Valoria was a mighty kingdom, prosperous and just, with magic. Humans and supernatural beings lived side by side, among whom I held the very highest place in the regard of the kingdom. The people were loyal to their lord, and an order of holy knights ensured peace was protected within its realm.
However…
"You're doomed to die, Ray! Those you love have long forsaken you! Remember my words! Soon there will be nothing left for you but the dark!" Those were the words of the dying Alashina knight, soon shut by the icy ground with a mouthful of blood, as bloody as my sword through his very flesh.
"I've heard it all before, what's new?" I muttered, my voice left a mere whisper, and my eyes were blank as they stared at his unseeing body. The lustre in my gaze had long since died with my beloved extinguished; only a thirst for revenge remained.
I looked up to the sky; my mouth opened as if I were wrestling for breath; each breath was a painful one, and the icy ground tightened its hold on me, letting me find it harder to breathe clearly.
Stranger still is the fact that my Heaven's Blade had lost all pride, dabbed with the blood of holy knights, a morbid attestation of its desertion.
I trudged ahead with no particular place in mind, the rhythmic crunching of my footsteps on the ice echoing to my ears across this frozen stretch that seemingly had no end to it beneath my uncertain steps.
Many memories came to my mind, probably some of the happiest of those times with my beloved.
But in this damned tale of mine, they seem to still make worse cuts in the wounds that were already there and were deep enough to have perforated my soul.
"Regret, Death, Abandonment—I've faced them all, late knight," I answered in the bass, repeating the words of the fallen knight whom I had just slain. Cursed by my very creator, I have trudged on under an unyielding cascade of life's miseries; the negativities each burrow deeper into the fabric of my wretched existence.
"I've got nothing to lose." With this succumbing thought, I press on, pacing toward some unknown destiny that seems as undefined as the void that resides within me.
There was a time in my little life when I was an esteemed figure in the Nobel society…a warrior with enormous power and virtues in the land of Valoria.
I had everything…everything that a man could desire—fame, friends, family, people who supported me, and most importantly, the light of my life, to whom my heart belongs—my dearest wife, Evangeline.
But then why? Why did you curse me, my lord? Why…?
Was it because I was growing stronger with each passing day? Or was it because I'm a demonic entity?
I pressed my hand against my chest, questioning the lord himself.
While being lost in thought, I was thinking of my direction. No inkling, no fresh thoughts, no feelings remained.
Outside it was cold, but in front of me, only darkness stared back—enveloping, overpowering; the only sensible force ruling over everything else.
"What next?" I kept thinking as I wandered around, not aiming at anything in particular, having achieved my revenge. My mind was finally satisfied: my family and friends had rested in peace, my love was at peace, and salvation was achieved, but the future pressed and weighed upon me greatly.
"What now?" I whispered again as I looked above at the infinite clouds, as if my eyes, too, were searching for salvation in the dimension open above.
Suddenly, I felt something wet beneath my eyes. Flicking my finger under my eyelid, I found tears. It seemed that my eyes—so long dry of such feelings—were moistening with some prolonged sorrow.
"Evangeline…" I whispered her name, and my head bowed low as memories submerged my love to the surface, tears welling, lost in the ache of remembrance.
I just couldn't fathom why these feelings, this need, had suddenly come back. I had, with so much energy, stuffed and padlocked these emotions into my heart since centuries ago, ever since she left.
She was an elegant, courteous lady and the star of hope in Valoria. Not only was Evangeline my wife, but she was also a healer and protector, well-known for her gentleness and competency to bring calm in the most turbulent times.
I had to see her right then and there. I needed her, and it had to be her, nobody else.
"Ray!" A piercing voice broke into my trance from behind, bringing me back to my senses.
Slowly, I reverted my gaze back with a cold stare, only to realise my familiar but not the one I wished to see figure stand there with a firm grip on his holy blade.
"Oh. Lord Methyl. What has brought you to this place?" I asked while turning my blade back, for the person in front of me was this dying world's last remaining holy knight, no doubt I thought.
"Oh, you blight on the world! The gall you had to take out my paladin while I was out. This one's going to cost you, you…”
Doing his intimidating speech, Methyl swiped his sword about and charged at me to try to do actual damage.
Sigh! I sighed as he came on, tightening my hand about my own sword. "If death is your wish, then allow me to grant it."
Our clash continued to persist as it scattered the snow in all directions. It was as if the air itself cut into nothingness at each slash. Lon had said that when he faded out of sword style and into this autumnal feeling, it had already been decided by then.
"H-how...?" Methyl's eyes were glued to me, seeking in his final breath how such a fallen being could defeat the leader of the holy knights so easily. Well, he overestimated himself a bit far, just as I had expected.
"You know," I called out, kneeling beside him, and continued, "I have done so much for you all in the past. Even being a different race…being a dark being, I showed my concern to you and the others. But even then, what did I get? You destroyed my kingdom, killed my precious citizens, and even…"
My hand, resting on his shoulder, tightened as I continued, "...and even you killed my beloved wife. The one who always did so much for me, the only person that I love more than anything else. Why? Why did you all do that?"
"We did everything right! An atrocious demonic being like you was a threat to us, and now you've proved it right! You…you should have perished!"
They knew I wasn't a threat; they just stripped everything away from me, and this guy didn't think he was scum.
I sighed. "I should have known; there's no use in talking."
My eyes were heterochromatic, the left eye was dark crimson; the right, crystal blue.
I raised my right palm. I had a ball of dark red energy forming. "And those that think ill of me… shall die."
"Stop!!" He shouted, but his plea fell on deaf ears when I dropped the dark energy ball onto his head. The power within that sphere had the ability to erase the existence to nil without a trace, which was a lethal attack in my arsenal and was known as the Dark End. His existence began to fade away as the energy enveloped him.
His skin turned to ashes and then his bones as he seemed not to stop screaming curses and abuses at me.
"Damn you, bastard!! You'll die a million times!!! MARK MY WORDS!!"
With an ear-piercing scream, his bones became ashes and then, in the next second, disappeared into nothing.
After he left, I looked up at the endless sky, saying in a low voice, "I'll die, aye? I wonder…"
One can die while living, but how can one die when they are already dead inside?
Physical death can obsolete the body from all the suffering, and yet the soul goes on and on to an eternal, unyielding torment.
A soft titter slipped from my lips as I closed my eyes to remember my beloved Evangeline.
Death was approaching, and the only wish left in front of me was to meet her once—just to see that face with a smile, even for a fraction of a second. I wished she would call my name at least once.
"If only…" I was crying, and my eyes were tearing ceaselessly. Every memorable moment I had with her lit a fire in my heart, and at the same time, remembering her caused agonising sorrow because I had lost her.
'Are you really that desperate?' My mind suddenly rang with a voice, and it was like I had reached a level of insanity where even my own voice started questioning me.
"Yes, I am," I said, falling on the ground as if the burden on my shoulders forced me to bend my knees.
'What are you desperate for? She is gone,' the voice remarked, rubbing more salt on my already crushed heart.
"Physical only," I smiled now as I announced on my face, "to know that she was going to live on, eternally, in my heart was one thing, but my body had its yearning, and the thought of her being only a spiritual presence was not going to satiate it."
I stretched out my arms with my eyes still closed as I tried to embrace her warmth, but that was just my illusion since I had boundless belief and love for her.
"If only once…" I whispered as the tears dried up on my cheeks, and dark imprints were left underneath my eyes.
"Just allow me to feel your warmth once more, Evangeline. Please, just this once. I promise to hold it in my memory for eternity."
Though I knew no amount of words could bring her back, I said them with every ounce of longing I felt.
It was as though my ardent faith commanded she must be able to hear me, that she must see in my eyes a depth of emotion, and perhaps, just maybe, will allow the instance again to be with her warmth.
"Evangeline." I closed my eyes, barely whispering her name with what little energy was left in me.
That recent battle with the leader had badly deteriorated the condition of my health, though I did come out of it with a victory in terms of my physical body.
'Ray!'
Maybe it was another illusion, created by my heart's desires, but I seemed to have heard somebody call my name.
"Ray!"
'This voice...?!'
When I snapped my eyes open, the golden rays were shining wide, spurting from the gap between the clouds.
"?!" But my eyes wouldn't listen, and they most certainly weren't close to a certain surprise that showed in front of me.
"I-it cannot… Deja vu?"
I muttered, overwhelmed, as my dry eyes began to get wet all over again. But this time, it was nothing less than a flood.
"Ray!!" The light grew stronger, and I saw an angel—wearing a white, glowing dress, with wings shining golden—come closer.
Her crystal blue eyes seemed to be dripping with tears, and if my memory serves me right, her blond hair remained in twin tails. Her skin was as fair as the snow all around me.
Did it matter if this was just a delusion? Because right then, I knew one thing for sure: My Angel was here for me.
"Evangeline. Evangeline!" My strength, which had been lost just moments before, came surging back when I saw my wife winging her way towards me. No, she wasn't just my wife. She was my Angel, my Angel of Light.
I spread my arms to grasp her. Tears streaming down her face, she held my hand and then embraced me tightly, laying her head on my shoulder.
"Ray! I-I finally found you!" She called out in her angelic voice, wiping tears off my sleeve. Nestling against my chest, she cried like a baby. But who am I to judge? After all, tears of joy streamed down my face too.
"Uh-huh, we found each other," I said and placed her in my arms, burying my chin on her head.
"Stay with me. Please, do not go again. I…I will never allow anything to happen to you again. I promise. I swear." The words oozing from my lips seemed to be a plea, each bitter syllable laced with the raw ache of uncertainty.
It felt like I was begging her, not just to stay but to anchor my fractured reality. Tears, half of joy—half of fear, blurred my vision as I clung to her, unsure if this reunion was a miraculous resurrection or another tormenting delusion.
"I'm not going anywhere." Her response made my heart warm. She raised her head from my chest, and her eyes locked onto mine. Her glittering, crystal-blue eyes radiated a different light, a rebirth of sorts as if she really had come back to life.
A little while later, she stroked my head gently. A soft smile was playing on her lips. She bent down closer to me and said, "If I had to go back empty-handed, I wouldn't have come here in the first place.”
But before even acknowledging her testimony, she came closer to my face. Soft tapestry of icy wind, she sealed my lips with hers.
Her lips were so warm, and I felt the wash of honeyed flavour over them. A genuine smile graced my face as I kissed her back, savouring the moment.
In those fleeting moments, an entire lifetime had seen a quick review between my eyelids. As I opened them, a warmth surrounded my very essence, and the former wounds burdening me surprisingly started to dissipate.
It was as though, with that kiss, not only was my soul restored, but the very physical scars that tell my story in each battle I have fought were mended as well.
"Evangeline," I exclaimed in astonishment as I looked at my changed body. She smiled mildly at my confusion and took my hands, saying, "Ray, it is time to go."
Just when she finished her words, a golden light from heaven wrapped her in its extensions along with me. In less than a second, my body lifted up in the air.
There was the initial overwhelming confusion that rippled through my mind trying to comprehend what was happening. I then dropped to the ground with my eyes closed and opened them to see only one fallen figure lying lifeless and cold, embraced by the snow.
"So it finally happened, huh?" Realising, finally, I couldn't help but smile wistfully. I knew that I had died when my wife finally appeared in front of me; it wasn't an illusion; she had really come to bring me along.
She must have noted my depressing expression. Gently, she touched my cheek, embraced me once more, and whispered, "All things always come to an end. Whether it was my life, the life of our people, or your life.”
"But you know," she nestled her head on my chest, "There's one thing that will never end. and that is our love." She concluded her sayings by planting a kiss on my lips once again and wiping the tears from my eyes.
With a broad smile, she said, "Let's be together forever, Ray!"
"I agree." I let go of my sorrow, enjoyed the modern happy moment, closed my eyes, and said, "Let us be together forever, my life, my Evangeline."
In this way, all the struggles I went through in life finally churned out as the fruits of my afterlife in the form of a permanent stay with my dear wife, Evangeline.
