THE HERO'S SON IS A MONSTER-Chapter 44: Nightmare Lullaby
Eresheb had realized that this child would likely never sleep in his life. Perhaps he had simply been created that way, in the image of his creator, but she still found it unfortunate. She looked at the child.
She would have to find something to keep him occupied all the time, considering how lifeless he seemed inside.
Although Ariane had said she needed the child for testing, Eresheb knew that Ariane’s concept of time was somewhat peculiar. Since she was resting, it could mean several days, months, or even just a few hours, depending on how much interest Ariane had in the child.
After quickly crafting some clothes and dressing him, she wasn’t sure what to do next. Then, suddenly, a spark of genius crossed her mind.
I know what we can do.
"Little brother, now that you’ve joined us, I’m going to show you every corner of the moving castle."
Eresheb walked lightly through the shifting corridors of the moving castle, holding the baby firmly in her arms.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, a rare expression of joy illuminating her face. She was eager to show him this unique place, this space that defied logic itself.
"Welcome to Ariane’s moving castle, little brother!" she declared with pride.
"A place where everything changes, where the laws of nature bend to Lady Ariane’s whims. Here, time and space do not follow ordinary rules."
Eresheb remained calm, but as she thought about what she had just said, she felt a bit ashamed. More than anyone, she knew that this place was nothing more than a nuisance in Ariane’s eyes.
The baby did not react, but his open eyes, which Eresheb interpreted as curious, watched as they passed under a finely sculpted stone arch.
As they advanced, the walls seemed to breathe, expanding or contracting according to the movement of the castle. The dim light emanating from floating lanterns cast a golden glow, creating dancing shadows.
"This place," Eresheb continued, "is larger on the inside than it appears from the outside. In truth, each room is a gateway to a different space, an Ariane laboratory, a sanctuary for her creatures... or a storage for resources."
She stopped in front of an immense metal door engraved with ancient symbols.
"This is the Library. Just like the mnemonic chamber where Lady Ariane’s memories are stored, here lie most of the books gathered from various places. There are even books written by Lady Ariane herself."
With a gesture, she opened the door, revealing a vast hall where the only constant was silence. Endless rows of books stretched beyond sight, books and books everywhere.
The baby babbled softly, fascinated by the sight.
Eresheb smiled and gently patted his head.
But Eresheb did not enter the library. In the distance, she could see a desk inside, and she dared not approach. Sitting at that desk was the one in charge of this place.
"You’ll have time to learn how to read later. Come, we still have so many things to see!"
Eresheb closed the door.
They continued their exploration, passing through a greenhouse where luminescent plants spiraled upward, floating in the air instead of rooting in the soil.
"The Garden. Ariane designed it to cultivate exotic plants. There are various zones in this garden and different types of flora. Some sing, others move to escape predators... and some..."
She reached out to touch a black flower, which abruptly recoiled.
"Some don’t like being touched."
The castle suddenly vibrated beneath their feet, shifting direction without warning. Normally, such changes were imperceptible, but she had only noticed because of the module within her.
"Ah, it seems we’ve moved. Where are we going now?" she murmured, amused.
They reached a new chamber, an immense dome where a starry sky stretched above them, even though the interior of the castle was supposed to be enclosed.
"The Observatory. This isn’t the real sky you see, but a reflection of celestial memories Ariane has collected over time. A perfect illusion, capturing lost nights and forgotten constellations."
It’s a shame she never comes here, she thought.
The baby reached out with a chubby hand toward the stars, and for a moment, a shooting star streaked across the artificial sky as if responding to his gesture. Eresheb let out a soft laugh.
"Ah, so even the heavens answer you, little brother? You really are special."
"How lucky you are!"
"I hope you won’t end up like us! And that you’ll keep Lady Ariane’s favor."
She continued the tour, showing him the Menagerie, where ancient beings slumbered in a space frozen outside of time; the Chamber of Mirrors, where every reflection revealed a different version of oneself; and finally, the Void Forge, where impossible materials were shaped into artifacts.
Finally, after a long walk, they returned to her main chamber. Eresheb sat in a dark velvet armchair, gently rocking the baby in her arms. Her room was simple, with just a desk, a bed, and a wardrobe. She disliked complexity after all, she was just another experiment like the rest.
"And there you have it, little brother. A glimpse of Ariane’s moving castle. There’s still so much more to explore... but for now, it’s time for you to sleep."
She looked at the child with tenderness.
"Sleep well, my little brother. Tomorrow, we’ll uncover even more mysteries."
"Oh, I forgot... you can’t!"
"I guess this whole walk was just to distract me," she said with an amused look. But it was also self-mockery.
"I also need to report to Lady Ariane about my mission."
She also knew that not only did she have to make her report, but she also had to leave the moving castle. She was well aware that this mission was only meant to keep her away, but she still wanted to accomplish it properly.
The smile vanished from her face, replaced by an expression devoid of emotion, mirroring the child’s own vacant stare.
She slowly brought her hand closer to the child’s neck as she held him.
"What if..."
"What if I..."
"What if I killed you..."
Would Lady Ariane care? Would she finally acknowledge me? Would she look at me more?
The more she thought about it, the tighter her grip became.
