‘He will return’

That’s what Elalios thought, remembering the resentful eyes that Osbert showed before fleeing. He knew he couldn’t rely on Kael, as he failed on acquiring the memory potion that the child needed. It was just himself that should deal with the incoming disaster. He made up his mind, he should go.

“You said you can’t return anymore”, Kael said.

“Yes, but I need to”, Elalios said. “I need to get the potion you needed”

“You don’t have to”

Elalios smiled seeing the concern expressed by Kael. “Thank you, but I want to do this”

Kael let Elalios do what he wanted. The deacon departed, and disappeared in the path to Cleron. He waited for Elalios to return again, but this time, no one appeared.

----------------------------------------

Elalios looked back at the village he can no longer see, and walked forward again. He slowed down his pace, resconsidering his actions. He wanted to go back, but he felt that there’s no time for hesitation. Osbert might come sooner than he expected.

Several hours of travel passed, Elalios decided to rest. He’s far away from the village, but his hesitation stayed in him. As he was thinking of going back, he looked at the direction to Cleron and saw something. He stood, looking for a place to hide.

There’s a person fast approaching. The figure approached Elalios in haste that he wasn’t able to hide successfully. He couldn’t see who it is, as the figure was hidden in a rough brown cloak. He was about to run back to the village when he heard a lady’s voice.

“Elalios, wait!”

“..Seqina?”, Elalios said turning to the figure.

Seqina showed herself to Elalios. Elalios was wary of her which made her confused.

“You look scared, what happened?”

“Did Osbert tell you something?”, Elalios asked while his left hand was stretched in front of him.

Seqina shook her head. Elalios looked around and allowed her to come close.

“What are you doing here?”, Elalios asked. “Did you finish looking around the town?”

“No, Osbert didn’t help me”

“Oh. I was finished looking around the village”

Elalios observed Seqina’s expression. Seqina didn’t look intrigued, not asking the results of his search. He felt that if the lady assumed that he didn’t find Kael as she saw him without the child, he should just let the talk end there.

But he thought of Osbert. If Osbert was the first to say that the child was in the village, he will become a traitor even for Seqina. He juggled his choices in his head, but still, he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Elalios? Is everything alright?”

“Seqina…”, Elalios paused, trying to pick the right words to say. “Kael..”

“Did you find him?”, Seqina asked.

Although hesitant, Elalios surrendered what he knew, and nodded at Seqina. Seqina’s face brightened, hearing the wonderful news.

“Let’s get him”, Seqina said. “The Earl has yet to arrive”

Elalios was thinking about what he should say. The words that he will say will dictate his fate on Seqina’s eyes.

“I can’t do it”, Elalios said shaking his head.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“What? Why?”

Elalios contemplated, choosing between Osbert and Kael. Perhaps his fear against Osbert made his decision to come quick. Kael didn’t do anything to him, it’s quite the opposite. There’s no other choice, he will betray Osbert.

“Osbert wanted to kill Kael”

Seqina’s eyes widened, shocked about what she heard.

“I don’t understand, why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, but believe me, Osbert will kill Kael”, Elalios insisted.

Seqina didn’t need further convincing. Osbert’s reputation wasn’t that good in the first place, that’s why it made sense to her, that Osbert will do something like that, than thinking Elalios was lying to her.

“He will come”, Seqina said. “I rushed passed him to see what’s going on”

“Thank you for coming earlier”

Seqina nodded at him.

They talked about where they should go. Seqina insisted that they should go to Kael to protect him, but Elalios wanted to return to Cleron, secretly aiming to confront Osbert. But before they could make an agreement, someone interrupted them.

“Elalios!”, Osbert shouted.

Osbert was fast approaching. The two were too surprised to react.

[Strength Boost]

Osbert’s fist pressed deep on Elalios’s stomach. It looked as if it pierced through.

Elalios was hurled back against an alfris tree. He vomited blood. He was down on his knees, clenching his stomach. The ground looked blurry to him. The pain almost disabled all of his senses. He was in no condition to fight back.

Seqina rushed in front of Elalios, protecting him from Osbert.

“What are you doing?”, Seqina asked.

“I should be the one asking,”, Osbert said. “Why are you protecting the traitor?”

“Huh?”

“That bastard let the child escape. He’s a traitor!”

Seqina was conflicted. She looked at Elalios who was still gripping on his stomach.

“Do.. don’t fight.. him”, Elalios coughed. “He’s after me”

Elalios’s sorry state made Seqina remember what Elalios told her. She believed him more than Osbert. She gave him a healing potion, and faced Osbert.

“Stop pretending, Osbert”, Seqina said. “Elalios told me the truth”

Osbert was angered, realizing that Seqina believed the weak man more than him. His resentment towards Elalios grew once again.

“Elalios!”

[Speed Boost]

Seqina didn’t let Osbert go any closer. She threw a potion bottle towards Osbert. It exploded as it shattered, stopping Osbert. She threw another which her opponent saw coming, but she had another plan.

[Speed Boost]

Seqina moved quick towards her distracted opponent. She took three bottles of potion.

Osbert saw Seqina gaining on him. It was enough distraction. The potion exploded at him, inflicting another resonating pain. By the time he recovered, Seqina already opened two bottles of potion.

Seqina emptied the bottles at Osbert. The liquid burst into flames, and engulfed Osbert. Then, she opened the third bottle and soaked Osbert with it. In an instant, the flames consuming Osbert was enclosed in ice. Osbert felt the spikes of pain throughout his body.

Elalios was finished healing himself by the time the fight concluded. Seqina went to him, and told him to go get Kael while she guarded Osbert. But the fight didn’t conclude just yet.

‘Why did I lost again? Why did they like Elalios more than me?’

The darkness kept on growing inside Osbert’s soul. It was slowly consuming his body, transforming him from the inside.

‘Unacceptable..’

Before Elalios was able to walk back to the village, Osbert destroyed the ice that enclosed him.

“Elalios!”

A surge of darkness consumed Osbert. His grave wounds weren’t visible anymore, his skin turned gray, thick and grotesque. His eyes were replaced by growing horns curving to the top of his head, his hands turning into four sharp claws.

Witnessing Osbert’s transformation, Elalios can only say a single word.

“Demon..”

An entity feared and hated by the people showed itself to them.