The Demon King's Paladin Part 1 Vol 2.

Intermission. What To Do With Lingering Hate?

                                                               God Of The Blackwoods' Point Of View

" How could it have all gone so wrong?"

All I could do was repeat what I have been since my... Miscalculation. To think that I would be so unguarded during a battle that I would allow that scum to land such a blow on me. I was so weak after it that my grip on Fracks slipped and I was forced out of his body... If there's any solace in all of this, it's that he died while I still lived. Now I'm stuck here in the sky above this horrid town. Full of vibrant life instead of being filled with my trees and spawn when this land was full of potential. If only the war never happened... It seems I've made a habit of losing in my battles...

" It left..."

Despite my ruminating, I couldn't help but think about that lower lifeform... He stumbles into one of my places of worship and finds my sacrifices and takes without permission... He hides in that house for days only leaving for those strange rituals mortals do for their fallen. If only they knew where they go after this plane of existence... Perhaps my joy can only be found in the knowing of all of the facts in this system? Regardless, he left, now even my object of hate is gone, all that's left is a broken pair of siblings trying to place their best efforts in acting like their worlds haven't fallen apart. Moons have passed and yet they still show a smile to their people yet cry when they're alone together. That fool Fracks seemed to have passed on his weak mindedness to his children.

" Err..."

I couldn't help but grind my teeth as I look around at that scum's influence on this land. All around the town is color and vegetation for the mortals to feed on, it's ridiculous to see. They're rebuilding their town with such fervor even after I showed them all how easy it was to take it all away. So many visits to graves, so many prayers for help, yet they seem to be helping themselves instead of waiting for divine intervention.... Though I suppose their attitudes towards the divine is quite lacking considering how they've treated me. My only joy seems to be the few places of worship for me that they can't seem to find in the area. The sacrifices that were made there... The materials still hang onto my symbols, the only thing left of them are their bones. Yet I can remember bathing in their blood and eating through their hearts all the same. Truly, I wonder how it's all gone so wrong for me.

/BANG!/

" Hm?"

An explosion came into the night sky that I was drifting in... It seems like they're celebrating something? I wonder what it could be? Perhaps I should drift down and see? Why not? I'm not doing much else here. The commotion is happening in the center of the town.

" Thank you all for gathering here, I'm happy to announce some great news for everyone! We've received word from Blackstone! This message signed by King Warrick himself has announced that we'll be receiving a grant for sturdy building materials! I know we've lacked for some time now, but this is the start of us coming back stronger than ever!"

The son of Fracks... What was it?... Brandon? Brian?

" Oh, Byron! Tell them the best news first!"

Yes, Byron.... He's joyous for the occasion. If I look back into the memories, I have of Fracks's life, it seems that was the same smile he would show his family when his report card would show all high marks. He seems glad, if only it didn't come at the great cost of losing me. I could've easily made them Royalty if they asked. No... What am I saying? That idiot Fracks must've left more than memories to me... Seems I'm weaker than I originally thought. I'll need to think about how to regain my strength as quickly as possible now that I'm not caged underground anymore.