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Title: Maoh, A Day Late
Summary: All's well that ends well. Now let us never speak of this again.
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Part V, Chapter 5
For better or for worse
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The sudden explosion behind them startled both Yuri and Stoffel.
With a surprised yelp, Yuri scrambled away, still keeping clear of the other man, but Stoffel only regarded the sudden burst of flame and the clouds of smoke that followed with detached annoyance.
"Always interfering," he muttered, watching with surprising patience as three figures emerged from the smoke. Even when the features of his most loyal servant were revealed, as well as the sword he brandished with only the barest hint of hesitation, Stoffel didn't react.
Following Raven, Celi and Murata stumbled out, the former sparing one glance back in the direction they had come from, the latter immediately focusing on Yuri as their eyes met. Slowly, Murata moved toward Yuri, circling the tableau the three old friends had become caught in.
"Celi, Raven," Stoffel noted, not even a greeting so much as a disinterested observation. "Why did you return? There's no need for you here."
"Brother..." Celi murmured, looking at him with open concern. All the small details that were off or unnatural about the way he carried himself stood out to her clearly. Something was terribly wrong. Pursing her lips, Celi steeled her resolve and demanded, "Stoffel, what are you doing? Stop this at once!"
"Your Excellency, please come to your senses!" Raven pleaded, moving to support her.
But Stoffel didn't even seem to hear them. "There's no need for you to be here," he repeated, a bitter shadow passing over his expression. "I don't need you. So just leave." He swept one arm out, as if brushing them away, and a wave of magic buffered the pair, sending them sliding back.
"So it's already gone that far," Murata noted, sidling up to Yuri. "He's already able to channel the Originator's power, if only just a little."
Yuri glanced at him, his gaze panicked and a little desperate. "So that's what it's like?" he wondered, swallowing heavily as he looked at Stoffel's form. "How are we going to help him?"
"...I'm not sure we can," Murata said honestly. "We never... found a real way of freeing someone from the Originator's grip, not once they're this far gone."
Curling his hand around Yuri's arm, Murata tried to pull him away, to safety. But Yuri stood rooted to the spot, staring at his friend in shock.
"What... what are you saying? That can't be right!" Yuri protested, his voice rising. Familiar indignation buoyed his floundering spirits, and he felt a surge of angry, stubborn determination. "You're saying we should just... just..." He couldn't even bring himself to say it. "And for that matter, what about the Great One? Are you saying you're just giving up on him too?!"
Murata's fingers tightened almost painfully, digging into his arm. "...I never found any way to help them," he said quietly, his voice strained and barely above a whisper. Yuri couldn't see his expression, but he knew suddenly that, no matter what front he put up, his friend was hurting, had been pained by his failure for a very long time.
"I'm find a way," Yuri declared. "I'll save them from the Originators."
He pulled his arm away from Murata and stepped toward Stoffel, determination in every feature. Watching Yuri's back as his friend advanced, Murata couldn't help a small, desperate flare of hope. 'We couldn't find any better plan,' Murata thought. 'Between the two of us, we couldn't imagine any plan that didn't require a sacrifice. But if it's you... If anyone can do it, it's you...'
"Stoffel!" Yuri called out, his voice resounding with an unexpected strength. "I order you to stop!"
"I can't do that, Your Majesty," Stoffel said, smiling thinly as he turned away from Celi and Raven to face his king. "You're still so young. You just don't understand, but you'll see one day. This is all for the best, for the good of the Demon Kingdom."
"Do you really think I'm just going to go along with you?" Yuri demanded. "I'm the Demon King! I'm the one who bears the responsibility of making those decisions!"
'The king is the one who leads the country and guides all its people!' Wolfram had declared in Francia, and Yuri agreed with him. For better or for worse, he was the one who had been crowned Demon King.
Stoffel's expression was cool, almost disappointed and dismissive, but it was the first time that his eyes had really focused on Yuri, truly seeing him.
"You say that now, but you're just a child," Stoffel said, his voice calm and reasoning as if he was explaining a simple, if sad fact of life. "Soon, you'll realize how heavy that burden is. You'll grow weary of it, you'll wish to escape it. I'm only saving everyone from enduring that difficult process."
"That's not-" '-for you to decide,' Yuri tried to shout, but his protests were cut off by Celi.
"I'm sorry, Stoffel," she said quietly, but firmly. "This is my fault. I wasn't ready to be Demon Queen. I didn't take it seriously enough, then tried to run from my responsibilities by foisting them on you. I was wrong."
Stoffel stared at her, his brow furrowing in something like confusion and disbelief. "Wrong?" he repeated quietly. "Of course not. Everyone's expectations were unreasonable. You were just unsuited to the task. That's why I..."
"But you're wrong too," Celi continued, her expression softening. "I know you're trying to do the best you know, but this isn't what needs to be done. This isn't what the Demon Kingdom needs. And that's why I... will stop you, Stoffel."
She raised one hand, her fire magic already gathering in the palm. Stoffel mirrored the movement, drawing on his own magic, rather than the Originators' dark power.
It was all wrong. Siblings, fighting each other...
"Stop!" Yuri yelled. Heedless of the danger, he ran between them, throwing up both arms in an attempt to halt the two siblings.
"Shibuya!" Murata yelled, reacting a moment too late to stop Yuri.
Twin bursts of flame converged on Yuri, colliding in a massive explosion that sent the participants and the spectators alike sliding back, their arms raised to shield their faces. But the bright light quickly changed in nature, from the hot crimson of fire magic to the cool blue of pure power.
Yuri's aura burst outward, dissipating the flames, to reveal his unharmed figure standing between Celi and Stoffel. Yuri raised his head, waves of pure magic buffering his hair and clothing, to regard the pair a narrow, judging gaze.
"For two siblings, who love each other so much, to do battle is unseemly," the Demon King pronounced. "But what is truly unforgivable, is the darkness that forces you to face each other across the battlefield."
His sharp eyes snapped to Stoffel, seeming to look past him, to the shadows that had taken over his mind and body. Slowly, the Demon King turned to face his wayward vassal and began to advance.
"Your Majesty..." Celi whispered, watching his back with mixed fear and hope. Raven's hands tightened, where they rested on her shoulders.
Stoffel stared at his king's approaching form with something like confusion. Frowning, he cocked his head as if listening to something only he could hear. "Yes, of course," Stoffel murmured. "That power is just what is needed. Yes, that power..."
His voice changed, deepening in an unsettling way, as a dark aura surged around him. He reached out one grasping hand.
"That power... give it to us," something said through Stoffel.
'It's the same as before,' Yuri thought, his eyes narrowing. But this time, he didn't back away or try to run. Steadily, he walked closer, gathering his will and his magic.
Watching him, Murata couldn't help but think, 'Shibuya, you're going to do something stupid again, aren't you? But I've already decided to believe in you. All I can do is support you.' Reaching into himself, he let his magic synchronize with Yuri's, amplifying it.
'It's only possible to resist being taken over, not to fight it off once it's inside. That's what Murata said about the miasma. This should be the same,' Yuri mused. 'I'm sure of it. This darkness is... a darkness of the heart, not something physical or even magic in nature. The moment it reaches for me - that'll be the opening I need...'
He didn't hesitate, taking Stoffel's hand in his own.
Shadows surged, engulfing them both.
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The darkness was deep, impossibly, unknowably so. It had no limit. Nothing existed, except its all-encompassing depth. It almost seemed to become a physical weight that threatened to crush Yuri, like the bottom of the sea.
The blue pendant flared, its light shining through even under his jacket, and Yuri opened his eyes.
'What am I thinking?' he wondered. 'Is this how everyone loses their way?'
Something whispered cruel words, far in the darkness, but now Yuri could see its shape. It was just a shallow pool, a trickle squeezing through a tiny gap. It tried to reach for him, but its tendrils were thin and insubstantial.
"Begone," the Demon King ordered, sweeping out one hand filled with power. This much, he could do easily.
His bright magic tore through the shadows, scattering and dispersing them just as he had done with the flames.
Opening his eyes, Yuri squeezed Stoffel's hand and let his magic flow through the other man. Stoffel's wide blue eyes met his, before the Lord Von Spitzweg swayed and collapsed.
Suddenly, Yuri's knees gave out under him, and he slid to the floor as well. His hands were shaking, and his breath was strangely short.
"Shibuya," Murata murmured, laying one hand on Yuri's shoulder. Yuri hadn't even noticed him move. Nearby, he glimpsed the golden form of Celi, again the backdrop of Raven's dark shape. He thought they were saying something, but their voices were indistinct.
The room swam alarmingly, and Yuri had to struggle to stay awake.
"It's alright, Shibuya," Murata said quietly. "You just used too much of your magic. But you did it. I can feel it. The darkness is gone."
Swallowing heavily, Yuri shook his head. "No," he said quietly. "It's not gone at all, not really. I hadn't realized... how deep it is. It was just a fragment, but this was all I could do."
Murata's gaze was understanding as he regarded Yuri.
"How did you ever fight that?" Yuri wondered. "Just one glimpse, and I'm like this..." Lowering his head, he tried to take deep breaths.
"Overwhelming fear," Murata noted, almost clinically. "That's just one of the Originator's tactics. You'll be alright, Shibuya. It'll pass soon."
Murata was right. Yuri could already feel the steel bands of terror around his heart begin to ease and warmth slowly seep back into his limbs. He hadn't even realized that the darkness had affected him after all, just by its proximity.
He turned to Murata, another question on his lips, but his friend shook his head. Through the broken doorway, Wolfram and Conrart had limped in, the latter leaning heavily on the former, but stubbornly refusing to wait any longer before checking on their king.
"Your Majesty..." Conrart murmured, smiling as his eyes met Yuri's.
"Conrad! What happened?" Yuri demanded, his eyes widening at the state of the man.
"It's nothing," Conrart assured him, tension seeping out of his form. "I'm just glad that you're alright."
Yuri didn't look convinced, but he let it go for now. Turning instead to Celi and Raven, he asked, "How's Stoffel?"
"I don't know. He's alive, but..." Celi said, cradling her brother's prone body in her lap. "I don't know if he's..."
"It's gone," Murata assured her. "Shibuya burned it out. He just needs to rest." 'Impressive, I think even the miasma effects are gone,' he noted. 'That's Shibuya for you, I guess.'
His words seemed too good to be true. Celi stared at him in disbelief before drawing a shuddering breath. "That goodness," she murmured. "I'm so glad. Oh, brother..."
Next to her, Raven gently helped to lift Stoffel, while Murata pulled Yuri to his feet and held him up when he swayed.
"Come on, let's get out of here," he said. "Upsy-daisy!"
"You sound like an old man," Yuri grumbled. He groaned as everything lurched. "Is this what Wolf feels like on boats? Urgh, I'm gonna be sick."
"Don't be like that," Murata said far too brightly as their limping procession began to move. "All's well that ends well, right?"
But Yuri couldn't help but wonder if it really was all well. The tight coil of worry in his gut hadn't eased, and he couldn't forget the deep, deep darkness he had glimpsed.
This wasn't the end at all.
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"I think he's coming to," a familiar calm voice said softly.
"Brother? Can you hear me?" an equally familiar woman's voice called out.
Stoffel groaned, forcing his eyes to open. "...Cecilie? Raven?" he croaked.
Instantly, he found himself engulfed in a smothering embrace. Celi's delicate arms wrapped around him with a surprising strength, and he felt her warmth seep into his sluggish body. Gingerly, Stoffel patted her golden curls. They were strangely tangled. It was unlike her.
"What happened?" Stoffel wondered, squinting against the too-bright light to peer up at the stone ceiling.
Celi and Raven exchanged an unreadable look as she drew back. It set Stoffel's nerves on edge. Something was wrong, he realized, the last vestiges of sleep quickly clearing away.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Celi asked.
Stoffel had to think for a moment, a fact that made his unease grown. "I tried to arrange a meeting with His Majesty," he said. "But he had departed for that... peace conference." His expression twisted in distaste.
"And after that?" Celi prodded, watching him with clear concern.
Rubbing at his bread - far too thick and scruffy for his taste - Stoffel tried to remember. He had been so angry and so frustrated. "I visited to the Tomb of the Great One," he said slowly. "The guards tried to bar me entry, but I insisted. I offered my prayers in the grand chamber and..."
He shook his head. Everything after was blank.
"I see," Celi murmured. Again, she and Raven exchanged a heavy look.
"Enough, Cecilie, Raven," Stoffel said sharply. "Tell me what has happened, now!"
"Your Excellency... at the Tomb of the Great One, you unfortunately came into contact with miasma leaking from the Forbidden Boxes," Raven spoke up, bowing his head. "You became... influenced by it and forced everyone to leave Spitzweg Castle. His Majesty and your nephews were able to... purify it out and brought you back to the capital to recover."
It took Stoffel several moments to fully understand what his aide was saying. "I see," he murmured finally, running a hand over his face. "What a disgrace... Chasing everyone out of the castle? Yes, it's coming back a little. What was I thinking?"
'They can't be trusted. They're lying to me. That's what I thought. How foolish,' Stoffel thought, sighing. 'Even Raven...'
"I can only imagine what the other Ten Aristocrats will have to say about this. I just hope His Majesty forgives me for the trouble I must have caused," he said, turning to exchange a look with Raven. His vassal gave a shallow bow, easily understanding what Stoffel wanted.
"Lord Von Voltaire and Lord Von Crist are both aware of the situation, but the others have not been notified. I have already given orders for the staff to return," Raven relayed. "A suitable explanation can be provided at your discretion. As for His Majesty, he wished to convey his well-wishes and hopes for your swift recovery."
"His Majesty really is too kind," Stoffel said, smiling widely. "I'll have to thank him personally, of course!"
Strangely, his words made a shadow pass over Celi's expression.
"...Maybe another time," Celi said quietly. She smiled, clapping her hands together. "For now, let's head home! I'll make you some of my famous herbal tea. Ah, you didn't let my garden wither, did you?"
"You're coming too, Cecilie?" Stoffel asked in surprise. "You don't need to worry. I've got Raven. He can manage things."
"It's fine!" Celi insisted. "I've been thinking of going home for a while. It's been a long time since I've seen the castle. I've missed it... more than I ever expected to. I'll help you deal with the rumors and the other nobles." She had always been better at that than Stoffel. Her eyes softened. "You can count on me, I promise."
It was strange to see his flighty little sister look so sincere. There was a steel in her gaze he hadn't seen before. Stoffel could only stare, uncertain what to make of Celi's new determination.
As Stoffel watched, Raven reached out and gently grasped Celi's hand. "...We will be happy to have you, Lady Cecilie," he said.
Their eyes met, and they seemed to forget everything around them. It was annoyingly familiar, and Stoffel found himself making the same sort of face he had made as a child. It was also oddly nostalgic.
"I suppose it will be nice to have all three of us home together again," he mused to himself, "I have missed those days."
Celi and Raven had turned to smile at him. They nodded. 'We'll do it right this time,' Celi thought. 'This time, we're in this together.'
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