Chapter 3 - Comrades of the Demon Kings attack

The room’s curtains blocked out all outside light. The table was covered in empty bags and unfinished drinks. The only light source was from the tv, playing its sad emotional music as credits and scenes played.

“Huh!? That’s how the second season ends? She clearly wants the nerd!” Discordia whined.

“Huh!?” Layla snapped. “She clearly wants ice-cold and handsome! The way he swooped her up during the school lunch rampage was so exciting!”

“Both of your characters were weak bystanders in the rampage. The true man was mine of course. Bravely charging into the fight with that gorilla, fighting toe-to-toe with such an oppressive breast.” I squirmed over my imagination.

“Hey! The nerd set the gorilla loose because Kanzaki was sad to see such a creature locked up! The nerd isn’t only crafty, but passionate for love!” Discordia stood, looking down on the two of us. “Your ice prince only used the situation to snag Kanzaki, rather than actually help!”

“What!? The nerd put Kanzaki in harm's way! The ice-prince knew she needed protecting as hot-head would get in a fight, and the nerd would be cowering off!”

“Blasphemy! The nerd was using his superior intellect to devise a plan of attack, not everything needs such a head strong retaliation. Your prince is just as cowardly and probably saved Kanzaki, so he had an excuse to run away!”

“WHAT!?” Layla was offended.

“Girls!” I cut in. “Let’s calm down. That was only the end of the second season. We just have to find a copy of the third and we’ll soon see how Kanzaki chooses.”

Discordia struggled but ultimately resigned.

“Uh... About that...” Layla fiddled with her fingers, avoiding eye contact.

“Wait... Don’t tell me...” My heart began to shrink.

“The third season... Was being made when the demon attacked...”

“Ah...” Discordia fell to her knees, I could only stare at the ceiling.

“So... We’ll never see the conclusion...?” Discordia wanted to cry.

“Why... Why Layla...” I snapped out of it and rushed at her, grabbing her arms tightly. “Why did you show us such a great show if you knew it wasn’t completed!? Why did you string us along in this betrayal!?”

“Well...” Layla avoided eye contact. “You girls kept complaining about the other shows... And this one I always felt anger towards the Demon King for inevitably getting it cancelled...”

Layla turned to me, her wide smile was not something I expected to see.

“I guess I wanted you two to share the pain with me. We’re comrades in this after all.”

Discordia and I went blank faced.

“You!!!” I shook Layla vigorously, venting out my frustrations.

“This sucks...” Discordia opened the magical trap door. “I’m going home... Let me know when we find another show to watch... Later...”

She closed the hatch in such defeat, leaving me and Layla alone.

“Oh... That’s the face she makes when disappointed.” Layla observed.

“We’re not done here!” I reminded her as she began to clean off the table. “You know how unfair it is to get our hopes up like that! You got to look forward to anime coming out on the regular and never dealt with that dauntless feeling of incompletion.”

“Huh!? Even before the Demon King attacked, shows were not guaranteed to have an ending. Even the greats suffered those fates.” Layla stated, throwing garbage out the window. “Besides, I’m considering it your punishment for always stealing.”

“That’s not fair! You equally reap the rewards of my thievery! There’s no legitimate way to get magic for our devices without being some kind of knight.”

“And why would there, it’s not like anyone else can manipulate magic. Much less how you did to that officer earlier.”

“Ack!” I took a step back, afraid now that she knows. “A- A fireball was going to hit me if I didn’t! What, I should accept getting burnt to a crisp just to hide the fact I can manipulate magic!?” I argued.

“Shh!” Layla hushed me. “Your power is not one anyone possesses, in this new age or the old. I keep warning you to stop stealing anything with magic potential, you’ll be found out eventually because of that.”

She cleaned off floor mattresses where me and Discordia made a mess with food.

“I understand that...” I admitted. “But it’s not fair. I don’t want to hide my whole life just because I’m different, and magic tools are the only making this life not boring. I want to watch anime and play video games with my friends...”

“I understand that feeling.” Layla gestured me over. I took the open sport between her legs, there she hugged me from behind, her body heat was divine. “Your power is dangerous. If the wrong people knew of it, they could force you to do very bad things."

“But... If I’m so dangerous, wouldn’t that mean I can choose a path for myself with no one to stop me?” I questioned her logic.

“It’s like what Discordia said, not everyone fights so head strong.” Layla snuggled into my hair. “The scariest thing about human nature, is it can complicate things, turning black and white into a muddy grey.”

I pondered her words. I understood them well, but the lingering feeling of desire overwhelmed my heart.

“Let’s get some sleep. I’ll try to find a new show for us tomorrow in my outings, and you take the day to relax. Okay?” Layla suggested.

“Hmh.” I nodded.

“Good.” Layla gave me a big smile. “I love you, Mallory.”

“I love you too, Layla. Good night.”

Sleeping on our mattresses, we drifted into a peaceful sleep.