I Am The Game's Villain

"Do you understand now?" Cleenah asked.

She had just revealed the truth—the real reason for their existence, their purpose as Banshees, and how they could truly support Edward.

Annabelle's eyes sparkled with excitement as she let out a cheerful giggle. "Of course I do! You should've told us sooner, Goddess Harivel! Now I feel like I can really help Edward. Don't you think so, Samara?"

Samara nodded, her hand still pressed to her chest as a soft smile graced her lips. Just knowing that Edward was a part of her was enough. And now, with this new understanding, she felt like she could do even more for him. That was all she needed.

Cleenah watched their reactions, unable to hold back a wry smile. "I really did well choosing you two as his Banshees."

"Choosing us?" Annabelle tilted her head in surprise.

"Yes. It was the same with Mary," Cleenah sighed. "I suppose I got lucky when I chose her—I never even realized she was Persephone's incarnation. But with you two… I knew exactly what you were from the start. And by now, you should have some idea as well, shouldn't you?" She met their gazes.

Annabelle huffed, crossing her arms. "Does it even matter? We both love Edward, and that's what's important!"

Cleenah chuckled at her straightforwardness but then turned her attention to Samara, who had remained silent.

"Samara."

"Hm?"

"I know how you feel about Edward's recklessness," Cleenah said gently. "You've been holding back. You've changed a lot since your summoning, haven't you?"

Samara hesitated. "I… I just want Edward to be happy."

Cleenah's gaze softened. "And you think he'll hate you if you speak your true thoughts?"

Samara froze.

Bullseye.

Annabelle was naturally kind and gentle, but Samara… she was different.

Cleenah reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "When I chose you to be Edward's Banshee, it wasn't because you were kindhearted. I chose you because you will do whatever it takes to protect him, no matter the consequences. Am I wrong?"

Samara lowered her gaze. "Edward… I'm scared of losing him."

But those words carried a deeper meaning.

How many times had she wanted to speak up when Edward threw himself into danger so selflessly? She wasn't the type to stay quiet, not by nature.

The very day she was summoned, she had seen Claudia threatening Edward—and she had wanted to kill her for it. She hadn't hesitated. She had been serious.

But over time, she had changed. Spending her days with Amael, Annabelle, Alea, and Christina had softened her. She had learned patience, restraint. She had shaped herself to fit within their little family.

Otherwise, she would have never been this tolerant of certain people.

"Edward is just as scared of losing you and Annabelle as you are of losing him," Cleenah said. "That's why he's so desperate to resurrect you."

"It doesn't matter," Samara shook her head, her fingers curling into fists. "I'll stay with Edward… unless he rejects me."

Just the thought of it made her chest tighten, a sharp pang of fear settling deep inside her.

"He never will," Cleenah assured her, then studied Samara carefully. "But will you always stay by his side?"

Samara's gaze snapped up, her brow furrowed. "Of course I will."

Cleenah sighed softly. "You know what I mean, Samara. There will come a time when you'll have to make a choice. I won't be there to guide you then, but remember this—Edward loves you. Both of you."

Her gaze flickered toward Annabelle, who was still smiling.

"If it really comes down to it," Cleenah continued, "he will do anything for you. Because while he may be Edward… deep down, he is still Nyr."

A sudden shift in the air made Annabelle's smile waver. She hesitated before asking, her voice tinged with sadness, "Are you leaving us soon?"

Cleenah gave her a gentle smile and reached out, resting a hand on Annabelle's head. "From now on, he's going to feel lonelier than ever."

"We'll be with him," Samara said seriously.

As she said that, deep inside, Samara regretted for the first time about not having a body.

If only she had a real body—one that wouldn't be a burden to him. A body that could hold him, share warmth with him, be by his side without limitations. If he wished for more… she wanted to be able to give him that too.

"I know," Cleenah whispered, closing her eyes.

And then, in the blink of an eye, she was gone—vanishing, leaving behind only the faintest trace of her presence.

There were still other places she needed to be, other people to talk to.

***

Cleenah stepped into a cavern, her figure barely illuminated by the flickering glow of scattered candles and torches hooked onto the jagged walls. There was no natural light here—only the dim, wavering flames that barely kept the overwhelming darkness at bay.

She moved forward without hesitation with a clear destination. After a minute of walking, she reached what appeared to be a dead end—a solid wall of rough stone. But this was precisely where she wanted to be.

Before her stood an enormous circular engraving carved directly into the stone, spanning the entire wall. It was adorned with beautiful patterns and archaic symbols, indecipherable to any mortal. These were remnants of the Divine Era—an era long forgotten by all but a select few. And Cleenah was one of them. She had etched this spell herself, ensuring that no one else could ever hope to reach it.

Slowly, she raised her hand, fingers outstretched toward the cold surface. But before she could make contact, a presence stirred behind her.

"I thought the last time was supposed to be the last time you'd come here."

Cleenah lowered her hand and turned, meeting the gaze of Sylvia Alphonse Celesta, who stood a short distance away.

"I did say that, didn't I?" Cleenah muttered, a wry smile on her lips.

Sylvia's expression remained neutral. "I'm not surprised. You didn't miss a single day for two years straight, Goddess Harivel."

Cleenah let out a soft chuckle. "I just needed to be sure one last time—that everything is in place for the worst possible future for Edward."

"Wouldn't it be?" Sylvia asked

"I hope so."

Without another word, Cleenah reached for her ears, unclasping the golden earrings that had adorned them for millennials. She looked at them for a moment before extending her hand toward Sylvia.

Sylvia glanced at them before carefully taking them into her own hands.

"When the time comes—for Edward," Cleenah said.

For the first time, a rare smile flickered across Sylvia's lips. "He's been spoiled too much."

Cleenah let out a small laugh, though there was a bittersweet edge to it. With one last glance at the massive engraving, she turned away.

"This will be the last time," she said. "I leave the rest to you, Sylvia."

Sylvia nodded. "Everything should go as planned."

Cleenah hesitated for a brief moment. "I can't be certain what will happen during the Blood Moon," she said, shaking her head. "Even I can't predict it. Nevia saw his death."

Sylvia's fingers curled slightly around the earrings. "Amael—no, Mael—is stronger than that. Amael knew it. That's why, in the end, he chose to believe in Mael. I will believe in him too." Her voice softened at the last part, almost shy.

Cleenah looked at her quietly. "How was he?" She asked. "I know I've asked before, but... I won't be able to see him anymore. I won't know how he will grow or what he will become." She said a bit sad.

Sylvia's expression turned nostalgic. "He was... incredible," she said simply, her thoughts momentarily lost in memory. "I saw something in him. Lisandra and Amael as well. Hope."

Cleenah tilted her head slightly. "Even though you and Lisandra wanted him to leave this world and live peacefully on Earth?"

Sylvia's gaze flickered with something unreadable—regret, perhaps, or something deeper. "We did. Maybe I still do," she said. "As long as he stays here, he will always be in danger. He will always suffer. He has too many enemies. And when you and I are both gone... who will protect him? Nemes?"

"No." Cleenah shook her head. "She isn't trustworthy. Her loyalty belongs to Samael alone."

"Then who?" Sylvia asked. "Even if we manage to save him and he survives... can he—?"

"I don't know," Cleenah said, cutting her off. "He will be on his own. But I trust him." She stared at Sylvia for a moment. "And you? Despite everything... despite wanting him to live in peace on Earth, you trust him too, don't you?"

Sylvia sighed softly, nodding. "I do. But I won't be there anymore." She hesitated, then asked, "Do you really think he'll be fine when he gets his last memories? When you're gone? When there's no one left to protect him?"

Cleenah's lips curled into a gentle smile. "Ephera and Layla will be there for him," she said. "I trust them more than anyone else with Edward."

Sylvia frowned slightly. "But from what you've told me, neither of them remembers their true existence."

Cleenah's expression darkened just a fraction. "Ephera will depend on Edward but Layla… maybe it is better she doesn't remember anything or learn about herself...." Her voice trailed off. For the first time, hesitation clouded her features. But then, just as quickly, she straightened. "I leave the rest to you."

And with that, she vanished.