A Cowardly God

"Y-y-y-you.. YOU!"

"Shh, no shouting…" Bil teased, now only a few steps away from the god. Soon, Bil once again stood directly before the god, exactly how he was before. But Iskar was no longer grinning, laughing, or daring to intimidate Bil. "Tell me, what's the difference in our eyes. You can see me clearly now, can't you?"

Swallowing every nerve he could, Iskar finally dared to look into Bil's eyes one last time.

Red. Flaming red. And White. Overwhelmingly white. Iskar immediately looked away as if a single glance had burned his own eyes, but he could no longer deny the reality standing in front of him.

"P-p-p-pure white pupils…" Iskar muttered with his quivering jaw. "A-a-and.. F-flaming irises… Like a w-w-wild f-fire…"

"So? Are you stronger than me?" Bil questioned, poking the god with his sheathed sword.

"N-n-n-n.. T-t-that's imp-possible…"

"Good. Then the lesson's over. Now, for my payment–"

"P-p-please!" Iskar's massive frame collapsed to the ground, landing fully prostrated before Bil. The god's hushed cries were joined by a puddle of tears. "S-spare m-me. P-please! Please spare me, Flaming Conqueror–"

"Never use that name in front of me. Especially after targeting my child."

"Uuuh…" Iskar groaned, unable to speak any longer. He heard Bil's voice suddenly come from behind him. "Juuuhh…"

"You're already dead. Just disappear already," scoffed Bil.

Standing behind the cowering god, Bil's sheathed sword was overtaken with red and white flames. The white flame, in particular, was gathered around the edges of the sheath. It was like a blade of pure flame had been created around the sheath and hilt. But Bil merely flicked his wrist and the flames went out.

At the same time, Iskar tried to scream in agony but his mouth and throat had already been sliced in half, as had his entire body. And the remnant flames of the strike abruptly set the god's body ablaze.

There were no screams, no cries. Iskar could only squirm as his life was snuffed in a swift inferno. Within seconds, not even the god's bones were left behind.

"Bil..." A ways back, Nelphy was in awe.

"Huh, well that's over with. Now… The real problem.." sighing, Bil put the sword at his side and walked back to the little girl. His lively, flaming hair died down, leaving only a buzzed mohawk of auburn red hair. "You have to keep all of this a secret, even from Jash."

"H-huh? But why? I didn't know you were so strong…" Realizing something, Nelphy asked, "Wait.. Didn't you say earlier… That you couldn't fight angels? Or gods?"

"... I did say that."

Hearing that, Nelphy grew bolder. "Then why–"

"Promise me you'll keep this a secret," stated Bil, still smiling softly. He rubbed her head again, doting on her. "Promise me that, and I'll tell you more about me. But if you can't promise to keep tonight a secret, then I won't tell you anything more about me. And our family will one day be in real danger."

"D-danger? But you're super strong, why–"

"Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I can protect you two from everything." Shaking his head, Bil sat against the mountain wall and put Nelphy in his lap. He pointed up at the night sky. "Can you explain why stars exist?"

"Huh? Of course I can't.." grumbled Nelphy, feeling that she wasn't going to get her way.

Hugging her and chuckling, Bil added, "Neither can I. And are you able to imagine how many gods and devils exist in the world?"

Nelphy frowned. ".. No. I can't."

"Well, I can." Bil's answer shocked the girl, but he didn't stop there. "I fought in that war and faced many of them. And I didn't always win. But things are different now. Now, I have you and Jash to protect. I can't just run from a fight and face it another day…

"Please, Nelphy. Promise me to keep this all a secret. I don't want my family to break. Not again."

"Again?" Startled, Nelphy paused. ".. What do you mean again?"

"I'll answer that, and many more questions, but only after you promise to keep this a secret," repeated Bil. "Please."

"... Why can't Jash keep it a secret too?"

"Really? You think Jash can keep secrets?" laughed Bil, getting Nelphy to shake her head in agreement. "We need this to be a secret. Do that and I'll answer every question you have."

"... Our mom, and dad… what really happened?" Nelphy asked, turning in Bil's lap to see his flaming white and red eyes again. "Did you really find us like that?"

"Promise me. And I'll answer."

Dejected, Nelphy scrunched up her frown and looked away. "Biiiil… answer me, please."

"Sorry, Nelphy. I hate doing this, but this is the only way our family can stay together. Any other way, and a day will come that our family breaks or even worse… Please, promise me," reasoned Bil, never flinching or hesitating.

"Uuuhh. But Jash will be really mad!" Nelphy argued.

Shrugging, Bil replied, "One day he will be. But by then, it'll be much safer to learn the truth. Telling you is already a risk, but it's too late for me to hide everything from you. Now, it's safer if you at least know some things. But only–"

"If I promise.." Nelphy finished Bil's thought, groaning in disappointment. "..."

"If you're not going to promise, then we're going to bed right now–"

"I promise."

Patting her head, Bill asked, "Really?"

"I promise," repeated Nelphy.

"And you'll never tell Jash? You'll hide it until I decide to tell him one day?" questioned Bil.

"I promise. So.. Tell me about mom… and about dad."

Chuckling, Bil tickled the little girl in his lap. All the while, a ring appeared on Bil's finger. Then, a strange, invisible energy surrounded the two of them. "There, now we can't be heard by anyone else. So I'll tell you everything and anything…

"Your mom, my wife was an amazing woman." As Bil spoke, Nelphy's eyes twinkled with intrigue and she leaned in close for a tight hug. "She was my empress…"