"Did you really forget our promise, dear Shiro? Does my death mean so little to you?" The voice of my late cousin echoed through the endless darkness, cold and accusing.
"No... I could never forget... I'm not so insensitive," I mumbled, my words slipping from my mouth as I thrashed in my sleep, trying to escape the torment of her voice.
I lay on a bed in one of the castle's visitor rooms, surrounded by the warmth of the only family I had left: Shina, Yura, Satre, and the two princesses, Hera and Hetra. The king remained by my side as well, his once-strong presence now fragile in the face of the horrors unfolding around us. Kyoko, ever faithful, curled beside me, her tiny head resting on my chest as she waited for me to recover.
Even in my unconscious state, the bitterness of my cousin's spirit clawed at me, bringing with it the remnants of my broken heart. I muttered through clenched teeth, "I won't forgive them, cousin. I promise, I won't let a girl into my heart again." My tears soaked my closed eyelids, and I could feel the weight of the cold, empty void where warmth had once lived.
The voice returned, cruel and mocking. "She used you to help her friend, and now she'll leave you like you're nothing."
Images of the past—of the girls who had laughed at me—flooded my mind. Yae, with her cruel smile, and others who had abandoned me without a second thought. "He actually believed someone liked him," one of them sneered. "Look at how weak he is," another taunted, their voices blending into a mocking chorus that filled my head.
A small, gentle hand touched mine, and I jolted awake. I instinctively pulled my hand away, panic rising as I blinked into the dimly lit room, tears still streaking my face. "Master, are you okay? You seemed troubled," Kyoko's soft voice called out, her tone full of concern. She floated above me, her dragon eyes searching my face with worry.
I wiped my tears away and forced a smile, trying to reassure her. "I'm fine, Kyoko. Thanks for asking," I replied, holding my hands out to her. She landed on my palms, and I drew her close, feeling a strange comfort in her small, warm form.
Satre's voice cut through the silence, laced with worry. "Shiro, what was that power? I've never seen anything like it." Her eyes narrowed, fear and concern etched into her face.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied, my voice colder than I intended. "I remember nothing of yesterday." I refused to acknowledge the darkness I'd unleashed. "And don't look so worried. My aura negated your magic, proving that whatever happened wasn't real."
I tried to shrug off the events of the previous day as I stood up and began dressing, but before I could finish, the door to the room burst open. The king and his royal guards stormed in, weapons raised.
"You are under arrest for the destruction of this town and the murder of the first prince!" The head knight's voice was filled with venom.
The darkness inside me stirred, a boiling mass of fury and resentment. I shot them a glare, my expression turning cold and deadly. "Would you like me to kill you all right here?" I asked, my voice low and menacing. "If not, I suggest you put down your weapons."
The knight flinched as his legs buckled, collapsing to the floor as his body trembled uncontrollably.
"Father, what are you doing? He helped us! And now you turn against him?" Hera's voice was tight with anger, her hands trembling as she faced the king.
The king's voice dripped with hatred as he spat, "He is a demon who has corrupted my land and my children. I will not stand for his existence!"
A surge of anger coursed through me. In an instant, I was across the room, my hand gripping the king's face, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. "Don't you ever, in your lowly life, say I've corrupted anything," I snarled, my voice a growl of pure rage. "If I wanted to, I could have burned this place to the ground myself." With a flick of my wrist, I tossed him aside like a rag doll, sending him crashing into the wall.
Without giving anyone a chance to react, I leaped out the window, Kyoko by my side. She shifted into her massive dragon form, and together we soared into the sky, the world below shrinking.
Arrows rained down upon us, but they were no match for my wind magic. "Since you think I want this town, you'll all burn," I growled, clenching my fists, my magic surging as I called upon the power within me. "Only the strong will survive."
I stood tall atop Kyoko's back, staring down at the city below, my heart cold as ice. "Oh, come forth from the depths of hell, flames that burn away the spirit of evil and the weak: Hell's Amaturia," I chanted, my voice like a whisper against the roar of the wind. The sky darkened, and black flames rained down from the clouds, consuming everything in their path.
"Return to the dirt where you belong," I sneered, watching as the flames obliterated the city below. "There will be no afterlife for you; your soul will be burned as well."
Kyoko's voice broke through the haze of my rage. "Master, I don't think you can call yourself a hero anymore."
I didn't look at her. I couldn't. The flames flickered in my eyes as I watched the devastation unfold. "I was never a hero, Kyoko. I was just a man trying to do good. But it seems they took my kindness for granted." My voice was devoid of emotion, an empty, hollow sound.
In the distance, I saw the three girls and the two princesses exiting the castle, a protective light surrounding them. I snickered, my heart hardened, and I ordered Kyoko to fly us far away. "I guess we must find another place to live. I'm not staying with those girls. Not after this."
"But the ladies love you, Master. Why not trust them?" Kyoko asked, her voice tinged with concern, sensing the darkness that had taken root within me.
I shook my head, bitterness coating my words. "The bond of love doesn't exist, Kyoko. It's either use or be used in this world."
I cancelled my magic, and we flew further away, the wind whipping past us as we left the smoldering ruins behind. Thirty minutes later, we landed at our home in Lakeway. Kyoko shrank down to her small form and perched on my arm. I pulled my hood up, casting an invisibility spell over both of us, and we snuck into my room through the window. The weight of my decision felt like a stone in my chest, but there was no turning back now.
"Sanguine, meet me outside," I murmured to my other summon.
Just as I finished gathering my things, the door to my room creaked open. My heart skipped a beat. I froze, hoping the shadows would protect me.
Iwa, one of the maids, stepped inside, her gaze immediately locking onto mine despite the spell I had cast. Panic gripped me. How could she see me?
"If you're planning to leave before the noble ladies arrive, I must stop you, as per the request of the hero and Satre," Iwa said, her voice steady as she studied me with an unwavering stare.
The realization hit me like a fist. Damn her and her future vision. How could she see this, but not what happened yesterday? Or maybe... she had seen it. Perhaps she had tried to change it, but I wasn't going to let that happen.
I began to move, backing toward the window, but before I could make my escape, a blinding light struck me, and my body screamed in pain. I collapsed to my knees, trembling.
"How did you even know I was here? This isn't fair," I groaned through clenched teeth, struggling to push myself back up.
"Mistress Satre warned us that if you returned before them, we must do everything possible to keep you here," Iwa said, her voice cold as she watched me struggle to stay conscious.
The light magic took its toll, weakening me with each passing second. I tried to summon my strength, but my limbs refused to obey. Iwa struck me with another blast of light, and this time I couldn't fight it. My body went limp, and darkness claimed me.
Once again, I was swallowed by the void, the cold, empty space pulling me down. But then, a voice—soft, motherly, and calm—called to me, cutting through the blackness. A warm, golden light appeared at the end of a long hallway. I reached out, desperate to touch it, but no matter how fast I ran, it always seemed just out of reach. The light flickered and vanished, leaving me alone once again in the abyss.
"Shiro," the voice echoed, familiar and soothing. "You are loved. This world is yours to shape if you can save it."
I jolted awake, gasping for air. The voice of the goddess, the one Kyoko had mentioned, still lingered in my mind as I stared into the darkness, unsure of what had just happened.