What It Means To Be Her Dog

"Umm… I don't really know what's going on… but I promise I'll keep my mouth shut… so um…"

Teiran and Nero were resting on a shaded clearing, looking over Avyzhia, who was sleeping peacefully under a tree. A small Rheal and another boy were looking after her as they had fun putting flowers around her. 

"You're not thinking of leaving, are you?" Teiran looked at Nero coldly.

Of course, Nero is thinking that. Who would want to be acquainted with a crazy mass murderer?

"Zhia spared you, but I guess I have no choice but to finish the job myself. I can't leave witnesses, after all." Teiran took out a dagger, and immediately, Nero shook his head. Forgetting all his intentions of escaping. "Hmph! I thought so."

"B-But… I-I don't want to be her dog…" Nero timidly admitted. He knows that he's a wuss, but he can't just let himself be someone's slave. Not again. "...not when I just barely managed to be my freedom back." He whispered the last last, although Teiran heard it clearly.

The older man sighed, making Nero flinched. If a rampaging demon was scary, what more of the person who can control her?

"I know what Zhia said, but don't take it literally. That's not what she meant when she said that you're her dog." Teiran thought about it for a bit. "No, actually, in a sense, it is."

"Then… um… "

"Look, it's not like I'm just going to make you do it for free. I know it's risky. So if there's anything you want, just tell me. Money? Treasure? Skills? I can even get you connections."

"N-No… I don't really…" Nero isn't materialistic. Nothing Teiran can offer would really appeal to him.

"I can even make you so strong, enough that you'll never feel like you've lost your freedom." Except maybe that. "I don't know what your story is, but based on my experience, people who're aiming to become Demon Blades wanted freedom more than anything else. Zhia is the same."

Right, freedom. If there's anything that Nero desperately wants, it's something that he didn't have for most of his life. 

Nero pondered on the idea for a bit as he looked over where Avyzhia was. The kids were giggling happily beside her that no one would ever guess what she was doing just hours before. Maybe it wouldn't be too bad being with her. 

Besides, he doesn't really have anything to lose. All he's got is his life, and with how things are looking, if he doesn't accept the offer this man will just kill him himself. 

"Can you really do that?"

"I can." Teiran responded seriously. "I can make you so strong that you won't ever be restrained by anything."

"I just… want to be free and never lose anyone again." The feeling of being left behind by the people he holds dear is something he never wants to experience again.

Teiran stared at him, somehow sympathizing.

"Whatever it is you want to use that strength for, is your business. As long as it doesn't affect Avyzhia, I don't really care. Now then, it's settled then."

Nero nodded slowly. "So, um… what exactly should I do?"

"You'll be her dog, of course."

"W-What? But you just said- "

"What I mean is that you'll be someone who'll look after her."

"Look after her? Does she even need someone like that?"

Zhia is strong enough to overpower two whole guilds, after all.

"She may be strong, but she's practically indifferent about anything else." Teiran sighed. "A day will come when she won't be able to keep her bloodlust in check, not that I think she even wants to." 

"So… I'll be cleaning after her."

"Something like that." 

Nero swallowed. 

"Anyway, the end goal is to have her enter a guild with strong people who can keep her in check."

"There's a guild like that?"

"Not yet, but I'm helping someone to build one. It will take a while, so you have to look after her until then."

"I-I understand." Can he even do it, though? Just thinking about the days ahead and looking after that psychopath is already making him want to back down.

"You don't have to be so nervous. She's not like that all the time." Teiran shrugged. "As long as you keep her away from people that she might potentially want to target, she'll stay as the normal Avyzhia you first met."

"Um… I don't want to pry but… why is she like that? Is she possessed or did she go through a trauma or something?"

"...it's not like that. She's just going through something to be whole again."

Nero had no idea what he meant by that, but with how serious the man looked as he said it, he couldn't bring himself to ask further.

"Well then. That's about it. I didn't introduce myself yet, did I?"

Ah. Now that he thinks about it, Nero has yet to find out who this man is, and what's his relationship with Avyzhia. 

"My name is Teiran. And I'm Avyzhia's older brother."

"T-Teiran? That Hunter Teiran?" Nero gasped. Isn't he the Hunter who had been making a name by solo-hunting down boss monsters? Even a newbie Thief like him heard about Teiran. He's that famous.

"I don't really know what you mean, but I'm the only Teiran who is also a Hunter that I know of." Teiran replied nonchalantly, obviously indifferent to his reputation.

Wow. To think he's been talking to someone like him this whole time.

"For now, we need to get the two of you strong enough so that you can enter the guild we're building."

"You said she's your sister, can't you just let her in when the time comes?"

"It's not as simple as that. Zhia is strong and she'll only get stronger, but Avyzhia is just above average at most. When the time comes, it'll be dangerous to stay in a guild full of people not in her level."

"Zhia? Avyzhia?" Why is Teiran addressing her like two different people? Didn't he just say that she's not possessed?

"Ah. Right. It's just something that I do to cause less confusion. You'll catch on quick enough, don't worry."

"O-Okay…"

Suddenly Teiran became silent, lost in his own thoughts. Nero on the other hand still felt so overwhelmed by this sudden turn on events.

"Um… You said you're her brother," Who also seems to have a huge siscon. "...but why are you just trusting her to a stranger like me?"

"Don't get me wrong. I don't just you at all." Teiran said bluntly. "But Zhia is a good judge of character. And I trust her. I don't know what she saw in you, but she trusts you too. That's the only reason why we're here."

"..."

To be someone trusted like this. It's a good feeling, isn't it? Nero never had anyone who relied on him before.

"And just in case you suddenly start thinking something funny, just remember who you'll be dealing with." Teiran glared at Nero coldly. Yup, definitely a siscon.

~}xxx@xxx{~

Back to the present, Nero knew a big one was coming when the Clone-Zhia gave him that sinister smile. He did his best to brace himself, but even then, he barely managed to fend off her attacks. Especially since he still has to protect Star behind him.

"Try your best, Neochie-poochie. You asked for it!" Clone-Zhia laughed maniacally as she continued to bombard Nero with attacks at incredible speed. 

Dheyniz and the others couldn't even see anything. Everything is just a blur to them, and once again, they couldn't help but be amazed at how agile Demon Blades are. The more incredible one is the Clone-Zhia, who looks like she's slowly getting the upper hand. And to think Nero was considered one of the strongest Demon Blades in Emblem.

Star also tried his best to give Nero support through buffs, although there's a limit to what he can do. After all, he has to conserve as much mana as he can to be able to use the Songfroid Hymn at the max level later.

And as if, he wasn't already struggling enough, several Clone-Zhias slowly headed in their direction and looked like they were about to join the fun. 

Meanwhile, it's not just Nero's group that is in an urgent situation.

The rest of the guild could also barely defend against their invisible attackers. Even Duram is slowly losing his footing. The Clone-Zhias are so good at evading that the others can't just randomly attack either, for fear that they'll just cause unnecessary casualties in return. 

"What~ now~ baldy~ ?" Zhia's voice taunted Duram in a sing-song voice. "For someone who was insolent enough to try and manipulate me, you're actually nothing." 

"You still did it, didn't you?" Despite her hostility, Duram knew that Zhia still did what he had intended her to do. 

Zhia's voice sighed. "Unfortuantely, yes. The dude got on my nerves. So even though I didn't want to, I had to finish him."

"Then it's all worth it." Duram smiled in satisfaction. 

Zhia clicked her tongue. The temper she barely managed to keep is check is slowly surfacing again.

"You're happy? Right. Let's see how long you can keep feeling that, when the person you cared for the most is put in danger because of you." The lingering maliciousness in her tone told Duram she was not done just yet.

Duram's eyes darted here and there until it finally landed on Star and the others.

"Shit!"