"The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong." – Carl Jung
The sky stretched endlessly above me, a vast expanse of soft blues fading into the golds of an early morning. Lately, I had developed a habit of staring at it, losing myself in its silent infinity. The world below was messy—chaotic, even—but up there, it felt as though nothing mattered. No deadlines, no responsibilities, no battles to fight, just unbroken peace.
I leaned back on the park bench, my fingers laced behind my head. Moments , rare as they were, always made me think. It wasn't the philosophical pondering of "what's the meaning of life?" No, it was more about finding a way to live through it without breaking down.
Life is hard. That's a fact. Hard for everyone. For some, it's a cruel joke, while for others, it's a series of trials designed to test limits. I'd faced enough battles—both physical and emotional—to know that life doesn't go easy on anyone.
But here's the thing: if life is already hard, why are we so hard on ourselves?
I chuckled softly to myself, thinking of all the times I pushed too far, worked too hard, expected too much from myself....especially in my earlier life when I was Jaden...
"Maybe," I murmured, looking at the vastness above, "we just need to give ourselves a break. Life isn't a race. It's a walk, and sometimes, you have to stop and enjoy the view."
The words weren't profound, but they resonated within me.
My moment of introspection was interrupted by a sound that pulled me out of my thoughts—a loud, exaggerated, and unmistakably playful "Meowww~!"
I turned my gaze to the source of the noise, and there she was—Beta, my ever-energetic cat-girl companion. She sat perched on the bench beside me, her tail flicking with excitement as she devoured the last remnants of a cream puff. The crumbs dusted her cheeks, and her ears twitched with contentment.
"Master, I'm done!!!" she announced with a wide smile, her voice loud enough to turn a few heads in the park.
Before I could respond, she sprang to her feet, her tail wagging like an overexcited puppy.
"Let's go somewhere else now!" she said, bouncing on her toes.
I sighed, a mix of fondness and surrender washing over me. "Yes, yes… Let's go," I said, standing up and stretching.
Her energy was infectious. I'd been through a lot over the past month—endless missions and battles. I'd barely had time to breathe, let alone spend time with Beta. Today was supposed to be a day for her, but as I watched her beam with excitement, I realized it might be just as much for me.
Our next stop was a lively carnival that had popped up in the city outskirts. The air buzzed with excitement—bright lights flashing, cheerful music playing, and the aroma of fried treats wafting through the crowds.
Beta's eyes sparkled like a child seeing snow for the first time.
"Master, look at that! A Ferris wheel! Oh, and those bumper cars! Ooooh, a shooting game! Can we do everything?!" she asked, her words tumbling out in a rapid-fire stream.
"Everything?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You do realize we only have one day, right?"
"Pfft. That's plenty of time!" she said, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the nearest ride, ignoring the people around who were looking at her awkwardly because of her loud noises.
The Ferris wheel was our first stop. Beta plastered her face against the glass as we ascended, her tail swishing with excitement.
"Wowww, look at the view!" she exclaimed, pointing at the city below.
"It's… nice," I said, leaning back and enjoying her enthusiasm more than the scenery.
When we reached the top, she turned to me, her eyes shining. "Master, doesn't this feel magical? Like we're on top of the world!"
"Magical, huh?" I mused, smiling faintly. "Yeah, something like that."
Next came the game booths. Beta was relentless, dragging me from one stall to the next. She was surprisingly good at most of the games, winning plushies and prizes with an almost alarming accuracy.
"Master, look! I got another one!" she said, holding up her fifth sfuffed animal of the day.
—I guess she forgot that she is in public and using her strength as a shadow mystic that is surely attracting a lot of attention from around
"Great. Maybe you should open a shop," I teased, juggling the growing pile of prizes in my arms.
She stuck her tongue out at me. "I will open if lady Alph- I mean my sisters allows me to."
"Hahah I see...so Alph- I mean you sister doesn't let you work." I repeated, with a bright smile that only we two understood its meaning.
"Yes exactly." She said, laughing out loud along with me.
"Alright, let's see you beat me at this." I pointed to the strength test—a classic carnival game with a hammer and a bell. Beta's competitive streak flared instantly.
"You're on!" she declared.
She gave it her all, that send the bell above in the sky, breaking the barrier of machine.
"Your turn, Master," she said smugly.
I let out a heavy sigh, lowering my head as secondhand embarrassment crept over me. Around us, the crowd gawked at her, their jaws practically hitting the ground. My gaze shifted to the stall owner, whose expression wavered between disbelief. Poor guy—he didn't deserve this chaos.
After exhausting ourselves with games, we moved on to the food stalls. Beta's appetite was infinite. She flitted from stall to stall, sampling everything in sight—fried snacks, sugary desserts, and even some exotic dishes I couldn't pronounce.
"Master, try this!" she said, shoving a skewer of grilled meat toward my face.
I took a bite, and she watched me expectantly.
"Not bad," I admitted.
"See! I have good taste!" she said, puffing out her chest proudly.
I shook my head, smiling. "You're going to eat the entire carnival at this rate."
"And you're going to carry all my prizes, so hush!" she retorted, sticking her tongue out.
Her playfulness drew attention from the other carnival goers A few children giggled at her antics, while adults whispered and smiled.
At one point, she ended up in a fight with an actual cat, the creature hissing and arching its back as if it were her mortal enemy. The scene only grew more absurd when a group of kids burst into laughter, their giggles echoing through the street. That seemed to push her over the edge, her glare shifting to the children as her frustration boiled over.
Before things could escalate any further, I stepped in, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. "Let's go," I muttered, trying to save what little dignity remained in the moment.
As the day came down, the sky shifted into orange. We found a quiet spot by the river, away from the bustling crowds. Beta sat cross-legged on the bench, happily devouring an ice cream cone, while I sipped on a hot coffee.
The waves crashed gently against the shore in a soothing rhythm.
"Days are a good thing," I murmured, almost to myself. "Maybe I should do this with all of my Shadow Mystics together someday."
Beta tilted her head at me, her ears twitching. "Did you say something, Master?"
"Just thinking aloud," I replied, smiling faintly. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novᴇlfire.net
Her tail flicked curiously. "What about?"
"About the others," I said. "Speaking of which, how do you feel about Alpha as a leader?"
The question caught her off guard. Her ears flattened slightly, and she shifted uncomfortably.
"Umm…Lady Alpha is… scary," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Really scary. If I don't listen to her, she gives me this look that makes me freeze up. And she's so strong, Master. Like, crazy strong. She's so perceptive, too—I can't even lie to her! She knows everything."
I chuckled at her dramatics.
"With me, she's always so obedient," I mused, shaking my head.
Beta pouted. "Well, duh! You're Master! She has to be obedient with you."
Then her expression softened, and her voice grew quieter. "But… she's not all bad. She cares about me. A lot, actually. She always asks where I am, if I'm okay, or if I need anything. Even when we're on missions, she makes sure I'm not alone. She tells me to take the others with me, even when I say I can handle it myself."
Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and I could see the genuine gratitude in her eyes.
I smiled warmly, reaching out to pat her head. "Good girl," I said softly.
Beta leaned into my touch, her smile as bright as the setting sun.
As the evening wrapped up, Beta's endless energy finally began to wane. She yawned, stretching her arms and tail as we made our way back home.
"Master, today was the best!" she said, her voice drowsy but happy.
"I'm glad you had fun," I replied sincerely.
Life wasn't perfect. It was messy and unpredictable. But for now, moments like these—filled with laughter, companionship, and a sense of peace—were enough.
After a long, exhausting day, Beta and I lay on my bed, under the soft bedsheet. Our naked skin pressed together, sharing a warmth that felt more intimate than words. Our discarded clothes scattered across the floor.
Her arms tightened around me slightly, and I felt her breath against my chest, soft and even. Just as sleep began to claim us both, her lips parted in a quiet whisper, barely audible in the stillness of the room.
"That felt good... Master..." she murmured, her voice carrying the remnants of satisfaction even in her dreams.
Moments later, the room fell silent, save for the rhythm of our steady breathing as we drifted off in nothingness together.