text: [Themes: fantasy]
  
  Maybe it's because you're in a shitty situation yourself that you're feeling a bit sorry for the pitiful creature that presumably just lost its mother and now has to fend for itself.
  
  "Fuck it." You say, and slowly start backing away, though the beast never lets its own guard down.
  "What the hell are you doing. Shoot the little bastard!" Tych remarks.
  "I don't feel like it alright? Besides, I'll probably need to save all the bolts I can for the wazia."
  
  You get out of the line of sight of the manticore, but Tych won't let this go.
  
  "Are you actually feeling sympathy for the creature? This thing would eat you if it was big enough! In fact, given that its probably hungry without its mother around now, I'm surprised it isn't at least attempting to anyway! Think of it this way, it can't survive very long on its own, you'd be performing an act of mercy if you killed it and at least its death would help us."
  
  At this point you take off your pack and look for some of your remaining rations. Dried meat, it's as good as anything.
  
  "Wait, are you actually going to feed it now? Have you gone completely barmy?"
  "Probably." You say.
  
  You go back to the manticore which once again has adopted a defensive stance, but you toss the meat in front of it which it cautiously moves close to, sniffs and then starts to eat, all the while still eyeing you suspiciously.
  
  You leave the beast to feed.
  
  "You know, you could have at least poisoned the food if you didn't have the balls to just shoot it." Tych remarks.
  "Well, I guess I'm just going to have to get my balls back by killing this wazia, now stop bitching at me and let's get this done." You snap.
  
  You enter the cave with Tych barely following ahead of you. He's flying as high as he can which provides just enough light for you to not break your neck walking around the cave.
  
  As you were travelling here earlier, Tych was telling you a bit about wazias. He mentioned that they resembled very large moles with a huge gaping maw where the face would be. The mole comparison doesn't sound very threatening, but he also said that it has a very tough hide and layers of fat, which is why Tych doesn't think your bolts, would be as effective as they might otherwise be.
  
  You suppose you'll find out.
  
  You start to hear loud sounds, you can't see anything yet, but you have to be getting closer.
  
  The loud sounds soon become rumbles and then Tych suddenly shouts to you.
  
  "Shit, it's digging under you! Get the hell out of there!"
  
  Tych begins flying back towards the exit and you do likewise as the rumbling is nearly right under you.
  
  While its hard to keep up with Tych, you manage to do so. By the time you see the light of the exit, the rumbling is nearly coming from right underneath you. You instinctively jump forward just in time for the wazia finally come up and try to eat you.
  
  You get up as quickly as you can and that's when you finally see the creature. And it does indeed resemble a giant mole. A giant mole with nothing but a giant mouth with rows of teeth for a face. It also has pretty large claws as well, but you're too busy trying get out of its immediate grasp as opposed to admiring them.
  
  You make it outside with the wazia following close behind. When you're out in the open, you take advantage of the light and space and begin firing your crossbow at the thing which has mixed results.
  
  Your aim isn't exactly true due to nerves and generally trying to staying away from the wazia, but it hardly matters when it's as big as it is. Most of your shots hit, but much like Tych warned, its tough hide seems to be outright deflecting a lot of them. And for the bolts that are actually sinking in, you certainly hope the poison starts working soon, because so far it hasn't had any notable affect.
  
  The only thing that's in your favor is that the beast isn't exactly the fastest when not underground, but it tries to keep you off balance by smashing its claws on the ground and causing minor quakes. Large clumps of snow begin to fall from above and given your location, you're wondering if an avalanche won't just bury you at this rate. (Of course maybe that's its intent, it can just easily dig itself out and eat your corpse later)
  
  You see Tych keeping his distance, flying about watching everything.
  
  "Tych, distract it damn it! I need to reload this thing!" you shout while running and fumbling with the cumbersome crossbow magazine.
  
  To his credit, Tych actually listens somewhat to you and shouts at it (in his high pitched squeaky voice) and even flies near it very briefly, but his presence is mostly ignored. Tych doesn't try too much harder than that, but you do get another helper.
  
  The manitcore cub that you fed earlier and completely forgot about starts flinging its own spikes at the wazia. They don't seem to do anything to it, but between it and Tych, it's enough to refocus its attention briefly giving you enough time to reload your crossbow properly.
  
  You fire a few times at the wazia with mixed results again, the manticore cub runs fast enough that the wazia doesn't bother to follow it and quickly turns its attention back to you.
  
  It charges at you, but now you're starting to notice the beast is getting even slower and now begins making loud wailing noises and they aren't just due to anger. The wazia is finally feeling the affects of the poison and begins flailing about. It begins smashing its entire body into the ground and now even larger chunks of ice and snow begin to fall from above.
  
  Along with it trying to cause an avalanche, it begins trying to dig underground again since it isn't sure what is exactly causing it such great pain, and is trying to escape. You can't allow that to happen though, because if it does, even if it dies, it's going to be so deep underground that digging its carcass out is going to be a nightmare.
  
  Throwing a bit of caution to the wind, you get closer to wazia and fire upon it. Your fortunate enough that this stops it from digging long enough to try to swipe at you with its claws. It clumsily tries to do this several times. At this point you've run out of bolts and drawn your sword though realistically you wouldn't be able to get close enough to it that it couldn't still kill you. You're just trying to keep the beast from escaping and hoping the mountains don't come crashing down on your head.
  
  Eventually as its motions towards you stop altogether and it opens its maw completely one last time to let out a woeful howl and then collapses. It twitches a few more times and finally stops moving completely.
  
  You just look at the wazia for a moment before slowly moving closer to it. Just as you get to its body, Tych sneaks up on you.
  
  "Is it dead?" he asks, buzzing in your ear.
  "Damn it Tych, you fucking startled me!" you snap.
  "Apologies, but I figured you'd be more aware of your surroundings."
  "I guess its dead. Shit, I was wondering if that poison was ever going to kick in."
  "Yep, looks like I saved your ass on this one."
  "Hm, I guess you did your part."
  "Damn straight I did, which is why I think YOU should help me now!"
  "How the hell am I going to help you?"
  "By killing Ral obviously."
  "Nice idea, but I'm still bound by a geas remember?"
  "Well after he takes it off of you, just chop his head off."
  "Yeah, like he isn't going to take precautions. I'm fairly certain that if he does stick with his promise, I'm not going to be able to just chop his head off as you say. In fact I imagine he's set this up so I stay bound to him so he can reverse this condition I have."
  "Wait, you aren't actually going to DO that if freedom is an option are you?"
  "What choice do I have? It's not like I want to go through the rest of my life like this."
  "Shit, I'd go through life with my wings fucking clipped if it meant not spending most of my life in a jar and being at that plivik's whims!"
  
  You suppose Tych has a point and it is one you're more inclined to go with since it might be possible to get your condition reversed elsewhere.
  
  All this might not mean anything however, if Ral has no intention on releasing you from the geas anyway. In the meantime you have a heart to carve out of the dead beast in front of you.
  
  About midway through Tych starts calling to you again.
  
  "Hey! Watch out, the manticore is back!" he exclaims and hides on the other side of the dead wazia.
  
  You turn from your bloody work and look. The manticore cub is indeed back and watching you, but its not in a defensive stance anymore, it seems to be more curious than anything else.
  
  "I'm not worrying about it since it probably isn't going to do anything, but if it makes you feel better..."
  
  Tych probably thought you were going to follow up that statement with you trying to kill it, but you instead you just reach into your pack and give it another piece of dried meat, which it happily eats and no longer is interested in anything else.
  
  "There you go Spikey." You say coming up with an on the spot name for him.
  "You just gave away the last of the food!" Tych exclaims.
  "What does it matter? As soon as I dig this heart out, and you perch on my shoulder, Ral will teleport us back anyway right?"
  "I guess, I just don't understand why you're indulging that creature."
  "Good thing I did, since it distracted the wazia better than you did."
  "Hey I did my best considering my size, you dick!"
  
  You go back to your unpleasant work. Not so much because of the gore and blood, but the smell is awful even with your dulled senses. Eventually you cut the large organ out and carry the thing out of the wazia's body. You then sit down to take a breather.
  
  "Shit, I think that was almost as much work as killing this thing." You say.
  "Did you get it?" Tych asks.
  "Yeah, why are you so far away? I figured you'd be anxious to get out of this cold at least even if you don't like the jar."
  "I would, but that thing is nearby!" Tych remarks and points to the manticore that is now coming up to you.
  "Tych, you're worrying over nothing. He'd fling spikes at me before you given how close he is. Just get over here and get us home."
  "Fine. Did you think anymore on killing Ral yet?"
  "Yeah I've thought about it, and I guess you'll know soon enough."
  
  Tych isn't enthused by your response or the manticore being nearby, but he flies to you anyway. He sits on your shoulder, makes a few weird hand gestures and before you know it, a flash of blinding light hits you and you're in the lab again. You also feel something bump your leg.
  
  You look down and see that the manticore cub has teleported with you and is currently nuzzling against your leg.
  
  "Shit!" Tych remarks and flies away to hide again.
  
  Meanwhile Ral walks in from one of his other rooms in the lab wondering what all the noise is about.
  
  "So you're back and successful as I knew you would be. Hello, what's this?" Ral asks.
  
  Spikey growls a bit when he sees Ral.
  
  "Spikey no!" you say and do your best to try to calm him which involves petting his head and neck. This seems to work somewhat since he relaxes, but still eyes Ral warily.
  
  "Hmm, I see you brought back more than just the heart. You didn't need to go beyond what was required, but I appreciate the enthusiasm. The manticore parts will come in handy for spell components." Ral says.
  "What? No, it helped take down the wazia and I guess it got caught up in the teleportation process."
  "So?"
  "So, I dunno seems sort of fucked up to just hand him over to you for parts after he helped me."
  "What are you going to do with him, keep him as a pet?"
  "Well I suppose I could..."
  "A pet manticore? What do you think you are a frost giant? That's silly, you aren't going to have the means to tame such a beast when he starts to grow! You sure you don't want to hand that beast over? I could give you something extra."
  "Can you reverse this fucking condition you imposed on me?" you ask.
  "I imagine could, but that would require that you stick around a bit longer. I mean that can be arranged..."
  
  You're not getting trapped. You can't get trapped again.
  
  "No, I'll figure out another way." You say.
  "Very well. Put that heart on the table and... wait a minute where did Tych go? I saw him fly off to hide, not sure why he bothers to do that, since he knows I can just teleport him back in the jar at anytime." Ral says as you lift up the oversized organ and slam it on the nearby table.
  
  "Can we get on with this?" you ask getting impatient.
  "In a moment and don't presume to give orders, I still haven't freed you yet and you'd be well to remember that. Now step back, you're very cold you know." Ral says.
  "Of course I'm fucking cold, you did this to me!"
  "And I offered to reverse the process, but you declined."
  "Damn straight I declined, I'm not going to fall for your tricks again. The first time you enslaved me, the second time you made me into a freak!"
  "If you like, that can remain your reality." Ral warns.
  
  Ral raises his hands as if to cast a spell and that's when you see Tych flying over his head struggling with a small-uncorked glass tube that's as big as him.
  
  "Hey glakface, try casting magic now!" Tych shouts and then pours a clear fluid on Ral, who looks up just in time for it splatter on his face, and he even gets some in his mouth.
  
  "Gargh! (cough) (hack) blagh!" Ral gags and begins hacking up and rubbing his eyes.
  "He can't cast magic! Don't just stand there plivik, kill the bastard!" Tych squeaks.
  
  > do nothing
  Considering you're still under a geas, there isn't much you can do in the first place. In fact you're sort of pissed at Tych right now considering you were about to get released by Ral!
  
  "What the hell are you waiting for plivik?! Move in! Attack!" Tych shouts.
  "Tych, you're a fucking asshole! I was close to freedom! I'm not helping your sparkling ass now!" you shout back.
  "Wha...shit..."
  
  At this moment Tych realizes his plan has fallen through and he desperately goes to find something else that could possibly help him in the lab. Meanwhile Ral is already starting to get over his situation and stumbles over to one of his tables and downs some potion. Whatever it did, its helped him significantly.
  
  Tych is nowhere to be seen at this point, but that soon changes when Ral instantly teleports him back. The little bastard has never looked so terrified.
  
  "I allowed you to live and this is how you repay me? Not too surprising I guess, but I thought you at least had enough sense to not try to kill me. You're going to pay dearly for this." Ral says.
  
  You continue to stand back, keeping Spikey in check and watch as Tych suddenly clutches his head. He begins making high pitched screeches and eventually drops to the floor like a stone, which is quite the height since he was still hovering and a fair distance from the floor. He's probably broken his little legs, but that's the least of his problems.
  
  Tych continues to writhe in agony on the floor. Blood starts pooling around him. You aren't sure exactly what Ral is doing, but it apparently causing Tych to bleed from every orifice.
  
  Eventually the sprite's body can't take it anymore and convulses a couple times before finally dying. You aren't sure if he deserved all that, but you're just glad that wasn't you.
  
  Ral now turns his attention to you and already by his stare you're feeling a little nervous.
  
  "Hey, I didn't plan that! That was all Tych. I can't even do anything against you remember?"
  "Maybe not, but you didn't do exactly that much to help me either."
  "Wha...what? I figured you had it! I mean what damage is a sprite going to do to you?"
  "Apparently more than I anticipated. I have a very hard time believing that he didn't try to convince you to help, he seemed VERY sure you were when he shouted at you. Why else would he make such an attempt?"
  "Because he was desperate! I swear I wasn't conspiring against you!"
  "I dunno, you were pretty argumentative earlier..."
  
  At this point you feel so threatened that you begin to think about acting against Ral, despite the geas. It takes everything within you, but you suddenly shout "Spikey attack!"
  
  You instantly fall to the floor clutching your groin in pain, Spikey attacks, but given that Ral was already in a state of alertness, he waves his hand and teleports himself out the way of the barbs, then follows up with freezing Spikey in solid ice.
  
  "That was a very silly thing to do. If I didn't think you were against me before I do now. Last thing I need is to release you and you cause problems for me later no matter how minor that would actually be."
  
  "No wait!"
  
  Those are the last words you utter before you're put into some sort of magic stasis.
  
  Instead of killing you, Ral keeps you around to experiment on from time to time and do tests. (Spikey on the other hand is ground up into spell components)
  
  The only good thing is you're completely oblivious to any of this and you definitely don't experience any passage of time.
  
  Your mind is there, but in a dream like state. Most of the time this is positive as you often dream about having a pleasant experiences with people you were on good terms with in real life, such as you sister or Lisa (Or rarely, even Annah or your parents)
  
  for you like this, but of course thanks to Ral's magic, you suffer no physical effects of this coma state. However, there does come a day where you're having one of your more pleasant dreams and suddenly everything starts getting ripped away from you.
  
  In the dreamland all sorts of horrors attack you, from lizardmen to wazias and manticores. You see those close to you killed many times over, driving you insane for you can do nothing to stop it.
  
  In the real world something even worse is going on. You'll never know what exactly of course (Let alone why), but it involves Ral destroying your sense of self or quite literally wiping your mind. The sudden chaos of your dreams is just the beginning of your brain failing to make sense of it all, but eventually everything you know starts disappearing and being replaced by other unfamiliar images. Well a few of them are familiar, but the fact that all the familiar ones are related to Ral, is a little concerning.
  
  "Your world" shrinks and one by one all those you knew independent of Ral disappear. People like Tych and Isabella are still there, but you begin to perceive them in a very different way. Even "you" are not feeling yourself. You start to feel like a stranger in your own head.
  
  And then finally, you cease to exist as you know it and only Ral remains.