A New Frame

We're surrounded by hungry Atasaias that want to eat my daughter. See? This is exactly what I was talking about!

"Why don't both of you share it with us?" their seems-to-be-leader says. He is very fat, having three chins below his mouth. His bald head looks like a thumb.

"She is not for sharing," Nisha says. "nor for eating."

They laugh at us and I'm getting fed up. I pull out my gun and all of them answer by drawing theirs. Guns point at me as well as bows, swords, and spears. If I shoot, a hundred-fold will come back right at me.

"Think again," he says. "Give it to us and we'll leave you without bleeding holes."

"No," I say. "I'm pretty sure we'll settle this without violence and all you will leave us three alone."

"Trying to be tough now are ya? You two may have killed Carmilla but we would've done it a long time ago if she didn't have control over us. We're the ones setting the terms here, boy." He pokes my forehead with the muzzle of his shotgun. "Take it from them," he says to his lackeys.

Three of them approach Nisha and try to grab Helena. I want to act but this fat prick is holding me back.

"Don't touch her!" Nisha growls, baring her fangs as she holds Helena too tight.

I want her to be gentle but it's not her fault. She's just keeping her away from those idiots. What do I do? Can I save them before I die? And how sure am I that they can escape even after I sacrifice myself?

They are still going about it and hitting her everywhere, mostly on her face and back but she keeps Helena out of harm's way. All of that shoving and hitting makes Helena cry. I'm so pathetic, just standing here doing nothing!

That's it, I'd rather die than—

*Squeal*

My ears! Woah!

I get launched away along with the other Atasaias by a pink shockwave emanating from Nisha and Helena. What is this power? Was that from my daughter?

As soon as I hit the ground, I waste no time and open fire and killed seven of them. I reload, running for cover in a small fissure. Sand and gravel shower on me as their bullets hit the ground. I'm pinned down in here as they just keep firing until I hear screams of anguish along with flesh and bones against hardened steel.

I take a peek and Nisha is slaying them with ease although carrying Helena in one arm. Both of them are surrounded by a pinkish barrier that stops incoming bullets. Helena's horns are glowing intensely. I'm confused as the Atasaias are.

"What is this?!" they roar in discombobulation.

This is my chance to take them out while they're distracted. I take aim at their fat leader and eliminated him with a bullet in the back of his head. Before they could act, I shoot at the remaining ones. Those who are fleeing, I let them go.

Helena is crying uncontrollably and gets louder and louder. The barrier is expanding too and the ground below them is being erased.

"What is happening?!" I shout at Helena.

"I don't know!"

She's trying hard to calm her down but it doesn't work. Maybe if I hold her, she will. I push against the barrier, forcing myself in. It's futile. Nothing can come in and out of this thing!

"Helena!" I shout but the rumbling noise and swirling wind are too loud. I keep trying anyway. "Papa's here! It's okay now!"

Nisha shows her to me but I think she can't see me from this distance. Babies can't see this far. All I could do is shout. Her eyes are squinted as she cries, her tears flow like streams, and her toothless gums are showing.

"Helena, I'm here!" I keep shouting. Then she calms down a little. The barrier becomes smaller. "Let me in, come on. It's okay." I think she can hear me.

The buff we share is now activated because I'm near. She senses my presence. Finally, I can touch her as the barrier disappears. I cradle her in my arms until her crying is reduced to sobbing.

"Poor baby," I say.

"Here," says Nisha, putting the baby bottle to pacify her.

It's over now. She's calm closing her eyes and wanting to sleep. On the ground, I sit and catch my breath. Nisha stoops down in front of us.

"She has powers," she remarks with astonished eyes.

"I saw that," I state the obvious.

"You have a gifted daughter."

"She's the Rave Queen's daughter so I'm not surprised. Anyway, we should get out of here now."

"Right, but how?"

We don't have a boat. I'm the only one who can fly but my wings aren't that powerful. What option do we have? Swim? No, don't be ridiculous. Helena will get cold. I look back to the ruins of the castle where giant bats are flying above it. That reminds me. . . I have Carmilla as a Frame now.

I summon it from my inventory.

"Is that Carmilla's Frame?" Nisha asks.

"It is," I confirm. "Can you hold Helena for me?"

After that, I switch Algron's Frame with Carmilla's. Her memories flash before my eyes. Her life was nothing but struggle, pain, and agony. Thousands of years were spent on nothing but spitefulness and bitterness.

Before she became an Atasaia, her dream was to revive her kind when she tried to partake in the Divine Trinity Quest to find the Eternal Blood Chalice. The people who came with her were her friends Morana and Jacob. The three of them were considered to be the strongest so their people rooted for their success.

They carried on with pride. That is until they reached the "Tenth Ring"—the outermost area where everyone who wanted to reach the Edge of Shannia shall pass first. It was unforgiving. The first monster they encountered was an ape. Their battle was so chaotic as the ape was unnaturally strong. It took a lot from them to defeat it including Jacob's life. Carmilla weakened and said that they should just return. However, Morana didn't want to. She said that they shouldn't let Jacob's death be in vain.

A more powerful group of Frame users ganged up on them. Carmilla escaped but at the cost of Morana's life. She returned traumatized and ashamed to show her face to her people. Soon, everyone knew what happened and all of them went back to centuries of melancholy. Their only concern was to survive with the remaining Anthropic Blood.

When it finally happened—the complete depletion of their sustenance, people began to die like flies. It was either because of starvation or suicide. Carmilla, however, thought of an idea.

She crossed the vast ocean to get to the land of the Daemons. At this time there were only tribes and the population wasn't that dense. A little boy strayed into the dark shrubs she was hiding.

I don't want to describe what she did next but all I can say is that it was her first taste of Daemon flesh. Although she wanted to vomit, she forced her body to digest it, and thus, she became an Atasaia. She returned to her people and taught them her ways. Those who defy were killed. She even had to kill her older brother—who was the reigning king at that time.

Then the rest is history. Nothing much of importance happened after that. Things like how she contested Zaori's power and such that I've heard of. But it's quite interesting to see things from her perspective. Finally, she met Nisha.

*Swallow*

Both of them were—

Nah, I don't wanna talk about it. I'll stop there. I don't need to know more.

My eyes are back to the present now and Nisha is right in front of me. I look away, trying hard not to see her explicitly.

"What's the matter?" she asks.

"Nothing," I say and look at myself.

I still have a body of a man—that's expected. The Frames will automatically be adjusted according to your sex. Right now, I'm the male version of Carmilla.

"You look weird," Nisha chuckles.

"Shut up or I'll leave you behind."

"Who's gonna clean your little Helena's poop, then?" She raises one eyebrow as if she just said something clever.

She does make a fair point. I don't wanna touch poop even if it's from a baby. I've had enough of that, traumatized even. After all, we once fought a huge moving poo. I never wanna go at it again. However, I will touch poop if I have to. If I have someone else to do it, why do I have to?

"I don't need you for that," I say, refusing to concede.

"Can't you believe that, Helena?" she says to her. "Your father is afraid to touch your poop."

I roll my eyes at her just as the giant bats arrive. They are now under my command but so far, I could only manage to command two of them. This is enough for us. With their claws, they lift us from the ground and over the sea of monsters.

"Where are we going?" she asks.

"If we don't want to abandon Helena, we must find a place to settle and raise her until she can walk."

"That's a good idea, but where?"

"Our goal is to progress towards the Tenth Ring—where everyone who wants to partake in the Divine Trinity Quest must go through first. So, from Carmilla's memory, I happen to know a village we'll come across if we continue this path. That's where we will raise Helena."

"If that's what you want. Lead the way, then."