My Friend

"Why…"

"I lost everything that night. Just look at these hands."

I show Ailith the wrappings that serve to hide my scars. The troubled expression is visible for only an instant before she returns to that of a prideful demon. Had she shown no weakness, I don't know if I would have been able to keep the flames in check. Of course, Ailith only has a serious grimace now.

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Why indeed…"

The correct response would be to try strangling the small girl with tears beating down my face. I may have taken that action yesterday, but that isn't why I asked to meet her again.

"Perhaps I just wanted to get it off my chest."

"What are you talking about, you fool!"

Lavender hair blows at Ailith's back as her claws dig into the wooden table.

"I killed your family, took your home! Why are you pretending like I've done nothing to you!?"

"Because you did nothing."

Her eyes widened, mouth agape. I've never seen this many expressions from her before. It feels as if the mask has completely fallen off.

"Remember where we met? You were standing on the outskirts of town by the cliff. You may not have seen me, but I saw you strike down the young man with your magic."

"Then—!"

"But he attacked you."

Once again, all words have left her mouth.

I've tried my hardest to avoid remembering that terrible night. Every detail makes me want to break down into tears, but this isn't something I can ignore forever. Every detail of what I witnessed is also a part of me. That is how I know that I can't hate Ailith.

"That flower garden, it was made by my little girl. I'm glad you liked them."

The demon across from me gasps at my words.

"You didn't attack anybody. You stayed away from the destruction and watched over your young ones from afar."

That's right, I want to forgive Ailith. She may have been indirectly responsible for my loss, but she herself played no active part. Had the world turned slightly different, she may have even gotten along with Sunflower.

"I don't know what I would do if I ever met the demon responsible for her death, but I cannot hate you."

"Why…why are you…"

"Because you're my friend."

She loses strength in her legs and returns to her seat. I wanted to believe that she wasn't all that different from us humans. I didn't want the fun nights we spent together to mean nothing because of our origins.

"I lost everything once already. I don't want to also lose my friend."

"Rado…"

Ailith doesn't shed any tears, but her eyes betray the desire to. After all, she is a high ranking demon that once led the Demon Lord's armies to victory. That pride continues to show as she takes her eyes away from me.

"I will not apologise. It is our right to hunt down your lesser race as we please."

Her voice starts as a mumble, but eventually returns with its usual strength.

"However, it is truly a shame that your village was destroyed."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me!"

We both take a deep breath. It feels as if the rowdy crowd and pleasant music has finally returned, that we have finally returned to this peaceful place. Ailith leans back in her chair while I find myself sore from being so tense.

With the atmosphere returned to how it always is between us, Ailith takes a sip of her drink.

"Why did you call me the Demon Lord? I may have been his peer in strength, but our magic is quite different."

"Hm? Ah, because of this."

Against my better judgement, I take out the pouch stored safely against my heart. I know that this goes completely against our mission to kill the Demon Lord, but I was finished with that for a while now. I'm now in the business of keeping this war from breaking out at all.

"W-Wait! Is that…"

"It's a piece of the Demon Lord's mask. Was apparently carried back by the heroes after he died."

"So another piece was found? That would explain it…"

Ailith holds out her empty hand. Magic collects at her palm within an instant and reveals the shard she was wearing earlier. There is only one eye, but one could tell that our two pieces fit together. Somewhere else is probably a third piece that would complete the set.

"Even with this, you should not have been able to find me?"

"About that, I'm quite sensitive to magic, or so I'm told."

"Magic Hypersensitivity!? In a human!?"

I can't tell if she's in awe or looking down upon me. Actually, it's definitely the latter given how demons seem to be.

"Why else would they throw a random farmer to go hunt demons?"

"You make a compelling point…"

"At least pretend to be impressed!"

For the first time today, I feel a trace of genuine laughter behind those dainty lips. She always keeps herself composed, so this is a refreshing change of pace.

"Hey, Ailith?"

"What is it?"

This is the most important part. I've managed to maintain my relationship with one person important to me, now I have to preserve the lives of the others. She is the only person that can make it happen.

"Can you lead your group away, somewhere far from here? Preferably tonight."

"And why would we do that?"

"This city is preparing an army to face you head on. They have your location marked and will ride out tomorrow."

Leaking such important information to the enemy will have me hanged for treason, but I don't care. I will stop this confrontation at all costs. However, Ailith doesn't seem to even consider my proposal.

"Absolutely not."

"Why not!?"

"Because those children are stubborn. I've lost interest as the years went by, but they still hope for glory. There is only so much I can do to keep them in check."

"That can't be…"

There goes my only hope. If someone with the Demon Lord's power believes peace to be impossible, then there is nothing that a lowly human like me can do.

""Hah…""

We sigh at the same time, both of us aware of what is to come. All we can do is enjoy our drinks right now and hope for the best.

"Hey, Rado?"

"What is it?"

"You know what would be nice…"

Ailith smiles as she stares into space, experiencing a world that we won't be living in.

"Settling down in a little cottage far off in the mountains. There would be no fighting, no responsibilities. We could just live the rest of our days in peace."

"Yeah, we could have a small plot of farmland and some space to care for animals. I've always wanted a dog, too."

"For food?"

"No! As a pet!"

"What a shame."

We laugh, taking in this alternate future. Disappearing from all of this conflict and enjoying a simple life sounds like a dream. For one weathered by war and another torn by tragedy, it's a tempting prospect. We could probably make it happen if we tried.

"That would be nice, but we can't exactly do that, now can we?"

I place down my wooden mug. The inside is completely empty aside from a few streaks at the bottom.

"I suppose not."

Ailith does the same, her cup similarly empty.

"My young ones will stand and fight, refusing to let humans push them back."

"Our armies will march upon them. They'll kill without mercy, until all demons are dead."

We both stand from our seats and come to the same conclusion. There is only one result that can come from these two forces clashing.

"It'll be a bloodbath." "It will be a bloodbath."

After sharing a glance, we let out a small chuckle. Nobody would normally be this nonchalant about so much death, but we can't help but laugh. That may be the only way for us to prepare our hearts.

"What will you do, Rado?"

"Do you even need to ask? I'll be there to help those kids out."

"It was a foolish question. I would do the same, after all."

I follow the short demon outside of the bustling tavern. A cold breeze greets us along with the bright light of the moon. It's a shame that one or both of us might not see this sight ever again.

"Best of luck, my friend."

Ailith holds out her hand, half of her face reflecting moonlight while the other rests in shadows.

"May we both see our duties to the end."

"I expect something nice to drink when it's all over!"

"Haha! That can be arranged!"

We shake hands, her soft fingers disappearing beneath my large hand. I can't feel very well with these damaged hands, but I can tell that she's very warm.

"Until we meet again on the battlefield."

With a smile, she reveals a pair of wings and takes to the sky. Magic wraps around her body, making her disappear to the common eye. I alone am able to watch that small form fly into the distance.