6? no, 7 is the lucky number… NOT!

The flickering candlelight of the Lion Den Hotel cast a warm glow on the polished wooden surfaces, yet it offered little comfort in the confined space of the back room. I sat at a small, circular table, heart racing, across from a woman who could have been my mirror image. She was striking, with long blue hair that shimmered in the candlelight, her vibrant cobalt eyes—like twin jewels—shimmering with confusion and curiosity.

"So you're telling me that I resemble your mother from another world? No wait, you're telling me I look exactly like this mother of yours," she blurted, her brows knitting together in disbelief. But her name, "June Meadow," was starkly different from the mother I remembered, Alice Drago.

June took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. "I was once a mage, a battle mage who served the King of Windsor. Lately, he's been suffering from a mysterious illness, and since I'm not skilled in healing, I've only managed to keep his condition at bay." Her voice trembled, emotion bubbling just beneath the surface. "But then—then the sickness worsened, and he fell into a coma. Shortly after, I had discovered that Archebald, the king's First son, was behind the poisoning, but when I tried to reveal my findings to the court, he twisted the evidence against me. Now, they believe I'm the one who poisoned him."

"So what do we do next?" She pondered. "Do we run away, or do we stick our necks out to save the king and expose the treachery?"

"No, we're not running," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "I'm going to expose that narcissistic ass of a man." How could I ever back down from a challenge that struck so close to home?

Just then, Orion, my black and, leapt from the table to curl comfortably in June's lap. He purred loudly, cutting through the tension in the air. He had an uncanny ability to make people feel at ease, which was precisely what he did with June. She ran her fingers over his fur, a gentle smile creeping onto her face.

Watching the two, I tapped my fingers on the table, considering our options. The weight on my shoulders felt heavier every moment.

"We'll need a plan," I asserted, standing up with a sudden surge of determination. I grinned at June, letting my enthusiasm take the lead. "I might need to get used to the idea of you not being my mother, but let's go rescue that king so I can beat the crap out of Archebald."

As I paced around the small room, the dim light flickered against the walls, casting ominous shadows that mirrored my mounting anxiety. I could hear footsteps in the hallway outside, echoes of life continuing while we huddled in secrecy.

"The king is held in the Royal room of the castle," June said, her voice steadying as she reconnected with her role. "But Archebald will have it heavily guarded, and I have a feeling he won't take kindly to our intrusion."

Just then, the door creaked open, and in stomped Viscoff, his large form, followed by the dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, both armed and ready for action. Ben entered last, his red phoenix bow slung across his back, alongside a quiver of black arrows—a living testament to his skills. Dehya was still out she was the only one in the mission who really didn't expose herself too much. She could navigate the kingdom without trouble and get our supplies.

"Did I hear something about rescuing a king?" Viscoff boomed, a broad grin splitting his face. "Count me in! I've been itching for a good fight ever since Archebald arrested you."

"We've got a plan," I announced, enthusiasm bubbling back to life.

A cheer erupted from the group, and I felt hope swell within me—a familiar, yet foreign feeling. Perhaps together, even from different realms and worlds, we could make a stand against the treachery that threatened June's kingdom.

As we gathered around the small table, formulating our strategy, In that dimly lit room, the flicker of candles illuminated our faces, but it was the fire inside us all that truly shone bright.

——

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and violet, our ragtag team of adventurers gathered in the suite room of the Wolf Den Hotel. The scent of roasted meat wafted in from the dining hall, but I had no appetite. My mind whirled with the gravity of our mission. We were about to confront a treachery that threatened the kingdom, one we could not afford to mess up.

Orion, my black and gold spirit cat, lay sprawled across June's lap, fur ruffled, tail flicking in his dreams. He looked so serene that it felt like a betrayal to interrupt him, but he was mine first—my bond, my responsibility. *Traitor*, I sent him a mental poke. He didn't stir but I could sense the glimmer of his mischief, even in slumber.

"Alright, everyone listen up!" I said, gathering their attention. Dehya, the ageless elf with stunning purple hair and eyes, raised an eyebrow and smirked, her presence both commanding and ethereal, radiating patience.

June sat cross-legged on the floor, her bright eyes ablaze with determination. "So, what's the plan? We need to expose Archebald for the poisonings before he strikes again."

"We'll need a two-pronged approach," I replied, pacing the room as my teal hair flashed in the waning light. "Viscoff, you'll lead the way underground. The twins, Gimola and Gimli, can help dig the tunnel to get us to the castle's wine cellar where the poison is stored. You can strike up a distraction while we sneak in."

The towering figure of Viscoff nodded, slamming his large metal axe against the wooden floor, causing everyone to flinch slightly. "Aye, I'll make sure they won't see ya coming," he boomed, more than ready for a tussle.

Ben, the sharp-eyed marksman with his red phoenix bow resting against the wall, chimed in, "And I'll keep lookout. If anyone approaches, I'll give you a signal." He gestured toward the bow, his fingers brushing against the arrows black against their crimson feather fletchings, ready for action.

"Orion will be withYou Ben, so we'll have a mental link," I added. The spirit cat laying in Junes lap, giving an indignant huff as if declaring his disappointment over the forced separation from June. Orion's voice of protest sounded from inside my head. *But I don't want to leave June!*

*You'll be back, why are you obsessed with her anyways?* I asked him, my thoughts wrapping around our bond trying to figure this out. He didn't respond.

The twins exchanged eager glances, each brimming with energy. "We've been waiting for a chance to dig! It'll be just like mining" Gimola chirped, her white hair contrasting against the dim light of the room. "Imagine If we find some rare ore!"

Gimli rubbed his hands together, laughter booming from his belly. "Aye, digging is what we were made for! Just wait until I find something shiny!" He grinned, revealing his small Kukuri blades—they were unassuming yet deadly, a reflection of their heritage, stubbornly dwarf-like.

As we laid out our plan in greater detail, perfecting the timing and routes, I couldn't help but feel enveloped in this chaotic warmth. This ragtag team was my new family. Dehya, ever observant, began considering the ramifications of our actions. "But what if Archebald winds up on high alert? He must not suspect any foul play."

I looked at her, remembering the history surrounding her kind. Her wisdom would ensure our safety. "If we act quick and precise, we'll be ghosts. No one will suspect a thing."

"Ghosts with sharp blades and bows!" Gimola piped up, throwing her fists in the air in excitement, helping to lighten the mood.

The tension broke, laughter danced in the air, filling the room with life even as the sun disappeared entirely, leaving only the glow of lanterns to guide our thoughts. I caught June's gaze, her features blurred by memory yet so real in this world. In her, I saw glimpses of home that I had thought lost—my purpose restored.

"Alright everyone," I spoke, sobering up, "we have but one shot at this. When the evening bells toll, we strike fast and hard."

——

The mission to reach the wine cellar was critical; The kingdom of Windsor depended on it. As I descended into the dank, dark tunnel alongside Dehya and June, the air thick with tension. I glanced back at June, her face a mirror of the woman I had lost in my past life, stirring a whirlwind of nostalgia and hope within me.

"Alright, we've given them thirty minutes to dig. It's time for us to head in," I declared, the resolve firm in my voice.

We moved deeper into the tunnel, the rhythmic clink of pickaxes echoing off the walls, gradually becoming more pronounced. Each sound resonated with urgency, fueling my determination. Finally, we reached Viscoff, his armor gleaming dully in the torchlight cast by a flame conjured by Dehya with a flick of her wrist.

The dwarf twins, Gimola and Gimli, spoke simultaneously, their voices melding into one, "Okay, we should be under the castle now."

I communicated mentally with Orion, my spirit cat , out with Ben keeping watch *Orion, it's time for Ben and you to join us.*

Within moments, I noticed a shadow slink along the dark tunnel walls above us—a telltale sign of Ben and Orion's swift approach. Ben's red bow reflected the dim light, contrasting sharply with my blue katana and dragon sword, weapons forged for a purpose greater than combat.

"Alright, twins," I commanded, "Base the hole through the stone ceiling so we can enter the wine cellar."

With swift yet careful precision, the twins hacked away at the stone, and soon, the hole opened into the cellar. As we peered inside, our eyes widened at the sight of countless bottles stacked meticulously on wooden stands. This wasn't just a vault; it was a treasure trove.

We split up, each of us searching frantically for the vials of poison that the vile Archebald had poisoned the king's daily water with. Time was of the essence, slipping through our fingers like sand. Suddenly, I heard June's excited voice pierce the tension-filled silence, "I found it!"

But her triumph was short-lived. A deep, chilling laugh echoed throughout the cellar, and the sound reverberated off the stone walls, causing my heart to race. Footsteps descended the spiral staircase leading from the castle, a sinister rhythm that grew closer.

Archebald appeared, though something was awry. The nobleman now stood before us, his eyes swirling with darkness—an abyss of purple the color of bruised dreams.

"Fools," he hissed, laughter dripping from his tone like poison from a broken vial. The voice was not his; it was the same malevolent drone that had echoed from the purple orb we once saw. The Demon King.

Instinct kicked in, and I surged forward, blades in hand. My drunken sword style, unorthodox as it was, had always been my advantage. I slashed with the blue katana as a fluke, I aimed to slice at his side with my dragon sword. But Archebald was not the same man we had met before; he was fueled by a dark power that heightened his speed and agility. Every strike missed; each maneuver felt futile against his newfound abilities.

"Is this all you've got?" he taunted, laughter reverberating through the cellar as he danced around my strikes.

Despair enveloped us like a thick fog as I backed up to regroup with my companions, who trained their weapons on Archebald and his mocking visage. I felt Dehya's presence next to me, her magic pulsing softly, and June readying her own destructive spells.

But then came the moment that froze my blood— a dark purple magic circle blossomed beneath our feet, its energy resonating like a heartbeat. Archebald's voice resonated as he looked at us with twisted glee, "Bye, you fools."

In an instant, darkness consumed us. I could feel the unmistakable pull of magic twisting reality around us, tearing apart the very fibers of the world. In the blink of an eye, we were no longer in the cellar. Where we stood moments before, a vile and twisted realm opened up around us—a chaotic expanse of darkness, echoing with distorted cries and shadowy figures lurking just beyond our sight, ready to rip apart the very fabric of our existence.

"Stay close!" I shouted, gripping my swords tighter, ready to face whatever horrors lay ahead. we would find a way to turn the tide against the twisted fate Archebald had sewn for us.

*why do I such shitty luck, I knew I'd live to regret choices I made during this life*