A Confession Worth All The Hardwork

The tension in the room was thick as Sadie and her team clean up the investigation of Kestral, the smooth-talking official weaving his web of lies. Amid the chaos, Uriko stepped forward, her cheeks tinged with a hint of nervousness as she realized the words she used and the impact it has on Terran.

“Terran,” she began, her eyes locking onto his with a rare seriousness. “It was something I’ve been meaning to say. I waited for you all this time.”

I looked at her, surprised by the sudden shift in tone. Her usual confident demeanor was replaced with a gentle earnestness that made my heart skip a beat.

“I… I love you,” she admitted, her voice trembling slightly but her gaze steady. “I wanted you to know, I don’t care about how weak you were before or what others might say. I’m proud of the man you’ve become. That’s what matters to me.”

I could not tell, but Enuma laughed at the change in my face. It was flushed deeply, my cheeks turning a bright shade of red. For a moment, I couldn’t find words, my mind whirling in amazement at her honesty, at her courage to say what was on her heart.

“Uriko…” I finally managed, voice trembling with emotion. “I… I didn’t expect this. But… I always doubt your feelings. I was so down on myself for not surpassing my father. Always seen as only the son of the hero and never as me. To hear that you’ve always believed in me, even when I doubted myself. And now… I want to be worthy of that.”

She smiled softly, her eyes shining. “You already are. No matter how much stronger you get, I’ll always believe in you. Because you’re more than just your strength. You’re the person I care about—more than words can say.”

For a moment, they simply looked at each other, the chaos of the confrontation fading into the background. In that quiet, intimate exchange, both found a new sense of hope and resolve—standing together against whatever darkness lay ahead.

After the confrontation with Kestral and the discovery of his corruption, the task force swiftly moved to clean up Mokomo. The city’s streets, once cluttered with refuse and neglect, began to slowly transform as laborers, soldiers, and officials worked side by side to restore order. Sadie’s team took a leading role—securing the area, confiscating illegal assets, and ensuring that the corrupt officials like Kestral faced justice.

With Kestral’s arrest, the city’s atmosphere shifted, somewhat lighter, but still tense beneath the surface. The task force’s efforts signaled a step toward hope, though the deeper rot of corruption remained a lingering shadow.

Later that day, as the dust settled and the city’s streets started to regain their semblance of order, a new task was announced. A courier approached Sadie, delivering a sealed message from higher authorities. Sadie broke the seal, reading the request aloud:

“Continue to investigate the corruption at the heart of Mokomo. Rumors suggest there are more figures involved in the conspiracy, people with influence far beyond what has been uncovered. Your team is to root out these enemies, gather intelligence, and ensure the safety of the city’s future.”

The group exchanged glances. The scope of their mission was expanding. The fight was far from over. What is the connection to Gehanna, and why are the demons doing such deals with the humans. 

Later, in a quiet moment atop a rooftop overlooking the city, Terran and Enuma stood side by side, watching the sunrise paint the sky in hues of orange and gold.

Terran sighed, fists clenched in thought. “Are we just… dogs of the empire? Doing their dirty work… chasing after shadows they want us to chase?”

Enuma turned slightly to face him, his expression calm but serious. “This is a question many ask themselves, boy. But remember—sometimes, even dogs can bite. You serve a purpose, even if the reasons aren’t always clear. You may be tools, but someone special like you can also choose how we use them.”

Terran looked out over the city, his eyes clouded with doubt. “I don’t want to be just a puppet. I want to make a difference, not just follow orders blindly.”

Enuma nodded. “And that’s what makes you different. Your strength isn’t just in your magic or your fists, but in your heart. Never let the world decide for you what you will become. Find your own reason, your true purpose. You after all want to make your own name stand out.”

In the cold, stark interrogation room, Sadie’s team pressed Kestral relentlessly. The official’s smooth veneer cracked under the weight of their questions, his confident facade slipping as they uncovered more of his illicit dealings—bribery, illegal contracts, and ties to shadowy figures far beyond Mokomo’s borders. Sadie’s voice was steady and commanding, cutting through his lies with unwavering precision.

Meanwhile, outside the tense chaos of the interrogation, Uriko found a quiet moment with me atop a nearby rooftop overlooking Mokomo’s waking city. The early morning sun cast long shadows as they sat side by side, the air filled with a contemplative silence.

Uriko broke the silence softly. “You know, Terran… I’ve been thinking about what you said—the desire to make your own name. To be more than just a soldier or a pawn for the empire.”

I looked at her, curious and a little surprised. “Yeah. I want to be someone who’s remembered for what I did… not just because I’m ordered to do it or because of my status as son of a hero.”

She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I understand that. Sometimes, I feel the same. My title, my rank—Princess of the Empire—sometimes feels like a cage. People expect me to act a certain way, to uphold traditions I don’t always believe in. It’s hard to find who I truly am beneath the expectations.”

I looked at her, realizing how much they shared in their struggles—titles, roles, expectations—they both wanted to rise above them. “Maybe that’s what we’re really fighting for,” I said quietly. “Not just the battles or the missions, but to be something more—something that’s truly ours.”

Uriko smiled softly. “Yes. I want to carve out my own name, too. To be remembered not just as a princess, but as someone who made a difference because she chose her own path.”

They sat in silence for a moment, watching the sun climb higher, casting a golden glow over Mokomo. In that quiet exchange, a deeper understanding blossomed—of their hopes, their struggles, and their shared desire to forge identities beyond their titles. Despite the chaos of their world, in that moment, they both found a flicker of hope—that perhaps, someday, they could become the legends they longed to be, not just for their ranks, but for what they truly believed in.

I spoke up, and looked at the ghostly spirit of the Demon King, I felt humble and relieved as he spoke for Uriko to hear. "Why do we humans make life so complicated. We could have saved each other so many problems if we just talked and express ourselves." 

"This is rich coming from the boy that completely clueless to that girl's advances and flirts to you every day." Enuma chimed in my head. I was blushing hard at realizing the words I said. 

While Uriko heard and responded to me, "Silly, I am partially to blame. I was so obsessed with my own desires, that I did not see you struggling with your problems. I wish I could have seen past my dreams to see you and the man you become." 

That made the goosebumps and hair on my skin rise and tingle. I felt good for a change. Talking as just myself and Uriko. No one else seeing us as kids of great heroes. 

I took a deep breath. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with danger and deception. But with Enuma’s guidance and the boy who once chased after others’ strength began to see a new horizon. One where I could carve out my own destiny, not as a dog of the state, but as someone who chose my own path—and perhaps, someday, changed the world in the process.