The rain poured relentlessly, drops splashing against stone and tile, mingling with the thunder that roared in the distance. Footsteps echoed through the desolate halls, a haunting rhythm against the silence of death. The air carried the faint metallic tang of blood, mingled with the acrid scent of betrayal.
Inside the Askran Castle hallways, Kaori paused, her breath unsteady, hands trembling, as her gold-and-white nightdress was stained with the metallic blood. Her sorrowful blue eyes gazed down at the lifeless body of Takumi, the Prince of Hoshido and famed archer from the World of Fates.
"I'm so sorry..." she whispered, her voice cracking as she turned away, the sound swallowed by the distant rumble of thunder. Her head hung down low as she strolled across the hallways, strands of her long, sand-beige hair hanging down to cover her gloomy mood.
"Clear as much evidence as possible and dispose of the final Hero at once." Her head remained hung down low as she commanded the soldiers, not willing to make any eye contact with them. "Yes, Miss Kaori." they responded, carrying the Prince's lifeless body as they exited.
Kaori felt regret for her actions. 'For the love of my life... For my saviour... This is all for you...' she sent her thought message to her devotion whilst walking away from the gruesome scene. Her hands trembled from the aftermath of her commitment.
She walked to the throne room, her steps heavy as the weight of her actions pressed on her chest. The doors creaked open, revealing him who clads in black. Lazarus sat upon the ornate throne, his dark brown eyes piercing as they locked onto her colour-changing ones as he twirled round a strand of his long, curly brown hair.
"Well? Any news, Kaori?" he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.
Kaori hesitated and gulped, her gaze drifting to the lifeless Askran Hero near the door before meeting Lazarus's expectant glare.
"...Everyone is dead," she finally said, her voice trembling. "I just... I just managed to kill Prince Takumi of Hoshido."
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Lazarus laughed, his voice booming through the chamber as he threw his head back. "Ahahahahahaha! FINALLY!" he roared, rising from his seat. "ALL OF THE KINGDOMS... are ours to rule FOREVER!" His dark brown eyes gleamed with unrestrained triumph. "I, Lazarus, and you, my dear Kaori... WE will become deities together."
He extended his hand, its slight tan stark against the dim light of the chamber. Kaori's lips curved into a faint, weary smile, relief flooding her as the weight of their shared goal seemed to lift.
"I promise you," Lazarus kisses Kaori's cheek, his warm embrace around her body, "our lives will be changed forever..."
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And that was five years ago. Despite being human, Kaori still awaited Lazarus to make her his deity, but she understands how busy he is, conversing with the Gods and the stars about their future. She was fully devoted to him. She'd go out of her own way just to protect Lazarus, regardless of what she hears from other citizens and nobles. But sadly she remained his fiancée, and nothing more.
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Four years ago, life in the Askran Castle was quiet—Too quiet. Despite that it was a year ago, Kaori's still shaken by the memories of her gravest sins she had committed, just for Lazarus, her love and devotion. She then hears other demigods who are allies with Lazarus chatting amongst themselves, and overhears them talking about her. She takes a deep breath, knowing that she has to get used to it, as long as they do not talk about Lazarus in a negative light.
"I heard that Lord Lazarus' partner is trying to claim control of the palace." One spoke in a murmur. Kaori clenches her hand, her eyes closed to remain her composure.
"A mere mortal? Her? HA! It's absurd to think she'd even try!" Another laughed.
"Her very presence taints the balance of Midgard." The third admitted with a sick smile.
'Just... stay calm, Kao...' The former Summoner breathed in and out so many times to keep her composure. 'No matter what they think, my loyalty to Lazarus will never falter.'
"Did you hear?" the fourth whispered, "I have heard that Lazarus is the lowest ranking among the Gods. To think that he plans to marry that commoner fiancée of his just so that she can boost up her rankings. What he is doing is clearly unjust. He made a terrible decision in doing this."
SPLAAAASH.
The fourth demigoddess froze, drenched in tea, her once-white hair now a dull, tea-stained brown. Kaori's crimson eyes burned as her trembling hand gripped the empty cup tightly. "DO NOT... SPEAK OF LAZARUS LIKE THAT AGAIN...!" She growled, her tone seething with rage.
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"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" A masculine voice came. Kaori's eyes reverted to a joyful yellow the moment she recognized his voice. "Lazarus!"
However, the long, dark-brown haired God's expression turned to one of shock and surprise. "Oh no! Lady Liesa!" He hurried over to the Demigoddess who was drenched with Kaori's tea. The former summoner's expression fell to surprise at how her beloved had supported the Demigoddess instead of his fiancée.
"Are you alright?! You're drenched from head-to-toe!" He then offered his hand up to the Demigoddess, "Please, allow me to help you." The Demigoddess Liesa sighed.
"I see that you are very well educated in your manners, Lord Lazarus! If only I could say the same thing to your fiancée!" Liesa stood up, and sighed in annoyance again. Whilst the other Demigoddesses scurried around Liesa, Lazarus smiles, but instantly turns his gaze to Kaori with a disapproving glare.
"You have absolutely NO RIGHT to treat a demi-deity like this!" He yanked her arm towards him, his tone seething with anger and disgust of Kaori's behaviour. "Can you not see that I need to earn their support to being a God?!"
"Compared to your reckless defiance, Lady Liesa's divine grace and her favor among the celestial council are far more valuable to my ascension."
Kaori's terrified violet eyes appeared as she is continued to be scolded by her fiancé, his dark-brown eyes glaring.
"How can you expect to ascend as my consort when you give in to such mortal trivialities? You must embody the wisdom and poise of a goddess, someone worthy of standing by my side as I rise to godhood. Only then will I consider you fit to claim the title of my bride."
"You will never understand what it takes to ascend to godhood, Kaori. Just do as I say and do not think about embarrassing me again." He then walked away from the scene, leaving Kaori stunned.
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And that's all Kaori has ever stroved to do after the four-year-old incident. She waited...
And waited...
And waited...
But sadly, she still remained to be Lazarus's fiancée and nothing more.
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One evening, Kaori was in Lazarus' room, sitting on the reading space, looking through word-to-word on a storybook, when Lazarus himself walks into his bedroom, his messy, long dark-brown hair slightly covering his eyes. The two finally conversed about their future together, but then he spoke up.
"I have some news to share." He began, "To rule alongside me as a deity... I am going to be marrying your best friend, Destiny."
The book dropped to the floor, the pages all folded and messy from the impact.
"What... did you just say?" Kaori whispered in shock, her transformed orange eyes showing. She instantly stands up and retaliates, "Destiny was already married to Takumi - the Prince of Hoshido. She's a Goddess herself, and has already made her husband to be a God. I thought... I thought that Gods are not allowed to marry a widow who already lost her innocence!"
Lazarus folds his arms as he stares nonchalantly at the sand-beige haired girl. "Fortunately for her, Lady Destiny is able to seek another husband since her marriage was short-lived and she has never lost her innocence." He explained, "Unless you want her to be trapped in the eternal fiery pits of Hell?"
Kaori refused to believe the news she was hearing. "But that isn't true! Destiny has already bore and miscarried Prince Takumi's child!" Lazarus grits his teeth in anger and...
SLAP.
Kaori's face turned sideways, her orange eyes widened in shock at his harsh contact on her now reddened left cheek.
"YOU'RE SUCH A JEALOUS LADY!!" he bellowed, "You would truly seek to tarnish another deity's good name?!"
SLAP.
Again, her face turns to the opposite direction, and now her right cheek has turned red from the slap, causing her to fall to the ground with widened eyes.
"GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!! I won't accept any more hideous accusations!!" Lazarus's voice echoed in the bedroom.
"Lazarus..." Kaori's voice begins to break, her hands trembling at this revealed betrayal. She clings onto his torso, panic and desperation consumed her emotions. "Please, listen to me! You told me that you loved me!" Tears begin to fall down from her face. "You said that you'll take me as your deity... AND THAT WE WILL BE TOGETHER FOREVER FOR ALL ETERNITY!!"
"Was everything... a lie?" Kaori's orange eyes transformed into blue and begins to cry, which, as his response, he sighs in annoyance. "You're certainly not fit enough to become a Goddess, Kaori. And you're just another commoner who uses her selfish desires to get whatever she wants. You're certainly nothing in comparison to the great Lady Destiny."
Kaori couldn't stop sobbing. Everything... was a blatant lie. "Could it be... That... Behind Prince Takumi's back and before his demise, you were secretly with Destiny?" She asked. The dark-brown haired God smirked evilly.
"Well... Lady Destiny was my very own destiny from the very beginning! And, I, the strongest God deserves the most beautiful and natural Goddess, am I correct?" Lazarus laughed, "And yet... The Gods and Destiny's adopted family paired me up with you, a filthy commoner human being who has no power and only is capable of summoning Heroes and play with them like toy soldiers and that's it. Could you even comprehend the humiliation I felt on that day?!" He grits his teeth.
Kaori's body slumped to the ground in defeat. "You... You mean to tell me... that I was never your destined?" She shakily asks, her tears falling and splashing on the marble bedroom tiles.
He sighed, his expression cold. "You are nothing, Kaori. You are nothing but a mortal clinging to delusions of grandeur. Lady Destiny was my true destiny all along." Her tears wouldn't stop falling down from her sorrowful blue eyes.
Kaori sniffles and tilts her head up, confronting him. "I GAVE UP MY LIFE FOR YOUR SAKE!" She roared, "I betrayed the Order of Heroes, abandoned my reputation and duty, and even gave away my life to help YOUR cause! I EVEN THROW MY POSITION AWAY AS SUMMONER, JUST FOR YOUR SAKE!!"
Silence fills the room. Glares between the human and the God are the only tension being created in the room. Lazarus swiftly couldn't bat an eye on Kaori any longer, and turns his head away from her in disgust.
"GUARDS!" Lazarus's voice rang out, summoning two soldiers into the room. "Take her to the Northern Tower. A demon from the pits of Hell has possessed her body, and that she is no longer welcome here." He fixes his clothes, first by patting it away.
Kaori struggled as they dragged her away, her voice raw with fury and heartbreak.
"LAZARUUUUS!" she screamed, his name echoing through the halls as the rain poured heavily outside, alongside the claps of thunder.