Galmon

We moved back in silence.

I wanted to console Sanakia, but I couldn't. I was quite plainly too angry for it.

No, that wasn’t quite it. Perhaps the more apt term was: Overwhelmed.

There was so much going on these past four days that I was exhausted, both mentally and physically. I needed help.

Maybe I should ask one of the girls?

Yeah, scratch that. I doubt I get any help from the three. And Femto isn’t even in consideration. That leaves Fisti. Fisti is the most sane out of the bunch, perhaps she can help me.

Once we made it back to my dorm room there was yet another unknown and very beautiful young lady standing in front of the door. She wore a classic black and white maid uniform and gave of a very professional appearance.

“Welcome back, Master Beta”, the maid said while bowing. “Would you kindly allow me...”

Oh, hell no.

“No”, I said firmly. “I don’t care.”

“I believe there is a mis...”

“Now listen here!”, I said, bopping her nose with my index finger for extra emphasis. “I don't care if you work for the mob, the church or the freaking devils! I am so done with all this!”

The maid merely looked at me with a polite smile so I pushed the tip of her nose a bit further. That got her to move aside.

I quickly ushered Sanakia inside and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Finally, I allowed myself to take a deep breath.

“My, someone's rather frustrated.”

“I don't want to hear it, Beatrice.” I groaned loudly.

“Fine, Fine”, the ex-witch shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to her apparently still ongoing card game with Cassandra. At the very least it looks like the huntress sobered up a bit. Oh, and Femto was nowhere to be seen.

Good.

“Someone take care of Sanakia”, I said before asking Fisti to join me in the second bedroom.

Cassandra wolf whistled, while I tried very hard to not turn her into the dorm’s new toilet.

“Ya look tired”, Fisti commented and after another deep breath I quickly told her what had happened.

“That lavvy-heided wankstain!”, Fisti roared in rage. “Never liked the fancy tosser from the start, but what a rotten bawbag. A fine thing ya kept Sanakia. Ya should have bashed his nasty ead in a second time!”

“So, about Sanakia…”, I started trying to stir the conversation into a less bloodthirsty direction. “I want to help her, but...with everything that is going on. What can I do?”

“Alright”, Fisti began, taking a deep breath to calm herself down. “Why don't ya just command her to transfer the feelings she had for that arsepiece towards ye?”

Oh yeah.

I forgot that Fisti can be pretty insane as well.

Naturally, I balked at the suggestion “I...I can't do that! That would basically be brainwashing!”

Fisti was not impressed by my moral misgivings. “So what? You’ve seen here. The lass’s barely alive right now. Ya can make her get better with a simply command.”

“Imagine I would make you forget your feelings for Sylphid”, I countered. “And made you admire me instead. How would you feel about that?”

Fisti looked like she wanted to punch me for the mere suggestion, but it did make her pause. “That..ah…” she fumbled for a bit. “That’s not the same!”

“Isn’t it?”

“Lady Sylphid is a beautiful, strong, kindhearted and all around amazing woman! She can’t even be brought up in the same sentence with that wispy heared, leather-faced, bawbag-eyed, huffy wee fuckbumper!”

Well, Sylphid has some minor flaws, her burning desire to **** all of us for example. But I felt bringing that up would not be particularly conductive to this conversation. “But you get my point, right?”

Fisti sighed, huffed and punched the wall a few times. “Alright, ugghh! Crud, guh! Fine, look. I…” She seemed to suddenly be somewhat hesitant. “Sanakia, she’s a Galmon, ya know?”

Yes, I figured that out by now.

“Galmons are not humans, they are...ya know...monsters."

I wasn’t sure I liked where this conversation was going.

“I’m not saying they´re all evil or anything!”, Fisti quickly defended herself. “Ya spend time with Aiju. Ya know what I mean.”

I guess.

Aiju wasn’t the only Galmon I had experience with either. To put it harshly, they have a one track mind, usually dominated by a single character trait. They are also very stubborn and can’t deal with rejection at all. “What are you getting at?”

“Sanakia probably just latched on to that golden colored cockwomble as part of her character. A part that can easily be replaced. Nothing more to it, really.”

This felt utterly wrong to me. Aiju and Sanakia don't deserve to be treated as some lesser beings.

“All I know”, Fisti continued. “Is that Sanakia will be miserable until she gets a replacement. Ya have the ability to make her happy. Isn't the correct choice obvious?”

“That sounds more like something Beatrice would say”, I remarked. “Perhaps leaving you alone with her was a mistake.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”, Fisti huffed while folding her arms. “Nice to know that me help’s appreciated!”

“That wasn't what I...” I shifted somewhat awkwardly. “I understand what you are saying, Fisti. Your logic is sound, it's just...this is a huge deal. And honestly? I'm terrified of making the wrong choice.”

Fisti's features softened a bit at that. “I get it. Well, it's not a decision ya need to make right now. I keep an eye on her and the rest of the lasses. Why don't ya get some rest?”

“Thanks, Fisti.” I smiled. “I appreciate it.”

Fisti gave a quick nod and left and I let myself down on the bed.

It was quiet. Just as with the main room there seemed to be some magic noise canceling going on. I heard nothing from the girls.

This was really the first time I was alone again after my first night, huh?

I closed my eyes.

A lot has happened. So much in fact that it appears I just keep pushing things to the wayside. Perhaps this was fine, I was here for the tournament after all and to get enough money to find my sister. I should concentrate on my main objective.

I was getting close. One more win was all it takes to reach the 10.000 Gold coins I require. Of course even then I wasn't quite out of the woods. I would still have to keep fighting until I lost.

But still, reaching that all important milestone will be massive.

Winning the next fight. That was all I should care for. It certainly won’t be an easy feat. Sylphid will be in the finals for starters. And Minerva as well. I don’t fancy my chances against either of them. I definitely do not have the luxury to get distracted.

...

Was that really fine?

There was the matter with Ojou-sama to be wary about. And Femto seems to pop in here whenever she pleases. She acts jovial enough but who’s to say she doesn’t still harbor a grudge against me?

And of course “she” was always on the back of my mind. I might very well face her in the next match.

In comparison, the issue with Sanakia seemed downright trivial. I could tackle it right away. The girl was...devastated. And that was despite the fact that the Safety Orders should already have an affect on her mental stability. I can change that. But isn't that wrong? Is it? Aren't I using my own morals as an excuse here? No. Morals aren't such a simple concept that you can abandon them at one's own convenience. But Sanakia is suffering!

My head was spinning in circles. This will achieve nothing. I got up again.

I would confront the issue with Sanakia head on. No matter how difficult it might be.

I stared at the door.

Once I went through there I will have to make a tremendously difficult decision. Will I influence Sanakia’s mind or not? This is not something I can take lightly. It might very well influence how I will live my life from this point onward.

I steeled myself and opened the door.

…

..

.

“My Looooooord!”

Sanakia was in front of me, kneeling reverently. “Please allow me to serve you!”

I blinked a couple of times.

Ok.

What is going on?

I looked at the rest of the girls. Beatrice and Cassandra where snickering while a finally awake Aiju stared daggers in my direction. Fisti was just shrugging her shoulders.

Lovely.

“Weeelll...”, began Bea with that sickly, smug voice of hers. “We just told the brave, little knight here a bit about your heroic exploits. You know, how you defeated a slaver, tricked a devil and even got the great witch of miracles Beatrice to help you out. And we also told her how you are in this tournament to bring freedom and justice to the continent.”

Cassandra seemed to barely be able to contain her laughter while Fisti gave me a “Told ya so”, look.

Which was still preferable to Aiju who seemed to plot either me or Sanakia's demise. And since I am the only one of us that has balls to crush, I was very worried.

“My Lord!”, the girl grovelling at my feet repeated again. “Please allow me the honor to serve as your squire! I swear I will never bring shame to you!”

Well, I suppose sometimes life just makes the choices for you.