The Wielder of Death Magic

1149 The Demon within

“Lady Hesta,” the crew surrounded the area just outside the captain’s cabin, “-please step away,” they said, slowly brandishing their brooms and buckets. Some shook at the sight of others holding cutlery; rusty knives, and forks. The half-covered sun advanced, and dawn was upon the landscape.

“You should step away,” she hissed, her ears sharpened as did her stance, “-don’t move or I will kill you.” Tensions grew, and the aura intensified. Any false move could initiate a mutiny.

“Just leave, captain, we don’t want to hurt you, or Lady Hesta. We want to return home, we want to see our families.”

“Yonder!” the crows’ nest echoed, “-Ahoy,” he cried, “-the signal from shore!”

Elion ran through the crowd, casting their weapons or hardened stance aside, “-it’s the signal,” he took out the telescope and narrowed, “-it’s him,” a sense of relief washed over him, “-it’s him, it’s the signal!”

Hesta lowered her weapons. A collective sigh of breath washed the ship, “-come on, we’re headed to shore,” he ordered. The crew instinctively headed forth, and so, a few moments later, the ship led into a port owned by Inux.

‘Firm ground,’ Elion exited his ship.

“You made it,” said Hesta.

“Obviously,” Staxius returned, “-we’re not out of trouble yet. There’s much to do, and for now, I want to reinforce Inux as much as we can. There will be an expedition to the west in a week. I won’t be here to personally observe the rebuilding process. It comes to the people to fulfill said role. We have the manpower and enough strength to protect from assaults. This Hesta and Elion is the start of the Shadow’s conquest of Zayan D’olsak. Scavengers,” he crossed his arms, “-as the one who captured Inux, I have authority on who and what comes and leaves.”

.....

“Are you rejecting our stay?” echoed Hesta.

“Everything comes with a price,” Elion followed, “-you captured the town and never agreed to give us shelter. You might have suggested but never confirmed it.”

“Correct, the Scavengers are scattered all over the continent. Do as you would with your people. My people will guarantee the safety of Inux, not the safety of the population. Draebala is played with different rules. Lives are expendable,’ he glanced at Hesta, “-such the hard truth of your situation.”

“Survival of the fittest,” she lowered her head, “-will you give us shelter?”

“Obviously,” he nodded, “-don’t expect anything else. I heard what happened, a difference of opinion and a potential mutiny. My informants already located the instigator’s location. ”

Elion, confused by the information, switched his gaze from Staxius to Hesta, and vice-versa, ‘-what are they talking about?’

“Leader,” came a distant voice, “-we need help carrying supplies into town.”

“I’ll be there,” he raised his hand, turned to Staxius, bowed, “-I will take my leave. Thank you for granting us safe refuge. I will handle the people and any new refugees who may want to take shelter at Inux. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, go with my blessing,” he nodded and slowly landed on Hesta, “-tell me,” he stepped forward, threw his arms around her shoulders, and pulled, “-how about we have a little tête-à-tête?”

She puckered her lips and dropped her shoulders, “-lead the way.”

Elion caught a glimpse of Staxius and Hesta, ‘-where are they going?’ he paused whilst holding a box, “-leader, supplies,” a sudden shout brought him to his sense. The duo walked up a slope and disappeared behind trees and boulders, as for him, the ship’s shadow fell on the stone-brick port. Carriages came and went – the sailors gratefully shared a few celebratory gifts. With that, the capture of Inux was confirmed, though, news of the accomplishment wouldn’t leave the camp until a month later.

A harsh cliff stood in the way of them and the rough seas crashed with big howls. The wind blew hard and cold, enough to push back the common man, “-why are were here?” she inched forward for a better view, and the waves exploded in white smoke, “-don’t you know?” he ominously replied, lighting a cigarette, “-traitors to a newly formed resistance is bad. Scavengers are like rats. We need to establish contact with the resistance,” he puffed. Her fox ears gently shook, ‘-what’s this deep anguish I feel?’ she gulped.

“The mutiny,” he casually sat on a rock and crossed his legs, “-wasn’t done by the crew. You led the assault. You whispered sweet nothings into their ears. Goddess of Harvest, you weren’t completely honest with me.”

‘-He figured it out,’ she threw open her palms, and symbols of magic materialized, “-not on my watch,” he stomped, the ground rumbled and chains of blood burst through, *Blood-Arts: Chains of Subjugation,* it impaled her palms and legs, raising her above the ground and solidifying with her pose in a cross-shape, “-AHHHHHHHH” she screamed, “-MY POWER,” she cringed, the brownish red chains pulsed from her to an orb in Staxius’ palm, “-here lies the power I’m siphoning away. There are many ways to get answers – alas, for a waning goddess with a lack of followers, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. I would say I feel for you… I would have if you’d chosen the path of honesty. We might have stood on the same page,” he gradually pulled, each drop she lost sent mind-numbing pain across her body, “-so, ready to talk?”

*Huff, puff,* ‘-my powers,’ she trembled and further widened her wounds, “-what d-do y-y-you want to k-k-k-know?”

“Mutiny, tell me why?”

“Stop,” she begged, “-please let me live, I’ll tell you everything.”

“Do you think me a fool?” he pressed on the suction, she writhed in pain, “-STOP!”

“Do you think this is fun for me?” he flicked his cigarette at her face, the lit part burnt her lower lips, “-huh, do you think this is fun for me?” he phased and reappeared behind, “-do you think I like to torture people?” the chains lowered, allowing her to kneel with her arms still spread apart, “-do you think I enjoy this?” he grabbed and pulled her hair.

“AHHH!” tears flowed.

“Lovely ears,” the nails sharpened, he effortlessly sliced half of her ear off, and the beauty in her feature faded, like the blood flowing from her wounds. He forced her on her back, the chains pulled on her four limbs and slowly stretched, she cried, “-MERCY,” she wept, suffocating under her tears, “-AHHHHHH!”

“This kind of pain is nothing,” he casually knelt, lighting another cigarette over her face.

“STOP IT!” came a distant cry. A shaken Elion trembled, “-HESTA?” he ran at Staxius, “-LEAVE HER ALONE,” Staxius smirked and stepped away at the last moment, knocking his foot, sending the poor man over the edge, “-SAVE HIM!” he went off the cliff, swallowed by the crashing white flames of the sea.

‘Elion…’ a deep sense of ire pulsed, “-WHY DIDN’T YOU SAVE HIM!” she broke the chains of subjugation, forcing her to stand with what little power remained, “-I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!” two kukris summoned at her hand, “-YOU FUCKING DEMON!” she dashed.

‘This is what I wanted to see,’ he side-stepped and dodged her attacks effortlessly, ‘-there’s a fine limit that holds a goddess’ power. I wondered why gods needed the influence to grow… the power of belief? No, it was nothing that grand. The influence was used to soften the burden of a god’s overwhelming strength. Depending on their rank and status, they have self-destructing abilities. Hesta was the perfect candidate to test my theory. With the amount of damage I forced on her limiter paired with the false image of Elion dying, she snapped. The power she exudes is mighty.’

“-DIE!” she leaped, forcing all her strength behind a final attack – the mana waves rippled, and her force tore through reality, exposing the realm of naught, *Hear me, weapon forged in the death, relish the thought of slaughter, enjoy the thrill of sufferance, raise from thy slumber, Orenmir!*

“-FOR YOU!” her blades neared Staxius’s head.

“There’s no one stronger than me,” Orenmir summoned as he swung his hand forward and upward to meet her strike, “-it goes double for the worthless goddess,” the motion followed effortlessly, they touched, and he shattered her weapons and sliced cleanly across her neck, she dropped with considerable force – the sound of bone cracking muffled on impact.

*Cough,* she desperately held her neck, ‘-I’m bleeding out,’ she gasped, ‘-I can’t feel my body, did I lose?’ *cough,* more blood spewed, “-I f-f-f-fail.” Cold footsteps approached. Her consciousness faded, and colors turned dull hues of gray, ‘-I should have said the truth.’

“Never too late,” Staxius stood over her dying corpse, ‘-I did it again,’ he stared at his bloodied hands, ‘-the thrill of torture… I slipped,’ he smiled and lifted his head at the open sky, ‘-demon… she was correct.’

An hour passed. *Gasp,* Hesta shot forward, “-NO!”

“Calm the hell down,” echoed Staxius, “-you’re in the infirmary. Other people need rest.”

“Why are you here?”

“Don’t you remember?” he casually threw an apple in her lap, “-we need to talk after,” footsteps ran through the door, “-HESTA” Elion cried, “-I WAS WORRIED ABOUT YOU!” he ran and embraced her tightly, “-I’m so sorry, I should have been there, I’m sorry Hesta.”

“What happened?”

“You fell down the cliff,” he said, she could but watched as Staxius slowly left the room.

“You’re safe now,” Elion pulled her cheeks, “-I’m so grateful to him… he saved you.”

The view from atop the castle gates spread across the outer town, wherein the surrounding walls were smaller compared to the castle wars located atop a gentle slope. People moved in, refugees from nearby villagers – escapees from the Heavenly army’s assault.

“Staxius.”

“Lixbin.”

“I have a hint on where Gluttony might be hiding. Got a report of a beast swallowing a whole regiment from the Resistance whole a few weeks ago on the main continent. Looks like he’s in the army, working for the Heavenly convention.”

“Quite the predicament,” he breathed, “-thank you for the report, Lixbin. You do as you see fit. I will continue my hunt.”

“Understood, Staxius.

‘Gluttony is the last piece. I could fight a war on my own… taking Inux was a game of chance. It exhausted my mind… I barely made it that time. I can’t afford to call on the princes, Makina, or Fae for battle… There’s someone, yeah, there is someone who I haven’t asked for help in a while,’ *Portal to the Shadow Realm, widen and hear my call, old friend, I, Staxius Haggard, called upon thy strength, old friend,* a howl shook the entire fortress, light blue hair, lovely wolven ears, and a puffy tail walked through the portal, fierce light blue eyes commanded the area, *-howl!*

“Fenrir.”

“Looks like you finally called,” she stretched, “-calling on me is rather brave. Especially since you abandoned me after saying all that shit about peace in the Shadow Realm.”

“Was it not peaceful?”

“It was,” she narrowed, “-besides the point.”

“Fenrir,” he smiled, “-I’m glad you answered my call.”

“Well, I’m here to help,” she walked past and winked, “-nothing to get this ol’ wolf excited.”

“If you’re old, then what am I?” they chuckled.

Next stop, Staxius’ makeshift office. They entered with two guests already sitting with books in hand, “-Sathanas and Saniata,” he closed the door, Fenrir stuck to his side with a prominently strong aura, “-didn’t I ask you to rest?”

“Thing is, I can’t rest,” said Sathanas, “-I’m on edge. I don’t know what’s happened to me.”

“You’ve awakened as a new person,” he said, “-by completing Orenmir’s challenges.”

“Yeah,” she rose, ‘-Orenmir’s challenge, did you know your sword is sentient?”

“Of course I know,” he smiled, a translucent shadow pulsed, and the room sank with a feeling of nausea, “-Orenmir’s my trusted partner after all. Sathanas, go with Draconis, Raphael, and Saniata to Ragno. Lend them your strength.”

“No…”

“This is for the best,” he narrowed, “-Asmodeus and the others are there. Sathanas, join them, and so will my children. I won’t entertain refusal or did you forget what happened?”

“Where are Draconis and Raphael?”

“Gone,” Saniata answered, “-to Ragno. The war in Draebala, we need to get ready.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Sathanas crudely obeyed his word, and after all, she’d done, felt a little disappointed. The door closed, leaving Saniata to stare coldly into Staxius’ face, “-what about me?”

He shook his head, “-do what you want.’