The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 71: The story after the End. (Part 2)

I forced down the spike of anger that swelled in my chest, "I'm a bit surprised you knew."

"Oh please, I am always watching where my daughter goes. Her little rebellion was quite interesting. I'd ground her if not for the increase in her abilities. Who knows, perhaps I should push her a little more," she smiled, using her fan coquettishly. "So where did you go?"

"It's none of your business," I answered bluntly.

"None of my business," the Maiden laughed. "I think the destruction of the World's will, is very much my interest."

A shiver crossed my body and I immediately felt my temperature rise, "The World's will? What does that have to do with where I went?"

"Dear Ardy Boy, you can't hide it." Red colour began to leak into her pupil as her voice became more animated. "I can feel it. Not just the changes to the demons but the changes to this very world and how it functions. Such change can only be caused by one thing, and your timing with the Witch was too perfect."

Her eyes met mine, she was completely convinced. I narrowed my eyes, "And what changes to the world are you talking about?"

"Subtle changes for now. Dear Ardy Boy, do you even realise what you've done?"

I remained silent.

"Then allow me to tell you," she smiled, ecstatic that she could teach me. "The World's will, its Core, its purpose. It is the central point of mana for the world. Mana that is manipulated and used loses quality, that quality is regained by passing through the Core as it is absorbed by the world. All mana is linked, and you have broken it from its filter. Truly it functions like a dungeon Core but on a far larger scale and as dungeon Cores have their own will, so does the World's Core. Evolution itself is guided by its intent, and yet now, there is no guidance."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked calmly.

"If it were Areithia in the past, undoubtedly. Here, on your planet, where there was little mana to begin, adjustments will be much smoother. Of course," she covered her face with her fan, only her eyes peeking at mine, "that doesn't mean there won't be more trouble. Without a filter to clean mana, it will be done differently."

"The creation of more dungeons and monsters...," I already knew the answer from my own studies.

"Precisely," the Maiden folded her fan with a snap. "The world will devolve into a chaotic state. Then again, compared to how it is right now, a little extra may be a boon in its own right."

"Let's say you're right," I focused on her eyes and the shifting red that continued to grow, "you don't seem to upset I destroyed the Witch and the Core."

She laughed, "Upset? Perhaps a little at the loss of a Witch to study. It seems you may have met my counterpart in your world. I cannot say if she is truly like me, but you misunderstand Ardy Boy, I do not care for the World's Witches, I care for the power they hold and represent." The red in her eyes became even more vivid, "Can you imagine what we could do with their power? We could change the very fabric of this world, to sway it into our own ideals!"

"And you would go so far to experiment on your own children," I showed my disgust.

The Maiden simply smiled, "They are my progeny after all. Do you know why we Oni can generate our own mana? Strange isn't it that no other creature on Areithia can. We are unique among the tidings of the world. Care to take a guess why?"

For a moment there was silence as I pondered the difference. From everything she had spoken about however, I think I knew the answer, "Because you Oni aren't originally from Areithia."

"Bingo," with a flick of her wrist her fan opened once more. "We are foreigners. Though we have acclimated to Areithia, we Oni originated from a separate world. One in which the world had no core. Though it was before my time, it was written as a wild place. The very islands we stand upon are a testament to our origin. What you have done will make this world the same, and we Oni will thrive."

"And what about everyone else?" I asked carefully.

The Maiden's eyes returned to their natural hue, "We are not barbaric enough to let them die. After all, we only survived thus far due to the help of everyone."

"I'm honestly surprised to hear you say that."

"Why? Because I refused to join the battle on Celestia?" She smirked, "I felt it was in safe hands. Why waste my forces when you could do so much better."

"I'll take it as a compliment." Again, I focused on her, "This world... will it be okay?"

"I am not sure," she replied honestly. "The balance has not yet entirely tipped in our favour. You should not concern yourself however, you have already done enough. I doubt you would have destroyed the World's will without a reason."

I didn't reply and relaxed back into the bed.

"Rest well Ardy Boy. We will say our goodbyes another day." The Maiden left with her guards in tow leaving me still unsure how my impact would change the world.