In a place somewhat apart from the rest of existence, stretched the world of Erasa - a world which, although long deprived of its creator, had continued to grow.
Despite her prolonged absence, the kingdom of Erasa had never ceased to flourish. Once, only Jérôme and Néhémi served as her armed hands. Today, thanks to their labor, an army of more than twelve thousand souls stood at her service.
The world, now beautified by the architectural genius of Madame Élodie and Zémira, shone with a new radiance.
Seated comfortably in an armchair, a chilled glass in hand, Jérôme enjoyed this golden peace, like all the others. Life was sweet. Erasa, though distant, seemed to watch over her world. No worry stirred the population; all breathed harmony.
Jérôme: Aaaaah… The good life… There is nothing better. I will never thank our mistress, Erasa, enough.
With a smile on her lips, Néhémi approached.
Néhémi: Jérôme, may I tell you something?
Intrigued, he answered with a curious tone.
Jérôme: Mhmmm… Go ahead!
Néhémi: I have never felt so well. You know… Even alongside Lord Boaz, I was constantly on edge because of Lord Gilead. He terrified me, and I always worried about Boaz. But with Lady Erasa… even if she now only speaks to us through our dreams… I finally feel free. She allows us to grow, to choose our paths… and even to perfect ourselves. She does not restrain us. It is a blessing…
Jérôme slightly averted his gaze, a bit annoyed.
Jérôme: Hm… Yes, I can only admit that.
Néhémi: I wish this would never end.
she said in a whisper, a peaceful smile on her lips.
Jérôme: It will not end. Because Erasa is eternal… and thanks to Hastou, we can fulfill our desires while remaining humble, while sharing this eternity…
But he abruptly stopped. In the distance, the sky was darkening.
Jérôme: What is that…?
Néhémi: Rain… maybe?
Jérôme: No… That is not rain. Dark clouds or storms do not have that malevolent halo… Let's go see closer.
Without waiting, they ran toward the strange glow.
The inhabitants of Erasa, too, raised their eyes, worried. A dark light disturbed their daily life.
But as suddenly as it had appeared, the light vanished.
The sky, clear again, covered the world with its splendor.
Reassured, the inhabitants resumed their activities.
However, two women had just entered this world. One of them immediately attracted attention, both by her appearance and by the aura she exuded.
Lord Erasa?… Is that really her? My God, it's been so long…
Whispers flew, but the woman did not deign to pay them any attention.
Hiaaaaaa! So this is the place!
she exclaimed with excitement.
The other woman answered her calmly.
You attract all the gazes, Sata… Look around you.
For it was indeed them: the demons Sata and Raiku.
Sata: Do they have so little to do? I could eliminate them all on the spot… I want to see blood!
Raiku: You should do nothing. This is a world under Erasa's protection.
Sata: Yes… yes… that's true.
Raiku: Even if… those looks annoy me deeply.
Sata: Very well… I will play along.
She then rose into the air.
All eyes were magnetized by her silhouette.
Look!
someone shouted.
Everyone gazed at her, fascinated.
Sata: Beloved people, it is I, Erasa. Despite my long absence, I know some have recognized me…
Tears welled in the eyes of many. The emotion was palpable.
Lord Erasa! Is it really you? What a grace to see you again…
Raiku, tired, rolled her eyes and hit her forehead.
Sata: My coming today has only one purpose… To show you something. After so much absence, it is time you know… that you are all DEAD.
Immediately, all collapsed like puppets without strings.
Not a single soul standing.
All dead.
Only Sata and Raiku remained.
Sata: Hahaha…!
She laughed heartily.
Raiku: Could you stop this circus, please?
Sata: I hate deathly silences… And besides, I will finally see my dear little sister from centuries ago again.
Raiku: Haha… Erasa is going to have a rough time. Unimaginable that our mother helped her gain power… and not us.
Sata: Don't worry. She will regret seeing the lifeless corpse of her favorite… I have to settle scores with that dirty brat.
Raiku: Look! We have visitors.
Jérôme, Néhémi, and the twelve thousand soldiers stood there, in formation.
Jérôme: What have you done to Lady Erasa's people?
Sata: You're part of them too? You want to suffer the same fate, I imagine?
Néhémi discreetly approached Jérôme.
Néhémi: She looks a lot like her… What if she's her sister? Or… a fragment of herself?
Jérôme thought for a moment, recalling those ancient days, millions of years ago, when they walked with Erasa to the well.
Jérôme: She once told me she was a hyper-demon…
He observed the two intruders.
Jérôme: Are you… hyper-demons?
The two women exchanged a glance… then burst out laughing. Jérôme, embarrassed, blushed.
Raiku: This boy thinks we are hyper-demons?
Sata: He is completely off the mark… Hahahaha!
Jérôme: Very well. What makes you laugh so much?
Sata: Poor Jérôme… A hyper-demon? What absurdity. It's far too weak and grotesque for me.
Jérôme's eyes widened. A cold sweat ran down his neck.
Néhémi: Jérôme? Are you okay?
But he did not answer. He was trembling.
Néhémi: Jérôme! What's happening?
Eyes fixed on Sata, he saw nothing but a living nightmare: hissing snakes, a face drowned in shadows, revealing only a demonic smile and scarlet eyes.
Jérôme: We… are lost. Death is all that remains.
He fell to his knees, eyes to the sky.
Jérôme: It's the end. There is nothing left to do.
Néhémi: Get up, Jérôme!!
No response.
Sata: Oh… That look. He perceives the essence of beings… Fascinating. One day, perhaps, he would have awakened the Gods' Clairvoyant Eye.
Raiku: Where is Erasa?
Néhémi: Silence! My brothers, attack!
Soldiers: For Erasa!!! Charge!!!
Sata: Hmmm… fuuuuuh…
She breathed softly.
In an instant, the twelve thousand soldiers collapsed as if cut down by the wind. Only Néhémi remained standing.
Néhémi: No… how…?
Raiku: You should give up.
Néhémi: Give up? Never!!!
But Sata froze her with a single look. Her infernal gaze paralyzed her mind. Total hypnosis.
Sata: Rest now. You are a rare pearl… Perfect for Erasa. I will kill her before you. It will be a delicious mental shock. Now, sleep.
Néhémi fainted.
Sata approached Jérôme, whose reason was on the edge of the abyss.
Sata: Poor soul… I infiltrated your mind by thought. I am the reptile who pushed Eve to bite the cursed apple. My influence is a torture for the soul… and for the being. I am the Demon of Sin.
Jérôme trembled, lost his hair, murmuring inaudible words while staring at the ground.
He had gone mad.
Sata: No one needs what you have become.
She joined thumb and index finger before him.
Sata: Farewell.
And, with a snap of her fingers, Jérôme's head exploded. His body collapsed, disjointed.
Raiku: Perhaps we should have waited for Erasa's presence…
Sata: Useless. We have Néhémi. With hypnosis, she will reveal everything.
Raiku: Good idea.
But at that precise moment… Erasa appeared.
She was no longer the same.
Her naked body, covered with scars, seemed broken. She was only a shadow of herself.
Sata: Erasa?… Look at yourself… What misery…
Erasa swept the scene with her gaze, silently.
Erasa: Néhémi… Jérôme… My subjects…
Her voice was but a whisper. Her dark eyes, filled with a pain she refused to show.
Sata: Erasa, I'm talking to you, idiot!
Erasa: … Erashia… Was it you who did this?
She spoke with an almost extinguished voice.
Sata: Those old names again… No matter what you call me: Erashia, Sata, Reptilius, Medusa… It changes nothing. What matters is that my goal is almost accomplished.
Erasa: You still haven't answered… Why? Why take everything from me? I harmed no one… I even left you your world… to create mine. I just wanted to live… in peace…
Erasa lowered her eyes.
Apparently... that was too much to ask.
Her voice, barely a breath, was lost in the oppressive silence that reigned.
Raiku, in a mocking tone, slowly approached, arms crossed:
Hm? Erasa… Poor Erasa. The way you act… Do you have no dignity? It's almost pathetic, don't you think?...
She had no time to finish her sentence.
In a flash, Erasa materialized before her, calmly extending her hand:
External Wines.
A dull crash resounded.
Erasa's foot sank into Raiku's chest, who mysteriously disappeared, as if erased from space itself.
Sata, witness to the scene, stepped back, eyes wide.
Erasa… You touched her? You are now able to interact with non-dimensional entities? That's not… that's not logical! You were only a hyper-demon, in my memories!!
Erasa slowly raised her eyes to her.
You knew me… once. But it has been a long time since I was a mere hyper-demon.
A shiver ran through Sata. She narrowed her eyes and, for a moment, saw through Erasa… a presence otherwise more ancient, vaster, more abominable.
Heh heh… Ha… HaHAHAHA!! Even your current level, as astonishing as it is, will not be enough to defeat me… Nor to defeat Raiku. But I must admit one thing, Erasa: you have changed. The Primordial Demon, isn't it? Is that what these scars gave you? That power... that abomination?
Erasa did not answer. She simply stared at her. Her silence weighed more than any words.
Sata sneered:
You've become quite rude, poor thing. I think it's time to teach you some manners.
Erasa breathed out, her voice extinguished:
I don't care. Do with me what you want. You tore away my treasure… My well-being… My reason to exist. So I am nothing but a shell. Strike. Kill. Humiliate. Hold nothing back… Erashia.
At these words, Sata embraced her without warning, holding her tight.
How… can she move so fast?...
Sata stroked her hair with a strange, almost maternal gesture.
Calm down, my tender little sister. So fragile… so broken. You are right: your reason for being no longer exists…
But she stopped.
A shiver ran down her spine. Her gaze changed. Her smile froze.
So… it's true. You have indeed become a Primordial Demon. You already possess…
Her hand slowly rose, wanting to touch Erasa's forehead… but a shock violently threw her back, projecting her backward.
Erasa, with a cold gaze, murmured:
You too… disappear.
Space seemed to freeze.
An absolute silence fell, as if the world held its breath.
Then, abruptly, time resumed its course.