Beyond His Evil

One

Welcome to the first chapter, can't wait to see you at the last ❤️

The entire village had gathered around the large bonfire, a nightly tradition that provided some warmth in the chilly air. Apart from the village head's words, the only sounds were the hoots of owls and the chirping of crickets. We were all captivated by her storytelling, as she recounted the tale of our creator, Arathes.

I had heard this story countless times, like every other hunter, but it never failed to captivate me. The idea that hunters were created with a purpose, to protect a different species, fascinated me. We played a crucial role in the survival of humans, even though it came at a great cost. We were constantly reminded that it was an honor.

"Lord Arathes then sent the cursed child down to earth," she revealed, eliciting gasps from the crowd.

As always.

"So, he's here with us?" an earth elemental asked. With her black hair that turned green at the ends, it was clear she possessed the power to manipulate earth. Elementals were easy to identify, as their physical features revealed their abilities.

"Yes, my child."

"Has anyone seen him?" another girl inquired.

"Yes."

"Did the being survive?" the same girl pressed.

"Yes."

My mother had already told me about the cursed child sent down by Lord Arathes. She described him exactly as the holy book did; evil and terrifyingly beautiful.

According to history, anyone foolish or unfortunate enough to cross paths with him never lived to tell the tale. So, this new information was surprising and intriguing.

"Really?" I couldn't help but express my surprise, drawing the attention of everyone around me.

I despised being the center of attention and rarely spoke at gatherings like this, unless directly addressed. Sometimes, villagers wondered if I was mute because I never contributed anything, and I couldn't blame them.

The village head stared at me with her mesmerizing dark blue eyes, a combination of orange, yellow, and red intricately woven to create a stunning pattern that always left me awestruck. From a distance, her eyes resembled actual fire, and I sometimes felt their scorching gaze down to my toes. She was the only fire elemental in the village.

"Yes, dear," she smiled, erasing any trace of wrinkles on her face. "I know someone who has met him and is still alive."

Even the owls and crickets seemed to fall silent as we processed this information.

"It's getting late now, everyone. Goodnight," she dismissed us, extinguishing the fire with a wave of her hand.

I had witnessed this countless times, yet I still stared as if it were my first time.

Sometimes, I wished I possessed the ability to manipulate an element, regardless of which one, or perhaps have the power to control other beings like my mother did.

I longed for an actual power like the rest of my kind. Maybe that was why I struggled to socialize, because I was odd, different, and an embarrassment to every hunter alive.

After everyone rose and began heading home, discussing the village head's revelations, I couldn't help but wonder how the person she knew managed to survive after encountering the cursed child.

I looked in her direction and found her already gazing at me with her fiery eyes.

"Come, Kira," she called, turning and starting to walk away.

Her direct address surprised me, but I quickly caught up and matched my strides with hers.

"Have you ever heard of healers?" she began as soon as I caught my breath.

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall what my mother had told me about them.
"I think so."

"What do you know about them?" she prompted.

I tried to remember. "Weren't they all killed by vampires?"

She chuckled. "They weren't killed, dear, they were annihilated."

Isn't that the same thing?

"You see, after the death of the immortal, God created another species of supernatural creatures known as healers. They were different from angels and fairies because they were sent to Earth. Before, only God had the power to give life, but healers could do the same."

She turned her face towards me.
"They were considered the most powerful beings to walk the Earth, even though they weren't strong in battle. They were created to heal the world of the evil that Zalas had unleashed; they were the most powerful beings. They didn't have births like us or humans. They were simply sent from heaven."

"No being could match their power. They healed not only bodies but souls as well," she added with a smile that quickly faded into sadness.

"The vampires believed that the healers could alleviate the immeasurable pain they endured on every blood moon, the cursed child's birthday. They even thought the healers could bring Zalas's soul out of hell."

I gasped at that revelation.

She nodded. "They planned to resurrect Zalas. They believed that with him, they could rule the universe and thought the healers were powerful enough to achieve that."

"The vampires captured every single healer, and when they failed, they destroyed them all. God never sent another one," she informed me.

I suddenly felt a mix of sadness and relief that she had shared this information with me, wondering why she hadn't done the same with everyone at the bonfire.

"How could anyone survive after encountering the cursed child?" I asked her.

She smiled. "It's been a long day, child. I am exhausted."

I didn't press her further, even though I was curious.

"Thank you for telling me about the healers," I said.

Surprisingly, she reached out and tucked a stray strand of my thick, coily hair behind my ear.

"After God and the Demigods, the healers were the most powerful creatures. Never forget that, Kira."

I nodded.

And I knew I would never forget.