The Woman I Love

“Ahahahaha!” Demon king Asphoros trembles in delight as his next visitor enters the sealed realm, “So, the mighty rift bearer has returned. But to me, you are only a weak human.”

Asphoros’s magic wraps around Aimi’s neck as she steps into the sealed realm. Beside her are two of the Mundus meant to act as guards, but even they are helpless against the strongest weapon ever created by their kind.

“Killing me will mean you will never escape this realm.”

“Were it the weak human saying this I may have obliged, but it is you. The bane of my existence.” Asphoros commands his magic to squeeze, aiming to rip Aimi’s head from her shoulders.

His magic squeezes but phases through Aimi’s neck. Before he can command another attack, Aimi is standing next to him.

“I am unaware of why you hold hatred for me, but I am willing to listen.”

Asphoros’s glare scares the guard, but Aimi remains calm. Even his debilitating magic is not enough to affect her, the weak human he once believed to see is far gone.

“I was created to find you, but my purpose changed when they realized I had no such power. They wanted me to control this world instead. I became powerful enough to disobey them, but the world rejected me as well. It is only magic that loves me.”

“What of your daughter?”

The sealed realm cracks, the rightmost guard is knocked unconscious. “They took my wife from me, creating Alba from us and using her to control me. But they were fools, hehe, even Alba became more than they could ever hope for.”

“I see. Asphoros, I come to you with a proposition. You wished to destroy this world, did you not?”

Asphoros is quiet as he leans his head forward, wisps near him giving him information he asked for as Aimi appeared.

“You are from the world I saw in my vision. Fate is cruel indeed. Aimi, you have misunderstood. I wished to save this world. But to do so, I must subjugate it. My plan was to destroy your world afterwards, the magic needed to do so would only be possible if I took everything from this one for a moment.”

“Then I offer you this. Destroy this world or both will be destroyed.”

“Why should I choose to destroy this one?”

“Because it is the only option I am offering you. Bring whoever you like, I can even offer you the opportunity to be sent to another world.”

Aimi steps in front of Asphoros, raising her arms and opening portals to dozens of strange worlds. Noises from each reach him, each sharing a similarity with Mundi yet with vast differences.

“That power should not exist. Even the gods need great preparation and magic to open a portal to a single world.”

“I offer you the opportunity even the gods will not give you.”

“Rift bearer, I could betray you the moment I am free.”

“I have prepared for that. Just as I can keep the worlds from destroying each other for the time being, I can cause our end a matter of seconds. Your love for Alba will not allow you to betray me.”

“You bluff, your love for the man you have married restricts you. Why is he not with you? The hero. He should support the one he loves.”

Aimi glares at Asphoros as she touches her wedding ring. She has refused to remove it; it could be the last reminder of her happiest moments.

“It is because he loves me that he is not with me. And I share the same conviction.”

“Hmm. Very well. But there is more than just my daughter I will be taking. The people of the demon kingdom, even her buffoon of a husband she has chosen and his people.”

“As you wish.”

“Then I accept.”

Aimi concentrates. The seal around Asphoros’s body is meant to hold even fallen gods. A seal that cannot be destroyed once placed. But Aimi has no need to destroy it, in a moment, Asphoros’s body and the seal are in different worlds. In the next, he is free.

“Incredible. Your control is near perfect.” Asphoros allows his magic to wreak havoc on the realm.

Seconds later, the door within Alba’s throne room opens.

The heroes group rushes inside.

“Aimi?” Tenki said.

Asphoros gives them no time to make sense of the scenes inside, attacking the heroes group and separating them. Each struggle to defend against Asphoros’s onslaught, but their efforts never wane.

“Why must you fight us?”

Alba’s words slow Asphoros for a second, allowing him to be tossed into the wall by Cato and Tenki before recovering and retaliating.

He attacks each with blinding speed, using Cato and Tenki’s exhaustion to his advantage before being stopped by Aimi who opens a portal to force him to her side.

“Darn you, I was having fun.” Asphoros said as he healed his bleeding arm.

“You are not to hurt Tenki.”

“Foolish love.”

“Aimi! Do not take him with you, please. He is far more dangerous than even us combined. I beg you, come to my side and we can work together.”

“Tell me.” Aimi appears in front of Tenki, “Am I still the woman you love?”

Tenki looks. It is Aimi, but her eyes are looking beyond their realm, the magic around her now divine. Tenki looks for the tells of his wife; her sweet voice, her gentle smile, even her smell, anything will do.

Tenki smiles. “You may think you have tossed your old self aside, but.” Tenki grabs her hand, showing how she presses her thumb against her index finger when nervous, “You’re still the woman I love.”

Aimi skips a breath, and pushes Tenki’s hand away. “Then I will fail. The one to save our world is not her.” Aimi removes her ring and hands it to Tenki, “If you can fall in love with this Aimi, then return this to me.”

Aimi disappears alongside the Mundus and Asphoros before Tenki can grab her. The portal left behind closing with a loud slam.

“Stella, get ready to open a portal immediately.” Alba said.

“Tenki.” Cato approaches Tenki.

“It’s ok. She is still in there. I’m only more motivated now, the woman I love has asked me to find her.”

Cato looks to Alba, “Then the worlds may have a chance.”