William's Wacky Wizardy

William sat in the warm confines of a basic tent—just outside from his only ally Tantalus, the bleeding tree.

The Eternal Valley's air was cold, but devoid of wind chill, giving it a certain pleasantry to the skin, though he could care less. He couldn't feel the weather anymore.

He just wanted to be alone. He needed to be alone—especially for this process.

The golden-eyed young man lay flat in his tent, absentmindedly staring upward. His jet-black hair was long, shaggy, and unkempt.

His eyes were lusterless and devoid, yet contained an uncontrollable jitter. It was irritating.

William's mind was clouded. As much as he tried to take hold of a singular goal, there was too much that eluded him. Life was anything but simple—no matter how much people tried to force it to be.

With a sigh, he extended his hand into the air. William racked his mind. There was something that threatened to elude him—something of importance.

His fingers emitted sharp white threads that gleamed; his grip tore through the space itself. He held his breath.

Like tearing paper, where he moved his hand, the fabric of space ripped—behind that fabric lay pure nothingness. A mesmerizing sight.

Nothing wasn't black, nor was it white. It was nothing; it had no color. A throbbing sight of all colors and no colors. A paradox.

William took hold of the entire tear, throwing his head inside the tear.

Now all he saw was nothing. Pure nothing, all-encompassing.

As he channeled his mind, colors began to form. Those colors shifted and contorted, creating actual images. He recognized them.

Those images rapidly scrolled past his vision. As their pace slowed, it was easier to see: these were his memories.

William scrolled through the memories with precision. He knew what he wanted to see—as if he had done this many times over.

Like hitting the jackpot, the scrolling images eventually halted on one. Activated by thought, the image sucked him in completely.

…

William stepped out of a blue portal into a familiar haven. A place of pure bliss.

Home.

A modestly sized wooden cabin, nestled in a blissful cubby of nature. Serene green forests of vibrant life, all contained in the gentle hold of mountains.

He took a deep inhale; a sweet pollen filled the Spring air.

Idyll. That was the only possible word that could describe this memory.

Walking along the grassy stone path leading to the cabin porch, William grinned from ear to ear as his eyes landed on a source of pure dopamine.

It was a woman. Her long, wavy crimson hair fell down the back of her summer dress, and her sun hat gently tilted down as she watered the colorful flowers that lined the house.

Maria Sarr.

Her movements were slow and careful. Underneath her sun dress was a large bulge around the stomach.

William increased his pace, the hasteful crunching of grass alerting Maria, who turned her head.

Her eyes widened; her surprise was quickly overshadowed with joy.

The two entered a gentle embrace. William softly placed his hands behind her head, delicately pulling her into a long kiss.

"What are you doing out of the house, my love?" William asked, their eyes locked onto each other. "You're nearly due…"

"You know I can't sit still, William," Maria smiled. "And quite frankly, I was sick of Cerri's constant worrying and nagging. We've all missed you so much."

The two locked hands as they walked towards the front door. William helped the pregnant Maria up the few porch stairs

Opening the door, it responded with a routine creak. The two stepped inside.

In the kitchen was another woman, her robust curvature hidden by a kitchen counter. She had radiant white hair, neatly tied in a bun.

Cerri Ema Luikots.

Upon William's arrival, Cerri dropped what she was doing, walking over to William with a cold fury.

It melted immediately as they squeezed together, digging her face into his shoulder.

"Thank the Mother you're back…" Cerri said, her voice muffled in his clothes.

"I've missed you all. But where's Ari?"

"RIGHT HERE!" A woman's voice squealed.

Out of nowhere, a shorter, leaner woman with short teal heal bull-rushed the two reuniting lovers, with a tight three-way hug commencing.

Ari Cristall.

After that, everyone stepped back, assuming positions in the living room. Maria sat in a rocking chair while Ari and Cerri stood; an uneasy feeling filled the quiet.

They were anxious and silent. And the silence was loud.

"If you're back in one peace then…" Maria thought out loud, though she trailed off.

"I've done it," William announced.

The needle dropped.

"So—"

"So we're out?" Ari interrupted. "Finally? No more?"

"No more," William replied.

The tension dropped even further. William's arrival was one telling indicator, but to hear the words with their own ears was even greater.

"Show us," Cerri demanded, though her tone was more apprehensive than angry.

Complying, William unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall to the ground as the girls stared in awe.

…

It radiated from his heart.

Piercing through his pale skin was a thick crimson light, gently pulsating in rhythm with his beating heart.

His heartbeats quickened as the girls stared in awe.

"We're finally free of it all. Of him."

"Forever?"

"Forever," William replied. "As long as you all stay close by, he can't hurt us."

Another deep hug commenced. Sobs of joy. The lovers rejoiced. Years of pain were finally relieved.

It was a joy that the present William had nearly forgotten. And he relished every moment.

…

"It is not wise… to live in the past," A strange voice cut through the vivid memory, interrupting the scene with an ethereal omnipresence.

William's mind erupted into turmoil. The scene corrupted and spun as he was swept off his feet.

And in the next instant, everything shattered.

…

THUD.

William landed on his knees. A strong heat washed over him.

He inhaled the air. It was tainted with ash.

When he raised his disoriented head, he was blasted with another memory. Orange fire reflected in his golden eyes.

The beautiful land nestled within the mountains was clouded in storm—set ablaze by calamity.

The house erupted in fire. A raging bonfire.

Like small coals, three masses sat in front of William, scattered around the stone path.

His wives burned—a black and white fire. It was unlike the flame that scourged his home.

Then, something interrupted the heart-wrenching scene.

"You've royally fucked me, William," a high-pitched, otherworldly voice sliced through the corrupted scene. "Everything we've built. Poof. Like that."

The squawking of panicked birds, the crackle of flame, the crumbling of wood—everything muted. Only the voice remained.

A black mass contorted and formed in front of him.

Featureless. Only two massive horns jutted out of its forehead.

End. The End.

The Demon God lorded over the broken man. Everything had been thrown into ruin. Exactly how it had been that day.

End outstretched his arm. The space around him blurred and twisted—until there was nothing left but End.

"We aren't done until I say we're done."

And a single tear ran down William's cheek.