Chương 105: Chapter 102: Sunbreak

For the first time in the battle, the corpse flies fled from me. Swarms of them scattered wherever I dashed, flanked by the Guardian Beast. I knew it was mostly because of the Komainu and its towering form, but it felt empowering watching those sun-cursed creatures cower in fear. My blade still found it difficult to end the elite corpse flies, though I had probably hunted five or six of them. But that number was small compared to the dozens of regular flies I had slain.

It was difficult now that they were fleeing, and I was still confined to the [Band of Protection]. But anyone who even came a hair's breadth close to my range felt the flaming blade fall without mercy. The unfortunate sword would likely need to be reforged after this, but like everything else, that was tomorrow's problem. With the pressure off my back, my eyes finally darted carefully to note the devastation.

The sacrarium was in far more disarray than before the demons came; the careful organisation and order in which the common folk were sheltered was now a mess, punctuated only by the macabre sight of corpses and their bloody gore strewn across the hallowed ground. On the east side, the Magistratus stood with one palm clutching his son, afraid to let go. Once Aleya joined him, after spending all her effort fighting the demons, he let her take care of Priam whilst he checked on the wounded.

Headmaster Larius lay a few metres behind them, followed by dozens of other warriors arrayed side by side. A thick aura of death wafted from their solemn visages. Half of them were not even dead, though the very air about them seemed to have stilled, Death holding its breath in sombre contemplation. My aura sense was by far my weakest of skills, but even I was unsure how long they would endure.

Thinking on it, I brought out the last of the healing elixir from the blessed stone and froze, feeling the cool touch in my palm. One of these could at best save two or three people from their dilemma, but what about the dozen others? Who gets to choose their life and death? The question alone caused bile to rise to my lips.

I could only convince myself that Mum had more of them, and was about to deliver the potion to the Magistratus along with the difficult decision, when all my instincts, my arcane senses, screamed in utter alarm. It was not only me. Even the others with limited arcane acuity peered outside the dome. A pure silence seemed to have settled beyond the border of the sacrarium, when a resplendent ray of unalloyed gold blazed through the sombre air.

The beam exploded into light so bright and glaring that it became blinding white, the world alight beyond even what the sun could accomplish at its zenith. Then came the devastation. A tremor ran through the very spine of the earth, tumbling most of us to the floor. I barely remained crouched, holding the vial tight. The light burned away the chilly wind, cast off the twisted dark clouds, and even singed my own skin. The ward wailed and quivered, yet the ungodly light did not trespass too far.

An eternity seemed to pass within those two seconds, as the radiance dispersed, leaving scorched foliage, trees, and flattened land in its wake. Before my eyes could adjust to the shift, my attention was painfully pulled to the frenzied shrieks of the corpse flies. The few that remained fell. Still blinded, they went berserk and plunged themselves into the barrier. The ward was in no way easier to penetrate from the inside as it was from the outside.

The few corpse flies could not find purchase even when they wounded themselves trying to leave. My eyes traced the direction from where the blinding light came, hoping. The guardian beast did the rest of the work. The other most impactful fighter, Magnus Julius Daenerys, seemed to have slipped off somewhere, doing his most reserved "duty". I forgot about him, as the agonised shrieks began to dwindle around us.

Returning to the vial, I called upon a sentry to deliver it to Claudius Octavius, but froze as my gaze darted to Guildmaster Rowin. His wizened form finally gave in once all the demons were dealt with. He crumbled to the gore-strewn floor, exterior pale as they come, his expression somewhat at ease. Delric was present, the thick helm off his face, his expression exactly opposite to the man he held, arguing fervently.

"Hey, lad," said the sentry, clasping my shoulder. Ignoring him, I shot towards the guildmaster. Delric was the first to notice, his eyes lighting up upon finding the healing potion in my hand. Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

"Arilyn, quick," he cried.

"Give it to him." I had the same opinion. If I had to arbitrarily decide who got to live, then old Rowin came top of the list with everything he had done. However, as I moved to uncork the glass vial, the old man smiled weakly towards me, saying:"Don't waste it on these old bones, son. Give it to someone who at least has a chance of making it."

"Sir," Delric pleaded, "you don't know that. Please drink it and..." The old man clutched his palm reassuringly.

"It's quite all right, lad," he said.

"I can feel the pale star beckoning me. It's been a good fifty years, more than anyone has the right to."

"But—""Keep me company until it comes," the guildmaster tried vainly to sit upright, but his body would not let him. Delric helped, tears streaming down his face. My expression darkened, fist clenched on the vial until cracks appeared on it. My telekinesis barely held it together, as did my composure.

"Tuli," continued the old man in a husky voice.

"She will blame herself for not being here with me. Look after her, Delric, even when she does not want you to."

"I will, sir. Just... please..."

"Damn right, you will," Old Rowin coughed into a bitter fit, thick blood slipping from his lips. His words slurred, becoming impossible to make sense of.

"I'll get some water," I said, dashing off in one direction before changing to the opposite after a few paces. After one last moment of contemplation, I sighed and handed the vial to Uncle Dalin before finding myself some water. A curt shout for it summoned over a dozen hands with waterskins and bottles from among the crowds. I took one of them, and only then did I notice how far I had stretched my Influence. It was barely thicker than the braid of essence threads it held, strewn out completely unconsciously.

I did not dwell on how it was even possible before returning to the guildmaster. Sadly, misfortune struck whilst I was gone. The crumbled body of the old shaper rested on Delric's knees as the young man wept.

"He's gone," he said, voice wrung out as though it was painful to admit it.

"I'm sorry." I felt a strange weakness in my limbs, urging me to crumble down as well, as a tear dripped down my cheek. I sat down, and then lay completely flat, the cold ground keeping me company, the heaviness of the events finally settling on my muscles, on my very bones. A minute later, the komainu returned to lie beside me, having finished off the demons. Its presence was far warmer and more comforting, as I stroked the white fur silently.

The beast whimpered low, its sheer size diminishing as it settled over my lap. Low murmurs and echoing voices returned once no monsters came to molest us. I remained lying close to the barrier, head turned towards the ward, waiting for my parents to return. Time stretched by, seconds into long minutes, with nothing to occupy my mind other than worries that I had no power or desire to confront. It was a long wait, and the longer it stretched, the more uncomfortable I became.

It was as if the very air confined me, the cold, chilly darkness seeping into my bones. My eyes wavered. Despite all the points I had in my attributes, my body finally seemed to give in, but I fought to keep my eyes steady, trained on the ward. Yet when a shadow came over the gleaming barrier, my eyes failed to identify it. It was only when the Komainu shifted on my lap, barking loudly, that I woke from the strange weakness to find the familiar pair standing behind the barrier, leaning against one another.

I lunged to my feet and shot directly towards them, despite the barrier dividing us. The section my artifact kept sealed opened, as I gave them no time before tackling them into an embrace.

"Easy there, son," Father tousled my hair.

"Careful with these old bones." Even though he said that, Mum pulled me in deeper. The smooth armour on her form obstructed the warmth from spreading, but I was warmer than I could ever be. Warm and comfortable, I fell asleep in her lap, as her palm traced slowly over my hair.

The Sunbreak came abruptly, painting the horizon in golden lustre, beckoning an end to the long night. I awoke in the same blanket Mum had laid. Surprisingly, she was still asleep. Although she had removed the golden armour, her face was still marred with blood and grime. Well, I was no better. Worse even. Father had rested on the blanket as well, but now he seemed to be having a heated argument with Magnus Daenerys.

A group of people clad in bright armour stood on the other side of the barrier, the insignia of an ember leaf etched on their plates. Other than the knights of Emberleaf, many legionaries had come and waited outside. A grey-haired man seemed to notice the connection between me and the barrier. He piped up, "Care to let us in, lad?" I blinked and looked at him carefully. My eyes widened.

"You're Sir Emil?" I had seen a painting of him in Klearon, the Heroic Knight of Ice, only he looked more weary now. I did not keep them waiting, creeping closer to withdraw my Artefact. The Spell's voice cheered into my ears: [Your Artifact [Band of Protection] has embodied a fable, protecting the folk of Karmel. [[Band of Protection] has evolved into [Vigil of Protection]] Delight rose in my chest as I heard it. But soon my eyes sharpened in horror as I read the specification of the relic. [Relic: Vigil of Protection Class: Fable (Growth: 14%) | Durability: Indestructible A mother's affection, a boy's dashing gamble to protect the people, and the dimming vestige of a departed goddess embodied the relic to the very ideal of protection. Enchantments: Aegis: Protects the wearer against all attacks. Bastion: The protection extends to whoever the owner wishes. Aura: Within the Vigil's aura, all status effects such as Dread, Curses, Compulsion, and other hostile effects have a diminishing effect. Indestructible: For an instant, the relic can withstand everything, expending all essence.] ============