Light begins to glimmer along the horizon.

The sky starts to transform, melting away the darkness that plagued the night.

The storm has moved on from the castle, leaving behind a trail of soft clouds.

The rain has subsided, with only a few raindrops falling here and there, onto the beautiful flowers.

Small little critters finally come out of their dens and homes. Just in the nick of time to witness the sunrise, breaking through the clouds.

The night has come to an end, bringing forth a beautiful dawn.

The sun's rays shine upon the withered castle, glistening its magnificent light through the cracks of the walls. What was once a grand and towering castle just a day ago, has now been reduced to a fraction of what it once was.

A small breeze passes through the silent hallways, flying above the wreckage and the lifeless bodies. It's free to wander as much as it likes, without anyone blocking its way or any noise to disturb it.

It is peaceful.

Upon the countless knights, the breeze passes, it finally floats above Alice, who has now become one of them.

. . . . . . . . . . .

She slumbers with a smile on her face, choosing that expression as a farewell gift upon the world to remember her by.

The last remaining warmth inside her body is slowly fading away. Her body fully relaxes as her heart completely comes to a halt. There is no ounce of pain or anguish displayed on her face compared to the other knights accompanying her. Greeting death with a smile.

. . . . . . . . . . . .

A sensation of warmth starts to wrap around her, snuggling Alice as a shadow casts shade upon her. The gentle flow of the wind brushes against her rugged hair, swaying like the tides on the oceans. With her pale ghost-like skin starting to regain back its color.

. . . . *Heartbeat*. . .

From out of her lifeless body, her eyes begin to open. Her heart gradually restarts itself, beating once more and rushing blood throughout her body, renewing the rest of her organs.

The resurgence of her senses slowly kicks in, the wind crashes into her ears like tidal waves. It coils around her, giving her instant shivers. She uncovers the world through the lens of a newborn. Unable to depict what's in front of her as her eyes adjust from the blur.

But once she does, she stays fixated upon the very first person her eyes land upon.

". . . Ah, thank goodness it worked. . . Take it easy now, please don't push yourself."

Remarks Anna as she gently strokes her sister's hair. Her proud smile and peaceful nature speak a thousand words alone. With the softness of her thighs providing a soft cushion for Alice's head.

Holding the potion she's been saving next to Alice's lips, hand feeding the rest of the elixir down her throat.

The potion instantly kicks in, prioritizing Alice's most fatal injuries, such as her internal bleeding, her broken bones, and her several cuts.

This potion was meant to save Annabelle, but instead, she chose to give it to her sister.

Alice's eyes broaden, with profound sorrow rupturing her heart. Shards of glass stab her soul. The physical pain she's enduring doesn't even compare to the suffering inside her heart right now.

A mixture of emotions swells up on Annabelle's face, experiencing the greatest form of pleasure in her life. She ingrains this image into her mind, cradling Alice as tightly as her body can muster. Before she drops to the floor!

"Annabelle!!"

Alice bursts from the floor and immediately rushes to Anna's aid! She cautiously lifts her head and places it onto her hand. The bruises running along her sister's neck rip Alice's heart to shreds. Her head doesn't even have enough strength to gaze at Alice directly.

Alice quickly notices the wound along her sides, bleeding immensely.

"W-we h-have to t-take you to a doctor q-quickly!" Yells Alice as she tries to lift Annabelle off the ground! Searching inside to mind for the nearest doctor!

Annabelle however, retaliates, showing signs of extreme distress.

"Ow ow! You're hurting me, Alice!"

Alice instantly stops. . with her shoulders slumped, spilling tears onto the floor. As the situation becomes more hopeless. .

" . . . Please Annabelle. . . You gotta get up, we gotta fulfill our promise together, remember? . . We are so nearly there, just a bit longer. ."

She tries her hardest to keep herself together, but fails miserably. Her trembling hands pull Anna closer to her heart. Her emotions get the better of her as she finally breaks down in front of Annabelle. Unable to hide it with a smile.

" . . Alice. . . I can no longer move my body. Even if I wanted to, I'm afraid I can't get up. My time is nearly up. . . Please, for the remainder of my time, just sit down with me."

She gives a light smile to Alice, reassuring her that everything is going to be alright.

Alice lowers her head, and grants Annabelle's final wish.

"I'm sorry. . . . . . . I. . I failed you. . ."

Silent tears roll down her cheek. Quietly sobbing as her hair covers her face.

Annabelle gently brushes it off, firmly holding her smile. Using the last remaining strength she has left to raise her hand and wipes off the tears from her sister's face.

"No Alice. . That's not true. You kept your promise with me. ."

Annabelle beams, with tears escaping her eyes.

Alice shakes her head, breaking down into a furious cry.

"No I didn't sister! I promised you that we would be free together didn't I!? I wanted to take you outside these castle gates! To be free together and venture back to our homelands! To introduce you to all the wonderful places and people I've met! I wanted us to start a new life together outside this miserable castle! I don't want your last memories to be inside these walls! I don't want you to die without experiencing your freedom first. ."

Alice lays it all out to her sister, no longer able to contain the sadness inside her heart! Annabelle's arm gives out, but Alice catches it with her other hand and places it onto her cheek, embracing her warmth.

". . My dear Alice, I am free. And it's all thanks to you. . ."

Annabelle's face is painted with gratitude. With tears of joy flowing from out of her eyes.

"I am free from my cage. . . You set me free from my suffering."

Her gentle voice tugs at Alice's heartstrings. The soft wind passes and caresses the two.

"For all these years, I felt like a prisoner of my own sorrows. Never being able to sleep at ease because I knew you were out there, planning to come back into this hell hole, a place that has solely brought you great misery and trauma, just for me, a hindrance. I already made peace with my life. If my life was destined to be filled with pain and suffering, so be it. I would gladly do it again if it meant you didn't have to go through the same pain as me."

Annabelle bursts into a weep, unable to handle the sadness within her.

"The last thing I would've wanted for you to do is to share my pain. I don't think my heart can bear it. Thank you, Alice, thank you for putting my worries at ease. I'll be able to go to the afterlife and regroup with our family peacefully. ."

Annabelle's eyes start to feel heavy. They slowly start to close by themselves as the warmth inside her gradually dissipates. .

Alice's tears fall onto her sister's pale face. Sobbing uncontrollably as the pain inside her only worsens.

"It's not fair! . . I don't want to be the only one who gets to experience life. . Why only me..."

From amidst their intimate moment, Axel approaches the sisters. Choosing to stop by a shadow and observe from afar. His heart can't help but ache as his hands slowly curl into fists. Even after helping them, nothing has changed. History has once again repeated itself, even when he became much stronger than his old self, nothing has changed. .

Annabelle gives Alice a bittersweet smile.

"Then please, live your life to the fullest... For the two of us. That way, my death will have a meaning, knowing that you will have a life that you deserve. . No longer tainted by Yokubo and his men. It is not your time to die yet, so please, promise me that you will continue to live Alice. Please. ."

In her dying gasp, she pleads to her sister. .

With the last bit of her heart being destroyed, Alice nods. Crying her eyes out.

". . I promise you, sister. . . I promise to continue to live for the two of us. ."

Alice breaks! Letting the river dam of tears erupt out of her eyes!

"I love you, sis! Thank you for everything you've done for me! You're the best sister I could ever ask for...! Thank you. . . . . . . Thank... you. . . . . ."

Annabelle smiles lightly, shedding her last tear. . .

"I love you too Alice. . . . ."

Once her eyes fully shut, Annabelle's heart comes to a stop. And the last ember of warmth vanishes from her body.

Alice embraces her into a full-blown hug! Hugging her tighter than she ever has before! Her heart shatters into a million pieces as she cries without restraint!

"Please don't leave me, sister! Not yet!! . ."

The tighter she hugs, the further away she feels! No matter how much she cries, the void inside her heart only grows! With a piece of her heart permanently torn away!

"Annabelle!!"

Alice's scream echoes throughout the hallways! The roaring pain consumes her every being! It breaks her, losing the last person she swore to protect. .

She's alone now, having nothing left in this cruel world. . .

Axel begins making his move. Quietly walking towards the two sisters. His angelic strides completely contrast his usual nature.

From amidst her crisis, Alice lifts her head. Witnessing Axel stand before her, noticing a side of him that she never thought Axel was capable of.

With absolute purity and sincerity, Axel extends one arm above Annabelle. He closes his eyes and opens his fist. He goes into a trance, the wind around him suddenly whips the other way, orbiting him and the two sisters.

"Harbinger of Death. ."

His mouth suddenly starts to speak on its own. Alice's eyes widen, almost as if witnessing a miracle right before her.

Annabelle's hair starts to float up, and soon after light begins to reflect off of Alice's eyes. Her sister glows brighter than the stars in the night sky. A sense of ease wavers around her heart, covering the tear inside her soul like a bandage. The weight on her arms seamlessly disappears as if she was carrying air itself.

"W-what a-are you doing?!" Asks Alice, but her words run straight past him.

The grand spectacle envelopes the hall! Light begins to consume Annabelle, transforming her every being, even to the last atom, into a mystic sparkle.

Alice is left speechless, struggling to keep her eyes open as the miracle itself is too beautiful for the eyes of a moral to lay upon.

But just like with everything things that exist, it all comes to a stop.

Alice opens her eyes, and once again glances over to her sister.

All she is met with are her own two hands, and the thighs her sister once laid upon. With the only remains of Annabelle's existence are the small bubbles of light, drifting until they disappear. .

Leaving Alice, with nothing to hold on to. . .

Axel begins to walk away, with his head lowered and stopping right as he passes her.

"Both her mind and body are in heaven now, along with the rest of her family. Where they can spend the rest of their days in total peace. Free from their suffering and torment, just as promised. ."

And with those words, Axel makes his leave.

Once they reach Alice's ears, the swelling of emotions penetrating her heart contrast with her lifeless body. She has stopped sobbing, but her tears continue to fall, filled with both joy and sadness. Her shoulders slump down, staring into her empty hands. .

Although his words bring her warmth, the sole reality that she has lost everything crushes her. .

She slowly wraps herself with her arms. . . and cries once more. . .

This time not of emotion or reluctance. . . but of being alone.

Her soul shrivels into almost nonexistent, calling for somebody to save her from the void of isolation. Her tears cloud her vision, as she hugs herself tightly, afraid to let go. .

She has nothing in life now, no meaning. . .

A new form of pain creeps into the void of her heart, like a poison inside a river flow. Going into a crazed-like state of self-destruction.

Axel catches the shift in tone and turns around. Staring deeply into the fallen knight. He doesn't utter a single word, but the empathy in his eyes speaks for itself.

Alice sinks even further into her despair. Breaking apart before his eyes as her cries are filled with despair and grief!

She is all alone now, with the last person she held dearly dying in her arms, she has nowhere to go. Nowhere to flee to because she's a demi-human and a former slave. And after today, a traitor to the highest degree for the assassination of Yokubo. Meaning no matter where she runs and hides, she will always be hunted down for the rest of her life.

No matter how you look at it, continuing to live will only lead to more suffering.

But just as things start to get direr, Alice is abruptly stopped by a sudden weight on her back. Shocked, she tilts her head.

She spots Axel behind her, wrapping his cloak around her. His eyes share the same sentiment as hers, gifting Alice his final gift, before taking his leave. With his warmth still lingering inside the cloak, hugging Alice when she needed it the most. .

Her trembling hands naturally gravitate to his cloak. Clutching it firmly and pulling it to cover her body. She nearly bursts once more by the kind gesture.

Memories of their journey together flash before her. Filling her heart with another emotion she can't quite describe.

But it felt warm. . .

From within the black coldness of her heart, a small ember illuminates, warming her spirit. Driving away the darkness that plagues her soul, giving her a sense of purpose.

That's right, how could she fail to notice. The one person who gave her joy and meaning to her miserable existence, the one person who gave her a second chance at life, is standing right before her.

She may have lost everything that she's been fighting for, but not him, she has not completely lost everything.

There may indeed be something worth fighting for after all.

"Axel!" She calls his name!

The reaper comes to a halt, and he turns around, with the sun shining above him.

She doesn't know what the future has in store for her.

"Please!!"

Whether she will regret it or not, only time will tell.

"May I come with you!!"

Alice shouts at the top of her lungs as she bows to Axel! She pours her heart and soul into her words! Wanting to be by his side, and be his sword.

"I promise you I won't slow you down! I won't hinder you in any shape or way! I promise to fight for you and only you! I will never question your judgment and you will have my absolute loyalty!

I will cook for you! Aid you! Protect you! You can even use me as a meat shield! Just please, let me accompany you and your travels! Please, Axel!"

Alice offers to be his companion. Swearing her absolute servitude to him.

Axel stares blankly into her, refraining from uttering a word.

But after a quick pause, he says. . . .

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(The Lustful Warlord Arc: completed.)

Thanks for reading. . . .

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Author's note

I hope you all enjoyed the conclusion : )

For those readers who have stuck by me, even after all the delays and hiatuses,

Thank you. . .

I know this journey has become a lot more than just a simple fairy tale, and I thank you for leaving nice comments and supporting me as a storyteller, you have no idea just how heartwarming it is for me to wake up to that. Seriously, I can't thank you guys enough.

Just like with the last arc, I'll be taking a short break, to summarize future plans and to end off my senior year of high school on a good note.

I will like to thank @SilverK004 once again for making this story happen, I honestly can't thank him enough for being kind enough to let me borrow his premise.

And my editor @Reign15x for helping me improve as a writer and fixing my story. I also owe a lot to this man, so please check him out while I'm temporarily gone!

Enough of wasting your guy's time, I'm sure you have important things to do! Like finishing your homework or doing the chores before your mom comes home! Catch ya next time!