Chapter 118

“You were working for the City Lord as well?” Wil asked ‘One’, while Astrid stubbornly maintained a firm grip on his arm. They are standing off to the side, watching as the prisoners were marched away. The ‘Triplets’, who looked nothing alike with their masks removed, were bound, and placed with the others.

‘Dragon’ and his group were allowed to leave untouched. Seemingly, they were in a similar situation as the ‘Numbers’ and Wil himself. Although they didn’t remove their masks, they waited patiently for the City Lord’s permission to leave.

“The Guild. They sometimes place teams like ours on Quests that are less than legal. If the City Lord hadn’t acted, the Guild would have picked ‘Gold’ and the others up before they left Ur.” ‘One’ explained.

“It must be worth it, for the Guild to go to so much trouble.” Wil said, gesturing to the large, black crate that several guards were lifting down from the back of a wagon. One of the City Lord’s mages hovered over it, slowly breaking through the wards placed on the surface of the container.

“For the amount ‘Gold’ was paying us to deliver it? It must be.” ‘One’ said, before moving to stand with her companions next to the crate. Wil and Astrid moved closer, standing beside the City Lord who was watching the crate with a frown on his face.

The nervous anticipation was palpable, everyone staring intently at the ‘package’, while the Ward Breaker worked. Wil could see the enchantments slowly cracking under the pressure of the Rank 6 mage.

“I was worried about you. You should have told me where you were going.” Astrid said quietly, her whispered voice barely audible.

“I couldn’t. Your father didn’t want you involved, and I needed to go to the Wilds alone.” Wil answered.

“I’ll be expecting you to make it up to me.” Astrid said, a blush creeping across her pale cheeks. The time apart had made her realize how much she missed being around him. She was determined not to let it happen a second time.

“Yes, my Lady.” Wil joked, grinning at the silver-haired beauty. They were interrupted by a loud, cracking sound that rang out from the crate. The enchantments had finally succumbed.

“On guard.” Erik ordered, and Wil stepped in front of Astrid, a pale, shimmering shield forming a faint image of a golden Dragon Turtle around them. With his strength, he should be able to protect them long enough for his teleportation magic to carry her to safety.

The guards stepped back, forming a ring as the Rank 10 Guard Captain stood beside the crate. Warily, he placed the tip of his sword against a seam in the wood, prying it open.

The wooden crate creaked and groaned, before breaking, the walls of the enclosure collapsing onto the ground, revealing the contents to the gathered crowd.

It was a small child, wearing ragged clothing and showing signs of hardship. The young girl seemed to be only a few years old, her eyes closed in slumber. Her skin was reddish, her hair purple, and from her forehead grew two small, black horns. Peeking out from behind her, a small tale emerged, the same color as her skin.

“Tiefling!” Astrid exclaimed breathlessly behind him. Wil let the barrier around them fade, seeing that the child posed no threat. To his confusion, the others kept their guard up, lifting weapons and maintaining a protective ring around the crate.

“I don’t understand. What is a ‘Tiefling’?” Wil asked, looking from the shocked Astrid to the grim-faced Erik. The child wasn’t human, clearly, but why was everyone acting like they faced the greatest of threats. He could feel the tension in the air, the source of their concern was nothing but a small child!

“They’re demon spawn.” Astrid said, before shutting her mouth and looking at her father. Wil could tell she wasn’t going to provide more information, so he looked to Erik for an answer.

“Their ancestors consorted with fiends and demons, making pacts with the foul creatures to grant them power. It’s been centuries and they still carry the demon’s vile taint in their blood.” Erik muttered, his eyes not leaving the sleeping child in front of him.

“I thought they were all eradicated?” Astrid asked, clutching Wil’s arm even tighter. She stared at the child as well, and Wil was shocked to see the terror and hatred in her blue eyes.

“Your great grandfather led the last pogrom against the Tieflings over a century ago. Evidently, some were missed. Once the creature is eliminated, we will need to gather another force to track down the remainder.” Erik said harshly, his voice tinged with anger.

“Eliminated? Are you insane? It’s a child!” Wil exclaimed, his voice rising in disbelief. His shouted question drew the attention of the others, who were now splitting their awareness between the Tiefling and Wil.

“You don’t understand, Wil. Tieflings are a threat to humanity. By law, they are to be killed on sight, their bodies burned to ash, along with all their belongings. Even the stones its crate is resting on must be destroyed.” Astrid explained, her eyes turning to Wil, and he could see the desperation within them, the need for him to understand.

“Gods Bones! What threat could they pose that condemns a child to death?” Wil said, in denial at what she was saying.

“Their blood, son. As I said, they carry the taint of demons. With the proper rituals, they can be used to open portals to the Demon Realms, the deepest layers of Hell. We’ll need to question ‘Gold’, he knew exactly what he was smuggling into Lund. This conspiracy goes deeper than a merchant and a few bribed guards.” Erik said, already gesturing for the Guard Captain to approach.

“Wait! Who gives a damn if someone can use her to open a portal? We have ‘Gold’, we can keep her safe, ensure that no one can use her. We don’t have to kill her!” Wil shouted, wrenching his arm free from Astrid, and stepping in front of Erik.

The short City Lord looked at Wil with pity in his eyes, shaking his head at the young man’s words.

“You’re young, and naïve, Wil. If you were raised in Lund, you’d understand the threat they pose. Count yourself lucky they never made it to Illyria, or you’d be the one pushing to end its life.” Erik said.

“I don’t care what her people may or may not have done. I would never kill a child!” Wil said, his mana flaring around him. Astrid watched him, tears in her eyes, but she stood firmly next to her father, agreeing with his decision.

She had grown up with stories of the Tieflings, of the atrocities they had committed, the disasters that had been unleashed using their blood. If the wrong person had gotten a hold of this creature, it could mean the end of Ur, the end of Lund itself.

“It’s the only way, Wil.” Astrid said, praying that he would understand. Her heart was breaking, seeing him stare at her with a mixture of disgust and anger. But she would support her father’s decision.

“I won’t let you do it.” Wil said firmly, looking away from Astrid and towards the young Tiefling.

“It’s not your choice. Carry out your duty, Captain!” Erik ordered. The Rank 10 Captain immediately stepped forward, his mana gathered around his blade before Wil could react. With a heavy slash, a wave of mana sliced through the air, forming a red crescent of energy that swept towards the defenseless child.

“No!” Wil screamed, reacting before he could think. Leaping forward, he disappeared, his magic carrying him across the distance. Reappearing, the Dragon’s Tooth was already swinging, his mana raging within him as he blocked the attack.

An explosion erupted from the impact as Wil’s gold mana met the captain’s red. The force of the shockwave blasted away what remained of the warehouse, ripping through the buildings of the slums, and shooting into the air.

The area was filled with dust and falling debris, the crackling mana of the opposing energies lingering in the atmosphere. Bolts of energy laced through the space as the mana discharged, striking buildings, and creating gouges in the ground.

Astrid shielded her face with her hand from the flying dirt, her father standing next to her with a barrier of mana surrounding him, the effort of maintaining it showing on his face.

Slowly the dust cleared and standing in the center of a crater that had once been the street, Wil held the small Tiefling child in one arm, his white sword glowing with mana. The young man had a grim expression on his face and a golden barrier formed around him. The barrier of mana faded, his mana withdrawing.

The captain had lost their exchange, his body flung backwards to crash into a building. Struggling weakly, he attempted to rise, before collapsing once more. The other guards surrounded the City Lord, their weapons raised while the mages formed shields and prepared spells to attack.

“Please Wil! Don’t do this!” Astrid screamed, her father holding her back from running forward.

“It’s the law, son. Nothing you can do can change that. Stand down before you do something that can’t be forgiven.” Erik tried to reason with the young Illyrian.

It was at this moment that the young child in Wil’s arms stirred, the Stasis spell that had been cast over her finally run its course. Slowly, she opened her eyes, staring at Wil silently. Wil looked into the Tieflings purple eyes, and he could see no evil, no malice, no hatred for humanity that the others spoke of.

He remembered the Patriarch, how he had sworn to do all in his power to protect those he cared for. His regret at his failure. Wil recalled Secundus, and her words to ‘do what is right’. Looking up, he stared at the forces arrayed against him, waiting for his answer.

“The Gods damn your laws.” He said, his tone icy. With that, his mana flared around him, The Dragon’s Tooth drawing on every shred of mana he had. A golden Dragon formed around the blade as he swung it. An unstoppable force slammed into the gathered guards, knocking them back, before crashing into the City Lord.

Erik held back the attack for a moment, before the mana swept him away, hammering into him. With a roar, the Dragon took to the sky, dissipating in an explosion of golden mana. The City Lord collapsed, alive, but unconscious.

Astrid watched as Wil leapt onto the back of the Clockwork Owl, the Tiefling held tightly in his arms. Using the protection of the Dragon, he soared into the air, disappearing over the wall, and heading towards the Wilds. In moments, he was gone from sight.

“Wil!” Astrid cried, collapsing onto the ground, her heart broken and tears streaming down her face.