Chapter 7 now!
I really love this story myself, however
every story must have an ending.
And the most horrible thing in writing a story
is the ending, what ending will be satisfying?
But I will try my best!
Elsword: I'm kinda tired.
Karis: Let's do our best, the story is almost finished.
Recommended OST for this chapter: Field_Rest_Altera001
Let the fairy tale begin.
Chapter 7
Elsword's POV
My head hurts.
Where am I?
"Oh, you're awake, Elsword."
"Thank goodness, we thought you will sleep for so long."
What...?
Vara and Harza...
Vara-!?
"Vara! You're fine!?"
"Chill down, I'm fine, there's nothing to worry about me, you should be more worried about her now, Elsword."
Vara pointed at...
Karis.
Who's laying down on bed and looked in pain.
"Karis! What happened with her?! How long have I passed out?!"
"Like I say, calm down! You've been passed out for 4 days. Karis said you've passed out for 1 week before, so now is quite a miracle you only need 4 days to wake up."
Vara tried to calm me but I can't stay calm, did something happened when I'm not conscious?
Why is Karis looked so much in pain?
Did something hurt her?
"Why is Karis' condition like this?"
"... *Stare*"
Vara's staring at me and then she look at Harza.
"How is it, Harza?"
"... Should we tell him?"
"That should be my question."
"... Considering the current situation..."
Harza's thinking very hard.
Is what they're about to tell me is so important that they need to think about it more than once? Just what are they hiding from me?
Finally Harza look at me with a determined eyes.
"I'm going to tell you, Elsword. The secret that you never know."
-Kingdom-
"... Even 'Void's can't do anything to 4 people!?"
"... My utmost apologize, your Highness."
"I don't need your apologize! Just how are you planning to kill them!? We don't have much time to wait! We need to make sure they're dead!"
The man stood and face the king with sharp eyes.
"W-What are you looking at! Where's your respect!?"
"Heh... Respect?"
The man create a void rune and blast it to the King's table.
"Guaah!"
"I've had it enough from you, worthless King, Alexandrite."
"Y-You!"
"You never gave me a name, that's why you can't call me with anything, right?"
"Ho-How dare you attack you creator!?"
"Creator? What kind of creator being afraid of his own creation?"
The man grinned.
"P-Please! I will do anything!"
"Oh my, the King had turned into a slave?"
The man stepped on the King's crown.
"You're still so young, yet you dare to order us around like you're the absolute ruler."
"H-Hiii!"
"Let me teach you, no matter how high your status is, without power you're nothing but a pebble to the strong one."
The man glared at him with malicious eyes.
"Oh- I've researched for many names and I found a suitable name for me-"
The King's surprised.
He's searching his name this whole time?
The King thought that he's searching a way to defeat those 4 traitors.
However the King got no nerve to be angry at him now.
"Zeron, that's my name. You'd better remember it well. Useless King."
Zeron left the King with a spit on his face.
The King never felt so humiliated before.
"Ze-Ron... How dare you... Just you wait-!"
The King gritted his teeth in anger.
Elsword's POV
Harza looked like she's troubled.
She's having trouble picking the right words.
But she still spoke out, the bitter truth.
"Karis will soon forget about you."
...
"What do you mean? She will forget me?"
"Not only you, but everyone. All she know is only destruction."
Vara's explaining Harza's statement.
"Only destruction? What are you guys talking about? You're kidding, right?"
I wish they were kidding. But their faces are not the one of those who's just kidding.
"Impossible... She... Will forget me?"
I crouched beside her and caressed her head.
Karis...
I totally forget that she's my enemy.
But I no longer care.
After waking up, I only know she's special to me.
"Karis..."
"... Ugh... Uh... Els..."
Karis' having a bad dream.
I can see her tears.
She's struggling in her sleep.
"Why? Why must she forget about us?"
I look at both of them.
"Have you ever heard Succubus' True Form?"
Succubus' True Form.
Only applied to Queens.
They will turn into a savage demon who only seek destruction and deaths.
Rumour said that only selected people can kill them.
"Looks like you knew it. I don't need to give any further explanation."
Vara close the conversation.
"Karis..."
She's still having a bad dream.
She's sweating quite a lot.
"Els... Word..."
"I'm here..."
I hold her hand tightly.
Suddenly she's calming down.
I'm happy that her bad dream is subsiding.
But still...
"How much time she's left with?"
"... Approximately until the day after tomorrow."
Harza's still hiding something.
But I don't want to pursue this matter any further.
I need... To find a way to stop her transformation.
Vara's POV
When Elsword's unconscious, Karis' taking care of him non-stop.
I wonder did she also took care of him like this when he's unconscious for 1 week.
At the 4th day Karis' memory starts to fade away.
She's starting to become forgetful of what just happened.
Like did she already change Elsword's towel or not.
And finally she collapsed.
She's overworked.
"Elsword, take care of her. We're only left with tomorrow to find a way to stop her transformation. I will try to find some information."
"I understand, thank you, Ai-I mean Vara."
He's still mistook me with Aisha.
Really he is...
Just too dumb...
I'm going back to Elscud's place and I try to find any books that might hold a key about how to stop her transformation.
"Even though it's futile, at least you tried, young lady."
Elscud must've knew all the content of these books but still I can't just sit down doing nothing.
Karis' POV
..
...
Hmm...?
Where am I?
I need to... Take care of Elsword...
I slowly get up.
Why... Did my head felt so light...
What happened?
"Oh, finally you're awake."
"... Elsword?"
He sit down beside me.
"How do you feel?"
"... I'm feeling dizzy..."
I lay my head on his shoulder.
He hugged me gently as I close my eyes.
"Say, Karis... Are you really going to forget about us?"
It seems like he knew it.
"... Yes, It's beyond my control... Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow. I don't know when will I forget everything..."
'I don't want to forget you.'
But I can't say it out.
I really don't want this...
Finally we can stay as close as this...
But I must forget everything...
I can feel my eyes are blurry.
No, I must not cry...
"Karis... Since this might be my last chance, I will tell you."
"... What is it, Elsword?"
I'm closing my eyes as I hear what will he say to me.
"You're responsible for the deaths of my friends. Don't forget that."
"Of course, that's not something I can just forget."
Is there anything else?
If there is...
It's only that.
"Only I can kill you, so don't die on anything else, I won't accept any reasonings. I will be the one the slay you once you changed."
"... Yes. That's your last job."
Somehow I can feel his hug is getting tighter.
Don't be so kind to me...
Please... I can't hold my tears...
"So..."
"So...?"
*Drip*
Tear drop.
It's not mine.
Then... I look at his face.
"Tell me, Karis... Is it wrong if I said I love you?"
From his eyes.
Tears are overflowing.
...
*Drip*
My tear also dropped.
He just... Said that he love me...
"Elsword..."
I sobbed.
I can no longer handle my feelings.
I just let it all go out freely.
"Karis... I love you... At first I'm not sure, but now... When you're about to go away from my side... My feeling got stronger... All these times we've spent... Even though it's short... I will treasure them all...*sob*!"
He cried, like a child.
Crying, is a precious emotion.
By crying, you can relieve your stress.
There's nothing wrong with crying, we're all living beings, we can feel hurt and pain.
My tears are flowing non-stop.
"Elsword... Elsword... Me too... *Sob* I will always treasure these moments... I will never forget these moments even when I die... *Sob* I also love you... But we can't stay together... We will unavoidably seperated... That's why I'm so afraid! *Sob*"
Why is life so cruel?
Why must I be borned as a Succubus Queen?
Why can't I be normal human?
For what reason my existence is?
Goddess of El...
If You are there...
Why won't you answer me!?
I cried and cried.
"Goddess of El is so cruel... *Sob* If only She will hear my prayer..."
Elsword patted my head.
Finally we had enough crying.
We stay in each other's embrace.
"You're really warm, Karis..."
"You too, Elsword..."
We hug each other.
And we sleep like that, unwilling to be seperated.
The Next Day
I woke up in Elsword's embrace.
He's sleeping so peacefully.
I giggles.
"Oh, how romantic both of you two are."
Harza's looking at us in a teasing way.
"Bleeeh~"
I point out my tongue at her in a playful manner too.
She giggles for a while and then she went serious.
"... Today is the last day..."
"... Yes..."
I know she didn't mean to make me feel sad, she meant that if I still have anything I want to do I should tell her, she want me to savor every last moment of my life happily.
"Thank you, Harza... You're just like my sister..."
I slowly get up from Elsword so that I won't wake him up.
"Karis..."
Her eyes are teary.
She's really the most special clone ever.
A clone that can feel emotion.
"Can I... Call you... Big... Sister...?"
My voice is starting to break.
I'm about to cry again.
She've done so much for me in these days.
She heard all of my whims, she never complaint of my attitude.
She's always trying to understand me.
I really... Want her as my sister...
"*Nod*... Come here, Karis... Let big sis hug you..."
Harz- Big sis is spreading her arms.
"Big sis!"
I jumped into her embrace and cried.
"Karis... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...*Sob*"
Big sis caressed my head as she apologize of how useless she is.
"No... *Sob* It's okay... We can't do anything about it after all..."
We cried together as we embrace each other.
Embracing is a way to make you let out your sadness easier.
That's true.
Vara's POV
...
I can't find anything...
"Elscud, is there nothing we can do?"
"I said it from yesterday. It's a futile struggle."
He sighed sadly.
"I'm very sad, my daughter-in law will soon die."
I thought he's joking, but his eyes are teary.
Even he can feel sadness just from watching the scene.
I don't know what it means to cry.
So I don't care of how much they cry.
All I need to do is do my best, I still get 1 more day...
Tomorrow would be too late.
Elsword's POV
I woke up, the time's...
5PM.
"Why did no one WAKE ME UP?!"
Today is Karis' last day!
How can I slept so peacefully until this late!?
"Karis!?"
I called out but no one's replying.
Did something happened?
I walk around the bush while calling Karis.
"Karis! Where are you!?"
Hey, it's not funny...
I can't waste anymore time.
I need to spend every seconds with her.
So that I won't have any regret.
Suddenly-
"WOAAAAHHH!?"
I slipped and fell from a hill.
Just when I wonder where I'm falling to-
*Splash*
I fell into water.
"*Gasp*!"
I hurriedly got up and take a breath.
I thought I'm dying.
"... P-"
"Huh?"
A duck?
I look behind me and...
I saw Karis without her usual twintail, her hair's wet.
And also...
Naked, inside the pool.
Now that I noticed it, this is a hot spring.
"A-Ah... I'm sorry- I'm looking for-"
"PERVERT!"
Karis splash the water to me.
Hey, it's hot!
"S-Sorry!"
Just when I'm about to get out of the pool she pulled my sleeve.
"Karis...?"
"... I'm okay, now... So..."
W-Wait a minute, Karis... You don't mean...
While covering her chest, she timidly said;
"... Let's... *Blush* Get in together..."
You can't imagine how much red my face is right now.
"Ahh... So comfortable..."
In the end I also get in the pool.
We're facing away from each other, so we only our back that makes contact.
Her body's so soft...
"... Elsword."
"Yes?"
Hearing her calling my name's the best feeling.
She always call me Cherry boy back then.
"Thank you for agreeing with my silly request..."
"It's fine... I want to spend every last seconds with you."
She's submerging while blushing.
I can feel it, she's so cute.
"Can we... Hold hands?"
"Sure."
I hold both of her hands, even thought we can't see each other but I can feel her presence.
That's already more than enough.
"Your hands are big..."
"It's just yours that's small."
"H-How rude!"
She squeezed my hand, hahaha how cute.
However, these happy times will end soon...
I wish that the time can stop.
Stop only for now.
But that's just wishing for the impossible.
She's not waking me up before maybe because she also want to spend time with Harza.
Harza's just like our sister.
She's mature, unlike a normal clone.
"Karis, since this is the last time... Do you want to kiss?"
"W-W-W-What!?"
She's flustered.
"W-Well it's because... Since we might not be able to do it again..."
I awkwardly explain it to her.
But...
"... Thank you Elsword, but, sadly I must decline... If we did it... It will only made us harder to accept this seperation."
She's right.
If we really did it, I might've curse the Goddess of El for this unfair fate and end my life immediately, she's trying to create memories but also worried for me, that's why I love her.
Even if we love each other, we're not going out.
Since it will only hurt our hearts even further.
"I think it's about time for us to return, staying too long in a hotspring is not good."
I held her hand and get up.
She nodded and we get changed into our clothes before going back to our camp.
Vara should be back.
I'm smiling as I watch Karis' back.
She's so beautiful.
And... Fragile.
At Camp
"How is it, Vara?"
I asked Vara about her research.
She shook her head.
"I'm very sorry, Elsword..."
She hung her down dejectedly.
I patted her head.
"It's okay, Vara. You've done what you can..."
I sighed and sit beside Karis.
"Vara also can't do anything, huh..."
"It's okay... I'm already expecting that result."
Karis knew that there's no way to stop her transformation.
She even forget that we just had a bath together.
Her memory's getting worse.
"Here, have a drink."
Karis brings me a cup of coffee, she also brew tea for Vara and Harza.
We sit facing each other.
The four of us are discussing about what should we do.
However we fail to reach any conclusion.
"Is there no way out?"
"I think we've got no more choices..."
"... *Gritted her teeth*"
"... It's okay."
Vara looked so angry at her uselessness.
She's really a hard worker...
Suddenly Karis stood and she look at all of us.
"I'm very grateful, you guys have treated me so kind. I don't have any regret thanks for your help, I can experience everything... Feel everything I want... I really can't desire for anything more than these."
Normally that's what people would say, but to us-
"What is it, Karis?"
"You looked different..."
Even Harza's looking at her curiously.
Vara who's silent all this time-
"Ugh-! This drink...!"
Karis smiled.
"That's right... I've put a sleeping potion in it including with a forget potion..."
W-Why!?
Karis! Why would you do something like this!?
"Elsword... You might be asking why I'm doing this... But I must tell you before you lost your memories. You're being possessed by a demon. Remember 5 years ago?"
"Karis-! No!"
Harza tried to stop her, but my ears and eyes are fix on her.
"The demon named 'Berserk'... It possessed your body and rampaging the village. It's already calmed down because I stopped you at that time, as for the reason why I killed your friends..."
"KARIS!"
Harza yelled at her.
"Is none other than because the King ordered them, your friends. To kill you once you killed me. Because I'm the only one who knows the truth of 5 years ago and the King's afraid that you might join me if you know that the Kingdom's trying to kill you and he's also afraid of 'Berserk' going on rampage again, What's more frustrating is... Your friends also afraid of 'You', that's why they accept the mission readily."
Imposs... Ible...
My friends... They wouldn't...
So Karis'... Protecting...
Before I can finish my thoughts...
I fell unconscious.
Karis' POV
After laying Vara and Harza in their cottage...
Elsword...
I lay him down in our cottage.
I did all of this, because I don't want them to remember every memories about me.
So that they can kill me without hesitation.
...
"Thank you Elsword... Thank you to love me and to forgive me... I don't need anything anymore... Thank you for letting me know how it felt to be loved... It's been... *Sob* A very short time... *Sob* But... This is really... A Good Bye."
I kissed his lips.
My tears are flowing non-stop.
It starts to wet his face.
'We won't know each other again... When you wake up.'
And I left the cottage.
Chapter 7 End
The next chapter will be the last
Chapter for 'Night'.
Please wait for it since it will be
quite long so I need quite a lot of time
to write them down.
Thanks for the review!
I'm appreciating you guys' supports! XD
Elsword: It's going to end so soon!?
Karis: ...
See you again!
Please leave Review or Critics :P