Lying where the demon had fell, the last black stone was left in the sand. Night was a few steps away, bleeding and on the verge of death. With all the willpower he had, he opened his eyes. He could barely feel his limbs, his blood kept dripping non stop. He crawled, pulling on anything that could allow him to move closer to the stone. When he got closer to the stone he summoned the orb. The moment it came to existence, the last piece shot towards it, the dark glow enveloped the orb as the last piece was completed. Nothing happened, then the stone just vanished. Like it had completed its purpose. It was. gone. But left in the dust where the stone was, was a script. Its ink had faded but what was written on it was still there. It was clear that it was old. Night crawled closer to it, then grabbed it, the hex's voice echoed in his ear:
[Task completed]
[Your reward as been delayed till the end of your trial]
Night just felt the weight of pain grow heavier. The shattered heart was complete and then vanished without a trace, the task was complete yet my trial still continued. What was i supposed to do, how do i leave.
As if answering his question, the ground shook, no the whole island shook. And then it started shattering, slowly the island fell apart. Trees fell each one nearly ending me, the blade was meters away, night felt all his hope crumble along with the world. Remembering everything that happened, he tried to reach it. He knew he wouldn't reach it on time so he dismissed it and then resummoned it, the blade appeared in his hands. With all the strength in his body, he pushed himself up.
It was painful, his closed wounds reopened and strated bleeding again, his arms felt like they would be torn apart. Yet he still tried, dying now would be in vain, he still had to find the truth, his memories and everything else. With all the determination he built. He tried to run. He fell then stood again , then fell one more time. As he rose and fell over and over again, the trees fell and everything collapsed yet he wasn't fazed. After running woth all his might. He got back to the lake.
Even with all the tremors and falling, the lake didn't shake, its still waters remained as a mirror, unfazed by all the destruction.
And then he fell as the ground beneath crumbled. His reflection was stuck on its mirror and his face had a smile. That was when it clicked, the lake, everything started from the lake.
Regardless he fell, rubbles fell at him. With his blade he tried to cut it, but there was nothing to support him from below. So he let the blade down, still holding on to it.
As he fell, he only felt like laughing. It was funny after wanting to die for so long, he was finally going too.
But why. Why wasn't i happy.
Was there any real reason to be happy, the first memory that came to me at that moment was when i watched a nameless grave stone. I was only seven, rain fell, i knew who they belonged to, but i felt no sorrow. They were my parents', i didn't remember what they looked like or who they even were to me. All i knew was they were my parent, i felt no reason to cry so i just stared. Then, Someone walked up to me, i knew him but i didn't feel a reason to care he was there. He asked me.
"What's your name".
My name,
that question echoed in my mind. What was my name?.
He didn't remember so he said:
"I don't know "
His expression changed and then he cane down to one kneel and hugged me. He called out a name but I didn't hear or maybe i didn't what to hear. He then asked with a soby voice, "What should i call you"
Night,
"Night, why night"
Because the night is always cold and lifeless just like me, and then he broke into tears.
"Your wrong, the night might be cold, but when you have someone to hold onto, it might be the warmest. When you wish you remember, i will always be there. That's my last promise to them".
Night paused and said without any emotion. Okay.
The memory ended in the blink of an eye, without control, he broke into tears. He didn't understand then.
I was tired of standing at graves and pretending to be alive.
Tired of watching people cry and not feel anything.
Tired of watching deaths and still be powerless.
I was tired of pretending to live.
I was just tired of living this nightmare, i just wanted to be to live not in fear. I wanted to be strong enough to protect everyone around me. To have power to survive.
Then and there, while i fell into endless darkness. I felt something, not in this endless expanse but in me. In the deepest parts of my soul and then a black flame erupted around me.
It wasn't hot but cold, i felt the air stiffen. The sword in my hand trembled as the flame flowed on it. And then the sword's blade shattered in half. Not only it, the world itself had cracks and then it shattered.
I reached out with a trembling hand, and the black fire reached too—like it had been waiting since the beginning of time for permission to exist.
Watered flowed through the cracks.And I drowned with it. I felt like my existence was being devoured, before i lost consciousness i heard the hex's voice echoed out loud.
[ You have slain Twilight Devil, myriad illusion ]
[You have received a chronicle]
[Your trial as ended]
As the hex finished my body faded as i escaped whatever that world had become.