The Outcome

Hobbled clattering steps staggered forward as Koel trudged on, his form barely being held together by determination and will alone.

"Did you truly have no other way to defeat Wolff?"

The steps paused.

"Twice I gave Wolff my word and twice I broke it. Regardless of all that I have lost, I was never a match for him, I only ever delayed and dragged out his one desire."

"Was he truly that powerful?"

"His devotion gave him strength beyond any, but there are things that even devotion cannot survive."

"And the void is one of those things."

"Yes. That shred of light that he sits upon will travel the void, away from our worlds to destinations beyond even my understanding. Do you think me cruel for leaving him to such a fate?"

"Is one mans desire worth more than the entirety that you seek to fix?"

"Is that not just a desire of mine?"

The steps continued.

Further and further Koel walked down the bridge of light, seemingly unending as Lyrea lay in his grasp, watching the King of all walk his kingdom for the final time.

"We are here."

"What lies beyond?"

"My biggest regret."

With a flash the pair were gone, the final bridge of light behind them.

…

Her eyes clearing Lyrea marvelled at the view before her, one that only Koel had ever seen.

"Welcome to the seat of creation, the centre of all, my only true regret."

Sitting on its own in the white expanse was a spiralling ball of milky white streamers that glowed and waned like moons, as all throughout the sky Lyrea could see smooth mirror-like cracks form and fade that allowed her to see into all of the worlds they had just traversed.

"What is this?"

"I have no knowledge of this place only the understanding of how to use it."

Walking forward Koel headed for the spiralling ball as he held Lyrea tightly in his grasp, almost painfully.

"I came across this place as I sought the secrets behind all, with no knowledge of who built it, who came before me or how it had come to be. I used this seat of creation to craft a map that allowed me to travel the worlds at a whim, to bend and understand any and all but not without cost. There is a hole in this seat, one that spreads and cracks, one that must be filled to right the wrong I committed."

"That is why you brought me here…"

"Perfection fits part of every world my dear. I have carried demise to bring an end to the current state of affairs. With me removed, this will never happen again."

"But your rage. All that you had to suffer."

Koel for the only time since Lyrea met him, laughed, a truly light laugh that let go of all of his burdens.

"I have always been too soft-hearted, that was my demise."

"Then all those who have been trapped and killed by your hand..."

"A temporary punishment they will forget as if I never existed."

"Will I remember."

"Only you will know of me."

"None will know of your actions to save all."

"They will not need to."

Gently almost reverently Koel placed Lyrea into the ball of spiralling light as his bones began to fragment and dust, his form falling apart.

"Now you can rest, Asmonon, Great King of All."

Her vision shrinking into the ball of light Lyrea watched as Koel's form slowly slumped, his bones finally put to rest as they scattered and trickled away. Only to her eye could Lyrea see a glimpse of the old Asmonon, full-bodied and smiling in death, peaceful at last.

And so it was that Lyrea remained lonely and cold above all, watching the worlds spin and travel once more as the stagnancy which afflicted all was brought to an end, while Lyrea remained a shell of what she once was, never to be whole, to be perfect again.

"You were right Asmonon…perfection is pain…. and someone has to bare that pain."

Silently perfection wept over the loss of demise as pain tore through her body, whilst below all in a small corner at the bottom of all worlds sat an empty throne, barren and bare, empty for none had the right to sit upon it.

To become the King of all.

End.