The past (11): It is over.

Frost still clung to the air, thick as smoke, but the king's movements were slowing. Each spell he summoned left a scar across the room as there is no place that has not been touched with the snowy ice. And the king showed a shimmer of exhaustion in his eyes, the frost on his blade melting and dimming like dying embers. Blessings or powers were mighty, but they were hungry— they drank from the soul, from the strength behind the owner's heart. That is why it can only be used by healthy people. And Carlos knows that his brother is not a part of them. His brother's heart had always been weak. That is why he never really leaves the castle and his wish to travel the world can't be fulfilled. It is not because he didn't want to but because he can't. His heart won't make it. Carlos had already made the choice of giving his heart to his brother if he had accepted his hand. But since he didn't, Carlos had no choice but to watch his brother's suffering.

And Carlos saw it. Felt it.

His brother's grip faltered. His breath came ragged. The crown sat heavy on his brow and the hand in the place of his heart. For once Carlos though, having no blessings is good for some reasons. 

"You are tiring." Carlos said, voice low and steady. If it was not that he had been to war, he would not be able to follow his brother at all.

The king snarled and raised his other hand again—but his magic fizzled, sputtering out into mist. His face shows pain and after a moment, the king coughs again and again until the blood also flows from his mouth. And that moment of weakness was all Carlos needed

"I won" Carlos as if he was not bleeding from his hands, arms and legs and also from his mouth. But Carlos knows that this is not worse compared to his brother's. But his brother brought his sword again to lunge at him yet it barely moved. Carlos watched that scene unfold. He had beat his brother. What now as Carlos was thinking—--

"Hurry up."

"Kill me, I lose"

"Do I really have to do that?"

"You have to"

"This is the only way to end."

"One of us needs to die."

"Or" the king coughed again, blood spilling on the floor as Carlos watches.

"The story won't end."

"So, it was for a story."

"Did the goddess tell you to kill me?" Carlos asked. And the king raised his head up to watch his little brother as he saw his little brother eyes filled with sadness and requesting for an answer. The king can see it clear.

"Mother… she told me to kill you"

"And i can't refuse, she use the story to control me"

"And the goddess let it?" Carlos asked, watching his brother suffer as he tried to speak. Even though it hurt to see it, Carlos still wants answers…no he needs answers. After all, when he finished he was going to kill that bitch of his brother__

The king smiled and said, "Everything for the story. She never really cared about me anyway"

"Now the time had come, kill me and take the throne, little Carl"

"Brother, you…really didn't think about winning against me, right?"

"Why should I?"

"It doesn't matter anyway, even if I win, I would still die for using too much powers"

"My heart is already freezing before you even came here"

"....."

"Now kill me, little Carl"

"As long as it is you, i will feel free"

"As my last wish, kill me Carl"

"You really are idiot, brother"

Carlos looked down at the king, unblinking yet his voice filled with pain, his tears falling down. And Carlos laughs bitterly and sounds broken. And he lifted the blad higher, tip aimed for the heart to finish quickly. For his brother to not feel the pain and be free from those strings that control him immediately. 

"Brother, you never changed"

And Carlos drove the sword downward to meet his brother's heart…

The throne room's doors that have been closed for eternity had opened and thousands of swords had just been thrown to him in an instant. Also with a terrifying speed. His eyes widened.

Something massive passed between him and his brother, faster than thought and attacking him. He didn't have time to lift his blade. And a shadow come in front of him and then—

Nothing.

The world is titled as he falls to the ground and his last breath is caught in his throat.

And only darkness was there.