Blood slowly flowed over Aris's hand, then fell drop by drop onto the ground…
This was probably the best choice to make. The Koekitsu did not take its eyes off him, waiting until the very end of his gesture.
Aris's hand was fragile, but less than his throat. Slowly, more blood flowed, and Aris's life faded away along with the history of his kingdom.
Slowly, Arkis was no more…
Slowly, the story of a fallen king came to an end…
"And well, your majesty, it seemed to me that you were going to last longer, you know?"
Suddenly, Aris opened his eyes wide as soon as he heard that voice.
In an almost inexplicable way, he saw…
"Ana…"
In a weak voice, he pronounced her name.
Ana was holding the spare knife in Aris's hand, preventing him from going any further. Her green eyes pierced through the former king's body, while he showed the most disturbed expression possible, reaching out toward her in the hope of seeing her alive.
"Ana… I thought… that…"
"Yes, I am indeed dead."
Upon hearing those words, Aris stopped extending his arm toward her.
"I see…"
Aris lowered his head, feeling stupid. What did he expect? That all of this was just a dream? That all of this had never happened? That he was not trapped in the gray desert of the horrible western lands?
No, all of this had happened, and he knew it very well. What he was seeing was surely some kind of mirage before death. The famous tunnel at the end of the corridor had been replaced by Ana.
But she continued…
"And is that why you are going to give up?"
Aris raised his head toward Ana.
"Is that why you intend to leave us, your majesty?"
"And what am I supposed to do? You are already gone. I can no longer protect you. I can no longer be your king."
Ana gently lifted Aris's head by the chin.
"Ana, I…"
Then, he received the most tremendous slap he had ever received in his life, and against all expectations, it hurt a lot.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Ana also changed her attitude, her face remaining cold but with a hint of anger.
"I don't see what you are talking about. You came this far for what then? To die because a beast is looking at you? You promised to take revenge, didn't you? I have been your advisor for so long that I wonder what I was really useful for. All this time doing the tasks for you, and without me, here you are unable to endure a few months in the western lands."
Aris tried to retort.
"But actually, it is still the western lands…"
"Shut up…"
Aris was outraged.
"Ana!"
"Your Majesty, you are the strongest person I have ever known. I always believed that even if the world collapsed, you would be able to overcome this end. You were the symbol of your own kingdom. Your strength made your greatness, and to be honest, the world didn't care about the people, the architecture, or even the history, because you were there. You were Arkis. And everyone behind you supported you, and thus we supported our country."
Suddenly, Aris opened his eyes wide.
There was not only Ana in front of him. All his royal guard was there. Ren approached as well, his expression still grave and cold.
"I did not follow you because I thought you were suicidal, your Majesty."
Aris smiled at the remark.
There was not only the royal guard. There were his servants and maidservants, some villagers he knew, and even Rodius, his horse.
His people. His people were there to support him…
Aris smiled again. In those rare moments of lucidity, he remembered that kingdom and his life as a king. But with death approaching, it was clearer than ever. He could even see them.
"Maybe this is the beginning of madness?"
Everyone started laughing, but Ren answered first.
"Well then, Your Majesty, you've been crazy for a long time."
Aris took it badly, but he smiled nonetheless.
"I suppose I won't see you again after this."
Everyone stopped laughing and looked once more at their sovereign before Ana answered.
"If you no longer have suicidal thoughts, then we won't come back. The Koekitsu is playing with your mind, and this will be the last piece of advice I give you, Your Majesty…"
Then, Aris Ronegard was able to see one of the rare smiles of his advisor.
"Get out of here and kick its ass."
Aris closed his eyes and sighed.
"You've really become vulgar since you died, Ana."
Aris knew this was one of his last moments of sanity. After this, he truly wasn't sure he could remain sane and not sink into madness. He would forget his people, forget Arkis, forget his kingdom for a time. He might never remember again.
But seeing them all once more brought him immense joy.
"Go on, leave. Let your king carry you to the end of the world."
Then, little by little, they all disappeared, each vanishing like an illusion. And yes, he knew it. None of this was real. They were truly gone.
Toward the end, his royal guard also faded away into the illusion. Ren disappeared as well, giving him a crooked smile, while Ana...
"Your Majesty…"
"I don't want you to leave, Ana."
He was sincere. He knew he had to let them go, but watching them all disappear into smoke hurt far more than he expected.
"I know, Your Majesty."
Ana gently took Aris's head in her hands, softly caressing his face with her fragile fingers as they slowly turned to smoke.
"But I know you can do it even without me."
Aris held back a tear as Ana completely disappeared into the illusion.
Everything returned to normal.
He found himself once again facing the gaze of the Koekitsu, which had not moved, waiting motionlessly for his reaction. Blood still flowed onto the ground, but this time, not a single drop was falling from his throat.
The group, hypnotized by fear, suddenly changed its behavior, because the Mad Beast had just moved under the gaze of the giant beast.
Aris remained motionless for a moment, bringing his knife back along his side.
Then he fixed the Koekitsu with his gaze, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
"You really thought that would be enough, you bastard. I have a kingdom to avenge…"
Suddenly, Aris saw one of the freakiest things he had ever seen.
Koekitsus were known for being calm and calculating. They were always portrayed as almost mythical and composed creatures.
"But this bastard…"
...was grinning from ear to ear with one of the most demonic smiles he had ever seen...