AN: For something different, this and the next chapter will have only new POV characters. Originally, I wrote them as one big chapter, but then I realised it was nearing 7k words, featured four different POVs and various side characters, and had major story events to boot...
Kristoff picked up a piece of rubble and tossed it into a wagon, to join the large pile that was already there. The donkey tied to the wagon didn't even wake up from its sleep, despite the loud clatter of stone on wood.
My back's killing me already… but I have to finish this lot at least, before going for a break…
The middle-aged man wiped sweat off his brow—this work wasn't just exhausting, he was also doing it under the blazing Safina sun—and picked up a broken plank of wood.
It was the day after the attack on Sabasa. All of the elves and fairies had retreated, so the inhabitants of Sabasa were now doing their best to rebuild.
Kristoff himself was cleaning up the remains of what had once been someone's house, right up until that Gigantic Girl had stepped on it. The house to his left was similarly levelled, but there wasn't anybody available to clean it up yet. The house to his right was in much better shape, with just a large hole in a wall that two workers were patching up. And on the other side of the street…
"We've got cactus juice here, nice cold cactus juice for anyone feeling thirsty! There's no charge!"
On the other side of the street, someone had set up a stall to provide refreshments to the many workers. Several were already lining up for a long awaited drink.
To the current Kristoff, the aroma of the cactus juice and the chatter of those enjoying it were almost too much to bear.
I have to focus! This job isn't going to do itself! Just need to clean up the rest…
Kristoff continued picking up rubble and moving it to the wagon. But even though he had a strong body forged by eighteen years as a labourer, he was feeling the strain now. And because of that, he was deeply frustrated.
Why the hell did elves and fairies attack Sabasa? Why're monsters attacking all over the world?
And people say Grangold's war was also started by a monster mastermind… Thought it was nonsense when I first heard it, but now…
Kristoff grabbed a large cluster of stone blocks, formerly a chunk of a wall. It was too heavy to lift for long, so he began rolling it towards the wagon.
There's monsters in Sabasa too, but they were attacked as well! Miss Evie the Ostrich Girl might not ever run again…
When he was done with the chunk of wall, Kristoff started gathering various smaller pieces. Among these, he found an iron frying pan and a few knives, all damaged but still recognisable. He sighed in frustration.
There was a tap on Kristoff's shoulder. He looked around to see the two who'd been patching up the house to his right.
"Hey, isn't it time for a break already?" said Ernie, a man who was always pointlessly considerate of others.
"That's right, you need to rest!" said Carrie, an Orc Girl who'd recently moved to Sabasa from the Ilias continent.
"Thanks, I'll stop once I've finished here," Kristoff said. "Won't take long, I promise. And you don't have to help me out, I can handle this."
After a little more persuasion, Kristoff managed to get the pair to leave him alone. They walked away to get their drinks.
As he dumped the ruined kitchenware onto the wagon, Kristoff returned to his previous line of thought.
Nobody's sure why this is happening… not humans, not monsters, not Sabasans, not foreigners… it just doesn't make any sense.
The story that makes the most sense is a new Monster Lord appearing, a Monster Lord like Black Alice. But then there's people saying the new Monster Lord's actually an old one, or there's actually three Monster Lords right now…
Kristoff shook his head. There was no way a meathead like him could figure out the truth from drunkards' stories and housewives' gossip. That was the job of wise kings and mighty heroes.
For the next ten minutes, Kristoff continued cleaning up the ruined house. He found a few objects that made him curse the monsters out loud, like a stuffed teddy bear meant for a young child. At least there were no dead bodies here, unlike some of the places Kristoff's friends had cleaned up.
Then he heard a commotion from down the street. He stopped work and walked over to see what the fuss was about.
Kristoff spotted a gorgeous blonde woman in a white dress, open at the back to reveal the wings and tail of a succubus. His jaw dropped.
"Your Majesty!" called out one of the other workers.
"Queen Sara!" called out another. "What are you doing he—uh, why have you graced us with your presence?"
Kristoff quickly dusted himself off as best as possible. He'd seen the queen of Sabasa from afar a few times before, but this was his first time meeting her in person.
...Some of his friends knew the queen in a much more intimate fashion, for which he only slightly envied them.
"I'm here to see how the proud citizens of Sabasa are faring," Sara said regally. "It's thanks to your efforts that—ugh, I can't do this anymore." The queen's expression relaxed, revealing both fatigue and sadness. "I'm sorry you had to go through all this."
"It's not your fault, Queen Sara!" Kristoff said.
"That's right!" another worker added. "If it weren't for you, we might've lost!"
Yesterday, the queen had drawn on her succubus power to help defend the city. The sight of her dashing through and defeating enemy after enemy had been awe-inspiring…
...and lust-inspiring, not that Kristoff would ever admit that part out loud.
"That wasn't just because of me," Sara said. "It was the work of lots of people, from Sabasa and… outside." She looked off into the distance. "But as for all of you, thank you for your efforts. And—"
Sara beckoned with one hand. There were several guards accompanying her, and these guards proceeded to hand out ten gold coins to each worker.
"This isn't much, but it should be appreciated more than just words," Sara said. "Now, I need to see how the rest of Sabasa is doing. But once I'm done, I'll be meeting with the other rulers as well as the ones who helped in the fighting. We'll find a way out of this mess, I…" she took a deep breath, "I promise you that."
Then the queen and her guards walked off.
The other workers began chatting about the queen's visit. Kristoff looked down at the gold in his hands.
It's not a lot, enough for a few meals… but if Her Majesty's doing this for all the workers in Sabasa, or even just some of us, then any more would probably make the treasury run out.
Kristoff picked up a rag and a length of string—two of the many objects retrieved from the ruined house—used the rag to carefully wrap up the coins, then used the string to tie the small package to his arm, underneath his shirtsleeve. The coins would be soaked in sweat by the time he got home, but he could live with that.
After that damage, there'll be lots of people without their homes… or their parents. There'll be lots more pickpockets out on the streets now. I feel bad for 'em, but I'm not letting anyone steal from me. I've got my own family to feed.
Then Kristoff resumed his work. By the toils of him and many thousands of others, Sabasa might eventually return to how it once was.
-ooo-
In another world, though still within the Safina region, a young man named Simon swung his sickle through a field. With this well-practised motion, he brought down another bundle of wheat stems. He dropped this into a pile in his wagon.
Hmm… at this rate, it won't be long before I've met my quota.
Simon took out his waterskin and had a good long drink. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky above Safina today, nothing to stop the brilliant sun from heating the land and those who lived upon it.
The sun is the embodiment of Ilias' light, I must remember that. It's the light that warms our bodies, nourishes the plants that feed us.
After replenishing his fluids, Simon continued scything the wheat. It had been a good yield this season, just like all the yields in known history. As long as he and the other faithful followed Ilias' wise instructions, the soils would never deplete, the crops would not wither from blight or be consumed by vermin, and there would be plenty of food for all.
Twenty minutes later, Simon had not only completed his quota, he'd slightly surpassed it. Even then, there was a good chance some of his fellow farmers would surpass him.
Like Jonathan… this year alone, he's done well enough to be rewarded by the exalted angels three times. He… no, I shouldn't envy him. Envy is one of the great sins, forbidden by the Goddess…
Simon began pulling his cart back to the village. Some of the better farmers were allowed pack animals, but the rest had to use the strength of their own bodies, to prove their diligence.
Two other farmers were already at the village. Simon glanced at their wagons, but they seemed to have slightly less than him.
"Oh, welcome back, Simon," said James, a young man with green hair.
"Hey, have you heard the news?" asked Matthias, another young man with black hair. "Obadiah was just chosen by one of the angels, to be her partner!"
Simon raised his eyebrows. "Obadiah? Did he do anything noteworthy recently?"
"Not that I'm aware of," Matthias said. "It seems he just happened to catch an angel's eye, and she deemed him worthy of her."
"It's hard to believe, but it's true," James said. "He must truly be blessed by Ilias."
The three farmers stood there for some time, wondering what Obadiah was doing now. He was surely having a blissful time, but the details were up to interpretation.
"I hope Goddess Ilias can choose partners for us soon…" James said dreamily.
"You'll never get picked, you're the laziest of us all!" Matthias said, slapping James on the back.
"Oh, you never know," Simon said. "Perhaps our Goddess will think having a wife will make you work harder."
James threw a mock punch at Simon, who allowed it to knock him into the dirt. All three of them burst out into laughter.
The vast majority of humans in the Celestial Realm weren't so fortunate as to have an angel wife. Their marriages were instead arranged by Goddess Ilias, whose omniscience allowed her to select couples with compatible personalities. It was far better than the old ways, where men and women made rash choices out of lust.
Simon stood up and dusted himself off. At almost the same time, Matthias noticed something.
"Hmm?" Matthias said, peering off into the distance. "Is that Martha over there?"
Simon and James looked in the same direction. Sure enough, they saw old Martha running out from a nearby woodland. She was another resident of this village… except there was something wrong with her.
"Wait, didn't she go into the woods to gather mushrooms?" Simon said. "Where's her basket?"
"And she looks… scared?" James added.
The three men began running towards Martha… then stopped in their tracks.
A hulking four-legged creature burst out from the woodland and pounced on Martha from behind. The poor woman barely even had time to scream before being torn apart.
"W-What the—!?" James screamed.
"M-M-Monster!" Matthias yelled, already turning to run.
Simon wasn't able to say anything or flee. He just stared at the grotesque monster, Martha's lifeblood dripping from its jaws.
Is that… what a monster looks like?
The monster's body was mostly black as midnight, save for a long white skull forming its head, white claws on its feet and white spurs of bone jutting out from various places. The eyes sockets of its sockets glowed with wicked red light.
It… doesn't look like the monsters I've heard of…
"GET AWAY, IDIOT!"
In the next instant, Simon's view of the monster was blocked… and a warm red liquid spattered all over him.
"J-James…?" Simon gasped.
The monster had crossed the distance with impossible speed. James had protected Simon from it using his own body, yet that meant he was the one now impaled on the monster's claws.
"Run…" James groaned. He held his scythe in one hand, yet he no longer had the strength to swing it. "Tell… everyone…"
With a toss of its paw, the monster threw James away. The young farmer struck a nearby barn, screamed, slid to the ground… and did not move.
"JAAAAAAMEEESS!"
Simon had never fought in his life. Matthias had already run out of sight, and there was no one else in the village right now except children and the elderly… who would now be cowering inside the buildings.
But… I won't let you hurt them, monster!
Simon grabbed his scythe and swung it towards the bestial monster. He aimed for the head but struck the shoulder instead, his blade sinking perhaps a finger's length into the black flesh.
Then the monster bit his shoulder with its enormous mouth. Countless sharp teeth pierced Simon's skin, muscle and bone, causing greater pain than he'd ever felt in his entire life.
"GAAAAAHH!"
Simon feared he'd be bitten in half, ending up the same as Martha… yet that didn't happen. The monster instead tossed him away, so Simon tumbled roughly across the ground until he came to a stop.
"Ugh… agh…"
The wound and the pain were too much for Simon to even sit up, let alone stand. All he could do was pray.
Goddess Ilias… ah... please send your angels to smite this accursed monster...!
Simon repeated this prayer three times before he noticed; he was still alive. Even though the monster should have had no trouble killing him instantly, it hadn't done so.
It's… playing with me…?
Simon used all his remaining strength to turn his head. To his horror, he saw that one of the children had gone outside and was pointing a stick at the monster.
Marcus… no…!
The monster slowly walked towards the young boy. It was now clear that it was simply playing with them all. And there was nothing Simon could do about it… they were all going to perish.
Suddenly, a pebble struck the monster's skull. It, along with Simon and the boy, looked around to see that James had his hand outstretched.
"Get… away…" James said. "Foul… beast… of darkness…"
A few seconds passed. Then the monster ran over to James and brought its jaws down.
A boy's scream pierced the air. Even with his fading mind, Simon still felt utter despair.
Goddess Ilias… please… smite…
Just as Simon was prepared to die, a blinding light filled the area. He quickly shut his eyes.
The light dimmed and there was a gurgling sound… not that of a human, but the sort made by a dying animal. Simon hesitantly opened his eyes.
My prayers… were answered…?
Standing in this humble farming village was an angel, and not just any angel. Her halo was tinted green, a magnificent white flower served as her right arm, and coils of ivy adorned her body. Using her left arm, she was holding Marcus protectively. This was the angel who ruled over the Safina region.
"A-Archangel Gabriela…?" Simon gasped.
"Be silent, you will only suffer more if you speak," Gabriela advised, her voice overflowing with motherly affection.
Simon immediately obeyed. Gabriela held her right arm above him, and particles of golden light rained down on his body. The pain rapidly subsided.
"Th-Thank you, so much…" Simon said, unsteadily climbing to his feet. "And the monster…?"
There was no corpse that might have belonged to the monster. The only proof that abomination had ever been here were its footprints, the damage to the village… and the corpses of James and Martha.
"When I slew it, it dissipated into particles of darkness," Gabriela explained. "Nothing remains of it now."
"That's… pardon my rudeness, Great Archangel, but I've never heard of such a thing…" Simon said.
"That is not your fault, brave human, for it is a… new phenomenon," Gabriela said reassuringly.
Other villagers, young and old, began emerging from the houses. They bowed reverently to the Archangel and thanked her profusely for saving them all.
Matthias also returned, looking extremely guilty.
"Great Archangel, I… I must confess a sin."
"Do you refer to your fleeing from the monster?" Gabriela asked. "If so, that was no sin."
"But I… I left my friends to… to…" Matthias said, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Fighting monsters is the duty of angels such as myself," Gabriela said. "It is no sin for humans to not do the same."
Simon placed a reassuring hand on Matthias' shoulder. The other man nodded and tried to wipe away his tears.
Then Simon's gaze happened to fall on the dead James. The gory sight made him sick to his stomach. He'd never have to endure James' good-natured ribbing again, just as he'd never hear Martha's stories about the past again.
"Unfortunately, for all my skill in healing, there is nothing I can do for the truly dead," Gabriela said gently, noticing his gaze. "They are in Ilias' hands now."
Simon nodded slowly. "Yes… they are. Um, on behalf of this village, I thank you for coming to our aid."
"I was simply doing my duty to faithful worshippers of Goddess Ilias," Gabriela said. She patted Marcus' head, then let the boy go.
"Th-Thank you, Miss Archangel," Marcus said uncertainly.
"Thank you so much!" "Oh, Great Archangel..."
The scene was just like something from the legends, an angel smiting a monster and being thanked by grateful humans. Yet the bloody corpses laying nearby, and the fear now planted in the villagers' hearts, proved that actually being in a legend wasn't all that pleasant.
And… just what happened here?
Simon thought for a moment. The monster he'd just seen looked nothing like his preconceptions of monsters, but he didn't want to ask about that for fear of looking ignorant. There was one another mystery that bothered him, however.
"Great Archangel…" Simon began. "If I may be so bold, how did a monster get over here? I thought all the remaining monsters were kept in Grand Noah…"
Gabriela looked away. Simon was briefly terrified at the thought he'd angered her.
"That is being investigated," Gabriela said curtly. "It is… the only monster attack to occur in recent times. Rest assured, it will never happen again."
Gabriela extended a long strand of ivy from her flower right arm. She gently picked up Martha's body from near the woods, then deposited it near James' body.
"I will leave them to you, for whatever funeral arrangements you decide on," Gabriela said. "Know that their souls will find peace in the embrace of the Goddess, and perhaps you will find a measure of peace as well."
Then the Archangel disappeared in a pillar of light.
Matthias looked at Simon. "I… Again, I'm sorry…" he said quietly. "I just ran, left you behind…"
"If an Archangel says it's no sin, then I certainly won't blame you," Simon replied, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. Then he looked at the two dead bodies again. "But if you want to make it up to me… help me… help me dig their graves."
