Asima blinked, surprised. She stepped forward, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Lean on me: Just a little. I can’t carry all your weight…come to the bed…”

Solum accepted the help eagerly and working together he managed to stumble into Asima's bed. He was out pretty much the instant his head touched the pillows, and it did make sense. Without someone to watch over him every night, how was he supposed to catch any rest at all?

Asima chewed her lip, watching him. After a bit, she sighed, settling herself in a chair she dragged over, reading over a few spells as she waited for the male to wake.

Most of the day passed by before Solum finally woke up again. He sat up, looking a bit dazed as his eyes searched to figure out where he was, and how he might have gotten there.

”Solum?” Asima question, when the male sat up and glanced about. “W-would you like any food or something to drink?” She’d learned from Malum, if the males wished her to know, they would tell her. She felt too indifferent, kind of numb inside, as well, and weary of this. She didn’t really care anymore. She’d wanted so little, in her mind, and had to give so much. Only to be denied what she wanted. What was the point anymore, truly?

Solum nodded a little, although he still hadn't spoken a word.

Asima poked her head out the door, sending servants for the items before returning to the bed. “solum…Are you alright?”

Slowly but surely Solum shook his head 'no'. "I can't... do this..." he breathed, "it's one thing to live every day pretending to be someone else. Pretending your own life doesn't exist-I spent all of mine doing that already. It's easy. But this is so much worse... Malum at least had something to keep fighting for but... but why the hell should I care if I live or die anymore? It'll all end up the same in the end anyway."

Asima was quiet for a moment, looking away. She felt the same. “I may not have people trying to kill me, or have to pretend to be someone else, but I’ve had to give a lot, too, Solum. If I have to keep going, then you aren’t going anywhere. Malum did this his whole life for you. It’s to pay him back.”

"But he isn't even here!" Solum exclaimed, "He's just... gone... and I'm not doing this without him! I can't do this without him. So maybe it's time to look for a replacement."

Asima felt rage boiling inside her, and began yelling. “He’s not here because he sacrificed everything so you could be! And you are going to throw that away? All of his sacrifices? He at least loved you enough to do all that, and you’ll just give up?” She shook her head, sitting back down, and giving a tiny sigh.

“I…I’m sorry.” She muttered, rubbing her temple. ‘I dunno. It’s your choice. I don’t think Malum would want you in this life, but the only way you can be replaced it to die. He worked so hard to keep that from happening…”

"No, he worked so hard to keep me from being swallowed up by that dark thing" Solum replied, climbing out of the bed and to his feet, "There has never been a King of thieves that moved on from this world, because instead of going to Anubis, our souls belong to the beast, and none were capable of living a good enough life to ascend to the afterlife. Malum sacrificed himself, knowing all the terrible things he did would send him to Anubis, but he did it anyway, so I would have a chance not to be devoured by that thing. He wanted us both to be able to move on after this life but now that can't happen. Now he's been taken by that thing, and if I'm not careful, I will be as well. The only thing I can do... is die before that happens."

”Stop it!” Asima cried, not caring enough to stop her tears. She lifted her hands, covering her ears.

She let her hands drop, and the princess slumped forward in the chair. “You’re the only tie I have to him. I’ll continue to be your bodyguard…I’ll kill a million more men, but don’t go. I’m barely hanging on as it is, but all do all everything I can to keep you from the beast. Please, Solum?” Yes, she was begging, and yes, she was being selfish, but Asima no longer cared.

Solum watched her silently for a moment before his eyes turned away to the floor awkwardly, "... I'm sorry" he apologized, "I know he meant a lot to you, but you can't hold onto me as some replacement. Just because we look the same, doesn't mean we're anything alike. I'm not Malum, in any way. I could never be him, it's hard enough pretending."

”I don’t mean it that way…” Asima muttered, rubbing her stinging eyes. “You were both more important to each other than I could ever be, anyway. I mean, you were that much a part of his life. You were the only thing around him that accepted me willingly. You aren’t Malum, but you are my only tie to him.”

She hugged herself tightly, then, letting her eyes drop, “H-he’s not even here, and there is so much he still asks of me, I’m going mad. I…I need something to make me remember why I have to continue living. We had so little good, and now I’ve found out it was even less than I thought. I can’t imagine how hard it is for you, but it’s hard for me as well. I have so many loving people around me, supporting me, and I still feel so alone. You can’t go.”

Solum bit his lip, as much as he just wanted this to be over, he couldn't just abandon someone, especially not Asima. "Alright." he sighed, "i don't suppose I can let Malum's little princess down." he gave a slight smile.

Asima’s head jerked up, frowning. “Don’t call me that. You and I were both wrong. He didn‘t want me after all.” If he had, he would have told her of the floor he’d found, and what could happen. He had been using her after all.

She stood, reaching out and touching him arm in a gesture of gratitude. “Thank you. I know it’s hard…”

Solum looked confused, "What do you mean though? Of course he liked you..."

The princess looked away, biting her lip before answering. “No. We had nothing. It was a rude, on his part. He knew me and him, or you and I would have to fight. Lakar says it could be our offspring, but I doubt that. He knew that, since he was young. The only thing I can think is that he finally pretended to care for me, thinking if I truly cared for him, I wouldn’t be able to hrut him.”

(I forget, had Asima told Solum about that secret passage?)

(No, not yet. She’s only told Lakar.)

Solum blinked, "Asima, you're not making sense. Malum thought the best of you, I would even say that he loved you, and that's practically insane for a guy who'd long since given up on such things."

”Stop.” Asima shook her head, before grabbing solum’s hand, leading him through the palace. She led his to the secret doorway, and opened it, before calling fire to her hand, lighting it.

She led the way down the stairs, using magic to light the torches around the room. She nodded to the floor, frowning. “Malum saw it when you and him were at the palace once. He didn‘t love me.”

Solum startled but followed her obediently. Upon reaching the secret passage his eyes opened wide in surprise and he soon found himself staring at the floor in shock, "w-what? But that looks like... h-how long has this been here?"

”A long time.” Asima stated bitterly, turning to go back out the passage. “You see? Malum didn’t care for me at all.” She hugged herself, stepping on the first step. “It won’t change, no matter how much you look at it. C’mon.”