The Everlasting Guardian

— I —

The wave of darkness consumed me, drifting my soul into the shore where a giant tree of light stood gracefully. It seduced me to touch its trunk, to let myself be absorbed by its root. Yet, the iron chain pulled me away from the tree. It bashed me to the battlefield, over and over again, fighting for my life.

Yet, I always found myself at the same ending. Death and Rebirth.

Long had gone my sense of time, and my memory fractured beyond recognition. I don't know who am I, or what brought me here. The only thing I remember is my role to protect the Loom of Fate and my core, The Ideal White.

I wonder if this vicious cycle is the price for my past mistakes.

Huh?

Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand. It was a husk of a human, cursed with imminent death as she forcefully step inside this realm of gods, The Obsidian Theater. From the sword mark on her eyes, I knew she was The Hero. Yet, it was peculiar for Hero to step into the Obsidian Theater. It was always me, descending to the world and killing them.

"Finally, I found you, Devil."

With her green eyes, she cried at me. It was tears of relief and joy. But, why? Humans always feared death and meeting me meant it would come faster. But, she smiled at me, as if she found happiness in her life.

Like always, I asked every Hero the same question, forgetting the real meaning behind it,

"Tell me. Why do you wish for The Ideal White, Hero?"

I am The Devil, the one who bears all the sins of the world. Inside my heart lies the crystal of the omnipotent magic, called Magicore of Ideal White.

Ideal White is the magic that all witches dream of. With its absolute strength, those who possess it can fulfill any wish, even bringing back the dead. With that sweet seduction, Heroes are willing to sacrifice everything to achieve Ideal White.

However, the Ideal White is incomplete without the Hero's Soul inside it. It means that The Hero and The Devil have to kill each other for a miracle promised by the gods. Yet, the cruel twist lies at the end.

"I… No, My name is Milli Vanadis. I'm here because I wanted to ask you," she answered with her body quickly decaying into nothingness, "What is your desire, The Everlasting Guardian?" she asked me.

My desire?

Crackles whispered in my ears, slowly wove the pieces of memory I had left. Yet when I am about to remember it... it disappeared.

"I-I... don't know," I grasped my head.

All I remember is I have to protect the Ideal White from the world, from all heroes who wanted to defy fate. But, why? I couldn't remember.

"I feel like something is missing... Something very important, " I answered.

The Hero's smile surprised me. It was as if she found the correct answer in her life, the destiny she was meant to be.

I never understood countless Heroes that fought me here to their despair. Every one of them would rush for my life, trying to kill me desperately for their ideals. And every one of them would die in despair. However, she was the first one who touched and even talk to me. And somehow, I felt a familiar presence within her, as if, we knew each other for a long time.

"... You might forget it now, but you have to remember. Your desire would decide the fate of the world. That's why, Devil, I'll risk everything to strike a deal with you, " The Hero replied.

Suddenly, she took off her heart and show it to me. It was her Magicore, cursed with dark energy to reflect her soul. Coughing blood, The Hero gave me her heart,

"With this, you'll have a second chance to realize your desire. However in return, I want you to do one thing for me…", she said as her right hand destroyed to pieces.

"... Why? Do you want me to save the world? I don't have any reason to do that," I asked.

But the Hero shook her head, "No, this world is beyond saving. No one, even the gods could save it from its doom," she said before her leg shattered into pieces and she leaned to me. Hugging me tightly, she whispered to me,

"You have to remember. Everything," she clenched my back tightly with her life depended on it, "And when you finally remember... Please… Stop me from destroying this world, Mom."

"Huh?"

Before I could ask anything, she vanished into particles of light in my embrace. Yet the void of my heart began to fill with an enigmatic feeling. I found myself strangely crying, but I didn't understand why. The only thing she left behind was just her tainted Magicore, lying helplessly in my hand. It was in contrast to mine which was always devoid of any energy.

"A completed Ideal White... No, it can't be."

It was ironic. I was chosen as the Devil, but the truth is that my Magicore was defective. It was always been empty because I didn't have magic inside my body. It also meant that even if I were to fuse my Magicore with the Hero's Soul, I could never complete the Ideal White. That cursed thing is just an illusion made by the gods who gleefully watched their creation in despair.

I couldn't let The Heroes know about the truth and fell into their despair. But, what would happen if you take hope from humanity? Would they survive this harsh world? That was why, I kept killing them first, protecting the lies they've been told for generations. As question only thrives one to search, but the answer could lead them to despair.

But, this Ideal White is complete. How...?

"Who are you...? Why you called me Mom?" I whispered to the Magicore.

But I could not find the answer. Not here, not in this prison that sealed me. I have to return to the world. I have to meet this Hero and ask her myself.

I grasped that light and pledged to myself to never betray this light. Facing the Tree of Life, I chanted to my only light, the very first magic I had,

"Once there is only one truth, one reality to the world, one guiding spirit through the night. Let my intentions be pure and my heart be light, as I call to you the Primordial Truth."

Suddenly the ground began shaking as the souls enraged within the Loom of Fate The tree attacked me with its roots, but as I dodged its attacks, I continued,

"With the words, I speak be my promise, may my desires manifest and my wishes live within the stars above. I, bearer of all sin, beseech you."

Suddenly giant knights of light pierced my body with their lances. Yet I persisted as the Magicore in my hand shone ever brightly. With the curse mark on my eyes, I look directly at the eyes of the gods above the tree. I raised the Magicore into the sky and shouted,

"Give me the power to defy destiny. Ideal White!"

And thus, the clock in my heart began to move again. May the string of my fate leads me... to a certain past where I could meet you, Milli Vanadis.