(rain pouring heavily)
Knock Knock
Amalia swung the door open. She froze, seeing the girls huddled on their knees, drenched in water and mud.
"Oh no, girls, what in the world happened to you? I've been looking all over the place! You didn't tell me where you went," Amalia exclaimed, her voice tight with worry.
Amalia had a million questions, but the silence was the only answer. The girls were acting strangely, their shock palpable. Then Amalia's gaze dropped to the lifeless thing Fae was clutching, and she finally understood the horrifying truth.
"N-no…"
Amalia collapsed onto her knees, tears instantly blurring her vision as she looked at my cold, lifeless body. Miguel arrived moments later and was completely devastated by the sight.
"W-where's Komraad?" Miguel asked, his voice shaking with fear for his friend.
"He stayed behind. He bought us time to escape the demons in the palace," Astrid managed to choke out, her voice barely a whisper.
No one asked anything else. Amalia and Miguel quickly ushered the girls inside to tend to their wounds and get them warm.
Amalia tried gently to take my body from Fae so she could finally bury me and let me rest, but Fae wouldn't let go.
"Her body is getting cold, Fae. You have to let her go now," Amalia murmured, trying to sound calm and gentle through her own grief.
Sob Sob
"No… I don't want to!" Fae cried, hugging my lifeless body tightly. Her eyes were puffy and swollen from crying, and she looked so exhausted she might pass out at any second.
Rein and Astrid came to her side, gently embracing her and talking to her until she finally, reluctantly, let my body go.
As soon as the heavy rain eased, everyone gathered at the back of the orphanage to bury my body. Miguel had already prepared the grave.
They finally laid my body to rest. After the small burial ceremony, the girls retreated to their respective rooms to try and rest.
Shortly after, a knock sounded at the door. Amalia opened it to find Komraad standing there, bleeding and covered in deep wounds. Amalia immediately helped him inside and started tending to him.
"W-where are the girls?" Komraad asked weakly while Amalia worked on his arm.
"They're resting in their rooms," Amalia responded quietly.
"I see. How about Ina's body?" He asked, his voice heavy with sadness.
It was the first time Komraad had used my name, and it hit Amalia hard.
"We just finished burying her body." Amalia paused, looking him directly in the eyes. "I didn't ask the kids anything because they were completely in shock. But would you care to explain what happened?"
"We went back to the palace because Ina wanted to talk to the princess one last time," Komraad explained, his face etched with bitter dissatisfaction. "Demons suddenly showed up, and we had no choice but to fight. Ina died at the hands of the prince, who was possessed by a demon. The rest of us barely made it out alive."
Amalia froze, completely speechless. The shock was twofold. She knew exactly what was happening inside the palace, and a suffocating wave of guilt crashed over her for hiding the truth.
"I-I'm so sorry," Amalia whispered, her voice tight with regret. "This is our fault. If only we had told you all the truth from the very start, this never would have happened."
"Your apology won't bring her back, so stop beating yourself up," Komraad responded firmly. "I know Ina. Even if you told us the truth, she wouldn't have stood by and done nothing. She would have been even more fired up if she learned the full truth."
Komraad pushed himself up from the chair. "Enough dwelling on the past. Now, it's your turn to tell me everything you know about this place. No more secrets," he demanded, a serious, unwavering look on his face.
After the unexpected and tragic turn of events, Amalia finally found the courage she needed to tell the truth. Once she finished treating Komraad's wounds, she fixed her composure, sat down properly, and began explaining everything.
"It all started five years ago. This kingdom used to be a paradise for humans. Everyone was treated equally. No discrimination between the rich and the poor. The late Queen made sure it would stay that way forever."
"Miguel and I used to be the Head Knights of the kingdom. We were constantly by the Queen's side, accompanying and protecting her. Every day was the same for us three until one day, a young man with angelic wings crash-landed onto the palace balcony. He was from the Featherlight race, covered in blood and nasty wounds. The Queen, without a moment's hesitation, helped and treated him, even though he was a total stranger."
"It took a long time, but once the man was completely healed, he chose to stay in the palace and swore his undying loyalty to the Queen as thanks for her kindness. Eventually, they fell deeply in love and started a family, that's when the Prince and, later, the Princess were born. Around the same time, Miguel and I also fell in love, started our own family, and had a baby, our son, Keith. We honestly thought our happy life would last forever, but there's no such thing as forever."
"When the Prince turned fifteen, he was struck by a strange sickness. We thought it was just a normal fever, but no matter what medicine we used, he didn't improve. The Prince was in so much agonizing pain that the King and Queen couldn't bear watching their son suffer. It wasn't a sickness at all, the Prince had been cursed by a demon. The Queen became so desperate. She tried everything to save her son, but nothing worked."
Amalia paused, taking a shaky breath. "She was about to give up when someone whispered an offer to help her son. In her desperate state, she immediately accepted the offer. She never realized that the person who cursed her son and the one who offered help were the same entity."
"The Prince was cured, but his entire personality drastically changed. He was like a completely different person. Soon after the Prince was cured, the King and Queen suddenly died. No one knew why, but we were absolutely certain it was connected to the Prince's miraculous recovery. We started investigating immediately."
"We had lost our King and Queen, so the kingdom appointed the Prince as the regent to act as a proxy until the Princess came of age, because the Queen and King's last testament clearly named the Princess as the sole heir."
"After the Prince was appointed, my husband and I discovered he was being possessed by a demon and that he had killed the Queen and King himself by absorbing their life force. Miguel and I tried everything we could to free the Prince from the demon, but we failed. The demon possessing the Prince found out what we were doing. We tried to fight back, but we were powerless against him. Instead of killing us, he banished us from the palace and stripped us of our ranks."
"I still don't know why he spared our lives. He even allowed my son and the Princess to live until now, even though they knew the truth. My guess is that they are necessary for whatever grand scheme the demon is planning for the future."
"After that, we left the palace and started this orphanage. But Keith decided to stay and became the new Head Knight, promising himself he would save his best friend, the Prince, no matter the cost."
"Five years later, the kingdom that was once paradise has drastically changed because of the demon's involvement. Huge, isolating walls were built to separate the rich and the poor, and because of that, hate and discrimination exploded. The demon-possessed prince never left the palace. He's just been hiding in the shadows, plotting his every move. But until this very day, we still don't know what his ultimate plan is."
Amalia's chilling story finally ended. Komraad had listened intently until the last word. He stood up from his seat, his posture suddenly rigid with resolve, and thanked Amalia.
"Thanks for telling me. That gives me even more reason to go back for the princess," Komraad declared.
Amalia stared at him, shocked by his answer.
"Did you even listen to my story? There is nothing you can do to save the princess! This kingdom is doomed to fall!" Amalia insisted, frustration bleeding into her voice.
"I heard every word. But I'm still not giving up," Komraad revealed, looking out at the rain-washed yard. "Or else Ina would totally kick my butt from the afterlife. Isn't that right, girls?"
Rein and Astrid appeared from the doorway. They had been listening to the entire conversation.
"You're right, Mr. Komraad. We'll finish what we started," Rein stated, forcing a smile. Her heart still ached from the tragedy, but she knew she had to be strong for the others. "If it were Ms. Ina, she wouldn't stand by and let a little girl cry alone, just like she didn't let us."
"This is the only way I can truly repay Ms. Ina, so let's do this!" Astrid added, her voice full of newfound courage. Fae, however, was still in her room. She hadn't come out or spoken a single word since they returned. My death had clearly devastated her.
Amalia couldn't believe her eyes. Even after her dire warning, they were all still brimming with fierce hope. That faith was what finally reignited Amalia's own spirit. Miguel, who had also been eavesdropping from the other side of the room, was equally inspired by Komraad and the girls.
Just after their conversation concluded, a frantic knock sounded on the door. It was Keith. He looked utterly exhausted from running non-stop.
Huff Huff
"M-Mom, Dad, I have terrible news," Keith gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "The demons have finally started their plan."
Everyone rushed outside the orphanage and looked up at the sky. A huge, dark, swirling hole had opened up. Miguel and Amalia immediately grasped the full horror of the situation.
"Oh no, they're trying to open the portal to the demon realm," Amalia realized, her voice laced with fear.
Everyone was overwhelmed by the sight of the enormous dark hole. They knew something catastrophic was about to happen.
It had taken the demons five long years to gather enough life force to open a portal to their realm, but it had never been enough. Not until I came along and made it possible. Absorbing my life force was the final burst of energy they needed to launch their ultimate plan.
Keith gathered everyone inside to plan how to stop the demons and prevent massive casualties. During the briefing, Komraad explained to Keith what had happened at the palace earlier and how I had died.
Keith was furious at himself for not having been more aware and present.
"I see… I'm so sorry to hear that," he murmured, grief briefly flashing in his eyes. "I wish I could mourn Ms. Ina's passing, but right now, I need to focus on saving the kingdom. And I need all the help I can get. So please, help me save the Prince and the Princess, and this entire kingdom," he begged, bowing his head low.
"You don't have to beg us," Komraad responded with firm resolve, placing a hand on Keith's shoulder. "We've been planning to help from the start!"
Keith was overjoyed to find such dedicated allies who would fight alongside him.
"Now that we've settled that, let's go over the plan once more," Keith directed. "Mom and Dad will stay on the front line with the knights. Your job is to protect and evacuate the residents. Rein and Astrid will find and rescue the Princess. May will be guiding you where she is. Komraad and I will fight the demons and destroy the source of the portal at the same time."
Keith then revealed an artifact shaped like a golden badge.
"They're not the only ones who were preparing," he stated, his eyes brimming with fierce determination.
"What is that?" Astrid asked, leaning closer to see the badge.
"It's an artifact that can separate the demon from the Prince," Keith answered, his voice thick with emotion. "I've been waiting my whole life for this. Now I can finally use it to save Zion."
After the recap, everyone was prepared for the final battle. Keith rushed back to the palace to alert the Vermine Knights. Amalia and Miguel put on their old armor, the heavy plating they wore when they were Head Knights. To ensure their safety, the orphaned kids were hidden away in the orphanage basement. Komraad, Astrid, and Rein also prepared themselves, fueling up to regain some energy.
After hours of intense preparation, everyone was finally ready to go. But before they departed, Rein went to Fae's room and knocked gently.
Knock Knock
"Hey Fae, I know you're in there," Rein said, speaking softly to the closed door. "You don't have to respond, but I want you to at least listen to me. I just wanted to tell you that we're going back to the palace to save the princess. I know you're still hurting, we all do, but I want you to know that even though Ms. Ina is gone, all of us are still here for you. Because even though we started as strangers, we are already a family at heart."
She paused, taking a deep breath. "Don't worry, we'll be back as fast as we can, so please stay safe here, okay?"
Rein left after saying those words. Fae did not respond.
The gang was already in the carriage, ready to depart, when Fae suddenly burst out of the house, carrying a huge backpack.
"W-wait, everyone! I'm sorry for taking up your time, but please, take me with you," Fae shouted, her face, which had been so lonely and hollow, now shining with a fragile, new hope.
Rein and Astrid were overjoyed. They jumped out and hugged her tightly.
"Welcome back, Fae," Rein and Astrid said in unison.
"What's with that massive bag you're carrying?" Komraad asked Fae, his eyes curious.
"It's medical equipment. You guys are going to need someone to tend to your wounds after your battles," Fae answered, standing a little taller. "It's the only help I can offer, after all."
Komraad smiled warmly at Fae and affectionately patted her on the head.
"That's more than we could ask for. Thank you," he said, his gratitude genuine.
Everyone finally piled into the carriage. They set off toward the palace, ready for the final, desperate battle to stop the demon's ultimate plan once and for all.