Year 2: The Scorched Remains - Chapter 1

The incident at the Rivers House had come to a close, but the camp had been thrown into a bit of a chaotic situation as a result of the attack.

With Commander Leomare dead, Lord Akechi took immediate command and brought calm and order back to the camp.

The Demon Emperor forces had either retreated or been killed, meaning that there was no longer any immediate danger, but the heroes felt anything but relief.

Nine people had gathered inside Princess Alicent’s bedroom.

Sat in a chair with Yve stood by her side was Hailey. Across from them, sat around a table, were Princess Alicent, Duncan and Akane; Kella was stood by the doorway while Dante was beside the broken window, and Kayleigh was standing in the centre of the room with Elysa.

“How do you know the Demon Emperor?”

“H-hey, Kayleigh, you don’t need to ask in such a-”

“Be quiet, Yve.” Kayleigh stared daggers at Hailey. “You knew his name and he knew yours, which can only mean one of two things in my mind. The first, and least likely, is that you are also a traitor, knowingly or otherwise, and have been providing information to the Demon Emperor by getting to know someone called ‘David’ in this world. The second, and most unbelievable, option is that you knew him back on Earth. Given the way Yve’s been acting, it only makes sense for it to be the latter.”

“Why’s that?” Princess Alicent asked.

“After the attempted assassinations of Chancellor Bernaught and other high-ranking officials within the alliance, Akane and I called a meeting of the team leaders where we discussed everyone’s alibis for when they could have stolen documents from your father’s office. At the time, we had no idea that that was going to be how we uncovered the truth that Amen was the traitor, but Yve’s testimony spoke volumes about her and Hailey’s relationship.

“The two have rarely ever left one another’s sides, even at night, and so it’d be quite difficult for Hailey to meet anyone in this world and befriend them without Yve learning about it. More to the point, given that Yve seems to be the only person who Hailey really gets along with, I imagine Hailey finds it difficult to make new friends or meet people. Perhaps not to the extent of someone like Dao Chen, but the evidence exists to support this conjecture.

“Though, truthfully, the main reason is because of the way Yve’s been acting.” Kayleigh met Yve’s gaze. “She told you about him, didn’t she?”

Yve nodded. “A few times, here and there, but I didn’t know his name until a little while ago.” She put a hand on Hailey’s shoulder. “I’d tell you what she told me, but it’s her story of her past and not my place to tell.”

“What are you-?!”

“It’s fine, Instructor Kella,” Duncan interjected. “We all agreed not to pry into each other’s pasts without permission.”

“An exception should be made in this case, though,” Akane said. “While it would be in violation of our pact, I do think it’s for the best.”

“…It’s up to you, Hailey,” Dante assured her. “But you’d only make yourself look guilty if you didn’t talk. I don’t want to suspect your loyalty, not after what Amen’s done, but, well…tensions are high and-”

“David…” The words caught in Hailey’s throat. A bitter smile lingered on her lips. “David Athelward…was my best friend, and the boy I loved. He was smart, sweet, kind, funny and…and…he died, before my eyes, trying to save his little sister and mother’s lives.” Hailey’s blood-red eyes threatened to start leaking tears again. “When I…when Harmonia sent me here, I thought…I hoped he’d be here, so I could apologise to him…to tell him everything I always wanted to.

“When I saw that he wasn’t here, I didn’t know what else to do than just live…without purpose, without…anything. I failed him, twice, and now.” She shook her head. “He’s the man we’re meant to defeat? Why? What happened? How is he the Demon Emperor?!”

She took a sharp breath and then laughed softly to herself. “I still remember the last thing he said to me. He said he was sorry, sorry…haha, he apologised as he died because he didn’t get to see me become a star actress. Honestly.” Her head dropped. “What an idiot.”

“…Kella.”

“What?”

“When did you say that the Demon Emperor first arrived in Aangapea?” Elysa asked.

“…If we’re going off what Aerion the Wise said, then it’d be about a year and a half ago.”

Duncan’s eyes widened a little. “Wait, does that mean-?”

“That David Athelward might have been reborn into this world like we were,” Kayleigh said. “The how and why remains a mystery, but the important information is that the Demon Emperor either is someone from Earth like us who Hailey knows or someone who just looks like someone she knew and who knows about her.”

“But if he’s such a great guy, why’s he doing this?” Yve asked. “I mean, you heard what Hailey said - he died to save his family and I know my Hailey wouldn’t fall for a bastard.”

“‘My Hailey?’”

“N-not in that way, Duncan!” Yve cleared her throat. “Anyway, the point is, this doesn’t make any sense!”

“Perhaps not, though I can’t help but notice how you’ve changed the subject a little, Yve,” Akane said, standing from her seat. “This meeting was not called to discuss why this David Athelward is the Demon Emperor, but whether or not Hailey Carman is a traitor.”

“Wh-?!”

“You said it yourself, Hailey - you dreamt of becoming a great actress, no? Is it not possible then that tonight’s performance, both outside and now, are nothing more than deceitful lies you’re spinning?”

Hailey’s face went pale as she looked up at Akane, disbelief flowing across her face. “…You think…I’d do that?” Stunned, she shook her head a little and laughed again. “You really think…I’d do that?”

“Hang on, hang on!” Yve darted in between them, throwing her arms out wide. “Even if Hailey’s a great actress, that doesn’t mean that David is! Think about it, really think about it! How did he react when he heard his name? Did he sound shocked and horrified, or was it ‘Oh, who called me by my real name?!’ Dante, what’s the name the higher ups in his empire call him?”

“According to our latest intel, he’s called Lord Allaric by the Lady of Dread and the empress.”

“See?! See? This is what I mean. He came here for Amen, no? How would he have ever figured out that Hailey was here in the first place?”

“There have been reports of near-impossible to detect spies for months,” Elysa reminded her.

“Yes, but then what would have happened if they made contact?” Yve asked. “Even if the two knew about each other, somehow, does that mean that Hailey would’ve betrayed us instantly?”

“Love makes people do stupid things.” Dante glanced at Kella, to which she glared back at him. “But that doesn’t mean she’d do the same.”

“Right?!”

“But she could’ve,” Akane said.

“Do you hate me or something, Akane?” Hailey stood up and walked towards the Japanese girl, putting a few of the others in the room on alert. Hands reached for weapons as Hailey drew closer to her. “That I’m such an idiot, that I’m such a fucking idiot in love, that I’d help out a monster like that?”

“Strong words, but they ring hollow in my ears.”

Hailey clicked her tongue. “You’re not even listening to what anyone else has to say.”

“That’s not-”

“Not really, at least. I know your type. You pretend to listen to what the people around you say, but you don’t, not really. You just make them think you do. Tell me the truth, Akane, did you ever, for even one second, want to consider that I’m not a traitor? That I’m in league with Amen and the Demon Emperor?”

Akane’s hesitance and the subsequent silence spoke volumes to Hailey.

“I just found out that my best friend is the monster we’re all fighting against, which means that every fucked up and horrible thing he’s done to this world is something the man I used to love did.” Hailey’s eyes welled up again. “He’s burnt cities, ransacked countries, enslaved people and done God knows what else…my David, my…” She couldn’t contain herself anymore. “No matter what I say or do, you’ll just call me a traitor, so just kill me and be done with it.”

“Hang on!”

“Yeah, don’t say stupid stuff like that!”

Duncan and Yve were both quick to jump into the conversation.

“Hailey, I understand that you’re upset, and I don’t blame you for being mad, but you’re letting your emotions talk for you,” Yve said. “This has been a hard day for us all, no doubt more so for Akane and Hajime than the rest of us.”

“I have-!”

“You have too, and that’s my point. No one’s had a good night’s sleep and everyone’s still trying to figure out what the hell’s gone on tonight. I think, for everyone’s sake, it’s best if we leave it here for tonight and talk about this in the morning, or maybe over lunch or something, okay? I’ll sleep in your room and we’ll all try to take some time to process all of this.”

“Yve’s right,” Duncan agreed. “…What Amen’s done is unforgivable and I’m sure that everyone’s upset or angry at him, and we all should be. I know he was your friend, Akane, but that doesn’t mean that you can take your frustrations out on Hailey. If it helps make things easier for you, Yve can just keep an eye on Hailey for the time being, alright? I mean, you two are almost always together anyway, so it shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

“Of course not, my friend.”

“…Is that acceptable, Akane?” Kayleigh asked. The Japanese girl nodded. “And for you too, Hailey?”

She nodded too.

“Right, then, forgive us, my lady, but we’ll be leaving it there for this evening,” Dante said. “I’ll get some knights up here as soon as possible to guard your quarters for the evening.”

“Thank you very much, Dante. And to the rest of you, thank you for saving my life and the lives of my maids. I appreciate everything you’ve done for us and I am truly sorry about Amen.”

The already heavy air around the camp grew heavier still as everyone retired to their quarters for the night.

***

Kella left the camp under the cover of darkness, alone, with just her spear and in light clothing.

For the first time in months, her mind had felt clear, only for it to become clouded once again.

Just when everything that had happened to her since the Great Disaster began started to make sense, it suddenly became even more confusing.

“David.”

When she’d heard Hailey call that name, her suspicions were confirmed.

Months ago, when the Summoned Heroes had first arrived, Hailey had said that name with much sorrow, a name that meant so much to Kella and that she hated to hear more than anything.

Of course, Kella reasoned as she readied her spear. It could just have been a coincidence, but now it all makes sense.

She thrust her spear forward.

David didn’t lie to me - he really was sent here by the Goddess Eris.

She cut the air with its edge.

Then, he was forced to become the Demon Emperor and take over the world or else she’d have killed his family.

She stepped forward and thrust again.

Hailey knew David had died and hoped to see him again when she died, but then they met tonight.

She paused.

…They both looked like they didn’t know one another, but something about that makes me suspicious somehow.

Kella relaxed her body and dug the butt of her spear into the ground.

If David was telling the truth back then, then how was he able to act so well as the Demon Emperor when Themis was sacked? He laughed so loudly and so coldly that I thought he’d deceived me the night before.

One of Yve’s arguments was that Hailey might be a great actress, but that doesn’t mean David is…except that doesn’t add up, if he told me the truth. Unless that’s also a lie - or maybe he’d been so broken by that point he just didn’t care anymore?

I don’t know, but. She shifted into a different combat stance. I know it wasn’t all lies.

He killed my brother, he used me to comfort himself, just as I used him, and.

She spun around and nearly stabbed the stealthily approaching Dante.

That this was exactly what Eris wanted to happen.

“Fair play, I didn’t exactly announce myself,” Dante joked.

Kella lowered her weapon. “…Sure you should be out here?”

“I could ask you the same thing. The undead might be dead, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to walk around here at night, especially without any armour.”

“I didn’t intend to stay out for long.” She started to walk away. “Goodnight.”

“I’m sorry.”

She stopped. “For?”

“What I said, back at Rhodes. I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. I was, I mean, I was trying to say.” He scratched his head angrily. “That I trust you, even if no one else did, especially after tonight. I never doubted you for a second and I should’ve told those old fossils the same.”

“You’re older than all of them combined.”

“Shit! But!” Dante sighed. “You get what I mean, right? I didn’t cock it up this time, did I?”

She hummed. “No, Dante, but thanks.”

“…I didn’t do anything that deserves your thanks.”

“That’s not true,” Kella said, glancing over her shoulder. “It’s nice to know someone has my back at least.”

Dante smiled. “Yeah. Though.” He lost his joy instantly as his expression hardened. “I have to ask, and don’t hate me for asking this please, but did the Demon Emperor ever mention her? I’m not asking because I think you’re in on it or on his side, or a double agent or whatever, but because if he did, we can use that against him! If he still cares even a little bit about her, then-”

“No. Not even once.”