This chapter was a tough one to write—I was feeling a bit burnt out. I decided to split it into several parts rather than rush the ending of this saga. Hope you enjoy it! :)
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"Go, Van." Amoria whispered in his ear, her voice barely cutting through the roar of the cheering crowd.
Van hesitated. "You sure?"
"Yes." She nodded. "I'll handle things here—calm the crowd, coordinate with the demonic advisor, and figure out what lies beneath the portal. It might take time to decipher, but with their help, we'll manage."
"Meanwhile... get ready." Her voice softened. "And then... you should go to the Dragon King's place."
A pause.
"Will you be alright?" she asked, her eyes scanning his face.
"It won't take a minute." Van let out, his tone steady—but his mind wasn't.
"Right..." Amoria looked down, a somber smile crossing her lips, as if she wanted to believe him.
The moment lingered.
"...Will you?" Van asked just as he was about to take off.
She smiled at him before swiftly pulling her arm from his grasp.
"Of course!" she said, her voice full of forced cheer—but he saw it. The way she bit her inner lip. The way her fingers twitched before letting go.
Van lingered. 'What can I even say to her?'
'Who knows how long she's been captive? How long she's been waiting for a moment like this...' But she was standing here now, determined.
'Still... I can tell.'
Time slowed. His heightened perception sharpened every detail—the subtle tremor in her breath, the way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
'I can tell that you bite your lip.'
'That you're hurting.'
His fingers twitched. He almost reached for her—almost cupped her cheek, almost tried to help her fight that war within.
But he stopped.
'Right.'
'Magus's influence is lifted, sure. But... she's not the woman I love anymore.'
'So then... why do I feel like touching you?'
'To comfort you? To tell you it's okay? That I can share the burden, even just a little?... To help fight that war within you?'
He swallowed, the weight of his own words pressing against his chest.
'...Yeah... I've fought quite a bit, haven't I? Wherever I'm needed. And seeing as even you up above have something against me, Goddess... there's still so much more to be done. So much more fighting, things to resolve.'
He took in the roaring crowd, their cheers echoing in his ears.
Their reason for cheering?
The body of the bishop—the one he had split himself.
'Violence, huh?'
The crowd cheered louder.
'Force.' He recalled Ami and the Feline Tribe's hostile takeover. Then Alicia—how she waged war against the humans.
'Manipulation...' His thoughts drifted to the bishop, how he had remained in power for so long—as long as he had slaves around him.
'Mind control.' Magus.
YOU ARE READING
Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord
FantasíaVan and his friend Magus had reincarnated in another world with magic. Tasked to kill the demon lord, they set forth. Van was granted very rough skills that made life for him in that world a living hell, yet he muscled through. Magus however, was be...
