Old Friend

Rain poured lightly, creating a mystic fog in the darkened sky. Smoke pushed through as if engulfing the falling water. Black fires flickered as they were dosed by nature.

Rubble covered the streets, houses and businesses sat in ruin, not a soul made a noise. Only the sounds of flapping wings indicated life, as dragons kept high and low, surveying the wreckage.

One dragon, immense in size, made landfall, crumbling anything beneath its feet. Its mighty head shifted, bringing its attention to a single building.

The center of the city's destruction stood a palace. Its pristine white marble was cut and crumbled. The roof was wide open for the sky, welcoming the weather.

“Ha ha ha...” A weakened voice echoed, alone it filled the air. “This... This still isn’t enough... We were so close this time...”

The man’s let his words free, letting rain drip down his face, running down his iron clad armor.

“What...?” A deep exasperated voice responded. Holding himself up within an inch of his life, the strong faced man held his sword high, standing his ground. “What is your goal here...? Demon king....”

The demon king glared at the wounded man. His eyes glowed a dangerous golden sheen.

“Come now, Gideon. We’ve been friends a long time now, you know my name well.” The iron armor clanged against itself as his extended his arm, reaching for the wounded man.

“My friend is long dead! Now answer me!” Gideon bared his teeth, grunting through the pain. “Why are you here, Demon king!?”

The demon king stared, watching the desperate man make his demands.

“You have a daughter, don’t you, Gideon? Her name is Audrey, isn’t it?”

His eyes widened and his sword trembled.

“How... How do you know?” The man's deep voice shook.

“You see...” The demon king let his eyes wander into the sky. “I recently had a daughter as well. And for the second time of my long existence, I made the same mistake...”

Gideon stared blankly, his brows raised to the man’s confession.

The demon king brought his attention back down, staring deeply into the Warrior’s eyes.

“This cycle is a dead end. I’m sorry.”

With a grunt of confusion, Gideon swept the ground with his foot. Puddled rain flung back with his step, before the water could hit the ground Gideon had swung past the man in armor.

A detached head hit the ground, Gideon kept his back turned on the demon king, gritting his teeth.

“Why... Why did you make me do this, old friend...” Gideon questioned. “Ugh-”

Gideon didn’t see anything. He could only see the world turn onto its side as the demon king swiped his hand, severing his head off his body.

The demon king's head floated off the ground, shadowy flames connected from his severed neck, reattaching his head to its proper place. He glared as Gideon’s body fell to the floor. Blood splattered onto the palace’s collapsed roof, running down onto the glossy floor.

“I’m sorry, old friend. Maybe in the next life.” With a bow, the demon king turned his back on Gideon’s corpse.

Towards the part of the palace untouched, clean, and surrounded by architecture the demon king wandered. Two statues stood off to the sides, both of woman, soft in complexion and beautiful in nature.

One reflected bright blue eye’s down onto the man, her hands clasped as if cradling an invisible object. The other had hazel brown eyes. Her hands were joined together below the stomach, and her body was at a slight bow as if welcoming him forward.

“Elvire... Layla... I’ve failed once more...”

Stood before an altar, centered perfectly between the two figures. He reached out his hand.

The blue-eyed statue gave a faint golden glow. From its hands, a golden string formed into a ball, resembling glowing yarn. The ball floated down, landing softly into the man’s hand.

The demon king turned to the brown-eyed statue in anticipation.

The statue’s joined hands moved, creaking as they shifted. The statue perked her head up, and her hands now postured as though she was in prayer. With a jolt of blue lightning, the orb was struck, sparking the golden glow with electricity.

“Hm.” The man was curious but paid no mind.

Black flames engulfed from his hand, mixing with the gold and electricity. Blue lightning shot out. Golden strings branched and twirled. Black flames engulfed and flickered. The demon king waited, holding onto the orb with all his might.

With its sparking reaction, the orb settled. Seeped in black, shadowy flames, and blue lightning sparking off, golden threads floated freely, as if trying to escape from the void.

“I promise... I’ll find the answer, soon.” He cradled the orb, walking down the stairs.

Zzzt

“Huh?” He reacted, the blue sparks intensified.

FWOOOOSSSHHHH

“WHAT!?” He yelled. His expression quivered as the orb shot into the dark sky.

Disappearing through the stormy clouds, blue lightning scrapped across the sky, creating a shock wave towards the horizon.

“No...” The demon king muttered. “No, no, no, no, NO!”

Invisible cuts sliced through the remaining walls, narrowly missing the two statues.

“Why...? To do this to this realm... Are you asking me to kill them all...?”

His question went unanswered. The silence brought him to his knees.

“Then...” He stared down at his hands. “I’ll do it... I’ll kill every last human...”