We held a demonstration to the Empire the next morning. It involved Lara standing with us and blowing up a very large hole in the earth. Just her presence was enough turn the hearts of many of the Empire's soldiers. She was iconic in her new white armour and resolute in her desire to end the war before it properly began. The Empire's leaders knew all too well the power she could control and we made sure to show it to them. When the impact hit the earth and created a new landmark several ranks of the opposing army fell over in awe and fear. It wasn't just her strength however. The Archmage could do a similar feat and if their Magicians worked together they could as well. What stood out was the ease that Lara did it, like flicking a finger, and how she stood unfazed after the destruction. I wasn't alone in thinking she had become even more powerful than when we fought her.
So the talks began. Arduous days of speaking at long tables within the Magician's Guild. The Queen was even summoned to attend and the Emperor himself showed up. It was oddly disappointing to see him. In our minds he had been the head of their evil plans but in the end it was clear he was just a secret figurehead. The boy couldn't have been older than fourteen and it became clear that the Empire's council were more than willing to throw him beneath the bus to save their own heads. Lara however would have none of it and saw the heart of the case clearly. Those of us who were used to playing the game of politics couldn't stand against her. I laughed and smiled as she disregarded what they said and forced herself to be heard. An innocence and just mind coupled with kindness. Without power she would have been another voice in the masses, yet here she was. Myself as Jane could barely believe it.
The Imperium suffered the greatest blow. As soon as the Empire opened themselves for negotiations they ran and did so straight into the waiting arms of the Guild. Though some did escape a large majority of their members were taken and imprisoned, some even executed. If you ask me they deserved more. The total number of sacrifices to power the artefact reached tens of thousands of lives across the slums and smaller villages and towns. Demon, human, even those across the seas were not spared. When Lara heard it she had gone pale and excused herself from the room. Their lives weighed heavily on her heart and for that the Imperium's punishment didn't suffice. From the ones we captured dozens of the upper nobility were implicated including those in the Empire's council. Many of them feigned ignorance of the details but as the days passed and after numerous backroom talks the structure of the Empire would never be the same.
In the end the Empire destroyed itself. Their unity was held from power and when Lara had crumbled it so did their trust in each other. We watched as if on the sidelines as they betrayed and threw each other in the fires to save themselves. Some tried to run and flee to other countries, none who were guilty chose to accept it. It seemed amongst them all the Emperor was most innocent and had honestly been convinced that the Hero Lara was fighting for them. Though his words held power to command armies, they weren't his own. In the end Caius and I got to see a small wish of ours.
The Queen had to step in with the Guild's help to stop it all from breaking apart. While the government had been corrupt, without one, the Empire's cities, towns and people would all suffer in the end. I helped more than I would have liked. Honestly as the days became weeks I really rather to escape back to Axel with the others and relax but as Ronalt put it, we had a job to finish. To make matters worse, everything just became more complicated when Caius was introduced as the Demon Lord. That had been an exciting few minutes. If it hadn't been for Lara a fight really might have broken out. His declaration of an alliance between the Demons and the Kingdom did however shake the room for a different reason. Now even without Lara the balance of power shifted in our favour, something I was incredibly pleased with. The truth however was it was all on Caius' word and nothing more. A deep hatred laid between them and us which would take decades to peacefully resolve.
Finally the time passed and a somewhat manageable new government had been formed with the Magician's Guild as the base. The Queen and her retainers would have to stay for the time being to settle the matter entirely but we were let go. Even Ronalt was forced to take a break with us and I knew exactly where I wanted to be. Several days later we arrived in Axel. Earnest, Marley, Ardent, Ronalt, Taylor and Lara. The names of the people I had first set out with, plus Pina. It felt like years had passed since then, though really time wise it hadn't actually been that long. Caius however didn't grace us with his presence and returned to Demon territory. In the end he never died once, a fact that the two of us almost couldn't believe. It just went to show how much effort we both put in.
The welcome back party was extravagant. For such a small town I was beginning to feel we held far too many celebrations. Still, no one complained. A bonfire was lit in the town centre, food was prepared in droves, people danced, we ate, we drank, it was a good time.
As the night began to settle I sat at the edge of the square a glass in my hand and watched the embers rise from the pyre of flame.
"This is nice," Lara said suddenly from beside me. "I can see why you love it here."
"It has its charms," I nodded in full agreement. My heart felt lighter than it had in a long time, possibly due to the alcohol.
"Oh looks like Marley had enough," she pointed to where the girl had collapsed. Her face was flushed red. She was still conscious and moved across the ground like a slug. One of the older townsfolk picked her up and took her away to rest.
I pointed to Ardent, "And some people are still having too much fun." The man was dancing around the fire with Margaret our apothecary and even throwing flashy sparks of magic into the air.
"Those two get along well," Lara noted.
"That's because they're both eccentrics," I shook my head. Aside from them, Earnest and Ronalt were gambling with a group of the men including Mattias. It was getting quite lively as suddenly Ronalt threw off his shirt much to the applause of the nearby women. As for Taylor, I hadn't seen her in a while… that usually never boded well for me.
"Rain… umm," Lara shifted awkwardly. "What are you going to do from now on?"
I emptied my glass and let the strong taste course down my throat, "The Queen wants me to work as an ambassador between the Kingdom and the Demons."
"Yeah that would suit you," she laughed.
"Sounds like too much work," I smirked and put down my glass. "Though I do owe the world that much at least."
"Do you though?" she asked with toned seriousness. "Not many people know who you really are. To almost everyone you were just dragged in."
I tapped her on the nose, "But I know it. Besides after hanging around with you so much I feel like bettering the world as well."
"So… you won't come back with me?" the question left her lips with an all too quietly fading hope. So that's what this was about.
"You know I can't… I don't even exist there anymore," I reached down to squeeze her hand.
Maybe it was because she had been drinking but her emotions were clear to see. Her head tilted up to the sky and as she blinked a small tear rolled down her cheek quickly wiped away. "Yeah, you have a life here, Taylor, the demons. There's no telling if I'll ever get to go home either. It's just… I'll miss you."
"I'll make sure you can go home and when that happens, you bet I'll cry," I smiled to her encouragingly.
"Maybe I should just stay instead…."
I plonked my hand on her head and rubbed into it, "No. We all know you want to go home. Everyone there is waiting for you. You've already done enough for this place."
"I caused a lot of problems as well," she sighed and let out a small laugh.
"I'm still causing problems," I spread myself and laid onto the ground fully. The stars above seemed so much brighter than before. These last few days with Lara, with everyone, I would enjoy them to the fullest.
With that thought a sudden commotion sounded and I jumped up to look. Taylor was on the other side of the town centre walking purposefully towards me. A bright smile and blush on her face, it wasn't her expression that surprised me but what she was wearing. A beautiful white dress that trailed behind her. It sparkled from the light of the fire and flowed around her causing me to stare in a daze. There was only one way to clearly describe it, a wedding dress.
I stood up with Lara as Taylor and a few of the town women came towards us.
"Rain!" Taylor cheered and run towards me, her hands holding up the dress. She was clearly inebriated as were many of those behind her. She spun in a circle showing off as she reached us. "Do I look pretty?"
"Umm ah, beautiful… you look amazing," I couldn't find the proper words.
"T-Taylor you do know what you're wearing right?" Lara asked carefully.
Taylor looked down at herself and then stared back at me, "Haha, a wedding dress I think." Just how much did she drink? I had never seen her like this before. The way she acted moved from her usual mature mischievous beauty and into incredibly cute territory.
I sent my glare to the women behind her, Lane was with them, "Just so you know we're not that far in our relationship yet."
"Really?" Taylor visibly saddened. "Because I love you lots!" she smiled cutely and pressed closer to me. Her voice mellowed as she whispered in my ear, "I'll just have to make you feel the same." Well it seemed she wasn't drunk enough to not be herself.
I gently pushed her back, "Let's settle down for now."
Lara stared at the two of us with a complicated expression, "Rain I think I'll head to bed now."
"Oh sure," I had to hold back Taylor who was trying to cling to me. "We'll talk later."
"Yeah," she nodded and walked away.
*
A week passed. It was a much earned holiday for us. Small town life as peaceful as it should be, well at least mostly. As it would turn out having six incredibly unique and skilled people as extras in the town caused a few incidents. Aside from the normal fishing, swimming and other such activities our supposed rest also included, hunting monsters in the forest, more swordsmanship than I would have liked, magic experiments, many of which involved me, destroying a barn on accident, fixing said barn, and too many other things I really couldn't be bothered with but was forced anyway. Still, without a greater agenda it was fun.
Now the time had come to say goodbye. Throughout the week it was something Ardent and I had worked on together, the magic circuit to send Lara back home. The knowledge came to me while I was sleeping and had clear traces of the Goddess. It was unlike anything I had seen so far even including all my lives. The principles went over our heads and wasn't even comparable to the magic that brought her here.
We stood together at the edge of the border forest away from Axel. It was sudden but everyone who needed to know had already been told our plans. Lara didn't belong here. As long as she existed in this world there would be people trying to use her, including me. Her strength and power were convenient to a fault. Sure I knew how much help she could be but beyond that, she deserved to go home now.
Marley hugged her tightly, "It's really goodbye isn't it?"
Lara welcomed the embrace, "Well if it works, yes." She looked at me with dubious eyes.
"It'll work," I folded my arms. "Right Ardent?"
"Of course!" despite his enthusiasm he didn't sound convincing and cleared his throat. "Ah anyway Lara, if you ever plan on coming back feel free to pay me or the Guild a visit. You'll always be welcome."
"The Kingdom welcomes you anytime as well," Ronalt added.
"I don't think it works like that but sure," she smiled brightly in thanks.
"You never visited my homeland but I'd show you around," Earnest said lightly.
Lara nodded, "Thank you Earnest, for a lot of things."
"I should be thanking you," he laughed. "You taught me more about swordsmanship than my old master ever did and I have the scars to prove it."
"Sorry…," she bowed her head.
"That's only because he refused to get them removed," I punched Earnest in the shoulder.
Marley let go of Lara and took a step back wiping her eyes, "It was really fun you know. I mean we almost died a few times but this last week was especially the best. I just wish we could do this again."
I smiled to her, "We're all pretty young and besides magic is finicky at the best times, who knows."
"Yeah, who knows," Lara nodded her head firmly, a slim trace of hope. She paused and looked at each of us, "Are you sure you don't need me here?"
Ronalt, Ardent and I shared a look. I answered, "Honestly Lara you being here breaks the balance of power way too much. You're too strong. As much as we love and want you here, it's not possible and you want to go home yourself don't you?"
Her expression tightened. She was clearly having doubts now. "I-I do want to go home but-…. I could be a lot of help here. Wouldn't it be easier?"
I shook my head, "Lara your power is bordering on being godlike. Unless you want people worshipping you, please go home."
"I wouldn't let that happen!" she replied resolutely.
"If Caius can get an army of fanatics against his will than so could you without a doubt." I stepped forward and rubbed her head.
"I-I'll really miss you all," she began to cry.
I pulled her into a hug, "Still the big old cry baby you are."
Slowly I let her go as she rubbed her eyes, "Goodbye Jane."
A dejected sigh left me, "Goodbye Lara." To the world where she was going I no longer existed. For the both of us it was a sad fact.
She turned to Taylor who had been silent till now, "Look after him okay."
Taylor nodded with a soft smile, "I will, better than you ever could."
Lara laughed, "I never got the chance but, thank you." She shook herself and went to the centre of the formation alone. "I'm ready. Do it."
Ardent released his mana as I cut my palm and let the drops of blood hit the ground. The circuit we had drawn began to shine with a warm golden glow, spreading through the earth and releasing a small vibration. Our eyes never left Lara. Each one of us forcing a smile and some waving. This was where our journey came to an end, mine being longer than any of the others. The seconds began to pass and nothing happened. We had expected a grand display but still Lara stood in the centre. She shifted awkwardly.
I looked at Ardent, he shrugged. I cleared my throat, "Well looks like we'll have to do this again la-," before I could finish the sky broke open. Powerful white light descended all around us bleaching out the forests and fields. I knew this feeling, this presence. It was the Goddess.
Her voice resounded through our minds, "Hero Lara, chosen from another world, I have come to take you home."
Marley immediately dropped to her knees in reverence. A part of me felt like the Goddess didn't deserve it but we joined Marley kneeling until Lara was the only one remaining to stand.
The Goddess continued and a blissful warmth spread around us as if caressing our bodies, "You have all done well and turned away the tides of chaos. For that you have my thanks. Hero Lara to take you home a price must be paid, the strength you have gathered, I will accept it. Do you agree?"
Lara turned to us. Her eyes wavered not wanting to say goodbye. Finally she faced the sky, "I accept."
"Then you shall return." A golden shower of particles broke out around Lara. They turned and danced through the air and where they touched her she began to vanish.
Her voice called out, "I'll remember all of you, really! Earnest, Marley, Ronalt, Ardent, Taylor… Jane. I'll never forget you so please don't forget me."
"We couldn't," Ronalt answered for all of us, the stern man tearing at the eyes.
"See you later," a tear dropped down her cheek.
I waved as a tear dropped down my own, "See you later."
Then she was gone. The light faded, the glow of gold vanished and all that was left was the burnt out remains of the circuit and us. My chest heaved empty as if a part of me had just disappeared. Marley broke down in tears no longer able to contain herself. Ardent sniffed his nose trying to remain composed. Ronalt and Earnest held themselves together. Taylor stared to where she vanished and then looked at me with a sympathetic gaze.
I looked up to the sky and whispered a prayer, "Please do me a favour and make sure she's happy."
My mind suddenly jolted as a white figure only I could see touched my cheek, "For you and for her, I will make sure of it." Then it was gone and I could only smile. Wherever Lara was, whatever she would do, although I might not be a part of it, she was the type of person to always strive for happiness for her and everyone else. I really might cry without her.
THE END…. By HMP Dharma