There was distortion in space somewhere on a mountain near the camp site.
After they appeared, Sofia observed what was in front of her. The place was in every clique Demon Lord settlement you could find in every book imagine, and even in her previous experience fighting with them. They were exactly the same.
Dingy surrounding? Check!
Castle? Check!
Monsters? Check!
Minions? Check!
Demon Lord? Check, Check!
It took them a blink of on an eye when they arrived at the settlement. It was daunting to the extreme for first timers but it was a usual scenery for Sofia.
She felt disappointed on how they just do the same over and over again. The thing that changes were the faces and hair color of these Demon Lords wannabe. Tall, handsome to the extreme, long shiny frizzy-free hair, body like a gym rat to die for, and most of all a freaking megalomaniac.
Using an amplified voice, "Hear ye! Hear ye! I'm back mothafuckahs!!!"
It sacred all of the monsters and creatures, even the Demon Lord was off guard of her announcement.
'My predecessor warn me to take all precaution of this abomination. I'm not yet ready! Where the heck is that imbecile? Why is she her already here!? I need more days to complete my army!' Thought the current Demon Lord, Cyrus. He made sure not to invade other countries publicly so that he could accumulate power, and slowly infiltrate other kingdoms. He assumed his minions were at fault this time, they tend to not listen to any of his commands when they're very hungry.
"Before you attack, Sofia the abo... Ahem! I meant Sofia the Great. Let me introduce myself. I'm Demon Lord Cyrus, and may this fight fu...!!!"
Out of nowhere, Sofia went for the kill. She casted an high level instant spell, Hell Fire to her enemies.
It was good thing that Lord Cyrus and few general minions evaded the spell. They knew it was a dumb thing to fight head on with this relic Demoness.
Lord Cyrus felt pain in his stomach from stress. He was raising his army painstakingly since he was born and they were obliterated just like weeds on a side road. It was a one-sided massacre.
"Oh! I see, some bright few worth my time and precious MP. Well I need to hurry and attend my partey!" One by one she killed her enemies like sitting ducks. She didn't realize was lurking behind the shadows, and with her carelessness. It was her biggest and dumbest failure... ever.
"Stop right there!!!" Someone shouted a very familiar voice behind her.
Of all things could happen, being stab at the back with enemy was understandable, but with an ally was way... low, very low. Sofia hated those kinds.
Cass was holding Johny hostage with an ominous knife on his neck. Sofia could not fathom why she betrayed her, of all people. She bet Marie would bitch slap her great grand daughter silly from her grave.
"I said, STOP right there! Make a move or this person cease to exist. I did my part Demon Lord Cyrus. Give me what I asked for!" Cass hysterically demanded.
Sofia cursed herself over and over again. She was never this careless... Maybe she was getting old to this... Or maybe blame it to the look-alike pretty asshat. Yeah, Blame the bystander... They really look like twins, it was driving her nuts.
The Demon Lord gave Cass a crystal that's a size of a human heart. She was murmuring incoherent words like she need it badly.
Sofia couldn't help but asked, "Why, Cassandra? I've never treated you badly or family, EVER!"
She felt hurt, frustrated and humiliated with what just transpired. Through all this years... all wasted because of... She thought 'wait! she didn't gave me a reason yet, damn it!'
We just stared and waited.
Cass was fidgeting, and thinking what to say.
"I... I wanted to wish something even more than being your stupid slave! There! I said it! I hate working under you! You treated me like I'm your fucking babysitter. I worked really hard in school and ended up just to work for you. I hated it when everyone nag on how good, generous and mighty you are. I hated it! I wanted more in my life. I'm suppose to be married by now and you just ruined it for me, scared all my suitors. I FUCKING HATE YOU!!!"
Sofia palmed her face, like really scrubbing her frustration to oblivion.
"You should have fucking said so! YOU DUMB FUCK!"
She shouted all her anger and loneliness. She had had it will all this thing. She wanted to go home and hug her foster parents and besty Ant. She even wanted to smack her boss for one last time, then she stop her thought. She realized she could actually do so, she'll just smack Johny as a proxy. With all said and done, she still couldn't return because she have no clue how to go back home.
She was so distracted, she felt something on her chest... more like inside her rib cage. Something was protruding in front of her.
'Wait is that a sharp blade or something...' She touched the tip of the blade with her finger just to test if she was hallucinating or not.
She didn't feel any pain. She knew she could heal anytime. The perks of being immortal was the pain receptors would go off in a few seconds. But what really distress her was what's in front of her. Johny was on the ground holding his neck and gasping for air. There was blood gushing on his neck and mouth. It was nothing new to her witnessing such horrific scene. But having a familiar face holding for dear life was a whole new ballgame, especially if it was someone that looks alike her boss whom she love and hate at the same time.
She knew they have feelings for each other, but she was scared of disappointing him and would lead to abandoning her in the end. She felt she wasn't good enough for him. He was high in the food chain and she was just her employee.
The blood was pooling near her feet. She knew he was meant to die. Every Hero does. They knew it's a glorified and beautified death sentence.
She kneeled in front of him. She slowly holds his face, and closed her eyes. It was the only way to comfort him, even she needed it too.
"I... I'm sorry."
She said a quiet prayer, and said some words that not everyone could understand.
Knew she have to let go of her life. Why did she stayed in this world for so long? What was really her purpose? Why was the world so cruel to others and even more cruel to her?
It was never about saving the world or being the hero. It was giving others a chance.
"I will give you a chance to live, Johny dear." She kissed him and every thing went black.