Fight

He only wore purple. From his luxurious coat, his expensive combat suit, even his leather shoes were the macabre hue of purple. But her dark hair reminded Ariadne of the water of Euho, the only element that had surrounded the island where Azhewo took her with strength and an incomparable passion. But the most seductive thing about this terrible leader was his dark eyes streaked with red. They were empty and hateful.

- Do you hate the darkness Azhewo? He asked in a strange voice.

-...No.

- What a shame..... What a shame. Is that why you grant yourself the privilege of believing yourself to be one of the rulers of Venezia?

- I am.

- Of course. And you must understand then that only an authentic Venezian being like me will hate a Zeujor enough to destroy him, right?

- Of course I do.

Suddenly Ytel brought down a purple rain from its thick clouds that covered the sky.

- Polokuz. Screamed Azhewo

- Yes," replied the latter, immediately understanding what he had to do.

And the beast created a fantastic shield around them to protect them from the terrible rain that fell artificially from the cloudy sky.

- Polokuz, what's with the rain? Ariadne asked terrified.

- It is a magical rain that sucks in the vitality of any being that touches it and leads to the annihilation of all the feelings that one could ever feel. And in addition, it instills sterility. It's even worse than Kistarat.

- What about your shield?

- Indestructible. I am the strongest of my generation, the emperor had understood this long before me, long before anyone else. But even with such power, I couldn't resist for more than an hour.

- So? Ariadne asked in panic.

- His Majesty must end the battle within this time frame. He put all his power into this.

A few moments later, Azhewo released formidable vibrations from his body. On several occasions, he tried by his magic to sweep away the blackish smoke that blocked his entire former empire, gradually increasing his power. It was a dangerous bet. Because he had no right to make a mistake.

- What are you trying to do, young sovereign? Ytel asked, suspicious.

But without waiting for an answer, the enemy reinforced the power of the mist and rain, and no longer holding out, Azhewo was totally submerged by the black wave that surrounded him and sank into it.

- Azhewo, Ariadne shouted, with the intention of jumping into the cursed sea. But Plokuz stopped her.

- No! If you, His Majesty will never forgive me.

- But he...

- He is strong, more than anyone.

Then, as the beast with emerald wings asserted with certainty, the sea of black mist was pierced through and through by extraordinary pillars of magic. And Azhewo immersed himself in it, bathed in phenomenal magical light, straightening up with a majestic attitude and a terrifying calm.

- Impossible, Ytel whispered, dismayed.

- What if, Yetl. Why do you think I let myself so easily trapped by your black mist, it's because I wanted to find your weakness and I found it.

- Your power is truly worthy of Zeujor's splendour and more.

- No one could say it better probably.

- But you underestimate your opponent too much.

But Azhewo shook his head slowly.

- Once, only once, I had the weakness to do it. And I have eternally paid the price. Since then, I have never closed my eyes again.

- Poor child too loved and spoiled to know the limits of things.

- I do know it on the contrary. But in the end, my punishment gave me on a golden platter what I never wanted.

And he looked up for a moment at Ariadne, who, having heard the discussion, felt her heart capsized as she understood all the suffering and loneliness of her love. She closed her eyes for a moment, finally understanding the pain and hatred of men, leading them to revenge. If to free him, she had considered destroying the entire galaxy, she would never be forgiven, but it would have been without regret.

Azhewo reached out his hand, and emitted a last phenomenal shock that totally pushed back the ocean of dark fog and broke its source. Immediately, a wind stained with sparkling ashes rose and blew with frightening intensity. Ariadne breathed the smell of smoke and despite Polokuz's barriers, she almost got burned. The strong feeling of fury it contained was unspeakable. Then everything calmed down.

- What the hell is that? Another voice suddenly asked, gloomy.

Everyone turned to his source.

- Astieme? Ariadne exclaimed, with her eyes wide open.

The emperor regained consciousness, but was chained and guarded by four fog statues, surrounding him like vengeful monsters.

He looked up to see his unexpected guests struggling on the battlefield, and was totally shocked to see the person standing magnificently in front of him, who was able to bear the power of the sunlight.

- Azhewo. He whispered.

- Yes, it's me, little brother.

- But how? When? Why?

- Too many question Asty. The fallen emperor replied anyway, with an indulgent smile.

His younger brother, as upset as ever, gave him back his smile.

- But to answer your last question, it's because you and my old world just needed me.

This time, Ariadne jumped to the ground, and ran to throw herself into the arms of her lover. Then suddenly, her eyes were attracted by a strange shape, a gigantic rectangular metal that rose into space. It was engraved with strange scriptures.

- What are these writings Azhewo?

Holding on to him, she watched the huge metal with a suspicious eye before turning all her attention to her lover.

- It is a forbidden and very special spell, so powerful that even a fabulous Emperor could not break it.

- But you are yourself emperor and yet you were able to create such magic? Ariadne exclaimed, ironic and surprised.

- Finally, there are always exceptions. Replied the fallen prince, without taking himself apart. But you always forget my love that I am no longer an emperor.

Azhewo irradiated himself even more and emitted a vague and spectral cry that tore through space. The misty columns that held all the prisoners in a heavy sleep cracked before falling into ruins, and the huge metal rectangle scattered into golden dust.

He freed his younger brother from the chains that held him back and destroyed the statues. This act totally dissipated the remains of the dark fog sails. Astieme, fallen unconscious again, landed in his brother's arms. The latter carefully laid his precious burden on the ground.

-Astieme! Astieme breathe, go ahead! Commanded the fallen prince to the unconscious.

- How is Astieme?! Ariadne asked as she knelt on the other side of the imperial brother.

Azhewo couldn't say anything when he saw his younger brother's state.

-Astieme, come on! You are emperor or not. We really don't have time for such weaknesses. The empire is in danger, I should point out. Azhewo spouted passionately, more angry with his younger brother than worried.

But after long minutes of a complete lack of response to his brother's compelling voice, the latter took a deep breath and resolved to do something quite crazy.

- Astieme, sorry, but you leave me no choice.

- Azhewo, what do you intend to do to him? Ariadne asked, agitated and suspicious.

- Of course I'm going to apply my medicine to him. It will hurt him, but he has no choice. His cursed sleep is so deep that it is very difficult for him to wake up again.

- That you are able to wake him up, I don't doubt it, my love, but why do you have that look on your face?

-Which one? He asked, falsely innocent.

- Every time you have that kind of face, I always have a feeling you're going to do something terrible.

- Ariadne, I am able to heal people. That's the only thing that should matter, right?

- Uh, well.....

- Yes or no, baby?

- I would say yes then... ?

So without further hesitation, he undressed his brother's top. On his chest, Azhewo wrote with his magic an incomprehensible symbol. Then he laid his hands on it and gave it an unimaginable strength. His spiritual power was such that at the end Astieme could only wake up, but in agony so powerful was the magic pressure.

And at the same time, Azhewo protected them from Ytel's power. But this was not enough to spare them from numbness and suffocation.

Astieme decided to move, slightly at first, before taking a deep breath that tore his chest.

- Here you are again, Astieme.

The latter slowly opened his eyes and remained speechless for a while.

- Big brother, you haven't changed at all! He finally said. Tell me how can you be so well when we are all deeply affected by this atrocious magic. Come on, tell me the truth.

- And what I still don't understand, Astieme, is that you still wonder why I'm like this now. Wasn't the answer always simple? That's who I am, Azhewo.

He stretched out his arms and bent down to kiss his brother's forehead. He shook Astieme's body to erase the hold of his fate on him.

- Azhewo!