❝ 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. ❞

*𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯*

Hours passed with (Y/n) retelling the tale of her resurrection and the journey's that she had experienced throughout the course of almost a year. From how she found herself being tutored by the man that caused her peril and how she became the next Demon Queen. Everything that she knew was told to him without a single second thought or pause. The adventures she told in those hours flowed out of her mouth like a river, and to her, it felt like a heavyweight has been hoisted off from her shoulders of which she had no clue was there.

Kaveh nodded along with an occasional 'I see' and a sip of his warm milk, his bushy eyebrows furrowing in concentration in times where (Y/n) would speak of a stimulating situation that transpired. To him, this all sounded to be the most fascinating thing on the planet—from which it truly was. Whilst he listened and (Y/n) retold, the others laid boredly on the ground, either regarding the discussion with interest or drifting away into a deep slumber.

As her story came to a close (Y/n) slapped her hands once, a heavy sigh coming out of her mouth as she softened back on her chair, a deep discomfort rampaging in her mind.

"And that is all I can remember, Kaveh. From what I told you, I think you have a solid awareness of our predicament and why we aspire to use your machinery at such late notice." Concluding her hypothesis (Y/n) glared earnestly at her old friend, seeking to spot any actions that would give away his thinking—but nothing came to notice as he stayed still as a statue, his eyes wandering around the room as he seemed to be in deep thought.

After minutes of nothing but silence, Kaveh finally spoke:

"What you have done for me all those 3,000 years ago is still chiseled in my heart and soul, and for that, I am eternally indebted, but I'm afraid I can't accept your requirements." Upon receiving his resolution, the other two—who were still laying obediently on the carpet—shook away from their stupor and stared wide-eyed at the old man, hesitant if what he had said was genuine.

Humming in consideration, (Y/n) remained still. "I see... not even if I begged you for this monumental favor in terms of the debt that you still owe me would you give me yours and your disciples' life work. I can respect that. I truly do, but it doesn't alter my proposition. My dear friend. I have endured hell on both death and living terms for thousands of years. I have been betrayed more times than I can count and have been lied to more times than I ever breathed in this dying world. Yet the betrayal of a dear and old friend will always be something that no heart can ever grow accustomed to." Pulling up from her seat (Y/n) groaned in anguish, her eyes blazing a deep (f/c) as they glared upon the old man's amiable figure.

"Even so... I still don't believe you have much of a decision in this matter." Drawing out her sword (Y/n) planted it right beside where his heart was, its glimmering steel humming in excitement as if felt the beating heart of a living being. Not troubled by the undetected actions of the woman, Kaveh lingered still in his seat, sipping from his heated milk with satisfaction.

"Exploiting the forcing card, are you? Even when I allowed you into my peaceful village, you offer your host this much hostility. Tsk, tsk, (Y/n)—thought you knew better than to pull such a foul play with a dear friend of yours." Sipping once more from his cup as if he didn't care for the sinister aura of the woman in front of him, Kaveh ignored her.

"What resulted in the past is the past, Kaveh. Please understand that. Continuing with ancient ties and caring for them has demonstrated throughout my tale to be a continuous, idiotic matter; which I don't think I wish to repeat once more. Now, hand over your ring, my dear friend. I don't wish to trouble you." Penetrating the sword's tip inside of his body, Kaveh winced as a droplet of his milk splashed on the carpeted floor along with a narrow trail of blood. Not letting the pain get to his senses, Kaveh remained calm.

"I knew one day you would come here with a changed mind, (Y/n). One day all the wrongdoings and betrayals that the world had thrown onto you would bubble up to your surface and change who you are. I knew--yet I always dreaded the day." Taking one last sip of his milk, Kaveh clutched both of his hands around the blade and stared up into her eyes, both of their attention now fully focused on the both of them.

"However, I never would have thought that you would finally tip over the edge this way; to me, of all people as well. Are you sure you wish to murder the last person in this forsworn world who genuinely knows you, (Y/n)? The real you? Do you wish for the jovial, caring, and embracing you to withdraw from this world completely? Do you yearn for the role of Queen so much that you would ignore who you are and change for others? Do you?" With both eyes encountering, none of them recoiled.

(Y/n) nodded her head resolutely. She already resolved this long ago. Besides—people always claimed that others change for the better, so why not her?

Driving the sword through his chest and through the sofa on which he laid, Kaveh didn't blink even when blood gushed out of his mouth like a fountain, he didn't even flinch as (Y/n) twirled the blade and swiftly yanked it out. With their eyes still interlinked, (Y/n) smiled.

"Sacrifices have to be made, Kaveh. Sometimes you have to let go. No matter what it is you're letting go of, it doesn't matter. So tell me, Kaveh, are you contented with your dear friend?"

A gurgled chuckle left his blood-filled mouth as he gradually nodded his head. "You always... were fond of... sacrificing things... Queen of Fools..." With that was his last breath spent, and so he died with eyes opened and body lolled on a ruptured sofa. Kneeling in front of Kaveh, (Y/n) grasped his hand and slid out the ring that was on his finger.

Marveling at the green emerald that rested on the heart of the metal ring (Y/n) slipped it on her finger, shivering as she felt the surge of power rush through her senses and system before she relaxed and turned towards the other astonished two.

"Come on, we have something to get back." Bringing away her sword back into the void (Y/n) picked up her satchel and hung it over her shoulder before making her way towards the door. Scrambling to get up, the two ran up to her and held her back, dread overwhelming their thought process as they gawked up at her in disturbance.

"Why did you kill him?!"

"We could have made a deal, you know?!"

"I could have killed him for you, (Y/n)! Now, look how bloodied your clothes are!"

Smiling down at the worried Zeldris, (Y/n) ruffled his hair affectionately. "Don't worry about my clothes being bloody. Soon enough, all of you will be as well. Now come on, we have only a few minutes before they arrive." Opening the door with a 'clang' (Y/n) dashed out of the room and drew out her sword, slaying the two supervising the doors as quietly as feasible.

Peering over her shoulder (Y/n) frowned. "Come on, you idiots! Do you wanna die?!" Quickly rushing over to her side, Zeldris helped fight off any unsuspecting guards as they passed down halls and across doors.

"What are we running from?!" Hawks questioned in a roaring voice, fear clear on his face as he lingered close to (Y/n).

(Y/n) chuckled, "From the incoming Lakmi Army, of course."

While the three waited for their quizzing inside of the metal cube, Kaveh was calling out to the Lakmi Army that was being led by Ban, the Sin of Greed, and informed them of her whereabouts. The reason for rating his old friend? Simple. The Lakmi Army vowed to not plunder and destroy their motherland in exchange for (Y/n) if she were to ever come to pass by, and by pure luck—she had.

So Kaveh ratted her out to the Lakmi Army via magic message while he stood inside of the viewing room. When did (Y/n) find out? When Kaveh was hunting her around the hallways. When Kaveh went to strike her with his cane (Y/n) spotted that his sleeve was pulled down, displaying the symbol of Green from Ban chiseled onto his skin.

Rumors of the Sin's using their symbols to collect others and bind them into their Army were floating around soon before (Y/n) left for Ferrer, and thankfully so, or else she wouldn't have known and would have been instantly vanquished ending up in her capturing.

Finally, passing by a corridor (Y/n) came upon a steel door hidden away at the end of the hallway. Smirking as she heard shouting (Y/n) lifted both Zeldris and Hawks with invisible hands and used the ring to open the vault. With a heavy 'clang', the vault door's motors turned as it deliberately opened. Without allowing it to fully open (Y/n) rushed inside and trod precisely over towards the glistening artifact in the vault's heart.

"Can you please tell me what you're doing?" Hearing Zeldris' question, (Y/n) just shrugged. "Getting little Pearl into my hands for then I can grab the other weapons." Not contented with her explanation, Zeldris went to ask for more answers before a resounding 'boom' explosion reverberated throughout the halls and towards them, instantaneously grabbing their attention.

Then, the high-pitched screaming of hundreds of people filled their ears, as mortification could be one of the more striking emotions in their voices.

"The Lakmi Army!"

"Hawks, hide inside that pile of weapons there. Zeldris—you and I are gonna kick some ass."

(ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴅᴀʏ/ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇꜱ!)