Jame and Lara were cooking in a house they made with the help of the god of knowledge. He often helped humans and even explained how to make more, and gave humans knowledge of language and architecture, to ensure their existence would remain. Lara was even set to have the first-ever child.

  That's when knowledge informed them that something was awry. There was something he did not know of in the womb. As for what that thing was, no one can rightly say. This was particularly odd because Knowledge knew that the child would be the first Dependant, a new wave of gods based not on immutable concepts, but based instead around concepts that require observance to exist. He was to be called Destiny.

  Destiny was meant to spark other Dependants so Knowledge could rest and his interactions with humans minimized. When Lara finally pushed him out of her lower parts, the strangeness infecting her womb seemed to dissipate immediately.

  Dear, be careful of the following few words. The mother-to-be saw her child breathing, but no other sound escaped his lips. Indeed it seemed as if all had been taken from him, as if Destiny was stolen from Destiny or else removed. However, something happened that none present understood fully yet, except Knowledge. A being appeared behind the mourning mother. And it spoke.

  "Your son formed me. He sensed his being would not be his, and so instead of getting his being removed, he willfully gave it. He had one wish flung to the Void, that eventually he be made whole again. I, Fae, was born from this given desire. My realm is favors, and I intend to fulfill Destiny's favor."

  The mother turned and saw a human-like being with a few too many hands and ears. It had no eyes. Lara and Jame both screamed in shock and terror. Knowledge understood what was happening as it happened, but not before. He had never seen the creation of a Dependant, but it seems Fae was the first.

  Fae wasted no time and split the body of Destiny into four parts. The head it made into Depression, the Torso was Failure, the arms Regret, and the legs would be Success. Upon forming them from the body of the one that made him, he set them loose on the world, calling them the Favored.

  Together they would twist and break people's minds and wills, blissfully ignoring the fact that once they all die, they will come back together, and Destiny will be reborn. This is the story of Success and her separation from her three sisters.

  Success approached Failure and gave a grin as soon as Failure saw her. "I'm beating your record; just a few more people, and I'll be the leader of us." She put her hand on her hip and leaned against the wooden beam of the mansion they had convinced the humans to make. "Just 30 more, and I'll be tied. I should've always been the leader."

  Failure lifted her head, and her sunken face and lifeless eyes stared right at Success, maybe even through her. "And how do you think you can do that? Do you really believe you can? You were formed last, and you're not important." Ah yes, the usual antics of Failure, speaking on things others keep hidden. This didn't work all the time; her sisters seemed immune.

  Success just twirled around, showing her superior physical beauty. Her midriff was well toned, and her long legs moved seemingly perfectly, her hair scarlet as her outfit. She wore gold bangles and a loose red skirt. Her top matched the rest of her Bedlah, and today she wore a red rose to compliment her red eyes further.

  Her spinning continued for a few seconds until Depression shouted weakly, "Enough! I don't need you to remind me that I'll never be that beautiful or wanted." Success had once again silenced her sister with her preferred method. Depression sought to get others to take their lives.

  And Success would kiss people to give them success. And then again after. They would get drunk on the Kisses and promises of Success, and that success would eventually kill them in any number of ways. So Success wanted to take it a bit further than just showing her sister what was out of reach.

  She walked with swaying hips towards her sister, lifted her chin, looked into her eyes, and then pulled away. "Sit in your chair and rot; the only way you three could match me is to kill me. If I let you, that is." Success walked away, opened the door, and winked as she blew her sister a kiss before shutting the door.

  She walked down the street, the few people out this late acting as if they couldn't see her, and indeed they could not unless she wanted them to. She eyed her next target and spotted a man wearing weird leather armor. It looked far too lightweight for the ornate chest piece engraved in metal. The crest was a Lion and Dragon circling each other as if to attack.

  She did not hide; instead she walked right beside him. He would be going home, and there she could kiss him to her heart's content until his successes were all realized, and he would fall. They kept walking past the houses toward the castle, which was not surprising. The crest was a symbol of power.

  Once they passed the houses and arrived at the castle gate, he turned left as if to leave the city. "What is this man doing?" She asked out loud. He stopped for a moment, and Success wondered if maybe he somehow knew she was there. Instead, he just smiled up at the stars and sighed in some sort of emotion. So she decided to follow, hoping to use that emotion as she caressed his face. He was quite handsome; she'd enjoy the visions of success she'd give him tonight.

  He kept walking past the guarded city entrance. Success had seen the red and gold armor quite often but not as often at night. She followed him further outside the gates, towards the woods. This was new to her, someone who doesn't live in the city. A simple person, not easily swayed by her nor her sisters. This challenge alone would prove her to be the rightful leader of her sisters and do things her way.

  They wandered into the woods, and the traveler settled on a log, pulled out some animal fur, and laid it over a fire pit that seemed handmade a while ago. He struck flint several times, the sparks taking a while to light the fur. As soon as it did, Success noticed the skin attached to it was dry. The traveler walked around the pit quickly, got some small twigs, and carefully laid them on the ignited fur in a house style.

  There was much to be noticed about this man, mainly how extraordinarily un-extraordinary he was. He had a simple smile on his face that resembled satisfaction. His brown eyes shone in the light that illuminated his skin. Now she saw why he was alone. He was a foreigner whose skin was the color of tree bark. Great, she could use this; she had to before Depression could find him.

  She snapped out of her thoughts on how to make this man fall when he got a few decent-sized logs and arranged them in a tent around the flames of the collapsed branch house. With that done, he laid out a mat behind the log he sat on and laid down on it for a second or two. He got up, mumbling about the fire not lasting through the night, and grabbed a blanket from the same place the mat was earlier as well as what looked to be a makeshift pillow of moss and animal fur. After he lay down again, he pulled the cover to his torso and laid his head on the pillow.

  Now, typically when isolated, the isolated would focus on how to not be separated. The plan was to use this drive for success against him. So once he laid still, she bent down beside him and kissed him full and long on the lips. Then she stood up and waited for a few seconds. Nothing seemed to be happening.

  He was still sleeping, and unmoving save for the snoring. She kissed him again, longer this time. Still no effect. No jolt upright, no turning in his sleep, no talking in his sleep. He just slept soundly. Just who was this guy? How could anyone be unaffected by her kiss? It was unheard of, and none had ever even resisted; from the poorest child to the richest of the rich. All were like putty under her kiss.

  So she did what she nearly never does unless she wants some of the more…. Adult…. pleasures and allowed herself to be perceived by him. She kissed him again, this time with no power, and he stirred slightly. So she shook him, gently at first, then harder until he roused from sleep. He rubbed his eyes, then jolted awake as he rubbed his eye too hard.

  He saw the fire beside him and a beautiful woman standing near his feet, her hands on her hips, tilted slightly to one side. This little pose made her irresistible, her subtle positioning perfected over thousands of years for the most allure and grace her beautiful body could produce. The man just looked at her and asked a single question. "Who are you?"

  Success got on her knees and crawled till her face was less than an inch from his before answering, "I am everything you have ever wanted," before blowing a bit of air into his face, hoping her scent would catch him unaware. Even as simple as he was, he saw it and just acted as if it didn't matter.

  "Well, I need to sleep; if you get colder, there's an extra mat, blanket, and pillow on the side of the log I got these from." He pointed as he spoke, and her eyes focused on his finger as she took it into her hand and nearly put it in her mouth. He quickly pulled it away from her and got up. She stayed down but tilted her head up, looking at him as innocently as a dog would and twice as ferociously. He seemed to ignore her and grabbed the other bedding, laid it out on the other side of the fire, and told her, "there, your bedding is laid out. We can talk in the morning if you wake up close to when I do."

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  OK, strategy switch-up time. She needed to play the long game with this foreigner. He showed kindness and ignorance, but everyone, even she, has a desire to succeed at something. One more time though. This time just for fun, she tried to kiss him as he lay back down. He ignored her, turned away from the fire, and started to snore. This wasn't going to be easy.

  As she lay down, she thought of many things, planning all night how she could either sway this man to give in to his desire and pursue what he wants or to give him a wish and then use that given desire to bring his downfall. Not needing sleep, she decided the best place to be to accomplish this was to listen to him for now and cultivate an interest in his heart for her.

  The foreigner woke up to see Success stoking the fire with logs that weren't there the night before. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, surprised to see her up so early. Day was just barely breaking. "When did you get up?" He asked her

  "About 2 hours ago. Started to get cold and had to add wood to the fire" She stoked a bit more, rolling over one of the logs. "Sorry about last night, I'm used to having to use my body to pay for a place with heat. I'm sure it's not easy for you either." She gestured to his bare arms and the brown color. Though he was differently brown than her, he still understood.

  "I get you, I kinda stopped caring about paying other people when nature is out here." He removed the fur blanket from himself and walked to where she was, then crouched down and grabbed a sharp stick of his own. "You have to stoke the fire like this, turn over the coals so their heat helps maintain the fire." He demonstrated to her, but she didn't seem to get it. "Well, I'll teach you more tonight. Why aren't you in the city?" His voiced seemed kind but unwanting. As if an answer didn't actually matter.

  "A client I was staying with spread some rumors about me to his rich friends, now I have nowhere to stay and cannot wander the streets" She replied tearfully. "I don't want to be alone though, so I followed you from the main square" this was genuine, she liked tricking people, at least more than she liked her sisters. "If I help you, will you let me travel with you?" She said through rather convincing tears.

  His reply was instant, but not something one could easily use. "Sure you can" was his response. "If there's anything you don't know or want to learn, just ask. I'll be sure to teach you. But for now, let's start towards the next town. We can ask each other questions as we go along. Or stay silent, I don't really have a preference." More reactions without an ounce of desire.

  "Why do you have that symbol on your chest?" Success inquired. It did seem a thing of mystery, and wonder. "Are you royalty from some other continent or kingdom?"

  "Oh, the king of Renar is rather kind, even if his subjects are not. He gave me this symbol so others would know not to attack me. I still get the side eye and discriminated against, but that's expected. I'm just a traveler." He said a little sheepishly, as if surprised and nervous. "What about you, where are you from?"

  "Oh, I'm from a far off land. So far now that I cannot reach it, save for seducing Time to rewind itself. It's where I learned my techniques. I'm surprised none worked on you last night, I really thought you'd turn me away." A little shaky voice just for him. "Thank you, I needed the break from perverts who take advantage of my situation."

  His eyes softened a little bit and his pace slowed very slightly. He turned to look at her while they walked, and she pretended not to notice. "Perhaps Ke led you to me to teach you how to survive without want on the road." He pulled out a small loaf of bread. "I can't do much, but here, fill up a little bit. And I always keep a skin of fresh water just in case."

  "Why don't you drink the fresh one and just change the old one periodically?" A genuine curiosity. "Why are you showing me kindness? What can I do to repay you? You know it's not too late to take me up on a wild night."

  "I drink the slightly bad one because sometimes people need help. And it saves resources, I'd be wasting water every few days or so." He smiled quite a bit. "I just do. There's no reason. Just travel with me a while longer, let me teach you. Then you can either go, or continue our travels."

  She grinned ear to ear. She could travel with him! "Yes! Let me travel with you. I never felt at home when I was, well, when I was at home." She exclaimed a bit somberly. This was the chance to get close to an otherwise walled off man. From then on, she walked with a bit more pep and energy.

  He got the feeling she wasn't the most truthful with him, but he found himself smiling still anyways. Time to start thinking about her personality so he could make a survival plan she could pull off alone. "Well I don't really have a home, but you're welcome to share the road with me if you don't like being alone." He nudged her elbow a little with his, to ease her into talking more.

  If Success was right, she saw a desire form in the travelers eye. Unsure as she was of what the desire was, she could still use it. In the end, all people have to have a goal of some sort, even if it's just to survive. "So what's your name? You woke me up as I was sleeping but never told me who you are." She had to think of something, no one would believe her story if they heard

  "Oh, my name? It's ummm… Nebulae" She laughed a little to sell her uncertain choice of name as a mere inconvenience. "My dad seemed to think I would bring new things to light. It's been difficult just to survive."

  "Well it's a beautiful name and thing to be named after. A beautiful and weird name, like you." Did she just detect a tinge of life in his eyes? "Thanks for keeping me company. The road is lonely, but it's basically the only way I can survive easily." He looked down as he walked.

  She got him. His desire was to live. Difficult to work with, but there's enough people Success has brought to death with just that desire. "But if I die it's not like it matters too much. I'm OK with it." He looked at her for a second then quickly looked away. "I was rambling again, my apologies. I'm not used to having someone to talk to."

  "It's OK, I like your voice. It fits you. Now there's a question for you to answer though." She said the last part a bit sternly.

  "Oh yeah?"

  "Yeah. What is your name? What are you doing so far from your city?" Some exciting questions, stories are things everyone likes and the deviation from the norm should make things interesting.

  "This is going to sound odd, but I'm just a traveler. I haven't earned my name yet. Nor do I wish to. There's a lot that goes into it, and I don't want to think about it." He just looked down a little. "Besides, I have no family left to name me."

  "As for why I'm so far from my city, I'm a traveler. Seeking his name. Have you heard of the kingdom of Soocha?" She shook her head in response. "It's filled with people named and unnamed. Many who like me, haven't earned theirs."

  "I can't say too much more about the kingdom, other than it worships the god of recognition, Nico. I don't understand why either." He spied her look of curiosity and amusement. "Ah, we're famed for our traveling groups and closeness of family." He looked back up. "That, and our naming rituals."

  "Is there anyone besides family that can give someone a name?" The culture sounded interesting, perhaps she could hit that kingdom next, it sounded like it thrives off wishes. He looked directly into her scarlet eyes, almost through them.

  "Yes, a spouse. Naming someone is as good as proposing to someone who is nameless." He grinned just a little "but there still needs to be a proposal to seal the future marriage, and the unnamed cannot write down their own name until it is made official by marriage."

  "So can 2 unnamed people get married?"

  "No. Only a named person can instigate a marriage to an unnamed, though it's unlikely to happen. Most people get their names by adulthood. There's a few people without luck though."

  All this information was very well received, though there was still so much more. "Well then, I'm not going to call you traveler. Give me a few days to think of your name. It'll suit you better than the leather armor you're wearing."

  The Traveler blushed a little. "Thanks, but I recall telling you that the only non family member to give the unnamed a name is a future spouse."

  Success grinned ear to ear. "I already agreed to travel with you. Why not get married?" This would set so much in motion. She clung to his arm suddenly to sell the illusion more.

  "I don't want to be a faid" He said quietly.

  "Faid? What's a faid?" She was puzzled, a the term sounded…. Odd.

  "Faid is like a fake identifier. Many unnamed will immediately accept a proposal just for a name they didn't earn." Heading the way was a pair of travelers, likely brothers, brown and blonde hair, with light skin. "Let's get off to the side a little bit. It's better to stay out of the Folks way."

  "No way, we don't have to walk off the road."

  "But they might-"

  "I don't care. The road is wide enough for us all. I won't step off it now."

  As they walked past the travelers, Success heard one say "look at that, a tree and a flaunter." Then both the travelers erupted into laughter. She spun around and spoke.

  "What was that? Sounded like you insulted my man here."

  The taller of the duo, the blond, spoke first "What's he going to do?" He looked at the traveler, who had his head in his hands. "He's scared. Even with his sword, he's scared of us. Maybe that foreign craftsmanship is brittle. He could buy ours, though he'd have to sell us his life."

  The brown haired traveler was turned around too. "Though of course maybe yours would do." Success had an idea. Her hips swayed as she walked up to the brown haired traveler.

  "If I agree, what are your names?"

  "Oh look at that, the woman is trying to seduce us in front of her husband" the duo laughed. "You can call us Joshua and Jet. We'll make sure you're taken care of like the flaunter you are. All we have to do is give him our swords?"

  Success was now leaning on the brown haired travelers shoulder, her face very close to his. "Yes, that is all." Neither she nor Jet saw, but Joshua who didn't have a person leaning on him watched the traveler approach them. He laughed a little and started to speak, but something stopped him.

  It was the blade of the traveler, shaking, but between Jet and Success. "Do not call her that again." Jet wasn't fazed, and the traveler took one quick swing that Jet ducked to avoid. Joshua pulled out his sword in response, ready to fight the traveler with Jet.

  Then he felt the warm lips of Success on his for but a second, and he started to think for a second as Jet raised his sword to duel the traveler. "I want to be more attractive" he muttered quietly. Jet and the traveler both dropped their posture, their swords lowering.

  "What are you talking about man? Help me kill this tree so we can take our payment." He said a bit worriedly as he saw Joshua turn his posture away from the traveler and to Jet. "What are you doing?"

  "Why did she act on you first? I wanted to feel her skin." Joshua suddenly lunged, right at Jet. Jet barely processed what was happening and only just deflected the blade from piercing his heart. That was only one stab, the next was deflected easier, but right into Jet's left shoulder.

  Jet was losing blood, and Success took a gamble. She jumped into the Traveler and kissed him on the lips, slightly longer than she did Joshua. And it had an affect that wasn't visible to even her.

  Jet lay on the ground, bleeding more as Joshua stabbed him over and over until there was no breath left. Joshua then turned to the traveler and lunged, and though the traveler was surprised, he managed to fully deflect the blade. Joshua swung and jabbed like a maniac.

  The Traveler dodged and blocked every attack until he saw an opening and sliced open Joshua's stomach. This usually stopped the attacker, but the lust fueled Joshua kneed the traveler's face and swung down as the traveler rolled and stood back up, taking a low stance.

  This time the traveler moved just a little sooner than Joshua, and cut his head off. He slouched to the ground right after. Success came up to him quickly and hugged his blood covered face into her chest as his head hung low. She felt his tears on her skin as they flowed down his face.

  They stayed like this for a time, until he had no tears left to cry. She let go of him, and he nearly collapsed onto her anyway, but he composed himself. All this for 2 people who wanted him dead?

  He stood up, then shakily held put his hand. "Can you stand? We should travel just a bit further today." I promise we'll camp soon." She took his hand quietly and lifted herself up, nearly tipping the traveler over. "I'm OK for now."

  He took a few faltering steps with her, before she grabbed his hand to help him balance. They walked silently like this for about 30 minutes, neither one making any effort to speak. Their demeanors betrayed truth, he had a weak smile and she had a somber visage.

  When they found some forest, he spoke, only telling her how deep to go into the forest and to find a specific tree. She listened then set him down, leaning against the tree. She sat down next to him and just held his hand.

  "I didn't want to kill him or to see them die. I was trying to avoid them." He planted his hands on his face, and pulled them away soon after, his face slightly less bloody. "I'm sorry you had to see all of that."

  "It's OK, you defended me and what little purity I have left." She cried a little. "It's never been easy, but the names, the names are too much." No more tears. "I didn't want to bring all that. I just wanted to avoid you getting hurt."

  "Well I still got a little hurt. Don't sacrifice purity for me." He collapsed to the side she was on, and she caught him on her shoulder. Then she let him fall a bit further till his head was on her lap. She ran her fingers through his hair gently. "Are you ok with this?"

  "Of course it is, you're going to be my husband." She kept gently playing with his hair, then turned his face up and used part of her bedlah to wipe the blood off his face before going back to playing with his hair. He started to fall asleep, but fought it.

  It was a losing battle. His head remained on her lap, and she stroked his hair throughout the night. There was no light from a campfire tonight. This was a nice feeling, she could get used to his gentleness. This was a good time to pick out his name. And so she thought, unaware of what was lurking in the dark around them.