Rin rushed to the district as soon as he heard the commotion. He'd pushed himself even though he is exhausted from the Divine Arts training. Still, there is literally no way he wouldn't act quickly seeing that his mother, who's sick and defenseless, gets arrested out of nowhere.
(What's happening? Why is she getting arrested?)
As he entered the Square, Rin finally caught up to the scene. Damniants are grouped together at the center of the road and they are accompanied by guards that belonged to an Eliad. He could hear murmurings from every side of the space but didn't pay any heed to it.
"Mother!" Without wasting any time, Rin forcefully squeezed himself up to the narrow space between the Damniants and saw his Mother getting chained by one of the guards.
"Mother!"
Hearing her son's voice, Auelina quickly turned to him. "Rin! Don't come in here!"
"Huh...?" What do you mean don't come in here? You're getting locked up by the guards. Rin wanted to ask that but his body moved instantly.
He pushed himself out of the crowd and ran to approach her. However, before he could reach her, two royal guards suddenly blocked him with their spears.
"Hey, get out of my way!" He tried pushing them but his strength wasn't enough. The guards overpowered him and he couldn't budge in.
"Damn it! Who are you?! Why are you taking my mother?!" He shouted.
Every single person in the scene was watching the commotion unfold. No one dared to help Rin, even those workers from the workshop that had been kind to him. All they could do right now was stare and pity him. But it is not like there's no initiative from the start. They had, on their morality side, the will to help him but it was not easy.
Because if they did, it is already guaranteed that their life would instantly end, caused by the despicable power of the Eliads. They couldn't defy them and would prioritize not getting involved in whatever issue Rin is facing right now.
Of course, Rin knew about this. All of them feared the Eliads, even him. But... Seeing as there's no one supporting him right now made him disappointed and mad.
"She is being taken because she has something that I couldn't really ignore..." While Rin was struggling to get into her, a sweet voice with a tinge of mockery and pompousness resonated throughout the district. It didn't belong to a single Damniant that was watching the scene but rather, it came from a man dressed luxuriously.
Rin glared at him. "What do you mean by that...?" His voice was devoid of tone. It was as if someone has been possessing him for a while now, prompting the man to step back.
"Hmm? Are you by any chance related to her?" He asked.
"I'm her son..." Rin answered.
"I see, so you're the bug that she has been defending for a while now." He scoffed.
"Why are you arresting my mother?"
"You sure don't have any manners, huh? Is this the true nature of your forsaken race? Address me with respect, you filthy animal. I am Henry Briant, a Marqui—"
"Shut your mouth, you ungracious spoiled bastard..."
"—!"
"Oh my..."
As though it was a comedy show, the Damniants from the sidelines stifled a laugh as they heard Rin's repugnant remark to the Marquis' introduction.
"Y-You..." Briant gazed around the field. They then averted their eyes from him, afraid that a continuous mockery would only lead to more trouble.
"I don't care who the hell you are, I'm asking you why are you arresting my mother..." Rin didn't even mind his tone. There's no going back this time. It was pure disrespect to an Eliad, not to mention that he was speaking with a Marquis. An insolence like this wouldn't be forgiven even if they make him a slave.
Even so, Rin didn't really care about his action's circumstances. There's no way he will respect him considering that they suddenly cuffed his mother without any reason.
"Hey, one more word, and I'll slit your throat..." The guard warned him, however...
"Stop it..." The Marquis gestured to stay in the line for a moment."Very well, since you've taken this stance, I shall tell you the reason why."
"..."
"Your mother is holding something valuable in her possession that is highly important for the Kingdom..." He turned to Auelina.
"Something valuable..." Rin immediately thought about the pendant that Auelina has been wearing for a long time.
"That pendant holds the Scarlet Stone, an artifact that was presumably lost during Ancient Times. There are only shards left according to our researchers but the one that she was wearing is the core of it. Do you understand what that means...?"
The Marquis waved his coat and walked near Auelina. He then grabbed her hair and smelled it like a wicked bastard. "That Scarlet Stone is a national treasure that belongs to our Kingdom. It shouldn't be in the hands of a mere Damniant like you..." He whispered.
Seeing how he molests her, Rin gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. A streak of blood dripped near his lips. "You can't be serious. That pendant is a memento of my late father. You can't just simply take it away and arrest my mother just because you want to retrieve it..."
It was an abuse of power. There are actually better ways to get the pendant through negotiations but the Marquis immediately incited a public arrest. Though he is interested in the pendant, Rin could feel something different from the way the Marquis act toward his mother. There was something in his eyes that screams diabolical—lustful, to be more specific.
"You have no right to take it..." Rin added.
"Hahaha! If I don't have any personal rights to take it, then so do you. It's far too likely for a Damniant like you to get hold of such a precious gem. It should be under the capable hands of Eliads as we know how to manage it. And I don't really care if it was given by your dead father..."
A low blow. That's how far he is going to take it. Not only is he arrogant, but he seems to enjoy the action of insulting and belittling them. He doesn't even respect the dead...
Compare to Eina, this kind of Eliad is the most devilish out of all of them.
"..." Rin hung his head downwards. The rage that was welling up inside him couldn't be described. It's a shame that he couldn't hit him as that would endanger their position. But...
"Alright, take her away..." With a single nod, the guards then started pushing Auelina while she was locked with magic chains.
"Wait! Stop it!" With another struggle, Rin attempted to rush once again.
"Tsk! You're so persistent!"
"Ugh!" One of the guards kicked Rin on his solar plexus and proceeded to pin him down to the ground.
The order has been released. Which means, they could now punish him however they want.
"Rin! Rin!" Auelina cried in despair as he saw Rin getting stomped multiple times. He could feel a crunch on his back and his forehead was bashing through the cold cement.
"Stop it! I'm begging you... Please don't kill my son..." She pleaded, but the Marquis only gave her a sneer.
It was a reply saying that this is his punishment for disrespecting him.
"...er go..."
"Hmm...?"
As the commotion was starting to get bad, Eina and Bella reached the scene and saw Rin's bloody figure.
"Rin!"
"Milady, don't!" Bella pulled her.
"Let me go, Bella! I need to save him!" Her expression changed the moment she saw Rin. Her royal eyes lit up and her magical power was pulsating to a high degree. It was something that Bella was unfamiliar with.
Eina is always loved by the people because of her beauty and personality but right now... she was shedding the complete opposite of it. Her expression was awfully different, she was in complete anger.
It was at this moment that Bella realized how fond and overprotective Eina is to the boy who made her happy.
But even so, she cannot let Eina interrupt. Otherwise, their house would get in conflict with the other nobles. This would mean that if Eina were to save Rin right now, it was like saying that she wanted a war with the Briants and they'll have to undergo a long process of, hopefully, a discussion or negotiation, or perhaps a war.
"Milady! You can't... Please..."
"Rin! RIN...!"
* * *
He could hear it. The voices of the people who are scared to do anything. The voices of the guards constantly depriving him of consciousness. He could hear Eina and his mother's pleading voices as they screamed to let him go.
It was painful. His body was already exhausted from expending too much magical power and now the guards are stomping him nonstop. His forehead was bleeding from the constant bashing and his bones are cracked. Yet despite getting beaten up, Rin didn't mind the pain that was pulsating throughout his body. It was unnerving.
It felt like he already knew this kind of pain and was used to it. But why is it? He is confident that this is the first time that he has experienced something like this. and yet, there was something that was keeping him intact.
A familiar scene flashed through his mind: A complete devastation of the world. It came from the dreams that he had been dreaming of for quite some time now. His mind was beginning to process the scenery that was full of monstrosity and vacuity. It becomes clear every second...
Rin lifted his head, eyes fixated on the image of her mother begging.
Begging? Why is she begging? Is it because he is about to die? Is it because Rin is powerless right now?
Impossible, right? They were just enjoying their life a few days ago and now they're in this state. Rin had promised that he will protect his mother just like how his father risked his life for the two of them. She is sick, defenseless, and emotionally unstable. Why are they experiencing this malfeasance while the sky is dark?
Is Eina the only Eliad who respected him? Does that mean that every other Eliad living in this world was capable of despicable acts like this?
Auelina was crying, Eina was pissed off.
The Damniants around pitied him. They don't have the power or the courage to help him. Because they know that a grave punishment will befall all of them.
A threat, huh? So that's how they are playing this game. They will use their authority to gain the power to punish or threaten someone while they enjoy the scenery of killing a child. Well, isn't that conveniently evil? This is how the world works right now. Separate the damned, and provide luxury and privileges to those self-proclaimed descendants of the Saints.
And kill innocent children every single day...
How is that any different from the evil acts that the Cursed King did back in the day? Isn't it just the same? Robbing Damniants human rights, inaccessible to education, strict rules, regulations, hard punishment, executions, slavery, corruption, poverty, and tyranny... All because of what the Eliads are implementing that they're currently living at razor's edge.
Haven't they already realized their evil intentions?
What does the church think about this? Do they even still have morals?
No, they don't. That was already clear from the start. It was obvious. They're nothing but a bunch of idiots who think that Damniants are toys that they could control and play with.
That's why...
"...Er... go..."
"Hmm?"
"I said... LET HER GO!"
As though the tides have turned, every single person in the area felt dread over Rin's intense scream.
Crimson lightning started flashing into the dark sky, and immense pressure rippled across the field as if they were getting pushed back.
"l̵̟͆̍̈̈̈͜ḕ̵̟̗̞̃̂̋t̸̨̿ ̷̻̒͋h̴͓̰̺̫͛̐̎̿̿ę̸̟̩͑̔r̵͔̯̈͝ ̵̧̫̑g̶̯̳͋̐͆͐̆ơ̸̤͂͗̕͠..."
An unnerving, deep, dark voice reverberated followed by a red electric blast that sent the guards' bodies crashing into the Marquis' carriage.
"H-Hey..."
"What is that...?"
Rin stood up slowly. A devilish color of his magical aura, mixed with both red and black pulsated.
They said that every single person's Mana or Magical Power who knows how to wield Divine Arts has its own color and it usually depends on how much Mana they have or how pure or potent it is compared to the others.
According to the scripture, this was the ranking of its intensity:
1. Gray Mana Signature - Normal
2. Blue Mana Signature - Above Average
3. Green Mana Signature - Medium Level
4. White/Silver Mana Signature - Saint Level
5. Gold Mana Signature - God Level
If that's the case then... What does a Black and Red Mana Signature mean?
"H-Hey! Get up and kill him!" Panicking, Marquis Briant ordered all guards to stop Rin.
The remaining stand-by held their grimoires and spears, preparing to intercept the child. However...
"Get out of my way..." With a flick of his hand, all of the guards received a strong gust of wind that sliced their arm. It coursed through the road and sent them crashing into the walls.
"No cast?!" Both Eina and Marquis Briant dropped their jaw in surprise.
How is he doing that? There are no records of someone being able to cast a spell without invoking or chanting the right terms. This is beyond what she has learned in the academy and it feels eerie that Rin was able to do it.
It wasn't normal.
"You pesky little brat!" With his guards gone, Marquis Briant raised his arms and pointed them to Rin. "Embers of the malevolent prince of flame, lend me thy ashen fire that crackles through thy veins, witness the blazing course and serve thy name! Vitendo Llaaeuin! (Flame Surge)"
A stream of fire washed over the carriage as it rushed through Rin's position. The intensity of his magic was strong and he could burn someone to a crisp if it hit a defenseless human.
"..." But it was negated. No, it would be more sensible to say that the flame he discharged vanished instantly when it reached Rin's field.
"H-How?! Impossible! What is happening?!" With another chant, he unleashed another volley of flames but all of them were disregarded. Rin's aura was more powerful than what he could shoot at the moment.
"Milady, this is!"
"Yeah, there's no doubt about it..." Eina thought that it was unusual for Rin to read all of the recorded spells in the 2nd generation grimoire even without learning how to read. Its contents were written in a different language that existed in the dark era, that's why most of the current sorcerers these days couldn't really decipher the spells engraved on it.
And yet, Rin was unconsciously casting it without any chant. A no-chant execution.
"Quick Bella, we need to stop him before it feeds his mind!" Eina prepared herself while Bella unleashed a Waterball straight into Rin's position.
"Eina..." The Waterball splashed into him, reviving all of his senses.
"Wisest judicator of the azure realm, Heed thy chosen's decree. Bless us with your pristine wisdom and fulfill our order! Tranqiite! (Tranquil Regeneration)"
A large magic circle appeared behind Eina's back, its bright light unleashed a slug of unpressurized force that soothed Rin's mind. She cast one of the most advanced-class magic spells in the world that cleanses someone's soul.
"AAAHHHHH!" Rin covered his head, he was experiencing an intense headache. The pristine light was consuming the dark matters around him and slowly reverting him back to normal. After a few seconds, the flare dispersed and Rin lost consciousness. Reflection from his eyes faded away and he dropped to the ground.
Everyone couldn't believe what just happened.
"Rin! Rin!" Auelina removed her chains and went over to her son. She checked if he was still alive by feeling his heartbeat.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. Rin is still alive. I just removed the dark energy inside him..." Eina and Bella came over as well.
"I see..." Auelina embraced Rin. So much has happened because of her carelessness. If she just gave the pendant from the start, they wouldn't be in this situation.
"I can't take this! Somebody kill them!" The Marquis stood up and screamed, he ordered yet again, the guards to take them out, however...
"Wait!" Auelina spread her arms and covered Rin. Her expression sheds that she has made up her mind on how to resolve all of this.
"Huh?!"
"Please don't kill my son! If you want the pendant, then I'll give it to you. I will also do whatever you want... Just please don't kill him..."
It didn't click at first but after a few seconds of processing it, the Marquis gave a sneer. "Whatever I want, huh? Is that what you're saying...?"
"Yes! Please pin all of the punishment to me... I'll take it all..." Auelina knelt down and bowed her head to the ground.
"Ma'am..." Eina knows what the Marquis was up to but Auelina gave her a smile as if she knows what's gonna happen.
"Please take care of Rin for me..."
It was a sincere request. She doesn't know what's gonna happen to her but just in case she dies, she knows that there will be someone to take care of Rin.
"Very well. Although I'm not fond of what happened just now, I will give you a chance and forget about it if you come with me. Is that fine?" Marquis Briant confirmed.
"Yes..." She nodded.
"Well then, please escort her..." His personal butler then chained Auelina again and proceeded to walk out.
This might probably be the most intense commotion that they have ever seen in their entire life. The Damniants are powerless against the nobles but what they saw just now was an eye-opener to all of them.
The way that Rin made him scared to death was still fixated on their mind and respected his otherworldly courage and power to stand up for himself. It gave them some kind of hope that their lives would change in the near future. So long as there is still someone out there who would risk their life to reset the order.
"Bella, please call our driver. We'll bring Rin to our personal doctor..."
"Milady, that was... Are you really going to let his mother sell herself like that?" She asked.
"I... can't do anything. No, I don't want her to do whatever that guy is planning but... she has already resolved herself in order to protect Rin..."
"..."
"If she didn't do that, they would've been sentenced to death..." She added.
"We don't have any counter for that, right?"
"Yes. Even if we negotiate, I'm sure that that bastard wouldn't accept it. Let's just hope that her punishment won't be that... bad."
Eina's hope was just a facade so that she wouldn't feel guilty about it later on. If Rin knew about all of this, she was sure that he'd be angry. Why did Eina let his mother go? Why didn't she save her?
As she thought about that, Eina grabbed Rin's hand and apologized silently.
When will this madness ever end?
If Rin is going to share what happened in his dream, then the answer would be:
"T̷̨̬̺͊̀̾̿͐̂͛̊͐ơ̴̡̫̹̪̓͆͗m̷̢̦̥̘̬͍̗̀̇͛͐̕͝ơ̶̧̲͈̪̰̠̙̆̾̀͊̓̀͝ͅr̵͍̦̹̎̍͛ŗ̶͍̝̥͗̚̚o̴̧̨̬̣̪̗̙̲͊͌̀͆̏̐̒̈́ẁ̵̡͎̼̌̍͗̀̇̋͌"
Content Warning:
The following chapter contains material that may be controversial, disturbing, or traumatizing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
I just want to warn you guys that this chapter might be a little different from the previous ones as it will contain some mild depictions of... Well, you're going to find out anyway so please keep reading until the end.
If you don't mind that kind of content, feel free to disregard this warning and just keep on reading. I might break some of the rules since I'm writing this novel for a contest.
- CyrisIsUplifted
* * *
"̷Y̸o̷u̵ ̷s̶e̷e̷m̴ ̴t̴o̷ ̶b̵e̵ ̵i̸n̴ ̷d̵i̷s̶t̸r̶e̵s̴s̴.̷.̶.̵ ̴A̶r̴e̷ ̴y̷o̶u̴ ̵s̵u̵r̶e̸ ̶y̴o̴u̴'̶r̷e̵ ̶g̴o̴i̵n̷g̴ ̷t̸o̶ ̶l̷e̵t̷ ̵i̴t̷ ̴e̴n̴d̷ ̴l̷i̵k̴e̸ ̸t̸h̸a̵t̸?̸"̶
"Huh? Who's there?"
The whole space was bleak. Neverending darkness awaited him. What was once a beautiful painting turned into a desolate ruin consumed by the abyss. There was no light. It was empty. Just like his whole life.
"̵D̸o̵n̸'̷t̵ ̶y̷o̵u̴ ̶w̸a̴n̴t̷ ̸t̸o̶ ̴k̴i̸l̸l̸ ̶t̵h̷a̵t̶ ̸p̸e̷r̴s̶o̵n̸?̶"̸
"Kill? What are you talking about? Who are you?!" Rin shouted, his voice echoing in layers as if he was inside a record that repeats his sound.
"̵D̸o̶n̷'̶t̶ ̵y̴o̵u̷ ̷w̵a̸n̷t̸ ̴t̵h̸e̵ ̵s̵t̵r̴e̴n̶g̴t̵h̸ ̵t̴o̸ ̵p̸r̵o̸t̴e̴c̸t̵ ̴t̵h̷o̸s̸e̴ ̸y̵o̸u̶ ̴l̶o̷v̷e̵d̴?̸"̵
"Protect who I love..."
"̷Y̴e̸s̴,̸ ̷w̸o̷u̷l̴d̸n̴'̴t̵ ̷y̸o̵u̵ ̷l̶i̴k̷e̵ ̷t̷h̶a̸t̵?̷ ̸W̸i̵t̴h̴ ̴a̴ ̷t̶r̵e̴m̵e̷n̸d̶o̷u̶s̸ ̷s̴t̷r̷e̸n̶g̴t̸h̸,̸ ̸y̶o̴u̴ ̷c̶a̴n̵ ̴k̵i̸l̸l̶ ̵t̸h̵o̷s̵e̵ ̴n̷o̸b̸l̴e̵s̴ ̴h̴o̷w̸e̶v̷e̶r̶ ̴y̷o̶u̷ ̴w̶a̷n̷t̷ ̵a̵n̷d̷ ̴y̷o̵u̵ ̶c̵a̷n̵ ̷p̷r̷o̴t̵e̷c̴t̴ ̶t̶h̶i̸s̷ ̸l̷a̶n̸d̴.̷.̶.̴"̷
Naturally, if Rin does have the strength to kill the Eliads, there would be a major change in plans and an uprising might start. But if he had to list down the possibilities and the pros and cons of such a diabolical plan, he'd assumed that the merit wouldn't have that much difference. Why? Because the more he plans to resist, the more obstacles he will have to face.
It is going to be a consistent stalemate between the two sides. That unless he...
"̷D̴o̴n̴'̶t̸ ̴y̶o̶u̸ ̴w̸a̶n̴t̶ ̶t̶o̵ ̸c̸o̷n̶q̶u̴e̸r̷ ̵t̶h̷e̸ ̸w̶o̶r̶l̶d̶?̷"̸
"Conquer the world..."
"̶Y̴e̵s̴.̵ ̷I̸f̶ ̵y̵o̸u̶ ̸d̷o̶ ̵t̶h̷a̶t̸,̵ ̴y̵o̷u̷r̵ ̴w̷h̶o̴l̴e̴ ̸r̴a̷c̶e̵ ̶w̷i̶l̶l̶ ̸b̶e̸ ̵f̶r̵e̶e̸,̸ ̵r̵i̴g̴h̵t̷?̸"̸
Freedom. It is something that Rin wished for from the bottom of his heart. Stop the oppression, free the Damniants, give them rights, and make them feel like they're part of humanity. Make them feel that they're not some kind of cursed and detestable subjects that the Eliads use for their pleasure. They're not toys, they're not tools. They're just... like what everyone is. A human.
Every time an infant is born into this malicious and hellish world, they are already subjected to slavery—or a hard life that is full of despicable acts.
So, isn't freedom a really good thing? If he did conquer the world, there would be no one to stop him.
"̶̨̱̾̚I̷͚̓̂t̴̪̫̂'̵̦͝s̶̙͐̓ ̸̨̺̊͂t̴̪̦͆h̶͓́e̵͎͖͝ ̴̦̎f̷͉͕͑̎i̵̪͑̅x̸̞̲̊̄e̷̱͠ď̶̚͜ ̵̡̓f̵͈͆a̵͍͔̿͘t̸̯͎̀̊e̵̠̍ ̸̦̞͌̋o̵̼͌f̶̟̑̚ ̷̣̅̎ẗ̵͍̻́h̴̼͝ḯ̷̖̬̔s̵̭͠ ̸̣̠̎ẁ̴̲̕o̵͉̜̍r̶̻̣̈l̴̻̔̊d̶̺̂.̷̣̺͆̚.̸̪̀́.̴̥̀̕ͅ"̷̞̩̀̄
A massive hand warped in pure eerieness extended from the shadows—an empty piece of darkness, glitching from the dismal space.
Rin stared in a daze. What is happening in this imaginary world? And where is he anyway?
As the hand grew larger, a blinding light suddenly erupted causing him to cover his eyes.
The world is now a sea full of roots that are intertwined with each other. Countless hubs of infernal links bond, each having its specific origin but it couldn't be discerned. Rin thought that this imaginary space is just a by-product of his imagination and emotions. It was different from the dream that he always has and yet the voice that was talking to him sounded familiar.
A cosmic world, it felt so surreal that his eyes were darting around. There were a lot of symbols etched on the grassy field. It is like a domain bombarded with roots with so many layers that you could get lost the moment you step in.
"Rin..."
"—!" He stopped. A faint voice can be heard in the distance.
"Rin..."
"Eina...?"
"Rin..."
"Eina, where are you?!" Rin looked around, searching for where the voice came from.
"Rin..." He followed the direction on the opposite side of where he was facing. But then...
"̷A̸r̷e̵ ̷y̴o̸u̸ ̷s̷u̶r̴e̶ ̸y̷o̵u̵ ̸w̷a̴n̵t̴ ̸t̵o̴ ̷t̵u̵r̸n̴ ̸b̴a̴c̴k̶?̵"̷ The creepy voice asked.
"I don't know who you are but I'm out of this scary place... Don't bother me anymore." With his willpower, Rin broke through the dark barrier and shattered the imaginary space with brute force. He followed where Eina's voice was coming from and before he knew it, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
He swam quickly, not even turning once. And upon reaching the end, his figure instantly vanished—
"̴Y̵o̶u̵r̶ ̷A̶w̵a̷k̷e̶n̶i̷n̸g̷ ̴i̷s̵ ̷n̸e̵a̶r̵.̷.̶.̷"̷
* * *
"—!"
"Rin! Rin!"
Rin opened his eyes. What greeted him wasn't the familiar ceiling from his home but an upgrade of it. Several chandeliers were hanging on it. But the most noticeable object among the grand luxuries was Eina's beautiful appearance in front of him.
"Eina—"
"Rin!" Eina leaped into him, giving him a sudden embrace. He didn't even have any second to breathe.
"E-Eh?"
"I'm so glad you're okay... I've been casting regeneration magic for a long time now. You look like you're about to die..." Tears were coming down from her eyes as she explained the situation. Rin could see Bella nodding behind her.
"Me? I'm dying...?" He asked.
"Yes. When you were brought here, black smoke suddenly appeared on your body and you were in pain for a very long time. We thought it might be something to do with your Mana capacity but it seems like it was something else..." Bella answered as she gave him some water. "Milady has been trying to regenerate you with her magic."
Rin frowned for a moment. Risking so much Mana just to heal a broken boy like him, it's just too much.
"Miss Eina..." Rin stroked her head as she dug it into his chest.
"Rin, please don't over-exhaust yourself anymore, got it?" Eina gave him a sharp look as though she was angry... in a cute way.
"Yes... I'm sorry." He nodded but then— "Oh, that's right! Where's my mother?!"
His sudden question startled both Eina and Bella and they turned to each other. How are they going to answer Rin's question in a good way that wouldn't hurt his feeling? She realized that she would have to face this as soon as he is conscious again but she wasn't ready at all.
"My Mother is safe, right? That idiotic noble didn't take her... right?" Rin was hoping, from the bottom of his heart, that she would be fine. He saved her—no, it's more like he prevented something bad from happening because of his sudden spike in power. And it's reassuring that Eina is here as well because she will be able to help them with her authority. However...
"Rin, I want you to listen to me carefully..." Eina gripped his hand tightly.
"Huh?"
Your Mother... After you lost consciousness, she begged the Marquis not to kill you and went on to accompany him." Eina chose her words carefully. She was afraid of saying it all but a straightforward and honest answer would be far greater than luring Rin with fake details. She was concerned about his feelings but right now, she understands that Rin doesn't care about himself. He would show more concern for his Mother rather than his safety.
"She... She went with that bad Eliad...?" He couldn't believe it. Why? Why would she choose to go on with a man like that? "It's not real, right? She didn't get arrested..."
"The Marquis revoked her arrest and your execution because she made a declaration that she would go with him... I, I think it is the only way to save you..." Eina felt like her heart was about to burst as she struggled to say the words.
"..."
"It's been a day... I don't know what kind of punishment she received but it's all over now. You can find her at the entrance. Do you want us to take you there..?" Bella asked.
"Yes... Please do." Rin nodded.
Rin doesn't know what lies ahead of this track. But he knew that he won't be able to take it. The Eliads wouldn't be that kind like Eina after all. He figured that her mother is currently suffering right now and that he can't do anything about it.
"Bella, please tell them to prepare our carriage..." Eina ordered.
"You're going too, Milady?"
"Of course, I can't just leave the two of them alone. Bring some of our guards as well in case that man confronts us."
"Understood..."
* * *
The sky was, yet again, bleak. Neverending gloominess awaited him. What was once a solemn haven turned into a desolate ruin consumed by the caliginous shadow. There was no light. It was empty. Just like his whole life.
No, that wouldn't be right. His life wasn't empty. He had them. His Mother, Eina, Bell, the other children, and Mr. Zubayr took care and gave him a job. These are the light of his life. It was never empty from the start. He was clinging to these people as they are the pillars of light that guided him to survive.
Although he realized this, he couldn't tell what was eating him from inside. Is it because of his dark expectations? Does it hurt to expect that there will be nothing wrong when he meets her again? Such thoughts crossed his mind and now he's fixated on it.
"Are you okay...?" Eina grabbed his hand. The Rin that she was seeing right now was very different from the Rin that accompanied her for the past month. Isn't it interesting how people change quickly just because of a major development?
Eina was already aware from the start that Rin wasn't generally happy with his life. She already assumed that his mother was the only happiness that was keeping him alive. And for someone to take that happiness away from him... is just like taking his will to live. She knew that and yet she let her go...
Upon arriving at the entrance of Fier, all of them went out of the carriage with Rin in the front.
"Tsk! Hey, they're here. Throw that scum out..." One of the guards included in Briants' security ordered the two to bring Auelina out.
"Mother!" Rin wasted no time and rushed in. Eina and Bella also followed him to the gate accompanied by their guards.
"Here you go!" The guard tossed her out like trash. Rin managed to catch her before hitting the ground but he could feel her weight shifting on him drastically. It was like she couldn't move her body. She felt lifeless and dreary.
"Heh! She was a great toy. All of us had a good time..." The guard sneered.
What does he mean by that?
"Also, Lord Briant said that he doesn't need the gem anymore because it's fake so you can keep this crap..." After that, he threw the pendant that both he and Auelina tried to protect. It slid into the cement and Rin grabbed it.
It didn't seem to be broken but he could see a little bit of crack from the side near the foundation and the chains were rusty.
"Your insolence knows no bounds. Is that how you treat a person?" Eina's sharp voice pierced through them.
"Hmph! What's so bad about treating Damniants like that?" He asked. "They don't deserve respect."
"Mind your tone you little bastard, you're speaking with the eldest daughter of the Bluesy House..." Bella asserted her dominance. This kind of interaction wasn't that uncommon but they mostly forget that Eina is noble.
"Hey, let's get out of here..." As though they realized what they have just done, the guards left the entrance in a rush and immediately closed the gate.
Eina and Bella turned to help Rin and his mother. They expected that this kind of reunion would soothe Rin's worries since she's still alive, however...
"Mother..." Auelina faced Rin, her eyes were wretched and there was no light left in them. Dry tears were evident, she must have been crying for so long. Even now, she couldn't help but weep in front of him.
"I... I'm sorry... Rin... I'm sorry..." She fumbled to keep herself up as she snuggled into him. Rin could feel the intense pressure of his Mother's grip on his arms and chest.
It wasn't that hard to notice it. The wickedness, the most devilish action a person can do to another person...
"Milady, this is...!" Bella could only gasp in distress as she covered her mouth.
"Two instances of rape... No, they've done more than that... How despicable..." As Eina revealed the disgusting work based on her observation, her Mana instantly popped out. An invisible pressure pulsated around the field. There's no need to sugarcoat it, what they've done is beyond punishable.
Wounds and strange marks can be found on Auelina's wrists, shoulders, legs, and in her neck. Her upper dress was shredded apart and there was a large rip on her long skirt.
Bruises were also apparent on some of her body parts, especially near her lips. Her hair was disheveled and it looked like it has been pulled painfully.
"..." Auelina continued to cry but Rin was not responding. He wanted to embrace her but he couldn't move his body for some reason. It's like his world became... even more, emptier...
"The Marquis must've committed it first, then got tired and threw her outside with those guards—"
"That's enough, Bella..."
"... I apologize."
This is how low humans can be when they are showered by power. When they feel like they could do anything whatever they want, the actions that they will employ are often associated with the seven deadly sins or also known as the cardinal sins. Lust is part of it.
When people crave venereal acts, their mind is often closed off to the point that it mostly leads to offensive attempts just to appease them. Naturally, it does not mean that sexual desires are generally bad. There is only a limit to it. Any more than that will fall under serious crimes.
For example, when you're in a relationship with someone, you'll gradually get that desire to procreate (only activates when you want to become a parent or when you're married). Or just relieve some of your stress (Just want to chill, snuggle, relax, and have a healthy sexual life). And as lovers, it's normal. If the other gave you consent then it's fine as long as you know how to limit yourself and vice versa.
Some even use their body for work. There are lots of that kinds of places even in the real world.
But what if the said partner does not want to and yet you're forcing them? What if they don't know you?
Now that's a different story...
"Rin, we should probably head back... I feel like it's going to rain..." Eina touched Rin's shoulder which woke him up.
The sky was becoming darker than usual and the temperature was decreasing. They could hear a subtle rumbling—lightning was visible across the layer of clouds.
"Mhmm..." He nodded silently. No words were coming out of his mouth. And although he wanted to get out of this place, he can't move.
He kept his grip on his Mother. Just like hers, the light in his eyes was nowhere to be found.
"Bella..."
"Understood." Sensing the mood, Eina signaled her maid to help Auelina stand.
Rin kept his gaze on the ground as he got separated from her. Bella could feel the darkness welling up inside him. She remembered what Eina's father told her when they first met:
"The Damniants didn't do anything to you... Why do you loathe them?"
Does she hate them because the world told her to hate them? Or is it because they've done something wrong to her?
Bella clung to the former, which is the most impractical.
But now that she experienced the Damniant's suffering in front of her own eyes, she could no longer dare to hate them.
This sight of Rin, comprehending what happened in the pure void is nothing compared to the bad experience she had growing up, it's not even close to it.
Realizing that made her grit her teeth.
"Rin..." Eina knelt, it didn't matter whether her dress is stained or not. She wanted to bring Rin back to normal.
After a couple of minutes, Rin and Auelina were finally brought back to the mansion that House Bluesy owned.
* * *
"Cardinal!" Inside the church of Yddra, the followers were getting ready for what was coming.
"What is it?"
"This is bad! There's a sighting of monsters hoarding near the town of Fier!" Everyone dropped their jaw when they heard his report.
"What?! That's not the location that we predicted! Your Holiness this is..." The Cardinal turned to the highest-ranking priest.
"There's no doubt about it. We must ascertain that the Calamity Invoker won't enter our lines... Call everyone including the guild's offensive department. Have them prepare for extermination..."
"Right away!"
"Who would have thought that the calamity would start right from its origins..."
"Does that mean that there's someone out there calling it...?" Cardinal Rawkin asked.
"I wouldn't say calling it... but I guess it would make sense since that place is full of atrocities. If the scriptures are accurate, we will be able to see the birth of that Devil of the Abyss."
* * *
Meanwhile, Rin left the mansion to go for a walk. It's not like the weather was good for refreshment, he just wanted to be alone for a moment.
He noticed the caliginous sky covering the whole town. Birds were flying away from something and a looming sound that seems to plant an eerie composition was resonating in the area.
"Is there a storm coming by?" He asked.
The Town of Fier is located in the southernmost region of the Kingdom where the sun is always rising so storms are pretty uncommon. But this storm is different from the usual that they had experienced.
Rin tried to look around but there was no sign of people coming by. There was no one around. Not even the vendors who are usually hanging in the district despite the weather. This unnerving phenomenon inflicted goosebumps.
What is happening? Where is everybody?
When he arrived at the center of the shop district, Rin felt an immense emotion of dread.
His body locked, and dread washed over him.
—!
There was a loud crackling sound, and when he turned around...
"MROOOOOOOOOOO...!!!!!"
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