After Damien's sudden death, everything happened very quickly. The main character of the story had died before his time, the order of this world was broken, and everyone who was there could feel it: a feeling of cold, trembling, nausea, the symptoms were different for everyone, but they could all see one thing very clearly: the end was near.
The sky began to split, the space around them seemed to fragment and crash into itself, and people all disappeared one by one.
"What's happening!?" Jase shouted.
"That doesn't mean... that something happened to Damien, does it?" Paulia asked.
Perhaps it was because she shared a blood bond with Damien, but she seemed to be able to sense the young man's death, or at least the fact that something had happened to him.
What are you saying, Paulia?" Jase asked, in denial. "Damien can't be dead, this guy is indestructible. You're just kidding, aren't you?"
"No Jase, if the world is in this state and everything around us disappears, it's because Damien is dead" Lum saod. "I'm sorry"
In the meantime, she had regained some strength, and had managed to get into a sitting position. Mike and Frey were also starting to feel better and could almost stand.
"What do you mean" Jase asked incredulously.
Around them, almost everything had already disappeared. The only people still alive were Mike, Frey, Lum, Jase and Paulia.
"Like the destroyer, we do not come from this world" Lum said. "I'm sorry for hiding the truth from you. Maybe by telling you everything from the start, we could have avoided this. It's all my fault..."
It was finished. Lum had lost his only chance to ever have her revenge on Inferno. She was going to disappear with Jase, Paulia, and the rest of this world. Even Mike and Frey were going to disappear. And all because of her….
The glint in Lum's eyes was almost gone when she saw Paulia approaching. Was she going to yell at her ? Blame her for Damien's death, or for what was happening to them?
"It's not your fault, Lum" Paulia said, grabbing her by the shoulders. "You did everything you could, you put your life in danger and you almost sacrificed yourself during the fight with Citura. You didn't do anything wrong, we're the only ones to blame for being so useless"
"Don't say that, the only one to blame is that bad guy" Jase said. "This is all his fault, not ours. You were great until the end"
"Jase, I…" Paulia began.
However, before she even finished her sentence, Paulia's hand began to disappear.
"Paulia!" Jase shouted, rushing towards her.
But his leg also began to disappear, and he fell to the ground.
"Jase!" Paulia shouted in turn.
Their bodies were gradually disappearing. With what was left, they shuffled towards each other, their hands only inches apart.
"Paulia, I… I love you" Jase said, stretching out his fingers.
"Me too, Jase" Paulia replied, doing the same.
Their fingers touched one last time and both disappeared without a trace, except for a shocked expression on Mike and Frey's faces and tears in Lum's eyes.
"No… Jase, Pauly…"
Lum fell to the ground. Frey sat down next to her:
"You heard their last words, right? It's not your fault" he said.
Thank you, Frey, she replied, trying unsuccessfully to dry her tears.
Mike landed between them, and wrapped his arms around them.
"You know guys, I really liked this adventure" he said. "We explored incredible places, we met great people, we experienced extraordinary things! Even though it was short, I'm glad I was with you"
"Yeah, you're right" Frey said. "I've always loved fantasy tales, so I guess I couldn't ask for anything better than experiencing one, even if it has such a sad ending"
"I'm happy to be able to live my last moments with you, friends" Lum said. "At least I would have known what it felt like to no longer be alone, after all this time"
The three said nothing more and were content to wait for the end.
This is how Lum, Frey and Mike disappeared, together.
This is how the story ends.
… Really ?
"No pals, I don't think so, no sad ending until I decide otherwise"
"Ah, obviously, you had to be there for everything to end! Really, it would have been stupid to miss our ending, huh?" Frey asked bitterly to Noir, who had just appeared.
"Haha, you're so funny, my little Frey" Noir said. "That would have been nice but no, I'm here for a completely different reason"
"What is it?" Frey asked.
He knew everything was lost anyway, but for some reason he couldn't help but still be wary...
"To help my best friends, what else?" Noir mocked, as if it was as obvious as one-plus-one-equals-two.
The three looked at them in surprise.
"Why would you help us after everything you've done to us?" Mike asked.
"Eh ? Who are you again?" Noir asked.
He spoke again without even giving Mike the time to reply:
"Ah yes, the other guy who can use Imagination" Noir remembered. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm pretty sure we've never spoken. Your name is Mickey, right?"
"My name is Mike," replied the latter.
"Oh really ? Well, you're not funny Mike" Noir chuckled. Aren't I right, you two?
They asked this while pointing his finger toward Lum and Frey, who didn't respond.
"Aw come on, where has your sense of humor gone?" they asked. "Is it because I pointed? Or maybe he disappeared at the same time as your friends? Hehe... Oh sorry, is it still too early for this kind of joke?"
"Just tell us what you want" Frey said.
Noir pretended to roll their eyes, even though they had no pupils.
"Okay, in this case I'll get straight to the point: I came to congratulate you"
The three wondered if they had heard correctly.
"What are you talking about?" Lum asked.
"I'm obviously talking about your great performance against Inferno" Noir replied.
"Is this a joke?" Mike asked.
"Not at all, you really impressed me. Honestly, Inferno as an opponent? You had lost before the fight even started, it was hopeless from the very beginning. I mean, have you seen what this guy can do? You have alreadyfar exceeded my expectations"
They didn't really know how to react to these unexpected compliments.
"Well, with one exception" Noir corrected themselves. "And sadly, this exception is you, Frey"
As Noir said these words, Frey suddenly found himself attached to a pole by some sort of energy bonds.
"No!" Lum said as Mike and her rushed to save Frey.
However, they quickly found themselves in the same situation, also unable to move.
"The fairy managed to momentarily overtake Inferno, the fatty was able to negotiate with Citura and his learning of Imagination is just impressive. But you, Frey, what have you done?" Noir, taking the former actor's face in their hands, asked. "Nothing, you have been everyone's foil, you are neither very strong, nor very intelligent, nor even very good at using Imagination, compared to your friend who started training later than you. Aside from your looks, you're a disappointment in every way, and right now you're not even worth my time"
"So what are you going to do?" Frey asked. "Are you going to take Lum and Mike and leave me to die here?"
"Let you die? Of course no, it would be a waste to lose my most precious toy like that. But until you're at a suitable level, I'll just send you back to the Primary World" Noir said. "You will be able to go to the Ark but you will have to stay away from the Platonic Sea for a while"
Being banned from going to the Patonic Sea? It could have been worse. Frey could have died, or been left alone. With that, he could visit Lum, and make plans with her and Mike for what happens next. He could also realize his dream of becoming an actor, and enjoy the loved ones he had left.
"On the other hand, you will need motivation to really be able to improve quickly. Hmmm, what could it be… oh yes, I know!"
Suddenly, Mike was surrounded by a strong light, and the next moment he was no longer there.
"Mike!" Frey and Lum shouted, trying in vain to free themselves.
"Another Primary World's human who can use Imagination is a good, but he has no place in my plan at the moment... too bad" Noir said.
The post Lum was tied to disappeared, but she remained floating in the air. It was gradually covered by a sort of black bubble.
"Lum!" Frey screamed.
"Ah… Frey… Mike…"
Poof. Lum just had time to say these words before the bubble covered her completely and she in turn disappeared.
"No... it can't be..." Frey said.
"Well, actually, as you can see it can totally be, and it totally is" Noir scoffed. And the best is yet to come. If you want to see them again, first find out who C.Z.N. is. Welp, now that everything is said, goodbye Frey. I'll wait for you"
With these words, Frey was sent back to the Prime World.
He woke up in his bed, and looked at his alarm to see that it had been twodays since he had gone to bed. Since the time spent on the Ark and in the Prime Sea didn't pass in the Primary World, did that mean he had been sleeping all that time?
Thinking about it, it wasn't inconceivable, considering all the fatigue he had accumulated during his adventures. He got out of bed and found that his clothes were completely torn and his body was covered with wounds. In fact, just standing was already an ordeal in itself. He was going to go back to bed when he thought of Noir's words: 'The worst is yet to come'.
Frey didn't think, quickly changed his clothes and rushed out, ignoring the pain.
'No no no no no, it can't be that!' he thought.
A little while later, he arrived at the hospital where Chloe was.
He asked reception about his condition, and got the answer he feared:
"Mr. Alance, I don't know how to tell you this, but Miss Chloé has… disappeared."
As soon as the receptionist had finished speaking, he rushed upstairs to where Chloe's room was, ignoring the staff who were trying to stop him.
Empty. Chloe's room was empty. Frey fell to his knees with tears in his eyes as everyone he loved had now been taken from him.