Time seemed to have stopped, and for a brief moment, he wished it truly had. The sky was pitch ck, devoid of moon or stars. The morous music had long ceased, and the lights of Giabe-Face no longer shone. The carousel and Ferris Wheel stood still.


    In the heart of the quiet night, Eugene and Noir were intertwined. Eugene looked at Noir with quivering eyes. She was smiling brightly, her lips streaming with blood. He saw the gaping wound in her chest where the sword remained embedded.


    This time, the strike was not shallow. It hadn''t missed its mark. The in sword had pierced Noir''s heart precisely.


    He noticed the ne, now red with the blood that spurted from her wound. Unknowingly, Eugene swallowed his breath, wishing he could turn his gaze away.


    Noir''s hand moved. Her trembling hand reached toward Eugene. It was possible that she still had strength left in her. Despite having driven her to this point and piercing her heart, she was still the Queen of the Night Demons. Perhaps to her, death still felt strange and distant.


    "…Ahaha."


    Her bloodied left hand touched Eugene''s face, leaving streaks of red on his cheek. Noir chuckled as she moved her hand downwards. She slowly caressed Eugene''s throat.


    "Haha..."


    She stopped. Noir did not grip his throat. She didn’t dig her nails into his neck or tear it open. Instead, she touched him with the gentleness and delicateness of handling a fragile piece of art. She saw Eugene’s eyes tremble with each gentle touch. She saw his cheeks twitch and his lips contort."Hamel,” she called out.


    Her lips, stained red with blood, parted. Noir whispered with a mischievous smile, "In such a beautiful moment, why do you wear such an expression?"


    Everything about that expression was satisfying to her. Noir chuckled and moved her right hand, groping towards the hand that held the sword hilt.


    "Such an awkward finish isn''t like you,” shemented.


    Her dispersing strength wasn’t used to attack Eugene. Instead, with a yful smile, Noir pulled on Eugene''s hand.


    <em>Thump!</em>


    The sword plunged deeper. Eugene and Noir grew even closer. Blood welled from her open lips, and his face contorted further.


    "Ah."


    It looked as if he might cry at any moment. It was a face unbing of Hamel. But it didn’t matter. Noir closed her eyes. She could feel a blissful satisfaction.


    She could no longer fly, nor did she feel the need to. Noir’s body began to fall limply from the sky.


    He could have just let go, but Eugene didn’t. If he had both arms, he might have held the sword and supported Noir''s back, but now only his right arm remained.


    So, he chose to release the sword. He pulled her into his embrace while grasping Noir’s hand.


    <em>Whoosh!</em>


    Eugene’s cloak transformed and enveloped them both.


    She felt aforting warmth in her rapidly cooling body. She felt the tremble of the hand she held. Their hands separated. He reached out and supported Noir’s waist.


    <em>Slowly.</em>


    They fell slowly. Eugene said nothing. Noir buried her face in Eugene''s chest so his expression remained unseen. Yet, he did not look up.


    Eugene found the moment perfect. He truly wished that time could just stop right there.


    But no matter how desperately he wished, time did not stop. Even a leisurely fall had to eventually conclude upon reaching the ground. Eugene''s feet touched the earth. He held Noir for a moment longer before letting out a long sigh and gentlyying her down on the ground.


    "Ahaha."


    Her heart had been pierced by the sword. The long de had passed through her body and protruded from her back. Despite this, when her back touched the ground, she felt no pain from the sword being pushed or caught.


    "You''re surprisingly gentle and kind, unlike how you look," she remarked.


    He had broken the sword hilt beforehand, when he held her in his embrace, ensuring she wouldn''t feel more pain when theynded. Noir chuckled as she looked up at Eugene.


    "Didn’t you think I could strike back?" she teased.


    "Yes," Eugene responded softly, "You could have if you had tried. If you wanted to. Even when you tried to self-destruct. Even when I plunged the sword into your heart."


    "Ahaha... that''s different, Hamel. It''s not that I didn''t. I couldn''t. The self-destruction…. Heh, your determination was stronger than I anticipated. I was toocent, even at the end—" Noir paused and closed her eyes.


    "It was the same in that moment. I was content, but you were not. Hamel, you... you hoped to kill me until the very end. That''s all there was to it. Your desire was stronger than mine. You wanted me so desperately."


    Silence followed.


    "Ahaha. In the end, that''s what it was. I hesitated at thest moment. I had regrets. I was content just in that moment. Heh, in the end... it turned out just as I said, didn''t it?" Noir said.


    She smiled broadly as she opened her eyes.


    Eugene''s face was visible to her. His expression was unchanged from before, no different from when they were in the nightmare. He looked like he might cry at any moment. He was struggling to hold back his emotions. Even though he had achieved the victory he longed for, he was not happy.


    She found his expression deeply satisfying and joyful.


    "What a wonderful night,” shemented.


    The end of the night was approaching. The pitch-ck night sky was fading. The rising sun was gradually changing the color of the sky. Twilight had passed, and night too, and now dawn wasing.


    "Hamel," Noir spoke. "I have awoken from the dream I wished wouldst forever, and the night I hoped would never end ising to an end."


    The night was retreating. Eugene felt it too. Simultaneously, Noir''s end was approaching.


    Eugene ced his hand on his aching chest. Whether the pain was from sessively using Ignition or purely emotional, he did not want to decide.


    "Tonight, I have seen all of you,” she said.


    Noir reached out her hand.


    "Hamel, I have tasted the foundation of your being."


    Her trembling hand slowly moved towards Eugene. Even though he was right in front of her, her hand seemed unable to reach him. Every step towards reaching him felt incredibly distant.


    Noir felt death. Throughout her life, she had witnessed countless deaths. She had often been the one to dish out death and had frequently watched others die. Showing onest dream to a doomed human was also one of Noir''s hobbies.


    However, Noir had never truly felt her own death. Despite her ability to conjure any fantasy, she could not create the sensation of her own demise because she had never experienced it, nor could she imagine it.


    But now, she could imagine it; she was feeling it. The eternal night she had so longed for was upon her. An unfathomable darkness, not mboyant, loud, or noisy, but a dull and cold silence was settling in.


    "I have," Noir began, genuinely smiling even in the face of death, "tonight, I have held you close."


    <em>Cough.</em>


    A surge of blood momentarily silenced her. Noir coughed up blood several times. With each episode, her body stiffened and cooled. Her vision blurred, yet she did not let her smile falter.


    After coughing, she continued, "Deeper and more intensely than anyone else could."


    Sienna Merdein, Anise Slywood, Kristina Rogeris — none of them knew Eugene as she had. Noir had experienced what they never could. She and Eugene had tried with all their might to kill each other. She came close to doing so, hesitated, and eventually faced death.


    "Ah...." Noir moaned.


    She finally managed to reach that hand that seemed unreachable. Eugene himself helped Noir grasp his hand.


    Noir''s body trembled slightly. She came to a new understanding of the death she was feeling. It was not at all bleak or cold. It was not as dark as the night.


    Noir looked up at Eugene while blinking. She saw how his eyes were closed tight, how his lips were pursed, and how his cheeks twitched. His eyes seemed on the verge of tears yet shed none. His golden pupils quivered, and his ash-gray hair twinkled in the distant light.


    Eugene saw the dawn behind him.


    "It''s warm," Noir chuckled. "If, someday, I am reincarnated like you and we happen to meet by chance."


    Eugene stared at her.


    "Would you recognize me? Will I remember you?" she questioned.


    "I wonder," Eugene murmured.


    "Heh, it seems like a usible thing. If it were… to happen," Noir paused, then chuckled and shook her head, "No, I won''t say it."


    Discussing a potential distant future mattered less to her than the present.


    "Hamel,” she called out.


    "....."


    "Do you love me?" Noir whispered.


    Eugene sighed softly. After a few breaths, he slowly shook his head.


    "No."


    He was not confused. The emotion he felt was not love. Eugene did not love Noir. He could not love her as long as she was <em>Noir Giabe.</em>


    "You''re cruel. You could lie, just this once, at the end,” she said.


    But Noir was not disappointed by his response. She grinned broadly as she gently stroked his hand.


    "But... Hamel, you hesitated,” shemented.


    Her grip was weak, but she tugged gently. It wasn''t enough strength to pull even a dish, but sufficient to convey her message. Eugene did not refuse but leaned in toward her.


    "You might not have loved me, but you almost did, didn''t you?" she questioned.


    He could not deny it. The dream Noir had shown him, the battles leading up to now, no, even before that — when he found out Noir was the reincarnation of Aria, he had be aware of it. It had been unavoidable.


    What he had desperately longed to ignore hade to form a sentiment with her pleading.


    "That''s enough," Noir said, smiling as she nodded. The turmoil Hamel felt was not pure. It was not born solely from his perspective of Noir Giabe. But that did not matter.


    "After all, it''s all about me in the end."


    She nced sideways. Sienna Merdein was approaching from behind the ruins, supporting the Saint who had not yet regained consciousness.


    Noir observed Sienna''s dirt-streaked face with a mischievous smile. Despite the situation, she couldn''t help but feel a sense of superiority.


    "It seems we are both not far off."


    Noir chuckled again, turning back to look at Eugene. His body trembled, not just from emotion but also from the toll of nearing death. Yet, despite the excruciating pain, Eugene would not die.


    Noir was different. She was going to die soon, fading away like the dim light of dawn.


    "It would be troublesome if you copsed before I die. So," she said, barely managing to lift her hand to Eugene''s cheek, satisfied that her dying body could still move that way. She whispered, "May I say myst words?"


    "…..”


    "Sienna Merdein,e closer. Come and see me and Hamel,” said Noir.


    Even in these moments close to death, Noir Giabe managed to maintain her yful tone. Her relentless madness and affection were enough to disgust Sienna. However, Sienna did not refuse but moved closer while supporting the Saint.


    "You shocked me tonight, but that wasn''t enough. After all, you, Anise Slywood, and Kristina Rogeris are all alive by my grace,” said Noir.


    "Are yourst words a mockery of us?" questioned Sienna.


    "That''s right. Since I''m about to die, isn''t it fine to leave behind some mockery as myst words?" Noir asked.


    Sienna unwittingly clenched her fist. At this, Noir let out augh.


    "I''m truly surprised. I''ve never liked you, Sienna Merdein, but today, you were quite admirable. Your murderous intent was quite charming,”plimented Noir.


    "What are you talking about?" Sienna asked.


    "But it''s not enough. That level of murderous intent and magic can''t kill me. Even less so, kill the Demon King of Incarceration," Noir concluded.


    Was it all just mockery and ridicule?


    Sienna''s eyebrows twitched, but before she could respond, Noir continued, "So I will give you the Demoneye of Fantasy.”


    "What?" Sienna blurted.


    "I don''t think I''ve said something soplicated that the <em>Wise</em> Sienna Merdein can''t understand. But if you really want me to repeat it, I will. I will give you the Demoneye of Fantasy, along with my dark power,” said Noir.


    Sienna''s gaze was inevitably drawn to Noir''s right eye. The Demoneye of Divine Glory had burst from overuse, but the Demoneye of Fantasy remained intact.


    "This was not given to me by the Demon King of Incarceration," she said, "so I could pass it to you, and you might be able to use it. It''s not possible to transfer it to you as cleverly as was done in the case of Ciel Lionheart, for a human without dark power, but you might find a way to wield it."


    "….."


    "Ah, but still, heed this advice: don''t be foolish enough to embed it directly into your eyes. Try using it with that splendid magic of yours,” advised Noir.


    "Why?"


    Sienna stumbled over the question. Why would Noir Giabe leave such a legacy?


    "Because I hope Hamel survives,” Noir said with a smile.


    "I had hoped to kill him myself, but since I couldn''t manage it, neither should the Demon King of Incarceration nor the Demon King of Destruction be able to kill Hamel. If you, so frail, were to stand behind Hamel, that alone would interfere with him. So," Noir whispered, smirking at Sienna, "please, use it well. Keep Hamel alive. Your dreams, and those of Anise Slywood and Kristina Rogers — I frankly don''t care about them and hope they nevere true."


    She paused. Her breaths werebored.


    Then Noir''s smile shifted from mockery to something else.


    "But I do hope Hamel''s dreamse true."


    <em>Crazy girl.</em>


    Sienna didn''t voice the words, instead copsing where she stood.


    If only Noir had left it at mockery and derision, Sienna wouldn''t have felt this way. The fact that she seemed satisfied after saying such things, looking at Eugene as if pleased, inflicted a bitter sense of defeat in Sienna.


    "Now, Hamel."


    Noir turned her gaze to Eugene. Throughout the conversation with Sienna, Eugene had silently observed Noir. Touching her stiff cheek, Noir chuckled.


    "Will you fulfill my final wish?" she asked.


    "You want me to break your neck?" Eugene responded.


    "Ahaha. That''s Aria''s wish. In the end... dying while feeling your touch wouldn''t be a bad way to go, but I''d rather not,” answered Noir.


    Eugene looked at her silently, waiting to hear herst wish.


    "Remember me forever,” Noir requested.


    What could he say? How should he respond? Eugene himself didn''t know. This wasn''t love. Noir Giabe was someone who needed to be killed. And so he had killed her.


    Why then did this long-desired moment bring neither joy nor pleasure?


    "Ahaha. There''s no need for me to even say it." As if reading his thoughts, Noir whispered, "You''ll remember me for the rest of your life."


    And so he would. He couldn''t help but do so. At this moment, Eugene was recalling not Aria but Noir Giabe.


    He recalled the first time he met her as Eugene Lionheart, when he encountered her in the snowfield as Princess Scallia, before entering the Dragon-Demon Castle, at a hotel where she hade to him, amid the ruins of the fallen Dragon-Demon Castle, where she first called him Hamel, at the ball in Shimuin, and here, in Giabe City.


    This was the city she had crafted. It was a city brimming with narcissism, offering dreams and illusions to the visiting humans. It was the continent''s foremost tourist attraction. It was a city where she had dealt with humans to feel guilt, loss, regret, and such emotions.


    Eugene remembered the night he had shared drinks with Noir, the night he had asked if there was no other way but to be enemies.


    Had Noir given a different answer then.… Even if she hadn''t, had Eugene hoped for a different answer…?


    "Sometimes, you will dream about me,” she said.


    Eugene just stayed quiet.


    "You''ll think that we could have had a different ending,” she continued.


    It was inevitable that they would end up this way.


    Was it truly so?


    Was there no other possible ending?


    "You will regret this,” she imed.


    Her words were prophetic.


    Even now, Eugene was feeling regret.


    "Hamel, do you remember what I said in this city?" she asked.


    Noir''s voice was faint as if it could fade away at any moment.


    "You and I, at the moment, our long connection is finally severed... I asked if you didn’t want to give me onest gift. You had answered me like this.”


    —<em>No.</em>


    "Even if I called it a wish," Noir whispered.


    —<em>Your wish is none of my concern.</em>


    "Someday, when I kill you, I''ll slip a ring on my finger, and onto your finger as you die. And after you''re gone, I''ll look at the ring on my ring finger and remember you forever," Noir repeated.


    "....."


    "If you end up killing me, I hope you do the same. Yes, that''s what I said. So…."


    The blood-stained ne around her neck jangled.


    "ept my ring,” she asked.


    Eugene still didn’t say anything.


    "It doesn''t have to be on the ring finger,” she said.


    He felt the ring, cold now, no longer warmed by living blood.


    "Please ept it, Hamel. Live with the ring that bears my name. Remember me all your life, and sometimes when you dream about me, when you wake up and feel my ring, think of today and feel regret,” she said.


    "Such a cruel and vicious wish,” he responded finally.


    "That''s right, cruel and vicious. This is a curse. Isn''t it strange?" she asked.


    Her hand, stroking his cheek, was heavy. It slid down, eventually resting on Eugene''s shoulder.


    She desired it. So she wanted it. Barely lifting her gaze and chin, she looked at him.


    "I am the Queen of the Night Demons, Noir Giabe,” she dered.


    Her fumbling hand grasped his throat, pulling as if begging. He could have pulled away, but he did not.


    <em>A will.</em>


    <em>A wish.</em>


    <em>A curse.</em>


    Eugeneplied with them all. Slowly, he tilted his head, closing the distance between him and Noir. Their foreheads touched.


    "Ahaha..."


    Their foreheads slightly parted. Her red lips opened, then closed again. Without a word, her lips drew nearer.


    The brief kiss ended.


    "You''re quite sentimental and romantic, you know," Noirmented.


    Memories were made.


    In snowfields, hotels, seas, balls, cities, taverns, streets, deserts, dueling rings, dreams, ruins — just as she had always said, Noir approached Eugene whenever there was an opportunity. No matter how much Eugene rejected or insulted her, she met him with a smile. In this way, they built memories. Unwillingly, something umted in Hamel’s heart.


    And today, all of it bloomed. She felt a sense of loss. Regret, attachment, sorrow — all these emotions were new to Noir.


    "I hated the dawn," Noir said.


    Her hazy eyes moved. The sky was no longer dark. The light was settling into thepletely devastated city.


    "Because it ends the night."


    She saw Eugene’s face for thest time. Swallowing hard, Eugene grasped Noir’s ne in his hand.


    "But," Noir smiled broadly, "I wanted to say <em>good morning</em> to you."


    The creeping dawn cast their shadows together.


    "Good morning, Hamel."


    The night had ended.


    Noir''s eyes closed.<blockquote>


    Openbookworm & DantheMan''s Thoughts</blockquote>