"Mmmm… What a beautiful day." A cute young lady said. She looked out the window, enjoying the scene in the church courtyard. Leaves stained in red, orange and purple slowly fell one by one from the only tree onto the grass and pavement.
She stood in a church corridor on the highest floor, taking in the pleasant cool breeze from the dying season. She smiled contently as her golden blonde hair swayed with green eyes fixed on the nature before her. She was dressed in noble attire wearing a purple dress with green accents. And was adorned with colorful jewelry despite it clashing with her dress.
She kept her demeanor calm, with an excitement well hidden. For her, it was the most important and momentous day of her life. A day which she considered the crowning achievement of her life.
"Today is the day my sister will finally die," she thought to herself, curling a much deeper smile.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hall, bringing her out of her trance. "Lady Kalika. His lordship requests your presence." The maid bowed respectfully as she relayed the message.
"My father called?" Kalika narrowed her eyes at the maid and gave her a cold stare.
A man clad in heavy metal appeared from the corner of the hall. His armor, adorned with the insignia of her adopted family's crest on both shoulder and chest. He marched up from behind the maid, making his presence known. This man was the Captain of the Knights, Leo Turner.
Kalika glanced up briefly at the captain, She then turned back to the courtyard, uninterested. "Thank you. Tell him I'll be right over," she stated.
The Maid bowed once more and took her leave. Not long after, both Kalika and the captain were walking side by side through the corridor.
"I… never thought a day like this would come. To think, your sister, so jealous that she would claim to be the Saintess, especially after the church found that the title belonged to you." The captain was very distraught.
"My elder sister has always had a wild imagination."
"Nonetheless, it's nothing short of heresy in the eyes of God… And now she has to atone appropriately," Captain Leo said solemnly.
However, on closer inspection, Captain Leo looked very conflicted about the current situation. Kalika on the other hand, was very calm and centered. She looked out the windows as they were passing and thought aloud, "God, huh… What has he ever done…?"
The captain stopped Kalika. Keeping his voice low he scolded her. "Milady, you mustn't talk in that manner! You know it's blasphemous to speak in that way. Especially in the eyes of the head priest."
"My apologies. I'll watch my tongue."
"please do," he said.
The two continued down the corridor as Kalika thought. "Only idiots believe the high and mighty to be pure and committed. God, Demons… It's all just a farce for power and money. I'm no idiot, like that sister of mine."
They finally reached the room with the church balcony overlooking the capital center. Kalika saw her father, Julian, a man with brown hair and hazel eyes adorned with his crown and kingly robes, and her sister's ex-fiancée Grimwald, a man with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing his noble military uniform. They were waiting on the balcony for the proceedings.
Kalika simply joined them, and her character almost changed like a switch inside her mind. "Father?" Kalika forced her voice to sound as innocent as possible.
Julian glanced briefly at his adopted daughter before turning his attention back to the town center, where a guillotine stood erect. "It's alright, Kalika. The punishment the court and church passed was… A just one." Grimwald sourly agreed with Julian's statement.
"It's hard to refute the verdict when there's so much evidence, after all." Kalika smiled as she watched the stone-cold expressions of the men holding back their own feelings.
Kalika soon took a spot between the two men. Leaning on the railing with one hand on her cheek and another fully on the railing, she watched the groups of people gather around for the event. Captain Leo simply waited silently behind the three, standing by for any order that came his way.
"Now, all I have to do, is enjoy the show." Kalika smiled, now waiting for the proceeds to begin.
It wasn't long before Lillian came into view. She was a young-looking, beautiful maiden with brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in dirty prisoners' clothes. She was escorted by guards wearing light armor equipped with spears from the inside of the church.
They slowly paced to the center of the plaza where the guillotine lay in wait. Lillian seeing this, became nervous as the people in the crowd started to murmur to each other. The crowd were practically shocked to see Lillian being the rumored heretic they've been hearing soo much about.
As she walked to the center of the plaza, a list of crimes was announced to the public by a representative of the church. "Lillian Archelion, Daughter of his lordship Julian Archelion, has been found guilty of harassment, lying, slandering and heresy, to name a few of the light crimes."
The first few crimes announced had some people in the surrounding crowd shocked by this news, and many others gasped in disbelief.
"And in a shocking revelation during the court's proceedings not two days ago… She has also been found guilty of colluding with enemy nations, passing down national secrets, forging documents, and even going as far as planning a coup against the very lord, her own father! For the throne of Dahlia"
Lillian was just as shocked as the crowd to hear such proclamations as she arrived at the center by the guillotine. "W-wait that's not true!" Lillian screamed trying to refute these false claims; however, her voice fell on deaf ears as the people in the crowd started to get riled up. As a few were still in disbelief at this news.
The priest looked up at a smiling Kalika before finishing off the last part of the decree.
"Henceforth, in light of these heinous crimes, the court and church, in collaboration with his lordship, have passed down judgment. Lillian Archelion is no longer of royal blood and as a traitor to the nation of Dahlia, she is to be sentenced to death by means of public beheading. "
Lillian was at a loss for words about what was happening, and she started to panic, yelling, "That wasn't the verdict they gave me. This is absolute madness!"
An observer in the crowd sent a rock sailing through the at Lillian. Then a roguish-looking man shouts out to Lillian, "Kill the heretic!" Another one starts to shout as they throw another rock. "You traitor!!"
More and more people started to turn against Lillian, insulting her and throwing rocks at her. This reaction from the crowd dumbfounded Lillian, as all her life, she's done no harm, but here, she found the world seemingly turning against her. Guards stepped up to cease the rock throwing, but it had little effect as it started to ramp up further from other people.
"It's amazing how little these rogues cost just to simply talk trash and throw rocks," Kalika thought as she watched the chaos unfold.
Kalika turned to her adopted father with a fake look of concern. "What's going to happen with Lily?"
Julian continued to watch the event, gripping his hands in frustration but responding earnestly. "After this… her sins will be forgiven, and God will cleanse her soul…"
"That's good. I'm glad God will help her." Kalika responded lightheartedly.
Kalika turned her attention back to the chaos. "I wonder if he believes that himself. I wonder how powerless he feels to help his dear daughter, being unable to go against the church with some stupid figurehead."
Kalika now looked keenly at Lillian. "Once all is said and done, I'll become next in line even if it's as a puppet for those stupid, boorish pigs. As long as I get to live my leisurely life, that's all that matters to me."
Little did anyone around Kalika know that all of the charges on Lillian were, in fact, all complete fabrications. This was thanks to all the strings that Kalika had at her disposal, and the promises she'd made throughout the kingdom.
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The promises of money, land and loyalty. In return, noblemen and women, along with the church, would make her the next lord of Dahlia. In exchange, Kalika would live a leisurely life, letting the nobles play their own game of politics.
"Hmph. Sorry Lily, But I won’t let you stand in the way of my dream… And don't worry, I’m sure father will follow you to that next life you’ve always wanted." Kalika's confidence at this moment was unmatched as she continued watching, seeing that the guards were finally escorting Lillian to the guillotine.
Lillian was being held by the arms and was starting to be forced into the head slot of the guillotine. Lillian struggled and struggled, refusing to put her head in the slot. But it was, of course, all in vain as Lillian's head was eventually put in, and she was, and she is locked into place.
In a panic, Lillian pleaded with her father, Julian. "Father please stop this! Everything they say is false! I don't even care who the Saintess is! Please, I don't want—... Daddy?". Lillian looked on in shock and horror as Julian looked back at her with a cold expression, her once kind, gentle father's face cold as stone.
Lillian's eyes then turned to see Kalika give a knowing smile as she waved goodbye at Lillian. It wasn't long before Lillian came to the realization that… she was set up by her adopted sister Kalika. Someone that she cherished and treated as her own family her entire life. Lillian can only utter one name. "Kali…ka…?".
It wasn't long before the blade from the guillotine was released, completely severing Lillian's head from her body. As this happens, even the people up close watching the event fail to see the complete mix of emotions on Lillian's face. The emotions of shock. Horror. Regret. Anger. And immense sadness. All culminating into one final expression.
Lillian's head now rolls. Tears still seeping from her face. Some people cheered unlike some like Julian and Grimwald, who looked away as the deed was finally finished.
Kalika simply smiled contently, knowing the truth of the matter. "I win…" Kalika's victory over her sister was more than assured… although this victory of hers would be very short-lived.
Just moments after Lillian's beheading as people started to slowly trout off and others prayed for Lillian's soul, a huge earthquake erupted. The ground underneath the citizens in the city center was starting to protrude like an ant hill. Everyone was now on alert.
"What's going on!?" Julian shouted out. Shocked by the unfolding event. Captain Leo looked down at the balcony himself, seeing even more of the ant hills being made on the city streets. "There are mounds appearing throughout the city center, sir! It must be a monster invasion!" The captain readied his sword.
"Impossible! How can this be!?" Julian shouted in confusion. Even more parts of the ground were starting to protrude until, eventually, the earthquake stopped. There was a pause for a moment. People were waiting for something to happen.
The silence was deafening, until finally, one by one, they erupted with creatures. They were the very spawns of Hell itself—demons were invading!
People started clamoring away for safety only for some to be whisked away into the sky while others were sliced, burnt, and killed. Guards step in to defend the civilians but it's no use as they are all being overwhelmed.
"ON GUARD, MEN!!" Grimwald yelled at the troops.
Julian and Grimwald raised their arms to defend themselves and Kalika. Without warning, Kalika was suddenly attacked by a winged demon that almost whisked her away. Fortunately, Julian immediately saved her. In a panic, Kalika was quickly made to hide under the balcony table by her adopted father.
Julian turned his attention to Captain Leo. "Leo! Don't worry about us! Protect the civilians and aid the guards down below!" The captain immediately agreed to the order, understanding his new mission.
Without wasting time, Captain Leo jumped down the balcony, assisting the guards on the ground. In a swift move he easily killed two demons and moved to kill more. One after another he slaughtered any demon in sight as he moved to protect as many civilians as possible. All the while, Julian and Grimwald are protecting Kalika who was still very panicked.
However, despite fighting very hard, their ranks become overwhelmed by the number of invaders. It didn't take long for the few remaining guards and civilians to be cornered or killed. With this, it marked the victory of the demon invaders. The winged demons started perching themselves onto the roofs as if ordered to stand by. While the demons on the ground have everyone, including Captain Leo, cornered, unable to make a move without getting slayed.
Luckily for Julian and Grimwald, the demons on the ground are unable to enter the church. Despite this, Julian and Grimwald remain on guard, knowing that the winged demons can swoop down at any moment.
"Your lordship, what do we do?" Grimwald knew that they were in a precarious situation.
Julian was about to answer when a much bigger mound appeared, revealing a demon with cold blue skin, sleek black hair, and bright golden eyes. He had what looked to be a tail wrapped around his pants just beneath his well-built body and short horns that curved from the front of his head to the back.
He cackled as he finished steeping on the previously pristine pavement. The mysterious demons' cackling soon turned to laughter, and he exhaled to finally speak.
"I would never have imagined that the Saintess would ever die. And here I thought I'd have to wait a lifetime to invade. "
The demon looked at the podium where Lillian's dead body lay. The demon started to smile wickedly, amused at the situation. "The poor girl didn't even see it coming either. And to think, not even her blood father came running to help."
The demon turned back to Julian whose blood was starting to boil. Grimwald was preparing for an attack at any point. All Kalika could do was watch from under the balcony table. Kalika was completely shell-shocked.
"Demons! A-actual demons!!??" The revelation that demons actually existed felt unreal to Kalika, but it was something that she could no longer refute.
The demon then bowed down to Julian. "As king of the demons, I have to offer my sincerest gratitude. Now that the Saintess is dead we can invade these lands with all our strength and not only that, but the prophecy of destiny… is finally broken."
Julian couldn't take being insulted as he not only disowned his own blood daughter, but he also allowed her to be executed mere moments ago. "How dare you!"
Julian was moments away from charging down from the balcony to battle the amused Demon King. That was until the Head Priest came out from the church. A blast of fire magic came forth hitting the Demon King.
"Back, you demon! Go back to whence you came!!" The Head Priest was starting the charge of another magical attack. The demons on the ground were about to attack until the Demon King raised his hands to stop them.
The Head Priest ignored the other demons around him and only concentrated on the Demon King. "Your kind is but liars. You talk of the Saintess being dead when she is still with us right here!" The Head Priest yelled as he just about finished charging his fire magic.
"Is that so?" The Demon King looked a little amused.
The Head Priest wasted no time and shots a fireball at the Demon King. The Demon King took the hit directly with the spell causing him to completely catch fire. The Head Priest continued to barrage the Demon King with his magic fire spells unimpeded. Until it seemed that he was victorious.
"Ha. I guess the King of Demons was all bark," the Head Priest bragged.
Kalika was amazed by the power of the Head Priest and found herself coming out from the safety of the table. Even Julian and Grimwald found the display of magic to be extraordinary. The Head Priest looked at Kalika and Julian. "Your Lordship. Saintess Kalika. We may yet win this battle!"
Grimwald looked around, noticing that none of the demons moved whatsoever. Something wasn't right. They all looked too confident. Everyone's heart soon sank as they heard a familiar cackling followed by even louder laughter.
"SO, YOU BELIEVE HER TO BE THE SAINTESS??" It was clear by the tone of the Demon King, who was very amused.
Even more concerned, the Head Priest turned his attention back to the burning Demon King and continued his barrage of fire magic on him. The fire gradually gathered from throughout the Demons King's body and into the palm of his hand. The fire gathered was a small ball of fire the size of a marble.
"Impossible." The Head Priest was shocked by the Demon Kings immense strength.
The Demon King then released the ball of fire back at the Head Priest. The Head Priest tried blocking the incoming attack with a magic barrier, but it is no use as the tiny ball of fire completely breaks through the barrier and engulfs the Head Priest. The Head Priest could do nothing as he screamed at the top of his lungs from being burned alive, charring even his flesh.
Eventually the Head Priest was no longer able to scream and was turned into a black charred husk.
The Demon King looked back at the balcony. "I presume the little "Saintess" in the dress to be Kalika." The Demon King was now smiling devilishly.
"You stay away from her, you fiend!" out of nowhere Captain Leo suddenly attacked the Demon King. The blade connected to the Demon King's face, but the sword had instantly shattered into pieces. The Demon King proceeded to grab Captain Leo, very annoyed by his presence.
"I'm not interested in you." The Demon King responded coldly before tossing Captain Leo into the guillotine and destroying its top half. With the captain out of the way, the Demon King turned his attention back to Kalika. He gradually levitates himself towards Kalika, showing off his overpowering control of magic.
"Care to show me some of your holy magic, girl?" The Demon King was very intimidating. Kalika was starting to panic. "I…. I.".
"I can't use magic!" Kalika didn't have any magical powers. Only very few people in the world could use magic, which was always considered as a gift from God himself. "Kalika …!!" Julian yelled to break Kalika's trance.
Kalika instinctively took a step back. Without hesitation Grimwald placed himself in front of her to keep her safe; Julian also followed suit. The gestures made by the two men were, at this point, a futile effort in more ways than one; even Kalika realized this.
The Demon King stopped pausing for a moment before starting to float towards the guillotine where Lillian's body still resided. "Hmmm… Fine. If you're not willing to show me, perhaps you'll be willing to show… your sister."
The Demon King picked up Lillian's head, which was still slightly drenched in tears. The Demon King squeezed his palm and poured his blood into her mouth. He then completely took off the top of the guillotine that held the neck in place. He held the head close to the main body. The head quickly latched onto the body, practically stitching itself and healing like it's never been cut. "Aha~," the Demon King said, looking very proud of himself.
Julian, Grimwald and Kalika were shocked, especially Kalika, who is getting a very bad feeling. The Demon King turned back to the three on the balcony and started to explain something to them.
"My blood, unlike other demons, has a special property to bring back the dead. In most cases, they're brought back as mindless zombies… but in rare cases like this… They're revived into a demon!"
Lillian's eyes start to open. The Demon King is now cackling to himself as Lillian gets up, a little confused.
Little by little Lillian starts to undergo a transformation. Her skin became a bluer similar to the Demon King and her hair even changed from brown to white. She starts to grow curved horns from the back and onto the side of her head where it grew to the front and pointed up like a crown. her teeth became sharp like fangs, and her iris turned into a ruby red.
She looks around curiously, unsure what is going on. Even cocking her head as she sees Kalika on the balcony. “Huh?”