Kai rushed outside to the yard of the convention center and paused, taking it all in. As he had assumed, paramedics were already at the scene, and much of the crowd remained in the area, keeping a safe distance from the building.
He spotted Gabriel helping a couple of medics load Catherine into an ambulance, then rushing to help other wounded survivors in the crowd. Somewhere else, but not too far, Mason had reunited with his friends and hugged them while talking with his wife on the phone. Then, at the front of the crowd, closest to Kai, were Rin, Tom, and Nekoko. The manager was trying to get someone on the phone, without success, while Rin and Nekoko scanned the crowd as if looking for someone.
The bloody, gold-plated paladin approached them.
"I'm sorry, Saya… he isn't answering."
"I'm sure Kai is fine," Rin said, landing a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder. "We'll find him."
The gesture had the opposite effect, and Nekoko winced. "Please, keep calling him."
Tom nodded, sighing through his nose, and called again.
Kai smiled. She was worried about him.
He tapped the pocket over his armor, expecting to feel his phone vibrate or hear the ringtone, but neither came. It must have fallen out of my pocket when wolf-boy tackled me. He reasoned, then shook his head. It doesn't matter. All I have to do is take off my helmet and surprise them.
They would praise him, call him a hero—thank him for saving their lives. He would win the love, affection, and adoration he had always longed for, all he had to do was: Take. Off. The helmet.
Nekoko came to stand beside him, looking past him, and he followed her gaze to the entryway of the convention center.
"Please… I know I have no right to ask, but… my friend… I think he is still in there. Could you please find him, and—" She choked.
Sobered from his fanciful daydreams, Kai thought of Vira, and looked around, hoping to spot her floating in the air somewhere, searching for him, but he knew it was futile.
My friend is still in there, too. He thought, and returned to face the center. Fame, glory, adoration… these are not the things I fight for. He took a step forward and pulled his sword from the harness on his back.
"Don't worry," he glanced at the VTuber over his shoulder. "I will find your friend and bring him back to you, safe and sound…" he announced, then made his way toward the convention center's dark, open entryway. "I promise."
***
Hexaphalia stood in front of the detached wide screen that leaned on the stage and grimaced. Her 'plan B' was to use the pendant's energy to open a portal to a far-off dimension, where she could start fresh, where the fairies would never find her. The problem was, Vira's pendant did not hold as much power as she had hoped.
She must have used most of her energy to enchant the Oathless, she sighed. She would have to find another source… If she could lure the Oathless back, convince him to rejoin her, she could use the power of his conviction to make up for the missing energy… then again, if he refused her, she would have to settle for what little power she could gain from his and the fairy's death. Either way, she needed the Oathless back.
A growl and a nod from her dragon drew her attention toward the hall's entrance, and she smiled. Lucky me.
The paladin walked in, then ground to a sudden halt as his eyes met the dragon. "No-no way."
The legendary beast lifted its reptilian head, spread its red, leathery wings, and growled.
"Kai?" Vira struggled to raise her head, her vision blurry.
"Vira!"
She was strapped with chains to the dragon's chest, her arms and legs spread wide.
Even if I managed to fight the dragon, how would I do so without hurting her? He shuddered, and turned to Hexaphalia, pointing his sword in her direction. "L-let her go!" His voice cracked.
The dragon stomped one threatening claw forward, and Kai flinched a step back.
"Stop," the witch held up her hand. "There's no reason for us to fight."
"No reason?!" Kai shrieked. "You threatened my friends, killed Isaacson, killed my mom!"
"Is that why you are here? For revenge?" She moved, coming to stand between him and the dragon. "Well, my love, if you ask me, I'd say you already had your revenge. You destroyed my plans and butchered my beloved companions… now you wish to risk your life again, just to kill me?" She shook her head, and her ears drooped down. "You've already won, Kai. There's nothing for you to gain by killing me… it will not bring your mother back, and you may die in the attempt." She placed her hand over her heart, drawing his attention to her cleavage, where the Omen of Death marked her violet skin. "So you see," she frowned, "there's really no reason for us to fight."
His armor rattled as his arms shook at the thought of fighting the dragon, and he tightened his grip around the sword to calm them, causing the blade to wobble instead. Maybe it made him a coward, but he had to admit that she was making a lot of sense.
"Fine… If you let Vira go and leave this world for good… then we can end this without any more bloodshed."
"Is that what you really want? To stay here with her?"
He furrowed his brow, unsure of what she was implying.
"Do you really think she is here to help you find true love?" She sighed. "She never told you, did she?"
"What are you talking about?"
"It has been centuries since the last fairy godmother came to this world. Then, several months ago, Vira appeared at your window… didn't that strike you as odd?"
Kai's lips parted, then closed.
"Vira broke the Fairy Queen's laws; she fell in love with a mortal and acted on it—professing her love to him. That's when the other fairies came to arrest her. She used the queen's magic to fight against them… and almost became a witch like me…
"Eventually, she was captured and brought to be judged before the Great Sororities. It was they who sent her to you as punishment for her crime."
The paladin lowered his blade. "What are you saying?"
"No fairy in her right mind would have picked you as a godchild, my love," she gestured at the shackled godmother. "She never cared about you—she only came here because she had to, as penance for her crime. And now that she is wounded, they will come to take her back and leave you as you are: miserable and alone."
"Kai…" Vira struggled to speak through the iron chain pressing against her throat, her voice groggy. "Don't-don't…"
"How do you know any of this?" he asked, a pit forming in his stomach.
"Telepathy… I read her mind."
He pursed his lips and searched the fairy godmother's eyes. She would not meet his gaze.
"My point is…" the witch continued. "You don't have to go with her, my love. You don't have to stay in this rotten world." She held her arm forward, as if inviting him to take her hand. "You can come with me."
"You-you can't be serious."
"We made an oath, didn't we? To love each other, no matter what. You've hurt me, and I have hurt you, but if we can forgive each other, then we can be together again."
She took a step toward him, and he felt the mark on the back of his hand sting with the magic, sending tingling waves across his skin.
"We both know no one in this world will ever love you like I do." She took another step, and a jolt of pleasure shot through him, forcing him to his knees with a moan, his breaths heavy.
"I've made you a promise… that we'll be together, forever after." She closed the distance, gently undid the latch of his helmet, placed her hands on either side, and lifted it off.
He panted as she ran her fingers through his hair. "No," he moaned, and rose, pushing her hand away, only to fall back to his knees as another jolt of pleasure shot through him. "I don't-I don't want—"
You can't lie to me, my love.
He shut his eyes, hearing her thoughts in his head.
I know you still desire me, even now… you miss the time we spent together.
He shook his head.
Open your eyes, she commanded. Look at me.
He lifted his head, his gaze drawn to her, the curves of her body, the fullness of her lips.
I made you happy before. She caressed his cheek. Come to me… and I can make you happy again.
Yes, the response in his mind was involuntary. He couldn't hide from the truth. She did make him happy, her love—as shallow and superficial as it might have been—was joyous, warm, accepting. But it wasn't the only truth… over the past couple of weeks, the time he spent with Nekoko—someone who shared his interests, who understood him, who cared about him, who he could be himself around. She also made him happy… and he made her a promise.
Lightgrave lay discarded beneath him, and as he grabbed it with his right hand—the one that bore the mark—he felt the handle burn in his palm. He dropped it instantly and stared at his hand in surprise. The golden gauntlet was turning a dark violet, the witch's magic corrupting the armor. He reached for the sword with his left hand.
The dragon stirred, and Hexaphalia took a step back. Why do you still reject me?
"Because—" he struggled to rise against another jolt of pleasure and grabbed the sword with both hands, using the pain to drown the burst of ecstasy. "Because you are not enough."
"Not enough?!" she scowled. "I am the most attractive, most powerful woman in the whole world! How can I not be enough?"
"Your love," he held the blade up. There was more pain than pleasure now, the sword handle burning like embers in his right hand, but he bore through the pain. "It's not enough! I want more, more than pleasure!"
She spread her shadowy wings and flew up in a swift motion, clearing the path for her dragon.
"I want to be seen! I want to be understood!"
The dragon opened its maw and lunged at the paladin.
"I want—" Kai pulled Lightgrave back. "True love!"
He swung, the power of his conviction drawing energy from the armor into the sword, extending its reach, forming a long blade of light. It cut into the dragon's mouth, severing its head from its jaw, and went down its body, through scales, wings, and chain, splitting its frame in half.
The bisected dragon flew past the Oathless and fell, tumbling to the ground in two bloody pieces. Vira flung from its chest, loose chains unwrapping around her, and landed beside it.
Kai stood tall, his golden armor completely drained by his last attack, his blade shining with residual radiance.
Hexaphalia floated to the floor in stunned terror as her magic left the dragon with a flash of bright light, casting the Oathless's shadow on her.
Hurriedly, she turned to face the wide screen and channeled what was left of her magic, throwing it into the monitor. She couldn't open the portal as far as she wanted, but at this point, anything would do; she just had to get away before he decided to kill her.
Kai had other priorities. Let her run, he thought with a scowl, and turned, running to Vira. He found her lying on her face and winced at the sight of her clipped wings and scarred back.
"Vira!" He laid down his sword and turned the fairy over.
She was barely conscious, but she smiled, tears glinting in her eyes. "Kai…" She lifted her hand, and he clasped it. "You… you did it."
"Vira, your wings…"
"Don't worry," she shook her head. "Fairies are tougher than you think… I'll be fine…" Then she frowned. "Listen, about what she said…"
"I don't care about that. Even if your motivations were selfish… you helped so much, Vira. I noticed that today more than ever."
She sighed, relieved, then looked past him toward the witch. Her magic swirled within the screen, searching for a connection, but nothing came, so she tried again and again.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Why isn't her spell working?"
"It's our backup," she said. "The other fairies must have cast a veil on top of hers to prevent her from escaping… They'll be here soon."
Kai nodded and slowly laid Vira back down. "Stay here. I'll be right back." He grabbed his sword and got up.
Hexaphalia fell to her knees, drained of her energy, and panted. A lump rose in her throat when she realized it was over. They had her.
She flinched as she felt hot steel blade land on her shoulder and shut her eyes. "Are you going to kill me?"
"No, not unless you try to run… the fairies will be here soon. They'll deal with you."
"I…" Her lips quivered, and tears trailed down her cheeks. "I just wanted to be loved."
"You can't lie to me," he said, and she glanced at him over her shoulder. His tone softened as he saw the tears in her eyes. "Maybe in the beginning… it really was your motive. But today? Today, you were trying to take over the world."
"It was the only way to ensure they wouldn't come… wouldn't take my love away…"
"And you think that justifies all the people you killed?"
Her lips parted, then closed, and she lowered her head.
As her magical veil broke, the wide screen came to life, and dozens of fairies came through, each glowing in her own color. They made a circle above the witch and Kai, with Aqwyn at their head.
"You did well, Oathless," she said.
"Don't call me that," he said, his expression stern.
"Oh?" Aqwyn raised an eyebrow. "Did you finally find your soulmate?"
"No… but that doesn't define me anymore."
The headmistress smiled. "I see."
"And you are welcome, by the way," he pointed his chin at the witch, letting the sword down. "I took care of your mess."
"Our mess?" Oriana, Headmistress of Charm, crossed her arms.
"If it weren't for your stupid rule against fairies falling in love, none of this would have happened."
"I would hardly expect someone like you to understand the wisdom of the Fairy Queen's law," Carina, Headmistress of Chastity, began. "It is a part of our sacred duty to—"
"Wisdom?" He scoffed. "Let me give you a piece of wisdom—this will happen again! If you don't change this law, if you keep ignoring your fellow fairies' pain and suffering, it is just a matter of time before they become witches and inflict their pain on others. Even now, I am willing to bet there are those among you who are lonely and who are desperate for love, like Hexaphalia was, like Vira, like I am."
"No true fairy would fall to such temptations!" Delphina, Headmistress of Chivalry, yelled.
"Yes, they will if they are desperate enough and if you give them no other choice."
"If what you say is true," Erida, Headmistress of Charity, chimed in, her tone soft and conciliatory, "if this… 'mess' was caused by our strict 'unjust' laws, what do you suggest we do with the witch? Pardon her for her transgressions?"
Hexaphalia turned to look at him over her shoulder.
"No…" he held her gaze. "She should be punished for what she has done… but punishing her won't solve the problem."
"And how, pray tell, do you propose we solve our… 'problem'?" Oriana asked.
"How should I know?" he shrugged. "If your queen is so 'wise,' let her figure it out. Either way, this has to change… Fairy godmothers deserve to be loved."
The fairies exchanged glances, then Aqwyn nodded. "You have been heard, Kai Holloway." She made a gesture with her hand, and a couple of her sisters came forward, grabbing the witch and taking her with them through the wide-screen portal. At the same time, another set of fairies flew to Vira and carried her with them.
"I'm glad to say I was wrong about you," Aqwyn said as she floated down to stand before him. "We all were."
He nodded. "What will happen to them? Vira and Hexaphalia?"
"The witch will be judged by the Fairy Queen and likely condemned to Oblivion—a cold and endless emptiness where she will reside until her mind and body wither, and her essence can be reincarnated… As for Vira, she has earned her pardon and will be healed by the queen's magic. Her sisters will be happy to have her back."
"So what Hexaphalia said was true… You are just gonna abandon me here, before I have the chance to find true love."
"I'm sorry about that, but in all honesty…" she smiled. "I don't think you need us anymore."
He grimaced, watching the fairies take Vira through the portal, then pass through it themselves. His heart ached.
"Fear not," the royal headmistress flapped her fairy wings and floated toward the portal. "You are going to be alright; your fairy godmother will always be watching over you," she said. "Farewell," she smiled, then passed through the screen. It turned black after her, as the magic left it.
Kai let out a heavy sigh and looked down at Lightgrave. The radiant magic faded from the blade, and he dropped it, letting it clatter to the ground, then made his way out of the Godray Convention Center.
***
He limped out of the building, the wounds he suffered in his battles returning with a vengeance. His leg hurt from the wolf bite, his head from the giant's punch, his side turned purple from the knight's mace, and his palm burned from holding Lightgrave.
Rescue and recovery personnel brushed past him on their way into the center, and he smirked as he noticed a couple of paramedics wheeling away a man with a wounded shoulder and a cut across his chest. He hoped that the bastard would survive and get his shit together.
"Kai!" Nekoko waved at him from the yard, a wide, relieved smile on her face.
He waved back and limped toward her as she ran to meet him halfway, then hugged him.
"Ow, ow, ow!" he groaned, her arms pressing against his wounded side.
"Oh, sorry," she pulled back. "Is that… blood?"
"Ah…" he looked down at his black shirt and yellow jacket, stained with dried blood. "Yeah, but it isn't mine."
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just a bit banged up."
"I was so worried; you weren't answering your phone."
"Yeah, sorry, I think I lost it in the panic."
They smiled at each other.
"Oh! Erm, the golden knight, did you see him?"
"Ah…" He hesitated. "No, I mean… yes, I saw him, but I don't know where he went."
"Awww… I hope he's okay. I wanted to thank him; he pretty much saved our lives."
"Yeah," Kai sighed. "Mine, too."