Within the Small Room that I call Home- 71st Demon Lord’s Priestess

A sad child appeared before me.

His body covered in the blood of his enemies.

Sheathing his sword, he entered my room like a lost kitten.

Even though he seemed calm and composed, his eyes could not deceive me. Behind his powerful posture was a scared, frightened soul who was at his wits end.

“You have arrived, my awaited end,” I said, looking at the mirror before me.

All life must come to an end, and my life was no exception. I had foreseen my death long ago, but for it to have arrived so soon was quite a surprise.

Having lived a life confined to the space of a single room, I wished for nothing more than to see the end to this empty life that I have lived.

The child, whether he knew it or not, had a distressed look on his face.

He had failed to hide his emotions.

“You had already known?” He asked.

“The mercilessly cold night that will consume the bright sun,” I muttered the prophecy, “who will reap the consequence of a past endeavor, and the flower that lives for the sun will wither from the night’s gentle breeze. I had not expected the night to be you, my lord.”

I finally looked away from the mirror that had been a part of my life and turned my eyes toward the child.

When our eyes made contact, his eyes quickly turned away, almost frightened at the thought of looking at me. Could he be feeling guilty of his future actions?

I couldn’t help but smile at his kind heart. Even though he had to kill me, he still had the heart to feel sorry for me.

“Did you not tell your lord of your eminent death?”

Seeing how he did not want to kill me so soon, I replied, following along to his wishes.

I, too, wanted to talk to someone.

“We are mere messengers of the Goddess of Darkness,” I replied to him, “no being can escape their fate, and no fate is worse than death, except for ours. It would simply cloud my master’s judgement. And, even if he knew, it would do nothing for him.”

“Do you wish to live?” He suddenly asked, extending his hand out towards me.

The simple gesture was enough to cloud my judgment for a split second. While I wanted to take his hand, I had already made my resolve.

I have lived long enough, been chained to a fate worse than death, and now that my time has come, I wish for nothing more than to be freed.

I knew that my decision was foolish.

“Thank you, my lord,” I said, shaking my head softly, “you are as Gwendolyn described, a gentle heart swallowed by the shadow of the past.”

When I look him, I could finally understand how a tragic child such as herself could regain her smile.

If I had such a master, perhaps life would have been worth living. As much as I want to believe that it would have been different, it has gone far long enough.

“As much as I wish to accept your kind offer, I must wholeheartedly refuse,” I replied once more, “I do not wish to live any longer than I must. I have come to accept my death a long time ago.”

His hands sunk lifelessly down to his side. There was a trace of frustration on his face.

“You are as foolish as the rest,” he muttered.

His words were filled with sympathy and brooding anger.

Perhaps I am. If I took his hand, my life would change.

I believed it, I truly did.

But, for me to take his hand would mean that my entire life would have meant nothing. I had lived for the 71st demon lord. If I betray him and join the child, all my years of yearning for death, all my years of suffering, all of my years of pain and agony, all my years of loneliness, it would mean nothing.

I would deny my very existence if I betrayed the demon lord I served.

I was far too gone to be saved, I wanted to tell him, but I felt that it was unneeded. It would only hurt him more if he knew. Only death would be my salvation, and once I return to the Goddess of Darkness’s side, mother’s side, then I can truly find my happiness.

With a heavy burden, and a firm resolve, he raised his eyes to me.

“Our life is not our own, my lord. Only death will release us from our fate,” I replied, smiling gently at him, “we, who are born to be nothing more than an accessory for another, who will never be able to live for ourselves, gladly welcomes our death. Even Gwendolyn is no exception. While hers is a dream-like wonder, she is shackled by the chains that is your existence my lord. Do not hesitate my lord, by taking our lives, you are simply freeing us of our shackles.”

“I see,” he responded once more.

“I have a request, my lord,” I thought after a while and asked, “if you could, I ask that you free my sisters.”

“… Is that all?”

I nodded my head.

Finally, he drew his sword and held it firm within his hands.

In my final moment, I saw that the child was crying. Whether he knew it or not, I did not tell him. Rather, for the first time since I was born, I felt like I had finally felt happy from the bottom of my heart.

For you to cry for me, it is more than I could ask for.

“Good night…”