Somebody's truth

Chapter 23

Everyone in the hall was forced to look away as darkness surged out from the two combatants, and when they looked back, something ominous had changed.

The hall was back to its original, undamaged state, meaning Captain Eiren’s spell had worn off, and they were back in the real world. However, a pale shadow had spread, sucking the colors out of everything and turning their surroundings into a monochrome world. Everyone was confused—and even more so as they looked at the two figures in the middle.

They were the only ones with color, and their appearances had changed. Naoya was down on one knee, a dark aura emanating from him, clouding his bright and noble Knight’s uniform, rising into the air behind him like smoke.

But the thing that caught everyone’s attention was the purple flame now burning in his chest, rising onto his shoulders and flaring behind him.

Meanwhile, Hisora kissed him from above, now wearing a layered red dress with long sleeves and black highlights elegantly flowing behind her, perfectly contrasting her lustrous grey hair.

The scythe had disappeared from his chest, and they were both no longer battle-scarred, as if the kiss had healed them. Everyone was confused, but some had already realized what was happening, recognizing their appearance from over fifty years ago.

The kiss had surprised Naoya, but what happened next was even more shocking.

A memory resurfaced in his mind—an important memory he had just now recalled.

…

He was standing on the balcony of a massive castle floating in the sky, overlooking an entire kingdom in ruins, pillars of smoke rising from broken structures.

“Well, princess, is this what you wanted?” he asked the lady beside him.

“Yes, and I don’t regret any of it. They brought this upon themselves.”

“And it doesn’t even cross your mind that I might just betray you now, like you did to your kingdom? I already have what I came here for.”

“You might have all of its knowledge now, but I doubt you’re so heartless as to get rid of its best mage,” the silver-haired fox Faunite said, turning to face him.

“And besides, you’ve already promised me the happiness my family never provided. I’m sure that you, a being who gained his power from promises, will stay true to them.”

He smiled at her intelligence—something he had always respected.

“Fair enough. I suppose you are quite useful, after all.”

“Don’t be so cold. That’s not how you treat your new queen, you know?” she teased, looking at him with a soft, dreamy gaze, a playful smile tugging at her lips.

He sighed. “I have work to do. Make yourself at home in the castle. I’ll see you later.”

She gently curtsied as he walked away, heading to his study.

“I’ll see you later, Demon Lord Alcestrus.”

…

Naoya opened his eyes and looked up at Hisora as more and more memories flooded into his mind.

“You… I remember you now… Arisune.”

She burst into tears and embraced him at the mention of the name. Naoya was still confused, but at the same time, her embrace felt warm—and very familiar.

He stood up, and they faced each other as the torrent of memories continued to overwhelm his mind.

“Where are these memories coming from…”

His confusion was interrupted as he noticed the people in the hall, surrounding them with caution and hostility.

“Wait… what’s happening?” he asked them.

“You only have one chance to explain yourselves, because even after fifty years…” A massive greatsword appeared in General Horius’ hands, falling to the floor with a heavy ring of steel.

“...I’d never forget that purple flame.”

The words echoed in his head, slowly piecing the memories together.

“I’m… I was the Demon Lord?” he asked Hisora in disbelief, and she replied with a smile.

“You are. You sacrificed yourself and disappeared. I’ve been trying to bring you back ever since and I never succeeded. But now… Now you’re back, and that’s all that matters to me.”

Nothing made sense to him, and in his confusion, someone else spoke.

“You… I remember you.”

It was Astrea, nothing but pure hatred in her eyes.

“Trey?”

“How did you return? You’re supposed to be suffering in the afterlife.” Her voice sounded nothing like before, as if another person were speaking.

“After everything you did to me and my sisters… here you are, happily reuniting with your bitch.” Rage overflowed in her words, her energy sparking and surging around her.

“The two of you should just die. Now.”

Naoya felt a sharp pain pierce his chest, as if he’d been stabbed. He managed to endure it, but beside him, Hisora collapsed to the floor, clutching her chest with agonized groans.

An anger sparked in his mind when he saw her suffering. Without thinking, he looked at Astrea with sharp eyes.

“Do not hurt her.”

The girl suddenly flew back into a wall with extreme force, leaving behind a crater before crumpling to the floor.

“Trey!” Greta and Lance ran towards her, and Naoya, seeing their panic, realized what he had done and stood there, horrified.

He felt Hisora holding onto his hand as she stood up.

“Even now, you’re still protecting me… Ahhh. I finally have you back.” Her eyes were full of admiration and happiness.

He heard something heavy fall to the floor and turned back to see Tessa inside her suit of armor, and Clara wielding her massive wand.

“You are not Naoya, you’re evil. The biggest evil in the world. And I need to bring you to justice,” the girl said, her pink, frilly dress darkening into crimson red.

“Wait, guys, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt Trey! I—I’m just really confused right now. We don’t need to do this, okay?”

“I think we do, actually,” Captain Eiren said as his eyes turned white and lightning started flickering around him. “You were the biggest threat the world has ever seen. It’s only natural that we take you down again as soon as possible.”

“Wait, wait, wait. I’m still Naoya, alright! I don’t even know what’s happening right now!”

Hisora tugged his arm and pulled his face towards hers.

“Don’t worry, Alcestrus. Your memories are still flooding back into your head, so you’re bound to be disoriented. Let’s go somewhere more familiar so you can process your thoughts better, alright?”

She took out a red crystal orb and threw it onto the ground, where a large stone doorframe appeared, creating a dark portal.

“Where are we going?” he asked her.

“Where else, silly? We’re going back home.”

The words triggered another memory of a massive castle floating in the sky, filled with dark passages and rooms, all of which he remembered.

“Wait, no.” He pulled his hand away from Hisora.

“What… what do you mean, no…”

“I can’t go with you. I don’t understand. I don’t know… Please, everyone…” he said, looking at his friends, all of them pointing their weapons at him.

He fell to his knees and examined himself, seeing the purple flame and dark aura surrounding him. He grasped his head as more memories overwhelmed his mind, and in a weak, pleading voice, he whispered:

“Please… I don’t know what’s happening… I don’t know who I am anymore…”

Clara—or rather, Celeste—wasted no time and charged at him, raising her massive wand above her head to bring down the full might of justice on Naoya. But before she could do so, someone appears.

A small, pink light left his gloves, transforming into a girl wearing a casual hoodie and shorts. She grabbed Naoya’s arm, and without warning, they disappeared into a puff of pink smoke.

Clara’s wand crushed nothing but the floor, and everyone was stunned—including Hisora.

“Wha… where did he go? Where is he? WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?” she screamed, and everyone in the hall was blown away by an unseen force.

“Why didn’t he go with me? He remembers me perfectly, right? So why didn’t he trust me? Why didn’t he stay with me? What happened…”

Her panic slowly turned into realization, and then into cold anger.

“Valebryn…” she muttered as she looked at the Knights scattered around the hall.

“You’ve all changed him. You’ve turned him against me.”

She fixed her gaze on them with a cold expression and snapped her fingers.

Suddenly, with brief flashes of light, dozens of people appeared to her right, some wearing the armor of Jaruna’s Royal Army, others in unfamiliar clothes—all of them dropping to one knee before her.

The doors of the Great Hall swung open, and the Sovereign of Jaruna appeared, followed by dozens of soldiers.

“Ana! What happened? Are you okay?” he stormed in, only to stop in his tracks as his eyes swept across the scene.

The Great Hall was a mess: there was a large crater in the wall, and his general, along with the Princess and the Knights, were all struggling to stand. Across the hall from them stood Hisora, wearing an ominous dress he instantly recognized from fifty years ago. Before her, dozens of unknown people prostrated themselves, and a dark portal stood open behind her.

“Ah, King Kaelen. I’m sorry for the mess. I’ll be leaving Jaruna now, but as thanks for all the years you’ve sheltered me, allow me to give you a warning.”

She suddenly appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye, and every soldier pointed their weapon at her.

“Do not intervene with Valebryn, or your kingdom will fall like theirs.”

She disappeared again, reappearing in front of the stone doorway.

“My soldiers, Noctis Vindex. An order from your leader…

Kill every Knight in Jaruna.”

She walked through the portal, which vanished along with her. Meanwhile, the members of Noctis stood and faced everyone in the hall.

His face fuming with rage, King Kaelen cried out a declaration that echoed throughout his entire kingdom:

“Jaruna is under attack! The Knights of Aetheryn Order are being targeted by Noctis Vindex!”

At his proclamation, the soldiers surrounding him ran over and stood guard by the injured Knights, and he himself prepared for battle.

In response, almost every member of Noctis disappeared and scattered throughout the kingdom, leaving only a fourth of their number to finish their targets in the Great Hall.

A war had just begun.