I came through the door to find my mother just finishing a phone call. “Yes, alright. Thank you for letting me know.” 

Crap.

“Rachel.”

“Yes, mother?” I gave her a sheepish glance as I stowed my bat in the corner behind the front door.

“I spoke with your guidance counselor… Dean.” Her nose flared slightly as her dark eyes glittered.

“Oh well, yes, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. You see–”

“You’re going to comply with the new deadline?”

“Yes, and–”

“That’s fine then.” She grabbed her purse.

That’s it?

“Wait, where are you going?” I asked.

“Work. I have a new client who prefers meeting during the evening hours. Dinner’s on the table. If you don’t want it, order takeout.”

I gave her a bewildered look. “You’re not mad?”

“Should I be?”

“Uh…” Well, honestly, yes, you should. I mean, I failed to turn in a major assignment. Dean wasn’t wrong… it really isn’t like me to shut down like this. Shouldn’t you be lecturing me? Grounding me? Revoking privileges? At least raise your voice like you do when a stranger irritates you!

Don’t just ignore me…

“Oh. About college,” Mother added as an afterthought, purse slung over her shoulder and car keys in hand. “If you want to go to college, it’s no problem. If you don’t, then you don’t. It’s your choice.”

She was way too nonchalant about this. I mean, college fees are expensive! “What about all of the medical bills?” I asked for the millionth time.

She considered the question for less than a second. Actually, that was being generous. She gave it no thought before answering. “They’re not your problem to worry about.”

Yeah, I get it. I was a minor when it happened, and I’m still a minor for a few months. But that doesn’t make the bills magically disappear! Just how much more was there to pay off? If they were no problem, would you be going back to work after dusk? I already told you I’m not interested in going for further scar treatments. Dermatologists ask too many creepy questions!

Mother started walking towards the front door, her long, dark hair swishing in counterpoint with her hips. “If there’s something you want to do, you should just do it. Don’t let the Deans of the world push you around. Own your choices.” She then put on her high heels and stepped outside. My presence felt as inconsequential as the coat rack I stood beside. Though, it wasn’t normally her style to say goodbye before leaving.

After the door shut, I continued to stand there, staring at it, consumed by an odd feeling of incompleteness. With a sigh, I walked to the dining room, where I sat at the table and ate dinner in solitary silence. It was slightly bland but palatable, like every other meal she cooked.

After dinner, I entered my room, unlocked my laptop, and stared at the writing prompt. It was almost a habit by now. I knew what it said by heart, but maybe the great prophecy would come if I looked just a little harder. The lines of text would unravel like the secret code in a legendary quest, revealing the path I was meant to take.

After a full three minutes, I realized it was futile and looked for something else to do. I loaded chapter fifty-six of The Last Rae of Hope, figuring now was as good a time as any.

It was the sulfurous odor of iron and brimstone that brought Rae back to the chaotic scene before her. She lay prone on a rough, cold stone floor, clutching her sword tightly in her right hand. Her shield lay several feet away, battered and misshapen. In front of her, however, was the monstrous corpse of Epiales, Demon King of Nightmare. The golden rays of light that had shielded her from his final attack of toxic dark mist began to fade away.

She killed him! She actually defeated the demon king! Way to go, Raelynn! The previous chapter had ended with an all-or-nothing clash between the two legendary titans.

Rae's eyes took in the sight of Epiales, slathered in thick, ichorous blood that somehow looked even worse than it smelled. For a dreadful few moments, Rae’s ears could only register empty silence. She felt, rather than heard, her pounding heart and rapid exhalations as she released her sword from her aching grip. She then attempted to rise to a kneeling position. Her legs faltered, and she took a more side-lying approach to sitting. She opened her mouth slowly and listened for her own voice but could not form any intelligible words.

Well, I suppose after a rigorous battle, even the best of us would be at least exhausted. It might be too soon to let go of that sword, though.

“Raelynn!” Relief swept over her as Relias’s voice rang through the air. Her closest companion, the one that had always been at her side, hastily closed the distance between them. The holy sage was murmuring excitedly as he summoned a soft, white glow to his hands.

“Raelynn…” Relias repeated. “You did it! You–” Relias suddenly stopped as the bottom of his white silk vestments caught upon a strange rock jutting out from the floor. He canceled his healing spell and reached to free himself.

Oh, that’s not good. No, no, no, don’t stop with the healing spell now! Raelynn needs you! Get in there, man! See, you always heal up as soon as possible after a fight. Even novices know this! There’s a 99.9% chance that the demon king has a second form.

The throne room door burst open with a dull boom. “My, what an absolutely stunning spectacle!” Another familiar voice spoke from beyond the threshold. “Please, allow me to be the first one to congratulate you on your victory.” Rae pulled her eyes from the grotesque corpse before her.

“Oliver.” Rae quietly acknowledged as she watched the dark mage stride leisurely, yet confidently, toward her. He had a slightly jovial expression, with both eyes closed in a crafty, fox-like fashion. Rae then turned her gaze towards Relias, who was still fighting with the hem of his robe. It was then that an inky shadow shot out from the rock, encircling him and binding him in place. Behind him, the throne room doors slammed shut, sealing the three inside. Rae rallied once again to sit up, only to fail a second time with a frustrated grunt.

Oliver chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry. I just want our party members to hold still for a bit. There are probably all sorts of dangers still lurking in this room. For example, that blood is quite poisonous to humans. It would be rather humiliating if the ‘First of Men’ here killed himself by falling in a puddle, don’t you think?” Oliver half-stepped, half-skipped over a pool of congealing black blood as if to make his point.

Toxic mist and poisonous blood are not unheard of in these fantasy situations. However, Relias was the wise yet ageless great sage appointed by the Goddess herself. I didn’t think a bit of tainted blood would do him in. As for the whole “First of Men” title… I admit, I appreciated finally having that called out. Let’s not forget the Goddess created a woman first. Did she go around calling herself the First of Women? The First of Humans? Certainly not!

“Where the hell were you?” Relias demanded as he squirmed against the writhing shadows.

“Tch.” Oliver didn’t even bother to glance at Relias as he walked past him. “I told you I’d be even less than useless in the fight. Using dark magic against him would be like attacking the Goddess with love, friendship, and lukewarm herbal tea.”

Oh, you suspiciously smug sorcerer. What are you up to now?

Oliver stood over Rae, fixing her with a long, inscrutable stare, exposing his rarely-seen emerald eyes. Rae returned his gaze defiantly with an angry, challenging glare.

“Raelynn Lightbringer, Knight Captain of the Holy Order of Gold, Chosen One of the Goddess, 7th Appointed Hero of Legend, and Wielder of the Faith and Will of Euphridia,” he intoned in an oddly serious voice. “I officially acknowledge your mortal victory over Epiales, the Demon King of Nightmare, Origin of Evil, and Eternally Accursed.” He let out a long, suffering sigh, but it cut off abruptly with a shrug. From his temples, shimmering black horns emerged as their essence swirled upward, solidifying into existence before each one ended in a sharp point that appeared to be dipped in gold. Simultaneously, a sinuously long tail formed from his backside, culminating in a spade-like point that hovered just inches above the ground.

I gasped audibly. He was a demon! Not just any demon, but the demon king’s second in command! I had been telling Nora he was just misunderstood and complicated, you know, like most dark mages. How could he betray me like this!? Oh man, now I owed Nora twenty bucks! Why now, though? Why would a demon lord let Raelynn kill his boss? I thought all demons had to be loyal to their superiors. Then again, I suppose an underhanded betrayal was the only way he could get promoted.

“It’s a shame that your continued existence in this world is quite a liability to me.” Oliver’s voice returned to its more normal, almost conversational tone. “So with all that in mind… Do you have any last requests?”

Relias struggled desperately, but his efforts were futile; only muffled cries managed to escape as the binding shadows swept across his mouth. Raelynn took a tremulous breath, speaking his true name between gritted teeth. “Demon Lord Olethros…”

The demon smiled. “Soon to be Demon King Olethros.” he quipped in a self-congratulatory manner.

Rae wiped the blood from her mouth. “My last request… let Relias and the others leave unharmed.” She winced and huffed sharply, adjusting her posture as she forced herself to continue. “By others… I mean…” Her words were cut short as she doubled over in pain, clutching her abdomen. Her hand came away covered in black and red blood. There wasn’t much time left before the Goddess Euphridia would call her home once again.

Had Raelynn already given up? She hadn’t even made a move for her sword and shield. I could sort of understand she was too injured to start her customary heroic speech, but she needs to at least try to defend herself!

“Yes, yes, the other three waiting outside the doors,” Olethros casually responded, listing the members of Raelynn’s party on his clawed fingers. “Laverna the thief, Aleph the Ox-like, and Iron Tiger Tetora.” He shook his head, grinning with amusement. “Rather unimaginative and redundant titles all around when you say them out loud. Oh… did I miss anyone?”

Truth be told, I was quite fond of the trio. What a shame they only got name-dropped in this chapter. Laverna, or Vernie, as her closest friends called her, collected other people’s valuables and stories in equal amounts but freely shared them, provided you had enough alcohol on hand. Aleph was a calm, collected ox-man who solved his most significant problems with a giant war hammer. Tetora was a hotheaded martial artist with white tiger features who spent his free time trying to pick fights with Aleph. He was never successful at it because Aleph was overly tolerant of everything, only responding with a smile and an occasional unruffled chuckle. The chapters dealing with their somewhat comedic exploits were entertaining. Maybe the author felt their antics would be out of place in such a decisive battle?

I looked at the slider on the right side of the webpage. There wasn’t much more left to read, so things were most likely coming to a head. This was usually the part where it seemed like you should despair, but something inevitably happened, and a new juggernaut of might and right saved the day. A new companion, perhaps? Raelynn gets a new power? Or maybe Relias finally unleashes his holy fury while finally declaring his obvious but unspoken feelings for Raelynn? I took a deep breath and braced myself. Oh, Olethros, you’re going to get exactly what you deserve!

“No. Just get on with it,” Rae spat as she curled into a trembling ball on the floor.

“Ah, but I can’t rush this, you know. If I simply kill you, you’ll just spring up again in a few hundred years like the plague. Instead, I’m going to do something a little more… permanent. I’m just not interested in repeating this cycle anymore.” Olethros held out his left arm and summoned a giant, gleaming black scythe to his hand. He then slammed the blunt end to the floor, shattering the stone tile beneath it. A dark purple magic circle burned into the floor to form a perimeter around Rae, ensnaring her in a barrier of translucent midnight.

“I reward your efforts by sending you directly on to the next world! May our paths never, ever cross again!” He then put his right hand to the glowing scythe, infusing the entire area with demonic animus. The binding around Holy Sage Relias faded as the demon lord focused on Rae, allowing Relias to rush forward again.

“Stop! I won’t let you do this! You can’t!” Relias screamed in abject horror as he flung himself between them, but it was too late. Rae’s form vanished, leaving only her dented, blood-spattered armor behind. Relias scrambled to stand, whirling to face Olethros.

“Oh my… I think I’m going to miss her.” Lord Olethros frowned and made a curt gesture at Relias, barring him from coming closer with a veil of dark animus. He then sauntered over to Rae’s sword, plucked it off the ground, and hid it within the deep folds of his cloak.

“A souvenir to commemorate our parting will ease my thoughts, I suppose.” Lord Olethros then glanced at Relias one last time, taking in the looks of rage and horror battling for dominance across his face. He then smiled a little too widely and teleported away, leaving a ghostly laugh behind.

Relias shivered, finding himself completely alone with the corpse of the fallen demon king. He pulled his arms to his chest, fell to his knees, and fervently prayed. But a divine shriek abruptly interrupted him, reverberating through all of creation.

“Holy Sage Relias! I can’t find Rae! What happened to Rae!?” The voice of Euphridia, the Goddess of everything, was filled with hysteria. At that moment, the world’s light flickered and dimmed as if mirroring her despair. Even more dreadful, perhaps, was when the Goddess’s wails cut off suddenly, plunging the entire world into an icy, dark panic.