Murai glared at Ceila up close, and he was done, finished with her bullshit.
“What did you just say?” he asked, yet no matter how he wriggled and pushed his body from her grasp, he couldn't do a thing. “TOOL? Are you forcing my Will against your unhinged move and foolish tongue? I am disappointed and almost laughing.”
“And I am hopeful since no matter what, if I toss you beyond this barrier, you are dead. Isn't it an interesting prospect? The Centralis Kingdom wants you dead, or whatever else they even want. Not helping you basically means having your Will forfeit anyways, since what could you do with freedom anyway? Tell me.” she asked straight to his face, telling facts that pushed the reality to him.
“Tell? What I would do is none of your concern since this whole mess of the Encounter serves one issue. Godly interest. It makes little if no sense to talk with you, you madwoman so whatever you even think, you are underestimating me.” Murai told, having all inclination to use Robust Defense to at least get free, or test other Robust Spirit's offensive abilities.
Ceila sighed, letting the brightness in her eyes disappear. “I am disappointed by your damned stubbornness, you tiny-looking fool. I probably expected to feel some sense, but I am not surprised either way.”
“Heh! Do you wish I would be something more? I could. OH! I could be a bloody disaster if I wished! Trust me. I have no issue with having some tough living, so think of it as my redemption. I would even give up on this Encounter if I could, but I doubt it's possible, am I right? And it is also in your interest to help me, so your try at blackmail is fitting, but it only makes me laugh instead. Pathetic.”
“Yes, I know. What is given can't be denied. That is a partial rule of this world,” Ceila said, sighting and lowering him towards her hips. Changing her grip around his neck to rest him on her palm, Murai regained his freedom.
He wanted to jump away the moment she lessened her grip, but what then? Ceila was right, and he hated being in unsolvable situations between impossible forces that were like adults toying with a baby, so what now? Going with the Encounter seems like a merciless and unavoidable thing, and Ceila's intentions weren't up to his liking. Should he go with the path of lesser evil, give up, or be more ruthless to himself than ever before and swallow everything up?
“Well, for once, I feel your solution has some sensibility to it, since the ego, Will, and situation are quite sincerely fucked, or so I can say,” Murai said after a couple of moments of thinking. “What I can do, you may ask? I would do my best, get stronger and kick some gods in their lofty places, but they are of different opinions so they forced this Encounter upon me. That's what I would do to quench my mind. Nothing less, or meaningful, so screw you if you expect something from me. I expect nothing from others.”
“Expectations...” Ceila mumbled, glancing at the sky again. “No one knows the future for sure. Situation or even you, yourself, can change in the blink of an eye. Think of this as a momentary game, while the benefits of working together aren't bad. Or, do you want to forfeit your life? Would you do it? Feeling the End... and everything again?”
Murai stomped with his feet on her palm, turning away with his beak to not see her face. He didn't answer as he can't find one to be good enough to specify his anger.
In a significant conversation that was happening in their Wills alone, Lia was upon the last 2 messiahs that worked in tandem.
Runes around their bodies flickered, dancing around with mana to empower themselves as if two bodies became one. It was the usual situation that the Centralis Kingdom possessed in terms of military strategy and the core form of messiahs.
Yet, even if two weak opponents became 1, or a dozen, Lia solved their tricks with a fast stomp to one's face, demolishing his head with a taloned finger on her feet. As for the other, the flickering mana and many runes were disturbed, so she picked up the speed, shoving her arm right through his chest, ending with a heart speared in her pointed finger.
As fast as she was with killing everyone, she wasn't someone who forgot something important.
At this moment, a certain notion hit one individual.
“Fuck! Ceila?” Murai asked and turned back again. She gave him a questionable smirk as if she was thinking or coming up with some questions or topics in her mind.
“This student of yours... Where is she? Where are Iris and Timmy?!” Murai asked, realizing he forgot the favor of his saviors.
Suddenly, something hit Ceila as well, jolting her head around this plain. She was unable to see or sense Iris and Timmy at all which meant something bad, or terrible. Nothing in-between, but one of it was most plausible than the other.
Frowning, she wasn't willing to accept this big mistake that she didn't expect. They were supposed to be protected, but against what? 70s? Would Arch be enough to work through their protection? It was possible, but she doubted that since she felt nothing wrong. There were probably some other individuals involved other than Arch.
Considering Murai's situation, it made many other possibilities much more apparent, and the Centralis Kingdom may even work in secret to push some things forwards and hid behind the scenes. Hiding beyond the gods was a possibility, albeit it was rare and tough. It usually involved Extremes, so it was rather a dangerous prospect.
Someone was playing this Encounter game in the long term or had information, or workforce at a significantly better level.“She isn't here...” she mumbled, involuntarily clutching Murai with her palm again.
“What did you expect anyway? At least they shouldn't be dead. They were kidnapped to blackmail you, I bet.” Murai commented, even though he wasn't sure if he was right or wrong. He hoped to be right, though.
“Shut up. What kind of Blessed was involved... No... what was the full repertoire of the Will of the Battleworld and this Encounter? TELL ME!” She ordered, tilting her face closer to him along with physical words this time around.
“A Blessed involved? The one named Razmund, as you should already know because of your Lady's involvement and my memories. Her plotting is deep, so I have no doubts that she knew did her duty.” Murai calmly answered, rather than pulling off some jokes, or useless remarks.
“Him...? Razmund? I didn't see him in your memories. They weren't enough to let me see the face of your fates, while my Lady didn't include some things, fearing that they weren't necessary for me to know. I know where to accept the limits, and it's fine, so tell me what you interpreted from this Will. That much, you should know to tell.”
“Then that is too bad, really,” Murai said. “I am terrible at making things easier, or less complex, you know? In fact, I am a master at making things worse, as you may already guess from my life so far. It's a total mess, and it seems this Encounter wants my life, rather than anything else.”
Ceila almost fumed in displeasure but managed to give Murai an irritated look instead.
“It's not about you. It's that damned gift that you lost, and many other things that you, nor myself knows about.”
“You said nothing new, and see? You must know some things yourself if you talk like this. You called me tool, so what does it make you?” Murai mumbled, giving her a bothered look. She was no different, if not worse, so who was she to think of others like that?
Imagining a priest like that would be truly disappointing for some ordinary devotees, or villagers, but Ceila had no worries about showing a rough side of her face. There were no perfect priests in the world. Not in this world, at least.
“It seems the initialization of this Encounter is in the hands of the Centralis Kingdom because of everything you have created and Lordis pushed upon you. This isn't going to be good... Tell me every shift of this Encounter, and messages that Will of the Battleworld will tell in the future. I don't care about your unwillingness. I do this with no regrets, unlike you. And my student too.” Ceila said, ignoring his protesting look.
Murai saw her rather serious face, which changed her personality for the better. It seemed when this situation involved Iris, it made her change her view a little. Though, when considering the dead knights from her battalion, it wasn't the case. Calling it double standards would be more than fitting, considering the situation and hypocrisy.
“Wait!” Ceila suddenly shouted, ignoring Murai's willingness to talk more. Before he uttered a word, she walked out of the barrier.
She stopped Lia who was a single step and a handful move away from killing the last helpless messiah that was before his End. Before, she didn't kill him completely and assumed him to be dead. He faked it, which made her a bit upset.
“What?” Lia asked as she turned her head around. Her face was crazed and bloody from all of this killing. The intent of the ancient beast and danger engulfed dozens of meters around her. She was a true monster in this form, but Ceila wasn't afraid. Why would she?
Unbeknownst to Lia and her turn, the messiah waited for such an opportunity, even though he was far unmatched in terms of power and skill. He took a sharp dagger from his pocket, stabbing Lia right to her abdomen. Even though the stab succeeded, Lia barely noticed it, since the knife shattered into many pieces the moment it reached her well-defined abominable muscles filled with layers of scales.
She felt it wasn't even a scratch of a fly, albeit it was a fly nonetheless. She grabbed his head without looking, expecting some answer of why Ceila wanted to stop her play of a Helper.
Lia watched as she arrived with Murai in hand, appearing serious or a bit agitated. “Where are the kids? You left the knights alone, killing some, but not the kids. Why? Who else was here besides Arch?” Ceila asked straight to this man's face, almost grabbing him but that wasn't needed.
“Heheheh... Too bad...” he struggled to laugh and coughed blood, yet it didn't stop him from being a devotee for his soul. “It is all meaningless. No need to force it all away as it goes by our Will. It's all according to the will of the world! The Voice! And I wo....ughrrhhh..” His words were cut short, as his throat was between Lia's two clawed fingers.
A simple motion and he would be dead, yet she was gentle and clever enough to not do that. She lifted him up as if he was as light as a feather, adding to this talk some domination and fear.
“Tell. Us. I will rip you apart otherwise.” Lia insisted, giving messiah a glimpse of his End. Recollecting this person's beastly killing and murder was even more brutal than his own. Lia ignored his struggling voice, or flowing blood from missing a part of his shoulder, and a whole arm. He wasn't bleeding out yet, thanks to his sufficient mana, and power over his own body.
But struggling more would only delay the inevitable. This messiah can only watch and realize the foes' strength. Hers or even the power past that barrier was beyond their power, yet they didn't expect this much, because of Encounter's Rules and plot hiding behind the scenes.
That was their wisdom. A part of why the Centralis Kingdom did the things they did, but they were different from what Ceila or Murai would even guess.
Alas, here came a Helper from the other side of the Encounter, killing and obliterating their forces unexpectedly. He was only glad, that the hidden forces from their own part thought of another plan. Expecting a direct involvement of the Suns was a small possibility in their leaders' opinion, but facts speak no lies. The first touch of their plan failed, so it was time to move with another one.
Messiahs and the figures behind them were wrong to assume a good time, which caused an imminent defeat at the hands of the power. There were no excuses put in their heart. After all, they all knew the sources of the stronger forces of their kingdom. They will push against this Encounter, avenging their hard work for their sake.
That was what the messiahs were for. That was their purpose. Their bliss in the Afterlife will be the revenge for their superiors. It will ease their heart even though the messiahs as a whole, weren't weak in terms of military prowess. They were devotees for the greater purpose, but not powerful enough to be proper independent mages or even Gifted.
Ceila looked at the struggling and bleeding man. His face was ashen, ready to die at any moment, yet his hatred and Will for his cause were still there, hiding in his eyes. “Is it Razmund? He isn't strong to be a leader though so who else is there? Head Priests? 4 Cataclysms? Other leaders?”
“Doesn't matter... As I! Am a devotee of theee... Ugh..” he struggled, spitting some blood from Lia's tightened grip.
“Don't even try to jolt a speck of your mana, idiot. I may be musclehead, but I still have my core.” Lia said behind his ears while pointing his face to Ceila. “I can tear your head with an attached spine. Want to see it? It's not painful, I swear.” she whispered, showering the man with cold words that were no different from a devil.
“You... will die. A splendid death!” the man said, clutching Lia's hand with his remaining arm. Something within him changed, as revolving pressure came from his chest. It prevented Lia from clutching his throat, which was surprising since she wasn't far from clutching even his spine.
“Hiding a spell? No... Someone used his body to put something dangerous. Ancient Rune set, or Bloodmagic.” Ceila deducted, frowning, as she understood what was happening.
Alas, it was too late.
It was an array consisting of many runes and rules around them. It was similar to the formations that messiahs used to work with numbers, but was older, and had something else within it.
The mana flared from the man's chest, revealing a strange object that penetrated his chest from the inside out. It came from his core, which left a lot of strange patterns around his body. The object was a crimson needle-like gem, filled with little lines, that weren't like runes or any language-based symbols.
They were older than that, indicating its intricacies or mysteries that were hard to guess. The object was a reason for the sudden push, and Lia backed away, while messiah was nothing but a tool to use this tool if things would go wrong. He accomplished his mission, albeit on his End.
The mana enveloped this object under the messiah's blood and a couple of intricate syllables that even Ceila didn't understand. This object was thus, completely activated, pushing a potent set of power into effect. The lines and runes were complicated since they involved a living being and old complicated processes of activating some technique.
At this point, Lia wasn't able to handle his throat for longer, so she flexed her claw as she could, and did what she wanted. Obliterating the man's neck was barely possible but it didn't stop this object from performing its structural purpose.
Grunting unhappily, Lia kicked the headless man away, after severing his remaining hands as well. His conviction prevailed even without his head, which was remarkable since it prevented her one arm from moving for a couple of seconds.
“What array is this?” Lia asked Ceila who was glancing at these runes that were closing and encompassing their location. Lia knew she knew much more about these things than her, so if she didn't what it was, it meant trouble.
“It is... Ancient. I don't know how old, but its structure is like another Ancient Magic from Founding War. Forming Flarinq with the effect of forceful... Teleport? Void? Space Magic of some sort?” she deducted at last, but it was too late to change anything.
She wasn't even right, as this was older than even Founding War and was even from a different planet altogether.
The rune array spread from the appearance of this gem-like object. Whatever it should do, it was long under its purpose, and it no longer needed messiah's life. It had enough rules for its purpose that was right before it.
Darkness filled with flickering notions of light shot from the gem-like needle. Lines intersected, forming a maelstrom of dozen meters around them, preventing Ceila or Lia to move for a couple of seconds.
Those seconds became extremely important. Ceila wanted to jump away, prevent its purpose that she guessed right now.
It was too late.
The rune array came to its apex, becoming a beam of darkness and light that enveloped the only being it needed to feel. That was Murai, who was no longer under the influence of the barrier that it wouldn't be able to breach.
Everything worked, and Ceila didn't have time to come up with a proper solution, since her agitation got a hold of her before. She should've left Murai within the barrier, but she forgot about potential troubles since she was confident she would be able to protect him.
She failed, so she could only watch how Murai disappeared within her hand to an unknown location after a beam enveloped him in her grasp.
Hm? They came prepared more than I would ever guess. And this thing? Ability or treasure of some Extreme? Different... world? Is it some Traveler, Wanderer, or Guest? she thought, seeing the runes and the dark lines disintegrate into tiny particles, before disappearing into the world.
“Ceila! You didn't... What was that? What about that light, knights, and... Murai?” Lia said, securing her position on the ground, and looking at Ceila. She dismissed this whole ordeal as if it didn't matter all that much to her. She was unhappy, but not like she didn't do her best. She always did, so she never met any regretful decisions in her life.
Ceila grunted, fearing that the situation changed once again. “He is gone... Knights? They served their purpose, but one that is my fault to happen. I will cherish the fallen, and serve their wishes. I did expect messiahs from the get-go, but I didn't know the full details of the Encounter. It may be a small excuse, and I acknowledge it. But, some beings got involved faster, and they should've done something. Do you think even my partial Battalion is weak?”
“Don't be so worried, Ceila.” Lia patted her shoulder, after getting up. For once, Lia wasn't one bit smaller than her.
“Who is saying I am? You already did spend your part, while I didn't, and with Murai gone? Ugh... How irritating. 30 days of utter nightmares will happen next, and who knows what will even happen afterward? I already fear that our Lady took more than we can manage, or she could see.”
“We already serve her purpose, Ceila,” Lia said. “No one knows a full stretch of fate, and that's a neat part. Anyway, it's fine to see some changes. A good person can be a hundred-man army if one is good enough.” Lia argued, leaving Ceila speechless by how naive and carefree she sounded.
“Is your Helper status in the Encounter over?”
“It will revolve soon... I think?” Lia said, and soon enough, a gust of intangible matter flickered from the ground, granting her the blessing of the World in the notion of a Boost. “Oh, speaking of the wolf, and wolf is around the corner. Fantastic!” she cheered, as she felt a surge of power going over her whole body, strengthening and improving her. “I got a Level Up alongside some upgrades. Not bad. That is quite good, and dozens of Attributes across the board. That is quite a harvest result... No wonder it's always so rare.”
Lia cheered, while the feeling of getting powerful always felt good. She clutched her claws, feeling like it was still not the end of her path.
She decided to end her transformation, retracting the scales back where they came from. She became smaller, and the process of turning back wasn't as fast as starting it. Getting it done, it took time. The 2-way transformation took usually up to 10 seconds, yet she was done with both in 6. She clutched her regular human hand and felt her feet in bloody mud.
“That was it? Nothing else is within the message of the Will of the Battleworld? Nothing about the Encounter or what happened to Murai's part?” Ceila asked.
“Obviously not. I am just a Helper, and one that is gone form the proper side. Encounter no longer means a thing to me, as it should.” Lia shook her head. “My part is done so Murai's 1st Part should be starting. My rewards were excellent, so I wonder what he will get. An Anatidae in the Encounter sounds like a savage chance. It's not like my bloodline can improve even when considering the Encounter, nor have any of my abilities strengthened too much. I am satisfied, so that leaves you alone, Ceila. What do you plan now?”
Hearing her question, she was calmly observing the current situation. Her motives were in shambles, and so were her own feelings. She failed herself by being unable to protect Murai at all and she even failed Iris and Timmy.
A simple mistake caused it all. Hearing about Iris, she became agitated and messed it all up. She had no doubts that Vermillion will be furious.
Ceila wasn't fine at all, so she turned her attention to the residuals of the teleport of some sort that left something behind. Right, she was.
A crumbled gem remained on the ground, but it was dull and no longer useful. From its purpose, complexity, and power, it was a tool of a powerful mage. It should be a possession of someone more powerful than herself, which meant one thing.
Things will get complicated, and it will be hard to guess what sort of cards will Centralis Kingdom use.
Lia observed her actions of picking that gem, while she found her boots and adjusted her clothes. Her transformation was the reason her clothes were stretchy, yet tight. The materials were good and nothing got destroyed. After all, she didn't want to get naked.
“I swear to my Lady, did she think this would be a small effort? Can we handle this?” Lia complained out loud, leaving even Ceila silent. Then, looking around, every single messiah was long dead. The last one's lifespan turned to a valuable source to cast that unnamed Ancient Spell, leading to the current result that Ceila couldn't change.
“The mana led to the Seventh Death Forest.” a soft voice said, coming behind their back, and revealing 1st Sun that walked out of the mansion.
Ceila and Lia turned their attention to her words.
“Are you sure?” Ceila asked, turning her face away from the dark gem. 1st Sun was alone, and the rest of the remaining 2 Suns kept their cards hidden.
“Are you doubting me?” 1st Sun said, still hiding behind her veil. Like her voice, she was small. Barely one and a half meters was her height, and that was involving the hat with the veil itself.
“No... I will solve this problem of mine since it doesn't appear the rest are interested, nor are you.” Ceila glanced back at her, storing the gem in a pouch hidden underneath the armor.
“We are, but not right now. It's too risky and the situation of such vastness is too much to force all of us out. In fact, it isn't about us, but the Will of our Lady and her stakes, and plans. I believe our Lady views things in her own light. She plans massive things, while we aren't even her finest tools. Others all. The 6. 2 Suns are already good enough, so good luck with what you will do, and don't wrack havoc as you see fit. Especially you, Lia.” 1st Sun said as if her position couldn't be any stronger.
“Oh! Nice. I got 1st Blessing. So, want my help for good?” Lia patted Ceila's shoulder, smiling at her worried face. “I can indirectly affect the Encounters. It won't be the first time I am doing it, and you know how they work. I won't become a part of the next thing, but what about the one afterward?”
Ceila doubtfully looked at her but still chose to trust her. “Sometimes, I forgot who you are... Very well, let's go, but first. 1st, can you help me with them? I doubt...” She glanced toward her knights, feeling that it was wrong to abandon them for the second time.
“Doubts aren't needed.” 1st Sun said. “I will carry on their will. It's a fitting thing to say, or so would be a Will of our Lady. Good luck.”
Thanks to her confirmation, Ceila turned her hand into the air, Conjuring out a shimmering pillar of mana around her and Lia. A gust of wind blew up, while waves of bright color enveloped them like an inverted waterfall. In a moment, they disappeared somewhere else, leaving the 1st Sun alone in the middle of the field, and surrounded by wounded and dead.
Seeing their disappearance, 1st Sun sighed upon this scenery. Messiahs were one thing, but the knights of Vermillion Church? She didn't like it, but it was unknown how she felt since her expression was hiding under the veil.
At least 3/4th of the Knights survived, but even then, Ceila ignored them, leaving her to do her job.
Similar to Ceila, she put her hand in the air, revealing a thin arm. Throughout her left arm and skin, many light lines of shimmering brightness were visible. Then, she let her mana shine, and shimmering green light began to wrap around her palm next. It wasn't coming from her, but from the outside, indicating she either didn't have a Mana Core, or she was using some spell in one of her rings.
Mana was becoming bigger, stronger, and faster in its movement until tiny balls remained in her palm. Shaping them to her use was easy, and unleashing the next move was even simpler. Each ball did not need her Will or Shaping. Each will move according to its purpose.
Countless strands of needles and threats were visibly within them, and they spun like a maddening river.
“Alathi Alusi!” 1st Sun uttered in Elvish tongue, letting countless threads travel from the balls to knight to knight, allowing their bodies to heal. Their open wounds were stitched together, bruisers or burns were healed from the verdant touch, and even some severed limbs became one with the rest of the body. Those who were dead didn't come back to life, but those close to death will survive.
They will thrive for the future of the Vermillion Church according to the wishes of their Lady, and 1st Sun's help.