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I stared at the ghostfire in my shaking hands. Teacher Amarah had given it to me earlier this month. I knew the assignment I was to complete with this dagger. That day was still etched in my mind.
It had been a glorious morning. The skies were mainly blue, with a few clouds littering here and there, and the sun was shining. Amarah had called for me while I was foraging in the woods. When I came, he had taken me somewhere private to say. “Twotime, your companion Azure’s faith has been noticeably dwindling. The higher-ups and I have consulted with the Spawn, and they blessed us with the knowledge that the only suitable punishment for this was death.” Amarh had told me, placing the horrible blade into my hands. I had pleaded with him, saying:
“Teacher, please! There must be another way we could go about this issue! I cried, looking away from the blade. “The Spawn’s love is everlasting! I'm sure we could bring them to their senses before we go to such measures!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
Amarah gently patted my head. “My child,” he murmured to me, in an attempt to soothe my wails. “This was a hard choice for us to make as well. We pleaded with the Spawn for so long, yet they did not move on their decision. I shall grieve for Azurewrath greatly, as will the rest of our members.” He paused to take my hands, which were cupping the dagger.
“That said, we can only entrust this task upon you, my child. You will be celebrated, Twotime. We will host a banquet in your honor. Few have accomplished such a task, Twotime! Please, we ask of you. Bring that unbeliever’s body here by the end of this month.” Amarah closed my fingers over the Ghostfire dagger. “Understood?”
I hesitated, not meeting the older Robloxian’s gaze. Amarah pressed my fingers tighter over the blade. “Do you understand, Twotime?” He said sharply, the slightest hint of annoyance on his face.
“...I understand,” I mumbled, my face was blank. Why me? It was a little cruel, wasn’t it? I wanted to cry.
Amarah smiled with satisfaction and pride. “I knew you would do it!” He said, releasing my hands to pull me into a hug. I let my hands fall to my sides, not hugging him back. Mildly risky, but Amarah didn’t seem to notice. “We’re counting on you. Everyone is. Set a good example, Twotime.”
“I understand,” I said again.
Amarah released me from the hug, still beaming at me.
“You may be dismissed.” He said softly, waving me off. I bowed politely, my face still blank, before turning away. “Remember Twotime!” Amarah called after me. “By the end of this month!” I nodded, picking up the pace until I was running away.
...
I was back in my room, staring at the ghostfire dagger like I had been doing ever since that day. Did I really have to do this?
“The Spawn will be greatly pleased with you!” A small voice, reminiscent of Amarah’s, said in my head.
I froze. My eyes went wide with panic. This was happening again. The weapon dropped out of my sweaty palms. Tears formed at the corners of my eyes, and I clutched my head as the voice spoke again. This time, it sounded more wrong.
“It’s only one simple task.” The voice hissed in my mind. “Do you wish to be useless? To waste your one chance to prove yourself over some trivial worldly friendship?” The carefully repressed tears finally came crashing through. I sobbed. I heaved. My whole body was shaking. “Are you going to answer, Twotime? Or are you going to keep wasting your pathetic tears on this?” The voice resembled nothing of Amarah now.
My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground, still holding my head. I said between sobs, my voice unsteady. “No…” I choked on my own saliva and snot.
“‘No’ WHAT?!” The voice screamed in my mind. It felt like my head was being ripped apart. I shook from the impact, falling forward. Slowly, I steadied myself with my hands.
“I won't be useless...” I whispered, quivering.
“Will you kill him? Or do we need to fix you, too?” The voice murmured, almost gently, contradicting the cold words it spoke in my mind
“I’ll kill him…” I softly, my head still throbbing, though less painfully.
“Good, It purred in my head, soothing the splitting headache it had caused. “The Spawn will be proud. Amarah will be proud. We will all be proud of you, twotime.”
And just like that, the voice vanished, leaving me to plan the steps I would take to complete my goal. My purpose.