《A Path to Crown》The Hero and The Demon King
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With that realization, Libertas entirely lost the interest in whatever his body did. However, he still perceived the same sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste as his body. Hence, flooding his mind. Moreover, every emotion his body felt, hit his mind like waves, and ever thought of it forcefully invaded into his mind. It was agonizing.
Although these emotions and thoughts were once his, they weren’t any longer. He found now most of these emotions and thoughts as ridiculous, but they still forcibly pried open his mind and squeezed inside. Hence, he felt angry despite him not being angry. He felt disappointed despite him having already expected that. He was even happy despite being angry. It was a mess.
This mess gradually drove Libertas crazy. Listlessly, he accompanied every week from Monday to Friday his body to school, and every Wednesday to a psychologist. Nevertheless, his body didn’t make much progress with the psychologist.
In school, fortunately, no one bullied his body. However, neither had he any close friends, only some superficial ones. Nonetheless, this didn’t bother his body as he spent most of the time in the school library reading a book.
From time to time, his body spoke briefly with his friends at the beginning of a break. After exchanging one or two, sometimes even three sentences, Libertas’ body quickly went to the library to resume reading a book.
Later as the school ended, the body immediately walked to his new home with a bright smile on the face. It didn’t matter if he had no close friends. After all, he had Mr Wilson. His friends had long ago abandoned him, but Mr Wilson hadn’t. Mr Wilson was waiting at home while preparing a hot meal just for him! With this thought in mind, the body quickly skipped to his new home.
Occasionally at the weekends, Mr Wilson brought Libertas’ body out to have. Sometimes they played games in an arcade, or they go out to eat exotic foods. At other times, they go out hiking or fishing. Besides that, they surprisingly go at least once a month to an orphanage to voluntarily help out.
However, most of the weekends were spent together at home, or at least near it. They played games together, ranging from computer games to simple board games like chess. Or they cooked together simple, but delicious dishes. At other times, they just strolled around in a park or drew silly paintings. However, be it whatever they did, they had, most importantly, fun together.
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In all that, Libertas only silently observed the life of his body. Blankly, he stared at his body. Somehow, he felt strangely melancholic. Hearing the different thought of his body, and seeing how his body acts, he inwardly asked himself, ‘Is that silly boy really me?’
Although he asked that himself, he already knew the answer somewhere inside him. He may have forgotten most of the past happening, but he still remembered the more significant bits and parts. Hence, as the life of his body progressed, he slowly began to reminisce of the good times he had with Mr Wilson. Soon, after some time had passed, Libertas gradually started enjoying to relive this part of his past again.
The time flew by and quietly, over a year passed. It was December with snow falling almost everyday high above from the sky. Hence, a beautiful white shimmering glance covered every inch of the city.
In countless houses, one candle after another began burning brightly. Soon, the fourth and last candle ignited, indicating the arrival of Christmas. At that day in the evening, Mr Wilson sat on the couch with Libertas’ body. In both of their hands was a bowl of popcorn.
Their eyes looked fixated on the TV in front of them. Slightly frowning, Libertas’ body quickly threw a few popcorns into his mouth before he continued to watch the movie….
It was just before the last grand fight of the Demon King against the Hero and his companions. The Demon King was sitting leisurely on his throne while leaning his chin against his hand. With sad bloodshot eyes, he looked at the ruined gate, through which the Hero had broken in.
Resigned, the Demon King leaned back on his throne before he looked from up there down on the Hero. Sighing, he asked hoarsely, “Hero? If you are the Hero, why don’t you grant us salvation? Because we are demons? So you have to slaughter us? Couldn’t we exist in peace?”
The Hero slammed his broadsword against the ground. Instantly, countless long lines of cracks formed on the floor. Righteously, he pointed at the Demon King before he shouted. “DEMON, you SHUT UP! First, you took over our land, then enslaved our family and friends, and killed all who stood in your way! And now, standing in front of death yourself, you want peace with us?”
Shaking his head, the Demon King stared silently at the raging Hero. He sighed, and his head drooped. Then he casually retorted, “Blinded by hate, you have lost the sight of the whole picture. The racial hate passed by our ancestor has fully consumed your mind. As soon as We ascended the throne, you humans immediately began to attack Us in frantic. We sought peace and assigned an ambassador with this mandate. Guess, what do you think has happened?”
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Without waiting for a reply, Demon King stood up imposingly up. His mocking gaze glared down at the Hero. Loudly, he declared, “You humans cruelly killed them and sent their head back! Furthermore, you humans think you are allowed to take our kind as slaves, but we can’t do the same with you? A Hero? Ridiculous! I don’t see anything more than a clown and cruel murder! Now, DIE!”
The Demon King pulled his sword out of the sheath and pounced at the Hero with a loud battle cry. Similar enraged, the Hero swung his broadsword out of the ground, and the epic battle between the Demon King against the Hero and his companions began….
As Libertas’ body saw that, it asked puzzled, “Mr Wilson, is the Demon King now good or evil? And what about the Hero? Is he evil or good in the end?”
Stunned, Mr Wilson glanced at Libertas. Then he threw a few popcorns into his mouth, and silently looked back to the ongoing movie….
The Demon King crashed against the ground. Gasping after the air, he looked as the Hero stepped towards him. The images of the dead Demon Generals, who were once under him, flashed one after another in his head. They have given their lives in trust in him as the Demon King. They trusted that he would succeed in ending the misery for all the demons in the world.
Clenching his teeth, the Demon King stood arduously back up. For them, he still couldn’t give up. He has to win and lead the demons back to glory. Hence, he gripped firmly on his sword before rushing at the approaching Hero. The battle commenced once more….
While staring at the movie, Mr Wilson slowly began to speak, “What exactly is evil? What exactly is good? At least I don’t know it. A killer may be evil, but is he still evil if he only killed to save someone? Maybe. Maybe not.”
After absent-mindedly nodding, a popcorn fell out of Libertas’ hand. With hazy eyes, he still continued to watch the movie. Even despite that, his thoughts were entirely somewhere else….
After crashing against the ground, the Hero spat a mouthful of blood on it. He quickly wiped it away, but as he looked up, his face distorted uncontrollably in rage. In front of his eyes, he could only helplessly watch as the Demon King ruthlessly penetrated the chest of his lover. The claw-like hand of the Demon King dripped blood on the ground.
“AAAHHH!”
The Hero desperately cried as he pounced wildly at the Demon King. In return, the Demon threw his lover at him like a lifeless puppet. Catching her, he realized that she was still alive. However, he couldn’t do anything as her life slowly seeped away. With bloodshot eyes, he stared powerlessly as she gradually died in his arms.
Crying, he looked up, only to see his companions die. One by one, the Demon King pierced and mangled their bodies with his cold sword. In the end, the Hero was still too weak, powerless like the villager boy he once was.
The Demon King’s hand slightly shivered after he killed the last companion of the grand Hero. Breathing heavily, he slowly walked towards the Hero. Whenever he took a step, a metallic clang resounded through the entire hall.
Clang…. Clang….
Mr Wilson pointed at the Demon King in the movie. Then he said, “Isn’t he evil? After all, he had cruelly killed countless. On the other hand, he had saved countless too. He bettered the life of his citizen and fought day after day for their life. More importantly, he only killed to end the misery of his kind. Is he still evil even after all what he has done were for the good of others? However, if he isn’t the evil, is he then good?”
While frowning deeper, Libertas’ body continued to watch the movie. However, his eyes were still hazy due to the clashing thoughts inside of his head. Unwittingly, he took another popcorn out of the bowl. However, instead of eating the popcorn, he bit on his fingers. Startled, he glanced at fingers, sighed, and looked back to the TV….
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