The Arcana ~ The Requiem of Lost Memories

0- The Fool ~Reversed

1. The End

How long has it been? Years? Centuries?

I don't know.

But it is not like it would matter anyways.

My whole world is about pain, suffering and death. It has been like this for an eternity. I don't even remember what it was like before the loop.

Every time I open my eyes, I know it is inevitable. Every time I look at the crimson landscape of the Devil's realm, I know that my life will end again. In the most terrible way I could ever imagine.

The Devil always finds new methods to tear me apart, cut me to peaces, incinerate, electrocute, petrify and with that to kill me again. Every new death is more painful, even crueler than the last.

But it will all find an end soon.

"You are weak, magician. Now more than ever before... So my imprisonment is finally about to end."

I look up into the white goat face of the Devil, painted with a twisted expression of triumph as he looks down at me from his throne.

"The spell is now taking its toll at last... Seems like I do not even have to put the effort into killing you this time."

He is right. I have been holding up this spell for so Long... So long, that it first consumed my magical reserves... And now proceeds with me.

The Devil scoffs.

"Even after all this trouble and pain you went through... Your efforts were in vain. I will soon be free again, and then, nothing can stop me from merging our realms."

Merging the realms? Right, that was what I wanted to prevent. Because I wanted to protect the ones I held dear.

I wonder ...Did they forget me for how long I've been here? Do they live happy lives with the time I bought them?

I hope so. This would be the best scenario for all of them... If they forgot about me, they could live out their lives without regret or mourning. Yet ...Oblivion is the most cruel punishment I could think of. Imagine you had a life full of happiness and love... And then you would suddenly forget it all. All the precious memories of your loved ones, gone. To me, this sounds even crueler than death.

But I suppose I'm a little biased there.

Anyhow, I guess it doesn't really matter anymore.

I don't get to see them again, so I will never find out....

Looking back, it is sad. I know my feelings towards them, and their names...

But I have completely forgotten how they look like.

Julian, the love of my life... The man with the most dazzling sense of humour and a kind and caring nature. I know how important he is to me, and that I'd do anything to keep him safe...

Emi, my little sister I found again shortly before the loop... I love her dearly, yet I know I failed and let her down... I know I'd do anything to make it up.

Asra, my mentor and brother by heart... After my family was gone, he was there for me all along, brought me back to life, even. I love him such as I love Emi... I know how miserable he was when I first died... I hope he got to smile again.

And all the others who have accompanied me...

Portia, who is like a second sister to me. Nadia, one of the kindest personalities I ever got to know. Mazelinka, who I'd have loved to tell me stories about Nevivon and Julian and Portia's childhood...