PEONY

Peony woke up in the courtyard, lying in a pool of their own blood. That was a first. They’d seen guns in action before from all their time spent in this world, but Peony hadn’t anticipated that getting shot by one of them would hurt that much.

Judging by the bloody bullet on the ground, it seemed that it had passed through their skull. Better that than it just getting stuck in their head. They picked up the bullet to examine it before tossing it aside with a chuckle. That man was quicker on the draw than anticipated. He wouldn’t be so lucky a second time.

Peony brushed the back of their head for an exit wound, but found no trace. They’d been knocked out long enough for their body to completely heal. The only evidence that Peony was shot was the blood staining their clothes and the gore caked in their hair.

The Elf looked around for Chinatsu and Miyabi, but there was no trace of them out there. If the two of them got away, then that was good, but Peony’s feelings were a little hurt that they didn’t spare Peony the same level of theatrics that they’d given Masha’s death. It couldn’t be helped–they were running from a maniac with a gun after all.

The tower door was open. That seemed to be the most sensible place for them to head if they were trying to flee.

Ah! But Peony hadn’t explained to them what was on the other side of the door. They weren’t so silly as to forget, but had been so rudely interrupted before they got the chance. Oh well, the two that mattered were adaptable. They’d figure it out on their own.

Peony picked up their staff and headed inside the tower. The Elf shook their head and tutted over the sight of broken glass. A reset would fix it all up, but they could have at least taken more care not to make such a mess. At the very least, it made it easy to follow their path.

At the end of all the broken mirrors was Joel. Judging by the blood pouring out of his face, Peony figured the other two had gotten the better of him. His shocked expression was positively delightful as well.

“Huh? It’s just you here?” Peony said, searching around for the other two in an exaggerated fashion.

“I knew you were abnormal,” Joel mumbled. He was eyeing the gun across the floor. Peony picked it up and crouched in front of him.

“Do you want this back?” Peony said, handing the gun to him. He wasn’t taking it, so Peony gently placed it into Joel’s hand. “What do you think you’re going to accomplish with this?”

Peony watched as Joel looked intently at the gun before putting it up to his own head.

CLICK

“It’s out,” Joel sighed, tossing the gun aside.

“You didn’t have very many to begin with, did you? That’s why you saved it for last,” Peony said, chuckling. It was a little disappointing that all his fire seemed to burn out. Did getting beaten by a child bruise his ego that much? Peony eyed the coagulating blood on his busted forehead. “Hey, want me to heal you?”

Joel snorted and spat right in Peony’s face. “Stop fucking around and just kill me already.”

That was it–the rage burning in his eyes and one last act of defiance. That was the kind of reaction Peony was looking for. They wiped off their face and smiled.

“I’ll admit that you certainly kept things far more interesting than I could have imagined,” Peony said, raising their hand. Palm parallel to the ground, all fingers pointing at Joel. “But you’ve served your purpose, so now I’m done with you.”

With a flick of their wrist and a swiping motion, Peony cleanly removed Joel’s head as if they were wielding an invisible blade.

“Ah…what a mess,” Peony groaned while standing up. The bodies of the dead didn’t move or disappear on a reset, so Peony dreaded having to clean up later. Worse still, this man’s damn Wraith was going to be haunting the tower now. An exorcism would be too kind for the likes of him, but Peony also didn’t want his soul bound to this spot.

Peony looked into the shattered mirror, their reflection fragmented and broken. Future nuisances were for Future Peony. Right now, they needed to get ready for a touching reunion with their two favorite specimens. Peony pressed their hand against the mirror and slipped into it like stepping behind a curtain.

The Elf emerged from a stone wall and stepped into a circular room lined with stone pillars. Peony looked around to find it was empty and scratched their head.

“Hm? They’re not here yet?” they mumbled before wandering over to a circular, shallow pool in the center of the room. The water reflected like a mirror, making the archway in the center of it appear like a circle. Peony leaned over the water and looked at their blood-stained reflection. “I guess I should clean up first…”

They laid their staff on the ground before standing up straight, raising both hands into the air. Peony moved their hands down in a sweeping motion from the top of their head to the tip of their toes, making every last drop of blood disappear. Peony checked their reflection once more, smiling and nodding in satisfaction.

The Elf didn’t always have these kinds of powers. All Elves could manipulate mana, but specific spellcasting still needed to be taught. In the rush to bring out Peony as the Saint, the Church only focused on honing the holy powers. In the fifty years spent within the labyrinth, Peony had plenty of time to experiment with different kinds of mana manipulation.

Peony didn’t think it was dishonest to withhold this information from their traveling companions. Providing guidance and healing to them was more than enough to aid them. Peony’s social experiment wouldn’t work with any more help than that. Though at this point, they knew their sins would be exposed anyway.

The Elf slipped between some pillars and settled in to wait for Chinatsu and Miyabi’s arrival. Peony closed their eyes in meditation while they waited. They could slip into their own memories or past-life memories in this state, and often did as a way to pass the time in their isolation at the top of the tower.

It was difficult for Peony to pinpoint when exactly they’d become so twisted. Perhaps it was just little by little, like stacking rocks in a cairn until it collapses under its own mass.

The “unification” with Lily hadn’t changed Peony that drastically. Their personalities balanced each other, but as the Saint, the more subdued personality of Lily dominated. It was what Peony was born for and what they lived for, so there was no need to want anything more than the comforts provided by the Church.

When Peony met Leonheart, they were 28 and 20, respectively. It was incredibly rare for humans and Elves to come together so close in age–normally, the Elves in Peony’s world were not considered full-fledged adults until they’d reached at least 40.

Pushing Peony into the war against the Demon Lord at their young age was a special case. As for Leonheart, he became the youngest knight in the kingdom after the Church declared him the Great Hero of prophecy. For two years, Peony, Leonheart, and their party of warriors traveled the kingdom to eliminate demons and monsters inflicted by the Demon Lord.

Perhaps it was because they were close in age, or because they were both thrust into these roles, that Peony found themself drawn to Leonheart. A small flame grew into a burning inferno inside Peony’s heart as the two of them spent more time together. For the first time in Peony’s life, there was something they finally wanted.

When Peony and Leonheart woke up in the world of the labyrinth, they immediately understood that some kind of magic had brought them there. They needed to return home to complete their mission, so they dutifully ventured forth into the maze.

In the month they spent together traversing the maze, Peony and Leonheart grew even closer. Fighting together, defending each other, overcoming each obstacle together–it was just the two of them.

When Peony and Leonheart finally reached the terraced pools, they were nearly to the point of exhaustion but still managed to fend off the Dryads.

“Leonheart…you’re wounded…” Peony fussed over a bleeding cut on Leonheart’s head. He wore chainmail armor, but no helmet, leaving his head as a weak point.

“Peony, it’s just a scratch. You concern yourself with me too much,” he said, waving Peony off.

“How can I not when I love you!” Peony snapped. There it was, the feelings they were trying to bury out in the open.

Leonheart gazed into Peony’s eyes. He was so handsome–tall with an olive complexion, black hair like a raven’s feathers, and eyes like rich garnet. Leonheart caressed Peony’s cheek before gently pulling the Elf in for a kiss.

“I…I can’t! I shouldn’t–” Peony said, pulling away.

“Why? Because the Saint must remain a maiden?” Leonheart asked, pulling Peony back into his embrace. “You were never one to begin with.”

Leonheart kissed Peony with increased passion. Peony’s secret had already been long-since revealed to him, and while he was accepting, Peony had never expected him to return their feelings because of it. In that moment, for him, Peony would be willing to do anything.

Peony often wondered if what happened at the top of the tower was because they had allowed their heart to waver and commit this sin. Divine punishment was easier for them to accept than betrayal at the hands of someone they treasured.

“Only one of you may pass through the gate and return,” spoke a hooded figure at the top of the tower.

The hooded figure blocked their path as Leonheart and Peony stood in front of the shallow reflecting pool with the stone archway. Within the archway, colors and light swirled like an aurora.

“Who are you to decide that!?” Leonheart protested. Peony held his arm to keep him from drawing his sword in anger.

“I am the creator of this domain. Those who have bested my labyrinth are granted return to their previous lives,” the hooded figure explained flatly. His eyes were obscured, but Peony could feel the hooded figure’s intense gaze fixated on them. “A pair is an anomaly. Therefore, the decision lies with you.”

Peony and Leonheart looked at each other. If only one of them could go, then what would happen to the other one? Peony couldn’t bear the thought of abandoning Leonheart in this place.

“Does that mean one of us has to stay here forever?” Peony asked the hooded figure.

“You may try as many times as you’d like to return,” he responded curtly.

“What does that mean!? You have to go through this whole place again from the beginning!?” Leonheart shouted. For the first time since Peony met him, Leonheart’s stoicism was starting to crack.

“That is correct.”

Peony embraced Leonheart and began to cry. “Leonheart! What do I do!? I don’t want to leave you behind!”

“Who said anything about you leaving?” Leonheart said, pushing Peony off of him. He began to stride towards the arch.

“Wha-!? What are you talking about!? I can’t survive here!” Peony clutched at Leonheart as he stepped into the reflecting pool. “I have to go back! I’m–”

“You’re expendable,” Leonheart said, slapping Peony away. “If you die, another one will be born in your place.”

“B-but you need me…” Peony said, tears streaming down their cheeks.

“That’s nonsense. I’m the Hero of Prophecy. I’m the important one here, not you,” Leonheart replied before passing through the gate.

Peony whipped around to see the hooded figure smiling widely as he clapped his hands together once. The first of many resets to come.