Chapter 14: Parting Ways

"Do you, Darwin Bright take Marcia Konoha as your lawfully wedded wife?"

I stare in front of me, Marcia's dark hair is pinned up in a stylish bun. Her white dress flows in the sunshine. My heart almost stops beating. I reach my hands out to touch her face but I suddenly feel my hands being pulled towards her throat. I watch helplessly as my fingers wrap around my neck and she begins to choke. I scream but I can't stop myself from whatever is overwhelming me.

"I do."

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I wake up to the the sound of a hammer clanging on metal behind my head. I jolt upright on the bench I had fallen asleep on, banging my head on the shelf above me. I frantically peer down at my hands, the wretched mark of the sword mocks me. I turn my hand over with a sigh and look to the bed across the room. Cynthia is still fast asleep. I assume she must be used to the blacksmith's workshop. I get up and stiffly walk over to the bed, petting her head gently to try and rouse her.

"Cynthia-" I whisper, my fingers tangling in her hair. She seems to stir ever so slightly, a soft moan escaping her lips as her ears wiggle in reaction to my strokes. Its somewhat childlike and I stifle a laugh.

"Master Darwin?" She mumbles sleepily, batting her eyelids. "What's wrong?" She mutters, rolling onto her back to get a better look at me as she rubs her eye.

"We have to go into town today so we need you awake." I chuckle. She scoots forward on the bed and leans into me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I can feel her chest let out a sigh.

"Are you okay?" I ask, slightly concerned.

"Mhm, I'm just sorry for last night if I seemed odd." She grins, her thin white gown clinging to her matured figure.

"Don't worry, we all have our moments." I breathe, rubbing her back in a consoling manner. She buries her face in my shirt.

"It's nice... to be held sometimes." She peeps softly, her words sending a gentle vibration to me skin.

"You're a good attendant, Cynthie. Don't ever think otherwise." I smile, she simply sighs and releases me from her embrace.

"If you say so Master Darwin..." Her voice trails off as she pushes herself off the bed. "I'll go get dressed then." She mutters, hastily grabbing her clothing which had neatly been folded on the table.

"Breakfast anyone?" Lockes chipper voice chirps from the doorway. The tiny hobgoblin scuttles into the room holding a large bowl of what looks to be porridge and a few smaller bowls. He wobbles around over to the table where Cynthia is and tosses them up skillfully. "I suppose my senses were correct, you two are early risers!" He exclaims, propping the smaller bowls up on the table before taking a seat.

"Well, only one of us is." I laugh, Cynthia rolls her eyes and slips her top on.

"What's this you brought us, Locke?" I say, looking into the bowl of mush.

"It's sweetened gruel. One of my favorites! I even have some cinnamon and berries if you'd like to add some. I know Cynthia used to enjoy it quite a bit." Locke chimes. "One year it's all she ate for breakfast." He whispers loudly to me before giggling. He portions some gruel into a bowl before handing it to me.

"Well, thank you for this. It sure smells good to my empty stomach." I take the steaming bowl in my hands and pick up a wooden spoon. The porridge is hot on my lips.

"Here's a bowl for you Cynthia, oh goodness your jacket is all dirty too-" Locke yelps at the dried blood caking the sleeves and front. "This won't do," He leaps down from his chair and wiggles his tiny paw fingers at Cynthia. "Come on now, I'll get this cleaned up before you go." He mutters.

"You really don't have to." Cynthia sighs, handing him the coat.

"Hobgoblin's orders!" He grins, the folded coat almost his size as he carries it out of the room. "You two enjoy!"

Cynthia purses her lips in deep thought as she sits down at the tiny table to stare into the bowl of gruel.

"Seems you've got a sweet tooth?" I tilt my head, taking a pause from spooning the food into my mouth.

"I guess so." She mumbles, tiredly picking up a spoon. She pokes the bowl uninterestedly before taking a bite.

"Locke told me where we could get some details about the village. We can check for the guy while we're in town." I say before taking another bite.

Cynthia nods slowly, eating tiny bits of her porridge at a time.

"Master, why do you always ask about this world but never talk about your own?" She blinks.

"Well, I didn't think my world would be too interesting or helpful while trying to defeat a demon king." I reply, scraping the last bit of food out of my bowl before helping myself to a second.

"I want to know... What it was like for you there." She murmurs softly.

"Well, it's a bit more high tech than this world. People have jobs all the same but for different things. Weapons and such aren't allowed in my world." I explain, Cynthia nods.

"What was your life like?"

"Well, I grew up in a pretty well off family. Nothing went wrong, no divorces or anything. When I was in my early twenties that's when I had a rough time trying to find out where I belonged in the world. Until I met Marcia of course."

"Who is Marcia?"

"She's my wife... or well she was in my past life. We had a daughter together, her name is Emi and she just turned eight." I smile tenderly at the thought.

"She sounds like a wonderful lady." Cynthia smiles weakly. "You are so lucky to have a daughter. I've always wanted a child."

"Really? You know I was actually reluctant to having Emi. I didn't want the responsibility but I guess everything changed when I held her for the first time." I put down my bowl as I finish my second helping.

"I've always wanted that, a family, a life, a child, a home." She sounds defeated. "But Order doesn't seem to bless creatures like me with that kind of life."

"Why not? There's lots of guys out there that would love to have someone as pretty as you in their life. I'm sure if I came here in my twenties I'd have been all over you." I joke light-heartedly. Cynthia's face seems to droop along with her ears.

"Sometimes I wish you came here sooner." She whispers so quietly I can barely hear.

"Its been done! The coat is no longer a blood rag." Locke patters back into the room, holding the freshly steamed coat over his head proudly.

"Come on now, I think it's time we get out of the little fella's hair." I say to Cynthia who gets up without a word.

"Thank you again for having us, Locke." Cynthia says, taking the coat and slipping it on as we head towards the shop exit.

"Remember if you two ever need anything just come see your good friend Lockehart!" He mewls, waving enthusiastically as we shuffle out the door frame.

I raise a hand to see him off before turning to the tiny alleyway leading to the shop.