Seeing as how two out of three of her trials had been swiftly and promptly been conquered by yours truly, Irene deemed that such accomplishments warranted a reward that was just as prestigious and glorious as my triumphs.

So that's how I ended up with a slice of ham sandwich in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

"Enjoy your break time," She said, ever the benevolent demon woman she was. "I'll be back in twenty. We'll get started then."

And with that, tugging along a reluctant begrudging Amanda in tow, she scampered off away back on down to my homestay on the fourth floor, muttering something about ritual preparations and needing an extra pair of hands.

I don't really know, I didn't really care to know… sitting there in my little corner of the room, listening to the faint breathing of a slumbering Matriarch just right beside me… I was just counting the seconds away, the minutes.

Twenty, nineteen, eighteen… just focus on the time, maybe you can make it stretch longer that way. Buy you some time before it's time.

Wasn't even that hungry anyway…

"Master…" Ash, concern plastered across her gaze, slowly approach from the side. "I hate to be intrusive, but you really do need your energy. I implore you, please eat."

Mr. Black wrapped in her arms, slowly swung his tail to and fro, his pointed ears like hers, angling down at a slight droop.

I knew Ash meant well, she always had. This time, however, I can't help but think that her worry was misplaced. I wasn't the one that she should really be fretting about.

"Fifteen minutes left," I said, my long-gone husky voice back to its usual strength. "How many minutes do you think it'd take for me to come up with a sound argument to just skip ahead to the summoning and avoid all this?"

Ash smiled again, it was a sad smile. "You shouldn't jest."

"I wasn't jesting."

"Perhaps not," She said, those bright green eyes of hers staring down at me with so much warmth. "Yet, all the same, I know you don't mean what you say."

The fact that she could so say that so confidently, and the fact that I couldn't say any more, simply meant that she was right on the money. As always, I can never act my way out of my predicaments… I should never become an actor.

Mr. Black wriggled free from Ash's hold, scurrying free towards a tennis ball resting nearby. I thought that'd be that and I'd be alone again, ticking away time in silence.

But Ash didn't leave with him, doubling down instead by leveling down, taking a place by the right of me, kneeling on her knees, hands resting atop her lap in a way that just exuded grace and elegance, in a way - knightly.

"Subjugation," She spoke lightly. "It is a magic most foul indeed."

I glanced to my right. "Seen it been used before?"

"I suppose as much as any others of my kind." She glanced left, making eye contact. "My childhood was always brimming with frightening tales of those that roam in red. I've always adhered to the warnings of the burrow - to never roam where the sun would reach."

"The burrow?" I tilted my head.

"Elves," Ash said. "Some would wallow in the deepest depths of ravenous caves, others atop the frigid summits of the highest mountains. In the land of Frieden Rike, where mounds and hills are bountiful, we elves would reside in the very earth itself."

Dig a hole, live in the hole. Elf-moles, nice.

For a second there, I thought she was just wistfully reminiscing… then I remembered that Ash never reminisces. What she was telling me - these drastic measures just for a place to call home, scary stories told to elf-children about those roaming in red, and that warning… never to roam where the light would reach.

Sounds awfully a lot like a witch-hunt to me.

"Those that roam in red," I repeated, recalling back a small trivia piece I've read on the wiki. "Elf hunters."

"Yes," Ash nodded. "Powerful sorcerers specifically trained to serve one purpose and one purpose only - the eradication or indoctrination of any elves foolish enough to be seen by their ever-watchful eyes. Mercy… there was never any mercy."

Had a bad feeling in my gut, a sudden lump that made it difficult to swallow. I think I knew where this was going, and I don't think I'd like how it'll end.

"One day. A sunny day, a peaceful day," Her fingers curled into her lap. "I ended up being a foolish one. That day I learned many things about these sorcerers in red."

It was painful. I could hear it, feel it… though she kept it light, I could tell she was struggling, there was just no hiding the waver in her voice.

"I learned that laughter would be their only response to begging and cries. I learned that the slightest whimper would provoke their wrath, that silence proved vital for survival when in their company… and it was with them, that I also learned what exactly is an Elf-Hunters' most favorite spell."

I nearly dropped the bottle in my hand. I hate it when I realize things too late, because when the revelation suddenly hits, it always hits fucking hard.

"How many times?" I asked, feeling my mouth suddenly go dry.

"It is not to be counted," Ash said. "It's simply unfeasible to keep count of every instance. It is the same for me, and many others."

"What did they - ?"

"To subjugate is to impose your will onto another, the victim would only act in accordance to the subjugator's wants, desires… everything."

"And you're telling me I'm supposed to do that to you?"

"You have to."

"I don't really want to."

"Master, this is not a matter of wants," She said gently. "Set aside your grievances of the act, do what must be done."

"But why subjugation?" I asked, flailing around the sandwich in my hand. "Why not any other spells? Why this in particular?"

"Because the utilization of such a spell demands precision," Ash explained. "It needn't matter how much magic is expended in the act, even if you understood the concept itself, if you are incapable of concentrating your magic to one single refined intent… then the spell would always fail you."

What she was saying sounded logical, sounded plainly rational, and also very much irrefutable, and that last part was what infuriated me the most - the fact that I can't play devil's advocate against it.

That I have to accept it.

Yeah, whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

I stood up at once even though I was still wobbly and still teetering on the verge of passing out, I don't know why… guess I just didn't want to sit down anymore.

"And you?" I asked, turning my head back at her. "Tell me honestly, how do you feel about this?"

That was the one thing I've been wanting to know out of anything else. I didn't care to know how difficult it was gonna be, the intricacies, the methods, how the concept words and whatnot - that all was Irene's jurisdiction.

Here and now, I want her sentiments, I want her feelings, her thoughts. It took me half of my break time to ask such a simple question, but that's because I didn't want to ask her… I wanted her to tell me.

But she never will. Why? Because it'll distract me, it'll discourage me… if she tells me that she's scared, if she even has the slightest hint of fear in her eyes… she knew I'd hesitate.

And what kind of servant would she be if she were to ever encumber her Master in any way?

Regardless of it all, I still very much was all ears for what she really had to say.

I hadn't a clue how she'd react, but -

"Master…"

I certainly didn't expect this.

"Do you hear me pleading?"

Still with that smile brighter than any ray of sunlight.

"Do you hear me begging?"

Ash stood up to her feet, walking those few steps that would place her right across from me once more.

"If there is one thing I know of you that is for certain Master… it is that you are always kind, always benevolent. I know, if nothing else, you will always continue to be so.

"And thus, if you are to subjugate me, if I am to be bound to your will - I know I'll never scream, I know I'll never whimper, even if it hurts, even if the process turns unbearable… because I already know deep down inside, Master… you will never hurt me."

Turns out, I was right.

I never had a clue… not one bit.

"You sure you won't regret saying that?"

"Why even entertain such a thought?" She said whimsically. "Will you make me regret it after all?"

"No, no, 'course not!" I said almost at once. "Not if I can help it, at least…"

"In that case…" Ash reached out, plucking the sandwich out from my grasp, and slowly unwrapped the plastic packaging for me. "Take a bite… we will never find out if you don't have the strength for it."

So much trust was beneath those sparkling emerald eyes… I needed to match it, don't I? I have to trust her just as much… if she said it was okay… maybe it really was okay.

We'll be okay.

I took the bite, the sandwich still in her hands.

Ash just smiled again.

"Take care not to bite my fingers, Master," She said. "It'll hurt terribly."

I smiled back, and swallowed. "I won't."