Doomed to Die in 3 Minutes

Descending Destinies

After we finished the ice cream we walked away slowly from the crowd. From the bustling streets and the stone buildings and pass the gates to the road outside and kept walking until we could barely see the light-filled city and sat on top of a small hill. We looked at the city filled with magic and torchlight, fireworks, and festivities. Above us are shining stars that glimmer like diamonds in the sky. I look towards them and smile. She’s resting against me again and well, I can’t do anything about that. I think at a time like this just talking is best.

“Where I come from the stars were always really hard to see. When I could though it never felt that special. They were never so bright. Never so wonderful. Just little lights. This is nice though. I can see them clearly… ah.” My breath is taken away by a small miracle. Blue streaks of light soar and descend through the night sky. I swear I can hear a little cheer in the distance as we all witness a shower of shooting stars break through the skies.

A romantic sigh from both of us and a quick surge of embarrassment. I guess things have gotten awkward for even her for some reason… but it’s fine. We don’t say anything. We just watch the performance of nature itself. A small space opera for those who are watching. 

...It’s a bit too quiet though. I think this might go bad but whatever. I twist my index finger to draw a small circle in the air and channel my mana and cast a very simple spell. Soft classical music begins to play in our ears and she snickers a bit but from the corner of my eye, I see her smile. That’s good. So we end up just sitting there in the night. It’s not too cold because it’s about summer for this world. Thankfully. I guess I got caught up in her mood despite everything.

After what feels like an eternity, the meteor shower ends and we just bask in each other’s warmth for a bit but eventually, we groggily get up and walk back to the city which seemed to have mostly quieted down by now bar a few people who are far too fond of their drink. Everything was bustling not too long ago but now it’s almost empty of sound. We get to the orphanage. I open the doors and gesture her to go first, and we enter.

We walk up the stairs until we get to the top floor before the observatory… which Alisa walks up to without hesitation. I stammer a bit as I follow after her. Her face becomes somewhat discomforted to see Olivia passed out in the bed. “You know this room used to be mine. I guess this is my bed, but it looks like it’s in use.” She looks at Olivia and then at me, a bit of displeasure painted for all to see. “Well, it’s not been mine in quite a while, and I guess I do owe her, but you also put her in there without my permission so…” A grin of mischief and something in my heart tells me I’m not going to enjoy this.

She strikes me in the gut with a punch from her left fist with such speed that I can barely comprehend what just happened. A surge of mana gets sent through the veins of my body and meld with my own and I feel my consciousness fading. Oh no. This is bad. I can endure a beating like no one else but if you’re trying to knock me out, this is a way to do it. It’s like my body trying to fight against infection. An uphill battle of resistance where I go all out but will lose the battle to win the war. 

My vision becomes blurry but I can still make out her figure, her absolutely amused laughter, she removes the blanket on the bed with a tug and she steps towards me. She wraps her right arm around my back and her left below my butt. She lifts me up with no effort at all as she drops me in the bed next to Olivia. She grabs the blanket again and throws it into the air where it stays motionless for a moment as she also hops in and lays by my side. An elven girl to my left and a heroine to my right as a shadow falls upon us all. 

I panic internally but it’s being drowned out as what little power I have left is failing me. I drift to the world of dreams yet again for the 2nd time this day despite not being tired at all. I’m terrified of what’s going to happen when I wake up. Please, if there are any gods who favour me at all, let me get up before them both! Especially Olivia! 

....

A voice. 

“Fellow man from Earth, will you aid me in my quest to conquer the heavens?”

A young man speaking to me in my dreams?

I can feel an overwhelming aura from the figure I cannot see.

A burning and all-encompassing ambition that threatens the swallow the world. 

“Who are you?” That’s all I can think to ask.

“Who am I? I am the Demon King!”