Requested by
CainisLupis
Don't ask me what I just wrote. And I just thought to say that school has started, which means that I won't be able to update as often. It doesn't help with the fact that this new school is really good and I'm not smart at all... it was pure luck that I passed...
I'm sorry for this one-shot. I really am. I might come back to fix it up.
Published: 31st of January, 2018
[Not Edited]
~~~ Start ~~~
It all started with a single mistake. A single mistake that wasn't even hers, yet she paid the price.
"Give me your power and in return, my body will become a vessel for you"
"Once I lend you my power, there is no going back for you. You'll never be welcomed in the heavens that humans believe in ever again. You'll be doomed to hell. Your life force will slowly deteriorate until the day that your soul is mine to do as I wish. Should you chose to form a contract with me, you will be able to control me as you wish. Do you still wish to continue?"
"Yes"
"Very well then. I look forward to the day you die"
Everything comes with a price and sometimes, the price is so great that it makes you think hard about whether it is really worth it or not.
For [Name], she had no choice in the say. She didn't get the chance to think it over.
When that devil had been summoned to the world, it threatened to destroy the world, just like the many other times a similar event happened in Earthland.
But this time, it was different. No one could defeat it. It was impossible.
All hope seemed to be lost.
But those fighting against it was surprised to see it disappear one day, leaving the world untouched.
It was [Name] who lied and said that it may have been summoned wrongly. Causing its time in this world to run out.
It was believable though. Everyone bought it.
It was summoned by a mage who practised dark magic. By a person who wanted to destroy the people who had shunned them.
They thought that they could control the devil. But they were wrong. Instead, it had begun to grow in power.
They were thrown in prison without a second thought afterwards.
The event quickly became nothing but a distant memory. Though to [Name], it still haunted her.
For the safety of the world, it was [Name] who paid the terrible price for the mistake of the dark mage.
Using her binding magic, she had forced a contract between them. One that linked her with a devil.
But that was kept a secret. She saved Earthland but will die as a result of it, taking it to her grave.
"Whoo! Can you actually believe it? To think that we've been pardoned!" [Name] smiled as soon as they walked out of the castle.
"Why don't you say it louder [Name]? I don't think that the Alvarez Empire heard you" Erik remarked, hitting her head.
[Name] stuck her tongue out, the smile never fading from her face.
"Abusive boyfriend!" She called teasingly, making the whole guild smile.
She may have been pardoned, but the devil inside of her cannot be stopped.
She was the light of the guild, who managed to make everyone smile with little effort.
Little did they know that her shining light was slowly being tainted with the darkest of evils.
∞∞∞
That night, as the guild camped out in the woods, [Name] couldn't sleep.
Not with the voice whispering in her head, who offered even more power to her. Who suggested that she take over the world.
She didn't want that.
The only reason that she made a contract was to stop the devil from destroying the world. She wanted nothing to do with the power it offered.
The voice was growing more and more powerful by the day. Her time was nearly up.
She found it hard to leave. She found it hard to tell her trusted guildmates.
She just couldn't bring herself to tell them that she was going to die.
What would they say? How sad would they be?
How would Erik cope?
They've always been together. There was not a moment where [Name] and Erik weren't thinking of the other.
Erik was the most important person in the world to her and yet, he did not know that she was dying.
Her magic was growing weaker and weaker by the day. Eventually, she wouldn't be able to block her mind anymore.
He'll be able to hear her thoughts. He'll be able to hear the devil's voice from inside her mind.
"What are you doing up this late?" The all too familiar voice asked from behind [Name].
"I couldn't sleep" [Name] answered, looking back to him from the cliff's edge.
"Yeah, sitting on the edge of a cliff helps me sleep at night as well" Erik sarcastically said, making the corners of [Name]'s mouth twitch.
"I was just thinking of all the fights that have happened" [Name] told him as he sat beside her. "What if I died in one of them?"
"You didn't so it doesn't matter to me"
"How many more battles will we face? I wonder what everyone will be like if I were to die in one of them"
"I ain't letting you die on my watch so you don't have to worry about that either"
"How sweet" [Name] smiled at him, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Then promise that you aren't going anyway either"
"Of course. Only if you promise to stay alive"
[Name]'s eyes looked ahead sadly as she held Erik's hand like she normally would.
She would never be able to keep her promise. There was zero chance of that happening.
She blocked the voice that called out to her, saying that it'll give her even more time to stay alive if she agreed to help it take over the world.
It would take far more than that to make her want to succumb to darkness.
She paid a great price. And unknowingly, so did those who she would eventually disappear on.
She could never make it up to them and nor could she prepare them for what was to come.
"If I ever die, then promise that you'll move on?"
"The hell are you talking about?" Erik asked, bewildered that she would even ask that of him.
"Please?"
Her voice sounded so desperate. It made the words that he was about to say leave his mouth as he looked at her in shock.
"Sure" the words left his mouth before he could comprehend it.
He just didn't want to see the sad look on her face. He never wanted to see her upset or unhappy. He would do whatever it takes to make her happy, just like she always was.
Whatever the price may be.
"That's a promise that" [Name] said, her voice relieved. She leaned up to kiss him under the stars a final time.
Her time was short. Her light was flickering.
The time has almost come for the price to be paid.
∞∞∞
Over the course of the next week, it was clear that [Name] wasn't well. The whole guild could tell.
None of them could figure out what had happened and why only [Name] was affected.
During that time, Erik was thereby [Name]'s side, offering assistance when needed.
Though half of the time, she was wavering in and out of consciousness. She was barely responsive.
Her condition worded by the minute. It was as though she was on her deathbed.
Which she technically was.
[Name] felt horrible for not telling her guild everything in person.
She just didn't want to see their expressions when she told them. She was too afraid to.
She hated to see other people around her unhappy. She hated to see others being sad, which is why she took it upon herself to make sure that everyone could smile.
She wanted the world to be a happy and safe place for everyone.
But that's impossible.
What is the price that will have to be paid in order to achieve that perfect world?
What sacrifices will people have to make? Would it be worth it?
In the end, it's all just a cycle. It's all just an idea.
People have given up on that perfect ideal world where sadness doesn't exist.
They're more focused on things that can really happen to improve life. Things that are more realistic.
If only that world were possible...
That was what [Name] thought every day. That was what [Name] fought for.
She fought for a world similar to that. A world where children wouldn't have to have a childhood like hers.
In the dead of night once again, [Name] woke up, knowing that it was time.
She forced herself to stand up and pass Erik, leaving behind a lacrima that told the truth. She had decided that her guild deserved to know.
They were strong. They could move on.
That's what she convinced herself.
[Name] walked to the edge of the cliff, feeling the wind blow past her hair.
It was calm. It was a beautiful night once again.
"Are you ready to pay your end of the deal?"
"Of course I am. But I hope that you haven't forgotten the one demand that I get"
"What is it that you wish for? Salvation is no longer a choice now"
"I don't plan on backing out. And you swear that you will abide by the words I speak?"
"That was a part of the deal. Should I refuse to grant this wish then I will disappear along with you"
"Then I, [Name] [Surname], wish that you are banished from Earthland. Place a seal upon yourself so that not even the most powerful being on Earthland can release you back here"
"Are you sure you want that to be your final wish? You don't want to wish for me to be gentler when playing around with your soul?"
"Are you backing down?"
"Not at all... you foolish girl. You truly believe that sealing me away will do any good to the world? Have you any idea what lies out there?"
"I have faith that my comrades will protect Earthland. No matter the price, just as I had done"
"Then embrace your death... I will enjoy torturing you for all eternity"
[Name] closed her eyes and stepped forward.
What a price to pay in order to save her loved ones.
"[Name]! What are you thinking?!" Erik yelled, trying to stop [Name] from taking another step forward.
Another step that will lead to her demise.
He ran towards her but was pushed back by a greater force than himself.
"[Name]!" He desperately cried out.
"Forgive me, Erik... I realise that it's selfish of me to say this now, but I love you. Please, always remember that"
With a final smile to him, she disappeared from the top of the cliff, plunging into the never-ending darkness below.
Never to be seen ever again.
Erik still couldn't move because of the force. He had heard a part of their conversation, but he didn't understand the whole thing.
Just why. Just why did she have to die?
For the first time in a long while, tears streamed down his cheeks as he could only think of what his life would be like without her.
"[Name]..." his trembling voice whispered into the air, unable to yell out anymore to his lover.
It all ended with a death. A single death that saved the entire world from a devil.
"Take my body, take my soul. I don't care what the price may be, as long as I can protect the ones I love."
~~~ End ~~~