Praise Millie Alpin? Bullshit! Reincarnation of the "Apostle of Life"? There's no way something like that can be true! Although I believed in the existence of higher gods, there was just simply no way that Millie could be similar to me in any way. Not like me. She wasn't like me!
Or… was she? Who was I to say?
Hah… damnit…
The sound of Aldeous' speech caused flecks of blood to drip from my ears as a slight headache overtook me. Gritting my teeth, I tried to suppress the tears building up in my eyes, to no avail. Cidris watched, trembling slightly as his knees bent forward. Slowly but surely, I watched him fall to the ground, staring at his hands as if they were covered with sin.
Sara had fallen unconscious— she was slumped on the floor, barely twitching her fingers as Remi walked over to her, taking her hand gently as she knotted her eyebrows together. Whispering something to Aldeous, she slung Sara over her back, taking her further into the cavernous tunnel at the very back of the room.
My father stood straight and tall, as if nothing had happened. Spinning my head around, I watched as the elves, shocked and unable to say anything, slumped to the ground, forcing their heads upon the wood as they bowed low, closing their eyes. Parents pushed their children's heads down as they prayed. The entire room was awash with a warm mist, and Millie was no longer awake.
I couldn't blame her for sleeping this time.
Hell, I hope she's alright…
Peering at her, I noticed a bright mark on her forehead— one that hadn't been there before. It was carved into her, giving off slight bits of smoke that gradually dissipated in the air. Sniffing, I smelt ash in the atmosphere as I looked intently at her forehead. The mark…
It was unique.
A spiral of vine-like lines.
A bud atop the spiral, a wilted flower to the right, and a blooming flower to the left. Giving off a somewhat radiant glow, I saw streaks of energy in the shape of a single eye open inside the spiral, squirming relentlessly. Cringing, I looked away, trying to catch my breath.
Then, I realized something.
Where was Cuswoth—
"Don't you dare lay your hands on my son, Cuswoth." My father said coldly, unraveling his presence as he spoke quietly. Even so, his voice reverberated around the room,crushing it as I felt helpless to the overwhelming disparity between us. Trembling, I looked behind myself, eyes widening at a sight.
It was Cuswoth's hand.
His fragile, soft fingers were making their way towards my body; but when my father had spoken, it instantly stopped. Looking around, I decided now was the time. Time for me to cry!
Because I couldn't think of anything else.
Because I couldn't do anything else.
Because I…
Am weak.
Retracting his hand, Cuswoth smiled thinly as he gazed over the broken crowd. Snapping his fingers, I watched as the heads of all the elves slammed further into the ground. It was like an invisible force had taken them and begun controlling them. My father sighed as Cuswoth raised his hand into the air, and then brought it downwards, sending my thoughts into a spiral of confusion as all of the elves slumped unconscious, falling on top of each other like dominos.
Next, Cuswoth turned to Cidris, who wore a blank expression in his eyes.
He did not seem like the man full of life that he had just been.
Why… Why did this mean so much?!
Apostle? What was that anyway?
Fuck!
"Not him either. He'll fall unconscious from the shock of having discovered that his daughter, no matter how hard he tried, would be doomed to a life of eternal pain and suffering." Taking his arms, my father looked down upon Cuswoth as he hugged me snugly. I felt warmth radiate through my body as Aldeous watched unfazed, taking a seat on the ground, as Remi was no longer here.
Just like that, the entire room was thrown into disarray.
The only ones awake were my father, Cuswoth, and Aldeous.
Who truly were these men?
Why was Millie doomed to suffering?
Why…
Is this what a new chance meant?
Was this story worth it for that child to watch?
No.
No, it wasn't.
Fuck it, if nothing's going to happen, I'll just have to do things myself. Glancing around nervously, I made sure that Aldeous' eyes weren't on me as I peeked out from behind my father's sleek hair, staring Cuswoth dead in the eyes and raising my small, infantile hand.
Hollowing my eyes out, I filled it with as much pure dread and killing intent as possible, letting the room darken within my vision. Frantic and chaotic lines and scribbles ran through my head as I focused all of my gaze onto Cuswoth, who flinched, stepping backwards.
Feeling his forehead sweat, he smiled, just as always.
Except this time, he exhaled slowly.
Like he was preparing for something.
The smell of ash ran through the air, overtaking the bliss that had come from Millie's dowsing. Cidris was already unconscious, separated from the pile of bodies that lay in the north side of the room. Aldeous yawned, glancing in my father's direction with his deep eyes, rocking Millie back and forth unconsciously.
"Now, all that's left is your son, Iyad." He sneered.
Robes fluttering in the slight autumn wind, he looked at my father with sleepy eyes. I tried to look at him, but I quickly tore my gaze away— he was similar to Cuswoth in terms of presence, but he wasn't hiding it. Just trying to look at him closely in my current state was grounds for my imminent death.
"Can you really fight both a Sentinel and an Archon in your current state, Iyad?" Cuswoth asked, widening his arms while keeping the fake, plastic smile plastered on his face. His grin only grew brighter as my father gnashed his teeth slightly, trying to take a step backwards, only to be—
Shing!
My blood ran cold as I heard the sound of a blade being drawn from a sheath. My eyes turned with all of their might, as I saw a sword gleaming, connected with my father's foot, dripping with blood.
Although it had just grazed him, his foot was now a splash of crimson.
And the one holding the blade was Aldeous.
A beautiful, luminescent shimmering filled the room as the wings on Cuswoth's back began to move in a fluid motion, smoother than a bird's. Taking a step forward, he leaned closer to my father, who gripped me tightly, knocking the breath out of my chest.
Bringing his face close to me, he chuckled.
"I don't mean your child any harm." He tilted his head.
"All I want is to see his dowsing. After all Iyad, we've all been to Ga'Anish before; me, you, and Aldeous over there! We know the true nature of such a ritual. A very dangerous ritual… if this wood wasn't under the protection of both Her and Serynth, it would have been torn to shreds already." He clasped his hands, leaning backwards and straightening his back.
My father was beginning to breathe heavier.
I wanted to tell him that… I was fine.
But I couldn't.
So I didn't cry, and I didn't move.
I just snuggled up against him, and waited.
For a heartbeat, nothing moved— Aldeous was still laying back with his sword held behind my father's back, Millie did not twitch, my father stayed silent, and Cuswoth's smile did not threaten to become more menacing.
Patting, me, I heard my father's voice, loud and clear.
"Fine… I believe you." He said softly.
WHAT?!
FATHER?!
Damnit, I have to find a way—
"But only because both of you are weaker than me, so I know…" My father gauged their expressions at his provocation; nothing changed in their knowing glances. Sighing, my father closed his eyes and continued, easily kicking Aldeous' sword away from behind him with a swift movement of his leg.
"Both of you are monoparables, and neither of you have received marks. Cuswoth, you're not working alone, are you? There's someone above you, someone controlling you." Sneering in his direction, my father continued. "And Aldeous, you've been a toy of that Black Dragon since the very beginning, even when I was with you." Laughing dryly, my father lifted me up, presenting me to Cuswoth.
But strangely, I didn't feel threatened.
I actually felt somewhat reassured.
Because this man was my father.
And my father knew what he was doing.
I was surprised to realize…
That I trusted him.
Hah… how did that happen?
No longer paying attention to the strange words that my father was using (I decided to leave it for later, assuming I survived this situation), I watched his figure blurred before my eyes. Before I knew it, we had moved a distance of thirty meters, standing just behind Cuswoth, who choked a little before stepping backwards, flinching slightly as he gritted his teeth.
"Here, take him. My child is strong." My father nudged me proudly.
"My child will surpass all of you." He pushed.
"So just go ahead and dowse him."
"... Yes, he most likely will. " Cuswoth admitted, narrowing his gaze.
Hah! Take that! How did you like that, you fucking bitch?! My father is the greatest there is in the world! I felt my lips curl up as I grinned, feeling the warmth of my father's hands disappear as Cuswoth's icy, cold hands attacked my skin.
Prickling and tingling ran across my body as he walked over to the fountain, which had become crystal clear, indifferent to everything.
The burbling water gleamed as he lowered me, too clear, too perfect.
Cuswoth's fingers tightened as he swallowed hard.
"Oh, you're actually going to do it?" Aldeous asked languidly, setting Millie's sleeping body on the floor as he readjusted his sword in his sheath. His previous expressions had disappeared completely— and it wasn't hard to figure out why.
That was all fake.
I wonder if Remi knew this?
I wonder… What was going to happen to me?
Cuswoth froze.
"Why wouldn't I?" He asked, glaring.
"We're not in a protected chamber. There's barely any spiritual energy here. After all, the dowsing fountain just mimics the Heartwell Spring that was created by the Raikai. It is a cheap imitation. Although it served the purpose for the elves and Her reincarnation, that was only because of Serynth's blessing." Aldeous sighed as if he were explaining something extremely simple.
"Mark my words, Serynth will never protect Iyad's child."
"Oh…" Cuswoth shook his head. "I knew that already."
Drop.
Without a moment's notice, I felt myself slipping from Cuswoth's hands. My cries rang out unexpectedly as I clawed at the air, even though my hands could only slip through. I felt the dark murky water overtake me as my vision slowly…
Turned to black.