In the cracks where worlds collide, there is a place of opportunity.

And in the place of opportunity, morals and ethics cower before absolute power.

But be warned: where there is great power, there is greater Evil.

Because absolute power corrupts absolutely.

My first encounter with the outside world happened when I was ten years old.

It was a band of nine people; four women, five men. However, one of the women, a beautiful brunette with shiny chocolate-brown skin to match, was with child. She was stationed in the middle of the group, most likely to protect the fetus she carried.

They had initially escaped brother Hastur's pets and sister Chimaera's eyes, but after crossing The Black Gate, Professor's allravens soon spotted them loitering around.

"Maiacharl!" Again, like a king summoning his subjects to court, he called for me.

At the time, I hadn't known of the intruders, but after reaching the study, that soon changed:

Walking in, I was greeted by the sight of Brother Hastur and Sister Chimaera standing next to Professor. They had their backs turned to me, so I couldn't see their expressions, but from the stern look on Professor's face, it couldn't be good.

"Maiacharl my dear, come here," Sheepishly, I skirted my way over, squeezing in between my siblings. Stopping there, I took a moment to study Hastur and Chimaera's expressions.

Although betraying no emotion but a poker face, Hastur's nervous fidgeting spoke volumes of his true emotions. Chimaera, or Kim, on the other hand, truly seemed not to care about whatever Professor was saying; she just had this empty look in her eyes, clearly showing she wasn't even in the room at the moment.

"Maiacharl, please pay attention," I jumped a little at his reprimand and was quick to correct myself.

"Now, do you know why I called the three of you here?"

"Nah,"

"N-No,"

"No..." Hastur, me, and Kim replied respectively.

"Then you mustn't have heard of the little rats that found their way into our home,"

Our reactions were notably varied: Hastur, if I can recall correctly, being the first line of defence against intruders, didn't take the news well. On the other hand, Kim merely raised an eyebrow, as if the entire topic was completely disconnected from her. And finally, there was me.

Truthfully, I didn't really know what to say at the time; as opposed to Kim who, along with Hastur, were intrinsically involved with detection and surveillance, I had no such responsibilities. This, coupled with the fact that Professor's eyes seem to linger on me the longest, confused me to no end.

"B-B-But that's impossible!" Hastur spat through gritted teeth. He must've truly had no idea this had happened, "It couldn't have! My familiars would've—"

But Professor cut him off with a glare, his firm rebuttal following soon after, "Your familiars weren't present, in fact, they weren't even summoned!" We all winced at that last part, the grating quality of Professor's voice was... well, grating.

Hastur looked away and tsked, but I knew Professor was right. Hastur would've fought back otherwise. He always fights back if he knows he's in the right.

Then, Professor turned his attention to Kim. He looked a smidge less angry, but it wasn't by much:

"Chimaera, where were your pets, hm?" I cringed at his tone, and catching the slight flinch in the corner of my eye, Hastur probably did too.

"...They were elsewhere," Her reasoning was vague — hell, I remembered her not even giving a reason — but somehow, Professor seemed satisfied with it.

But that's where my role as a spectator ended when Professor took his gaze off of Kim and turned to stare at me.

I shivered in place, entirely too unsure of myself to pretend to be unaffected by his wintry gaze, nor did I have the confidence to actually be unaffected.

"Maiacharl," I nodded my head with gusto.

"Do you know why I called you here?" I shook my head with about the same energy as my previous nod.

"Then do you know why I spoke to you last?" Again, I bobbed my head side to side, my stomach dropping after each and every word he uttered.

His lips tightened into a thin line, somewhere halfway between a neutral expression and a disappointed frown.

I knew why.

After Anne's death at my hands, Professor changed for me. He was always strict with us, but it was especially bad for me, and up until the day he died, I never really found out the reason why...

Fortunately, before I could do anything to sour his mood further, Hastur helpfully intervened:

"Pops, I know it ain't my place, but don't cha think it's a bit presumptuous to get angry about something even we didn't know about?" He pointed at himself and Kim then continued on, "And if ya gotta punish someone, don't let it be her,"

I remembered panicking, in addition to feeling guilty; 'No! I can't let brother Hastur get in trouble because of me!' I thought, but before I could stop him, I felt his hand clasp mine. Holding me tight. I lean a little closer to him.

"..." Professor seemed to be in deep thought, his brow was creased and his hand was on his chin. Nobody dared to make a sound, he demanded absolute silence whenever he was thinking.

Eventually, he sighed and stood up, muttering, "I suppose your error will be excused this time,"

We all wanted to cheer, and Hastur was just about to high-five me when he said something unprecedented:

"In return," He brought up a holo-screen from his desk. On it were a group of nine, presumably the intruders, "Maiacharl, you will be responsible for the disposal of these pests in Hastur's place,"

"Wha—"

I spoke before Hastur could argue further, "O-Okay Professor," He looked at me funny, a light frown etched onto his face while he strengthened the grip of his hold on my hand. I attempt to reassure him with a smile, but I think all that achieved was worrying him further.

"It's going to be fine," I mouth before letting go of his hand and following after Professor. It should be easy enough... maybe asking them nicely will make them go away...

"No! No no no no you don't have to do this! Please spare us— Ach!?" I try to tune out their screams as I was forced to slaughter them one by one. It was... terrifying.

I had thought naively we would just ask them to leave, but when we arrived, they were in constricting cages, their arms and legs bloodied and scarred to what I can only assume to stop them from trying to escape.

"Please don't do this! We have a pregnant woman with us! We just want to get to saf— Argh?!" I'm sorry.

"Godammit! Don't you have even a little compassion?!" I'm so sorry...

The next five minutes were hell; people screamed, cursed, begged, or wept as I was forced to cut each of them down one by one. Throughout the whole slaughter, after each death, I would look pleadingly at the stoic Professor, hoping to all hopes he would be satisfied and let them go.

"Aaaagh!! W-Why?! W-Why are you so hellbent?!" It never happened.

"No... P-Please spare my baby girl. P-Please..." And the last one alive was her— the pregnant woman.

Do it.

I tense, my grip on the bloody dagger faltering at the whisper.

Do it now.

The voice repeated its command. It was a mix of garbled tones; male, female, and... something else. I didn't know where it came from, or why it was suddenly communicating, but I knew that it couldn't possibly be good.

I demand a sacrifice; her child's blood shall sate me yet.

No! I can't do that!

But you will! Her death is inevitable, tis a shame to let it go to waste on the ground.

"Finish up, Maiacharl. Supper will be ready when you finish,"

Don't you see? It would be better to put it to good use, hm?

'How?'

The blood will satisfy me, but it has a dual purpose: the more you take in, the stronger you will become. Eventually, you can overcome your... professor.

'R-Really?'

Think it through; it would do me no good to lie to my host.

That was right... it had no gain from lying. If it did, I wouldn't trust it again... After a few more scant moments of thought, I decided.

'Fine! I'll do it! B-But I'm not doing it for you! When I get powerful enough, I'll stop Professor from doing evil things again!'

Good child! So DO IT! DO IT NOW!

I obey, and gripping the knife with both hands, I padded my way to the woman curled up in front of me.

"Please no Please no Please no please no—" Her incessant begging pained me, but I forge on.

"I'm sorry. I promise you we'll at least bury you and your baby properly," I say before raising my dagger, and as I do, she looks up.

"NOOO!!"

She lets out a bloodcurdling scream, trying and failing to get away, her pregnancy slowing her down considerably.

'Please forgive me,' With that final thought, I thrust my weapon right into her throat.

She choked and gurgled, attempting to speak, but all it accomplished was straining her already damaged throat. I retrieve my dagger before plunging it back down for another strike, this time aiming where the heart was roughly located.

I succeed in stabbing her where I want, because the moment I had, her eyes rapidly lost their life, and she fell to the ground limply, like a doll with its strings cut.

She was dead.

But your job is far from over.

I acknowledge the voice with an imperceptible nod, just so Professor won't see.

Kneeling down, I place one hand on her stomach.

Kick!

I almost flinch, but I'm too far gone now.

Stab!

It pierced her skin with a wet squelch. Almost immediately, blood started to flow prodigiously from the opening.

I hope some of it was the baby's blood, so it wouldn't have to suffer any longer...

Riiiiip!

I pull the dagger down, and with a ripping sound, I cleanly cut the woman open. I sigh in relief; the baby had long died, it was split in half, likely from my knife. I'm sorry little one.

Now take her entrails and bathe in her blood.

I robotically follow, gripping the woman's bloody intestines and holding it in my hand.

Hehehe... good. very good.

Suddenly, the blood that soaked my shirt started evaporating at a pace visible to the naked eye, and in half a minute, my previously bloody self was back to when I was from a few minutes ago...

We are done here. I am sated.

Was all it said before it went quiet. I give one last pitying look at the corpses in front of me and got up.

Walking back to Professor, I expected him to question how the blood suddenly disappeared, or why I went the extra mile to kill the baby.

But nothing could have prepared me for what he actually said.

"Your progress has skyrocketed. How was your conversation?"

I stopped to stare at him. Silence prevailed when I gave him nothing for an answer. No, it wasn't that I didn't want to reply, it was just that I was so shocked he knew I honestly didn't know what to say.

We stayed like that for a while. Me staring at him while he emotionlessly looked back.

He broke the silence first, "Well, it doesn't matter. Come now, you must be hungry,"

I...

"Maiacharl?"

"Yes, professor,"

"Good,"

But I'm full...