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i.
They met so very long ago, it was hard to recall the exact details. Memories tended to slip through the cracks so easily at her age. But some still lingered. Of the journey, if not the meeting. A flash of blue hair. The way it reflected the sunlight just like the flowers in the field that surrounded him. Everything seeming all too quiet at once, when their gazes met and lingered for a second too long.
“Frieren.” His voice was soft, like a gentle breeze. How odd. People never spoke to her that way. “Someday, I want to show you the flowers in my home village.”
A pause.
“Why?” She dragged her hand along the flowers closest to her, within arm’s reach. They swayed back and forth. A few petals fell. “Are these not enough?”
He laughed. “No, no, these are beautiful, don’t get me wrong. But there’s a certain…nostalgia, I guess, that’s missing.”
“...Nostalgia.” She couldn’t relate. Actually, she couldn’t relate to much of what he ever said. Why did it give her this odd sensation in her chest, then? “Well, I suppose I might like to see them too, then.”
It would never happen, she knew. But he smiled to hear her response anyway. Something tugged again in her chest, a little harder.
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ii.
His mouth went dry. It wasn’t an illusion, right? It was really Frieren standing there, before the empty throne of the demon king. The twisted horns on her head unhidden, the light in her eyes dimmed, her mana appearing more powerful than ever before. Even he could catch glimpses of its presence around her.
Frieren, the demon king.
“So it was all a lie?” he heard himself asking, almost disembodied, like the voice wasn’t even coming from him but from somewhere far away. Even Heiter and Eisen were like statues beside him.
“I never once lied to you.” Frieren’s voice was utterly too calm. “You never asked if I was the demon king. You hardly questioned me at all, really.”
“Still-” Heiter paused, unable to speak. What was there to say, really? Could any answer she gave really explain herself?
“Frieren.” Eisen placed a hand on the hilt of his axe. A tremor coursed through his arm. “You know our journey is not complete until we put an end to the era of demons by slaying the demon king.”
She nodded slowly. Blinked once. Summoned her staff to her side.
“Demon or no, I’m not so callous as to force you into an unfair fight, knowing what you’re capable of. If anyone were able to defeat me, it could well be a party such as you. But I won’t make that choice for you.”
But they knew the choice was already made. Was there ever a choice to begin with, really? It was Eisen who decided to act first, rushing forward, axe at the ready, backed up by Heiter’s goddess-given holy magic. The sounds of battle should have filled Himmel’s ears, but the only thing he could hear was the beating of his own heart.
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iii.
She fell asleep on his shoulder.
Or, half-asleep, at least. She was terrible at getting up early, and this morning had been an early one indeed. They had heard the view of the sunrise from this town was absolutely gorgeous. And it was, really. Shades of pink and orange and blue and purple in streaks of watercolor across a glowing sky, the lake glittering with speckles of sunlight.
Even she had to admit it was worth the early wakeup.
But now it was noon, and the party was aboard the wagon of a trader who had so kindly offered to help them along. She deserved a rest, no? Her eyes were closing, her blinks getting slower. And she would never say no to a pillow offered, even if it was only the travel-worn cloak draped over Himmel’s shoulders.
“A few days to the next town,” Eisen’s gruff voice came from the opposite side of the wagon.
Heiter sighed. “A few days before I can drink so well again…”
“What a corrupt priest,” Himmel chuckled.
They were so carefree, Frieren thought, given the weight of their quest. The conversation muddled as she drifted further into sleep. She relaxed a little. Strands of hair fell into her face. A gentle hand brushed them aside, tucked them behind her ears. Covered her a little more under a cloak.
She smiled faintly.
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iv.
It was obvious they were no match for her. Heiter was nearly out of mana already. Eisen, near-indestructible Eisen, was heaving with each breath he took. Himmel leaned on his sword and wiped the blood from his face. In any other battle, he would have fallen back by now, regrouped with the party, come up with a better strategy. But he knew in his heart that there was no escaping this. The demon king wouldn’t let them just “fall back.” Not to mention, what would be the value in a fallback when they were on the verge of collapse, and short a party member?
In raw strength, they might well be able to match Frieren. But they were disheartened.
“Fri-” Himmel coughed. #$%& it all, he was losing steam. Ahead, Frieren settled, hovering inches above the ground. She flicked invisible specks of dust from the shoulders of her still-ivory cloak.
“It seems I was right to choose this form after all, with how easily I was trusted. An unconventional choice, perhaps. I shall have to keep this in mind, looking forward.” Her gaze slide from Heiter, to Eisen, to Himmel, lingering a little longer on him. “I believe some part of me is sorry, truly, for what I must do. You were…”
She hesitated. Himmel heard her breath catch in her throat, almost imperceptibly.
“...a good party.”
She lifted her staff.
Zoltraak.
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v.
“Any will do, really,” she said offhandedly. Somehow she had ended up at an accessory shop, Himmel only a few paces behind. He had insisted upon buying her some kind of gift, and while she would have preferred snacks, the expression on his face told her he wanted it to be something a little more… material.
Well, these trinkets all looked the same in her eyes. Whether silver or gold or something a little more vibrant, it would all become tarnished over time. It was just jewelry. The effort of upkeep wasn’t worth it.
“How about this one?” She picked up a silver ring with a flower design on one side.
“Oh, you finally…” Himmel’s quip died off as his gaze landed on the ring. “That one? You’re sure?”
“I chose it on a whim, I can pick something else if needed,” she began to say. But he was already paying the merchant and collecting the ring.
The sun was setting as they walked outside. The chime of a clocktower signaled an evening hour. Well, all the better they got it over with, it had already taken longer than she wanted.
“You bought that so quickly. I thought there might be something wrong with it, the way your eyes were,” Frieren observed.
“What? Oh, no, no.” Himmel smiled, and looked at the ring once more. “I just…I was surprised that you made a choice at all. I’m glad. And now, to bestow your gift.”
He spun to face her, his cloak flaring, as he bent to kneel on one knee. In one hand he held the ring, while with the other he took her own hand. If she didn’t know better, it was almost like he was about to…
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vi.
In the end, it was just the two of them again.
He couldn’t bring himself to look at the bodies of his companions beside him. His eyes were locked on Frieren’s. Hot tears washed down his cheeks.
Her staff had been broken. She was right when she said that if anyone could beat her, it was most likely them. Which made it hurt all the more that they had failed.
His sword was at her throat, but he knew he couldn’t do it.
“Himmel,” Frieren spoke calmly. Like she was walking beside him on a summer’s day, listening to the birds, poring over the map to see where they ought to stop next.
“Himmel,” she said. “Kill me.”
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vii.
He couldn’t do it.
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viii.
“Böse.” The sage appeared before her at the mention of his name, having kept distant watch during the battle.
“Yes, my liege.”
“...Send the bodies south. They will be honored as warriors. I cannot deny them that.”
She ignored the bloodied palace around her as she turned away, dragging the fabled Hero’s Sword behind her. If she recalled correctly, it was a fake, no? Just like the others. The armory door slid open at her approach, and she tossed the sword in, where it landed with a metallic clang against the ever-growing pile of hero swords caked in dried blood.
“My liege,” she heard Böse speak behind her as the armory doors slid shut. “I will remind you again that the Sages are more than willing to take on this task. Qual grows more bloodthirsty by the day. Even Aura is getting impatient.” He smirked. “Why must you continue luring in these… ‘heroes’ rather than cutting this problem at the root?”
Frieren paused. Considered.
“I suppose… I want to try to get to know them better.”