"Are you sure, you want to mark this person as your chosen one?"

"Yes, that's true"

"But he is pathetic! He was just... standing there!"

"It's not that important, what exactly he did. Much more important is why he chose to do it."

"I don't understand..."

"Don't you worry, child, one day you will see by yourself. He is going to be an outstanding one."

Sometimes your misfortune starts with blessing. Whoever said that was truly wise person...

It was heavily raining in the capital that night. Gravel tiles of the street were all but covered with water, almost causing her to slip. Girl, who was wearing a long, dark cape, chuckled with a tint of irony: that very moment, when the Will of Celestial Goddess was carried out, no one could see even a single star!

Though, it wasn't her place to worry about something like that. She was but a mere servant now. Not to mention, exiled one. So she hurried, not paying attention to the pouring rain or a lazy roar of thunder in the distance. Her destiny will be fulfilled soon, and then she will return to the Heaven.

But now her true destination was this small, silent and somehow pityful-looking mansion at the very border of the large city.

It was surprisingly easy to get inside, considering the occasion. Old butler at the door just asked for newcomer's name along with recommendation letter, took her drenched cape and let her in without any further questioning. The girl confidently walked past her new peers, who were gossiping quetly among each other.

Then — past the bedroom, where owners of this house, husband and wife, were huddled together, as if in grief. Honesty, one may think, somebody is dead. Not that they were wrong, but it wasn't their problem anymore. Apparently, it was hers now. Humans! Luckily, she was here to clean the mess.

At last, she entered the nursery and stopped before a small cradle. Newborn baby boy ceased his tiny mewlings at once and just stared at her in wonder with his huge innocent eyes.

"Welcome back, my star-crossed master," the maid sighed, taking a warm bundle in her arms and rocking it softly. "Veronica is ready to serve you".

The boy smiled shyly, not leaving the girl any other choice, but to pinch his chubby cheek. The look of sheer betrayal, that crossed baby's tiny face was truly hilarious to see. Probably, being a servant was not that bad, after all...

"If I may to remind you," Veronica said as respectfully, as she could with the most polite smile ever. "You are supposed to be too young for such a complicated display of emotions..."

Her master answered with a huff and tried to turn his head, already adorned with a few silky and extremely curly red-brown strands of hair, away from her. To no awail, of course. Poor thing. He was probably thinking, that he was complitey screwed now. But something told Veronica, he still had no idea, how true it was.

He ran. Well, as best as one could manage with a gaping wound in his right side. All the efforts to press it together in order to stop the bleeding were vain, so he gave up and focused on another task — moving forward. Staggering, stopping, leaning on a icy-cold stone wall, but still moving forward.

Ryan couldn't turn back, couldn't give up now. He had to catch up, to stop... Whom, exactly? From doing what? He couldn't remember at this point. But he trusted that nagging feeling in his chest, that was practically dragging him forward. Despite pain and heavy bleeding. Despite trembling of his weakened limbs. Or that was what he hoped for. But in reality...

Ryan halted and screamed, as his world suddenly started to shift. He was falling. Falling on the secret button. Secret button, that was meant to close entrance of the secret passage. Yes, the same secret passage, that he didn't tell anyone about yet. The same secret passage that was now closing with sickening metallic screech, ignoring frantic clicking of now broken button. Stars and comets! As if a mortal wound and a mysterious runaway were not bad enough on their own. What a day... What a life.

Now no one is going to find even his body. Probably, for the best. The Summer Celestial festival was approaching. It would be better for them to celebrate it peacefully, not with some sudden funeral on a way. Everyone needed a moment of peace now, more, than anything. Moment of happiness, not striking grief.

The young man chuckled wetly. Goddess, how stupid. His friends would kill him themselves, if they knew, what he was thinking now. Even if that was pointless. As much, as his stupid death is going to ruin the celebrations for everyone, they wouldn't let Ryan to die alone, in the cold darkness. They would hold him, curse and bless him all the same for leaving everyone behind. For not attending their weddings, not raising his disciple, not going to drink to sir Gregor's place anymore...

Norvem is going to be so pissed... He was coming today, together with Zachary, whom he took on a shopping trip earlier, allowing Ryan to work on his recent project. They will bring some fresh newspapers, his favourite cherry pie — newly backed and hot, made by Kati, and smell of the summer wind on their toes. They will burst into his empty study, making stupid jokes and wondering, where Ryan did go. Oh, how he missed them already... It always was so cold here..?

Ryan wanted to hate himself for his weakness. For just lying there on a wet floor in the pool his own blood, and not chasing anyone anymore. For giving up on his own life so soon and, probably, the life of another, but... Wait, what?! He couldn't die yet, or something awful was going to happen, he just knew it!

His eyes instantly snapped open, trying to blink away colorful rings of light, clouding his vision. He crawled trough a new feat of blinding pain and, at last, managed to sit on the floor awkwardly, leaning on the wall. He had to survive a little longer. Had to tell the guys to continue chase after this intruder, to stop what is coming. This war shouldn't start again...

Ryan let out a shaky breath. To think about that, he was surprisingly lucky for someone in his situation. Pain and fatigue didn't cause him to faint complitey, the cold was surprisingly bearable, his mind was relatively clear and sharp. And, against of all odds, he didn't bled out yet. Just how much blood this body have?.. No, bad question. Really bad one.

He should stop himself from falling into another feverish dream. Should try to come back to the entrance and call for help. Or... at least... think in this direction. Young man moaned at another bolt of pain, blinking away sweat, and what he hoped wasn't his tears. Otherwise even death wouldn't save him from teasing. Not in million years.

"Well", Ryan said to himself, preparing to close his eyes tiredly. "At least, there's nothing more to go wrong anymo..." And was silenced by something terribly similar to giant spider web falling on his face.

Disgusting feeling made him forget everything — fear, worry, sadness, his own death. Forget it, until now he was just fine, but that... That was clearly too much! Couldn't he die with at least some self-respect still intact? Probably not by choking on a dirty piece of spider web, if possible? No? Fine...

Ryan clawed at his face with all his might and yelled for help. He knew, no one is going to hear him. That was probably why he added in some words, that would normally make himself blush like a maiden.

It didn't help to get rid of spider web the slightest. If anything, it seemed, the mass gradually become heavier, and started to suffocate him.

"Goddess... I'm sorry..." he managed to whine, before yelling one last time.

"Take it off, please!!! Take it off..."

And a miracle finally happened.

The miracle manifested in a form of ever so familiar smirking face and a soft, snip-snapping sound of scissors.

"Should I cut them, or rather pull them out, master?" his attendant sing-song, demonstrating him cutting utensil.

Ryan just stared, trying to catch his breath and slowly, but surely coming to realisation: the thing he mistook for giant spider web was his own hair. Once neatly combed, it was now messy and sticking to his face randomly. Ryan... No, Ryan was dead for almost fifteen years now. Florann, Florann Plam was his name. He was alive and well in the safe heaven of his own small bedroom. He just needed to breath.

"No, thank you, but no". He answered flatly and gave Vero a weak, lopsided grin. Attendant shrugged and put the scissors away, before turning to the closet and starting to search for something. Florann was still too shaken to ask anyway.

"So, have you discovered something useful?" It was Vero, who broken the silence.

"No, just the usual stuff", he sighed. "This time around I was bleeding to death, before getting suffocated by a giant spider web..."

"Here I was afraid to wake you up, in hope, that you can discover some new clues", the smirk was evident in attendant's voice. "And to think all this time your subconscious was succumbed to arachnophobia instead..."

Any other person would probably get mad at the teasing tone, expecially, coming from their own servant. But Florann was more, than used to this and wouldn't have it any different way... Every other time.

The boy rolled his eyes.

"As if... These dreams are a sheer reason of my so called 'arachnophobia'. I wonder, why..."

"If you say so, master..."

Florann huffed. Saying anything else to this person was a waste of breath sometimes. Though, he could only guess, how hard it was to take someone too seriously, if you can pretty much recall changing their diapers not so long ago.

Vero stayed by his side through all his life (this one life, at least) and even disguised herself as her own twin brother, who never existed, in order to stay close. It was easier to explain. Young master of the Plam family, followed around by personal maid at the ripe age of fourteen would become a laughing stock to the noble society. So male attendant it was.

Veronica didn't seem to mind her disguise. She wasn't ordinary human, after all. Not to mention, this way Florann could become her personal laughing stock... And he couldn't tell anyone about it, for better or worse. But well, at least, with her around he didn't feel too lonely. Even if just for that reason, he could forgive her anything.

Except that, maybe... He cringed, as his own spare pants gracefully landed on the top of his head.

"Verooo", he called, his voice lowering into grumble . "What are you looking for?"

"That", Attendant proudly showed him a fresh nightshirt. "Or you are going to catch a cold with all this sweating".

Florann finally took a look at his clothes. Indeed, it was wet and uncomfortable. No wonder he couldn't stop himself from shivering. The boy suppressed a sigh and slowly, carefully started to undress — his fingers still felt numb from the shock of too vivid dream. Vero handed her master a shirt, helped to fasten it's ties and tousled his hair just a bit.

"Go back to sleep", she suggested. "Tomorrow is a big day, remember?"

"Big day..." he echoed, smiling dreamy. "I hope, I will not see another nightmare tonight, or else I may slip up and call my future in-laws by their given names".

"Can't have you murdered on your first day", Veronica smirked. "Relax, I fixed your spider web, so you are not going to choke anymore"

"Yeah, very funny..." Florann sighed. "Don't forget your notebook tomorrow. We still have to jot down all the details I've seen tonight. There may be some important clue!"

"Spider assassins?"

"Oh, miss, please, watch your tongue. Or you'll get fired sooner or later"

Veronica stick her tongue out at these words, but didn't say anything else. Instead, she watched silently, how her master slowly drifted to sleep once again.

Subordinate of the Celestial Goddess turned personal maid, dubbed as a male attendant. That was quite a job... Not that she regretted it... very often. Current Chosen One was a sweet, calm boy. Though Vero preferred him, when he was younger and had not regain his past life memories yet. Back then it was much easier to comfort him.

She wasn't worried about this boy, no. Florann had divine protection. His dreams, as horrible as they seemed, were meant to help them. And still... She hoped, they wouldn't torment him so much in the future. After all, it was the smallest of their problems. Even an optimistic fool like her master knew that pretty well.