452. Return of Regrets

She breathed in the fire— a burning sulfuric scent that inflamed her lungs. A fiery display unfurled before her. A city engulfed in flames. Charred corpses littered the ashen streets as she rasped.

Thousands were dying. So many innocent lives lost under the clamor of the rampaging beasts. She wanted to save them— she wished she could do something. But when she looked up, she knew she was helpless.

When she saw those bulbous eyes— those black pearls that reflected neither remorse nor guilt— she fell to her knees. There was nothing she could do. Because she knew she was just a slave.

Alix knew that she was just a pawn in Belzu’s plans.

—--

And Alix jolted up in a bed of sweat. The former slave looked down at herself, placing a hand o nher chest. She could feel the pounding of her heart— she still heard the screams and smelled the flames. But she was just… sitting in an ordinary room.

Well, it wasn’t exactly an ordinary room. It looked innocent enough. There was a bedside table with a glass of water, a desk pressed against the wall stuffed with blank pieces of paper, and a door just across from the bed. However, something was off. Yes, there were no windows to let natural light in, and yes, the room was dimly lit. That wasn’t just it.

The truth was… Alix was being held here against her will.

Once again, the former slave was kept as a captive. The first time, it was partially her fault for being foolish enough to join in the war between the Elutra Kingdom and the Inoria Empire. She was an adventurer— she didn’t need to try and pretend to be a soldier. All that gave her was years as a slave gladiator after all her friends were killed.

The second time, there was nothing to blame on her part. It was purely bad timing. Or, rather, unfortunate circumstances. The fact that Alix was even given a chance to live instead of dying was the only silver lining in that horrible ordeal. But sometimes she couldn’t help but wish she didn’t accept the deal.

A Primeval Demon had descended from the sky. He had slaughtered an entire city— wasted it and laid it in ashes. Then he offered Alix and the surviving gladiators a choice: either die to him or become his slave.

Back then, Alix chose what she thought was best. But the crimes she committed… the things she had done in the name of her own survival… it haunted her. It had stricken her with immense guilt. One that tore away at her from the inside for so long.

It finally culminated to make her decision… which resulted in this current captivity.

Alix had sought out the Conference of Alyras for two reasons. The first was to admit her fault in the crimes committed across the Human lands. That was why she had been detained. She had aided Belzu— a Primeval Demon responsible for killing millions— in destroying dozens of towns and cities. It was her price to pay for her sins, and she had readily accepted her punishment of partial imprisonment.

But also, there was a reason why she wasn’t immediately executed on the spot, and it was because of the second reason why Alix was here. The former slave had come to redeem herself— to tell the truth. The fact that Belzu was still alive.

She’d been far from the Motharis Mountain Range by the time she heard the news. She was given refuge in a city right at the fringe of the Helbir Plains. A town cryer shouted it from the rooftop. And she remembered the exact words that had been said.

“Three days ago, at the edge of twilight, Orgaf theThief of the Golden Scale and a band of adventurers slew Belzu the Primeval Demon in the Motharis Mountain Range!”

It had been shouted from the rooftops. Cried out in the streets. But Alix knew… she knew that couldn’t be possible. Because Belzu had set her free at noon of that day. He had given her and the other slaves in his captivity the blessing of his illusions. An invisibility that hid her from the Demons that he had summoned. And the spell— the illusion— only vanished at midnight.

That was when Alix realized that Belzu once again had the world tricked.

It was an illusion, not an Invisibility spell. It was something that Belzu himself had to maintain— something that he had to upkeep himself. Alix wasn’t a [Mage], but she knew this as a fact. That was why [Illusionists] were hard to come by beyond performers and the like. They required an abundance of mana to maintain their spells, which made them only effective in the battlefield for short periods of time.

Belzu was the only anomaly Alix knew of. And it couldn’t have just been because he was a Demon. She had scarcely ever heard of Demons or even Spirits that employed illusions. It was simply something Belzu had somehow acquired as his own power.

Regardless, Alix knew he was still alive. And after some contemplation, she had set off to the Conference of Alyras. But when she arrived, all she found was chaos. Three Archdemons had infiltrated the city’s bounds and stolen the Boots of Alexander. They had killed hundreds in that first attack.

And in the middle of it all, Alix had found Kaitlin Darkhelm. The Commander of the Vaun Qieur Empire’s Swordsguard Forces.

Alix was taken in for questioning for the next few weeks. Kaitlin Darklhem was, understandably, dubious. It only made sense. Alix had no actual proof. But with the vast resources of the Vaun Qieur Empire, Kaitlin Darkhlem had managed to finally confirm the veracity of Alix’s words by tracking down the other escaped slaves who’d been under Belzu’s command.

Sorry for ratting you out, Quinn, Alix thought as she shook her head. But it was for the greater good.

Anyway, everything was settled now. After confirming that Alix wasn’t crazy, Kaitlin Darkhelm allowed the Helena Warshade herself to speak with the former slave. Alix had been intimidated by the Archmage’s presence— especially since she knew that Helena Warshade would have truth detection spells cast during the conversation.

But Alix spoke the truth and only the truth. Then Helena Warshade left. And Alix had mostly been left alone ever since. The former slave got to her feet as she cralwled out of her bed. She quickly washed up and put on a change of clothes. Then she pushed the door open and stepped out into the gilded hallway.

Alix wasn’t in true captivity, of course. But there were a pair of guards waiting outside her room, ready to stop her from wandering around unattended. Honestly, she felt more like a political prisoner than anything. Which wasn’t a bad thing, per se. She had a lot more freedom than an actual prisoner.

Still, she wasn’t free to do whatever she wanted.

“Halt, where are you going?”

One of the guards raised a hand, stopping her from exiting the room. Alix rolled her eyes and scoffed.

“I’m going to get lunch, Dem. Same thing I did yesterday.”

“It’s evening, Alix. Hardly the time for lunch.”

“Well, I’m going to get dinner, then.”

Alix shrugged and stepped forward.

“You’re just going to follow me anyway, so let’s just get a move on—”

She started as the guards sighed. But before Alix could make towards the dining hall, she heard a pair of voices echo from down the corridor. The guards stopped her and pulled her to the side as she blinked.

“—and once again, I’m genuinely sorry to hear about your condition.”

“It’s fine… king Artik, was it?”

“Please, there’s no need for pleasantries. You can drop the titles with me, Mori Gladius.”

Mori Gladius? Alix blinked. Did she hear that right? Dem stood in front of her, one hand tightly grabbed her arm as he kept her from escaping. She poked his side and whispered in a hushed voice as the pair of figures appeared down the hallway.

“Did he say Mori Gladius? I thought he was dead— I saw him die!”

The memory was still fresh in Alix’s mind. She’d seen the Champion of the Human Lands himself dueling and defeating Belzu in battle. Mori Gladius would have won, but a second Primeval Demon intervened. And the hope of Humankind died that day.

But there had been stories— tales of Mori Gladius dying in battle, only to return the next day. However, she had never heard of him taking over a month to return. Yet, when she saw the pair of figures passing by, she knew she couldn’t be mistaken.

Dem replied simply.

“He did die. But he returned just yesterday. Helena Warshade herself found him— she brought him back.”

“Oh.”

Alix blinked a few times as she gaped for a moment.

“I do appreciate this private tour you’re giving me, Artik. Perhaps it may even help refresh my memory…”

“I am happy to help.”

King Artik Alyras himself was leading Mori Gladius around the palace. After a moment of staring, Alix’s brows furrowed. She noticed something… odd.

“Wasn’t he Level 168?”

Alix was almost entirely certain that Mori Gladius was Level 168. In fact, he had just hit Level 168 a few months back, and it was quite talked about since he had finally broken his tie in levels as a [Warrior] with the Eastern Tiger.

But now, when Alix used [Identification] on Mori, it said he was only Level 167. Mori’s eyes flickered her way as she asked her question. Dem shook his head.

“He was. But he somehow lost a level when he came back. He lost his memories too.”

“How…?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s a side effect of his Grand Skill? I know some Skills have repercussions. Although, nothing as extreme as losing a level. Why are you asking me this, anyway? It’s not like any of this matters to you.”

Dem answered exasperatedly. Alix scoffed but didn’t argue.

“Right, right.”

However, Mori Gladius paused. Artik blinked as the Champion of the Human Lands turned to face Alix’s guards.

“Pardon me, but may I know what is going on here?”

Artik hurried behind Mori as Alix blinked.

“Oh, she’s a captive of the Vaun Qieur Empire. I’m really not sure why, but Commander Kaitlin Darkhelm of the Swordsguard Forces had requested that we do not interfere. Apparently it’s about something important.”

The Champion of the Human Lands narrowed his eyes.

“I see.”

That was all he said in response. He took a step forward as the guards glanced uneasily at each other. Dem looked like he wanted to stop Mori. But, again, it was Mori Gladius. The Champion of the Human Lands. What could they do?

They just backed away as Mori Gladius took a moment to study Alix. She shrank back hesitantly. For some odd reason, a shiver ran down her spine as she held his gaze. Her skin crawled and a prickling feeling nudged at her, telling her that this man was dangerous. But he was Mori Gladius! Why was she acting like this?

She bowed her head slightly and muttered a greeting.

“It is an honor to meet you, Champion of the Human Lands.”

Mori Gladius tilted his head. For a moment, he said nothing. Then he drew back and chuckled.

“Good to see you’re doing well, Alix.”

Then he turned back to king Artik.

“What were you, ah, saying?”

“Right, if you’ll follow me—”

The king of Alyras led Mori Gladius away as Alix just stood there with wide eyes. Somehow, the Champion of the Human Lands, someone she had never met before, had known her name. Her mind raced with what this could mean. Was it possible the Champion of the Human Lands had mind reading powers? Was it possible he had heard about her?

But no— none of that made sense. He was a [Warrior]. He had lost his memories. Slowly, a familiar creeping feeling encroached on the former slave. Like she was being seen by the watchful eyes of a slavemaster keeping her in check.

And she realized what it was.

“That’s—”

Alix tried to open her mouth.

Then she caught herself. She felt the same terrible gaze piercing into her soul— but this time, it was a real physical feeling. She would’ve doubled over in pain there and then, however she caught herself. Alix coughed once and bent over as her guards turned to her in surprise.

They said something to her, but it didn’t register in her mind. All she felt was… the residual feeling. That numbing pain. It was clearly a warning. A threat.

Alix looked down the hallway, but ‘Mori Gladius’ was walking away, not facing her. Yet, somehow, she felt like his eyes were fixed on her. And she slowly turned her gaze to the floor as a single question crossed her mind.

Belzu… how did you get here?

She really wished she could say it aloud. To scream and call him out— reveal that it was a Primeval Demon wearing the body of a Human. But… once again, she was completely helpless.