Chapter 55: Sacrifice
Violet light hung suspended in the air like mist.
The Phantasm Beasts trembled before pausing, and there their bestial features softened as human awareness flickered behind savage eyes, memories and consciousness resurfacing beneath twisted forms.
"Anasha..." Leafa’s voice was soft and warm with her blue eyes shining faintly. "I... Remember. I remember who I was before. I recall finding you... Wandering the streets alone." Her lips trembled with a sad smile. "Your eyes... They were so haunted back then, and filled with so much despair."
Raphael stepped forward with the spikes of his back still showing, but his voice was soft with sorrow as he spoke. "We followed you that night. We had a plan..." He trailed off, glancing at Ven.
Ven lowered his gaze, his expression bitter and ashamed. "To us back then, you were just prey. Nothing more." His voice caught, but he forced himself to continue. "We followed you into the old town..."
Leafa gave a small laugh, though it wavered. "But then you screamed into the night with tears running down your face... How you wished for family, for friends, for people who would accept you." Her voice softened. "And everything changed. Our other selves, the beast inside us, were pushed down. And in its place, something new appeared... The human form we take on now."
Anasha’s body shook as she clutched the front of her clothes, and her breath came in tiny sobs. "S-So... It’s true... It’s my fault..."
Ven stepped closer despite the shadows clinging to his limbs. He reached out and flicked her forehead lightly, just as he used to. "Never." His smile was faint, and his blue eyes softened. "Don’t you dare think that. We aren’t angry you changed us."
Anasha’s eyes watered as he bent down, wrapping his arms around her. Ven hand stroked her hair in slow circles. "It was fun being your big brother." He whispered. "The best months I ever had."
Leafa joined him as she knelt down at Anasha’s side and pressed her forehead to the girl’s. "I was so happy playing mother, even though I wasn’t your mother. It felt real in my heart, and I was so happy to have you as my child, my second sweet child."
Raphael chuckled softly, though tears rolled down his cheeks. "And me? I had the most fun as your father than I ever did as a beast."
It’s then around them that the half-restored townsfolk stepped forward.
A woman with a gray braid, her face angular and kind despite the claws still protruding from her fingers. "Little miss." She said softly. "You always remembered to read books to me even though I sometimes forgot myself... I never got to tell you this, but just you being there made me the happiest." Her words cracked, but the smile didn’t falter.
The dam broke with that, and suddenly the air was filled with the rest of them speaking.
"Hahaha! I enjoyed teaching you how to weave flowers." Said a burly man who still bore a wolf’s ears and tail, though his eyes twinkled gently.
"You always shared your sweets with me." Called a girl who couldn’t have been much older than Anasha, her own pointed teeth gleaming through a nervous grin. "Which were some of the best times in my life!"
"You were my best friend, Anasha! None of the others would have played with me before meeting you!"
"You watched the sunrise with me when nobody else was awake."
"You showed me how to skip stones at the old river."
"You listened to my stories, even when they were nonsense."
The words smashed into Anasha, her body trembling as each one struck her heart.
Anasha covered her face with both hands, her shoulders shuddering with the force of her sobs. The sound was ugly, created from the grief of a little girl and her gratitude. "You... You were all real to me. My family... My friends...My town..."
The townsfolk smiled through their sorrow and closed in around her. Ven’s arms enveloped her small frame while Leafa’s fingers traced soothing circles on her back. Raphael’s claw hand rested with surprising gentleness atop her head. One by one, then in waves, the others joined until she disappeared within their protection, a hundred bodies creating a sanctuary.
Within the circle, Anasha’s cries grew softer, replaced by a series of hiccupping gasps as she tried to catch her breath. She peeked through her fingers and found herself face to face with the old woman who’d spoken first.
With a trembling hand, Anasha reached out and touched the woman’s furry cheek, and the woman leaned into the contact.
"I’m sorry." Anasha whispered. "I made it worse."
The woman shook her head, taking Anasha’s hand in her own. "You made it better, sweet girl. You gave us something we all wanted deep down as well. You gave us friends, a family, and a community."
Anasha’s eyes widened while the others nodded with faint smiles. Some of the townsfolk began to hum, a simple melody that seemed at once ancient and childlike.
"Live on, Anasha."
"Make new friends."
"Be happy for us. Go on, do whatever you want!" Another, her hand smoothing down Anasha’s hair.
Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph stood a few paces away, stunned into silence. None of them dared to interrupt as they stared at this moment.
At last, Ven loosened his embrace, though he kept his hand on her shoulder. Leafa’s cheek pressed to the top of Anasha’s head before she sighed. Then, as one, Mensis townsfolk drew back slightly.
Not all at once but gradually, with those nearest to Anasha lingered longest, their hands trailing along her arms and shoulders before letting go.
Leafa’s smile wavered, but she wiped off the tears from Anasha’s face. "I would rather vanish than ever hurt my daughter."
Raphael’s chuckle quickly changes into a sob. "How could I harm my cute little girl?"
Ven’s arms tightened around Anasha once more. "I’m supposed to protect you. That’s what brothers do."
Anasha screamed, clutching at them, shaking her head violently. "No! Please don’t go! I don’t care if you’re Phantasm Beasts! You’re my family! Stay with me!"
The three held her as she wept, but the smiles never left their faces.
"Thank you, Anasha." They whispered together. "Every day with you was the best."
Ven’s arms were still around Anasha, but slowly he lifted his head. His half-beast face twisted with strain, yet his eyes glowed soft and human once more. He turned toward Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph.
"Take it." Ven said softly, even as he trembled. "Take our strength. If it means Anasha will be safe, then it’s worth it."
Leafa’s hand which was still stroking Anasha’s hair moved. She raised her head too and smiled at them. "Protect her, that’s all we ask. Nothing else matters."
Raphael placed his hand over his chest with a weary grin. "She is our precious little one, the light of the town."
All around, the townspeople lifted their heads and displayed their peaceful faces.
One woman said softly. "Please... protect our precious Anasha."
Another man let out a laugh and nodded. "Yeah! She’s our crown jewel. Don’t let anyone take her smile away."
Their voices rose together, one after another, until the ruined street echoed with the sound of a hundred voices.
Words failed Anasha. Her mouth opened and closed while hot tears stream down. Her tiny fingers twisted into the worn fabric of Ven’s shirt, holding on as if he might disappear if she loosened her grip even slightly.
Marie stepped forward, her crimson-white spear still glowing faintly at her side. She bent low to meet the fading eyes of the people and smiled, warm and certain. "Of course. As little Ana’s friends, nothing will stop us from keeping her safe."
Joseph tightened his grip on his gray lance. His body trembled, but his voice was firm. "As Inquisitors, that’s our duty. But as her friends, we will make sure she is happy. I swear, we won’t fail."
Reinhard said nothing at first and simply stared in a daze. An entire town of Phantasm Beasts was willing to give everything for one child. He had seen villages claim unity and noble houses boasting of loyalty.
But compared to this? Compared to the scene and the actions of the Mensis Townsfolks? None of them had ever felt like this, and none of them had ever been so selfless.
Reinhard thought of his siblings. Could he ever find such a community for them? A place where they wouldn’t just survive but belong? The thought dug deep into his chest.
Finally, Reinhard spoke softly. "Don’t worry. We’ll crush any obstacles that try to stop us. And... Thank you. For lending us your strength."
Ven gave a weak laugh, ruffling Anasha’s hair one last time. "Then I’ll be living through you guys, huh? That means I can still keep an eye on her."
The townsfolk chuckled softly, some shaking their heads, and others smiling through tears. Their laughter was faint, but it was real, carrying the last traces of joy.
"Yeah..." Someone whispered. "We’ll be there with you."
Leafa kissed the top of Anasha’s head, her lips lingering. "Be strong, my sweet girl."
Raphael bowed his head as he whispered. "Live without fear."
Ven leaned close, his voice breaking. "Big brother’s proud of you."
And then, they all acted in unison as they raised their hands, and they struck themselves through the chest. All of them trembled before the black spikes exploded outward and pierced their bodies.
Yet the spikes curved away from Anasha, forming a jagged shield around her, and none of them touched her. She was held in a cocoon of shadows and arms, cradled to the last moment.
Anasha screamed again, clutching tighter even as her family and friends began reverting to their beastly forms. Once all of them transformed back to Phantasm Beasts, they all collapsed to the ground.
Anasha knelt in the center of the ruined street, her body shaking, and her face wet with tears. "Don’t leave me..." She whispered softly.
The night swallowed her words as she was surrounded by the bodies of Phantasm Beasts. Her family was gone, with only the memory of their smiles lingering.