Realm of Black and White

  The white side of the yin-yang trembled as Flame Lord slowly walked inside. Every step splashed liquid ink around. The sound of colors weeping filled the realm as his demonic feet were stained white.

  "Thank you for coming, Flame Lord." Lionye whispered, seated across from Mikolash on his knees. His brown hood was now removed, revealing his white-grey face, those golden-orange eyes, and silver hair. A small smile touched his lips.

  "Binder is nearly free. His movements shook the palace and Hell itself. We have to act." Flame Lord clenched his fists. The sound of his teeth grinding escaped his mouth.

  Mikolash gestured in front of them. "Please, Flame Lord. Sit with us. We can discuss how to resolve this or any future battle against the Chaos Bringers. With anger, we cannot decide properly. And wrong decisions lead to poor outcomes." He smiled.

  "Right…" Flame Lord nodded. "Right. Calmness. Correct decisions…" He sat beside them both. "Tell me of these 'correct decisions,' Mikolash."

  "We—!" Lionye stopped his speech before he could begin.

  "Hey! I was going to speak, Lionye!" Mikolash protested, but couldn't hide his wide smile. "What do you want to say?"

  "Flame Lord," Lionye whispered, his voice deepening slightly as his eyes fixed on him. "What do you have in your damn mind?"

  Flame Lord swallowed. The action felt more horrific than any battle cry. After several seconds, he finally spoke. "Calibus…" The word came out firm and steady.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Mikolash paled. His hands trembled. His mouth opened and closed multiple times, but no sound left his lips—only sharp inhales and exhales.

  Lionye gripped his arm, eyes wide with fear. "You cannot do that! Don't be an idiot! It will kill you! The blade will eat your soul the moment you touch it!"

  "I know, Lionye!" His grip tightened over Lionye's wrist. "Don't act like an overprotective father! You did the same with Hannya, and you lost him!" His breathing came out ragged.

  Mikolash's breath caught. His hand moved toward Lionye's shoulder, then he unconsciously pulled it back—as if this scene had happened before. Lionye…

  His palms clawed at his lap.

  Lionye's grip loosened. Tears fell silently from his eyes. His lips trembled. "Don't…" he pleaded. "Don't name him… Not now… Not here… I lost what I cherished once… I can't lose those I care for again…" A sob escaped him.

  Flame Lord's flame-kissed tears fell alongside him. "If you care for them… let me do it. I don't care about the cost. I know it will destroy me from within… or worse—it might erase me from this world. But my love for this world and its peace is infinite…" He paused, then with a voice steadier than before, continued. "'If peace demands sacrifice, then sacrifice I will.' Your own words. Believe in them, Grand Priest of the Library." He smiled—a broken, fragile smile. But in the end, a smile.

  "Flame Lord… You know how much everyone cares for you… Don't throw your life away that easily. You know it won't work…"

  Lionye's hands, now dangling beside him, tried to grip Flame Lord's arm again—a futile attempt that left them hovering there. "Don't die… That's all I ask of you… Don't die…"

  Flame Lord's claws touched Lionye's shoulder. Through tears and his broken smile, his voice remained strong as iron. "Feel the warmth of these flaming hands? They will return with even more warmth and flame. That is a promise, Lionye. My friend. My overprotective, idiot friend."

  Mikolash walked toward them, embracing them both in his arms beneath his too-large mantle. "My too-dumb friends…" His shoulders tensed—whether from a sob or a laugh, it was hard to tell. "We will all be safe, no matter what. We will all celebrate our friendship once the war is over… And I will be the one who buys you both pizza from the human world. You'll love it…"

  "Union in the Finale?" Flame Lord whispered.

  They both nodded as Mikolash held them, unable to let go.

  "And after the Finale," Mikolash corrected him with a smile.