[Melas] Chapter 127: Turning Tides

A sphere of blazing, roiling flames rolled through the air, burning it to exude its own toxic gas. The gray trail smeared my vision as the ruddy glow grew brighter. It filled half the room. It was as if it was a wall of fire in itself. And I knew I couldn’t dodge it. No magic of mine could protect me from its powerful blast.

The only hope I had was to use Dispel Magic. But would I be able to overcome the power of an Apostle?

I highly doubted it.

So, I braced myself. I stood before the impending flames, knowing— no, hoping— that the gambit would work out a second time. And it did. Of course it did.

The flames vanished. An unknowing force intervened. Elara was following me. But she didn’t reveal herself.

Estia narrowed her eyes as the crowd of Dark Crusaders behind her spread out in a circle around me. I gritted my teeth, faced with a small army, all by myself. Is that really all you’re going to do, Elara?

“Where is she?” Estia fixed me with a glare.

“How should I know?” I crossed my arms. “I’m wondering about that myself.”

“Don’t give me that,” she snapped, raising a hand. “I know who you work for. I know what you’re trying to do. You’ll never succeed. Your Lord is a fool.”

I paused, taking a step back. “I don’t serve anyone.”

Her eyes narrowed, but she evidently didn’t believe me. “Sure you don’t. Then why does that woman protect you?”

“I don’t know,” I said, sighing. “I’d rather her not be around me most of the time. But in times like this where I’m going to be killed by people too stubborn to listen, I feel quite happy to have her on my side.”

“So, you admit, you’re allies.”

I rolled my eyes. “If that’s what you want to believe, then sure.”

Estia raised her hand. I sensed a lot of mana gathering around the tip of her fingers. But not just her. The other Dark Crusaders with her readied their own spells.

“We’ll see how long she can protect you before showing herself.” A savage grin spread across Estia’s face.

I grimaced, readying my own barrier. But a voice called out.

“Wait!” A figure stepped forward. Karna stood up, glancing at me, then at Estia. “Who is this you’re talking about? Who is she? And what is this Lord?”

Estia pursed her lips. “It’s none of your business. Just know that this girl has to be eradicated.” The spell coalesced. More than just a Grand Fireball. It wasn’t fire that gathered together into a dense sphere. It was energy. Pure energy that radiated heat. I have felt immense power similar to this before.

Back when I had fought Lilith. But not from the Saintess herself. Instead, it came from the experimental weapon of one of my friend’s. Gennady’s Annihilation cannon.

This wasn’t a spell of Annihilation. But it was similar. It had to be at the same tier. It would kill me. Lilith barely survived even with her miracles and all the protections she had.

I hoped for Elara to show up, but again Karna spoke.

“It’s that Demon, is it not?” He raised a brow. “How would we know that this is not just a personal vendetta of yours, Apostle Estia? Your insistence on keeping this a secret from us is concerning.”

The Half Demon glared at him. “Are you questioning me, Disciple?”

“I am. And I am sure others are too.” He stood defiantly against her, much to my surprise.

Why is he helping me? I couldn’t really tell if Karna was on my side or simply against Estia; there was a lot of politics involved with the inner workings of the Dark Crusaders, after all. I opened my mouth to say something, but he continued.

“The Dark Crusaders is not an organization to care for your personal problems, Apostle Estia. When we were out fighting in the streets of Jahar’taw a week ago, you were fighting that Demon that laid no hands on our people. You let us die, as if we were expendable.”

“You—”

“That’s right.” A voice drew her attention from the back. Mahir stood forward— the Dark Acolyte who I had dealt with was frowning. “Many of us were slain by those Holy Knights, but you didn’t aid us. Even as we all poured out in support of you.”

“Do you even see us as people?” Karna pointed an accusing finger at her. “Or just pawns for your own game?”

I noticed the tide turning against her. Other Goblins were murmuring in agreement as they faced Estia. She sputtered, very much annoyed.

“Are you being serious? This is our enemy. She’s Melas! The one responsible for killing Victorianus Valens!”

“A Dark Acolyte Disciple,” Mahir said. “Just like Abbad and Bharat were, before you let them die.”

“Tell us then: who was that Demon? What has she done wrong against our people?” Karna folded his arms as the other Dark Crusaders edged away from her, parting like a wave. It was mostly the Goblins who acted. But the others— like the Beastkin and the Humans who were rarer— chose not to go against the crowd and followed suit. “We will not be left in the dark, Apostle Estia.”

“I—” She bit her lower lip. Then she sighed. “I can’t and won’t tell you that.”

“Then we shall not do as you order us.” He spoke with finality in his voice. The other Dark Crusaders didn’t aim their magic at her. They simply lowered their weapons and let their spells vanish.

“You have treated us like we are lesser than you!” someone said.

“We are your allies, but you’ve never saved us. We are mere pawns in your game, aren't we?”

“You were sent here to kill the Saintess! You’ve done nothing but run from her, coward!”

That seemed to get a rise from the Half Demon. Her gaze snapped to the Goblin who spoke, a fury that sent all those standing in that direction stumbling back.

“Fine,” Estia said, clicking her tongue. “If you wish to ignore my orders— even as your superior— then do as you wish. But…” She turned her gaze at me as the spell circle finished forming. “Don’t get in my way.”

I cursed, trying to conjure a wall of stone. But it wouldn’t be enough. I knew just as much. And someone else knew it too.

“Melas!” Karna called out as an icy wind shot out from Estia’s fingertips.

A figure appeared beside me, grabbing me by the shoulders. Elara was engulfed by a spell circle, one that seemed to warp space itself. It spread out to cover me as everything before Estia began to freeze in a cone.

“Wha—”

And we vanished.

The world spun around me. It was like I was flying through the air. Except, everything was a fractal mess. Like shards, floating through utter darkness, playing a scene through its reflection. I saw the House of Or’taq— Lilith stood on a podium, alone, as men and women from the parliament questioned her. The shard flipped, and the scene changed. A smith worked in his shop late into the night, hammering a piece of metal that barely bent with each strike.

I looked over at the other shards as they constantly turned over. A family sat together, having a late supper as a warm fire roasted underneath the chimney. A woman slept out in the streets, only a thin blanket shielding her from the cold midnight. Figures skulked around an alley corner, staring at a familiar warehouse with weapons.

A monster screamed and fell, being dragged through a dark tunnel by shadows.

An Amalgamation— the Abomination of thousands of bodies— lay in darkness, bubbles floating up from its side as it smothered an undersea creature.

A valley shook as a massive worm-like tail, larger than a building, disappeared into the ground, burrowing deep into the earth.

There was a flash. A shard that seemed more like a door shone brightly up ahead. I blinked as I was carried by Elara towards that glass doorway. It showed the top of a bell tower, overlooking Jahar’taw.

I opened my mouth to ask a question. But nothing came out. No words. No voice. It was like I was in a vacuum.

And we shot through the end of the portal. We landed on the brick floor on top of the bell tower. I retched, nearly puking from the nauseating feeling permeating through my body.

“What—” I grabbed my abdomen, steading myself against one of the pillars supporting the roof. “Just happened?”

Elara, in sharp contrast to me, barely looked affected. She shrugged as the portal behind her disappeared. “I saved your life,” she said. “A simple teleportation spell. It can’t bring you past, say, a hundred miles. That requires a more dedicated ritual. But we don’t need to get to another country for you to survive.”

“Why didn’t you do that earlier?” I scowled.

“Not even a thank you?” She sighed. “Of course not.”

I glared at her. “Why should I thank you for saving me? This is your fault again. Just like it was with the slavers. Just like it was with Bys. Estia wouldn’t be so hellbent on killing me if not for you!”

“I told you: I can’t intervene unless absolutely necessary. And direct intervention such as what I did just now should only be saved for the gravest of situations.” The Demon shook her head. “And as for my daughter… I apologize for that. I truly do. But she hates me, and as such, she hates you.”

“Ugh, I hate family drama.” I never had much drama with my parents in any world— other than when I was first reborn into this world. But I was a baby, and my Mom was never bothered by the whims of a moody infant. So, it wasn’t much of an issue. “What, was that spell Estia cast too much for you to handle?”

“It was… perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to dispel it in time,” Elara said. “If she chose to cast it sooner, I’d have some trouble. But there was quite a lengthy period of time before that happened when the Goblins turned on her. I must say, I’m impressed with what you did. Good job mending your friendship with Karna.” The Demon smiled.

“You’ve been eavesdropping.” I spoke flatly.

“Always.” She winked, and I groaned.

“Can’t have even a bit of privacy. Not with you around.”

“Because of me, you’re alive,” she said. “Especially with the Holy Knights beginning their assault. Be grateful there isn’t a repeat of last week.”

“Yeah, yeah— wait… what?” I spun around to stare at Elara. “What do you mean by that?”

“The Holy Knights heard your sounds of battle. They were out on patrol, and they’re preparing to launch an attack.” She tilted her head, confused. “Why?”

“But that’s impossible! Lilith is supposed to be in the House of Or’taq!”

“Oh, she is. But that doesn’t mean the Holy Knights are.” Elara glanced over to the south. I thought I could see the very same warehouse I came from. And I saw flashes of light— mana— coming from that direction. “There’s no need to worry,” the Demon said. “Without the Saintess there, the Dark Crusaders can repel them.”

I nodded. Maybe that was true. However— “Many of them will die.”

And that could include Karna.

“Take me back,” I said.

Elara frowned. “Are you stupid? You’ll have to deal with both my daughter and the Holy Knights! The reason why I brought you out here is so that that doesn’t have to happen.”

“I don’t care. I said: take me back.” I met the Demon’s yellow gaze, and she hesitated.

“No. I’m sorry. But I can’t do that.”

I paused. I looked at the Demon. Elara. My supposed guardian angel. Except, she didn’t care for me. She never cared to protect me. All she did was serve her Lord, whoever that was.

“Fine,” I said, marching forward. I glanced back at her once before continuing. “I should never have expected anything from you. You’re not here to help me. You’re only here to help yourself. But I’m not you. I’m selfish, stupid, and paranoid. That is why I’ll go back there and fight the Holy Knights.”

I stood at the very edge of the bell tower. It was a tall fall. I’d die if I fell from this height in my old world. But I wasn’t in my own world.

“Do you think that’ll change anything?” Elara just watched me. “My daughter will still hate you. People will still die.”

“I’m not doing this for your daughter or to be a hero.”

I took a step and began to fall. But I spread my arms wide before I did, making a declaration.

“I’m doing this because your fake god has no control over me or what I do!”

I aimed at the ground and wind shot out of my fingers. It was a strong wind. One that slowed my fall until I came to a stop. I stared up at Elara as she just stood there. Then I ran through the streets and the alleys of Jahar’taw, heading to the battle up ahead.

Author's Note:

sorry for the late chapter. not feeling so well today. a bit of an annoying headache.