The solitude in my room was a fragile thing, as delicate as a soap bubble, and just as easy to pop. I sat on the edge of the bed, the rough linen of my borrowed trousers scratching against my skin. The sounds of the tavern below were a distant, muffled rumble, a world away from the quiet space I had claimed as my own. The warmth in my chest pulsed, a steady, comforting beat that seemed to chase away the last of the lingering fear. I could feel the exhaustion pulling at me, a heavy, pleasant weight that promised a dreamless, undisturbed sleep.
This was it. This was the sanctuary I had been craving. No monsters, no snarky demons, no cheerful, useless angels. Just me, a slightly-too-large tunic, and a bed that looked like it had been stuffed with straw but was still the most inviting thing I'd ever seen.
I lay back, my head sinking into the pillow. It smelled of lavender and something else, something faintly medicinal. I closed my eyes. I could feel the tension in my shoulders starting to ease, the constant, low-grade hum of anxiety in my mind beginning to fade. This was good. This was right. I could stay here forever. Or at least until the morning. The morning would be soon enough to deal with the demon king, the quest, the whole messed-up situation. Right now, all I wanted to do was sleep.
A soft knock on the door shattered my fragile peace. My eyes snapped open. I froze, my heart thumping against my ribs.
"Violet? Are you decent?"
It was Angus. Of course, it was Angus. His cheerful, concerned telepathic text box popped up in my vision, complete with a chibi avatar blushing and covering its eyes. [Knock, knock! 🚪],[Just checking on you! Are you okay? 🤔]
I let out a breath, a mix of relief and irritation. "I'm fine," I called out, my voice a little shaky. "I'm just... going to sleep."
"Oh! Okay! I'll just... well, I have to share the room too...?"
Right. I'd forgotten.
"Give me five minutes." I said, as I lifted up my blankets to make sure they covered me completely. "Come in then."
He opened the door, and immediately floated toward the far corner of the room, as if he thought I'd contract a disease if he got too close. "Is everything alright? You seemed a little... down there. At dinner."
"I'm tired, Angus." I didn't really believe it would do anything to say so but...
Well, I guess it was worth trying, at least. This world had yet to listen to me or do me any favors, but if I keep trying... something something try again.
"Well! That's understandable! Being a hero is hard work! But tomorrow we'll be refreshed and ready to face whatever challenges await! I'm sure of it!" [(●ˇ∀ˇ●)]
He continued to talk.
And talk.
And talk.
His text boxes were flashing in my vision, a relentless barrage of cheerful encouragement and useless advice. He was trying to be helpful. I knew he was. But his energy was like a thousand tiny needles, pricking at the edges of my already-frayed nerves. I could feel the fragile walls of my sanctuary starting to crumble.
The truth was, it had crumbled the moment that aggravating demon king demanded that Angus bunk in my room instead of his, depriving me of my very much needed solitude time. But I...
I must cling to hope and just a dash of denial. For the sake of my own sanity. It's a coping mechanism that suited me well in my past life and I don't see why it can't do me just fine in this one, too.
"...and I was thinking, maybe we could go to the market tomorrow! They might have some maps! And maybe some better clothes for you! Something with a bit more color! And maybe a shirt for him! Though I don't think he'd appreciate it, but it's worth a try, right?..."
"Angus," I said, my voice flat. "I need you to be quiet."
He stopped mid-sentence. His text box flashed, a chibi version of him with a sweat drop rolling down its cheek. [Eep! °□°] "Oh! Of course! Sorry! I talk when I'm nervous! It's a flaw! Another one of my many flaws!"
I really don't understand why this man insists on talking to me and also using the text boxes even when he doesn't have anything secret to share with them.
It's apparently pathological.
"I just need to sleep," I said, rubbing my temples. "I'm not angry. I'm just... exhausted. I need silence. Please."
"Silence! Right! I can do silence! I'm a very good silent person! Watch! See? Nothing! Not a peep!" He zipped his lips shut with a comical flourish.
He lasted for about ten seconds.
"Violet," he whispered, his voice a conspiratorial hush. "Do you think the stew had gator in it? Because I think it might have had gator in it. And I'm not sure how I feel about that."
This is fine. This is my life now. A celestial pest with an inability to shut up. A demon lord who would like nothing more than to see me dead, and a quest to kill another demon lord that I am spectacularly unqualified for. And the stew might have had gator in it.
It did taste strangely like gamey chicken. That's a thought I don't need.
"Angus. Go to sleep."
"Right! Sleep!" he chirped, flying over to the other bed in the room—a bed I hadn't even noticed until now—and burrowing under the covers. "Goodnight, Violet! Sweet dreams! Don't let the bedbugs bite! Or the plague wolves! Or the big, scary demon king!" He pulled the blanket over his head. The room was finally, blissfully silent.
I closed my eyes, a sigh of pure relief escaping my lips. I could feel the exhaustion pulling at me, a heavy, pleasant weight. The warmth in my chest pulsed, a steady, comforting rhythm that seemed to lull me toward sleep. This was it. This was the moment. The door was closed. The angel was quiet. The demon was in another room. I was alone. I was safe. I was...
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.