One week later
Lara's POV (continued)
I'm standing before the Emperor.The people responsible for my training look at me with pity.
"Your Majesty, what should we do? This is definitely the work of that Entity," said the royal mage before coughing up blood.
He had tried to examine and erase the symbols on my face.
I told them not to try.
But they didn't listen.
Raul once said the Emperor was a fool in his stream.
At first, I didn't believe it.
I thought the emperor was my savior, the one who had rescued me from that damned village life.
But now I see that I was wrong.
The Emperor's interest was never in me; it was in the Entity.The Emperor himself wanted that Entity.
One wish, and the world would be his. That's how powerful the Entity was.
I still don't understand why Raul didn't destroy the Empire...
But the fact that he didn't is a good sign. It proves he isn't evil.
Or maybe it's just that Raul found the idea boring and didn't want the gods knocking at his door.
That was my first theory, before I researched him.
The second theory came from reliable sources and his conversations with Artemis.
Raul had very complex relationships with the gods, at least I think so.
The Emperor paced back and forth in front of me, glancing at my face now and then.
Every time I see the mark, I remember Raul.
"What did he ask of you, Lara?"Emperor Richard finally stopped.
"By our agreement, I can't tell you that. But before you ask, when he appeared before me, the only thing I remember clearly was his smile. I'm not even sure if the entity has a face."I was lying.
Because even if the Emperor knew that a single slip could cost me my soul, he would still force the truth out of me.
To him, Entity was above the gods, even Tiamat herself.But I wasn't so sure. Something had to be behind it.
The Emperor sighed.
"Fine, Lara. Go. Do whatever the Entity told you to do. But these symbols are unseen, it feels like a god's stigma..."
He sounded desperate.
The Emperor's obsession with the Entity was enormous.
"Go, Lara. I hope you don't die. If you do, we'll have no hope left of stopping the Demon God."
That last part was a secret.
The Demon God's seal was weakening, and the monsters' numbers were growing fast.
All empires knew it, just poor people don't know this fact.I had been the first hero after a thousand years, apparently a harbinger of the coming disaster.
I looked at the royal mage; he nodded and teleported me to the border between the Human Empire and Sylvarion.
A blinding light swallowed me. For a moment, I couldn't see anything—then I found myself in a forest.
Great. Time to move.I checked my gear and my sword. Everything was in place.
Three hours later.
According to Raul's directions, I was close. I had to pass through a village, about an hour more to go afterward.
I entered the village easily.Children were playing—some on their phones, others singing songs.
Then I saw three kids sitting on the ground, drawing shapes in the dirt.A boy and a girl began singing a strange melody.
"His laugh rings like dawn on a meadow in May,He lures you with honeyed words, bright as the day.
Each dream that you breathe, he swears he'll make true,Crowns you with rubies and rivers of blue.
But debts have their season, and seasons must turn,He'll stride through the dark when the last embers burn.
No mercy, no laughter, just iron and flame,To flay every promise and brand you with shame."
I listened to them—and I knew immediately that the song was about Raul.I didn't know how, but the feeling was unmistakable.
He must have spread it himself.
At this point, I wasn't even sure he was human anymore.
I quietly left through the other side of the village and continued following the path.
Then I heard a whisper.I turned my head—and saw Artemis leaning against a tree, while Raul was lying on one of the branches.
"Finally, you made it," said Artemis.
I felt embarrassed at first, but Raul spoke next, snapping me out of it.
"You'll reach Micah's house soon. Listen carefully, I didn't want someone with a muscle brain, so I chose you because you can think. Use your brain. Micah knows me, and as for his wife, she is dead. Don't pity Micah. The bastard doesn't deserve it. You'll see what I mean."
It was a lot of information at once, but manageable.
Raul jumped down from the tree and leaned beside Artemis.
"I'm not lying," said Artemis. "I know most things in this world, and the only thing I can say about Micah is that he's a bastard. He has no heart, utterly emotionless. Be warned."
"I'll do my best, Lady Artemis, Lord Raul. But why didn't you get me out of that castle? I used every bit of power I had to escape."
When I finally did, I was covered in blood. Barely survived.
Raul smirked."That would've been boring. This way was more interesting. Or do you want everything to be easy?"
Artemis playfully smacked his shoulder. "Come on, Raul, don't tease the poor girl."
"She's alive because she's a good person," Raul said coldly. "Otherwise, I'd have let her break there."
I lowered my head, but I was secretly happy.
He said I was a good girl, even if the bastard looked my age.
"It doesn't matter, Lady Artemis…"
Then Artemis came closer and pinched my cheeks."Oh, sweet one, if Tiamat hadn't chosen you, I would have."
My face lit up."Thank you, my lady. I… don't know what to say."
"Alright, Artemis, let the girl breathe. Let her handle this. Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to rip that bastard's soul apart?" Raul snapped his fingers, and both he and Artemis vanished.
Once again, I was alone.But I would finish this.