Dawn- An Age Of Darkness

Lianne was very happy that night. 

Daarc had shown up. 

But her happiness soon turned to dread. 

Daarc hadn't come alone. He'd brought three beautiful girls with him and two of them were literal demigods. 

The betrayal had hit hard. 

She'd been in love before and she'd been betrayed before. After a while she'd made up her mind, she'd never be with another man unless she was sure the man felt the same and she kept it up for seven whole centuries- almost eight. After all, she didn't want to go through the pain of rejection and the pain of betrayal. 

But- when she finally opened her heart again, when she finally loved another- she got betrayed- again. 

Life wasn't fair, it never was. She lost everything- her family- her brother and now even her love, the same man he thought to be 'the one'. She'd lived a long life, but it was far from being a fulfilling one. Whenever she cared about something- it was always snatched away by destiny. 

Lianne had fallen in love before but- this was the only time she'd been drunk on love. 

And because of that she couldn't look him in the eye- she couldn't forgive him. She knew Daarc probably had no choice, but she couldn't believe him, she couldn't believe his words.

She didn't want to- not anymore. 

She couldn't work, she couldn't sleep. 

Nothing worked anymore.

Nothing did.

Time passed as she stared at the empty ceiling, darkness became light and it was almost dawn before she knew it. 

'Maybe if I disappear, he'll have an easier time with the girls.' After all, if she wasn't involved- no, she didn't want to disappear. She didn't want to. But she still got out of bed and she still got out of her room. She needed some fresh air. 

But just outside, a girl was waiting- a bunny girl. 

"What are you doing here?" Lianne said, voice low. 

"I know we don't know each other but- I'd appreciate it if you'd at least hear me out."

"…" Lianne stayed quiet. She had nothing to say. 'Just how long has she been standing here?'

"He's still asleep and he'll wake up exactly fifteen minutes from now. I'll make up a lie and bring the rest of the girls with me. Let's meet in the bath and have a chat."

"I have nothing to talk to you about."

The girl in front of Lianne was a demigod. And as Lianne knew one personally, she knew they held much power and defying a god was something she shouldn't have even thought about doing- let alone doing it. But she didn't care. 

"I know but- he doesn't have long and I think you need to know why. You must."

Lianne squinted her eyes. "What do you mean he doesn't have long?"

***

The four girls bathed together. Lianne rarely bathed with other girls. But today she didn't care. 

"So, what is that you were talking about?"

Alisa took a deep breath and started explaining. The other two girls stayed quiet. Actually, one of them couldn't speak. 

Lianne heard something that piqued her interest and as the half-god explained things to her in detail her eyes opened wide in shock and she became speechless. 

The more she heard, the more her heart ached. 'But that can't be!' But she couldn't say it out loud. 

The bath ended. 

All four headed to the dining hall and waited there: Lianne in particular looked like an undead- lifeless. 

Eventually, Daarc showed up and took his seat next to Lianne. It was almost as though he never slept- the dark circles beneath his eyes, the awkward nervousness he bore- Lianne saw it all. But she couldn't say anything, she didn't know what to say. 

It was quiet, too quiet. 

Just like that breakfast was also over. 

She knew she was running away from reality but she didn't want to see Daarc's face. If she stared at him for long enough, if she thought about him, she knew she'd cry. 

She was angry but she was also sad. What if-

But Daarc eventually reached up to her and despite her best efforts, she promised to have a talk. 

She couldn't run away this time.

***

Throughout the day, she saw Daarc doing a lot of things. Training, running around like a fool, talking with guards, maids, nobles, even commoners who came to see him. People liked him, respected him.

But he looked really tired and Lianne knew, he was. 

Her heart ached and raced. She knew the truth but even now, she didn't want to believe it. 

She just couldn't. 

'What if he di-' She stopped herself. Staying away from him, distancing herself from him was one thing. But imagining he'd die was- unbearable. 

She already knew he had to fight the emperor but she had faith in him. She believed in him. But the sudden news of him dying regardless of whatever happens was really shocking. She already knew just how frightening a curse could be. 

That's why- it was unbearable. 

***

She didn't have lunch- she didn't want to see this Daarc. This miserable Daarc, who was going to die soon. If she had, she wouldn't have been able to stop her tears.

'How will I talk to him tonight. What will I talk to him about?'

She didn't know and she had no answers. What Daarc did and this whole mess was another issue- his life was more important to her. 

***

As her worries grew darker and darker, the sun set, and the silent dinner was also over. 

There was a saying 'time flies when one's having fun' but time also flew though no one had any fun. 

It was odd. Lianne didn't quite understand how this happened but-

The five of them, the three girls, Daarc and Lianne herself were back where they started last night. 

Lianne had made up her mind. She was going to forgive Daarc but she was also going to go with him- spend the last days of their time together- make sure he didn't die fighting the emperor. She didn't care anymore- she loved him and he gave meaning to her almost meaningless life. She had her goals but she knew those were pointless. Her curse had no cure and she didn't have long either. Almost all of her immediate family were either dead or exiled. She didn't have a place to belong.

But with Daarc- this- she had a place. She loved him and that's why-

That's why- that's why she wanted the last days of her life to be with him and be merry. And if he was going to die soon- all she had to do was hasten the plans. Screw tradition, screw the rules, screw the emperor and destiny, she didn't care. 

She wasn't going to forgive him but- she was going to love him. She was going to make sure, he at least made it out alive, so when it was all over, she could scold him to the best of her abilities.

But just when she least expected it-

"I Love you!" She was hit with a bombshell as Daarc Green kneeled before her and was on the verge of tears.