Forever After

Once again, Calum found himself in the Goddess’s office, sitting in a chair across the desk from her.

The Goddess clapped. “Well done, hero! I knew I chose the right person for the job.”

“So… the Demon Lord is gone? What about the Demon God?”

“The only remnants of it in the mortal plane are its severed tentacles. Don’t worry, the world is safe. All thanks to you.”

Calum looked around the room. It was the same as before. No decorations at all. Other than the crystal ball in front of her, it was just an ordinary office. “Am I dead?”

“I’m afraid so. But Calum, you sacrificed yourself to save everyone. That is the true mark of a hero.” She leaned forward, clasping her hands together. “And for that deed, I will grant you one wish.”

Though he had slumped against the chair, grieved by the confirmation of his death, he perked up at the word wish. “It can be anything?”

“Anything that’s within my power.”

“Then… Can you send me back?”

The Goddess frowned. “I’m not sure… I’ve never tried sending anyone back. I could reincarnate you again, but sending you back…” She sat back and nodded to herself. “We could try it, but I can’t promise anything.”

“Something is better than nothing.”

“Alright, then.” She stood up, and the office disappeared–including the chair Calum was sitting on.

He dropped to the nonexistent floor of the Goddess’s galaxy room. Standing up, he brushed himself off.

The Goddess was messing with a few tiny stars in front of her. “Time moves differently here than it does in the mortal plane. I can’t control when you go back. It may be a few minutes, it may be a hundred years. Do you still want to go through with this?”

Calum gave a distinct nod. “I’m certain.”

“Then close your eyes.”

Calum closed his eyes.

“Now, why do you want to go back?”

“...To be with my friends.”

“Come on, Calum. If I’m going to send you back, you have to have a good enough reason for it. Being with friends isn’t a good enough reason. Let me ask you again. Why do you want to go back?”

An image of Kia appeared in his mind. Her sad smile. Her eyes that screamed loneliness. Yes, that’s why he wanted to go back. “I want to fulfill my promise to Kia and give her a place to belong. I want to always be by her side.”

A gust of wind picked up around Calum, ruffling his hair. As soon as it started, though, it was gone. He heard the Goddess’s words in his mind.

‘Open your eyes.’

Calum opened his eyes. He was standing in a mansion that was decorated similarly to the Demon Lord’s castle. In front of him was a door. On the other side were voices. One of them was unfamiliar, but the other voice… ‘Kia…’

Ignoring everything else, Calum burst through the door.

It was a small room. Full bookshelves lined the walls, and a desk sat at the back of the room underneath a window. The red curtains were drawn, blocking out the morning sun.

Kia stood in the center of the room, talking to an elderly man who bore the symbol of a royal diplomat. Upon Calum’s entrance, she whirled around, her eyes blazing in fury, until she saw him. Her jaw dropped. “C-Calum?”

“Kia!” He rushed forward to embrace her. She was too shocked to return the hug.

“H-How? You were dead… We even buried you!”

“The Goddess sent me back!” He broke the embrace and smiled at her. “You were my reason for returning, Kia.”

Her breath came out unsteady. “S-Seven years… Always I hoped you would stand before me like this, but… It feels so unreal…”

The diplomat excused himself, noticing that they may want some privacy. He shut the door behind him, leaving Calum and Kia alone.

“Seven years?” Calum thought for a moment. “The Goddess told me it was never certain when I’d return… What happened in the time I was gone?”

Kia took a deep breath to calm herself. “I’m not sure what Tilaya and Erik are up to. I lost contact with them several years ago.” She opened the curtains and motioned for Calum to look out the window. Outside was the dilapidated environment of the southern region, though not as bad as before.

“I didn’t want anyone else to experience what I have, so I took over the Demon Lord’s kingdom. Don’t worry, I’m not about to go to war with the kingdom we’re from. I’m only giving a place to those the kingdom shuns.”

“Kia… That’s amazing!”

She blushed. “Thanks. It took a lot of effort to get where I am now, and there’s still a lot of work to do.”

“But now you don’t have to do it alone. I’m here now. And this time I’m not leaving.”

Her cheeks reddened even more. “W-What are you saying?”

Calum got on his knees and held her hands. “Kia, I was never able to sort out my feelings because of the dangers of our journey. But I can confidently say it now. I love you.”

Kia looked away. “You come back from the dead to tell me you love me?” She wasn’t upset. In fact, she sounded ecstatic. Embarrassed, but ecstatic.

“Kia. I’ve been given a second chance at life. A second chance to be with you.”

She turned her head back to him, meeting his gaze. Tears were forming in her eyes. “I’ve mourned you for seven years…”

“And now we can be together. What do you say?” He looked into her eyes, searching for the answer.

Her lips curled into a smile. She blinked, causing tears to fall from her eyes. “Yes… I’d like that…”

Calum rose to his feet and embraced her. “I love you, Kia.”

“I love you too, Calum…”

Their eyes met. Kia was almost trembling with joy. Calum closed his eyes and leaned in.

Kia followed his motion, and their lips met. It was only a moment, but it felt like an eternity.

Calum broke the kiss and stared into Kia’s eyes. “I promise to always be by your side.”

                                                                            THE END