Fearsome Illusions

“You told her… the truth?” Timoria articulates in a neutral tone.

    We can’t afford to let her roam through the kingdom. Timoria can’t be saved, but we? We still have our lives to protect. I won’t pretend I have any noble goal. There’s simply one thing I can’t allow, and that is to let what is precious to me be harmed.

“Aim for her back, and destroy the dark stone pulsing there. That is her weak point.” I whisper to Tyffeon. “Don’t try any other tricks, she will survive. Her branches are dangerous, but at least it hinders her moves. Take advantage of that, but remember not to stay close whenever her branches are covered with leaves.”

“Lignum magic again, huhh…” Tyffeon mutters, drawing his sword.

    While the emissary is still focused on Mira, he runs, lunging at her back.

“Ahh… That’s problematic.” Timoria utters. “That annoys me… That bothers me…” Her tone growing more grim at each sentence. “But I still have to gather more blood… Only once the Beastmen’s blood covers Ard Ramalia will it be enough to get forgiven.”

    Mira shivers, clenching her teeth.

    In a clean chain of blows, Tyffeon’s blade cuts through the branches which have had the time to regrow.

“You won’t do that!” He exclaims.

    Not losing time, Mira joins the attacks, preventing the emissary from turning around. Getting close enough, her ice claws tear apart the thin fabric at her chest, aiming at her heart.

    But the emissary has more of these branches than can be cut at once, and soon one directs at Mira to sweep her a few metres away while others shift Tyffeon’s focus away from his main target.

    Their progress isn’t fast enough. If only Tyffeon wasn’t that reluctant to use Ignis magic… but the branches already cover with their green cutting weapons. Forcing Mira and him to back off.

“So eager to be close to me…” Timoria utters, turning sideways. “…let me get closer too. Let me take away this blood staining you!”

    Gusts of leaves part in distinct directions, aiming at us.

    While Mira’s agility allows her to dodge in a few jumps, Tyffeon stands right in front of me. The moment the leaves enclose, he raises his hand, summoning a wind blast to deflect the attack.

    Timoria’s back now turned to the sea of mist, I can’t even aim an arrow at her. But it isn’t enough to deter Mira who once more pounces on her as soon as the leaves fall to the ground. Jumping into the air after luring her with another mirage, she manages to grip to her back, sinking her claws into the bark on her back.

    In an attempt to get rid of her, Timoria moves abruptly to the right, to the left…

“I wish I could have done something to save you…” Mira keeps clutching onto her back. “I’m sorry, Timoria…”

    She pounces off her back the moment the emissary’s steps lead her to offer her back to Tyffeon.

    Her irises roll to the corner of her eyes.

    At this exact moment, the first strike of his sharp blade cuts through her exposed back, making Timoria wince at the relentless combo.

    Until she falls to her knees.

    She doesn’t counter attacks. Not even a word crosses her lips while the dark spot in her back keeps pulsating, fissured.

    Halting his moves, Tyffeon is about to step back.

“Don’t stop!!!” I scream at him. “Attack her now!! Inflict her as much damage as you can!!”

“But Amako,” Mira chimes in, “she’s already-”

“No! Finish her now!!”

    A boss always has a second phase…

“This isn’t over yet!”

    Luckily, Tyffeon soon complies, turning back at her, resuming his blows at her back. The cut branches, still too numerous elsewhere, make it an easier target than any other part of her body.

    Our best chance is to finish her before she fully reaches this phase. Usually, it’s a trick you can only achieve with enough level gap with the boss, but…

“Now, that’s enough.” The emissary’s voice neutrally states.

    …if he uses his magic then maybe! Maybe we can do it!

“Burn her!” I prompt.

    An umpteenth blow of his blade strikes Timoria.

    I can almost perceive a hesitation in his moves. But it is already too late.

    In an unprecedented speed, the leaves have covered the remaining branches while new ones abruptly erupt from the spot Tyffeon has been hitting, forcing him to back off. His sword remaining stuck in the emissary’s back.

“Flee!!! She’s gonna use her bened-”

    The scream has barely the time to cross my lips before a savage whirlwind of leaves spreads all around the emissary of the Taint.

    But that isn’t the only thing that ensues as an invisible wave reaches us even faster.

    A gruesome tickle runs over my skin. One that doesn’t bring laughter but tears.

    I can feel my heart tighten, my eyes widen at the fright that engulfs me. My surroundings become fuzzy, blurring until the silence consumes them.

***

    Usually, in Kingdoms of Sin, it is at this point of the game that the amnesic hero catches a first glimpse of his lost memories. Timoria’s benediction, amplified by the taint, awakens fears that have been dormant until then.

    A face with delicate features, the one of a human woman which lingers in his mind before it shifts to the vision of her corpse.

    I wish I were able to focus on that. I wish I could focus on anything rather than the emptiness around me, rather than the coldness creeping in.

“You know better than anyone how all of this is gonna end. Why do you engage?”

    A voice echoes in front of me.

“Why do you keep making the same mistakes?”

    Seated on the ground, leant forward against my hands, I slowly raise my head to meet her gaze.

    Her chin pressed against her hand, a massive charcoal bun tops her head, a white mask conceals her expression. She’s crouched, observing me with a deceived glint in her… in my grey eyes.

    Facing my previous life’s self, I remain silent.

“Making a fool of yourself to make people laugh isn’t enough if you keep fooling yourself, you know? Even this, it won’t be enough to make them stay by your side.”

    My other me reaches out her hands towards my head, cupping it. In a slow motion, she forces me to turn my head to the side, and I catch sight of Tyffeon. To my greatest despair.

    The usual annoyance in his glance is gone, replaced by mere indifference. Step by step, he comes closer to me, drawing his sword from its sheath.

“That is how the game is supposed to begin, that is how your life is gonna end.” Her voice whispers before she vanishes, leaving me alone with my nightmares.

“So you are going to kill me?” I ask Tyffeon in a muffled voice, but he keeps getting closer. “Whatever I say… whatever I do?…”

    As if not hearing me, he simply begins to raise his sword, a bright shine running along his blade.

    I feel my shoulders getting heavier, a slight tremor in my arms as my fingers sink into my flesh.

“Speak… Say Something… Don’t ignore me…”

“Why would I waste my words on you?”

    The tone of his voice, cold as steel, makes me abandon all resolve. Lowering my head, I await the final blow.

“I knew you would say this.”

    People can only betray. There’s no way to escape it. I can fake ignoring it, but it won’t change the ending.

“…ko… Am…k…” A sizzling. Far away, indistinct.

    Even if I stay by their side, they will end up not even remembering that we had ever been friends.

    Friends?

“Don’t let her illusion consume you!” A distant voice echoes.

    I clutch my pendant as I curl unto myself. As if seeking any remnant of warmth. Hoping at least this death to be the last.

“Amako!!!” A scream echoes. The voice gets closer. “I won’t let the fear kill you. Amako… you’re not fighting alone.”

    A voice wrapped in warmth.

***

    I frown as the feeling dissipates the illusion my fears have caught me in. Little by little, I become aware of my surroundings. The feeling of a warm breath against my cheek makes me frown further, until I finally open my eyes.

“I’m glad…” Mira breathes. “You’re back among us.”

    Leant over me, Mira is pinning me to the stone pavement. Relief is etched on her features.

    But on mines, it’s an utter expression of horror that creeps in, my eyes wide open.

“No…” I mutter.

    Blood drips from her back, staining her hair, permeating her clothes. As her chest rises and falls in ragged breaths, a crimson droplet falls from her chin.