Chapter 24 - Emotion over loyalty

The inversion of the castle was gone. What was once black and grim was now white and pristine.

With Mallory’s disappearance the world’s colors corrected themselves. The army outside stood in utter confusion to the empty battlefield, their foes disappeared.

In the throne room, Discordia and Onizuka stood exhausted. The warriors fought off Onizuka’s chains with their blades.

Audrey was wrapped up.

“I got you!” Lard teleported her out of it.

“Thanks!” She immediately swung an attack through the air at the two.

Discordia kicked the ball of magic with her invisible foot, absorbing it.

“Tch.” Audrey clicked her tongue.

“Die already!” Wilfred demanded, swing his arm down towards Discordia.

Clang!

Wilfred was met with Onizuka’s chains, annoying him too.

Discordia came in for the kill, readying her magic finger.

“I got you!” Conrad stated, throwing himself with his ability activated, shielding Wilfred.

“I took your leg once before. I can do it again!” Discordia kicked the invisible barrier, leaving Conrad exposed.

“Damn! What is with this priestess!?” Conrad cursed as Discordia continued her approach.

“Ira!” Ari cried as she comforted at his side. His abdomen gushed from Mallory’s attack.

“I got him!” Elvire sat by his side. With a cut of her palm, she let her blood free. She let her hands rest against Ira’s wound.

“Erk!” With a small twinge, Ira’s wound closed.

“Thank you, Goddess.” Ari smiled with a tear.

Elvire nodded with a smile.

“ARGH!” Conrad grunted as Discordia mangaged to cut off his leg again.

“Lard!” Elvire cried out.

“I got him!” With a quick teleport, Lard brought Conrad out of Discordia’s range over to the Goddess.

“No!” Conrad struggled. “I can’t live with myself if you have to hurt yourself over and over again, Goddess! You healed me once before let that be my only shame!”

Elvire shook her head, she cut her other palm, letting the blood drip. “I refuse to let others be in pain!”

Lard held Conrad’s torn of leg to his stump, causing great pain for Conrad. Elvire held the wound, mending his muscles back together with golden threads.

After a moment, he was healed.

“I... I’m sorry Goddess.” Conrad clenched in frustration.

Elvire shook her head once more. “I would rather hear a thank you.”

Conrad looked down in shame, then back up. “Thank you.”

Elvire nodded with a smile, bringing Lard and Conrad peace.

“ACK!!!” Blood spilled from Onizuka’s chest. He waddled backwards.

“You die here!” Wilfred charged.

“NO!” Discordia desperately tackled Onizuka, taking Wilfred’s strike from the back.

“Discordia!?” Onizuka was surprised.

The two landed onto the ground, wounded as their blood mixed.

“Now!” Audrey led the charge.

Blubber and Wilfred followed suit, all three ready to strike down the two wounded.

“Urk!” Onizuka in desperation gestured with his hand, chains came down from above.

“What!?” The three had their swords caught, they struggled to free them.

“Discordia!” Onizuka was pinned by here. “You have to get away!”

“N... No...” She let her weak voice struggle. “I like it... Right here...”

She gritted her teeth in pain, choosing to embrace the wounded Onizuka. Her face snuggled into his chest.

“Don’t be so weird now! You have to get away! Please!”

“Call...” Discordia grunted, her back felt like it was on fire. “Call me by my name...”

Onizuka stared blankly into the sadist's eyes, unsure how to handle this.

“I- Imani....”

Discordia went silent, their gazes locked. Without its usually nature, Discordia let out a smile, one that left Onizuka speechless.

“Uhh...” The three stood awkwardly, staring down at the two wounded having a moment.

“Audrey... I feel kind of bad now.” Wilfred admitted.

“I think it’s fine if we leave them like this. They’ll bleed out eventually.” Blubber observed, not knowing how he felt.

“Y- Yeah... I don’t want another tainted victory like last time.” Audrey admitted.

Elvire stood up, walking over.

“Goddess?” Conrad was confused. All eyes averted onto her.

“I won’t let them die.”

“Huh?" Audrey was taken aback. “They’re the enemy. They’ll continue to attack if they-”

“I don’t care!” Elvire stood over the two wounded. “They may have bad intentions, but they don’t deserve true death. No one does.”

The Goddess with both hands bloodied bit her lip, letting her blue essence coat her lips.

“No!” Lard waddled over, his body sweating from his movements. “This! This! This woman ruined everything!”

Discordia and Onizuka remained on the ground, embracing one another as Lard struggled to walk.

“It’s over, Lard.” Elvire stated. “These two can no longer fight.”

“I refuse!” Lard caught himself from falling, pushing through. “I built that town for you! I worked and worked to make it perfect! She used me! She tortured you! I can’t forgive her!”

Discordia let out a small grin, her eyes struggled to stay open.

“Then don’t forgive her! But don’t let your anger doom someone’s soul! Have mercy.” Elvire pleaded, lowering herself.

“No!” Lard teleported before Discordia, just as fast, he took her away, leaving Onizuka on the ground.

“What are you doing!?” Audrey and the others were now offended. “The Goddess is choosing mercy and you’re stopping her?”

“I won't let this monster live! Not after everything she’s done!” Lard stated, hovering over Discordia’s wounded body as she bled onto fresh ground.

“Hehehe...” Discordia let out a weak chuckle.

“Don’t worry Onizuka...” Elvire let her lips contact his, letting blood drip into his mouth. He could feel his chest healing. “I’m sorry... I didn’t know things would get this far...”

Onizuka’s eyes widened to her words. “You... You are...”

Elvire met him with a crafted smile, before standing up.

“Lard... I care for all souls no matter what they have done. I ask you find the good in your heart. I ask you to let this anger go.”

Lard bit his lip, unable to let his mind calm. “I- I can’t Goddess... Not even for you.”

“I see.” Elvire let her eyes reflect disappointment, bringing Lard to shame. “Layla.”

“Y- Yes!” Taking the hint, Layla focused on Lard.

In reaction Lard teleported once more, this time from sight.

“Shit! He must have gone to another floor!” Audrey observed.

“We can’t let the Goddess's mercy go to waste! She maybe an enemy, but this is Elvire’s will!” Wilfred stated, rushing towards the door with the others.

“Ira! Ari! Stay here till Toshiro gets back! Watch over the last enemy!” Audrey ordered, being met with both of their nods.

“There they go.” Ira stated as everyone rushed out.

The room went silent. The echoes of their running slowly fell silent.

“Ugh.” Onizuka grunted.

“Stay down.” Ari already had her blade in position, making Onizuka’s face sweat.

“This is quite a story unfolding here.” Onizuka spoke up, Ari’s brow raised.

“Story? I guess we are living the Iseki fantasy.” Ira wandered over, choosing to sit lazily on the ground as Ari lorded over their prisoner.

“Heh.” Onizuka chuckled. “I don’t mean this world... It looks like you guys are wrapped in the narrative of someone in particular.”

“Hm?” Ari and Ira were confused.

BZZ! POOF!

Tiny shots of blue electricity shocked the air, gathering all three of their attention. With a shadowy flame etched into the ground, three people suddenly appeared.

“N- Nirasha!?” Onizuka was dumbfounded.

“W- Where are we!?” Nirasha was in absolute shock. “Onizuka!?!?”

“D- Dad?” Mallory turned, meeting Toshiro’s line of sight.

“Heh-he!” Toshiro cracked a smile, gathering all eyes in the room.

His body flickered its dark flames, his golden threads reached out and tangled with one another as if in a dance. His smile and eyes were pure white, but everyone could feel his gaze onto the scared Nirasha.

“T... Tosh...?” She stuttered, unable to form proper words.

“So...” Toshiro’s voice was cold. The air sparkled as the pristine white walls and floor cracked with ice. “Shall we go to your other half, Goddess?”