《Devour》(39) Chapter 7: Alexander, The Weak
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Ten months ago.
Everyone is waiting for a long time for someone to open her eyes and wake up, a moment for every monster kind considered a blessing and good fortune for the future. Some say she's a fairy, a Goddess, or a perfect being who sleeps for ten to fifty years in the middle of the forest, protected and guarded by the twelve most elite monster kind and the reason why the Dome is so famous.
As soon as the sleeping beauty opened her eyes, she saw a familiar face and noticed something off, but everything looked like how she woke up every time in the past.
"Good morning, Sierra," The Ancient said, greeting with a smile on his face.
"Father! Good morning, how long I was sleeping?" Sierra asks with a smile on her face.
"It's only eleven years, your shortest sleep; everyone is waiting for you outside. Why don't we greet everyone?" The Ancient answers as he gives Sierra a hand.
"Can't wait to see everyone and make new friends," Sierra let out, walking with her father.
The two walk out of the chamber, and monsters throughout Sera Madre welcome Sierra. The Ancient appeared in the forest for more than a hundred years. Sierra is somehow related to the forest like the personification of Sera Madre itself, while the Ancient is like Atlas holding the world, protecting the forest they call now their home.
Sierra gives off an aura that heals even the deepest scars and strengthens everyone's body by walking through the crowd, and one of the reasons why everyone wants to see her in person.
One day, Sierra walks around the forest and can not believe that most changed in a short period while planning to run away from her guards. She finds them annoying since she can protect herself and stop her from doing something fun like jumping to a cliff going straight to the river or lake. She uses her ability and makes herself a replica while she sneaks away from her bodyguards and finds herself alone in the woods.
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"Me, myself, and I, finally some peace alone even I was sleeping for a long time," Sierra jokes to herself as she skips around.
Sierra keeps on walking until she hears someone shouting for help not far away and decides to take a peek to see what's happening.
*Action?! SOME ACTION!* Sierra thought while she got closer to the sound.
"Why are you doing this, Ed?" The average-looking human said while tied up.
"You see... Someone wants you dead for a small change. Don't get me wrong, I would do this for free, and no one would remember or care that you went missing since you're worthless," Ed let out and asked, "Am I right, Garry?"
"Not wrong, boss! Alexander's family won't even remember him and will be happier when your gone," Garry answers and demands Josh to push Alexander to the pit.
"We're done!" Josh announces.
"That was easy; we better head back before a monster spots us in their territory," Ed let out to the group.
Sierra immediately runs to check what or who did the three pushes into the pit to die. She controls the vines around her and slowly decent as she notices a man holding a greatsword while his external injuries heal.
The feeling of being betrayed by his best friend and even with the pain he's experiencing won't stop him from getting revenge as he clenches his jaw and holds the greatsword tightly, ready to attack the person walking toward him.
"Hello... Are you alright?" Sierra calmly asks.
"Am I dreaming? Dead? A Goddess right before my eyes... Might have died from the fall," Alexander calms down and thinks out loud after he hears Sierra's voice and sees her appearance.
"I'm Sierra, and I live deep inside the forest. And you are?" Sierra introduces herself after she realizes that the person in front is confused.
"I'm Alex..." He tries properly introduce himself, but as soon as he takes a step, he falls flat on the ground and passes out.
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An hour later, Alexander slowly opened his eye and saw Sierra's face in shock and realized that he was sleeping in her lap and quickly got up, wondering what had happened to his injuries.
"Alex, what are you doing? It would be best if you rest more," Sierra let out.
"I need to wake up from this dream! This might be heaven!" Alex let out, denying the circumstances he's on right now.
"Don't be silly! You survive the fall, and the greatsword helped you survive, and I healed your internal injuries," Sierra happily said.
"You did?" Alexander smiles and remembers what happened to him, "So... My friends..."
"Sorry about that," Sierra let out and continued, "And... Sorry that I need to go, my monster friends discovered that they're guarding a replica I created."
"It's okay, and thank you for healing my internal injuries," Alexander happily let out.
"It's nothing, and my father told me to help if I can help," Sierra replies with a smile.
"I see... Can I see you again?" Alexander asks.
"That would be nice. What about next week at the same place?" Sierra suggests.
"Got it!" Alex happily replies while he watches Sierra head deeper into the forest.
Alexander picks up the newly acquired greatsword and starts heading back to the place he once called home with a straight and determined face while only thinking about one thing right now, revenge.
The moment Alexander touches the greatsword at the bottom of the pit, mysterious energy starts flowing throughout his body which keeps him alive and gives him the power to punish those who did him wrong.
Alexander is weak no more.
Alexander quietly walks wearing an old robe into the Monkey Paws Sect's territory as the stars fill the night sky and sneaks inside their property to check his mother and sister, hoping they didn't get involved in something dire.
Looking from the window, he saw Ed talking to his father-in-law. Listening to the conversation, Alexander realizes who's behind his death. He wants to barge into the house, but the door opens and saw his mother crying after learning the truth.
"There's nothing you can do about it, woman, and think about that our daughter getting married to a rich family; Alexander is a joke, and no one will remember him," Alexander's father-in-law let out.
"How could you! He looked up to you..." Alexander's mother said, wanting to attack, but Ed held her in place.
"Just look at the good part; he died just like his father," Alexander's father-in-law said.
"He's your best friend..." Alexander's mother replies.
"Not after you married him, leave me broken... Alone and cold... Look at you now, married to me, and know the pain I felt before! His 'accident' I caused changes everything!" Alexander's father-in-law happily reveals and strikes her cold.
Alexander wants to kill the two right now, but he doesn't wish the sect to look for the culprit and decides to wait a little longer. His father-in-law instructs Ed to invite his friends to celebrate tonight.
As the group walks around the red light district, Alexander stops them in the alley where no one is around as he reveals his face to everyone.
"I called you guys my friend before..." Alexander let out.
"Alexander! Your alive?" Ed terrifyingly let out.
"No thanks to you!" Alexander angrily replies.
Alexander charges towards the group and cuts his old friends into pieces as the blood slashes everywhere. His father-in-law, with prostitutes on both side, stand in fear because of the overwhelming pressure that Alexander's let out. He stares at them and causes them to pee their pants, thinking they might not survive tonight. They are not wrong.
No witnesses.
He leaves the loot he found in the pit to his mother and sister with a note saying to run away from this place and make a new life somewhere peaceful.
The Note,
No need to fear; the monster is no more.
To be continued,
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