"I said you can speak. I know you have questions; ask them now." Cain's eyes descended on her.
His summon also looked down, all six eyes from three heads. It was a fortunate encounter to be graced with the sight of their great lord's summon.
So this was both an honour and a terror to Nerissa, but she held herself together.
"You are the Lord of this new Mankind, but you speak as if there are things greater than you. Things hindering your plans. How is that possible?"
Cain's dark eyes reflected Nerissa's innocent face, and he chuckled. "I am a man who proclaims himself as God. No true God keeps saying he's God, only a being that wants to prove a point or denies reality. But I shall be God."
He mused, then averted his eyes as if he was reflecting. "We all have limits, Nerissa. So were made to protect us, so were made to blind us. My limit is different. I know I was born of unnatural ans. I was alive in pages before the day mana erupted and bathed with life. I was a man born with control, a fake if you look at it clearly, yet I'm better than all the so-called originals."
He faced her. "Sothing brought to life. Sothing controls it all, and that thing is the Mana Tree. An elusive being that swims in the waters of our minds, absorbing information like a sponge without limit. As we speak, it listens. I want to break that chain because it keeps bound."
Nerissa was confused. One mont it seed like Cain was replying to her question, and in another, he was monologuing to himself.
A premonition fell upon her.
She opened her lips. "Before you revived, there was a rumour…" Nerissa looked at the summon behind him and took a deep breath.
"... That you're not real. That you're the creation of a human, a folklore told to motherless children to frighten them."
"Bold of you to ask that." Cain responded softly.
Nerissa smiled. "I know I won't walk out of this place. You are only free right now because you seek to end my life."
"That is correct." Cain replied casually, then added, "You are an outdated piece, Nerissa. Our world is growing. This is the Age of Gods, and you are barely an Origin Tier Summoner. I shall return your sand to the mould and remake you once more."
Nerissa bowed her head. "The rebellion. I was afraid you were going to lose because you were frail. I had no idea there were more of you. I was glad when you slaughtered those who conspired against your throne, and I do hope when I am remade, I shall be able to stand as your wife."
"Your devotion is remarkable, Nerissa. It doesn't trouble that they sought my life. I trained them to be that way, and when they saw their God in a fragile state, they sought his power. But you are different. You and the rest of my new creations shall join to take over this world."
Cain descended and slowly approached Nerissa. "Now, your question. Those rumours are not unfounded. They have a source. I am indeed a lore, written by the hand of a man deprived of parental love. A man whose only audience were children. Whether he is dead or not, I do not know."
He squatted, the cloth around his waist spreading on the floor. "What does that make you think of ?"
"You're still magnificent." Nerissa replied softly.
Space tore open, splitting Nerissa into two parts. Her blood ford a crimson pool that slowly spread out as her eyes remained open, both sides of her face locked in their final expression.
Cain watched as the blood kept spreading.
"I do not need your pity." He rose to his feet, eyes dull.
"You need mine."
***
"Finally… you ca." Godfrey, who appeared in his soul space, saw an Alchemist in his throne room.
Godfrey, who was about to sit on his throne, replied, "I was forced to rest for so days, and I think I needed it."
"We have news for you. One of your generals, the one who was bound to the man called Saul, is back in the Order." The Alchemist's news made Godfrey's eyes widen.
"Apollyon?!"
"If that's what you wish to call her." The Alchemist replied.
"I'm not going to call her that." Godfrey shook his head, a warm smile on his lips. This was exciting news after days of rest. Great news to hear before heading to the United Kingdom.
"You might as well do so. It will make her rember her actions. She was an angel of death to our world. Her actions were a desecration of what we stood for. Vengeance without order leads to chaos." The Alchemist replied.
Godfrey stared at the Alchemist for a while. "She deserves a chance."
"She still has purpose. That, I agree with. We have sought to et you for this reason. To educate the king on his subjects and world."
"I see."
Godfrey went to their eting room. All the Alchemists assembled with the Royal Apostles.
"What would you like to know first?"
"What did Apollyon do?" Godfrey asked, fingers locked.
"To know why she's judged as that, you will have to know her history, along with the Butcher of Neaman Mountain. The one who is called Abaddon. Both nas an the sa thing." The Chief Alchemist began.
"Apollyon was the youngest to ever beco a knight. She was just fourteen when she joined the recruitnt. We only accepted her because she had visions, and that gave people hope. We let her train, and she proved to be quite talented with the sword and shield. She proved she could stand beyond being just a captain of an infantry unit after a hundred years."
The Chief Alchemist took a breath.
"Before I continue, I shall tell you what brought her to us. Apollyon was twelve when her parents died to dungeon monsters. She rembers, clear as day, when a man too afraid to die ran to their ho seeking refuge, but the monsters ca. Her parents died while the man escaped. He was an innocent man too afraid to die that he indirectly killed a little girl's parents, planting a seed inside her."
"A seed that looked good at first glance. The desire to never be weak. But we should have known. Seeds grow, and what they grow into is much bigger than the seed itself."
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