image [https://i.imgur.com/M32YZ15.png]

The roar of the horde betrayed the desperate whisper of this friend. From boy to hero, from monster to king. A legend had now come to an end and a new era had been ushered into the world. But despite their triumphant victory the demon king could not help but ask.

“Why-“ His voice wavered. Shaken, unsteady and full of fear.

The armies of light and dark stood still, their blades crossed, bows drawn and spells uncasted. In the heat of battle their attention was called to the sound of victory. The other side’s resolute faces twisted in horror once they realize what had just happened while the other couldn’t be more pleased. A resounding roar of triumph erupting for their forces as the other felt their hearts beat still. The prophecy had been fulfilled.

A towering mass of muscle and red scales and red hair dancing across his entire body. Taller than any ogre or troll he had in his command, with horns more jagged than the face of the Seheran cliffs. Shaken to his core.

As his blade was sinking deeper into the person in front of him. Someone he used to call friend before destiny could no longer be denied. Blood red eyes staring into his own brilliant gold. Only breaking contact when he turned to look at where he was struck. His eyes were wide in disbelief and his hands trembled, drawing closer to his chest, right over to the sword plunged deep into his heart.

“Why didn’t you move out of the way?!”

The demon lord’s hands were shaking, unconsciously sinking deeper into to the warm body standing before him. The hero gurgled in pain, blood spilling out from his lips. And yet he did nothing. The armies of good stood behind their hero in terror, screaming, yelling at him to fight back but there was no ounce of violence to be found in his eyes. Only deep sorrow and regret.

“Sylvester!” The demon king yelled. His voice booming across the entire battlefield, drawing the fight to a halt.

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All but begging him to say something, anything that could make him believe this was all just.

This was their destiny. Nothing they could do would ever change that.

But the dark elf could only muster a weak smile and pull the sword deeper into him along with its wielder. Closer and closer until the hero whispered into his ear the words which he dreaded most.

“Old friend you- “When the truth spilled forth from the hero’s the demon king could not help but cry. And even when the light dimmed from Sylvester’s eyes and his limp body slide from the sword onto the dusty ground painted with blood the demon king could not help but stand still. His entire body was stone and his blood cold like ice.

‘None of this had to happen’

They were all cheering his name, Tiago the Red Dragon, Lord of a New Era.

‘If I had just listened-‘

But his mind was already resolute. He would be the demon king and he would make his people proud. Destroying every other path laid before him.

‘If they had just told us the truth-’

Would have he accepted it? Would anyone have if it meant everything that came before was a lie?

The hero’s party could not stand by any longer. They roared with righteous fury, pushing past his fiercest warriors and charging straight at him with every intent to take revenge for their fallen comrade. But before they could attempt to do so, the demon king struck first.

Unable to live with his guilt the demon king turned his own blade unto himself. Relinquishing his life in front of both armies putting an end to the war

Tiago the Red Dragon’s hulking form collapsed next to his friend. For a moment it seemed as though they were children once more. Playing on the grassy fields and sharing their dreams with each other. Before they knew anything of any prophecies or wars, of cruel twists of fate. It seemed so far away now…

So, when the void was knocking in the back of his mind, showing brief flashes of light opening into pure nothing, he made a promise.

“I’m entrusting everything to you now. Next time, it has to be different. . . . ”

He took his final breath so that the cycle start may start anew. Two more chapters for the history books to tell. One more tragedy their world had to mourn. In another time, in a different place with new names but all the same souls.

image [https://i.imgur.com/M32YZ15.png]