After going down the stairs, Reeve and Amadi, who had regained his radiant glow, arrived on the ground floor.
But before they could even take action against the Order of Theosophy, or rather the sect of demons, a horror spectacle presented itself to them.
Blood spatters stained the walls near the stairs, limbs severed as if by sharp blades lay scattered in the corridor, like a pile of randomly thrown stones.
The ground was covered in a thin layer of blue frost. The air had no particular odor, but Reeve and Amadi's spiritual perception revealed that there was an unspeakable stench in the air, like that of a burning chair, but no evidence of actual fire.
Reeve remains silent, his face impassive.
Amadi, for his part, had seen his smile freeze, transform into a peaceful expression, crossed by a disturbing glint, a grimace that made one shiver.
Neither of them spoke, but a soft, chilling laugh suddenly filled the air, immediately drawing their attention to an empty corner ahead.
Before the owner of that seductive laugh could even speak, Reeve took the initiative. With a gesture, he released a cloud of mist that spread toward the blood-stained area. Gradually, the silhouette of a woman emerged from the mist.
Reeve slammed his hand down; at his side, Amadi reacted with a more elegant, but equally formidable movement. In an instant, the mist was swept away: an invisible, whistling blade of wind shot straight at the figure, while a blue flash, appearing a moment later, struck it head-on.
The sound of breaking glass echoed through the oppressive silence of the battlefield, a field occupied by only three beings.
A female form gradually appeared: if Furen had been there, he would have recognized her immediately. This face, without being stunningly beautiful, nevertheless exerted a strange seduction; it was that of the young servant: Heideline.
Although she had come close to death, a sweet smile still played on her lips.
"How cruel, gentlemen! Is it not customary to say that the men of Trier are the most gallant? Why then are you so pitiless?"
Seeing this, Reeve did not immediately attack, but said in a calm voice
"You're not just any witch, are you? I've met them before. Even if you've fully assimilated your potion, it's impossible to free yourself from lightning paralysis so quickly and immediately use a substitute to dodge a wind attack."
Heideline gave a light smile:
"What if I had simply anticipated your fog and initiated the substitution at that moment? Why doubt? ... Fine, I'll answer your question."
She paused, then said:
"Indeed, I am no longer a simple "witch" as you say… I am a demon of pleasure!"
Immediately, a crackling sound was heard: around Reeve and Amadi, a thin blue smoke rose, as if the air itself were beginning to burn.
Heideline Gloussa :
"Gentlemen, you are so suspicious… Am I really so scary?"
Faced with this demon who was constantly trying to use her charm to seduce them, Amadi suddenly began to speak and said in a playboy tone
"Oh, miss, you are so beautiful that even the magnificent red moon in the sky cannot match you. Please forgive my lack of words. If you wish, we can sit and drink a glass of wine, facing the moonlight, and then chat slowly."
Haidilin asked curiously, "Do you still want to drink with your enemies under the moon?"
She didn't have time to finish before a blinding light suddenly burst forth, divine and pure, chasing away all shadow. It was as if the sun had fallen inside the villa itself, tearing the night apart. The sacred clarity made everything dazzling, immaculate even the most impure, including the witch herself.
Heideline looked up into the light, tears welling up in her eyes, not out of fear, but out of reflex at the solar intensity. Around her, cracking sounds could be heard: shattering glass, splitting wood. Nothing could fit. Although she was a Sequence 6 witch, she could not resist the light that wanted to dissolve her entirely.
Reeve and Amadi, also affected, squinted to adjust to the brightness without being blinded. When their vision became more or less clear, they were stunned: the maid was not dead.
She stood there petrified, dazed, defenseless.
No words were exchanged.
Reeve, with the tip of his left index finger, continually brushed the ring on his right hand. Amadi, for his part, drew the Dagger of Secrecy, which had not yet been used, from his belt, ready to trace the slightest sign. The dagger had no offensive power in itself, but the ancient Abrahams knew perfectly well how to transform its "opening passage" ability into a deadly weapon.
Heideline suddenly came to her senses and turned her head:
"I know you're here. I sensed you through my spirit threads. Why don't you show yourself? Come and send these two gentlemen to meet "primordial."
Behind her, the space tore open. A woman's silhouette appeared: a voluptuous beauty, with a harmonious body, veiled by a mask and a cape. Her clothes, too light, further emphasized her grace.
Reeve and Amadi, momentarily troubled, immediately pushed the trouble from their minds and stood ready.
The newcomer laughed softly:
"Don't be in a hurry. We all encounter the 'primordial' one day… only the question of when differs. And for both of you, that time seems to have come."
His voice, though calm, carried a dangerous charm, a temptation to which any man would have wanted to submit.
Heideline frowned:
"You're the one who blocked that attack... that of a demigod, manifestation? I find that hard to believe."
The veiled woman replied, smiling:
"Indeed, I certainly don't have the ability to block this attack that easily. But with a few tricks, being the most powerful class below demigod, I can still easily resist it."
As the two witches chatted, Reeve and Amadi, who were preparing their counterattack, were suddenly seized by violent coughing fits. They hadn't suffered any backlash from their own powers, but their movements were going haywire, their bodies refusing to obey.
Their coughs intensified; tears and saliva rose to their eyes and lips. They clutched their chests, clenching in pain, hoping through suffering to contain the gnawing pain, but it was in vain.
Heideline said coquettishly
"Stacy, don't kill them, I want to take care of them myself."
Without waiting for an answer, she stepped forward, a long ice javelin materializing in her hand. A radiant smile lit up her face.
"So, gentlemen... goodbye. It's time to go meet the 'primordial'."
(End of chapter)