Mary and I stood in a white void—a product of my spell. Her demon features remained on display, in contrast to the blankness in all directions. She walked over to me and hugged me.

“Was that your doing?” Mary asked. “I remember things I shouldn’t have forgotten.”

My mind reeled. I would have loved to tell her I did that on purpose, but I wasn’t even sure of myself. I’d also forgotten. Instead, I returned her hug.

“Thank you, Eerie...No...”

I put my hand to her mouth. “Don’t say it. I wish to remain Eerie.”

Mary nodded before looking around the place in all directions. “Where are we?”

“I don’t really have a name for it, but while time is suspended, I am healing that monster.”

“Time is suspended?” She asked.

“It’s a simple spell, really,” I said with a grin.

“You know that’s not true. Why do you always do that?” Mary asked. “Even before, you did something similar.”

I put my hand up to stop her. I remembered the memory we shared. And I smiled at her. “What was it again?” I exaggeratedly put my hand to my chin. “Don’t get all sentimental with me.”

“You’re so unfair, Eerie.” She sighed and sat down on nothing. “But this memory is a small piece of me. I’ve lived for much longer as a demon.”

“I really didn’t intend to pass on the memory to both of us. It was triggered by the reading of my grimoire.”

“In other words, it was a side effect of this spell.” Mary sighed again. “I wish I could remember more about it—Earth. As it is now, it feels like some alien concept. It’s impossible for my mind to reconcile both lives without having more.” She giggled after a short pause. “But it seems that even in this life I’m still protecting you.”

“I think my mind struggled with reincarnation, so I probably buried the memories in my writings. I could only remember small amounts. Even in this life, some memories of the forest are lost. I think I was lonely.”

She stood back up and hugged me again. “Well, you won’t be lonely anymore. You can have all of us to lean on. Your life as an actress has only just begun.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

For the first time since I could remember, tears filled my eyes. Through everything that happened, I didn’t cry. I kept going. I clung to this identity. I found friends in this new life, but my tears never flowed as they did now. Mary patted my back while my eyes released little droplets, one after the other.

I smiled at her. “You’ve known the life of a demon. What was that like?”

“It’s not that much different from human civilization. I suppose, the biggest difference is the demon’s focus on strength. We’re brought up from a young age to think that strength is everything.”

“Is that how you became a Demon Lord?”

Mary nodded. “It wasn’t easy. For starters, there are many wrath demons, and wielding your nature isn’t simple. Many are consumed by what makes them a demon.”

“It sounds like you had a rough time.”

“Hm, it’s not all bad. Like I said, the civilization is not that much different from a human’s. It’s inevitable we’ll end up there at some point. I just hope an understanding can be reached at that time.”

“Can I ask why you left?”

Mary frowned. “I didn’t want to lead anymore. I don’t think what I did had ever been done in the history of demonkind. I passed the torch. Normally, the torch would be passed by someone who surpasses the incumbent through might alone.”

I nodded as my spell finished. The white void slowly faded away, giving way to the sight of a lush forest. The adventurers stood around in shock. No door stood in the clearing, and they’d all been transported from a ginormous boss room.

The only remnant was a small candle floating at the center of the clearing. The flame around on the top of the monster dimmed to a small red.

Sine broke me out of my stupor with a hug. “Witch helped him!”

I patted her head and raised my other fist triumphantly. “That’s why I am the greatest witch!”

Her eyes seemed to sparkle. But while we were having our moment, the lion man walked towards the candle. However, before he could touch it, I sent magic into the ground. Vines shot out of the soil and wrapped around his limbs, stopping him mid punch.

He struggled against them. “Let me go! Even if you are my future wife, this kind of obstruction to our quest can’t be tolerated!”

Soon, the axe hero was siding with the lion, rushing towards the poor candle to deal the last bow, but he met the same fate as the big cat.

Before long, anyone that tried to deal with the candle was wrapped in vines. In reality it was only one of the other heroes.

The king cleared his throat. “Let’s listen to what Eerie has to say. She did take care of our problem.”

I nodded, taking Sine’s hand, and walking towards the small candle. It didn’t speak even as we got close, but it didn’t move.

“As I am sure everyone can see, this candle is no longer a threat,” I said. “My wish is to unite this one with Sine.” I looked towards Sine while she nervously put her fingers together. “Do your best!”

She smiled back with a newfound strength, walking forward towards the floating candle. As she got to it, magic left her body and entered into the remnants of the colossal.

“His name is Cerumen,” she said, “and he says thank you for freeing his mind.”

I grinned at Cerumen. “This is just one of the many talents of an aspiring actress.”

There was a certain feeling that came with watching Sine take another monster under her wing. I watched the small flame of Cerumen grow a tiny bit. It felt like the flames of a new adventure sat into my lap, and the new candle brightened with the changing of seasons.