Ch.57 Peridasa, Village of the Saints. Part 2

The still shocked Sha'la was invited into the Town Hall, what the 'human' called the building in the middle. Along the way, Sha'la examined the village under her feet with awe in her eyes. The houses were in all shapes and sizes, some made from golden crystals carved into the appearance of different weapons, while others are made from intertwined trees or stone, stacked on top of each other like a tower.

After hearing the sound of closing doors, Sha'la noticed she was left behind and quickly runs the rest of the way. Walking inside, she felt like she had entered a high-end pub with red wooden chairs and tables on each side, decorated in golden carvings. The 'human' who invited her inside was now behind a large black counter with similar golden decorations as the tables.

Behind her was a giant black cube with many barely visible grooves that gave the impression it was made out of smaller ones fused together. To the left of the pub was a door covered in golden chains, a shining and comically oversize lock with ten-thousand written on its surface kept the chains bundled together. The top of the doors had a sign with, 'Artisans Workshop', written in a stylized drawing.

To the right of the pub was another door with the same lock and chain, a one-million on it this time. The sign on top displayed, 'Training Hall', with a different style of writing. While Sha'la explored the pub, the human-like monster waited patiently for her to finish, her icy but beautiful face never changing expression, she didn't even seem to blink.

Sha'la looked at the last thing in the pub, a bulletin board standing on each end of the black counter. Both boards were empty and matched the room's overall theme, down to the square-shaped grooves. The board to the left had a sign on top that said, 'Citizen's Quest', while the other said, 'Dungeon's Quest'. Her curiosity sated after looking all over, she finally introduces herself to the 'human'.

"S-sorry! This craftsmanship is breathtaking, I couldn't but admire it! M-my name is Sha'la, Sha'la Blazeclaw is nice to meet you miss... human!?" Hearing her introduction, it said, "welcome home saint, is what I'd like to say, however, you seem to be an outsider? I only sense the power of Lord Fire in your body, with rapidly diminishing traces of Lord Holy's blessing."

Sha'la could feel the 'human's' cold eyes scanning her body as if all her secrets were exposed to it. As she worried something bad was going to happen, the 'human' stopped looking at her so intensely. "It matters not, I sense no ill will from you. Although I can feel that saints have entered the Dungeon, the fact you arrive here first means that they are not worthy."

"However, this begs the question, how can an outsider enter the village when they're blessed by another god?" She turned her eyes back on Sha'la, the aura of harmony returning to her cold golden eyes. "Mind explaining this to me dear?" Sha'la quickly nodded, not daring to miss a thing in her explanation. This 'human' gave her the same feeling she always got from her mother.

It was like a lioness was angry she gave birth to a kitten, but couldn't bear to lash out at it, for doing so is criticizing herself. Hearing her explanation, its cold eyes widen in shock as if she heard something unbelievable! "That's not possible! Lord Holy used his powers to seal us on Peridasa, we can't leave until new saints are born."

"Wait!" The 'human' swiped her finger across the black counter, her actions activating something. Sha'la's sharp ears started to pick on the sound of flowing water, turning her attention to the counter. From small holes on the surface of the counter, golden water streams merge together into the shape of a square, before turning into a solid crystal screen.

Apart from that, in front of it, one hundred and one holes also solidified into individual tiny squares. The dumbfounded Sha'la saw the 'human' tap the tiny squares in a random fashion as she just stood there, not understanding what it was doing. Thankfully, it didn't take the 'human' long to find whatever it was looking for.

"Found it! There is indeed one Angel who was allowed to remain outside of Peridasa during its sealing. Her name was Emily, daughter of Arthurian, the last of the saints." It smiles lightly before returning her attention to Sha'la. "If Lady Emily sees it fit to send you here, I have nothing else to say." With another bow it said, "allow me, Kantra, to serve you Lady Sha'la."

Hearing this, Sha'la tried to get her to address her casually but it would only smile and completely ignore it. After a while Sha'la gave up, she then handed the slate given to her by the spirit outside. Sha'la curiously looked as Kantra held it in one hand while tapping the tiny squares with the other. Kantra then walked to the giant cube behind her. With a light tap, the cube seemed to have received an order as the grooves around its surface separated and twisted up, down, left, or right.

Sha'la has never seen something like this and was amazed by the way it could swap pieces between all six sides of its surface, it gave her the impression of a puzzle of some kind. Twenty seconds later, the cube stopped its actions, with the middlemost square indented to the shape of the slate. Kantra easily pushed the slate into the indent with a click, the square opening like a box.

From inside it, Sha'la could see a translucent crystal that looked like a four-sided star and a small statue. Kantra took the items and walked back to Sha'la, the box closing with a click, before repeating its previous actions and then turning still. "Here are your rewards Lady Sha'la. I can see that Lady Emily wanted you to have a (Regalia), sadly," she turns to the Artisans Workshop doors.

"Peridasa is still sealed and Lord Holy's rules prevent us from helping you too much. However, if you can do a few Quest for me, I would be able to reward you in turn." Sha'la then listens to Kantra's explanation of 'Quest'. They were in essence a form of trade, one in which only the Crystal Angels or the Dungeon itself could put up. The angels or citizens, as they're called by Kantra, would ask for mundane or simple requests while the Dungeon would ask for things it needs or wants for large rewards.

The basic reward was (E.M) the currency in Peridasa, used in everything, Kantra even hinted I could ask the Angels to craft weapons and armor with enough of it. When she heard she could ask for a full set of armor her eyes twinkled. Her father and mother are always complaining about not having enough money to buy weapons and armor, even her childhood friend, A'um, walks around the place half-naked.

At first, she thought he was just trying to show he was a strong and worthy male, but after battling in snake nest for so long she slowly realized something was wrong. All the male warriors, even master Ba'pu, wore thick leather pants with sparse metal plating on the vitals. Women would wear a bit more to cover their upper bodies with a leather vest alongside pants.

She remembers once when she asked her mother about her axes, mother said she managed to make them after collecting a ton of arrowheads. After seeing the church's troops, or even the small fry soldiers, covered from head to toe in armor, as well as their iron cannons, she came to terms with the fact that her people had no metal resources.

Being a mage, she didn't have any use for armor and would wear robes and fire aspected staffs. Her main form of defense was fire shield or immolate, while A'um would cover himself in rock armor in battle. Sadly, Kantra dropped cold water on her head by saying that the 'Artisans Workshop' would need to be unlocked with (E.M) first. With the goal of making enough currency so she can make armor for her parents, she asked if Kantra could give her some Quest!

"Of course!" Said Kantra with a small smile on her cold face, as she snapped her fingers. Sha'las ears twitch, turning to a sound coming from the Citizen's Quest bulletin board. The middlemost black square retracted into the board, before getting replaced with a new one with writing on it. Kantra told her to press on it lightly until I hear a click, which made the top of the square come out of the board, allowing me to slide it out.

Kantra then moved on to explain the purpose of my previous Quest rewards. Meanwhile, outside Peridasa, Sha'las group was starting to worry about her safety. The already on edge party was not happy to see the Church's forces flying in their direction with gloomy faces. Priest Cain was having an internal battle with himself after finally getting the fake angel to communicate.

He noticed that the monster would ignore the soft or hard approach, but would show signs of interest in anything god-related. After a few tries, the fake angel finally talked after I prayed to the Lord for forgiveness. "You seek forgiveness, yet, your heart doesn't seem to belong to Lord Holy. Although the lord does not care if others walk alongside his priesthood, it is sad to see his light stained by the death of the innocent, greed, and pride."

The fake angel pointed to the place the heretics went to. "If you seek atonement for your actions, then help awaken Peridasa, so that the lord can show you the way." Cain tried to digest the fake angel's words, but what they meant could go against his beliefs. What did it mean by allowing others to walk in the Lord's priesthood? Thinking deeper into its words, a scary thought when thru his head, is someone trying to replace the Lord?

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He remembered that the fake angel said the Lord's light in him was tainted. His old face scrunches up, as the doctrine surfaced in his mind. 'Save the helpless, heal the wounded, feed the hungry, and never leave evil unpunished. That is your duty as my shepherds in this mortal coil.' Cain's old eyes lost all color, was... was he really following the Lord?

His seniors told him that only those who are gifted deserve the Lord's light, while telling him to repeatedly remind the citizens, or lost sheep, of his grace by causing troubles before rectifying them. In his youth, he was disappointed by such actions and would piously follow the doctrine, however. His peers who did what the seniors requested would leep in power, while he remained on the same rank. After many years, he started to doubt if the lord truly wishes for his followers to do such awful things.

In the end, he was visited by one of his peers, seeing how strong and youthful he was compared to his aging body broke the last strand of stubbornness. Although he started late, he soon grew stronger and stronger as his body stopped aging and his rank when up. The more he thought the more his aura turned chaotic, the paladins sent to protect him soon noticed and ask if he was ok.

He snapped out of his spiraling thoughts and wanted to talk about his discovery so he could be assured it was all in his mind. However, when he lifted his head up, the paladin's iron helmets were gone, revealing the faces of his peers and seniors eying him like a criminal. He froze in place, the group having to stop their flying formation or hit him. One of the worried paladins helped carry him to the clearing on top of the temple, before asking if they needed to retreat from the Dungeon.

The heavily breathing Cain soon recovered, casting some healing spells and pretending he was fine after, fooling them. In his mind though, he realized that there was no one he could talk to, if he dare to bring it up he would disappear soon after. Only other stubborn fools like his past self would hear him out without branding him a heretic.

However, he was also realistic, many of those old fools would simply turn him in thinking it was all part of the Lord's plan, to test their faith. He would die horrendously as they make him repent for doubting the lord, with many previous examples in the past. The unfocused Cain walks towards the giant black slate, caressing its smooth yet warm surface. The Lord's power in him suddenly became restless, wanting to rush out into the black stone. Cain's unfocused eyes gain a glint of hope, was the lord calling to him? Turning to his paladins he said, "the Lord has given me an oracle to go inside and find salvation! You are to wait for my return!" After saying that, he forces the lord's power in him to flow into the black stone, as it in turn ripples giving him entry.

After exhausting the last drop of the Lord's power, he finally reaches the other side. What he sees makes him drop to the floor in prayer. Hundreds of angels living in a towering city completely submerged in Holy Waters, with houses made out of holy weapons and sacred golden trees.

After a while of praying, the sound of opening doors could be heard, followed by footsteps. The sound stopped when it was closer to him as if it just noticed my presence. I didn't dare to lift my head up, even if these creatures are not true angels, and just creations of the Dungeon, the fact that the Lord's power permeates its halls is telling enough of his love for this Dungeon.

Although the angel got closer in hesitation, it soon moved away, the sounds of ripples could be heard then it turned silent once more. Disappointment flashed thru Cain's mind, was he really not able to even receive the love and favor of the Lord who blessed this Dungeon? Standing up, he was determined to receive the approval of this lord, even if he has to become one of his angels.

Cain soon found the entrance to the dome-like building, as his eyes landed on the human radiating holy power. His body started shivering, this creature was identical to the angels if only more gentle, as its aura completely went against its cold eyes and face, being warm and harmonious. Dropping back to the floors he yelled, "I, Cain, shepherd of the lord, wish to repent for my sins. Oh lord, oh Holiness, oh light of salvation, please accept this humble sheep to your flock!!!" After Kantra heard this, she tried to move the plot by shifting the conversation in her cold voice but to no avail.

It didn't take long for Kantra to run out of preset scenarios Malpetios and Brian had come up with. The creature that identified itself as Cain wouldn't accept any type of coercion, be it rewards or promises of Peridasa's aid with enough E.M . All the creature wanted was to be forgiven and allowed to return to the arms of the Lord.

With no way to achieve her objective, that being to swindle element mana, she sends an emergency help request to the main consciousness. Back on the Mindscape, both of the masterminds behind this show were busily coming up with ideas to add the Light Element somewhere appropriate, before one of them stop talking.

"What's wrong kid? Did you come up with something? I'm completely out of ideas here." Malpetios snapped out of it and responded to Brian. "No is just that Anathema is requesting help, she has some fanatic worshiper breathing down her neck, and non of our presets match her predicament." Hearing Malpetios say 'Anathema' made him burst into giggles, "ya... pfft... haha. H-how... hahaha.. h-how can our make-believe God not know how to deal with its worshippers, we need to fix that. Hehe... hahaha..."

Malpetios gave Brian the stink eye, this bastard wanted my Holy Core to manage the angels and act upon the Dungeon like a God. Of course, the name Sidekick wasn't appropriate for our make-believe God, so he suggested that name while bearly holding himself from laughing. Malpetios didn't know what that name meant, and although he can just ask the System now that Brian's thoughts are integrated with it, he felt like it would be a breach of privacy.

Rolling his eyes at the giggling Brian, Malpetios rewind Anathema's memories and displayed them for their scrutiny. "It seems that the line used to start the reputation redemption quest hit a soft spot on that old priest. I don't get it though, it's just a random throwaway line." Hearing this, Brian's red eyes turned a bit dim.

"I think you don't get that priest's shock kid. Although I can't be sure, I feel that guy is probably disappointed with the church or at least deeply hurt and feeling betrayed." Malpetios turned to Brian with a raised eyebrow. He actually felt those emotions coming out of the priest, thanks mostly in part to unlocking the Dark element, he just didn't understand why the priest felt that way. He decided to get Brian to explain what he felt, after all, he's not as close to the Dark Elements as him.

After replaying the scenes a few times Brian was able to clearly pick up on the priest's thoughts. To make a long story short, the priest originally believed in something, that something failed him in some way, and he now thinks the townhalls receptionist is the something he originally believed in. "Wow... What does this say about the Church, when even a make-believe God is more alluring than an already established one. And why is that priest thinking about such illogical things after some hollow promise."

Brian gave a weak smile to Malpetios, "kiddo you wouldn't understand. Remember that you don't have any bad memories from our past, you can't even remember that we died from getting mugged and stabbed after going to the gym so late. For you, all the memories you've collected with pain and despair can only affect you on the surface, as you never went thru anything like it and can't relate."

"You don't remember our first love and the pain of having it leave us. The endless struggles and despair of having your life ruined by your mistakes or just not being good enough. I would've held on to the smallest strand of hope to keep what I love near. Like what happened to Kira, don't you remember she had a tumor on her brain? We paid to save that silly dog that has been with us since our childhood, and she still died."

"The saddest part about all of this is that things that are bad are twisted into seeming good in your memories, like going to the gym. Do you really think we used to like going to the gym!? HA!! I was only there to please my soon-to-be wife. It was always go make money or you're a man so go bulk up, that DAM BITCH WAS NEVER CONTENT!!"

Brian's body started to distort as he talked, gaining claws and long fangs. "Don't even get me started on Cindy. It was supposed to be a one-night stand between lonely and heartbroken friends, and she dared to spike my drink, and for what? Oh, that's right, because she thought I was rich due to my parents sending me all their extra money so I can study in peace. Fuck her!! She even dared to blackmail me when she got pregnant."

"I couldn't even see my kids when they were born. She threaten to kill my kids and tell everyone about how I raped her if I tried to get custody! Fuck that bitch! FUCK BOTH THOSE DAM WHORES!!!!" The more Brian talked the more his body twisted into a deformed creature, with mouths and eyes appearing alongside extra arms and legs.

"My so-called wife didn't even let me touch her, saying she can only be mine on our wedding day like her parents wanted. I only wanted her to comfort me, it didn't have to be anything else! I just wanted to know I was more than just a freaking ATM machine to her! It had nothing to do with sex!!"

By this point, Brian didn't even look human, but a demonic monstrosity. Malpetios disconnected from Anathema's Core, feeling something was wrong with Brian. When he got back to his body he saw a giant ball of eyes, teeth, and limbs crying bloody tears. "Whoa-whoa calm down! I'm sorry!!! I didn't mean to undermine our past, I just can't remember any of that pain! However! That doesn't mean you should shoulder it alone!!"

Malpetios used his administration rights to his Supporting Cores to mind melt with Brian. Even if Brian can't hurt him due to the restraints placed by the System, he was not going to let him suffer by himself. Upon connecting to Brian, Malpetios immediately started to turn black as the memories cut into him like a knife. He tried to hold on but these memories clashed with his own too much, preventing him from pushing them away.

[Warning! Warning! Supporting Core: Brian's psyche is unstable. Disconnecting from Core. FAILED. The Host should disconnect immediately!!]

Malpetios started to find it difficult to separate his memories from Brian's own, as they both cried in pain while staring into each other's eyes. It didn't take long for the Mindscape to start shaking and the trees to wilt rapidly. Before Malpetios could fall into despair, something hugged him from behind, bringing a sense of safety.

"Malpetios! I'm here, I'll always be here! You have me by your side! Please come back to me! Let go of that demon! I told you to not trust it but you wouldn't listen! Please come back to me, I can't lose you again... please... sob... sob."

Q'ill's tears began to fall on Malpetios's face, clearing a large portion of the darkness covering his body. He started to slowly fight the memories, seeking comfort in Q'ills embrace when he couldn't bear it. However, he noticed that all he did was push the pain back to Brian, not being able to lighten or share his pain. Then he thought of something, "Q'ill! Please Q'ill, Brian needs you more than I! Please!"

"What are you talking about?! That demon has been waiting all this time, pretending to be kind when it's really an evil creature that wanted to hurt you! How can you still not see that!?" Hearing what Q'ill said pained Malpetios, as he replied, "he's me, the old me. I don't know if the World's Will wanted to cut and bury my past self due to disgust, or more likely, to prevent my dark emotions from breaking me. But that doesn't change the fact that this ugly and malformed monstrosity is still me!"

"I know you think I'm better off without this shameless bastard in my life, and to be honest, maybe I really would be." Q'ill looked happy when I said that but quickly became silent after hearing the rest. "But I'm no longer willing to live my life ignorantly believing the world around me is evil and corrupt, while I'm the only exception, that's just denial! So please, mom..., help my grieving soul!"

Q'ill allowed herself to be pulled next to the demon's body as Malpetios hugged one of its twisted legs, turning towards Q'ill with eyes full of pain and stubbornness. After a while, Q'ill decided to do what her child wanted even if she wasn't really willing. She hugged both Malpetios and the demon's deformed leg telling them to calm down while rubbing them in comfort. While she tried to calm the demon a scene reflected in her mind.

Two kids, one big, one small, were hugging each other while they both cried. Q'ill got closer to them both, as they seemingly noticed her presence. The kids raised their heads in her direction, revealing their faces. The small one was cute and adorable, innocence and intelligence brimming from his big eyes.

However, the larger one was full of wounds and missing an eye and an ear, looking vicious and distrustful of Q'ill. As she got closer the large kid stood up before falling back down, he was missing a leg. However, this didn't stop him from covering the smaller one with his body, growling at Q'ill like an animal.

For some unknown reason, Q'ill felt that her heart was stabbed after seeing them, as she tried to take both of them into her embrace. The larger kid bit her without a second thought causing her to flinch, but she didn't stop. Now with both of them in her arms, they seem to have calmed down, the larger kid even started to lick at her bite marks. After what seemed like hours, Q'ill found herself back in Malpetios's Mindscape, both him and the demon in her embrace.

Q'ill stared at the demon with mixed thoughts, wanting nothing more than to toss him far away from her baby. However... The demon didn't seem so repugnant anymore.