A Hero With/Out Time

Chapter 30: Our End. (Part 2)

The Queen had to step in with the Guild's help to stop it all from breaking apart. While the government had been corrupt, without one, the Empire's cities, towns and people would all suffer in the end. I helped more than I would have liked. Honestly as the days became weeks I really rather to escape back to Axel with the others and relax but as Ronalt put it, we had a job to finish. To make matters worse, everything just became more complicated when Caius was introduced as the Demon Lord. That had been an exciting few minutes. If it hadn't been for Lara a fight really might have broken out. His declaration of an alliance between the Demons and the Kingdom did however shake the room for a different reason. Now even without Lara the balance of power shifted in our favour, something I was incredibly pleased with. The truth however was it was all on Caius' word and nothing more. A deep hatred laid between them and us which would take decades to peacefully resolve.

Finally the time passed and a somewhat manageable new government had been formed with the Magician's Guild as the base. The Queen and her retainers would have to stay for the time being to settle the matter entirely but we were let go. Even Ronalt was forced to take a break with us and I knew exactly where I wanted to be. Several days later we arrived in Axel. Earnest, Marley, Ardent, Ronalt, Taylor and Lara. The names of the people I had first set out with, plus Pina. It felt like years had passed since then, though really time wise it hadn't actually been that long. Caius however didn't grace us with his presence and returned to Demon territory. In the end he never died once, a fact that the two of us almost couldn't believe. It just went to show how much effort we both put in.

The welcome back party was extravagant. For such a small town I was beginning to feel we held far too many celebrations. Still, no one complained. A bonfire was lit in the town centre, food was prepared in droves, people danced, we ate, we drank, it was a good time.

As the night began to settle I sat at the edge of the square a glass in my hand and watched the embers rise from the pyre of flame.

"This is nice," Lara said suddenly from beside me. "I can see why you love it here."

"It has its charms," I nodded in full agreement. My heart felt lighter than it had in a long time, possibly due to the alcohol.

"Oh looks like Marley had enough," she pointed to where the girl had collapsed. Her face was flushed red. She was still conscious and moved across the ground like a slug. One of the older townsfolk picked her up and took her away to rest.

I pointed to Ardent, "And some people are still having too much fun." The man was dancing around the fire with Margaret our apothecary and even throwing flashy sparks of magic into the air.

"Those two get along well," Lara noted.

"That's because they're both eccentrics," I shook my head. Aside from them, Earnest and Ronalt were gambling with a group of the men including Mattias. It was getting quite lively as suddenly Ronalt threw off his shirt much to the applause of the nearby women. As for Taylor, I hadn't seen her in a while... that usually never boded well for me.

"Rain... umm," Lara shifted awkwardly. "What are you going to do from now on?"

I emptied my glass and let the strong taste course down my throat, "The Queen wants me to work as an ambassador between the Kingdom and the Demons."

"Yeah that would suit you," she laughed.

"Sounds like too much work," I smirked and put down my glass. "Though I do owe the world that much at least."

"Do you though?" she asked with toned seriousness. "Not many people know who you really are. To almost everyone you were just dragged in."

I tapped her on the nose, "But I know it. Besides after hanging around with you so much I feel like bettering the world as well."

"So... you won't come back with me?" the question left her lips with an all too quietly fading hope. So that's what this was about.

"You know I can't... I don't even exist there anymore," I reached down to squeeze her hand.

Maybe it was because she had been drinking but her emotions were clear to see. Her head tilted up to the sky and as she blinked a small tear rolled down her cheek quickly wiped away. "Yeah, you have a life here, Taylor, the demons. There's no telling if I'll ever get to go home either. It's just... I'll miss you."

"I'll make sure you can go home and when that happens, you bet I'll cry," I smiled to her encouragingly.
"Maybe I should just stay instead...."

I plonked my hand on her head and rubbed into it, "No. We all know you want to go home. Everyone there is waiting for you. You've already done enough for this place."

"I caused a lot of problems as well," she sighed and let out a small laugh.

"I'm still causing problems," I spread myself and laid onto the ground fully. The stars above seemed so much brighter than before. These last few days with Lara, with everyone, I would enjoy them to the fullest.

With that thought a sudden commotion sounded and I jumped up to look. Taylor was on the other side of the town centre walking purposefully towards me. A bright smile and blush on her face, it wasn't her expression that surprised me but what she was wearing. A beautiful white dress that trailed behind her. It sparkled from the light of the fire and flowed around her causing me to stare in a daze. There was only one way to clearly describe it, a wedding dress.

I stood up with Lara as Taylor and a few of the town women came towards us.

"Rain!" Taylor cheered and run towards me, her hands holding up the dress. She was clearly inebriated as were many of those behind her. She spun in a circle showing off as she reached us. "Do I look pretty?"

"Umm ah, beautiful... you look amazing," I couldn't find the proper words.

"T-Taylor you do know what you're wearing right?" Lara asked carefully.

Taylor looked down at herself and then stared back at me, "Haha, a wedding dress I think." Just how much did she drink? I had never seen her like this before. The way she acted moved from her usual mature mischievous beauty and into incredibly cute territory.

I sent my glare to the women behind her, Lane was with them, "Just so you know we're not that far in our relationship yet."

"Really?" Taylor visibly saddened. "Because I love you lots!" she smiled cutely and pressed closer to me. Her voice mellowed as she whispered in my ear, "I'll just have to make you feel the same." Well it seemed she wasn't drunk enough to not be herself.

I gently pushed her back, "Let's settle down for now."

Lara stared at the two of us with a complicated expression, "Rain I think I'll head to bed now."

"Oh sure," I had to hold back Taylor who was trying to cling to me. "We'll talk later."

"Yeah," she nodded and walked away.