The Dark of the Matinée

"Mors, the shinigami, created this world to be the paradise humans once dreamed of.
A sweet and joyful world, where death arrived through her gentle hands.
There was no pain, no suffering—only the act of closing one's eyes and sleeping forever.

Everything changed when Mendax's hands touched the heart of a foolish human.
She taught him about Sin, and from Sin, demons were born.
They spread across the land like pests in a field.

And now, humans were doomed to fight for their own lives.
Mors and Mendax clashed in the heavens, where Mors emerged victorious.
But Mendax’s soul was not destroyed, and her vassals endured even after her fall.

Mors granted humans fragments of her own soul in the form of four dragons and four artifacts, and she taught humans how to wield the magic born from the soul.
We are the chosen ones of Mors, her spear and shield.
This is a war between good and evil, and it is our duty to purge the sins of this world and return to the paradise from which we came."

"These words have been passed down through generations, as if they were some sacred prophecy.
Their faith has turned into something we call religion, and they truly believe, from the depths of their hearts, that everything will be fine—for Death is their god, and they will lack nothing more."

Above the skies, Mors had built a marble palace, from where she gazed upon every corner of the world, watching over order and reclaiming the souls of all who passed away.

In the middle of the grand hall, a small black sphere, no larger than the eye of a needle, appeared without invitation. It began expanding in all directions, simultaneously stretching like a black hole, absorbing the space around it.

The mysterious voice that filled the air now echoed even more clearly.

"But truth is not as clear as a starry sky—it is a cloudy night, veiled in shades of gray.
Perhaps you are the true Mendax of this world.
Even the stars you placed in the heavens... aren’t truly stars, are they?"

At the far end of the hall, Mors sat upon a massive marble throne. Though cloaked in her black mantle, the cold gaze she cast upon the source of that voice was unmistakable.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Who—it seems even those who hold the title of 'God' ask the wrong question.
You should not be asking who I am, but rather what  I am.
But that’s fine. Allow me to show you the avatar of my existence."

From within the black sphere, a pair of hands emerged, grasping at the edges of the dark mass and pulling the rest of their silhouette free. Once fully through, with the grace of a fairy, her feet touched the marble floor.

The silhouette took the shape of a stunning young girl, dressed in a black Lolita-style gown — long puffed sleeves, a frilled white collar adorned with a black ribbon bow, and a layered ruffled skirt.

Her hair was long, sleek, and a shimmering shade of silver-gray, nearly platinum, decorated with a black crown of fine, symmetrical spikes. 

Her irises were filled with an absolute blackness, pulling attention toward them like an abyss. Her presence carried an air of both nobility and mystery.

"I go by many names and titles, but none of them are true— for one cannot name that which does not exist.
But I understand the importance of names in this universe, so if you wish, you may call me the Lady in Black."

Mors responded immediately.

"Spare me your riddles. If you dared step into my palace uninvited, you must be aware of the consequences."

"(Sigh) Ugh… You’re a terrible host. I was so excited to throw a party here—I thought I’d finally be free of my boredom."

"My palace is not open for parties or any other kind of entertainment. Leave now."

As she spoke, the Lady in Black wandered through Mors’s palace, disappearing into black mist only to reappear in another place.

"Hmm… It really does seem like there’s no ballroom prepared. But I was so certain that this was the right place…"

Then, she returned to the grand hall.

"…That here is where we would have The Shinigami’s Theater. Did I step into the wrong novel?"

"Theater? Is that what my world means to you? Just some kind of entertainment?"

The Lady in Black let out a playful, malicious laugh.

"Kiihihi… Yes! That’s exactly what it is!
To my eyes, your little trash world is nothing more than another stage play to be watched! All these souls you created are nothing but characters played by actors!
The only reason for my visit was to find the best seat in the house! Watching from up here isn’t the same as having a front-row seat, is it?
I’m just a spectator, but if you lack confidence in your directing skills, perhaps I could take over as the new director—what do you say?"

With every word that left the Lady in Black’s lips, the air around them grew heavier, and the abyss in her eyes seemed to pull Mors’s very essence toward it.

"... I refuse."

"Huh? ..."

"I appreciate the offer. I truly lack confidence in my skills, but this is still the world that I created.
What you call mere characters are the precious souls I brought into existence, and I cherish each and every one of them."

Mors rose from her throne for the first time, allowing fury to take over, her words rumbling like thunder throughout the palace.

"I will not allow you to use them so cruelly for your entertainment!!!"

"..."

As her anger settled, Mors sat down once more.

"…It’s fine, I have no desire to take over the directing role anyway. I much prefer just watching.
And unfortunately for you, there is no way to stop me. But don’t worry, I promise not to interfere with your world.
I’ll just stay here, quietly watching… And, if you think about it, using others for entertainment isn’t cruel—it’s simply the natural cycle of things.
To be entertained, and to entertain."

(And if she’s right… then that makes you just as cruel as I am, doesn’t it? Yes, you.)

"Sooner or later, I will find a way to rid my world of your presence."

"Good luck. Even with your omnipotence in this world, you cannot banish that which does not exist."

"Tell me... Are you the Black Serpent?"

"No… I have no part in your little game with Mendax.
I may be a threat, but I do not lie. I have not interfered with your world, and I never will.
I am only here to watch. So go on—the show is about to begin, isn’t it?"

The Lady in Black leaned back against the black sphere, slipping into it as if sinking into quicksand.

"We shall meet again."

And with that, the black sphere dissipated, leaving only silence behind.

Mors let out a deep sigh, and words escaped her lips before she could hold them back.

"I hope we don’t meet again…"