Pieces

Following Jean, the King and I arrive in the throne room. Sitting on the floor is a small demon girl, the side of her face covered in blood. Surrounding her is a squad of knights, their pikes drawn and ready to strike. As we get closer, I wait for the king to move ahead a few paces, and I draw my Earth sidearm from my inventory and tuck it into the waistband of my jeans. It never hurts to be sure. And I've made a lifetime of choices that revolved around better safe than sorry.

"Stand down." Waiting for the knights to remove their pikes and step back, the king waits impatiently, tapping his hand on his hip. Finally clearing the way, he steps forward, keeping a few paces from the demon girl.

"You requested an audience with me? What can I do for you, Miss Demon?"

Lurching forward as she tries to stand; she falls hard against the stones, and blood splatters on the ground as her barely sealed wounds open up. Coughing, she reaches out towards the king. Stepping in front of him, one guard kicks her violently, causing her to cry out in pain. And for a second my barely suppressed anger bubbles to the surface. Holding it at bay barely, I take a breath and wait to see what happens next.

"Stand down." Ignoring the king's orders, he raises his pike and drives it towards the defenseless woman. Moving instinctively, my hand grabs the gun and brings it to bear, but before I can train it on the guard, a black flash bursts past everyone, and the guard is thrown meters away. Standing where he was, Ellavessa stands there with her blade drawn, energy crackling over her. Fear and anger crossing her face.

"My… Lady… Why are you… here?" Turning, she places the sword down on the ground and scoops the demon girl up in her arms.

"Arilienne don't talk. Just hold on." Holding out her hand, she emits a faint glow comes from it and envelops the girl. Tears running down her face, she sobs as the wounds refuse to close up, fresh blood trickling from them.

"Please let this work." Looking up at the king, Ellavessa pleads to him.

"Please, send for the healers. I can't lose her."

"Who is she to you, Ellavessa?" For just a moment his face softens before hardening. "Your answer will depend on mine. You know where I stand. This kingdom is my priority, and I won't allow anything to jeopardize that."

"She is an old friend. Please. I will tell you everything, but please help her." For a moment she looks at me, tears filling her eyes. If I had to describe the feeling that rose in my chest, it would be pain. The pain in her plea reflected at me. I searched internally for anything I could use in my skills list that would help. Please, if ever there was a time for this damned outlier ability to do something, it would be now.

"Unique Skill Activated. Last Request. Would you like to gain the healing skill, White Wave? You may use this skill only once and can no longer request another skill without a trial. Yes or No?" as the voice finishes inside my mind, a screen pops up in front of my eyes. I didn't hesitate even for a second. I selected yes. Pain lanced through my head, and staggering a little, I grasped the side of it as the new skill appeared in my skills list. Walking over, I kneel beside Ellavessa and place my hand on her shoulder.

"I'm here. I'll help." Placing her hand on mine, she looks into my eyes.

"Thank you."

"Oscar. Do not help her. I want answers." Looking at me, the king takes a step back, letting his soldiers fill in the gap between us. Meeting his eye through the gap, I shake my head.

"Where I come from, we don't refuse to help people who ask. White wave!" From my extended hand, white light washes over the small demon girl. You would think at this stage I would've been used to seeing magic firsthand, but even I was amazed. Her wounds began closing, and the blood on her face dried and flaked off until her skin was left without a blemish. After a few moments, the spell winked out. Breathing softly, the demon girl looked like she was at peace.

"Arrest them all." Looking at the king in shock at his words, I see the cold look in his eyes and sadness fills me. Not because of his decision. That I understand. But for the lost moment from the rooftops earlier. Our father bonds all but left in tatters by my actions. Rising to my feet, I operate the system with eye gestures and thoughts. More skills I had picked up since the Maplefall incident. In an instant, my battle gear adorns me, and the familiar weight of the revolver rests at my side. Drawing the revolvers, I point them towards the guards and cock the hammers as rounds clank into chambers, echoing loudly in the throne room.

"Don't. Let this go, Elias. Don't make me choose."

"You already did, Oscar." Before anyone can do a thing, Ellavessa gets to her feet and blue energy spirals out from her chest, becoming a domed barrier that pushes everyone out of the way.

"Enough! You're all behaving like children. Oscar stand down. Elias, I told you I would tell you everything, I just didn't want to do it here. But since you are acting like a child ,so be it. Saetaen is my father. Ari was my nursemaid and my closest friend." If you've ever heard the expression, you could hear a pin drop, that wouldn't even have come close to the way everything just stopped. From the guards, to the King, everyone just stopped moving. The shock of her announcement weighing on everyone like a heavy blanket. I wasn't even immune to myself. I could feel my mouth hanging open, and I closed it. The sound of which seemed deafening in the silence. With a wave of her hand, the barrier disappears, leaving traces of magic behind. With disbelief and fear on his face, Elias stammers out a few words.

"Saeteans… d… d… daughter?" Still trying to comprehend, one guard throws down his pike and draws his sword, lunging towards us.

"Die, Heretic witch!" Moving faster than I thought I could, I crossed the distance to him, swinging Aetheris to block his sword and bringing Thorne to bear, pressing the barrel against the underneath of his chin.

"That's enough of that. Make another move and you die when you stand." Finally gaining his composure, the king stalks over and, grabbing the guard by the collar, drags him back with such force that he falls backwards onto the stones, his armor rattling.

"Enough. Elavessa, Oscar, my chambers. Now, Jean, take our guest to Ellavessa's room. Bring Hannah here after that's done. I trust you have no objections, Oscar?" At his last sentence his voice softens a little. Perhaps the gravity of the situation had finally dawned on him, or he was still in shock.

"None." Turning to Ellavessa, I look her in the eye, a complicated mix of emotions running through my mind that I wasn't even going to try to untangle.

"She should be here for this." Nodding her in sadness, Ellavessa looks away from me and to the king. Waiting for a moment as people run off to do his commands, he looks to the both of us.

"Let's go." His tone left no room for argument, and sighing, I put away my weapons and followed him into the private chamber beyond the throne room.