TOTA AND IALDA

- I came for... Tota. The boy looked at the woman with an expression filled with guilt, the woman he once... no, even after experiencing so many lives, still loved. This was only possible thanks to the help of Ialda. After the first hundred enclosed years, Ialda had finally stopped fighting against him, accepting that, after being deprived of the souls that gave her energy, she was incapable of posing a threat to the current Tota, who had sealed her within himself.

Seeing that there was nothing to be done, and for some reason Tota seemed unwilling to end her, she started observing Tota's experiences through what could be called his reincarnations. One by one, all she could witness was suffering, the ugliest side of human beings.

Why was this boy going to such extremes? Sure, she had possessed Negi before, so she could have tried this method too. However, it was too foolish to become the greatest sacrifice in history for people who were indifferent to her. She wanted no one to go through the same things she had experienced; that was her reason, and she would do whatever it took.

And if some had to die, they should be grateful because they would lay the foundation for the peace of all their descendants, of course, if they had any, and if not, for their friends and/or acquaintances.

But this guy here, forgotten by everyone and trapped for eternity. Why? It was something she couldn't understand. Moreover, there was the fact that until now, he hadn't touched her at all. Two more years passed in the same routine.

- Hey! Why are you doing this? It's a bit foolish, in fact, it's the stupidest thing anyone can do.

- You finally decided to talk to me, huh...

- If I didn't, I would die of boredom for eternity here. I don't have enough masochism to watch you go through all of that.

- But you've been carrying these souls all this time.

With a calm smile that seemed to be waiting for a word from her, he said that somewhat defiantly.

Ialda spoke in a distant manner, as if looking down on him, her voice without a change in tone but melodic and calm. Undoubtedly, putting her in the right time, she could be considered an important figure in some kingdom that viewed commoners as nothing more than obstacles. An empress at the top. Perhaps this behavior was due to being at the pinnacle of power in the world for so long.

Tota just smiled as he looked at her, as for exactly what that smile meant, only he knew. After a little over a hundred years, he had already gone through hundreds, if not thousands, of lives in misery. So, it was impossible for his behavior not to be affected. It was deeper, as if he could see through people, although there was no one left to observe in the place except for Ialda. Perhaps that's why he felt like he wanted to establish a relationship with her if they were going to be together for eternity.

- It's true, but I only carried it superficially, creating a link to the soul to extract the power of the dead. Under no circumstances would I do what you did.

- Hahaha.

- Do you remember who you are?

- Does that matter?

- It seems you still retain consciousness.

- Yes, it's not that complicated. I'm bad at using Venus magic. I wanted to develop it to the level of Mars and erase experiences, but I couldn't. So instead, I chose the soul, which is much less abstract. I am constantly erasing my soul, keeping it at a level where I can control it.

- !!!

- Haha, why that expression?

Certainly, Ialda's face had contorted in a strange way. Being the one who could control what others didn't even know, she knew perfectly well what Tota meant. One mistake and she would become, no, not become, simply disappear. Not being good with that magic, he says. The control he must have over it is at a point where the only way to describe it is terrifying, not to mention the pain of being constantly consumed.

- I know what you're thinking, but believe me when I say they're fine the way they are now. If one person can stand in for the whole world, isn't that the best deal of all?

- ...

- Don't you want to ask anything?

- ... Why haven't you absorbed your friends instead of sealing their experiences? And, above all, why haven't you absorbed me?

- Haha, straight to the point, huh... Regarding your first question, I hope you don't think what I do is that simple. They are in another league, so I can't. The most I could do was seal them.

- If they break the seal, then...

- That won't be possible. If it were you, you could, but they don't have control over their souls, so they won't be able to. In any case, I made sure they are all satisfied with their lives so they won't try anything strange. I even revived the girl who used to make coffee for Fate; now they are happily married. That time really wasn't wasted. Hahaha.

- Are you sure? That girl Yukihime seems to be special.

- ...Yes, she is, and I'm sure she'd feel that something isn't right. However, on her own, she won't be able to do anything.

- ...True.

- Regarding your second question. It's because I don't want to. In the end, what I'm doing with the world is nothing more than an illusion, something similar to what you wanted. The difference is that mine is reflected in the real world. But, obviously, that's not real salvation. True happiness is achieved only through one's own means, striving and suffering, crying and gritting one's teeth to move forward.

- I...

- I know what has happened to you throughout your life; you have lost many things, and I have come to understand your reasons, even though I didn't agree with your methods, you arrived at an answer. You have carried a lot, so now I want you to be happy too. When you achieve that, I have no problem letting you go and live a life of peace.

- If I do that, you'll be alone here.

- From here, I will watch them all, their happiness, and how they develop. With the foundation I am giving them now, they will be able to evolve into a species capable of supporting each other naturally without needing me.

- Ha! You talk as if you were a god.

- I had no intention of that at all.

- ... In the event that they break the seal and want to release you to give you the beating of your life, you'll be in trouble. From here, you can't do anything, and they have that girl Kirie with the power to rewrite time.

- Indeed, she could if she had some sort of save point, but she doesn't, and it's impossible that she would decide to die just to go back to her childhood.

- Butterfly effect, huh.

- That's right, they are not so stupid to try something like that. And regarding other ways, my power is now big enough to eclipse them all. In the worst case, I would risk losing control and confront them to seal it again.

...

They are important to me, my first life, my first friends, my family, and although I have gone through so many lives and special people like wives, lovers, daughters, sons, nieces, and more. For them, I can't do anything anymore. I can only protect those who are still there.

... With that, Ialda realized. Tota, unlike her, had not lost anything yet. But he loved what he had so much that the mere thought of ever losing it was enough to make him give up everything and protect them.

She wondered if she ever had such a pure feeling, she couldn't remember it anymore.

Tota...

Yes?

Being here for the rest of eternity will surely be very lonely when I'm gone.

I can't deny it, although it's not like you've interacted much during that time. Haha.

...

Then I'll stay here, with you. Ialda decided that this boy was special. He was capable of giving everything for the people he cared about, even the rest of his eternity. So she decided she wanted to be special to him. At this moment, it wasn't love, but undoubtedly, there was a small seed that formed deep within her being and would mature over time into something beautiful—something that, like him, would make her give up everything just at the thought of losing him.

Words were not necessary; she saw with her eyes everything he did. From Ialda's body, silver lights emerged, gradually disintegrating and then coming together again to form a goddess of beauty. Tota just smiled at this and appreciated her while continuing to endure everything.

From that moment on, they would stay there for eternity. He would protect the world, and she would protect him. With her magic, she would preserve his sanity so that at least he wouldn't have to endure the pain of feeling his soul consumed.

So, five thousand years passed until an meddling time witch disrupted Tota's plans, causing a golden figure to appear before them in a long-awaited and feared encounter.