Purposeless Sensation

Akiol and Rue browsed the various mannequins sporting various suits. Rue couldn't help but notice Akiol's strange caution while looking at the mannequin. He would sometimes massage his palm when his gaze reached the mannequin's eyes. 

She did not pry nor tease this reaction. Currently she was too distracted by the idea of a gift to keep up with her normal shenanigans. Thus she became strangely quiet. 

A nicely dressed gentleman walked up, "Anything I can assist with?"

Akiol answered while eyeing the mannequins, "Here for tailored suits for her. The gray one you have on display."

"Of course. If you would follow me we can obtain your measurements.", the man guided Rue towards a mirror. 

Rapidly obtaining the measurements he continued to ask various questions, "Are you looking for a two piece or three piece suit?"

"Three piece. We'll need two in total."

"Any difference in color for the second choice?"

Akiol tossed a glance towards Rue and she shook her head in response. So Akiol answered, "It will be the same."

"Have you an idea on the fabric?"

"The same as the one on display."

"That's a bit of an expensive option I must warn."

"I'm okay with that.", Akiol really didn't have an issue.

"The occasion?"

"Casual."

"Buttons?"

"Two."

"Is this a rush order?"

"Yes."

With a touch of top class professionalism and Akiol's small understanding of suits the order was placed quickly. As Akiol prepaid for the suit the man handed over a ticket, "Come back in three days, that's the soonest we can have them ready. We hold onto the suits for an extra week after receiving them. I recommend picking it up as soon as possible."

Storing the ticket in his pocket Akiol nodded, "Thank you."

Rue and Akiol left the store and returned to the sidewalk. Organizing a ride back to the hotel Akiol asked a question that had been bothering him, "Why the silence?"

Chewing the inside of her cheek Rue didn't answer. With her hands behind her back she twiddled with her thumbs. Having not received an answer Akiol decided to drop the subject. 

The ride back to the hotel was silent. The driver occasionally snuck a glance in the rearview mirror. Feeling sweat form on the back of their neck they focused entirely on driving. Silence slowly suffocating them.

It wasn't an awkward silence, at least not for Rue and Akiol. The two were too occupied with their own thoughts so neither made conversation. This silence was never broken during the entire ride. It was only disturbed when Akiol thanked the driver after they arrived at the hotel.

Conversation wasn't made as the two returned to their rooms. It was only when they opened the doors did Akiol say anything, "Sleep well."

Rue hesitated and felt unsure. Just as Akiol was about to close the door she murmured, "You as well."

The doors clicked shut simultaneously. Rue restlessly paced about in her room. Her thoughts far too crowded to sleep. Meanwhile in Akiol's room he currently sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the ground. Also lost in thought.

Both sides were seeing their worst enemy in an entirely new perspective. Rue was aware of the pointless prophecy she was forced to fill. Yet it was clear her understanding of what the Hero meant was lacking. Despite who she was Akiol went out of his way to provide a gift. She was more than aware of the trouble she was causing, yet Akiol never spoke a word of complaint. 

It started to throw her off.

Akiol was under the impression that the Demon Lord was an absolute evil that he had to take down. Instead he began to understand that she wasn't an absolute evil. Just a brilliant leader who utilized their given gifts and position to better their own people. Akiol couldn't grasp why he hadn't even tried a bit of diplomacy against the Demon Lord. Why had he been so resolute with defeating her?

It further bloomed the seed of doubt regarding his existence and purpose as Hero.

The two tussled with their mess of thoughts and doubts for an hour. Eventually Rue fell onto the given bed and tangled herself with the blanket. Slowly covering her head she forcefully closed her eyes. Akiol slowly fell back and moved his stare from the floor to the ceiling. He remained in this position for roughly ten minutes before climbing into the sheets and also closing his eyes. They had places to go tomorrow. He needed the rest.

Rapidly falling asleep the two were greeted by similar dreams. A battleground stained with blood of humanity and demonfolk. The smell of rust, metal, and sweat. Rue stood alone, the Demon Lord. Akiol gripped his sword at the ready, the Hero. Looking to his sides he didn't find his party members, he was alone.

Their gazes locked and they launched into battle. Akiol's sword felt awkward to swing, trying to mimic memories and techniques that no longer existed. Rue's glaive bested his sword and he could feel his body tremble with effort.

Alas Rue's dream held a difference in this battle. The fierce sword of Akiol was unwavering. His determined gaze was striking. The pressure she had to deal with was tiring her out rapidly. It took significant effort to prevent the glaive from leaving her grasp.

The heavily armored Rue made her look more like a demon than human to Akiol. Meanwhile Akiol looked nothing like Demonfolk to Rue. Two races eternally locked into hating each other, and fighting endlessly.

Until in both their dreams they clashed so violently it sent both of them crashing into the ground. In Rue's dream Akiol's dirt stained body struggled to stand back up. Wounds bled ferociously and his weakened body fought against the exhaustion. It seemed her dream shifted, for just earlier she was on the losing side. Upon seeing him struggle it reminded her of the suffering Demonfolk. Always scavenging, always starving. Although an undying will to survive glowing in their eyes. Akiol's determination shone just as bright as the Demonfolk, and it made her pause.

In Akiol's dream Rue was kneeling while supporting her body with the glaive. His own dream shifted, for he now held the advantage in this fight. Rue's labored breath grew so heavy he could hear it over the blurring sounds of battle. Raising a hand Rue took off her helmet to breathe easier. Allowing Akiol to see her oddly human appearance. The Generals of the Demon Lord army also looked more like humans, but they held obvious demonic features. For Rue, she looked just like an ordinary human.

In both of their dreams they dropped their weapons. Seeing this new side of their sworn enemy made them both doubtful. Each of them steadily approached their wounded enemy. Rue extended a hand, as did Akiol. Both of them raised the wounded other off the ground, and they met eye to eye for the first time.

No word was spoken. Slowly the raging battle began to fade leaving naught but silence. Demonfolk and Humanity stopped fighting, just for a moment. As different as they were, they held some similarities. They weren't entire opposites, and not the worst enemy as they were led to believe.

Then Akiol looked downward. Finding his hand gripping his sword. The sharp pointed tip having already stabbed through Rue. Blood trickled down the blade and reached his palm. Startled, he let go of the sword in shock while stepping back. He watched as Rue dropped to her knees while gripping the handle of the sword. 

In Rue's dream she looked down to find a sword stabbed through her. Akiol's gaze still holding that unwavering determination. As she fell Akiol still held onto the blade, and even pulled it free. She fruitlessly tried to stop the bleeding wound, feeling her body grow colder.

Rue smiled, this was how the story ended originally. She had lost that fight. Her death would allow humanity to prosper again just until the prophecy repeated. She knew this, she understood this. Yet she felt only regret. If only there was another way. . .

In Akiol's dream he watched Rue pull the sword free. It clattered to the ground and blood rushed out. She didn't try to stop the bleeding. Instead she looked upwards, a brilliant and glowing smile on her face. This wasn't some hateful enemy, this was just another person. Happy to have been relieved from this fight. This battle.

Akiol fell to his knees and sat. Looking upon his blood covered hands he felt nothing but horror. He was used to taking lives, he viewed it as a necessity sometimes. This time it felt different. It felt. . . pointless. This entire battle was meaningless. So what does that leave him? He spent his entire life for this moment. He grew past the doubtful and hateful humanity. He grew and obtained allies for this very fight! So why did he feel so empty?

Looking upwards he couldn't help but wonder. What was it all for? Why did he exist?

During the crux of their dreams they instead woke from their slumber. Sunlight started to peak through the gaps of their curtains. Their dreams slowly fading from memory. Even as they started to struggle to recall the dream the way it made them feel stuck. An emotion with a fading cause. A lingering feeling.

A purposeless sensation.