Koi No Tsuki: The Dungeon Creation System

The moonlight intertwines with that of Cobalt. A sheet of Royal Violet has fallen on The Garden. From my perspective. It invokes a feeling of safety. And Pride. Why?

Around me is fear. The kind that invokes reflection. Cecil has given up. The light of vengeance and self preservation is gone. There is only regret and self loathing.

Z is likewise frozen. Wondering if he should of chosen fight over servitude. 

The Flower on the ground wants nothing more than to go home. Praying everything bad will just go away.

Why am I different? Why do I not fear? Worst of all. It hurts. Blood has fallen and yet I am elated. Am I the same as Ball?

I look to the sky. Clouded. Lit in Crimson. The same light that unbound the flower when she found herself in that embrace. It follows my will, I am Crimson. 

I see. The sky is not crying in sadness, but of joy. The sky is under my light. It knows the good guys won. There is nothing to fear. I reach out and pat Ball on the head.

"For I decide what the tide will bring." I can move. The closest thing to a clearing where the battle took place. I sit. Meditative.

The pressure stops. The colors fade to that of a normal night. The rain ends. The sky is clear. Cecil falls to the ground, remaining still. Z takes a moment to stop the shaking before walking to the flower. 

"Rest now. You are safe." I say, as Z acts as the girls bed, as she succumbs to stress. 

Why does the light obey me, but my flames do not? Trying to move the flame inside causes pain. I have to force it through. It even disobeys me sometimes. It's not supposed to be this way.

My heart is barely beating. My vision is forced, as is breathing, even sitting. 

I close my eyes and focus inward.

The sound of life is gone.

The Garden. The spark, its flame, faded. Not a single flower standing tall. There's a new figure here. My heart cannot forget. It is mother. The attire of a butterfly, royal and beautiful. Her face is blank. 

"Look at you, so small. Barely any older than when we sent you off." Mother's voice is warm. "Did they follow you? Is that why you are dying?"

I'm dying? And she thinks someone is the reason? "Why would someone want to hurt me?"

"You are my Heir. The reason we had to send you away is because The Orthodox deemed The Garden must be eliminated." I can feel her smile from her tone changing. "But alas, you are suffering a simple condition for me to fix."

Mother sits behind me, placing her hands on my back. Slowly, I feel my internal energy move. 

"Severe Ki Deviation and Blockage of every pathway. A radiant color flows through you. It disrupted everything as it took root in your being. Along with mental troubles, a total inner collapse." I have so many questions. Curiosity and excitement runs through my being.

"Just focus on recovery. I don't have time to delve into the complexities of the Dao." The life begins to return to the garden around me, stem by stem.

"Why not?" Is Mother leaving?

"I am dead. This is simply the last bit of my Divine Consciousness & Ki. Placed inside of you before The Great Escape." I can almost see the smile. Her eyes are split in two. One half red, the other black.

"Seems it worked! You aren't dead. And my show up when you're going to die isn't me using your body to fight off pursuers. Ten out of ten, that strategist was the best The Garden ever had." Was? Am I the last one?

"Your Father did the same for your sister." She flicks the necklace I'm wearing. "The White Fish. Do you know if she's okay?" How could I forget something so important?

"I didn't know I had a sister." My hair is ruffled

"I'm sure she's fine. The death of someone so intertwined with you. You'd have felt it." She stands up. her form cracking. "Well. You should be fine now. Just don't mess up when regathering your Ki. Make sure it is properly in harmony with that radiance." She stands in front of me, facing away. Is she posing...? 

"This'll do... stylish pose to fade away in. All things in the bucket list done." Such a stance! Beautiful. I too will find a cool position to die in. Mother is truly a proper Martial Artist. Ah, but they said.

"Mother. I am not a Martial Artist anymore. Why not?" Mother turns to face me.

"You lost your memories. You need to make new ones, or you'll never be a Martial Artist. A true Martial Artist never claims to be a Martial Artist." She kneels down in front of me, so we are face to face.

"A real warrior is not merely soldier. They are farmer, risking their all for their livelihood. A parent looking after their young. A Servant, sworn to protect The House." From the bottom up. She slowly becomes that of butterflies. Black as night.

Mother's face becomes clear to me. "If you've fallen from the Path of The Dao. You only need stand back up, and summit that first mountain again. The mountain of self."

Mother is gone.