Turning point

Iris had her hands on my shoulders, holding me in place. I first thought she wanted to hug me, but instead she pushed me away and shouted desperately:

"Run, please. I couldn't live with myself knowing I let this demon take you with her."

I took a step away from the fight and Iris turned around again, facing the demon all by herself.

She didn't pay me any more attention, she burned all her leftover celestial energy right at the spot to launch her body forward. The propelled Iris was barely visible to the naked eye any more, but for some reason I could still track her.

I saw how she swung her claymore at the demon.

And what happened afterwards.

The demon parried her claymore once again with ease.

A spear formed in front of Iris chest, flying right at her.

At this point, time seemingly stopped for me.

It was like time passed by only barely noticeably.

And I saw it clearly.

The spear.

Iris wouldn't be able to dodge it, no matter how hard she tried.

But I could.

Why?

I didn't know, but I was sure about it.

Well there are stories about every glory-full hero in human history. They achieved all various different kinds of feats to support humanity. Some might have saved an important leader, while others defeated an incredible powerful foe. But Lisa told me, no matter who they were, most of them had one thing in common. When time came, their bodies moved before they even had a chance to think, almost on their own. It's like their bodies knew what was right and what was wrong.

Subconsciously.

I didn't run away at all.

No.

I was trying to intersect the spear, charging right at it.

And I could make it.

For some reason time passed far slower than before, seemingly stopping.

I glanced at the demon, Meteora, and right now she smirked at me.

Could she see me?

Was this how time passed for her all along?

Or was it a mere coincidence?

I didn't know, nor would I ever.

Although I might be in time,…

The katana had slipped out of my hands before I started running.

Out of sheer fear or nervousness?

Not that I knew.

I only had my body with me, nothing else.

Pictures of the past surfaced in my mind.

Happier times.

Better times.

The time I spent at school together with Emilia.

And Iris.

My two best friends in live.

And if I doubted myself any longer…

One of them…

At this moment I jumped.

I jumped right into the spears trajectory and I could feel the pain in my chest.

The pain in my lungs.

My heart.

Or where those should have been.

Instead of my organs.

A spear stuck out of my chest.

My vision grew blurrier with every passing thought.

Blood dripped out of my mouth.

"Yoruuuu, why??"

Iris screamed.

She held me in her arms.

Shocked.

Meteora also looked surprised, I think at least.

Reading her mimic wasn't that easy after all.

I weakly tried to raise my voice.

Air wasn't flowing smoothly out of my body any longer, so it wasn't that easy.

But I mustered my last strength and said:

"Sorry."

"I couldn't just stand there and watch you die…"

And with that.

My vision faded.

Only darkness before me.

The last thing I heard was Iris scream.

"NOOOOOOOOOO, WHYYYYY"

And then.

I also couldn't hear anything any longer.

My body felt like it floated. Floating in open space. Like a dream. But I didn't see a light. Maybe there isn't any light at the end of it after all…

Maybe it is just a hope which humans have…

Hope for beauty…

Beauty in their end…

Time passed by.

I couldn't tell how long, but time certainly passed. Was it really over? Was this already the end of my journey? I wanted to do so much more things, so many more activities with Emilia, Iris and the others. Not just them either. Maybe I could make even more friends. More friends to enjoy beautiful things together. Like going shopping. Or sleeping together after a fun night with the girls.

I hadn't even bothered with a romantic partner at all. So many things I still wanted to do and yet…

I wasted my chance. But by doing so I saved my dear friend Iris. Meteora only had interest in myself to begin with, she wouldn't just kill Iris if there wasn't anyone else left for her to take. I felt kind of satisfied in a weird way.

Maybe she would face some hardships. But Iris could handle that. She is strong after all. Strong. Far stronger than me. I wished I could compare in the slightest bit to her.

If I just wasn't so weak. Maybe things would be different. Maybe I could have protected my friends, instead of being the one who gets protected all the time.

Was this really the end?

Just drifting in empty space in thoughts?

Only being able to regret.

Not being able to change my own destiny.

Fated to regret being weak for the rest of my existence?

Deep down I knew it all along.

I had just been avoiding reality.

That's why I have been trying to become stronger despite my lack of talent for it.

Trying to prove myself wrong.

I only hoped for this strength within me to awaken. Maybe I had even relied upon it to make me stronger, instead of giving it my best. Maybe if I had put more work in…

If only I wasn't so weak.

Suddenly the void before me got brighter again.

Maybe there is a light after all.

A light that symbolizes the end.

"So you wish to grow stronger….."