How many years have passed since that day? The day I grabbed that hand that was bigger than mine, the hand that saved me.
The hand that gave me a reason to live, a place to stay, and a name.
Together, we travelled to many places, helped a lot of people and forged friendships with other travellers.
In one of those travels I met Arkethus the Enlightened, who looks over my kind.
It was he who explained to me what I still didn't know of my kind, about Golden Crests, and the power sleeping in me.
I was warned about the path I had chosen, and that our kind shouldn't interact with humans.
Even though he said that, he would not interfere. His role is to watch over and provide knowledge.
But my master was a kind, strong and optimistic person. The likes which I had never seen before.
And before I knew it, I had fallen in love with him.
I didn't say anything...I still had on me the chains of my kind's teachings.
...then we met her.
She was a mage from a noble family who joined our travels.
With little difference in age between them, they quickly became friends.
I experienced jealousy, because it felt like she was taking him away from me, like there was a wall keeping me out.
When they fell in love, it was over for me, I couldn't bring myself to voice my feelings.
And so, the three of us returned to to my master's hometown, the capital of a kingdom.
They married and started a family...and I swore to serve them, the Flammeberg family.
All I wanted, was to be by his side...and I was fine with being a servant.
~~~~
Years passed, I have served the Flammeberg family for three generations, and saw two masters die of old age.
My current master is at his forties.
As for me...I didn't change much on the outside, only slightly taller.
But on the inside, I had grown a great deal.
Learned etiquette, table manners, behaving lady-like, being elegant, dancing, academic acomplishments.
...and of course, extensive knowledge of magic. I had become a respectable lady.
I saw many things change over the years, like magic academies being open for all, and not just nobles.
As well as wars, disasters, sickness...and death.
Witnessing all that, I noticed the differences between our kinds.
Humans are frail and short-lived. Like a flame, burning passionately and eventually dies out.
In their short lifetime, they can accomplish a great deal of feats, create many wonders and leave a legacy for their offspring.
But I'm a flame, one that burns slowly, giving a soft and steady light.
And having seen much of human's world and how they live, I chose to tutor children of the Flammeberg family.
So one day they grow into righteous and noble...like that person.
As I took care of children, I became fond of Ewan, the young heir of the family.
Even though I shouldn't, I couldn't help it. As he grew older the more he looked like my first master.
Once he turned 16, he was just like his ancestor.
I started thinking things I shouldn't, and wishing for what I can't have.
...And yet, I yearn for it. A partner, a lover...a family of my own.
So, I ended making the same mistake as before: I fell in love with a human.
Then my world started falling apart...again.
~~~~
War broke with the neighbouring nation, who were supposed to be in good terms with us.
All attempts to understand the situation proved fruitless, emissaries sent were killed, only their heads returned.
If the war couldn't be avoided. Then all that was left was to stand and fight to protect ourselves.
Ewan, who had been recently become the new head of the Flammeberg family, and I were sent to fight.
But the sheer number of enemy forces made us continuously fall back.
Until we were forced to make a last stand at the final fortress before the capital.
Using the fortress and its surrounding walls as a chokepoint, we kept them at bay, but it was a matter of time before they overwhelmed us again.
Bursting through the gates, the soldiers rushed in like bees out of a hive.
Even if we took them out, more would come, walking over their ally's bodies.
Still inside the fortress, we continued to fight. There was still one last gate before the capital, we had to hold them off.
In the chaos of battle, I noticed an ally aiming at my master. With no time to warn him, I put myself in the way.
The arrow plunged into my right shoulder. Even so, I shot down the sniper before he could attack again.
Seeing me wounded, Ewan told me to pull back, but I kept on fighting.
He called me stubborn, but we were in a desperate situation. Our side was losing soldiers while the other kept sending them in.
With only one hand usable, I pulled out the arrow and kept fighting.
I already knew this was a hopeless battle, that we were going to die...so at last I wanted to die with him at my side.
Though I didn't voice it that way, Ewan understood the meaning and replied with "I wouldn't be able to live without you!".
Hearing those words, my heart skipped a beat...and that was a fatal opening.
Though he warned me of the incoming attacks, I was unable to move.
Maybe it was the wound, or poison from the arrow...or I was simply shaken by his words.
Whatever it was, it caused the last fragment of my world to shatter.
...My master shielded me, with his own body.
The back of my neck felt hot, and out of nowhere, power surged into me.
A barrier closed around us, deflecting all incoming attacks.
We exchanged final words that confirmed our feelings, my eyes welled up in tears.
And in my arms, he passed away.
...Why? Why did it have to be this way? Why are we at war? Why are we forced to fight for no reason?
I kept asking myself pointless question, trying to figure out why am I not allowed to be happy.
At some point, the sound of attacks hitting the barrier had stopped, but it didn't matter to me.
I was too busy trying to figure out an excuse...yes, an excuse to blame some one or something for my sorrow.
Because...at that time, I was already broken.
~~~~
Darkness, I was all alone in that pitch black void, only able to see myself.
*thump**thump*
(...no...)
*thump**thump*
(...no...)
*thump**thump*
(...this can't be happening...)
*thump**thump*
(...now that I finally had found it...)
*thump**thump*
(...it's taken away from me...)
Then, something spoke.
<Aaaah, humans are so fragile...>
The voice took a shape similar to Maren, but clad in black, even her hair and empty eyes were jet black.
(Who are you?)
<I'm you, and I'm not you.>
(...)
<So, why are you so bothered by his death?> She asked.
(I love him.)
<Just like you loved the other one? You saw how the first ended.>
(This time it would be different.)
<Would it? To me, the result was the same, he just died faster than the other one.>
(Don't talk about my masters that way!)
<Whatever.> She shrugged, <What's the point of loving a human anyway? He'll just die before you.>
(That's not--)
<Yes it is. You cling to that delusion of loving a human to prove that you can coexist. There's so many flaws in it that I won't even point them out.>
(I can work!)
<Really?> She said with a tone of sarcasm, <Then how about life span, how will that work? Do you expect a miracle to happen or something?>
(......)
<See? How many times did humans envy you for your ten times longer life span? How you remain young while they wither away?>
(......)
<How many times did you suppress the urge to extinguish them for belittling you?>
<Face it. Humans die all the time. But it doesn't matter to you.>
(You're wrong.)
<I'm not wrong. You're not one of them, you'll never be.>
(You're wrong!)
<Then what can you do to stop it? Even now, humans are fighting eachother in a silly war.>
(I...I am a Golden Crest, it is my duty to stop this war.)
<Is it? Didn't the one you love just die in your arms?>
(......)
<In the end, what is a Golden Crest?>
(Huh?)
<All you know is that those born with golden hair and eyes are worshiped by our people. But what can they do?>
(I...don't know.)
<That's right. Nothing. You know nothing even though you're one of them.>
(But...just now, I think I used it.)
<Oh? The barrier? Yeah, that was pretty cool. But that was mostly out of despair.>
(I haven't fully awoken yet.)
<Then when will you?>
(...I don't know...I'm afraid.)
<Afraid?>
(Such immense power....I'm afraid I'll lose control of it.)
<You need it, don't you? Or do you want to die here, and acomplish nothing?>
(...But...)
<Leave it to me, I'll look after you. So do it, grab it, claim what is yours.>
Maren reached out to the emptiness, grabbing a golden sphere of light.
The "other" Maren embraced her from behind and whispered.
<Can you feel it now? The immense, raw power? With this, you'll never lose.>
(Yes...) Bewitched by the light and sweet whispers, Maren's eyes become empty.
<Do you see the nuisances outside? and what's beyond them?>
(Yes...)
<They took what was precious to you, But don't worry, together, we'll make it all go away.>
(I won't forgive them...)
<Yes. Everything. Release it. Kill. All of them. Until nothing remains before your eyes!>
~~~~
A pillar of golden light bursts from inside the fort, blasting te roof and blowing away any troops near it.
The ground and stone was scorched, and anyone that got caught in the blast was vaporized.
When the pillar narrowed and died out, the troops from both sides rushed in to investigate, but little did they know they were heading towards their demise.
At the center of the crater stood a young girl, with her eyes closed, still emitting golden light from her body.
On her head, two long fox ears burning at the tip, and on her lower back a long tail, also burning at the tip.
"God. Demon. Hero. Monster. What will you call me?" She spoke as she opened her eyes, also glowing gold.
The pressure was so much the soldiers couldn't advance, each step she took, they stepped back..
...Until a knight rushed at her. Leapt into the air, aiming at her head, his sword raised high.
But a simple look paralyzed him in mid air, the sword inches away from reaching her head.
"Your body shall scatter like ashes." and as she spoke, the weapon and armor became red-hot and melted first, then the knight burned to ashes in an instant.
Overwhelmed by anxiety, the enemy soldiers all rushed at her.
"Foolish mortals." She raised her right arm horizontally, and in a single motion, a wave or golden fire engulfed them, becoming ashes.
The ally troops, thinking Maren was on their side rushed in to attack, but those at the front suffered the same fate as the others.
Confused, they spoke up, demanding an explanation.
So, she spoke:
"I am destruction. Chaos. I bring forth nothing. I bless nothing. I save nothing. I just erase. Completely."
She then looked over her shoulder, eyes wide open and bearing a wicked grin as she said, "Burn."
And by those words, they did.
Alone in the fortress and surrounded by her own fire, she chuckled.
"Silly girl, giving me control so easily." She looked at her hands, moving the fingers to confirm.
"Weeell then, might as well keep my end of the bargain...and kill everyone from here to the other end of the ocean."
-------------------------------------
When she woke up, she didn't recognize where she was. Everything around her was destroyed.
The smell of smoke and various burnt "things", as they were in a state it was no longer possible to discern their original form.
Maren was dizzy and exhausted, the last thing she could remember was Ewan dying in her arms...and then...
"!"It suddenly rushed through her mind, what had happened.
She brought a hand to her mouth as she recalled things she did.
Men, women and children. Soldiers, farmers and scholars. Husbands, wives, sons and daughters...she had indiscriminately killed them all during her blind rage.
All that was left were burning ruins and ashes and a trail of destruction going as far as she could see.
The sin is just too big to carry...
Maren saw in the rubble the broken, scorched and half-melted pieces of a weapon.
Sword, spear or axe, it was no longer possible to tell, but she couldn't care less, it would still serve its purpose.
She grabbed the broken blade like someone who found something precious and held it closely, the edges biting into her hands, strings blood flow down her arms.
There's no way to atone from this...except death.
Aiming at her neck, she closed her eyes and gritted her teeth.
(...If I'm the core of all this misfortune, it will end here!) She thought.
And so, she thrusted the blade towards her neck...but it never reached her.
(H-huh?) Opening her eyes, she saw a bloody hand grabbing the edge.
"What do you think you're doing?" The woman spoke in a serious tone.
"...S-Sister?" Maren's eyes widened. It was her sister, Scarlet, who stopped the blade.
Her crimson eyes glared at Maren, a look of anger and disapproval.
"...Sister." Maren paused, her eyes blank and emotionless, "Let me go, this is the only way I can pay for what I have done..."
"Pay?" Still bearing the same expression, Scarlet rose an eyebrow. "Do you think your life is worth the same as thousands of people's lives put together?"
"This is all I can do! If I do this, no one else has to suffer!"
"Idiot! Killing yourself won't atone your sin, or stop someone somewhere from suffering. All you're doing is running away!!"
"R-running?" Maren looked at her sister.
The grip on the blade weakened, and Scarlet took it off her hands, throwing it away.
"No matter how long someone lives, it's impossible to make up for it...But you can still lessen the burden."
"H-how." Slowly, life returned to Maren's eyes.
"By doing what's right: protecting people and saving those in need. And stopping those who want to destroy people's happiness."
"...But, someone will still get hurt or die."
"That can't be helped! People get hurt and die all the time, even if you're not involved."
Maren remained silent, her head hanging low.
"I'm only giving one option, there are more...but that's up to you to find out."
"..."
Seeing her sister had calmed down, Scarlet scratched her head in frustration "Aah, I'm so not used to this responsible big sister thing..."
After gathering her thoughts, she pulled out of a pouch some bandanges and treated the cuts on their hands.
"But you know...your life or mine, they aren't ours alone to do as we please."
"What do you mean?"
"Our lives belong to us
and to those close to us, like friends and family. You don't have the right to take it away, no one does."
"...Not mine?" Maren gave those words some thought as she looked at her bandaged hands.
"That's right, your life belongs to me and you, and my life belongs to you and me...and a few dozen people." She looked away on the last part.
Maren frowned, "You're still at it..."
"A-ahaha-ha..." She laughed weakly, "I can't help it..."
"That's good to hear."
"Huh?" Surprised, Scarlet looked at her little sister.
"That you didn't change a bit." Maren smiled.
Blushing, Scarlet got up, "A-Anyway...We should get going, it won't be long until someone comes here to investigate what happened."
"O-okay..." Maren stood as well.
~~~~
Already out of the ravaged area, the two had walked for a quite while. But Maren didn't speak, she followed her sister while sorting her toughts.
Reaching a fork in the road, Scarlet stopped and read the signs. The right road led to a small town, the left to a thick forest.
Turning around, Scarlet speaks, "So, any ideas of what to do? You can stick with me if you want to."
But Maren politely shook her head, "No, I don't want to bother you."
"Don't be so stiff, we're sisters. If you need help--"
"I have to do this alone..." Maren looked at the left road.
Scarlet looked at her sister's expression and sighed, "I see...It can't be helped then."
"Sorry." Maren forced a smile.
"It's okay, we may be sisters, but we're very different. And you have quite a burden on you."
"Yes..."
"But." The older sister paused, "Don't push yourself too much. So...If you ever need help--"
"I know..." She nodded.
"Well then, 'till we meet again." Scarlet turned to the right road. "See ya."
"Farewell."
...and with that, the two went their separate ways.