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I opened an eye, now seeing an array of red beams from around the temple pointed right towards me. Everything seemed to stop except for the dust falling in the dim sunlight. Iyo and Erzen were completely silent, just like everyone or everything else in the room. I felt a bead of sweat run down the side of my cheek and I could still feel the object pressed into my skull. We were all sitting in a stasis as if something had entrapped us, but it was all from surprise, focus, or fear. For me, it was a mixture of all three.

Flashes of light lit up the space around Erzen and I and a loud, demanding voice called out, “Put down the weapon! Neo-Empirical forces have you surrounded!”

My mind quieted as I felt Erzen lean slightly closer and whisper, “Get me out of this, and you will live.” This man was a coward, but he did have a barrel against my head. That wasn’t something I could forgive easily. I stole a glance at my right hand in front of me and saw the effects of the god Morak Serihn’s black mist: my skin had begun to rot away.

“You have until the count of three or we open fire!”

His breathing became heavy. “You have until the count of two.”

These people weren’t so lucky as him or I to get so many seconds. I only needed one. I stood up from my spot and once I had, the world completely stopped by my magic. This was extremely mana intensive, but I didn’t plan to move far. I looked to Erzen and his rugged, determined face. I focused a large amount of mana in his head, then looked towards Iyo. Before letting time start turning again, I created a gust of wind blowing at her eyes. If I was going to do what I was about to do, I wasn’t going to make a naïve girl watch.

Everything went back to normal and I heard the fleshy, disgusting-sounding explosion behind me. Iyo instinctively put a hand to her eyes and I felt blood splatter against my back, then I heard his rifle fall to the ground. Some of the red beams and flashes of light wavered, but most stayed pointed at me. I heard some cursing from the small crowd, but what I focused more on was the thumping of boots against the ground approaching me.

“On behalf of the Zealot Herald Eyim, you, Emily Everlock, are hereby placed under arrest by the Neo-Empirical forces for crimes against the nation of Everencia.” The man finished his small speech once he got within a few feet of me. When he reached me, he lowered his voice. “Try to run, I dare you.” This man wasn’t very smart, but he knew I had weaknesses. I also knew who told him of them.

“Why run? I’m clearly surrounded.”

“Hm, smart woman.”

“No no no, let me make something clear to you.” I gave him a smile. “I can’t express to you just how horrible of a mistake you’ve made.”

He didn’t appear to falter at all. “Like I said, just try to run.”

“I’m not running. In fact, none of us are.”

“Turn around, criminal. Surrender yourself so you can have long awaited justice be served to you.”

I stood my ground. “Why don’t you just… Hm, what’s the phrase? Oh, right. Rot. In. Hell.” I flicked a hand at him but he quickly moved over, exactly what I wanted. Far past him, Iyo was flung out of the temple by a magic blast. I hoped I didn’t hurt her too much from it, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind in the end. I let the air around me explode into a black mist as I shoved myself into the shadows. The firing started and bullets ricocheted off the ground where I was. No one could see that I wasn’t there, which was thanks mostly to the mist. After some time, I began to hear their screams. The mist, it was rotting them away so quickly that they couldn’t even react.

The darkness around me felt as isolating as the mist. Why do I do this? I’m far too unstable to be going on adventures anymore. It was for Elyse, yes, but that part is done, so why do I persist out here? At this point, was I just committing murder? And what was I doing to Iyo, making her listen to this? They’re right, back at home. I’m a monster.

I dropped the mist, making it disappear from the air. I fled through the shadows to the entrance until I found Iyo. When I did, I reemerged, took her hand, and used my Dark Magic to make her fall into my own shadow. I wasn’t ready to deal with her traumatized mind just yet. I flew through the Isles, passed Iyo’s village, and made my way deep into a forest towards home. I decided it would be smart to stop for the night in the forest. There was little movement around as it was already dusk. I may have forgotten when I sat down against a tree that I wasn’t alone. Before checking four times for anything that may be stalking me in the darkness, I allowed myself to break down.

“Oh, gods, what have I done?” I asked myself through the tears. “I let myself stray for far too long.” I took the small, green gem I received from Morak Serihn out in my hand and held it out in front of me. “She’s here, it’s just me, now. Take her and do what you will to me!” Raindrops began to fall on my arm and head, making me even more chilled in the cool air. “Just do it already!” I sobbed.

After dropping my head into my knees, I waited for what felt like an hour or two. Eventually, I felt pale fingers take the gem from my hand. I retrieved my hand and moved myself onto my knees with my head bowed, waiting for whatever was going to do the honors. All I could hear was the rain falling around me, soaking the lower half of my legs in the mud. I was shuddering from the cold, but my shoulders were trembling from my weeping. It all felt so real, but so horrifyingly unreal at the same time.

I flinched as a sword was shoved vertically into the ground in front of me. “I guess you don’t need those sentries anymore, huh?” I felt the pale hand take my shoulder and start to guide me up. When I had fully stood, he said, “Good evening, Dark Ruler. You called?” I knew who it was but I didn’t want him to see me like this; Yubik was one of the only people I was afraid to see me cry. I didn’t have a choice, it seemed, as he put a hand under my chin and lifted my head up. “You’re going to get hypothermia out here.” He didn’t even ask if I wanted to come with him, he just transported me with him. Flashes of light went before my eyes until they stopped to reveal a beautiful-looking study. I was clearly not in Mercelon anymore.

He let me go and I gained my balance before wiping my face clean. “I never asked to be saved,” I muttered.

“You asked for the gods to do as they will. None take me as a god, but I did as they would.” Yubik held up the gem in his hand. “I’m going to go do as I will to this, and you will stay here to make yourself at home.” He pointed to several doors in the room. “Bathroom, bedroom, balcony, pantry. Anything else?”

I sniffled, sure to make it quiet. “How about a workshop?”

Another door appeared in the room behind him and he gestured to it, “Workshop. Don’t try to leave here; godly boundaries are more powerful than mortal magic.” He turned and started to go towards the workshop door.

“I… I don’t plan to leave anytime soon.” I tried to make it sound charming, but failed. He went through the door, leaving me by my lonesome. Wait, no. I frantically pulled Iyo from my own shadow and led her to a chair. “Are- are you alright? I’m sorry, I- I just forgot, and…-“

Iyo, fully uncloaked, nodded with a forced smile on her face. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re alright.” She stood up as soon as she was sat down. “I’m going to bathe. Please, allow me some privacy.”

“Oh… right, that’s okay. I’ll go… relax.” Why was I so flustered? “Let me know if you need anything.” She nodded again and left to the bathroom. I must have frightened her so badly, she doesn’t even want to see me. I looked like a sobbing fool to Yubik and an unremorseful witch to Iyo. Just great. I went to the balcony door and swung it open. Before me was a bustling city with beautiful lights, amazingly romantic music, and a wide array of glowing stars in the sky- all of it was probably fake. I could call out to the people, but either they wouldn’t hear me or they didn’t exist. It’s how the gods and goddesses manage to keep mortals from interacting with immortals. At least I got to see some angels. They didn’t exactly exist in the living world because you can’t go down to the living world as a mortal who’s ascended. Well, you can, but a god or goddess would have to send you themselves, and they never do.

“Stunning, isn’t it?”

I jumped, frightened by Yubik’s sudden appearance at my side. “Oh! Uh huh, y-yes, it is.”

He wasn’t looking at me, but that didn’t make him look any worse. “You are nervous.”

“Well, yes. I don’t know your intentions of bringing me here. I don’t know if I’ll be let go.”

“You have been brought to Ascentia before, have you not?”

“Maybe… once, but that was for a five-minute meeting, then I was sent back. I have never been brought here for the night.”

“Well, what do you think, then?” I noticed that he was wearing casual clothing, that being some rather snazzy-looking black pants and a white shirt caressed by a black vest, all complimented by a silver tie.

“I… I think it’s beautiful. I wish I could come more often, honestly.”

“The happiness and light doesn’t bother you?” he joked.

I laughed, probably too much for how humorous the joke actually was. “I don’t mind it, really.”

“Then, why do you live in such dark premises?”

“It’s… well, it’s my thing. My shtick, you could say.”

“’Dark Ruler’ comes with certain expectancies, doesn’t it?” The way he smiled made me stare a bit too much. He turned his gaze to me. “Right?”

“R-right, it does. Listen… thank you for answering my call. I know I’m only allowed to survive out there so long because of her with me.”

“That is very untrue, Lady Everlock.”

“But, my affiliations…”

“Your affiliations do not concern the gods. It is how you use those affiliations that concern them. Let’s say you happen to be born from the Void- no problem. Then, you live in the living world while being born of the Void- still not much of an issue, but you are put under a close eye. Finally, you begin murdering innocent beings with Void magic- then, there is a problem. If too much of the Void affects the living world, it may prompt a reset.”

“R-reset?”

“Destruction everywhere, Lady. It has happened before and will likely happen again. The Void is a toy to some beings, those beings not around anymore. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “Yes, I understand.” When I turned my head back to look at the people, I said, “Thank you for clearing that up. I was worried that was it for me out there.”

“Smite a stray lamb after she managed to defeat a god, retrieve her friend’s life essence, and save the soul of a person from living in an occupied shell for the rest of their days? Don’t push your luck too much, Lady, or you may be considered for godship yet.”

“I completely doubt that,” I laughed. “I know they resent me.”

“You judge people too quickly, Lady. If you spent some time to get to know others, you may find that you are misunderstood.”

“Over the years, I’ve found that there is little to get to know about them. You’ve seen what people these days do to even just Void worshippers, let alone a creature of it.”

“I don’t see the point in it. We are all part of a growing world, so why break each other down?” He never seemed to have much an opinion on anything, so this was interesting to me.

“Some people feed off hatred. They hate others and think they are superior.”

“What makes you any different?” he challenged.

I glanced at him, showing as much confidence as I could. “I know I’m superior.” That ended our conversation, it seemed. I watched the people walking by and the way they interacted with each other. The moon was shining bright in the sky, but it was much larger than in the living world. I liked it, though; it’s like the whole world was lit up without being daytime.

“You still haven’t cleaned up.”

“Is it proper for a god’s prince to be eyeing mortal women, sire?” I joked.

“I don’t recall there being an issue, unless the problem is your concern, Lady.”

I gave him a smile, “No problem on my end.”

Iyo spoke up from the other room. “Emily, you may bathe now.”

Yubik looked back, then at me. “I guess I’ll take my leave, then. Call if you need anything.”

“Oh, of course. Thank you,” I said as he left to a random door, I forget which it went to. When he was gone, I looked to Iyo. She was dressed in light purple sleepwear that probably appeared out of nowhere in the bathroom. “You ruined the moment,” I said.

“You like him.” She was holding back a giggle, I knew it.

“If you knew, then why did you interrupt?” I questioned her as I began a march to the bathroom.

“Would you rather him see you like that or all washed up?” She had a point.

When I got to the door, I chuckled. “Thank you, Iyo. I’m glad I brought you with me.”

“If my only purpose to you was to get you a partner, I would still be happy.” She giggled as I left the study. She was a nice person, for sure, but I just don’t really get her. She is quiet, hides herself when upset, and tends to go in the path of least resistance. Then again, I guess she is really smart, too, and knows when to turn the tides in her favor. Very, very interesting woman.

My bath was one of the best I’d ever had. There was a single knob to turn and it didn’t change the water temperature at all the farther I turned it; it clicked into position and the water was the perfect temperature already! It’s the little things that make me so happy to be here in Ascentia, especially with Yubik. Oh, Yubik. I’ve seen you so many times, yet I still feel a bit fluttery when I first see you or hear your voice. I know it is too cliché, but the Dark Sun and the Dark Ruler should stick together… right? Or, is this just another one of my silly fantasies? Perhaps… maybe it is. Many times have I wished for something to happen, something so small and trivial, something that was torn away from me because of my peculiarities. Mother, I just wanted to live with you again as a reunited family. What I got was too many betrayals, too much blood, and too many funerals. After everything with her, I just wanted to turn everything away from me. I was angry and devastated and… conceited, very conceited. I wanted to live as the Dark Ruler, the dictator over everything in the world. What I got was… Elyse, the one I’m saving now. After all that… is now. What do I want now?

“Emily?” Iyo called through the door.

“Hm?” I called back.

“Sire came by to offer dinner for us. Would you like to join?”

I was almost finished re-braiding my hair. “Uh… yes, please! I’ll be out soon!”

“No hurry, really!”

What do I want? Is it to be the famous Dark Ruler again, to be the most powerful mortal in Mercelon, to get rid of all my enemies, or am I looking for a life? A partner, a small home, some insignificant job… kids. It would be a waste if I were to not pass on my magic, after- no! If I’m going to have a child, it would be for them, not me. Maybe I’m not ready yet. Maybe I’m not ready for anything less than ruling the most hated nation in the world. Maybe…