Chapter 81: Chapter 81
Acro follows along the way as ordered by Hessuel.
She enlarges onto a giant bird wherein I can hop on for a ride midair. Most white wolves are lying dead on the ground of Asfara. I was struck with terror because of the loud screech in a house, one girl jumps through the window to escape from something. I thought of saving her until she collapses on the ground all of a sudden, Acro doesn't want to land either. But what's going on?
Acro is flying higher until I found Zaeramil sitting above a cloud, long stairs are spread abroad the sky and there's Lanasia too, standing on a stair. Acro shrinks above the stair and I landed safely. She's wearing weird eyeglasses, when she lent me another one, it's an enchanted item to see what the naked eyes can't.
There's something on the ground; holding a silver scythe, faceless, wears a white cloak and silver knight armor, is tall for about 10 feet, and gaunt. It disappears from visibility after a few seconds after Lanasia fired it for the second time since I found them.
I mumble, "What was that..." All I know is it's scary!
"Are you feeling better, Dandeline? I'm glad you're alive before that creature got you," she greets.
"I'm feeling light... As light as exhaustion."
"Me, too. And I don't think I can keep this up forever. That thing is Haiban's creation... to make sure he'll kill every werewolf without shedding blood. It's an unseen killer of werewolves. It's decapitating the wolf using its scythe but not the physical body, it's decapitating the soul."
That girl earlier... This leads to my understanding of how horrifying it is outside that room!
Lanasia speaks up again, "Just like in Biblical times, this creature is the Destroying Angel."
"So, what," I shrug, "are they gonna paint blood on their doors?"
"No. There's no escape for this one."
I suddenly swallowed my own pride. I unconsciously uttered the names of my beloved—I don't think I can leave them behind with this creature! But Lanasia forbids me.
"If you have anything better to do to stop this, please... do it. I've been saving time for the Alphas to stop Haiban in Plandreas. But this creature might kill every white wolf hiding in every corner if it took them longer... or if they failed. Please, I hope you have something on your sleeve."
"It'll save more of my time if Haiban is occupied. I'll deal with the Moon Goddess." Then I fly away with Acro to the gate of Asfara. I heard Lanasia shout her gratefulness,
"Be careful!"
In this circumstance, none of us know if this is the last time we'll meet... or the last day we'll ever live. Across this gate is the horrible sight of Plandreas city from its gate. I stoop lower for Acro's feathers because of the dark and cold weather. Not just the weather, but the ambiance is cold, and I realized the reason when I look down at the ground: dead wolves are all around. A pillar of fire arises near the palace. I also heard howls and destruction. Somehow I figured out that the Alphas are alive.
We hurried to find Linly in their house yet I found no man.
We flew again to where humans were evacuated and struggled to find her within the frightened crowd but it only resulted in disappointment. I think of anywhere else where they can be and there's only one idea left. This search burns my time to the grave, yet I have to move 'til the last tick of my time if ever. My house is the safest place in this city because of my ancestors' protection. There's an instant waterfall beside it and a whirlwind beneath.
I'm boosted with hope again when I heard my dogs inside. Hopping down from Acro, I hurried to enter the house and meet my dogs who were obviously scared from the previous noises of destruction. I knelt down, caress, and kiss them one by one. "Don't falter, my children! Nothing can harm you here." Another thing that cast my worries away is when I hear Manjiro's voice in my room and he's calling for me. "Dandeline! Is that you!?"
I came up there and found Linly gagged, hands tied, and unconscious on my bed. Apparently, they're inside the broken cage I made because they had no choice.
"At last, you arrived! I've been waiting for you!"
"Why would you wait for me here!? It's the end of the world outside!"
"Then what should I do with Linly!? The goddess was in her and she was whispering like an exorcist! So I strike her nape and... this!!"
"Don't be consumed with guilt. You did the right thing." I can't fully tell he saved the werewolf race from the force call.
"Why not!? I just harmed my fiance! Your mate said the same thing! When he found this news, he confidently left the house! What if she can't remember me when she wakes up?"
I cheered him up by suggesting, "No. She'll slap you when she wakes up." I remove the gag, waking her up with my magic. The Moon Goddess is still in her when she opens her eyes and arises. Manjiro helps her up while I hold her hand. "Moon Goddess... stop this madness. Your children are suffering," I demand without going around the bush.
She holds her nape gracefully, ignoring my petition.
"I have a proposal for you!" The scroll for the knowledge of creation appears before my hand. "I can create a world and plan for you and your children, it's better than erasing their existence."
"A world where I can be with my children...?"
"Yes! I want you to be a part of the creation. So please, tell Haiban to stop!"
"..." She walks out of the cage and I thought she was spacing out. "... Haiban, he who takes away life then brings them back. I cannot have a world without my children. Your words are impossible without his alliance."
"He who... Does it mean he killed himself before and brought it back?"
The door creaks and my heart skips a beat when Haiban pops up here! "You called?" he responds to the Moon Goddess. Manjiro is quick in alertness as he pulls Linly's shoulder and I stand in between to defend them, manifesting my spellbook. "I'm not doing anything yet." His husky voice convinces how smug and powerful he can be sometimes. But what happened to the Alphas and the packs? I have a hunch about this.
"Moon Goddess, don't be naive and tempt me to feed thee by spoon! Tell him to take back the lives he had taken away and have a world with them!"
She declares, "You both know my will, however, I shall not declare it to you henceforward."
Disappointment. It's all I could rephrase in my heart with such an answer for I know it's an advantage for Haiban. But at this point, I recognized the moon's intention.
"You're giving me the button?" he clarifies. He forms an enchast, "Here's my decision," then it flashes and makes us look away involuntarily!
I form my enchast when the light is gone but something phenomenal is going on; my room has changed, unfamiliar pictures are hanging on the wall that were never there before, it's bigger with huge curtains and unfamiliar materials too. Linly is back and she flops on the bed. Haiban is gone. "What's..." I'm sure this is still the same room! We three are startled by a weird thin and rectangular thing ringing music!
"Where are we?" Linly questions.
"Wherever we are, it looks better than before," Manjiro said, so he earned a casual slap from Linly as predicted.
Someone came in. Then screams. "Aah! W-Who are you!? How did you get in here!? Are you thieves!?" She's wearing a maid's dress.
I reply, "Why would a thief say he's a thief? Of course, we're not! And how dare you call me that in my house!?"
"Guards!! Guards!!" She runs.
I came after her and to my surprise, my whole house has changed! It's a mansion! The furnace is still there, a rug in the living room, and the stair became luxuriously grand! Whoever renovated my house... I like it! Men with the same black uniform surround me with their unique guns and the couple stays behind me. In my snap of enchast, their guns became dust and I walked out of the mansion—leaving the scared couple behind.
My garden was extended on my lawn and there's a fountain in the middle of a roundabout road, an exclusive bridge is established that links to the city, and that city is full of lights with tall buildings I've never thought any architect could think of.
Where... in the universe am I?