Meanwhile, in Clearstar City.
People gathered around the podium, waiting impatiently for the announcement to be made.
On the other hand, Zeru spoke to a few members of the patrol and informed them of Peruda's crimes, saying.
"I found these three beating up a defenseless girl in the alleyway."
One of the men in the patrol, wearing a green mustache and cyan eyes, nodded his head in understanding and replied as he took out his notepad.
"Understood. Was there a pile of barrels scattered up near that place of crime?"
In response, Zeru nodded quickly and urged Peruda toward the patrolman.
"Yes. They were responsible for all of that."
Peruda sneered at the man and squeezed her fists, feeling her wrists get attached to wooden handcuffs, growling.
"You get back here, you snitch! That train cost two million gincoins."
Zeru crossed his arms and exhaled, his face showing disappointment, as he said.
"Yeah, and it would cost you two million gincoins to get out of Clearstar jail. Your point is…?"
At that moment, her face burned with rage, and she screamed.
"Ugh, when I get my hands on you, you will pay for her crime as well! I hope you get beaten up by my allies."
Confidently, Zeru pushed Peruda's face away, sighed, and shrugged with a cheeky face.
"Yeah, good luck with that. I healed you, you know. If you think your 'allies' will beat me up, think again. I can heal myself as many times as I want."
Her anger intensified at his response.
"GRRR!"
Screaming and thrashing like a furious kitten, the patrol dragged Peruda and her accomplices into a jail cell, dismissing Zeru.
"Thanks enough for acknowledging us in this situation. She won't come out any time soon."
A rare and transient smile beamed up on his face.
"Understood. Well, I'm leaving. Thanks a lot!"
Afterward, Zeru returned to the main square of the underground city of Clearstar without breaking a sweat. Then, in a glimpse, he heard the cheers of the crowd escalate as a beam of light shone on the podium like a spotlight.
Quickly, Zeru tightened his fists and lumbered through the alleyways desperately, trying to pass through the crowd and witness what this announcement would really signify.
Expecting a grand announcement or perhaps a new decree that would change the course of Clearstar City's future for the better, Zeru felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. Instead, what unfolded before his eyes was something far more unsettling than he had anticipated. Isa wasn't even standing up. Her body was against the floor, lazily extending her arms and slouching, yawning, and unable to bear opening her eyes. Behind her, a flicker of an unusual, faintly luminescent aura seemed to dance erratically, whispering an unknown reason for her lethargy. Zeru couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine as if the aura held a dark secret, one that eluded his understanding yet demanded his attention.
This indolent act appeased some of the audience, yet people continued watching, hoping this was some sort of act. But it wasn't. The laziness got to the point where it felt hard for Isa to even breathe. As if driven by an unseen force, her eyes occasionally flickered with a shadow of something dark and consuming. It was as though an unknown power was sapping her strength, leaving her almost motionless. As the audience started to get irritated by this sight, Isa struggled to lift her arm and announce.
"Ugh… p… people of… Clear…potato. I mean, Clearstar." She hastily dropped her arm and slammed her head, panting heavily. "Y… You."
A member of the crowd hollered at her.
"Stand up and speak!"
Isa sneered at the man and snarled, shaking her head in denial, and yawning.
"Hold your horses. Let… the Queen relax. It's hard to stand up for me, you know."
The crowd's eyes widened in disbelief. Never had they ever seen their Queen, the one they respected for years, be in such a slothful state. Although they forgave her, Zeru didn't. He knew just by the cold, lifeless look on Isa's dark green eyes that something was wrong with her.
"I can't trust her."
As he tried to pass through the crowd, all watched as Isa gradually slid into a slump, leaning her right arm on the ground and yawning consecutively. Her clover-colored hair rested against the ground, draping over the podium like strings.
Positioned sideways, with her legs slouched on the floor, and her head facing directly to the audience, Isa made yet another yawn and… announced.
"None of you deserve… powers. You try too much and… it's just unacceptable to me."
"WHAT?!" The crowd exclaimed in a tone of confusion.
Isa threw her head up and sighed, slouching and keeping her smile to a frown, because even that felt too much for her.
"Yeah… yeah. It just seems unfair to me that some people are more powerful than others. So ya' know what?" She snapped her fingers. "Let's change that."
The crowd all backed away from the podium, confused about what she was saying. Even the guards were confused, pointing their spears up at Isa and threatening.
"Queen, this seems even ridiculous to us."
"I… don't want to talk.*yawn*"
Around them, the block pulsed with a black mist. The air grew dense, as if the very essence of despair had seeped into it. All felt pressure in their ears, a low, droning hum that seemed to vibrate through their skulls. There was a distinct chill that crawled over their skin, a stark contrast to the warmth of the bustling city.
They witnessed streams of darkness expand and latch onto several victims, their forms flickering like shadows in a faint light. As the group flashed, a giant black flower blossomed between Isa and the crowd, spreading petals of translucent shadow across the city, if not the nation.
It was as if the tendrils of the mist carried whispers, unheard but chilling, a sinister symphony that played in the back of their minds.
Magic roared from her hand and rebounded with a savage eruption that smashed every magic around her down, except the weakening anomaly. Before any strong person could recover, a huge black laser descended upon them in a pummeling avalanche, unleashing a massive black shockwave that swept across the entire nation.
The luminance on Zerus' hands flickered and dissipated. He panicked and looked for others, seeing that even their powers had been robbed away by the strange weakening magic. People complained.
"Just what do you think you are doing?"
Isa yanked and snored, trying desperately not to use energy within her voice.
"I hate power. Only my magic can be used here; no one else. Either suffer and suck it up… or… leave. *yawn*"
Another person in the crowd shrieked in rage.
"YOU'RE INSANE!"
Black mist mixed into the green luminance of the Sealed Beatific, slowly corrupting it. Known as a protective force within the city, the Sealed Beatific serves as a source of balance and energy, holding the essence of life and magic in a state of equilibrium. All watched as every root of The Sealed Beatific was consumed by the weakening mist. Isa rolled her eyes and yawned AGAIN, before finally announcing with exaggerated, low, and monotonous tones.
"Power disgusts me. Here in Linuxinia, potency does not belong to the triers."
As people panicked and started running away from her, Isa began floating in the air, maintaining her lazy position.
. Seeing black mist encircling her, Zeru knew at this moment…
"Something is very wrong. Isa is…" He gasped and backed away, fleeing. "Corrupted."
* * * * * * * *
Despite her world being cloaked in darkness, Aletha could still hear the muffled voice of Alai.
"For my type of training, Aletha will be put in a series of five courses. These courses are designed to toughen her up and prepare her for the challenges ahead, ensuring she is ready for the unexpected trials that life in Clearstar City may present. If she doesn't complete them, she will have to start over or suffer."
It sounded like Alai was serious about this, almost merciless-sounding, distinct from her usual cheerful tone.
"I'm serious. I NEVER want to see a girl like her be bruised like that EVER again. Treat Aletha as if you would treat a man. Show no mercy, go all out. Aletha has to learn what the harsh reality is, got it? Equality is final."
Five more voices replied.
Yes, ma'am!
Alai sounded like she was getting irritated.
"Ugh, how many times do I have to tell you guys? We have been practicing for an hour, and you still don't even know how to reply?" She growled.
"Stop calling me that. It's Alai, okay?! Do you all understand?"
Aletha couldn't move; she couldn't even move her legs. Although she was slightly unconscious, Aletha felt as if she was being carried by something or someone. Whoever it was, they smelled more like a man than anyone else. Fear crept in as she sensed the vulnerability of her situation, wondering what would come next. Her mind, clouded by confusion and dread, raced with questions: Who is carrying me? What will happen to me now?
The helplessness gnawed at her, an unsettling reminder of how unpredictable life could be.
Despite the haze clouding her mind, a part of her remained aware and anxious, haunted by the prospect of what Alai had in store for her. As her eyes remained shut, the group replied.
"Yes, Alai!"
Suddenly, it sounded as if she was clapping in joy. Then, as Aletha felt the breeze push against her face, Alai spoke in a honeyed, plummy tone, as if she had never spoken in a serious manner before.
"Great, great. Now come on and hurry up! It's gonna be a long week for her!"
. . . (To be continued.)