I waved to Alice one last time, knowing I would never see her again.
Then we moved forward. Raiden's voice was cold behind me:
ELOULA, he said, we're only a few hundred meters away.
My heart galloped.
I nodded. LET'S NOT WASTE ANY TIME, I replied, my voice steadier than I'd felt. He merely nodded again and surged ahead, silent as a shadow.
We slipped through a small forest—unremarkable except for how the sunbeams played across the underbrush. I followed Raiden until we climbed out onto an open field. My breath caught at the sight before me:
a vast, flower-filled meadow stretching farther than I'd ever imagined.
I stopped. Everything fell silent. I let the wind carry away my racing thoughts and inhaled deeply: fresh grass, blossoms, the heavy scent of rain to come.
I watched Raiden standing a few dozen paces away. He cleared his throat, drawing my attention:
"NEAR THIS MEADOW," he said quietly, "WE'LL SEE LOTS OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS. THAT'S THE PLACE. THEN WE WAIT FOR THE RAIN."
I nodded, my throat tight. WE HAVE OUR DEAL,
I reminded him. Just then, I moved forward... but he caught my wrist, pulling me abruptly back.
I looked at him. "Is something wrong?"
His gaze was steady, troubled. I suddenly felt his uncertainty, felt that he wasn't the unbreakable warrior I'd thought.
then smiled and squeezed his held hand. "Come with me."
He stepped forward, and we ran together—hands still intertwined—through fields of tiny wildflowers.
The sun warmed us, the moment felt suspended in time. We ran, and the wounds in our hearts seemed to soften, at least for a moment.
"WE ALMOST DID IT," I gasped, laughing as we slowed and slowed until we were only a few heartbeats apart. He squeezed my hand harder, and I realized tears glistened in his eyes.
I blinked, tears spilling free. I shook my head. No sadness, no fear, only strange relief. "Why am I crying?" I whispered, voice low, but he said nothing.
Beyond a line of trees, pale pink cherry blossoms drifted on a slow breeze.
I let go of his hand, my feet carrying me forward.
The blossoms were dreaming in the wind. I laughed, nearly skipping across the grass. I fell—and lay flat, overwhelmed by serenity.
I let the moment wash over me: I DID IT. ALL THE SUFFERING, ALL THE STRUGGLES—FINALLY. A MEMORY.I felt the past return like dawn. And I knew: everything had led me here.
Then I stood, trembling with joy, and turned to Raiden. He watched me from a distance. This was my chance. I crossed the space between us slowly, each step a prayer, each breath a confession.
"THANK YOU," I said when I reached him."Thank you, Raiden.
Without you, I wouldn't be here—without you, I would never remember my past. I'm alive because of you." I swallowed. "I'll be there for you forever."
His eyes widened. Light flickered in his expression. How I longed to hold him close. I took a breath and continued:"Raiden, no matter what happens next—I'm grateful I know you.
I hope you never suffer again."
My hands rose of their own accord, leaning toward his face…I bent in… But he flinched, raising his arm, stopping me. His voice was shaky as he spoke:
"ELOULA, TELL ME THAT'S NOT TRUE."
Heaving, I whispered:"I'M SORRY, RAIDEN. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU FELT DIFFERENTLY."
He wiped tears from his face."WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME, ALL YOU SEE IS THAT BEAUTIFUL MOMENT… DON'T BE KIND TO ME. I'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU AGAIN—AND THAT WAS MY BIGGEST MISTAKE."
My world shattered in silent disbelief.
WHATTT
I DONT UNTERSTAND
HE FELL IN LOVE WITH ME
WHAT DID HE MEAN THE MOMENT???????
...
Then the rain began to fall—soft at first, then heavier, drumming on the petals.
He reached forward abruptly, grabbing my hips and pulling me into a fierce kiss.
Our lips met in desperation—wild, urgent, heart-breaking. I clung, reluctant to let go.
Iwanted to kiss him more
I love him
but
PAIN
BLOOD
WHATT
But suddenly... a sharp pain split across my side.
I screamed.
Blood seeped between my fingers. I looked down in horror:
A KNIFE STABBED ME in my belly.
what
WHAT
NO THIS IS A DREAM
PLEASSS
He said: "Honestly, I never thought you'd fall in love with me again"
I said: RAIDEN WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY AGAIN?
He remained calm but looked at me with a death stare.
I touched my wound, which was bleeding heavily.
I said RAIDEN THAT'S NOT YOU.
I grabbed his shoulders to calm him down.
Then suddenly he shook me and said something like I'd never heard of before:
NO ELOULA
...
NO YOU ARE NOT ELOULA YOU ARE LIANHUA
THAT'S NOT YOU YOU'RE JUST NICE LIKE YOU DON'T REMEMBER
YOU ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
HOW COULD YOU.
I said, Raiden, what do you mean?
He screamed, HOW COULD YOU? YOU'RE JUST PRETENDING TO BE A HERO? YOU'RE REALLY THE EVIL ONE.
YOU KILLED MY BROTHER.
I was speechless.
What did I do?
No.
I would never have done that.
I would never have killed anyone's brother.
I stood up and said, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I DIDN'T KILLED YOUR BROTHER"
Now he stopped completely.
He pushed me against a wall
and held my throat.
I gasped for air.
He was so strong.
to strong
I could barely contain myself.
He said, LIANHUA.
LOOK AT ME.
LOOK AT ME.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
I only see his eyes it was full of hate and sadness that wasn't Raiden
or.
he said LOOK, YOU HAVE NO IDEA
THAT'S REALLY ME, I AM ME.
then suddenly
his hair grew longer, his eyes turned dark red like blood.
his clothes also changed,
I only saw him in shock
he looked so different
but also the same.
then
suddenly
HE WHISPERED IN MY EAR
I AM THE DEMON KING
...
...
.
He let go of me and moved away.
I fell to the ground.
I couldn't believe it.
I said
NO
NO
NO
YOU'RE LYING, YOU'RE NOT THE DEMON KING.
He just grinned.
HE SAID
"I lured you into a trap. You have no clue. I already knew you . I only had to hide yours, and you
trusted me like blind on the first day.
Oh, how stupid you are linhua"
"If only you had listened to your stepsister"
...
He said
I WILL KILL YOU, LIAHHUA
LIKE I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS 100 YEARS AGO
BUT NOT NOW
YOU KNOW THE TRUTH
WHAT KIND OF MONSTER YOU WERE
AND YOU KILLED MY BROTHER.
I'LL LET YOU DREAM YOUR MEMORY WHEN YOU WAKE UP AGAIN
THEN BE CAREFUL
I WILL KILL YOU
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
I WANT TO KILL YOU.
I took my Sword and ran at him,
shouting "RAIDEN, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT"
He said
"Liahhua, if you really want to kill me, then not with this sword. It's powerless against me"
Then he disappeared into the red mist. I FALL TO THE GROUND
My wound is bleeding too much
I'm getting weaker
I only see the cloudy sky
that wasn't the plan
no
tears are coming, I said
when I was hurt
what made me so bad that Raiden wants to kill me
he's the demon king the whole time
he's been lying to me
he didn't want to help me. And what I can't kill
I don't want to kill him
I love him
but he is the demon king
The rain began to glow, it covered my whole body
I knew now I would dream my fate
I said to myself
"Raiden, I'll find out everyone"
I can't believe it
and who was I
I knew this wasn't the end
it was the beginning of something terrible
and i dream my memory
...