Corruption is Magic

Sitting at the entryway of the manor I look out to the now calm city, the need for sleep nagging at me but I just sit and watch. How many lives have been snuffed out today? Death had been so far removed from my life back home, seeing so much here and being the cause of it, even if I hadn’t done it personally weighs on me. Looking down to my arm I mentally thank Celestia for teaching me the pain relief spell. I’ll need a doctor or someone who knows medical magic to fix this. I mentally sigh looking back up.

“Coin for your thoughts.” Alexander’s voice says as he turns the corner of the manor's entry way and sits on the ground with me.

“How do people deal with it?” I ask as I look out to the city.

“Deal with what my Dear?”

“Death… I have personally caused the deaths of not just one… but many people. Sure they might not have been the best or even good at all… but I didn’t have the right to kill them.” I say with my voice cracking as I speak. I’m a monster… I… how can I face my friends and family after this. “Is this world some… punishment by the goddesses?” I ask but less to Alexander and more to the world in general. My vision goes blurry as more tears fall from my eyes and my body shakes. I am surprised as Alexander’s arm wraps around my shoulders and draws me in close to him.

“We can’t help what others do Twilight. We can only be sure about our actions and in the here and now. You want to help the world and this world is too far gone to be helped without severe measures being taken.” Alexander whispers to me with his chin over my head as I lean into him. “We are neither Omniscient nor Omnipotent. We are people trying our best, that is all that can be asked and in your case, you have made strides to better a world that most come to and end up being gripped by their more base desires. If anyone wrongs you for what you do then they can jump into the red sea for all I care.”

Alexander calmly says asn he holds me, all the while I let my tears flow and grab on to his suit. Why… why am I here… why did it have to be me? If only… if only my magic was more powerful, if only I knew a spell to bring them all back… If only there was a spell to allow a magical happily ever after. I mentally cry as I grip Alexander who holds me. I feel my corruption wiggle around in me but I don’t care what it’s doing. It might be best if it just took me over and did as it wished, maybe it wouldn’t hurt as much if it did the killing. Feeling Alexander moving I look up to him to see him looking around shocked. Looking too I see color. The usual black, rocky landscape around us has been replaced with some strange kind of dirt and growing in said dirt are flowers, however unlike flowers that used to grow in my world the flowers here are vastly different. They have vine-like roots that connect one another and the petals seem to emit a soft light of the colors that are the same as the petals themselves. The other major unique feature is that any ash that lands on them seems to get absorbed and causes the lights to grow brighter for a second causing a twinkling effect in the mass of flowers.

Alexander looks down to me and in stunted silence we don’t know what to say. The entire walled area of the manor has become a bed for these flowers and looking through the gate to the city the rest of the city also has these flowers. “What?” I weakly say in confusion only to feel a wave of drowsiness wash over me. That’s also when I feel the corruption in my hands, even my broken one. Magic is being pumped through them and the corruption is utilizing it on its own. That’s when I feel the all too familiar voice in the back of my head.

“When the battle ends, flowers bloom for the fallen.” It soothingly says giving a small wriggle in my non-broken arm. Is it trying to cheer me up? I mentally think, looking at the rainbow of color before me.

“I guess they do.” I say out loud with a small smile. “I guess flowers do bloom.”

***

I sit in the ruins of the main office of the manor, A makeshift desk set up for me as Jasmine uses magic to work on my broken arm trying to fix it. I wince every now and then as the sensation of bones and fragments moving in my arm feels weird and uncomfortable. “How is this feeling so far?” Jasmine asks sheepishly, she has already asked this question near twenty times.

“It’s alright Jasmine. Thank you.”

“So, we have the guards in the dungeons that came quietly and didn’t join us. Some however were too much of an issue.” Korzak declares as he enters the room via the doorway with no doors with Gaurt close behind him along with Icarus.

“Damn, this room got fucked.” Gaurt happily says inspecting the burned and scorched room.

“You really don’t know how to keep your trap shut do you?” Icarus sighs coming over to Jasmine who jumps at his arrival beside her. “Here let me help.” He says as he starts to also channel magic to help fix my arm.

“We also have a report for you Mistress, those who joined us and those who remained neutral in the conflict have asked if you would like to enact anything immediately. I can get word out if there is anything.” Enact anything? I hadn’t even had time to think about these kinds of things. Thinking for a little bit I come up with a few things I’d like to enact to make sure what I want can start taking effect later down the road but many things can wait till things have settled down.

“Tell them… today will be a day of celebration but also remembrance. We have won today but we mustn't lose ourselves and become monsters so we should remember even our enemies.” I say getting odd looks from both Gaurt and Korzak but neither object. “Then I would also rule that any and all slavery in the city is punishable effective immediately. I would Like to also tell everyone I’ll make a public address to the city in…” Oh goddesses, how long will it take for me to gather information on how the city works now and fix it up and form plans… well with good teamwork I should be able to do it in a few days… with hiccups extend it a few days, add room for burn out. “Seven days.”

“I’ll be sure that word gets out Mistress.” Kozak says with a nod before turning and leaving the room. The room quickly falls silent but the silence doesn't last due to Gaurt speaking up.

“So… when can I have my turn with you, Mistress?~” Gaurt seductively says with almost a pur to her words and a wink to me at the end. I’m done with today.