บท 13: Chapter Thirteen: Billy Part 2
"No," Billy said as he crossed his arms and arched his back to look taller.
"What do you mean no!? Said Betty, Moving her arms around. "We travel all this way; we quite literally brought you back from the dead. — WE NEED THIS"
"Betty is okay. Fall back. I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for this," I said, putting my hand on her shoulder.
Finn was the last one to approach him. "We need this, Billy, we need you," he pointed far away toward my kingdom, some candy trees visible from the mountain. "They need you."
"I want to help, but if I tell you where the enchiridion is, you might get more than you bargained for." He patted Finn's head. "I'm sorry, it's just safer this way For all of us."
"Perhaps you don't understand the depth of the situation," said Betty. "Please, let me show you."
"How?" Billy said, "Whatever you are about to show me won't change how I feel."
She approached Billy, who had come down to eye level with her, and carefully placed her forehead next to his. Light and darkness emanated from her. For us, it was a second; for them, it could have been days, maybe even weeks. He backed away quickly, almost falling back.
"You idiot," Billy said, looking at me. "You made a deal with him? Don't you know he is a literal devil?"
"What was at stake was much higher at the moment." I was beginning to get mad, and trying to keep my composure was much harder than I anticipated.
"If you had given them what they wanted, you wouldn't be in this situation," he said, looking down at me, his shadow overcasting me. What you did was reckless and stupid, but a true hero protects all." His finger tapped my head in consolation.
"I Can't tell you about the book because it doesn't exist in this realm anymore," he said. "If you find the sleeping man, you can wish for its return."
"Prismo?" asked Finn.
"YES! Do you know him?"
"Yes… He died," he looked at me apologetically. "The lynch killed him too."
"Not quite, little one," said Billy, pointing at his head. "He still exists; he lives in the mind of the ice king. He is weak, but you can probably reach him."
"The ice king?" Betty looked astonished. "Simon," she whispered primarily to herself.
"So we are clear, all we have to do is infiltrate the mind of the Ice King and ask for a wish?" I asked
"Precisely," Billy followed. "Just be careful; once you are in, you have until he wakes; once he is up, you will be trapped in his mind forever."
If this was all true, there was hope after all; perhaps we could solve this a lot easier than I expected; sneaking into the ice palace wasn't an issue, and there wasn't much security past Gunther, but even then, Gunther was dangerous enough as he is, he was recently discovered to be a mighty God possessing the body of a small penguin, and for some odd reason Gunther is strongly affiliated with the Ice King. That could be dangerous.
"Now that you have your answer, can you help me return?"
He wanted us to end his life. This wasn't how I envisioned things unfolding after his return, but then again, it was item number 32 on my list of potential outcomes if he were to come back to us. It was clear he didn't wish to prolong his stay any longer than necessary. For him, every movement became a trial of endurance, every gesture a struggle against the relentless agony coursing through his towering form.
Yet, like an ancient titan, he bore his affliction with a stoic grace, refusing to let his suffering dictate his existence. With each passing moment, he summoned the strength to endure, pushing himself beyond the limits of his colossal frame to find solace in the resilience of his spirit. His pain ran deep, not just physical, but something more profound.
We couldn't fully comprehend the depths of his suffering, but we could sense its intensity. It wasn't merely the physical torment; there was an emotional weight that accompanied it, a burden we could only begin to fathom.
"I Can't do this, not to him and not again," Finn said, handing me his sword. "Make sure he doesn't suffer," he said bitterly.
As he turned away, his footsteps echoed with the weight of conflicting emotions that churned within him. With each stride, a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings battered against the walls of his resolve, threatening to overwhelm him.
Beneath the surface, a torrent of uncertainty raged, questioning his decisions, his motivations, and his very existence. Doubt gnawed at his mind, casting shadows of insecurity upon his path. I couldn't blame him for his decision. Out of all of us, he had the most losses.
"You are surely not doing this," Betty said, whispering in my ear.
"I… I… Think I am — It's what he wants."
"But, Your Majesty, this is not what you want. He can still live a long life, die later on, and reunite with her."
"He is in pain too; his body is not fully prepared for that life."
Betty's eyes darkened. "I Can't be here for this."
And so she left, no other words exchanged. She grabbed her mount and flew away. She will return later when she has cooled down and come to terms with what we are doing.
"Okay, then, Billy, get comfortable," I murmured, my voice trembling. I struggled to find the right words; this was undoubtedly the most heart-wrenching conclusion imaginable. Constantly, I had to remind myself of the truth: he didn't choose this fate; I brought him back, and Destiny had bestowed upon him the burden of the Enchiridion. He was meant to be a hero, and the lynch robbed him of that destiny. But now, I could grant him his final wish.
Billy adjusted himself, kneeling down close to me, his resignation palpable. He made it easy for me to aim at his heart, his silent acquiescence piercing through the silence. This wasn't the farewell I envisioned, but he was resolute. At least there was a glimmer of hope for my kingdom, for me, for Betty, and Finn.
I gazed down at the sword in my trembling hands, my reflection wavering in its cold, merciless steel. It felt heavier than ever, weighed down not just by its physical mass but by the burden of guilt that consumed me.
With a heavy heart, I lifted the sword, its weight a tangible reminder of the gravity of my actions. As it pierced through his chest, I willed it to be swift, desperate to spare him any unnecessary suffering. Yet, even as I sought to end his pain, I felt a pang of anguish tear through my own soul.
Blood flowed freely from the wound, staining his once-vibrant chest a sickly shade of gray. Each drop seemed to echo in the silence, a macabre symphony of his final moments. The puddle forming at my feet felt like a grotesque lake of crimson, a stark reminder of the blood that stained my hands.
Tears streamed down my chin unchecked as I pushed the sword deeper, twisted, and then pulled away. The act felt both cruel and merciful, a paradoxical mix of agony and relief. But before I could fully comprehend the weight of my actions, a warm hand touched my shoulder, startling me from my reverie.
I turned, surprised by the unexpected gesture, expecting to find myself alone in my anguish. But instead, I faced Hunson Abadeer, his presence a jarring contrast to the desolation surrounding us. His grip tightened on my shoulder, urging me to meet his gaze, and for the first time, I glimpsed a flicker of empathy in his eyes amidst the darkness.
As he enveloped me in his embrace, I found myself torn between conflicting emotions. Part of me wanted to resist, to push him away in defiance of all that had transpired. But another part, weary and broken, yearned for the solace of his warmth, and so I yielded, allowing him to draw me closer as tears streamed down my cheeks, staining his shirt with the weight of my grief.
In the midst of our embrace, his voice, soft and soothing, whispered words of comfort into my ear. "The first one is always the hardest," he murmured, his words a balm to my shattered spirit.
"You forced me into this," I protested weakly as I pulled away, a tremor of resentment coursing through me.
"I simply fulfilled your request," he countered gently, his touch tender as he brushed away a stray tear from my cheek. "I didn't force your hand."
"You might as well have," I retorted, my voice tinged with bitterness.
Drawing closer once more, he cupped my cheek in his hand, his touch a fleeting reassurance amidst the turmoil of my emotions. "There is so much more out there that you don't know about," he said softly, his gaze holding a depth of wisdom I could scarcely comprehend. "I did my part; I protected the kingdom."
And then, without warning, a portal yawned open beneath his feet, swallowing him whole. I watched silently as he vanished from sight, disappearing back to his realm with an air of enigmatic finality.
Kneeling alone amidst the lingering echoes of our encounter, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden in the shadows of this world. But for now, all I could do was mourn the passing of the first, knowing that his sacrifice had irrevocably altered the course of my destiny.
— ตอนใหม่กำลังมาในเร็วๆ นี้ — เขียนรีวิว
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง