A devastated Landscape—one that stretched for miles.
That was the sight that would greet anyone who witnessed the current state of the Eastern Kingdom's Royal Capital.
The fallen soldiers and golems littered the ground like dirt, and smoke and exhaust still filled everywhere.
Hovering right above all of this chaos and destruction was a blonde who donned his white coat and and cooly observed everything.
Yeah, that blonde was me.
I looked in the direction of the Outers, who kept gawking at me in reverence and relief. Neron particularly had a good expression of surprise on his face that I personally enjoyed, but too much of that look wasn't very good for me.
I looked in the direction of the enemies—Jared and Jane—who were now currently unable to do anything.
Jane had gone over to Jared's side, and it seemed she was trying to comfort him or something, but Jared was most likely having an emotional/mental breakdown at this point.
I took my attention from them and looked at everything, taking in all the information they possessed.
'The war is pretty much over. All I have to do is stop the portal. I was thinking of a way to bring diversification to this world by letting Miasma have some space here, but there's really no need...'
If I let Miasma stay here, then new developments like Anti-Magic, and eventually perhaps pure Aether production, could be discovered.
What made me hesitate, however, was the harm that Miasma could cause.
It was extremely dangerous, especially to the people of this world, who were more attuned to Mana than anything else.
'It's regrettable, but I'll be stopping the portal. The device seems interesting, though. I think I'll keep it for further research.'
With that concluded, I ascended to the sky in order to stop it all.
'This shouldn't take too long.'
*
*
*
"Tell me, Jane..." A low, hoarse voice emerged from Jared as he stiffly looked above him.
His long white hair was plastered on the dirty ground, with dirt and grime littering his face and body.
His body ached beyond words, but something inside him hurt even more. It felt like he was being torn apart anytime he considered the swirling emotions that raged within him.
"... What have we been doing all this time?"
As he whispered this words, his body shook. It seemed he wanted to say more, even do more, but he was limited by his actions.
Bloodshot eyes and gritting teeth could hardly explain the level of frustration that was rising within him.
"After everything, how did we still lose? I... after all this time, why am I still weak? Why isn't anything good enough?!"
It made no sense to him.
Even with his thorough preparations. Even though victory should have been assured and gotten undisputed, this had to happen.
Why?
What was his error? Why were things always like this?
It felt like the very world was against him.
"Jared, I..." Jane's words weakly answered.
Her eyes were a little swollen thanks to the tears, and it broke her heart to watch her lover this way.
Clearly, she empathized with him. They had come so far together, and this was a dream that they both decided to undertake.
However... somewhere along the way—during the final battle that cost them victory—she had mulled over the words of her enemies.
She had listened, and something within her shifted.
"I love you, Jared. Do you... love me too?"
"What?" He responded, completely surprised by the sudden switch in topic.
Couldn't something like that wait for now? They were currently facing a crisis, and it certainly wasn't time for romance.
"Jane. You know how deep my feelings run for you..." Jared muttered.
"Then—"
"But there's a place for romance. And there's a place for Magic. You and I both place Magic at the forefront. That's why we're so perfect for each other. It's why I love you so much. Do not let that change."
Jane bit her lip as she heard those words. She tightened her hands to form a fist, and it seemed that even more tears were about to fall.
However, she fought the hot liquids back, and she took light breaths. Closing her eyes and stabilizing her breathing, Jane made a very sad smile.
"Its a little too late for that, Jared." She answered, sniffing a little.
"What do you... mean?"
Jane wasn't so sure how her lover would react to this. No, perhaps she already did. However, after listening to the otherworldly, she couldn't deny herself any longer.
The sole motivation for all she had done—all the atrocities she had wrought so far, and even more that she would do—all centered on one person.
"Jared, I love you more than Magic."
There remained no doubt on her mind about it.
"And I want to know right now, Jared.... if you could feel the sa—"
"Don't fuck with me! Don't say that to me! I don't want to hear any of that!" Jared's response was a loud roar that seemed so full of despair and bitterness.
"This isn't how it was meant to go! Why did things have to turn out this way?!" He yelled, rage evident in his eyes.
"All I wanted... why is it being denied now? And even you... you're leaving the path too? Why can't you all see what I see? Why can't you all understand? I thought you understood, but—"
"I understand, Jared. I under—"
"No, you don't! You fucking don't! No one does!"
His voice echoed sadness and despond, breaking the heart of Jane who watched and tried to comfort him.
"I... I am all alone."
Hearing those words from Jared, the Fairy finally realized the truth.
That Jared just couldn't care and love her the same way he did for Magic.
"I-I see..."
And that was enough to break her.
"S-sorry for ever loving you."
She collapsed on the ground too, now losing all the strength in her body to move.
She no longer had the strength to tell him about their child that she carried... or the future she had envisioned for their girl.
All she could do was lie there, not knowing what to expect next.
That was Jane's punishment.
*
*
*
[A/N]
As this point is slowly coming to a close, I hope you're all enjoying yourselves.
