Spoilers for Rainforce's Gate of Fate

Rainforce looked around at the swirling void of emptiness. He was still cradling Shilinka's hand, her body peacefully resting upon his lap. No tears stained his eyes; as the king of Crimzonia, a land whose people were in danger, he didn't have any time to mourn. His people needed him. Her dying wish was for Crimzonia's people, and he refused to see that wish not come true; it was the least he could do. However, he was still trapped; not just trapped in the void of chaos, but trapped in happier memories.

"Shilinka, why am I not allowed outside? I am the heir of Crimzonia, and these are my people. I would be fine!" Despite the boy's authoritative tone and commanding demeanor, the young lady was not impressed.

She took on a gentle tone and said, "Rain, it's your father's wishes. And there's just so much you don't understand. You're still young, and your safety is important. Without you, there is no heir to the throne." While she did appear significantly older than the boy, that was simply a matter of her aging more quickly. In actuality, she was only a few years older than the boy, but she was assigned by the king to be the heir's retainer. She took her duties very seriously, despite the conflict in her heart about deeper feelings for the young prince. She knew it wasn't proper for her to have those feelings, and that it was nothing more than a fanciful dream of hers.

Rainforce crossed his arms, obviously annoyed. "You are hardly older than me, Shilinka. I command you! Let me go into the city." This was a gambit he had often tried before, to no avail. He already knew what her response would be. This was a conversation that they had hundreds of times before.

She smiled and did a polite bow, then said, "You may be the prince, but that doesn't mean your orders are above the king's. Your father would never forgive me if anything happened to you." She thought about how she could never forgive herself in that situation either. The mere thought of it put butterflies into her stomach and sent anxiety creeping into her. She knew he couldn't understand how the world actually was; she was his guardian, but also his jailer. He knew nothing of the things she had done, the people she had murdered, to protect Crimzonia, in the name of the king. He was a pure idealistic boy, but that's what she loved about him, and what she wanted to protect as long as she could.

Rainforce sighed, and sat down. Despite his status as the heir to the throne, he lived a sheltered lifestyle. He had never been outside, and his contact with people other than Shilinka and his father was never interpersonal; it was his duty to Crimzonia. Shilinka was his only friend. Shilinka and his father were the only people he couldn't command. Still, he couldn't help himself from trying. "I understand, Shilinka."

Back in the void, Rainforce frowned. He knew thinking about this was pointless; what he needed to be thinking about was how to get out of this situation. He thought about how his memory of Shilinka was the first time he responded to her maturely, instead of lashing out. It made him squeeze her hand, both in regret and in vain hope it would give her back to him. The warmth was already beginning to leave her body; in this place he had no measurement of time other than that. More memories came flooding in.

Rainforce's sword went flying across the room. Before he understood what happened, he was on the ground with a blade's edge pointed at his throat. "You'll have to do better than that, my prince. You must be able to protect yourself." Shilinka's tone was soft; she wasn't admonishing him, she was trying to impart a lesson. She sheathed her sword and began walking over to where Rainforce's sword had landed. Rainforce stood up and dusted himself off.

He smiled and said, "It's hard to best you in swordsmanship. You clearly have a lot more experience than I do." Even as a young adult, he still knew little and less of what Shilinka's duties were, outside of being his retainer. He did know that his father trusted her more than any other, and there were always stretches of time when Shilinka had more important duties than him. She was still his only friend. Every time she was gone, it was an upsetting and vexing affair. She was the only one that treated him like a person, the only person who had expressed any empathy towards him. A deeper feeling for her had been growing inside of him for a long time.

She picked up the sword, reversed her grip, then handed the hilt to Rainforce. He took it, still smiling. She smiled back and said, "That just makes me a good practice partner. Crimzonian nobles may be stronger, but strength is nothing without technique." They both prepared their stances, then began practicing once more.

 After a few hours and many painful experiences for Rainforce, a messenger from the king entered the room. Shilinka immediately noticed, and sheathed her sword, despite being in the middle of a spar with Rainforce. A slight frown crossed her lips and she said, "Excuse me, my prince. I seem to have a message from your father."

Rainforce tried to keep himself composed, but he knew his face was showing his displeasure. His tone was slightly sharp when he said, "I understand, Shilinka. Don't disappear without telling me this time." Hearing those words, the faintest hint of a blush crossed Shilinka's cheeks. She was embarrassed about doing that to him. It was an urgent directive from the king, something she had no time to let him know about. It upset her to have to do that to him. The king's orders, however, are absolute.

She bowed and said, "I promise." She left the room with the messenger, and Rainforce sat down and massaged his bruised body. He had no idea how long she would be; it was about midday. Today was supposed to be a day that he could spend more time with her, and that thought made him frown. He had come closer and closer to working up that courage to share his feelings with her. It wasn't fear of optics; Shilinka was from a noble family, and a trusted retainer to the king. It was the fear of rejection and ruining their relationship; he knew he was in a position of power over her. He didn't want a sham of a romance. He hadn't come up with a good way to convey that to her. He began practicing sword swings, if only to put something else on his mind.

Shilinka entered the room with a measured look on her face. Rainforce was still practicing, not having noticed her enter. She couldn't help but watch for a brief few moments, but she was on the king's time now. "My prince." As he sheathed his sword and turned to face her, he immediately noticed she was bowing and he sighed.

"I understand, Shilinka. Stand up. And be careful." He walked over to her, and to her surprise, he wrapped her in his arms. She couldn't help but put her arms around him too. This was the first time such a thing had happened. He smiled and said, "You're very important to me. I wouldn't know what to do without you." He released her, and couldn't help but notice her blushing. He took joy in getting the ever-so-composed Shilinka to react like that. It made his mind wander to how she felt about him. He couldn't help but think about how maybe he just embarrassed her and that's why she was reacting that way.

Still blushing, but with a smile on her lips, she nodded and said, "Yes, my prince. I'll return as soon as I can." She quickly left the room, her heart thumping in her chest the entire time. Rainforce had really blindsided her. Her mind was a torrent of questions, but she didn't have time to think about it right now. It was time for her to do her duty to the throne.

Rainforce watched her as she left, his smile gradually turning into a frown. He had never experienced a relationship before; reading people was not something he could do well. Nor did he have confidence. He wasn't delusional enough to be confident in something he had little experience in. "I'll really have to talk to her when she gets back..." He looked out the window, the sun slowly setting.

In the void, his eyes watered, but he remained resolute. He didn't have time for this, but it hurt so much. He was desperate for a miracle, a miracle he had no faith in. "Open your eyes, Shilinka...I command you..." He said it quietly. Nothing happened, and he frowned. He wanted to slam his fists onto the ground in anger, but that would have meant letting go of her hand. Another memory flooded into his brain.

"Give her back, Chaos! She doesn't belong to you!" Rainforce screamed. He couldn't bring himself to hurt her, even though he knew it wasn't her any more.

"You will never get her back. I am Chaos. I am eternal. The chaos in her heart has surrendered to me." Rainforce was battered, bloody and bruised. The demon legions he had fought on his way had worn him down; he thanked Shilinka for training him as he faced her. Shilinka's possessed body looked at him with disgust. "You will never accomplish anything with that fake sword." Chaos pointed Alhazard at Rainforce, all while internally Shilinka screamed to stop, don't hurt him, I love him, stop. "Surrender your life to me and end this pointless struggle."

As the king of Crimzonia, Rainforce had no time for tears. His breathing was haggard and rushed. He knew what would happen if he let Chaos go here. His people would be doomed. He stood up, tall and proud, wielding what was unbeknownst to him, Langrisser. "If I can't get her back...then there's only one thing I can do." Unwavering and determined, he lifted Langrisser and activated the self-destruct sequence. "You lose, Chaos! We'll die together!" He screamed.

Chaos merely laughed. "I am Chaos. I am eternal. You will never escape me, as long as there is chaos in people's hearts." As the Blue Moon crashed, Rainforce thought about how he wished he could have told Shilinka his real feelings. He accepted his fate.

The memory left him, and he felt the tears come down his face. Choked, he said, "I love you, Shilinka...what will I do without you..." The tears quickly stopped, and he released her cold hand. He gently folded her arms over her chest, and kissed her forehead. He finally stood. "I am the king of Crimzonia. My people need me." He felt the weight of his duty on his back, and knew he had to do something. He picked up Langrisser. "This fake Sword of Decimation...perhaps..." Langrisser began to glow. He felt relief, but he didn't smile. "I won't let you die in vain. I must save Crimzonia. I will save Crimzonia."

That day, the idealistic and pure Rainforce died with Shilinka.