Once upon a time, on an island cradled by the wind and the sea, a young woman with hair red as molten lava told a story to two children sitting at her feet.
"…and so the Hero drove his sword into the heart of the Demon King, freeing the world from his darkness," said the woman, her voice shifting between an epic whisper and a dramatic roar.
The boy, with green eyes full of wonder, interrupted. "Is it true that the Demon King, with his last breath, summoned a dragon and fled riding it across the night sky?"
The girl beside him snorted with disdain. "What nonsense! Dragons don't exist. That's just fairy tales."
The red-haired woman, whose name was Marceline, smiled mischievously. "Who knows? That happened hundreds of years ago. Truth and lies weave together like the tides. But there is something that is true." Her tone suddenly became grave, almost sinister. "They say that same Hero defeated a terrible demon on this very island… and that, to ensure it could never revive, he threw its lifeless body to the bottom of the lake."
The children, who had been listening with their mouths open, jumped and hugged each other.
Seeing them, Marceline burst out laughing. "Don't be scared! It was centuries ago. Besides, the body was never found. Surely time dissolved it completely."
The boy straightened up again, his chest puffed with determination. "It doesn't matter! I'll be a hero too when I grow up! I'll save the whole world!"
The girl laughed at him mockingly. "You? Save the world? You won't even be able to save your pajamas if you keep wetting the bed every night!"
The boy's face turned as red as Marceline's hair. "I don't wet the bed, Remilia, you liar!"
"Yes you do! Your room smelled of pee last night!"
The two children began to squabble with childish insults while Marceline watched them, laughing heartily, feeling that the peace of that island was the greatest treasure of all.
◇◇◇
Ten years later.
Yuuna Island, located in the south of the kingdom of Grace, was a small bustle of color and life. It served as a meeting point for merchants traveling from one end of the continent to the other, a melting pot of aromas of spices, fabrics and sea salt. On a green hill overlooking the town, the constant rhythm of a sword cutting through the air mixed with the song of the cycads.
A young man with short blond hair and green eyes like emeralds practiced tirelessly. He wore simple clothes: black pants, a white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves. The sword he wielded was basic, but its edge shone with the reflection of the sun. His name was Edward Hartford, but he preferred to be called Ed.
(It sounds more heroic), he thought as he counted his movements. "...997, 998, 999, 1000." Just as he was about to start again, a feminine, singsong voice echoed behind him.
"Still here, loser?"
Ed turned his head with a grimace of disgust already etched on his face. "It's you, Leah."
The girl descending the slope was, to put it bluntly, beautiful. She wore a short purple silk coat that fluttered in the breeze, tight navy blue pants, leather sandals, and a green blouse that highlighted the lavender tone of her long hair, which reached her waist. Her deep blue eyes looked at Ed with a mixture of amusement and arrogance. Her name was Remilia Ehnleit, the only daughter of the feudal lord who governed the island.
Unlike her, born into the lap of power, Ed was the son of farmers. The island was small but spacious, and everyone knew everyone. It was an open secret that Remilia only escaped from her tedious lessons at the temple to come and bother him.
She changed her angelic expression for that of a cunning fox. "What's the use of practicing so much if you're still the worst swordsman on the island? Last week, a rabbit almost beat you in a race."
Ed clenched his jaw. He dedicated himself to hunting wild animals, but his aim was, to be kind, disastrous. "That's what you say, but you only come to bother me because you've escaped, again, from your classes at the temple."
A faint blush of shame appeared on Remilia's cheeks. "Th-that's not true," she stammered. "I was just on my break, I saw you and wanted to… annoy you a bit."
"Sure," he ironized. "The temple is a thirty-minute walk from here. So your 'break' is a two-hour escape. You sound very responsible, my lady."
"Shut up, farmer!"
"You shut up, rich girl!"
The childish argument continued until, from the valley, the deep, resonant sound of a bell echoed throughout the island. Twelve noon. They looked at each other, instantly put aside their grievances, and ran down the hill.
◇◇◇
In the main square, all the inhabitants of Yuuna Island, from the oldest elder to the newborn baby, were kneeling in a semicircle, their heads bowed in silence.
Remilia and Ed joined the last row, imitating the posture.
In this world, homage was paid to the Supreme Goddess, Ellisria, whose will had given life to the entire planet. The prayer was not a plea, but an act of gratitude. A moment to remember that, despite sweat and hardship, existing was a gift.
When the echo of silence faded, the villagers rose and life returned to its course.
Walking through the market, Ed observed the stalls decorated with flower garlands. "The town is very lively today."
Remilia nodded. "It's normal. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the island's founding. When the first settlers arrived… well, when my illustrious ancestor gave them permission to establish a settlement here." Ed rolled his eyes. "I suppose the temple will do one of its boring ceremonies."
"Yes," she replied with a tired sigh. "A ceremonial dance narrating the Hero's deeds. The same as always."
Against all odds, Ed's eyes lit up. "Great! I love that part!"
Remilia looked at him with feigned pity. "You're seventeen years old and you get excited about an old folks' dance. That's why you don't have a girlfriend."
Ed puffed up like a toad. "And you don't have a boyfriend either! You're a girl with a horrible personality and… ugly."
The atmosphere froze. "Ugly, you say?" asked Remilia, her voice a dangerous whisper.
"That's what I said."
She ran a hand through her hair, giving him a steely glare. "For your information, I am one of the most beautiful girls in the entire kingdom. You should kneel and give thanks that a girl like me is your childhood friend, insect."
Ed looked at her with a chilling coldness. "So… you admit you have a horrible personality. Because otherwise, being pretty and kind wouldn't give you the right to call me an insect. You're admitting you're a witch."
"I am NOT a witch!"
"Of course not. Witches are useful. You're just a spoiled brat who will get old, uglier, and fat. And nobody wants fat girls."
Remilia's scream could be heard all over town. "FAT?!" In the blink of an eye, her hands grabbed Ed's cheeks and began to stretch them like bread dough. "Take that back, farmer!"
Ed, his face distorted, grabbed her cheeks as well. "You're ugly and you'll be a fat ugly!"
They fought like two cats in a bag. The villagers passing by laughed affectionately. An old man, sitting on a bench, said to his grandson: "See those two? They've always been like that. Ever since they learned to crawl, they've been fighting." The boy nodded, fascinated by the spectacle. The old man smiled, showing his gums. "That they carry on like that is the best proof that there's no danger here. It's peace, son."
◇◇◇
Night fell like a velvet cloak over the island.
Ed was sitting on a log near the large bonfire burning in the center of the square. He had a glass of grape juice in his hand. In this country, you couldn't drink alcohol or get married until the age of majority: twenty. He watched the flames crackle, but his mind traveled backwards.
He remembered the last night he spent with his parents. They hadn't died. They had simply left the island to earn more money on the continent, promising to return rich. They left him in the care of the temple. That was eight years ago. Letters became scarce and finally stopped. Sometimes loneliness squeezed his chest, but he pushed it away as a minor annoyance. There was no point crying over what wasn't there.
A hoarse, unfeminine belch snapped him out of his reverie.
Remilia sat down next to him, with another glass of juice in her hand. She had long since lost her manners. "What's wrong with you? Looks like they gave you piss instead of juice."
"Nothing."
She stared at him, her blue eyes shining in the firelight. "In a few months I'll turn eighteen. According to the island's laws… I can leave."
Ed nodded, not looking at her. "I know."
An awkward silence settled between them. Remilia fidgeted with her glass. "What will you do?"
Ed looked up at the stars. "I'll go to the capital. I want to join the Knight Corps. That's been my dream since we were kids."
Remilia bit her lip. "Terrible swordsman, bad hunter, and you want to be a knight. You're a masochist."
He smiled, with a confidence that seemed unreal to her. "Of course. And nothing will stop me."
She drank the rest of her juice in one gulp and stood up. In a voice that feigned boredom, she said, "Take me dancing. I'm bored and want to have fun."
"No. You do it if you want," he replied without moving.
Remilia twisted her expression. She leaned over him, with a malicious smile that Ed knew very well. "You're going to take me dancing, Edward Hartford, or I'll tell everyone in the square that you still wet the bed."
"It's not fair!" he shouted, getting up immediately.
That night, Ed danced reluctantly, dragging his feet like a damned soul. But Remilia, spinning in his arms, laughed and laughed. However, at the end of the song, when he wasn't looking, her smile vanished, and a deep sadness swam in her blue eyes.
It was a false smile.
◇◇◇
The next day, Ed woke with a start from the explosion of the first fireworks. The anniversary had begun.
He had breakfast alone, as always. Leaving his small cabin, he glanced at the empty interior and closed the door silently. The first thing he did every morning, as long as he could remember, was to go to the inland lake in the forest.
It was a quiet place, surrounded by weeping willows. The water was so clear and still it looked like an obsidian mirror. Ed sat on a flat rock and looked at the surface.
He remembered his teacher's story. Centuries ago, the Hero defeated such a vile demon that, to ensure it never revived, he not only killed it but tore its body apart and threw it into the depths of this lake. Many divers and curious people had tried to find the corpse or some treasure, but they never found anything.
(Maybe the fish ate it), Ed thought with a shiver. He stood up and turned to return to the village.
After taking a few steps, he stopped dead.
Thump. Thump.
He heard something strange. A heartbeat. Loud, deep, like a drum beating under the earth.
He looked around. There were no animals nearby, no birds, no rabbits.
(Where is that coming from?), he wondered, as a chill ran down his spine.
Thump. Thump.
The heartbeat seemed to come from the ground. Or the lake. Or somewhere he couldn't identify. He shook his head, attributing it to his imagination, and quickened his pace.
◇◇◇
Arriving at the temple, the bustle of preparations enveloped him. A group of children ran around him, pulling his shirt.
"Ed, Ed! Are you a master swordsman yet?"
"When are you leaving the island? We want you to teach us how to fight like you!"
Their questions were interrupted by the grave voice of the Mother Superior, an old woman with gray hair and a kind gaze. "Enough, enough, leave the boy alone. He has work to do."
Ed handed her a wicker basket full of wild herbs and spices he had gathered at dawn. She thanked him and, after a moment's hesitation, said, "Ed-kun, could you escort Remilia-chan to the city center today? Just for the morning."
"No problem," he replied, frowning. "But… why?"
The Mother Superior lowered her voice. "A priest is coming from the capital today. Apparently, they've already decided who the next Holy Maiden will be."
Ed was stunned. The Holy Maiden. The women who spent the rest of their lives in the service of the Saint, the only human capable of channeling the powers of the Goddess Elis. It was an honor, yes, but also a sentence.
He accepted the task and stood by the main door of the temple to wait. Leaning his back against the stone wall, his thoughts wandered.
(Who will it be? There aren't many girls of the right age here. Surely I know her... It's obvious it won't be Leah. She's a gorilla, nothing delicate about her, and she skips classes. Surely they'll choose some mainland girl...)
The oak door swung wide open. A group of women dressed in immaculate white robes came out in formation. In the center, a slimmer figure than the others, with a translucent veil covering her face, walked with measured steps.
The sun fell on the veil. The woman in the center stopped for an instant and raised her head to look at Ed. As she did, the veil slipped slightly, revealing her profile.
Ed could see it clearly. His jaw dropped.
(That's… Leah? What the hell is she doing there?!)
Remilia, with a cold and haughty gaze, continued walking without saying a word, flanked by the other aspirants.
The Mother Superior gave Ed a push in the back. "Come on, don't just stand there. You have to escort them to the town hall."
Ed ran off, his mind spinning at full speed.
◇◇◇
The aspirants to Holy Maidens were housed in a building attached to the town hall. They had to wait for the priest from the capital for the official declaration ceremony.
Ed, as part of the island's security team, remained on the ground floor. He ran up the stairs two at a time and reached a private room. He knocked softly on the door.
"Come in," said a voice on the other side.
He opened it.
Remilia was with her back to him, looking out the window with a disinterest that seemed carved into her face.
Ed approached her. His hands trembled with rage. "Why didn't you tell me?"
She didn't even flinch. "Tell you what?"
"This!" he hissed, pointing at her white robes. "Are you serious? You're going to be a Holy Maiden, and I'm supposed to find out now, seeing you leave the temple like a goddamn bride?"
Remilia sighed, as if tired of explaining something obvious to a small child. "That's none of your business. Besides… it was decided last year."
Ed's eyes widened. "Last year?"
"To be a Holy Maiden, they evaluate the purity of magical power." Remilia touched her hair with one hand, with false modesty. "Even though I don't put much effort into it, it seems I ended up having the highest purity on the island." An arrogant smile curved her lips. "Ah, ah. I'm so perfect that everything works out for me without even trying."
"Is that all you have to say?" he asked, his voice hoarse with restraint.
"Yes."
Ed was about to unleash a torrent of insults when a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Who is it?" asked Remilia, returning to her sharp tone.
A warm, familiar voice answered from the other side. "It's me."
They both ran to the door and opened it at the same time.
"Marceline-sensei!" they shouted in unison.
"Merce-sensei!"
In the door frame, with a radiant smile that illuminated the entire hallway, stood a beautiful woman. Her long red hair waved like a war flag, and her eyes, of the same crimson color, shone with immense joy. She wore light armor over her traveling clothes, a sign that she had just come from a fight.
"Teacher!"
They both hugged her at the same time, burying their faces in her chest. She stroked them with maternal tenderness.
"Marceline-sensei, I missed you so much!" murmured Remilia against her armor.
"Where have you been? What did you discover? Something interesting you've experienced? Did you kill any monsters?" asked Ed, his childish enthusiasm completely replacing his previous bad mood.
Marceline Drew, the former captain of the Red Heart Brave knight squadron and their current instructor, was nearly thirty. She had retired at the height of her career, in love with the peace of this island and these two rascals who followed her everywhere.
"Children, let me go, I can't breathe," she said, laughing. They ignored her. "Let me go, I say!"
Finally they obeyed. Marceline looked at them both, with a mixture of pride and sadness.
She started with Ed. "Ed… I hope you haven't neglected my training."
"Of course not, teacher," he replied, straightening up. "I practice every day without fail. Since six in the morning."
She gave him a soft punch on the shoulder. "Good. That's how I like it." Then she turned to Remilia. Her expression softened. "Rem… I heard from the Mother Superior yesterday about the Holy Maiden."
Remilia lowered her gaze.
Marceline put a hand on her shoulder. "It's a very important job. I understand you may feel anguish about leaving your home, but… this is for the good of humanity. Every help is necessary, no matter who it comes from."
Her teacher's words made Remilia nod slowly. They were the only ones that could calm her inner storm.
Marceline looked at both again. This time, her smile had become a grimace of regret.
"I'm sorry, kids… but I just came to say hello."
The faces of the two disciples crumbled.
"Huh? Marceline-sensei, you're leaving again?" protested Ed. "But you just got here!"
"I have to go immediately to the port city of Giordani. There are problems with agents from the kingdom of Camelliard," she explained, adjusting her sword belt. "Undercover operations. Adult stuff."
The kingdom of Camelliard was the neighbor to the east. They had always had good relations, but in recent months the tension was palpable. It was rumored that their agents were infiltrating Grace.
Marceline smiled sadly at them. "The last time we saw each other was… four months ago?"
"Seventeen," replied both disciples in unison, frowning.
"I'm sorry," she sighed. "Even though I'm retired, they keep asking for my help. I left a very difficult gap to fill." With infinite tenderness, she ruffled both their heads at once. "I promise that before Rem leaves the island, I'll return for one last picnic. Like the one we had when you were little. With jam sandwiches."
Both nodded, with a lump in their throats.
"Bye-bye." She released her disciples and turned, her red cape waving in the hallway. "I'll see you later."
After her footsteps echoed on the stairs, silence fell.
Ed stared into space. "You planned to tell me this today, didn't you?"
Remilia crossed her arms, her wall of indifference back. "That's right. After today, maybe I'll have a week. Or a month. Before I leave."
Ed clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
She lifted her chin, defiant. "Excuse me, but… who do you think you are to tell me that?" She looked at him with a harshness he had never seen before. "We're just friends. Whether I leave the island or not is my business, not yours."
"That's why it makes me angry!" His voice boomed in the room. "We're friends, damn it! If you had told me, I would have prepared a farewell! We could have enjoyed these last days together, instead of you leaving like this, without warning!"
Remilia let out a short, bitter laugh. Pff. She looked at him like one looks at a child having a tantrum. "Enjoying ourselves together, you say? We're not kids anymore, Ed. You're seventeen and I'm almost eighteen. The world waits for no one." She shrugged. "You're right that I didn't tell you. But it's because I knew you'd get like this. Like a crying baby. I wanted to enjoy my stay here like any other day. I didn't want to think about the time to leave. That's why I asked the villagers to keep quiet." She paused. "Besides, you want to leave for the capital too, don't you? So what's the problem?"
Ed didn't answer. He just stood silent, with an expression of stone. He nodded slowly, as if accepting an inevitable defeat, and left the room.
"You're right. It's your life… and it's your business."
He closed the door behind him after saying those words. Without a sound.
When Remilia was alone in the room, she squeezed her arms with all her might, digging her nails into her flesh through the robe. Her jaw trembled.
"Okay," she whispered to herself, in a broken voice. "That way neither of us will regret it later…"
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Marceline had left just an hour ago. And now, from the bay, a bell announced the arrival of a ship.
The flag was clear: a golden fleur-de-lis on a purple background. The capital.
The mayor of the island, a chubby, nervous man, went to the dock to receive them. A tall man got off the ship, his black hair tied in a low bun over his shoulder. His blue eyes were hidden behind transparent glasses, and his clothes, white as milk, contrasted with the dark clothing of his escorts.
He smiled with professional coldness.
"My name is Clays. I come on behalf of the Holy Church of Grace to perform the official declaration." His voice was soft, hypnotic.
"Nice to meet you, please follow me," said the mayor, bowing.
◇◇◇
The festival had already begun. The temple girls, with Remilia at the head, performed the ceremonial dance with millimeter precision. The traditional music, with bamboo flutes and drums, narrated the ancient deeds of the Hero. The inhabitants applauded fervently at the end.
Ed was on the outskirts, reclining on a tree branch, half hidden by the leaves. He listened to the music in the distance, but his mind was still trapped in the conversation with Remilia.
(Who cares if you leave?), he thought, muttering to himself. (You're conceited, irritable, ugly, you like to steal my socks, and you always bother me when I train. Always. Always. One day yes, another too.) He closed his eyes tightly. (Ah, ah… I'll be better off when you're gone. No doubt.)
But a stab of pain shot through his chest. He opened his eyes and grimaced with rage.
"I really hate this," he murmured.
He got down from the tree. He needed to clear his head. Instead of returning to the festival, he took the forest path that led to the lake. The same one as always.
◇◇◇
The ceremonial dance ended in a shower of flower petals.
Remilia was drenched in sweat, but she didn't care. The event wasn't over yet. Suddenly, the mayor climbed onto the stage and took the microphone.
"Dear inhabitants of this island," he announced, in his amplified voice, "it is my pleasure to inform you that today, the emissary of the Holy Church has decided to take with him the next Holy Maiden. The ship sails at dusk!"
Remilia's heart skipped a beat. "Huh?" Her mind went blank. "Today? No… it wasn't supposed to be for another week…"
The mayor shook his head. "Priest Clays said the sooner, the better. The purification rituals in the capital are long."
A wave of icy sadness invaded Remilia. (So), she thought, with a lump in her throat, (today is the last day… the last day I'll be able to see Ed…)
She felt a sudden impulse. She let go of the mayor's hand and ran through the crowd.
(I have to say goodbye properly. I can't leave knowing our last conversation was that stupid fight. I didn't even say a real goodbye!)
But when she reached the edge of the stage, a figure blocked her.
It was Priest Clays, his glasses glinting.
"You are the Holy Maiden, aren't you?" he asked, with his sickly smile.
Remilia made a quick bow. "Y-yes. Excuse me, I have to go somewhere…" She tried to go around him, but he moved to block her again. "I'll be back soon, I swear."
"I planned to do it on the ship," he said, in a lascivious tone that made Remilia's skin crawl. "But I can't hold back…"
"Come again?"
Then she smelled it.
A nauseating stench, like sulfur and rotten flesh, filled the air. It came from him.
Clays' skin color began to turn bluish-gray. His body swelled, ripping the seams of his white robe. Four black horns sprouted from his temples, and his eyes turned liquid, black as oil, with violet pupils that glowed in the darkness.
"A… demon," stammered Remilia, stepping back.
Demons were humanity's nightmare. Natural predators that sought to devour every last human being. There was no mercy, no negotiation.
"Hey! There's a demon! A demon has infiltrat—" she started to scream, but stopped as she looked around.
The other priests who had gotten off the ship… Clays' companions… were also changing. Their flesh melted, their clothes tore.
(It can't be… the church couldn't recognize that there was a demon on the ship…?)
The answer was as simple as it was horrible.
"Everyone… they were all demons," she whispered, her voice broken.
The green demons began to attack the crowd. An orange demon grabbed the mayor and tore off his head with a bite. Horror seized the square.
Clays, in his monstrous blue form, reached out a claw and grabbed Remilia by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
"I can't believe just saying 'we're from the temple' guaranteed us such easy entry. Years ago we had to use violence to enter a fortified city," he laughed, showing a forked tongue. He had planned this carefully. "I came to this island to kill that bitch Marceline Drew, but she's not here. I'll settle for devouring a holy bitch like you. The taste will be different, for sure."
He opened his mouth. His jaw unhinged, stretching like gum, showing rows of sharp teeth. His head grew, his teeth moved like the scales of a reptile.
"Time to eat," he said, in a voice that was no longer human.
Remilia felt life slipping away between his claws. She started to cry, thinking this was her end.
*Clink.*
Clays felt something on his back. It was Ed, who had jumped onto the stage and plunged his sword with all his might between the demon's shoulder blades.
"Damn it, why won't it go through?" shouted Ed, pressing the weapon.
The sword slid over the blue skin as if it were steel. Clays didn't even flinch.
"Foolish human," he laughed, without letting go of Remilia. "Our skin is as hard as steel. Do you think a rusty toy like that can hurt me?"
With a sudden movement of his arm, he hit Ed. The impact sounded like a whip and the young man's body flew to crash against a wooden stall, shattering it.
Ed got up, coughing blood. He had one arm hanging badly. He saw Remilia being strangled. Then his gaze fell on the destroyed spice stall. A crazy idea crossed his mind. He grabbed a handful of red powder and, with the little strength he had left, threw it directly into Clays' eyes.
"My eyes! My eyes!"
The chili powder burned like hell. Clays released Remilia to scratch his face with his claws. Ed didn't hesitate: he grabbed the girl's hand and they ran.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice choked with tears.
"We have to get out of the city! Ask for help! The island has no salvation if we don't call the knights!"
They ran through the burning streets, dodging corpses and demons. They were about to reach the forest when a blue shadow fell from the sky like a meteor, landing right in front of them.
Clays, his eyes bloodshot and smoking, blocked them.
"That hurt, damn human," he hissed. "I'll make sure you suffer before you die for such a cowardly attack." His head lunged at them like a hydraulic hammer.
Ed dodged the first blow. And the second. But he couldn't attack. Every time his sword touched the demon's skin, it bounced as if hitting an iron bell.
Clays, fed up, opened his mouth wide and lunged to bite him. Ed, in a desperate act, plunged his sword directly into the demon's eye.
"Aaaaagh!" shouted Clays, but the pain only enraged him further. His head spun 360 degrees, trapping Ed's left arm between his jaws.
"No!" shouted Remilia.
Ed felt the demon's teeth pierce his skin, his muscles, his bones. It was indescribable pain. Crack. He saw one of his fingers torn off and chewed with a wet sound.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Ed cried in pain, but a grimace of madness appeared on his face. "I don't only know how to use… fencing," he stammered. With his left hand still inside the demon's mouth, he brought his fingers together.
"Firebolt!"
A fireball burst from his palm and exploded inside Clays' throat. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air. The demon coughed, releasing Ed, who fell to the ground with an arm turned into a mass of crushed flesh and two fingers missing.
Remilia ran to him, her trembling hands. "Heal," she whispered, and a green glow sealed the wound, stopping the bleeding. (If I were the true Saint, I could regenerate his fingers… but this is all I can do.)
Remilia helped him up and they ran. But Clays recovered quickly. With blind fury, he charged at them like a battering ram. He rammed both of them. Remilia fell to the ground. Ed flew through the air.
Clays caught him in mid-air, grabbed him by his still healthy right arm and, like a crocodile in a death roll, spun around several times. The sound of tearing flesh was horrible. He tore Ed's arm off completely, from the shoulder, and spat it aside. A jet of arterial blood stained the ground red.
Ed fell like a broken doll, a few meters from Remilia.
Clays advanced towards her, chewing Ed's arm with deliberate slowness. The crunching of bones was the only music in that hell.
Remilia was paralyzed. Her body shook violently. A dark stain spread under her skirt. She had wet herself with fear. (We're going to die… There's nothing we can do. Dad… Mom… teacher… help us…)
Clays smelled her urine and smiled perversely. He leaned over her, opening his huge, repulsive mouth.
Then a shadow intervened.
Ed, with the broken sword in his hand, his face pale from blood loss, the stump of his left shoulder gushing blood, stood in front of her.
"Leah… run," he said, in a voice that was barely a whisper.
Remilia blinked. "Huh?"
"I said run!"
"But…?"
"At least you must save yourself!" Ed looked into her eyes. Despite the pain, despite the terror, his gaze was the same as always. That of the boy who had taught her magic tricks in the forest. "Because I promised you. When we were kids… that I would always protect you."
Clays, fed up with sentimentality, used all his strength and punched Ed so brutally that his body turned into a projectile. He shot into the forest, knocking down trees like toothpicks, until he disappeared into the darkness.
All that was left of him was a trail of blood on the ground, like a cart track.
"Ed… Ed…" Remilia's legs gave way. "Eeeeeed!"
A roar of despair that left her voiceless.
Clays approached again. She, with a survival instinct, put her hands inside the demon's mouth.
"Heal!"
A green beam of light shone inside Clays' mouth. The demon began to writhe, to smoke. According to church scriptures, the power of healing, which repairs human tissue, is a pure poison for demons. For them, it was acid.
"Heal!"
Clays burned, but did not die. Infuriated, he headbutted her. Remilia's forehead collided with his and she fell to the ground, unconscious.
◇◇◇
Ed was sent flying into the forest.
He was bouncing like a stone thrown on the surface of a lake.
And what would happen if a person bounced at high speed?
Total disgustingness.
Ed could feel how the bones of his body were broken each time his body hit the ground.
His internal organs were pierced by branches or by his own bones.
His arms and legs were completely shattered.
He hit his face so hard that he lost all his front teeth, and to make matters worse, a huge tree was in front of him.
Instead of getting stuck there, Ed's body destroyed that tree like a branch; it looked like a cannonball had hit him, not a human body.
In front of him was the island's lake.
Ed fell in and began to sink.
◇◇◇
Remilia opened her eyes and realized she was in the town square.
The island was almost destroyed by the demons; some were scattered looking for more people who had escaped.
Everyone was present and she was tied to a post.
Clays stood in front and said:
"My brothers. For years humans have kept us at bay, but now that we can imitate them perfectly, it's easier to do things like this."
(Imitate us? Does that mean all this time they couldn't do it and now they can?)
"That is why I wanted to celebrate with the head of that detestable redhead, but she's not here; instead we will feast on the villagers. But before that, look here."
He pointed to Remilia.
"This despicable woman is an unofficial holy maiden."
"Rot in hell, human!"
"You deserve to be boiled in broth."
The demons began to boo him, even throwing things at him.
A can fell on her head and she started bleeding.
"As their leader, I will feast on her."
Clays touched Remilia's chest.
It was the first time she was touched by a "man" and she didn't like it.
"But I'll do it after I violate her."
"I will violate every corner of your body; holy maidens draw much of their power from their chastity."
"That is why I will destroy your future in front of everyone."
Clays tore the front of her clothes.
"Noooooooooooo!"
Everyone could see her white, smooth belly.
Her bra and part of her panties were also exposed.
Clays opened his mouth and moved his long, boil-covered tongue towards her.
"Let me taste you first."
When she felt that disgusting tongue on her body, all she did was this:
"Save me, Eeeeeeed!"
◇◇◇
Ed was sinking deep into the lake; he couldn't feel anything, not even breathe.
His time to die had come.
(Damn. I couldn't do anything.)
(I trained hard to become a future knight and defend people, but I was easily defeated.)
(What kind of knight is that? None!)
(I'm a complete failure; the best thing that could happen to me now is to sink and not come out—)
"Help me, Eeeeeeed!"
Ed heard Remilia's voice calling him.
(It's true. I still have to save Remilia.)
(But how? My body is destroyed, I'm sinking, and I can't breathe.)
(Only a miracle could save me now.)
Ed heard a heartbeat.
(A heartbeat? There are no fish in this lake.)
The sunlight was blocked by the depth.
Ed had entered the deepest part of the lake.
(Wait, this lake wasn't that deep. Where did all this depth come from?)
He sank deeper and deeper to the point of total darkness.
At the same time, the heartbeat grew louder and louder.
(Where is that heartbeat coming from? It's too intense.)
The heartbeat grew to the point of giving him a headache.
Then Ed saw a red light emanating from the depths of the lake.
On the ground was a sword stuck.
Its blade and hilt were rusty, but that red glow had an explanation.
(A heroic sword.)
(The hero's sword from centuries ago, which he threw into the lake to pin the demon's body into the depths.)
(The story is real.)
Ed came within a few centimeters of the sword.
(But what good is finding it if I can't get out of here?)
"Do you want my power?"
A voice could be heard in perfect condition despite being at the bottom of the lake.
(Who is it?)
"I ask you: Do you want my power?"
Ed looked at the sword after searching the surroundings.
(Is it you who calls me?)
"Yes. My old master left me buried here, and I want to leave."
(I see. Centuries had to pass for the demon's body to vanish, and you remained trapped here.)
"My name is… *buzzing sound*."
"I ask you, son of man: Do you want my power?"
"Even though I cannot move, my will allows me to hear everything that happens here. That is why I am aware of the situation."
Ed again heard Remilia's voice.
"Noooo! Don't touch me!"
"Your skin is so soft; devouring you will be like eating a child because of how well cared for it is."
"Eeeeeeed!"
Remilia screamed. Ed, with the only strength he had left, moved his ring finger to touch the sword.
(I want it. I want the power to protect Remilia and defeat the demons.)
"Well said. Touch me, and my power will be yours."
Ed wanted to save Remilia at any cost. His finger was about to touch the sword when something strange happened.
A strange image of a perverse smile came to his head.
A woman's voice said at the same time: "Don't touch it for heaven's sake!"
But he ignored it, and his finger touched the sword.
◇◇◇
The weather around the island began to turn strange.
Black clouds gathered, forming a storm; the sea waters churned violently, and everyone could hear a roar that made the earth tremble.
No, rather it was as if the earth itself were screaming in pain.
Clays stopped licking Remilia, who had dull eyes after being licked like a bone.
"What was that?"
Even the demons were bewildered.
"Never mind. It's just a sudden storm. Let's continue where we left off."
Again he opened his mouth.
"Re… milia…"
A voice was heard by everyone, especially her.
"Leah…"
Life returned to her eyes when she heard her name being called by that voice she always heard.
She raised her head, believing that a miracle had happened.
Remilia burst into tears upon seeing her childhood friend there, but…
◇◇◇
About twelve years ago, it was Remilia's 5th birthday.
Her parents were busy with work.
She was alone in her huge mansion room watching the adults work through the window.
On the island at that time, the number of children was small; there were only many adults and young people of working age.
So she had no friends.
She decided to run away because she couldn't stand that lonely, silent environment.
She wanted to be alone, but being a child she had no sense of direction and ended up getting lost.
"Mommy… Daddy…"
It was getting dark, and she was prostrate against a tree, crying.
"No one comes to look for me…"
Suddenly a branch broke; she thought it was a wild animal, since it wasn't rare to find some around there.
She turned around in fear, but only saw a boy hunting a rabbit.
"What are you doing here?"
Asked the boy with golden hair.
Remilia, in tears, threw her shoe at him.
"Get away!"
"Ouch."
She threw different things at the boy.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Go away! I'm waiting for mommy and daddy to come for me."
"Well with that attitude, no one will want to come for you!"
Hearing that, she started crying again.
"Waaaaaah!"
The boy got scared and decided to calm her down. He made funny faces, and she only cried more seeing him.
Then he showed her a trick with some bells.
"Look carefully."
He threw the bells into the air, and when they fell to the ground, they were not seen.
She wondered what happened.
The boy showed her that he had them in his hand.
"Huh? How did you do that?"
"It's a trick my old man taught me."
"S-show me more!"
"Huh? I don't want to."
"I'll keep crying."
"Okay."
The boy showed her more tricks until it got dark.
They were holding hands and walked through that forest.
"I see, today is your birthday and your parents weren't there for you."
"Aren't they cruel?"
"Not at all."
"Huh? Why?"
Asked Remilia, and the boy said:
"Because your parents give you gifts and affection every day; just because they aren't there one day doesn't mean they won't be there for you the other days."
"I-I suppose," she said, lowering her head, realizing the unnecessary tantrum she had thrown.
"Besides, if they really didn't love you, do you think they would do something like this?"
"Huh?"
She looked up and saw a large crowd of people with torches looking for her.
Her parents were covered in dirt.
"Do you think parents would do that for a daughter they didn't love?"
She started to cry, and then her parents noticed her presence.
They both ran to embrace her.
Remilia cried with happiness and turned to the boy while still hugging her mother.
"M-my name is Remilia. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Edward. But I prefer to be called Ed because it sounds better."
Ed said with a smile.
Remilia, seeing him smile like that, wanted to try it.
"Leah. You can call me Leah."
"Understood, Leah."
At that moment their friendship was born.
Ed had protected her at that moment; she thought he would always protect her because he always said so.
And now he was fulfilling his promise, but not in the way she expected.
◇◇◇
"Ed… is that you?"
"Leah… I'll protect you…"
"I'll protect you!"
In front of her stood Ed, but his appearance was what made her cry.
The parts of his body that were broken were being repaired by black blood vessels that ran through his entire body.
You could clearly hear the sound of bones settling and returning to their origin, even if they were shattered.
His fingers were rearranged, and the missing arm was regenerated.
But it was fire-red and reached the missing shoulder, from where all those veins that ran through his body emerged.
The left side of his face was red with a yellow eye.
His teeth looked like fangs, and he drooled as if years had passed since the last time.
"Le… ah…"
The rusty sword shone with that perverse red light while saliva dripped from his mouth.
"I… will protect… Leah…"
Leah didn't understand what happened, but she knew that Ed had somehow managed to fulfill his promise to protect her.
But with that terrifying appearance, she could only think that she was to blame for him looking like that.
Clays looked at him and remembered who he was.
"You're the human I got rid of a while ago."
"What are you doing here? How did you recover from the damage?"
"Never mind. Someone kill him quickly."
A green demon approached him.
His right hand had already recovered and moved to grab the demon by the head.
In a brief moment, he moved the sword and split the demon in two.
Then came the strange part:
From the sword emerged fleshy roots that caught the remains and sucked them inside.
Everyone noticed.
Clays understood the threat he was facing.
"Kill him together!"
With that order, the demons understood that their opponent was not easy if their boss ordered them to attack all together.
They obeyed him and left the villagers to go kill him.
Ed was still drooling but now had better mobility in his legs.
In a brief blink, he managed to kill almost all the demons.
Again the fleshy roots came out and took possession of the remains.
Clays grabbed Remilia and ran, shouting:
"Kill him no matter what!"
The demons obeyed the order and went after him.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Ed roared like a beast while tearing apart every demon he saw.
In a short time he finished off everyone except the orange demon, who had levitation powers.
Ed floated, and the demon moved its mouth, which opened like an elephant's.
Ed couldn't do anything, but before reaching the demon's mouth, a red bat wing grew from the left side of his body.
He used it to get out of there, and when he was out of the demon's reach, he lunged to hit him like a mole; the demon scattered his remains everywhere and was also devoured.
Then he looked at where Remilia was, but she had disappeared.
◇◇◇
"What the hell was that?"
"In the name of the Demon King, what just happened?"
Clays was fleeing from Ed; despite being a demon, he understood something:
"I will surely die if I face him."
He didn't understand what had happened, but he could feel something familiar.
A feeling of fear that he should only feel in front of someone specific.
He was fleeing at full speed to the ship.
"Almost there," Remilia tried to break free but couldn't.
"Ed!"
Then she shouted his name, and Clays turned around, watching Ed fly in his direction.
"Impossible!"
Remilia noticed the bat wing.
Ed crashed into the ground, eliminating the escape route.
Remilia, seeing him, was more horrified to notice that a horn was growing on Ed.
There was only one explanation here:
"A demon… no… that can't be."
"Ed is human. Why would he become a demon?"
She saw that his left foot was turning red and his nails grew until they appeared as sharp as those on his hand.
"Give me… Leah…"
Clays had come far; he couldn't flee and return with his tail between his legs.
For demons, the pride of a fight is worth more than their lives. If they found out he fled, he would be killed for dishonoring his race.
Clays heard Remilia's words and laughed at her.
"A human becoming a demon?"
"Don't make me laugh, human cow."
"We demons would never mix with humans. That must be magic."
"Yes, it's human magic that imitates the appearance of demons."
Clays said that to convince himself.
But Remilia knew that didn't exist.
(Ed only knows how to use fireball.)
(Besides, his face is starting to deform more and more.)
The left side of Ed was transforming into another face; the perverse smile no longer moved one side of his mouth but both.
Clays used his mouth and, opening it completely, swallowed Ed.
He started chewing him.
"Hah! There you have the stupidity you said."
"This is just an ordinary human and—"
Suddenly he fell silent; a hole was made inside him, and Ed came out of it with a purple heart.
He smashed it like a crushed fruit in his hands.
Clays, not yet defeated, said to him:
"For your information, depending on our skin color, demons have more than one heart, and I have 7 hearts."
"You'll have to kill me another six times to achieve it."
Clays used magic:
"Flaming darkness."
A wave of black flames covered Ed.
Clays laughed at him.
"What do you think, human? This is the most powerful technique we blue demons have."
"Not even the magic of your stinking god could resist this without a scratch—"
The wave of flames was dispersed, and only part of Ed's clothes burned.
Clays said it was his best attack; he wasn't lying.
He was sweating as Ed approached him.
He was no longer drooling and walked normally.
"What are you…?"
"What…?"
Clays went crazy and decided to attack him with all his might.
"What the hell are you?!"
He attacked him and nibbled at him.
Ed easily dodged his mouth, even walking on his head.
When he again spun his head like a whirlwind, he lost two hearts that Ed had ripped out.
"Four left."
He proceeded to use different demon spells, and they all failed.
Ed stepped on the ground, and his sword filled with magical power, but not his own—Clays's.
The sword grew until it almost seemed to reach the clouds.
Clays was terrified; he started to run.
"Don't run, coward."
Ed crushed him like a pizza.
"Three gone. One left."
Ed crushed Clays' 6 hearts, and he was terrified.
(It was supposed to be easy, and now I'm cornered by a human.)
Clays started eating the ground to escape from there.
"You're not going anywhere."
Ed said with a perverse expression.
His wing grew, and he flew into the sky and embedded himself in the ground at great speed.
A few seconds passed; Remilia was still wondering what happened when suddenly the earth began to shake.
A slight explosion occurred, and Clays was injured, flying into the sky.
Ed went behind him; he prepared his sword to cut him.
Clays felt death approaching.
"What are you?"
"What exactly are you in reality?!"
With fear in his eyes, looking at him as if he were a wounded animal and Ed the predator,
Ed licked his lips and said:
"I'm your worst nightmare."
And he cut Clays in two, who was quickly sucked in by the fleshy roots.
Ed crashed to the ground but remained intact.
Remilia ran towards him crying.
"Ed! Ed! Ed!"
She looked like the same little girl from back then.
(Ed. I don't know how, but you're here and whole.)
(I'm terrified by your appearance but happy to see you.)
(You're here alive—)
Just as she was about to reach him,
Ed turned to look at her, and Remilia was frightened seeing him.
The expression from before was more perverse; his body was almost completely red, and more horns emerged from his body.
Seeing her, grotesque words from a distorted voice told her:
"Why are you so happy when you're still here?"
"I'm going to rape you, whore!"
"I'll tear your hymen and drink your blood like mead. I'll eat your uterus and use it to defecate there."
The perverse voice said horrendous things; she could only say the following:
"You are not Ed. Who are you?"
"I am—"
"Shout of Holy Light!"
A pillar of light fell from the sky, hitting Ed.
The power was so strong that Remilia could feel it just by seeing it.
"This is… holy power? The final evolution of magical power?"
After the pillar of light disappeared, Ed's body began to recover its natural color.
The red color returned to where it came from, his right hand being the only red zone.
Ed fell to the ground.
And before Remilia could move, some knights approached him and placed their swords on his body.
"Move once and we'll kill you."
Said the voice of one of them who had a cloak.
Remilia didn't understand what they were doing here.
"Those are temple knights… What are they doing here?"
But the most important thing was Ed.
"Wait, please. He's not dangerous."
"I'm sorry to tell you this, miss, but your friend is no longer human."
Remilia turned to that voice.
"You are…"
With a surprised voice, she said that because of who was in front of her.
◇◇◇
Near the kingdom of Grace there was a neighboring country called the kingdom of Camelliard.
They had good diplomatic relations, but for months they had been fighting without reason.
In the palace of the capital, there was a certain room.
A middle-aged man in an elegant suit, black hair combed back, blue eyes hidden behind transparent glasses, brought a report to the seated man.
"I have important news for you, Prince."
"Tristan, I'm busy. If it's not important, you can leave it for later."
The man called Tristan used a loud tone of voice:
"Prince, as your uncle, I ask you to read this."
The attractive young man of about 20 looked at him from the corner of his green eyes.
He ran his hand through his blond hair and exhaled in annoyance.
"Is it important?"
"It is; a matter that involves our nation, Prince Lancelot."
Prince Lancelot received the report from his uncle and proceeded to read it.
"This is…"
◇◇◇
The port city of Arkright is known for being one of the most important cities in the kingdom of Grace.
In the city's church, three people were gathered in an elegant room.
They were sitting on three different pieces of furniture, looking at each other.
One of them was a red-haired man with yellowish eyes, wearing white armor with a blue cape and a horn-shaped pendant.
"Let me introduce myself again; my name is Keithwood, the captain of the Red Heart Brave."
In front of him was Remilia, who was wearing her casual clothes.
She was trembling, but not from fear, from nerves.
Before her stood the captain of the Red Heart Brave knight brigade; it was the number one combat force in the country.
If they were here, it was because the situation was serious.
And the last person was sitting in a position where the window lit her back.
Dressed in a nun's habit but with bright colors, a diamond necklace that amplified her power, with a beautiful face carved by the Goddess Elis, silver hair and amber eyes, she was there.
"Let me introduce myself once more:
"Stephania Cecile Hope."
The Saint.
"I am the saint of this country."
Remilia couldn't believe she was meeting two important figures of the kingdom, especially the one she would work with only from afar.
She was trembling because she never thought she would meet her, and under these circumstances.
"Remilia-san, is it?"
"Y-yes!" replied Remilia, trembling.
"Please don't be scared. I understand that due to my position people feel intimidated, but I would like you to treat me like a neighbor from your town."
Stephania showed a charming, relaxing smile.
Seeing her, Remilia felt all her nerves relax and she stopped trembling.
Feeling better, she thought:
(Is this the power of the saint, or just her charisma?)
Someone knocked on the door.
Or rather, it burst open.
"Remilia, I came running as fast as I could!"
"Marceline-sensei!"
Remilia went to hug her teacher.
"Sensei! Sensei!"
"Remilia, are you okay?"
"Yes…"
With tears in her eyes and a broken voice, she said:
"But Ed… Ed is…!"
Stephania stood up, as did Keithwood.
"It's been a while since we last saw each other, Instructor."
"As always, you break the rules and enter savagely, ex-captain."
"Sue, I'm glad to see you've grown so much."
"And you, Keith, you're still my subordinate even though I'm no longer your boss, so show some respect."
"…"
Marceline stopped stroking Remilia's head.
"Sue, tell me the truth. What happened?"
"I left what I was doing to come see you."
Stephania asked her to follow.
"I think it's better if you see for yourself."
The four went down to the church basement.
◇◇◇
The church basement was generally known as a storage room for outsiders.
But for those inside, it meant one thing: a prison.
There were several scrolls and talismans stuck around. As soon as Marceline took a step into the basement, she could feel enormous pressure.
"W-what is this magical power?"
"It's nauseating and grotesque. Like something rotten growing everywhere."
"It's demonic energy. We had to bring him wrapped in hundreds of shrouds blessed by me so it wouldn't stink up the city."
Demonic energy is so strong and intense that it generates a pestilence in living beings, a stench so intense that it could kill you just by inhaling it.
The pressure grew stronger, and Marceline's head felt like it was being drilled.
"Purification."
Said Stephania and cast a protective barrier for everyone present.
At the end of the prison, illuminated by artificial light, was Ed tied with chains, his arms hanging.
"Ed!"
Shouted Remilia and went to him.
Reaching the grate and shouting his name:
"Ed, wake up, please!"
"Ed!"
Marceline asked Stephania when she saw her disciple:
"What happened?"
"We believe he was possessed by a demon."
"Possessed?!"
Both Remilia and Marceline said that.
Keithwood explained to both:
"It's common knowledge, but the situation warrants that you truly understand it."
"The possessed are humans who have sold their souls to demons in exchange for power."
"Keith."
Marceline got angry, looked at Keithwood with fury:
"Are you saying my dear disciple sold his soul to demons?!"
Keithwood ignored her.
"Apparently, that's the situation here."
"If not, I'd like you to explain his hand then."
Marceline looked at the hand that was being held by multiple chains.
It was red as a tomato.
Between the thumb and the next finger, a mouth and an eye had formed.
"Hello, teacher. Nice to see you."
"What is that?!"
Marceline wondered as Remilia covered her mouth to keep from screaming.
"My host is treated like a criminal when he's actually a hero. Is that how you treat your own?"
Marceline approached to speak to it.
"Identify yourself. Who are you and what is your goal?"
The hand began to laugh:
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"How funny you are, woman."
"What I want is simple."
It stuck out its horrible tongue, which was covered in multiple eyes:
"I want to devour humans. Give me a few children and I'll be your faithful puppy. Especially babies, they're my favorite."
Marceline clenched her fist tightly.
"Leave my disciple's body alone."
"Okay."
Said the perverse being without remorse, but added:
"The moment I leave this brat's body, he'll die."
"Huh?"
Was what Remilia said upon hearing it.
"When I found him he was in pieces. His body was so destroyed that you use the word 'miracle', right? Well, it was a miracle he was still breathing."
"The moment I leave, I will undo what I healed, since I used my cells to repair his body."
"No…"
Said Remilia, crying.
"If they cut me, it doesn't matter because I replaced his arm, and when they do, he'll die because I'm his second heart."
"No…"
The horror of what she heard made her shudder with pain.
A certain thought came to her mind:
"It was my fault…"
Everyone looked at Remilia.
"Because I asked him for help, did Ed let himself be possessed by a demon to come save me?"
"Bingo!"
Shouted the demon.
"For a church whore, you're very smart."
"This brat, in order to save you, gave me his body. If it weren't for his desire to save you, he would never have left that lake."
"The lake?"
Said Marceline, while Remilia fell into a crisis:
"Nooooooooooooooo!"
She quickly took Remilia and left there with her.
Stephania stayed with Keithwood.
"What are you looking at, ugly? Want me to eat you?"
"No. It's the first time I see a demon I can chat with; all the demons I found before were wild animals."
"Among the wild animals, you're the only one who can talk, so that makes you special."
"Yes, you're a very special animal, but that doesn't mean your dirty mouth doesn't make me nauseous."
"As long as I'm here, you despicable beings will never get your way."
Stephania's smile reflected her will, and her words were as sharp as a sword.
"Enjoy your stay; I'll make sure to eliminate you myself."
She turned around, and before leaving, the demon said to her:
"Hey, ugly."
"Be careful. You never know when a demon might be under your nose if you think you can identify us by smell."
Stephania left, and Keithwood gave the demon a look of disgust.
"Hey, stop pretending to be asleep."
Being completely alone, Ed opened his eyes and looked ahead.
He was fully conscious and could only say:
"I'm sorry, Leah. I'm sorry, teacher."
◇◇◇
"Is there nothing we can do?"
Remilia and Marceline were in Stephania's private office.
Since it was a girls' room, Keithwood could only stand guard at the door.
Remilia was begging Stephania for help, and Marceline too.
"I understand how you feel, but possession is a serious matter."
"We just need to get the demon out of his body, right? Then Ed will be fine."
"That's right. But it's not such a simple matter."
Explained Stephania after crossing her legs.
"Possession implies that the individual's body opens up to the demon. It devours his soul and stays there."
"You could say it's a host that stole its owner's identity."
"The possibility that your friend—that Ed-kun is still inside there is practically nil."
"No. He's there."
Said Remilia with severity in her gaze.
"At that moment I saw him. Ed's eyes expressed his genuine desire to save me. He called me by my name."
"Ed is in there."
Stephania smiled upon hearing her.
"He must be someone important to you if you trust him."
Remilia blushed and denied it while waving her hands.
"We're just childhood friends."
"I can't allow my servant to be possessed by a demon, I would never forgive myself!"
"Fufufu. You get along well."
Stephania looked at her teacup.
"I am the only daughter of Duke Hope. My family has always served the church, and their daughters have always been chosen to be a Holy Maiden."
"But due to my upbringing, I could never have a close relationship with anyone. The only person who still visits me since I was a child is Instructor Marceline."
Marceline added her memories to the conversation.
"Back then you were as weak as a tadpole. The wind could make you fly."
"Please don't remind me of that. I still have nightmares about kites."
They all laughed at that joke, but Stephania said something important to Remilia.
"Remilia-san, in this job only one thing is expected."
"That you spend the rest of your life serving the church and the Goddess Elis."
"The power of the holy maidens and mine comes precisely from the strong bond that binds us: chastity."
"That fragile line is what gives us the power to fight demons."
"That is why we must spend the rest of our lives unable to marry, unable to start a family, and worse, unable to be with those we love."
Remilia clutched her legs upon hearing it; they all looked at her trembling hands.
"That is why many of us have to go to seminaries where other holy maidens give us talks to deal with loneliness."
"In this job you must kill your femininity and happiness to fight demons. Instead of being a wonderful experience, it feels more like a punishment."
"Sue. If you're saying this, it's because you…"
Stephania clapped to end that conversation.
"Let's leave sad things aside; let's get to the important part."
"You want to save Ed-kun, don't you?"
"Yes. I want to."
Remilia replied firmly.
"I want to save him too. From your words and those of that demon, I realized something."
"He didn't sell his soul to the demon; he simply thought of saving you through a special power."
"Instructor, the story you told me about that lake, is it real?"
Marceline replied:
"Yes. Since I arrived there, I heard that for centuries there has been the story of the hero who threw his sword to seal the demon."
"Many church members tried to find it because it was one of the first heroic swords made."
"Are you talking about this?"
Stephania went to her closet and took out something wrapped in white sheets; it was a rusty sword.
"I called an expert in holy swords to examine it, but despite being rusty, you can see several strokes and the emblem of the royal family of Grace; it is a genuine heroic sword."
"If the legend is real, it means the hero didn't throw the sword to avoid the demon."
Remilia completed what Stephania was about to say.
"He sealed the demon in the sword and threw it into the lake hoping it would sink and no one would ever find it, right?"
Stephania nodded.
"Yes. I don't know his reasons, but surely the hero who defeated the Demon King felt that this demon was different from the others."
Marceline asked something that caught her attention.
"Wait, Sue. Does that mean the hero was scared of this demon but not of the Demon King he managed to kill?"
None of them understood what could have happened for the hero to make that decision, but Stephania nodded.
"Probably this demon is different from anything we've ever known. All the more reason we must eliminate him and save Ed-kun."
"Because if he thought it was a heroic sword and not a demon with whom he made the contract, it means his soul has not been devoured, and that is why the demon is trapped in his arm."
"Please, Stephania-sama, lend us your help to save Ed."
Remilia took Stephania's hands, who smiled kindly.
"Of course. I am a saint, and my duty is to save those in need."
"Thank you very much."
With tears, Remilia expressed her happiness.
◇◇◇
At the bottom of the prison, Ed was sweating and trembling.
"It hurts so much!"
"Please, spare my life!"
"For heaven's sake, not my son!"
He was seeing a red vortex with hundreds of agonizing faces.
"Stop…"
"Please stop."
He was saying that to the demon, who was watching him from his hand.
"Your heart is still there. I can't take your body because you cling to living."
"Fall into despair, into the abyss of hell, and give me your body."
"I want to be the one to kill her before someone else beats me to it!"
◇◇◇
In a bar in the city, a man stood near a wall.
"Tomorrow is the day; we've received confirmation."
"Understood."
Said a shadow and left through the other side of the street.
◇◇◇
The next morning.
The three girls were lying on the floor with hundreds of books scattered everywhere.
Marceline was sleeping with Remilia's foot in her mouth.
While Stephania looked like a koala hugging Remilia.
Her bottom was bare, showing her underwear.
Stephania used Remilia's breasts as pillows, rubbing her face as if it were pudding.
"Pudding… more pudding."
She was even drooling.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Stephania-sama. Time to get up."
Keithwood opened the door after calling her a couple of times and immediately closed it upon seeing the strange scene.
"I-I'll come back later."
The girls were still sleeping.
◇◇◇
An hour later, they all got up.
"My mouth tastes like dirty foot."
"For some reason I feel like someone bit my nipples."
"I dreamed of pudding."
The three were in the church dining room; the only one who looked like she had slept perfectly was Stephania.
"We haven't been able to find out anything."
Commented Remilia while biting her toast.
Marceline didn't touch her food.
"There is no record of anyone ever being freed from possession."
Stephania, biting her toast spread with jam and with remnants in her mouth, said:
"Don't worry. In the past there was never a case of accidental possession; surely there must be something we can find in the new books that are arriving right now."
Teacher and disciple were glad to see how much help the saint was giving them.
Marceline noticed that some nuns and priests were at the window.
"Is there a festival today? They've been making noise since morning."
"No, there isn't."
Said Stephania, her mouth being wiped by Remilia.
"I'll go see for a moment."
Marceline stood up and went to the window.
Stephania asked Remilia:
"Remilia-san, can you tell me details about your childhood with Ed-kun?"
"Huh? Why do you want to know that?"
Asked Remilia, embarrassed.
"You want to save him; not many would do what you're doing to save their friend."
"I-it's because Ed has been my servant since we were kids. It's normal that I worry about him."
With her cheeks completely red, Remilia said that, but Stephania made a strange cat-like expression upon seeing her blush.
"Really?"
"It doesn't seem that way to me."
"Heavens! Stephania-sama, you're so irritating."
"What the hell is that?!"
Suddenly they heard Marceline scream. The girls got up and also went to the window; there they were as surprised as she was.
◇◇◇
Quickly Stephania and company ran to the room where the head priest resided.
Upon entering, they saw him drinking tea calmly. Stephania slammed the table hard upon seeing him.
"Can you explain what that is outside?"
The priest continued drinking his tea calmly while speaking.
"It's an execution scaffold. Last night a letter arrived from the central church in the capital."
"Ordering the immediate execution of the possessed."
"That's why I want an explanation!"
"I had told you not to do anything, since I would take care of him personally."
"I'm very sorry, Saint-sama, but you have no authority here."
"The possessed is a danger to everyone and must be eliminated as soon as possible."
"This afternoon he will be executed in public by church officials."
"No!"
Shouted Stephania in resignation.
"That cannot happen!"
"I gave my word that I would save him."
"Well, your word is inferior to a direct order from your superiors."
Stephania bit her tongue; for the first time she saw anger on Remilia's pretty face.
"Is there nothing you can do about it?"
"Even if I wanted to, I'm afraid I cannot."
"The church ordered his execution and the confiscation of the sword they found."
"The sword, you say?"
"It is a sacred object and will be confiscated during the trial to be purified at the central church."
Stephania got so angry that she turned around to leave; Marceline and Remilia followed her.
◇◇◇
"Those old men are so irritable."
Stephania was very angry about it.
Marceline stopped her.
"It's okay, Sue."
"Instructor?"
"Sensei?"
Both girls stared at Marceline.
"I would have liked to spend more time with you, but it can't be helped."
"What are you talking about, sensei?"
Remilia asked, puzzled because she didn't understand her words.
"I'm going to run away with Ed."
"I cannot allow my dear disciple to be killed because of a demon."
"You live your lives as best you can; I will run away with him to some desert place."
"Wait a moment, sensei!"
"Wait a moment, instructor!"
Said both girls, very annoyed.
"Why do you want to run away leaving me behind? It's my fault Ed ended up like this; I should be the one to run away with him. You shouldn't lose everything."
"Instructor, that's absurd; humanity needs you. You are the strongest warrior in this country, the one who can be called 'hero' today."
"We cannot lose you. Give me a little time; I will ensure that Ed-kun is under my care, even if forever, with my authority."
"Girls…"
Marceline saw the determination in both girls.
But that determination would be useless.
"I'm afraid that's impossible."
"…!"
They all turned to see Keithwood behind them.
"His execution will be in 3 hours."
"You don't need to risk your future for a possessed person."
"Keith."
Marceline got angry with him and walked to grab his shirt sleeve.
"I will not allow you to speak of my disciple like that. No, to speak like that of an innocent person who will be killed because of a demon."
"Ex-captain, do you really want to ruin your disciple's future for that of a possessed person?"
"Just think about it. Humanity needs you more than that boy; what do you think will happen to this country if we lose you?"
"And you, island girl."
"Will you sacrifice your future for a man?"
"It's a tragedy, but think carefully. You will do more for those who go through something similar; you may find a way to save them, but not today."
"And you, Saint-sama, reconsider."
"Do you want to fight the church over a stranger?"
"Especially since, thanks to you, the church redirects part of the tithe to orphanages, something that wasn't done before. If you fight them, they will take away the children's livelihood."
The three girls immediately understood the consequences of their actions.
"Damn it."
Exclaimed Marceline, agreeing with Keithwood.
She was the woman—the strongest soldier in the country—and having lived a terrifying experience with demons in her childhood,
she didn't want that to happen again.
"But… sacrificing an innocent for the future of others is wrong… Everyone deserves to live."
Stephania understood that the world wasn't as she imagined; there is much manipulation from the palace and merchants, and many problems cannot be solved with words alone.
Meanwhile, Remilia collapsed on the floor.
"Ed… Ed…"
She started crying because Keithwood was right.
"Forgive me, Ed…"
And so, the hour of execution passed without issue.
◇◇◇
There were a few minutes left until the agreed time.
The sun was shining on the entire square as if it were a divine signal.
The church members were present.
One of them had the rusty sword in his hands.
Marceline and Remilia were in the last row; they didn't want to see what would happen.
The execution site was a platform with a guillotine in place.
"Where is Stephania-sama?"
Asked Remilia with empty eyes.
Marceline, sitting next to her, said:
"She went to give him the last rites before he dies."
"She'll be back."
Remilia could hear the voices of the villagers:
"Start already."
"Hurry up and kill that demon."
"Death to the demons that threaten humanity!"
She was horrified at how all these people who didn't know Ed longed for his quick death.
She could only cry.
"I'm sorry, Ed."
◇◇◇
Stephania went to give Ed his last rites before he came out.
"You're awake, aren't you?"
She asked him after sitting on a chair she had brought.
She wore her saint's clothes.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't keep my promise. I really am a terrible liar."
She bowed her head in shame.
"It's okay…"
Said Ed in a weak voice.
He raised his gaze and saw Stephania.
She immediately realized what that look meant.
"He tortured you, didn't he?"
Ed's eyes showed tears, so much had he cried.
"Please, kill me quickly."
"This guy… this demon shows me horrible things…"
"Things I never could have imagined."
"Things he's done to millions of people… Oh my God, the things he did to those babies."
"It makes me nauseous to know that I can see it, smell it, and taste it as if it were in front of me."
Stephania squeezed her legs tightly.
"I'm very sorry. I can't save you."
"It's okay."
Ed said in a haggard tone of voice like his face.
"It's better this way for everyone."
"But please, tell Leah this."
"Of course, I'll tell her everything you want to say, word for word. It's the least I can do for you."
Ed told her—
◇◇◇
The agreed hour had arrived.
Ed was taken from his cell and led up the stairs.
Stephania had already arrived at the platform.
She had to witness his death.
Keithwood would be the executioner, proclaiming his crimes.
The church door opened, and everyone's gaze focused on the man with his head covered and shackles on his hands and feet, who was dragged like the worst criminal in the world.
The villagers began to throw garbage and other things at him as they took him to the platform.
"Die, demon."
"You ruin this world."
"I will never forgive you, demons!"
Ed climbed the stairs step by step.
It seemed like an eternity.
But he reached the surface and was taken to the central area, where his head was placed and the cloak covering him was removed.
He hadn't received sunlight in a long time.
But he could see the faces of all the villagers who said to him:
"Die!"
"Die!"
"Die!"
Ed always wanted to be seen as a hero and for those shouts to turn into cheers in the future.
But today they spat on him as if he were the worst scum of a human being in the world.
Keithwood took an axe that would serve as a guillotine.
He proceeded to give the guilty declaration:
"People of Arkright."
"Before you stands a sinner. An enemy of humanity."
"A possessed man, a man who sold his soul to demons for power."
"A heretic!"
Keithwood kicked Ed hard in the stomach.
The girls saw it and got angry.
Keithwood's behavior was erratic.
"This scum manipulated the saint and her companions to try to save him."
"He deserves the worst death for thinking such a thing."
"Wait, Keithwood, that didn't happen."
"Don't lie, Saint-sama! This worm wanted you to free him so he could escape and continue committing misdeeds."
What Keithwood was doing was painting Ed as a traitor to humanity.
He was succeeding, but what he achieved more was to indirectly torment the girls.
Remilia cried again because Ed's last moments were remembered by the celebration of the villagers who spat on his name.
Marceline could do nothing because they would brand her an accomplice of the possessed, and Stephania was in an even worse position.
(Keithwood, what's wrong with you? Why are you doing something like this?)
Thought Stephania as he gave his final words:
"Therefore, in the name of the Supreme Goddess Ellisria, I will judge you."
"Repent in the afterlife for being a trash who sold his soul to demons."
As he lowered the axe to cut off his head, a dry sound was heard.
"What is that?"
Said Keithwood as he saw feathers coming out of Ed's body.
The feathers were healing his wounded body.
Stephania said the most unexpected words for everyone:
"When the caress of the Goddess Elis manifests itself in the body of the son of man, it will be the prophecy for the birth of a new hero."
"Ed-kun has been chosen by the goddess to be the next hero?!"
The white light emanating from his body illuminated the place.
No one could deny it was a miracle.
"Ed…"
Said Remilia, seeing how the heavens were lending her friend their help.
"This is blasphemy!"
Shouted Keithwood as he lifted his axe and lowered it again to cut off his head.
"Heretics deserve to die! Die, possessed!"
But his axe was stopped by Marceline's sword, who jumped onto the platform to save her disciple.
"Stop right there, Keith."
"Ex-captain? This is treason!"
"No, it isn't. You saw it as I did and everyone present."
"The goddess granted Ed the blessing to be the next hero. It means Ed is an important existence for the future of humanity!"
"No way!"
At that moment, an explosion occurred.
Everyone turned to see what had happened.
But a woman screamed:
"De-de-de-demons!"
A group of white demons had entered the city; they were each seven meters tall.
Their bodies were covered in earth, grass, and roots.
So Marceline, seeing them, could only think:
(They infiltrated using the ground as camouflage, but there should be a protective barrier here.)
"All knights! Kill the demons!"
The knights went to fight while the villagers fled.
"They're demons!"
"Run!"
Remilia took the opportunity to go to the platform and take Ed, whose chains had been broken, and Marceline.
She fled with him, not before taking the rusty sword with his red hand.
Stephania told both knights:
"Let's leave Keithwood's behavior for later; each of you take a side. I'll go check the barrier."
"At once!"
Marceline and Keithwood went to fight while Stephania ran towards where the barrier was located.