Chapter 136: Light and Dark (33)
“…So boring, I’m done playing.”
Seeing Margaret like that poked at my heartstrings, and suddenly, I felt a wave of disinterest wash over me. I shrugged my shoulders and pouted, deciding I had enough of her, and turned to head towards Iliush.
“Oh, wait.”
Just a couple of steps in, I turned around abruptly and reached out to the dazed Margaret, who had been standing there like a statue: “Lend me your shawl.”
That little girl was still bare-bottomed!
I needed to find something to cover her up, but my armor wasn’t exactly the right fit… Thankfully, Margaret was draped in a beautiful golden shawl, so I didn’t hesitate to ask for it.
“You…”
Margaret looked completely lost.
She knew what I wanted and glanced at Iliush, probably guessed who she was, wanted to say something but didn’t know how… Clearly, things had spiraled out of her control.
With a series of unexpected events, plus the chaos in the city, the local head and the highest-up of the Church were both in a very awkward limbo. As Saint Margaret, she had no choice but to temporarily shoulder the duties.
There weren’t many clergy left in the Royal City, and with them busy guarding the church against the threats of the military, The Gate of Truth, and the Abyss, the Saint just barely managed to settle everything before she came here all alone. Perhaps she was prepared to fight to the d*ath, but she didn’t expect to find this situation.
Margaret had no clue how to handle what was happening.
Once the “rules” were broken and she couldn’t resort to usual tactics, she would instantly lose her composure… I could see that. Including that plea she made earlier, which was a clear sign of her inner turmoil.
So, yeah, pretty dull…
“Lend me the shawl, hurry up.” I urged her, unable to hold back.
Margaret hesitated for a moment, her gaze darting back to Iliush, her eyes flickering with thoughts I couldn’t guess. Just when I started getting impatient, she finally spoke up: “Do you… want to take it with you?”
“Yup.”
“…No way.”
Hearing her refusal made me squint.
Margaret met my gaze, let out a sigh, and spoke earnestly: “It’s too dangerous… Silvya, I mean no harm. I’m just worried… You have to tell me—”
“I’m not negotiating with you.”
I quickly walked back to her, looked up, and reached for her shawl: “Enough with the nonsense. I’m in a good mood; don’t make me mad… Otherwise, if you want a fight, you’d better call in more friends. I don’t think you lot could handle me alone…”
Though I said that, I kept a wary eye on her hands.
But Margaret didn’t say a word. She stood there quietly as I took off her shawl.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
Thunder rolled across the sky as blinding light illuminated the Saint’s slightly dull face.
Looks like it was about to rain…
Holding the shawl, I walked back towards Iliush to wrap it around the still-dazed little girl.
It fit perfectly, covering her little behind.
I nodded in satisfaction.
“Hey, Iliush, let’s go home, shall we?”
First, I’d take her home, let her rest, and once her mental state was stable, we’d talk things over… As for what comes next, we’d decide that later.
Honestly, leaving right now might be the best choice… But before that, I had to make sure Victoria was alright.
Otherwise, I couldn’t relax.
The clouds were dark and brooding, casting shadows on the streets.
Guess… I probably wouldn’t be back here again?
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
Thunder echoed in the sky; the once gray streets suddenly burst with light. The heavy air carried an oddly unpleasant scent… like something was burning.
Pitter patter, pitter patter.
Raindrops landed on my head.
I grabbed Iliush’s stiff little hand and gently tugged her forward.
The little girl didn’t react. It was just her arm lifting slightly in sync with my pull.
“…Iliush?”
I softly called her name, pushing gently on her frail shoulder.
This time she reacted.
“Ah… um…”
The little girl parted her pale lips, letting out a hoarse, weak groan. That pained sound seemed like it was clawing its way out from the depths of her throat, her dazed eyes losing focus, staring straight into the unknown behind me… then began to roll back.
“Hey…”
“Ah… ah…”
“What’s wrong with you…?”
I stared at her, bewildered.
Suddenly, her body began to shake violently, her eyes completely rolled back, drool spilling from her chin. She shot her head back, mouth wide open, as if silently shouting, her limbs twisting in a strange, contorted manner, her little frame arching as her silvery hair nearly touched the ground. With a sizzled sound, wisps of bluish-white light began swirling out of her mouth, nose, and ears, rising like mist from every part of her body.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—
“Silvya!” Margaret screamed from behind.
“Don’t come any closer!”
I hastily let go of the little girl’s hand and took two cautious steps back, shock flooding my mind.
“What’s happening!?”
“d*mn it, I don’t know!”
I had no idea what was going on.
Before my eyes, countless strands of white mist flowed from the little girl’s small body, uncontrollably rushing upward. Blinding white light exploded in front of me, bolts shooting out from Iliush’s arms, chest, and head, almost blinding me.
Is this… part of the “soul” she devoured?!
“Silvya, back away! Back away—”
Boom—
The next moment, the thunder roared through the sky.
Above us, the thick dark clouds seemed to be pierced by flames, suddenly flaring up in dazzling red. A storm of wind and thunder swept through the skies, and the screams of countless people echoed through the city. Then, like a divine miracle, golden light erupted from the heavens, tearing through the clouds with unstoppable force, deafening thunder bursting as the torrential rain poured down, soaking me instantly.
…It’s a miracle!
“Margaret! What did you do—”
In my shock and anger, I shouted at that annoying woman behind me.
What is this racket… is she trying to k*ll everyone?!
“Not… the Divine…”
Margaret shouted something from behind, but her frantic words were drowned out by the thunder, and I couldn’t make sense of it.
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
Sizzle, sizzle—
Just a few steps ahead, the white light surrounding Iliush intensified, a faint black mist spreading from her, blocking the rain, while the little figure wrapped in the light twisted further. Dimly, I thought I could hear her voice.
“Elder… Sister…”
Iliush was still conscious…
I wiped the rainwater off my face, ignoring my drenched hair sticking to my cheeks, and shouted at her: “Iliush, stop your d*mn red light—”
“No… it’s not her!!”
Margaret’s voice rushed up next to me, shimmering in gold light, suddenly appearing by my side.
With one hand on my shoulder, she yanked me back, and with her other hand glowing with golden radiance, a faint, arc-shaped barrier quickly formed around us. She turned to me, her expression showing a level of seriousness and urgency I’d never seen before: “It’s Nero! He’s unleashed the Divine Reliquary—!”
What…?
I still couldn’t process the meaning of her words.
In the next moment, a gigantic fireball, burning like a meteor, crashed from the cloud cover. The blazing red flames blotted out the sun, painting every street and house in apocalyptic shades.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
The raging wind brought scorching waves crashing down, whipping my hair wildly. The temperature in the air shot up, and raindrops sliding off my armor evaporated instantly, turning into rising wisps of steam.
The ground quaked beneath me.
Boom!!!
With an earth-shattering roar, the massive fireball exploded through the red clouds and came crashing down from the sky.
