Excelium II: Hunting Season

Kabanata 47

"Is she alright by herself there?" tanong ni Rui noong makabalik sila sa silid kung saan nila iniwan ang dalawa. Hindi sumagot ang mga ito at umupo na lamang.

Nagtungo naman si Mother Lilia sa pang-isahang silya at marahan na umupo na tila ba siya ay nanggaling sa isang maharlikang pamilya. Muling naglapag ng mga makakain ang mga tagapagsilbi na tila ba ang isang basket ng tinapay sa ibabaw ng maliit na lamesa ay hindi pa sapat. Lumabas ang mga ito. Mother Lilia swayed her hand once and the door immediately closed. Lahat ay tumingin sa kanya.

Mother Lilia smiled, "I guess I should tell you a little something about Ephraim and the past."

Lilia Wurtsbech's Point of View

"Ephraim! Let go of the girl!" Avis shouted as she glare at him. Anger is very visible on her face and voice. The goddess who has a very calm expression and warm eyes is now angered by a Hevrion that she thought who could coexist with humans. Avis is a very kind girl and she has always looked at the positive sides of every being, even those demons who have killed hundreds or thousands of innocent lives.

My grip on my sword got tighter as I grit my teeth while staring at the man who is wearing a wide smile on his face as he hold the bleeding, crying, and yelling young lady. Her limbs were cut off, her arms and legs are no longer attached to its body and she's bleeding badly because of that. I'm even surprised that the poor girl is still alive. If this continues, she'll die because of blood loss.

Ephraim chuckled as he lick the blood near his lips. It wasn't his blood. It was a blood of a human that he has killed. I don't know whose blood it is. Because Ephraim didn't just kill a human or two. He killed half of the population of Northernium in one single and terrifying night.

I clenched my jaw as I look at all the bodies of innocent people on the snowy ground. I prevented myself from crying as I see their open yet dead eyes. The snow has been stained by blood.

The girl shouted in misery, "Please just kill me! It's painful!"

My eyes winced with the pain in my heart. I glanced at Avis and saw sadness, anger, and fear mixed up in her eyes. "I'm telling you to let go of the girl, Ephraim!"

Ephraim's wide smile didn't fade, "You know more than anyone that I hate following orders, Avis. Even from you," he then tilted his head while his eyes are still wide open and he's still wearing his smile, "Why do you even want to save her? Even if you managed to, she'll die anyway. There's a limit to idiocy, Avis." saad nito habang nakalaylay lamang ang kamay na hawak ang buhok ng babae.

The girl reached out her armless limbs to Avis, "Please! Just kill me, Lady Avis! Please spare me from this pain!"

Avis began to shed tears, "I'll save you, okay? Just hang on a little longer--"

Ephraim lifted the girl's body up with his one hand. He put the other on her shoulder as he look at Avis' eyes, "Avis, isn't it fun? Watching these pests slowly die?"

Avis' eyes widen when we all realized what he was just about to do. Mabilis na tumakbo si Avis patungo rito ngunit katulad ng inaasahan, a barrier stopped her from coming near them. Avis tried to break it all apart but just like before, it was no use. Even if she already used her power, it wasn't breaking.

She started pounding it hard with her clenched hands as she shout at Ephraim to stop what he's about to do. Walang tigil ang pagtulo ng kaniyang mga luha habang ginagawa ito.

Ephraim started to pull the girl's head and shoulders apart. The girl screamed loudly, showing how much pain she's feeling as Ephraim is starting to separate her head from its body. I covered my mouth as I stare at the helpless girl. Her skin is beginning to tear apart and she started bleeding. I quickly averted my gaze and so as the others who are with me when we heard her neck broke and the sound of her flesh and skin being tear apart. I opened my eyes and they widened when I already saw her limbless body on the ground and her head is still on Ephraim's hand.