Sacrifice

...... ......

Ah, you awaken. Good morning. How do you feel?

Nnh...

Where...

......!

Ah...

Good morning, Lady Iphi.

I told you, there is no need for stuffy formality here.

Do you feel strangeat all?

Strange? Hm...

I guess my head still feels a bit hazy...

Good.

If you are sleepy, then sleep. The night is yet young.

Huh... It's still night out?

Lady Iphi!

Would you like anything to eat? I'd be happy to make it for you.

...... ...A peach tart.

Haha, right away, my lady.

What did I say about formality?

Oh, uh... Sure thing.

Now, then.

Let's hurry and get baking, before Lady Iphi loses her patience.

...She seems a little distant tonight. Maybe she's tired... I'll make the tart sweeter than usual, just for her.

Me? I guess warm milk.

Huh? Warm milk...?

Haha, as you say. You do love your tea and tarts, after all.

Oh, Lady Iphi. Your ribbon's come loose.

Haha, guess it would be hard to tie a ribbon with only one hand, after all, right?

I'm only kidding. Let me see.

How long have I been asleep? My head still feels so foggy. This place...

Hmm...where are we, I wonder. Where did I go yesterday? I can't seem to recall...

Good morning, uh... Macramé! Sorry, I totally forgot your name there.

Sorry, sorry!

I'll make some for you, too. Just sit tight, okay?

Oh, right, wonder what's in that room....

Eep! Please! Don't scare me like that!

Haha...how nostalgic. Whelp, was it?

Huh? I feel like she's called me that more recently, though. Could just be imagining it, though.

Let's focus on the tart for now. Lady Iphi gets impatient fast.

Mm... Sweet. Airy. Delicious.

Thank goodness! It's so hard to tell if you enjoy the food I prepare or not! I was worried I'd messed it up.

Foolish whelp. This is the one talent you have that is worthy of my approval, and so I will give it to you.

I'd like it if you approved of my other talents, too...

Do you like it too, Macramé?

...Good, but not perfect, so it would seem.

Did you say something?

No, nothing. Come on, eat. If you wish for some drink, as well, I will give you some.

That's okay, I don't drink.

...Huh? Wait... What did I just say?

Nothing of import, surely. You have never turned down anything I have offered you.

Haha, that's true. I wonder what's wrong... I just feel off tonight. I even forgot how to make the tart for a moment, while I was in the middle of baking.

If your one skill were to vanish, you truly would be nothing more than a tail-wagging whelp.

I don't think that's...

I feel like I'm dreaming. My body feels so sluggish, almost fuzzy, like...

You are dreaming.

Lady Iphi?

This is a dream. A dream of the night.

Sleep now, pup. Beneath the seal of blood...

...... ......

Nnh...

Uh... Hmm...

So you awaken, at last.

Ah, Lady Iphi. A pleasant morning to you.

Formality.

Aah, yes, right... Yes... right.

I was hoping I would be more acceptable to you if I spoke more politely...I think.

How laughable. Such tricks will not change my opinion of you, not after all this time.

Haha, I guess not.

I feel like I slept very well. Maybe I'm just imagining it, but it felt like you were humming a lullaby for me the whole time.

You were certainly imagining it.

Haha. I wonder, though. Maybe I wasn't imagining it. Your voice is so pretty, Lady Iphi. I could never mistake it for anything else.

You are growing more and more insolent, I must say. Shall I draw you a portrait and make you cry?

You're good at singing, but not so much at art...

Huh? It's nighttime again. Did I sleep the whole day?

You truly are spoiled, I see. Are you an infant, to sleep so much?

No, I... Please don't tease me. I'm a grown man!

See? I'm even taller than you.

Haha, bark all you wish. A pup will always be a pup.

That's harsh...

I know I slept almost all day, but what would you like to do now? Should we set out before dawn?

No, we will stay here.

It's rare for you to spend so long in one place, Lady Iphi.

You are not yet yourself, after all.

Huh?

I hunger. Make me something.

Oh, okay.

Macramé. Hey, you seem a little...

NO TOUCHING!

Lady Iphi?

Ah...

...He is molting. You musn't touch him when he is molting.

You molt? Huh.

I guess I'll restrain myself. Want to help me cook, though?

Ah... Macramé. Are you here to snack? I'm making some sausage and veggie soup, so...

Here, have a sausage end. Don't tell Lady Iphi.

Macramé?

Hm? You want to go out?

Here, I'll open it up for you.

Huh? Aah!

There we...go... Hmm?

What is this sword? It's gigantic...and so heavy. When did I put it on? It makes it hard to move... ......

Is it tasty, Macramé?

.........

I hope you like it too, Lady Iphi.

Hm? Ah... ...It is delicious. As always, your skills at cooking are the only ones worth calling skill.

I've been doing my best to count as skilled with other things too, you know.

.........

What is wrong? Now you are the one who seems out of sorts.

...... The truth is... I feel like something's wrong. Or not wrong, but out of place... My memories of recent days feel so vague and hazy somehow.

Even you, Lady Iphi.

Even I, what?

Am I too kind?

Huh?! No, I didn't...!

You're always so kind.

Hah, I was joking. Do not take it so seriously.

The moon remains high. Stay with me a time before I sleep.

Cards, again? Of course.

Of all the pointless diversions humans have made, this alone has some small value.

It has been so long. Show me what you can do.

Haha, so long? We play almost every night.

Ah...

Ah, indeed... Yes.

Nnh...

Hrrgh... Huh?

Huh? It's nighttime again. Did I sleep the whole day again?

Ah, you are awake.

Lady Iphi.

You were very deeply asleep. You would not awaken no matter how I prodded you, so I left you be.

Wha...

I'm very sorry you had to see me like that, Lady Iphi.

I am long used to it.

You do not look well.

Ah, well... I can't help but feel like something must be wrong.

I would never sleep this much normally...

You are simply tired. Fine, then. Allow me to tender my thanks.

Thanks?

Do not repeat after me. I have never done this before...

So just this once, I will cook for you. You may reply "thank you" or "I would be delighted."

Huh?!

S-sorry. I was just so happy, it slipped out...

.........

You are such a strange pup.

Now, be quiet and wait. Do not run about in circles or whatever else it is you do.

Haha... I won't do that, I promise.

Thank you. I'll wait patiently.

...Mm.

Oh, Lady Iphi...

Iphi.

Huh?

Call me Iphi.

Huh?! No, that would be...

I give you permission. Say it.

O-okay... ......

I-Iphi.

...... How was that?

How do you mean, "how"?

Did it feel familiar?

Of course not! That's the first time I've ever... ...I can't say I'm comfortable with it. That's not how I should address you.

...Is that so.

Do you want me to change how I refer to you?

I could call you by your real name. Iphigen...

No, no, enough! Stop that! It makes me antsy!

So you feel strange, too?

...Mmh... ......?

What is it? Do not stare. You will burn a hole through me.

Lady Iphi, were your eyes... Were they always red...?

......

Who can say? I am a vampire. They are likely the color of blood.

You're looking at the stars, I see...

Nnh...

I can see them really well. The air is so clear here...

...Huh? Lady Iphi...

What is it, pup?

Where is Spica? I don't see it.

......

What are you making?

Pasta with fowl meat and mushrooms in a cream sauce. I cannot make anything except what you have made me. Do not complain.

Haha, I won't. This makes me happy...thank you.

...Sit down and wait. You are distracting me.

I know. I know that... Why else would I have...

We have no business here.

.........

How long has it been since I have eaten something? Since that day, I suppose... To think I could still taste...

Mm, this is good!

Good. You are a strange one, I must say. You dislike warm milk, yet you say you greatly enjoy cream pasta.

Hmm... it's the smell of warm milk I can't stand, I think.

I see.

No, I do not see at all. They are the same thing.

They're totally different.

Either way, this is delicious. I almost hate to eat it all...

...Eat, while it is still hot. Enjoy it fresh, as it is meant to be.

Haha, you're right.

Hm? Macramé? What is it, do you want some?

Come back.

But, Lady Iphi...

Come.

...Lady Iphi?

Ugh, do you not see? You are hopeless, pup!

Macramé's fluff conceals a strong static charge, you fool! You would be in such pain if you touched him.

Ah, right. I know you hate static electricity.

You may thank me for saving you from your unknowing peril. And as a sign of your gratitude, you may bring me another bottle.

What happened to wanting me to eat up when it's most delicious?

You have already finished it. There is nothing but sauce left, I see.

Haha, you got me. It was so good, I couldn't help myself.

I'll go fetch you that bottle. Be careful not to touch Macramé yourself, either, okay?

...You.

I have my limits, and you are sorely testing them. Away from my sight.

Wha?!

Lady Iphi?!

Huh? Lady Iphi? That's strange. Where did she go? ... And what happened to the lights?

Macramé?

That's right. I felt like I had to feed Lady Iphi as much as I could.

Were her arms always so thin? And her face... Was her expression always so clouded by deep shadow?

I don't see Spica.

Even though there's no way it couldn't be there.

Macramé...

Macramé doesn't talk. He doesn't talk, and also... Has he always looked like this?

Lady Iphi's favorite glassware... She has two. One for her... And one she let me use, heh.

Hmm... There's a crack in this one. How did that happen? I polish them every night... They should be spotless.

When I brought her tea, I thought the cups felt strangely small in my hands. But they were the same cups as always.

What's going on here? I really feel as though I've been sleeping this whole time.

This room can't be opened.

Lady Iphi told me not to open it.

There's no way...

Huh?

I told you not to open the door... You just had to disobey me...