Cellia Vanadis, The Devil (2)

The night before ...

"Bianca, do you want to get out of this situation... alive?" I asked Bianca.

Confused, Bianca said, "I-I don't understand. You're working with The Company, why do you want to help me? What exactly are you planning, Blood Witch?"

I chuckled as I deranged one shadow and formed it into a chair, "My master main job is to kick the Order out of the city. Seeing as you are the main target of that organization, I think it would be fast to wipe them out all at once."

Bianca looked at me skeptically, her eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and curiosity. Still uncertain of my intentions, she cautiously asked, "So, you're saying that you want to use me as bait to lure the Order into a trap?"

I nodded a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Exactly. By presenting you as a vulnerable target, we can gather them all in one place and strike when they least expect it. Losing so much power at once would make them think twice before infiltrating this city again," I explained with a sweetener,

"Once the Order is defeated, you could scram out of the city. Oh, and don't forget, Ayunda has to take you down before that. if not, my job won't be successful. Think of it as ... an amicable demand?"

Perhaps Bianca was already at the end of her wits. For a second, she considered my demand as she asked, "The one who hunted me... is Pater Himself. Pater is cunning and powerful, how can you defeat him?"

I leaned forward, a sly smile playing on my lips. "That's where my expertise comes in. I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

"I..." Bianca shook her head and gazed at me with disdain, "For a Greyhound tried to strike a deal behind her master's back... I can't trust you."

I shrugged, "Since when I said this is a deal?"

Suddenly, Bianca touch her ear and seemed to talk to someone. Her face turned pale as she finally realized how grave her situation was. Then the communication cut off abruptly.

"B-Bian... .T-The dragons are dead. We are intercepted by a girl with white hair. W-Wait... isn't that--" I said showing my devilish eyes toward the girl, "The Blood Witch?" I continued, repeating the communication trails I hacked with my eyes.

Bianca drew her spear and lunged toward me with anger. But as she realized I didn't make any effort to evade her attack, she stopped right in front of my eyes. That's when I smiled at her,

"Do you understand your position now? You're outplayed, you have no other choice but to play in my games, Girlie."

Bianca's grip tightened on her spear as she struggled to process the situation. Her mind raced to find a way out of this predicament in vain. The realization of her vulnerability settled upon her, and her anger transformed into a mix of frustration and resignation.

"Who are you?" Bianca asked as she let go of her spear.

Controlling all the shadows I'd defeated with my finger, I made them aligned behind me forming a band of loyal knights. I crossed my leg and chuckled, a hint of amusement in my tone,

"Just a Greyhound doing her job."

Bianca's expression wavered between confusion and a growing sense of dread. But she was a smart girl as she accepted her situation and moved on.

"So, you just need me to stay in this city until you take out Pater?" she asked.

"That's the plan. And to make it successful, I need you to administer these pills to everyone in your wing," I bit my finger and drew blood from it, forming red pills inside a pouch I stole from The Company,

"It might cause a little discomfort and there is a very thin chance it would cause a cardiac arrest. However, it would save their life for sure. Well, 99%, " I continued while giving the pouch to Bianca.

The pills worked as a second body to everyone who consumed it. The moment death approached them, my cells would overtake the body, conserving their souls and memories into a crystal, keeping the soul away from The Loom of Fate. That way, their body will die, but their identity will be kept alive inside my magicore. After that, we can always find a way to replace the body.

Bianca grasped the pouch tightly, "One last question."

"Go on," I smiled.

"What will you gain from saving me, Blood Witch?"

I chuckled, "It's the correct question. What I gain is simple. I just want to have a nice chat with your Pater."

Bianca's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and apprehension. "A chat? That's it?"

I nodded, "It might be better if you don't know the details. Or else..."

The Seed of Hero can't be procured naturally in the human world. It was the fruit from the tree I guarded in Obsidian Theater, The Loom of Fate, which only appeared once in thousand years.

Yet, the only Hero that faced me recently was Milli. Then how do you explain Hero Eclair who saved the world century ago? And How the hell did Bianca have The Seed too? The answer is.. .someone found a way to artificially create The Seed and planted it on people. That someone might be Pater.

Infiltrating the Order could work, but to climb the ladder and meet Pater, I'm not sure how long it'd take. Trapping the guy like a rat is the fastest way to meet him. This way, I might have the first lead toward the location of my daughter quicker. Well, it's just my gut feeling.

Bianca's expression softened slightly, a flicker of understanding in her eyes. "Knowing your true intention made me understand who you are a little. You're just a liar, just like The Devil."

I chuckled softly. "Don't we all, Bianca? Now, I need your cooperation to administer those pills. It's the only way you and your children get out 'alive' from this situation."

Bianca hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks and rewards. Finally, she nodded, determination shining through. "I'll do it. For the sake of my comrades, I'll trust you."

.

.

****

.

.

Present day...

I laughed awkwardly, "I thought surprises make life more exciting. But hey, at least everyone is safe, right?" I said, looking at Arthur grasping his head. The other Greyhounds looked at me with suspicious eyes while Ayunda was lost for words.

"Well, the point is... my secret operation failed. I-I never thought that the true culprit was... Ayunda, albeit controlled by Pater. Hmm, that explains how she knows a lot about Abigail and Bianca," I scratch my head.

Arthur shook his head and then silently hit me in the head, "You... Next time, please consult me before plotting something like this. What if that monster is truly here? I know you're strong, but you still stand no chance against Pater. That guy is stronger than gods."

I rubbed my sore head, "O-Ouuchh...! S-Sorry," I apologized.

"Come now, don't be too harsh to the newbie. After all, not only she prevented casualties in this mission, she even beat Bianca by herself," The magician with twin swords calmly tried to soothe Arthur's anger, "But, I'm rather curious. How will you transfer the souls you've taken, umm, Princess, right?"

"O-oh, yeah, I almost forgot-- Hahaha, perhaps... That tree would suffice," I replied and then approached the flesh tree that Ayunda created.

... Awaken, Binge Eater!

Gently I touched the tree, invading its tissue with my blood and taking control of its magic circuit. As I pressed my palm against the pulsating flesh tree, a surge of power coursed through me, resonating with the ancient magic it held within. The air crackled with anticipation as the tree seemed to come alive, its roots quivering and tendrils reaching out to embrace my presence.

I closed my eyes, feeling the energy of the captured souls coursing through my veins, intertwining with my Magicore. The words of the ancient incantation reverberated through the garden, carrying the weight of centuries past.

"From the depths of slumber, arise anew. From the Loom of Fate, I reign my chains onto you," I whispered.

With each word, the flesh tree trembled, its eerie glow intensifying. The garden was filled with otherworldly luminescence. The captured souls stirred, their essence responding to the call of the tree, bursting outward from my Magicore.

I opened my eyes, showing the world my devil's presence, "Awakened heartbeats, the pulse of life reignited," I declared, my voice carrying the fervor of a high priestess invoking the gods.

"Come forth, divine miracle... Samsara!"

At that moment, a radiant burst of energy erupted from the flesh tree, spreading throughout the garden in a dazzling display of light. Drawing upon the threads of fate, I wove intricate chains of magic that danced through the air like living serpents. They coiled and twirled around the souls I had gathered, binding them gently, yet firmly, in an ethereal embrace to the tree. They formed beautiful flowers that blossomed throughout the branches. And then, one by one, the flowers gave birth into crystalline forms, suspended in mid-air as if held by invisible hands.

As their fingertips brushed the soil, a surge of vibrant green erupted from the ground, spreading like wildfire across the chamber floor. A symphony of whispers accompanied the swift growth, as delicate flowers burst forth, encircling the flesh tree in a kaleidoscope of colors. The air filled with the fragrance of blossoms, a sweet reminder of life's resilience.

The light then turned into a mesmerizing swarm of butterflies. Like emerald confetti, they danced and twirled, their iridescent wings carrying the essence of rebirth. Each butterfly carried a fragment of the souls it had touched, their collective brilliance illuminating the room. With graceful precision, the butterflies gently descended upon the fallen children, their touch imbued with the essence of rejuvenation.

As the final butterflies returned to dust, The fallen children, maids, and Bianca's men lay sleeping upon the lush grass. Their once lifeless bodies were infused with new vitality. Slowly they awakened from their slumber, gazing at their new body in confusion. Well, can't blame them though, they did experience death before this.

"What in the world just happened...?" the Werewolf exclaimed, his eyes wide with astonishment.

The lady warrior clutched her sword tightly, her voice trembling, "Did she just... cast resurrection magic like it was nothing?" Her disbelief mingled with awe.

Ayunda's gaze, filled with gratitude, locked with mine. Though her voice carried no sound, her silent whisper echoed through my soul, "Thank you..." As the tree and roots that once bound her solidified into stone and crumbled away, she collapsed onto the ground, her consciousness slipping away.

Arthur, with the usual grim and stern face, approached me, "You said you can't use magic. But this, how you explain this, Princess?"

A mischievous glimmer sparkled in my eyes as I responded, "Well, technically, I can't use my magic. However, I can hijack someone and use their magic instead. Luckily, Ayunda had a high affinity for light magic, so, calling resurrection magic like this is just a walk in the park for me."

Seeing Arthur's stern gaze, I braced myself, fully expecting another thump on the head from Arthur. But instead, he sighed and cast a sweeping gaze across the vibrant garden. A rare smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he whispered, "Impressive... Truly well done."

Curiosity and amusement danced in my voice as I playfully pressed him, "Pardon me, what did you say, Master?"

Arthur shook his head, "You're in for a long lecture, Princess. You will tell me everything about you. And this time, I won't let any lies. Or else, I won't pay for your food again, understand?"

I clasped my hands together, feigning a look of defeat, "O-oh please, not the food! I-I can't live without it!"

And just after that, my stomach was growling, making me want to disappear into the galaxy. But then Arthur shrugged, "Alright, let's wrap this up quickly and grab some food. Anyone in for ramen?"

I smiled, brimming with happiness, "If you pay, I'm in!!"