King James' Conquests (CH 25: Sun And Moon (4))

“I can't believe you're serious about that Ching Chong girl.” My dad expressed his distaste one day when he saw us walking together. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What the hell is wrong with me?” I repeated, tilting my head. “How about you grow up and stop being a racist cunt.”

“Racist?” My dad scoffed. “I just don't want my grandchildren having narrow eyes and speaking that shit language. I want them to look like me… is that too much to ask from you? To find a girl like you?”

“... Apparently so.” I replied, walking to my room.

“God, you're so clever yet so stupid.” My dad sighed. “You'd throw away an ancestry that lasted hundreds of years for some random Chinese girl.”

“Boohoo, no blonde hair and blue eyes. Big deal.”

“... Catherine, straighten this boy up before I punch his teeth out.”

“Try me, old man.” I glanced back at him.

“Oh, you think you're hot shit now?”

“Damn right.” I grinned slightly. “I'm not scared of you, dad. I would absolutely batter you for Caroline.”

“C…Caroline?” My dad chuckled. “Is that a fucking English name? She has an English name?”

“Yeah?”

“Facking leeches…” He cursed. “This is what happens when they let just about anyone into my bloody country. Then… they start acting like us too! Speaking our language, tainting our traditions and erasing the country that we all fought for.”

“You… fought for?” I chuckled. “Don't make me laugh, the only fights you ever had were at the pub with other drunk geezers.”

“... What about your grandfather? Did he not die to a fucking Paki? A good, honest man who wanted to keep the peace and protect the law.”

“...”

“What about your great-grandfather, huh?” My dad questioned. “How many battles was he part of against those bloody Jappies?”

“Japan and China are entirely different countries-”

“The ching chings are all the fucking same! How many British soldiers died fighting them? Too fucking many to be cuddling with their kind!”

“... That's beyond stupid logic.” I sighed, shaking my head. “Just have another pint of bear and shut the fuck up, respectfully.”

“Your great-grandfather would be ashamed of how you turned out.”

“...”

Now I really wanted to spark the shit out of him.

“What's the problem?” My mom walked down from her room, looking at me. She definitely heard everything.

“-James is a bloody mug.”

“-Dad is a fucking idiot.”

“Come with me, and we’ll talk about it.” She smiled, turning back around.

I explained my feelings and experiences rather thoroughly, to which my mother supported me.

“Ignore your dad… appearance doesn't matter at all as long as you both love each other. The beauty of a person is not on the outside but rather on the inside. Their heart.” My mother smiled, touching my chest. “From what you've said… you might not have to go looking for the right one because she's right there for you.”

“She's just like you, mom.” I chuckled. “Just a bit shy sometimes.”

“Oh, really? Then you better keep her close, no matter what. Don't let go for anything, alright?”

“I won't.”

The rest of the school year went by without any hiccups.

In our final match, we decimated our ‘rival’ school 10-0. I scored 5 goals and assisted on all the other ones.

“Good shots, Harry.” I pat his shoulder. “I like those out of you.”

“Yes, captain.” Harry chuckled. “I hope I live up to your high expectations.”

“Dennis, that was some sick defence. You had their wingers locked up in prison.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dennis nodded. “See you next year innit. Don’t start getting all sensitive on me.”

“Sure.” I smiled, turning to my other teammates. “ABDIIIIIIIIII! My brother.”

“Mashallah, brother.”

We dabbed each other up, and I patted his shoulder.

“Nice passes; I liked the aggression. They couldn’t keep up with our pace.”

“Nahh, you killed all their defenders with those first three goals. We just walked over their dead bodies after that.” Abdi shook his head.

“This was a team effort, through and through.” I shook my head, patting his shoulder again. “Alone, I wouldn’t be able to win shit… but, together, we’re the best fucking team in the world.”

“Language.” John reminded me.

“I’ll take the concern.” I smiled, shrugging my shoulders. “You all played bloody perfect today, and I’m proud to be on the same half as all of you. Let’s dominate the shit competition next year the same as we did this year!”

“...” John sighed, chuckling. “You did it again. Now you’re getting detention.”

“AYE, CAPTAIN!”

“Have a good summer break, everyone.”

I nodded, watching them all go their way. I exchanged further pleasantries before it was just me and the teacher.

“Can I get a free pass for being the best striker in the world?” I asked John.

“... Ah, it’s whatever.” John waved his hand. “Nothing more than formalities to keep the kids in line from cursing every second. You deserve it. Besides, professional footballers swear all the bloody time.”

“... Soooo, no detention?”

“No detention, no concerns.”

“My g.” I chuckled, turning away. “Next season, I’ll be even better. I can’t wait to get scouted.”

“... You’re on your way,” John confirmed. “If you keep going at this pace, you’ll be a Red Devil one day.”

“There is no doubt in my mind.”

I changed my shoes, got my stuff and walked home feeling like I was the shit… well, it wasn’t just today. Every day, I felt like I was THAT guy. It wasn’t just a feeling, though. I really was HIM.

The world was my oyster…

I went home dancing and singing, making the depressed-looking adults look at me like I was a weirdo.

“I got a feeling… that tonight’s gonna be a good night, that tonight’s gonna be a good night…”

It… wasn’t a good night. Not at all.

I returned in a jolly good mood to a silent house. No TV, no sound of cooking, nothing. Just my dad sitting on the couch with a dozen bear bottles scattered all over the floor. His head was staring at the floor… frozen. It was as if something had snatched his very soul away.

“Dad, are you alright?” I walked over, raising an eyebrow. “I know you’re a hopeless tosspot, but this is a bit much even for you.”

“...” He hardly acknowledged my existence, taking another sip. “Your mother… is dead.”

“What?” I blinked, raising an eyebrow. Something like that was inconceivable for me. “You’re joking, right? This is some shit prank…”

“She is dead.” He took another sip. “Dead, James. Fucking… dead.”

“...”

I stood silently, trying to process that information. It was harder than shoving a billion tests down my memory. I didn’t want to accept it…

“... How?”

“Some… good-for-nothing… black piece of cunt garbage ran her over.” He drank again. “Fucking N*****s… come to my fucking country… kill my fucking wife… I’ll KILL THEM!”

“... Is she really dead?” I questioned. “Didn’t they get her to hospital?”

It was a stupid, hopeful question. Car crashes were lethal, but death wasn’t guaranteed.

“Those dumb-fuck doctors didn’t know their own fucking job, and she died because of it!” He got up, stumbling about. “What the fuck do we pay them for, huh? WHAT IS THE POINT?”

He grabbed my shoulders and stared at me.

“...”

I had no answer for him.

“... AUUUUUUGH.” He turned to the wall, grabbed his half-empty beer bottle and smashed it against the wall. Then he just started punching it. Repeatedly. “I hate… everything. I hate the people, I hate this fucking city, I hate who I am, I hate what this country has become, I… she was the one thing left… the one thing… I loved.”

I watched him crumble to his feet and cry like a helpless child. His knuckles were blood red, and he had punched a hole in the wall from sheer anger. Seeing my father collapse like that… didn’t make me feel any better.

It didn’t... feel real.

I didn’t want to accept any of it.

I went to my room and just laid down, still in my PE kit. I didn’t even take off my shoes. I just looked up at the ceiling, waiting for my mom to suddenly return and say that we were worried for nothing. Her smile would wash away all the sorrow…

She never did.

When I realised that, tears fell from my face.

I tried to fight them, but I couldn’t.

“It’s alright, sweetheart. It’s okay to cry… Let it all out.”

I let it all out…

Crying out waterfalls, screaming at the top of my lungs, laughing maniacally at how shit life was, lashing out in anger at everything around me…

All of my life, I had my loving mother by my side. Whenever I tripped on myself, she was right there to pick me up. When I made mistakes, she smiled and said that no one was perfect. She was the only person who loved me for who I was… unconditionally.

I grew very cynical… I stopped seeing the point in trying.

It was the first day I took off the silver cross my mother had gifted me.

My world had lost its colour entirely. Even though it was summer and the sun was out, everything felt so grey. I may as well have been living under constant rain.

The rest of the summer was just me coasting along. The only thing I remotely enjoyed was football, and even then, I played like shit. I didn’t even bother doing any of my homework which was a first in my entire life.

When the next year began, I didn’t put the effort to look somewhat happy. I was absolutely miserable.

In my first classes, I didn’t do anything but sleep or stare at the window. I didn’t see the point in any of it. I was the person who wanted to die but wasn’t pussy enough to kill myself and escape the pain of living. I was still stubborn, in a way…

I still clung to my dream… the hope that my great-grandfather had.

When it came for lunchtime, Caroline caught me sitting lifelessly on one of the benches. She approached me carefully, slowly sitting down next to me.

“What’s wrong?” She questioned, tilting her head to look at me. “You’ve been ignoring all my texts and calls…”

I glanced away.

“Can’t you tell me, James?”

She placed her head against my shoulder.

“... My mom died,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Everything’s shit.”

“... Oh.” A long moment of silence washed over us. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I repeated, lowering my head. “I can’t… be happy anymore.”

“What do you mean about my loss?” Caroline questioned.

“I’m not the same.” I placed my hands over my face. “I’ll never… be… the same.”

“It’s alright, James…” She rubbed my back, trying to remove my hands. “Look at me.”

“...” I let go, turning to face her. My face was writhe with pain and sorrow.

“No matter what happens, I’ll always be there for you.”

She… spoke those words.

No matter what happens…

I fell into her embrace, and we cuddled for what felt like a century. I didn’t want to let go. Before I knew it, the last bits of love I had left fell right on her. In a way… it was beautiful. In another, it was toxic.

Because I… never got better.

While I was happier in her presence, I was even worse without her. I’d get into a lot more fights over little shit that I would just gloss over before and laugh at. Once, someone made a joke about my mom’s death, and I sent them straight into fucking hospital. Got suspended, a shit ton of detention and my good boy points went all the way down because of it.

I didn’t care at all…

I grew reliant on Caroline’s warmth like a crackhead addict. I would kill for it.

My already strong passion turned into an unhealthy obsession.

This year was when we took it there… all the way. It didn’t take all that much time. When my dad was out drinking with his mates, I had the entire house to myself. I invited Caroline over, and horny teenagers did what horny teenagers do…

After doing a bit of homework (hardly any)... we started touching each other. Our hugging included more touching. The kissing became more… passionate. We practically shared tongues. Before I knew it, she had thrown me onto my bed.

“I want you, James…” Caroline said, pushing me down. Her cheeks were the colour of cherry blossoms. Those lips looked more desirable than ever as she pressed them down against mine.

“I want you now.”

She was pressing on it with her weight.

I flipped her over so that I was on top.

“What gentleman denies his lady’s request?”

I grinned, taking off my shirt. I had been ready for this day. Man had a few packs of condoms stored up already (they’d be used up pretty quickly, and I’d have to get some more).

The first time around… we were pretty clumsy, but we got the hang of it eventually. Caroline was surprisingly… feral for a ‘good’ girl. I thought I was the bad boy but she was twice as naughty as me.

As love and desire mixed with a flaming whirlwind of passion… I put everything into Caroline like a bottomless pit of emotions. I wanted to be at her side every waking second of the day because that’s the only way I could feel happy. She had become my very reason for living.

The number of dates we had in Y10 eclipsed all the other years combined.

And the number of times that we entangled… it’s a bit surprising that not a single condom failed me, and James King Jr popped out nine months later.

In a way, this was a happy time for me. I had become an unapologetic asshole to everyone else, and most of my grades sucked ass, sure, but at least I had a loving and beautiful girlfriend to turn back to and had some fun laughing at how shit life was.

Of course… life always changes and moves, whether you like it or not.

There was no fairytale ending for me.

Maybe there would’ve been if I took a moment to look in the mirror… if I strived to get out of the shithole I’ve descended into…

But… I was perfectly content with the way things were.

And so, the days when it all came crashing down on me approached.

…

The stressful Y11, the last year of Secondary School. The year of the GCSE’s which would ‘determine your future’. All the teachers said that if you failed, it would permanently cripple your entire future. You would have no hope whatsoever.

I didn’t give a single fuck about academics.

In Y10, I didn’t, nor did I this year… even less so, even. As for Caroline, she was the complete opposite of me. This is the year she started to ignore me and work on her studies. This was one of the most important years of her life, after all. A single mishap would risk her goal from becoming a reality.

I wasn’t very considerate… not at all. If anything, I started getting a little angry at her. Seeing it all again gave me first-hand embarrassment. I was not at all myself. I was losing it, becoming a complete and utter nutter.

When Caroline said that we should take a break… I… only escalated the situation. She spoke about how I strained her and that her life didn’t revolve around mine.

“You don’t feel the same way that I do?” I questioned.

“Not anymore.”

She admitted, nodding her head as she held her arm to the side.

“So, yes… I am breaking up with you - as much as it hurts me.” Caroline sighed. “It’s alright for you, though. You’re James King… you’ll find someone better than me.”

I was in my feelings… and said some things I wish I hadn’t.

There was a thing about being deeply passionate—it could bring out the best of a person… and it could bring out the worst, too.

The worst of me had come out in full force.

“Hurts you? Hahahah… hahahaha…” I laughed.

“Caroline, my sweet, sweet… Caroline. Why do you even care about your future? I could have been your future… I’m all you would have ever needed. What the hell would you even do at Oxford? Become a doctor? I’ll be a multi-millionaire before the age of twenty. Nah… I’ll be a fucking billionaire by the age of thirty with all the greatest clubs in the world on their knees BEGGING to get me on their team for just one year.”

“That’s… exactly what I’m talking about.” Caroline shook her head. “The reason why you liked me in the first place was because I had ambition, right? So why do you spit in my face for the same reason?”

“...” I scoffed. “Why? Because YOU spat in MY face for giving you everything you could have ever wanted. I gave you everything I had, but you’re here saying it’s too much? Too much of what? Love and affection? I make everything about me, yeah? How about you tossing me aside for YOUR studies, huh? What about that?”

“I…” She shook her head. “You make it sound like it’s my fault-”

“It is your fault!” I reaffirmed. “I thought you were smart… someone on the same wavelength as me… but you’re just another clueless, stupid, bitch who acts on her braindead whims. Do you have any idea how much of a mistake you made?”

“No, I don’t feel like it was a mistake.” She turned her back on me. “Though… I’m sure you can find someone far better than me. You are King James, after all. The ‘most handsome, talented and confident young man ever’. Who could ever say no to you?”

“... Damn right, I will.” I was beyond angry. I felt like punching the nearest object a hundred times. “The next girl I have will be infinitely more beautiful and intelligent than you. You’d look like a piece of dog shit on the street compared to her!”

“I’m happy for you.”

She walked away.

“And you Caroline… you will NEVER, EVER, find someone who compares to ME, KING JAMES!”

She kept walking.

“Dumb ass ching chang chong slag… go back to your own fucking country!”

I was too proud to chase after her. I was too proud to calm down… to look at the source of the problem and make my best attempt at fixing it.

Instead, I bashed my fist into a wooden bench and cracked into its seat.

“FUCK!”

I felt the pain in my hand and flipped over the entire bench.

“Fuck… fuck… fuck…”

“What did I do wrong…? Where did I fuck up? Where?!”

After that, I kneeled down and felt the urge to burst into tears.

But… I kept them all in.

Tears never led to anything; I knew that.

That… was the worst day of my life.

The worst defeat I had ever suffered.

The final straw.

~

As you well know, nothing good followed. Nothing at all. My life at school was shit, my life at home was shit, and my life everywhere else was shit. I had nothing… I was alone. I realised just how shit the world was and completely fell into depression.

Some girls tried to fill the void, but I didn’t even bother entertaining them. I knew how they all were.

It all led to that one hopeless day… where I had given up completely.

I found myself, at that very moment, still in my bed.

This time… I was in control. I wasn’t just going through my memories anymore.

‘No way…’ I whipped out my phone and looked at my contacts. I tried to message and call Caroline but I got aired completely. She probably blocked me.

“...” I managed a smile, getting up and looking at myself in the mirror. “We’re so back.”

I had grown considerably since that moment. Even though the pain was all there, I could handle it and move on without it restraining me. Since it was the weekend, I went out to play a little bit of footie. Actually, not just a little bit. I played it for the entire weekend.

I called up all the boys, and we had a blast.

“What the hell happened to you since Friday?” Lucas questioned. “Woke up on the wrong side of bed?”

“On the right side, for once.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “King James is back; you lads better cherish these moments!”

“Yooo, you finally got over that chick?” Dennis wrapped his arm around my neck, the bastard. “Can you start passing the ball now, Captain?”

“If your ass can score, sure.” I smiled, tilting my head. “Just because I’m in a good mood doesn’t mean I’m going to let myself lose.”

“Ahahaha… let’s win some fucking games!”

Before I knew it, I was going back to school. I didn’t like it, but I figured that these would be my last two months as a student in modern times. I also had access to the internet and could learn about a bunch of things I didn’t know before.

And boy… did I do my research.

I came to the realisation that most of my summons were from Animes… Japanese cartoons… so that’s what I focused on.

I binge-watched Bleach, for one. Then I skipped through Naruto (I didn’t bother with fillers, mainly came for my boy Itachi), some of Dragon Ball Z, Death Note (I LOVED that one), Attack On Titan, Code Geass, JJK, Fate Zero, Fate Unlimited Blade Works (I wasn’t watching every single Fate show, but I loved Gilgamesh)… I was trying to know about as many strong fictional characters as I could. I didn’t get into One Piece, though. That shit was way too fucking long, and the main character looked so goofy.

My dad thought I was a weirdo… but I carried on.

Oh, and there was Black Clover. After three episodes of that Asta cunt yelling his head off, I shut that shit off. There were shows that I didn’t watch but took note of their powerful characters.

Most importantly… Against the Gods- I read every single little thing about it.

Don’t ask me how I managed to do all of that in two months. Time as a constraint did not exist for me.

There was just… so much. Way too much I hadn’t even looked into. Before, I brushed off Anime as stupid kid’s shows but damn… some of that anime stuff was peak fiction.

Despite this new hobby which robbed me of nearly all my time, I kept up with my homework and studies… recovering my status as a genius and top student rather swiftly. Everyone was so shocked, and I even got some rewards for it. I took them with a smile, even though I could not care less.

Caroline was still doing her best at airing me… so I did the same. She was so cold that it reminded me of Xia Qingyue. Except she was no cultivator, obviously. Her ‘cold’ wasn’t quite so chilling.

I flew through my GCSE’s, acing every single one with a 100% score.

Even I impressed myself a bit…

“Caaaarolineeee~” I went behind her, looking over her shoulder to see her results. “I’m seeing a lot of G9s there… actually, it doesn’t look like you missed on a single subject.”

“I heard you cleaned up your act,” Caroline remarked, brushing me off and walking away. “I’m happy for you.”

“... I wanted to talk to you.” I grabbed her hand and made her face me. “Just you and me… at the park, after school. Please.”

“...”

Rarely do I ever say please… Caroline knew that full well. I was completely serious.

“Let go.”

“I don’t dare have the hope of getting back with you; you deserve far better.” I managed a smile, shaking my head. “It’s just… I don’t want that to be the last impression you have of me. I want you to remember me for who I really am.”

“...”

I finally let go, turning away.

“It’s your decision… I won’t force you.”

~

After getting my results and chatting it up with my friends for the last time, I felt that this imaginary world was slowly collapsing on itself. Ice and fire were breaking into the distant corners, reminding me of the battle I had been evading.

I couldn’t linger for much longer… I knew that much.

I sat on our favourite bench in the park. I couldn’t tell you how many times we smooched over it. I’d imagine if the bench was sentient, it would absolutely hate me. Or, if it were a pervert… it would love me.

Either way, I was chilling on the bench… reading a newspaper I had picked up. For once, this world of mine looked beautiful. I saw my young self running across the field of grass, my slightly older self going across the monkey bars and climbing the trees. I could see my father and mother supporting me.

I saw me and my friends playing football without a care in the world for hours on end.

You know what they say?

Don’t cry because it’s over… smile because it happened.

These two months I had spent repairing my reputation and seeing the good in life had been eye-opening. I still had things to live for, but I let my misery consume me… transform me… which led to me losing everything else I treasured.

I had plenty of good friends I didn’t bother to turn to… Dennis, Harry, Rokas… they were always there, but I was too proud to reach out to them.

As time passed, I began to feel that Caroline wouldn’t show up.

“So… you’ll leave me hanging?” I sighed, looking up at the sky. “Without any closure?”

I didn’t leave, sitting out until the end. I was both stubborn and patient.

In the end… my patience bore fruit.

Caroline came to me, dressed up in a tight beautiful Chinese purple dress and perfected makeup. God, she was absolutely glamorous. Bewitching. Since the beginning, I found her pretty, but now… she had truly blossomed. She had glown-up, in modern terms.

Meanwhile me… I was in my school uniform. Yeah, I hadn’t changed out of it.

“Still in your school uniform?” She raised an eyebrow.

“I didn’t know that we were dressing up.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Are you trying to impress me on our last day? Or is there a boyfriend I have to batter first before we get there?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” She shook her head. “Why would I find another boyfriend?”

“...” I shrugged. “We all do stupid things in the moment… I know I did.”

She sat down next to me, and I straightened up.

“There’s not a single person in the world like you, you know.”

“...” I felt a deep sadness in her voice even as she tried to sound humorous.

“You’re a terrible, terrible person.” She sniffled, shaking her head. Even so, her lips curled into the slightest of smiles. “The Red Devil who took my heart and ran away with it. How could I… how could anyone… replace you?”

I felt an unwavering rumbling in my heart. Almost instinctively, I wrapped my arm around her and pulled my sweet Caroline into my embrace.

I didn’t know what to say, really.

“I’ve never stopped loving you…” I could tell that she was fighting back tears. Her frozen expression seemed to be just a facade all along as she tried to separate herself from me. “Even after everything…”

Part of me wanted to cry, too… because I felt the same way.

We were star-crossed lovers, like Romeo and Juliet…

We could never be.

“I’m so sorry…” I managed a smile, brushing her hair. “I betrayed you in the end. I…”

“I left you all on your own.” She cut in, shaking her head. “I promised that no matter what happened, I’d be by your side and yet… when you came between me and my dream I-”

“Don’t you blame yourself for that… ever.” I pulled her in tighter. “I didn’t treat you right at all…”

“I should’ve helped you get better…”

I wanted to laugh… we were both hopeless romantics blaming ourselves.

“It’s over now.” I shook my head. “Everything is okay.”

When she cried into my school t-shirt, I felt like crying, too, but I stayed strong and comforted her.

“You have a bright future ahead of you.” I looked up at the sky, watching it break apart. “You know that, of course. I’ve told you that you were smart at least a thousand times.”

“... Why are you talking like that?”

“I have a different path…” My body tensed a little. “A different dream.”

“...”

“Like you moved away from me to pursue your goal, I have to do the same.” I managed a smile. “As much as it hurts me… I have to learn to let go.”

“... So that’s how it is.” Caroline’s sorrowful expression guilt tripped me across seven different dimensions. “As long as you’re happy again.”

“... I’m trying.” I managed a smile. “But, without you… it’s so very difficult. You’ve snatched my heart and hid it away somewhere I can’t seem to reach. I… kindly ask you to return it.”

I joked, looking at her.

“No, it’s mine.” Caroline stuck out her tongue.

“Who is the devil now?” I raised an eyebrow.

“... So… we won’t be seeing each other in a while, then?” She changed the subject, turning away.

“Never again.” I countered rather coldly, taking a deep breath. “We are worlds apart…”

“Worlds apart…” She looked up at the sky.

“Keep striving on, Caroline…” Seeing as this world was breaking apart, I looked into her eyes for one final time. “Don’t let a James King stop you from being great and making the most out of yourself. If anything… that’s… my last wish. I want you to make all your dreams come true without worrying about me.”

“... What about… the dream that matters to me most?” Caroline questioned, grasping all my heartstrings at once.

“... That’s a dream that neither of us can reach.” I shook my head. “This is the last time that I’ll ever see you.”

We looked at each other for a little while until she managed a smile.

“Then… let’s kiss one more time.”

“I… don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t be shy, King James.”

She grabbed my face and pressed her lips against mine. When we started making out, I couldn’t quite stop myself as all of our moments together rushed through my mind. This would’ve certainly reeled me in before… but I had accepted the truth of the matter.

This would be our last moment together… and that was okay.

“Last Christmas, I gave you my heart.” I smiled, backing away as I stood up. I turned back to her, offering my hand.

“I love it when you call me Senorita.” She stood up and took it.

‘Hey… those aren’t the lyrics.’ I blinked.

“I wish I could pretend I didn’t need ya.” Caroline smiled, tilting her head. “Don’t tell me you don’t know this one?”

“Sure, I do.”

“But every touch is oh, la-la-la.” Her head was dancing to the tune, and so was I. “It’s true, la-la-la… Ooh, I should be running, oooh you keep me coming for you.”

“Land in Miami.” I cut in, taking the initiative to spin her around. “The air was hot from summer rain, sweat dropping off me… before I even knew her name…”

We kept singing as the world began to truly collapse around us. I couldn’t see past the park, nor did I care to. This moment… was ours.

“You say we’re just friends but friends don’t know the way you taste, la-la-la…” Caroline was really in her bag cooking. She sounded better than the actual singer. “Cause you know it's been a long time coming… don’t let me fall, oh…”

“Ooh, when your lips undress me, hooked on your tongue… ooh, love, your kiss is deadly - don’t stop.”

Eventually… all that remained was a circle of light around us as we began wrapping up the song.

“Oooh, I should be running… ooh, you keep me coming for you.”

“Are you moaning?” I blinked.

“I’m not… that’s just how you’re meant to sing it.”

“Uh-huh.” I chuckled. “Do you see that this world is coming to an end?”

“What are you talking about?” She raised an eyebrow. “Nothing’s changed.”

“I… see.” I smiled, caressing the side of her face. “Then this… is farewell.”

I pulled her in for one final kiss…

A rush of memories that didn’t belong to me rushed in…

Me getting scouted, getting signed by Manchester United… taking the starting spot… and then taking the world by storm step by step. World Cups, Premier League Titles, Champions League, Ballon d’Or’s, countless records shattered…

I would’ve been the best in the world… the best of all time. The greatest.

Hell, I even got knighted for being so good at kicking a ball.

Sir James King…

I smiled, closing my eyes.

And then… after all of that… Caroline and I would be reunited.

She would achieve her dream of studying at Oxford University and more, becoming someone who pushed forward the science of medicine and won countless prestigious awards for herself in that department.

Then… we would reunite, catch up and get married shortly after. Love always finds a way, as they say. Then we’d have a bit too many kids and grow old together as our illustrious careers came to a close and our children took the stage of the world for themselves.

Our… fairytale ending.

My fate was different… however.

It all left a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth as I stood in a pitch-black void. All alone.

Yet… I was happy.

Somewhere in the universe, there was a happy ending for us.

That… was enough for me.

Now I had to find my happy ending.

~

“Six… seven… eight…”

Crack…

The ice began to crack, causing Ling Wugou to pause. From within the ice, a terrifying rumbling shook the earth. A power that far eclipsed his.

Crack… crack… crack…

BOOOOOOOOM.

The ice completely shattered, revealing James whose skin was deathly pale, yet his eyes shined with flaming determination and vigour. He had a big smile on his face, too. Flames engulfed his entire body as he called upon his sword;

“NOW, ROAR… ZABIMARU!!!”

Zabimaru emerged, ravishing the Ice Phoenix Snowflower Ribbon into shreds.

James had completely broken free from his restraints, revealing his throne power in the process. All the observing elders felt like dropping their heads down and never looking up again. A fifteen-year-old throne… the stage of power that belongs to Blue Wind Empire’s strongest and most senior experts. The ancestors of the strongest sects in the Empire.

He floated high in the air without a care in the world, flames and wind gushing from his body as if he were the sun itself. Zabimaru loosely hung in his arms, its razor fangs patiently waiting to taste blood.

“...” Xia Qingyue observed her ribbon’s remains. The Frozen Cloud Immortal Palace had lost its sole Sky Profound artefact… just like that.

‘This feeling…’

James smiled, looking up directly at the sun and letting its radiance shine down upon him. He looked like a corpse that had risen from the dead, floating in the sky.

“This world is so beautiful…”

Wind and fire danced around him in perfect harmony.

‘I haven’t felt so alive in forever…’

‘This power coursing through me… this sense of clarity… feeling of invincibility…’

‘Everything is perfect.’

James raised himself up, looking down at Xia Qingyue. He withdrew another ice ribbon from his storage, an artefact of the Emperor Profound grade and tossed it down to her. She watched it float to her feet and accepted it.

“Are you ready for round two, Fairy of the Frozen Moon?”