Bab 105: Alisax Loses Her Shit
"The Incarnus… of Lux?"
I stared at Alisax, wondering if I had heard her wrong.
The daemon tilted her head slightly. "That is what everyone calls her, right?"
I blinked and shook my head, trying to process this bombshell of information. "Wait. So the Queen of the Lumini is the Incarnus of Lux? The Goddess of Light?"
"Um. Yes?" Alisax confirmed, her tone carrying a hint of confusion as if my surprise baffled her.
I took a step back, leaning against the broken wall behind me. "Whoa. That's… quite a revelation."
Before I could ask any more, a low, familiar growl cut through the air, sending a chill down my spine.
"It appears the hounds have found us," Alisax said, her voice suddenly dropping into a serious, controlled tone.
I quickly sent out an ardor pulse, the energy spreading through the ruins, and my breath hitched in my throat. "There are… hundreds of them."
I unsheathed my sword, instinctively bracing for battle. But before I could act, Alisax's icy hand clamped down on my wrist, her touch colder than death itself.
"Your body is still not ready for battle," she said, her grip unyielding, lowering my weapon with ease. "You must rest."
"But the hounds!" I protested, trying to pull free. Her strength was far greater than mine, and my efforts were futile.
Her grip loosened, and I stumbled backward, barely catching myself before hitting the ground. Before I could regain my balance, she had already turned toward the entrance.
"Rest. I will handle them." Her voice was calm, but the sheer confidence in it resonated deeply.
She glanced over her shoulder, and the darkness beneath her hood seemed to pull at the edges of my mind.
Without my consent, my body obeyed her command. My legs buckled, and I sank back against the broken wall.
As Alisax disappeared beyond the ruined arch, my eyes grew heavy, a wave of fatigue washing over me—the first I had felt since falling into the Abyss.
The howls of the hounds filled the air, but no nightmarish horrors plagued me this time as I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, Alisax sat across from me, leaning against the blackened walls. I groggily rubbed my eyes, feeling strangely refreshed.
She appeared to be watching me, though I couldn't be sure—her hood concealed all but the fathomless darkness underneath.
"Did you sleep well?" her distorted voice asked.
"The best sleep I've had in years," I remarked, standing up and stretching.
My muscles felt relaxed, and my mind was clearer than it had been in a long time. "What did you do? And what about the hounds? It sounded like there were hundreds of them."
"I used my power to help you fall asleep," Alisax explained simply. "As for the hounds… Indeed, there were hundreds of them."
Her clawed gauntlets flexed, clenching and unclenching as she added, "I killed them all with ease."
I stared at her, stunned. "You… killed them all?"
Alisax nodded. "I am strong. I am what you humans call an S-ranked being."
A chill ran down my spine. "You're an S rank?"
"Yes. You look quite surprised."
"I didn't feel the energy of an S-rank from you. You're really good at concealing your aura," I remarked, still processing the thought.
"I'm the commander of the rangers, Mordred. Concealing my presence is second nature to me," she replied smoothly, tilting her head slightly. "But I am not the first S-ranked daemon you've met. Am I?"
Her words hit me like a freezing wind, and for a brief moment, a suffocating wave of bloodlust washed over me, rooting me in place.
I almost forgot. She had seen my memories. Of course, she knew about that rooty son of a bitch.
"Alisax," I said cautiously, eyeing her. "Do you… know Asphodel?"
The ground shook beneath us, and the crumbling ruins around us quaked as her aura exploded. The suffocating bloodlust poured out, gripping my heart in an icy vice.
"Of course I do," she said, her voice low, filled with barely controlled rage.
The trembling suddenly stopped, the pressure easing as she continued, her tone shifting to something melancholic, though hatred still simmered beneath her words.
"We were best friends once… Until he betrayed our queen for that Darkling."
The venom in her words intrigued me. Sitting on a large stone slab, I couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"
Alisax turned her head slightly toward me. "It is a rather long story."
I shrugged. "I've got plenty of time."
She hesitated for a moment before letting out a small sigh. "Very well."
Leaning against the broken wall, she began. "Where should I start? Ah yes, our queen."
"Our queen was the first Incarnus to be born in this universe."
"You mean the first-generation Incarni?" I interrupted.
Alisax's voice turned dry. "You really like to interrupt, don't you?"
I winced. "Sorry. I just wanted to confirm."
I could feel her gaze, or what passed for one, weighing on me for a moment before she continued.
"You are correct. Our queen was among the first generation of Incarni. But that wasn't all."
Her voice took on a tone filled with reverence. "She was also the first Incarnus to be born in this universe."
The first Incarnus?
As if sensing my disbelief, Alisax clarified. "The other Incarni were born soon after her. But she… she was the very first Incarnus."
"Let there be light," I murmured.
"An interesting phrase, but yes, those words ring true," Alisax remarked. "Not only was the queen the first Incarnus, but she was also the first Luminus, and the remaining first-generation Lumini arose from the blood she shed during a sparring match with one of her fellow Incarni."
I stared at her. The imagery of that sounded almost… mythological.
"The Lumini were beings blessed with Lux. Our bodies were similar in structure to yours, but our essence was composed of light, and we were quite tall."
Alisax crossed her arms and spoke smugly. "And we were far more beautiful than the most beautiful elf."
A hint of warmth entered her voice as she added, "But the fairest of all was our queen, the Incarnus of Lux."
"She had difficulty expressing her emotions, but she was truly selfless. She devoted herself to her subjects and did everything she could for them to live peacefully."
"The Lumini loved her, and our loyalty was absolute. She ruled over us for millennia, always protecting us."
I blinked in surprise. "Did you say millennia?"
Alisax nodded. "Yes, I did. She was an Incarnus—the strongest of them all. Even as her brothers and sisters of the first generation fell by each other's hands, she remained, steadfast and undefeated."
"Not even the Incarni of Chronos, Locus, or Tenebris could challenge her."
Alisax raised her clenched fist to the crimson sky. "She was a god among gods, unmatched in battle, slaughtering countless who dared challenge her—major and minor Incarni alike."
"We, her soldiers, commanders, and chief commander, stood by her side, ready to give our lives for her."
"With our aid, she protected our world from Incarni and other threats. Though, if I'm being honest," she chuckled softly, "she didn't need our help. She was more than capable of protecting us without it."
"I guess we just wanted to be useful to her. She didn't mind that."
Alisax shook her head, her voice quieter. "But even to us, her closest retainers, she was a mystery."
"She was revered by all, especially by humans and elves. Even the mighty Malakhs bowed their heads with the utmost respect in her presence."
"Malakhs?" I asked, bewildered.
"Winged humanoids with tremendous ardor and authority. They're on par with dragons and tend to keep to themselves, much like the Lumini once did," the daemon explained.
I blinked, processing. "You mean angels?"
Alisax tilted her head. "Angels? Interesting term."
I stared at her, dumbfounded. Angels. They exist in this world, though called something else—Malakhs.
I'd like to meet one, assuming I get out of here alive.
Turning back to Alisax, I asked, "For even the Malakhs to show her respect, the Lux Incarnus must have been extraordinary."
She nodded. "I've heard that even those in her faction, who never saw her, remained loyal just from hearing her voice."
"It still is," I said. "The Order of Lux is the largest Incarnus faction in Asteris even now."
"I'm glad to hear that."
My gaze lowered. "Millennia have passed, and they're still waiting for her to answer them."
Alisax's distorted voice grew mournful. "They'll be waiting for a long time, I'm afraid."
Feeling the weight of her grief, I hesitated before asking, "What happened?"
Suddenly, the temperature dropped. Bloodlust, more intense than before, washed over me, freezing me in place.
The ground trembled as her colossal aura slammed down, the mansion's walls quaking. I struggled to remain standing, releasing my own aura just to avoid crumbling to the ground.
The darkness around Alisax flared, rippling like deadly flames. When she spoke, her voice was filled with loathing.
"What happened? The Darkling happened."
Her aura exploded, shaking the ruins violently. Cracks spiderwebbed across the stone as the mansion threatened to collapse.
I gritted my teeth, but it was a losing battle. This was worse than facing Isaac Zierhart—except this time, I was completely alone and Alisax is way stronger than the dead Paladin.
"Alisax! Let's stop here for now!" I pleaded. "You don't have to tell me! Please, calm down!"
But my words didn't reach her—she was consumed by rage.
"It all started with her!" Her voice echoed, distorted, from all directions.
I felt my body beginning to buckle under the pressure. Desperation surged through me. I gathered every bit of ardor I could muster and roared, "ALISAX! SNAP OUT OF IT!"
The shockwave of my aura hit her, and with a shudder, she snapped back to herself. The bloodlust vanished, and her crushing aura lifted.
"I... I am sorry." Alisax's voice was quiet, guilt-ridden. She bowed her head. "I lost control. I shouldn't have..."
"Yeah, you did," I grumbled, wiping the blood that had started to drip from my nose. The result of being nearly crushed by her aura.
Silence passed over us as we sat there, not knowing what to say to each other.
I got up and stretched, swinging my left arm to shake off the tension. The voices in my head had quieted. For the moment, at least.
"I should keep going. I've rested long enough."
"You're going to the Tear, aren't you?" Alisax asked. "To leave this place and return to your world?"
I nodded. "Yeah. There's someone I need to get back to."
"Even if she doesn't remember you?" she asked softly.
I winced, her words striking deep. "Please stop doing that."
She raised her hands in surrender. "Very well. In that case..."
She placed a hand on her chest. "Allow me to guide you."
"You know where the Tear is?" I asked, surprised.
She nodded. "Yes. Consider it compensation for my outburst. I'll guide you back home."
Without waiting for my response, she turned and began walking away.
I quickly followed. After a moment of silence, I couldn't help but ask the question that had been nagging at me.
"Alisax... the Lux Incarnus, your queen. What was her name?"
Alisax looked back, the darkness under her hood exuding a profound sadness. Her voice, when it came, was barely above a whisper.
"Her name... It has been so long since I spoke it..." her voice trailed off a if trying to remember it.
"Ah," her voice carried hope and relief, perhaps she was glad she hadn't forgotten it.
"Phoebe... Phoebe of The Restoration."
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
just_a_fox
just_a_fox We finally got a name for the Lux Incarnus.
Also, I'm sorry for the late upload. I've been quite busy with my classes.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
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