Black Apple Request IV

[Continuation of Flashback]

Why don't politics just sit like an obedient child and stop being so corrupt?

Rumors say that the city of Avado as the land of peace and harmony, as the worst crime that has been done here was a simple robbery from time to time.

But the word irony wasn't made for nothing.

As many say, the most innocent on the surface could be the most tainted one on the inside, and they're correct.

"What happens to the children?" I tried to suppress the anger consuming me, as the flames threatened to burn this whole city down. The guards went silent and just when I thought that my power might not be working anymore, I realized that they can't answer the question as they also have no idea about it.

I sighed and snapped my fingers, causing their eyes to revert back into a clear shade. The information I had was enough, and now it's time to escape.

"Jean, wake up. We're going now." I silently whispered and the little girl who had her eyes closed a while ago slowly revealed her sleepy black orbs. I bit my ring finger until it bled and immediately used a spell to make a clone out of me. A dead one.

If I'm not wrong, mostly those in imprisoned in jail are burned when they die, especially if they have no family to get their remains. My identity is quite mysterious and vague, so they'd just assume that I am a commoner with no family and burn that clone.

Using my bleeding finger, I drew a magic circle on my palm and chanted a spell to teleport us to the alley where I've first met Jean and in no more than a second, we're already standing in the same place as before. It was already late at midnight, so only the light from the moon and a few taverns and opened stalls were illuminating the place.

When we went to the Avadon's place earlier, we weren't able to see the so-called snake that Jean was mentioning and now that I think of it, I was arrested quite too quick.

I remember from Jean's story that she was not caught even when she entered the property and roamed around for a while, but that didn't happen with me. I wonder why?

My thoughts started to think of reasons when I heard the little girl calling for me. "Wow, Zeshia. You've been smaller now and you're really pretty. Is that magic?" I turned to Jean who was looking at me with a fascinated expression. Oh, I must have unintentionally cancelled my disguise when we escaped a while ago. She must also be quite shocked since I was already in my older woman disguise when I first met her. Now, I must be a kid like her, though a bit younger.

Wait... Could it be?

"Jean, you're a genius!" I can't help but silently exclaim and smiled at her. The latter just tilted her head to the side out of confusion and looked at me with wonder. I placed my pointer finger in front of my lips and winked at her. "As a reward, I'll show you magic."

Controlling the remaining blood from my bleeding finger, I willed it to change my appearance while chanting the spells. I closed my eyes to concentrate and by the time I opened it as I finished, Jean's mouth was agape and staring at me with awe.

"Wow! That was so amazing, Zeshia! You still look pretty now. I love your eyes!" She sounded so excited that I can't help but smile a little. I summoned a body mirror in front of me and I saw that I have straight black hair that was now a few inches below the shoulders and cat-like blue eyes that looked quite intimidating. I made myself a little shorter than my original height and I was wearing rags that made me look like a beggar child. I smiled with my upon seeing my disguise.

Since their targets are children, would there be a better disguise than being a child myself?

"It's time to unravel their secrets." I muttered and teleported once again with Jean a few kilometers away from the Avadon's property. "Would you be okay, Jean?" Her shoulders were trembling and I could feel her fear even in just a glance. Although when she met my eyes, I saw how the forming tears was replaced with a look of determination.

"I don't know, Zeshia. But you promise to defeat those bad guys, right?" She asked me and I firmly nodded. Not like I have a choice, but it's not like I hate it. I walked around the property, acting like a beggar, clutching my stomach to indicate my "hunger."

When we first went here, I had to forcibly find a way to open the small gate leading to the tree, but right now, it immediately opened without any warnings. "Hey, little girl, are you hungry?" I tried my best to conceal my shock when I saw a black snake with red eyes peeking from the gate.

It was honestly a pretty good-looking snake. A snake that you'd like to skin alive because its scales look like they're worth millions.

Heh.

"Mmm... Do you have any food, Mister Snake?" It might just be a hallucination, but I felt like I saw how the reptile's mouth smirk upon hearing my answer. I wouldn't be shocked if that was true though.

The snake lead me inside and I immediately saw the tree with the so-called black apples. I've seen this recently, but it felt like the darkness of the jewels changed. It seems to have gotten darker rather than lighter.

"Here, little kid." The snake was biting a jewel and handing it to me. I held out my hand to receive it and after I did, I heard him whisper, "Looks like the sacrifice would finally be completed. All hail the breaking of the curse and the revival of Avadons." I smirked upon hearing that.

Well, I wouldn't be too sure with that, Mister Snake.

Or should I call you, "Emilio Avadon," the snake immediately turned to me with an expression that seems similar with surprise and fear. Before he could say anything, I immediately bit the jewel and I felt my world turning upside down.

By the time I felt my senses getting better, I found myself in a dark cell, again. I roamed my eyes around and saw that many children are imprisoned on the opposite cells. The pungent smell of blood and sweat also filled the whole place.

Fucking hell. They've suffered here?

After pulling the dagger that has been secretly strapped on my leg, I immediately cut my left wrist and let the blood flow. "Heed my command, Earth and Flame. Destroy and melt every metal rods that have imprisoned these pitiful children. Air and Water, lead these children to the outside and protect them well." I've commanded with every ounce of authority in my voice. I felt a surge of power coming from beneath me and within mere seconds, the slashing and destruction of the cells that confine these children were heard and seen in every direction.

I had no time to look at them or their states as I felt livid all throughout the short time I've been here.

Trailing the alley that led to a door from afar, I hurriedly went to it and opened it with no hesitations. I smirked when I saw the inside of the room.

A library with a glass case containing a skull of a person with a white snake with black spots and red eyes that turned into stone wrapped around it. When I directly stared at the snake's eyes, several memories flooded onto me. What the hell...

It took me a while to process them but I finally get it.

It was the white snake that cursed them.

This snake was the reason for the prosperity in this city as it blessed it with her powers and was even taken in as a pet and cared by the past Avadon. However, the snake learned about the corruption that has been long-standing in the political dynasties.

Children kidnapping and votes as ransom.

That was the reason why the Avadons had never lost their power even after years. The snake tried to stop them, but was then placed to hurt and locked up in a cage. She was forced to continue her blessing in the city until she had grown old. Thus, it used its remaining life and mana to curse them, into which she succeeded.

The curse that could never be undone unless the Avadons would admit their crimes and pay for it with their lives. A lifetime and generational curse.

Seeing this, a shred of pity for the white snake washed over me. I sighed and made up my resolve on what I should do with this place.

There's no more room for me to go quietly, instead, I'll just release chaos in this prison.

And I'll make sure that none of those Avadons would break their curse or reign this city again.

It's payback time, you bastards, and I would not stop until you'll all be damned.