Demon's Farewell

“Wait!” The shout stole Ella's attention. Alan had jumped up to interrupt the execution. The golden rays of magic halted their descent, looming threateningly over Lilac.

“Alan? The hero shouldn't be trying to defend a demon,” Ella said.

Lilac's spirit revitalized upon hearing Alan's voice. She lifted her head to see her hero.

“I know,” he replied. “But isn't exterminating demons my job? I should be the one to do it.”

As quick as he had raised her spirits, he shattered them.

Ella pondered his words. “I suppose you're right. Very well, I'll let you kill her.”

Alan squeezed through the row of students blocking his path and hopped onto the stage.

“Are you sure you can kill her?” Ella whispered to him. “You've been quite close to her recently.”

“I didn't know she was a demon then,” he answered. Alan‘s unreadable gaze met Lilac's heartbroken eyes.

Tears steamed down her cheeks as she silently pleaded for mercy.

Alan shifted his attention to the principal. “This won't be a pleasant sight. It would be best to do it in private.”

Principal Valeshine nodded in agreement. “You may take a couple staff members as witnesses and use the field behind the school for the execution.”

“With all due respect, I've dueled this demon before. If she fights back with all her strength, it won't be safe for anyone else to be there.”

She thought for a minute, with her eyes cast down at the wood beneath Alan's feet. “Just report the results to me afterward, then.”

“Thank you.” Alan stepped toward Lilac and pulled her up by the wrist. “Come with me, demon.”

Lilac lowered her gaze, too depressed to argue. She followed him out of the assembly hall with her tails dragging behind her, feeling the gazes of those who were her peers burning into her.

As they were exiting the building, she heard a voice call after them. Lilac glanced back to see Emmalyn running after them.

“Lilai, you're not really a demon, right? This is all some sort of twisted prank… right?” Emmalyn held her breath, her eyes stained red by her tears.

“I'm sorry, Emmalyn…” Lilac tried to hold back her tears. “This is what I am.”

“I don't want to believe it…” She trembled. “We had so much fun together, talked about so many things… How can you be a demon?”

“I treasure our friendship. I always will. Goodbye, Emmalyn.” Giving her one final smile, Lilac turned her back to Emmalyn to follow Alan to her death.

A heavy, suffocating silence hung in the air. Up until today, everything had been going wonderfully for Lilac. She had never been happier in her life. But all of that was taken from her in an instant.

Once they had reached the training grounds behind the school, Alan stopped and let go of her wrist. “So, you're a demon…”

“I am…”

A sigh left his body. He pivoted on his foot to face her. “Was everything else a lie, too?”

“No!” Lilac cried out. “The only other thing I lied about was where I came from. And my surname. Everything else was real. Everything I told you about myself… my feelings for you… it's all real!”

Alan avoided looking at her, instead choosing to stare at a blade of grass in the distance. “How can I trust the words of a demon?”

“I'm sorry for lying to you about what I am, Alan. If anyone found out, I would've been killed. Just like what's happening now…”

“Then why come? If you knew what would happen, why did you choose to be here?” Alan's voice was full of emotion.

“I… I was given a task. To watch you. B-but then I started to have feelings for you, and–”

“So you are a spy,” he exhaled.

“P-please, believe me when I say the demons have no intention of attacking humans.”

“If that were true, why was I chosen as the hero?” Alan argued.

Lilac shook her head back and forth. “I don't know. But we aren't evil. You don't think I'm evil, do you?”

“I know you're not,” Alan said. “I'd feel it if you were. And that's the problem…”

Hope stirred within her. “Then… you're not going to kill me?”

Alan finally met her gaze. “I can't.”

Relief washed through her. The last of her despair left her in the form of a deep breath.

“But the hero can't be with a demon,” he continued.

Zoom. The despair that had left her quickly turned around and yeeted itself back in. She took a shaky step back. “W-what are you saying?”

“You're not safe here, Lilac. You'll be killed if anyone sees you again. And if anyone finds out I let you go, I might as well be branded a traitor to humanity.”

“But I don't want to leave you!” More tears started to run down her tearstained face. “There has to be a way we can stay together!”

Alan shifted his gaze to the earth as he sorted through his thoughts. “Actually, there might be something…”

“What is it?” Lilac leaned forward, eager to hear his idea.

“Wait a year. By then, you'll be a thing of the past to everyone here. Then apply to work as a maid at the Hulbane residence. No one will recognize you there.”

“A whole year? I don't want to be away from you for that long!”

“The less you wait, the more risk you run of being exposed,” he explained.

“Okay,” she sighed. Lilac didn't think she'd be able to wait that long, but if it meant their relationship didn't have to end, she'd try. “I'm so glad you're on my side.” She slipped her arms around him and placed her cheek against his chest.

Alan hugged her back a little awkwardly. “I can't believe I fell for a demon…”

She smiled, closing her eyes to cherish the moment. “I love you, Alan.”

“I love you, too.” His hands retreated from her back. “You should go before someone comes out to check on us.”

Lilac nodded and took a few steps away from Alan. Pausing on the grass, she glanced over her shoulder to leave him with one last smile. “I'll see you next year.”

“See you next year.” Alan waved her goodbye.

Lilac stared at her hero for a second longer. Then she turned and stepped into the shadows, disappearing from his view.