[61.2] Zephyr POV: Still Got It!

[Author's note: This part is from Zephyr's perspective]

I ran out of the window, changing into a fox to hide easier. I soon arrived at the border where the Holy Army was camped beside, eager to come in, but unable to.

Hm.

I wonder how long this barrier had been prepared for?

Eh. Not my problem. I just have to find a good place to escape from.

I trotted along the border, hiding from the eyes of either army. Once I found a good spot, I started digging a hole.

Ugh. I hate doing all this work!

Reika better be proud of me when I get back!

I successfully burrowed out from under the barrier and to a spot on the other side that wouldn't be detected by the Holy Army. Once I was in the clear, I ran off as fast as my furry legs could carry me.

And fast it was.

I grinned proudly.

Hehe! I still got it.

Who is the fastest fox in the land?

Obviously, it is me!

No one could catch me a thousand years ago, and no one can catch me now!

Um… Wait a second…

Where am I running to again?

Where exactly was that brat's house at?

AHHH!

I may have made a mistake…

Ah! I have an idea!

I can just check all those rich people's houses that managed to survive the attack.

Shouldn't be too hard.

I gasped as I dragged my aching feet to the next house.

So far, every house I came across was completely blown away by the attack. Thanks to the barriers they had installed, few houses remained, but they were all so far apart I was struggling to continue my search.

…There wasn't even anything left to pillage either.

Ah! I should have paid attention when we came to this place to visit in the past…

But my mind was on free food so I didn't think to memorize where we were heading!

OH! Wait!

I almost forgot I had a nose…

I picked my head up and sniffed, smelling the familiarity of Felix's smell.

Aha!

I finally found it!

Thank the Gods!

My feet were really starting to hurt.

I snuck into the gate, shocked to find the barrier was no longer working.

Eh?

If there's no barrier, how did it survive the blast?

I walked inside slowly, cautiously glancing around for any sign of a trap. Yet, there was nothing.

But most importantly, there was no one around.

I… I don't like the feeling of this.

Reika was right to be concerned.

I guess that means I should sneak in with the utmost care.

I tiptoed to the door and kicked it open, ripping it off at the hinges in the process.

I poked my head inside and looked all around before tiptoeing in. I ran through the halls, hiding behind statues as I did.

Fufu!

I'm such an expert!

I really deserve a pat on the head!

Oh! And some fried chicken!

As I licked my lips, my foot kicked something on the ground.

I let out a shriek and jumped up, digging my claws into the curtain. I looked down at the cold damp body I had kicked with my hair raised up.

Dead body!?

Why is there a dead body!?!

I looked down the hall and realized there wasn't one, but dozens.

My mouth dropped, "Holy… Did the army pass through here or something?"

I hopped down from the curtain and sniffed the body. I pulled my head back in disgust, "Ew ew ew!!! It's OLD!"

But how can a dead body be this old yet not decay?

I cautiously leaned forward and took another sniff.

Could it be necromancy?

Wait…

No.

It's…

I leaned back in surprise, "Corruption."

These bodies were all corrupted until finally they couldn't function anymore. In a way, it basically turns them into puppets until they lose all functioning capability.

I started running down the hall, hopping over the bodies littering the floor.

What the hell is this graveyard?!

My brother really lost his mind, didn't he!?

I followed the trail of bodies until it led to a wing of the building which was more heavily guarded than anywhere else. However, the large wooden door was ripped off the handles as if it had been blasted open. When I approached the door, I saw black scars lining the door and knew it was my brother's magic.

The last time I saw this kind of thing…

I held my arms as I shivered.

No. I can't think about that right now.

I slowly entered the wing, cautiously looking around. My fox ears flicked side to side as I listened for any noise, but heard absolutely none.

There's not a single living person in this place.

I could only hear my footsteps echoing off the dusty floor as I walked further inside. It was obvious this place had seen better days since it wasn't well maintained. However, when I entered the next room, everything changed.

It went from eerie and broken to fancy white walls with gold accents. I made a face at the gaudy decor, "Only my brother could choose such a gross combination."

As I walked in further, I saw flowers decorating the floor as if someone purposely laid out a flower arrangement.

Eh?

Is it a path?

I followed the flower path and suddenly froze.

My face paled and I immediately felt sick to my stomach, "Well… I found Priscilla."

Priscilla lay on the ground, her skin transparent and her veins black. It was obvious from her appearance that she had her mana forcibly extracted before dying. I bent down to check her vitals to confirm and was surprised to find something clutched in her hands.

I pulled apart her stiff grasp and screamed as I fell back on my butt, "A-A holy weapon?!"

I leaned closer to it after gaining enough courage and noticed blood on the blade.

She must have stabbed a demon with it before dying.

Judging by the magic in this house, it's obvious the demon was my brother.

Priscilla must have figured out who my brother was possessing and attacked him.

"Wait…" I leaned in closer to the blade and sucked in a breath, "That's the same style as the one that stabbed Rose… But... It wasn't Priscilla who did it. She was with us the entire time… So who…"

As I studied the knife, I suddenly realized her other hand was pointing at something. I looked up at the ceiling but didn't see anything.

I stood up and looked around, "Just what was she pointing at-"

My words halted as soon as my eyes came across a portrait of two children. Priscilla sat next to a boy, beaming with a beautiful smile.

My face fell, "Oh… Sh*t! REIKA!"

I sprinted out of the room, leaving behind Priscilla whose last words were instead a warning to whoever found her.

She died just like that: pointing at a portrait of a boy with two orange flowers growing out of where his eyes should be.

I sprinted back to the safety of the Academy, sneaking in the exact way I had left. I rushed back to her room and threw open the door, finding that she was no longer resting in bed.

"Oh f*ck! Oh #$%#! She's @$#@%! I'm #$%#@ #$#@!"

I searched the house in a panic, destroying everything as I did, but I couldn't care.

I sprinted back out of the house, screaming as I held my head, "SHE'S DEAD! SHE'S DEAD!"

My body suddenly collided with what felt like a tree, causing me to bounce off and fall on my back. Cyrus quickly helped me up, "Zephyr? What's wrong?"

I grabbed his shirt collar, ruffling it up as I did. I shouted, "WHERE'S REIKA!?"

He blinked in confusion, "I'm not sure. I had to leave to meet with the King to discuss our options. Shouldn't she be resting-"

"-SHE'S NOT THERE!"

"Uh… Okay, let's just calm down. Vira's army can't get in, so-"

"IT'S NOT VIRA! I DON'T CARE ABOUT VIRA!"

He held my shoulders in an attempt to calm me down, "Zephyr. Just take a deep breath and tell me what's going on. I can't help you when-"

I took a deep breath and started spitting out words at a fast velocity, "IwenttotheNewmanhousetocheckonPriscillabecauseReikaaskedmetoandthat'swhenIfiguredoutthatmybrotherhasbeenhidingoutintheNewmanhouseallthistimeandIfollowedthesignsofcorruptionandfoundPriscilladeadandherlastwordswereawarningthatthedemonisinsideofFelixAKAMoni!!!!"

Cyrus blinked slowly, "Uhh… Repeat that?"

I grabbed his shirt and started shaking him, "It's Felix! Moni is possessing Felix!"