Chapter 3: Curse of the Isles

Belos's announcements had caused a lot of argument and controversy. Families were almost torn apart by a difference in opinion, some of them wanting to leave and join Philip, while others had the common sense not to trust him.

Atlas and Flora were one of these, where Flora believed everything Belos said and wanted to help him. Atlas, on the other hand, felt that his story was fabricated in order to gain control over humanity. He also had a feeling of extreme animosity directed at him, for reasons he was unaware of. It was as if he subconsciously knew him somehow...

"Flora. That man is dangerous. I know it!"

"His intentions are pure. He hasn't said or done anything to suggest otherwise."

"Not to you! I met him earlier. He attacked me! He had a magical stick, and when he tapped the ground some kind of red glow hit me. It caused me terrible pain. It's because I disapproved of his actions. How can you be okay with what he did? Even if witches are evil, he still committed genocide!"

"You saw that vision. Our world is going to end! These witches are going to kill us if we don't fight against them, and Philip is here to help us!"

Flora ran out the door and slammed it shut behind her. She was heading straight towards the area where Belos's new followers were.

Atlas's eyes flashed yellow and glowed for a moment. When this happened, he started to feel drowsy. His sight blurred. He felt like his consciousness was fading away. Yet he also felt more awake, aware, and vengeful than ever before.

He swung open the door, and made his way into town.

A group of people surrounded Belos again, while he made another speech about witchcraft and how it corrupts the soul. Atlas felt a sense of déjà vu when he saw Belos standing there with a staff, telling an audience about the dangers of magic. The only thing missing was the wooden mask. But why did he know that?

"My own family has been hurt by the darkness of magic. I have lived among witches for centuries and seen how magic affects them."

Suddenly, Atlas had an uncontrollable urge to jump up and shove him down to the ground. When he did this, Belos's ears were uncovered by his hair and he was revealed to have pointed ears, like the evil witches he was just telling them about.

He stammered, trying to explain this as a dark curse that was placed on him years ago. But nobody was listening anymore. The crowd erupted into chaos. People were charging at him, attacking.

Belos shouted, "Just stop and listen to me! I am not a witch!"

Several people yelled, calling him a liar and an imposter.

"I was cursed by the magic of the Isles, the magic of the Titan himself! It changed me, made me partially become a witch. But it didn't change my soul. I am still human inside-"

"Prove it, witch!"

With a waving of his staff, everyone began to witness another vision of the past. This depicted Philip Wittebane's curse and transformation, and the prejudice he received for being a human among witches. The tragic story of how he was 'cursed' skipped a lot of important details, including the murder and consumption of palismen which directly caused his physical alteration, the tormenting of his innocent subjects, the killing and cloning of his brother, and four centuries of constant duplicity.

By now he had lost about half of his followers, who no longer believed him. But he still had a lot of them, and even gained some new ones with his new lie.

Atlas was only there to find out more about him and his plans. He'd learn everything he could about Belos, and then use the information to take him down.

His speech was abruptly halted by another lightning strike. This time it hit Belos, causing him excruciating pain. The crowd started to run, screaming hysterically.

He fell to the ground, completely burnt everywhere.

Atlas walked up to his limp body and stared with satisfaction. He smiled smugly, and kicked Belos hard in the head, before joining everyone else in running.

A while later, when the government deemed the area safe for passage once again, an ambulance arrived and took the charred remains away. People were still afraid to go near that part of town, as this was the second time that lightning had struck in front of the Wittebane statue. They suspected it was due to Philip's return, and witches had followed him back to this realm.

Belos's body was placed in the hospital morgue. His staff was sent to a scientific research facility to be studied. If they could replicate the power it held, they'd have a good weapon for when the witches inevitably invade...