Light and Power

Silthus' midnight blue eyes widened slightly and his lips parted with a supreme smile, "Why didn't you just say so, Michael? All I ask is that you serve me and I'll give you all the power you desire. Become one of my generals and I'll give you reign over whatever land you conquer,"

"That's very generous," Michael remarked dubiously.

"It's the same deal I have with all of my generals. I have no interest in the land, only the sky," Silthus smiled, "I rule the heavens. You rule the earth. Isn't that fair?"

"If that's the case, you've already handed out all the land there is to give. You have four generals, each controlling a quarter of the continent," Michael said warily.

"You're quite right, only my generals in the West have failed me and I have no use for failures," Silthus smiled darkly, "If you go and conquer the West, I wouldn't be too remiss if one of my generals dropped dead along the way,"

Michael glared at Silthus with undisguised displeasure, "So one of them has to die for me to claim the title. Is that what you're saying?"

"Is it really so bad?" Silthus laughed, "You must have killed a hundred times before. What difference does it make?"

"I was a knight, not a murderer," Michael frowned, "and I killed demons, not men,"

"You were the one that told me there was no difference between demons and men. This is the world we live in as you said. What does it matter if they die in the grand scheme of things? In the end, you will bring peace and I will bring justice,"

"They're your men, yet you would have me kill them?" Michael remarked with thinly disguised disgust, "how is that justice?"

"Well if you can get one of them to concede the title willingly, I suppose it makes no difference to me," Silthus shrugged, "but in your condition, I imagine that will be quite a difficult task. If you think you can conquer the West and bring back the title with such ease, then who am I to get in your way?"

"I don't have the power to do either right now, "Michael's jaw clenched.

" You would, if Ace was here, "Silthus grinned.

"What are you suggesting?" Michael glared.

"Your powers will return if you bring Ace here, "Silthus went on.

"Ah, I see. I knew this was building to something," Michael scoffed. He turned to the door, " Well this was an interesting chat, but I think I've grown tired of these conversations. Will you leave?"

He gestured Silthus out. Silthus frowned but rose accordingly, " I don't know why you're still protecting Ace," he said as he passed, " he doesn't care about you, "

" Are you done?" Michael replied impatiently.

"For now, "Silthus's eyes narrowed.

Michael unceremoniously closed the door behind him with a slam. He turned back and leant against the door exhausted. He held up his hand and tried to summon the mana to his fingertips. A small whorl of water formed around his hand then immediately fell to the floor. Michael let out a cough and a mouthful of blood regurgitated in his palm. He slid down to the ground barely able to remain standing and let out a sigh.

"Are you in pain?"

Michael's worn hazel eyes came up wearily, "How can you be here? Am I...hallucinating? "

Veretta knelt down quietly and took a seat beside him against the door. Michael glanced over at her with a soft chuckle, " you must have really done a number on me," he sighed, resting his head on her shoulder, "even your ghost is somehow so comforting,"

"Do you know where you are, Michael? " Veretta asked softly.

"The underworld? Hell? Who can say?" He closed his eyes," nothing I don't deserve, I'm sure,"

" You don't deserve this," Veretta replied quietly, " I did this to you,"

"No..." Michael coughed," I... I did. I'm a hypocrite. I can't save him...I'm sorry Bird...I tried...I really did,"

"Bird? Is that your apprentice?" Veretta asked slowly.

Michael gave a slow weary nod, "Such a thoughtful child," he said with odd softness.

"And who did Bird want you to save? Ace?"Veretta surmised.

" I tried to save him the only way I know..." Michael sniffed, "Ah, if only Albaric was here. He would know what to do...he would know how to save him,"

"Save him from what?" Veretta's brow furrowed.

Suddenly, Michael's eyes fluttered open," you..." he stared at Veretta in disbelief, " you're not an illusion! You're real?"

"Yes," Veretta answered with a sad smile, " I'm really here, Michael. I came to help you,"

Michael inhaled sharply, " I don't need your help! Go back to wherever it is you came from,"

"Michael..." Veretta entreated

He steadied himself uneasily against the door and dragged himself up, " Get out!" He barked.

"No!" Veretta returned coming to a stand, " I'm not going anywhere,"

"Then I will!" Michael began to open the door, pushing her aside," better leave before they catch sight of you,"

"They can't see me," Veretta explained, "only you can. I will just follow if you leave,"

Michael's hand hovered above the door handle. Finally, he closed it again and let out a sigh. He glanced over at her reluctantly.

"Witches and their dark magic..." Michael said quietly, "what do you want?"

"To help you escape," Veretta answered resolutely, "I can find a way out for you or..."

"I can't escape," Michael coughed. He walked over to the bedside and leant against one of the four posts.

"The necklace," Veretta glanced at the ring around his neck, "I can find the key,"

"I already found it," Michael raised his hand unsteadily and a trickle of water formed then dissipated, "but it's no good,"

"What's wrong with your magic?" Veretta's eyes widened apprehensively.

"I've been separated from Ace for too long," Michael sniffed, "my mana is fading. Soon I'm going to die. I won't make it out of here even if there was a way to escape,"

"Well, we just have to find where you are!" Veretta exclaimed, "I can figure it out and we can come and rescue you,"

Michael surveyed her quietly for a moment and let out a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Veretta demanded, "You don't think I could?"

"Oh, I'm quite certain you could," Michael gave a spent smile, "but I don't want you to,"

"What?" Veretta stared at him in disbelief.

Michael inhaled deeply, "just leave me to die. I don't want to be saved. Not by you. Not by anyone,"

"What do you mean?"Veretta stared at him uncomprehendingly.

"I shouldn't be alive," Michael replied with barren eyes, "you shouldn't have brought me back to life,"

"Why would you say such a thing?" Veretta asked softly.

Michael bit his lip as if to prevent something from leaving his lips and averted his eyes, "because it's true.. So just go,"

Veretta walked straight up to him with wide determined eyes, "NO! I am not leaving you,"

Michael let out an irritated grunt. He caught her by the shoulders and pinned her against the bed, "Go! I mean it!" he snapped through shallow and unhinged breath, "Or I'll make you regret coming here!"

Veretta stared up at him unmoved, "You can't hurt me, Michael. Not in this form. And even if I were really here, you don't have the strength,"

Michael gave a stifled laugh, "Why are you so...annoying?"

"I could say the same to you," Veretta pushed him over to one side. He collapsed on the bed beside her with a sigh and they both lay in silence for a while.

"Have you given up?" Veretta asked at length, "Is that why you won't even try to leave here?"

"Did Ace tell you how I died?" Michael replied quietly.

"No," Veretta glanced at Micahel apprehensively, "only that he wasn't there when it happened. He blames himself for it,"

"Does he now?" Michael exhaled with difficulty, "I don't think that's quite true. More like, he blames me for letting Bird die in the first place,"

"What makes you say that?" Veretta asked with trepidation.

"You know I'm not a good person, but Ace knows it better than anyone else," Michael chuckled lightly, "I'm sure deep down he thinks I deserved to die and the way I died was some kind of divine justice for all the things I've done,"

"Like what?" Veretta faltered.

"The truth is I became a knight to escape a certain situation " Michael answered with difficulty, "I thought if I had a sword no one could hurt me. I never had any ideas about justice or heroism in mind when I left for the capital to join the army. I just...wanted to feel in control. However, I soon learned that strength is not the deciding factor in who has the ability to dominate another person. Power is, no matter how you get it. I thought I couldn't have what I wanted because I didn't have enough power.

I got into the habit of using people and throwing them away when it suited me. I'm not sure when it started but I just felt very...angry at the world and it felt like a way to finally be the one who had the power. You see, there was a certain person that I hated passionately,"

"Who?" Veretta questioned.

"The demon Ace is trying to save. Clover," Michael said in a low voice, "They stole my life. Everything I had built was ruined in one snap of their fingers. They are the reason I turned back to magic. I wanted the power to kill them with my bare hands..."

"And did you, kill them?"

"No, the closest I could get was to get revenge on them... to punish them. I stole away someone they loved. The girl I lured was a childish person but not normal, cruel...maybe even worse than me. Even so, I told her I loved her. Anything to get my revenge.

Then when it looked like that wasn't going to be possible, I threw her aside as I did the others. Only, she didn't take it as the others did. She lashed out in a terrible way. She was someone who belonged to that demon after all.

She killed my apprentice, a boy I had raised since childhood and left his body for me to find...of course she knew..he was like a son to me. I went into a fit of blind rage and grief. I think... I was never so angry in all my life...I went after her to exact my revenge. I wasn't thinking. I didn't prepare. I just wanted her dead. I didn't care about anything else. I left Ace behind on purpose and went on alone. I wrapped my hands around her throat and I didn't let go even as she stabbed me to death,"

Veretta let out a small gasp as her hand came shakily to her mouth, "Why would Ace blame you for that?"

"My apprentice was his best friend. He was punished because I was trying to take my revenge at any cost. I never imagined that woman would actually kill Bird, but that was the price I paid for taking what I wanted. It was only right I killed her and she killed me," Michael said slowly.

"If you thought he hated you, why did you agree to make a contract with him?" Veretta asked quietly.

"I wanted to...I don't know exactly what I wanted," Michael hesitated, "Maybe redemption...peace, but neither are in my nature. That's why I'm telling you...it's better to let me die. I have nothing good to bring to this world. Revenge is like a coffin and I've been buried alive. I can't stop this...feeling and I want it to stop so badly. I don't even know why I'm telling all this to you or if you even understand, but you see now, don't you? If you save me, I'm going to do something terrible. So please, stop trying and just...just let me be,"

"Revenge isn't a feeling. Anger is," Veretta swallowed uneasily, "and I know it well. You want to purge the darkness but at the same time, it's a comfort. I wanted Silthus dead so badly, I would have sacrificed my soul and perhaps I did in a way,"

"Then how...how did you let go?" Michael asked with watery golden eyes, "I don't know how to let go,"

"It wasn't about letting go. It was about letting the light in," Veretta met his gaze. She grazed his cheek lightly, "letting you in,"

"I am..not.." Michael began to pull away.

Veretta pulled his face to hers fervently, "YOU ARE. No matter how you change, you have this strange light in you and I can't stop searching for it. I know you are scared of what it could mean, but Michael, you don't have to be alone. Let me help you!"

Michael let out a shaky breath. A single tear fell down his cheek and he turned his face away, "I can't. I'm sorry. There's no light in me. It's just not who I am. I don't...I don't want to be saved. I just want it to end... Please just leave."