Chapter 12: Consequences

『Then Let me show you the fragmented memories of your own child!』

As Roshan said those words, he grasped his head with one hand as he raised it.
He was pulled into a world of visions from his daughters recollection.

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There was once a young princess who lived in a castle.

She was called the Failure of the king.

She grew no wings nor anything related to her father the king.
No magic, no powers that could be deemed of worth.
Misery filled her heart, her mother wept while her sister endured.

She felt the world closing to her as each servants chose to distance themselves from her.
Then those who she called friends began to move away from her.

She began to become lonely.

At the age of 10.
She felt true terror and despair as an argument erupted between her and the children.
One of the children threw magic at her a large ball of fire.

[Why... why are they so unreasonable!]

[Even though I tried my best to cause no trouble,

Can't they just leave me alone!]

 [Is there no other way to escape this place?]

[The land of demons only accepted those who carried power, why am I even still even here?]

[If this is my punishment for having my father's blood and being his failure.]

[Then...]

Her eyes gleamed at its color as she closed her own eyes,

Ready to accept it.

If she were to be severely injured, they might reconsider exiling her from the kingdom.
Or away from the castle where no one will ever recognize her.

However things did not end the way she wanted it.

When she opened her eyes,
Another came forth to protect her, it was one of the youth who came to protect her as he screamed in agony while he fell to the ground.

But in that catastrophe she was swiftly guarded by the adults of that place.
Dragged away unable to ask for forgiveness to the young boy.
She mourned and worried for him then hated herself even more.

[I'm just a problem, a pest.]

[Why am I even alive?]

Isolation and regret filled her heart.

In that castle she slept alone and wept.
Her mother rarely visiting her.
Her sister came once in a while to check on her.

These were the only two people that kept her heart from fully crumbling.
Yet it wasn't enough to fully content her.
She desired something worth fighting for...
A wish to be accepted by those around her...
She caught the attention of the Queen of Frost.
She requested to be taught by her.

"Please, teach me how to become a princess like her."
[Please, teach me how to be loved like her.]

For year's she struggled.
Her true aim was to be accepted.
No matter how hard she worked,
No matter how many steps and talent she had shown.
None of them would look at her.
Disgusting, Useless, No worth, Just a human.

In the end she thought.

"What am I doing?"

Why am I dancing like this?

She began to question herself as she danced to the tune like a marionette.

Like the puppets she controlled in the small room she lived in...

She begun to feel sick of it all.

That she tore her doll's apart in her frustration.
Reaching to the point that harmed herself in her grief.
Yet once again loneliness filled her heart.
It ached yet no one could heal it.

Her mother and sister could only sooth it.
But the problem was never resolved.
No one was there to give her the answer.
Only empty doll's were around her.
No soul, No life.

A time then came she finally decided.

『I want to meet father.』

Were her wish to her mother and sister.
When it was soon granted.
What was met was a conflict like no other she has imagined.
A mad sorcerer has appeared.
Leading to terrible finale of her sister's life.

『Why are you the one on the ground? 』she asked in her heart.

Her heart was filled with jealousy and anger.

『 This isn't fair! 』

A strong desire...

『Why are you the one lying on the ground! 』

A strong wish...

『Aren't you the one loved by the people in this stupid place?』

A soul starving for a miracle...

『Stop sleeping and wake up!』

An awakened power arose from her blood.

『I refuse!』she cried out.

『If you dissapear here, all of them will just blame me for everything!』

A wish for a hope? or a fear for the future?
Either way she desired to save her.

Because there she was the person she hated and loved the most.

『If only you weren't so kind to me!』were her final words.

It was at this point that...
Brilliant silver came from her eyes, hair and wings made from light was first formed.

As teardrops fell unto her sister restoring her wounded chest.
But there was one fact about this part of the story.
[She could not hear Aisha her familiar crying out to her.]
[Her hatred towards her own blood severed any form of communication to them.]
[A mind that had deteriorated from long years of isolation.]

[A Princess Imprisoned by her own country.]

As the sorcerer saw this.

He then threw another of the same dark lance which her power easily shattered.
Then realizing her ability, he threw a different spell perfectly suited against her.

Aiming at her sister who lies on the ground, sleeping.

Of course the young lass accepted it for her.

She moved to guard her from his attack and she was the one caught in his spell instead.

Her father then was finally able to free himself and pinned the sorcerer to the wall.

The sorcerer threatened him, as he hesitated.

Her daughter then said to him these words.

『 It's fine... 』

『Do it... 』

[After all, This is all I am worth.]

She gently gazed at her father and accepted her fate.
The sound of flesh being cut and her being sent away.

But what greeted her was not death.
She opened her eyes in a greenery before her.

『Why am I alive?』

『I'm tired of living already!』

In the depth of that forest she wept unmoving consumed by her sorrow.

She continued to weep for hour's as her strength was sapped away.

But then she heard a voice as a strange black and eerie figure stood.

『Why do you weep?』

She slowly turned her eyes and saw a dark figure,
It was dark and eerie yet it did not daunt her.

『Are you going to claim my life?』

『Why do you speak like that?』it asked

『 Does it matter? just take it, if you want it.』

『 You shouldn't give it up so soon...』it said.

『 I am sure, they are rejoicing now that I am gone...』

The figure's head shook as she said those words.

『That's not true...』

『I'm sure they are worried for you.』

An eerie voice that seemed to support her.
She was silent and recalled her sister and mother.

『 It is dangerous here.』it said to her.

She then replied.

『 It is fine...』

『 Let me just disappear like this...』

she closed her eyes as tears fell from her eyes.

The figure before her then slowly began to move towards her.

Then asked.

『 What pushed you to feel this way?
Has life not given you the blessings of this world?』

She bit her lips as she wept and said to the figure.

『What blessing?
I'm lonely, I feel empty.
 Please, Don't Leave Me Here...』

The hand of the figure reaches out to her, as her hand reaches out to it.

『After that silence filled that forest.』

His vision then returned to the present.

As Roshan threw him to the ground.

The demon-king then gazed upward as Roshan who stood gazing at him with fury.

『Fragmented memories unaware of who she was...

The young girl no longer remember who she was...
Believing she came from another world.
Believing she is hated yet also loved.

Altered memories sugar-coated beyond belief.

Pieces of it were true, yet this was truly what happened.

She had already relinquished her life once.
Ready to simply perish in that forest. 』

Estel's father then asked.

『 How can you be so sure of this!?』

He turns away then gazed at his surroundings.

『 This place was made to give my kindred, the wisdom of my ancestors.
Their turmoil, problems and frustration are laid-bare here in this place.

Originally I did not intend to bring anyone except my own race here.
This place is sacred and only known to our kind.
BUT YOU ARE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION!』 He roared to him.

『That child, I have never seen someone so broken!
Where her very existences was pieced together by an unknown existence.』

He deeply sighed after he said those words.

『Her will to live was already at its wits end. 』
『Where a child like her had already lost the will to even survive.』

『The last hope of the light dragons were destined to disappear from this world.
Yet that mysterious dark figure seemed to have erased her sorrows and restored her will.
I do not know what it is, but one thing was for sure...
Estel, is no longer who you believe she once were.
Another being lives within her.
Is it evil or is it good?
I do not know.
One thing is for sure, that child still remains the hope of my kind.
And you as her father, must never let this chance go to waste a second time!』

The demon-king then asked. 『What do you ask of me?』

He turns to him with pitiful eyes.

『 It is not what you ask of me.』
『But what she ask of you.』

『She has already ceased living as the princess of this kingdom.』

As he said those words, there was bitterness and sadness in his eyes.

『If I was still alive,

I would have executed the fools who failed to discover the linage flowing in her blood.

You are also partly to blame for this!
To simply believe that the child you created from your own blood is simply IDIOTIC.
There has never been a demon born from our own blood that carried NO POWER!』

Roshan expressed his frustration towards him, he was displeased that the next moonlight.
Was such a broken child pieced together by an unknown being.

Upon her father's realization of this fact his words made him pale with guilt.

『I cannot comprehend, what that THING inside her is...』

『But one thing is for sure...』

『It appears to be dormant and you must never push her into such a state again!』

『Memories of her past are being drawn out as she continues to remains here.
Fortunately, she doesn't bother with it and only think it's natural for now.』

『But pieces of it are starting to form as she remains in this place.
Even her familiar's isn't even aware of it and believes her current memories are real.』

The demon-king then asked.『How is that possible?』

Roshan went silent for a few moments as he asked that question.

『This is what frustrates me!』he shouted.

『Concealed memories of misery along with despair.
Coupled with the malice of her our kind's ancestors.』

『If this is all unleashed.』

『 All at once.』
『She will undoubtedly destroy herself!』

『This is something you mustn't allow to happen at all costs!』

『You must take her away from this place!』

『This is now her second life!
Have mercy on your own daughter soul!
 These words are my wisdom to you!』

As he said those last words, his figure disappeared as the breeze of wind returned, He scanned his surroundings then saw his daughter standing idly as she touched the stone.

In a few seconds she blinked and her consciousness returns.

Just gazing at that was enough for him to call out to her name.

『Estel?』

As I gazed at her innocent face,
My face contorted as I recalled his words.

But this young girl simply tilted

『Am I still dreaming?』she then pinched her own cheeks to reassure herself.

The accessories on her shoulders then spoke.

『Apparently, you are now awake.』a silver armlet spoke.
『You were idle for quite a long time.』a dark armlet added.

I can only guess they were her familiars, usually they take shape in the form of objects or animal.

But after hearing such words directly from my ancestor I could not help but show my guilt.
That I swiftly embraced her in my arms, and said to her.

『Forgive me for being such a horrible father to you!』

『Father? what's wrong?
Why are you suddenly saying those words?』

Her soft voice and her cheerful expression.
Concealed a darker truth within her memories...
If such things were to awoken inside of her.

Then she will truly disappear.
[She mustn't be allowed to remain here.]

This was the deep truth behind his words.

『You have nothing to worry left.』

『I'll help you return to your home.』

『Your grandfather will surely help and keep you safe.』

Were my words to her, but a shocked and baffled expression were revealed to her face.

『HAAaaa!?』

I could not help but smile at her reaction.
But still, what I have done to her is unforgivable.

Let me at least redeem myself with this one final act.

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// The Great Secret of the Castle of the Demon-Kingdom. //

I carried Estel on my arms as she then closed her eyes and ears.

After telling me about her fear of heights,
She seemed so meek compared to how she was when she presented herself to the council.
I couldn't help but give a wry smile at that trembling face and thought she was quite cute.

A flow of air flowed upward and a large hole is visible above us.

This appeared to be the only exit of this place.
As I spread my wings and leapt with her in my arms, she closed her face and held a deep breath.

We were then sent flying upward guided by this stream of wind.

There was light above the ceiling as we soon reached the exit of this passage.

A bright light and the sun clear as day.
I now know we are outside and were now floating in the yard of my own castle.
I gaze below and saw the passage closing like two door's on it sides closed and the crack dissapearing.

[So this is how this castle survived for so many generation without being destroyed.]

Records of the dungeon core of the castle were non-existent.
Anything about it did not exist.
Those who tried to search for it could not find the passage or its resting place.
But the dungeon itself was harmless and peaceful.

As though our very existence is what keeps it alive.

But to think that the first generation of the demon-king guided the moon-lights to give his wisdom to them. I just experienced a hidden truth of their clan which shouldn't be revealed to the open public.

What an incredible time this was...

Meanwhile I watched my daughter embrace me with trembling arms, her eyes remains closed even at this moment.

『Are we on the ground yet?』she asked.

I giggled a bit, as I flapped my wings and slowly descended.

『Not yet.』

She nods in response as I finally landed on the side of the castle where her room was closest.
But let me at least be selfish this once.
As I intended to walk her to her room without Estel noticing.

With a little concentration my own shadows moved as my hands opening the door for me as we entered the castle.

『Uhm, are we outside yet?』

Her eyes remains closed and trembling.
Was she this afraid of heights? I pondered about this.

『Not yet, be patient.』I said to her.

Once again she nodded.
And thought, how obedient she was right now.

From servants, to guards everyone gazed at me as I carried her in my arms.
I wonder what her sister would say if she found her like this.

Enjoying this moment we reached her room.
Where her grandfather was waiting.

Apparently he was finally finished with the council after receiving a scolding from them.
He was surprised to see Estel in my arms.

The moment she heard his voice she peeked a bit.
As she then scolded me in her embarrassment when it was explained I carried her to her room.

None the less it was a day, that I will always remember.

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Author note:
Escape, there's no such thing in the demon-kingdom.
If it was that easy, their secrets would have been leaked to the world by now...