Tale 53
The Half Demoness

The island of Demons is located in the farthest island, close to the Sea of Flumes known as the gate to the underworld ruled by the eccentric goddess of death, Ur.

In this island, a ruined city can be seen shrouded in mist and darkness.

The city was once a safe haven, a prosperous land under the rule of the Kingdom of Gorgona.

However, when the kingdom fell many years ago, the city also fell to ruin.

Today, the few remaining survivors were shaken. They were baptized with decades of hardship, but the explosions and earthquakes still surprised them.

The battle in the Island of Demons has began.

Nova, Desmond and Nixon lead the assassins to evacuate as many survivors as they can.

They don't need words, assassins works best at night when they're covered in darkness.

Arya lead an army of elves to fight off demons, she boost their morale with the most positive words and her team would cheer before exterminating their enemies.

Sapphire can be playful, but she's also very cold and her coldness was adapted by her team, they icily and coldly hacked their enemies in the sky!

Lucas also boosts his team's morale. And each time, they feel like they're definitely going to die.

All of these where happening without the outside world knowing.

***

Aurio tried to find his way around the desert. He control the wind to lift him up in order to find Amara.

The sun have set on the horizon and the twin moons of Aralon hangs on the night sky. Aurio cannot see properly in the dark.

Not long after, it was Amara who ends up finding him.

"I finally found you." Amara landed gracefully in front of Aurio

"Bro, you're alive!" Aurio exclaimed

"As if a mere sandstorm can hurt me . Are you okay?" Amara

"Yep, still alive and kicking." Aurio

"Good." Amara

"Why are we here?" Aurio

"Someone disrupted my teleportation portal. Someone is playing with us." Amara

"Someone?" Aurio

"Accalia."

Aurio suddenly turned serious.

"Is she trying to save you by dragging you away?" Amara

"How naive." A familiar voice commented

A woman dressed in black suddenly appeared.

"Accalia." Amara

"Amara." Accalia

"N-natalia.." Aurio

Accalia ignored him and she smiled towards Amara.

"Did you like my surprise?" Accalia asked her

"What exactly are you trying to do, half demoness?" Amara

Accalia place a finger on her chin, acting as if she's thinking, "Hmm? Maybe I'm trying to stop you from causing troubles..?"

"I dont believe you're that loyal to your father." Amara

Accalia laughed, "I can't deny that. But if my father takes over Aralon, wouldn't it be fun?"

"It won't." Amara

"If you want to stop my father, you have to step over my dead body first, Stillwater." Accalia

"You want to fight to the death? I shall not disappoint you." Amara

"C-cant we talk this over? Natalia, w-why did you-" Aurio

Accalia looked at him, "You talk too much, should I kill you first?"

"Can you? I still think you're just making excuses. You have feelings for him that's why you tried to mess up my teleportation portal earlier to drag him to safety." Amara

"You think too highly of this Loser. You think, I, a half demon who lived for so many decades, would fall for such a coward like him?" Accalia laughed in amusement

"We both know, he's Orion." Amara

"So what?" Accalia

"You've been waiting for him all these years." Amara

"I was young back then. He betrayed me for you. Why would I care for him now?" Accalia

"Because you love him." Amara

"Oh really?" Accalia smirked, with a wave of her hand, blood burst out of Aurio's body.

It was as if a bullet penetrated his body, pink mist exploded on the opposite side of the shot, he was sent flying a few centimeters away.

However, its not a bullet, but concentrated air.

Aurio lied limply on the sand, blood all over his body.

Amara's eyes widen. For the first time, her calm eyes were shaken.

"How boring, he's dead just like that." Accalia commented with a laugh

"You."

Accalia who was laughing maniacally suddenly froze. She can feel an immense pressure from Amara. It's a suffocating feeling that made her held her breath. It feels like someone is gripping her neck, suffocating her. Staring at Amara's eyes is like staring death to the eye.

"Are you angry?" Accalia chuckled in amusement

"I will kill you." Amara said coldly

"You cant do anything to me. You're weak.. You're on the good side, remember?" Accalia

"Good or bad, who are we to judge? Even if Im really on the good side, don't think for a second that Im a good person. You don't know how evil I can be for the people I love." Amara

"Good, let's fight." Accalia

It's been decades since magic vanished.

But that night, explosions of magic and powerful spells shook Aralon. Even the buildings hundreds of kilometers away felt the intense tremor of the explosions.

A great number of buildings caved in, the night sky became as bright as day, and these brightness lasted for several minutes.

Is it the end of the world?

Everyone in Aralon was shaken.

It was a sleepless night.

This mysterious event, will be recorded in Aralon's History.

Countless theories will arise.

Stories that will be told over campfires and dinner tables.

But what actually happened will remain a mystery.

No one will know that that night, the half demoness Accalia...

... died.

***

"Aurio! Aurio!"

Aurio who was not breathing previously, suddenly inhaled deeply, as if he was a drowning man who suddenly emerge from deep waters.

"Am I dead?" Aurio asked hoarsely

"You're alive." Amara wiped away the tears that was threatening to fall just now.

Several empty potion bottles, gauze, forceps and syringe were scatted around the two of them, indicating how desperate Amara was just to save him.

"A-are you crying?" Aurio

"As if." Amara lied

"W-where is she?" Aurio

"Dead."

"Did you.... killed her?"

"Yes. You're free to hate me." Amara

"I wont." Aurio

"She told me to look after you well." Amara

"W-why?" Aurio

"I dont know, she didn't explain anything." Amara

"Did she really have to die?" Aurio

"The soul of the Demon king is attached to her. The Demon King will weaken with her death." Amara

Aurio wiped away the tears that started to fall from his eyes, "Sorry.. I'm too pathetic for crying for your enemy's death."

"Don't be sorry. You love her. I should be the one apologizing to you, because I killed her." Amara

Aurio shook his head, "She could have killed me, but she purposely missed the shot to save me. She know she's on the wrong side. And I know it too."

"Did you know, you said those exact same words to me back then." Amara

"W-what do you mean?" Aurio

Amara smiled gently, "Do you believe in reincarnation?"

"No. But right now, I want to." Aurio

"Now and in the past, the timing were never right. But someday, you and her will meet once again. Trust me." Amara

Aurio smiled, "Okay, I trust your words."

Amara smiled. She tied the strings of fate connecting the two. It's the least she could do for them. She's indebted to both Orion and Aurio, so she must ensure that someday, he'll be happy.

"Do you regret it? Do you regret taking my side?" Amara

Aurio shook his head, "My only regret is that, I didn't get to talk to her, to hear what she has to say, what really happened to my village, and to know her story."

"..... Sorry." Amara

"Dont be, you did what is right. But I hope in our next lives, the two of us can freely be together." Aurio

"You will." Amara

Aurio smiled, "I trust you, bro."

"By the way, you still look pale. I will send you back to the guild." Amara

"N-no. I want to go with you." Aurio

"You're still weak." Amara

"I want to see it. I want to witness the death of the demon who pushed Natalia to her death." Aurio

"I understand." Amara

"Thank you."

Amara drew a magic circle on the sand.

"What is this?" Aurio

"Infinite Cloning Spell. One of my unique magic." Amara

"Why are you creating clones?" Aurio

"Because Accalia gave me a gift before she died." Amara

"I don't understand." Aurio

"You dont have to.." Amara smiled

Aurio didn't asked further and instead changed the topic, "How are we going back to the Island of Demons?"

"The Demon King is disrupting my magic. I will open a teleportation portal once we got near the Demon Island. We must hurry, Lance need my help." Amara

"What should we do? We dont have an airship." Aurio

"Don't worry, our ride is on the way." Amara

Not long after her words escaped her mouth, a flash of light appeared on the horizon. It's approaching the two of them like lightning falling from the sky.

Aurio blinked, and a giant colorful dog appeared in front of his eyes.

"Roberto, thanks for coming!" Amara said with a smile as she scratch the dog's giant chin.

Like a cat, the dog purred in happiness.

"W-what is this?" Aurio

"This is Roberto, a rainbow hound own by Lucas' family." Amara

"A rainbow hound? I thought they're extinct?" Aurio

"Roberto grew up in Aralon but he's often in Viribus or Gaia. He cannot teleport but he's extremely fast. Anyway, hop in." Amara

"Can you control this dog?" Aurio asked worriedly

"We'll see.." Amara shrugged

"That's a Yes or No question." Aurio said, concerned for their lives.

Amara simply smirked.

***

Many nights ago, a small village stood strong and proud on the mountains.

This small village is known as Ream Village located in the State of Aragon.

This small village is the origin of Liam Aurio Clive, Amara's sworn brother.

"So when will the wedding be?" Aurelia, Aurio's mother, asked a young woman in black with a teasing tone.

"........." Natalia

"This is my first time seeing little Aurio be this agitated. He even went back to his guild to get money! Hahahaha." Lior, Aurio's father, laughed heartily.

"What is the money for?" Natalia asked curiously

"We have a tradition in our village that the first son must offer money to his parents before he marry as a token of thanks for the parent's effort of raising him. It's also to make sure that the aging parents won't starve even if the son already stopped financially aiding them." Aurelia explained

"It sounds more like buying your freedom from your parents." Natalia

Lior burst out laughing, "You're too hilarious lass."

"........." Natalia was serious though.

"Are you really going to marry our brother?" Aura, Aurio's little sister, asked curiously

"To be honest, we haven't really talked about marriage yet. But I'm very willing." Natalia responded with a smirk

"Are you blind big sister?" asked Aurelius, Aurio's little brother.

Lior smack Aurelius' head playfully, " Your brother finally found a wife, why are you getting in the way?"

"Because this big sister is just too pretty! Big bro would look like a rug beside her. I'm just worried." Aurelius answered with a pout

Everyone bursts out laughing after they heard his reason.

They continued to merrily chat, when all of a sudden, the village's alarm bell rang!

"What's happening?" Natalia asked curiously when everyone started to panic

"The village is in danger!" Lior

"Danger?" Natalia

"Lior! Aurelia! Hurry! Several wild beasts were spotted nearby! Everyone must evacuate towards the shelter!" A panicky voice shouted from outside their door

Natalia was about to head outside when Aurelia stopped her.

"Child, it's dangerous to go alone outside. Come with us to the shelter." Aurelia

"Calm down, I'll handle this." Natalia gave her a rare smile

No one can possibly stop an assassin who wants to kill.

Everyone was running away for their lives, but the alarm suddenly stopped.

What is happening now?

The alarm was ringing for more or less ten minutes now, why did it suddenly stopped?

"S-someone killed all the beasts attacking the village!" shouted one villager

Everyone obviously didn't believed him!

Who would?

Everyone knew each other in this small village.

If there is someone who can kill several beasts in ten minutes, wouldn't he be well-known throughout the village?

Come on, there is no one like that in this village!

"I-it's true! It was Aurio's girl who did it!" shouted another one

Aurio's girl?

That pretty lady who accompanied Aurio back to the village a few days ago?

What can a pretty and delicate girl do against those beasts?

Out of curiosity, everyone retraced their steps and went back to the village's entrance.

They all gasped in shock.

A beautiful maiden bathed in blood.

What a sight!

"All these beasts carcasses will attract more wild beasts, I will go to the mountains to discard them. Please stay indoors and stay safe." Natalia instructed the dumbfounded Lior and Aurelia

With a little effort, Natalia carried five huge beasts corpses.

"E-everyone! You heard her! Stay indoors!" Aurelia immediately urged everyone to go home

Natalia on the other hand, slayed every wild beasts that are lurking near the village.

Aurio treats his entire village as his family, so she removed all that could threatened their safety.

With a snap of her finger, the beast who was about to dive down to attack her, suddenly burst and explode into pink mist.

"Hmm?" Natalia turned around to face the direction of the village

She have a bad feeling.

Something dangerous and scary.

She climbed the top of a tree and looked over at the far away village.

A dark, dirty and slimy energy surrounds the village, it seems to wrap her ankles and squeeze her neck, suffocating her.

The killing aura is so intense that she could hardly breath.

"This presence...."

Demons.

They're in danger!

She ran towards the village.

With a wave of her hand, the alarm bell rang throughout the village to warn them of the danger.

But there was only silence.

She's dauntless, nothing could frighten her. But now, Natalia's heart raced.

This eerie silence scares her.

She ran towards the residence of Aurio's family, her heart racing within her chest.

"Please be safe."

But no, the smell of blood is in the air.

She saw their dead bodies, lying motionlessly on the cold ground.

"N-no... No.. This is not right.. P-please.."

A tall, dark silhouette is watching her on the side as she desperately try to find their pulse. But it was hopeless, they're dead.

"How pathetic don't you think? These two were begging for their children to be spared. How stupid." The man commented coldly

"W-what have you done? Why did you killed them?!" Natalia angrily snapped at the man

"No Milady, they're death is on your account. You have killed them." The man answered with a twisted smile

Natalia wanted to grab his neck, choke him to death and make him suffer. But once a demon was born, they will be compelled by their bloodline to be unable to kill their own kind. So no matter how much she wanted to snap his neck, she cant. A demon cannot kill a demon.

"These people were innocent." Natalia

"No they're an eyesore to your father, the King. He's not satisfied with your actions lately. You're tasked to kill important people, but you've been running around playing house with that human lately." The man said

"I'am his daughter, not his servant. I can do whatever I wanted." Natalia

"Milady, you seem to forget that you are from the bloodline of Daemons. Who in this world will ever accept you?" The man mocked her

"Aurio will."

"Don't be foolish, Milady. You have killed his family, he will never forgive you."

"He.. He will.. Besides, it was you who killed them."

"They died because of you. Besides, will you be able to forgive yourself?"

"Shut up!"

"Oh, don't be mad. If you really want that human, we can make him your toy."

"I said shut up!"

"Your father is waiting for you, do not disappoint him, Milady."

With those words said, the man vanished in the shadows.

Natalia was left all alone.

In this cold, silent mountain, she was all alone.

"Why do I have to be his daughter?" for the first time, Natalia wept for her misfortune. To be the daughter of a demon is to be the enemy of all.

The Immortal Race were worshipped as gods, and the Daemon Race were branded as evil, demons.

They're a race who enjoys chaos and madness. A race that does not deserve to live.

"As long as my father's alive, I will never find peace."

Natalia wiped away her tears. She's filled with blood, she dont even know who's blood stains her anymore.

"Aurio, please forgive me for making this choice."

She started to laugh.

She laugh at her unfortunate life.

She laugh at her pathetic self.

She laugh at all the madness this world has offered her.

"If you want to stop my father, you have to step over my dead body first, Stillwater."

Amara, you're my last hope.

Sometimes, people were saved by unnamed heroes.

Sometimes, people die a hero without anyone knowing about their sacrifices.

And sometimes, heroes die all alone.

But Natalia does not regret her choice.

She's not a hero. She's a demon, but her heart is not evil.

Her heart beat for someone she can never have.

She fell in love.

"In our next lives, I hope I can love you freely. But for now, just hate me, so you won't be sadden by my death. Live on and be happy, Aurio. I love you, now, in the past and probably even in our next lives too."

~~~~~~~~~~