The Last Goodbye

I do not know how I should begin this letter. Should I call you "Mother," as they do now? Or call you, Almariel, the love of my life?

You warned me what our decision might lead to, but my foolishness bested me. The Gods, somehow, showed mercy and gave me a second chance. I woke up in the human lands, in a body with powers and a sword I did not recognize. They told me I was a hero sent by the Gods to save them from the invasion of the elves. I could not believe it, until a group of elf refugees told me the truth: of a cloaked figure, gifts given in desperate times, and a ruin that spread like rot.

When I heard their tale, I gathered all my strength to come and end the monster, free your people and to find you. But when the moment came and I stood ready to deliver the final blow, I saw an unexpected face. Yours. In that instant everything shattered. How long had it been since I last saw you? What happened to you? Dark magic? Cursed lands?

Now you were a different person, someone I couldn't recognize anymore.

Even then, I could not strike you down. You were the woman who raised me, the one I loved. I do not know whether my mercy was right, but If I could return that day, I would do the same.

After returning to the human lands, I burned the libraries and slew those who were present at that war. I left no witnesses, and then returned to help the remaining elves thrive and grow. Perhaps, if people forget your deeds, they'll be forgiven by the Gods, if not, then I'll surely join you in hell.

The messenger of the Gods then gave me instructions for atonement, and I followed them. Now I sit in this tomb, locked away, to spend the rest of my days repenting for what I did, and for what I failed to do.

Please forgive me.

Yours, forever and always,

Eryndor

The dungeon of Nólemundë rang with laughter and song. Voices rose to praise their hard-won victory and the liberation of their lands. Children ran between lanterns; hearts filled with joy.

But in Caliondur's hall, silence hung heavy as he read the hero's letter to the others, who were grieving for the loss of their companion, puzzled by the true identity of their friend and saddened by the fact that they had to prepare to say goodbye to him.

Gorran raised his heavy cup with his one remaining arm, the wine spilling slightly down his wrist. His voice was rough with bitterness.

"I cannot believe this," he muttered, then louder, "I can't believe any of this! Ardent is dead, Kazuki is a demon lord, and you knew about it all along, didn't you, Alvis?"

The slam of his cup against the table echoed through the hall.

Maeryn leaned forward, her eyes narrowing.

"Is that why you pressed the king to send us here? To take the battle to them?"

Caliondur placed a firm hand on Alvis's shoulder.

"Speak the truth, my friend. Free yourself from the chains of its burden."

Alvis drew in a long, ragged breath before lifting his head.

"After the war, the night of the king's feast, we learned the meaning of the script on Kazuki's relic. We feared what it meant — two demon lords fighting within our kingdom. We worried the devastation it could bring. We were training him, yes… but our knowledge of dark affinity was shallow compared to the demons'. So, on that night, we decided to convince the king to send us to Agartha."

Gorran's fist clenched.

"We? Who is we?"

"Me and Ardent," Alvis admitted. "Maelen, the historian, translated the relic's inscription — but the decision was ours."

Verena's eyes burned as she leaned across the table.

"And if you two hadn't hidden this from us, maybe Ardent would still be alive!"

Vada let out a sharp laugh, mocking, him.

"So that's it, Alvis? Or do you have something else you've hidden?"

Alvis hunched, his voice breaking.

"I'm sorry. I truly am. But don't think your grief is greater than mine. I knew him longer than any of you…"

A silence fell. In the corner, Kazuki sat with Zephyr, both quiet. But Zephyr could no longer stay seated. She rose and bowed toward Caliondur.

"Lord Caliondur," she said, voice pleading, "is there nothing we can do for Kazuki? Nothing to fix his relic, no ancient knowledge your people hold that might save him?"

Caliondur's expression was grave.

"We have no prior knowledge about any summoning or relic; all of this must have been information stored in Ahriman's book. I ordered our men to search every part of the castle but nothing was found that can be of any help to us."

Kazuki kept his head low, his hands clenched against his knees. Finally, in a trembling voice, he broke his silence.

"Where… where is Master Ardent's body?"

Caliondur's expression softened.

"We cleaned him with honor and placed him in a preserving coffin, so that you may decide how, or where, to lay him to rest."

Alvis lifted his gaze, voice steady though his eyes shimmered.

"He once told me… he wished to be buried beside his wife and sons, facing east, so he could greet the sunrise every morning."

Kazuki's breath caught. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered,

"If he knew what I was… a demon lord… then why? Why did he save my life?"

At those words, Maeryn's composure shattered; tears streamed down her cheeks.

Alvis leaned forward, his own voice breaking.

"Because he loved you, Kazuki. He saw you as his own son. He agreed to this journey not for the kingdom, nor for the king, but for you. Regardless of what you were."

Gorran shifted. His voice was rough, but warm.

"Just like the rest of us, lad. We don't harbor any resentment in our hearts towards you. Not for Ardent's death and not for what you are."

Maeryn, reached across the table.

"We love you, Kazuki… like one of our own. Like family."

Kazuki tried to stand—

CRACK

A sharp, splitting sound rang out from the relic on his chest. His knees buckled. He collapsed halfway upright, crashing to the floor.

"Kazuki!" Everyone cried out as chairs scraped and boots thundered toward him.

Zephyr slid down first, cradling his head in her lap.

"What's wrong, Kazuki?"

His voice was low.

"I… I can't feel my legs anymore."

Gorran cursed.

"Caliondur—get your healer! Now!"

Without a word, Caliondur turned and sprinted.

Zephyr's eyes widened as dark smoke curled upward from beneath Kazuki's tunic. With trembling fingers she tore at the fabric, exposing the relic bound to his chest. It pulsed weakly, a sickly glow flickering between its cracks, each beat releasing a thin wisp of black mist.

The whole room fell silent. Even Kazuki stared at the broken artifact.

Finally, he let out a hollow laugh.

"I guess… this is it, then."

"Don't say that!" Zephyr snapped, her voice breaking, tears streaking down her face.

One by one, the others crowded in close, kneeling beside him—faces pale, eyes wet, hands reaching, as the relic's light began to fade.

Kazuki forced a smile and looked around at them one last time. "Guys… thank you. For all the support and help you gave me." He coughed, breath shallow. "Gorran, Maeryn… I wish nothing but the best for you and the child. Master Alvis, thank you for your teaching, for the training. Don't carry guilt for hiding the truth."

"Go with the Gods, my brother," Gorran said, his voice breaking, his hand clenched into a fist while.

Maeryn cracked. "You'll always be in our hearts."

Alvis bowed his head.

Kazuki turned his head a little toward Vada and Verena, a tired warmth in his eyes. "Vada, Verena… if I'd had two little sisters, I would've wanted them to be you."

They answered together, voices tight: "Big brother Kazuki."

Kazuki's fingers closed around Zephyr's hand. "Zephy," he whispered, voice trembling. "Thank you… for showing me how it feels to love someone who loves you back."

She opened her mouth, but no words came—only a desperate shake of her head.

His eyelids shutting. Breath thinning, he managed one more plea. "Please… take care of each other. I hope with this relic gone, Kael returns back to you… so you could be with your friend once more."

Zephyr bent low, her forehead against Kazuki's, tears falling onto his cheek. "Don't you dare forget me… wherever you go."

She kissed him for one last time.

With that, his grip loosened from Zephyr's. His eyes closed, and the room went silent.

Once Kazuki's eyes opened again—he was back in the Well of Souls, in his Earth form. Rising unsteadily, he saw a figure approaching through the pale mist. At first, only a silhouette, but then his breath caught.

It was Kael.