Then it begins. The end has finally come around.

The girls where dead. There was one thing I had left to do. Save the kingdom.

I ran up to the horse Cleo had practically dragged me of of. I had the animal running as fast as she could. Tears poured from my eyes. My vision blurred but one thing remained clear. The destruction.

Fire. Water. Air. Earth. Elements of the world. Always working together in harmony until one messes with the way they remain trapped. The gods made theses four elements into elementals. They would never escape there prisons unless the lock was brocken. The lock broke when the queen tampered with the gods.

I leaped of the back of the horse and landed on my knees. The pain I felt in not only my heart but in my skin and eyes. Scorched remains of what was once beautiful now appeared grotesque. The stench of death overpowered the ringing reminder of my doom.

I had to try. I had to succeed. I began to shout. No one would here anyway. “For Miya. For the people. For the kingdom. For my future. For our ancestors. For…” I chocked on the black puffs of smoke burning my eyes. “For.. For..” I couldn’t say it.

Fire lunged towards me, brushing my skin. I fell to the ground. I rolled onto my back and witnessed a girl, messy bun on the back of her head. Clothes that had been through far too many battles. She was covered in blood. As if she was dead. Maybe she had been. Maybe she had not. I knew who she was.

“Cleo. For Cleo.” I hardly said even that. My hands where covered in black smoke and dust. I wiped my eyes, only making it worse. In my head Cleo’s final moments played on repeat. She had protected me from the elementals blow. She killed the first elemental and the queen. I had thought that it took her life too. I guess, it didn’t.

I pulled myself to my feet and watched as Cleo absolutely demolished the elemental. I shed a tear. Not in happiness or pain. I knew what would happen. Over and over and over, she put everything she had into protecting me. I am alive because of her. But while she did it, does it. She lets go of herself. Another tear falls from my eyes.

I run up to her knowing what I was going to do full well. I caught Cleo as she fell. I put her below a tree and yanked the blade from her hands.

“I said don’t ever touch me again,” she murmured.

“Shut up a listen. Your an assassin. Trained to pretect. When this battle is over I need you to do just that. Protect my people. Save the kingdom. I know you hate me and I know you would rather die doing your duty but I can’t let that happen. I won’t do any good to my people but you. You will do great things.” I said. I sipped a tear from her cheek as she opened her mouth to speak.

“Jake. I don’t hate you. But if you do this I will. Give my that blade and run away. Get the hell out of here.” She said.

“But..” I began.

“No buts! Go!” She shouted.

I shighed and grabbed her hand. Together we palmed the blade and nodded to the other. We ran up to the beast. At the last second. The last moment when we where almost done with it. Cleo pushed me aside and killed the elemental, protecting me at all costs.

——-

I threw her a ceremony once the dust settled. Every survived gathered around her body. We placed her in a cascet and said our thanks. When we had buried her, we all went to the castle and ate a feast in her homer.

The mourning after, a light snow began falling. It was a sign of change. I stepped onto my balcony and sighed. I closed my eyes and felt the cool breeze sweep across the kingdom.

“Cleo. Forever this day will be remembered for your sacrifices. Thanksgiving it will be called. Thanksgiving for all to be…” I began. I knew what to say but I couldn’t.

A tear slipped down my cheek. Behind me a voice so similar it brought a million tears to me over the rest of my life.

“Take my hand. I’m not asking you to marry me. I’m trying to save your life,”

I answered the voice.

“Kill me now, or let me die alone,”

Then, it ends.