Scarlet

“Hmm?” Tar hums, sounding slightly tired for some reason, “Yeah. The Farshore isn’t connected to Earth. It’s connected to Tartarus. Meaning we have to hitch a ride onto a Fracture to get to Earth, and then establish a contract to have our artificial forms remain here after the Fracture is over.”

I just listen to him as I walk, not interrupting beyond simply asking Michael if we can stop over at the bunker where Belle and Arthur are and getting an agreement from him.

“Although not even we know where the Fractures originated from. Just that they seem to be caused most likely by some sort of natural magical phenomenon that’s beyond our understanding,” Tar continues, a frown clear in his voice at this subject. But then it disappears as he continues, “Well anyways, this is why we contracted with the demons long before you. Because we didn’t even know Earth existed before the Demonic Assaults.”

That would certainly explain a lot. And let me guess, you gave us that special aid in the form of the original five Knights as a balance to let humanity settle into the Demonic Assaults so that we would be able to feed the fae with life force as well?

From what history stated, the original five Knights – not the ones we have now – were magi-tech devices created by the fae and gifted to humanity. Ones on par with Class V Guardians who could instantly wipe out a Class I, II, and III Fracture without even bothering to get near them.

The only reasons humanity on Earth still exist to this day and weren’t just completely wiped out by the demons when they first arrived through the Fractures.

“Well,” Tar sounds hesitant for only a second before he gives in and admits it. “Yes. We fae were taking advantage of you and the demons’ war. But we didn’t start it! And I wasn’t even alive back then!”

My eyebrows rise as I realize he’s trying to convince me of his innocence, as if he cares about how I view him.

That’s sweet.

It’s fine Tar. I know you weren’t around back then so you couldn’t have done anything if you wanted, and overall, the fae did save us. Even if it was partially their fault that we needed saving in the first place.

I hear the tanuki let out a sigh of relief in the back of my mind, making a small smile stretch across my face.

Although that certainly explains why the fae only contract people in Fractures. Since that’s the only place you can go when not contracted with someone.

“Yeah,” Tar says, his usual robotic tone back albeit with just a tad bit more personality in it. “And a lot of fae tend to be rather picky with their contractor, meaning that most of the time that a fae enters a Fracture, they won’t be leaving with a contracted Guardian. Despite the fae’s desire to head to Earth and contract with someone here.”

Why is that anyways?

“Well, human Guardians tend to kill a lot more demons on average than a lower ranking demon, which is generally the best a fae peasant can ever contract with on Tartarus,” Tar explains the sad truth of the fae underclass to me in a robotic manner.

That’s rather depressing, to be honest. But also not much better than what Earth has devolved into, so touché.

Also, the very idea that demons can kill other demons that aren’t of the same species as them to level up is still frightening. All we humans can do is kill the demons. Not that we should be hoping to be able to kill humans or anything, since that would just make society even more cruel than it already is. And we don’t need that.

“Have you been talking with your fae this whole time?” I suddenly hear Emily ask as she walks alongside me.

“Yeah,” I answer without bothering to hide it.

The girl’s been a lot more open since I saved her life. Which in hindsight makes some sense, but it’s still a little surprising when she openly walks up to me to start a conversation.

Neither of us say anything for a few seconds before I decide to bite the bullet and ask a random question that I think she might be interested in talking about, “What animal does your fae appear as?”

And just like I thought, this makes a wide smile spread across her face as she immediately begins gushing, “A puppy! And she’s just so freaking cute!”

I can’t help but crack a grin as her excitement feels just the slightest bit contagious. And I notice her brother doing the same.

But then a floating puppy with black fur appears in front of her with a stern look on its adorable face and straight up scolds Emily, “Emily, that is no way for a lady to act.”

My mouth drops open in shock. Both at the sight of a puppy telling an eighteen year old girl to act like a lady, and the sheer absurdity of the puppy’s contrasting appearance and voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Octavia…” Emily mutters, but I can’t help but notice her eyes constantly flickering from the floor back up to the puppy. As if she wants to pet and hold the fae.

I turn my head away to cover my mouth as I fake cough to hide my laugh. Then I turn back to find the fae bowing her head to the air for some reason, only for Tar to appear where she’s bowing, surprising me for a second.

And out of the corner of my eye, I immediately notice Emily’s eyes shoot straight to Tar with the same look she gave her own fae.

Yeah, she really does like cute things.

“This Countess greets his highness,” the puppy says, still sounding quite odd considering her appearance as a, well, puppy.

“Rise” Tar says out loud, the entire situation seeming rather bizarre. And I’m clearly not the only one who is thinking this, considering the looks both Denise and Michael are giving the fae. “Take good care of your contractor as she is a member of my contractor’s team.”

I raise an eyebrow at seeing the tanuki actually going out of his way to personally act in my benefit beyond simply explaining things and answering questions.

“As you wish, your highness,” the puppy says, her head still lowered for a second until she raises it and adds, “however, I would’ve done that regardless, so your worries are for naught.”

Okay, this whole conversation is getting ridiculous with their physical appearances.

So I just begin to walk away, leaving them behind until Tar’s voice echoes in my mind again, no longer speaking aloud.

“Sorry about that,” he says before adding, “I wished to show you some of the fae’s politics.”

Oh. So that’s what that was.

I hold back my smile.

And hold it back.

And continue holding it back as I walk.

“Why are you making that face?” Tar suddenly asks.

No reason. Don’t mind me.

Smile successfully held back.

“I can hear your thoughts, you know,” the tanuki who I’m feeling quite grateful towards right now mutters in an exasperated tone.