"I wonder how they're doing."

These words came from Bastion as he travelled in the back of a large carriage. Due to his bloodline, using his true form to move from place to place was only necessary in an emergency, and the nation's nobles did not like it when he refused their transportation.

Fifteen ogres appeared in front of the carriage he was riding in, as the largest one in front threw a stone towards him.

He still had a bit of a grudge against ogres, they had somehow managed to catch him by surprise last time he ran into some. This was his time to get back at them.

Bastion had told Klein he was only level 10 in attempt to allow the boy to awaken his own power. In reality, he was actually on par with the six heroes. A three hundred year old legendary creature was not somebody to be trifled with.

On his waist appeared a sword that hadn't been there before. The ogres in front were slowly moving to surround the now disabled carriage, thinking they had come across easy prey.

Drawing the blade, a katana with an ivory blade was presented. The sword was a family heirloom, and one of the ten most powerful swords in existence. The blade was forged with the horn of his ancestor, and had absorbed all the magic within.

"I have no need to use this weapon's skills against the likes of you."

He said this as he cut the first monster down as if it were a fly under a swatter. The other ogres exchanged a fearful look, but they weren't ready to back down yet.

Six of the ogres rushed the man before them at once, their heads flew faster than they could comprehend.

Screams could be heard, these giant monsters were running for dear life. Ogres are stupid, but they aren't stupid enough to run to certain death.

Bastion wasn't going to let them escape, it's more difficult to be merciful when you know your actions would only result in more innocent lives being lost. These beasts would not hesitate to attack the next travelers they saw. With a few quick movements the remaining ogres were all cut down.

He sheathed his sword and got to work repairing the carriage. In front was the carriage driver, a Lycania knight ordered to protect the Prince at all costs was standing next to the carriage. He didn't even have an opportunity to fight.

"It's ok, Meladim. I've told you, the only reason I took the offered protection is because the nobles wouldn't give me the chance to refuse."

"I'm ashamed I was unable to assist with this matter, lord Bastion."

"Don't worry about things like that. You are a brave fighter, but that many ogres would have been too much for you."

Once the carriage was repaired, the unicorn continued his journey.

His father and brother were still on a diplomatic mission in a small kingdom to the west, and he was currently headed to investigate an occurrence in the royal capital of Sargonya.

The return of Princess Lilyana.

Bastion's head was flustered. As much as he wished to cling to the hope his friend was alive, he knew all too well what this was.

Princess Lilyana was dead. The demons from that castle had done something to her body in attempt to weasel their way into Sargonya's politics.

He had raised Princess Lilyana since she was a baby, and placed part of the blame for this occurence on himself. Maybe he could have retrieved her body and gave her a proper burial, though that may have put the boy at risk.

Bastion thought back to the little girl running away from the castle to explore the outside world, not knowing that he was watching. The young lady who studied every night until she fell asleep in her book, and took every ounce of combat training with seriousness as if it were life and death. He thought about the woman who slayed a basilisk single handedly, wielding advanced magic far beyond her age.

He thought about the Princess who sacrificed herself for something she believed in, and his heart saddened.

He was going to kill Princess Lilyana.

This world contains countless magic. Creating storms with your hands is possible, using the power of gods to smite your enemy is commonplace in war, healing magic that can pull somebody back from the brink of death is a miracle that happens every day.

But you can't bring somebody back from the dead. Ultimate magic requires a trade. Whether it's stored mana, or some form of enchanted accessory. The moment Lilyana cast ultimate magic with no trade, her life was forfeit. The trade for the magic was her very soul.

If one were to cast ultimate healing magic on her at that time, there would be no effect. This is the price she paid, and one that she bet the fate of the world on.

Resurrection magic doesn't exist in this world.

He had been travelling for 14 days, and the royal capital crested on the horizon. The capital city of Sargonya, Karion.

The city was at least twice the size of Calerion, and the layout of the roads was much more deliberate. Karion was divided into six sectors, with a giant wall encasing each. The royal castle stood in the center, and the sectors surrounding it created a neatly formed giant circle.

Bastion entered the city through the merchant district. As he showed the pendant he wore as proof of his bloodline, the guards let him through with no hassle.

He had been thinking about how he should go about this since he heard the news. If he marched directly into the castle and killed the princess, he would surely become an enemy of the state and it would ultimately lead to war.

On the other hand, if he spoke to the king, the odds that he would be believed were low. The king had deep love for his daughters, and it wouldn't surprise Bastion if he was too blinded by her survival to see the truth.

In the end, he decided to take up residence in the castle for a while and evaluate the situation further. This was a matter on a national level, and could not be taken lightly.

"Lord Bastion, I haven't seen you since the princess ran off on her adventures."

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Raphten was a noble of Sargonya, and a decent man. Most nobles were greedy, and only cared to maintain their own status. The emotions Bastion read from this man's heart had never had any of that, and it seemed he truly cared about the people of the kingdom.

"Ahh, Raphten. It's been too long, how have you been?"

"The kingdom is in a good state and my people are happy, for now. I trust you heard of the incident in Calerion.

Incident in Calerion?

"I've been travelling for some time, and have been quite separated from the outside world."

"Ahh, I see. It would seem the adventurer's city was attacked by the Demon Lord Ashken, but he was slain by the hero Eldridge and his army repelled."

"I'm glad to hear that, I have friends in Calerion I would hate to see injured."

"Friends of the great unicorn? I would hope to be able to meet them one day."

"I'm sure he'll find his way up here soon enough. He's going to be strong, after all."

Bastion parted ways from the noble and proceeded to the quarters provided with news of his arrival.

As he was walking the hallway, he saw her.

The dead princess was standing before his eyes, and he sensed no animosity from her heart. She was dressed formally, wearing a beautiful yellow dress with her hair draping past her shoulders.

"Bastion!"

Lilyana was excited to see him. A confused Bastion was met with a giant hug from the girl he raised.

Was he wrong?

Unicorns could sense the hearts of people, and the heart of the woman in front of him was the same he had raised.

"What happened at the castle?"

Lilyana looked down and started to ponder.

"I remember casting ultimate magic with no trade, and then my eyes went dark. After that, I woke up outside the castle walls. How's Klein?"

"Ahh, he's well."

"Where is he right now? I'd like to see him."

The princess said this with a huge smile, but Bastion was hesitant to give more information. There was a chance this was some magic he hadn't seen before.

"I can't really say, we parted ways about a month ago."

"Ahh, I'm sure I'll meet him again someday."

Lilyana was strangely oblivious to the situation. If anybody should know the dangers of her coming back from that place after casting an ultimate spell, it's her.

"How long are you staying in the castle, Bastion?"

"I'm not entirely sure yet."

"I'll see you around, hopefully we can talk more while you're here! I miss having you around."

The two parted ways and Bastion finally arrived at his room. There were so many things going through his mind that he couldn't make light of.

That night, he didn't sleep much.

The next day he had lunch with the king. They were old friends, and outside if his daughters, the king trusted nobody over Bastion.

"I'm glad you were able to take care of my daughter for all these years, Bastion."

"I was only doing what I thought was right for the world, King Pelifa."

"Either way, she would never have gotten to the point she is today if it weren't for your mentoring. You raised a wonderful woman, and I only wish that I could have done the same."

It didn't seem he had suspicions of what happened.

"You're too kind, I believe your daughter became the person she was on her own. I merely tried to point her in the right direction."

"Ahh. I see."

The king's tone changed to a darker one.

"I have a favor I need to ask of you, Bastion."

"What is it?"

"This is not a favor from one country to another, but from a father to his one true friend."

The king seemed like he was fighting some sort of internal struggle.

"You said it yourself a few moments ago. My daughter became the person she was on her own. She didn't become the person she is, which only means that you have knowledge that I dont."

He was truly a smart king. Perhaps I had been a fool to assume he would be blinded.

"I need you to kill my daughter."

"I see."

"So you understand?"

"I didn't read anything suspicious from her heart during our meeting, but there was a bit off from the way she was speaking."

"Yes, Lilyana cast ultimate magic in exchange for her own life. There is no way she should be alive right now. The true Lilyana would have never returned here for the chance her mind would be used against her."

"I agree, but is there any solid evidence? On the off chance this is a miracle, I don't want to do anything rash."

The king nodded.

"Since she's returned, there have been a few incidents. Firstly, there is a representative from Calerion residing here while maintaining a portion of the barrier remotely. He was found dead two days before Demon Lord Ashken's assault, which resulted in the barrier being severely weakened."

That was surprising indeed, not many people would have access to this information.

"Second, the princess was never this perfect. Everything I asked of her she would argue with me, and throw alternatives at me with the massive intelligence she has. Now she's been acting how a princess should be expected to act."

Ahh. The princess has always been rebellious. Such is the very state of her soul. If her soul is gone, her mind may very well have it's memories but I would not be able to read anything from her heart. It would seem anything she has told me was a feint.

"Kazilim."

The princess was most likely the thrall of a vampire. It could be expected that the vampire responsible was none other than the Demon Lord Kazilim, king of the vampires.

"I understand, King Pelifa."

They shook hands, and Bastion saw tears trickling from the eyes of the king.

"Thank you for everything."

"I want you to know that she didn't die in vain. I believe the man she sacrificed herself for will become the lynchpin for the war against demons."

The representatives of the two nations went their separate ways. Bastion headed to inform Meladim to prepare for departure the next day, but he was nowhere to be found. The knight was a reliable man, so he decided to leave it at that and inform him later. There was much to be done.

Once again Bastion found himself face to face with the former princess.

"Bastion! Are you busy? Do you mind going for a walk, just like we used to?"

He mustered himself to maintain his poker face. This was going to be more difficult than he thought.

The woman in front of him was a servant of a Demon lord, but contained all the memories of the little girl he had raised.

"By all means, let us reminisce."

The two walked outside the castle grounds, and came to the gardens Lilyana had always admired.

"You know, it's already too late."

?

What did she just say?

"What do you mean, it's already too late?"

She laughed.

"You know, you're a terrible liar Bastion. You always have been."

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what you think I've lied about."

"You can drop the act now. I was listening in on your meeting with the king."

She smiled at me with innocence.

"I'm a thrall of the Demon Lord Kazilim, you said it yourself in the meeting with my father. But I've already passed enough information to serve my purpose. The secrets this nation wanted to protect so badly are already in their hands."

"Lilyana."

"Yes, I am still her in a sense. I have everything she had except for a soul. The memories of all the times she took this walk with you when she was young. The memory of her giving her life to that boy, only to end in a meaningless sacrifice. You know, she really thought it was the right thing to do."

"I'm sorry."

The woman snickered, in a way it was a bit creepy. As she did the bag she carried dropped to the floor, she opened it to reveal the head of Meladim, the knight Bastion had rode in with.

She burst into laughter. No longer was this the innocent face of the princess he had protected, but the twisted face of a monster with no remorse.

Bastion sat in silence.

"I wanted to make you suffer. I know there's no way I could kill you but the memories this girl has make me sick. How could somebody look up to someone like you? I guess taking out somebody close to you was the only thing I could really do to stick it to you. You totally believed I was her until the king said something too! What a worthless idiot. If this is the type of man that rules a country, it's going to be a hell of a lot easier to take out the races then we thou-"

Her voice was cut off by the ivory sword running through her chest. Blood ran along the edge as she coughed.

""

"Bastion"

The twisted face changed. The blue eyes of Princess Lilyana looked up towards Bastion as she smiled with a slight spurt of blood. Maybe this was the real woman speaking, happy that he was the one to end this.

Maybe this was the twisted demon playing with his emotions in attempts to haunt his dreams. No matter what caused it, there was no turning back.

The skill took effect, and the princess was swallowed whole by the blade.

At dawn, residents of the capital and surrounding towns spotted a rare majestic site. Some claim a unicorn was spotted running to the west, in the direction of Lycania. Normally this would be deemed a sign of good luck, and symbol prosperity. The people didn't feel this way though, as the unicorn seemed to be crying.