “Please” She said “Don’t kill me again! I promise I won’t hurt her.” She stood and walked around her bed before backing up to the wall. “I… I am just so confused. I am.. Feeling.. Things. it’s .. it's horrible. I came to you Hero because you're the only one I can trust.” She said with tears in her eyes.

  I froze at her words. They sounded.. Familiar.. Very familiar. Hesitantly, I asked a question. “Does.. does it feel like everything.. Is it real?” Sapphire looked at me with shock and nodded.

  “Exactly like that!” She said in surprise. She brought up her hand and ran it gently along the wall. “I… feel this wall. I feel my bed.. I felt…” Her eyes fell on Hero’s spear and she shivered.

  After a moment she continued. “But… that isn’t all, I also…” She put her hand to her chest and shook her head. Without saying another word, she looked away ashamed.

  I instantly understood what that meant. Slowly, I lowered my rifle and stepped forward. She flinched and I stopped. “Listen Sapphire, What you’re going through, I.. I went through it too. Maybe I can help you.” Sapphire took another step back against the wall and water started to form at the edges of the room and drip down.

  “S… ss…Stay back!” She said fearfully. “Or I’ll..” She trailed off as she saw the Hero. Then she simply collapsed against the wall and shook. I slowly took another step forward.

  When there was no response, I spoke again. “Sapphire, you don’t have to go through this alone. Hero and I can be here for you.”

  She suddenly lashed out and launched a spear of ice at me! I dodged to the side and it hit the wall behind me, shattering. I turned back and glared at her. She cowered even further and sobbed. “Please leave me alone! I need the Hero to save me!”

  “We both know I can’t do that Sapphire.” Hero suddenly said. His voice was full of sadness. “Alia is right, what’s happening isn’t.. It isn't normal. I am sorry you have been affected by it. But attacking her because you don’t understand isn’t right. You know better!”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Silence filled the room for a long moment before Sapphire slowly turned to me. She seemed to hesitate for a long moment before quietly asking. “What.. should I do.. Alia?”

  I smiled sadly at her. “That’s not the right question. Sapphire. You need to ask, "What do you to do?” The ghastly look on her face was fully expected. And I nodded in understanding. “I know, but trust me Sapphire, it’s the truth.”

  She turned to Hero and crawled onto her knees in a supplicant position. “Please Hero! Please! Tell me it’s not true! I am a good Princess!” She practically prayed to him. It was.. A little unnerving to watch.

  Silence once again filled the room. I looked over to Hero, but he just looked away uncomfortably. After a long moment, Sapphire crumpled into a ball and began sobbing again as the water in the corners began to drip faster.

  After another long moment, Hero spoke up. “Sapphire, I can’t help you. But you can help me.” The words caused Sapphire’s head to swivel so fast I thought she might have snapped her own neck. The water instantly stopped and she looked at Hero with hopeful eyes.

  “Sapphire, will you go on an adventure with me?” Hero asked solemnly. He looked unhappy at asking, which made me wonder why he was… asking, I mean.

  Sapphire looked like she had just been told Hero wanted to sleep with her. She jumped up and nodded emphatically. “Of course Hero!” She said breathlessly. Hero simply nodded and turned to me. “Well, that handles that.. For now. We should figure out what’s going on outside.”

  With that he turned to leave the room, Sapphire rushing over to stand next to him. She was in such a rush she tripped and fell face first into the floor. She then held her nose and began to sob again. “Just heal yourself Sapphire!” Hero snapped. Sapphire calmed instantly and smiled as her water activated and her nose healed instantly.

  “Why should I go?” I said as I put my hands on my hips. Hero turned around and sighed. “Sapphire now too Alia, really?” He sounded annoyed and done. He simply turned around to leave but I fired at the door and he dodged to the right.

  “No, it's not about the needy Princess.” I said simply. “I want an apology. Earlier you called me a doll that only loved you because I was programmed to and I was nothing but a tool.” He stared at me in open mouth shock. “What!” I snapped at him. “You don’t have the right to insult me then act like nothing happened!”

  “Are.. Are we really doing this?!” He said after a moment before shaking his head. “I am not..” Before he could finish the sentence, I launched across the room and kicked him against the wall opposite of the door.

  “No, You don’t get to walk away after that.” I said seriously. I kept my bubble rifle pointed down, I wasn’t aiming to kill, only trap.

  “Hero!” Sapphire called out. I ducked and an ice spear flew over my head.. And stabbed Hero in the chest. I snorted as it hit him right in the heart. I twisted and kicked Sapphire hard in the stomach before rifle checking her on the head. She fell over unconscious, but not dead.

  Turning back to Hero as he pulled the icicle out. He smirked at me and stabbed himself in the head with it. Instantly, I readied myself. A moment later he spawned above me and I rolled to the side. He reached for the door. Before he could touch it I fired my rifle at the door again and he jerked his hand back.

  He turned to me and with a fake smile said. “I am sorry.” I raised an eyebrow. And shook my head.

  “I don’t believe you.” I said simply. “What are you sorry for?” His left eye twitched and he threw his summoned spear at me. I sidestepped it, but he tackled me to the ground as he resummoned it. I tried to impale me to the ground but I kicked him in the back of the head, then headbutted him when he came forward.

  The action threw him off balance enough that I was able to roll out from under him using judo to get on top. I pulled the dagger I had taken from Ruby's corpse and stabbed him in the right knee with it before throwing it out of his reach.

  We sat there like that for a long moment. Then he spit on me! He also tried to punch me, but I twisted his wrist and snapped it. I grabbed his left wrist that held his recalled spear and snapped that too. “Just apologize!” I said angrily. “It doesn’t have to be like this!”

  “Why do you care!” He yelled at me as he clenched his teeth and tried to headbutt me feebly. I sighed and gently forced his head down before leaning in and making eye contact. Gently, I kissed him on the lips before whispering in his ears. “Because I love you, and what you said hurt me.”