Chapter 27 - Even after all I have done

Silence filled the air, bouncing off the cold ice crystals the scattered the room. Their breaths turned to steam as they exhaled, but the chill was nothing compared to their minds.

“The Goddess... Of birth?” Audrey muttered.

Lard let his eyes widen, his breath shaken with the revelation. “So... Discordia’s death... Means I killed one of her children...?” His lips dropped, his body felt sickly.

No one knew what to say, no one had the courage to speak up further.

“Please... Please just stop...” Elvire begged, looking past the kind face of Narisha.

Toshiro stared deeply at the Goddess. The golden threads danced around his body.

“I had countless ideas of how this story was going to end... I couldn’t stop my imagination of what I wanted to do or could achieve.” Toshiro glared down at his arm, watching the shadow embers dance, captivating him.

“I can tell... If I didn’t meet all of you... If I was left to do as I pleased without the reflection of my actions... I would have easily been the demon king of this story.” Toshiro turned to Mallory, her expression still angry, staring down the Goddess.

“You learned of the truths of reincarnation during your travels through the realms. Fighting two halves of yourself who were both correct, while both just as wrong.”

Mallory’s golden eyes flared up, she clenched her teeth and fists.

“I was happy I could feel genuine emotions with you and mom. I know. I know I’m full of hatred for all of this, I know I’m being childish. But!” Mallory let her power loose, inverting the worlds color once more.

“I refuse to be trapped in this-! This cycle!” The castles walls were spontantiously cut into, slicing the brick as if it were paper. “Why did I have to be born with this knowledge! Why did I have to understand our purpose here!”

Mallory continued her rampage, letting tears flow as parts of the castle were cut into.

“There, there.” Mallory felt a sudden embrace. Discordia’s body wrapped around the shorter girl. “I may not be the woman who helped raise you alone, but I can feel it in this mind. She cared deeply about you.”

Mallory gripped her fists, shaking them in frustration as she let the imposter sink her in an arms embrace.

“How am I supposed to feel about this.” She asked herself, accepting the hug and letting the world correct itself.

Toshiro’s white smile disappeared, leaving neutral eyes as he turned back to the tear filled Elvire.

“We’re not ready for answers yet. But... I know we will get there soon.”

Elvire’s eyes widen, her mouth dropped and her mind broke. Toshiro slowly began to raise his hand, terrifying her.

“Wait... No...” She shook her head in denial. His hand was pointed upwards. His golden threads began to be consumed by his shadowy flames.

“WAIT! NOT AGAIN! PLEASE!” Elvire pleaded. “STOP HIM!!!”

Even without understanding, the warriors knew one thing, to obey the Goddess.

They charged, rushing towards the man who they once called an ally. Narisha embraced the Goddess, Elvire choked on her tears as she too embraced, tightening her grip around the women.

Layla stood frozen.

She felt pure dread, watching as her friends charged Toshiro, the man she put all her trust in.

Swissssh

Toshiro let his darken threads pierced those who charged him.

“What...” Layla stiffened, she could only watch as the warriors fell lifelessly before her. “Audrey... Blubber... Wilfred....”

“You bastard! You hurt your own friends!?” Ira cursed as he and Ari charged in suit.

“Wait...” Layla quietly pleaded, watched as the siblings fell to Toshiro’s attack.

“WE MADE IT IT!!! THE DEMON KING WILL FALL HERE!!!”

A charging army made its way to the doors, Toshiro standing menacingly in the center marked their target of attack.

“Wait... Get away...” Layla wanted to scream. She could only be a bystander as she watched the darken threads wiped out those who dared challenge the new Demon king.

Layla took a step back, unable to handle the events unfolding, Toshiro's cold and colorless body terrified her.

“Layla!” Lard teleported over. “I’ll get you- Ack!”

Staring down at the now dead Lard, Layla watched as the darkened thread retracted back towards Toshiro.

“How...” She clenched her teeth. “How did things come to this...?”

Toshiro watched as Layla lost herself in her mind, a sense of pity reflected in his eyes.

“Dad...” Mallory called from behind. He turned to face her.

“I’m sorry my decisions brought us to this point... I’m sorry...” Toshiro looked deep into her golden eyes. “I’m sorry I hindered us from the truth.”

Mallory smiled, holding onto Discordia.

“You didn’t fail us... This cycle was just not meant to be the one...”

The two gave a deep smile, one that went beyond a father and daughter.

“I’ll see you on the next time around.” With Toshiro’s final words to Mallory, he let out his threads. Killing Discordia and Mallory at once.

“You... You bastard Tosh.” Onizuka clenched his fist till it bleed, glaring a thousand daggers at Toshiro as he let out a burst of chains to attack.

The chains got ahold of Toshiro, trapping him in the cold metal.

“I can see why Narisha was stuck between us. Despite your nature, you’re not an evil guy.”

“Huh?” Onizuka grunted, his veins expressed his anger for him. “You’re pure evil. A bastard who shouldn’t be allowed to live, I should have killed you myself.”

“Hm...” Toshiro gave thought to his words. “You don’t know this, but hopefully you will next time. But you are a necessity to finding the truth. Hopefully next time, I’ll see that.”

With one quick action, Onizuka was stabbed, left dead on the ground.

Layla wanted to run, she wanted to hide but couldn’t find it in herself to do so.

“Behind me!” Conrad ran and threw up his shield, guarding Layla with his life.

“No! Run away!” Layla pleaded, unable to move.

“I’m surprised by you two.” Toshiro stated, scaring them.

“Hmph, how so?” Conrad asked.

“When we first met, I was angry.” Toshiro lifted his hand, ice spiked in a small formation in his palm. “You stopped me from embracing the hero’s journey. Took away both my satisfaction, while breeding new curiosity.”

Toshiro let the ice encase the chains that still held him, cracking before shattering to dust, feeing him.

“I thought the story was headed in one direction, then another. You always kept me on my toes.”

“ACK!” Conrad grunted, Layla watched as the tip of the dark thread was close to piercing her as well. With its retraction, Conrad fell dead.

“Why...?” This was the only word that flowed through her mind. “Are you torturing me now... Forcing me to witness such events...?”

She clenched her fists, glaring up at Toshiro.

“WHY WON’T YOU KILL ME TOO!?!?”

Layla’s magic flickered into blue shocks of lighting, bouncing off his body as they shot around the room.

“I can’t kill you... I never could.”

Toshiro’s eyes glared at hers, Layla couldn’t comprehend the emotions behind them

“You really plan to reset...? After everything we did to get here... All the questions and answers that have led to this point...” Elvire met Narisha’s stare, confounded by her genuine expression.

Toshiro walked over to the two, standing over them with true authority.

“Everyone in this world has moved on... You can join us as we reach the conclusion.” Toshiro reached out his hand, Elvire stared dumbfounded, as Narisha lifted her hand up for her.

“After... After everything I’ve done... You would still have me on this journey?” She asked, her voice quivered.

Toshiro nodded his head.

“We made a promise... To find a world filled with joy... We’ll do it together” Narisha smiled from ear to ear.

Elvire’s eyes widened. “I... I don’t deserve this... I...”

Elvire felt Narisha’s embrace. “Everyone deserves love... It’s the very best thing about being alive.”

Tears welled up, flowing freely from the Goddess’s eyes.

“F- Fine! But... On the next time around... I want everyone together! I don’t want anyone to feel alone!” As the Goddess stuttered through her tears, Toshiro let out a smile.

Swish

With one last pierce, the two fell, dead onto the ground. A golden flame encased Toshiro’s thread, brimming on its tip.

Layla was alone.

She could only stare down the ultimate power that stood before her, unable to comprehend the thoughts as Toshiro stared down at their corpses.

“Everyone’s dead.” Toshiro said coldly.

Layla was silent, her emotions couldn’t express anymore, her body and mind have given up.

“Is this who you are... The real you...”

The two let their gazes meet, there was a linger in Toshiro's white pupils.

“That night at the campfire... When your own daughter accused you of using her conception as a pawn... Using her mother as a way into the easy life... Were these your real nature...?”

Toshiro went silent, he only glared.

The castle was silent. Bodies scattered as the two stood alone. Layla could feel the world itself. She could tell there was not a single other being alive in this realm.

“So...?” She interrogated.

“Do you hate me now?”

Layla bit her lip, unsure of how she wanted to respond to his question.

“Do you hate yourself?” Layla’s question impacted Toshiro, she could see it in his eyes.

With a flicker of his flames, his body revealed itself, leaving only the thread with the Goddess glow present. Standing before here was the same old Toshiro she once knew. One thing was off, his face.

“You look content.” Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Huh?” He touched his own face, rubbing his cheeks and lips. “Oh... I guess I am.”

“Does killing all your friend make you feel good? Does betraying everyone make you feel better about yourself?” Layla’s eyes sharpened, encasing Toshiro.

“Ah... It’s been a while since I’ve seen this side of you.” Toshiro smirked.

“Don’t give me that.” Layla glared. “You lied and betrayed us.”

“Yeah.” Toshiro faced her head on. “What do you plan to do about it?”

His eyes glared just as fiercely back.

“I... I will help you!”

“Huh?” Toshiro was taken aback.

“I know with my power! I can help you and everyone feel at ease! From rampaging dragons to constraining daughters! I will temper the world from those who are caught up in themselves.” Layla pointed her finger aggressively, staring down Toshiro.

“I will help you calm and reflect on what you did here today! I know you too well now and can tell, you’re suffering too!”

Toshiro went silent, staring blankly at Layla’s outburst.

“Pftt.”

“Huh?”

“Ahahahaha!” Toshiro let out a heart filled laugh. “Even after all of this! You believe I’m worth saving?”

“Don’t get me wrong!” Layla stomped her foot. “I know better! I know that once you truly reflect, you will never forgive yourself! Then all will be avenged!”

Toshiro grinned, spanning his smile from ear to ear.

“Then... Let me help you first. I’ll give you the power of a goddess”

“Huh?” Layla was lost, bewildered by his final proposition. “Ack!”

With a pierce to her chest, Layla felt that nostalgic feeling again. The golden coated thread had killed her.