52. Kokoro

Richard still stood there on the corner. His senses were obscured by his mind, but as he saw his three friends getting hurt fighting against the clones, something awakened inside of him. He felt his heart beating strongly and some sweat. "Is this anger? Is this love?" - he asked himself. - "It is all a lie...a lie... a lie..." - his voice echoed inside his head. And still, he was unable to do anything. All his feelings were shut, just like when he was at school and at college and working as an astronomer.

The Duke turned to the warriors who still regained their energy and said:
- "So, I give you a minute to give up. Think well, suffering to die all the same is a waste." - he acted as if he was benevolent - "I will say one thing more! Isabella!" - he turned to her - "if you give up now I will give you your life, you are free to go!" - the others looked in dismay - "you will be able to take care of Morirom and live your life. You just need to give up right here and now" - he smiled maliciously - "what do you think?"
- "Never!" - Isabella did not hesitate. - "I will never leave my friends!"
- I don't understand this!" - the Duke said, seeming amused - "you are hurt and you know I can defeat you whenever I want. Why do you still protect your friends?"
- "That's something you would never understand, because you are a demon" - Isabella replied. - "Love. I love Caoilainn and I love Mazanlold. They are my friends and I will protect them with my life, as their comrade and their leader!" - Mazanlold and Caoilainn thought the same thing: 'she speaks like a queen'.
- "I find that simply stupid." - the Duke said. He seemed uninterested, but then he smiled and said - "you know what, I have an idea. I will give you some time to recover and fight more. This fight is fun for me, I don't wanna spoil it" - he started moving towards Richard - "meanwhile, I will get rid of this artificial being who is not worth of witnessing this fight!"

Richard observed as the Duke approached him. He shivered in fear - "it is my survival instinct" - he thought but he did not move. - "Maybe it is better to accept this, it is not like I have a chance against him anyway." - he looked up and his heart raced as Donisemon approached smiling. It was a horrifying view. When the demon was close, he said:
- "It will be quick, you have no heart to suffer" - Donisemon prepared both Noctis and Vespera to strike down Richard. Richard, shaking with fear, simply closed his eyes.

A loud ring pounded on Richard's ears making him open his eyes. It was Isabella's sword holding of the demon's dual sword. She held her stance with all her force, until Donisemon gave up and jumped away to where he was before. Richard saw as Isabella set her sword down, panting and shaking. The demon asked:
- "Why?! "Why did you protect him!? Your comrades need you and this one you call Richard is not even human." - Isabella took a second to deeply breath and shout:
- "You would never understand, pitiful demon! I love Richard! I don't care what he is, human, artificial intelligence, or something in between. I love him regardless of what he is!" - she glanced down and up again - "the thing is, I've seen his heart, I know there is a heart inside of him and that's more than enough for me!"
- "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!" - Donisemon burst out laughing - "This is so amusing, this is being fantastic! When I finish laughing we will resume the fight and I will destroy you!" - he continued laughing and enjoying himself.

At the same time Richard's eyes widened. His mind which was obscured by one vision was taken by a conflict. "It's all worthless if there is no heart!" - one voice said, while another counter attacked: "All is worth it if the soul is not small! Your heart will make it worth it." Richard's mind was chaotic. However, his eyes saw one truth, Isabella looking at him, protecting him and saying:
- "Are you alright?" - to which he replied:
- "Was that true, Isabella?" - he stared at her - "after the Duke saying I am artificial, and all you've seen, do you still believe I have a heart?"
- "It's not that I believe, I know you have a heart!"
- "I'm not sure whether I agree Isabella, maybe Donisemon is right" - she looked at him in dismay - "I truly think I am some kind of artificial being, it makes sense. All I've ever experienced makes sense knowing that. Maybe, I am just an AI faking my way into being human." - Donisemon smiled as Richard continued - "Also, I don't know about other people. I see their actions, but how can I be sure they are not just actors? How can I know what is in their hearts and even if they have a heart to begin with?" - the others looked hopeless as they listened, and Donisemon delighted at the situation.

Richard took a breath, stood up and continued:
- "But then I ask to you and to myself? Does it matter?" - Donisemon and the others looked puzzled - "What difference does it make? I may be artificial, I may be just a faker, an impostor. But does it matter, when I feel my heart beating loudly? When deep inside of me there is something different than an action and a reaction, but a feeling? And if I feel, why wouldn't others feel too? If everyone has a heart and feels, don't I have one too?" - Caoilainn, Mazanlold and Donisemon were puzzled, however Isabella was hopeful, looking at Richard.

He now walked towards his comrades. Isabella followed him as he said:
- "I do not know what I am or what others are. But I know how I feel." - Richard turned to Mazanlold - "I feel admiration, and respect for you, Mazanlold. You are a great warrior, an honorable man, and my peuco. And Caoilainn?" - Richard turned to her - "How can you be so cheerful and talented and easy going? People should envy you, really. You saved me and you did so much for us during this journey, I will be forever grateful" - Richard now turned back to Isabella - "And Isabella? You are so royal, so elegant, so strong, so caring, you are special. Not only special, but special to me." - Richard looked inside her eyes saying that and then turned to the others - "I feel love, for all of you. My heart beats for all of you. How can I deny it? How can I deny my own heart? That would be the saddest thing there is." - Mazanlold and Caoilainn were now hopeful, while Donisemon was getting very annoyed. The Duke said:
- "What a great pile of lies and bullshit! How can you say that with a straight face?! Stop with the delusion and admit you are just a measly faker!"
- "Maybe I am" - Richard said - "but I don't care anymore. I cannot deny what I feel and what I am. And" - he turned to Donisemon - "if I can't deny my own heart, how can I deny the deep anger I feel for you, Donisemon?! You talked about me, but you are the one who doesn't have a heart, who cannot feel love, who just pretends and fools others." - Richard pointed his spear at the Duke - "admit it! You need to possess others to use your abilities! You need to learn from humans to create illusions! It is you who are a measly faker, one not worth to even talk to us."
- "You will pay for these words" - the Duke replied in a horribly low voice which sent chills down everyone's spines. Despite that, Richard continued:
- "My blood boils with anger and now I shall take you down or die trying. For me and for my friends!" - Richard leaped at him with all his might.
- "Get up everyone! We need to help Richard, he doesn't stand a chance alone!" - Isabella shouted, rallying them back to the action.