The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 71: The story after the End. (Part 1)

"You can't!" the one called Lockie refused. "We-we owe you our lives Crozen. Even when weren't sane, you're the reason we're still alive."

Another nodded, standing and readying herself, "Lockie is right. We'll fight together."

"Stop!" Crozen yelled in a hushed whisper. "Please, I said I'll but you time. Just go. With everything that I've done... the Isles would never accept me. At least you all have a chance."

The room shook again, this time for longer and Kerezon's shrill maddening laughter grew louder. From my position on the floor unable to move, I couldn't do much at all. If they all abandoned me, I couldn't and wouldn't stop them. Even if I spoke up, it wasn't like I could protect them.

"Crozen...," the others in the room showed their clear confliction.

"You'll only have a brief window to escape," Crozen continued. "Once he reveals us, I'll blast him and charge. Run as far and as fast as you can. Be careful, I doubt he'll be alone."

Suddenly the entire ceiling heaved away and there was no more time to discuss. The outside night sky revealed itself and standing at the lip of the building was Kerezon. By default, his elven features gave him a handsome and mystical appearance, but they were tarnished by the blood rubbed into skin and the burnt patch of hair that sat on top his head.

"Foun-," Kerezon began to grin and just as everyone began to react, something else did first. The demonic elf's chin exploded, and it was only after when we heard the gunshot. The next bullet struck his shoulder as he tried to defend himself, screaming as he fell from where he stood.

In the sky above, a gunship loomed into view, bullets spraying into the area around us, fending off the demons who had followed Kerezon. It quickly flew closer, hovering above where we had been hiding. A stout and armoured figure jumped down.

"Fucking finally we found ya," Shin grinned, aiming his rifle at Crozen.

"Friendly!" I shouted. "They're friendly."

For a moment Shin frowned, but he believed my words, "If you're joining us get in quick and help him in."

Crozen lifted my body and urged the others to jump into the gunship that continued to give us cover. The moment we were inside the door rolled to a shut and not a moment later a mass of stone hurled towards us from the ground as Kerezon tried to counterattack. The assault however deflected away, stopped by a barrier that surrounded the vessel.

Inside the gunship I spotted familiar faces. Mia smiled towards me as she put away a large rifle. Behind her inside the cockpit Ash gave me the thumbs up. There were two others as well, armoured like Shin and had supported us from the ship. Most importantly however, there was Ria and the moment I entered she jumped into my body, hugging me tightly.

"Daddy!" she cried. "I thought- I thought you were gone."

"It's okay," I wanted to hug her back but couldn't. "Daddy's here. Oh-ouch. Daddy hurts a bit so can we give him some space?"

"No!" she refused and instead pressed tighter. I smiled wryly, bearing with the pain.

It was a tight fit within the gunship but as we flew higher and to safety, the atmosphere relaxed. Crozen and his friends huddled awkwardly together, watching and waiting quietly, unsure what their part in this would be.

"They're fine," I nodded to Shin while gesturing with my eyes towards them. "They won't hurt anyone."

Shin eyed the group, "Ain't that Crozen?"

Crozen flinched and breathed a sigh before standing straight, "Yes... it's me. Give me the chance and I'll explain. The demons are changing, a lot of us already have."

Shin turned back to me, raising his brows, "That wouldn't be your handy work, eh?"

"Maybe," I smiled, unsure how I was going to tell them what happened. Instead, I changed the subject, "So, how did you find me?"

"That was me," Mia raised her hand. "I kept rolling my dice trying to find you and I was getting nothing, but then this morning, out of nowhere everything started to fall into place again."

"Really?" I thought Mia's powers might have disappeared considering where they stemmed from. Then again, I couldn't be sure if I destroyed the Core or not. It wasn't like I could go back and check.

Shin nodded, "And we rushed to go find you. Stole this baby from the hanger." He slapped the ships interior, "It's a beaut, but wasn't meant to fly for another month. Hadn't been tagged yet so getting out of the Isles was easy. What about you Ardy boy? Where you been?"

"Ardy boy?"

"My Ardent's dead now. You're Ardy boy."

"I guess I'll take it." I paused before answering, "Let's talk about that later. It's... it's a tale. Crozen how about you talk instead?"

"Ah sure," Crozen nodded and began to explain the situation among the demons. Shin and the two I didn't know stood by them, listening intently. It was mostly the same as what he had told me.

I turned my attention to the small girl whose grip on my chest had loosened. She had fallen asleep.

Mia crouched beside me and whispered, "She hasn't slept since you disappeared."

"How long was I gone for?" I asked quietly as Crozen continued his story.

"About 12 or so hours now. Ria cried a lot. When Ardent died and you disappeared, she was convinced it was her fault. That she'd never see you again." Mia tenderly looked at the sleeping girl, "She kept saying that she'd be a good girl, that she'd never do anything bad and she'd even clean her room, so long as you came back. We all tried to calm her down but we really couldn't see a sign of you. Then when I suddenly picked you up, she couldn't sit still and demanded to come with us despite the danger."

All I could do was smile as I looked down at her, "She's been through a lot." My heart relaxed as inside I felt settled. It was worth it. If I hadn't revolted against the World's will, then no one would be left. I protected Ria. Now I just had to deal with the consequences.

"What about your Ardent?" I asked as I remembered the life leaving his body. The expression of peace at seeing his daughter once again and the intent to pass the baton to me, all the while Celestia was crumbling beneath us.

"We left his body in good care. You can imagine the Isles are in a bit of state." She looked towards Crozen and his group. "They're not the only demons who changed. We received reports of infighting everywhere but seeing it close up..., they really do seem normal now. At least it's easy to tell the sane ones from the others."

I chuckled before speaking seriously, "Go easy on them. Everyone has suffered in this world... and they've felt the worse of it."

"I know," Mia nodded. "But the others... my mother, it'll take time and effort. For now, close your eyes Ardent. We'll handle thing from here. I can't imagine what happened for you to end up like that, but regardless, good work."

"Yeah... it was rough," I let more of my weight lean back against the wall and closed my eyes, dreaming and hoping for a different world.

**