I felt like I was slowly gaining consciousness, so I opened my eyes. As soon as I did, a person who looks exactly like me greeted me with a smile. My brows furrowed as I looked around, only to see nothing but the two of us.
"What a tenacious kid you are," she said.
That was when I realized who I was talking to. It's chaos personified. But I wonder where we are right now. The last thing I remember is seeing Bythos and my comrades rushing to my side.
"You really held on until the end. Because of you, we're stuck here!"
I smirked. "What? Didn't expect that?"
"You called for that damned god. That's why he made it in time! I was almost there. Just a little more and I would have completely taken over your body. If I did, they wouldn't have been able to do anything."
Oh. So, Bythos heard my call. I heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that everyone was saved because he arrived. I thought we were bound to be doomed because he didn't appear no matter how much I called for him.
"Serves you right," I replied with a smirk.
But I'm a little confused now because the place that we are in is unfamiliar. It looks like empty space with no end. Aiyana's domain is a little similar to this, but there were stars there. This one is literally empty. But there was something on the floor that looked like a magic circle.
"Anyway, where are we?" I asked.
"Wrecce. That damned Supreme King sealed the both of us here."
My brows furrowed because of what she said. "What? Supreme King?"
Chaos laughed at my naivety. It seems like the Supreme King is somehow related to Bythos, but I'm not sure what it was. That's why I stared at Chaos until it decides to tell me what's going on.
"That Bythos, as you know him, is taking over the current Supreme King. Once his mission to eradicate me is over, he will ascend to Celestia to become the sole god who would rule all over the world."
What? So he wasn't going to die? Then, did Bythos trick me to successfully carry his mission out? I pursed my lips as I felt my whole body trembling. I know that he didn't intend to do this to me, but being used as a puppet once again is making me lose my s**t.
"Oh? Are you crying?" Chaos asked while laughing at me.
Despite the fact that I've been used again, I tried my best to understand why. Bythos only did what was right. Eradicating chaos was the correct decision because it could lead to this world's destruction if he didn't. It was necessary, right...?
He could have told me, though. I would understand and carry his orders out without fail. That was what I've always done throughout the time. No matter how difficult it was, I kept doing what needs to be done because he said that I'm his only hope. So, why didn't he trust me about this?
Was everything an act to deceive me? Perhaps this is my karma for slaughtering people without feeling any remorse before. I laughed as I laid down to reflect on what has happened to me after taking all the responsibility that was given to me without my permission. Why do I continue to suffer even after I've been good? Doesn't matter, I've been happy even if it was just for a few months. That's enough for me...
Chaos looked at my face, probably just to diss me. "Oh? Have you finally gone crazy?"
"Leave me alone, you lunatic."
This damned brat just laughed at me. "You'll be staying here with me until the seal disappears. Probably months or even a year. Not like we can tell what the time is from here."
I groaned. "Do you not have plans on giving up? We're sealed in here for who knows until when!"
The way I see it, I'll be listening to nonsense until the seal goes off. I'm sure that by that time, Bythos and The Zodiacs would kill me along with Chaos. That way, everyone will be safe. Yes, I have accepted my fate. At least I'll finally be free. That's the only good thing that awaits me.
I doubt I'd get to see Karis smiling again. He's probably up there, thinking of ways to take me back to the surface. Well, I hope they're safe now. Hildus is gone, so I'm sure that there's no danger anymore.
"Why would I give up? I just have to wait! After that, I'll finally be able to wreak havoc once I've slaughtered those pesky brats who think highly of themselves."
Right. Why did I even expect that it would give up now? Chaos has probably been waiting since the beginning of time for this moment. I don't want such a wonderful world to plunge into oblivion. Besides, I refuse to let the ones I love die. They deserve to go on with their lives.
"You will never win against them."
"Hmm? Why? Because they have the power of friendship?" Chaos mocked me.
"Because you're nothing but a curse. They'll wipe you off the face of the world," I said without hesitation.
"Then, I'll drag you with me! I will never let you live happily after this."
I laughed at what I just heard. Me? Live happily? I don't think that's possible at this point. Even if I somehow get to live after this, I'll probably continue to be miserable. After everything that happened, I no longer believe that I can get to experience that. If I do, despair probably awaits me. That's why I no longer desire to feel it.
"Don't give me that crap. I will do everything that I can to hold you back even if it means that I'll die."
"Don't you care about those people at all?! Why have you given up on your life?!"
I raised a brow. "What? Are you concerned about us now? I thought you wanted to destroy everything?"
Chaos was taken aback by what I said. It seems like it's slowly adapting my personality after being inside my mind for a very long time. I guess that says how much influence I have over people.
I saw a white strand of hair on the floor, so I tried to see what my hair looks like by making a mirror out of water. We can still use magic inside the seal, but it can't be destroyed no matter how much magic we use. Anyway, my hair is completely white now. Meanwhile, the form that Chaos took looks exactly like me but with black hair. Perhaps this is because I've been using light magic too much. Now, my hair has the same color as the magic I use.
I sighed and stared at nothing. Chaos kept mumbling something, but I didn't want to hear it any longer. My mind kept on wandering to what could be happening out there. I'm sure that they're already planning something to prevent us from destroying the whole world. Right now, I'm still under the impression that I've been used too much and am being discarded now that I have served my purpose. I keep shoving those thoughts away, but they keep coming back.
"Hey..." Chaos called once again.
I closed my eyes and pretended that I didn't hear anything. I'm already going insane as it is, and this b***h keeps on adding fuel to the fire. As it stands, I'll go crazy before getting to meet the others. Yes, I'm still hoping that I can get to meet them even after realizing that I'll die. At least seeing their faces for the last time is enough for me.
Chaos suddenly jumped on top of me, strangling me with a glare that could kill me. Instead of struggling, I plastered a sinister smile on my face. For some reason, I couldn't feel any pain. My breathing didn't halt as well. Ha! Even if we try to kill each other, we can't do it because we're both numb. Or maybe it's just me.
I tried to stab Chaos with a dagger that was made up of light. Oh, it seems like it's the same for it. Or maybe it can't feel anything. It has no thoughts as well since I tried to use telepathy.
"I see. You're seeking destruction because you have no other purpose aside from that. Will you disappear once you've done what you need to do?"
Its grip on my neck loosened as it stepped back with a serious expression. That hit home, I guess. To be honest, I don't know what 'chaos' is. All I know is that it's a curse that would destroy the whole world unless pinned down.
"I am...the balance. I will not disappear no matter what!"
"Why don't you just let us kill you if you want to disappear anyway?"
"You know nothing, outlander."
I chuckled as images started to appear around us. There was a creature who looks like a dog with two heads, one had white fur while the other had black fur. It's definitely chaos from the beginning of time, the protector of the balance of this world.
Chaos suddenly screamed and I took the chance to look into its mind once again. Oh? Memories seem to have started flowing into its mind, plunging Chaos into confusion. I didn't expect it to have emotions because it looked like a doll that had nothing in mind aside from its one and only goal.
It seems like Chaos has been doing what it was told to do. However, a powerful goddess was born, similar to Bythos. The first one was a woman who carefully chose The Zodiacs. It slightly shook the balance, so Chaos tried to eliminate her.
The goddess won, but both of them perished after the battle as a consequence of breaking the balance. Chaos was sealed and turned into a curse that would be inlaid upon the next king. Meanwhile, the goddess ascended to Celestia and became the Supreme King.
Oh? If all those gods who were like Bythos died to become the Supreme King, that would mean that the current Supreme King is the previous king who ruled over the kingdom. I see. That's the fate of every god. I wonder if it would be the same for when I die.
"You seem to have lost your memories," I pointed out and laid down on the floor again.
Now that I know the whole story, it made more sense. The Supreme King is the new keeper of the balance, and that's why only the kings who had light magic were able to bear the curse of chaos. However, in fear of the revenge that Chaos plotted as it was sealed, they planned to eliminate it time and time again. But the gods kept perishing before getting to accomplish their mission. Bythos might be the first god to be able to do it.
"I will kill those bastards..." Chaos muttered when the images disappeared.
I stared at it, but nothing much changed. All I see are those cold eyes that want to erase everything that crossed its path. So this is how I looked back then. I understand why people feared me before...
"You will be the one to perish this time," I said as I closed my eyes.
"I am the only balance keeper. I will eliminate anyone who gets in my way."
"Go ahead and try."
It tried various ways to kill me, but not once did it succeed. Because of that, we decided to let each other be until the seal wears out. They could have sealed us forever, but that wouldn't guarantee that we wouldn't get out. Some lunatic might find out about this and find a way to break the seal. The only way to bring peace to this world is to eliminate one of the balance keepers.
I wonder how Karis is doing? What about the kingdom? Who is in charge while I'm sealed here? I pouted and played with my hair while staring above even though I can't see anything there. Did Bythos find a way to defeat us? I sure hope that he did.
Oh, wait! He's known about this for a long time now, so he probably has a plan in store. That was probably why he couldn't tell me about Hildus's plan. Based on his expression back then, he probably felt guilty for tricking me.
I don't know how much time has passed since we have been sealed. There was no way to tell since I can't feel anything. I never felt hungry nor sleepy. All we do is stare into nothing all the time. Chaos tries to mess with me from time to time, but my mind is too occupied to even pay attention.
"What are you thinking of?" Chaos asked.
"Why do you care?"
"I don't have anything to do since I'm no longer inside your mind. I can't dive into your memories to see you suffer."
I chuckled. "So that's what you've been doing to pass time back then. But you seem to have plunged deeper into evil," I pointed out.
"That's because I kept accumulating miasma as time passed by."
"You fed on it?" I asked, surprised.
Chaos nodded. "I needed it to keep my goal straight, which is to cause destruction as my way of seeking revenge. I would have hesitated had I not done it."
"You could have just accepted it and rested in peace."
"No. It was unfair for me. Lucia was able to find peace and even became the Supreme King and balance keeper, taking my one and only role from me like it was nothing. Do I not have any right to seek revenge?"
I smiled bitterly. Chaos is not wrong, that's the truth. All it wanted was to keep on protecting the balance diligently as it has always done, yet it was taken away from Chaos while carrying its mission out. Isn't that sad? Even I wanted to seek revenge for being abused all the time. I don't even know what prevented me from doing it when I had the power to do so.
Ah, right. That was my one and only purpose. Perhaps it was because I didn't want to lose it. After all, there wouldn't be anything left for me if I destroyed all of them. I would have lost my identity, which I didn't want to happen because it was the only thing that I had. Maybe I was unconsciously holding onto it even if I didn't want it.
"Do you want to play?" Chaos asked all of a sudden.
I blinked twice. "Did I hear that right?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm bored to death."
"Go play by yourself," I said and closed my eyes.
It finally stopped bothering me, so it became quiet. Peace, at last. I closed my eyes and started to think about what I have been doing from the time where things weren't this messed up. I think I've lived my life to the fullest even if it was just for a few months.
Hmm, it wasn't an ideal life, but I'm quite happy about it. Karis made sure that I was happy most of the time, so I can still call it a beautiful experience. I got to experience being loved and loving people. For the first time in my entire life, I made friends. People cried and worried about me. Even for a short span of time, everything felt right.
Chaos kept staring at me, probably diving into my mind again. "How does being normal feel?" it asked, probably out of curiosity.
"Don't ask me. I don't know how it feels either," I replied with a grim tone.
It laughed at what I said. Chaos seems to find me funny, laughing at whatever I say. Oh, wait! I experienced being normal in my dream, the ones where I met Bythos. Those felt so real like I was really an ordinary maiden.
"You'll never get to live normally once I destroy everything," it told me.
"Yes, I know. Our souls are going to disappear as well, preventing us from reincarnating. I know that, but I don't have any regrets."
We went silent once again, so I felt relieved. I wish we can see what they're doing right now because I want to see them...
I was surprised when an image suddenly appeared above us. It showed what the others from Plaisiria are doing. All of them look frustrated as Bythos talked to them. We couldn't hear anything, but it seems like they're working on a plan to fix this mess.
Chaos laughed again. "He can hear your thoughts. You two are indeed connected."
"I can't hear his thoughts," I replied.
"Yes, but that is not the point. Bythos can hear whatever you think. He's still watching over us."
"Wow, amazing," I said blankly.
Alright, then...
"Don't mind me and kill the both of us!'
From the image, I saw Bythos stopping like he heard some sort of s**t. I chuckled and paid attention to Karis instead. He looks frustrated like he hasn't gotten any sleep for a long time. My heart constricted in pain when I saw that he was about to cry. I'm glad that Drake doesn't leave his side now that the situation is really messed up.
Right now, I feel like they've given up on saving me because of their expressions. I tried mouth-reading, so I figured out that Drake was asking if there was any way to eliminate Chaos without having to kill me. I smiled and looked away because I couldn't bear seeing them that way.
"What did you say in your mind?" Chaos asked because of the way Bythos reacted.
"That they should just kill the both of us off."
"Who would be the queen when you're gone?"
I chuckled. "What? Have you accepted the fact that you're bound to lose this battle?"
"I am not. It's only a hypothetical question. Gods with light magic are rarely born."
I shrugged. "They'll probably find a replacement soon."
"You're insane."
"So are you."
We spent most of the times bickering and watching what Bythos wants us to see. The image would often disappear when Bythos doesn't want to show some scenes to us, which is probably them fighting. Meanwhile, Chaos and I would bicker over things that were mostly about the images that we see.
It feels like I'm watching from a television, which is funny. I don't really miss the technology from the other world because I'm more comfortable here, but it's quite amusing to see how this resembled a TV.
"What are you smiling for?" Chaos asked.
I didn't answer because I was sure that it would lead to another argument. Arguments seem to arise whenever I open my mouth, so it's better to keep it shut for as long as I can.
When I saw that Bythos and the twelve are traveling in Wrecce, probably ready to fight us made me realize that so much time has passed since we have been sealed here. I bet it's been almost a year now. I looked at the magic circle that has been slowly fading.
"We'll get out soon," Chaos said.
"I can see that. Are you ready to finally rest in peace?"
Chaos chuckled. "I will. After destroying the world, that is."
"No, you won't. I will hold you back for as long as I can."
"Do you know how much I've wanted to kill you? I've missed so many opportunities because of you!"
This time, I was the one who laughed. "That means that your mission isn't fated to be accomplished. Just give up."
"You never gave up, so I wouldn't. Thank you for the inspiration, Flare," Chaos said sarcastically.
I chuckled and closed my eyes, waiting for the seal to break. Bythos must have heard what we have been talking about since the day we were sealed, so we kept talking about nonsense to tease him. It was quite fun to be mischievous, even if I did it with a curse. To be honest, Chaos made sense most of the time, so it wasn't entirely boring.
"It's breaking, Flare..." Chaos muttered.
I opened my eyes and found cracks all over the place. The magic circle disappeared, and I could see the fire from Wrecce. My eyes immediately landed on the empty throne, as Chaos started to slowly disappear.
"Have you prepared yourself?"
"No..."
I could feel my consciousness starting to disappear. My head hurts so much, but I could see people quickly approaching it. Karis was there, panting while trying to reach for me like how he did back then.
I smiled at him while tears were streaming down my face. "Goodbye..." I said as everything went black.