Realizing The End

Roko arrived at the new site of Zinnia's fight after running from the square for a few minutes. Dodging monsters and jumping over the elves' defensive line into the active invasion zone, he finally arrived to see Zinnia and the king locked in an exchange of sword attacks. And his friends who have formed a small group to the side, fighting off the much more numerous eldritch monsters making their way towards them. They spotted Roko and waved him over.

"Hey Roko!" Helena grinned, "We saw Zinnia get sent flying and figured we'd get here first since you were probably back at the square."

"Did I miss anything?" Roko sighed.

"Nothing much. The king and Zinnia have been fighting for a while now. We're in the thick of the monster's area so we've got our hands full keeping a seat saved for us. You go ahead and take watch though. We'll keep the monsters off of you."

"I could help clean up the monsters instead..."

"No arguing, Roko. Stick to the plan."

"Fine, whatever..." Roko muttered.

The king and Zinnia's fight was sending shockwaves around them. Each clash of their blades sent waves of pure magic out that pushed the monsters away from them and even sliced through the ones that got too close. Roko was sure he wouldn't be affected by the memory's fight but he kept a safe distance away anyway. The two elves seemed barely cognizant of the monsters surrounding them as they fought. The weight and force in their strikes carelessly or methodically sent magic flying around them as the two elves gave no ground to the other. The two seemed equally matched for the first time. Though the only one who seemed to be enjoying the fight remained the king.

"How long as it been since we last fought like this?" The king grinned, "Not since we first trained together in the barracks all those years ago perhaps? You haven't changed since then. Always quietly in the background. No honors, no titles. No one notices your talent. Your value. A thousand reincarnations and you'd still never rise above the others! It was truly a blessing that I found you!"

"..."

Zinnia pushed back against the king and drew some distance between them.

"What's wrong?" The king asked as he fired off a volley of lightning spells to eliminate the monsters that had taken the opportunity to charge at them, "Have you figured something out? The Basileum Flos is said to have a calming effect on those who wield it. Though I doubt you're in need of calming down much."

"...I've decided."

"Oh? Do tell."

"I'm...going to stop you."

Zinnia pointed his sword at the king who's smiling facade flickered for a brief second before he continued to look amused at Zinnia, "Oh? Do tell why then."

"The future of the elves...isn't something I have the intelligence to decide on my own."

"Humble as always." The king smirked.

"But...I know some people…all the dark elves and even some elves...want more time to process the change."

"And so what? You'll fight for them? You should know better than anyone how time doesn't always give us time to process what happens. We've been on so many battlefield together, seen so many good soldiers die, watched the other races fall apart while mourning. We may come back after losing our lives but the rest of the world does not! Time is the one advantage we elves have! We can't squander it by not making progress!"

"Like I said, I'm not fighting you because I've taken a side."

"Then why?"

"Because there's only one person who can stop you. And that's me."

The king's humor had fully fallen at this, his face now looking sternly back at his emotionless guard.

"I see." The king said, "You really think so highly of yourself?"

"I don't know who's right. But I do know that you won't stop unless someone makes you. And if that means I need to stop you for the sake of the elves then that's what I'll do."

The king was now glaring at Zinnia, his face wrinkled with a complex seething anger as he muttered, "If you cared about the elves so much then why didn't you become king?"

"What was that?"

"Nothing." The king coughed as he composed himself, "So be it. I expected to have to be fighting you so what's it matter if it's for a bit longer? However, I will not stop fighting. For the sake of the world and for the sake of the elves, I've put all this into motion. I will not be derailed at such a crucial juncture."

"That's fine. If I lose then that just means I was in the wrong about the future of the elves."

"What a simple way to decide things."

"The more complex the situation, the more efficient a simple solution is."

"Heh. Can't argue with that."

The two elves' fight resumed with the two crashing into each other and rebounding off like two arrows fired at blinding speeds. They landed far from each other but instantly crossed the distance to clash again. The two indomitable forces ran across the battlefield in a blur, nothing more than streaks of light that tore across the legions of monsters, sparing nary a thought to them. They clashed over and over, eventually even rising into the air as their recoil rebounded them off the surrounding trees to ascend into the skies above them. Their shockwaves continued to rock the ground below them in a spectacle that even the other members of Roko's team could see clearly. The two lights converged once more and Roko could see one of the figures above the other, their sword raised to slam the both of them back into the ground. The impact stirred some dust but when Roko ran over to see who was standing, he found both of the elves standing, their swords locked against each other.

"Now that's more like it!" The king grinned, "Now you're fighting with your life on the line. I always wondered how a real fight between us would go! Maybe you've had the same thought, my friend?"

"..."

"What's wrong? Nothing left to say now that you've made up your mind? Have you lost your tongue now of all times?"

"..."

"This is what makes you unlikable, you know. Though I'm sure you've been told this many times before. I know you don't mean anything by it in the end...but do you know me?"

The king and Zinnia deflected off each other again before lunging back forward to trade a flurry of slashes against each other.

"Don't you find it strange that you pulled the sword so easily from the stone where others had failed? I enchanted it to seek someone. Someone like you. It was looking for you."

The king pushed Zinnia back before charging in to clash with him again, "Do you not wonder why you, despite showing clear resistance against me, have not turned into a dark elf like all the rest?!"

The king's sword screeched angrily against Zinnia's as the soldier was pushed back by the king's emotions, "You wanted to know why I have given up on myself?! Because I trust you of all people above all else! You alone I will not, cannot see as my enemy! Only when you would strike me down, shall I accept that I've gone too far! Do you understand that? Do you understand your own importance, Zinnia?!"

"...I..." Zinnia began to push back against the king's blade, "...never saw myself as anything more than a disposable soldier. Whatever importance you've placed onto me...I don't understand."

The king scowled but Zinnia continued, "But if you're going to submit to my judgment above all else...then I don't understand what this talk of bettering the world is if you're not truly willing to face it."

The king's face twisted in rage as he pushed Zinnia away from him. He summoned sword projections all around Zinnia to skewer him with but the blades easily disappeared when coming in close to Zinnia. But that was merely a distraction as the king charged his blade with pure, wild, bladed mana and swung it at Zinnia. Zinnia moved to block the attack but the mana disappeared like all the others. But only in a field around him. The extended blade of mana left a tip that floated behind Zinnia. By the time Zinnia realized it, the mana had transformed into another blade projection and launched itself at his back. Zinnia's mind and body flickered through different countermeasures, twisting his body to block the attack, his mind racing to conjure up a countermagic formula for this spell. In the end, he couldn't prepare either in time and the blade pierced his side. Coughing up a bit of blood, Zinnia finished the countermagic formula for the blade to dispel it and turned his attention back to the king who had closed the distance in his distraction. The king swung and despite his efforts, Zinnia couldn't bring his sword up in time to properly block the attack, only able to prevent the blade from digging any further into his shoulder. Zinnia gritted his teeth and lifted the king's sword from his shoulder, pushing both their swords to the side as he wound up the butt of his sword to smash into the side of the king's cheek. The king staggered back, a bit of blood leaking from his lips. Having finally landed a blow on each other, the two elves glared at each other and raised their sword again. Both swords swung down at the other, passing each other by as the two slashed into the other's bodies. This reckless exchange revealed one thing of note: Zinnia's armor was of a lesser quality than the king's as his armor bore a larger gash than the king's lavish one. No, the king's sword was just of an even higher quality. Still, the elf remained undaunted, the two lunging at each other again, clashing swords once before each moved their sword around the other to strike at the other. Their fight was becoming more desperate, each one converting their blocks and parries into direct hits on the other. Between the two of them, Zinnia was landing cleaner hits but his armor was falling apart faster. The two seemed to be inescapably equals.

"You won't win, Zinnia!" The king declared, "Not while you still hesitate to kill me!"

The king ducked under Zinnia's slash and landed his own on the soldier's leg. The armor blocked the worst of the attack but the attempt still drew blood. Bringing his sword back around, the king swung his sword up as he stood back up, forcing Zinnia to step back, dodging it as the blade almost swiped into his nose. But just by stepping forward, the king flipped his sword around and threw a heavy slash at Zinnia's head. Zinnia brought his sword up and managed to block the sword but it's force pushed his blade down until it's tip was embedded shallowly into his head. With Zinnia's strength starting to falter, the king threw a strengthened kick into his stomach, sending him sailing across the field, through several monsters and into several trees. The monsters turned to the spot where Zinnia had fallen, thinking to take the opportunity to devour him only for the king with snap his fingers and evaporate several groups of them with lightning as he alone walked through the settling dust. Zinnia sat there. Blood draining from his body and head, still alive but in no condition to continue fighting. The king pointed his sword at Zinnia's head,

"You lose Zinnia. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Zinnia's head hung there, unable to make a response.

"I know." The king closed his eyes, "You'd sooner die than submit. So this is where we part ways old friend. I'll send you ahead to the rest of the Hyssop Circle with a message. I'll...see them again someday."

And with that the king raised his sword.

Roko drew his sword out of the jaws of an eldritch tentacle monster. Despite his friend's efforts, a few monsters had made their way to him though not nearly in enough numbers to distract him from the fight. And as he watched the king of the elves stand over his guard, Roko felt a profound sadness. So this was how it ended. Zinnia lost? The rebellion lost? Everyone died for no reason? The dark elves escaped from the battlefield but no longer had a home to return to? Yet their fates remained tied to this system the king created? It was...hard to stomach. Roko wanted to do something but he knew this was just the past. There was no way for him to mess with time. This was after all a memory. There was nothing he could do. That's right...nothing HE could do. A dangerous idea flickered into his head. One that he knew was dangerous, foolhardy and absolute madness. Yet his mind refused to consider the consequences as his body moved without his consideration. Roko picked up one of the eldritch monsters and tossed it at the king.

The king raised his sword to end his old friend when suddenly he felt something wrong. He spun around and slashed into a random monster that had somehow managed to get close to him. Roko stood there as the king's eyes darted around, looking for anything that could have interfered with him but he clearly couldn't find Roko even as he stood there in front of him. And that was all the opening Zinnia needed. The old soldier shot up, sword in hand as he lunged at his king. The royal elf spun around to try and defend himself but he had been distracted for too long. Zinnia's sword plunged into his chest as the two fell over onto the ground.

For a moment the two bodies laid on the ground. Roko thought the two had died together until Zinnia's body shifted. He pushed himself up and off the dead king as he pulled out and sheathed his sword before stumbling out to where he had been kicked, reaching down to pick up something that had fallen out when he had been struck. And as the elf stood up, Roko recognized the book in his hand as the very journal that had sent them on this entire trip. Zinnia stood there, book in hand as he turned back around to look at his dead king.

"...Good bye...Ailanthus..."

Zinnia closed his eyes and almost left himself to fall down on the ground until he head a voice calling out for him.

"Zinnia!"

Lycoris ran out from the city, firing bolts of magic at the monsters surrounding him.

"Lycoris?"

The stunned soldier just stood there as the young dark elf ran up and grabbed him by the hand, leading him back into the city as fast as she could. Roko watched as the two ran off, finally considering whenever or not what he did was right and if he still deserved to watch the end of the memory.

"Roko, what's going on?!" Helena cried as she ran up to him.

"Huh? Oh, the fight's over. Zinnia and Lycoris are heading back into the city."

"Oh yeah? Then let's go after them! GUYS! Scene change!"

"Are...you sure we need to?"

"What are you talking about? If the memory hasn't ended that means the spirit hasn't finished showing us what they wanted! Let's go! Things should be a bit quieter in the cradle right?!"

Things were in fact, quieter at the cradle. That is to say, there were no elves in sight. No dark elves either. The monster's invasion had slowed when they realized there was no longer anyone left to resist them. It was just Lycoris and Zinnia, sneaking past the monsters and jumping over the barricade until they were back at the Great Tree. Lycoris sat Zinnia down the base of the tree, their barricade efforts keeping this lone square free of monsters. There the two quietly regained their breath until Zinnia asked,

"Where is everyone?"

"The majority of the dark elves escaped in the first wave. The elves tried to form a barricade but it was clear the monsters wouldn't stop coming. So some of us dark elves went back in to convince the elves to abandon the cradle as well. It took some effort but we managed to get everyone out safely. Even the ones that were reborn."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"Well I came to save you." Lycoris smiled, "But...there's still one more thing we need to do. For all of elvenkind. And that's why we're here."

"...And what is that?"

"The Tree Cradle can no longer be our home. Even if we eliminate all the monsters, they know this location now. We only managed this long by sealing the cradle away in it's own pocket dimension and moving it around but now that it's been discovered and overrun, it's no longer possible. In fact...it's a danger. If these monsters gain control over the cradle's magical system, who knows what might happen to all of elvenkind?"

"So what do you plan on doing?"

"We need to shut down the cradle."

"Easier said than done. Maybe if we still had the old system I could have locked its functionality away at least but with this new biological computer, I have no idea how to do that."

"I know. That's why I need your help."

"What do you need?"

"I want you to cut a gash into the tree."

"Why?"

"I'll tell you after you do it."

Zinnia regarded the child with a strange look but with neither his condition or the current situation being the best time to argue, he drew Basileum Flos and slashed at the Great Tree. The slash he made flew through the air and cracked the surface of the giant tree, creating a surprisingly large gash in its body.

"You still have the power to do something like this?" Lycoris said, "Impressive."

The small dark elf child climbed up the tree with Zinnia slowly following behind her until the two stood in front of the slash he had made. A green light was glowing out from the gash as a stream of luminous fluid-like substance flowed through the body of the tree.

"This is..." Lycoris said.

"The blood of the Tree Cradle. Normally this would just be something like sap but since becoming a biological computer, it's more likely this is something like a data stream. Or...a life stream."

"Good." Lycoris nodded, "This is exactly what I needed."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to sacrifice myself." Lycoris replied with a playful nonchalance, "If dark elves are beings taken out of the tree's system then by directly reintroducing our data to it, maybe we can at least shut it all down."

"That's reckless."

"We don't really have much in other options. The monsters have invaded already. This place is lost."

"Then I'll do it. I'm already injured so I-"

"Zinnia, you're not a dark elf." Lycoris smiled, "You'd just get absorbed into the system."

"...Why are you doing this?"

"Aside from letting all this complex magic fall in the monster's hands? ...I dunno, I kind of feel responsible."

"Why?"

"Hmmm...I don't know. Maybe because I studied with you and the king for a bit?"

"That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice yourself."

"It doesn't but...it feels right..."

"...What do you think of the king?"

"The king? ...Honestly...he seemed a bit scary at first but he was a great teacher to me. And...there were moment where he seemed...gentle...but I don't know...why he would do something like...all this."

"Do you think he was a good person?"

"...I couldn't tell you why but I do. I do think he's still a good person."

"..."

"Anyway, we don't have much time to chat before the monsters finish their invasion." Lycoris turned to look at the stream of light underneath the tree, "What are you going to do after this, Zinnia?"

"...I don't know."

"Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Sure."

"Live." Lycoris turned to Zinnia with a bittersweet smile, "Please...continue living."

"...Alright."

"Thank you. I know...that was selfish of me."

Lycoris turned back to the stream, her feet at the edge of the tree, hesitating for another moment longer.

"Zinnia?"

"Yes?"

"If...I asked you to push me...would you?"

"Do you want me to?"

"...No. It's fine. Good bye."

And without turning around, the dark elf child opened her arms and plunged into the stream of magic. The moment she disappeared into the tree's inner workings the entire cradle gave a huge shudder, the earth letting out a screeching cry that Zinnia could swear was mixed with the horrible screaming of a tortured child. But that didn't last long as the earth steadied once more. Zinnia stepped off the tree and stood there for a moment, taking in the ominous peace he had won. Dried blood caking his armor and face. Wounds still leaking a bit of blood. He almost wanted to collapse, to finally rest after the events of today, no, ever since he had returned here. Everyone he knew was now gone. He was the last elf left in the entire Tree Cradle. And yet...he had to live. A leaf floated over his shoulder, Zinnia reaching out to pluck it out of the air. It was a brown leaf, an autumn leaf. Turning around and looking up, he could see the Great Tree's leaves turning shades of brown, yellow and red as its leaves began falling off and drifting in the wind over the empty cradle.

"A new era has come for the elves. A winter of freedom."

Sliding this leaf into a pocket, Zinnia drew his sword once more as he finally began to leave. He stepped past Roko's group, clueless to their presence there. And as he left to fight his way out of the city, the mist came one last time to cover up their surroundings.

"That's the end of the memory." Enlil reported.