"Maritzia..." A distant voice calls out to me, coated in sorrow.
"My prince... won't you listen to me?"
"You know... all this time... I've been meaning to tell you this." Her voice falters slightly, as though ashamed.
"My prince... If the day ever comes, when you are able to hear these words, then I pray that you may find it in yourself to forgive me. ███ ███ █████ ███ ████ ████████ ██ ███ ██ ██████ ███████████ █ ██████████ ███████ ██████ ███ ████ ████ ███ ███ ████ █████ ████ █████ █████ ███ █████ ██ █████████"
A terrible feeling of dread washes over me, as her voice is obscured by the cacophony of ink-black rain, her unsung words sinking into a cruel, black sea, before the tides consume me, too.
...
It's always like this. Every so often, I'll have this dream.
The strangely familiar voice of a woman, always just out of view, calling out to me. She calls me a prince, her voice laced with guilt, as she confesses some great secret to me... that I may never hear.
As a kid, I thought it meant something special. Like the world was telling me some profound message... like, I'm destined for greatness. But nothing good ever comes from holding onto those sorts of delusions.
Maybe I really was a prince in a previous life, and I had some special purpose in life... maybe I was once the protagonist of a fairy-tale.
None of it matters to me anymore. None of it means anything.
I'm just... a nobody.
Born with no talent, no gifts, I just have to sit and watch as all the people around me leave me behind.
One day... one day I won't have anyone left. And then I'll be forced to face myself, as the worthless dreg that I am.
I'm always left blaming the world, and ultimately myself. It's pathetic, just how—
"Oiiii, Mariiiiiii!!~"
...
"Mari, wake uppp! Open the door alreadyyy, if you don't, I'm gonna bust it down myself!"
"W-wait, wait! I'm coming, I'm coming! Seriously, don't break my door down again!"
"Too late! Here comes Zephyr!"
With an ear-piercing rumble, and a flash of brilliant light, my poor door, already covered in a dozen wooden patches, has once again been murdered. Then comes a bright, green blur, leaping onto my bed and crashing into me.
"Morning, Mari! Did you sleep well?"
"... No."
The little green bug currently wrapped tightly around me, threatening to break my spine, is Zephyr Monacus, a childhood friend. Believe it or not, she's actually one of the most feared beings in the world, known as a Witch.
'Witches' are those who have been hand picked from birth by Loathestars, living stars that house the myriad aspects of reality. It is said that upon entering a covenant with them, you are given both a Blessing, the power to rule over the world, and a Curse, the weight of that power.
Even among the Witches, the truly powerful, the eight who have proved themselves to the world, are recognised as Sovereigns, those who stand at the apex of existence. They are the free, unshackled by the laws of the world, and most importantly... they're given access to the archives of reality itself.
Zephyr, the Windswept Witch, is actually one of the closest to attaining Sovereignty, of all other Witches.
And yet... she chooses to hole up in my basement, living rent-free in my home just to bug me day after day.
"Hey, hey, Mari! Are you even listening to what I'm saying? I'm, like, really hungry! Make me food!" She exclaims as she sits cross-legged on my lap, grinning and swaying side to side like some doll.
...
"When are you gonna learn to cook for yourself, Zephyr?" I ask whilst repeatedly swatting her hand away from my nose.
"What?! You're really so funny, Mari! Why would I ever need to do that when I have you, silly?"
...
Well, it's not like I dislike having her around, despite everything. She's still my childhood friend, after all... I'm glad she still even cares about me... I don't know what I'd do without her.
Though... I do wish she'd be a little bit more independent. And maybe actually go outside for once.
"Well, thanks for interrupting my brooding. I can't really be asked to cook, so let's just have leftovers from yesterday."
"Whaaaaaaaat?~ Leftovers?? No way... you can't expect me to eat those! Zephyr is a growing girl!" She whines, shaking me violently by the shoulder, her long, forest green hair flowing down her waist like a gentle breeze.
"You're nineteen now, Zephyr. There is no growing left to do."
"Wait, seriously? I'm gonna be short forever!? N-No... but... but I'm still shorter than Kyarma from when we were kids!"
...
Kyarma, huh. Haven't seen her in a while.
✽
Far away, atop a great, silver tower threatening to pierce the very heavens, a lone girl with deep pink hair lies wounded, bleeding out on the floor.
Huff... huff...
"Ah... Maritzia... I want to see you... right now..."
She barely manages to pull a large, silver arrow out from her heart, struggling to move, or even breathe, as deep, crimson blood sprays over her, painting her pale face.
"It's okay... I promised you... that I'd see you again... and... and I don't ever plan on breaking that promise..."
"So wait for me, Maritzia."
She mutters to herself weakly, as a colossal, silver wolf slowly opens its bloodied maw agape, before slamming down, crushing the girl's head. Her body immediately goes limp, like a puppet with its strings cut, as the beast feasts upon her still corpse.