CHAPTER 29: MY TWISTED MIRROR OF TRUTH?

The air became silent, as the ominous air became thicker due to the dark Goddess's grinning smile. Zeran was still letting out a saddened smile, since he was feeling the great guilt had returned to his deep core. He was still shackled from the mystical chains summoned by the dark Goddess Ruhime. His mind made him to return to his sea of memories in the most vivid way possible, such as he had clear images in his head.

He was now in front of the same runic door from before but, he was accompanied by the brave valkyrie-like Mai for some reason. Though, neither of them have any sort of special bond since, the two of them were just mere allies on a quest given by the light Goddess Angehime. More than that, Mai has drastically changed since then, from an adorable maiden-like empathic forgiving angel to a brave unforgiving valkyrie who reap out terror to her enemies. Zeran sighed and opened the ancient door. Thereon, they saw the slumbering dark Goddess Ruhime lying on the black bed surrounded by a few fluttering lavander butterflies. As Zeran took a closer look, he was seeing more of her elegant and daring appearance such as she was truly a Goddess to behold yet, filled with a sinister vibe, turning him to blush for a mere moment as his sight was foccused unto the dark Goddess diva. It seemed he was feeling an unusual feeling, as he was mesmerized by the sleeping dark Goddess Ru. Ru noticed both of their presence although, she just continued to shut her eyes, since she doesn't know what to do. Though, she was also surprised in her thoughts,

("Huh? They're here already?!")

("I haven't done anything yet?!").

A little while later, Mai went inside the room. Zeran lifted Ru's back. He brought out a shortsword clad in all white. It was made from pure silver, glistening its amazing brilliance on the fray. As Mai noticed that alarming incident, she just looked away, since she kinda felt sorry for her former friend Ru. Though, she still uttered out her words filled with doubts indirectly,

"Zen...I know this sounds wrong but..."

"Do you think it's too early to trust on what Light Goddess Ange had said?".

Zeran sheathed the sword then replies,

"Geez Mai...do you still doubt her?"

"Besides...this very place of the dark Goddess Ruhime spits out evil and desire..."

"Just look at this place...it looks like a high class love hotel..."

"I'm sure she had laid a lot of men by now...and these dolls must be the cursed guys she had been intimate with..."

"I don't need to sniff the SCENT of this Goddess...I had enough of sniffing your weak fishy scent...and those prostitutes at that city...".

As Ru heard his insights about her, it made her to twitch her eyebrow such as she felt kinda insulted somehow. She tried to bring out her words and deny his words yet, she just kept it in her thoughts,

("U-uuum hero...I'm still a virgin...though they say my actions are similar to a flirty woman...but I haven't bonded with any male yet...geez...")

(I just collect hero dolls...I don't turn guys into dolls...")

("There is ANOTHER GODDESS who turns 'em into those...")

("I just have a thing for black, pink and violet colors you see...").

Mai was noticing that Ru was kinda infuriated, even though she was in her sleep. Sadly, Zeran continued to flap his unforgiving mouth, trying to prove his statements to Mai,

"Since she's the embodiment of lust and desire...".

Ru was in her thoughts yet again,

("Lust and desire? What?!")

("I guess Ange toyed with my...title again...").

Mai wasn't happy too when she heard his opinion about her and does she even care what scent of hers was like. The air was filled with steaming rage from the both infuriated girls due to the not so compassionate Zeran in his words. Soon after, he uttered out more of his insulting words,

"All I could say is I fully trust the light Goddesses..."

"Except you though...".

Mai just rolled her eyes like she was just brushing off his striking words. Though, she still spoke her own opinion about the dire incident that had happened in her former world,

"Ugh...I was a victim too ya know...".

He didn't care that much for her opinion since, he's still having a burned scar the fact that she kept some dark things hidden in his wake in the former world. It seemed he had already lost some respect to Mai. He shifted his look unto the sleeping Ru lifted his arms. His very eyes was becoming more and more mesmerized by her gorgeous appearance, making him to fantasize in his thoughts,

("Hmmm to think this sleeping beauty is the dark Goddess of this world herself...")

("She's kinda very sexy and delicious and...")

("Oh Gods! I'm getting entranced by her fast!...")

("I need to kill her quickly!").

Zeran unsheathed the silver blade once again. Though, Ru was alarmed, as she heard the sword was being brought out from its scabbard since, she knew what would come next for her. She tried to express her words unto him but, she was just locked into her panicking thoughts or maybe she doesn't want to know that she was just fake-sleeping,

("No don't! Hero! I haven't done anything yet!")

("Don't kill me yet!").

Sadly, he stabbed her left chest immediately. He didn't hear her words of plea filled with mystery, since she didn't let them out fast. The sword penetrated through the dark Goddess's back, dripping out immense crimson fluid. Her body became cold and she felt that death was ready to take her yet again. Mai noticed that Ru left out a crimson tear and blood from her thin frowning mouth, crying her heart out nearing death's door. Moreover, Mai felt some kind pity for her former friend's endless torturing cycle. Zeran didn't mind the feelings of Ru before, instead he wore an excited smile, since he had accomplished the very objective of a hero, as said by the light Goddess Ange, meaning he would be generously rewarded for the said feat of slaying the dark Goddess. Soon, he put the severe bleeding Goddess Ru back to her bed and he said,

"Now to grab those said artifacts...since they are the very weapons of destruction as said by light Goddess Ange..."

"Now to call on Gav and the others outside...".

Mai didn't let out any expression but, she just walked out immediately. Zeran took a long glance at Ru again and even snucked a blanket around her to let her sleep in peace of death. Though, as he looked at her crying face leaking out crimson blood, he felt some kind concern and sadness for her for some reason. Though, as Ru heard something regarding the artifacts, she was deep in her thoughts before she dies,

("Please...just...not...those...")

("Those...aren't weapons...of...destruction...")

("Those...are just my...my brand of past...memories with...them...").

A little while later, Zeran had snapped out of his vivid flashback. He was still latched with chains. Ru's eyes were set on revenge. She walked around him letting him feel the vibe of an oozing menacing beauty before she shall let him taste of her judgement. Sometime soon, she looked at him straight in the eye and she was ready to stab him in his chest. The very air of malice and death's door was near him. There were black butterflies fluttering around such as a sign of bad omen. As Zeran was ready for his utter demise, Ru snapped her fingers high into the sky again. Suddenly, the chains were gone and disintegrated into the whiff of purple starlights. He was freed from the chains that disabled his very movements before. Ru sheathed and returned her knife. Zeran was widely shocked and he felt the air of death was gone immediately. It seemed the scary aura of Ru was gone and her aura was replaced by an aura of a playful woman free from any kind of malice. Though, her daring and sinister appearance was still there. Soon, she sat on her black round bed and said,

"But we aren't here to talk about that...nor do I REALLY want to dish out MY REVENGE on you now, since you made me very happy, entertained and even...fullfilled...".

"I only tried to scare you, since I wanted to see how much frightened you would be by the another part of me...that I show to a lot of people...".

She went in front of him again. She caressed his face with her flawless soft hand. Zeran felt some kind of passionate sensation, as he was locked into looking at her directly due to her Goddess caress. Ru was letting out a thankful smile aswell. The bad omen of butterflies turned into the great numbers of golden and lavander glowing butterflies, amplifying the soothing feeling around the two budding lovers. Thereupon, Ru said with her soothing voice and beautiful divine smile,

"In fact...I'm quite grateful to you Zera, since you chose to be with me til' the end..."

"Soon...I'll free you from being my slave...".

Zeran felt relieved and he tried to recall on what she had said in his thoughts,

("Phew...I thought she was gonna kill me...")

("Ru's kinda creepy and weird...but she's kinda amazing to be with!")

("Glad I agreed to her demands...").

Though, he was also alarmed inside his mind on the latter parts she had said,

("Wait? The end?")

("So...the artifact here is her last one?")

("I guess...we're done now...")

("Now what?")

("So after this...I'm free now?")

("Awww...but I kinda don't want to part our ways yet...")

("I want to be with Ru a little while longer...").

He seemed to be acting like a pleading kid in his hidden expression. Ru went back to her bed. She removed the black bedsheet in a very forceful and majestic way. In turn, there the mirror of truth was revealed, although it looked like an ordinary handmirror of any self-conscious teenage girl would have, its handle and frame was dyed in glittery glassy pink. Then, she says,

"More than that...we are here...For the MIRROR OF TRUTH!".

Zeran expected something grand for the so called mirror of truth yet, it didn't meet his amazing expectations, thus his eagerness went down the drain, turning his expression to be filled with a mix of disturbance and annoyance. His thoughts weren't so forgiving either,

("Mirror of truth...it's just an ordinary girly mirror!").

Ru grabbed her mirror and looked at her daring self in it. Not only that, she whiffed her blunt bangs. Though, she noticed that it had a streak of a major crack along the center of the mirror, making her foxy ears to look so down. She wore a worried look and says to herself afterwards,

("Awww...why did it become broken...")

("Have I become fat...").

For some reason, she didn't mind the damage that much, since she's after for its sentimental value regarding her memories. As the two had accomplished their objective, the two of them left, bringing along her handmirror. The both of them traversed back until they reached the small cave where they took shelter from before. Ru told Zeran to sit. Zeran did as he was told and Ru sat in front of him. The air became quite subtle and there was a sudden silence in the winds. Ru nodded and bit her index finger, causing it to drop her pure ruby-like blood of a noble. Next, she touched his left chest with her blood-seeped finger. That moment, Zeran's slave seal dispersed and it was totally gone. Ru let him feel her Goddess carress. Moreover, she let out a joyful smile, proving he had done well on her request and he's free from her shackled chains of some sort of slavery. Zeran didn't feel any kind of happiness, instead he left out silent tears and expressed a very frowning face that was full of heartaches. Suddenly, he hugged her tight with all his heart. Ru was shocked for a mere moment. Though, she kinda felt sad too since, she'll miss Zeran too, so she embraced him with all her being. They felt the fluttering passionate sensation was even stronger than ever before. Their inner hearts seemed to be feeling each others heart aches and they were understanding more of each other. Their embrace took the longest amongst any they had done before, since they shall bid farewells soon enough, so they were taking their sweet time. Lots of lavender and golden butterflies were surrounding around them such as gemstones and petals, amplifying their very sensations. The two were in a trance yet again, with the brightest starlights, as they were looking into each others eyes. Though, Ru tried to cheer him up by showing her endearing smile upon him, trying to say, "Don't cry...hero...". Sadly, Zeran let out more tears and hugged her more, since they might not see each other again. Sometime soon, the two had snapped out of their trance and the two of them were now treading along the snowy plains of Shiverwind cliffs. Ru leaned to him and asked,

"Say Zera...how was being with me...before we part ways?".

Zeran replies,

"All I could say is that its been amaz—".

Sadly an effeminate voice interrupts by the distance,

"Well well well, what do we have here..."

"The former king and the Evil Goddess are having a LOVE AFFAIR now?"

"You've truly stooped so low now my dear Zen...".

Zeran and Ru looked over the distance and saw the high-esteemed Queen Fae with her knights in armor. Though, the knights were clad in shining gold and abyss black full plated armors. The air became colder than ever before. Zeran was now wearing an angered look and said,

"Tch...why are you here Fae?".

Queen Fae responds,

"Let's just say, the DARK GODDESS RUHIME ordered us to KILL YOU..."

"And you were just being twisted around in her little finger...".

Though, Ru denied Queen Fae's statement by saying,

"Zera...don't believe in her...I didn't order any of them to kill my beloved Zera who made me happy during this journey...".

Ru's very words made Zeran to feel some kind of gratitude and boosted his affection for her even more. He looked at Ru and it seemed she was really telling the truth, as she was expressing a furious look too. Even though, he already knew that Fae's statements were all filled with twisted lies. He was in his thoughts afterwards,

("Wow...Ru's into me now...now that's a weird development...even if we'll say our farewells...").

Soon Zeran utters out with great emphasis, defying Fae's mouth of lies, pointing his finger unto her statements,

"Sorry b*tch Fae...but I don't believe your story..."

"WHAT'S YOUR REAL MOTIVE IN COMIMG HERE?".

Queen Fae cracked out a sinister grin on her face. Zeran saw her grin but, it wasn't filled with some sort of cuteness and tempting beauty such as Ru's yet instead, Fae's expression was filled with demonic intent and would scar anyone's soul, despite the holistic color of her hair. Queen Fae let her devious hand feel her whole face, amplifying her malicious form even more and she said,

"It seems it didn't work...so I guess I'll tell you the truth..."

"Let's just say we were given orders by the Light Goddess herself to seize the Dark Goddess..."

"Since she's creating a newer kind of darkness that is a threat to the light Goddess's world..."

"And to make it all possible...she had chosen another hero...".

As the cue was set, Nassus appeared behind Fae. The falling snow was gone, the air was frozen, the sky was dimmed with dark clouds covering the radiance of the sun's rays, proving the grand entry of Nassus. Queen Fae wreathed unto him such as she was a vile snake and lifted her other leg such as she was proving to Zeran and Ru that they were in a relationship of a boyfriend and girlfriend. Then, Fae expressed her words,

"Glad you had come...my new LOVE Nassus".

Ru was frozen in fear, as she saw the monstrous hero yet again. Her hands were shaking, her tail was stiff and stoned below. Zeran was shocked not only in his eyes but, inside his thoughts aswell,

("This can't be a joke right?!")

("NASSUS IS HERE?!")

Queen Fae noticed that both Zeran and Ru were spilt in grave shock, so she tried to melt their stiffened looks by proving their utter demise is near their fingertips by saying,

"So what will it be, Zen?".

Zeran bit his lip in anger, since he had no other choice to begin with. Soon, he was convinced. He went near the huge vacant area. Ru tried to stop him by reaching out her hand but, she felt there was no other way around. Nassus went to the opposing side by the distance where Queen Fae, her knights and Ru could observe. Zeran brought out his golden claw once again but, he took on a defensive stance, readying to block and anticipate any kind of strikes. Nassus didn't bring out his sacred weapons yet again, and just stanced normally, clenched his fist, eager for more bloodshed. Cracklings of his fingers were heard by the audience. The cold air was mixed with the fiery flames of the battlefield. Ru just looked down and wore a solemn and hopeful looking face hoping for a miracle, in which it was quite ironic for a dark Goddess to plea for divine mercy yet, also pitful. The next whiff of the air, Nassus already dashed in front of Zeran with blinding speed. Thankfully, Zeran was able to block and parry Nassus's first blow, making Nassus to lose his balance for a mere second. Zeran tried to dish out a swing of his claw to Nassus's face yet, Nassus vanished in the speed of light instantly. Zeran noticed that Nassus was already beside him. Sadly, his recoil from his claw took longer than expected, so Nassus was able to throw so many powerful punches at Zeran's side. Zeran wasn't able to block all of them turning his body and face to be pummeled down fast. The next moment, Nassus, punched his stomach with immense force, letting him cough out blood. Zeran wasn't able to recover himself so, Nasus grabbed his neck and lifted him up. Soon, Nassus squeezed his powerful hand, suffocating and almost crushing Zeran's windpipe. Zeran's vision became cloudy and the lights of his senses were almost gone. As Ru was noticing that Zeran is nearing his death, she shouted with all her heart and pleaded kneeling unto the ground,

"PLEASE NO MORE!"

"STOP HURTING ZERA! Please! Just don't kill him!"

"I beg of you...".

Ru's eyes were leaking out pitiful crystal tears. Her appearance wasn't that much of a Goddess yet instead, she was like a maiden or a princess begging to stop the grievious torture of her dear lover. Nassus had stopped clenching his hold unto Zeran and just threw him over the long distance. Queen Fae cracked out a devious grin when she heard the dark Goddess pleaded like a little girl. Fae was very fascinated to see the pitiful Goddess on the ground. It seemed their very fates have been reversed, such as Ru was now the priestess begging for mercy, while Fae had descended unto becoming more like the dark Goddess herself. Nassus had paused for a second and Fae brought out her words filled with sarcasm,

"Really? I can't believe I would hear that from the EVIL GODDESS herself..."

"Such irony this is..."

"You heard her dear Zen..."

"She pleaded in order for you to live..."

"Now...If you would come with us...soon former dark Goddess Ru..."

Ru stood up but, her broken tears were still pouring from her determined look.

Nassus went in front of Ru in a flash of light. That moment, Nassus was giving her an icy stare and he was towering over Ru's vision, blocking off any light, making her to feel very terrified, turning the air to become dense and thick. Suddenly, Nassus punched her stomach. The powerful jab made Ru to cough-out her ruby-like blood, staining the snowy ground in deep scarring velvet. She felt the immense excruciating pain that coursed throughout her veins, such as she was hit by a cannon ball that came from the not so gentle Nassus. Soon, she lost her consciousness and fell asleep. As the slumbering Ru almost lost her balance, Nassus seized the opportunity and lifted her on his powerful arms. Then, he carried her off like she was some kind of baggage on top of his broad shoulders. While the severed-looking Zeran saw that his Goddess Ru was being carried away, he tried to reach out with his hand, crawl his way back to her and he says his weak words filled with shock,

"Ru...why...".

("This...can't be happenning...")

("I can't believe...I'm this weak...")

,as he said in his thoughts filled with regrets. Zeran was down for the count yet, dark miasma had bursted out from his body, seeping the whole place in the air of death and decay. His abyssal aura was too thick and even filled with terror, making the golden and black knights to cower in fear, despite their steeled souls. Darkness shrouded the whole place, muting anyone's senses into the void. Zeran got up somehow but, his vibe was filled with grave negativity and he wasn't in his usual self. It seemed he was truly a demon spreading out fear and terror to anyone in his wake that moment. His eyes were glaring in berserk red. His emotions were dead such as a lifeless zombie. His golden claw was cloaked in deep darkness. Soon, he tried to pounce and strike at Nassus with great speed and ferocity. Thankfully and quite sadly, Nassus anticipated his strike and Nassus casts out his magic spell immediately,

"PENDRAGON BURST!".

From the dark skies above, there emerged a twisting serpentine energy that had the shapes and rainbow colors of prismatic searing dragons in different elements, that descended and struck down the berserked Zeran. As it hit him, the whole place was filled with immense bursting energy of white. Zeran was totally shrouded by the powerful light, burning flames, freezing ice, shocking lightning, blasting winds, gushing waters, and torturing darkness were mixed into the most deaf-defying way as possible. Soon, the powerful light had ceased. Zeran was revealed battered and unconscious lying on the ground. The air of death was gone and Zeran's terrifying aura had dispersed. Fae was convinced that she had won, so she knacked out a menacing smile. Afterwards, Nassus, Fae and her knights left the area, bringing along the poor dark Goddess Ru. Zeran was swimming in his thoughts filled with uncertainties a little while later,

("Is Ru really evil and wrong, while Ange is truly good and right?")

("Is Nassus really the hero and I'm the villain all along?")

("What's good and evil?")

("What's light and darkness?")

("This can't be the end right?").

Sometime soon, Ru was thrown in a certain room in a dark dungeon below, that the only source of light were the white flaming torches. Her delicate hands were chained upwards such as she was hanging like some kind of princess kidnapped by a villain, despite she was a dark Goddess. Her eyes were seeing the devious Queen Fae in front of her and Nassus was leaning on a wall beside her. Queen Fae held Ru's face and squished her cheeks to prove who's in control. Then, Fae let out her words, filled with deep terror in her eyes,

"Tell me...what are you really after this time?".

Though, Ru didn't reply to Fae's question instead, Ru turned her face away from Fae's line of vision, defying her orders. Fae wasn't pleased when Ru ignored her question, so Fae released her hold on the captive dark Goddess Ru. Thereon, Fae moved away for a few paces and said,

"Not talking huh...".

She brought out a black whip and lashed unto the ground to prove Ru's utter demise. Ru gulped in fear for her dear life despite she was a dark Goddess. Even though, she's forever ressurecting and immortal in aging with certain heavenly limits, she can still feel the utter pain of any human being or any living creature. More than that, the Goddesses have boosted senses even the feelings of such thorns of blood due to some divine reasons. The next moment, Fae whipped out a strong strike at Ru's chest, since Fae's kinda envious of Ru's melons too. Ru felt the jab of thorns from the whip,

"Gaaahck...".

Sadly, Fae was truly unforgiving so she lashed out more hits at Ru's entire body that took almost forever. Ru was feeling the endless pain that were in waves after another. The immense pain coursed even through her senses, making her to feel lightheaded and giving her a clouded vision, losing track of the time on how long she was tortured. Fae's aura was truly revealed, as she was passionately whipping Ru almost relentlessly without any resistance, such as Fae was truly a sadistic person. As the torture chamber continued and Ru had incurred more fresh wounds from Fae's whips, Ru was now dripping out blood from her mouth and she was truly looking very pitiful to observe. As soon as Fae noticed that Ru was almost looking unconscious yet again, Fae took a sudden stop from her passionate sadistic whipping and went in front of Ru once again. She squished Ru's face again but, it was filled with greater force, abusing Ru in the most putrid way as possible. Thereon, Fae asked Ru again,

"Now tell me, what is it you're truly after?".

Ru replies with her weak and soft words, while tears of scarlet blood were leaking from her scarred face,

"Lo...ve...".

Queen Fae was surprised, as she heard the shocking revelation from the dark Goddess Ru, turning Fae's face to mask a creeped out smile filled with grave sarcasm. Soon she says out loud, laughing over the heavens above,

"What was that? Love?!"

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I'D HEAR THAT!".

She looked at the composed Nassus and said,

"You heard that Nassus?"

"She wants a TASTE of Love...".

As Nassus heard the words of the vile Fae, he nodded. He had stopped leaning at the wall and removed his abyssal claw. He went to Ru instantly such as he was a shadowy spectre. He gripped Ru's shackled hands with immense force and he says terrifyingly,

"If that's what she wished for then I'll—"

Angehime appeared behind and interrupted,

"Save that thought for now...Nassus..."

"Also Fae...would you kindly leave us for now...and I'm sure your other lovers are waiting for you..."

"You too Nassus...".

Queen Fae just sighed looking uninterested, since she was looking forward onto torturing more of the poor dark Goddess Ru to prove her passion and dominance. Nassus removed his hold unto Ru. Soon, Nassus left the place, while Fae was clinging to him like a fascinated girlfriend, even though they weren't in any proper relationship of a couple. Though, they were somehow like in a relationship of carnal lovers or friends with benefits such as you'd call in a modern world. As the two Goddesses of light and dark were the only ones present, Ange went near to Ru and removed her eyeglasses. She carressed the lightheaded Ru and said with great compassion, such as Fae still has the presence of the light Goddess,

"Ru...like I said...this is what you'll get...if you defy your fate...".

Ru responds,

"Ange...".

Then, Ange continues to say with a delicate tone,

"But don't worry...I'm not that harsh and I'll keep your chastity safe...rather I'll wait for the perfect time that you'll be SLAIN and DESTROYED by the one you love..."

"Or should I say, the former hero, Zeran..."

"Also, I'll have an agreement with Nassus after this...after all I am quite interested in him..."

"So don't worry about your virginity on ALL OF YOUR HOLES..."

"Lastly...stop crushing down my ideals in hindsight using that FORMER Hero..."

Ange was giving out a divine smile at Ru yet, Ange's intentions were filled with maniacal desire and crushing ambitions, setting the place in a distorted form of light that was even the darker than the abyss, even though she was revered as a light Goddess. Afterwards, Ange left the place and Ru was the only one left, isolating her from the outside world although, that state was better for her than being tortured by the three revered bringers of light from before. Ru was recovering from her state quite gradually yet, her face was still scarred. Though, she was more concerned for the unconscious Zeran rather than herself especially in her thoughts,

("I hope...Zera's alright...").

The next moment, she tried to move her index finger. Her index finger glowed some kind of lavender light. She tried drawing a pentagram of sorts, using her weak index finger and cast out,

"Doll control...".

Her crimson tears started to pour again but, it wasn't filled with pain from her experience. Rather, she was filled with a mix of regrets and pity for her dear loving Zeran, since if it wasn't for her sake of being with him, this shouldn't had happened to him. She let out her fading sorrowful words afterwards,

"This is the only way I can do to help Zera..."

"Zera...I'm sorry...".