The Innocent Recluse - Ch. 6

Chapter 6: Wherein Good Deeds Are Performed, Steps Are Retraced, And Mysteries Are Contemplated

-W-

How'd a soul like him end up all the way out here, anyways?  Oh, well.

Winter approached the farmhouse door and knocked.

-L-

A tired-looking, middle-aged girl opened the door, and shrieked, before laughing and hugging Winter.

"It's been years!  Oh, you haven't changed a bit!  Come on in."

-W-

Winter got a little uncomfortable, but went in.

"I guess you're the new owner of the farm?  My condolences for your mother.  How are things going here?"

Winter had helped the spirit of the mother move on a few years back, but decided it wouldn't be right to mention it.

-L-

She was offered freshly-baked croissants, and a mug of steaming tea.
"She thought the world of you, you know."

-W-

"I bet she did."

Winter enjoyed the refreshments.

"Things looked a little dry outside.  Have you been getting enough rain?"

-L-

"Hardly," the woman shrugged, sipping her own mug.  "But we'll be alright.  I have a storage tank."

-W-

"Hmm..."

After finishing her snacks, Winter stepped outside and took her flute out of its carrying case.

Unlike Len, who invoked his magic through special chants, Winter used hers by playing specific melodies on her flute.  She liked it better that way; melodies were significantly easier for her to remember.

Let's see... aha!  That one should do it.

Winter raised her flute to her lips and began playing.

-L-

The sky darkened, clouds tumbled, and after a moment, the heavens opened and a deluge thundered down, soaking into the parched earth and breathing life back into the dying soil.

Winter could hear overjoyed laughter from within the house.

Len would've liked that too.

-W-

Winter put her flute away.

There.  That should keep things healthy for a little longer.

...I wonder what Ivarn is doing right now.  I haven't seen him in years... not that I'm in any hurry to.

-L-

It had taken years to piece together the vision of the future, but she'd finally gotten it in order and memorized it.

-W-

The hell I'll ever be the Supreme Demon Lord.  It sickens me to think I was once that remorseless.

Something about that vision always bothered her, though.

Len froze my soul so I'd never age... so then why do I look older as the Demon Lord than I do now?  Will I lose my youth at some point?

-L-

Something overcoming Len's magic, perhaps?  But who could cast such unbelievable magic?  Even Ivarn couldn't overcome it.

-W-

Winter decided it was best to push that thought aside for the moment and concentrate on the present.  She began to make her way through the field of tall grass.  She was following the same path she'd fled on that fateful night, only backwards, towards her castle (which of course no longer existed).

-L-

The fawn wasn't sure what she was looking for exactly, but she hadn't been there for years.

-W-

After a long time walking, Winter reached the town again.  It had grown significantly in the past ten years.  She stood at the outskirts for a moment, not sure what to think.

-L-

It had all changed.  And her castle...

Winter had no idea what Ivarn had done to it, she'd never returned in the ten years of absence.

-W-

Everything ages but me.

Winter paced slowly through the town, glancing at building after building on the way.

-L-

She even slid into the bar she'd stopped at briefly, but it was completely refurbished, now a high-class cafe.

Slipping out, she headed in the direction of the castle.

-W-

Eventually, the former site of Winter's castle came into view.

...It's gone?  I guess that's to be expected since I was gone for so long, but... still...

-L-

It was now almost like a miniature moor, grass and rock everywhere.  It was actually kind of pretty.

-W-

"..."

No trace of Winter's old home remained.  It was all nature.  Winter couldn't help but shed a tear.

I wonder... is there anything still buried down here?

-L-

After a moment, she headed over.

-W-

I don't see anything on the surface... it must be all buried.  Well, there's more than one way to dig up ruins...

After checking to make sure nobody else was around, Winter dashed back to a safe distance, focused on the top of the hill, and began playing a specific melody on her flute.

-L-

Unfortunately, it didn't have the effect she wanted.

No sooner had she blown two notes, than a familiar dark mist materialized before her.

-W-

That better not be what I think it is...

Winter immediately changed up her melody, generating a series of fierce wind currents that would hopefully rip the mist apart.

-L-

_Ruuuuun...

-W-

Winter didn't have to be told twice.  She ran.

-W-

Winter jumped over the river, but Ivarn materialized in front of her and cut her off.  She shrieked and hit the brakes.

"You haven't changed a bit... Winter."

"And you've changed even less... Ivarn."

-W-

Ivarn and Winter stared each other down.

"Why do you persist in hounding me, Ivarn?"

"You violated your contract ten years ago.  I have no choice but to take your soul."

"That's not the only reason.  I know your true motives.  You-know-who showed me that vision, the one of me as the Supreme Demon Lord."

"..."

"And for your information, I am not nor have I ever been interested in taking my place on that throne.  But you won't be convinced of that.  In your mind, nothing shy of my death will stop me from becoming the Demon Lord.  And you'll never believe otherwise."

"..."

"I've spent the past ten years fleeing from you.  Now that we're reunited, I'm finally standing my ground.  In fact, if you know what's good for you, you should start running from me right about now.  I've finally got a fighting chance against you, and I don't plan to throw it away."

-L-

Ivarn's gaze hardened.  He cast a sweeping glance over the castle ruins, seemingly satisfied with its condition; and of course what lay buried beneath.

-W-

"Don't tell me.  You were the one responsible for the destruction of my castle?"

-L-

He smirked.

-W-

"That's a yes, right?"

"You are perceptive.  I did it to ensure that nobody would ever find you-know-who."

"He's there?!"

"Yes, he's there.  But you'd never be able to tell by glancing at it.  It's a completely featureless hill, is it not?  Not even any ruins."

"...Ivarn, when I'm done with you you're either going to be dead or wishing you were."

"You sincerely believe you can take me?"

"And why not?  I'm not as weak as when we last met... and you're not as strong."