Chapter 2: Aftermath

The next few hours were a blur. Medical tents were set up for the wounded and for the oncoming battle. Troops were outfitted and the cities defences were tested. The ancient Dwarven technology hasn't failed after hundreds of years of inactivity. Even with the amount of soldiers that were killed and wounded in the fighting, enough troops were raised for the defence. Most of the fighting will be closer to the city or just outside the walls. If we can hold them off long enough for us to advance towards the Ice Castle, then this war is won. All we need is a plan for after the battle.

Myriani has to pull herself together. We haven't spoken after the battle. It seems that whoever she killed, haunts her already. Every time I close my eyes, I see the face of every man, woman, and beast I've killed over the years and they'll haunt me until I die. Now that the deed is done, nothing will bring those people back, not even the Goddess. Her powers are weakening, but I'm getting closer to harnessing her full powers. I can't let the Goddess die yet. She still has a world to protect and look over. As her heir, I will see that the world is cleansed of Chaos.

It's rare for me to not drawn my blade. Today was one of the few days that I never used it. I unsheathe the golden blade and study it. Countless fights over the years had left the blade worn, but it's still the sword of heroes and it hasn't failed me yet. It's been known to serve the Chosen One throughout history. It was destined to be found by me. I sigh and sheathe the blade. The last time I draw that blade could be my last. I can't let Chaos win no matter what!

"Rias." Myrani shuffles next to me resting her head on my shoulder. I didn't even hear her walk over to me. I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed her, "I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything." I bring her closer, "This wasn't your fault and there was no easy way to stop this. My father did this and he'll pay...he'll pay with his life."

"Can we get away from here for a while?" She looks up at me with her green eyes. Her white hair a mess and covering most of her face, "I just want to be alone with you before the battle."

"Don't you have to rally the troops?" I ask her.

"Svewn has already done that." She looks towards the setting sun, "There's a cliff up there that'd be perfect for some alone time. I just need to collect myself before giving a speech tomorrow to the troops."

"You couldn't stop what had happened." I tell her, "None of this is your fault." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, "Come on, let's go talk."

***

The setting sun casts its shadow over the city. Despite the center of the city nearly destroyed and many people injured, the city is still abuzz. The northern end of the city is the busiest as the soldiers prepare the defenses for the oncoming battle that will decide the world's fate. There's a sense of serenity blowing in the breeze. Myriani's snow white hair billows behind her as she looks ahead at the setting sun. The horizon is a deep orange and pink. In this lighting, she looks even more breathtaking.

"Before an important battle, the Elves always foresaw the outcome of it by the color of the sky." She peers into the darkening sky, "This day, it's uncertain. Anything could happen in this war."

"Whatever the outcome will be, at least we'll go down fighting for the good of the people and the world." I hug her from behind. She takes my hand and caresses it with her face, "We'll always be together no matter what. We've been through so much in such little time...I feel like we're meant to be together."

"You'll always be mine and no one will take you away." She smiles as our lips meet. She turns back towards the city, "I have to say something that'll bless the people of this city. They need me to say something. I'm their Queen. May these words carry on to everyone in this city. From the Ruins of the old, we rise anew. Chaos swings its mighty blade as it cuts us down. We rise through the flooded plains of Blood as our Hope shines through the darkest of times. For if we band together as one, we'll drive this darkness away with light; a light that will never go away. Look to the North. Your enemy is there. Now look at yourselves. The demons within must be defeated first. Cast away those dark feelings of hatred, anger, agony, sadness, and selfishness and point your blade, not at each other, but at the darkness that makes you feel this way. WE are one, WE are the weapon!"

The city grows louder as the people chant Myriani's name. She may not act a leader at times, but when she does, she shines even brighter and this is one of those times. I'm happy that I'm able to stand here as her friend and not her enemy. The sunlight finally gives way to the first star. It's almost as if it's shining down on us and us alone. In this light, Myriani seems to glow even brighter.

"That was beautiful." I whisper to her, "You gave the perfect speech for the people."

"I brought you up here to spend time with you." Her green eyes swell with tears, "Today could be the last day I see you alive."

"Well, we have all night." I hug her again. It's been a while since we haven't had a day where we were fighting, preparing for a fight, or trying to survive the night. This slight tranquility won't last long. "What's on your mind."

"Other than this damned war?" Myriani chuckles lightly, "Remember when we were in the mountains and I didn't come back for some time?"

"Yeah, what happened that night?"

"I came across that group of barbarians we fought later that night." She shudders, "They captured me and did unspeakable things to me. If I fought and ran away, they would've followed me back to you guys. I waited until the right moment. Thankfully, I got away, but we still had to fight them later on."

"What did they do to you?"

"They raped me Rias!" She shakes uncontrollably and I reach to hug her, "I wasn't sure until now, but I'm pregnant with one of their children!"

"Has there ever been a half-elf, half-human, before?" I ask caressing her face.

"Never...but this child growing inside of me won't be raised by those savages, but by us." Her eyes sparkle in the starlight, "Once the war is over, I want you to live with us until the day you die. I know you're human and won't live as long as Elves, but I'll enjoy every day as long as I'm close to you."

"I'll never leave your side." I smile at her, "We'll raise the child together."

"I'm glad to have met you!" She says sitting down. She pats the ground next to her and I follow, "You gave my life meaning."

"You're the Queen of the Elves!" I giggle, "Your life had meaning before meeting me."

"No...you fulfilled what was missing in my life despite losing Eliose. He and I could never be mates...if only I wasn't royalty, my life would be drastically different than it is now."

"You know, he'll protect you to the end." I bring her closer, "Deep down, he loves you, but knows that you can never be his."

"There was a time that I would've gone against my mother's word," She looks up at me, "and I'm glad I didn't. I would've never met you and I never would have gone on this adventure that I so longed for."

"The first and possibly last one." I say closing my eyes, "I'll never let you die. No matter what, I'll protect you. You mean everything to me!"

"But you have a duty that you are fatebound to." She says quietly as she drifts into sleep. Her head rests on my lap and I rub her head softly, "You can't escape fate."

***

That duty is protecting the Ice Crystal until we defeat my Father and restore the Goddess to her original self. I feel as if this will be the last battle that the Goddess will have to fight. With my Father taking in Chaos itself, it'll have nowhere to go but be destroyed once we win.

"You talk as if you will actually win." Nada's voice echoes in my head, "No one can escape their fate and your fate is to die by my hands. Your Father is nothing but a puppet; my puppet. He'll do my bidding no matter what. If I tell him to die, he'll die. Your fight is against me and my Father. One Fell Dragon is difficult to defeat, two Fell Dragon's is suicide."

I must have drifted off to sleep. The world I'm in now isn't real, but one manifested by Nada. Her magic is terribly powerful and I've no resistance to it. I wish I had studied harder when I was younger or even took my magic training seriously. I was devoted to the ways of the sword and it's been my only method of battle. I know Nada can't win against me in a physical fight, so she'll keep her distance and use her magic to whittle away at me.

I turn and face the voice of Nada. The girl isn't a day older than I am. Her pitch black hair mirrors mine and her violet eyes shine in the dim lighting. We look the same despite her eyes being a different color.

"I will win and restore peace to this world." I reach for my sword, but nothing is there. This world isn't real...she just wants to talk; get inside my head, sway me from my objective.

"The world that was filled with prejudice." She smiles and floats closer to me, "Oh how blind you are S-" She stops, "This world was filled with nobles who looked down on the peasants. No one was equal and all we're trying to do is make a world where everyone is equal. No one will be above anyone else."

"Except for you!" I spat in anger, "The world you want to create is one for the strong and where the weak die! That's not a world for anyone to live in!"

"A world for us God's. A human like yourself should give up now." She grins maliciously. "No one can oppose a God."

"This world doesn't deserve you at all!" I glide past her, "We'll defeat you no matter what!"

"What if I introduced you to Chaos?" She chuckles as her hands trace my arms, "Even the Goddess' weapon can be seduced to our side. Chaos is nothing but pure power that manifests inside people. Only those that can use it as a weapon are dangerous to those around them. I know how weak you used to be, how weak you are now. You desire more power to protect those you love. Deep down, you crave for it. You want power."

I breathe out nervously. She's right, but I'll grow stronger on my own. "I don't need Chaos to protect those I love."

"That slight hesitation is enough to invite it." She whispers in my ear, "What if I killed the Elf now or tried to kill her? Could you protect her as you are."

" Get...out of my head!" The world around us disappears and I slump to my knees. I turn to Myriani who's still sound asleep on the ground. I look towards the cliff. Nada nearly killed me. She controlled my body and nearly made me walk off the cliff. What a powerful force she is. I only hope that whatever she did, Chaos hasn't found a way to me...I feel different now though. Her touch did something to me. Is it possible that entire time, she was flooding my body with Chaos? If anything happens, I'll have to suppress it for Myriani and the people of this world. We will prevail!