Chapter 27: Our change of pace.
We ran back the way we came. The sun had risen now and the streets were beginning to fill with demons going about their business. All of them oblivious to what we had just done, smiling and believing in the future their Lord had instilled in their hearts. The future we had just taken from them. There was no time for regrets however. As we reached the borders of the city an alarm rang and guards quickly spread like ants in panic. They began to search for anyone suspicious, and with how we were dressed, we definitely were.
It was too late for them however as we made it to the clearing in the forest. Ronalt placed the unconscious Ardent down, he hadn't woken up and nothing Marley or I did stirred him. The amount of effort and mana he had gone through to keep Lara and the Demon Lord sealed was beyond ordinary comprehension. Lara wasn't in much better shape, only moving with Taylor's help.
"Now what?" Earnest asked.
"Without Ardent we are stuck here," Ronalt replied sternly. "We can only wait till he has recovered.
"It won't take long for the search to reach here, and as I said before, I'd like to keep my head."
"How about we run further north?" Marley suggested. "Once Ardent wakes up we can just make a new circuit."
"We might just have to," Ronalt looked down. "For now let us destroy this one and remove the evidence."
"Hold on," I held up my hand to stop them. "Let me finish it."
"You can do that?" Ronalt asked in suspicious surprise.
"I get the general gist of it. As long as you know the location of the portal on the Kingdom's side it should be fine."
"If a guide is what you need, then yes, I have been there several times." He straightened his back and looked down at me, "However Rain you have a lot to account for."
I sighed. I'd need to make something up but for now, I waved it away. "Later Ronalt. Concentrate on the image of the portal, the Kingdom, wherever it is. The clearer the better. Marley see to Lara and use as many potions as you need to get her better. We'll need her as the core."
"On it," she saluted and skipped over to Lara.
"As for me…," I stood above the circuit. It was complex even for the knowledge the Goddess had gifted me. Worse still, the last parts were the mana inlays that Ardent had yet to finish. Which meant this was going to really be a pain. I took out my knife and dug it into my wrist. The blood pooled and as my mana and heart flared, I began my work. The usual crunching pain clouded my vision as I made my way over the circuit rapidly filling in the gaps. It would be really awkward if my heart burst as we'd be back fighting the Demon Lord.
In minutes I finished and fell to my knees tiredly. Taylor shoved a potion in my face.
"Drink it before you die," she looked at me with a stern concern.
"Thanks," I looked at the vial. "You actually grabbed the right one."
"I've been watching enough to know a few things now."
I drank it greedily and stood up, "Everyone let's go."
"Good because I think I see them coming," Earnest said and waltzed over casually.
"Lara I need you in the centre, you're the one charging this thing. Can you do that?" I asked her as she stood shakily.
"Yeah, I can do it," she replied with a determined nod.
"Ronalt stand beside her, remember where we're going. As much as Ardent and I have put in the co-ordinates I really don't want to appear in a wall."
"I understand," he nodded grimly. I would have preferred a confident smile. Pina and the carriage were already ready and everyone stood in a circle.
"Now everyone hold hands," I took Lara on my left and Taylor on my right. As we completed the link the circuit began to glow purple and light up the forest. We would be a clear sight from the Capital. "Lara charge it!"
A burst of energy flooded from her and into the circuit below us. The world began to spin as the forest faded and was replaced by a limbo of colours. What looked like stars in a dark sky surrounded us. What they really were however was unknown. For a long moment we sat in that world of confusion and briefly I felt a familiar warm touch on my cheek. A white figure distorted into my mind smiling, Well Done, then it was gone.
The world around us shattered, cracking like glass and without realising it we found ourselves inside a brightly lit room. We had made it. Human magicians stood around the edges and the visage of the Queen crossed my blurred gaze. A sudden pain burst across my chest and blood vomited from my mouth as I hit the ground, staining the polished stone red. My heart had given way. As it would turn out, the spell used more of me than I had intended. Darkness took me away as I really did hope I wouldn't die.
*
A room of pure white. I was back there again. The shadowless unending white that took up my whole vision. As eerier as it always was, I was getting used to it now.
"So we talking again or what?" I called out as the Goddess's figure didn't appear.
"I was waiting for you to call first," the figure blended into existence, standing only a few feet away.
"If I'm here, I'm going to assume I'm not dead yet."
"You would be correct."
"Ahhh," I sighed and relieved my tension. "Thank God."
"You mean thank me?"
"Did I say thank the Goddess?" I smirked. "In Jane's world there were many concepts of God."
"But for now at least there is only me in this world," she floated closer.
"Or so I've been led to believe," I faced the figure. "Is there a reason I'm here? Maybe to explain that cliff hanger you left me on before?"
She laughed a joyful melodic chime, "No. That secret you are already part way to discovering. There are some misunderstandings but I'll leave them as they are. I can't wait to see your face when you realise."
I sighed, "That's just mean. As much as I'm thankful to you, you really do make it hard to mean it."
"The reason I did bring you here was to simply say, congratulations. You made it. Hurray. The Demon Lord is defeated. Despite him having the same ability as you, you triumphed."
"Yeah… we stopped the war. That is unless they still decide to attack us in spite or the Empire gets greedy again."
"Well that certainly is a possibility."
"Screw it, I'm done," I waved away the responsibility. "It's the Kingdom's job to negotiate the aftermath now."
The Goddess laughed again. Slowly her hands extended around my cheeks and touched them, "Our time is up once more. Good luck for the future." She sniggered, "Oops, was that a little to foreboding?"
"You really aren't a nice Goddess are you?"
She continued to smile as the world broke around me.
*
The first thought I had was that it was exceedingly comfortable, more so than I had been in a long time. As I opened my eyes, the sight of a lavishly furnished room spread out before me. The finest sheets and bedding that could be obtained in the Kingdom gently nestled around me. Like the Goddess had assured me, it looked like I was still alive.
I stirred my body to a sitting position. The early morning sun poured in from a window. Outside was a full view of the castle gardens. Adorned with beautiful flowers, trees and tasteful statues, it was a warming sight.
"Good morning Rain." The feminine and refined voice came from beside me.
I turned to it slowly and immediately jumped back, "Y-your Highness!? Ah- It is a pleasure to meet you once more my Queen." I bowed my head awkwardly. Of things I didn't expect to see in the morning, this was high in the list.
"No need to be so polite Rain. You have performed your duties more than admirably and ensured the success of the Hero. More so without the loss of life. You have my thanks."
"That- It was a long journey and without the others we would have failed. I do not deserve your thanks alone."
"True and I have spoken with them, however I wanted to speak with you alone."
I faced her curiously, "Is something the matter your highness?"
She laughed and then turned her eyes down guiltily, "I put you through a lot of pain. I'm sorry."
"It was necessary." I meant that. If I had never been selected to go, I would have never met Lara, the reason I was here, or Taylor the person I was falling in love with.
"If Mattias and the others of Axel knew who I was they'd never forgive me."
I didn't expect them to be mentioned, especially Mattias by name, "Um excuse me?"
"Perhaps this will clear your mind," she waved her hand over her face. Although late in her years the Queen still held plenty of beauty and now those features dimmed down and wrinkles weathered her skin. Her eyes changed from green to brown as did her hair from chestnut to black. It was a face and appearance I knew very well. My Aunt Nera from the Capital.
"Aunt Nera?" I mumbled. "What? How?"
"Because to me Axel is a special place," she smiled. "It was where I could take a break and be with people who didn't see me as the Queen. It was where I could see you. It is also why I chose you…. I looked through hundreds of potential attendants but with each I knew you were their better. I really did struggle with the decision…. Then one night while I prayed to the Goddess for an answer, only your face appeared and I had to choose the best. I am sorry what I put you through and it gladdens me to no end that you returned safely with everyone."
"I see…," it was all I could say. My mind flicked back to the memories of our beginning. I always thought it was odd but now it made sense and of course that damn Goddess was involved as well. With a painful surge I remembered when I had lost myself in rage, when I had tried to kill Ronalt and was intent to kill them all. The Queen's expression when I finally noticed her, she hadn't been looking at Ronalt but me. More than ever I was glad that cycle never existed.
"You must be disappointed in me," her eyes turned downwards as she once more resumed her appearance as Queen.
"No, I stick by what I said before. It was the best choice to send me," I gave her a tender and sincere smile. Despite all the torment and pain, if I hadn't gone, though Lara may have succeeded in the end, I believe it was because I was there that a happier ending could be achieved. "I learnt a lot…, thank you."
She wiped a tear from her eyes, "Please do not thank me Rain."
The way she spoke now, I couldn't help but see her as my emotional Aunt Nera, which begged the question, "Why are you Aunt Nera?" She visited almost every other month and brought with her presents and trade for Axel. I had known her since I was a baby.
The Queen smiled, "I am very fond of my husband. He is a kind and intelligent man. Together we are the best of friends, but we do not love each other, not in a romantic sense. Ronalt told me he talked to you, so you know some of our relation."
"Yes… but why is this important?"
"Because in my younger years I was in love. A certain righteous knight stole my heart but left the Kingdom's service and formed a new home. Despite me marrying I have never forgotten him."
"So you really did have a thing with Mattias," I had thought as much whenever she visited.
"Yes… though I could never take the final steps between us." She looked at me and gently touched my arm. "Please forgive me. I've considered you like my own son, a son I shared with Mattias and yet, I put you through so much peril."
"I already said it was fine," I smiled. "Besides when I said I learnt a lot, I also did get some other benefits on my end as well."
"Ah yes, the Hero Lara was quite concerned with you and more so to my surprise the Master thief Taylor."
"A lot happened."
"And one day I'd like to hear it from your mouth."
I closed my eyes in thought, "Hang on… that means you knew about Kerchest and Servius being a demon."
"About Kerchest… yes I did know but like you I did not want to involve the place I call a second home." She stood up from the chair. "Do not worry Rain, I will ensure their safety. I do not want to see another war between our races. Come outside when you are ready. Your friends are waiting…, and welcome home."
"I haven't reached Axel yet but it's good to be back." With that she left.