the end;

[perfectpartner]

He couldn't say it. He couldn't bring himself to spit it out. How would Richter feel if he knew his best friend was no longer human? How would he feel, knowing that Aster's murderer lived in the same body? Aster wouldn't want to come back to a world ruled by demons even if it were possible to separate him from Ratatosk, and he didn't want Richter to be the one responsible.

Richter had already given up so much. Emil couldn't let him take the step that would make him a monster.

Flames crawled along Richter's body, the demons granting him power like Emil had never seen before. He knew-- he knew then, there was no talking him down. His heart sank into his feet but he gripped his sword. He would put an end to this. He would stop his friend, his first friend, his best friend.

167.

I'm Aster, but I'm Ratatosk, too. Aster's forgiven Ratatosk for what he did, but I locked him away because I was afraid. I was wrong. I feel like I've killed part of myself.

I know what I have to do.

Richter collapsed. He had to finally acknowledge the failure of his plan. But the demonic horde banged on the door relentlessly, a struggle that Emil could feel deep in his core. It shook him like nothing else. His fingers trembled, and as Richter spoke, his true intentions came to light.

He intended to betray the demons all along by sacrificing his own life. Emil had figured he wouldn't simply leave the world to burn. But that didn't mean it was over.

169.

When you learn the truth, I'm sure you'll be furious. I'm so sorry, Marta— and
thank you for everything.

By turning his sword against Marta, he caught Lloyd's attention and Richter's as well. Richter slammed into him from the side with his last bit of strength, knocking him aside. Emil intended to die here... as Aster, as Ratatosk, without ever telling anyone the truth. And for a few precious minutes, it almost worked.

He was holding back. It was all he could do to parry their blows without raising more suspicion. But after fighting Richter, it was taxing, and eventually he collapsed to his knees. It was won. He braced himself, ready for this chimera life to end.

The silence dragged on. Marta knelt before him, offering Aqua's core and a simple question. "You're Emil... aren't you?"

He stuttered an indignant response, but it made no difference. His friends' eyes all turned to him, shocked and horrified and more than a little angry. Tenebrae appeared, speaking for Emil when he could not. "He intended to use his life to seal the gate as atonement for the murder of Aster." Richter shifted in protest.

Emil sat up a little straighter. Marta screamed and wailed on him, but he tolerated it patiently, as he always had. "I'm sorry. I thought this was the only way. I wanted to believe that Ratatosk wouldn't want to destroy the world, but I was afraid, so I had Verius lock him away deep inside. I thought if Ratatosk was buried, his will would be gone from this world. And I—I wanted to die."

"You... what?" Marta's voice was shaky. They'd done so well. They had so many adventures on the Plane. Emil had died before, but it wasn't on his world; it was possible that dying here meant something more permanent.

Emil's eyes fluttered closed briefly. "Richter, your search for Aster is done. Aster is alive... right in front of you." The redhead startled, his green eyes wide. He was horrified and angry, if the way his hands trembled around his sword was any indication.

"What are you talking about? Just because you wear Aster's face—"

"I am Aster," Emil interjected, and all the color left the faces of those present. All except Marta, who knew. There was a question in her eyes. Her fingers tangled into his tunic, unrelenting, but Emil continued. "I wasn't sure for a long time, but when we fought in the base... I remembered. I remember everything. How we met the first time, all of our research, our adventures trying to find Ratatosk... and everything that came after that."

Tenebrae swished his tail in agreement. "Lord Ratatosk was able to possess Aster's body and keep him from dying. However, he was very weak after the fight with Richter. To that end, he created a decoy."

Richter looked like he was going to be sick. "It can't be... it's impossible... Aster." He'd tried to kill his best friend, the same one he'd tried to resurrect. Anyone would look like they wanted to die.

"I'm sorry," Emil murmured. "I wasn't sure for a long time. And then, when I remembered, I... I didn't want to tell you. I'd rather people thought I was dead than some half-human, half-Summon Spirit like I am now. I think-- I think the dead should stay dead, Richter."

Marta shook her head violently, tears still slipping down her cheeks. "That's not right. None of this is right! How can you sit there and say that you don't want to live? You've done so many good things! As Emil and as Ratatosk, you told me not to run away from Daddy. Doesn't that mean anything?"

Lloyd stepped forward, bristling. "You pretended to be something you're not just so you could save your loved ones from the truth, but forcing them to kill you would only bring them more pain."

Marta nodded. Her knuckles whitened against the dark blue of Emil's shirt. "I know Ratatosk hurt you before, and he's hurt other people. But I believe in both of you. Ratatosk has changed. I don't know if the person called Emil is part of Ratatosk or Aster, but it doesn't matter. You're all Emil. You can stand up to Ratatosk and come to an understanding!"

After all of that, Marta still believed in him? There was definitely a risk involved, but with all of his friends staring at him, and with Richter speechless and struggling in the corner... How could he refuse?

"Thanks," he breathed, and closed his eyes.

93.

What if the other me goes out of control again? I don't want to depend on him anymore, but I'm too weak to fight by myself.

"Emil... no. Ratatosk?" Marta's voice trembled at the edges. Ratatosk and Emil regarded her calmly. This was the end of the journey, and they all knew it.

"Don't look so sad. I take back what I said about eradicating mankind." Ratatosk wasn't exactly the best with humor.

168.

Marta, I'm counting on you.

Together with Richter and his mana, Emil would exist inside the space of the Ginnungagap while he worked endlessly to change the very order of the world. It was a solid plan, but Emil's friends were still having a hard time grasping it.

Emil turned toward the others. "Now, you all have to go. I'm going to seal this space so that no one else can approach the door ever again."

Marta was the last to go. "You're going to live forever, right? My heart will always be with you, even if you can't come to the Plane and see me. So, I'm not going to say goodbye either." But who knew how long the Plane would last? Emil had access to it for nearly the entire journey, but once he was cut off from that, he would be alone. It would only be him and Richter.

Suddenly, Emil regretted not saying his goodbyes to Mu and his other friends beforehand. It was too late now; it would be grossly inappropriate to drop with Marta right in front of him. He could only hope that he would have that chance.

"Emil, I'll always love you."

Something in him stopped. His hand balled into a fist at his side, worrying the hem of his tunic. He looked at her, smiling, feeling something immense well up inside of him.

"And I'll always love you too, Marta."





"So we get to be together after all," Richter murmured, noting the irony.

Ratatosk smiled briefly, but it was obviously Emil-- or Aster-- who initiated it. "We have a lot to talk about."

"You always did enjoy talking too much."