The Little Dullahan came upon the playground where there were many kids pretending to be warriors or heroes, both male and female. This felt like an opportunity for the Little Dullahan to not only recruit a good amount of people but to have her own faction that she could relate to. Strange thoughts raced through her mind for some reason but it felt good. However, it was a distraction since she was to give up her humanity.
"No... I must not let trivial things get in the way," the Little Dullahan said as she looked at the teddy bear she was holding. "I must ask milady of this later."
Ignoring the evidence of her humanity, she approached to the children that were playing. All of the kids stopped what they were doing and were curious about the Little Dullahan that stood before them with her steed. The headless girl had her short sword out and declared.
"By order of the dullahan Aednat with the authority of King Oberion, I conscript you all to be part of Lady Aednat's 100 dullahan army," the Little Dullahan said.
"Oh nice look Anya," said a boy.
"Did I ask you to speak?" the Little Dullahan said. She remembered that being her name. Therefore, her stead was named Ayna. Though something about this boy seemed important to her.
"Cut the act Anya. It's time you confess your love to him," said a girl with darker hair.
"Really? You should had said so," the boy said.
"Anyways," Anya said as she changed the topic. "In the end of this, you all shall be held as heroes at a cost. You will serve Lady Aednat for the entirety of this battle!"
"Yeah!" the kids said.
"Then welcome to our army!" Anya said as she sliced the heads of all of the kids.
Everyone grew armor similar to Anya with slight variations such as the thickness or accessories. The boys were now girls as their appearance changed just like Anya's former father. Anya seemed satisfied with the results as she counted about seven kids in general. Though she eyed on the former boy that was said to be her lover.
"You there, I ask you your name?" Anya asked.
"I am Ryan," said the new dullahan. "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," Anya said. "We ride to our lady!"
"Yeah!" the dullahans said.
...
As the kids rode, they spotted Aesnat who struggled to find anyone. Even forcing them was a problem since they managed to get away from her so easily. At worse, they had some gold to keep her away.
"Milady! I have returned," Anya said.
"Oh. Greetings child. I see that you made more progress than I," Aesnat said.
"Yes milady," Anya said.
"A young dullahan like you would expect a reward," Aesnat said. "Man it reminds me of when I was your age."
"I do hope you don't me asking but I have been having these strange thoughts," Anya said.
The other little Dullahans chuckled as Anya waved them off. Aesnat waved her hand as if she demanded privacy in which the little dullahans obeyed. Aesnat knew the risk of indiscriminate conscription and she prepared for this possibility.
"Well you see, despite how we are immortal, young dullahans expect changes as they mature," Aesnat said.
"That is not what I mean. I had moments where I had some distractions through memories of myself. Perhaps as a human," Anya said.
"Oh?" Aesnat asked.
"I wonder why would I need a teddy bear with me or why do I show immature affection to my stead?" Anya said. "All while I had memories of myself doing the same thing but as a human."
"Oh, that's easy. Something must have reminded you of your past. Even if I stripped away of your humanity, it seems that you were strong willed as a human to the point that part of that will remained. Perhaps it's the toy that sparked the will even further. I only stripped away you and your comrades' humanity so that being a dullahan does not disturb you," Aesnat said. "I apologize for all of this but it was necessary."
"I understand milady," Anya said.
"Tell no one unless asked or if it is truly necessary. That way, we can at least not have chaos in our ranks," Aesnat said. "If your humanity was to return, use it to do good and help us rather than a distraction. From your results today, I see you as a promising dullahan."
"Thank you milady," Anya said. "Shall I recruit more dullahans?"
"You may," Aesnat said.
Anya rode off as her mini army followed suit. And so...