Weirdos IV: The Emerald Heart

Chapter 46: The Siege of Terreña Mountains

The Terreña Mountain Range has just hidden the late afternoon sun behind its towering peaks, and the mountains started casting massive shadows across the land. As darkness and light fought for dominance in this wild terrain, a huge group of people started appearing on the grasslands at the base of the mountain range. Some of the people came from the forest or beyond the hills facing the mountains, while the others stepped out of several portals that suddenly appeared in the area.

At the same time, military helicopters started appearing over the horizon, the sound of their rotors disturbing the tranquil silence of the place. Birds started flying out from the trees and into the sky, disturbed by their advancing mechanical counterparts.

The approaching helicopters disturbed the air and unleashed powerful, chilling gales upon the people on the ground. It's the first day of November, and cold winds are normal during this time of the year. Still, despite the cold wind blowing everywhere, the leader of the group advanced with regal poise and authority, not even flinching a tiny bit as the aerial vehicles flew high above her. She was followed by a man with a sword hanging from his waist, protected by a sleek, silver scabbard embedded with purple gemstones.

The lady in black stopped walking, and her delegation froze on their places instinctively.

Viewed from high up in the air, thousands of Serafina's cronies dotted the vast grasslands at the base of the Terreña Mountain Range. Serafina glanced on her either side, her face painted with utmost confidence and decisiveness. Several hundred meters ahead of them stood the boundary of the forest that has clothed and protected the mountains for centuries.

The helicopters also landed one by one in front of the forces of the Legion of Death. Serafina waited for the wind and the din of the rotors to subside before facing the thousands of people standing behind her. Standing on a rock illuminated by the reddish glow of the sinking sun and framed by the majestic mountains behind her, the lady in black looked like a prophet who was about to declare a glorious message to her followers.

"My dear friends," she began, her voice echoing across the land, "thank you for coming with us today. As you can see, we are currently at the base of the largest mountain range in the country. Not everyone knows this fact, but I was actually born here. I also spent my childhood and teenage years in this place before pursuing my dreams of inspiring my fellow weirdos all over the country and around the world."

"This place is special to me," she continued. "Here, I learned all about my powers. That forest bore witness to all my struggles and hardships, to all my victories and joyous moments. A huge part of my personality developed while growing up in this place. During my first rise to power nearly two decades ago, the Purgers even helped me achieve my goals. They were my brothers and sister, the family that I will never exchange for anything else in the world."

Her expression suddenly darkened. "Were."

Serafina turned around to face the mountains behind her. "When I was gone, Esmerelda did her best to sway the thinking of the people here. She spent a lot of time convincing the Purgers that her way is the best way, that compassion and kindness will bring justice and equality to this world. She was able to convince them to switch sides, and now they are helping the rebellion in their plan to take us down."

"We've parted ways, yes. As much as it pains me to think that my former family has finally turned its back on me, I cannot allow anyone to ruin our plans for the greater good of our brothers and sisters. I only want nothing but for our fellow weirdos to take their rightful place in this world, to use their gifts to rid our society with corruption, pointless fame, and the dangerous thinking that the non-magicals are just as important as we are."

Jeers and laughters erupted from the crowd.

"But these people," Serafina said, pointing at the mountains, "don't want to see the rise of the utopian world that we've been dreaming to see for a long, long time. They want us to live in servitude with the non-magicals, to use our powers to defend them from the evil that they themselves have created. I cannot allow such a thing to happen. For as long as I am alive, no weirdo shall be treated like a vermin. I've said this numerous times before, and I am going to say it again. We are better. We are the ones who will rule this world; and these non-magicals will fade away into history like our primitive ancestors."