"Sigh, looks like that is it. Now, it is my turn."
’Do of the Solar Guardian’
Ding!
[’Do of the Solar Guardian’ (-50 Goodwill Points)
Goodwill points left: 105]
A brilliant, golden do of light erupted around Riku, Lila, and Elara, just as the crimson tsunami hit. The red mist crashed against the golden barrier with the force of a battering ram, hissing and boiling, but the do held firm, not even flickering.
The Impostor stared, his jaw slack with disbelief. "Impossible! That attack... it could cripple a Grand Mage! What... what are you?!"
Riku, however, did not answer and just clicked his fingers.
The golden do pulsed once, and a wave of pure, opposing energy shot outwards. The swirling red mist was violently repelled, forced back towards the Creep-stones, so of it even seeming to be sucked back into them.
The Impostor cried out as the backlash struck him, his Creep-infested body spasming before he collapsed to the floor, injured and gasping, the crimson marks on his skin flickering erratically.
He lay there, looking up at Riku with a mixture of shock and dawning terror, then he began to laugh, a broken, defiant sound. "Heh... you may have blocked that... but you can’t reach the society! You can’t stop what’s coming!"
Riku’s smile was gone, replaced by a cold, assessing gaze. "Perhaps not your society. Not yet. But I can certainly reach you."
’Soul-Sight Invocation’.
Ding!
’Soul-Sight Invocation’ (-50 Goodwill Points)
Goodwill points left: 55]
Riku’s eyes glowed with an intense, silver light. He locked his gaze with the fallen Impostor. "Let’s see who’s really pulling your strings."
The Impostor scread as Riku’s ntal probe bypassed his conscious mind, delving deeper. For a fleeting mont, Riku’s perspective shifted. He was no longer in the dusty, mist-filled storage. He saw a dimly lit laboratory, filled with strange alchemical equipnt and glowing crystals.
Looking around, Riku finally saw a figure in a thick, dark hood hunched over a complex array of runes, one hand outstretched as if controlling sothing from afar. Just as Riku tried to focus on the hooded figure’s face, the figure jerked upright, its head snapping towards Riku’s unseen point of view. Two eyes, burning with an intelligent, malevolent light, widened in utter shock and alarm from beneath the hood. Then, with a ntal shriek of rage and fear, the connection was violently severed.
Riku stumbled back a step, the silver light in his eyes fading. He shook his head, a grim understanding dawning.
Looks like they realized what was happening and disconnected their connection
On the floor, the body that looked like Elara’s father convulsed one last ti, a final, shuddering gasp escaping its lips. Though the controlling force was gone, the crimson marks still remained, almost covering the entire body. What remained was just an empty shell, the life force utterly extinguished by the Creep and the violent severing of the puppet link.
Elara, who had watched the entire exchange, let out a heart-wrenching cry.
"Papa!"
She rushed forward, past Riku, and fell to her knees beside the still form, tears streaming down her face as she gently touched the cold cheek of her father, which was clearly devoid of life.
"Noooo."
Elara broke down in sadness, tears constantly streaming down her cheeks. On her side, Lila was also sobbing softly, but then she started coming towards Riku.
"Riku, you can help him with your magic, right? Just like you helped Eren and the church kids?"
Riku looked at Lila’s hopeful gaze and then again at Elara’s face full of despair. He could not stay still.
System...
Ding!
[The system knows what you want, host. However, the system is unable to help the host cast a divine level spell once again before the host is ready. ]
So I can do nothing to bring him back?
The system paused for a second and then replied in a slightly lancholic tone.
[At this point in ti, that would appear to be the case, host.]
Normally, the system would add a comnt like "Please work harder", or another form of explanation or solution. However, this ti, it was only a short ssage. Nothing more.
There was really nothing that he could do.
"Riku..." Lila, who was still looking at Riku hopefully, was suddenly left dumbfounded.
For the first ti ever since she t Riku, she saw tears streaming down Riku’s cheeks.
"You are crying..."
-----------------
It was late into the night when Riku, Lila, and Elara started on their way to the graveyard on the outskirts of Luxia.
Riku was pulling a makeshift casket that had small wheels on its bottom side. Lila walked by his side, her head bowed. Elara walked ahead in silence, occasionally sobbing to herself and calling out to her father.
Needless to say, none of them spoke a word. They just marched on, each seemingly engrossed in their own worlds. After walking for an hour, they finally reached their destination.
"Where do you want to bury your father, Elara?" Riku asked, finally breaking the silence.
Elara, walking a few paces ahead, stopped. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and turned to face Riku and Lila.
"My mother..." Elara began, her voice choked with a fresh wave of grief. "She... she passed from another illness when I was very young. Papa buried her here. He used to bring to visit her grave every year when our trade routes brought us through Luxia."
"Though he was always out trying to bed another woman in the rchant’s association, he had always loved my mother. He had told once that his greatest regret was not being able to spend more ti with her, and being busy with other things such as treasure hunting."
"So, If... if it’s possible, I’d like to bury him there. With her."
Riku’s heart ached for the young girl. "Of course, Elara," he said gently. "Lead the way. We’ll find her."
Lila stepped forward and put a comforting arm around Elara’s shoulders. "We’ll help you, Elara. He deserves to rest with her."
With a small, grateful nod, Elara turned and began to lead them deeper into the graveyard. The grand mausoleums and ornate headstones of Luxia’s wealthy and noble families gradually gave way to simpler, more weathered markers.
Soon, Elara stopped and pointed at a small tombstone which read "Clara Robinson".
"There is the grave."
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