Chapter 51: Many Happy Family Memories

Hope stood in front of the box.

“I apologise but this is for thoroughness. He’s staying quiet because I asked him.” Aitkens said, scratching his beard as he opened the flap.

She saw Utarou give a thumbs up, wearing a blanket Aitkens had given him around his waist to give him some decency.

Hope said nothing and put her hand into the box.

…

“BAHARAH! The yellow eyed one’s still breathing!” A painfully familiar voice filled Hope’s ears, her entire body was burning, as if it was on fire.

She was back in the slave camp where she was born.

“Another lashing sir?” Another familiar voice 

“Hmpth, no we better keep the freak alive, I’ve heard a Sultan from the south is coming through, apparently he likes collecting concubines with unique traits.” The man scoffed.

Hope could barely look up.

She couldn’t forget his face, it was one of pure evil and malice.

It was the man who’d done unspeakable things to her mother.

Her former master.

It was the night after she’d escaped, but a vision of what would’ve happened if she had failed.

As brutally real as a vision could feel.

…

Hope ripped her hand out, stifling tears as she glared at Aitkens. 

“Ah, I’m sorry. We can’t control what ye see…” Aitkens apologized.

“Why… Why would you do that…” Hope hissed, grabbing her back to confirm there weren’t any fresh wounds and it was all an illusion.

“Demons be creatures made of lies, show em somethin’ like that and it all unravels, no matter how smart they be.” Aitkens explained, offering a cup of water for Hope.

“Are you satisfied then?” Hope asked, snatching the cup and wiping the tears from her face.

“Yes ma’am, I sincerely apologise once again.” Aitken sighed.

“BRING IN THE NEXT ONE!” Aitkens shouted as Hope joined Utarou, sitting on a rock.

“You, uh, alright?” Utaoru asked, being entirely lacking in even the most basic emotional comprehension to handle any kind of conversation. Hope nodded.

“It was like a nightmare I used to have, just a lot more real. How about you?” Hope asked, seemingly wanting to move on as quickly as possible from the subject.

“Same, I was back in Japan working.” Utarou shuddered.

“How awful…” Hope snarked.

“Just place ye hand in the box, I apologise for all the myst-” Aitkens began as he dragged Penelope in, who immediately started trying to read the runes on the box.

“Box… Danger…” Penelope sounded out as she traced the runes.

“H-hey!? You can read Runic?!” Aitkens asked incredulously. 

“A little, we used to have a Dwarven trader visit our village and he taught me a little.” Penelope shrugged. Aitkens nodded appreciatively.

“Well so far ya all been safe, we just gotta be safe when it comes to demons y’know.” Aitkens explained. Penelope shrugged.

“Ah it’s fine, what’s the worst that could happen.” 

…

“A-Adam! You’re Templar! You have a vow of celibacy.” Penelope gasped as a particularly bishojo looking illusion of Adam placed his comically large hands on the wall above her head. He lowered his very tall body so that his very long face with a very sharp chin was more at Penelope’s eye level, so she could see his extremely shiney eyes.

“But my feelings for you go beyond any vow I may have made.” Bishojo Adam said in a very stupid and annoying voice that for some god forsaken reason Penelope found attractive.

“O-Ooh Adam~!” Penelope cooed, as she was ripped out of the illusion box by Aitkens.

“H-huh?” Penelope blinked as she looked around, seeing Hope and Utarou stifling their laughter.

“It was uh, an illusion… You were talking out loud though.” Aitkens explained.

Penelope turned beat red.

“I-is this the nightmare…” Penelope whimpered as she sat far away from the others, burying her hands in her face.

“ALRIGHTY! NEXT!” Aitkens shouted.

…

“Uh, hi?” Pinklia asked, she was in a massive hall with a thousand other Julia’s of varying shapes, sizes and colours.

“Oh look who finally decided to join.” A red variant scoffed.

“Yeah… Sorry I seem to be a little lost, what is this?” Pinklia asked, confused as to what was exactly occurring.

“HAH! Grandma’s starting to lose it! Just split already and leave it to us!” A purple variant declared cockily.

“Huh?”

“Guys come on! She’s the last Julia!” A familiar looking blue Julia said defensively.

“Pft, you’re just saying that because you like to pretend you’re the real one still.” A massive green variant growled, in a deep gargling voice.

“I-I don’t! I’m just Blue!” The blue variant.

“You’re the real one right? You still remember your name right?” The blue one asked, somewhat desperately.

“Y-yeah, of course I do!” Pinklia retorted.

“Go on then granny, say it.” The red variant chimed in.

“Yeah! Say it!” A light grey variant shouted.

Eventually there was a chorus of women, who looked somewhat like her, but were very clearly not her, shouting at her to say her name.

“I-I-I’m…” Pinklia stammered.

Her name was gone.

She couldn’t remember it.

Who was she again?

…

Pinklia bolted out of the box, her body struggling to compose itself as she felt herself.

“I’m Julia… I’m Julia…” She muttered to herself as Aitkens gave his usual apology spiel and explanation of why this was necessary.

“You alright Julia?” Hope asked as she patted on a spot for Pinklia to sit.

“Y-yeah… It was horrible… And strange…” Pinklia muttered, feeling significantly more relaxed once she heard her name.

“ALRIGHT! LAST ONE! BRING THE BOY AND HIS DRAGON IN!” Aitkens shouted, taking down the screen, where Junior was sitting cross legged in the cell by himself, Rhiney having moved to be practically on top of the gunner dwarves, who were needless to say, terrified.

“Our turn Rhiney! C’mon stop scaring these guys, heh.” Junior laughed smugly, immensely cocky now that he’d got his dragon back.

Strutting over, he saw everyone sitting just away from Aitkens.

“Now, I’m gonna have to ask ye to uh, get ye dragon to put his finger in ‘ere.” Aitkens requested, looking up at Rhiney, who was scowling at the platoon of gunners aiming their rifles at his head.

“And then you’ll let us go?” Junior demanded.

“Yes yes lad, I assure you we want to make amends for this misunderstanding, but we gotta verify ye beasty ain’t a demon.” Aitkens said apologetically.

Junior scoffed.

“I want a steak after this… Extra garlic!” Junior demanded. Aitkens laughed.

“Of course lad, absolutely! Least we can do. Soon as we get ye beastie tested.” Aitkens swore, taking several steps back.

“Hmm, alright, Rhiney! Put your hand in the thing.” Junior commanded. Rhiney scowled but obliged, dumping one claw into the box. The gunners took several steps back.

Immediately something was off, Hope jumped up and grabbed Junior the moment before Rhiney began to fall, just barely escaping being crushed by him.

“W-what did you do to Rhiney?!” Junior shouted as he saw Rhiney fall to the ground, lifeless for a second until he heard his familiar snore.

“Phew! Sorry lad! We never get a chance to see if these spores work on monsters like they’re supposed to!” Aitkens laughed as he pulled the box off of Rhiney’s claw, the fall cracking the box slightly.

“Is that all it does to demons?!” Hope asked incredulously. Aitkens shook his head.

“Nay nay, the spores ‘n here are spiritually attuned ya see.” Aitkens explained as he set it back up.

“Boy, ye care to finish it for us so I can explain everythin’? I doubt ye be a demon but one can’t be too certain.” Aitkens asked. Hope sighed as Junior grumbled.

“Fine…” Junior mumbled as he walked over. Placing his hand into the box, he immediately passed out as well.

“Junior?!” Hope exclaimed, running over.

“That… that is a wee bit odd.” Aitkens admitted. Hope quickly checked the boy and confirmed he was just sleeping.

“You said these were spiritually attuned spores?” Penelope asked, having gotten over her intense embarrassment to start bombarding the Dwarves with questions.

“Ah, before any of that… BOYS! UPDATE THY PRIORS! THESE BE GUESTS! PREPARE THE APOLOGY DINNER!” Aitkens shouted. The gunners put down their rifles and saluted.

“SIR YES SIR! PREPARING FEAST FORMATION 23B” The men replied in unison, including Meadchin who was still several hundred paces away.

“Tired…” Junior mumbled as Hope confirmed he was breathing fine, letting out an audible sigh of relief.

“Allow me to formally apologize once again, I’ll explain everything once you’re all fed and with a good drink in hand!” Aitkens declared, joining in with his men to prepare the meal, much to the group's bafflement.

They were about to experience a Dwarven Apology.