Chapter Text
Eighteen years of sorcery trading had Cedric prepared for situations like their current situation. Except without the ability to cast any magic, he was powerless.
Sofia’s petite hands wrapped themselves tighter around her neck while she released frightened gasps with tears of confusion spreading across her cheeks.
Cedric eyed Gromtrix’s smirk as the sorcerer raised his staff, increasing Sofia’s gagging. The sick bastard was enjoying the rosiness of her cheeks turning into a tint shade of purple.
“Gromtrix, stop it! You’re killing her! Do you want to be known as a child killer throughout the Ever Realm?” Cedric hissed.
His pleads was ingrained.
In another universe, Grimtrix would have stopped at Cedric’s pleads. In another universe, he would’ve kept her alive.
No. Watching the worst sorcerer in the entire Ever Realm suffer was more fun. The high pitch sounds of Sofia struggling were creasing, replaced with a gurgling sound as her lips began to turn blue.
It wasn’t long before she’d taken her last breath in Cedric’s arms, her azure eyes widening in horror.
Grimtrix let go of his staff, watching gleefully as Cedic hung his head with tears landing on the princess’ limp body.
Pathetic to think of a man once detrimental in taking over Enchancia from the man making him do parlor tricks was now sobbing over a princess who destroyed his chances of attaining his evil dreams.
If Gromtrix was honest to himself, the little brat deserved to die at his hand if it meant having Cedric follow his lead.
“Get the hell away from us, Gromtrix,” Cedric scoffed, wiping away what tears remained as the older man approached the cell he once shared with a lively Sofia. “And I’ll be damn sure to inform His Majesty that you killed his youngest. If not Roland’s hands will you suffer then it be Queen Miranda’s.”
Gromtrix rolled his eyes. “The former shoemaker? Please. Do tell Cedric what should become of me if I don’t let you leave this instant?”
Cedric closed Sofia’s eyes, wrapping her in his robe and gently cradled her in his arms. With what strength he could muster, Cedric grabbed Grimtrix by the collar.
“So help me Merlin, I’ll kill you. That’s what’ll happen you sick son of a bitch,” He sneered.
Gromtrix rolled his eyes, staring back at the limp little girl. “Fine but just so you know, it won’t bring her back.”
“I’m well aware of the tricky of sorcery when it comes to the deceased. I’m also well aware that the princess is at peace, blessed with the knowledge of not being here to witness what I’m going to do once you heal me.”
“What do you plan on doing, might I ask you? Without the princess, you’re basically broken as if you were one of her dolls.”
Cedric glanced down at Sofia, his teeth clenching as his fury burned through his veins.
He would avenge her somehow.
Her life was cut short by the leader of the Order of the Wand at eleven. She barely got to live through it.
The thought sickened Cedric. When Gromtrix had reluctantly healed him out of spite, the older man hadn’t seen what was coming.
His staff had shattered in seconds, the glass orb he used on defenseless Sofia on the floor scattered in pieces that would cut either sorcerer if they weren’t careful.
Without the staff, Gromtrix was powerless. He had no control over anyone anymore.
Cedric wished Sofia was alive to see it, her touch cold to his lips as he kissed her cheek.
“Be at peace my princess. He won’t hurt you anymore.”
Elena had told her about the spirit world in their letters yet it didn’t feel right as Sofia stood between a soldier killed in battle and a young woman dead from childbirth.
It seemed she wasn’t the only one whose hand was held by a loved one as the woman whose features reminded her of Amber’s gazed down at her level.
The woman knew Cedric in her past life. That knowledge made Sofia feel better about leaving him to suffer while she stood in line with the adults.
The lack of children was disturbing. Even if she did see one, Sofia knew there wouldn’t be time to converse with the line going at a steady pace.
“Sofia Baltzer?”
A booming voice from the stand had frightened her as Sofia hid behind the woman.
“Altas, sire, she’s been through a lot in the last twelve hours. Please be gentle with her,” the woman requested.
Altas nodded, his snowy white beard trailing to the floor as he floated towards Sofia. “Miss Baltzer?”
“Yes sir?” Sofia asked.
“According to your file, you weren’t supposed to be here for another decade or more,” Altas frowned. “Your death is devastating my child.” He held up a hand. “You don’t need to explain yourself. I see how everyone ends up here and you’re the first child here since the famine fifty years ago.”
“I am? Sir, when Elena mentioned the spirit world in her letters, you weren’t mentioned at all.”
“I’m not surprised by that. The decision of your fate can be terrifying to discuss in conversation.”
“You…You decide my fate?” Sofia gupled, becoming uneasy.
Yes I decide your fate little one.” Altas squeezed her hand, sighing deplorably. “I can see by the look on your face that you’d desperately want to go back to your friend. Unfortunately once the soul leaves the body and arrives here, you can’t go back.”
Tears glistened Sofia’s eyes at the realization she’d never see Cedric again. “Not even to say goodbye?”
“I always make an exception for those requests. However it’ll only be for a little while so you can’t visit everyone.”
“I understand. I only want Mr. Cedric to know that I’m safe now.”
“Ah yes. The sorcerer who risked his life for yours within the last week and many times before,” Altas smiled. “Once your body is burned inside the earth’s core, you may visit him.”
Sofia frowned. “That’ll be a week from now. Will I be alone until then?”
“No sweetheart,” The woman assured her. “You’ll be with your father and myself watching over your parents and siblings through this difficult time.”
Sofia glazed at the woman for a moment, taking in her features. She looked so much like an adult Amber.
“Queen Lorelei?” She gasped softly. “But I don’t know you that well. I…”
She didn’t want to bring up her death. Lorelei understood, knowing how shaken the child was going through her own at such a young age.
She has to be good enough to be on the good branch. Altas knows that no child can end up on the bad branch for one deed, Lorelei thought as she gazed at the man in question and gave a nod to Sofia.
“Miss Baltzer, I grant you your stay up here in the good branch. You’ve earned it,” Altas smiled as he floated back to his stand. “You’ve done so much within your shortened life that revolved around courage and kindness.”
Sofia was baffled. She thought some of her deeds would’ve gotten her eternal damnation in the bad branch.
She bragged, lied, and murdered in a span of three years. Was childhood innocence and self defense working in her favor?
“But I murdered an evil sorceress. Wouldn’t I be damned for it?” Sofia wondered.
Altas shook his head. “You were saving your kingdom. That selflessness is more than enough to make you be on the good branch for life.” White mist opened behind him. “Your father’s waiting for you. Happy trails to you Miss Baltzer.”
The mist disappeared as Sofia looked around. Altas said her father was looking for her.
She couldn’t remember what he looked like. It’d been too long.
“Sofia? Marquita?”
Marquita? Only one person called her ladybug.
“Daddy? Daddy!” Sofia squealed. It had been so long since she lasted used that infantile term. “I’ve missed you so much!”
“I missed you too sweetheart,” Birk smiled, twirling her around as his mustache wiggled like the way Sofia remembered it. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”
Sofia’s face paled. She didn’t want to relieve her own hands forced together around her neck.
It was a fate far worse than drowning.
“Birk… Sofia passed away unexpectedly,” Lorelei sighed, putting her hands on Sofia’s quivering shoulders. “Strangulation.”
“By who?” Birk frowned.
“I don’t want to speak of him,” Sofia sniffed. “I didn’t want to go either. I wanted to stay… I really did.”
“We’ve had that feeling before. It’s all right if you’re feeling that way. Nobody is going to shame you for it sweetie,” Lorelei assured.
Tears poured down Sofia’s cheeks as she buried herself in Bork’s chest. Her body trembled in grief while she felt Birk’s hand rub her back.
Amber. James. Her mom and dad.
Mr. Cedric….
She was really dead and she was leaving him.
It wasn’t fair!
Birk shushed her, carrying her in his arms while Lorelei followed behind father and daughter to their home.
Cedric didn’t recall when he started to snap and gone on a murderous rampage for his fallen friend.
He did, however, made sure to avoid any blood splatter on Sofia’s body as it grew colder.
Despite himself, he hadn’t had the heart to kill Gromtrix for he decided that the prisoners in the Enchancia dungeons would avenge him and Sofia.
They may have been criminals themselves but any crime against women and children of the nobility and royalty Cedric knew they never tolerated.
Morgona was the first to go. Cedric hadn’t shown her no mercy. She laid limp in seconds as he placed the amulet he used to strangle her around Sofia’s neck.
He managed to find his wand out in the open the moment he forced Grimtrix to lead him out of the headquarters.
He kissed Sofia’s forehead, stroking her hair. Despite her plight, she had a smile on her face when she passed.
Was it out of being in his arms? Did she feel safe with him? Had she trusted him in her final moments?
Cedric smiled for the first time at the thought, his eyebrows arching as Greylock approached him.
The former praise worthy sorcerer was dirt ridden. His monocle was cracked from where Cedric had punched him earlier in spite.
“I thought you’d be inside with the rest of those unworthy members of the Order of the Wand,” Cedric growled. “Whatever you have to say isn’t going to bring Sofia back so make it damn quick.”
“Why are you doing this Cedric?” Greylock wondered. He went for his former friend’s hand only for Cedric to swat it away. “You think it’s going to bring the princess back?”
“I know it’s not, Greylock but why should you care? You didn’t give a single damn about us! All you wanted was power.”
“So did you Carsick.”
“It’s Cedric!” Cedric hissed, pointing his wand towards the headquarters. “At least I got out of my quest for taking over the kingdom because of Sofia. She was a dear friend of mine and I forever owe her in my debt. Starting now. Destructo!”
The headquarters had blown to bits of rubble. Cedric watched as what was left of the roof pinned Greylock underneath and smiled.
If Sofia had seen him from wherever she was now, she would’ve been proud.
Using a teleportation spell, Cedric and Gromtrix had arrived back to Enchancia as Cedric’s body trembled.
How was he going to explain to the royal family about Sofia?
“Cedric! We were—“ Roland paused, noticing the sorcerer’s emotional state. “What is it old friend?”
“It’s Sofia. She’s… She….” Cedric croaked.
Miranda’s screams of grief broke the silence of the day as Amber and James attempted to process what was going on.
Roland turned to Baileywick, his expression sallow. “T-Take Sofia to the morgue once we’ve had a moment to process this.”
“Yes Your Majesty,” Baileywick muttered.
Their pure light of sunshine was gone.
Forever.
