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Birds chirping, appealing themselves to a potential mate. Squirrels squeaking to each other as they pitter pattered across the forest floor, climbing up a tree. The many trees could shade one from the sun, plenty of varying species about. Once a place a grim reaper protected, though they have long since moved out.
A clearing.
This will do.
I measure the area, ensuring that it would be appropriate for my needs.
I tie up my hair into a high ponytail.
I take a deep breath.
I plunge my spade into the earth and begin to dig.
This first rectangular sized hole, to be around 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall. For depth, about 6 feet.
Sweat had bead up on my forehead as I only had the first foot of the inside dug up. I should be faster. I wouldn't want this to go into the night.
My mind is still. I focus on digging.
My arms tire from my relentless physical work. An hour later and it was done.
Only two more holes left. I can do that.
I sit a short distance away from the hole, my tool beside me. Lord. How exhausting. I could've just done this with magic.
Though, the physical digging needed to be done. Intimacy, one could say for why I chose to do it like this. Though, it's pretty stupid in retrospect; inefficient with my child bodice. Oh well. Ritual was a ritual, no?
I look around the area before getting back to it. The hemisphere of Absolute Defense: Felion did its job properly of keeping the wildlife, more importantly, bugs, from bothering me.
Summoning a cold bottle of water, I chugged it down hungrily. The bottle disintegrated.
I pick up my shovel. I stand up with a groan, walking to the spot I marked beside the first hole.
So, I dig again. This time the size was that more akin to a usual grave. 4 feet across, 6 feet down, 6 feet deep.
What trouble I was going to for some carcasses.
Ah, but they are carcasses of ones I hold so dear to my heart and soul. The reasons for why I live. I suppose now only one quarter of that remains.
Oh, beloved Conclave. What fools. What fools.
Retribution, as Libraria put it, why they had perished. I logically understand. That I do.
It was just coming for them, of course. Death comes for all, and they just happened to have it come quicker than they thought. As punishment.
As punishment.
Hahah.
My anger boils. My grip on the tool tightens as I shovel a bit faster for a minute to release my rage.
It's fine. It's fine. Not like anyone cares about them. Not like anyone cares. I'm not anybody. All will hate them to the end of time.
Just villains that will be recorded as tyrants in history, and nothing more. Maybe a tidbit that they were the Original's students, but nothing other than what tools they failed to be mattered.
They're not people. Why would anyone ever love them? They're rotten eggs of humanity. You can't save a rotten egg.
The public thought they were going to plunge themselves into a world of doom with their plan. So they retaliated.
It was meant to be great! A good plan that will ensure humanity’s survival. Because clearly all of the humans advancing had angered the being that they were up against.
Biting and consuming the fruit of temptation without another thought.
Oh well. Not like any of that turned out to be what happened.
They made an error, so it went. And all their efforts, gone into the dust. So many years of work and suffering and denying themselves to live as people.
I doubt anyone holds any sympathy for these worthless things.
…They've served their use only for two people. Not like they care.
Not like he cares.
Hahah. Hah.
Well. At least I can put them to rest. As much as they could rest with the undesirable circumstances.
I sigh. The second grave is done.
I throw my spade up. I jump and pull myself up and out.
Third one.
Oh. Hahah. I didn't even plan that. Just like their numbers.
Ironic that the fourth one lives.
…
Back to schedule.
This one a tad more elongated than the others, 7 feet tall. Just to ensure the towering body fits.
Digging again. Despite how sore my arms are. I've come here to do my task.
Hah, oh poor things. Poor, poor souls.
It's not like I don't have the heart in me to kill. It's simply just not worth it to take any action to the ones who've made them like this.
I can't really fault any of them. Even him, whose actions from long ago made them like this, I bet.
It's not like I'm mad at anyone.
I just.
Oh, I'm mad at fate.
How cruel. Cruel, cruel, cruel.
How unforgiving.
Oh, my poor sacrificial lambs. My poor lambs.
They hardly got any closure.
Fucking hell, what a shitty two hundred years they've lived for.
And for the majority of it, hiding away any sparks of love for each other.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, lambs.
Stupid.
Stupid.
They're so fucking idiotic, God—!
I drop the shovel, the wooden part landing on my feet. I suck air through my gritted teeth.
Pick it back up.
Finish digging.
Climb out.
Oh. The sky's turning orange. I've spent longer than I should've.
I toss the spade aside.
There's an odd line in front of me that separates from the air. I pull the sides apart, spreading the gap.
I step inside.
Oh, white void, my beloathed. At least you're useful as a hammer space or whatever it's called. Pocket dimension? Whatever. Whatever is its proper label isn't my problem.
Three bodies lay before me, covered in black tarp.
I wouldn't really want to drag them… Tiny bit disrespectful.
Sigh. I guess I'll use more magic.
Without physically interfering, I slide the tarps off the bodies. They float around 20 centimetres off the ground.
I walk back into the clearing, stepping out the rip in spacetime. The bodies float one by one into their resting places.
Hrm. I'll bury them in death order.
I patch up the rip, no residue or marks left to tell it ever happened. Or, maybe someone with expertise and a keen eye could.
Well, on my way to throw the dirt back on.
I peer at the grave, looking at Baldias' charred body. It's charcoal black all over. Some parts had melted into goop, cooled down and frozen in that state.
My eyebrows furrow. I start shoving the dirt back from whence I dug it before, with my implement.
I wonder if he shrieked and cried; a horrid sound for the ears of Sol and Sin. Maybe he didn't.
Was Sin fine watching that go down? He was never one to want to kill. He wanted to befriend the Valentine sisters, after all.
I wonder if Baldias thought he had any chance. He certainly sounded confident. Did he genuinely think he could defeat Sol, the man who felled Justice?
Did he know he was walking to his death when he went into Harden Fort? Did he have any parting words to the others? What would be the last words he spoke to them?
Oh well. Only 3, maaayybe 4 if we count Asuka, would care anyhow about his passing. He was just a cunt for any other person that resided on this Earth.
Good for nothing ugly worm.
It's quite easier than digging the soil up. Takes far less time as well.
I pat down the dirt, making sure it's set and solid.
Right. Onto Axus next.
I walk over, beginning the process again.
His corpse, least disfigured out of the three, only having a large wound spanning across his chest and stomach. A clean kill.
What a stupid man.
He saw Baldias fall before his eyes to Sol, and thought he could take on a man that rivaled his power, nay, scared Sol himself? With just a gun?
He may have not been privy to Sol’s thoughts on Ky's combat skill but Ky did take down many a gears, becoming a bright hope for the common people, so much so they chose him to be First King.
And he thought he had a chance with just some bullets and a revolver.
Idiot.
Condescending arrogant asshole.
Worthless.
At the very least, he had some tact to apologise to Libraria before his passing. Way below the bare minimum, but a tiny bit of credit I can give him at least.
Surely, there is love in this man deep down. I wouldn't ever believe otherwise. There's something there. I'll never accept whatever words he might say otherwise.
Even so, he was too full of himself to ever show it. So what does it matter?
If only the circumstances were different, maybe the others would have the time to break down your walls, huh?
Time, time, two hundred years, yet you're all so cold. Too busy saving the world, ahah. That and emotional constipation.
God, Libraria didn't deserve any of you. Yet she loves. There must be something she sees in you. I don't know what. I know why I like you, I like a challenge; someone to verbally beat down myself. I'm not sure why she does.
I pat the dirt down.
Well. Best for last.
I look at her body one last time. I bite the insides of my cheeks.
She's not ugly. She could never be any kind of unattractive. Not even in spite of her being a corpse. She's beautiful. She's pretty. She's cute. Eternally. No matter what state she's in.
I'm just disgusted how someone other than me was to touch her and bring her to her maker.
Sol didn't care for her. Sol only saw her as an obstacle, an annoyance, needed to be brought down. He didn't treat her with any gracefulness.
How dare he be the one to take her down.
If I were to kill her, I'd stab her in the heart for a quick death, minimal suffering on her end. Then I'd wrap my arms around her in an embrace, comforting her in her final moments. I'd pet her head and tell her it'll be okay. That she didn't have to worry about anything.
I refocus into reality.
Her corpse beneath me. Unrecognisable to anyone who didn't memorise every inch of the surface of her skin. It was all burnt, but not charred black like Baldias. Bumpy, flaking, some parts definitely having been sizzled.
A long wound took up the front of her body, from the top of her head to the groin. It didn't slash in so deep that the innards itself got injured, but I imagine the insides getting somewhat exposed plus the fire, lead to her organs getting melted. A bit of it had spilled out, when I first retrieved her fresh corpse.
The only thing that could still be somewhat defined was her mask. The edges still remain semi intact. The ridges, recognisable if you squint. Though, if the mask wasn't in good condition, I wouldn't think her face would be any better.
I'm sorry, my love. I'm sorry they did this to you. They didn't deserve to even speak ill of your name, let alone hurt you like this.
I start piling the dirt atop her.
My wife. My darling. My beloved. My everything. How unfair and cruel the world was to you. You, who are God's gift to humanity. Such a kind and compassionate woman, forced into such a heartless and bloody role. To take the lives of so many…
The world may not forgive you, but I shall, my lamb. You haven't done a thing to deserve this fate.
You call it retribution, and I do not contest your judgement. It is true, as many would think of it.
But my love, you hadn't done anything to become such a beautiful corpse so soon.
You deserved to feel joy and peace, yet you were tasked to be the one to ensure peace was held, in a manner that you wished to confront. Alas, your voice was not heard.
I'm sorry for everything.
How I detest your partners, your teacher, your fate, what they've denoted your purpose to be.
…I hope you find peace.
I hope you find peace.
I just need to pat the dirt down now.
Nice and firm. Like how it was before. And it'll be like it was before in due time. Your body will decompose and give back to nature.
You prefer this rather than a coffin, right?
A tear forms in each of my eyes.
I wipe them away with my sleeve.
It's going to be night soon. I need to wrap it up before whatever breakdown may happen.
I open a smaller rip in spacetime. I grab four objects, each with engravings.
I dig 4 more holes, much shallower. I use up more of my energy to make 4 concrete bases and the other tools needed.
I install the three headstones, each with their names.
The fourth slab, much smaller than the headstones, is in front of the graves, about a few inches from Libraria's.
It reads:
In loving memory
I wonder if Chronus and Faust will ever find this. I'd reckon not. Why would Faust be here again, unless he wanted an odd trip to memory lane? But never a non-zero chance.
Heh. I wonder how they'd react.
Freaked out, maybe. Curious, perhaps.
That there's someone out there that loved them, other than Chronus.
Ah… Well. My work's done. I'm tired.
…
I suppose the dirt here is soft enough. I'm the daughter of dear doctor after all. I can pull a Faust and sleep on the ground.
It'd be nice to sleep next to them. Comforting me after death. Haha.
I walk up to Libraria's grave and lay down on the soil.
“Good night, everyone. Love you.”