Book 2: Chapter 29

“What responsibility?” Cyil raised an eyebrow at the young lady’s statement. Then, just as he was about to continue speaking, Cyil’s eyes narrowed and he smirked, closing his slightly parted lips.

When Selia’s sister saw Cyil’s reaction she instantly grew enraged; her face twisted into a frown before she stomped up to him in big, loud steps.

“Hmph, so you are going to avoid responsibility! Mother always said that men only want what they want and once they have it nothing else matters. You’ve shown Selia’s face to the entire city and you just run away afterwards? Do you know how many people are pestering her right now? If you don’t take responsibility then I’ll capture you and take prisoner until you do so.”

In the face of these accusations Cyil couldn’t help but laugh, as if the funniest joke had just been passed.

“You! How dare you laugh? Is this some sort of joke? You really are despicable! Forget taking responsibility, you don’t even deserve to. I’ll mince you up right here.”

Selia’s sister, eyes still closed, punched out with a devastatingly slow fist. Cyil calmly stared at the fist, not intending to dodge at all.

“If I’m right,” Cyil said as the fist reach him. “You are simply an illusion.” The fist passed right through him.

Selia’s sister withdrew her fist, displeased by Cyil’s nonchalant attitude. “Hmph! You’re lucky I can’t go out right now, or I would come in person and you would eat dirt!”

“You don’t have to worry, because I will be coming to you, miss Selia. Wait for me alright?” Cyil grinned, then exerted his soul pressure, wiping away illusion of Selia’s sister to reveal a blushing Selia who also vanished.

As the illusion disappeared with the wind, Cyil found that he was still standing in the 20 feet hole he had dug. Grasping at his chest, Cyil heaved a sigh in relief when he felt the heart crystal nestled in his breast pocket.

“Boy, you let your guard down and was drawn into an illusion.” The Nefarious Saint’s voice spoke up. “Although not many people know about, much less use illusions and soul attacks, always be wary.”

Cyil nodded. “I didn’t realize I’d been trapped in an illusion until 19 seconds passed. That would be enough time for someone to kill me ten times over in the real world as I would just stand still and not retaliate at all.”

“That’s right. But remember that you can do the same to others with your illusions, too. In fact, you can actually harm someone with your illusions. As long as you attack their soul with your own then killing them is not impossible. What you just experienced was an illusion that would not really harm your soul, but confuse your soul, hindering the senses of your body… What we should be concerned about is how the user managed to place you under this spell, even when your soul domain was active.”

“I don’t know,” Cyil had thought his soul domain was impervious, but it had actually been breached so easily. Could it be Selia also had a strong soul? But when he was fighting her, Cyil noticed that although her soul was stronger than an average person’s, it wasn’t even 1/100th the strength of his own. He didn’t know how Selia had done it, but he was going to find out.

“I don’t know,” Cyil repeated again. “But I do know who placed me under the spell and we were going there anyways. To the Immortal Refugees mercenary headquarters!”

***

The Rovaria Kingdom’s castle, in Iruka’s personal study room which no one had entered for 2 years.

Swoosh. A figure appeared out of thin air and landed on the ground of the study, disturbing the lazy dust that had gathered for a party.

“I’m back.” Iruka looked around his beloved study space and felt a singular momentary peace. Though it didn’t take long before his troubles returned to him. Immediately, Iruka asked, “how far has the annual mercenary tournament progressed?”

A low droning voice groaned from deep within the castle grounds. “Back already? The regional finals just concluded today. The finalists from each region will come here to fight for the kingdom round and the winners of each division will receive the opportunity you spoke of. I’ve passed down the message so that everyone knows.”

Iruka listened carefully then waved his hand. “There’s not enough time to host the kingdom tournament. Have the top ten highest ranking participant from each age group of each region come here. They will all get an opportunity to soar to the skies.”

“That many?!” The low voice actually became high pitched. “Your highness, teleporting that many people here would be ten times as much as usual. And,” the voice quivered, before continuing: “if they were to be all given the opportunity then the kingdom’s coffers that has been accumulated for hundreds of years would instantly be halved!”

“I know,” Iruka calmly replied. “But we cannot sqwabble over small matters such as resources when the entirety of the human race is being threatened with extinction. I just hope someone out of the bunch can grasp this chance.”

“Has things become that bad?” The voice returned to its usual low tone.

Iruka nodded. “I’ve received word that Tyion Kingdom has already fallen--”

“--Impossible!” The voice dared to interrupt the king for the first time since its creation. “Tyion was the strongest of us seven-- the castle should have held even in the face of an assault from rank 9 mages! I can accept that Streggana fell, but Tyion should not!”

Iruka shook his head. “It’s the truth, Rovaria’s keeper. That’s why I’ve returned ahead of time. Moritania is north of us, while Gallenfall is to the south. We are wedged in the middle of these kingdoms and the monster tide’s course heads straight towards us!”

“First Latimore was destroyed by the Death God, then Streggana collapsed under the assault from the monster tide, and now even Tyion is gone, too. It seems I’ll also be leaving you soon, Iruka.”

“Don’t worry, Rovaria’s keeper. Even if this plan doesn’t work, I have a few more tricks up my sleeves. This kingdom will not fall under my rule!” As Iruka said this his eyes lit with flames and his red hair gave off sparks of flames.

“War is coming and it’s time for this kingdom to know. We have one year to prepare. This is the King’s decree: all physical warriors of rank 3 or more will be drafted. Everyone else migrate either south or north.”

The Rovaria keeper assented. “It shall be as you command!”

***

On the western borders of Rovaria Kingdom, in a worn-out carriage.

“Mommy, when can we go home?” A young boy of around 4 asked his young mother.

“Ralph, Rovaria will be our new home. We will be safe hhere.”

“Okay!” Ralph nodded like a good boy. “When is daddy joining us?”

“Daddy…” the young mother shook away the tears in her eyes just quick enough so that Ralph didn’t see. “Daddy will be with us soon, Ralph. He promised so he’ll be here.”

“Okay!” Ralph smiled then began to hummm his favorite song. “Mommy, there are drums going along with my tune!”

“Drums?” The young mother looked around the solitary carriage before noticing that there was a steady beat rumbling the ground. “That’s, that’s not drums!”

The young mother had heard this sound before and she knew what it meant. The monster tide was right behind them!

“Oh the elements! Why must Nakrul be so cruel to us.” The young woman lamented her fate and pulled Ralph out of the carriage. “Ralph, do you want to ride a horse? This is a chance for you to do so.” The young woman managed to put on a bright smile.

“Yay! Horsey! Yes mommy I want to.”

“Mmhm good boy. Now, remember to hold on tight and don’t fall off, okay? Keep riding until you find someone to help you off. Can you do that for me?”

“I can. But mommy why are you not coming with me?” Ralph scratched his head.

The young woman looked at their skinny, feeble horse tied to the carriage and said, “I’m waiting for daddy to come. I want to make sure he doesn’t get lost. You know how he always loses his way. When he gets here, we’ll both come find you, together. Okay?”

“Okay! Promise?”

“I promise you my dear.” The young woman had already freed the horse from its bindings and now hefted Ralph onto the horse. After Ralph was on, the young woman tied Ralph onto the saddle to keep him from falling off.

“Mommy, I don’t need ropes. I want to ride like daddy!” Ralph complained as he was being tied.

“Be a good boy or else you won’t get to ride.”

“Awwww,” Ralph whined but listened.

The young woman ruffled Ralph’s hair and said, “remember that mommy and daddy loves you very much, Ralphy.”

“I know because I love mommy and daddy, too!” Ralph responded with bright, truthful eyes.

Not capable of another word without tears, the young woman slapped the horse’s buttocks, sending it shooting out like an arrow. And, as if a transference of energy had occurred, the young woman fell to the ground, out of breath and out of hope as the horse galloped with surging energy carrying hope.

She sat there, not even intending to run as the sound of rampaging footsteps swallowed her up, not pausing for an iota of consideration.

***

Cyil arrived half a mile outside of Immortal Refugees’ headquarters. The place was easy to find, not only because of their fame, but because of the huge crowd of people gathered around the headquarters. Cyil simply followed the crowd and was swept there.

Now he could finally understand why Selia would be so angry. This really was a lot of people.

Cyil pondered his next move as more people had already lined up behind him. “How do I get in? The gates are closed and this human barrier is quite the obstacle. Cutting in front of someone is not really an option.”

As he spoke, a muscular man decided to push his way through the crowd. “Get away you unworthy maggots! Only I am worthy of goddess Selia’s hand!”

“The fuck are you?!” A woman with rowdy hair pushed back as the man tried to step in front of her. “Selia’s mine, bitch!”

“Wait your turn muscle brain. Or else you’ll regret it.” A slim man shot a cold look at the muscular man.

“Fuck you two!” The muscular man was a rank 4 warrior and he had done pretty well in the regional tournament himself. He wasn’t someone who could be taken lightly, but just as he continued to push, a pair of eyes locked onto him, then another and another before everyone was looking at him.

The pressure brought about by everyone shook the muscular man’s muscular will. “Hmph, Selia will only wait for me anyways.” The man obediently retreated to his spot after his final remark.

“Wow,” Cyil was honestly surprised. “Nefarious Saint, do you think these people would still line up like this if they knew Selia is short-tempered, holds grudges, and is quite violent?”

Chuckling, the Nefarious Saint said, “I bet they would be even more enthralled if they knew. You see, Cyil my boy, they are blinded by beauty of the flesh. But let’s not mingle with these hooligans. I remember that you had other matters to take care of? The Ravenous Serpents. Let’s deal with them first, then come back here when the crowd has cleared. There’s no rush to investigate the Immortal Refugees.”

“Change of plans then. I also want to see how strong my soul domain truly is. I’ll test it out there.” Cyil’s eyes revealed a murderous glint and everyone in the surroundings unknowingly backed away from him. “Haha,” Cyil laughed in an evil fashion at the people’s reactions and strode off towards Ravenous Serpent’s headquarters, leaving behind a bunch of people quaking in their boots.

“Who, who was that?” Someone whispered through chattering teeth.

“He looks young. Maybe he’s a hidden expert?”

“Definitely a hidden expert! And one who has murdered a lot, too.”

“I’m glad I didn’t offend him.”

“Oh shit, I remember pushing up against him while in line.”

“You did that?!” The person who said this instantly distanced themself from the fool who had dug his own grave.

“No, no it was on accident. Please, everyone speak out on my behalf.” The man who had pushed up against Cyil began to cry.

“We will pray for you…” No one came to his aid.

The man fell to the ground, hysterically cried himself unconscious, then slept in a pool of his own urine.

Unbeknownst to them, Cyil didn’t even notice. Right now, one of his most pressing concern was simply thinking if he should get some food before taking down Ravenous Serpents.

“I got it,” Cyil announced. “I want to try some magical beast meats!” Then rubbing his stomach, Cyil went off to find a restaurant.