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Mind Reader

William stops playing and the golden orb that illustrated the memorable parts of his life disappears from sight. He rests the mandolin on his lap and places his palms flat on it. He straightens his back to prepare himself for the Skeleton Queen's version of events.

"So what did you think?" he asks.

Her magenta eyes avert his face. "You can see Bumva again, but you know what you have to do."

"How many times will I say I won't hurt you unless you force me?"

"Then maybe we should drop the pretenses. Your life stories were pleasing to me, but one of us will have to die at the end. I refuse to let go of my people again!"

Her fingers are close to his throat, but hesitation stops her from going through it.

"What about your life story?" the bard asks without a trace of fear in his voice.

"Why does it matter? I killed your friend!"

She tries to sound prideful, but shame betrays her voice.

"Hector told me you regretted killing those heroes who tried to stop you. That you would cry yourself to sleep every time it happened."

She glances over to her captain out of betrayal for telling this stranger her vulnerabilities. Hector deeply bows down as an apology.

"Queen Melody, help me know you and tell me about what happened on your wedding day. I want to know the truth."

She sits down and clutches her knees to her chest. She then feels the boney hand of Hector rubbing her back. She then feels Will's hands on her jeweled fingers. Soft and warm to her liking.

"Sorry. I should have asked first," he backs up.

"C-Consider it a return of the favor for what I did earlier."

She waves her hand and the skeletal bodies of the former children run out to be with them. Emilia holds her hand while "looking" at her. The little girl pats her hand to give her strength. The Queen gives her a warm smile for her encouragement. She kisses the top of her skull before getting up.

She takes steps towards the bard while summoning something to her hand. The bard hears the flipping of paper pages before she sets the book down.

"It would be best to show you. You will be looking through my eyes as I hold your hands. Cut a mark across your head to start the process. If you want to stop, let me know."

He gets out his silver sword. "How big of a cut are we talking? And will I catch anything if you do this as well?"

"Just enough to get some blood out and no. This spell will prevent any diseases from being passed onto you. It's meant to give someone their perspective on a previous life."

He quickly cuts himself and he winces as red blood trails down his head. Melody touches the blood and draws a symbol that he feels out. An upside-down wavy u surrounded by a circle on his forehead. She then cuts her forehead with her fingernail to make the same symbol. Violet blood trails down her nose as she holds his hands.

"I will now press my head against that symbol. Don't get any ideas," she warns.

"I understand," with no joke or flirt behind it.

She mutters something between her lips that William couldn't understand. She then presses her head against that symbol.

Their bodies glow as William feels a chill going down his spine. His instincts warn him to stop from seeing what will transpire. He ignores them to find the truth.

To his shock, shadows, lights, and swirls of color appear in his mind for the first time. The vibrant colors are blurry until they come into focus. He breathes heavily as he takes everything in. Wavy outlines become solid as voices are heard. He tells himself to stay strong. Not just for him, but for Melody's sake too.

----

"Melody, que estas haciendo?!"

Will feels that question directed at him by a man with a caramel complexion wearing a black shirt trimmed with golden lines. His thick moustache quivered as he narrowed his magenta eyes. Will felt his head moving down to find his hands had changed. The same caramel color but smaller. His "feet" shuffled from side to side. A large, dusty book with scarring on it was in his hands.

"I-I'm sorry, papa! What did I do wrong?"

A young Melody's voice came out of his mouth. Her father squeezed his eyes shut and sighed. He crouched down to her eye level and gently cupped her cheek.

"Mija, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you. That book in your hands is from my past."

"What is it?"

"It's...a book of necromancy."

"Isn't that illegal?" she gasped with a dropped jaw.

"It is. A long time ago, I used to be a necromancer. I conjured up spirits and varieties of the undead for those who requested it."

"Why?"

"Some wanted to speak to their loved ones again and I used it to keep your uncle "alive". He was just a baby when he passed so I began to learn it. I was able to revitalize him, but not for long. That led me to dabble more into the dark art and I amassed a number of undead servants. My kingdom exiled me as a potential threat even though I never wanted to use them for war. Even with undead servants, I felt so alone until I met your mother."

"Does she know?"

"Si. I raised her father's spirit so they could talk one more time. She wasn't scared of what I could do, but I couldn't continue it as my heart fell for her. I decided to give up that magic and I don't want you to go down the same path. The dead should remain dead."

"But you used it to help people," Melody argued.

"Sometimes the cost isn't worth it."

He went out to reach it, but Will felt "his" body turning away from him.

Melody's father chuckled. "Stubborn just like me. I can't argue against you so I want you to promise me one thing: Read it, but never use that magic. Do you understand, mija?"

Will's "head" nodded. "Yes, papa."

"Good. Now come and train with Hector. You kept him waiting for too long."

He offered his hand which she took. Hector was pacing the room and stopped as Melody was brought to him for sparring practice. He had a bushy brown mustache that complimented his gentle light brown eyes.

"Your Majesty, you kept me waiting," he lightly scolded.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Apologize with your fists and feet, princess!" he commanded as he raised his hands into a battle pose. Melody shifted herself into a matching stance and they exchanged some blows. Hector wasn't easy on her as he delivered a hook to the ribs. Melody hopped on her feet to melt the pain away. Will could feel "his" lips forming a smile as "his" feet rushed forward.

Will then notices the surroundings around them get wavy with blurred colors. He catches his breath as it settles back down. He finds himself wearing a black dress that touched the floor with hands larger than before. He hears sad music as he's in front of a priest who's holding a crown. A crowd of her similar complexion included the young to the old with variations of dark, silky hair.

"Today is a bittersweet day. We have lost our king and queen during their voyage. We shall remember them for all the good they have done for us. Today also marks the coronation of our queen of Albarino. Melody Ramirez has been proficient in her duties and will be a fine queen to us all. We shall listen to your leadership."

Will feels a lump in "his" throat, but it got swallowed down. After the crown is placed on "his" head, the surroundings change again. His stomach flip flops from what's to come.

Looking down, he finds he's wearing an elegant white dress. Glasses of red and white wine on the tables before him. His right hand was adorned with a shiny diamond ring outshining the other jewels.

Men, women, and children smiling on this festive day. Emilia was how she was before being an undead servant while wearing a yellow sparkling dress. She waved directly at "him" with the caramel hand waving back. 

An armored hand gently tapped "Will's" shoulder. 

"Is everything okay, my queen?" Hector asked. The queen nodded to reassure his concerns. He went back to attention to continue gazing over the reception.

Will feels his hand being touched by another hand. "He" looks up to find a man with an elegant moustache and goatee whose face resembled Garth. Will narrows his eyebrows.

"My bride, let's raise a toast to our people. May we both be prosperous in our new venture," Arthur of House Vinum offered. His white garbed and red garbed mages get their drinks ready.

William nods against his volition and raised "his" glass of white wine. His "lips" move to speak.

"Thank you everyone for coming out to this wonderful day. My people, we will be prosperous together as we will look forward to the future. Let's raise a toast to House Vinum and the kingdom of Albarino!"

"And this is where everything changed," Melody narrates with rising anger and sadness.

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