Godslayer Lysette: Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Demons of Aimarion's Past

“Demons?” Lysette said.  “Are you serious?”

“I don’t think any of us can say for certain,” Joseph said.  “Most of what we know are just legends, stories, tales from before our grandparents’ grandparents’ grandparents.  Whether these are actual beings from the Infernal realm or monsters from our world or some ancient gods sent from the Celestial realm, we have no idea.  All we know is that these creatures were far beyond the people who lived here at the time.”

Lysette took a long breath as she ruminated on what she knew and what the likeliest outcomes were.  Although the idea of demons could explain everything, this would be the first instance of actual demonic activity she’d ever heard of, let alone seen, even secondhand.  And as a result, she remained unconvinced that actual denizens of the Infernal realm were to blame.

There were simply too many possibilities that weren’t demonic in nature.  The first was that it was some Cultivator who terrified the people of Ciricu hundreds of years in the past.  Although, that had the least explanatory power.  At least, at first glance.  Some demigod— perhaps even a Godslayer— Cultivating in the mountains for centuries would certainly be capable of such a thing.

“You’re thinking it too, aren’t you, love?”

“Another Godslayer?”

“I was going to say ‘another demigod,’ but yes.  That remains a distinct possibility.”

“That troubles me.  Even if Serrena were here with us, I don’t think the three of us together would stand a chance against Saffron, and right now she’s the closest measuring stick I have to the power of another Godslayer.  In truth, if it is a Godslayer, I worry we might be walking to our doom.”

“Do you want me to try to get in contact with Saffron?  Between the glyph on the back of your hand, the periapt around your neck, and her incredible Essence shining like a beacon, I can probably contact her from here.  If not, definitely from just over the mountains.”

“Let’s keep that in mind.  There’s still one factor that doesn’t add up with that explanation.  Namely, a being as powerful as Saffron wouldn’t need to operate with vague Whispers and illusions, trying to lure children into the foothills to do… something with them.  If anything, that’s about the worst strategic decision, because now everyone in Ciricu is now vaguely aware of this being’s existence.  Not to mention that the rumors have already spread all the way back to Domark.”

“You think that it’s a trap to lure us in and kill us?”

“It’s at least a possibility.  But I do think that whatever is up there is trapped itself, or otherwise can’t leave for one reason or another.  It’s the only explanation I can think of right now.”

“That makes sense to me.  I’ll keep thinking about it as well and see if any other possibilities strike me as sensible.”

“Thank you, Mirae.”

“Forgive my intrusion, Miss Lyse,” Evelyn said.  “but might I inquire if something is troubling you two?”

“Nothing in particular,” Lysette responded.  “We’re just trying to figure out exactly what it is we’re dealing with.  The more we know about this alleged demon here in the foothills, the better we’ll be at trying to figure out how best we can defend you from it.”

“Then, we’ll tell you everything we know.  Although, I’m afraid that’s not as much as we’d like.”

The man two seats to Joseph’s left spoke next.  “According to our local legends, about five hundred years ago, these hills were the dominion of a demon known as Karchek.  Not much is known about where this being came from or why it made its way to these lands.  All we can say is that this creature wreaked havoc and devastation upon our forefathers, turning what had once been a prominent town into the quiet village that remains.”

“The demon Karchek reigned over these lands with an iron fist,” the woman directly to that man’s left said.  “The devastation in those years was said to be catastrophic.  Tens of thousands lost their lives.  Some dared to oppose this monster, and those who did were neither seen nor heard of again.”

Another woman, one on Lysette’s right, continued.  “In the end, the demon Karchek offered our forefathers a bargain.  We send one of our own, usually a maiden just younger than her majority, and in return, the others of the village would be spared his wrath.

“And so it went for the better part of a generation.  Hundreds of girls, and a couple dozen boys when we could not spare girls, were sent into the foothills, their lives given so that the rest of us might live.”

Lysette fumed at hearing any talk of sacrifice.  She recalled how her family was sacrificed by a demonic god.  And how she was destined for the same fate before Zarielle’s intervention gave her a second lease on life.  Knowing that this Karchek was again doing exactly what Asterion had done to her village incensed her in ways that surprised even her.

Shadows began to congregate at her feet and the air around her darkened as she seethed.  And then, just as quickly, the air returned to normal as the cooling touch of Mirae’s fingers just beneath her cloak and blouse provided a much-needed sense of calm.  Lysette forced herself to take a deep breath, and then another, and then a third.

“I apologize to everyone for my outburst,” Lysette said.  “I was nearly sacrificed to a god myself barely two months ago.  Circumstances happened which resulted in my surviving and ascending to godhood in the process, but the memory of nearly being killed still haunts my memory.  The thought of it happening to anyone else infuriates me more than I can express in words.”

“I’m very sorry, Miss Lyse,” another woman said.

“Thank you,” Lysette said.  “Still, I owe you an apology.  One of the things I’m still acclimating to is realizing that I could inadvertently harm my friends and those I care about should I lose focus or make a mistake at any time.”  Lysette lowered her head.  “It wouldn’t be the first time.  I will endeavor to work on that further, to ensure that does not come to pass.”

A few of the elders started chuckling amongst themselves.  One of them, the woman furthest to the left, spoke.  “You are, if I may be candid, rather imperfect for one who claims to be a goddess.”

“In all my experiences, I’ve yet to meet a god who is truly perfect.  In truth, I don’t believe any deities are perfect.  All being a deity really means is that we don’t age, we have greater physical might than humans, and we can share our power with humans.  As I’ve done with Theo, and will continue to do as he and all of you feel best.”

Another of the men started sneering. “I don’t mean to be turning down help, Miss Lyse, but all of this trouble started shortly after you and your friends arrived in our little town.  What assurances can you give us that you’re not the ones responsible for the Whispers?”

Mirae tensed up, but Lysette stopped them before they started speaking.

“In truth, there’s nothing I could do that could conclusively prove that the Whispers aren’t my doing.  I could continue to deny my involvement and profess my innocence, but doing so is hardly proof of anything.  And that is yet another reason why I want to find out what is happening, and address it.  Because actions taken in pursuit of our shared goals speak far louder than mere words.”

“Well said,” Joseph said.  “And please, forgive the harsh words.  He, like many of us, are understandably upset and distraught after everything that’s happened these last few nights.”

“I understand,” Lysette said.  “Aiden’s mother felt the same way.  I promise I will not hold it against you.  With everyone’s permission,  Mirae and I would like to remain in town through the evening and try to gather some more information.  We still have too little to go off, and I would rather not have the two of us charging into a fight we can’t win.  At the very least, we want to ensure we have as high of a chance of completing our mission as possible.”

The man who’d accused Lysette earlier lowered his head.  “I apologize as well.  My wife was nearly taken in by the Whispers last night.  I was able to bring her to her senses before she left the house, but…”  He took a long pause and looked at the woman on his right.  “I want to make sure she’s safe.  I’m not as young as I was thirty years ago.”

“Thank you, dear,” the woman— his wife, Lysette presumed— said.  The two kissed a moment later, all-but-confirming Lysette’s supposition.

“So then,” Joseph said.  “What will you do in the interim?  Other than ask around”

“I think I’d like to spend some time with some of the kids, assuming you and the kids’ parents will let me.  I promised them that I’d take them flying, and I haven’t had the chance to do so.”

A few of the elders smiled.  “I see no reason to object,” Evelyn said.  “Does anyone else?”

The man who’d grumbled before let out a couple more groans, but none of the elders raised any objections.  Soon after, the meeting adjourned, and Lysette and Mirae got to work helping the elders put away the tables and chairs which had been brought out before.  

By the time they left the meeting hall and found their way unto a field just west of town, it was midafternoon.  The sun glowed upon Mirae’s face, filling it with a warmth and radiance that sent a smile to Lysette’s own face and butterflies into her stomach.  Mirae smiled as well to match Lysette’s own, and soon after, the two shared a quick kiss.

“Ooh!  You two are kissing!” a girl of about seven said.  She had on a pink, half-sleeved dress and was lightly freckled, with her light brown hair tied back into pigtails.

Lysette smiled.  “That’s right.  The two of us did just kiss.”

“Are you two in love?  My mommy and daddy said that people aren’t supposed to kiss unless they’re in love.”

Lysette smiled even wider.  “We are.”  

The young girl giggled.  “By the way, who are you two?”

“I’m Mirae,” Mirae said.  “And this is Lyse, my girlfriend.  Who are you?”

“Wait, Lyse?” the girl said.  “Like, that Lyse?  The one we had a party for a couple weeks ago?”

Lysette smiled and knelt down to look at the girl near eye level.  “That’s right.  What’s your name?”

 “Um, it’s Sabrina, Lyse and Mirae.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Sabrina,” Mirae said.  “The two of us had to go a few days ago, but now we’re going to be staying here for a good while longer.”

“Wait a minute.”  The girl’s face scrunched up; she lowered it and put her chin under her fist.  “Does that mean you can take me flying?”

Lysette smiled.  “I don’t see why not.”  She stood up and sprouted her wings, letting them glisten in the sunlight at her back.  “However, only if your mommy or daddy let me know it’s okay.”

“Really?”  Sabrina’s eyes were wide and her jaw dropped.  “You mean it?”

Lysette floated a couple of feet off the ground before dropping back to the surface.  “I do mean it.  But I also meant what I said about getting permission from your parents first.”

“Okay.  My house is right over there.  Come on, let’s go!”

Chapter 166: https://www.patreon.com/posts/108950834

Table of Contents: https://www.patreon.com/posts/table-of-101896170

Chapter 168: https://www.patreon.com/posts/109460501