Chapter 716: True Demonlord [47]

“Are they ok?”

“I don’t know,” returned a quick response.

“Whatever, just take them both to the casino.”

Carter lake, the remnants of highly charged auras resulted in sprinkles of ice reflecting in the warm sun. The ice melted, edges around the dam were somewhat damaged. A very disgruntled Kul spared no care for appearances. Time told 14:00, the battle lasted a few hours, an angel versus a nightwalker. Whatever may have been present left, including the silverback truck and barely drivable cars. Emptiness returned the forest to a virgin state.

“Come out of hiding,” said Starix.

“You noticed?” said a shaken voice. Bushes shuffled to long legs of fair complexion scratched by branches.

“Obviously,” said he in a suit, “-why would a princess hide in the bushes with such attire. The plan must have been foiled. I heard about the rejection from éclair, seems like our master suffered the cruel truth of relationships. Jumping willy-nilly isn’t always the best choice.”

.....

“Who are you?” wondered the princess.

“My name’s Starix, I serve Lord Igna. Tis a pleasure to make acquaintance to my lord’s friend, I presume?”

“N-no,” her face didn’t inspire much trust, “-I don’t care about the title or name. Why aren’t you worried, I saw him die so many times... what happened here?”

“Loftha,” he moved closer, “-I’d advise forgetting everything that happened here. Far as you need to know, there was a battle. I say this for thy safety, get involved and your very life may be at risk. Besides, you need not worry, Lord Igna’ strong,” a carefree wave later, “-head on home, princess, walking the lake alone isn’t a good look.”

Care to the wind, she sprinted to the edge, the water boiled, ‘-what happened here...’ steam constantly rose from the surface, the scent swapped for one of rotting flesh. A sensation of stickiness and humid air had her skin crawl, ‘-the auras aren’t human... my heart,’ palms to her chest, ‘-it’s racing...’

Gates to the casino opened, the truck arrived with Igna and Hondo in tow, “-I’ll take it from here,” said éclair.

“I appreciate it,” frowned Kul, “-where’s Starix?”

“On-site already,” added the butler, “-go show them the power of the Ravens. Those who dare oppose us will pay with their blood. Kill every single one of them.”

“Understood.”

*Gasp,* ‘-the battle... an unfamiliar ceiling,’ sat upright on a rather comfy couch, ‘-my wounds,’ a quick pat around, ‘-healed.’ Elbows to his knees and feet to the floor, ‘-angels are scarily strong. Managed to keep the Shadow Realm a secret. Father’s symbol is gone...’

historical

“Effect of the binding spell,” said a voice to the left

“Pardon?” he turned, “-Hondo, Axel..”

“Call me Hondo for short,” said the man holding an icepack to his forehead, “-I’m surprised they brought me for healing too. They have a good sense of right and wrong.”

“Stop it,” cried he, “-my head’s about to explode with the whole angel and demon thing. Can we let it go, I don’t care.”

“Whatever,” he shrugged, “-I ought to be honest. We fought in a life and death battle; never once did I feel an ounce of anger nor hate. Look at us, we sit here in the aftermath and speak without care for consequence.”

“What’s there to worry about,” returned Igna, “-we fought, we survived, all that matters. I’d love to know why or how, instead, let’s call it even. What did you mean about the symbol?”

“I presume you know nothing of the God of Battle?”

“No, please tell me more.”

“Settle in then, son of Tempest, I’ll recount the tale best as I remember. The story of your father begins on the desolate land of gods and demons, a realm conjured for the purpose of battle. From what I heard, Tempest was born half-angel and half-human. His mother, the angel, died in the following years. The father, haunted by angels who blamed him for the death, trained in the arts to rival the gods. By this point, the story is shifted around depending on who recounts. Best of my knowledge, I say, he lived and learned to fight and grow under the tutelage of a demi-god. War broke out, demons invaded the realm – the fighting intensified. The father died in the war, whilst Tempest continued fighting to protect what was left. Times didn’t wait for any; he grew up on the battlefield to reach the position of an angel and make the blood of his mother proud. In an age of war, the purists didn’t care much for the worth of a halfling. Trial after trial, he overcame odds and fought until a certain incident involving the Goddess of War, Athena. Orders from the supreme god were to annihilate the birthplace in fear of two-faced warriors. He wasn’t going to stand around and wait – blade in hand, the single half-angel rushed the incoming army and held for 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days. It is said the solidified charred body of Tempest’s first incarnation rests in the forsaken realm. The actions rang true across the realms, gods and demons alike shuddered at the result. Hence, the title of God of Battle was bestowed on his second incarnation, this time, as a complete angel under the watchful eye of Kronos. Here’s where the story of Tempest becomes irregular and unchronicled, some say he went on ventures to slay the demons, others said he revolted against the angels, and lastly, retreat. Only the man can tell the story. One thing is for sure, mythical beasts were slaughtered and absorbed one after the other. The alienated half-angel returned to the heavenly capital many decades later, I speak of decades and years briefly, the application of time won’t do much for the story itself. Here, he swore allegiances to a newly crowned Zeus. The battle for dominion followed. Lady Axia and I came to the service of the supreme god. Tales about the God of Battle had captivated my goddess, she wanted power. The climb wasn’t easy – the end of the war approached; she acquired the secondary title God of War from the people of Veneo. Conspiring gods are the worse – on the day of celebration of the end of the war, Tempest Haggard disappeared, my goddess was killed and I was imprisoned. Reason, simple jealousy. The God of Battle fled to the mortal realm for a peaceful life. He remained in hiding for centuries, waiting and watching. Alas, when a visiting god of Zeus’s care never returned from a scandalous journey, the fate of the aggression was sealed. I have reason to suspect the age of magic to have originated. Also, I’ve grotesquely glossed past a few events and leap straight into the third incarnation of Tempest Haggard, a deity who surrendered power to stay inconspicuously among the living. He played a major part in politics, gaining favors from many organizations and being known as a talented researcher and spellcaster. I have reason to suspect the war against mages to have been ignited by emissaries from the heavens. Your mother gave birth, and the first child died, not stillborn, but killed coldheartedly. The ire forced him to reascend to the title of God; insider conflict fueled the flames of his rage. Imagine robbing the heavenly library – he did so, stole a grimoire, and hid via help from allies made in war. Isn’t it strange the war ended after Tempest Haggard died, I know not what he must have said on the death bed; the culmination of his multiple lives led to you,” he pointed to Igna’s chest, “-the legacy and story of Tempest Haggard, including the symbol, was soon erased. Such a stain on the tapestry of evolution didn’t please the gods. The exiled mage,” a short pause to inhale, “-take my words with a grain of salt. The events are what I remember, honestly, it could all be lies and we wouldn’t know. Erasing a god’s legacy isn’t an easy feat, yet, it happened. Basically, the reason for the symbol’s disappearance is the erasure from history.”

“How do you remember, if the history is erased?”

“I was restrained, my mind and body froze without question. Luckily, I have my trusted pocket chronicler, a friend of mine wrote what happened over the long years of sleep. Here’s how I’ve gotten to know my information. Igna Haggard, what say you?”

“What can I say, I inherited his memories and ability to wield a sword. Not to sound ungrateful, I know most of what he passed on through memory – I feel like I missed a step earlier on, the memories should have been unlocked long before now. No matter, my swordsmanship feels sharper, no arguments here. Tempest Haggard, the god of battle, now known simply by the Exiled Mage.”

“History for you,” said the angel, “-I know I sort of dropped a heavy load on thy shoulder, hate to ask this...”

“What is it?”

“Could I have something to eat?”

“Sure,” he stood, “-let’s grab lunch, there’s a mall not far from here.”

“How can you trust so easily?” said a baffled expression.

“Not trust,” the heavy doors to the rest area opened, “-more of ‘I understand the reason’ kind of deal. I need to ask,” he pulled closer, “-do you know why Cleopatra returned to the mortal realm, feels too coincidental for an angel to show up. What scheme are you planning?”

“I did lose the fight,” he exhaled, “-Goddess Axia was reborn by the actions of Lord Lucifer. Between you and I, my lady acts and moves strangely. Orders from Lucifer were to stay in Odgawoan and join one of the families, as for my true employee, Lord Lixbin, he told me to keep an eye on Cleopatra. The queen’s been flirty to the demons after the death of Staxius Haggard,” he grinned, “-I know what happened.”

“Good, shall I reward thee with a cookie?”

“Such an attitude. Before you ask the reason for my cooperation, here’s the reason. The guardian angels and my goddess were once rescued by a party of two, one bore the symbol of death, and the other, the symbol of Tempest. In accordance with the dogma instated during the war, I, guardian angel Axel, must offer something of equal value to the victor. Do as thee sees fit, my actions will never betray my kin or endanger my goddess – so speaks the doctrine.”

“Another rule?” the lift arrived at the ground floor; carpeted floor gave to a stair leading into a massive gambling area. The lights fluttered nicely, the decoration had the angel bemused, “-where are we?” he gulped.

“In my casino,” returned Igna, “-the doctrine says you art to obey any of my orders long as it doesn’t infringe on thy beliefs?”

“Yes, consider it a crude employment.”

“Just to be sure,” he stepped outside, “-I won and you belong to me?”

“Yes, must I profess it to the world?”

“I won’t make the same mistakes again,” he patted Honda’s shoulder, “-any help from Lixbin and I’d rather jump into traffic. How’s this, continue the life working for the other families. Thy limit is not crossing Axia, crossing Lucifer or Lixbin isn’t out of the question. My orders are simple, keep a watchful eye over the balance between the two worlds. Gods mustn’t meddle too much in the mortal realm.”

“Understood,” he nodded, the car toggled in the distance. The gates opened to an incoming battered car, “-Master,” said the passenger, doors slammed, “-where are you headed?” narrowed Kul.

“Off to grab a bite,” said he nonchalantly, “-ouch,” a glance at the car behind, “-done a number on Esvalo, haven’t you?”

“Obviously,” the door shut anew, “-I must implore for the master to stay here,” fired Starix.

“I see what’s happened here. They mistrust me, we did fight.”

“Ah,” he smiled, “-look, our wounds are healed. The battle happened underneath fair condition, Hondo here is an angel, the strong-willed type.”

“Worry not, Lady Kul, by the doctrine of war, I shan’t turn my blade against the victor.”

“Anyway, I’ll go grab a bite. éclair’s got a few things to settle,” jumped in reverse, “-Asmodeus, Kul, Starix, handle matters here until I return.”

“Stop him?” voiced Starix with a tone of worry.

“No, leave the master be,” the distance grew.

“Understood.”