Chapter 34

Corrupted Legacy 2: Tainted Soul

Why did my sis let Claire talk about her like that? Is she really going to take the blame for something she didn’t do?

I look up to see branches and leaves blocking out the sunlight and covering up the peaceful blue sky.

I let out a long sigh thinking about all the stories I was told about the Demon King. No matter how hard I try I just can’t picture her doing any of those cruel things they said she did. I’m not saying my sister is completely innocent, but I don’t think she’s the kind of person that’ll slaughter an entire town full of people just because it’s funny. There must be a reason why she did all those things people said she did. But even if there is a reason why, I doubt she’ll tell anyone about it, especially to someone as weak as me.

“What’s wrong with you now?” I knew it was Claire the moment I heard her cheerful voice

“Nothing.”

“Really? I always thought when someone sits under a tree far away from everyone they tend to have a problem, that or they’re reading a book, and you don’t seem to be reading a book.”

“What do you want?”

“I’m just looking out for you, it’s my duty as an adult to take care of kids like you.”

Adult? I take a quick glance at Claire, who is sitting extremely close to me to the point we were almost touching shoulders. She looks like a kid no matter how I look at her.

“Claire, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?”

“I’m 91.”

“What really?!”

“Yes really.” Claire let’s out an unenthusiastic sigh. She must be use to people questioning her age. “Here.” Claire hands me a card that had a picture of here smiling on it.

Name: Claire

Sex: Female

Age: 91

Race: Elf

Occupation: Librarian, Adventurer

Wow, she really is ninety years old. It’s hard to tell with the way she looks and act. I wonder, since elves have a long life span, does it take a long time for them to mentally develop, or is this simply Claire’s personality.

I look up from the card and notice Claire was staring at me with her usual innocent smile. I guess she was waiting for me to make a comment.

“So you’re a librarian?”

“I was a librarian.” Claire snatch the card out my hand and quickly put it back in her pocket. “Anyway, enough about my boring life, let’s talk more about yours.”

“There’s nothing really to say, I live a normal life.”

“I’m sorry to say this Aaron, but I think your definition of normal may be different from everyone else.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well for one thing, you and your sister are polar opposites of one another. You’re a kind kid that’ll go out of his way to save another, and your sister…..” Claire lightly tap her forehead with her finger. I could tell she was trying to find a way to describe my sister without insulting her.

“Um your sister is cute, but she talks like a grumpy old man.” I started to laugh, but I quickly cover my mouth to stop myself.

“Yea, I think that’s the best way to describe my sister.” I wipe away a tear that came from me laughing. “But you know she not like this because she wants to be.”

“What do you mean by that?” Claire move a little closer to me, while staring at me with eyes full of curiosity. My sister told me how nosy Claire can be, and how I should be careful about what I say around her. But right now, Claire is the only person I can talk to about my sister’s problem. Because I know if I try to confront my sister about it, she’ll probably just act like nothing is wrong.

“….My sister is a kind person, but because of her….. appearance, people bully her…. and treated her like a monster.”

I found myself nearly pausing after every word, making sure I didn’t give too much clues or flat out say that my sister is the Demon King.

“Hmmm, your sister does have a weird appearance, and also a weird aura to match it, so I guess it’s no surprise that people would make fun of her. So is that the reason why you defended the Demon King, because he reminded you of your sister situation?

“Y-Yea.”

“You really are a kind kid Aaron.” Claire gave me a warm smile, but for some reason it felt like she was mocking me, especially when she called me a kid. Even though she shown me proof that she is an adult, I still just can’t accept it.

“I understand what you’re trying to say, but unlike your sister, the Demon King was actually a cruel man, you heard his stories haven’t you?”

“Yes I heard the stories of the Demon King. How he polluted the lands and how he killed everyone one that stood in his way, but all these stories were told from our perspective. We never even try to figure out how the Demon King felt.”

“And what do you think he felt?”

“Sad….” I pause once I realize my eyes were starting to get watery. I twist my body around so Claire could only see my back. I’ll just make my sister and I look even more suspicions if Claire realize I’m getting emotional. I mean who would ever cry for the Demon King?

“The Demon King must’ve been sad. Imagine it Claire, imagine being born into a world that hates you for simply being you.”

“So you’re saying that the Demon King is a victim, and that everything he did was justified?”

“No I’m not saying that.” I rub my eyes to try to stop the tears from coming out. “What the Demon King did was wrong, but still how would you act if the entire world wanted to kill you”

“I… don’t know.” Claire said softly. At this point I’m pretty sure Claire thinks I’m a madman. I got my back turn to her while crying like an idiot, and I’m also trying to defend the Demon King, I think that alone is enough to make everyone think I’m crazy.

“Sorry, I know I must sound crazy trying to make a man that nearly kill us all look like a saint, it’s just I’m afraid my sister may end up like him.”

“And that’s what really bothering you?” I could hear Claire getting closer to me each time she spoke.

“Yes….”

“You really are interesting Aaron.” I felt Claire gently place her hands on my shoulders.

“You know this entire time I thought you were blaming yourself for everyone that died during the orc’s attack, but instead you were simply worried about sister.” I could hear my heart beat loudly as Claire kept getting closer to me.

“!!!” I let out weird yelp once I felt something soft press against my back. I tried to put some distance between us, but Claire tightly wrap her arms around me, like she was making sure I wouldn’t run away.

"You really love your sister don't you?" Even though Claire was whispering, I could hear her loud and clear.

“Claire… can you let go of me?”

“I will once you answer my question.” Claire said before blowing air into my ear.

“Yes! I do care for her!” I Shouted, well it was actually a cry for help. Having her blown into my ears combine with her pressing her breast I didn’t know she had against me, was simply too much for me to handle.

Claire finally let go of me while giggling like a kid. The moment I was free from her clutches I quickly crawl away as fast as I could from her, which made her laugh even harder.

“Do all elves act like you?” Claire laugh even louder when I turn to look at her. Seeing her roll on the ground laughing made me question if she really was an adult.

“Only the fun ones.” Claire wipe a tear from her eyes. “Sorry Aaron, but your face is just too funny.” I shielded my face with my hands when Claire pointed at me.

Yea my face must be a mess right now. Not only is it wet from me crying, but I’m pretty sure it’s also red from embarrassment.

“Anyway…” Claire stood up and stretch her body. “What you said about the Demon King, I think it’s best if you keep your thoughts to yourself. There’s obviously a lot of people that hate him. Some old, some new that never met him.

“And what about you, do you hate him?”

“Well…..” Claire taps her forehead again while pacing back and forward.

“To be honest, I would love to sit down and have a chat with him, and ask why he did what he did.”

“Yea, I would like to do the same thing….” I pluck a few blades of grass from the dirt, thinking how my sister would respond if I ask her that question, she’ll probably say “because I could” or some generic villain line.

“And now about your sister... I think the best thing to do is simply tell her how you feel, maybe she’ll open up to you.”

“Open up to me.” I let out little chuckle. Yea, like that’s ever going to happen.

“Claire, have you met my sister? I’m not exaggerating when I say this, but I think my sister is probably the toughest person on this planet. I spent fourteen years of my life with her, and I never seen her cry. Even when she got capture by orcs, there wasn’t even a single hint of fear on her face. I think the only time I ever seen her display her emotion was….” As I stop talking, my mind rewind itself back to the one moment I seen my sister sad.

I remember it clearly, it was that moment that I decided I would protect my sister no matter what. It was dead at night, I was just about to go to bed when I found my sister reading a book about herself. Two things caught me by surprise when I saw her. One was she tearing pages out the book, and two my sister looked depress. It was the first I ever seen her like that. Up until that point, I thought my sister was an unstoppable badass that couldn’t be hurt by no one. But after seeing her like that I realize as strong as she may be, she just a normal person like me. She can feel pain, and she surely can be hurt.

But what upset my sister that day? I remember examining the book, there was a specific chapter she tore up to the point it was illegible. The only thing that I could read was the chapter title, but for some reason I can’t remember its name.

“Aaron?” Claire look at me like she was waiting for me to say something.

“As I was saying, my sister is a tough person, I doubt she’ll ever tell me anything.”

“That’s because you’re not being nosy.”

“Huh?” Claire gave me her usual innocent smile

“Your sister is a pretty tough person, so I think the best way to make her open up is to be even tougher than her. Get stronger, and make her rely on you.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

“Hey, nothing is ever easy, but seeing as you care for your sister I’m sure you can do it.”

"I guess I’ll give it a shot.” I dust my clothes off, as I pick myself up from the dirt.

“Well do you feel better now?”

“Yes thank you.”

“No problem, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on you can always come to me!” Claire proudly pointed to herself.

“I’ll…think about it.” Claire giggles a little before happily strolling back to the carts where everyone was gathered.

“If you need me, I’ll be over here!” Claire shouted. To be so cheerful even though we can be attack by monsters at any second, she really is something.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I look down at my hands and thought about everything Claire said. Getting stronger is probably my only option right now, but how do I become as strong as someone that once was the Demon King?

“Well I guess the easiest way is to become a demon.” I let out a laugh, thinking how terrible my joke was. Like I can become a demon…. wait why can’t I become one? My sister is the freaking demon king, and she still possess some of her old power, so maybe she turn me into one.

I tightly clench my hand thinking about all the power I could get. If I let my sister turn me into a demon, she will accept me right?

.

.

.

“What?!” sis shouted in surprise.

“I said I want you to turn me…”

“Yea, yea I heard you. It just I never expected you to say that.” Sis brush her hair back with her hand I guess to calm herself down. Normally my sister would have an unbreakable composure, so seeing her panic like this was actually refreshing.

“Where did this come from?”

“You said it yourself, I’m the cause of all the danger we got in. When we left home, I thought mom and dad’s training would be enough for this trip, but I was wrong. I need to get stronger if I ever really want to travel with you.

“So you basically want me to give you a blessing?”

“Huh?”

“So you came to ask me to do something to you that you don’t understand? Do I really need to explain?”

“Yes please.” Sis lets out a long sigh.

“I have the ability to turn people into a lowly demon, but I also have another ability that’s nearly identical to it that every entity has. They like to call it ‘blessing’. Mortals that receive our blessing goes by many names like Demigods, champions, or Athena favorite, heroes.

“Wait, I can become a demigod, like Cronos?!” My voice grew louder as I got more excited.

“Cronos? I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”

“Wait you met him?!” I have no idea why I’m surprise. My sister is an entity, of course she met someone as legendary as him.

“Yea I met him, also defeated him too.”

“…..” I don’t think my heart can take any more surprises. Cronos is a legendary warrior that’s never been defeated. Everyone called him the invincible because of his flawless record. To think she was able to defeat him, she really is incredible. I don’t think even an hero can beat him, at least not alone.

“Wait, demi gods are born by receiving blessing from an entity, so that means the hero is also a demigod too right, so that means I’ll become as strong as the hero and maybe even Cronos!” Just thinking about all the power I could obtain, filled me with glee.

“Calm down.” Sis let’s out another sigh “Yes you will most certainly become stronger, but I wouldn’t call what I can give you a ‘blessing’, if anything it’s a curse. If you accept my power, you will regret it.”

The way my sister look at me I knew she wasn’t joking around. The excitement I had about becoming a demigod instantly faded away, and was replace with fear of what would happen to me if I do become one. But I can’t let that fear stop me. How will I ever be able to protect my sister if I continue to hide behind her?

“I don’t care what happens to me, If I can become strong enough to protect you, then that alone is enough to make me happy.”

“……Fine.” A black mist appear around my sister as she stood up. “Since you’re so adamant about this, I guess I’ll give you what you want.”

My body back away, as sis got closer to me. I seen her used her powers plenty of times before, but I still haven’t got used to it. The first time I saw it I was more curios than scare, but the second time is when I realize how terrifying it is….

It was after my dad taught me how to use magic when I notice how scary sis power is. Dad taught me that magic is an energy that was design to protect us, but I didn’t get that feeling from my sister. The warm comforting energy that I felt flowing through my mom and dad was absent from my sis. All I could feel was an overwhelming coldness. Even though the power was coming directly from my sister, I couldn’t sense any form of life from it at all, it’s like the magic my sister is using is dead. If magic was created to protect life, then the magic my sister possess was created to destroy it.

The black mist stretches towards me. As I continue to back away from it, I felt something cold grab my leg. I look down and notice what appears to be a tentacle made out of the black mist wrap itself around my leg.

“Why are you running away? Isn’t this what you wanted?” As I desperately try to shake myself free, I notice that my sister was standing in front of me, calmly watching me. “If you’re scare we can stop right now.”

“No! I’m fine, I was just caught by surprise.” I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Even though this mist scares me, it’s a part of my sister so it won’t hurt me. At least that’s what I try to tell myself. I started to panic again when I felt more tentacles wrap around me.

“Hey, this won’t hurt will it?” I let out a nervous laugh.

“…..I think it’s best if you close your eyes.” My heart drop when I look at my sister serious expression. I follow her instruction and tightly close my eyes. With my eyes shut, I waited, I’m not sure what I was waited on, but I patiently waited, I was too scare to open my eyes, so I sat in the darkness for what felt like hours, even though it could’ve easily been minutes waiting, for something to happen.

“You can open your eyes now.” Following my sister’s order, I slowly open my eyes, and saw that she was sitting on the log again with a small brown pouch in her hand. I look down at my waist to see that the pouch I was carrying was gone.

“So you bought crystal bombs huh? I’m assuming to increase your fire power?” Sis pull out a red crystal from my pouch.”

“Yea, I thought they would help me get stronger, so… am I demi god now? I don’t feel any different.” I examine my body and notice nothing change.

“You really thought I was going to give you a blessing?” My sister let out a laugh.

“I was hoping you would. Why didn’t you?”

“I’ll show you why.” Sis holds the red crystal up towards me. “Imagine this crystal is you.”

“Ok…..” I focus on the crystal my sis was holding

“Now this is what will happen if I turn you into a demon.” A black mist forms around my sister’s hand. The crystal became darker as the mist invaded it, until it transform into a black crystal. After it transform into a black crystal, it shatter into pieces.

“And that’s what happens, your body will tear itself apart, until you die.”

“But that’s if you turn me into a demon, isn’t a blessing different?”

“Sheez, you really are persistent” Sis let’s out a sigh. “Aaron, I understand you want more power for a good reason, but you have to understand that my power isn’t met for good. It doesn’t matter how good your intention is, the moment you accept my blessing, you will break apart, and you will be change into something you hate.” It was for a brief second, but I saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. Just like the one time when I saw her reading a book on herself. Before I could say anything, my sister stood up and patted her face. I guess that was her way of hiding her emotion.

“Anyway, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but just stay the way you are. Find a different and more natural way to get stronger alright?”

“Ok….” I won’t lie and say that I don’t feel disappointed, I was really hoping that my sis would help me get stronger, but I know she just looking out for me, and that for now, is enough to make me happy.

“We should head to the cart, it’s starting to get late.” I look at the sky and saw the sun was setting.

“Wow, is it really that late already?”

“Yea, that’s why we need to hurry up, something tells me this is going to be a long night.”

“Wait!”

“What is it now?” Sis turn back around to face me.

“Do you love me?”

“Huh?!” Sis took a step away from me, and gave me a puzzled look.

“I just what know how you feel about me.”

“…..” Sis cross her arms and close her eyes. I became uneasy when she took that pose. I mean does she really have to think that hard about such a simple question?

“You’re… tolerable.”

“….Tolerable?”

“Yes, that’s how I feel about you, now let’s get moving.”

“Yea…. I love you too.” I whisper to myself as she walk away. I look at my hands and stared at a black shard I grab off the ground.

To be honest, that wasn’t what I really wanted to ask my sister. I wanted to ask her who she turned into a demigod.

But I knew she wasn’t going to tell me. Claire was right, if I want my sister to open up to me I need to become stronger, by any means necessary.

The shard gave off a purplish glow. Even though it was small fragment from the crystal my sister corrupted, I sense a large amount of mana hidden inside it.

“Aaron!” I quickly hid the shard inside my pouch before I ran off to catch up with my sister.

“I’m coming!” I shouted back.

Soon, soon I’ll become stronger, and when I do, sis will definitely rely on me.

(Alexander P.O.V)

“You said a girl with black hair and red eyes was looking for me?”

“Yes, she was very persistent, she even challenge me to a fight.”

“My, what a courageous kid. If I recall correctly, those unique traits belong to James’ little girl”

“You’re telling me that little barbarian is James kid?!” Miyamoto, gave me bewilder looked. Miyamoto is a samurai that love to fight tough opponents, and James is one of the many people he wanted to challenge, but unfortunately James got injury before that could happen.

“It would seem so, I think I also saw his son during the orc attack. For his children to be traveling with us this must be fate, that or they’re trying to get revenge for what happen to their father.”

“Should I get rid of them?”

“Leave them be. When the time comes, I’ll deal with them, but right now we got a bigger problem." I looked at the sky and watch the sun slowly fall behind the horizon. “Miyamoto, go back to camp and tell everyone to start a fire, and make sure no matter what, don’t let it die out”

“And what about you?”

“I’ll being staying here, waiting for your return.”

“Yes sir.”

As soon as Miyamoto left, I turn my attention back towards the setting sun.

I can feel it, as the sun slowly fall asleep, the evil that hides in this forest wakes up. No doubt about it, the monsters are going to make a move tonight.

A/N: This chapter took me longer than I thought, well guys let me know what think of my grammar, I'll be checking up on it and i'll also go back and fix my previous chapters this weekend (hopefully.)

Oh yea before i go, can guys tell me how to use this blue boxes? I need them for my second story, and don't worry my second story is just a side project, this one will continue to be updated randomly every week. Because Anna is bae obviously, Anyway, thanks for reading.