The Arcana ~ The Requiem of Lost Memories

XX- Judgement ~Upright

1. Never alone

The situation couldn't be more dire.
We are alone with the Devil, caught in an endless darkness, Julian is trapped by enchanted chains. The Devil could kill us any second, if he wanted to.
Despite that, despite everything, I feel awkwardly light. Bright. That my emotions within me could lift me into the air.
"...I love you, Julian."
"Akiko..."
"I, erm, You don't need to say it back, it's not like required or anything, it's just, I-"
"I love you too."
"I just wanted to... I mean I-
...W-wait, you do?"
He smiles.
"How could I not?
Even when I was washed up, when I was a failure... You saw something good in me. You believed in me, while I just pushed you away, claiming it was 'for your own good', but actually...
Actually, I was afraid. I didn't trust myself... And I didn't trust you.
All the futures I could imagine... They all ended in pain.
Still, you stood by my side, helping me to see a way to be happy again. A way forward.
We give each other strength.
When I stumble, you'll be there for me, just as I will be for you.
I love you, Akiko.
I always will."
...
I... He...
I am overwhelmed by the wealth of emotions rushing through me, making me feel weightless.
...He loves me too.
I just... Confessed my feelings, and he, he loves me too!
Magic sings in the air around me, bursting the chains around Julian, metal shattering as easily as thin glass.
"I've been wanting to tell you for the longest time that I love you, Akiko."
"Hearing that you love me back, it... It is more than I could have ever wished for!"
"Are you finished yet?"
The Devil looks down upon us.
"I know you humans like to prattle... But this goes a bit too far.
It is about time I wrapped things up."
Chains rush out of his clawed hands towards us.
"Akiko, I'm with you! We can do this, together!"
Julian sounds so fierce, so certain of our success. It makes me feel like I could do anything, even defeat an Arcana.
Beside my affection, pride rouses within me.
He's come such a long way since I first met him.
"Oh, please. What will you do? You only broke a few chains. No way you could actually believe to stand up against me by yourself, Akiko."
By myself, I wouldn't be able to.
That's true enough.
But I am not alone.
A new surge of magic builds within me, far more than I expected, and rushes to my hands. It is fuelled by my emotions and... Julian's.
The air between us flickers from the magic flowing from him to me. Through our bond.
Julian looks like he can feel it too.
I let it build in my hands, pouring every last feeling into the spell.
"Not by myself, no. But I am alone no longer!"
Then the magic bursts free, in a flash of light that dazzles me even as it burns the darkness away.

I've never been happier in my life to see wide, snowy landscapes again.
"Well now. You are full of surprises, aren't you?"
The Devil flicks with his fingers, and millions of chains appear behind him, coiling like serpents, ready to strike.
"But don't get complacent now.
I've broken kings and warlords. I've shaped the course of your history, bent your entire world to my will.
And I reduced five of my fellow Arcana into whispers in the dark.
What can two humans possibly do to me?"
I shake my head, chuckling.
"We may be humans, but we are not as weak as you want us to be.
We already freed two of the Arcana you trapped.
And together...
We can beat you. And we will."
The chains lash out for us.
I react in a blink of an eye, throwing my magic against them.
The chains shudder as magic seizes them.
But instead of breaking, they twist in midair, and shoot back towards the Devil.
He makes a quick motion with a black clawed hand, and the chains drop harmlessly into the snow.
He looks... surprised?
I wasn't expecting that more than he was. I stare at my hands, bemused.
Is it because... I finally realized what I feel?
Because I allowed that emotions?
Julian steps up to me, taking my hand.
"Akiko, you... You're glowing."
The magic flowing through me... It is so powerful that it manifests as glowing streams just under my skin.
Every second that passes, it glows brighter, the power of our emotions.
"A light show. Is that your idea of intimidation?"
I can feel the Devil's power gathering too. An oppressive heat, and crushing pressure.
Still, Julian and my power isn't weaker. They are about on the same energy level.
...Together, we are as strong as an Arcana.
I look to Julian, squeezing his hand, and he nods.
Our joined magic sings higher and higher, reaching a fever pitch, flooding our surroundings in warm, bright light.
The Devil's dark aura grows too, making the air crackle, where our auras clash against each other.
Before it could actually come to a conflict, an enormous wave of magic clashes over both forces from behind me.
...What?
The Devil smiles with vicious satisfaction.
"Seems like I don't even have time to crush you anymore. Time is finally upon us."
Julian steps forward.
"Time for what?"
"Why, for my ritual to merge our realms of course. My remaining servants have been diligent, so we're even ahead of schedule."
...The ritual...?
Could he be referring to the dining table underneath Lucio's room?
"You haven't stopped me.
Though... You're causing more trouble than you're worth. So I'm only saying this once.
Stop wasting my time. Turn around, go back home and do as you are told.
Otherwise... Well. Who knows what might happen?
The choice is yours."
Then, the Devil fades from our view.
Julian looks around at the snow, into the sky and then at me.
"Is he gone?"