Half Breed

An Angel's Wrath

Returned? Eblis? Impossible. There were only a handful of people capable of such a feat after all. This was big news. A major source of my power came back and I didn't feel a thing. More importantly, what did it mean for me? "Are you aware, of what you're saying?" I leaned in, "Eblis returned? Are you sure it's him?"

"I'm not. I haven't ventured far away from this lodge. However, it still exists."

"What still exists?"

"This lodge. The fact that they haven't destroyed it, must mean something of great importance has risen that they must pay their attention to." She held onto her elbows, an attempt to comfort herself, "Besides, I can feel it."

Of course, what she said made absolute sense, but the very notion of Eblis returning was farfetched even for me, someone who never experienced his actions and furthermore, was born donning part of his power.

The magical barrier casted around the mountain and a part of the forest to prevent Eblis' essence and blood from further killing others remained intact. There were no differences in this somewhat uncontested territory that joined the lands of Venreval and the Crag together. Of all the places, I assumed Eblis would visit the place of his death at least once, that is, if he really came back.

Wait, I brought Mandy here when I knew his essence kills people?! How did she? Oh... I remembered the living armour spell had draconic magic in it. My mind then bounced on my uncle, who had not only fought against and defeated the demon with his protégé, Winter, but continued living in the barrier which sealed Eblis' toxic essence. His constant dry coughing, now that I thought about it, was testimony enough that he wasn't unaffected. Mayhap strong wizards survived Eblis' essence somehow, like Winter. Although the ice adept was just as much in battle with Eblis as his teacher, he showed no side-effects. Oh right, that's how he turned blind.

"–ily?" I heard, after slipping into my train of thought for much too long, "Emily!" Mandy grabbed my wrist and gently tugged me out of my head, "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh! Um," I searched for the words that embodied my thoughts but took a while to find them, "I must return to the capital."

"Why?" she snapped back quickly.

"Why? If Eblis really came back, then I have to go help."

She held her hands together and swallowed, "Did you forget? They hate you now."

"R-right." I said in a defeated tone. "You're right, but there are innocent peop–"

"Fine then," she stood up, "but, I'm going with you. And you can't say no!"

I shrugged, letting her do as she wished.

We went to the outskirts of the capital in hooded robes to avert suspicion, but, from whom? There was no one around. No guards, no civilians, no animals or even pesky insects. A deafening silence paraded through the night.

Suddenly, a worrying thought spurred some flight from me. I casted metamorphosis and flew upward. Mandy followed along on Audax. Whilst we circled above, I realised that the soothing feeling that was Eblis' essence never stopped even when I left the mountain, it was also present in the capital. But, why?! Could he have really come back? That would explain everyone missing. And, it would certainly explain, the hundreds and thousands of skeletal remains scattered throughout.

We flew farther into the capital and there wasn't a soul about. What was this? Are we even in the same place?

"What's going on?" Mandy asked as we landed in the courtyard of the castle.