Chapter 22

~Omni pov~

There was a long silence after Lilim's father statement which was broken by loud laughter that echoed all around from everyone.

"HAHAHAHHAHA"

The priest was also smiling but he wasn't smiling with his eyes, his eyes show quite an unhappy expression

"I see, I see, so this is what you meant, that those who are possessed are the playthings of the Holy Church and they're actually descendants of the great heroes. That's why there's no need to purify the filth, is that what you mean, Hahahaha" the head of the branch family spoke

"Don't be stupid" a man from the branch family said as he punched the father across the face, punch after punch.

With a bloody fist the man said "The shows over, where's the filthy one"

The father just had a smirk on his face as he said "I ain't saying a thing, even if I speak you'll just torture me and burn everything to the ground"

The man from the branch family pulled out his sword when he heard him.

"S-STOP IT" Lilim said with a shaky voice attracting everyone's attention

With shaky knees she stepped forward and stuttered "I...I...I...I'm the demon" she said with tears in her eyes as she shook violently

Her father then called out to her in a soft voice and said "Listen to me, The Golden Panther Clan are the descendants of the great hero lili, the one who saved the world

This family is a family with proud blood, why did lili give us stories of heroes? Did she just let the chieftains pass them down from generations to generations, there is a reason for that.

We have a misson."

"Father..." Lilim softly called out

"You have the blood of the hero in your veins stronger than anybody else. You are strong, wise, and proud daughter. Lilim go east, there is someone there that could cure your demonic possession. That's where our mission lies"

Her father seeing Lilim unsure of herself just gives her a reassuring smile "I'm sure if it's you, you can do it" the father then turned towards the mother and said

"Take care of them"

The mother then gave a small nod and pulled Lilim closer.

A beastkin close to them then said "You think I'll let them go"

"I'll make sure of it" the father said, the sound of something pulsing was soon heard and it was coming from the fathers body. A huge amount of magical energy then explodes from his body destroying his bindings.

"WHAT IS THAT POWER" someone from the branch family shouted

"The Golden Panther have thick beastial blood, I just manipulate them and freed them"

The father now looks more beast than man with his long Golden hair that's shape like a mane and hair growing everywhere

"This is a technique passed down only to the chief, a forbidden technique that can take ones life"

Blood was seen coming out of his eyes and veins. "GO AWAY!!!" he roared

Lilim's father stood infront of them protecting them after turning into a rampaging beast

"GO! RUN!" He shouted to them

"Father come with us!!!" Lilim quickly yelled towards her father

"I can't" he said

And when he turned around a look of shock was plastered on Lilim's face as her father soon had half his face turned into a complete beast

"I'll eventually become into a beast, before that happens..."

"I don't want to! Father!!!" Lilim tried to reach for her father's back but couldn't reach

The priest pulled out red colored chains and slashed it towards him.

"Gaaaaaahhhh!!!" The father then deflected it with his right arm

At that moment her mother picked her up and carried her away while she just screamed for her father.

"FATHER! NOOOOO!!!"

That was the last time Lilim saw her fathers back.

Her mother was soon carrying her through the forest

She didn't hear any footsteps for a while, luckily her mother was a master hider. However soon the presence of pursuers were faster approaching. Some members of the Gold Panther have special noses so they must have joined the pursuit as well.

Her mother then put her down near a river and said "Let's split up. Cross the river and head east while I go southeast"

And with that she put the little baby she was carrying with her onto her arms and said "Take care of your little brother, Lilim"

"I don't want to! I want to go with you mother"

"Don't be selfish, just have a little patience. We'll meet again at the Midgard kingdom." Said the mother as she gave Lilim a tight hug.

"Then... why did you give me my little brother?"

"Lilim... I can't fight, I can't run as well as you."

"You should be better off with me!" Lilim pleaded

"Lilim listen..."

"No!"

Lilim buried her head into her mothers chest and shook her head.

Before departing from her her mother told her about how her father used to be, that she shouldn't blame herself for him sacrificing his life for her.

"Lilim take care of your little brother" Lilim then hugged her brother tighter as tears stream down his cheek

"I promise to take care of him"

Lilim then washed her smell off of herself and crossed the river after a final goodbye from her mother. She then headed towards the eastern forest, as her mother turned southeast

Multiple footsteps were then soon heard.

In the east...

Lilim can be seen running through the cold forest in the night. She spent the entire time running that by the time she managed to get to the edge of the forest dawn was about to break.

"This..." she said shocked this was the very first time she saw the beach, she only read about them in the books she used to study

"...The ocean" she softly whispered, she then went towards the sea and scooped up a bit of water and tasted it

"Salty" she said while sticking out her tongue.

Then with a lowered head said "Father... there's nothing"

She then sat by the cold beach and said "There's nothing to the east... where's the mission...? Where's the Midgard kingdom..."

Her legs at this point felt prickly, and she couldn't take another step, black bruises extended all the way from her chest.

She then looked at her brother, the little tiny life entrusted to her and with great determination said

"Let's cross the sea"