Chapter 31: The Busybody Celli (3)
Through the haze of unconsciousness, a sweet voice beckoned me, pulling me back from the depths. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to find myself gazing at the eerie eye. My body is floating in the sea of blood, moving along the waves to the shore. The tree of blood stood mighty among the raging sea as I stood in the heart of a nightmarish realm.
"This is… Milli's domain." Struggling to regain my composure, I steadied myself and gingerly touched my throbbing head.
But just as I mustered the strength to stand, a voice echoed behind me, shattering the silence.
"You lost against the Joker? I had expected more from you," she remarked, her words laced with disdain. It pained me to see her like this, to witness her judgment of my perceived weakness.
Startled, I turned to face the sound, and there Milli stood in front of the tree, hiding her disappointment beneath her mask.
"Milli," I called out, my voice quivering with a mix of desperation "Wait, please listen to me. I'm not your enemy. I'm your--" Before I could finish my sentence, the ground beneath me trembled. Thick roots emerged, snaking their way toward me, binding me firmly to the spot.
"Well, It was unjust for me, putting such a crippling handicap on you and expecting good results," Milli let out a weary sigh, her eyes fixed upon me as she approached. In her hand, she held a crystal, glistening with an otherworldly light.
"Consider this a gift, my Devil. The truth mirror that shows who you truly are. A sinner who ran away from her destiny, costing the lives of many innocents."
Milli forced the crystal inside my head, ignoring my screaming. Blood poured forth from the wound, but the pain was overshadowed by what followed.
The mist that had clouded my mind began to dissipate, and a torrent of memories rushed in like a raging river, bursting through its restraints. I saw my past, my mistakes, and the consequences of my choices. The truth unfolded before me, painting a damning portrait of my actions.
To my horror, countless skeletons rose from the ground, surrounding me. They were the echoes of those I had failed, their accusing voices ringing in my ears.
"Why did you do this, Cellia? We trusted you!"
"You promised to save us, but you turned us into monsters!"
"Sister, why did you abandon me?"
Their accusations pierced my heart, and I cried out in anguish, desperately pleading for mercy. "No! I'm not what you think! I tried my best! P-Please, forgive me!"
But the skeletons grew stronger, their grip unyielding. I could feel myself being dragged down into the abyss, consumed by the weight of my guilt.
Just as I was about to succumb to the depths of despair, Milli reached out, her hands grasping my face. Her touch was cold, a chilling reminder of the rift that had formed between us. Pity glimmered in her eyes, but it was laced with a bitterness that cut through the air.
"You've preached about saving everyone, yet you never realized that your very hands were stained with blood?" Milli's voice dripped with sarcasm, her grip on my face tightening with each word.
"Goddess of justice? Haha, what a hypocrite. You stole the throne of the Devil, denying its rightful heir, all to satisfy your insatiable thirst for power.
If not for you, this world could have known true happiness. But, no, you robbed them of their freedom to be happy, by choosing yourself as The Devil and hiding inside the Realm of God.
You're nothing but a liar and a coward who ran away from her destiny!"
"No, Milli, you're wrong. Everything I'd done was for you!" I shouted, my voice cracking with a mix of anguish and desperation, reaching out to her, hoping to bridge the chasm that had formed between us. But in an instant, the world around me shifted.
I found myself ripped away from Milli's domain, transported to the shore of a cavernous lake. Crystals covered the cave walls, brimming with light that gave it a surreal nuance. My body hurt all over, cold encroaching on me as water seeped through my uniform.
"O-oh yeah, I-I survived the fall..." I muttered. The thought of surviving didn't relieve the tightness in my heart. The guilt of the past stormed inside me, as I slowly recovered memories that I, myself, sealed in my head.
I looked at my hand, trembling in fear, and suddenly I saw it was tainted with blood. blood of those I had slain in the past. Blood of my beloved, who died because of my selfishness. The weight of guilt pressed down upon me, suffocating my soul.
I had willingly allowed the world to plunge into chaos, embracing the role of Devil, all to protect my daughter.
"I wasn't destined to be The Devil. It was actually... Milli. She should be The Devil, "I muttered as I regained my memories.
I remembered the moment when that subtle touch gripped my index finger. I recalled cradling her in my arms, her cries piercing the air, and the overwhelming urge to protect her at all costs. Milli, the First Malice known as The Devil, a life born of my greed and selfishness, a forbidden union between a human and a goddess.
To protect Milli from her destiny, I used Binge Eater to swap her Magicore (The Ideal White) with an artificial heart. The Binge Eater then transferred The Ideal White to my Magicore (Pale Moon). Because of that, I became a False Devil, deceiving the world with lies and deceit, while hiding the truth about the Ideal White.
But now, witnessing the pain etched upon her face, I questioned the choices I had made. Was my decision to protect her causing her more suffering? Yet, as a mother, could I stand idly by as the world wished for my child's demise?
I clenched my fist, determination surging through my veins. "No! Even if time regressed, I would always choose Milli over the world," I declared, pushing myself to sit upright, gathering my thoughts, and fortifying my resolve. It was not too late to save Milli from her torment.
"That's right, Lumina should be here with me,", I suddenly realized and then shouted, "Lumina! Lumina!!"
Debris from the floor above shattered everywhere. Among the wreckage, I spotted Lumina's rifle, but there was no sign of its owner. I tried to stand up but-- "Ugh!" I hissed at the pain in my leg. It was broken, but I couldn't let the pain stop me. I had to find Lumina!
"Lumina!! Answer me!" I called out, using my sword for support as I limped forward. Determined, I scoured the area, my eyes desperately scanning for any sign of Lumina's presence. And then, there it was – a familiar cowlick bobbing gently on the surface of the lake.
I recognized it, it was Lumina's!
Relief washed over me. I hobbled towards the nearest debris, where Lumina's motionless form floated. Carefully, I reached out, grabbed hold of her limp body, and dragged her towards the shore. Placing her on the cave floor, I shook her shoulder, "Lumina! Wake up!" I shouted
But as I shook her, hoping for a response, I found none. Panic surged through me as I checked for her pulse and breath, only to be met with the horrifying truth – there was nothing.
"No, no, no! Please, don't die on me, Lumina!"
Was I... failed to protect someone again?
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