It Ended So Soon

It was never my fault.

Even now, as I laid out on my back, unable to move. My arms, legs, and body, tired and beaten. I open my eyes and see the blue sky, unaffected by my situation. Always blue. It was never my fault.

I glanced at my armour.

It's charred black from lightning and fire. My armbands ripped to shreds.

A man stood before me. His hair dark black and pinned up in a ponytail. His armour was much better than mine. Made out of silver with gold ornaments. A red royal cloak hangs from it. His sword is double-edged with an elegant dwarven design.

"It's over," the man said, sheathing his sword. From behind him, three more people walk up next to him; two women and one man. I didn't recognize the men but the women I knew all too well.

"Fiona. Matilda. Why," I said. Matilda looked away. She couldn't bear to look at me. Her heart was squeezing at her to save, to protect her little brother.

"That fact you still have the audacity to keep our brother's form," said Fiona, fire in her eyes. Her rage was unfiltered on her body. Her fists bundle uptight, and her hair was raising just slightly from her emotions.

"But I am your broth—"

"Stop it, Demon," she roared. A circle of runes and symbols appeared above me, a magic ring. Lightning shot down into me, causing my body to convulse in pain. It only lasted a couple of seconds, but it feels like minutes.

"Stop," said Matilda grabbing Fiona. "Please."

"He's not our brother anymore, Matilda. Just a demon!"

"Please." Matilda was on the verge of tears. Just a couple of minutes ago, we were all in an intense battle. Fighting for our lives. It was exciting and thrilling.

I had never experienced anything like that before. I was testing my limits and hopefully breaking them. I never had that opportunity to do that in my old life. I was always running, hiding, and trying to fool people who wanted to tear me down. It wasn't exciting. It was fear. I was scared because I knew my work; the work I felt so proud of was fragile. One flagged essay could end my whole career. I stole from everyone and claimed it to be mine; the cost was high.

It only was at the very end that I understood what his battle was. My sisters and their friends weren't here to spar; they were here for my life. Following the words of religion that held this country—no—this world in a vice grip.

I knew the man that stood before me. The eighth prince of the Chadel Dynasty, he was blessed with the title of Hero. A hero with no demon king to slay. The world of Rolrista was peaceful, with only a few disputes among the five kingdoms. Most of them coming from Chedel. It was located in the middle of the world with the other four surrounding it. It had once tried to conquer the content but failed. The prince was their second chance. Prince Gerard Darcey.

"Tell me, demon," Darcey said, kneeling down. "How did you steal our skills?"

"I didn't steal. I copied," I said. [Copywriter].

"You copied our skills?"

"I didn't want to hurt anyone. I just wanted to catch up."

"With who?"

"Gerard, don't listen to him. He spits lies," protested Fiona. Gerard just raised his hand, and she went silent.

"My sisters," I cried; I knew what was coming next. Matilda looked down at me in shock, tears sliding down her face now.

"Monster," yelled Fiona. "Don't listen to him, Matilda, come." She pulled Matilda away from me, leaving the two to decide my fate.

"James the Mask, hereby sentence you to oblivion for the crime of stealing from our Goddess Drykena and the royal family of the Chadel dynasty.

"This isn't real," I repeated over and over to myself. The other man placed his hand on my heart. His head was bald, but his eyes were a brilliant orange with markings from his eyelids and down his face. His cheeks were sunken, and I could only assume that the rest of him was the same. He wore a brown robe that covered everything.

"[Divine Wrath]," the stranger said, standing up and walking away, the prince right behind.

A golden light started to burn around me, creating a circle and then filling it out with runes and symbols—another magic ring.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," I screamed. "I'm sorry! Matilda. Fiona. Please! I'm sorry."

My words fell on deaf ears as the circle finished, and I was engulfed by a pillar of light. It burned like the sun melting away at my flesh. Evaporating my eyes, bubbling into gas. The earth cracked, and the sky boomed. The four watched as a divine sword appeared above me high in the sky. It was large and as long as the Seattle tower. It slammed downward into me, ramming into the earth.

After a while, the light faded, and the sword disappeared. All that was left a hole. It was never my fault; I just didn't want to be left behind.